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Vol. 38, No. 13

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Also serving North Riverside

March 29, 2023

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New surveillance cameras making impact in North Riverside

BROOKFIELD GETS THE ‘DRIFT’

14 cases in six weeks where license plate readers have led to arrests, recovered stolen cars

Previously limited to Chicago, street takeovers migrate west into suburbs for the first time

By BOB UPHUES

SEE STORY, PAGE 6

Editor

Last fall when North Riverside trustees voted to approve installing a network of license plate reader cameras at key village entry/exit locations, Police Chief Christian Ehrenberg described the devices as an “early warning system” to let officers know when a vehicle connected to a serious crime had entered the village.

While the village network of seven cameras has taken some time to roll out – there’s just one presently installed at the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Cermak Road – the impact of the cameras has made itself evident elsewhere.

At about the same time the village’s lone cameras went operational at Harlem and Cermak, the North Riverside VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

T R O P PASS

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Funded mainly through a $250,000 state grant, the improvements to the Ehlert Park tennis courts will include a new surface and striping for both tennis and pickleball. The adjacent basketball courts will also be resurfaced and reconfigured as two half-court play spaces. Both areas will be enclosed by new black vinyl coated fencing.

Ehlert Park tennis, basketball courts to get overhaul Work expected to start in mid-April, last through June

By BOB UPHUES Editor

A long-deferred project to improve the tennis courts at Ehlert Park in Brookfield is slated to break ground in mid-April, and its scope has expanded to also include renovating the adjacent basketball courts and upgrade the fencing.

On March 13, Brookfield village trustees awarded a $291,839 contract to West Chicago-based Evans & Son Blacktop Inc. to complete the work. Village officials were expected to join the contractor this week for a pre-construction meeting with work expected to begin April 17, according to Assistant Village Manager Stevie Ferrari.

Work is expected to be completed and the courts open to the public by the end of June.

Evans & Son was the lowest of four bids submitted to the village for the project and was 30% below the village engineering/design consultant’s estimated cost for the work, which was $417,548.

In addition to a lower-than-expected low bid, Brookfield was also informed in Feb-

ruary that it had received an additional $50,000 in grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, bringing that total to $250,000, leaving Brookfield responsible for about $42,000 of the total cost of the project.

The scope of work includes completely resurfacing the four tennis courts and lining them for both tennis and pickleball.

The courts will also be outfitted with new nets, benches and practice boards. New vinyl-coated fencing and new fencing screens will be erected around the tennis courts and basketball courts.

As for the basketball courts themselves, the existing asphalt courts will be removed and the sub-base will be regraded.

A new full-depth surface will be installed, color-coated and striped for two half-court spaces instead of the compressed full courts that had been in place.

The project marks the first significant improvement for those play areas in decades. In the mid-1980s the village board decided against reconstructing the tennis courts and opted to cover them with artificial turf and sand to simulate a clay surface.

The basketball courts also have not been improved since they were first built, according to a memo from Ferrari to the village board for their March 13 meeting.

The basketball courts were built in 1998 as part of a $2.5 million effort to improve areas of Ehlert and Candy Cane parks in Brookfield.

According to the July 9, 1998 RiversideBrookfield Landmark, the improvements at Ehlert Park also including installing a fence around the tennis courts.

Last June, after being informed that the state of Illinois finally would be releasing the grant funding it had promised for the project back in 2019, the Brookfield Village Board gave its consultant Hitchcock Design Group the go-ahead to design the improvements to the tennis courts and directed them to include the basketball court renovation and fencing upgrades as alternate bid items.

While the work had been budgeted for completion in 2022, with the village experiencing higher-than-usual construction costs and shipping delays in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, local officials decided to defer the project until 2023.

Editor Bob Uphues Staff Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner EMAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL buphues@rblandmark.com ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00.

A one-year subscription costs $41 within Cook County and $51 outside the county. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP.

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

March 29-April 5

BIG WEEK Chicago’s very own … parakeets

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, invites you to join Stephen Pruett-Jones, Riverside editor of “Naturalized Parrots of the World” for the special presentation “Monk Parakeets in Chicago” about a parakeet species that has found a home in the Chicago area, including Riverside.

The program is on April 4 at 7 p.m. in the library’s Community Room.

Register to attend at riversidelibrary.org/events. tritontrouperscircus.com

Triton Troupers Circus returns

Step right up and be amazed and thrilled as the Triton Trouper Circus returns with its 50th annual show March 30-31 and April 1 in the Collins Center Gymnasium (R Building) at Triton College, 2000 5th Ave. in River Grove.

The circus features skilled performers who will wow audiences with clowning, juggling, trapeze artistry, unicycling, feats of strength, stunts and more.

Tickets are $6 per person and are available at tritontrouperscircus.com or at the door (no credit or debit cars accepted). Seating is limited.

Shows are at 7 p.m. on March 30-31 and April 1 with a 1 p.m. show on April 1, which will be interpreted for the hearing impaired. Doors open an hour before showtime.

And more Nazareth Academy, 1209 W. Ogden Ave. in LaGrange Park, host a Spring Fine Arts Showcase on April 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Rooney Student Center.

The showcase includes a reception, gallery tours and an exhibition of artwork from dozens of students. All are welcome.

The St. Paul VI Parish Holy Name Society hosts its 3rd Annual Easter Basket Raffle, which will be livestreamed virtually at stpaulviparish.org on April 2 at 3 p.m. Thirty-five baskets will be raffled off in addition to a split-the-pot raffle with thousands of dollars in cash prizes. Each entry is $5 with a twoentry bonus with each $20 purchase for either raffle.

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Easter Egg Hunt in Riverside

Riverside Parks & Recreation invites all kids 10 and under to participate in their annual Easter Egg Hunt, which is scheduled for April 1 at Big Ball Park, at the corner of Longcommon and Delaplaine roads, starting at 10 a.m. sharp.

The Easter Bunny will join the children as they hunt for hidden eggs, each of which contains a prize.

Children should bring their own bags or baskets to collect the plastic eggs.

Pigging out

Join writer, traveler and food historian Cynthia Clampett on April 3 at 7 p.m. at the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., for “Wild Boar to Baconfest: Pigs in History and Pop Culture.”

Clampett presents the history of pigs and pork to examine the impact these animals have had worldwide, focusing on the Midwest, from Cincinnati’s “Porkopolis” to Chicago’s “Hog Butcher of the World.”

Register to attend by calling 708-4856917, ext. 130 or visiting brookfield. evanced.info/signup.

The deadline to buy tickets is March 31. Call 708-602-1927 with questions.

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “One Ends and Another Begins” featuring the work for Regin Igloria and “Over the Rainbow, One More Time,” featuring the work of Laura Kina through May 6. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Visit riversideartscenter.com for more.

North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents After School Art Escape (child with adult) on March 30 at 4 p.m., Morning Munchkin Stories with Ms. Karen on April 3 at 10:30 a.m., Safari ABCs (child with adult, every other week in ■

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Juniors host ‘Brews, Blues & BBQ’ fundraiser Tickets are now on sale for Riverside Junior Women’s Charity’s “Brews, Blues & BBQ” fundraiser at the Riverside Swim Club, 100 Bloomingbank Road, on April 22 from 2 to 6 p.m.

Proceeds go to support local charities. Tickets (21-older only) are $80 per person ($100 includes whiskey tasting) and include a sampling glass, 40 beer samples, pig roast (vegetarian/non-pork options) and live music.

Ticket sales close April 5.

To buy tickets, visit riversidejuniors.org/brewfest.

Spanish) on April 5 at 10:30 a.m. and Using the Internet Archive for Genealogy with Debra Dudek on April 5 at 6 p.m.

Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary. org/events-new.

Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents Fairytale Storytime on March 30 at 10:30 a.m., a ‘Steel Magnolias’ screening with LATTE Theater on April 2 at 3 p.m., Chair Yoga (virtual) on April 3 at 11 a.m., Storytime Stars (ages 2-3 with caregiver) on April 4 at 10:30 a.m. and Danny Trejo Talks Tacos, Hollywood, and Redemption via Zoom on April 4 at 7 p.m. Call 708485-6917 or visit online at brookfield.evanced.info/ ■

signup to register for programs.

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents Drop-In Craft: Friendship Bracelets (all ages) on March 30 at 10 a.m., Bingo (all ages) on March 31 at 2 p.m., First Saturday Storytime on April 1 at 10 a.m., Mini-Movers Storytime (babies to age 3) on April 3 at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., and Danny Trejo Talks Tacos, Hollywood, and Redemption via Zoom on April 4 at 7 p.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrary.org/events.

The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo the second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.

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P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

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Riverside man charged after allegedly firing gun inside home Riverside police charged a 28-year-old Riverside man with reckless conduct, a misdemeanor, after he allegedly fired a handgun inside a home in the 300 block of Shenstone Road early on March 25.

No one was hurt, but Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley said police observed a bullet hole in a wall in the first-floor living room. The round was fired from a handgun, he said.

Police from Riverside, Brookfield, North Riverside and McCook responded to the residence at about 12:10 a.m. after someone called 911 to report hearing a shot fired inside the home following what was described by that person as a verbal altercation between a man and a woman.

Using a bullhorn, police ordered the alleged offender to walk outside with nothing in his hands. He exited the home and walked down backward with his hands raised down the driveway toward police, who arrested him.

Police confirmed only one other person was inside the house, however they were

unable to determine how the gun came to be discharged. The other person inside the home did not want to pursue charges, claiming the discharge was accidental.

Riverside police did refer the matter to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for possible felony charges, but the state’s attorney declined, said Buckley, because there was no complaining witness inside the house.

Armed robbery Three men, one of them armed with a semiautomatic pistol with an extended magazine, robbed a North Riverside convenience store clerk during the early morning hours of March 26, making off with cigarettes, cash and the victim’s wallet.

According to the police report, the three men all wearing hooded sweatshirts, masks and gloves, entered 7-Eleven, 9205 Cermak Road at about 3:30 a.m. One of the offenders pulled out a pistol and along with another offender went behind the counter, grabbing

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cigarettes from the display and cash from the register.

The offenders smashed the clerk’s laptop computer and threw his cellphone to the ground before taking his backpack, which contained a wallet with cash, credit cards and a driver’s license.

All three then left the store and were last seen running eastbound around the corner.

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A 20-year-old Maywood man is being held at Cook County Jail without bond after he was arrested for possessing a loaded gun inside North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road on the evening of March 25.

Cameron J. Johnson was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and two counts of resisting arrest after he and another man were detained by police and mall security after a shopper reported seeing two men retrieve what looked to be a handgun from a vehicle parked in the west lot.

The other person was released without being charged. Police cut the gun from Johnson’s pants leg. It was loaded with 20 rounds, including one in the chamber, according to police.

After police retrieved the gun, Johnson reportedly ran from police, while still handcuffed, but was apprehended again a short distance away.

License plate stolen A shopper at the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Rd., went to police on

March 25 to report that between 3:30 and 5 p.m. someone removed the rear license plate from her vehicle, which was parked in the lot while she was shopping.

Phone scam averted An alert North Riverside resident recognized someone was trying to scam her out of thousands of dollars and called police to report the incident.

The resident said she received a call on March 23 at about 3 p.m. from someone claiming to be a lawyer for her son-in-law .

The “lawyer” said the son-in-law had been involved in a crash that had injured a pregnant woman and that he needed $25,700 in order to make bail.

The “lawyer” told the woman to put the money in an envelope, which would be picked up by someone else. The woman went to police, who responded to her home.

While police were there, the “courier” called saying he would be collecting the money. The woman handed the phone to the police officer, who advised him a police report was being filed. The caller then responded with an expletive and hung up.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, March 20-26, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime.

These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

Illegal street takeovers hit suburbs, Brookfield Cars, spectators block 31st/Maple to cheer on ‘drifters’

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Street takeovers, where dozens of vehicles converge on an intersection or parking lot and then block it, set off fireworks and cheer as a vehicle “drifts” – doing doughnuts in common parlance – inside the ring, made their way to the suburbs on March 24, causing a stir in a number of towns, including Brookfield.

The highly planned, tightly coordinated takeovers, last just a few minutes from start to finish, but they generate anxiety among the general public, who feel powerless to control it.

Mainly an issue in the city of Chicago the past couple of years, the practice now has migrated into the ’burbs, perhaps in response to an ordinance passed by the Chicago City Council last summer allowing police to impound cars involved in drifting or street racing and to fine their owners up to $10,000.

An illegal street takeover involving about 100 vehicles in the Brighton Park neighborhood in Chicago last October turned deadly when five people were shot, three fatally.

No one was hurt during the street takeover of the intersection at 31st Street and Maple Avenue on March 24 just before 9 p.m., video of which was posted to Facebook, showing a single vehicle “drifting” inside a ring of cars and spectators.

“From the time of the initial setup until they were gone was less than five minutes,” said Brookfield Deputy Police Chief Terry Schreiber, who managed the department’s response that night.

Brookfield police were on scene in two minutes, Schreiber said, by which time the takeover was over and vehicles were dispersing. No one was arrested at the time.

Police are reviewing surveillance camera video to see whether any vehicle owners can be identified and cited after the fact.

“Due to the recklessness they’re engaged in, trying to effect any stop can add to already reckless behavior,” Schreiber said.

“We’re handling it through the investigative process afterward.”

Schreiber said the takeovers begin when an advance group of vehicles arrives and parks in the area and their occupants walk to the intersection. Once enough people gather, a second group of vehicles arrives

VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Cars and spectators shut down the intersection of 31st Street and Maple Avenue at about 9 p.m. on March 24, allowing cars to “drift” inside the ring for a couple of minutes before dispersing as police arrived on scene. The street takeovers until now had been confined to the city of Chicago, but happened last weekend in a number of west suburbs. and blocks the intersection while a few cars take turns “drifting” inside the ring.

Schreiber said sometimes the advance group will appear to prepare for a takeover in one area to divert attention from the actual takeover location.

“We did have an idea that there was a group out there [driving through the suburbs],” Schreiber said. “We didn’t know they were going to be coming to town.”

There’s no firm count regarding how many vehicles were involved in the various street takeovers that played out on March 24 and 25, but estimates ranged from 50 to 300. Intersection takeovers were also reported in Cicero, Berwyn, Chicago and Melrose Park.

Police in Riverside, North Riverside, LaGrange and McCook also reported vehicles traveling in large numbers through their towns along main streets such as Harlem Avenue and First Avenue.

“They traveled through LaGrange, but

they didn’t take over any intersections,” said LaGrange Police Chief Robert Wardlaw. “We don’t have exact numbers, but our officers reported a lot of vehicles. They couldn’t keep count.”

Suburban police were preparing for possible takeovers, starting around 7:35 p.m. on March 24, when they initiated an Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) callout for police in greater northeast Illinois to respond to the area for “crowd control for street racing.”

“We assisted several of our neighboring PDs,” said Riverside Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley. “It was a constant issue on Friday and Saturday night.”

While there was no takeover in North Riverside last weekend, police there did arrest the driver of a vehicle that had apparently been part of a pack northbound on First Avenue at about 10:30 p.m.

An orange Dodge Charger driven by a 24-year-old Waukegan man reportedly

was seen racing with a black Ford Mustang eastbound on Cermak Road and then northbound on Desplaines Avenue. After encountering a North Riverside police squad car near Roosevelt Road, the vehicles reportedly did U-turns and sped south at speeds greater than 60 mph.

The cars turned west on Country Club Lane, which is a dead end street and police blocked the east end. The Mustang’s driver sped around the squad car and reached Desplaines Avenue by driving on several front lawns, but police stopped the Dodge Charger and arrested the driver.

He was charged with street racing, aggravated speeding, reckless driving and modifying/concealing registration.

According to police, the driver of the Dodge Charger possessed a key fob device that, with the push of a button, dropped a black cloth to cover the rear license plate.

The license plates on the Ford Mustang reportedly were stolen, police said.

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

7

North Riverside candidate forum draws quorum, but not full slate 5 of 7 trustee candidates tackle issues at Landmark’s March 22 event

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

With Election Day on April 4 around the corner, Growing Community Media hosted a “Meet Your Candidates” forum for village trustees on March 22 inside the gymnasium at the North Riverside Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave. Moderated by Riverside Brookfield Landmark editor Bob Uphues, the 70-minute forum was held to provide the seven candidates vying for three trustee seats a chance to share their opinions on topics including public safety, business redevelopment, transparency in village practices and more.

Five candidates attended, including incumbent Deborah Czajka and her slatemates from the North Riverside United ticket, newcomers Nicholas Tricoci and Antonio Santucci; independent candidate and newcomer Jose Del Angel; and Municipal Integrity Party candidate Sandra Greicius, who ran unsuccessfully for trustee in 2021.

The race’s other incumbent, Marybelle Mandel, and the third member of the Municipal Integrity Party slate, newcomer Joseph Maruska, declined to participate in the forum.

A letter from MIP sent by Mandel to the Landmark the morning of March 22, stated the reason for “at least two of the three MIP party candidates” not participating in the forum was due to “credible infor mation received by the party in advance of the event,” which they believed to mean

the forum would “be anything but a fair and impartial airing of the issues facing the village.”

The letter also expressed concerns for “plans for unruliness, heckling and shouting down of MIP candidates” and stated the party was “concerned about the impartiality of the moderators.”

In the email to Uphues accompanying the letter, Mandel went so far as to allege “they will have tomatoes,” referring to the forum’s audience.

About 75 to 100 people were in the audience at the trustee forum, and despite the absence of two candidates and the behindthe-scenes drama around the election, no political sparring between participating candidates broke out nor were any tomatoes thrown, or evident.

In addition, candidates were virtually in agreement with one another on how they would address the topics discussed.

When asked about why they are running for trustee, all responded with the simple reason of caring about North Riverside.

“I’ve lived in town all my life,” Czajka said. “I care and I understand what you’re going through sitting in those chairs. One of the things that was a goal for me was to pursue my love for North Riverside by becoming a village trustee.”

Greicius agreed, saying it’s all about wanting to make a difference.

“I do love the village,” she said. “I am surprised at how kind people can be when I stop by their doors.”

Village revenue streams and attracting strong businesses were important to everyone, with all remarking on the need to collectively discuss the public’s changing shopping habits and need to stay on top of pension obligations. Greicius usred village government to reduce its debt burden, a theme of MIP’s campaign materials.

TODD A. BANNOR

Five of the seven candidates running for village trustee this spring in North Riverside participated in the Landmark’s March 22 forum in the gymnasium at the North Riverside Village Commons.

“I think [the major issue] is revenue — how are we going to keep revenue coming in and paying pension liabilities,” Tricoci said.

“One issue I’ve noticed in the past few years is the lack of new revenues coming into town,” Del Angel said. “We need to come together and put a plan together … we need to have an alternative source of revenue and an action plan.”

They all agreed that while red light cameras in town have helped bring in money to fund pensions and pay down debts, that the uncertainty of their staying power in the village means that new, viable streams absolutely need to be explored — including ways to help transform North Riverside into a west-suburban destination for businesses.

With respect to North Riverside Park Mall, an economic engine for the village often viewed unfavorably by residents as a source of crime, candidates mainly held the same opinion that new commercial or residential construction at the site is something that would have to be openly worked on with local residents.

The mall’s owner recently acquired the 11.5-acre former Carson Pirie Scott property on the west side of the mall and has floated a mixed-use development for the land.

Possibilities for funding incentives for such development included exploring state grants, sales tax rebates and the introduc-

tion of TIF Districts — a new concept to North Riverside.

“The use of [business areas in North Riverside] would have to be decisions made by a team,” Santucci said. “Trustees could guide or explain what we would like to have there and what would be best for the community, then talk to residents and see how we can figure out a plan.”

Czajka remarked on the village and residents needing to work together to “encourage and support the robust revitalization of the mall,” with Del Angel saying how he hoped the mall could turn into more of a restaurant/entertainment district akin to Rosemont.

“We are going to have to update infrastructure, but it’s going to have to be a multi-partisan effort,” he said. “We owe it to everyone in North Riverside to get it done.”

When presented with the question about transparency in local politics, most candidates agreed that current officials appear transparent at meetings and in publications of business plans, audits and budgets.

“As far as transparency, I believe the current board has been transparent, except for the clouded eyes of others who want to cause more problems that don’t need to be had,” Santucci said.

“Just because you don’t agree with something or don’t understand it, it doesn’t See CANDIDATE FORUM on page 16

8

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A HOBBY AND A BUSINESS FOR TAX PURPOSES

A

hobby is any activity that a person pursues because they enjoy it and with no intention of making a profit. People operate a business with the intention of making a profit. Many people engage in hobby activities that turn into a source of income. However, determining if that hobby has grown into a business can be confusing. To help simplify things, the IRS has established factors taxpayers must consider when determining whether their activity is a business or hobby. These factors are whether: • Losses are due to circumstances beyond the • The taxpayer carries out activity in a businesslike manner and maintains complete and accurate books taxpayer’s control or are normal for the startup phase of their type of business. and records.

• The taxpayer puts time and effort into the activity to • Taxpayer and their advisor have the knowledge needed to carry out the show they intend to make it profitable; there is a activity as a successful business. change to methods of operation to improve profitability.

• The taxpayer was successful in making a profit in similar activities in the past.

• The taxpayer depends on income from the activity for their livelihood, or the taxpayer has enough • The taxpayer can expect to make a income from other sources to fund the activity. future profit from the appreciation • The taxpayer has personal motives for carrying out the activity such as general enjoyment or relaxation.

of the assets used in the activity.

All factors, facts, and circumstances with respect to the activity must be considered.

No one factor is more important than another.

Linda Sokol Francis, E.A.

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Water project to shut Prairie Ave. crossing for a month Mains to be replaced, reconnected north of tracks starting in August

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield residents still recovering from street closures due to the 18-month long Brookfield Avenue bridge construction project will get to experience a just-as-disruptive construction project in the village’s downtown later this summer.

Local officials say the street closures and detours won’t last nearly as long – about a month – but they’re necessary to make water main improvements just north of the Prairie Avenue grade crossing, where the street intersects with Grand Boulevard, Brookfield Avenue and Fairview Avenue.

The project will likely break ground in August and construction will last through October. While the timing is still unknown, there will be a four-week period during which the Prairie Avenue grade crossing will be closed to traffic as will the entire Grand/Prairie/ Brookfield/Fairview intersection.

“As we design the project, we will meet with staff to pick a four-week period sometime between early August through the end of October that will have the least interruption to the businesses and any planned events,” said Village Engineer Derek Treichel.

“Exact locations of closures will be determined during the design. I think on Grand, Prairie, Brookfield and Fairview, the closures will be either at the brick paver crosswalks or within 50 feet of the brick paver crosswalks.”

The Brookfield Village Board is expected to approve adding the project to the list of water main improvements already approved in 2023. The estimated cost of the work, including the design engineering and resurfacing the impacted intersection, is $606,400.

Treichel said the plan is to finalize the design by May, put the work out to bid in June and award a construction contract in July.

Waiting until August to begin the work will avoid construction impact on the July 4 parade and the daylong Intelligentsia Cup criterium bicycle race scheduled to be held in the downtown on July 26.

While the village is planning to host Music on Grand this summer, Village Manager Timothy Wiberg said the work should not really impact that event in August or September.

“The main work will certainly impact all traffic in that area for a month or so, [but] it shouldn’t necessarily directly impact the concerts as the stage and closure of Grand occur north of where the main work will occur,” Wiberg said.

At the village board’s committee of the whole meeting on March 13, Treichel explained that the water main issue in and around the Prairie Avenue grade crossing had its origins in the January 2018 failure of a 6-inch Prairie Avenue water main that crossed under the BNSF tracks.

The leak was immediately below the rail line and BNSF would not allow any excavation near the tracks due to concerns about track destabilization. The quick fix was to cut the main and cap it south of the tracks.

North of the tracks, workers shut down seven water valves to stop the flow of water through the 6-inch main under the tracks.

Treichel said engineers determined the 6-inch main was not needed since water could flow from north to south under the tracks through 12-inch mains at four other locations.

While shutting off the valves north of the tracks still allowed water to flow in that area, it diminished the flow in some areas. So, last fall the village hired a contractor to cut and cap the 6-inch Prairie Avenue water main north of the tracks and reopen the valves.

However, when they reopened the valves, it resulted in a leak under the tracks. Treichel said the village’s water main atlas doesn’t show another pipe under the tracks, so they don’t know the source of that leak.

Treichel added that the water mains north of the tracks appear to have been installed through the years in a piecemeal fashion and that they weren’t connected in a logical way.

He also feared there may be other long-forgotten and unmapped water mains and cross connections.

As a result, Treichel recommended relocating water main connections north of the tracks so future maintenance can be done without closing down the intersection. In addition, he recommended replacing sections of the water mains that run under Grand Boulevard and Prairie Avenue.

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

9

Florist opens doors in downtown Brookfield storefront Sister Squared Florist got its start as home-based business

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

In one way or another over the past 15 years, flowers and greenery have found their way into Julie Procich’s life.

From 2008 to 2010, she owned Sweetness, a candy store in downtown LaGrange that focused on designing decked-out candy buffets for weddings that often included flowers.

Afterward, Procich moved on to other jobs, first, working for the Phillip’s Flowers design center in Westmont and later as a department manager and buyer for Standard Market, a gourmet grocery store in Westmont.

But in 2019, the longtime Brookfield resident had the itch to start a flower business, Sister Squared Florist, alongside her sister, Diane Magno.

Operating out of Procich’s Brookfield home as an online flower delivery business, Sister Squared Florist launched as a small-scale operation, with Procich focusing on floral design and Magno handling business operations.

Then, in February 2022, Procich had the opportunity to purchase the customer list and phone number of Christopher Mark Fine Flowers from Christopher Borzym, who closed his 16-year Brookfield business before ultimately passing away from cancer last December.

Procich, who had done some freelance floral arranging for Borzym in the past, said the opportunity was a nobrainer way to keep in touch with his dedicated clientele and help extend her customer base.

While Procich had always hoped her business would blossom enough to open her own Brookfield storefront, purchasing the number and contacts from Borzym didn’t make her rush to do so.

“I didn’t come into the storefront until I felt we could function,” she said. “I didn’t want to rush anything. I wanted to make sure we could be a viable business.”

But as more orders began pouring in throughout the

JACKIE PISANO

Julie Procich year, she began outgrowing the space in her home and decided the timing was finally right to go brick-and-mortar.

“We were growing too much and too big for my house — there were flowers and tools everywhere,” she said.

“So finally, this past Christmas, I figured it was time to get us into a space.”

With that, Procich began looking in town for the best location to open her first official storefront, and on Feb. 21 Sister Squared Florist officially opened its doors at 3741 Prairie Ave. in downtown Brookfield.

“I really like Brookfield — we’re very happy to be here,” she said. “When I found this space, I was like, ‘It’s absolutely perfect.’ I didn’t want a huge shop. When you

do that, you start to lose touch with how you look because you’re so busy trying to fill space. This way, I can be really hands on and give my space that vibe I want it to have.”

To Procich, what sets Sister Squared apart from other florists is its dedication to cultivating one-of-a-kind pieces which stand apart from traditional floral products.

From arrangements in vintage planters, wine bottles and bird cages to larger-scale arrangements on bicycles and open-drawer dressers, Procich relishes working with anything that doesn’t look like an ordinary container.

“A lot of florists work with traditional clear-glass vases, and I don’t even own a clear glass vase,” she said. “I like to make containers that are really out of the box. If it shouldn’t have flowers in it, there’s a really good chance that I’ll figure out some way to add them. We also feature an assortment of plants and flowers that rotate throughout the seasons, and I’m always looking for things that are unusual and fun.”

Sister Squared’s provides arrangements for everything from births and funerals to small-scale weddings and those “just because” moments.

“I love small event work; that to me is so much fun,” Procich said. “Working small allows me the ability to stay unique and personalized.”

And, with the rise in popularity of indoor plants and flowers, especially among millennials, Procich says she’s happy to be a part of the local scene because of how plants can truly accommodate all seasons of life.

“I think a lot of [the buzz] started with COVID, when everyone was inside,” she said. “People have always liked houseplants and greenery and florals, but I think that was the push for it to start to ‘take root and grow.’

People saw how nice it was to have flowers and plants in a home and that feeling it gives you. It’s become [more than] a decorating accessory, it’s a living accessory.”

Sister Squared Florist is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Though closed on Sundays and Mondays, Procich says she’s always accessible via phone at 708-785-1719.

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

Teachers’ unions, state Dems endorse LTHS candidates Unclaimed direct mailer labels others running ‘extremists’

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The Democratic Party of Illinois and the state’s largest teachers’ union are getting involved in the Lyons Township High School District 204 school board race.

The Illinois Education Association (IEA) has endorsed and sent out mailers supporting current school board President Kari Dillon, incumbent Jill Beda Daniels and Tim Albores. All three are all running independent campaigns.

They are running in a contested race didates, Juswhich features four other candidates, id Herndon tin Clark, Frank Evans, David and Timothy Vlcek.

The IEA mailer supporting Albores, Daniels and Dillon describes them as “educator approved” and “pro-education” candidates. Albores, Daniels and Dillon are also included in the IEA’s online voter guide as endorsed candidates with links to their campaign websites or Facebook pages.

The Democratic Party of Il-d linois, meanwhile, has created ra website called DefendOurms SchoolsIL.com which claims es” that “extremist conservatives” ard are running for local school board and library boards. ace In the LTHS school board race, the site labels Evans, Herndon and Vlcek as pursuing “an extremist political agenda” and gives positive checkmarks to Daniels and Dillon stating that they “share our values.”

“Illinoisans deserve to know the truth about candidates’ ideologies before they head to the ballot box, and DPI will make sure voters have the resources they need to make their decision,” Democratic Party of Illinois Chairwoman and state Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) said in a press release issued March 23.

“As conservative groups attempt to mask their radical agenda behind supposedly nonpartisan candidates, DPI is committed to supporting credible candidates who will oppose efforts to ban books, revise history, and limit reasonable sex education,” she added. “We can’t afford to sit back while

kids and families are at risk.”

The press release came just a day after some District 204 voters received a mailer urging voters to “Stop right wing political activists from the taking over the LT School Board” and urging them to “Say no to Vlcek, Herndon and Evans” and to vote for Daniels, Albores and Dillon.

The return address of that mailer indicates it was sent by a group called Support Our School, with a return address of a post office box at a UPS store at 106 Calendar Ave. in LaGrange. No information about Support Our School could be found at Illinois State Board of Elections website.

The people behind the Support Our School mailer have also launched a website with the same name, promoting the same message.

The website is a single page and describes Support Our School as “an organization of parents and neighbors committed to ensuring a strong future for Lyons Township High School and our surrounding community, starting with electing school board candidates who put education and our children’s future first.”

The website states it is paid for by Support Our Schools, which is the name of an LLC that was registered with the Illinois of Secretary of State’s office on March 9 by two residents of LaGrange Park.

The Landmark contacted one of the managers of Support Our Schools LLC, Jonathan Almer, on March 24 but he declined to comment.

“I’m at work, I don’t want to talk about

that,” said Almer, who works at Argonne National Laboratory.

The soslyons.com website is registered to Terrie Pickerill, who is a partner in the SP Media Group, a firm that specializes in campaign strategy and media.

According to the SP Media website, Pickerill lives in Western Springs. She has long been active in Democratic politics.

Prior to forming SP Media Group in 2010, Pickerill worked for more than a decade at a political consulting firm led by David Axelrod, a renowned former campaign consultant, who was the chief ccampaign strategist for, am among many others in a lo long career, Barack Obam Obama.

Pick Pickerill did not respond to calls left for her he office. at her Sp Spokespeople for the Dem Democratic Party of Illino and the Illinois linois Ed Education Associatio separately told tion th Landmark that the th their organizations w were not responsible for the mailer.

Dillon said she did didn’t know who was behind the mailer.

“I am not familiar with w the group who sent the mailer, but like any candidate, I apsupport Dillon said in an preciate voter support,” email to the Landmark. “Should I be fortunate enough to be re-elected, I look forward to continuing the work we’ve started on behalf of our students and community.”

The Democratic Party of Illinois said that it will spend $300,000 to support 84 recommended candidates across the state and oppose 74 candidates.

“We’re providing organizing support alongside direct mail and digital communications to make sure we reach voters where they are, especially in these typically low-information races,” DPI Executive Director Ben Hardin said. “Many extreme national groups know that they can hide their regressive agendas behind so-called nonpartisan candidates due to a lack of access to clear and accurate information about the names appearing on ballots.”

The Lyons Township Education Associa-

tion, the teachers’ union at LTHS, endorsed Albores, Daniels and Dillon without conducting interviews or sending questionnaires to any of the candidates.

Albores said that he didn’t know that he was endorsed by the IEA until a friend of his saw the endorsement on the IEA website.

“I found out after the fact that they endorsed me,” Albores said. “I was never interviewed by them.”

The IEA emailed the Landmark a statement from the president of the LTEA, Andrew Johannes, an economics teacher at LTHS. “The LTEA’s Executive Committee’s process for selecting these candidates consisted of a deep discussion, thorough background review and ultimately a determination of which candidates align with the core values of our local public schools and our students,” Johannes stated.

Some of the other candidates questioned the teachers’ union endorsing candidates since the school board is beginning to negotiate a new contract with LTHS teachers, whose contract expires Aug. 31.

“I do not think it’s appropriate to accept an endorsement from the IEA because it creates a conflict of interest,” Evans said.

“I would never have accepted an endorsement from the IEA or any organization, but especially a teachers’ organization and this board already has a problem with transparency and this endorsement just adds to those issues.”

Herndon also said that the endorsement seemed to create a conflict of interest while Vlcek said that he, Evans and Herndon are not seeking endorsements.

“We haven’t accepted any endorsements from anybody,” Vlcek said.

Dillon said she was glad to have the endorsement from the teachers’ union.

“I think that shows the progress that we’ve made over the last few years especially coming out of COVID,” Dillon said.

“I actually applaud them for making a statement and letting us know how they feel about the current board.”

Dillon told the Landmark that she is not personally involved in contract negotiations, although all school board members will vote to approve any new teachers’ contract.

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

Kickstarter launched to fund Doc Mack documentary Filmmaker seeks to raise $60,000 to fund production

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield filmmaker Craig Bass hasn’t been working on his documentary about Galloping Ghost Arcade owner Doc Mack quite as long as Mack has been working on his videogame “Dark Presence,” but it’s been long enough.

After two years, more than 45 interviews and around 150 hours of film, he’s ready to begin making “Ghostlord and the Quest for Dark Presence” a reality.

“My ideal is to have the film done by the end of the year, which is super ambitious,” said Bass. “It’s a huge undertaking.”

It’s also an expensive undertaking, one that Bass says he’s sunk tens of thousands of dollars into already. So, to get the film to the next step – a rough cut – Bass has launched a Kickstarter campaign that seeks to raise

PROVIDED

The documentary “Ghostlord and the Quest for Dark Presence,” in production for 2 years, tells the story of Doc Mack (above), who has been developing the arcade game since he was a teenager.

$60,000 to help pay costs associated with getting the documentary into finished form.

“Initially I was thinking private investment, and there still may be room for that, but the decision to go into crowdfunding was more along the lines of starting to get the audience involved in it and starting to generate an audience,” Bass said in a phone interview last week.

The online fundraiser can be found at kickstarter.com/ /projects/ghostlordsquest/ghostlord-and-the-quest-fordark-presence where you’ll also be able to find a link to a new 3-minute trailer Bass has created to create a buzz about the documentary.

A short teaser trailer released last week showed the documentary’s scope, following Mack’s quest to develop a Mortal Kombat-style arcade game from the time he was a fresh-faced teenager to today, where Mack oversees a virtual empire of Galloping Ghost businesses while still trying to realize his dream.

“Now it’s time to get into the fun stuff, but we need the funds to do that,” Bass said.

The money from the Kickstarter will mainly go toward production costs, Bass said, to pay for crew, stop-motion animators, costumes, set design.

“A large chunk of that will PROVIDED go right into production and making that happen,” Bass Filmmaker Craig Bass has conducted more than 40 interviews and has compiled said. more than 150 hours of film for his documentary on Doc Mack’s quest to create his Because Bass is a filmmak-

ultimate videogame.

PROVIDED

A camera operator shoots film for the documentary at Galloping Ghost Arcade in Brookfield, the largest video arcade in the U.S., which Mack has operated since 2010. er working at a local production company, he said that the Kickstarter money can be stretched much further than if he was producing the documentary solo.

“We have the infrastructure in place to do $300,000 worth of work for $60,000,” he said.

The Kickstarter launched March 28 and will run for 30 days. This weekend Bass’ team will be hyping the documentary and fundraiser at C2E2, the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, at McCormick Place South, which is expected to draw 20,000 or more people and will feature an actual video game arcade, built by Mack, on the show floor.

“Once we have [the fundraiser] complete it goes into structuring how to get done what we want to get done,” Bass said, “because I certainly don’t want this to be my ‘Dark Presence.’”

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

13

Fire guts top-floor apartment of North Riverside building two police officers ended the traffic stop and respondTenant reported hearing pop, sizzle edThe to the scene of the fire. Doors to the building were locked, so they forced them open and first went to the first floor and sounds before flames appeared garden units to evacuate anyone still inside. Getting no re-

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Three people were taken by paramedics to the hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and several more were displaced by a fire in a top-floor apartment at 7848 26th St. in North Riverside on March 24.

The six-unit building remained off limits to residents as of March 27 with a family member of the owner telling the Landmark that “everything is in limbo” at this time.

None of those taken to the hospital was seriously injured, but the east apartment on the top floor of the building, to which the fire was contained, was gutted by flames. The building’s other units sustained smoke and water damage.

The blaze was initially reported at about 5:50 p.m. by a North Riverside police officer who was conducting a traffic stop, along with another police officer, on the south side 26th Street near Keystone Avenue.

One of the officer noticed black smoke “billowing” from the upper level of the apartment building, and the other officer called the emergency dispatch center to report an active fire.

sponse from inside those units, police forced open the doors to make sure they were clear.

Heavy smoke prevented police from being able to get to the top-floor units, but they located several tenants standing outside at the rear of the building. Police learned that one tenant might still be inside the west unit on the top floor and went back inside to try to make contact.

Officers yelled for the resident to come down, and the tenant made their way down by following the officers’ voices, according to the police report of the incident.

A resident who lived in the top-floor east unit reportedly told police he was sleeping when he was awakened by a loud pop, followed by a sizzling sound. After that the resident saw flames and smoke in the main living area of the apartment.

That resident along with his mother and sister immediately left the unit and exited the building.

Fire department officials said the cause of the blaze was still under investigation. North Riverside officials enlisted the Red Cross to help those tenants displaced by the fire.

In addition to the apartment where the fire was contained, firefighters had to break 11 windows and cut a hole in the roof to vent the fire, and 14 doors that had been forced open had to be secured.

BOB UPHUES/Editor

Firefighters stand outside 7848 26th St. in North Riverside after extinguishing a fire there on March 24.

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A for minimum of $1,000 Fees may reduce on the account.

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

Komarek band teacher takes his sax into the spotlight Dan Moffett to be featured soloist at Symphony Hall concert

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

Komarek Elementary School band director Dan Moffett is a jack of all trades when it comes to music.

For the past 19 years, Monday through Friday, Moffett has mentored hundreds of fifth through eighth graders in North Riverside, helping them learn music theory, develop their abilities and prepare them for band performances.

Then on weekends — and sometimes school nights — he steps on the stage as a saxophonist, playing everything from jazz and rock band festivals to weddings and filling in as a freelancer for bands traveling through the Chicago area.

He’s played with such legendary bands as The Buckinghams, The Rascals, Chicago, The Box Tops, Gino Vannelli and Jay and the Americans and his repertoire runs the musical gamut.

Though Moffett regularly bounces between teaching middle schoolers and the world of rock and jazz, there’s one musical opportunity he almost never gets to tackle — playing in a symphony. It’s so rare, in fact, that it’s been exactly 27 years since Moffett has last done so.

But next week, he’ll finally get to perform in a symphony again, this time, as the featured saxophonist in the world premiere of the original composition “Symphony No. 3” alongside The Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest at Symphony Center in downtown Chicago.

The last time Moffett played in a symphony was in 1996, when he was hired by the Illinois Symphony Orchestra to play in a series of works by famed American composer George Gershwin.

“Typically, orchestras don’t use saxophones, so when this opportunity came up, I had to jump on it,” he said. “We’re worldpremiering a symphony, and to do so at

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“Typically, orchestras don’t use saxophones, so when this opportunity came up, I had to jump on it.”

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during and andthe weCOVID-19 will stop at crisis nothing Our community has an to make we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues. impeccable record of safety sure it continues. during the COVID-19 crisis We would be honored for your family to be part of and we will stop at nothing We would be honoredours. for your to maketosure it continues. family be part of ours.

As fate would Symphony Center is have it, Moffett icing on the cake.” will be playing the So how did Moffett saxophone part in score the deal? On all four movements the golf course, of all of Groesch’s new places. symphony, under It all started three the direction of years ago when one Friedman. day after school, MofAs both a musifett stopped by Meadcian and music edowlark Golf Course in ucator, Moffett says Hinsdale on his way this performance home to Westmont. demonstrates to “I stopped to play his students that nine holes, and I got pursuing music randomly paired with into adulthood is Jay Friedman,” he something that’s said. “I didn’t know absolutely poswho he was until the sible. very end of the golf “I always like round, when he got to talking and he asked to push music as me what I did for a liva lifelong activity, ing. something that’s PROVIDED “I told him I was enriching, somea band director and thing that you can saxophonist, and do forever,” he said. he told me he was a Just look at the dimusician, too. I was rector of the symshocked when he phony [Friedman]. said he was principal He’s 84 and he’s trombonist with the done this his whole Chicago Symphony life. It’s something I Orchestra — my feel is important to jaw about fell on the bring new music to floor.” the public.”

Before leaving the In addition to DAN MOFFETT green, Moffett and working at KomKomarek School band director Friedman exchanged arek and performcontact information, ing professionally, and in the months Moffett is also an following, golfed toadjunct music progether often. During fessor at Benedicone of those rounds, tine University in Friedman mentioned Lisle, and is raising to Moffett that his principal cellist, Alex three daughters with his wife, Karen, who Groesch, was composing a symphony and is also a middle school band director in adding in a part for a saxophonist, asking Westmont.

Moffett if it was something he’d be inter“Symphony No. 3” debuts as part of The ested in.

Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest’s Groesch, a Forest Park resident who first program, “Romantic Visionaries, New and heard sax used in an orchestral composi- Old,” on April 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony tion by the late Russian composer Sergei Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. For more inRachmaninoff, decided to incorporate the formation and tickets, visit SymphonyOinstrument in a future work.

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

CAMERAS

More cameras coming from page 1 Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, installed 10 license plate reader cameras on their property near entry/exit points – and made the data instantly available to local police.

Since mid-February, according to North Riverside police, those cameras have been instrumental in 14 incidents in which police either made an arrest, recovered a stolen vehicle or both.

“If someone is in a stolen auto, the modus operandi is it’s stolen because they don’t want a car that can be linked back to the person driving it and they’re going to commit more crimes,” Ehrenberg said. “If we know who they are before they get into town, it’s a win for everyone.”

The license plate reader cameras are all part of a system called Flock, which can be purchased by public and private entities BOB UPHUES/Editor who then have the ability to share their inIn February, the North Riverside Park Mall installed 10 license plate reader cameras formation with anyone else who’s part of the system. at the shopping center’s entrance and exit points. The mall has shared access to that Flock camera customers also have the data with police, who receive alerts anytime a vehicle associated with a serious crime ability to choose what they want the camerenters the mall property. as to flag. In addition to license plates, the cameras have the ability to discern unique the Forest Preserves to install the device at pleased so far with their impact. vehicle characteristics, such as make and “The safety and security of North Riverthat busy intersection. model, roof racks and bumper stickers.

According to Ehrenberg, it has taken side Park Mall guests, retailers and employIf someone steals a car and puts stolen lia while to get village-owned cameras in- ees has always been our highest priority,” cense plates on it to throw off police, those stalled because they some- said Glenn Lindholm, general manger of the other characteristics can times need to ink agree- mall for The Feil Organization, in an email. help ID the vehicle anyway. ments with private property “They complement our existing safety iniIf a vehicle that’s been reowners, which is why it took tiatives of increased security personnel and ported stolen or is suspected some months for the Har- ongoing communication with our business of being involved in a crime, lem/Cermak camera to go leaders. The Flock cameras are part of our police get instant alerts to ongoing efforts to provide visitors to NRPM live. let them know they’re in with a safe place to gather, be entertained, There’s another agreetown, and where. ment currently being vetted and shop within the community.”

In a busy commercial area by lawyers for Hines V.A. On Feb. 20 and 21, police recovered two stosuch as Harlem and Cermak Hospital, on whose proplen cars – a Kia and a Hyundai – at the mall. or the mall, the cameras erty North Riverside police In one instance, police arrested two people CHRISTIAN EHRENBERG read thousands of license would like to install a camshortly after they parked the car. In the othNorth Riverside police chief plates a day. era near First Avenue and er, they made no arrests, but reported that “My overall feeling is it’s Cermak Road. someone seen running toward that vehicle just one more arrow in the In other cases, the village before fleeing in another had been chased quiver, so why wouldn’t awaits Illinois Department through the parking lot by security after alyou do it?” Ehrenberg said.

Transportation permission legedly being involved in a retail theft at the “There’s no way an officer mall. can run every plate. It’s not even a ques- to install cameras along their rights of way, such as Harlem Avenue.

On March 1, North Riverside police artion. It’s a benefit to us and the village.”

“We have another three that are supposed rested two people, a juvenile and an 18-yearNorth Riverside will soon install its secold who arrived at the mall in a Jeep stolen ond camera at the northeast corner of 31st to be approved soon,” Ehrenberg said.

In the meantime, license plate alerts the prior night in Chicago. The two allegedly Street and First Avenue on property owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook coming from the cameras at North River- used stolen credit cards to buy at least $1,600 County. On March 20, village trustees rati- side Park Mall have kept North Riverside in gift cards at a grocery store before gofied an intergovernmental agreement with police busy, and mall officials have been ing to North Riverside Park Mall to use the

“If we know who they are before they get into town, it’s a win for everyone.”

15

cards to buy hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise.

Police arrested the two in the mall parking lot, but not before the driver had managed to get inside the stolen Jeep and tried to drive off. The Jeep struck a police squad and another car before officers smashed out a window and dragged the driver from the vehicle.

He reportedly was armed with a loaded handgun, also allegedly stolen. They also recovered gift cards purchased with the stolen credit cards and merchandise bought with those cards at the mall.

To avoid such dangerous encounters, Ehrenberg said police have now devised a way to immobilize unoccupied stolen vehicles so that they can’t be driven away when suspected criminals return to them. Ehrenberg declined to describe the immobilization process.

“We don’t want them to get into a car, because then it’s a weapon,” Ehrenberg said.

“They don’t care if they hurt someone, but that’s our greatest concern. We had to come up with a way so if they get into the car, they can’t start it. We don’t want them behind the wheel.”

The Flock camera alert system isn’t foolproof. There have already been a handful of instances in North Riverside where a car has been flagged as a stolen vehicle, but isn’t. In some of those cases the vehicles had been reported stolen but then recovered without informing police.

In one case, on Feb. 23, North Riverside police ordered a woman out a vehicle and handcuffed her in front of her four children after a computer check confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen.

Police later learned the driver had been given permission to drive her children to school the day before but had not returned the car yet. The owner told police not to press charges, saying they just wanted the car back.

“To mitigate that danger, our policy is that we don’t act solely on the information from Flock,” Ehrenberg said, adding that police verify whether it’s still listed as an active steal in the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS). “We’re not acting as if it’s a stolen automobile right off the bat.”

Ehrenberg said the Flock system allows police to choose criteria for flagging vehicles, some of which can be for minor offenses. He said North Riverside’s cameras are and will continue to be set to flag only vehicles associated with serious crimes.

“I myself am not a Big Brother kind of guy,” Ehrenberg said. “It’s not meant for your average person. It’s meant to protect residents – that’s an easy one.”

16

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

Lyons TTO board president not seeking re-election Three seats up for election on April 4 are unopposed

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

There will soon be a new president of the board of trustees of the Lyons Township Treasurer of Schools office, better known as the TTO. Mike Thiessen is not running for another term after 11 years on the TTO board.

“I don’t think I can do any more work here,” Thiessen said. “This office is in great shape. I have other things I want to do. I have some other volunteer board work I want to focus on.”

Thiessen was originally appointed to the TTO board in 2012 to replace Edward Maloney, who became a judge. He was re-elected to the board in 2013 and 2017, running un-

opposed both times.

In addition to leading the board, Thiessen often served as the spokesman for the TTO during its long-running lawsuit against Lyons Township High School, which ultimately resulted in LTHS prevailing.

After the verdict, LTHS withdrew from the TTO as it was allowed to do by state law. But LTHS and the Lyons TTO are still in court fighting over money in a new case LTHS filed in 2021.

LTHS claims that the TTO still has more than $2 million of its money. In February Cook County Circuit Court Judge Cecilia Horan rejected a motion by the TTO to dismiss the case. The two sides have not been able to agree on mediation to settle

the case.

The TTO wants LTHS to split the cost of mediation, which LTHS has refused to do since it had to pay for approximately $754,000 of the TTO’s more than $4 million of legal fees it paid pursuing its lawsuit against LTHS. This year, once again, the races for TTO board member are uncontested. Three candidates are running in the April 4 election for the three seats. Koula Alevizos Fournier, an assistant state’s attorney from Burr Ridge, is running for a two-year term and incumbents Jessica Doherty, a legal secretary from Countryside, and Carol McGowan, a radio station supervisor at Argo High School and member of the Summit Zoning Board of Appeals, are running

CANDIDATE FORUM from page 7 mean that the board is not being transparent,” Tricoci added.

Greicius said she believes the village could do more in the way of transparency, particularly with respect to finances and spending. The statement appeared to be related to MIP’s calls during the campaign for a “forensic audit” of the village books, something Mayor Joseph Mengoni has stated is unnecessary in light of the village’s annual audit of its finances, which have not revealed any accounting failures.

In regard to the number of video gambling cafes in town and if enough is being done to attract a diverse business base, all candidates agreed that while filling vacant storefronts is important, more can be done to attract businesses with a more familyfriendly feel.

“As the town, we can only promote what the residents ask for,” he said. “We want to be open to everybody, but we have to sit down and ask residents and businesses what their needs are in our town.”

Czajka agreed, saying that the village can’t prohibit businesses some might not like if that business conforms with the village’s zoning code.

“We can’t put all our eggs in one basket with gambling, even though it brings in money to the village,” she said. “When a

TODD A. BANNOR

The Landmark’s forum for North Riverside village trustee candidates drew a crowd of between 75 and 100 residents, who listened to candidates address a number of issues they’ll confront if elected to office. property is bought, if it is zoned for that type of property, we can’t do anything about that. We can maybe try to change things up again with zoning, but I think the village is open to different businesses in town.”

“Strategy comes down to working as a team together,” Del Angel said. “I’d like to see TIF Districts and economic development where you can attract businesses to

North Riverside.”

Greicius said that she’d like to attract businesses that “add, not detract from our vision of family, social and cultural community.”

“Many times when I talk to residents, they are leaving North Riverside to go to restaurants and businesses in other areas,” Greicius added. “I feel like we need a way to bring the people here.”

for full six-year terms.

As a result of a new state law backed by former state Sen. Steve Landek, the TTO board has expanded from three to seven members. Four of the trustees are elected by the voters and three are school board members selected by the school boards whose districts served by the TTO. On Jan. 31 McGowan was appointed to the new elected seat and the three school board members were added to TTO board.

The three new school board members of the TTO board, who will serve one year terms, are William Green of Summit Elementary School District 104, William Brockob of Pleasantdale School District 107 and Nicholas Caprio of Argo Community High School District 217.

Santucci agreed that work needs to be done to see what types of businesses North Riverside should strive to have in town.

“What we should do is sit down and look at what’s going to work best for this community and attract that type of establishment so it can succeed in this community and thrive,” he said.

On the matter of public safety, candidates agreed that the police and fire departments have done a strong job of keeping residents safe and addressing crime directly at the source of where it’s happening, mainly, those passing through the village or visiting businesses, including the mall.

Czajka and Tricoci noted how the new license plate reader cameras are a good way to fighting crime by targeting those driving stolen vehicles. Del Angel, Greicius and Santucci all talked about finding ways to get “neighborhood watch” groups more active.

With respect to the former church property at the intersection of 24th Street and 8th Avenue, purchased by the village in 2020, all candidates said that further study needed to happen before making any decisions on whether to turn the lot into permanent village green space or selling it for residential development.

A video recording of the entire meeting can be viewed by visiting the RiversideBrookfield Landmark’s Facebook page ay facebook.com/riversidebrookfieldlandmark.

Opinion THE LANDMARK VIEW

Let’s get those numbers up

W

henever there’s a U.S. presidential election people around these parts enthusiastically head to the polls to cast their votes for the nation’s chief executive and others vying for federal office.

In the 2020 presidential election, voter turnout in Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside was between 75% and 80%. So many voters turned out that there were even long lines during early voting – in the midst of a pandemic.

When it comes to voting for people whose decisions will directly impact communities and schools and libraries, however, people don’t seem to care so much.

Even when there’s a contested race for the leader of a municipality – the mayor or president – it’s remarkable to note how few people actually take the time to cast a ballot.

In 2017 and 2021, for example, where there were contested and contentious mayoral races in North Riverside, voter turnout didn’t make it to 40%.

In 2019, the last time Brookfield had a contested election, voter turnout was 20.47%. In 2021, Brookfield’s first uncontested municipal election in decades, voter turnout was 9%.

In Riverside, where there hasn’t been a contested election since 2009, voter turnout in municipal races is positively dismal. In 2021, it was 11.8%.

Those low voter turnouts impact school board races even more.

While those who do turnout for contested municipal elections certainly drive the vote, lack of contested elections elsewhere drive down overall voter turnout for school districts, whose boundaries often include a much wider area.

For example, in 2021 voter turnout was highest in North Riverside – the smallest voter base within Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 – at 36%. However, uncontested municipal elections in Riverside and Brookfield drove down voter turnout to the point that voter turnout for the RBHS school board election was 16%.

Lyons Township High School District 204, despite featuring contested races in most years, experiences very low voter turnout.

For the past three elections in 2017, 2019 and 2021, the highest voter turnout has been 14.2%.

Do we really want less than 15% of voters deciding how government decisions will impact our lives and the lives of our children?

These races for municipal office, school boards and library boards are vital to how local decisions get made.

So, before heading to the polls check out our election guide online at RBLandmark.com and make it a point to do your civic duty this spring. Vote.

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

17

KOSEY CORNER

RBEF selling raffle tickets for Telethon 2023

S

ince the year 2000 when it was resurrected, the Riverside-Brookfield Educational Foundation has sought to provide educational opportunities to students and faculty.

With the inception of a telethon, broadcast by RBTV, the foundation was able to raise funds of over $25,000. Each year the RBEF Telethon has been aired under different formats, many of them live telethons featuring school talent and other groups.

The foundation is governed by a board of trustees who volunteer their time. This year’s foundation President is Dave Monti, who is also a teacher at the school. It is the board of trustees that approves the grants to applicants who filled out request forms.

Over the years, the format of the fundraiser has altered, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of viewers purchasing premium items during the live telethon, the foundation has gone to a raffle format with 25 cash prizes.

The goal is to sell 5,000 tickets, and if all are sold $5,000 will be the top prize. Tickets are available for $20 at Mary’s Morning Mix-up, 9110 Broadway Ave. in Brookfield and Aunt Diana’s Old-Fashioned Fudge, 29 E. Burlington St. in Riverside.

The date for Telethon 2023 is April 15 with talented students set to perform from 6 to 9 p.m. in the auditorium at RiversideBrookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road in Riverside.

In addition to school groups, there will be a performance by a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band. The group has performed locally and has a following. Admission to the auditorium is free, but donations will be accepted.

The foundation prides itself in the number of students who have benefitted from its grants. Students have attended numerous camps dealing with subjects ranging from technology to biology. The grants also have sent students out of the country to expand an interest. Students also are expected to return to school and recount their experiences and how it personally helped them.

The Telethon will be broadcast live on RBTV. For more information about the RB Educational Foundation or Telethon 2023, visit online at rbef.tv.

A shout out to Patrick Joseph, a fellow rehabber at Cantata who mentioned he wasn’t mentioned. Well, here it is Patrick, consider yourself mentioned.

Want to buy a raffle ticket?

LETTERS

as a teacher for one of our children at Congress Park School.

Before that year, we had known the Knott family as neighbors.

Molly also understands and is dedicated to this community because she lives here. But we got to know her better through our son’s time in her class. Molly is one of the most thoughtful, innovative and dedicated teachers I’ve met.

When our son shared the things he was doing in class with Mrs. Knott, it frequently inspired meaningful conversations at home. I greatly appreciated how well Molly knew her students as individuals and motivated each of them to be the best versions of themselves; her classrooms are places where students feel valued and empowered to take ownership of their learning. Molly is not satisfied with “good enough” but takes the time to reflect on her work and find creative ways to continuously improve.

Molly will bring this same dedication, innovation, and care to the D102 school board, supporting teachers and students because she knows so well what they need. Molly Knott has my vote for D102 school board, and she should have yours, too.

JOANNE KOSEY

Knott uniquely suited for D102 school board As a longtime local elementary teacher, I have experienced firsthand how a school board can equip students for success by understanding and supporting their teachers.

I think educators are especially qualified as school board members because they know personally the incredible opportunities and significant challenges of teaching.

That said, I am thrilled that Molly Knott is running for a seat on the LaGrange-Brookfield District 102 school board.

Not only is Molly an amazing educator, she is uniquely suited to serve on this school board because she knows this district so well.

Molly taught in D102 schools for several years in a few different roles. Our family was lucky enough to have her

Gail Housman

Brookfield

18

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

Brian A. Barnick, 39 Registered nurse Brian Adam Barnick, 39, of Brookfield, died on March 19, 2023 in Piper City, Illinois.

Mr. Barnick was born Nov. 18, 1983 in Berwyn and recently completed his bachelor’s degree in nursing at Northern Illinois University. He spent many years as a registered nurse, taking care of mental health patients.

He most recently worked at Chicago-Read Mental Health Center, but his most important role was being a loving dad to Thomas, Ligaya “Lily” and Christopher “Chris.” Together, the family will continue to honor his legacy and traditions.

Mr. Barnick is also survived by his former spouse, Charina (nee Calara) Barnick, and his girlfriend, Lourdesa. He was the son of Margaret and Tom; the brother of Joe Klaric, Christine “Chris” Donley and Sandra “Sandy” Kaufmann; the uncle of Joey, Jamie, Sarah and Griffin; the nephew of many aunts and uncles; and a friend to many.

Services have been held. Interment was at Clarendon Hills Cemetery.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared at JohnsonNosek.com.

Celestine Casper, 104 Avid church volunteer Celestine “Sally” Casper (nee Rukscinski), mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to so many, died March 21, 2023, peacefully, at Cantata Adult Life Services in Brookfield.

She was born on Aug. 22, 1918 to the late Leonard and Katherine Rukscinski. She was the sister of the late Jeanne Rooks and Edward and Harry Ruks. Celestine was a graduate of Morton East High School and began her career as a secretary at Birds Eye Foods.

She reached a milestone of 100 years of age in August 2018 and there are many memories held in the hearts of all of those who loved her.

OBITUARIES Besides her family, church was very important to her. She volunteered at Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Cicero and Mater Christi Church in North Riverside as a eucharistic minister and lector, and she visited Cantata in Brookfield, where she said the rosary and distributed communion to the elderly. Celestine loved to play cards regularly with her family and friends.

Ms. Casper is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Eugene “Gene” Casper and her 4-year-old daughter, Judy Casper. She is survived by her son, Wayne and his wife Terry of Adell, Wisconsin, and by her daughter, Marilyn and life partner Donna Barker, of Phoenix, Arizona. She is survived by seven grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated March 24 at Mater Christi Church, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.

Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared at KuratkoNosek.com.

lissa) Jurgens of Riverside; his grandchildren, Jack Jurgens, Hailey Jurgens, Taylor Jurgens, Gavin Murphy, Parker Murphy, Connor Lofy, Kyle Lofy, Ella Jurgens, Henry Jurgens and Hazel Jurgens; and one sister, Janet Winningham, of Arcola.

Visitation is on Friday, March 31 from 4-6 p.m. at the Arthur United Methodist Church, 128 E. Illinois St. in Arthur. His life will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on April 1 at the Arthur United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Arthur Home in Jim’s memory, 423 Eberhardt Drive, Arthur, Illinois, 61911. The staff there patiently cared for Jim and supported Patty.

Shrader Funeral Home, Arthur, handled arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at hilligossshraderfh.com.

Robert J. Keehn III, 48 Raised in Riverside

James B. Jurgens, 81 Retired bank executive James Byron Jurgens, 81, of Arthur, Illinois, died peacefully in on March 18, 2023. He was born on December 31,1941 in Urbana to Ervin L. Jurgens and Dorothy B. Jurgens.

He attended Arthur High School, Culver Academy, Northwestern University (’64), and the University of Illinois Law School (’67).

Mr. Jurgens’ life revolved around dedication to work and his own beloved family.

His first career of 32 years was spent at the First National Bank of Chicago in the Law Department. After that he embarked on a second career of almost 20 years in the State Bank of Arthur, following in his father’s footsteps.

He found great satisfaction in thoroughly throwing himself into his job and doing it in the best way he could. Only COVID-19 sent him into retirement at the age of 78.

Mr. Jurgens is survived by his wife of 57 years, Patricia; son David (Mary) Jurgens of Sanibel Island, Florida; daughter Jennifer (Thomas) Murphy of Charleston, South Carolina; daughter Kathryn Lofy of Kirkland, Washington; and son Michael (Me-

Robert J. “Bob” Keehn III, 48, of Villa Park and formerly of Riverside, died suddenly on March 22, 2023.

Mr. Keehn was born Sept. 25, 1974. Bob spent one week a year fishing and the other 51 thinking about fishing. He loved being out on the water. He was a generous soul who loved to get his hands dirty.

He was a hard worker with an enormous heart, and he will be dearly missed.

He was the devoted life partner and best friend of Jennifer Hull; the son of Robert J. Jr. and Julia (nee Fuetterer) Keehn; the son-in-law of Lynn Hull and Gailen (Lynn) Hull; the brother of William (Krista) Keehn, Elizabeth (Christopher) Germann, Catherine (Wayne) Goodwin; a brother-in-law to Laura (Trevor) Clay, Christopher (Megan) Hull, Andrew (Brittany) Hull and Emily (Jarrod) Diehl; the uncle and “bobfather” to Jackson, Gretchen and Jacob Germann; Jameson and Kathleen Keehn; Mia Goodwin; Brett and Sedona Clay; Avery, Carter, Margaret and Evelyn Hull; Addison Hull; and Cooper Diehl.

Services were held on March 27 at St. Mary Church, Riverside. It can be viewed at the St. Paul VI Parish website at stpaulviparish.org. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory to the Sierra Club (sierraclub.org) or at Sierra Club 70 E. Lake Street, Suite

1500, Chicago, 60601 would be appreciated.

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

Viola M. Palis, 94 Brookfield homemaker was active volunteer Viola M. Palis (nee Hrabe), 94, of Brookfield, died peacefully at home on March 21, 2023.

Ms. Palis was born in Fort Atkinson, Iowa.

She met her late husband, Leonard N. Palis, while both worked at Hotpoint in Cicero. They built their home and raised their family in Brookfield and were married for 56 years.

In addition to raising her family, she was a very active volunteer serving Medical Missions, the Blue Army of Our Lady of Fatima and 38 years with the Brookfield Zoo. She was a longtime parishioner at St. Louise de Marillac Catholic Church in LaGrange Park and an ardent practitioner of her faith. In 2019, Vi was honored with the Woman of the Year Award by the Catholic Women’s Organization.

Many a warm weather day would find Vi gardening, tending to her flowers and vegetables. When in Wisconsin, she would often be seen on the end of the pier with a fishing pole in her hand. catching panfish.

An avid Cubs fan, one of Vi’s lifetime wishes was met with the Cubs’ World Series win in 2016. Vi loved family get togethers, presiding over holidays, birthdays and being the center of attention when her grandchildren were present.

Ms. Palis was the mother David Palis, Leonard J. Palis, John (Erin Palmer) Palis and Marie (Steven) Storter; the grandmother of Nicholas Storter, Katie Storter, Mitchell Storter and Forrest Palis; and the sister of the late Mary (Charles) Karnik and late Lillian (Donald) Mansfield.

A funeral Mass was celebrated March 25 at St. Louise de Marillac Church, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside. In lieu of flowers, Masses appreciated.

Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Send sympathy cards to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Viola Palis family.

Sports

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

19

After super 2022, RBHS baseball turns eyes toward young hurlers

Junior-heavy starting staff a key to Bulldogs’ success

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter STEVE JOHNSTON

Senior center fielder Luke Yachnin and his RiversideBrookfield High School baseball teammates had some huge losses from their Class 4A regional championship lineup.

They also have six returning starters or key contributors with three 2022 All-Metro Suburban Conference players -- Yachnin and juniors Wyatt Murphy and Cooper Marrs – under new head coach Mark Ori. The Bulldogs (2-0) beat Argo 10-0 on March 27 and edged Hinsdale South 2-1 in the March 22 opener.

“The strengths of this team are we have a lot of returning players that can be leaders, and I trust everyone at the plate, one to nine, at any point,” said Yachnin, who will play at Illinois Institute of Technology. “With the new coaching staff and program, there is much more focus on improvement of a player’s skills. Some team goals I have for us are to win 30 games and a regional, but I think we have the potential to go even farther than that.”

The Bulldogs’ 30-6 effort in 2022 marked their first 30-victory season since 2013. They were MSC champions with a 9-1 mark and captured their first regional title since 2014 before losing to Mt. Carmel 11-6 in the IHSA Class 4A Reavis Sectional semifinals. “[Our returnees] will be leaned on heavily offensively and defensively. The Bulldogs will be replacing a seniordominant rotation and will rely on a heavy junior-led pitching staff,” Ori said.

Yachnin had a .330 batting average last season with

Riverside-Brookfield’s third baseman Cooper Marrs, takes a throw as Hinsdale South’s Max Waszkiewicz slides in during the Bulldogs’ 2-1 win on March 22 in Darien.

56 runs scored and 20 runs batted in. The leadoff hitter could threaten the single-season school record of 47 stolen bases.

Marrs (.368, 30 RBIs, 35 runs) primarily played third base. Also an all-stater for the 2A state championship boys cross country team and an all-conference swimmer, Marrs will show more baseball versatility as an outfielder and pitcher after going 2-0 with a 1.35 earned-run average in 2022.

Murphy (6-0, 1.85 ERA, 41 strikeouts) will be the anchor of a younger pitching staff that graduated brother Owen Murphy, a 2022 first-round Major League Baseball draft pick by the Atlanta Braves, as well as starter Jack Niekrasz and all-conference catcher Brian Twomey and outfielder Sean McDermott.

Senior second baseman/shortstop Rex Dockendorf (.209, 17 RBIs, 24 runs), senior first baseman/third baseman/outfielder Ryan Novak (.275, 30 RBIs, 30 runs) and senior Jake Tyler (.298, 16 RBIs, 25 runs) also return.

Tyler, who plans to play at Morton College, moves to catcher after playing outfield. Novak will play football at Augustana.

Seniors Jaime Izaguirre (second base, shortstop and pitcher), Jacob Cruz (outfield), Charlie Wolfer (outfield),

Liam Schlesser (infield) and Rafael Meza (infield) also are varsity returnees.

Key newcomers include juniors Kevin Cronin (infield/ pitcher), Jon Gruber (pitcher), Ben Wilkowski (pitcher/ first base), Wes Deason (first base) and sophomore outfielders Jaden Despe and Zach Ryzewski. Juniors Robert Drake, Julian Fernandez, Sam Didio and Tohma Tucker also will bolster the bullpen.

“Our junior pitching staff needs to step up,” Ori said.

“We need two to three guys to play major roles, fill a starting spot in the rotation and consistency out of the bullpen. We are not going to hit a lot of home runs, but we have some great bats.”

Against Hinsdale South, Wyatt Murphy struck out four in 5.2 innings and led a strong defensive effort with six big-time plays. Despe delivered a two-run double and Marrs was 2 for 2.

Deason and Marrs each had three hits and multiple RBIs against Argo and Yachnin and Dockendorf had two hits apiece. Winning pitcher Drake fanned eight in five innings.

“We have a young pitching staff this year with less varsity innings,” Yachnin said. “If they step up and perform like I know they can, we will be in every game we play.”

20

The Landmark, March 29, 2023

S P O R T S

LTHS softball seeks to recreate last year’s winning ways Lions return in 2023 with new coach, younger lineup

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Lyons Township High School senior first baseman Lilly Prendergast is grateful to the upperclassmen who eased her transition upon joining the varsity softball team as a sophomore.

Now she and senior catcher Tess Meyer are third-year varsity players trying to set the tone for a relatively young roster with eight returnees but three sophomores, two freshmen, only four seniors and new head coach Megan Pyles.

“The younger girls have a lot of eagerness and drive towards the game, which makes the team feel the same drive, too,” Prendergast said. “I know when I was a sophomore, I felt intimidated with a handful of older girls, but a couple of them took me under their wings

and made the experience fun. I hope to do that and make sure they feel they can talk to me or any other older girl. It’s vital to feel a sense of trust.”

The Lions also hope to ride the wave from their best seaTESS MEYER sons in recent memory. Their 21-4 season in 2022 included sharing their first West Suburban Conference Silver title since 1990 with Downers Grove North at 10-2 and winning their first regional since 2017 before losing in the IHSA Class 4A Marist Sectional final 1-0 to Marist, which finished second in state after taking the 2021 title.

Pyles is a 2017 Evergreen Park High School graduate who starred there and played one season at Moraine Valley Community College. Cancellations have delayed the Lions’

season opener to April 3 at Sandburg.

“The majority of our starting defense is returning varsity players. Offensively, we have some hot bats and tons of speed,” Pyles said.

“We have a lot of new varsity players LILLY PRENDERGAST so we want to focus on creating a culture and environment that will transfer into future seasons.”

Northern Illinois recruit Meyer returns at catcher but also will play shortstop. She was among the Lions’ big bats last season with a .387 batting average, three home runs and 21 runs batted in. Meyer shared the team lead with 31 runs scored.

Junior Peyton O’Flaherty (.329, 14 RBI, 17 runs) moves from second to third base. She has verbally committed to Tennessee-Chatta-

nooga.

Senior catcher Makenna Kotor (.383, 26 RBIs, 15 runs), junior outfielder Kaitlyn Filkins (.355, 2 HR, 17 RBIs, 25 runs) and Prendergast (.250, 12 runs) also started and played at least 20 games.

Also seeing varsity action were junior Clare Kelliher and senior Jay Sanchez, both outfielders, and sophomore Isabella Evans (.391, 8 RBIs), who will miss this season due to injury. Evans also was 5-2 with a 3.06 earnedrun average as a pitcher.

Key newcomers include juniors Arianna Amelia (catcher/second base) and Daisy Laslie, sophomores Tess Bernson (outfield) and Ellie Cook, freshmen Ava Jacklin (second base/shortstop) and Skyla Greco-Forsell and seniors Lexi Jeffrey, Lauren Schinker and Grace Sneed.

“The team has a lot of potential since we have so many young kids. Growing as a team and creating team chemistry is something that we are hopeful to create,” Prendergast said.

Developing young players the key for RBHS girls lacrosse Bulldogs drop first three games of 2023 season

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Riverside-Brookfield High School senior Ava Regan has played lacrosse since first grade and will continue next season at NCAA Division III Chapman University in Orange, California.

Regan and junior Maggie Durkin are co-captains for a young Bulldogs’ girls lacrosse roster, which has eight freshmen and six sophomores.

“I feel like I do have to take more of an initiative,” said Regan, an attacker and midfielder and the lone senior. “Last year, we had a pretty decent size of captains.

Now there’s two of us. It’s more trying to take that leadership role and continue motivating and pushing everyone towards success.”

The Bulldogs return five starters and nine letterwinners from a 2022 team that was 2-11 and played well in their Hinsdale

Central Sectional opener but lost to Trinity 15-10.

RBHS (0-3) has lost to St. Laurence 12-1, Mother McAuley 18-1 and Fenwick 14-2 so far this year.

“The goal is development of the underclassmen,” RBHS coach Matt Bultas said.

“They are the future of the program and we are hoping to find some key contributors for years to come.”

Regan (52 goals, 31 ground balls in 2022) and Durkin (33 goals, 19 ground balls, 49 controlled draws) were last season’s top offensive players. In 2021, Regan also had 51 goals and a team-best 14 assists and Durkin had 10 goals and five assists.

Juniors Mia Diaz (11 ground balls), Isabella Arreola and Josie Adlesick also are returning starters. Juniors Naomi Galas, Phelan Larsh, Kathryn Ryan and Faye O’Bryan are returning letterwinners.

Key newcomers include starting freshman attacker Maggie Porter, sophomore goalie Senia Johnson, who had 13 saves as last year’s backup, freshman midfielder Tali Schultz. “[Our keys] are playing hard and playing

with intensity, practicing every drill and scrimmage like it is a game is vital in being prepared for the actual games,” Bultas said.

Regan and Durkin each have two goals.

Durkin currently is injured and missed the St. Laurence game, where Regan scored the game’s final goal.

LTHS girls lacrosse Lyons Township High School girls lacrosse has experienced captains with fourth-year varsity seniors Amanda Hahn and Lauren Kudia and third-year varsity junior Caitlyn Curtin.

Otherwise, the Lions have little overall varsity experience from last year’s 10-10 team that reached the Hinsdale Central Sectional semifinals before losing to York 19-9.

“We have a lot of younger players, which can be a strength because we have so much room to grow. The way that we’re starting the season is not the way we’re going to finish,” said Hahn, a standout defender limited last season by injury.

Brookfield resident Kudia (13 goals, 7 assists in 2022) and Curtin (19 goals, 9 assists) were among the Lions’ top scorers along with sophomore Grainne Kristufek (11 goals). This season, Kristufek already has a team-high eight goals with three from Kudia and two by Curtin.

Nora Collins and Ella Federle are the other two seniors among nine with varsity experience. Newcomers include sophomores Ashley Culin and Anna Murphy (3 goals each), goalie Stella Summerfield (19 saves), Emma Dwyer (11 ground balls) and Kaelyn Roth, juniors Grace Goldby, Mary McManaman and Charlotte Rice, senior Grace Gonzales and Lauren Zulanas, the lone freshman.

“A very new team. They’re getting adjusted but they all work well together,” LTHS coach C.C. Luxem said.

“It’s a lot of taking the few returning varsity players to really lead this team, and they’re taking that on and doing a great job. The younger girls are eager to play, eager to make improvements. They’re asking great questions, really paying attention during games.”

The Landmark, March 29, 2023 21 Growing Community Media

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COLLECTIVE IMPACT MANAGER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Collective Impact Manager in the Village Manager’s Office. Under the general direction of the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, the Collective Impact Manager will be responsible for building and assessing racial equity impact needs and developing a strategic plan to support those needs. This includes driving the initiatives focused on the Racial Equity Action Plan through community assessments, community engagement, data functions, and overall internal and external functions. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at https://secure.entertimeonline. com/ta/6141780.careers?ApplyToJob=537117711 or visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

SEASONAL FARMER’S MARKET ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmer’s Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmer’s Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

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22 The Landmark, March 29, 2023

CLASSIFIED BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

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: Y23010313 on March 14, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of AADEL ISTAMBULE with the business located at: 1500 ROBIN CIRCLE #212, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60169. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: AADEL ABDALMONEAM ISTAMBULE 1500 ROBIN CIRCLE #212, HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL 60169

PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION 000020 – LEGAL NOTICE Park District of Forest Park 7501 Harrison Street Forest Park, IL 60130 Reiger Park The Park District of Forest Park does hereby invite sealed bids for Reiger Park. Work will include removals, earthwork operations, concrete curbs, walks and paving, site furnishings, sand play surfacing, artificial turf play surfacing, playground equipment, water play equipment, fencing, planting and seeding, utilities, pre-fabricated restroom installation, and subdrainage.

Project manuals, including bid form and specifications, and construction documents are available after 10:00 A.M. on March 22, 2023 from Accurate Reprographics 2368 Corporate Lane, Suite 100, Naperville,Illinois 60563, 630.428.4433 www.hitchcockplanroom.com. Bidding documents are available to download and print at the non-refundable cost of reproduction.

Bids will be accepted at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street Forest Park, IL 60130, during regular office hours. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the Contractor’s name and address, and “Bid for Reiger Park,” on the face of the envelope. Bids must be received no later than April 12, 2023 10:00 AM. Bids will be opened on April 12, 2023, 10:00 AM at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130. All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Bid Bond, Certified Check, Cashier’s Check in the amount of 10% of the Base Bid, payable to the Park District of Forest Park.

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

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

Questions should be directed to Bridget Deatrick or Eric Hornig, Hitchcock Design Group (630) 9611787, bdeatrick@hitchcockdesigngroup.com, or ehornig@hitchccockdesigngroup.com [This project is being financed, in part, with funds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, “Open Space Land Acquisition & Development” (OSLAD) grant program.]

END OF SECTION 000020

Published in Wednesday Journal March 22, 29, April 5, 2023

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: Y23010328 on March 16, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of MADAM STYLES with the business located at 2545 W. CATALPA AVE. APT 4C, CHICAGO, IL 60625. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: TOTIANNA POLK 2545 W. CATALPA AVE. APT 4C, CHICAGO, IL 60625 Published in Wednesday Journal March 22, 29, April 5, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FISCAL YEAR 2024 BUDGET The Village of River Forest will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 10, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the 1st floor Community Room of the Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois concerning the Village of River Forest proposed budget for the fiscal period starting May 1, 2023 and ending April 30, 2024.

A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the Village Hall during regular business hours or on the Village’s website at www.vrf.us. For more information, please contact Finance Director Rosemary McAdams at 708366-8500.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 29, 2023

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: Y23010346 on March 21, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of FLOOFS RANDOM WORKSHOP with the business located at: 339 S TAYLOR AVE OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CARSON HARRIS 339 S TAYLOR AVE OAK PARK, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal March 29, 2023

Published in Forest Park Review March 29, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park – Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302– will receive sealed proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2023 for Project: 23-14, Bridge Fence Repairs. In general, the improvements consist of: the removal and replacement of the damaged fence assembly at the Southwest corner of the Oak Park Avenue Bridge, the installation of bent steel plates to the existing fence posts on the Northeast and Northwest corners of the Oak Park Avenue Bridge between post gaps at the expansion joint, the installation of woven wire fence repairs on the Oak Park Avenue Bridge, and the reattachment of fence posts on the Home Avenue Bridge. Work will include a detour of the Home Avenue Bridge pedestrian traffic as part of traffic control and protection.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained from the office of the Village Engineer starting on Thursday, March 30, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications to only those contractors deemed qualified. No plans will be issued to prospective bidders after 4:00 P.M. on the working day preceding the opening of bids.

The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer Published in Wednesday Journal March 29, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, April 14, 2023 for the following: Village of Oak Park Central Pumping Station Masonry Repairs Project Number: 23-116 Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid.

For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 29, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDSFOR TIERED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS Date of Publication: March 29, 2023 The Village of Oak Park 123 Madison St. Oak Park, Illinois 60302 (708) 358-5416 On or after April 7, 2023 the Village of Oak Park will submit a request to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds under Title 1 of the of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL93383), to undertake the following project: Tier 1 Broad Review Project/Program Title: PY 2022 ADA Sidewalks Purpose: There are many locations throughout the Village where public sidewalks have been identified which, due to their condition or settlement, no longer comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and present a barrier to persons with disabilities.

Location: The project will take place in Oak Park between South Blvd. to the north and Roosevelt Ave. to the south, and Harlem Ave. on the west and Austin Ave on the east.

Project/Program Description: The project involves replacing and angle cutting public sidewalk squares and curbs adjacent to and between crosswalk ramps where elevation differences, cross slopes, or other physical conditions exist that make these areas non-compliant with ADA requirements. Replacing means removal of damaged squares and laying of new concrete, angle cutting means filing and leveling of squares with elevation differences.

Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known.

Level of Environmental Review Citation: Special projects directed to the removal of material and architectural barriers that restrict the mobility of and accessibility to elderly and handicapped persons: 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(2) Tier 2 Site Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: Contamination and Toxic Substances; Wetlands Protection;

Environmental Justice.

Mitigation Measures/Conditions/ Permits (if any): For Contamination and Toxic Substances the Responsible Entity (RE) will assess the 12 zones that make up the whole of the project area for Contamination and Toxic Substances and provide an assessment for each. In doing so, the RE will use data from the following resources to ensure to noted hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gases, and radioactive substances, where a hazard could affect the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the sites: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory and Toxic Substances Control Act Facilities, Illinois EPA Agency Facility Inventory and Information Search System and Landfills, Illinois State Fire Marshall Underground Storage Tanks and National EPA Assist; For Wetlands Protection the RE will assess the zones that make up the whole of the project area to make sure the none of the zones are on or adjacent to land that is designated as Wetlands and provide an assessment for each. All zones will be mapped using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wetlands Mapper and proper zone boundaries will be identified.

Estimated Project Cost: $275,000 The activity/activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(2). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 and may be examined or copied weekdays 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M. or at https://www.hudexchange.info/ programs/environmental-review/ environmental-review-records/.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Village of Oak Park office of Development Customer Service. All comments received by April 7, 2023 will be considered by the Village of Oak Park prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The Village of Oak Park certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that Tammie Grossman, Certifying Officer, in their capacity as Director of Development Customer Services, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Village of Oak Park Public Works Department to use HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the Village of Oak Park’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the Village of Oak Park; (b) the Village of Oak Park has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to HUD administration office at 77 West Jackson Boulevard Chicago, Illinois 60604. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Tammie Grossman, Director of Development Customer Services, Certifying Officer

Published in Wednesday Journal, March 29, 2023

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023 23

CLASSIFIED BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTANTIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT • PROGRAM YEAR 2020 ACTION PLAN Date of Publication: March 29, 2023 Village of Oak Park 123 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 383-6400 Notice is hereby given of a proposed Substantial Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Program Year (PY) 2020 Action Plan for additional funding allocations using $87,451 in returned CDBG PY2020 funds to the following: 1) $78,166 for resurfacing, street lighting, and landscaping on Census Tract 8123.01 Block 2 and 2) $9,285 for alley improvements on Census Tract 8123 Block 1 and 8215.

The additional funds being reallocated is due to the bids selected to complete these projects were over budget.

The proposed substantial amendment is on file at the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 and is available for public examination and copying weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST from March 30, 2023 to May 2, 2023.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Any comments concerning the proposed substantial amendment may be submitted in writing to the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, via: email to Vanessa Matheny, Grants Supervisor, at vmatheny@oak-park.us, or at the Public Hearing to be held from 3:30PM-4:30PM on May 2, 2023. Please send a request to the above referenced email address to attend the virtual hearing. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.

Published in Wednesday Journal, March 29, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF BROOKFIELD NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MERRILL LYNCH MORTGAGE INVESTORS, INC., MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, MANA SERIES 2007-OAR4 Plaintiff, -v.ELLEN C. SCHNACK, RANDALL C. SCHNACK Defendants 19 CH 14891 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 4, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 19, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-319-0080000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $417,344.71.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the

purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 19-092500.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 19-092500 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 19 CH 14891 TJSC#: 43-1045 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 19 CH 14891 I3216043

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to call of its directors, a special meeting of stockholders of First National Bank of Brookfield (the “Bank”) will be held at the Bank’s main office located at 9136 Washington Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois, on April 19, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. to consider and vote whether an agreement and plan of reorganization, whereby a holding company, to be named Brookfield Bancshares, Inc., located in Brookfield, Illinois (the “Company”) would be created, making the Bank its wholly-owned subsidiary under the provisions of the laws of the United States, shall be ratified and confirmed, and to vote upon any other matters as may properly come before the meeting. A copy of the agreement and plan of reorganization, approved by a majority of the directors of the Bank and the proposed holding company, is on file at the institution and may be inspected during business hours.

First National Bank of Brookfield Phillip Richard President and Chief Executive Officer Published in RB Landmark March 15, 22, 29, April 5, 2023

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PUBLIC NOTICE PROPOSED 1ST SUBSTANTIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT • PROGRAM YEAR 2022 ACTION PLAN Date of Publication: March 29, 2023 Village of Oak Park 123 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 383-6400 Notice is hereby given of a proposed Substantial Amendment to the Community Development Block Program (CDBG) Program Year (PY) 2022 Action Plan and move unexpended funds from PY 2018-PY 2021 to PY 2022.

The proposed amendments will include the following reallocation of funds: 1) PY 2018 $3,373.50; PY 2019 $128,503,89; PY2020 $350,586.90; and PY 2021 $89,666.50 for a total of $572,130.79 added to the original PY2022 HUD allocation of $1,553,643.00.

To prevent funds from expiring and being returned to HUD the Village of Oak Park will amend the PY2022 to reallocate unused funds. 2) The PY22 budget originally allocated $225,000 to purchase the construction and purchase of a community restroom. This proposed project will be paused until PY23. The proposed amendment will allocate the $225,000 towards two activities a) $200,000 for an ambulance for the Oak Park Fire Department

and b) $25,000 towards the alley improvements to be completed in PY22 on Census Tract 8123 Block 1 and 8125. The additional funds being reallocated is due to the bids selected to complete these projects were over budget.

The proposed substantial amendment is on file at the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 and is available for public examination and copying weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST from March 30, 2023 5.p.m. to May 2, 2023.

PUBLIC COMMENTS Any comments concerning the proposed substantial amendment may be submitted in writing to the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, via: email to Vanessa Matheny, Grants Supervisor, at vmatheny@oak-park.us, or at the Public Hearing to be held from 3:30PM-4:30PM on May 2, 2023. Please send a request to the above referenced email address to attend the hearing. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.

Published in Wednesday Journal, March 29, 2023

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

Starting a New Business?

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC; Plaintiff, vs.

JOHN PRABHAKAR PULUKURI; 929 OAK PARK CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; BANK OF AMERICA, NA; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 5256 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, April 17, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-18-307-034-1008.

Commonly known as 929 South Oak Park Avenue, Unit 2SW, Oak Park, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g) (4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Law Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 360-9455.

W22-0188 ADC INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3215203

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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The Landmark, March 29, 2023

2 1 E . B U R L I N GTO N R OA D, R I V E R S I D E | 70 8 . 4 47.72 07 NG MI O C

ON SO W NE

258 Nuttall Rd, Riverside $819,000 W NE

G TIN LIS

W NE

G TIN S I L

W NE

G TIN S I L

W NE

G TIN S I L

6148 S Woodlawn Ave, 3B, Brookfield $239,900

2333 W Saint Paul Ave, #128, Chicago $345,000

1247 S Plymouth Ct, Chicago $1,299,000

860 W Lakeside Pl, #C Chicago $419,900

465 Northgate Ct, Riverside $450,000

320 Nuttall Rd, Riverside $1,100,000

1510 Franklin Ave, River Forest $750,000

1516 S Wabash Ave, #902, Chicago $465,000

E IC PR

1519 William St, River Forest $647,000

T LO T N CA VA

1568 Aberdeen Ct, Naperville $319,000

308 Nuttall Rd, Riverside $500,000

380 Herrick Rd, Riverside $459,999

2558 5th Ave, North Riverside $500,000

4534 Arthur Ave, Brookfield $169,900

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Curious about the current real estate market and the impact on your home’s value? Thinking about selling, but need to find your next home first? Can’t find your dream home in this competitive market? Contact one of our local market experts for a free, confidential consultation.

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