Landmark 022824

RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD $1.00

Vol. 39, No. 9

Also serving North Riverside

February 28, 2024

Who pays for District 103 ELL director’s airfare? PAGE 3

Primary elections Page 10

George Washington Middle School’s principal resigns PAGE 12

The Galway Gals are breathing life into Chicago’s Celtic music scene

Liz Berg McNichols of Lyons and Anna Gillan of Riverside formed the Irish band in 2020

Wheel-y fun

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Ride Brookfi Rid B kfield ld Zoo’s Z ’ latest l t t attraction tt ti STORY BY TRENT BROWN, PAGE 5

COURTESY OF THE GERMAN GROUP

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and whether you plan to celebrate early or day-of, the Galway Gals are here to bring the traditional sounds of Irish music to Chicagoland — with a modern twist.

The classically-trained musical duo, composed of guitarist Liz Berg McNichols and violinist Anna Gillan, both also vocalists, has a packed March schedule in honor of the holiday next month. Starting Friday, March 1, at Pub 78 in Brookfield from 8-11 p.m., the Galway Gals are set to perform their blend of traditional Irish folk music and covers of modern Irish artists — with a few top 40 hits thrown in for good measure — nearly every day for three weeks. Their list of shows includes a televised interview

In honor of the Brookfield Zoo’s 90th anniversary, guests will be able to ride the zoo’s 130-foot Ferris wheel this year starting March 15.

See GALWAY GALS on page 8

SECTION INSIDE

Injustice Watch’s guide to the 2024 judicial primary elections kC

ty’s

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

D103 pays for ELL director Guadalupe Vander Ploeg’s airfare from Texas

Round-trip tickets so far have cost as much as $691.11 on American Airlines

By BOB SOLNIK Contributing Reporter

District 103’s director of English Language Services lives in Texas. And she doesn’t pay for her own commuting costs.

Expense reports obtained by the Landmark through a Freedom of Information Act request showed that the district pays Guadalupe Vander Ploeg’s airfare from El Paso, Texas to Chicago every month.

Vander Ploeg has lived in Texas since before she was hired in 2022 and works remotely except for the one week a month which she spends in person at the district.

Records show so far that the district has reimbursed Ploeg $2,652.05 since June for

English Language Arts. In math, airline tickets with American only a scant 0.2% of those stuAirlines. The cost of Vander dents met state benchmarks.

Ploeg’s roundtrip, monthly Most public-school administraflights ranged from $387.10 to tors live near where they work — $691.11. Vander Ploeg would typicertainly closer than 1,500 miles. cally leave El Paso on a Sunday A spokesperson from the Illinois or Monday and return the followState Board of Education said ing weekend. that “residency requirements for The perk comes on top of school administrators are generher $121,540 salary. ally permissible and left to the She oversees an English-lanGUADALUPE discretion of the district.” The guage department in a district VANDER PLOEG district board’s policies do not where at least 36% of students appear to address staff or teachare classified as English Language Learners, state records show. Accord- er residency requirements.

Officials did not respond to requests for ing to the state, 10.5% of the district’s ELL students met or exceeded state standards in comment.

García, Rashid hold Riverside community forum The session is part of regular community meet-ups, representatives say

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Editor Erika Hobbs Staff Reporters Trent Brown, Amaris Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner EMAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf

By STAFF Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García of the 4th Congressional District held a town hall in Riverside Monday, partnering with local leaders.

He was joined by village president Douglas Pollock, township supervisor Vera A. Wilt, state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Eira Corral Sepúlveda. The officials shared federal and local updates on issues including infrastructure, environmental justice, education, and public safety.

The event is part of the Congressman’s regular community meetings, representatives said, in which he provides a report of his activities in Congress and answers questions from his constituents.

“I secured $37.6 million for 25 Community Project Funding projects across the

IN THIS ISSUE

Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL erika@growingcommunitymedia.org ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com COURTESY OF CHUY GARCIA OFFICE

U.S. Rep. Jesús ‘Chuy’ García addresses community members and supporters at Monday’s forum. district including the Brookfield Zoo, UCP Seguin Centers, PACE Transit Signal program, health care centers, and municipal lead pipe replacement and water management in Cicero, Berwyn, Northlake, and

Melrose Park,” García said at the event.

García is running against Chicago Ald. Raymond Lopez in the March 19 primary.

Rashid is facing a challenge from retired Chicago police officer Vidal Vasquez.

The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00.

A one-year subscription costs $45 within Cook County and $65 outside the county. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2024 Growing Community Media NFP.

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

BIG WEEK February 28-March 6

SAVE THE DATE: A taste of Ireland comes to Brookfield Friday, March 1, 8 p.m. - 11 p.m., Pub 78 Did you heed my warning three weeks ago? If not, here is your reminder- I am a lady of my word! Anna Gillan of Riverside and Liz Berg of Lyons are bringing a taste of Ireland to Brookfield. Gillan and Berg have formed a very successful duo, Galway Gals, that specializes in Irish music. The duo name is a play on the Steve Earle song called “Galway Girl.” They will be joined by Greg Campbell and Lucas Gillan to comprise their larger band, Galway Group, and will be bringing their show to Pub 78 in Brookfield on Friday, March 1 from 8-11pm. The duo will also be appearing on WGN

GALWAY GALS TV News for an in-studio performance and interview on March 6 during the 11 a.m. hour to promote their very busy March performance schedule. 3733 Grand Boulevard.

Brain bootcamp

Tuesday, March 5 10:30 a.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library Have you been experiencing spring fever? The library has the perfect opportunity for you to get rid of your brain fog.

Give your brain a workout with brain teasers, trivia, word games, and more. If you feel stressed from school, work, or social life, exercise will help. Brain Bootcamp meets every other Tuesday morning at the library and is also a great opportunity to socialize while challenging your memory and focus. New participants are welcome. 3541 Park Ave.

Freshen your rooms with what you have Monday, March 4, 7 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library

Learn tips and tricks for improving the function and beauty of your rooms from real estate staging expert, Grace Ann Simoni. This presentation will review how furniture placement, lighting, and the careful arrangement of art and accessories can freshen up your home. Registration for all classes and events at LSF Library can be completed at www. lsfbrookfieldlibrary.org, by phone at 708-485-6917 or in person at the library. However, walk-ins are welcome. 3541 Park Ave.

Unusual places to find births and naturalizations

Tuesday, March 5, 4 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library Learn how to find birth and naturalization records in unusual places with librarian, historian, and certified genealogist, Debra Dudek. Hosted by Genealogy Club, this presentation will cover underutilized resources in family history research such as military rosters, consulate applications, voter registration rolls, canceled passports, and much more. 3541 Park Ave.

Compiled by Grace Harty , Contributing Reporter

RBHS softball warm-up clinic

Sunday, March 3, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Riverside-Brookfield High School Calling all RBHS softball players! Riverside-Brookfield High School will be hosting a clinic where you can meet coaches and other players before the kickoff of Spring Season. The high school’s coaches will be helping players with hitting, throwing, and fielding. These various drills do not count as a tryout so there is no need to worry or stress! To sign up, visit the RBHS Softball Warm-Up Clinic website. Don’t be on the fence, come to the clinic and hit a ball over it! 160 Ridgewood Rd.

CALENDAR EVENTS ■ If you would like your event to be featured here,

please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published. We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights.

Email calendar@wjinc.com.

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

Brookfield Zoo celebrates 90th anniversary with Ferris wheel Koalas, the only in Illinois, are coming, too

BEST

LIFE

with Lisa Capone Get Moving

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

If you’ve ever wondered how the Brookfield Zoo looks from the perspective of one of its birds, you’ll have a chance to see for yourself next month.

The zoo announced Feb. 19 that a “towering” 130-foot-tall Ferris wheel will open March 15 through Dec. 31 in honor of the zoo’s 90th anniversary this year. The attraction will have 24 gondolas that each seat up to six guests, giving them views of the zoo’s habitats and gardens, as well as the Chicago skyline. A ride on the Ferris wheel, 70 feet shy of Navy Pier’s, will cost $8 for regular zoo visitors and $6 for zoo members.

The zoo also announced the arrival of new animals this summer. Two male koalas named Brumby and Willum will call the zoo home this summer through a loan partnership with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. The opening date of their habitat has not been announced. This will mark the first time in the zoo’s history that koalas live there, making the zoo the only accredited zoological organization in Illinois to have koalas. A new aviary based on North American prairies will also open in June to house two sandhill cranes and about a dozen greater prairie chickens, two species facing declining populations in the wild.

YOUR

COURTESY OF THE GERMAN GROUP

The zoo’s seven bottlenose dolphins will also be returning March 22 after they were moved to the Minnesota Zoo in 2022 so their habitat could be renovated.

For those celebrating Easter next month, the zoo announced a new event called the Bunny Hop on March 23. Guests will be able to participate in an all-day egg hunt throughout the zoo with live music and appearances from the Easter Bunny that afternoon. The zoo will also host buffet brunches with the Easter Bunny for fami-

lies March 23, 30 and 31.

Finally, the zoo announced additions to its Wild Connections programming, which allows guests to get close to some animals at the zoo to learn more about them, sometimes even feeding or touching the animals. This year, guests will be able to get near sharks, flamingos, macaws and other animals for the first time. While the specific dates vary, each Wild Connections encounter will open in the spring and run at least until the fall.

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Staying active is key to health and well-being at any age…but even more so as we grow older. It can be difficult to get motivated when you’re on your own. However, with their range of fitness programs, senior living communities make it easy to start— and stick to—a workout routine.

Low-Impact Activities. Walking, chair aerobics and cycling are gentle on your joints but still provide excellent cardiovascular benefits when performed properly.

Strength Training. You don’t need to lift heavy weights to reap the rewards of strength training. Using your own body weight, resistance bands or light dumbbells can help you maintain muscle mass and bone density as you age.

Flexibility. Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi do more than increase your range of motion. They also improve hand-eye coordination and balance, which helps prevent falls.

Even when it’s cold outside, you can stay active when you live in a senior living community that offers fitness classes, exercise programs and workout equipment just steps from your living space.

Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-1030.

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

Brookfield approves permanent easement for ComEd at Creekside Park

ton Ave. along the western property The company needs line of Creekside Park. An internal village memo described the granting to move a conduit so of the easement to ComEd as “vital” in keeping the Burlington Avenue the Burlington Avenue project on schedule.

Improvements project Village officials have said they expect construction for the Burlington can continue on Avenue improvements to begin in March, with possible traffic disrupschedule tions beginning this spring and con-

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

The village of Brookfield has permanently given up some of its land to avoid delaying the Burlington Avenue improvements project.

At its Feb. 26 meeting, the Brookfield village board approved an agreement with electric utility provider Commonwealth Edison for a permanent 10-footwide easement at Creekside Park.

ComEd will use the land to house an underground utility conduit that currently conflicts with proposed plans for the Burlington Avenue improvements project, which aims to improve the roadway, sewer and water main along that street this year.

As it is today, the ComEd conduit sits underground at the intersection of Burlington Avenue and Grove Avenue. The conduit’s location conflicts with the proposed location of a new four-foot-deep storm sewer. The easement will be located at 8820 Burling-

tinuing into the fall. While the project will cost $5.8 million in total, Brookfield will pay at most $2.5 million and possibly as low as $950,000 toward it.

The improvements will include varied roadway reconstruction and resurfacing on Burlington Avenue from Dubois Boulevard to Grove Avenue, as well as reconstruction on Dubois Boulevard from Ogden Avenue to Burlington Avenue. A new storm sewer outlet to Salt Creek is also expected to be installed from Maple Avenue. Intersection crossings will also see improved accessibility and some portions of the sidewalks will be replaced.

The Burlington Avenue project is not the only street improvement project Brookfield hopes to tackle this year.

The village is also looking to improve portions of Fairview Avenue, Madison Avenue and Morton Avenue by repairing sections of the sewer, replacing curbs and sidewalks and resurfacing and patching pavement alongside accessibility and other improvements.

HELP WANTED:

COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

A map that was attached to an internal village memo shows the location of the 10foot easement relative to Grove Avenue and Salt Creek.

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

GALWAY GALS Irish harmonies from page 1 and performance with WGN TV News on March 6, as well as St. Patrick’s Day weekend performances in Oak Forest and Oak Brook Terrace. A full list of the band’s upcoming shows is available on their website, www.galwaygals.com.

While Berg McNichols and Gillan mostly perform as the Galway Gals duo, the two also lead rotating groups of four or five musicians when they perform as the Galway Group, bringing in other instrumentalists or vocalists when the show calls for them. Berg McNichols also owns and performs in two other bands, the Jolly Ringwalds and the Saddle Shoe Sisters, with Gillan subbing in for other members when needed. Berg McNichols and Gillan both work in music fulltime and perform as the Galway Gals year-round. While they haven’t released original music quite yet, the performing pair hope to do so soon under the Galway Gals name.

Berg McNichols and Gillan first met playing together in a wedding band in 2017, and they quickly became close friends. When the wedding band stayed together and started performing Irish music, Berg McNichols saw an opportunity and took it.

“I really felt that Anna and I were both undervalued in that group, and I felt that we both had things to offer that were not being appreciated,” Berg McNichols said. “Just as experiment, I kind of tossed it out to her. ‘Like, what if we did our own Irish thing, and we called it Galway Gals?’

And she’s like, ‘Sure!’”

The two first formed the Galway Gals in March 2020, but the band didn’t quite get off the ground before the COVID-19 pandemic brought their performing ideas to a halt. The next March, the Gals had to pause once again after Gillan had a child. During that time, they shared music back and forth to nail down what they would perform together. Since then, the duo grew more successful with each passing year, making next month their busiest March yet, Gillan said.

Berg McNichols said she was initially “shocked at the positive reception” the Galway Gals received when the group was still new.

“I feel like we have been making [Irish music] very palatable and accessible to people,” she said. “One of my favorite compliments that we get is people coming up to us and saying, ‘I didn’t think I liked Irish music, but I really love you guys!’”

Berg McNichols also said she was surprised with how deeply audiences have connected to the Irish music she and Gillan perform.

“Even uptempo, fast songs, people are crying and telling us that their grandfather used to play it, or, ‘That song was sung at my grandmother’s funeral.’ People have these deep emotional connections to some of these sentimental Irish tunes,” she said. “We just thought, ‘We’re putting on a good show.

We’re going to sing in tune, we’re going to have some good harmonies, we’re going to have great dynamics.’ But we did not expect the emotional connection to the crowd.”

“That keeps it engaging and exciting for us,” Gillan added.

“We know that people are responding, and that’s why those songs never get old, because it’s always different to see how people respond and who responds.”

COURTESY OF THE GALWAY GALS

Anna Gillan (left) and Liz Berg McNichols pose together with their instruments. The two classically-trained musicians comprise the Galway Gals, an Irish folk cover band.

The duo said their performances have something for everybody, from Irish jigs that get kids dancing, to U2 covers their parents will like. The venues where they play are equally varied, they said, from Irish pubs and brunch spots to private events and, unexpectedly, senior homes.

“We find that seniors really like to be spoken with and engaged and incorporated into the show,” Berg McNichols said.

“We ask them questions, and we get them clapping along and singing along and tapping along, and it’s very immersive.”

She estimated that 95% of shows they play together result in calls back to play again another time because of how much the crowds enjoy their performances.

For the two, part of the fun of performing together is giving each other the space to succeed individually, which has helped build their friendship.

“We really love harmonies. We trade off who’s singing lead and who’s singing harmony on songs, and we both find moments to shine [on the] instruments,” Berg McNichols said.

While neither of the Galway Gals are Irish, “We both married Irish men and have Irish children,” Berg McNichols added. “I think that both being mothers of small children also has created a bond, just an unspoken bond about life and our priorities.”

In the male-dominated Celtic music scene, the Galway Gals — who are both, as Berg McNichols put it, “strong, driven Aries women” — are proud to stand out from the crowd.

“What I find interesting is, at our shows, I feel sometimes people don’t know what to make of us. I see a transformation go from people who’ve never seen us before. The first couple of songs, [they’re] just watching us, going, ‘Okay, she’s singing a song. Now, she’s singing the song. Oh, now she’s playing really fast,’” Berg McNichols said. “There’s moments where I see their jaws drop watching how fast [Gillan]’s playing.”

Berg McNichols also said she sometimes sees men in the audience point to her as she plays the guitar, impressed with her technique and explaining it to others.

“I hate to say it, but they’re mansplaining what I’m doing on the guitar to their spouse or whoever, and it’s kind of fun,” she said. “They’re complimenting me while they’re doing it, so I don’t get offended by it, but it’s kind of funny because you don’t see them doing that about guys.”

Ultimately, the Galway Gals’ success — with both fans of and strangers to Irish music — is down to both their talents in and love of performing music.

“Our philosophy, and I think why we’ve been successful, is we choose songs that we both like, but that also we feel that the crowd will respond to and like,” Berg McNichols said. “We always can change up arrangements or change little things to make them good, and I think that’s a really good rule of success, is finding something that you authentically enjoy that the audience also enjoys. That’s worked out really, really well for us, and it’s just been so much fun.”

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Teams will beg

in practicing in March The Brookfield Zoo welcomed a newborn grey seal pup Feb. 17. The pup will stay with games starting in the spring. behind the scenes with his mother, Georgette, for about a month and a half.

Brookfield Zoo welcomes newborn seal pup Questions? Email info@Riversid

Questions? Email info@RiversideLL.com

eLL.com

The pup will debut for guests in about a month and a half

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

A new bundle of joy will get to call the Brookfield Zoo home from now on.

The Brookfield Zoo announced Friday it had welcomed an unnamed grey seal pup born Feb. 17. The pup will spend about the next month and a half behind the scenes at the zoo bonding with his mother, an 11-year-old seal named Georgette, who has lived at the zoo since 2020.

The pup was fathered by a 23-year-old seal named Kiinaq, who has lived at the zoo

since 2018. Both Georgette and Kiinaq were found stranded in the wild as pups and “deemed unreleasable,” meaning they’ve spent their entire lives in captivity. According to the zoo, because both of the pup’s parents are of wild descent, his birth represents an increase in the genetic diversity in captive grey seals in North America; just 22 grey seals live in captivity across seven accredited zoos and aquariums in the U.S., six of which live at the Brookfield Zoo. The zoo said the pup was born weighing 35 pounds and gained 15 pounds in his first week of life, and he could “easily gain about 100 pounds” while his mother nurses him over the coming weeks. Zoo guests or anyone interested in keeping up with the pup’s progress should keep an eye on the zoo’s social media, where it plans to post updates.

C O R R E C T I O N

Because of information supplied to Landmark, a story that ran in the newspaper last week called “Many RBHS, LT teachers make more than $100K” misstated the salaries for Principal Ryan Evans and for Supt. Mark Kuzniewski. Those figures are $145,324 and $242,698, respectively. We apologize for the error.

Teams will begin practicing in March with games starting in the spring.

Will Willyour yourchild childbe be55years yearsold old ononororbefore beforeSeptember September1st?

1st?

Riverside RiversideSchool SchoolDistrict District9696 Kindergarten KindergartenRegistration RegistrationPresentation Presentation Parents areare highly encouraged to to view ourour presentation to to learn about Parents highly encouraged view presentation learn about ourour kindergarten program andand District 96’s96’s registration process kindergarten program District registration process Available viewing On-Demand Beginning Available forfor viewing On-Demand Beginning onon March 2024 after 6pm www.district96.org March 7, 7, 2024 after 6pm at at www.district96.org District Website Calendar Events) (see(see District 9696 Website Calendar of of Events) additional information questions, ForFor additional information or or questions, please 708-447-7089 please callcall 708-447-7089

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

PRIMARY ELECTIONS

What to know about the 2024 primary races in Cook County Suburban Cook County can begin traditional early voting on March 4

By LUZANE DRAUGHON, TRENT BROWN and ERIKA HOBBS Staff Reporters and Editor

Key races across Cook County will be decided by voters in the upcoming 2024 primary and general election.

In the highly contested run for incumbent Danny K. Davis’ seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, many eyes will be on Kina Collins as she tries for a third time to take the seat. Others will be wondering about Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who has been under fire for alleged ethics violations.

Earlier this year, Kim Foxx announced she would not seek reelection as the Cook County State’s Attorney. A few candidates are running to fill the seat, affecting many pressing criminal justice issues in Cook County.

Here’s what to know about the upcoming primary elections, the candidates and how to vote.

Who is running?

FEDERAL U.S. House of Representatives, 4th District 2-year terms • Jesús “Chuy” García García has held the House of Representatives seat since 2019.

García serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as well as several Congressional caucuses, including the Congressional Equity Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Labor Caucus, the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, and the New Americans Caucus.

He also serves as the vice chair at large for the Congressional Progressive Caucus and as a founding member of the Future of Transportation Caucus. Before being elected to Congress, García served as a Chicago Alderman from 1986-1993, an Illinois State Senator from 1993-1999 (of which he was the first Mexican-American member) and

a Cook County Commissioner from 20102018. Last year and in 2015, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Chicago. Throughout his political career, García has been known as a progressive.

• Raymond Lopez The Chicago alderman from the 15th Ward announced his run for the House seat last October. Lopez, who was elected to the Chicago City Council in 2015, is a selfdescribed “commonsense Democrat” who aims to “govern from the middle.” In 2012, Lopez ran unopposed to be the Democratic Committeeman for the 15th Ward, his first time being elected, making him the first openly gay Latino to hold office in Illinois.

The year before, he ran unsuccessfully for his current aldermanic position. He also ran for mayor of Chicago in 2022 but dropped out before the 2023 election. Lopez has been known as a critic of former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her tenure and has a reputation for being tough on crime.

U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District 2-year terms • Melissa Conyears-Ervin The Chicago City Treasurer and former state representative officially announced she was running earlier this year. She, like Davis, is running amid allegations of unethical conduct. In Springfield, according to her biography, she passed bills to provide more funding for affordable childcare and new, more equitable funding for Chicago Public Schools. In a 2020 letter, Tiffany Harper, Conyears-Ervin’s former chief of staff, and Ashley Evans, another city treasurer employee, said they were fired in retaliation after they questioned what they described as the abuse of power. The city settled with

the ex-employees. Conyears-Ervin has denied the allegations. However, an Office of Inspector General investigation found this was a case of retaliation and the Chicago Board of Ethics ratified the findings Nov. 13. She can contest the results.

• Danny K. Davis Davis, the 82-yearold Democratic incumbent, has been in this seat for nearly three decades, totaling 14 terms in the position. However, his seat isn’t safe this year in a highly contested primary. He announced last June that he would run for reelection yet again. He is a former educator, community organizer and civil rights advocate.

He is known for his work on healthcare and criminal justice reform. According to The Intercept, he is facing scrutiny in connection with using Congressional funds to buy campaign advertising. He has denied the allegations.

• Kouri Marshall This is Marshall’s first run for office.

He worked on former U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, for former First District Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin and for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. He now serves as a director of state and local public policy for the Chamber of Progress, a trade organization for technology companies. Marshall told Austin Weekly News last year that he respected Davis’ decades of service but added that his campaign was about the future.

• Nikhil Bhatia Bhatia, an Indian American, is a math teacher in Grand Crossing and an elected Local School Council member at Galileo Scholastic Academy.

• Kina Collins Collins is challenging incumbent Davis for the third time. In 2022, she was within 6 percentage points of winning in the primary, according to WBEZ. In 2017, Collins formed the Chicago Neighborhood Alliance to empower activists to end gun violence in Chicago. According to her campaign, she coauthored the Illinois Council on Women and Girls Act and served as the inaugural chairwoman of a council that stemmed from that effort. During the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election, Collins helped form a coalition of organizations called Brand New Council, which aimed to elect progressive candidates of color to the city’s council.

• Chad Koppie Koppie is the sole Republican candidate in the heavily Democratic district.

STATE State Representative, 2nd District 2-year term • Elizabeth Hernandez Democratic incumbent Hernandez assumed office on Jan. 11, 2023, and is running for re-election. She has experience working as a senior policy advisor to former Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn and founded the Cicero Youth Commission.

• Laura Hruska Republican candidate Hruska is an officeholder of Riverside-Brookfield Township School District 208, with her term ending in 2027.

PRIMARY ELECTIONS Why do these races matter?

smoothly, according to Cook County Government.

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

11

■ Lincoln School, 4300 Grove Ave., Brook-

Not only is voting a right for most American citizens over 18, but it’s also a civic duty. Why is that?

In local elections, turnout is often lower, according to Campus Election Engagement Project. This means individual votes can make a bigger difference. Understanding the roles of local executive, legislative and legal positions can help influence choices that affect Cook County.

U.S. Representatives, like Davis, introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The U.S. House of Representatives can collectively impeach federal officers and even elect the President if there were an Electoral College tie.

State Representatives, alongside state senators, form the legislative branch of Illinois. They work with the governor to create laws and establish a budget. State Representatives can pass bills on public policy, affect state spending, raise or lower

taxes and override gubernatorial vetoes.

Illinois Supreme Court justices serve on the state’s highest court and hear appeals of lower court cases. The court has authority over all courts in the state.

The Cook County State’s Attorney can seek convictions for many pressing criminal justice issues in the areas, including shootings and murders. Cook County is one of the largest counties in the area, meaning the state’s attorney’s decisions have a big impact on Illinois’ prison population, according to WBEZ. The Clerk of the Circuit Court oversees case files and documents for the largest court system in Illinois. The clerk attends court sessions and preserves court records.

The Cook County Commissioner 1st District covers the West Side of Chicago and western suburbs. Commissioners make sure citizen concerns are met, requirements are fulfilled on the federal and state level and that operations run

State Representative, 8th District

• Eileen O’Neill Burke

• Lupe Aguirre

• Zerlina A. Smith-Members

La Shawn K. Ford is running unopposed.

Burke is also running as a Democrat and is leading Harris in fundraising.

Aguirre is running as a Republican despite several unsuccessful campaigns for county offices in the past.

Smith-Members, of Austin, is a community activist and victim services coordinator for Together Chicago, a non-profit agency that helps victims of crime and people in need who live in the Garfield Park and Austin communities. SmithMembers also served as the Illinois regional director for Jill Stein in the 2016 presidential campaign.

State Representative, 21st District

Where to vote Limited early voting began Feb. 21. Traditional early voting begins March 4 in suburban Cook County. This may not be an exhaustive list of polling places; to find your polling place, visit https://ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx. Or visit https://ow.ly/V2hB50QIiqN ** indicates an early voting location.

Brookfield: ■ Village of

Brookfield, 8820 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield** ■ Gross School, 3524 Maple Ave., Brookfield ■ Holy Guardian Angels Parish, 1125 Harrison Ave., La Grange Park ■ Congress Park School, 9311 Shields Ave., Brookfield

field Grange Community Center, 200 Washington Ave., La Grange

■ La

Riverside: ■ Hauser Junior High School, 65 Wood-

side Road, Riverside Town Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside ■ North Riverside Village Commons, 2401 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside ■ Riverside

Voters can also find their polling location or submit a ballot by mail on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website at https://www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/elections/your-voter-information.

Reporter Jessica Mordacq contributed to this article.

• Abdelnasser Rashid

• Bob Fioretti

Incumbent Rashid took office on Jan. 11, 2023 and is running for re-election. He is the first Palestinian-American to sit in the Illinois House. He has called on President Joe Biden to push for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and is being challenged, in part, because of that stance. He is a cochairperson of a new state task force on artificial intelligence, and has experience working with Democracy Partners, at Cook County Assessor’s Office and with former Cook County Clerk David Orr.

Former Chicago Ald. Fioretti ran for state’s attorney as a Democrat in 2020, but is running unopposed in the Republican primary this time around.

Clerk of the Circuit Court 4-year term

Rogers assumed office in 2004 and his current term ends Dec. 2, 2024.

• Vidal Vasquez

• Iris Martinez

• Larecia Tucker

• Marcelino Garcia

Vasquez is a retired Chicago police officer and has consistently voted in Democratic primaries since 1998.

Incumbent Martinez was the first Latina in the state Senate to become assistant majority leader. She won the last election without the Democratic Party’s backing.

Commissioner, 1st District Unexpired 2-year terms

• Daniel Pogorzelski

• Tara Stamps

• Sharon Waller

Stamps, a community activist and Chicago Teachers Union member, was selected to take Brandon Johnson’s seat after he was elected mayor in 2023. The district spans the city and the suburbs, including Austin, Oak Park, Forest Park, Maywood and Bellwood. Stamps is a former teacher and now serves as an administrator of new teacher development for the CTU.

• Claire Connelly

COOK COUNTY State’s Attorney 4-year term • Clayton Harris III Harris is a public policy professor and former prosecutor, and is the Democratic Party’s pick to replace Kim Foxx.

• Andrew Charles Kopinski Kopinski, an attorney, is running as a Libertarian.

• Mariyana Spyropoulos Spyropoulos, an attorney and former commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, has received many endorsements, including from the Cook County Democratic Party.

• Michael Murphy Murphy is running as a Libertarian.

Board of Review Commissioner, 3rd District 4-year term • Larry Rogers Jr.

• James Humay Humay is running as a Libertarian.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioners 6-year terms

• Kari Steele

• Richard Dale • Brendan Ehlers • George Blakemore • Toneal Jackson

12

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

George Washington Middle School principal resigns Joshua Dakins will be fourth consecutive principal to last only two years at school

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

George Washington Middle School Principal Joshua Dakins has resigned.

It is the latest in the revolving-door position at the school.

Dakins did not respond to two phone calls and an email from the Landmark, but told a GWMS teacher that he has submitted his resignation letter to Superintendent Kristopher Rivera.

Dakins told the teacher that she could confirm that to the Landmark. The teacher asked that her name not be used because there has not yet been an official announcement of the impending resignation.

Dakins is expected to stay at GWMS for the remainder of the school year. Rivera also has not responded to a phone call and an email from the Landmark.

Dakins was hired in 2022 and will be the fourth consecutive principal to spend only two years in the job. Dakins replaced Carol Baker, who once was superintendent of Lyons School District 103 and is now suing the district charging sex and age discrimination after she was stripped of her assistant superintendent title in 2022. Baker succeeded Dan Jones who succeeded Christopher Cybulski. Each spent only two years on the job but none of those three predecessors were anxious to leave.

Cybulski left when his contract wasn’t renewed and Jones left after the school board majority changed. Both Cybulski and Jones went on to principal jobs in other school districts while Baker retired after being offered a salary reduction.

“I’m sorry to see him leave, that school has had so much turnover,” said former longtime District 103 school board mem-

ber Joanne Schaeffer whose great granddaughter, who lives with Schaeffer, is an eighth grader at GWMS. “It’s a shame.

They need stability over there and they need somebody who is strong with discipline and can control the building.”

Schaeffer said that fights occur frequently at GWMS and that there is a lack of discipline at the school. She said that she fears for the safety of the students and believes that GWMS students are not being prepared for the expectations they will encounter in high school.

Dakins came to GWMS after serving as an assistant principal at Bardwell Elementary School in Aurora, a post he held since 2019. From 2013 to 2016, Dakins was the principal at Currier Elementary School in West Chicago. He resigned from that position in 2016, officials said.

FILE

Joshua Dakins, GWMS principal.

Brookfield partners with firm for water pipe improvements Overall, the village will pay just under $750,000 for the projects

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

The village of Brookfield has taken another step toward completing its water main replacement project this year.

At its Feb. 26 meeting, the Brookfield village board approved four agreements with Edwin Hancock Engineering, a firm based in Westchester, to lead the replacement of some of the village’s aging water infrastructure.

Three of the agreements are for smaller projects to replace water service pipes containing lead with copper pipes; the fourth is for the rest of the water main improvement project as a whole.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency already has approved funding for all four projects.

The project is part of a statewide mandate to eliminate lead exposure from drinking water to improve public health. Village officials have said that under new EPA rules, water service lines must be replaced in whole rather than in part to avoid any

contamination. Lead can enter drinking water through the corrosion of plumbing materials, such as lead pipes and fixtures.

Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead plumbing materials.

An internal village memo estimated the three lead water service replacement projects cost about $7 million altogether, with the IEPA providing up to $7.15 million in funding for them in the form a no-interest, 30-year loan.

The first two lead replacement projects will each tackle 220 leaded water service lines and cost $2.45 million, while the third will hit 180 water service lines and cost about $2 million. The total for each project includes constructions costs, as well as proposed engineering fees.

Derek Treichel, president of Hancock Engineering, said at the meeting that the larger water main improvement project will also involve replacing about 80 water service lines.

“All in all, it comes out to about 700 lead services we’ll be replacing and about 6,500 feet of water main,” Treichel said.

The plans for the overall water main

improvements project have been in place since September 2022, when Hancock Engineering submitted them. Today, according to the memo, about half of Brookfield’s 60 miles of water main are over 100 years old.

The improvements at seven locations across Brookfield will include the installation of more than 7,000 feet of ductile iron pipe water main, as well as new fire hydrants, valves, and water service lines. The improvements will also involve the lining or replacement of some of the sewer, the restoration of pavement, and the removal and replacement of parts of the curb and gutter, among other things.

According to the memo, the locations for the water main improvements are: ■ 31st Street, from Maple Avenue to Sunnyside Avenue ■ Eberly Avenue, from Sahler Avenue to Gerritsen Avenue ■ Brookfield Avenue, from Salt Creek to Hollywood Avenue ■ Monroe Avenue, from Grand Boulevard to Maple Avenue ■ Henrietta Avenue, from Kemman Av-

enue to Harrison Avenue ■ Morton Avenue, from Southview Avenue to Fairview Avenue ■ Arthur Avenue, from Gerritsen Avenue to Congress Park Avenue The overall water main improvements project will cost about $5.6 million in total, but Brookfield is only responsible for paying for Hancock Engineering’s fees, which come out to 5.8% of construction costs.

Altogether, Brookfield will owe Hancock Engineering $743,900 in engineering fees across the four projects. In July 2022, to raise money for these projects, Brookfield increased the village water rate by 14%; according to the memo, the new water rate generates about $750,000 per year, meaning the village has collected more than enough money to fund the projects.

Village officials have said that homeowners who do not want to participate in the project will need to sign a waiver within 30 days of receiving a notice from the village.

Doing so will acknowledge that they are not permitting the village to perform the private work.

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

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By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

Man who drove drunk on the BE AWARE OF A NEW SCAM: PART II sidewalk with no license gets T felony DUI charges A man was arrested Feb. 22 in Riverside in connection with felony DUI charges after a patrolling officer saw the man driving on the sidewalk and grass next to the road.

Around 2:15 a.m., the officer was driving north on South Harlem Avenue when they saw the man heading the other direction while driving on the sidewalk and grass in front of Star Buds, a cannabis dispensary, at 2704 S. Harlem Ave., police said. When the officer U-turned to follow the man, he began speeding while still driving on the grass for about 50 feet before continuing on the roadway. The man’s car then turned right onto Longcommon Road before he parked at the Shell gas station at that intersection and exited the vehicle with his hands up.

According to police, the officer noticed the man was only able to understand Spanish after making contact with him, at which point they requested a translator. A North Riverside officer later arrived to translate the conversation. During conversation, the man handed the officer his passport and said he did not have a driver’s license. Police did not report which country the man’s passport was from. After handing over his passport, the man began to cry and apologize, police said. When the officer asked the man if he had drunk alcohol, the man said he had had two beers and explained he had initially sped away from the officer because he was scared.

When the officer ran the man’s information through the police database, the search did not return any results for him, police said. The officer also ran the man’s license plates through the database, which revealed they were registered to another car; when they ran the car’s VIN through the database, the officer found its registration was expired.

During field sobriety testing, the officer noticed multiple indicators of impairment. The man consented to taking a preliminary breath test, which showed .206

blood alcohol content, more than double the legal limit. At that point, the officer arrested the man for driving under the influence and brought him to the station for booking. The man’s car was later towed and, during an inventory, an open beer can with liquid inside was found in the car, police said. At the station, the man’s charges were upgraded to felony aggravated DUI charges. A court date was set for Feb. 29 and the man was released to his family.

Arrested for driving drunk after turning over train tracks A woman was arrested Feb. 20 in North Riverside for driving drunk after a Riverside police officer on patrol saw her make an illegal turn over the train track crossing on South Harlem Avenue.

According to police, the woman used the crossing to turn across the otherwise divided roadway late that night. After she turned, the officer saw the woman run the red light at the intersection with West 26th Street just north of the railroad, and the officer pulled her over after the intersection with West 25th Street.

When the officer asked the woman for her license and proof of insurance, she provided an Illinois ID and receipt of payment for insurance; at the same time, the officer smelled the odors of alcohol and cannabis coming from the woman’s breath and her See POLICE REPORTS on page 14

he Internal Revenue Service has warned taxpayers to be on the lookout for a new scam mailing that tries to mislead people into believing they are owed a refund.

The letter tells the recipients they need to provide “Filing Information” for their refund.

This includes some awkwardly worded requests like this: “A Clear Phone of Your Driver’s License That Clearly Displays All Four ( 4) Angles, Taken in a Place with Good Lighting.”

The letter proceeds to ask for more sensitive information including cell phone number, bank routing information, Social Security number and bank account type, followed by a poorly worded warning: “(You’ll Need to Get This to Get Your Refunds After Filing. These Must Be Given to a Filing Agent Who Will Help You Submit Your Unclaimed Property Oaim. Once You Send All

The Information Please Try to Be Checking Your Email for Response From The Agents Thanks)” This letter contains a variety of warning signs, including odd punctuation and a mixture of fonts as well as inaccuracies.

Taxpayers and tax professionals should be alert to fake communications posing as legitimate organizations in the tax and financial community, including the IRS and states. These messages can arrive in the form of an unsolicited text or email to lure unsuspecting victims to provide valuable personal and financial information that can lead to identity theft, including phishing and smishing.

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R E P O R T S

continued from page 13 car, police said. The woman said she had been out with her friends that night for her birthday but denied consuming alcohol.

When the officer ran the woman’s information through the police database, they found she had no Illinois license and only an expired permit.

During field sobriety tests, the woman presented several indicators of impairment, including struggling with her balance and failing to follow test instructions, police said. The woman consented to a preliminary breath test but “did not provide a sufficient sample” to detect her blood alcohol content.

After the tests, the officer arrested the woman for driving under the influence.

When her car was inventoried, a bottle of tequila and an empty shot glass were found, police said. The woman’s car was later towed by District Towing. After being brought back to the station, the woman took another breath test, which showed .159 blood alcohol content, police said. The woman was booked on DUI charges before being released to a friend.

Arrested for domestic battery A Brookfield man was arrested Feb. 25 after family members told police he hit one of his daughters and threatened to throw boiling water on another.

According to police, the man’s daughter and her sister’s husband, who both live with the man and other family members, went to the police station that morning to tell police about the two incidents. In the past, they had made “numerous reports” about the man related to mental health issues he’s dealing with, police said.

Earlier that morning, the man’s daughter got into an argument with her father in the kitchen, which was the first incident. The man’s other daughter and her husband saw the argument unfold. The man was boiling water to make tea when it started; during the argument, the man’s daughter said, the man made a comment about controlling himself so he wouldn’t throw the boiling water on her. The man’s other daughter took the kettle away from him. Later that day, the man used his other daughter’s car, which is entirely in her name, to go to church in Hinsdale without her permission using a car key she did not give him.

The second incident occurred the night before, police said, when the man’s daughter and son-in-law said he and his other daugh-

ter got into an argument around midnight while they were alone. During the argument, the man slapped his other daughter across the face, so she pushed him from the kitchen out of the back door of the house in self-defense. She did not call the police at that time. While the man’s daughter and sonin-law who spoke to police were not present for the argument, they each said the man’s other daughter told them about him slapping her the next morning.

After the man’s family told police about the two incidents, police later went to the house when the man was back home. The man told officers he had been holding the tea kettle that morning during the first argument and had made a comment about needing to calm down, but that he had had no intention of throwing water. He also admitted to slapping his other daughter the night prior, saying he did so because she cursed at him. He said she punched him and pushed him out of the house after he slapped her, but officers did not see any marks on the man, police said. The officers also had the man turn over his key to his other daughter’s car, which they later returned to her.

Officers also spoke with the man’s other daughter at the house, who said she did not punch her father the night before and only pushed him out of the house so he couldn’t slap her again, police said. She also told police she wished to sign a complaint against the man for domestic battery, which she did later.

After speaking with the two, the officers arrested the man for domestic battery and transported him to central lockup at the North Riverside Police Department. The man was placed in a cell to await a bond hearing and an initial court date was set for Feb. 29.

These items were obtained from the Riverside Police Department reports dated Feb. 17-22 and the Brookfield Police Department reports dated Feb. 19-26; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Trent Brown

Opinion THE LANDMARK VIEW

I

More D103 nonsense

t is a small portion of the Landmark’s coverage area. But we pay attention to the District 103 public elementary school district because someone has to be watching this semi-functional, politically-controlled district based out of Lyons.

This week we follow up on one weird story out of the district and we report another coming departure from the principalship of George Washington Middle School.

First we have confirmation that the district is paying round trip airfare for Guadalupe Vander Ploeg to fly once a month from her home in El Paso — yes, Texas — to spend one week actually in person at her full-time job as the director of D103’s English language program.

Initially we reported that Vander Ploeg lived in Texas when she was hired in 2022 for the $121,540 annual post and that she worked remotely three weeks out of four. At that time we asked the secretive district to confirm it was also paying her airfare.

They demurred. So the Landmark filed Freedom of Information requests and the district finally coughed up the information that it has reimbursed Vander Ploeg $2,652 in airfare just since last June.

This, of course, is all ridiculous. Why would a director of an essential school program live 1,600 miles away from her job? Why is she allowed to work remotely 75% of the time? Has anyone on the school board looked at state test scores for the many district students intended to benefit from this person’s efforts? The percentage of those students hitting state averages is microscopic.

Meanwhile, yet again, the middle school is losing its principal after only two years on the job. Joshua Dakins has resigned, we think, effectively at the close of the school year. We know this through a teacher in the district. Superintendent Kristopher Rivera, of course, will not talk to the Landmark. (Small tip, run spell check on the district website. “Superintendent” ends with “ent” not “ant.”)

Dakins will be the fourth consecutive middle school principal to last only two years. That’s a lot of chaos for a small school in just eight years.

Something is wrong in this district. Political hacks from Lyons run the district and plant their stooges on the school board. Nothing will change until voters wrestle back control of this district from the politicians.

O

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

The Groveland Floodwall and its consequences

n Feb. 15, the Riverside Village Engineer made a report to the Village Board of Trustees about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) progress on the Groveland Floodwall project. There were some interesting points to the report.

First, and foremost, the potential cost of the floodwall is now estimated to be $17.9 million, greatly exceeding the estimate given in March 2023 of $7.1 million. The reason for the increase was “scope change.” Unless there was something new added to the plan that has not yet been revealed, then the scope change was well known to the USACE when they stated the estimated cost last year at the board meeting.

Because the estimated costs now exceed $10 million, the local share of the project will significantly increase.

The village share could now be as much as $7.9 million with the Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) currently only promising $2.5 million for the design and construction of the floodwall. The village would also be responsible for acquiring all property necessary for the construction of the floodwall (at their expense).

The floodwall construction affects residents along West Avenue, south of Forest Avenue.

The residents affected the most are those at the south end, which have never actually flooded.

The USACE did come up with three alternatives that do lessen the cost to perhaps as little as $8.3 million. The village does not have any allocation in their current or forecasted budget to pay for the floodwall or for its maintenance.

Will the floodwall do what is promised? It may well prevent flooding to the residents on the east side of the Des Plaines River. However, contrary to presentations by the USACE, it will cause more water to be on the west side of the Des Plaines River (potentially affecting Riverside residents living there), First Avenue, Riverside-Brookfield High School, and Brookfield Zoo. The USACE builds a floodwall to a certain height in a river basin to prevent a flood caused by a certain amount of rainfall over the river basin. The volume of floodwater must go

somewhere. If the floodwall prevents it from going to the east of the Des Plaines River, the water will go to the west. One only needs analyze the data from the USGS monitoring station on the Des Plaines River in Riverside just downstream of Barrypoint Road before and after the removal of the Hoffman Dam to see this point.

The correlation between river height and flow rate changed completely after the dam was removed. A potential secondary effect of the floodwall is erosion of the banks. As a river channel is narrowed, the flow rate increases and the potential for erosion increases.

The Village of Riverside has National Historic Landmark status. That status is considered important to the village. If the floodwall is built, the first look at Riverside traveling east on Forest Avenue will be a floodwall. Not exactly a wonderful view. All access to the river will also be cut off along West Avenue. Some residents of West Avenue enjoy having access to the river for the view and use of the river. All trees and structures between the river and the floodwall, and east of the floodwall 15 feet, will have to be removed.

Based on the survey of April 2023, the residence at the back of the 8 West Ave. property is within 15 feet of the surveyed floodwall line and would have to be removed, along with a covered deck overlooking the river and a shed. This property has never flooded, yet it is the one property most affected by the floodwall.

Based on a survey available earlier this year from the Village of Riverside, 284 residents of Riverside agreed that the village should continue to work with the USACE and MWRD on the Groveland Floodwall project. However, less than a third of the respondents (who indicated where they lived) live in a portion of Riverside that would benefit from or be affected by the Groveland Floodwall. This is not a representative voice of Riverside residents.

Lastly, the construction of the Groveland Floodwall will not eliminate the need for some residents to purchase flood insurance since the wall will not be high enough.

David C. Bartel is a Riverside resident.

DAVID BARTEL One View

15

16

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

Matthew Egan, 56 Avid sports fan Matthew F. Egan, 56, of Riverside, has died.

A 1986 graduate of Riverside-Brookfield High School, who attended Hocking College in Ohio, he loved all Chicago sports teams but especially the Cubs and most recently the Blackhawks. He enjoyed watching American Idol and The Voice and will be remembered as a fantastic uncle who took an active role in the lives of his niece and nephew.

Matt was the son of Barbara (nee McGovern) and the late Bernard Egan; the brother of Christopher Egan and Brian (Veronica) Egan; and the uncle of Samuel and Fiona Egan.

Family and friends will be received at the Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on Wednesday, Feb. 28 from 3 until 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary Church on Thursday morning in Riverside, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www. stjude.org).

Arrangements were handled by The Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko-Director.

Ann Gelsomino, 76 Active member of St. Mary Parish Anisia “Ann” Gelsomino (nee Andryc), 76, of Darien, formerly of Riverside, has died. A 45-year resident of Riverside and parishioner of St. Mary Parish, she was known for her garden, pets, love of cooking, reading, theater shows, television, radio, and films. She grew up in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago and moved to Riverside to raise her family. After more than 10 years of working for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, she became a full-time mother raising her son, John, and daughter, Angela. She was active in their lives at St. Mary School through Market Day, Girl Scouts, Cub and Boy Scouts, and more. She was an active member and treasurer of the Berwyn chapter of TOPS Club Inc. for over 20 years. As her kids grew older, she returned to work, dedicating 25 years to Hephzibah Children’s Association in Oak Park before retiring in 2014. She then transitioned to her new role as (the best) Nana and babysitter for Alyssa. In 2019, she moved to Darien to be closer to her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.

Ann was the mother of John (Kristen) Gelsomino and Angela (Michael) Norris; grandmother/Nana of Alyssa Norris and Jordan Gelsomino; sister of Irene (late William) Wachula; sister-in-law of Patricia (late

OBITUARIES Richard) Gelsomino and Kathy (late Victor) Gelsomino; aunt of Christina Sheedy, Daniel (Joanna) Wachula, Shelly (Sonny) Scardamaglia, Andrea (Sudeb) Gelsomino, Dana (Paul-Emile) Morningstar, and Victor Gelsomino; and great-aunt of several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both her parents, Nicholas and Stephanie Andryc.

Visitation at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 29, from 3 until 8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at St. Mary Church in Riverside. Interment will be private at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Cemetery. All services will conclude after the Mass.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hephzibah Children’s Association in her memory (https://www.hephzibahhome.org).

Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko-Director.

Richard Guerrieri, 57 Republic Waste driver Richard W. Guerrieri Sr., 57, of Riverside, died on Feb. 23, 2024 in Hinsdale. Born on Feb. 4, 1967 in Berwyn, he was a driver for Republic Waste.

Richard was the husband of Francine (nee Stock); the father of Richard Jr. (Liana Stauber) Guerrieri, Samuel (Iliana) Guerrieri and Nicholas Guerrieri; the grandfather of Levi Wilder Guerrieri; and brother of Robert (Marilyn) Guerrieri, Victoria Guerrieri, Laura (Dave) Marshall and Andrew Guerrieri.

Cremation was private.

Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family at www.

KuratkoNosek.com.

Maureen Hamilton, 64 County Treasurer’s Office auditor Maureen Hamilton, 64, formerly of Riverside, has died. She was an auditor with the Cook County Treasurer’s Office for 30 years.

She loved sports, movies and spending time with family.

Maureen was the daughter of the late Raymond and the late Mary Ellen (nee Mulvihill) Hamilton; the sister of Raymond Hamilton, James (Jennifer) Hamilton, Eileen (Michael) Dillon, Beth (Charles Corbisiero), Mary (Stefano) Robertson and Meghan (Stephen) Mulligan, the late Thomas (late Margaret) Hamilton and the late Joan Hamilton; the aunt of 21; and the great-aunt of eight.

Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 9, 2024 at St. Mary

Church 126 Herrick Road, Riverside, followed by private inurnment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Maureen’s name would be appreciated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (www.michaeljfox.org).

Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko-Director.

to Hearing Loss Association of America. www.hearingloss.org Interment was private at Woodlawn Memorial Park. Info 708-442-8500 or www. woodlawnchicago.com

Dorothy Husa, 94

Bonnie Latzke (nee Buller), 74, who grew up in Brookfield before moving to LaGrange Park, died peacefully on Feb. 7, 2024, with her son by her side. Born to the late Thomas and Mae Buller on Feb. 15, 1949, she loved rooting on her Cubbies, watching Survivor, all things Arizona, and spending time with neighbors, friends and family. Throughout her life and her career, she got to know and help so many people in the community. She was always ready to help a friend and never expected anything in return.

Bonnie was the mother of Tom Latzke (Lindsey); grandmother of their daughters, Vivienne and Elaina; cherished her relationship with Sarah Latzke, daughter of Thomas and Sumalee Latzke; and the aunt of Heather (Paul) Conroy and Thomas (Heather) Buller.

She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Terry Buller and Tom Buller (Sandy).

Rather than a traditional service, she wished for friends and family to gather and celebrate life with one another in remembrance.

Memorials may be made in memory of Bonnie to her favorite charity, the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family also expresses its gratitude to the caring and compassionate professionals at St. Thomas Hospice and Plymouth Place.

Secretary Dorothy K. Husa (nee Knol), 94, of Riverside, formerly of Brookfield, died on Feb. 23, 2024. She worked as a secretary for a manufacturing firm.

Dorothy was the wife of the late Robert Husa; the mother of Robert (Rosemarie) Husa, Carol Kartje and Lorene (Larry) O’Connell; the grandmother of Nicholas (Shannon) DeVincent, Elizabeth Kartje, Catherine Kartje, Charles O’Connell, Margaret O’Connell, and Clare O’Connell; the greatgrandmother of Ryder DeVincent and Rowan DeVincent; and the aunt of many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by all of her brothers, sisters and in-laws, Louis (Evelyn) Knol, Jacob Knol, Mary (Ted) Spieker and Richard (Pat) Husa.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 29 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Friday, March 1, from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by a funeral service at Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. Inurnment will be private at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood.

Memorials appreciated to the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Dr., Ste. 1150, Chicago, IL 60601.

Colleen Johnson, 83 Worked at Loyola Medical Center Colleen Diane Johnson, 83, died on Feb. 17, 2024. She worked at Loyola University Medical Center where she was recognized for having perfect attendance for 16 years.

Her favorite pastime was watching Dancing with the Stars and any Bachelor or Bachelorette reality show. She also was a fan of General Hospital since it began.

Colleen was the wife of Thomas Johnson for 28 years; the mother to Kimberly (Gregory) Chismark, Sandra Johnson (William Jansen), and Jackie Johnson; the grandmother of Rebecca (Lenny) Kapovich, Sarah Chismark (Alex Figueroa) and Adam Chismark; and the great-grandmother of Elle and Charlotte Kapovich.

Memorial contributions are appreciated

Bonnie Latzke, 74 Loved the Cubs and Arizona

Iris Mercado, 88 DHS caseworker Iris Carmen Mercado (nee Vega), 88, of North Riverside, died on Feb. 21, 2024 in Maywood. Born on Oct. 30, 1935 in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, she was a caseworker for the Department of Human Services.

Iris was the wife of the late Pedro; the mother of Iris (Othon) Nunez, Jose A. Brenes, and Nelson (Marisa) Mercado; and the grandmother and sister of many.

Visitation was held on Feb. 27 at KuratkoNosek Funeral Home, 2447 S. Desplaines Ave., North Riverside. Funeral Mass will take place at Mater Christi Church, North Riverside at 10 a.m., with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park.

Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family at www.

KuratkoNosek.com.

Sports

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

17

RBHS boys wrestlers reach 2A team quarterfinals Bulldogs’ Aphay wins match in third trip to girls state meet

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

After coming one victory from qualifying for the individual state meet, Riverside Brookfield High School senior Jacob Noe took advantage of his second chance.

Noe won his final two high school matches as the Bulldogs reached the Class 2A team state quarterfinals for the third time in the past four postseasons before losing to third-place Chatham Glenwood 58-12 Friday in Bloomington.

Noe won with a third-period pin at 150 pounds. The Bulldogs (19-7) also took decisions by junior all-stater Edgar Mosquera 11-6 at 113 and senior Josh Gonzalez 5-1 at 144.

“After I pinned my dude, it was like, ‘I’m speechless.’ I was so happy winning it for my team [even though] we lost,” Noe said. “[Going downstate] felt amazing. It just feels really good to do it my senior year.”

RBHS previously advanced to state in 2022 and 2020 for the first time ever and also were defeated in the quarterfinals.

There was no 2021 state tournament.

With only four senior starters and two of their three state qualifiers returning, Mosquera and junior Ethan Rivas at 157, the Bulldogs should remain in the hunt for that elusive top-four team state trophy.

“The kids are very motivated. One of the thing we’ve talked about is we want to wres-

tle as a team on the final day [in the state’s top four],” RBHS coach Nick Curby said.

“Now they’ve got eight or nine months to really put the gas down and get as good as they can so we can be in the position to do that.”

Mosquera (43-7), a state runner-up, and Gonzalez (43-12) end this season sharing the most victories in a season during Curby’s eight seasons as head coach. Rivas finished 24-16.

Glenwood recorded seven pins, two technical falls and two decisions.

“We didn’t lose because of lack of effort.

We just ran into a lot of good wrestlers,” Curby said.

The Bulldogs pulled off an impressive comeback to reach state. At the Brother Rice Sectional, Feb. 20, they defeated Hinsdale South 42-33 after trailing 22-6.

Senior Cade Tomkins (27-12 at 165 pounds) opened with a pin, but the Hornets took the next four matches.

“Our team knew once we got to the [lower weights], that’s where we’re stronger and when we got to the middle weights, that’s where we were going to pour on the points,” Curby said. “No one panicked.”

Consecutive pins by senior Mateo Gonzalez (24-16 at 106), Mosquera and sophomore Jayden Tulian (23-17 at 120) put RBHS ahead 24-22. Junior Nate Stanard (22-18 at 126) then won 6-0 and junior Jacob Godoy (30-19 at 132) and Josh Gonzalez followed

with pins.

Noe (34-19) mathematically clinched the victory with a 6-2 decision that put RBHS ahead 42-27 with one match left. Noe defeated Andrew Musil, a 157 state-qualifier who beat Noe 13-4 in the first round of sectionals.

“After I saw those four pins in a row, it motivated me. It boosted my confidence way more,” Noe said.

“That (6-2 victory) was an amazing feeling.

I was so happy. It felt amazing getting my revenge, but we both wrestled a nice match.”

RBHS girls wrestling Senior Eleanor Aphay, the first individual state qualifier in program history in 2022, went 1-2 at 125 in her third trip to the state meet in Bloomington.

Aphay (19-6) won her second match 1511 over Homewood-Flossmoor sophomore Makayla Marr (9-5) after initially being pinned in 1:34 by Canton junior Kinnley Smith (27-4), the state runner-up.

In the consolation bracket, Aphay was defeated 9-0 by Kaneland junior Brooklyn Sheaffer (16-5). Aphay then would have had to beat fourth-place Yorkville senior Yamilet Aguirre (28-3) to advance to the all-state rounds.

“I hoped I would do better at state but I tried my best and gave it my all,” Aphay said. “I was happy with my [win]. Although it was long, I fought hard.”

ELEANOR APHAY Last season, Aphay also was 1-2 at state and finished 21-7 overall and was joined by current sophomore Danely Villagomez, qualifying at 135.

As the Bulldogs’ first state qualifier in 2022, Aphay was pinned in both of her matches to finish 17-9.

“For me, the best moments were seeing some of the other girls get their first win of the season,” Aphay said. “I hope I’ve encouraged the girls program to grow and continue to have other state qualifiers.”

RBHS basketball season ends in regional final

Bulldogs set program record for victories over consecutive seasons

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

The Riverside Brookfield High School boys basketball team’s senior class led the

way to a record-setting season, but one of their final goals eluded them: winning a regional championship.

The Bulldogs reached the Class 4A Hinsdale Central Regional final, Friday, but lost to Simeon 52-42. They also lost in last year’s regional finals.

“We just couldn’t get it. It was one of those nights,” senior Steven Brown said.

“Today was a tough day. [Simeon] was a good team. We expected a hard-fought

battle. Today is very emotional,” added 7-foot senior Stefan Cicic. “Obviously it’s been a really good program over the years.

They’ve made it far. [Mike Reingruber] is a really good coach. I see him like my second father. Bulldog history is going to last forever and they’re going to be good next year and who knows how many years.”

The Bulldogs (26-5) were the No. 3 seed in the RB Sectional and their first regional title since 2022 would have brought the eight

seniors back to their home court. Two days earlier, they rolled past No. 14 Argo 80-53 behind Cicic (22 points, 9 rebounds, 5 dunks, 3 blocks) and Brown (20 points).

Combined with last year’s 26-6 finish, the Bulldogs’ 52 victories set a program record for the most victories over a two-season span. The group also achieved a sixth conference title in Reingruber’s seven seasons See BASKETBALL on page 18

18

S P O R T S

The Landmark, February 28, 2024

Bulldogs, Lions step up in swimming state finals Rosa, relay set RBHS records, LTHS excels with young lineup

LTHS

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Riverside Brookfield High School senior Drew Rosa improved by just a few places individually in his third and final trip to the boys swimming and diving state meet.

“I try not the think about the places, just think about the time,” Rosa said. “At the end of the day I’m not going to remember what place I got. I’m going to remember the time.”

After Rosa’s three races in the finals Saturday, he deservedly felt like a champion. Rosa swam two significant personal bests in finishing ninth in the 100-yard breast stroke (55.99 seconds) and 13th in the 100 butterfly (49.94) and also was part of the 13th-place 200 free relay with seniors Hayden Marrs and Will Kallas and junior Aiden Pankros (1:25.84). The Bulldogs finished 26th (21 points) and the Lions tied for 27th (20).

The relay broke the 1:26.20 school record. Rosa followed in the breast stroke by finally beating the 57.18 school record held by older brother Michael, a 2019 graduate.

“My goal was to be 49 and 55 [seconds] at this meet,” Rosa said. “It’s kind of been a goal of mine for a while. I finally did it and it feels great to see personal-best times by pretty decent margins.”

While Rosa was making his third state trip, everyone else made their debuts among the Bulldogs’ seven state entries. Most of the teammates also excel in other sports besides swimming.

“For being my senior year, I just wanted to accomplish something,” Kallas said. “Swim isn’t my main sport, but I wanted to finish my season with something to look back on. Coming to state is something to look back on.”

This year, entries among the top 16 times in Friday’s preliminaries advanced to finals instead of 12 as in the past.

The top eight times competed for the state championship.

The expanded field resulted in all three RBHS finalists.

“They had a lot of fun. They had some goals they wanted to accomplish and didn’t get accomplished at sectionals and they did a great job,” RBHS swim coach Mike Laurich said.

BASKETBALL from page 17 as head coach and a fifth straight 20-win season.

Cicic transferred to RBHS as a junior from Niles Notre Dame. Mehki Austin, the Bulldogs’ third senior starter and good friend with Brown, transferred this season from Oak Park and River Forest.

“I just feel for these seniors. They’ve put their heart and soul into this,” Reingruber

DREW ROSA Last season, Rosa just missed both consolation finals with 14th in the fly (50.73) and 15th in the breast stroke (57.53). On Saturday, he moved up from having the 15thfastest qualifying time in the fly and 14th-fastest in the breast stroke. The 200 free relay improved from 15th.

“It definitely feels great to get those times,” said Rosa, who plans to swim in college, “But nothing really beats just hanging out with the guys, the swim team, all of the pasta parties and all of the other memories we made throughout the past four years. They really made it memorable.”

said. “They’ve left a legacy. They’ve had a tremendous two-year career. I’m just thankful for everything they’ve done in our program.”

Cicic (20 points, 10 rebounds), Brown (11 points, 5 rebounds), junior Danny Loftus (5 rebounds), Austin (4 points) and senior Sam Shelven (4 rebounds) led the Bulldogs.

Despite Friday’s outcome, the Bulldogs stayed close to No. 6-seed Simeon (16-13).

They only trailed 25-19 at halftime and 3730 entering the fourth quarter.

On their first possession, Cicic completed a traditional three-point play to close to

The Lions had two consolation finalists. The 200 free relay of junior Lachlan Gantt, sophomore Jack Hannon, junior Jake Thorell and sophomore Matthew Ferguson was 10th in a season-best 1:24.57.

The 200 medley relay of junior Declan Vahey, seniors Jack Dillon and Peter Smith and Thorell was 14th (1:35.55) after a season-best 1:33.98 Friday.

“It was really amazing. Just being here with all of these other teams, just racing against the best in the state and getting some really good experience for next year,” Thorell said.

On Friday, Smith dropped a JAKE THORELL second from his fly time at sectionals to help the medley relay advance. In the 200 free relay finals, Ferguson competed after Smith swam Friday.

“Although I didn’t do as well [in Saturday’s medley final], I still made it to the finals so that was really fun,” Smith said. “I’m sad that it’s over but it was really exciting to see our 200 free relay [Saturday]. It’s all young guys but the team’s in good hands.”

PETER SMITH Smith and Dillon reached their second state meet and senior diver Matt Adler his third. The rest of the 11 entries consisted of juniors and sophomores.

“It was a lot of good experience,” LTHS swim coach Erin Rodriguez said. “They know it will mean a lot the next couple of years moving forward when they come here [again].”

37-33. But the Wolverines scored the next seven points, including a three, to lead 4433.

Cicic scored off a Shelven pass to close to 47-40 with 1:01 left, but the Wolverines scored a basket immediately, following a stretch of hitting just 1 of 8 free throws.

The Bulldogs made just 11 of 23 free throws, including 5 for 15 in the first half, and were 1 for 11 from three-point range.

Junior Vince Dockendorf had the Bulldogs’ lone three with 1:35 left. Brown and sophomore guard Cameron Mercer battled foul trouble early and fouled out in the

fourth quarter.

Overall, the Bulldogs made 15 of 40 shots with Cicic and Brown a combined 11 for 22.

Simeon made 19 of 45 shots with five 3s and 9 of 20 free throws.

“We never really went on any runs. Any time we had an opportunity, they made a play. Credit to them,” Reingruber said.

“We never got in a flow offensively. Some of it was our decision-making but a lot of it had to do with them. They sped us up a little bit. We still had opportunities. Shots weren’t dropping and part of basketball is you have to score.”

The Landmark, February 28, 2024 19

Let the sun shine in...

Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

PUBLIC NOTICES The Village of Brookfield Has Scheduled Public Information Meeting #1 The Ogden Avenue Corridor Improvements East Avenue/Eberly Avenue to Custer Avenue

Your right to know...In print • Online

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNIT YMEDIA .ORG

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

Bids will be opened on March 13, 2024, 10:00 AM at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130. All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Base Bid, payable to the Park District of Forest Park.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois that bid proposals will be received for the following project:

check or certified check in an amount not less than Five Percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. Checks shall be made payable to the Order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Maribeth Fromm Case Number 2024 4000810 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Maribeth Gunger Fromm to the new name of: Maribeth Gunger.

The court date will be held: On April 16, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Fourth Municipal Court House Maywood at 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood IL 60153 in Courtroom # 0112.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 14, 21, 28, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE Park District of Forest Park 7501 Harrison Street Forest Park, Illinois 60130 Remembrance Park The Park District of Forest Park does hereby invite sealed bids for Remembrance Park. Work will include removals, earthwork operations, concrete curbs and paving, site furnishings, splash pad equipment, playground equipment, play surfacing, utilities, fencing, sod, planting, and subdrainage.

Project manuals, including bid form and specifications, and construction documents are available after 10:00 A.M. on February 28, 2024, from Accurate Reprographics 2368 Corporate Lane, Suite 100, Naperville, Illinois 60563, 630.428.4433 www. hitchcockplanroom.com.

Bidding documents are available to download and print at the non-refundable cost of reproduction.

The successful bidder, as determined by the Park District of Forest Park, shall be required to pay, and to agree to pay no less than the Prevailing Rate of Wages, pursuant to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) for the locality of the Park District of Forest Park (Cook County), to each laborer worker, or mechanic needed or used to complete the work as detailed in the contract to be let.

The successful contractor, and all subcontractors shall be required to submit, to the Park District of Forest Park, certified payrolls no later than the tenth day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding month.

The Park District of Forest Park reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, parts of any and all proposals, or to waive technical errors or omissions in submitted proposals.

No submitted bid may be withdrawn until a period of ninety (90) days after the bid opening date, without written consent of the Park District of Forest Park. The Park District of Forest Park encourages minority business firms to submit bids on this project and the successful contract bidder to utilize minority businesses as sub-contractors for supplies, equipment, services, and construction.

Questions should be directed to Bridget Deatrick or Eric Hornig, Hitchcock Design Group (630) 961-1787, bdeatrick@hitchcockdesigngroup.com, or ehornig@hitchccockdesigngroup. com Published in Forest Park Review, February 28, 2024

Bids will be accepted at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130 during regular office hours. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the Contractor’s name and address, and “Bid for Remembrance Park,” on the face of the envelope. Bids must be received no later than March 13, 2024, 10:00 AM.

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know...

In print • Online

2024 STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS This project will include the replacement of concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveway aprons, and drainage structures, pavement widening, replacement of certain sections of combined sewers, milling and resurfacing certain pavements, landscaping disturbed areas, and performing other related work.

Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, the 13th day of March, 2024, in the office of the Village Manager in the Village Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. All sealed bids received will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 A.M. on the same day, Wednesday, the 13th day of March, 2024, at the Village Hall.

Electronic copies of bidding documents, consisting of the bid proposal, project specifications, and project plans are available from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Co., 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Bidding documents can be requested by emailing info@ ehancock.com. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday, the 6th day of March, 2024.

All bidders wishing to obtain bidding documents must be approved by the Village prior to obtaining bidding documents. All bidders must provide proof that they are prequalified with the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform at least 40% of the value of the work before being issued bidding documents. A non-refundable fee of Thirty dollars ($30.00) will be required to obtain bidding documents. Proposals will only be accepted from bidders that have obtained bidding documents from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company.

PUBLIC NOTICES EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise

Any bidder in doubt as to the true meaning of any part of the bidding documents may request an interpretation thereof from the Village. The bidder requesting the interpretation shall be responsible for its prompt delivery. At the request of the bidder, or in the event that the Village deems the interpretation to be substantive, the interpretation will be made by written addendum issued by the Village.

any preference, limitation

In the event that a written addendum is issued, either as a result of a request for interpretation or the result of a change in the bidding documents issued by the Village, a copy of such addendum will be emailed to all prospective bidders. The Village will not assume responsibility for receipt of such addendum. In all cases it will be the bidders’ responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

The Illinois Human Rights Act

The Contractor and Subcontractor shall comply with all regulations issued pursuant to Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130), and other applicable Federal Laws and regulations pertaining to labor standards.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the rights to determine the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS Published in RB Landmark, February 28, 2024

All bid proposals offered must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s

Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year

or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

OakPark.com RBLandmark.com ForestParkReview.com AustinWeeklyNews.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com

The Village of Brookfield cordially invites you to attend Public Information Meeting #1 concerning the Ogden Avenue Corridor Improvements.

The project is investigating roadway and streetscape improvements along Ogden Avenue from East Avenue/ Eberly Avenue to Custer Avenue.

The proposed improvement includes the resurfacing of the Ogden Avenue pavement, reconstruction of the sidewalk, and streetscape, parking, utility, and ADA improvements throughout the corridor. Existing conditions, ongoing analyses, and what we have heard to date will be presented.

The Village is aiming to obtain federal funds for this project, and this public information meeting is being held in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s public involvement policy.

The purpose of this meeting is to present the existing conditions and to seek public input and comments regarding the project. The details of the meeting are as follows: Date:

March 19, 2024

Time:

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Location:

Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library 3541 Park Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513

The in-person public information meeting will be conducted in an informal, open house format. Feel free to attend the meeting at any time between 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. The Village of Brookfield and consultant representatives will be present to discuss the project and to answer questions on an individual basis.

Written comments will be accepted during the meeting as well as after the meeting. All comments received

by April 2, 2024 will become part of the Public Information Meeting #1 record. Comments are welcome throughout the entirety of the project, however, they may not be documented within the project report.

The meeting will be accessible to persons with a disability. Anyone in need of special assistance and planning to attend should contact the Village of Brookfield representative listed below by March 17, 2024 by telephone, in writing, or by e-mail.

For more information, contact: Stevie Ferrari Assistant Village Manager Village of Brookfield 8820 Brookfield Ave. Brookfield, IL 60513 Phone: 708-485-1114 E-Mail: SFerrari@brookfieldil.gov Published in RB Landmark, February 28, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES El Suburbio de Brookfield Ha Programado Una Reunión de Información Publica No. 1 Mejoras al Corredor de Ogden Avenue – Desde East Avenue/Eberly Avenue Hasta Custer Avenue El suburbio de Brookfield le invita cordialmente a asistir a la Reunión de Información Pública No. 1 sobre las Mejoras al Corredor de Ogden Avenue. Este proyecto está estudiando mejoras a la carretera y el paisaje urbano a lo largo de Ogden Avenue desde East Avenue/Eberly Avenue hasta Custer Avenue. La mejora propuesta incluye reconstrucción del pavimento de Ogden Avenue, reconstrucción de las aceras, paisaje urbano, la franja de estacionamiento, infraestructura de utilidades y servicios, y mejoras en conforme con la Ley para Persona con Discapacidades (ADA, por sus siglas en inglés) a lo largo del corredor. En esta reunión se presentarán las condiciones existentes, el análisis, y lo que hemos escuchado de la comunidad.

El suburbio está buscando obtener fondos federales para este proyecto y esta reunión de información pública se va a llevar a cabo conforme con los requisitos de la Ley Nacional de Política Ambiental (NEPA, por sus siglas en inglés) y la política de participación pública del Departamento de Transporte de Illinois. El objetivo de esta reunión es presentar las condiciones existentes y solicitar la opinión y los comentarios del público sobre el proyecto. Los detalles de la reunión son los siguientes: Día:

19 de Marzo de 2024

Hora:

4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M.

Ubicación:

Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library 3541 Park Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 La reunión de información pública en persona se llevará a cabo en un formato informal de puertas abiertas. No dude en asistir a la reunión en cualquier momento entre las 4:00 p.m. y las 6:00 p.m. El suburbio de Brookfield y los representantes de los consultores estarán presentes para analizar el proyecto y responder preguntas de forma individual.

Se aceptarán comentarios por escrito durante y después de la reunión (en cualquier idioma). Todos los comentarios recibidos antes del 2 de abril de 2024 formarán parte del acta de la reunión de información pública.

Se aceptarán comentarios a lo largo del proyecto, pero estos no necesariamente serán documentados en al reporte del proyecto.

La reunión será accesible para personas con discapacidad. Las personas que necesiten asistencia especial y tengan previsto asistir deben ponerse en contacto, como se indica a continuación, con Brookfield antes del 17 de marzo de 2024 por teléfono, por escrito o por correo electrónico.

Para más información, comuníquese con: Stevie Ferrari Subdirector de Brookfield Suburbio de Brookfield 8820 Brookfield Ave Brookfield, IL 60513 Teléfono: 708-485-1114 Correo Electrónico: SFerrari@ brookfieldil.gov Published in RB Landmark, February 28, 2024

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The Landmark, February 28, 2024

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