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Third time’s the charm for Dancing with the Chamber
10 contestan it out in a n performance and lau
By STELLA BROWN Staff Re
The Brookfield Chamber third Dancing with the Chamber Saturday, March 21, was Linda Dumas, representing Food Share Love food tions manager, took kicking and twirling mance of the jitterbug gie” by Barry Manilow.
“I was very touched,” reaction to being called surprised because, ha and how hard they wo dances came together, going to win. You alwa you, but I really didn’t ha Dumas beat out nine Chamber of Commerce ious businesses and org field in front of an audience who filled most of the seats inside the Riverside Brookfield High School auditorium. $1.00
See DANCING on page 11
s is the most important y of us will do n elected o cial in ’ says Village t Doug Pollock
By STELLA BROWN Reporter
pose a referendum question to its residents in April 2027 on the issue of safety facility that could cost just under $30 million.
heard an update on Thursday, lliams Architects about the after viewing renderings exterior designs, nar rowed the field down to two.
TODD BANNOR
Linda Dumas dances a Jitterbug w ith professional dancer Alejandro at the Brook eld Chamber of Commerce Dancing w ith the Chamber on March 21.
At the meeting, Village Manager Jessica Frances also walked trustees through the pro-
See PUBLIC SAFETY on page 12
Brook eld voted down a dispensary. Now what?
O cials say there’s still interest in 9046 31st St.; petitioners hope Proli c can open elsewhere
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield’s village b oard last month voted 4-3 to deny a special use pe rm it that would have allowe d Prolific Dispensar y to open at a vacant c ommercial property at 9046 31st St. W hen the b oard’s vote c ame down, Ta nya G riffin, the CEO of a c onsulting firm c ontracted to bring Prol ific to town, said she was shocke d.
“We we re certainly surprised but understood that there was some reluctanc e to p ut a dispensary on 31st Street,” she said.
T he vote on Fe b. 23 c ame more than two months after the topic was first raised within the public eye at a Dec. 18 meeting of Brookfield’s p lanning and zoning c ommission, wh ich voted 4-3 to advanc e the i ssue of the special use pe rm it to the village board.
At a number of meetings during those two months, residents filled the seats of the village hall’s meeting room, offerin g hours’ wo r th of public c omments b oth for and against the pr oposition.
A dvo cates of the dispensary raised i ts reve nue-generating p otential for the village and easier a ccess to c annabis on their home tur f as boons
O pponents said the dispensar y, at the corner of 31st Street and Pa rk Avenue,
would increase traffic near the already problematic i ntersection of 31st and Maple Avenue and through the northerly residential neighborhood stretching from Roach Avenue through 26th Street.
T hey also raised c oncerns about a p ossible increase in c rime and decrease in near by home values
W hen it c ame time to vote, village trustees tied 3-3 on whether Brookfield would deny the pe rm it being sought before Vi llage President Michael Gar ve y c ast the tiebreaking vote in opposition to the dispensar y.
L eading up to the meeting, Garve y said he “wasn’t p ositive” his vote would be necessar y. T he village president d oes not vote on i ssues facing the b oard unless a tie must be broken.
“I think the applicant was a ve ry re putable and sophisticated developer. I foc used on the zoning code and the zoning definitions that we we re asked to d eal with. I’m ve ry f amiliar with the area on 31st Street, and it is a C-4 district,” he told the Landmark.
“A C-4 district is i ntended to provide for limited, b asic shopping needs o ccurrin g daily or frequently [ and] for co nvenient shopping for persons residing in the adjacent residential neighborhoods wh il e providing highly limited services to nonlocal uses,” he a dded. “I f elt that thi s business was not a C-4 business in thi s location. Based on the residential property i mmediately a djacent to it, the fact that there are residences above it, I do n’ t think it fit the character of the neighborhood.”
Gar ve y said he appreciated the high resident turnout at the meetings where
the dispensary was up for discussion.
“There have b een so many nights where we ’ve talked about important thing s where nobody was there, so I do appreciate that p eople c ame. I know myself and all my f ellow b oard members take public c omments ve ry seriously, ” he said. “Was it the number of p eople that c ame or wh at they said at the meeting that influenced my decision? N ot really. I focused on the ordinances and the definitions of the zoning code.”
As a result of the b oard’s d enial of the dispensary’s special use pe rm it request, G rif fin said the Laws f amily, who would have operated Prolific, was at risk of losing $245,000 in state f unding through the Department of C ommerce and Economi c O pportunity ’s C annabis Social Equit y L oan Progr am.
“Illinois allocated $40 million toward wh at ’s c alled the D CEO gr ant, wh ich is a forg ivable loan set aside for social equity licensees,” she said. “It c omes with some deadlines to issue it that are tied to a lease and zoning, so that was the juggle that we we re trying to accommodat e. ”
Prolific is the second business the village b oard has rejected from opening at 9046 31st St. since an antiques store vacated the site in 2019. A dayc are was voted down, too, in 2023.
Despite the site’s longtime vacancy, Libby Po povic, Brookfield’s community development director, said there is sustained interest in the location.
“There have b een two other businesses that have reached out to the village to check on zoning, and we ’re still in touch with the listing agent and eng aged with them,” Po povic said. “That site’s b een empty and vacant for, g osh, six years now … Ideally, we’d li ke to see a retail store go there, but that’s not always f easibl e, and that’s one of the sites that has b een challenging.”
While the dispensary’s special use req uest was rejected, G riffin said she’s still wo rk ing with village staf f to see if Prol ific can land elsewhere in town.
“The village of Brookfield has b een great. We ’re c ontinuing to wo rk them to see if we c an locate a dispensary in Brookfield. It ’s our first choice, and we ’d really love to wo rk with the c ommunity,” she said.
Babin
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New Book Joy moves to brick and mortar
e ‘booktique’ will leave the Brook eld Shops for a store on Prairie Avenue
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
New Book Joy, the matchmaking “booktique” that opened last year as part of the first cohort of the Brookfield Shops, is making its way out of the retail incubator space and into a dedicated brick-and-mortar storefront 3741 Prairie Ave.
A grand opening event is scheduled for Saturday, 2, with an exclusive soft opening one week earlier, said owner Mandy Genge.
“I felt like I couldn’t pass this up. It was almost too good to be true,” Genge said of the location. She said the interior already matches the store’s aesthetic.
Genge said she will be the sole operator of New Book Joy’s Brookfield location while co-owners Connie Obroch ta and Therese Tanski will handle business at the store’s location in Chicago’s Edgebrook neighborhood on the Northwest Side.
Last year, as New Book Joy’s owners were preparing their June opening date at the Brookfield Shops, Genge told the Landmark the group’s long-term goal was to see if a brick-and-mortar location could be viable in Brookfield.
One year later, the shop is the first to open in a permanent storefront out of the seven vendors who have taken up residency in one of the six 15-foot-by-15-foot sheds at Progress Park that comprise the incubator program.
“[We’ve had] the love and support of Brookfield, Riverside, LaGrange and even Forest Park, Oak Park wyn and all the neighborhoods in between. We definitel have been lucky enough to g et a following and consistent customers who have been coming back to the shop and to our bookish events to actually help us make this happen,” she said.
Libby Popovic, Brookfield’s community development director, said New Book Joy will be the first to join the Brookfield Shops program’s alumni level.
“They’re going to remain an active member of the retail incubator program as a whole,” Popovic said. “They also going to be able to cross-promote some of their items at the shops themselves. It’s not intended to push anyone out; it’s intended to be a small bridge from the time they enter their brick-and-mortar through the end of this year.”
Genge said the move came together quickly after village officials contacted her about the open storefront.
“Several months earlier, I mentioned it to the village that that’s where we would love to be,” she said. “When we checked it out, we just fell in love … It happened really quick. We saw it, and within a week, we decided to sign the lease and have already put wallpaper up. We’re in the process of moving out of the little shop right now.”
She said New Book Joy’s time at the Brookfield Shops courtyard was marked by immense support from the village and cooperation with the other vendors.
“We’ve collaborated with almost all of them in some way,
Mandy Genge poses inside New Book Joy’s brick-and-mortar storefront at 3741 Prairie Ave.
in Riverside, and in Oak Park.”
While New Book Joy’s Edgebrook location has seen much success, Genge said the Brookfield community enabled their incubator shop to rival its highs.
“We’re following the same recipe of what we did in the city, but it speeds it up so much if you know what your purpose is and your end goal,” she said. “It is completely
have New Book Joy be the first to break into a new location in town.
“New Book Joy is the perfect one to lead the way on it. They have been really good partners,” she said. “They do a lot of events; they cross-promote with a lot of local businesses, and it’s the perfect space. It’s like they were meant to be in that space.”
Epazote serves mom’s recipes
Home cooking from Puebla, Mexico in a ne w restaurant in Riverside
By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter
When the owners of Cubanito Express saw an opportunity to expand their business next door, they wanted to try something new. Epazote, 3216 S. Harlem in Riverside, features something old – their mom’s cooking Brothers Lucio and Cesar Ambrosio were already operating two locations of their other restaurant when the Mediter ranean spot next door to them on Harlem announced that it was closing. It seemed like a good opportunity to expand, but they didn’t want to compete directly with themselves. T hey needed to
of fer something new.
“Riverside, it’s amazing. T hey’ve been really supportive since day one,” chef and co-owner Cesar Ambrosio said of their four years in business there. “W wanted something different, not your re gular Mexican restaurant. I came up with the idea of exposing my mother’s cooking be cause we are from Puebla, Mexico. I always tell p ple it’s a magical town.”
T he herb epazote is f tured heavily in dishes from Puebla, which is just southeast of Mexico City.
mole
“I actually used to drink it as a tea,” Ambrosio said. “It has a lot of medical benefits. And when you cook epazote, it gives it a great flavor. By itself,
it’s a little bit too strong.”
T he herb in English is often called skunkweed or goosefoot. It’s Latin name is dysphania ambrosioides.
“The scientific name, it includes our last name, Ambrosio,” Ambrosio said.
T he herb is included in 10 of the restaurant’s dishes.
“My favorite dish from my mom is the huaxmole,” Ambrosio said. “It’s a pre-Hispanic dish. It has all these different spices. I believe it has around 40 ingredients. It does have a lot of ingredients from chili peppers, cinnamon, black pepper, to bread, to chocolate, but they all come to g ether and form a perfect sauce.”
Mom, Francis Cuaultle, is in the kitchen, steering the preparation.
“She’s teaching me exactly how to make all these recipes,” Ambrosio said. “These recipes are in her mind. We have to put them down exactly. Grandmas, you know, they don’ t have a recipe book.”
T he restaurant features coffee from the Chiapas re gion of Mexico. And it also offers other Mexican and American favorites. Breakfast is served: huevos six different ways and pancakes. Burgers are available too. Wings come with housemade sauces
“I have your re gular Buf f alo,” Ambrosio
said. “But I also have a sauce that’s called Asian spice. That’s an Asian, Mexican fusion because it includes chipotle, pepper, also includes ginger, sesame oil, soy sauce. It also includes fresh orang e, so it’s you g et that sweet and spicy sauce. It’s a really amazing sauce.”
Ambrosio gives thanks to God for the oppor tunity to do this work.
“My dream is to leave a le gacy,” he said. “I left my past jobs working for great people, working for great companies where I had everything for this, for something to call mine and for my kids. I want them to grow up and say, ‘Dad, you created this.’ And maybe one day, maybe one of them will continue it.”
RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Chilaquiles
Ow ner Cesar Ambrosio and mom, Francisa Cualtle
D96 board meets with two superintendent search rms
Choice to be made by May, with new superintendent likely by December
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
The Riverside School District 96 Board of Education heard presentations from two superintendent search firms at its meeting March 18, and expects to choose one of them within the next four to eight weeks.
T he b oard i nterviewe d L ibe rt yvilleb ased BWP & A ssociates and Hazard, Young, A ttea and A ssociates (HYA) of Arlington Heights. T he pair we re chosen from a field of five firms, each of wh ich provided a proposal, a ccording to b oard vice president David Barsotti, chair of the personnel committee
“What we ’re looking for in a search firm is one that’s going to help us find the b est q ualified c andidate for the district, the students and for the taxp ayer s, ” Barsotti said, a dding the b oard is seeking a c andidate that will be in that role for a decade or more. “We want a firm that will
provide a dive r se pool of applicants.”
Dr. Martha Ryan-Toye, the current longtime superintendent, is retiring after the 2026-27 school year. Her replacement should be hired by December, said Barsotti, who said he is working closely with district interim finance director Dr. Mark Kuzniewski on the search process.
Kuzniewski is the for mer superintendent of Brookfield-La Grange Pa rk School District 95 and is retiring at the end of this school year. He will be rep laced by St eve Wi lder
BWP president Mark F riedman sai d March 18 that his firm headed up Distric t 95’s search for Kuzniewski’s re p lacement, Ryan Evans. BWP also c onducted the search for Rive r Fo rest School Dist rict 90’s new superintendent, Janice Paveloni s, who was approved by that dist rict’s board in January.
Barsotti said that among the things the new superintendent will be responsible
for will be execution of the district’s new strat eg ic p lan that c ould be approved thi s summer. T he strat eg ic p lanning c ommittee, wh ich includes parents, residents, teachers and students along with b oard member s, is cu rrently developing g oals and object ives related to the plan.
“Martha has d one a lot of great stuf f and we want to ke ep this momentum going,” he said. “We want to see a superintendent that will move forward the strategic p lan. T here are many thing s, but that is the main thing.”
He added that he would work with the selected firm to determine how to manage internal candidates for superintendent.
BWP’s F riedman pointed out that the search process should be a c ollaborative ef fort for the board.
“In talking to Mark [Kuzniewski], thi s is the first experience for all of you, or most of you, in h iring a superintendent, ” he said. “We have to make sure we ’re
bringing you along with us. It ’s a learning experience for you, and a mentorin g experience for us.”
HYA’s recent search experience includes wo rk ing with Lyons Townshi p High School District 204. It has also c onducted searches for La ke Fo rest E lementary School District 87 and Oak Pa rk and Rive r Fo rest School District 200.
Ryan- Toye said she will have little involvement in the search process
“A s the cu rrent sitting superintendent, I step aside and the b oard c onducts thi s process,” Ryan- Toye said. “I think they are ve ry invested in c ommunity f eedback and their own feedback.”
Barsotti said that searching for one’s own re p lacement is tricky.
“There’s nothing against Martha, but it ’s a difficult p osition to be in,” he said. “She has a great le ga cy here but we don’ t want to p ut her in an awkward p osition. ”
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LaGrange woman runs Tokyo Marathon after leg fracture
Linda Poggensee was determined to overcome her injury
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
When LaGrange resident Linda Poggensee, a lifelong runner, retired four years ago, she took it as an opportunity to take her hobby a step further by signing up for the Berlin Marathon.
“I’ve always run and enjoyed running because it’s nice to be outside and let your mind shut of f for a while,” she said. “When I knew I was going to be giving notice and planning on retiring, I thought, ‘[Running a marathon] might be a fun thing to do,’ something to work on and keep you busy in retirement.”
After completing the Berlin Marathon — and enjoying Oktoberfest with her husband, Bob on to complete the New But with just three miles left in the Chicago Marathon last October, disaster struck.
“Basically, I broke my leg at mile 23. I went down, and I was feeling a little tired and in pain at that point because, you know, it’s mile 23,” Poggensee told the Landmark. “When I tried to get up, I was like, ‘Oh, this is weird. I can’t really stand. I can’t feel my foot.’ I thought I had dislocated my hip.”
Poggensee skipped the marathon medical tent and was taken straight to the hospital.
“They discovered that it had actually broken, like cracked all the way across the bone up near the top of my thigh, so I got emergency surgery,” she said, which resulted in doctors installing a titanium rod in her leg. might take the injury as a sign to slow their ver, Poggensee instead took it as
“The thing is, I had just gotten into the Tokyo Marathon and I was like, ‘This is really tough to get into.’ I got in through the lottery,” she said. “I was like, ‘Is this at all possible?’ They looked at me like, ‘Look, you just broke your leg,’ but they wouldn’t tell me no.”
She spent the next four and a half months going through intensive physical therapy and rehabilitation, though injuries like hers usually take six months on average to heal, she said.
“I was really determined to try ke this goal. That date wasn’t moving, and I reached out to the o Marathon and said, ‘Hey, I my leg. I’m willing to give you atever you need, x-rays or doctor notes,’ but they didn’t care. The only way you can defer from Tokyo is to be nant,” she said. “They would’ve away my spot.”
ggensee said she worked with rform Physical Therapy, which has locations in Countryside and Burr Ridge, to recover from her inWith the owner of the practice and her therapist being marathon runners themselves, she said they understood her goal and knew how to get her there on time.
One thing that sets Tokyo apar t from other marathons, she said, is the way it staggers its cutof f points, which her therapist worked into her recovery.
“A lot of races will have a general
cutof f point, because eventually they need to open up the streets for everybody, but Tokyo has multiple cutof f points” every five kilometers or so, she said. “There’s this bus that goes along, and if you’re not ahead of this bus — they call it the sweeper — they pull you of f the course, and you are considered not finishing. I knew that I had to stay in front of this thing at all these cutof f points, and that was something I was working on with the PT.”
Then, on March 1, the day came for Po ggensee to put the peddle to the metal. In spite of the feeling that her injured leg was still weaker than her other leg, Poggensee managed to stay ahead of the sweeper and finish the Tokyo Marathon.
“Right around the time that I got past the final cutof f point before the finish, and I knew I was going to be able to finish, I felt like crying,” she said. “It was like, ‘Oh, I can’t believe I did this.’”
With Tokyo in the rearview mirror, Poggensee plans to take some time of f from running to fully recover before setting her sights on the London and Boston marathons in hopes of earning an Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Medal.
PROVIDED BY BOB POGGENSEE
Linda Poggensee poses with her medal of completion a er nishing the Tokyo Marathon on March 1, 2026.
PROVIDED BY BOB POGGENSEE
Linda Poggensee went through four and a half months of physical therapy to be able to run the Tokyo Marathon
PROVIDED BY BOB POGGENSEE
Linda Poggensee takes her rst steps at the hospital two days a er fracturing her leg in the Chicago Marathon.
Riverside’s Marrello cruises to county judge seat
Former D96 school board member won 72% of votes
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Riverside resident Rachel Marrello is on her way to becoming a Cook County Circuit Court judge.
In the March 17 Democratic primary Marrello easily defeated for mer Riverside resident Martin Re ggi in a race in the 3rd Judicial Subcircuit which covers much of Riverside and part of Brookfield and extends to Berwyn, Cicero and parts of the
southwest side of Chicago.
Marrello received 14,089 votes (72%) while the 74-year-old Re ggi received 5,403 votes (28%). The defeat for Reggi is his fifth loss in a race for judg e. Reggi, who has a law office in Berwyn and focuses on criminal defense work, also lost subcircuit races for judge in 2014, 2018, 2018 and 2024.
Marrello, a lawyer for Cook County Health, does not have an opponent in the November general election and will be swor n in as a judge on Dec. 7.
Marrello, who served on the Riverside El ementary School District 96 Board of Educa tion for one ter m, from 2013 to 2017, thanked her supporters in a post on social media.
“Thank you to everyone who helped with my election to become a Cook County judge,” Marrello said in a post on her campaign Facebook page. “To my family friends, to anyone who helped get signatures, who gave their signature, who put signs on their lawns, who donated, I am truly grateful.”
Hernandez takes narrow win in race for Cook County board
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Riverside resident Miranda Hernandez has apparently won a tightly contested three-way Democratic primary race for a seat on the Cook County board. Since no Republican or Libertarian has filed to run in the 16th District the 34-year-old Hernandez appears set to join the county board after the November general election. The 16th District includes Riverside and Brookfield and runs from Cicero to Franklin Park and includes a very small slice of the city of Chicago.
ts separated three candidates
within 817 votes of each other.
The margins in Riverside and Brookfield were also close and largely mirrored the results district wide. Hernandez carried both Riverside and Brookfield by a nar row margin. In Riverside Hernadez won 36 percent of the vote compared to 34 percent for Garcia and 29 percent for Aguilar. In Brookfield Hernandez received almost 37 percent of the vote compared to just over 33 percent for Aguilar and 30 percent for Garcia.
paign and the voters who voted for her. She said she is excited to get to work once she is seated on the county board. Until then she will continue her current job doing appellate work for the Cook County State’s Attor ney.
Hernandez, who moved to Riverside in 2024, nar rowly defeated Berwyn City Clerk 9,043 votes (35 percent), Garcia had 8,395 percent) while Aguilar had 8,226 (32 percent). All three candidates finished
“Very proud to be elected as the first Latina commissioner for this district,” Hernandez said in a telephone interview with the Landmark on Wednesday. “It’s a really, really great feeling.”
Hernandez said she was grateful for all the volunteers who worked on her cam-
Hernandez is the daughter of state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez who is the chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois. That connection helped Miranda Hernandez in the race as Hernandez raised more money, more than $50,000, than her opponents. Hernandez said she was running, in part, to offer a new generation of leadership for Hispanics.
After earning a law de gree and an MBA
on page 15
See HERNANDEZ
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MIRANDA HERNANDEZ
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No Kings protest planned in Western Springs
Protestors will take to Willow Springs Road on March 28
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Protestors with Indivisible West Suburban Chicago will take to the streets of Wester n Springs on Saturday, March 28, to speak out against the Trump administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations as part of the nationwide No Kings protest.
The protest will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Willow Springs Road between
50th Street and 53rd Place, enabling attendees to head to downtown Chicago afterward to participate in the larger No Kings protest, which will take place at Grant Park at 1:30 p.m.
According to Indivisible West Suburban’s website, attendees are encouraged to park on residential side streets rather than in the parking lot at the nearby UChicago hospital.
The website states protestors “will be lining the sidewalk joyfully and peacefully” in accordance with No Kings’ commitment to nonviolent action.
The upcoming day of protests will be the third instance of No Kings, following protests across the country last June and October
DANCING
A night of fun
from page 1
Like previous iterations, attendees wave cardboard cutouts of the competitors’ faces to signal their support.
Aside from Dumas, the other competitors included Steven Langworthy, a financial advisor at Edward Jones; Chris Camacho a co-owner of Four Star Coffee Company; Jim Franko, a counselor at RB; Gina Sharenow, the director of the Brookfield Farm ers Market; Barb Garvey, a volunteer with the Village of Brookfield; John Bihun, an employee of Brookfield Zoo Chicago and representative of the Strand Theater; Anthony Martine z, a co-owner of The Social Play; Peter Janunas, the owner of Gears2You; and Anne Clark, an administrator at the Chamber of Commerce.
and quotes from the contestants between their perfor mances.
The fierce competition was judged by Brookfield resident and head choreographer Teresa Swanson, who owns and operates Sway Dance Chicago, with locations in Brookfield and the city’s Irving Park Neighborhood; Héctor Freytas, the principal of RB who made his dancing debut in 2022; and Nicole Gilhooley, a village trustee who took home the gold in 2024.
Brian Sharenow, the Chamber’s president, emceed the event, announcing its first ever 50/50 raffle and delivering quips
The competitors were joined by an ar ray of professional dance partners who work as instructors at Sway, including Alejandro Cruz, Sophia Papadopoulos and Aynsley Parker
For the first time this year, Dancing with the Chamber’s organizers took applications from interested participants rather than inviting Chamber members directly, Swanson told the Landmark in July.
“So many people are interested, which is so great,” she said at the time “At the be ginning, we had to go and explain it to
people, talk them into it and tell them the vision because they weren’ t sure what it was going to be.”
Dumas said she became interested in participating after watching the 2024 iteration of Dancing with the Chamber.
“I said, ‘Oh my God, that looks like it would be so much fun,’” she said.
The dancers be gan preparations in October, with a total of about six hours of dance lessons each, split into half-hour chunks
“I have had so much fun getting to know other business owners in Brookfield. It’s made me feel so connected to them, and this really brings out dif ferent parts of
them that I think the community doesn’t get to often see,” Swanson said in July.
Dumas said the preparations were more dif ficult than she expected, but she lauded Swanson and Cruz, her dance partner, for their supportive ef forts.
“When we first started out, Teresa asked if there was a particular dance I’d like to do I had always watched my parents jitterbug and never lear ned how to do it, and I thought that would be fun. I had no idea jitterbugging was so exhausting,” she said. “Each time, we had a rehearsal, we lear ned another little part of it before we put it all together.”
Barb Garvey dances a Countr y 2 Step with professional dancer Alejandro at the Brook eld Chamber of Commerce Dancing with the Chamber.
TODD BANNOR
John Bilhun with professional dancer Ay nsley prov ides comic relief while dancing a Foxtrot.
TODD BANNOR
Peter Janunas dances a Quickstep with professional dancer Ay nsley
TODD BANNOR
Village Trustee Nicole Gilhooley presents the winner’s trophy to Linda Dumas.
TODD BANNOR
Gina Sharenow dances a Samba with professional dancer Alejandro.
YOUR BEST LIFE withLisaCapone
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SocialLiving Benefits
Livinginaretirementcommunity canofferseveralsocial advantagesforolderadults.These communitiesaredesignedto promotesocialinteraction, engagement,andasenseof belonging.Herearesomeofthe socialadvantagestolivingina retirementcommunity:
e o u t i n g s , f i t n e s s
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SocialEngagement: Daily activitieslikeoutings,fitness classes,hobbygroups,and gamenightskeepresidents activeandinteracting.
PUBLIC SAFET Y
immediate reaction to the Dynamic Response design
S e n s e o f C o m m u n i t y : A c l o s ek n i t e n v i r o n m e n t f o s t e r s m e a n i n g f u l r e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d
r e d u c e s l o n e l i n e s s .
SenseofCommunity :Acloseknitenvironmentfosters meaningfulrelationshipsand reducesloneliness.
Choosing 2 options
from page 1
“Architecture is such a big deal in Riverside, and we have so many architectural styles incorporated. This, to me, is a visually interesting building that doesn’t try to blend in,” she said.
Riverside’s financial advisor, Speer Financial, provided a breakdown of the cost impact on households in town based on their market values and the amount of bonds taken out.
B u i l t - I n S o c i a l N e t w o r k : L i v i n g
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Built-InSocialNetwork: amongpeersinasimilarlifeLiving stagemakesiteasierto connectandbuildsupportive networks.
C o n v e n i e n c e : O n - s i t e d i n i n g , f i t n e s s ,
m a k e g a t h e r i n g w i t h f r i e n d s s i m p l e a n d a c c e s s i b l e
Convenience: fitness,andcommonareasOn-sitedining, makegatheringwithfriends simpleandaccessible.
S u p p o r t i v e E n v i r o n m e n t :
R e s i d e n t s s h a r e e x p e r i e n c e
SupportiveEnvironment: Residentsshareexperiences, offeringemotionalsupportand encouragementtooneanother.
cess to ask residents to approve issuing bonds to pay for the new facility, which will include a public education campaign this year before paperwork is filed toward the end of the year Voters will be asked to say yay or nay during the election on April 6, 2027.
Re presentatives from Williams are set to appear at the village’s April 9 meeting of its preservation commission to get commissioners’ thoughts on the designs.
Trustee Jill Mateo named Contextual Presence as her favorite, saying she favored the vertical lines over the horizontal elements in other renderings.
To reduce costs, the village board ag reed to eliminate a proposed wester n driveway that would have looped around Township Hall as a secondary exit for vehicles from the underground parking area.
For bonds wor th $28 million — the highest amount Speer modeled, although the bonds will likely come out higher — the average house wor th $500,000 will pay $720 each year, or about $60 each month, Frances said.
While village staf f are disallowed by law to advocate for the passage of the referendum, Frances said they will prepare an education campaign, so residents understand the extent to which the new facilities are necessary for Riverside’s fire and police de par tments
E a s e o f M a k i n g F r i e n d s : F r e q u e n t e v e n t s a n d s h a r e d
s p a c e s n a t u r a l l y c r e a t e
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Andrew Do g an, a managing principal at Williams, described the set of designs as “four very distinct concepts.” Some feature full rows of vertical windows on the nor th side that would face Riverside Road while others incorporate more columns and horizontality, breaking the glass space up. One design featured sloping roofs that would harken to Riverside Township Hall.
Of the four designs, the village board widely prefer red the first two, dubbed “Dynamic Response” and “Contextual Presence” by Williams T he first featured wide windows and a frie ze above the firetruck bay for a sign designating the building as the Riverside Public Safety Center. T he second features fewer windows, more columns and a flat roof.
Trustee Elizabeth Kos said she had an
“We’ re not at the stage where we can say what we’re doing to make this an environmentally friendly building, but it will be an environmentally friendly building, to the extent possible,” Village President Doug Pollock said. “That will be a priority.”
Going to bond
When it comes to prices, both designs would cost upwards of $29 million, Dogan and other representatives said, necessitating the village to ask residents to approve issuing a corresponding amount of bonds.
T he bonds would come in just under Riverside’s remaining debt margin of about $33 million, Frances said, and be paid of f over 20 years. Residents will shoulder much of the debt burden, with the village recouping costs to pay back the debt through property taxes
T he campaign will likely include open houses to source resident feedback on the proposed designs, the creation of video materials detailing existing issues and tours of the existing facilities.
Addressing the village board, Pollock called opining on the renovations and encouraging the passage of bonds to fund those renovations, “the most impor tant thing any of us will do as an elected official” in Riverside
“Our number one obligation is public safety. To maintain the great level of public safety this village has always had, our first responders need facilities that are appropriate and support a top-notch police and fire public safety de par tment,” he said. “It is incumbent upon all of us to do everything we can to educate the public about this.”
COURTESY OF WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS
Williams presented these four exte rior designs to tr ustees for the proposed public safety facility. Trustees gene rally preferred schemes one and two.
Woman alleges public indecency in Brook eld parking lot
Brookfield police on March 12 were dispatched to the 3300 block ofArthur Avenue after a woman complained that she witnessed a man touching himself sexually in the parking area near Leo’s Liquors, but they did not arrest anyone.
The complainant, who called police around 2:30 p.m., said she followed the man’s vehicle from the 9100 block of Broadway Avenue to where she met police on Arthur Avenue after he left the scene heading north before turning east onto Jackson Avenue. The woman told police she did not want to pursue the matter but was “caught off-guard” when she saw the man in his car.
Police responded to the address the vehicle’s license plate was re gistered to, but when no one was home, they made contact over the phone with the owner, who said his son was using the vehicle and that he would tell him to contact police. T he man’s son later called police, who said he had taken the car to donate blood in Maywood before stopping near Leo’s Liquors.
The man became uncooperat ive, police said, and said he had gone to Leo’s Smoke & Vape to purchase air fresheners. When asked, he said he did not remove his pants and that ifhe had been observed holding anything, it would have been an air freshener. T he man also said he had a full head ofhair, contrary to the complainant’s assertion earlier that the of fender had been bald
Police contacted the woman to tell her oftheir conversation with the man, and she said she didn’t know what she had seen. Police closed the case without arresting anyone.
Solicitation complaint
A Brookfield police officer responded to the 8500 block ofBrookfield Avenue around 1:10 p.m. on March 12 on a re port of an unwanted subject.
T he caller, a resident on the block, alle ged a man was ille g ally soliciting without a permit and being rude to her When the officer arrived, they met with the man, who displayed a valid solicita-
tion badg e. T he man said he had onl knocked at the person’s door before she became “belligerent,” according to po lice. He said he believed the woman ma have been racist due to his being Black. Police sent the man on his way and spoke to the resident, who said the man had been knocking on her door too loudly for her liking. Police did not make any ar rests.
Hit-and-run crash at Tony ’s
On March 11, Brookfield police spoke to a walk-in complainant, who alle ged a hitand-run car crash took place earlier that day in the parking lot of Tony’s Breakfast Cafe at 8900 Ogden Ave.
The man told police he had been in his car in the parking lot when a minivan backed out ofa handicap parking space and struck the front bumper ofhis car. The man described the offending vehicle’s driver as an elderly man and provided his vehicle’s license plate number
Police tracked down the offending vehicle’s owner’s phone number and made contact with the driver ofthe minivan, who ag reed to respond to the police department. There, the man said he did not recall being in the crash, only hearing the warning beeps inside the vehicle to indicate he was nearing an obstacle.
Police provided both drivers with the crash report number and advised them to contact their insurance companies. No one was arrested.
These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department re ports dated March 11-18; 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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As a Riverside resident expecting my second child this fall, I recently saw firsthand how a new Illinois law, the Birth Equity Act, directly impacts families like mine. The Birth Equity Act mandates that Illinois health insurance cover pregnancy-related care, including abortion, pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care, along with doula and midwife support, without extra costs like copays or deductibles
After a difficult birth with my first child, I experienced postpartum depression. During labor, my doula helped slow things down so I could stay grounded, even as my high-risk
Opinion
LETTERS
Bir th Equity Ac t supports Illinois families
pregnancy led to decisions that weren’t part of my original birth plan. A postpartum doula mattered just as much. After two failed inductions that ended in a C-section, my husband and I came home exhausted. An overnight doula helped us get the rest we needed while also giving me space to recover from surgery
As a woman of color, I know how important it is that maternal health policies address disparities in postpartum care and support. That’s why Illinois’ Birth Equity Act is so important. In expanding coverage for this vital care, families like mine have the
support they need before, during, and after pregnancy. This is an important step toward improving maternal health and equity. This is reproductive justice.
As I prepare to welcome a baby this October and anticipate another C-section, I contacted Sen. Mike Porfirio to ask how the new law would apply to my health plan. When I first reached out to my insurer, there was no clear information about when the new doula coverage would take effect. Sen. Porfirio personally contacted the Illinois Department of Insurance on my behalf, and soon after I received written confirmation that doula coverage
What we need to do about ICE
I want to compare what ICE agents are doing in our country, and what policing looks like in our own community. Twice in my 30 years of living in Brookfield, I have witnessed arrests in my neighborhood. In both cases, a Brookfield police officer used a calm authority, rather than fear or force, to carry out the arrest.
One involved a Brookfield officer stopping a van driven by a man with an outstanding judicial warrant. The officer discovered that a young boy, the driver’s son, was sitting in the back seat. That officer spent an hour in his car making phone calls back and for th with extended family, then waited while a family member arrived to pick him up. That child did not have to spend one minute, frightened and alone, in a police station. This is not only good policing, this is the heart of who we
are as a community.
We see ICE targeting whole neighborhoods with toxic chemicals, we see parents violently dragged from cars when they are waiting to pick their children up from school, we see peaceful protesters shot and killed — with no ef fort at accountability on the part of those in charge of ICE policing.
This cannot be our new normal. It is clear that violence and intimidation by ICE agents are not only their method, it is their purpose. It is happening to both American citizens and immigrants. For those who see undocumented immigrants as wholly without rights, I need to tell you about my dad. He was brought to America as a child. For a significant part of his life, he would have been classified as undocumented. He worked from the time he was a teenager,
About that student walkout
As students you are being funded to learn. If you feel so strongly about this or any subject, do it on your own time. Protest after school or on a Saturday. Re garding ICE, if anyone has entered this country illegally, they have committed a crime and they are criminals. ICE is funded to remove criminals.
Ronaldo Racocco
cared for his naturalized extended family during the Great Depression, and right after the attack on Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the U.S. Ar my I am sure the military took a dim view of him enlisting without documentation, so as was his right, he got an immigration court hearing, received a waiver, served in Africa and Europe during the war, and later filed for his naturalization papers. The laws that enabled him to do this have not changed but are now being ignored.
I know passing a “Welcoming City” ordinance that restricts ICE from using village property to org anize and stage raids does not give our police depar tment the authority to enforce it. I am hoping that it does give them some additional options in using their tact and discretion to defuse situations that might occur, as well as giving
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under the Birth Equity Act will become available through my plan this summer
Receiving this confirmation gave me great peace of mind. It means these services will be covered by my health insurance plan, not another out-of-pocket expense for our family.
I’m grateful to live in a community where our elected officials listen and champion policies that support working families. Laws like the Birth Equity Act show how decisions made in Springfield can make a real difference for families like mine
Eleanor Grano Riverside
the village of Brookfield an opportunity to make a strong statement of resistance to what is happening in Cook County and in our country.
Those same values that oblige us to be nonviolent, respectful toward others, and follow the law of the land also demand of us a public opposition to those in power who break the law, seek to avoid any accountability, and use violence, intimidation, and falsehoods to advance their power.
Locally, we can only hope to limit the damage being done. It will be up to the voters of this country to stop the progression of violent and often lawless behavior on the part of the Border Patrol and immigrant enforcement. I urge us all to do that. John Platt Brookfield
OBITUARIES
Danilo Soto, 89
Av id gardener and golfer
Danilo Soto of North Riverside, 89, died on March 11, 2026. Born in the Philippines on May 30, 1936, he immigrated to Chicago and quickly embraced the local sports teams, especially the Cubs and Bears. He was always there to cheer on his kids in whatever activity they were involved in with a broad smile on his face. In addition to raising his family, he was an avid gardener and golfer, willing to play no matter Chicago’s extreme temper-
atures. He will always be loved and cherished by his family.
Dan was the husband of Nell (nee Ella); the father of Lenard (Christina) Soto, Nelyn (Charlie) Changchien, and Emric Soto; the grandfather of Joseph, Katrina, Hadrian, Andrew and Riley; the brother of many; and the uncle of many.
Visitation and funeral Mass were held on March 18 at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home and Mater Christi Church, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.
Helen Marshall, 93
Former North Riverside resident
Helen C. Marshall (nee Canniff), 93, of Park Ridge, for merly of North Riverside, has died. Helen was the wife of the late Robert J. Marshall; the mother of Katie
HERNANDEZ
Very close race from page 8
from Northern Illinois University Hernandez worked as a congressional staffer working for Senators Cory Booker and Mark Udall. Booker (D-New Jersey) made an endorsement video for Hernandez. Hernandez also worked as political appointee at the United States Department of Justice during the end of the Biden administration. Hernandez was also backed by influential local politicians such as Bridgeview mayor and Lyons Township Democratic Committeeman Steve Landek, Cicero Village President and Cicero Townhsip Democratic Committeeman Larry Dominick, Riverside Township Democratic Committeeman Mike
(the late Marty) Ciebien, Robert (Heidi) Farrell, Jo Anne (Bert) McAndrew and Jim (Patrice) Farrell; the grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three; and the sister of Patricia Kelly.
Private interment, Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.
Memorials appreciated to: St. Jude Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Arrangements were handled by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, IL 60513.
Bill Grasho , 85
Army veteran
William George “Bill” Grashof f, 85, of La Grange Park, died on March 17, 2026. Bor n on July 20, 1940, he was a U.S. Ar my veteran.
Bill was the husband of Ja net (nee Slomka); the father of Robert (Jen) Grashof f and Diana Grashoff; the grandfather Warren, Hunter, Caleb, Logan, Tucker and Riley; the brother of Noreen (Jerry) Wheeless, Marihelen (David) Burns, Jeannie (Brian) Jaybush, Tom Grashof f, and the late John (Cynthia) Grashoff; and the uncle of many. Visitation was held on March 22, at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family at www.johnsonnosek.com.
To run an obituary
Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
Zalewski and Melrose Park Mayor Ron Seprico.
Garcia, 42, said she was sad about losing but was proud that her campaign came so close to winning despite being badly outspent by both of her opponents. She said her campaign did not send out a single piece of direct mail and did not do much social media. She depended on door-to-door campaigning by herself and her volunteers.
“It’s unfortunate that I didn’t make it,” Garcia said. “I’m obviously not too surprised Miranda won considering that she did have a lot, lot more money than I did and a lot more support from different people already in office that helped her.”
Aguliar, 65, was appointed to the county board in 2020 after the late Jeffrey Tobolski resigned shortly before being charged with extortion. Tobolski died last year. Aguilar was elected to a four-year term in 2022 after defeating Garcia in the Democratic primary.
Aguilar blamed his defeat on a falling out with Dominick. The two had been close allies until, according to Aguilar, Aguilar criticized Dominick for remarks Dominick made about Venezuelan migrants
“I had a fallout with Larry Dominick because of his rhetoric against immigrants, his racist comments on Latinos, his hatred,” Aguilar said blaming Dominick for working to find an opponent to unseat him. “I was denied doing any workshops, know your rights in Cicero.”
On March 11, six days before Election Day, Aguilar said he was escorted out of the Cicero Community Center where he was trying to meet with senior citizens.
Dominick responded to Aguilar’s allegations and comments with a statement emailed to the Landmark from a spokesman.
“I’m excited to work with Miranda Hernandez -- the first Latina to represent Cook County’s 16th District -- as are the numer-
ous other mayors and elected officials from across the district who endorsed her,” Dominick said. “It’s unfortunate that Frank Aguilar wants to blame others for his failure. But we have all experienced how he has failed our communities, which is why most Latino voters, most Cicero voters and most voters across the district made a clear choice on Tuesday.”
Despite his harsh words about Dominick, Aguilar was philosophical about his defeat
“Democracy, the people have the final word, I mean that’s the basis of it,” Aguilar said. “I’ve got a good record, I’ve worked hard.”
Aguilar said that he was particularly proud of his work to combat flooding and to obtain a helicopter for the Cook County Sherriff’s office.
He said that he hopes that Her nandez will represent the entire district.
“I wish her luck,” Aguilar said.
DANILO SOTO
WILLIAM GEORGE GRASHOFF
Sports
RBHS baseball grows on last year ’s lessons
All-UEC selections
Noa, Polich among top returners for Bulldogs
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Senior pitcher Ronnie Murray and many returning Riverside Brookfield High School varsity baseball players remember their success last season, especially in the earlier portion. The Bulldogs are committed to maintaining that.
“The energy we started with, we’re starting with that energy this year,” Murray said. “We started (2025) great and then toward the end, I don’t know what happened but we didn’t end obviously the way we wanted, but it was still a great season. We have a good group and I’m excited.”
Returning seniors Damian Noa and Aidan Polich earned 2025 All-Upstate Eight Conference East Division honors. Senior Eli Costello and Murray also are returning starters. Seniors Marco Villardito and Connor Dominick, an individual state golf qualifier, played in 20 and 19 games
Other team members are seniors Andres Baez, Ben Biskupic, Tommy Bogdan, Michael Kallas and Josiah Navarro, juniors Nicholas Baca, Nick Caputo, Benjamin Hoffman, Anthony Lembcke, Dominic Martinez,
Joey Muganini, Braeden Novak and Augustin Smith and four sophomores — William Darrah, William Harbeck, Jack MacLennan and Paul Ragosta.
In 2025, the Bulldogs (2-2) were 19-14 after a 15-5 start and in their UEC East debut finished second to Glenbard East at 11-5. They lost to Oak Lawn 4-1 in the Class 4A regional semifinals.
“This is a completely different team with a completely different story. We continue to work on the little things like bunting, base running, bunt defense,” RBHS coach Mark Ori said. “Last year, we had some great senior leaders that our current seniors mentored under. This has allowed them to take ownership of the team by setting expectations this offseason. Many of them have taken big strides in this area.”
Primarily a third baseman, Noa had a 277 batting average last season with one home run and 20 runs batted in. As a starting pitcher, he was 2-3 with one save, a 1.83 earned-run average and 31 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.
Pitcher Polich was 5-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 35 innings. First baseman Costello hit .295 with 22 RBIs. Pitcher Murray was 3-3 with a 2.60 ERA and led the staff with 46 strikeouts and 40.1 innings.
“We already have a great, tight-knit group. We communicate well with each other,” Noa said.
“(Last season) helped me more with confidence. I know I can go out there and do stuf f. I can excel in certain parts of the
Riverside-Brook eld’s pitcher Ronnie Murray (8) delivers a pitch against Argo dur ing a nonconference game, March 23, in Summit.
game and take things to my advantage.”
Ori said the three returning starting pitchers and versatility are among the team strengths
“We have a handful of players that can play multiple positions. The first two weeks prior to conference will be used to move players around so we can get a look and a number of dif ferent combinations.”
The Bulldogs are going after the UEC East title and their first re gional title since 2021.
“In order to do so, we need to compete on the mound, make routine plays and play small ball offensively,” Ori said. “Keys to
our success will be focus on what we can control to stay committed to our g ame plan as a team. If everyone plays their part, we will have a large amount of success.”
The Bulldogs beat Argo 21-1 in five innings, Monday, as Costello homered and Novak, Noa and Baez doubled. Murray was the winning pitcher. They beat Whitney Young 4-2 in eight innings, Friday, after both teams scored once in the seventh. Caputo was 2 for 5 with a triple and Harbeck was the winning pitcher in relief
The Bulldogs lost at Plainfield Central 11-0 in five innings, Saturday, and 9-0 to LincolnWay West in the March 19 opener
LTHS softball has enthusiasm, experience, new home eld
All-state shor tstop Jacklin among 12 seniors for new coach Warren
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Lyons Township High School softball
players certainly are excited about new head coach Kelsey Warren and a beautiful new home diamond. Another reason is the leadership of many f amiliar faces, such as
senior fourth-year starting shortstop Ava Jacklin, who was named Class 4A thirdteam all-state last season.
“Last year, we had a really strong pre-
g ame routine that got us locked in for g ames. However this year, we’ve got all of our plays memorized with such a strong roster,” senior Avery Hicks said. “Team
STEVE JOHNSTON
Pytel, RBHS softball exhibits teamwork in victory over LTHS
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Sophomore Amelia Pytel is excited to contribute to the Riverside Brookfield High School softball team any way possible. For the Bulldogs’ home game against rival Lyons Township Saturday, that meant starting at second base rather than her usual role as pitcher.
“I love that I’m able to do different things to help out my team,” Pytel said. “We all can work together and move to different positions.”
The Bulldogs used a team ef fort to win 6-3 and improve to 2-0. Abby Weinert (2 for 3, two-run double) and Pytel (2 for 4, RBI double) led a ninehit attack in which seven Bulldogs got at least one hit. Seven players also
had at least one hit in the 8-1 seasonopening win over Oak Pa rk and River Forest, March 19.
“A whole team ef fort,” RBHS coach Emma Jarrell said. “There are 15 girls who are very good at softball so everyone has been contributing and doing good things for us.”
Pytel did pitch the last three innings in relief of winning starter Reese Milchhoefer. Last season, Pytel had an 11-3 record and earned honorable mention all-conference.
“I’m so happy to be back with everyone and how we get to start of f with how we ended (last) season,” Pytel said. “I feel like I come in with more confidence because my teams helps me so much. They bring me confidence because I know they have my back in the field.”
morale is our biggest strength. We always know how to pick each other up and mo forward. We have amazing coaches tha always support us no matter what.”
T he Lions look to boost their for tunes after finishing 11-19 in 2025 with an 11-0, six-inning loss to Rive rside Brookfield in the 4A re gional final. LT HS was fifth in the West Suburban C onference Sil ve vision at 5-7. Graduating just three star er s, the Lions have 12 seniors that also includes Sarah Adams, Danica Bezani Paxton C utler, E mma Gainey, Mia ci c, Maddie L anoue, Lu cy Le e, Maddie Luciano, Mad dy Pieroni and Ly la Re as well as j uniors Julia Ahrens, Jillian John, Bella Luciano, Alyssa Mosqued from Brookfield, Mia Olszowka, Mar S andman, Cay lee Wa g ner, sophomores Alice Bruckner and Me g an S hurhay and freshman Sofia Kettanch.
Weinert’s two-run double in a threerun third inning scored Kate Hamilton and Pytel for a 4-2 lead after Hamilton singled to score Mia Melendez.
In the fourth, Pytel’s RBI double followed a double by Trinity Stevenson.
In the fifth, Sophia Runquist’s RBI single followed a double by pinch-hitter Kennedy Holakovsky for a 6-3 lead.
For the Lions (2-1), junior first baseman Mary Sandman homered and doubled and Ava Jacklin homered. It was Sandman’s first varsity homer since freshman year.
“That was super-exciting. I usually can’t hit the high balls,” Sandman said. “Something just was connecting. I felt really comfortable in the (batter’s) box. I also felt really confident in the teammates behind me so I just had the extra confidence boost.”
STEVE JOHNSTON
Riverside-Brook eld’s Amelia Pytel (8) gets set in the batter’s box against Lyons Township dur ing a nonconference game March 21, in Brook eld.
oach last season and gives private c oachbatting, primarily slap red at Naperville No rt h ge softball at C oastal all season, C olle ge of three seasons and North C enone. C OD teammate Lindsey Onnezi is the new assistant. the pl ayers are playin g T hey ’re really excited en said. “They’ve b een performing extremely well in scrimmagke our hitting is goin g
Jacklin often sparked the offense last season with .490 on-base perand 1.195 OPS. Jacklin had a .420 with four home runs, 15 runs batted in, 31 runs scored, 11 doubles and 14-for-14 in stolen bases.
said. “A s a team, the ke y to success is playing to g ether with c onfidenc e, having each other ’s backs and maintaining strong communication and trust.”
Wa g ner and L ee handled most of last season’s pitching. Th at de p th has b een increased by the a ddition of Kettanch, who had a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and no walks against Morton and a three-hitter with eight strikeouts against Richards
“We we re so lucky to have a great hitter and amazing pitcher c ome through (li ke Kettanch),” Wa rren said. “A nd there’s a lot of freshmen on the JV. T here’s a lot of p otential within the coming year s. ”
T he Lions (2-1) lost 6-3 to RBHS Saturday after beating Richards 5-1 F riday and Mor ton 5-1 in the March 19 opener.
“Our team ga i ned a lot of experienc e last year, wh ich strengthened our c ommunication and b ond,” said Re plin, a co-captain and returning second b aseman. “We c ome i nto this season ready to p ush each other so we c an improve and be even b etter than last year. Everyone
Lyons Township’s shor tstop Ava Jacklin (11) elds the ball and makes the throw to rst against Riverside-Brook eld during a nonconference game, March 21, in Brook eld.
has a dedication to softball with a g oal of g etting b etter after each practice and g ame.”
Wa rren was the Lions’ j unior varsity II
Replin, Bruckner (catcher), honorable mention all-state volleyball libero Ahrens (outfield/catcher), Pieroni (third base) Wagner (first base/pitcher) and Jovicic (outfield) also started or played re gularly. Injured most of 2025, varsity veteran Hicks retur ns at third and first base “I want to use my experience to help guide the team and encourage my teammates. My g oal is to lead by example through my ef fo rt and attitud e, ” Re plin
A lso against Mor ton, Bella Luciano homered and Hicks and Pieroni were 2 for 3 with doubles. Pieroni (3 for 4) and Jacklin (triple) led the of fense against Richards
T he Morton home g ame was played in Rosemont as the Lions await the completion of their new Stacy Ann Baker Field at south campus. T he field will be officially dedicated April 7 with the possibility of first playing there the day before “I love the turf. Turf is so much better than dirt,” Hicks said. “It was incredibly g enerous to donate the field and as a senior I’m so excited to play on the field.”
STEVE JOHNSTON
Landmark, March 25, 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
PUBLIC NOTICENOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: Franklin Avenue from Madison Street to Washington Boulevard 2026 Proposed Watermain Plans
The project scope is the full replacement of watermain and upsizing to 8” PVC, replacing water services to the bee box or replacing lead service lines to the meter inside of the house, minor storm sewer work, and pavement patching.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at: www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Friday, April 17, 2026, at 10:00 am at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in The Landmark March 25, 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: M26001443 on March 10, 2026 Under the Assumed Business Name of 6700 SSD 17D with the business located at: 6700 S SOUTH SHORE DRIVE #17D, CHICAGO, IL 60649. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: EDWARD MATTHEWS 322 WEST 52ND STREET #323 NEW YORK, NY 10019, USA.
Published in The Landmark March 25, April 1, 8, 2026
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
2026 Permeable Paver Maintenance
This project consists of 19,511 SF of permeable paver restorative maintenance and 585 SF of permeable paver removal and replacement to restore the stormwater conveyance and filtering capability of the pavement cross-section.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at: www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals, without the consent of the ruling body from each participating Village, for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
The Village reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in The Landmark March 25, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
Annual Town Meeting
Notice is hereby given to the legal voters of the Town of Riverside, in the County of Cook, and the State of Illinois, that the Annual Town Meeting of said town will take place on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, being the second Tuesday of the month, at the hour of 6:01 pm, at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL, for the transaction of miscellaneous business of the said town; and after a Moderator having been elected, will proceed to hear and consider reports of the officers, and decide on such measures as may, in the pursuance of the law, come before the meeting; and especially to consider & decide on the following:
Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Election of the Moderator, Oath of the Moderator, Approval of the Minutes from the Last Annual Town Meeting, New Business, Township Reports, Setting the date for the next Annual Town Meeting, and Adjournment.
Jay Reyes Clerk, Riverside Township March 10, 2026
Published in RB Landmark March 25, 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.
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