Sole resident on Harris Road wants his street xed
Riverside o cials say other streets need work rst
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Riverside resident Chester Stock and his family have lived on Harris Road by Harrington Park for around three decades, he said. In that time, they’ve remained the only residents on the street, which juts out north of Olmsted Road immediately west of Harlem Avenue.
Now, Stock says it’s time the village resurfaced Harris to improve the quality of the road and put in extra drainage to deal with standing water that has historically pooled up after rain or snow. But village officials say there are no plans for such a project.
“There’s no other drainage here at all. You see how torn up it is, patched? Kids come by here, little kids. It’s a very busy place in the summertime,” Stock told the Landmark. “[The park] is higher than [the road], so all the water comes in here. There are no sewers. There should be a curb here on both sides, like a normal street … The street is in bad shape.”
Stock said he had records of drainage issues going back 16 years, which more recently led to flooding issues in his home’s basement. He said he’s reached out to village staf f and officials about having the street improved and the sewers connected, but he’s heard back that such a thing is out of the village’s budget, and there are no plans to fix the issues he’s noticed.
In an email, Village Manager Jessica Frances said Stock first reached out to village staf f in 2019 about people pa rking ille g ally on the road, creating depressions, and that he reached out again late last summer about resurfacing and connecting the sewers
“The depressions had standing water, which was his concern. [In 2019], he was asking that a sewer connection be installed to allow for drainage and eliminate the standing water; however, there is no ability to connect to a sewer in that location. Since
Chester Stock, one of Harris Road’s sole residents, is calling for Riverside to improve conditions.
2019, the Parks and Recreation Department has worked with the police department to enforce no parking on that road during peak times,” she said in the email.
Since 2019, she said, Riverside’s public works and parks and recreation departments have worked together to “periodically” fill depressions on the side of the street near Harrington Park “as needed,” but the village does not have plans to resurface Harris Road within the next 10 years, as “there are other streets that are in worse condition.”
According to a village-wide pavement rating from 2024 that Frances shared, Harris Road is ranked between 59 and 69 out of 100, higher than several other roads in town that are ranked below 59, including Olmsted Road, to which Harris connects Frances attributed the tendency for standing water to sit on Harris Road to the topography of the area; some parts of the road are lower than the surrounding properties, including Stock’s, causing the water to col-
lect there, she said.
Stock said he worries mosquitoes and other insects could breed in the standing water and cause further issues for him and parkgoers.
He said officials told him it would cost $35,000 to resurface Harris Road. Frances confirmed the figure was the village engineer’s estimate in 2025.
“This request must be evaluated with all the other water main, sewer and street needs of the village tha t may be in a worse condition,” she wrote. “To ensure that the village are good stewards of resources, costs are always a concern coupled with how many [people] will benefit from the improvements.”
Despite Riverside’s lack of a plan to resurface Harris Road, Stock still says he’d like to see conditions improved
“It’s a safety factor. If water is going to still stand because the park is higher than the rest, they have to have curbs and sewers,” he said. “That’s the right way to do it.”
Cullnan
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STELLA BROWN
RB grad nears 16 years with Brook eld Zoo Chicago
Racquel Ardisana started as a teenage volunteer before making her career
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
When Racquel Ardisana started volunteering at Brookfield Zoo Chicago as a teenager, she didn’t know that she would go on to work full-time at the zoo — or that she would do so for nearly 16 years.
Ardisana, who grew up in Riverside and graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in 2006, is the zoo’s associate director of carnivore and small mammal care and conservation. Before that, she worked as an animal care specialist.
“I have several keeper that I work with in the de partment. I oversee a whole bunch of different things, from daily husbandry to species survival plan recommendations,” she told the Landmark. “I have actually worked at the Brookfield Zoo for all of my adult life. I started here as a youth volunteer … and absolutely loved the zoo. I worked here throughout college in the education department, and after college, I started my animal care career.”
up loving wild places and knowing that these wild places need our help,” she said. “When people connect with wildlife and fall in love with wildlife and fall in love with wild places, they’re more likely to want to conserve and protect those places.”
Ardisana said one of her earliest inspirations was Rachel Carson, a marine biologist and conservation writer known for her nature books published in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s
“I remember very distinctly in fifth grade, I did a book report on ‘The Sea Around Us,’ which I think my teacher was a little surprised by,” she said. “I learned about her from a young age. [She was] a very famous marine biologist, and I was so interested in her books and her research. That’s why my original dream was to be a marine biologist.”
In high school, Ardisana said she volunteered at the Shedd Aquarium, too.
careers similar to this. She kind of championed us and always was helping us find new opportunities.”
She said one of her favorite parts of her job is interacting with members of the public, educating them about the zoo’s different animals and the importance of conservation.
“I grew up loving the zoo, but I also grew
“There was a person there in their education department named Nicole Pearson, and she was a big inspiration to me. I got very lucky; early on, I had a lot of female mentors … who I really felt helped push me into this career,” she said.
“Dana Murphy was the head of the youth volunteer program [at the zoo], but she helped me and my sisters. We all went into
Indeed, a love for animals runs in Ardisana’s family. Her older sister spent much of her career working as a veterinarian, while her younger sister worked for several years as an animal care specialist at the Dallas Zoo, she said.
“My dad, I will say, was another man who inspired us when we were young. My dad was from Chicago but grew up visiting and spending the summer on his aunt and uncle’s farm in Wisconsin every year. He had a love of animals, and from an early ag e, we found an injured animal, and we we re like, ‘Can we take care of it?’” she said.
“People were like, ‘The Ardisana sisters will take this animal until we can get it to a rehab center,’ and my dad always suppor ted us in that.”
To any youngsters with a fledgling interest in caring for animals like she had, Ardisana suggested seeking out opportunities and mentors alike.
“There are great opportunities out there for high school students to get involved. There are a lot of stewardship days for [the Cook County] Forest Preserves. There’s volunteering here [at the zoo],” she said. “I did have some really great mentors who continued to push for me and open my eyes to more opportunities that I didn’t realize were out there.”
FILE PHOTO
Racquel Ardisana feeds the Brook eld Zoo gira es in 2015.
4510 Raymond Ave., Brook eld
The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from December 2025. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that info rmation was not provided by the clerk’s office. ADDRESS PRICE SELLER BUYER
4510 Raymond Ave
$908,000 Imx Grp Llc Gasienica Joseph
Elm Ave $775,000 Pettinger John Tlevgabylov Daniyar
Arden Ave $635,000 Maloku Granit Arenas Caesar
Mccormick Ave
Hybela Jaroslava Tr Bauer Megan
Maple Ave $475,000 Bell Lauren Dominguez Christopher
Madison Ave
$450,000 Aguilar Jacob A Stoker Krista
3251 Grand Blvd $415,000 David Alexander P Tr Bond Prince E Est 3525 Hollywood Ave $405,000 Ortega Luz Maria Mancilla Zavala Diego P 3227 Harrison Ave $400,000 Axiom Home Investments Llc Crenshaw Benjamin James 4125 Deyo Ave $369,000 Balaguer Jose A Jacobo Juan 4210 Maple Ave $367,000 Tanykeev Isa Dare Shane E 3921 Sunnyside Ave $360,000 Mathew Tony Surgal Rita Dirito
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Brook eld ups vehicle sticker fees for 2026
Village investigates new virtual vehicle sticker option
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield residents can expect a bump in the fees they pay for vehicle stickers when the renewal period opens in May.
Village trustees on Monday, March 9, approved increases to the fees that will go into effect for this year.
A re gular passenger vehicle sticker will cost $60, up from $50, while motorcycle stickers will cost $30 instead of $25. Vehicles registered at the senior citiz en rate, which is limited to one car per household, will have sti ckers costing $10, up from $8. Trucks weighing less than 8,000 pounds will now have stickers that cost $96 instead of $80, and those heavier than that will require stickers costing $150, up from $125.
Late fees will also increase. If you’ re late to re gister your car, you’ll owe $30 extra rather than the previous $20, leaving a total late price of $90, up from $70. Senior
late fees will rise to $5 on top of the re gular price, motorcycle late fees will rise to $10, and all truck late fees will rise to $50.
All fee increases are about 20% of the previous sticker price, Finance Director Doug Cooper told the Landmark. According to a staf f memo Cooper wrote, this increase is Brookfield’s first since 2019; with about 3% annual inflation in operational costs over the seven years, the fees will just about even out with inflation.
Vehicle sticker renewal will open on May 15, Cooper said, and run through June 30. Late fees and police enforcement will go into effect on July 1.
The memo estimates Brookfield will bring in $111,445 more than last year, based on the number of vehicle stickers it sold in each category.
Cooper said the bulk of the newly generated revenue will go toward the village’s public works department.
“We’re looking at hiring a new assistant public works director, and that led me to
review all of the expenditures within that fund, and I noticed that it was time to look at some possible fee adjustments that needed to be made in order to appropriately fund that particular department,” he said.
“We need to fund salt, all the manpower involved with clearing the streets, the leaf program, patching — anything that has to do with street maintenance, those costs have risen.”
He said staff discussed the fee increases during the village’s budg eting process last year as staf f looked ahead to this year
In addition to raising the fees for vehicle stickers, Brookfield staf f are working to do away with the physical stickers themselves. Instead, the finance and police departments are working together to implement digital vehicle stickers, though Cooper said staf f are still in the “initial stages of investigation” to determine if the program is viable with the village’s existing software.
“When people pay for the sticker, it will
get into our database, and what we would end up doing is taking our current database with the newly purchased stickers and putting that into a license plate reader over in the police department,” he said. “As they go down the road, the license plate reader would be able to determine whether or not the car is re gistered to a Brookfield address and whether or not they actually purchased the vehicle sticker.”
Announcements related to the virtual sticker program will be made to the community as village staff iron out the details, he added.
Cooper acknowledged that some residents may be unhappy with the rising costs associated with vehicle ownership.
“Unfortunately, we need to increase the fee to maintain our current service level on the streets,” he said. “We need to meet inflationary expectations, and we are trying to keep our costs to a minimum. This was one of the few ways we could see to fully fund that department.”
the dysfunction and partisan squabbling in Washington, D.C.
“I’m r unning as an inde pendent because this moment demands an inde pendent voice,” Getty said. “I don’ t answer to a pa rty, I answer to the people. I’m running because our country faces serious challenges: rising costs, immigration and public safety concerns, economic uncertainty and a political system that feels increasingly disconnected from reality. We don’ t need more partisan talking points, we don’ t need more backroom deals. We need leaders who unite us and put the people first.”
Getty was elected mayor of Lyons for the first time in 2009 when he was only 26 years old. In his speech last month Getty said that he was then the youngest person elected mayor in Illinois. Getty has led a powerful political organization in Lyons since becoming mayor dominating village gover nment and taking control of the Lyons Elementary School District 103 Board of Education. His father, the late Ken Getty, had also been the mayor of Lyons in the 1990s. In 1998 Ken Getty Sr. was convicted of mail fraud in a bid rigging scheme and sentenced to 66 months in prison. Ken Getty Sr. always proclaimed
his innocence and after his father got out of federal prison Chris Getty appointed his father to the Lyons Zoning Board. Ken Getty Sr. died in 2025.
Getty could have a powerful ally if Steve Landek, the mayor of Bridgeview and the Lyons Democratic Committeeman from Lyons Township, decides to support him. Landek did not return a phone call or text message asking him if he was going to support Getty’s campaign for Cong ress.
Getty’s time as mayor has not been without controversy. In 2019 FBI agents raided the Lyons Village Hall as well as the offices of Getty Insurance which was r un by Chris Getty and his late father. No charges were ever filed against Chris Getty or anyone in Lyons as a result of the raids
ing this district up.” Getty said. After 17 years as mayor he said that he is now ready to heed calls to run for higher of fice.
“This is our moment, this is our movement; our time is now,” Getty said.
“This is our mome nt, this is our movement; our time is no w. ”
CHRISTOPHER GET TY Village of Lyons mayor
Macias grew up in the Back of the Yards neighborhood in Chicago and graduated from Yale University in 2010. She spent her first two years after graduating from Yale as a Teach for America M iddl e School teacher. Since then Macias has wo rked in p olitics first as a field org anizer in F lorida fo r Barack Obama’s reelection c ampaign in 2012. S he went on to wo rk fo r the F lorida Democratic Pa rt y and the Latino Vi c tory Project and also wo rked on the unsucc essful K amala Harris presidential c ampaign in 2024. S he has also wo rked fo r
Sigcho-Lopez is a Democratic Socialist who is the alderman for Chicago’s 25th ward located on the near west side of the city. Sigcho-Lopez, like Getty and the other inde pendent candidates, has expressed outrage over the way that Chuy Garcia withdrew from the race to give Patty Garcia a free ride in the Democratic primary.
“It sends a bad message to our constituents, to the city, something like this, especially by someone who portrayed himself as a progressive and a refor mer, this doesn’t speak to those values,” SigchoLopez told the Landmark a few months ago when he was exploring r unning as an inde pendent. “We want to make sure people know that as progressives, people committed to public service, that we don’ t stand by that.”
Getty said he would focus on issues in his campaign for Cong ress
“This campaign is not about tearing anyone down; this campaign is about lift-
Building Back To g ether, a non-profit org anization dedicated to promoting the economic and p olitical agenda of the B iden administration.
Church, who lives in Berwyn with her wife and child, is described on her campaign web site as veteran, non-profit executive, and a LBGTQ+ leader. She served in the Navy as a Persian-Farsi linguist. After leaving the Navy she ear ned a bachelor’s de gree in Islamic Studies and Inter national Relations from the University of Washington. She is the co-founder and executive director of Minority Veterans for America.
The RB Landmark is now part of NEWSWELL, a nonpro t journalism organization that provides resources, technology, and long-term support to community newsrooms across the country. This partnership strengthens our foundation while keeping everything that matters the same. Our newsroom remains local. Our staff remains in place. Our commitment to this community is unchanged. With the added support of NEWSWELL, we are better positioned than ever to continue delivering the independent, communityfocused journalism our readers rely on. Same mission.
future.
MORRISSE
Y
‘I have friends’
from page 1
“He was in his 80s, he was an elder man, and he was out there every day shoveling snow,” she told the Landmark. “It was amazing to watch. I was observing from afar for a little bit, but then, at one point, I went over there. It was a really bad snowstorm, one for the years, and I went I grew up learning that you take care your elderly neighbors. I started to shovel his snow, and he was like, ‘No, no, no. I got this.’”
Over time, she got to know him as a neighbor and a friend, listening to his stories of his life from before and after he moved to Brookfield.
His son, Tom Morrissey, said the centenarian grew up with “a rather large Irish family on the South Side of Chicago.” He married his late wife, Rose Therese Morrissey, nee Sentivanac, in 1952, and the couple had Tom in 1953.
For nearly two decades, Morrissey worked for A&P, the grocery chain that
Brook eld emergency vehicles lead a procession of cars past Joe Morrissey’s house.
started as a tea and coffee retailer, his son said, before he moved into the banking world for another 20 years or so.
Tom Morrissey said he and his siblings grew up in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago and that his father’s Navy service inspired his own three-decade military career. Of the couple’s four children,
Members of American Legion Post 1941 congratulate Joe
eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, one of their grandsons felt the same and has served for more than 10 years in the military, he said.
“It is heartening to me to see the outpouring of love for my father. This is not the first year that they’re doing something like this. This is maybe the biggest, be-
cause it’s a 100-year celebration, but the kids and the neighbors have always come by to visit, to say hello, to bring balloons,” Tom Morrissey said. “He is a really amazing person. At 100 years old, he has a crystal-clear mind … He still does the taxes for my siblings, if you can imagine that. He was always a math expert.”
TODD BANNOR
TODD BANNOR
Morrissey
TODD BANNOR
Neighbors gather in front of Joe Morrissey’s house
TODD BANNOR
Neighbors present World War II veteran Joe Morrissey with a gi -wrapped box full of bir thday cards with 100th birthday wishes from Brook eld residents on March 14.
Drunk driver nearly struck by another vehicle
Brookfield police arrested a 40-year-old Oak Forest woman on March 2 after an officer witnessed her almost being hit by a car.
Around 8 p.m., an officer was on patrol on Ogden Avenue when they witnessed the woman walking in the roadway, narrowly avoiding being hit by a vehicle before she walked up to her car, which was street parked with a wheel mounted on the curb. The officer parked in a nearby parking lot and made contact with the woman, who said she had tried to park her car but had accelerated too hard and hit the low curb
The officer noticed the woman had “glossy, bloodshot eyes” and “appeared confused,” and there was vomit on the ground by the driver’s door; they also smelled an alcoholic odor emanating from the woman’s breath. When asked for her driver’s license, the woman shrugged and said it was somewhere in her car, police said.
After being advised ofthe reason for the officer’s contact, the woman said she knew she had been in the street but did not know she had almost been hit by a vehicle. After multiple requests from the officer, the woman found her driver’s license within her car and provided it
When asked, the woman said she had vomited on the ground. She said she had been coming from work and had drunk two beers “down the street” about halfan hour earlier, police said. The officer told the woman they were suspicious ofDUI, to which the woman said she had been drinking, according to police
The woman agreed to take field sobriety testing, during which she failed to follow instructions. She also agreed to take a preliminary breath test, during which she again failed to follow instructions, so no blood alcohol content level was returned
The officer arrested the woman and transported her to the Brookfield Police Department, where the woman could not accurately say what time it was or at first remember when she had last eaten. She struggled to recall at what time she had been approached by the officer and said she believed she had been at a gas station then. After a 20-minute observation period, the woman declined to take a chemical breath test.
Police cited the woman for driving under the influence and failing to provide proofof insurance before setting an April 20 court date. She was given paperwork relating to her citations and car tow and released from the station.
Expired plates and license
Brookfield police on March 6 ticketed 46-year-old Brookfield woman.
Around 8:30 a.m., an officer was on patrol, heading north on Maple Avenue at the in tersection with Prairie Avenue, when they observed a silver car with license plates that they ran and learned to be expired.
The officer pulled the car over at Bartlett Avenue and made contact with the driver, who provided proofof insurance and a driver’s license, which the officer ran and learned had expired less than a year ago. The officer issued the woman two citations and set a March 24 court date.
Suspended registration
Brookfield police ticketed a 28-year-old Berwyn woman on March 6.
Around 8:45 a.m., an officer was heading west on 31st Street, approaching Maple Avenue, when they observed a white car, which had its re gistration suspended due to a lack of insurance. The officer pulled the car over at Arthur Avenue and made contact with the driver.
The woman was unable to provide either a driver’s license or proofof insurance. She told the officer she had no insurance, police said, and the officer ran her information and learned her license had been expired since 2022.
The officer ticketed the woman for driving with an expired license of over one year, driving without insurance and driving on a suspended re gistration. The officer set a March 24 court date and provided her with pre-trial paperwork, advising her against driving.
These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department re ports dated March 2-9; they re present a portion ofthe incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race ofa 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 ofthe suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Stella Brown
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Almost The Greatest Baker
Local student and chef Edgar Ki makes his mark
By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter
Maywood resident and Sugar Fixe baker Edgar Ki has loved baking and cakes for as long as he can remember.
“My grandma used to make an orange cake, and I really fell in love with it,” Ki said. “I loved watching her go through the process It spurred my own dreams of wanting to bake cakes and design them myself.”
And there was something else that struck a chord with Ki and baking.
“The thing that’s really inspirational for me, as a deaf person, is that communication can sometimes be hard because I feel like I can’t connect with the hearing world in the same way that others do,” he said. “But when I’m baking, it’s something that I can just do with my hands, and it doesn’t require communication. I can express myself through my baking, and that’s what I really love about it.”
Ki got his professional start at Oak Park’s Sugar Fixé bakery. He was hired as a dishwasher, but he let his desire to work as a baker be known early on.
“I quickly realized that he is passionate about decorative work,” Sugar Fixé Chef Emma Marvel Petergal said. “He has an artistic eye.”
To reach that goal, Ki also enrolled in Triton College’s Hospitality Industry Administration program. He excelled there too
He investigated to make sure it was legit. He also saw that the owner of Carlo’s Bakery, Buddy Valastro was involved.
“When I was a kid, I used to watch TV and videos about cake design and stuff like that. And Valastro is a very well-known person in that field,” Ki said. “I saw that he was a part of it and you’d get to meet him and take a picture with him. I was so excited.”
The online competition involved cooking items that were voted on. His instructors, fellow students and community got behind him.
“I thought he was going to win,” Marvel Petergal. “He has an incredible work ethic and he’s just like kind of the sweetest pride to be around.”
Ki made it to the quarter finals
“And then I found out that he didn’t share with us that he placed so high, because I think he felt that wasn’t good enough,” Clem said. “I was like, come on, it was against 300 people.”
Even though he didn’t win the cash or meet with cake boss Valastro, Ki is still pursuing his passion. Among other things at Sugar Fixé, he makes the decorated sugar cookies.
“For Christmas, for Halloween, for Valentine’s Day, I’m the one who does the designs,” Ki said. “I like to put funny little designs on them as well. That’s something I really enjoy.”
“It’s never just the class assignment for him,” department chair Christoper Clem said. “He’s not gonna just settle for anything, he’s always looking for the next element of excellence.”
Then Ki spotted The Greatest Baker contest.
“I saw an advertisement about it on social media and I kept seeing it. It was saying you could win $10,000,” Ki said.
“I just like let him have the reins,” said Petergal. “Whatever cookies he wants to bake, whatever shapes, whatever designs. He knocks them out of the park every time.”
As for his future, Ki said, “I wanted to travel to France to learn more skills at École Nationale Supérieure de Pâtisserie and the Asian area to learn my skills. Travel to any country to learn their new desserts, bread, etc. from famous dessert shops all over the world.”
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR
Edgar Ki in Triton’s hospitality kitchen
EDGAR K I
Hawaiian-themed sugar cookies at Sugar Fixé
EDGAR K I
Cinnamon rolls at Sugar Fixé
As someone who has had direct interaction with Kylie Lindquist, assistant principal for Curriculum & Instruction at RBHS, I take major issue with her statement in the article titled, “Is AI doing harm to local students?” published on March 4. In the article she states, “We recently just talked about AI in terms of when we started giving calculators to kids, so, so long ago. That was like everyone thinking, ‘But they’re not going to be
Kent B orkovec, 90
Physician and suave dancer
Kent F. Borkovec, M.D., 90, of Oak Brook, fo merly of Westchester and Riverside, died on March 2026. Born on Au 11, 1935, he was a proud graduate of Notre Dame, Class of 1957 and a voracious fan of the Irish. A 29-year resident of Riverside, he was a physician for 35 years at LaGrange Hospital and MacNeal Hospital, where he served as president of the Medical/Den-
LETTERS
Glib about the impact of AI
able to do math in their head. We’re giving them calculators and that’s going to cripple them.’ And it was the same thing when we gave kids computers.” My issue is it’s clear that Ms. Lindquist, in a position of great power at the high school, is not educating herself about the danger s of AI and, what’s worse, she thinks that computers haven’ t had an impact on learning. A simple search reveals that, “The U.S. spent $30 billion to ditch text-
books for laptops and tablets: T he result is the first g eneration less cognitively capable than their parents” (https://fortune c om/2026/02/21/laptops-tablets-schoolsg en-z-less-cognit iv ely-capable-parentsfirst-time-cellphone-bans-standardizedtest-scores).
It is deeply concerning that our leading educators aren’t educ ating themselves on the real impacts of AI and tech in school and are thinking of it in such a glib way.
OBITUARIES
tal staf f for five years. He loved to spend time with his children and grands and loved watching sports at his “cottage” in Michigan with his many friends. In his earlier years, he loved sailing the Chicago lakefront and enjoyed scuba diving, snorkeling, skiing and protecting the fish in his backyard pond. He was well known for providing comfort to many patients as a physician and being a suave dancer.
Ken was the husband of the late Mary “Sharon” (nee O’Rourke) Borkovec; the father of Mary Susan (Maury) Jones, Brian (Mary), John (Kathy), David (Moira) and Dan (Laura) Borkovec; the grandfather of Tom (Katie) Konopacz, Sara (Ryan) Ahern, Rachel Konopacz, Olivia (Keegan) Mawhorter, Dylan (Madisyn) Jones, Meredith and Jack Jones, Kyle (Stephanie) Borkovec, Morgan (fiancé Jet Thompson)
Sadly, I’m not surprised by her statement — when I spoke with her about my disdain for the flipped classroom model, her responses were similarly uneducated and ir responsible.
While I didn’t grow up with technolo gy in my hand, I sure did have a calculator in my D96 and D208 schools and I sure can’ t do math in my head.
Borkovec, Kathleen (Kyle) Petty, Allison (Colin) Vale, Craig (Colleen) Borkovec, Cara Rose (Nathan) McConnell, Caelah (Matthew) Clark and Nolan (fiancée Lexy Kocsis) Borkovec; great-grandfather of Mia and Cooper Borkovec, Lyla, Lucas and Nicholas Konopacz, Nora and Henry Ahern, Griffin, Lucy and Lorelai Vale, Brooklyn and Jack Petty and Shea and Maddie Borkovec; and brother of the late Jerry (Peggy) Borkovec.
Visitation was held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on March 17 from 9 a.m. until chapel prayers at 11 a.m., then to St. Mary Church (St. Pius VI Parish) in Riverside to celebrate a funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Heart Association (www.heart. org) would be appreciated. Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko, Director.
father of Tyla Rose Ferrill; the son of the late Elmer and Rosemarie (nee Agnello) Hronec, the brother of ry (Deann) Hronec, and Yvonne (Dan) Agnello-Adams; the uncle of Timothy Hronec and Terry Hronec; godfather of Natalie Hronec; friend of Uncle Joe Discipio and his feathered Sunny the Cockatiel.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 20 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, at St. Francis Xavier Church, LaGrange. Interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
John Hronec, 80
Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family at www. johnsonnosek.com.
Spor t pilot
John M. “Jack” Hronec Sr., 80, of Brookfield, died on March 9, 2026 at LaGrange Hospital. Born on Feb. 18, 1946 in Chicago, he worked as an operating engineer at Western Electric and later at the Dirksen Federal Building before retiring. He was an avid sport pilot.
Jack was the father of Suzette Ferrill and the late John M. Hronec Jr.; the grand-
Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
Nicole Cavaliere
Sports
LTHS girls water polo return many from state runners-up
Abernathy, Douglas, Romero veterans for Bulldogs’ younger roster
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Senior and returning first team all-stater Bella Recker made huge contributions to the Lyons Township High School girls water polo team reaching last year’s state championship game.
The Lions’ second-place finish, the program’s highest ever only to their 2010 state c hampionshi p, has them eager for what would be a fourth state quarterfinal berth in the past five seasons.
“There’s been a collective buzz full of anticipation for the season,” Recker said. “Last year’s success has carried over to this year’s preparation and enthusiasm through creating a team atmosphere where everyone is very excited and ready to grow together towards continuous improvement this season.”
The Lions finished 24-5-1 last season and added to their team trophies for taking third in 2024 and 2022 and fourth in 2015. As huge underdogs, they lost to undefeated, No. 1-ranked and two-time defending champion Stevenson at its home pool 6-5 for the title after leading 4-2 entering the fourth quarter.
Seniors Bebe Wright, Avery Watanabe, Rose Frank and Abbey Danaher, junior Eileen Cavaliere and sophomore Maddie Wieczorkiewicz also are returning starters or experienced returnees. Seniors Katie Coyne and Isabelle Maslan and juniors Claire Collins and Eve Muscato also saw 2025 varsity action. Newcomers are sophomores Lindsay Jablonski and Caroline McNaughton, both promoted for the postseason, Kerryn Monohan and goalie Taylor Thalji.
The Lions (2-2) won their opener over Fenwick 17-8 March 11 and were 1-2 at the Stevenson Tournament Saturday, beating Lincoln-Way East 16-3 while losing to the host Patriots 18-5 and Punahou School from Honolulu, Hawaii 16-5. Recker (18 goals, 6 assists), Wright (4 goals, 12 assists), Wi eczor kiewic z (4 goals, 6 assists) and Watanabe (5 goals, 2 assists) are among the team’s offensive leaders.
Thalji has 28 saves.
“Some team strengths are attitude, chemistry, and speed,” Recker said.
Last year Recker was among six nonseniors on the 10-player all-state first team. She led the Lions with 96 goals along with 48 assists and 58 steals.
Recker also was first team all-sectional. Wright (43 goals, team-high 68 assists and 83 steals) was second team and Watanabe (28 goals, 40 assists, 23 steals) was honorable mention.
In 2024, Recker was second-team all-state in 2024 after a team-high 113 assists while
RBHS’s June Manning (13) takes a shot on goal against Metea Valley dur ing the Red Devil Invitational, March 14, in Hinsdale.
being second in goals (85) with 39 steals. Wright (30 goals, 22 assists, 73 steals) and Watanabe (15 goals, 23 assists, 26 steals) also made significant contributions in 2024.
LTHS coach Megan Jacobs was named last year’s Coach of the Year for the state and sectional.
“I hope to work alongside my fellow teammates and see improvement individually and team-wise,” Recker said. “I wish to continue to grow our team chemistry and see what we can do. I aspire to keep playing the sport that I love at the highest level possible.”
RBHS girls water polo
After saying goodbye to seven seniors, the Bulldogs return this season with 10 players.
Team members are seniors Bella Abernathy, Claire Cameron and Kate Zobel, juniors Meara Douglas, Andi Ginder and Carly Romero, sophomore Mia Torres and freshmen Becca Gonzalez, June Manning and Monica Miranda.
“Strengths are communication and a willingness to learn and teach each other,” RBHS coach Amy Frey said. “I have many
new players this year, which means we have been focusing on learning the game rather than strateg y or other ‘higher level’ drills. Each player is kind, brings a positive attitude, and all love to work hard.”
Abernathy is a fourth-year player, and three-year starter Romero and goalie Douglas are third-year players. Ginder returns after also playing freshman year.
“Bella was a strong player for us last year who is going to be a very important player and has earned her starting role. Already we have seen her defense improve tremendously,” Frey said.
New seniors coming from the volleyball program are Cameron, that program’s alltime leader in career assists, and Zobel. Frey is also the volleyball team’s varsity assistant coach.
The Bulldogs lost to Lincoln-Way West 13-3 in the fifth-place match at the Hinsdale Central Invite Saturday.
Last season, the Bulldogs finished 2-14 and lost to Mother McAuley 12-0 in the sectional quarterfinals.
“Goals for the season are to improve each game and have a good time doing it,” Frey said. “Before each game, I set a non-score related goal for us to focus on, and if we have achieved that goal, we won the game.”
STEVE JOHNSTON
BELLA RECKER AVERY WATANABE
Manning, RBHS boys water polo knows success can happen
Kozak, Musgrove lead Lions’ high hopes of return to state quarter nals
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Riverside Brookfield High School senior Henry Manning enjoyed a great finish in boys swimming
He won the 50-yard freestyle at the Upstate Eight Conference Meet.
“It was awesome being the only one from the team who brought home a gold (first place),” Manning said. “That was a good feeling and definitely a good way to close off my swim career in high school.”
He hopes his final boys water polo season with the Bulldogs also finishes much better than last season.
Manning missed the latter half of the 2025 season after suffering a broken nose during a game against Maine East at the Buffalo Grove Quad last April 19. He will play this season with NBA-like protective nose gear
Lincoln-Way Central 16-3, Hinsdale Central 19-3 and Shepard 12-4.
“(Our goal is to) be competitive in all of the games we’re playing, see us win a game at sectionals and just to improve every game like we did last year,” second-year RBHS head coach Mike Laurich said.
The Bulldogs graduated top scorer Avi Ponnappan and goalie Marty Bieliauskas, who set documented program records for saves in a season and one match.
“At very least I’m hoping to show off a little bit to Maine East (this season),” said Manning, who is considering the club swimming team at Arizona State. “I’m pretty sure it was an elbow across the nose. I reached up and I could feel the line where it has broken, so I was like, ‘I’m going to hop out (of the pool).’”
Manning is among three seniors and five returnees for the Bulldogs, who finished 4-16 last season and lost in the sectional quarterfinals 19-8 to state quarterfinalist Brother Rice after beating Solorio 13-5 for their first sectional victory since 2023.
This year’s varsity roster consists of seniors Aidan Diaz, Manning and Zachary Kowalski, juniors Victor DiForti, AJ Douglas, Marcello George and Emerson Lacey and sophomores Vincenzo George and Ryan Meshke. The entire program is at 17 players. Manning, Lacey, Marcello George and Meshke are returning starters. The Bulldogs opened the season Saturday at the Bradley Bourbonnais Tournament, losing to
New goalie Vincenzo George and Douglas already are showing the benefits of playing club water polo last summer.
On Saturday, Douglas and Lacey each had three goals. Manning and Meshke had two apiece.
“Enzo has developed into a pretty good goalie. We put him in last year and he picked it up pretty quickly,” Laurich said.
“(Meshke) as a driver is going to be a key for us (offensively). AJ is probably the most improved. We’re looking for him to do good things.”
Laurich once again will receive a boost from assistant coach Tatum Bruno, also an assistant for Laurich in boys swimming. The for mer RBHS girls water polo all-stater also played at Wittenberg University.
“She’s really taken control of the program. I help her out,” Laurich said.
LTHS boys water polo
After winning the 2024 state title, the Lions had a relatively inexperienced lineup in 2025 that lost in the sectional final.
The Lions, who did not reach at least the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2014, are determined to return.
“The goal is to get to the state tournament,” LTHS coach Doug Eichstaedt said. “I love our depth and balance. The players gained valuable experience last year, and other players have taken some big strides during the
RBHS’s Henry Manning competes in the 200 Yard Freestyle against St. Charles East, Dec. 11, 2025 in Riverside.
offseason. We also have some talented freshmen that are ready to make the jump.”
Seniors Ben Kozak, Wesley Musgrove and Tommy Stamer and junior goalie Vadran Petrovic are returning starters for the Lions, who finished 16-12 last season and lost 19-14 to state quarterfinalist Brother Rice in the sectional finals.
Other team members are senior Brice Hurley, juniors Joaquin Cooke, Nolan Fey, Leo Obloy, Joaquin Fabara from Brookfield, Finn Hunek and Collin McNeil, sophomores Tucker Offenbacher and goalie Nathan Sinars and freshmen Leo Frank and Tim Kozak.
Ben Kozak, Musgrove and McNeil are team captains
Ben Kozak was third team all-state and first team all-sectional in 2025 after collecting 33 goals, 26 assists and 20 steals. Musgrove was second team all-sectional with 40 goals, 26 assists and 21 steals
“Our biggest key to success is our commit-
ment to playing together and playing hard every possession,” Eichstaedt said. “Water polo is a demanding sport, and the teams that succeed are the ones that consistently outwork their opponents and stay disciplined in their roles.”
The Lions started 2-1 at the Stevenson Tournament Saturday, beating Whitney Young 11-4 and Fremd 14-10 while losing to the first-place host Patriots 9-7.
Eichstaedt said Obloy is among the emerging newcomers.
“For us, it starts with defense. When we defend well, communicate, and take pride in blocking shots and winning possessions, it naturally creates opportunities for our offense and allows us to play the fast, attacking style we want,” Eichstaedt said. “Another key is our culture. If we stay connected as a group, defend with intensity, and keep improving week by week, we give ourselves a chance to compete with anyone.”
HENRY MANNING
BEN KO ZA K
AIDAN DIA Z
WESLE Y MUSGROVE
ZACHARY KO WALSKI
STEVE JOHNSTON
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M26001367 on February 24, 2026 Under the Assumed Business Name of EFW ASSOCIATION with the business located at: 167 LINDEN AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JOSHUA D. WOOD 167 LINDEN AVE OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA
Published in Wednesday Journal March 4, 11, 18, 2026
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID
The Board of Education, Riverside Brookfield Township School District 208, will receive sealed bids for: Bus Transportation Services (Field Trips and Athletics) for RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT 208 160 Ridgewood Road Riverside, Illinois 60546-2408
NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
LEGAL NOTICE
Village of Oak Park
NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP
NOTICE OF ANNUAL TOWN MEETING CONDUCTED IN PERSON AND ELECTRONICALLY TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the legal voters, residents of the Township of River Forest in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, that the Annual Town Meeting of the RIVER FOREST
a. General Assistance Administrator
b. Township Youth and Family Services
c. Township Senior Services
d. River Forest Senior Outreach Coordinator
CIAL with the
located at: 2312 NORTH CLIFTON AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60614. The
The Bid Opening will be on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 10:30 A.M. at the Business Office, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, IL 60546-2408. At this time the Bids will be publicly opened and read. It is the policy of Riverside Brookfield Township School District 208 to provide equal opportunity to all qualified businesses in the awarding of contracts and accordingly promotes the utilization of diversified businesses to the maximum extent feasible in any contract issued against this solicitation to bid. Bid Documents can be obtained at the Riverside Brookfield Township School District 208 Business Office or by visiting www.rbhs208.net/bids
Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park will hold a Public Information Meeting #1 in an open house format welcoming all community members to learn about the Bridging the Ike study and participate in the planning process. During the meeting, officials will discuss opportunities for expanded bridge decking over I-290, which could yield new development, public plazas and park spaces over the expressway.
Date: Tuesday April 7, 2026 Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Location: Oak Park Conservatory, Rubinstein Community Room, 615 Garfield St, Oak Park, Illinois.
TOWNSHIP will take place on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, being the second Tuesday of said month, at 6 P.M. at the River Forest Civic Center at 8020 Madison Street, 2nd Floor, River Forest, Illinois 60305. If you would like to participate via zoom, please contact clerk@RiverForestTownship.org for the information.
The Electors present at the Annual Town Meeting, are meeting for the transaction of the miscellaneous business of the said Township; and after a Moderator having been elected, will proceed to hear and consider reports of officers, and decide on such measures as may, in pursuance of law, come before the meeting; and especially to consider and decide the following agenda:
1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
e. River Forest Mental Health Committee
f. Township Supervisor
g. Township Assessor
h. River Forest Civic Center
Authority Building
8. Resolutions to come before the Electors - None Submitted
9. Public Comments (limit to 3 minutes each)
10. Proposed Date, Hour, and Place of 2027 Annual Town Meeting:
a. April 13, 2027, being the second Tuesday, at 6:00 P.M.
b. River Forest Civic Center2nd Floor - 8020 Madison Street, River Forest
11. Adjournment
and
full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ANTHONY RIVECCO 2312 NORTH CLIFTON AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60614
Published in Wednesday Journal March 4, 11, 18, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M26001433 on March 6, 2026
Under the Assumed Business Name of VARGAS BLUE LINE ELEC with the business located at: 1545 S. 56TH CT., CICERO, IL 60804. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: ORLANDO VARGAS SOTO 1545 S. 56TH CT. CICERO, IL 60804, USA
Published in RB Landmark
March 11, 28, 25, 2026
One original and one copy of executed Bid Form(s), and all other documents required by this Bid Package for Bid submittal, shall be enclosed in a sealed, opaque envelope, and clearly addressed as follows: SEALED BID FOR STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
Attn: Dr. Kristin Smetana, Assistant Superintendent Riverside Brookfield Township School District 208 160 Ridgewood Road Riverside, Illinois 60546-2408
The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive irregularities in the bidding procedure, or accept the Bid that in its opinion will serve its best interest. Any such decision shall be considered final.
Published in RB Landmark March 18, 2026
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation 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.
The Illinois Human Rights Act 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: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
The Bridging the Ike study aims to examine community needs including safety, roadway improvements, mobility and connectivity and the best uses for any newly created spaces on expanded bridge decks. This initial meeting serves as an opportunity to introduce the project and solicit resident feedback to understand the important issues that will help develop and refine the improvement opportunities at these bridges. For more information about the public information meeting and ways residents can share their priorities for future bridge crossing improvements, visit https://engageoakpark.com/
Published in Wednesday Journal March 18, 2026
3. Clerk to Note Public Notice and Availability of Financial Statements and Posting Thereof
4. Execution of Affidavits of Standing as Electors
5. Selection of Moderator and Administration of Moderator Oath by Township Clerk
6. Approval of the Minutes of last Annual Town Meeting on April 8, 2025
7. Reports of Township Year In Review
All interested citizens, groups and organizations representing the interests of senior citizens, youth & family services, mental health, and intellectual/developmental disabilities are encouraged to attend. River Forest Township does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status; those needing special accommodations are asked to provide 48 hours notice to Clerk@RiverForestTownship. org. Given under my hand in the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, this 10th day of March, 2026.
MARK HOSTY, River Forest Township Clerk
Published in Wednesday Journal March 18, 2026
