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RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside $1.00

Vol. 35, No. 14

April 1, 2020

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Virtual concert

State cancels school standardized tests PAGE 8

Musicians team up to aid restaurant staff PAGE 4

Brookfield Library prepares to break ground PAGE 10

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Police set up substations to separate shifts Brookfield cops using S.E. Gross School, Riverside at Scout Cabin

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Police chiefs in both Brookfield and Riverside have taken steps to physically separate police officers from one another by opening temporary substations in other public buildings.

On March 24, Brookfield police began splitting its police force and fleet in two, with half housed at the main station at the Brookfield Village Hall and the other half in the gymnasium wing of S.E. Gross Middle School.

“Once [the COVID-19 pandemic] started, we began talking about separating the department and started to think about different locations,” Brookfield Chief Edward Petrak said.

Officials considered perhaps using one or both of the preschool buildings the village owns, but S.E. Gross School began looking like the more likely solution after Ryan Evans, the principal of the school and a former village trustee, reached out to Petrak.

“We looked at the gym and it was just a perfect fit for our needs,” Petrak said.

In addition to internet access, the new gym wing has locker rooms, restrooms, vending machines and, perhaps most important, space to spread out.

See POLICE SUBSTATIONS on page 13

COVID-19 hits home County data reveals cases in all three communities

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SIGN OF THE TIMES: A mannequin sporting a surgical mask, a symbol of life under COVID-19 lockdown, stands sentinel in the front window of a home in the 300 block of Fairbank Road.

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Positive cases of COVID-19 have now been confirmed in all three communities covered by the Landmark, after the newspaper revealed last week that the Cook

County Department of Public Health maintained a previously undisclosed public website that tracks cases by individual town in suburban Cook County.

Revelation of that website’s existence, surprised many area elected officials who have been clamoring for informa-

tion about the spread of the coronavirus, which causes the upper respiratory disease, which as of March 30 stood at more than 3,400 cases in Cook County, including 40 deaths.

See COVID-19 on page 12

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The Landmark, April 1, 2020

Riverside president watched pandemic’s spread from afar Sells able to keep contact, chair board meeting from boat in Caribbean

By BOB UPHUES Editor

At 7 p.m. on March 19, Riverside Village President Ben Sells picked up his cellphone and dialed in to chair that night’s meeting of the Board of Trustees. Every elected official, along with the village’s manager, clerk and attorney attended the meeting by conference call, with members of the public able to listen in via a livestream broadcast on Riverside TV. The extraordinary measure was the result of an executive order by the governor allowing virtual meetings to avoid public gatherings and limiting the spread of COVID-19.

While other elected officials participated in the call from their homes, Sells was chairing the meeting from the hull of sailboat off the north coast on Norman Island in the British Virgin Islands. He’d dropped anchor in The Bight Bay, far enough away from boisterous beachside bars to ensure some quiet.

“Surreal” is how Sells described the experience. At the same time, he said, “I would’ve done exactly the same thing had I been home.”

A late winter trip to the British Virgin Islands has been something Sells has done for the past 20 years. It’s a business trip, actually, related to his company Fairwind Sail Charters, which he operates out of Chicago.

Sells teaches sailing and once a year orga-

nizes a flotilla for himself and second flotilla wrapped up on his students in the Caribbean.

March 22.

Each participant leases a boat; “What I was hearing down these are not little vessels, but there was the devastating imcheck in at 38 to 46 feet. The boats pact of disinformation,” Sells are stocked with provisions and said. “There were all kinds of the flotilla basically island-hops rumors, like the U.S. was going for a week. to close down its borders. Peo“This year we had enough ple were believing this stuff.” boats that I was down there two While the first flotilla group weeks,” said Sells. of seven boats hopped the isWhen he arrived in Tortola lands without a hitch, the unon March 5, while there were no certainty that settled in after cases of COVID-19 in the British the British Virgin Islands govVirgin Islands, it was on people’s ernment announced it would close its borders cut the second minds. flotilla short.

“Even at that point, people “By that point people were rewere wiping down things on the ally afraid,” said Sells. plane, and when we got there, One day into the second flothere were two hand sanitizer tilla one boat’s sailors left and stations when we got into the went home. Two days later, customs line,” Sells said. “WithBEN SELLS those sailing the flotilla’s two in three days, they were taking Riverside village president other boats also decided to get temperatures and asking quesout. tions.”

All the while, at home, things Sells said the islands’ govwere changing quickly. By the ernment moved quickly to ban time Sells’ second flotilla set cruise ships from docking, a move that set off a small wave of panic buy- sail on March 14, the panic buying at home ing at local stores. By March 19, the British had started and soon Gov. J.B. Pritzker Virgin Islands had closed its borders, leav- would announce the closure of bars and ing Sells a little uncertain whether he’d be restaurants.

By the time Sells arrived back in the U.S. able to get out of the Caribbean when his

“I felt comfortable I was able to do everything I needed to do from there.”

on March 22, the governor had issued a statewide stay-at-home order.

Had it been a decade earlier, Sells might not have had a very good idea what was going on at home. But with boats equipped with WiFi and a stronger cellular system in the British Virgin Islands, Sells was able to maintain daily contact with Riverside Village Manager Jessica Frances.

As his trip entered its second week, that contact became more frequent.

“Given the communication, as far as my responsibility as president, I felt comfortable I was able to do everything I needed to do from there,” Sells said.

His main concern was his cellphone dropping during the Riverside Village Board’s March 19 meeting.

“It’s still in the islands, and nothing down there is for sure,” Sells said. “I just made sure [Trustee] Doug Pollock was ready to step in if we lost communication.

It partly went well, because we dramatically collapsed the agenda.”

The trip back to the states was routine, said Sells, who said that like everyone else he’s been trying to stay put. He said he breathed a sigh of relief later in his stay in the Caribbean after he and a friend were exposed the first day in a taxi van to a group of tourists from Italy.

“He and I both had that on our mind for two weeks,”Sellssaid.“Theunderlyingfearisreal.”

Funeral homes adjusting to COVID-19 outbreak Directors find state mandates limiting their services

By JAMES KAY Staff Reporter

As COVID-19 continues to upend the lives of locals in Riverside and Brookfield, funeral homes are adjusting to not being able to work at full capacity.

With stay-at-home orders and social distancing mandates in place, David Moravecek from Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home and Chuck Hitzeman from Hitzeman Funeral Home told the Landmark this particular period has impacted their businesses in different respects.

“Our business was going OK before all of this happened,” said Moravecek. “At the moment the virus came and things were starting to close down, my business was in a slow period anyway. It just happens to be that, in this industry, in the months of December, January, February and March that things naturally slow down by themselves.”

Hitzeman recently sent out a message to the community that his funeral home will continue to provide services as it has

for the last 116 years. However, the familyowned business has taken a slight hit. “[The number of services] is sporadic during some months more than others but typically whether it is pre-arrangements or at-need arrangements, I meet with four to six people a week,” said Hitzeman. “Now, we are not only bound by executive orders that are out there, but doing what is right by the community to curtail those interactions. This situation has impacted us, but we are trying to make sure families get the chance to say goodbye to their loved ones.”

Creating an intimate atmosphere for people to grieve the loss of their loved ones is difficult to pull off due to social distancing restrictions. However, one of the hardest obstacles funeral homes face is the mandate prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people.

“When you look at a lot of funeral homes and see the death notices, they are mostly private services or that they are going to have a memorial service at a later date,” said Moravecek. “A lot of services now are just with immediate family, so we are

really limited by the restrictions of those kinds of gatherings.”

While there has been a decrease of traditional funerals, those who have recently lost a loved one have opted to use alternative services that don’t involve a large gathering of people. Burials are still taking place, while there are others who are opting for cremation.

“We have to carry on, since people are unfortunately still dying during this time,” said Moravecek.

Hitzeman has tried to balance safety while also helping those who need to be consoled in their time of grief. The business has hand sanitizer available by the register stand and, while there aren’t a ton of people going into the building, the operation has rotated the pens people use to sign the register book. They also have electronic doors so that people don’t have to touch door handles.

Even with these measures taken, the intimacy challenge still exists.

“We are still allowing people to come in and pay their last respects to their loved

one,” said Hitzeman. “There are still 10 people allowed at a time, and the services aren’t what they normally are because of the limitations we face and the safety efforts we are making right now. So people are still able to say goodbye, but they aren’t able to interact with their extended family and friends.”

While funeral homes considered an essential businesses based on Executive Order 20-10 issued by Gov. J.B. Pritizer, the industry felt like officials haven’t provided the necessary resources to do their jobs. Even before the pandemic, Hitzeman kept enough supplies to last his business four months. However, he said that funeral services’ supply demand has been addressed.

“People do view us as an essential service, but we were forgotten about at the beginning of this,” said Hitzeman. “Fortunately, there are [organizations] like National Funeral Directors Association that have gotten those orders amended to include the supply chains to be able to supply us the necessary equipment we need.”

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

Riverside artist’s work spotlights women, hope Part of proceeds from sales go to Chicago nonprofit

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

IN THIS ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

For Alex Velazquez Brightbill, cultivating meaningful pieces of art is not just a pastime, it’s how she tells the story of her life.

“I am an immigrant,” she said, “and art is what helped me communicate, coming to this country as a young kid and not speaking the language. Ever since then, I’ve been creating my work based on my own experiences as a Mexican American.”

The Riverside resident, who immigrated to the United States at the age of 10, has spent nearly 30 years perfecting her craft, intertwining elements of Hispanic culture with historical references and themes of social justice into her works, which are primarily made up of printmaking and paintings.

But while most of Brightbill’s creations depict animals (cats, most often), mythological beings and nature, this past month, she chose to focus her energy on a series of prints celebrating Women’s History Month PROVIDED and International Women’s Day. Throughout March, Brightbill decided to NO BURDEN TOO BIG: Alex Velazquez Brightbill says her linocut print “El Mundo,” based shine the spotlight on women, both from on a card from the popular game Loteria, illustrates how women “are always holding on Latin American countries and around the to the future for our lives and our families.” globe, and the issues they face surrounding cultural norms, freedom of religion, social and white linocut print -- shows a woman women in those countries.

To further help fuel her passion toward holding the globe, recreating the card in a way status, and physical security.

In deciding on how she wanted to show- that depicts women and the struggles among helping women, Brightbill decided to earmark 20 percent of sales from the piece to case this issue, Brightbill was immediately them with different issues in the world.

As opposed to the original card, which de- go to Awakenings (awakeningsart.org), a drawn to the idea of putting a spin on the picts the man with his head cocked Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to making cards from the Mexican game towards the ground, struggling visible the artistic expression of survivors of Lotería (Spanish for “lottery”). beneath the weight of the globe, sexual violence.

“I wanted to bring my own take Brightbill’s art features a woman “They’re wonderful -- very welcoming to on different issues, and I thought with her head held high, looking women and immigrants from all over the about what I could do to contribforward as she confidently stands world,” she said. “They do a great job, and I ute to my community,” she said over a crack on the ground beneath told them I want to be able to help them.” about recreating images from the her.

In addition to working on her art at home game.

In Brightbill’s words, her card in Riverside, Brightbill, who has 15 years of Initially, she started working showcases how women “hold up experience in teaching art in schools, also on a series of prints based off the world.” does printmaking at Oak Park nonprofit of Lotería, which includes pictoALEX VELAZQUEZ “No matter what our situation is, studio, Expressions Graphics, and leads a cograms such as “El Soldado” (solwe are always holding on to the fu- taught after-school art class for children at dier), “El Pescado” (fish), “La PalBRIGHTBILL ture for our lives and our families,” Ascension Lutheran Church in Riverside. ma” (palm tree) and “La Sandia” she said. “The crack shows a mesAside from her goal of educating people on (watermelon). But then, she was Latin American culture and women’s issues, drawn to the card “El Mundo,” which depicts sage of hope, even in a broken world.”

Brightbill also created the card as a way Brightbill says her line of work also teaches a man carrying the Earth on his back.

“With ‘El Mundo,’ I was thinking that this to showcase how for many women across three simple things.

“Art heals, art connects and art educates -is an image that a lot of Hispanic people are Latin America, being a woman is truly a familiar with,” she said. “Even the younger daily struggle. After viewing maps with that’s my message.”

For more information about Brightbill and millennials are really adopting and enjoy- data from WomanStats Project (a cross ing this game, so I thought, ‘What can I use national compilation of statistics of the to purchase her artwork, including “El Munthat is familiar to a lot of people and that I status of women worldwide), Brightbill de- do,” visit her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/ cided to shade the countries shown on card AlexBrightbillArts, or visit her Instagram could bring awareness to different issues?’”

Brightbill’s creation, an 11-by-15-inch black based on the levels of physical security by account, avelazqu80.

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The Landmark, April 1, 2020

Riverside musicians team up to aid restaurant staff ‘Quarantunes’ concerts raise more than $6,000 for idled employees

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

Unemployment numbers are growing each day, grocery shelves are picked over, businesses have closed their doors indefinitely and municipal leaders have slapped do-not-enter signs on the entrances of public recreation spaces.

Illinois’ statewide stay-at-home order is now in full swing, and any sign of a return to normal seems to fade more and more with each passing day.

But in light of the circumstances, several local musicians decided to turn the reality of being holed up at home into an opportunity to deliver a digital concert to raise money for local Riverside restaurant staff hurting during this unprecedented time.

On Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, nine musicians from Riverside and one from Berwyn rallied together for a two-day session of “Quarantunes,” a Facebook Live event to raise money for the servers, bartenders and staff of restaurants throughout Riverside.

The brain behind the concert was Riverside resident Jerry Owen, a personal trainer whose business in Countryside has taken a hit during this time like so many other gyms and fitness businesses.

Owen, who has had to shift his business model to virtual training, thought about other types of industries also struggling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly local restaurant owners and their staffs.

So when Owen -- who also happens to be a guitarist and singer -- began thinking of ways of how he could bring the Riverside community together to raise money to help struggling Riverside staff, he shifted his focus to local musicians hosting a virtual concert.

“There’s so much talent here, and I thought, ‘Let me see if I can pull this off,’” he said.

On March 19, Owen contacted local friends and musicians to see who would be interested in performing virtual sets live from homes and asking viewers to pledge money.

While finalizing the acts and livestream logistics, Owen recruited his neighbor, Kim Palermo, to help with social media promotion and graphic design for the event’s Facebook page.

Finally, on Saturday morning, the Quarantunes for Riverside Restaurant Staff Face-

PHOTOS PROVIDED

DINNER MUSIC: Ten local musicians, including (clockwise from top) Michael Casey, Jerry Owen and Jerome and Nina Tomas, combined on March 21 and 22 to raise $6,200 to aid Riverside restaurant staff sidelined by the closure of eateries during the COVID-19 pandemic. book went live.

Aside from Owen, nine other local musicians performed 30-minute sets, playing between five and six songs each. Eight of the performers hailed from Riverside, including Owen (guitar and vocals); husband/wife duo Michael and Myrtala Casey (guitar, ukulele, vocals); Jon Scarpelli (guitar and vocals); father/daughter duo Jerome and Nina Tomas (guitar and vocals); John Bowes (saxophone); Steve Rembis (guitar and vocals); and Matt Grusecki (guitar and vocals); and one from Berwyn, Matt Scharpf (guitar and vocals).

Each act went live on Facebook video one after the other, sharing information about the concert’s cause and promoting the concert’s virtual tip jar via a Venmo account.

Scharpf, who knows Owen from previous music gigs and family involvement at St. Mary Church and the Riverside Swim Club, has participated in Facebook live concerts

for local causes every other day for the past two weeks. He said Owen asking him to participate in the Riverside initiative was a nobrainer.

“It’s easy to sit around and complain, but when we have it so well, I think it’s easy to get online and do a show and raise a couple bucks for people who need it far more than we do,” Scharpf said. “Being so blessed, it’s times like these that make you realize how hard it is for other people, and when all you have to do is listen [to music] to raise some money for other people, it seems to make perfect sense.”

Through both video comments and Facebook messages, Owen said the concerts were very well received in the community.

“Riverside really sticks together and helps continue camaraderie between residents and the village,” he said, “The shelter-in-place went into effect at 5 p.m. on Saturday and we went live at 6 p.m., so people were comment-

ing that this was a great distraction. I don’t think the timing could have been any more perfect.”

Following the Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon performances, more than 14,000 people tuned into Quarantunes, raising more than $6,200. Owen said the money received was divvied up for Riverside restaurants based on the size of the restaurant staff, which ones completely shut down, which moved to a carry-out model, and the staff cuts made at each.

Overall, to Owen, Quarantunes meant a chance as a fellow entrepreneur to stand in solidarity with other small business owners and demonstrate the power of a community coming together during a bad situation.

“Being an entrepreneur, it’s not easy,” he said. “It’s a tough business, and I have mad respect for people who put in their time to serve people.”

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

5

Villages move to make parks off limits Warm temps last week drew groups, prompting action

By BOB UPHUES and BOB SKOLNIK Editor and Contributing Reporter

As temperatures rose toward 60 degrees on March 25, kids who’d been cooped up in their homes for the past week or so and were now on spring break, saw a chance to blow off a little steam.

And, so, they went to local parks and playgrounds despite the statewide stay-at-home order issued by Gov. J.B. Pritzker to stop the spread of COVID-19, cases of which have skyrocketed in Illinois since March 13 to more than 2,500.

By afternoon on March 26, officials in Brookfield, North Riverside and Riverside moved to either shut parks completely or make play areas off limits while keeping open spaces and paths accessible.

“The beauty of our parks is that they naturally invite social interaction, but in the current environment, that interaction can be deadly,” said North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. in a community alert message to residents. “Effective immediately all village parks are closed, this includes Village Commons, Veterans and Tot Spot parks.”

At almost the same moment, Brookfield officials posted notice on the village’s website that all village of Brookfield playgrounds will be closed until further notice.

“Pathways for walking, biking will remain open,” the notice stated. “Green space will remain open. Please follow guidelines on social distancing.”

On Thursday morning, meanwhile, Riverside Fire Chief Matthew Buckley in an e-flash message that was also posted to the village’s website also urged families to maintain social distance.

“It was a great day for a walk, jog or bike ride,” Buckley said. “Everyone needed some fresh air. I went for a nice run, but kept to the social distancing as I passed people. I also understand that kids needed to get out a little, but they need to understand and parents need to reinforce that they cannot play in groups or with friends as they would normally play.”

By Thursday afternoon, Riverside Parks and Recreation had placed yellow caution tape around playground structures in Turtle, Patriots, Harrington and Blythe parks, slinging the swings around the top bar to make them inaccessible.

Signs are going up, stating the playgrounds are closed until further notice.

Brookfield Police Chief Edward Petrak and Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel both said they had instructed officers on patrol to encourage anyone gathering in parks to stay off picnic tables and play structures and urge them to comply with the statewide order to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“Our officers are going out and engaging groups in parks, with officers reminding them on social distancing and to separate themselves,” Petrak said.

Buckley in a phone interview said the local actions were also part of a larger regional effort to enforce social distancing being led by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who has ordered the lakefront, the 606 trail and the Riverwalk closed to the public after crowds flocked to those areas Wednesday to enjoy the sun.

“We just want to reaffirm the fact that we need to do better,” Buckley said. “You have to keep that distance. Parents need to do their part to separate kids.”

Ehlert Park in Brookfield was busy with kids playing on Wednesday afternoon, including about 10 boys playing basketball on the two courts there.

On one court, four boys – three brothers and a cousin were engaged in a fairly vigorous pickup game, featuring tight defense, drives to the basket and fights for rebounds.

Sharon Adams, the mother of the three brothers, wasn’t too worried about them catching the coronavirus. She was happy to be outside with three of her sons, her nephew, and an infant grandchild.

“We’ve been in the house for, what, two weeks?” Adams said. “No, I’m not concerned.”

Adams said that after all that time in the house, she and her three sons, ages 16, 14, and 11, needed to get outside.

“I got a little closed in today,” Adams said.

“That’s why I came out. Came out to get a little sun, get a little air.”

Also out enjoying the weather was Erin Episcopo, who came to the park with her dog and three of her four daughters, who played on a teeter totter staying a few feet apart from each other.

“When it was cold and snowy we didn’t get out, this is probably our first day out in like a week,” Episcopo said.

Episcopo said that she was trying to observe the recommended social distancing guidelines. When her daughters wanted to pet a dog that someone else was walking, she told them to maintain the proper distance from the person walking the dog.

“If we’re going to ask a question, I’m going to have to move away and I’m going to ask it from a distance,” Episcopo said.

There were a few other young kids at the playground at Ehlert Park, including two teens kicking around a soccer ball and a few kids on bikes. On the baseball diamond a pair of teenage siblings were all by themselves playing a little softball, one pitching and the other hitting. They said that they haven’t been seeing friends since schools closed.

“You got to make your family into your friends,” said one of the two teens.

BOB SKOLNIK/Contributor

TOO CLOSE: Kids play basketball at Ehlert Park in Brookfield on March 25, when temperatures neared 60 degrees. The park activity Wednesday resulted in local officials making those areas off limits on March 26.

In Riverside’s Big Ball Park, David Roldan was out with his young daughter and son, ages 8 and 6, respectively, playing a threeperson game of softball and kickball on a field they had all to themselves.

The kids had been anxious to get outside and away from their house. Staying at home has not been easy for his young children.

“It’s driving the kids crazy,” Roldan said.

“They want to do stuff and they can’t. They want to play with their friends and they can’t.”

Bailey Hastings, 19, was also at Big Ball

Park, playing long catch with her 14-year-old sister in foul territory alongside the thirdbase line. Both Hastings girls are softball players.

Bailey played for Riverside-Brookfield High School and this year is an assistant JV softball coach at RBHS. Her sister is a freshman at RBHS whose first high school softball season has been put on hold as schools have closed.

They were just enjoying the nice weather and getting in a bit of practice.

“Nice, I forgot about the sun, especially when it’s overcast,” Bailey Hastings said.

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

EXTENSION FILERS SHOULD AVOID THESE ERRORS WHEN FILING TAX RETURNS-PART I

J

ust like taxpayers who file their taxes by the April deadline, those who filed an extension should also do everything to make sure their tax return is complete and accurate. Errors on a tax return can mean it will take longer for the IRS to process the return, which in turn, could delay a refund.

Taxpayers who filed an extension and who are filing their taxes this summer should avoid making these common errors:

Filing status: Some taxpayers claim the wrong filing status, such as Head of Household instead of Single.

Math mistakes: Math errors are common on paper returns. These can range from simple addition and subtraction to more complex calculations.

Taxpayers should always double check their math.

Missing or inaccurate Social Security numbers: The taxpayer should be sure to enter each SSN on a tax return exactly as printed on the Social Security card.

Misspelled names: Taxpayers should spell all names listed on a tax return exactly as listed on the individuals’ Social Security cards.

BROOKFIELD FINANCIAL PLANS, INC. Linda Sokol Francis, E.A. 3439 Grand Boulevard • Brookfield, Illinois 60513 • 708-485-3439 Brought to you as a public service since 1975

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The Landmark, April 1, 2020

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A Lombard couple got a thorough, cold dunking in the Des Plaines River on March 29, when their canoe took on water and sunk during a day when day-long winds whipped the rain-swollen waterway.

Police received a 911 call at about 2:50 p.m. that someone was in the water hanging on to a canoe in the river. By the time they arrived, they found a 23-year-old woman standing on the riverbank on the Riverside side, near the Scout Cabin.

Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man clambered out of the water near the canoe launch on the Lyons side of the river. No one was hurt and both refused medical attention.

According to police, the couple was trying to paddle the canoe upstream – a difficult task given the strong winds and downstream current. The boat took on water and ended up sinking to the bottom of the river.

Due to the conditions, it was not possible to recover the boat at this time.

While the pair were not in violation of the governor’s stay-at-home order, Police Chief Thomas Weitzel urged using some sense.

“At this time of national crisis regarding COVID-19, it was not the time to be canoeing on the Des Plaines River,” Weitzel said. “The individuals were advised to cease this activity in the future.”

Car stolen from dealer

Three men face felony burglary charges for their alleged roles in the theft of a Nissan Sentra from the service garage at Zeigler Ford, 2100 Harlem Ave., North Riverside on March 28 at about 3:50 p.m.

The men were apprehended by police near the car dealership after one of them crashed a black Ford Edge, which was allegedly involved in the heist, into a Chevy Tahoe on Harlem Avenue as they tried to flee.

Police say they were part of a six-man crew that drove into the service garage and got out, checking door handles of vehicles before one made off with the Nissan, which eluded police.

Boy struck by train

An 11-year-old boy was critically injured on the afternoon of March 28 when he reportedly darted around downed Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad crossing gates at Prairie Avenue and was struck by a westbound Amtrak train.

According to the police report, the boy had been listening to music headphones plugged into his cellphone at the time. Police say the incident was an accident.

Garage burglary

A resident of the 2200 block of Forest Avenue, North Riverside, called police on March 28 to report that he just noticed items missing from his unlocked garage, likely taken overnight.

Among the missing items were a two Fender guitar amplifiers, a red Washburn guitar and a microphone.

Vehicle break-ins

■ Brookfield

police responded to the 8800 block of Ogden Avenue on the morning of March 25 after a towing company employee flagged down an officer to report that his apparently unlocked tow truck, which has been parked in an off-street lot there, had been burglarized.

Missing from the interior were a cardboard box full of slimjim tools, a black bag filled with tow straps and a flashlight/knife combo. Also missing from the truck were two lifting arms valued at $500 each.

■ A resident of the 500 block of Selborne Road, Riverside, called police on March 28 at 1:45 p.m. to report that sometime since 6 p.m. on March 27, someone had entered her unlocked vehicle, which was parked in the driveway.

Someone had gone through a gym bag inside the vehicle, but nothing was reported missing.

■ A resident of the 9100 block of 30th Street, Brookfield, called police at about 5 a.m. on March 30 to report that about five minutes earlier he heard his vehicle’s alarm go off and looked outside to observe the dome light on.

Nothing was missing from the vehicle, but an officer on patrol located a man walking in the vicinity of 27th Street and Park Avenue. The victim said he didn’t wish to pursue the case. Police reported the man they’d found in the area admitted going inside the car, but that he didn’t take anything.

However, the man reportedly possessed plastic bags containing cannabis and cocaine, and police took him into custody.

Scammed

An 18-year-old Brookfield woman called police on March 27 to report that she’d been scammed out of $75.

The victim told police that the previous day she tried to buy a Nintendo Wii video console through an app called LetGo. She made contact with someone who said they’d ship the game from Missouri as soon as she sent $75 via PayPal. However, once the money was sent, the seller reportedly blocked the victim on the LetGo app and further attempts to reach the seller went unanswered.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, March 23-30, 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

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

7

Gunfire strikes Riverside home, riddles vehicle left at scene

Several rounds fired during incident that began at Harlem Ave. gas station

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside police are still pursuing leads involving a March 16 incident where several gunshots were fired during an altercation in the 300 block of East Quincy Street, one of them, a .45-caliber slug, penetrating the front door of a home and lodging in the living room wall.

Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said the incident appears to have begun as some kind of altercation in the parking lot of the Amstar gas station at 3346 Harlem Ave. at about 7:10 p.m. Police reported recovering two .45-caliber shell casings on the driveway apron of the gas station.

Two adults and four children were inside the house at the time of the shooting. Police say the house was not targeted but was hit by a stray round. No one in the home was injured, although paramedics responded to the scene as a precaution.

In addition, police recovered a 2004 Chevy

Silverado in the driveway of the home that had been struck by gunfire. The vehicle had been hit on the driver’s side by three .45-caliber rounds. One struck the side mirror and two struck the front quarter panel, police said. The Silverado was registered to a Skokie address, which reportedly is a parking lot.

Police said the Silverado had been abandoned in the driveway by one of the parties involved in the shooting. That party then allegedly stole a 2006 Chevy Uplander from a home a couple of doors away and fled the scene.

The Uplander reportedly had been left running and unlocked in the driveway of the nearby home, and police say it appears to have been happenstance that such a convenient getaway vehicle was available to the person who abandoned the Silverado.

“It’s strange, but it appears to be a coincidence,” said Weitzel, who added that as of March 30, the Uplander had not been recovered.

COURTESY OF THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT

CAUTION: Riverside police cordoned off the gas pumps and parking lot of the Amstar gas station on March 16 after an altercation there erupted in gunfire. Two shell casings were found at the scene.

According to Weitzel, the Silverado was towed from the scene and police subsequently obtained a search warrant for the vehicle.

Inside, police reported finding several loose rounds of .40-caliber ammunition and cannabis that was packaged for legal sale.

Weitzel said the cannabis appears to have been delivered to Skokie from California.

“We’re trying to run that part down,” Weitzel said.

It’s not clear how many people were involved in the shooting or how many ve-

hicles were involved, but it appears to have been at least two vehicles, one pursuing the other. The Silverado had been fleeing to the west. The location of the bullet holes in the vehicle and in the front door of a home on the north side of the street would appear to indicate someone shooting toward the north while passing the Silverado.

Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to email tips to Detective James Lazansky at jlazansky@riverside.il.us or call 708-447-2127.

Brookfield trustees, police union ink 4-year deal Village wins option of moving to health insurance cooperative

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The village of Brookfield has a new fouryear contract with its police officers and sergeants after village trustees voted on March 23 to ratify the deal unanimously. The contract is retroactive to Jan. 1 and will expire Dec. 31, 2023.

It’s one of three union contracts village officials have been negotiating in recent months.

Deals are still pending with union firefighters and public works employees, and Village Manager Timothy Wiberg said the hope is to stagger the expiration dates of the contracts in order to avoid having to renegotiate all of them at the same time in the future.

The latest round of negotiations have had the additional challenge of taking place at a time when the village is without someone handling human resources.

“It makes a real difference doing all three contracts at once,” Wiberg said. “I would like to do one a year, so we’ll see what happens

with the other two.”

Negotiations for the new police union contract for the second straight time were smooth, said Wiberg. The deal was hammered out over three sessions that Wiberg described as “professional and cordial.”

The contract calls for base pay raises of 2.5 percent each year, although actual raises for junior officers will be higher due to step increases built into the salary table.

Police officers are eligible for step raises in addition to the base pay raise through their seventh year on the force. Those step raises help push the pay of junior officers closer to their more experienced counterparts quickly.

For example, the starting pay for a new police officer on Jan. 1, 2020 is $65,291, according to the pay table in the contract.

By the final year of the contract, including step raises plus base pay raises, that officer’s salary in 2023 will be $87,276, a total pay increase during that time of almost 34 percent.

The entry salary for a sergeant in 2020 is $104,873. Sergeants are eligible for two step

raises after that. In 2022, that junior sergeant’s annual base pay will have increased to $116,230, a total jump of about 11 percent.

Lieutenants and other members of the command staff are not part of the union contract.

Language in the new contract includes one potentially significant change that could lead to substantial cost savings to the village related to health insurance premiums.

The police union has agreed to allow the village to evaluate options for joining an insurance cooperative and replace the insurance plans currently offered with new ones.

Wiberg confirmed that the village is contemplating joining a municipal insurance cooperative.

“Quite honestly, we’ve been looking into this for over a year as a way to save money,” said Wiberg. “We can get the same level of coverage and save a significant amount of money.”

Wiberg said he doesn’t have any firm figure at this time, but estimated that joining an insurance cooperative could save the village

“hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.”

“We’re not in the strongest financial position to begin with, so it makes a lot of sense to make a change,” Wiberg said.

The move to a cooperative, however, is contingent on all three union contracts including the same language.

“The bottom line is, if we don’t get it in all of the agreements, we won’t make the change,” Wiberg said.

The new police contract also eliminates the physical fitness requirement, which involved annual testing for strength, endurance and flexibility. It included such tests as a 1.5-mile run and a 3-mile walk, situps, pushups and bench press.

Once a common part of police contracts, Wiberg said such requirements have been subject to legal challenges and that failure to meet physical fitness standards came with no real disciplinary action.

“It became an administrative nightmare,” Wiberg said. “There were no repercussions if someone didn’t pass it.”

8

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

Governor waives standardized tests this year School districts learning to cope with long-term remote learning

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

School kids in Illinois won’t have to take state-mandated standardized tests this spring. With school buildings closed to combat the spread of the coronavirus, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order last week waiving provisions of state law that mandate that standardized tests be given to public school students every year to assess their progress.

Area superintendents applauded the decision.

“I think it makes sense in this current time with the pandemic,” said Martha Ryan-Toye, the superintendent of Riverside Elementary School District 96. “I think there were problems just even in how to administer it.”

Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 Superintendent Mark Kuzniewski, never a fan of the mandated tests, also applauded the governor’s decision.

“I certainly think that it makes sense not to add another stressor to kid’s plates,” Kuzniewski said.

High school juniors will no longer have to take the SAT exam this year, which has been a state requirement.

Most area school districts are now in their second week of remote learning and superintendents seem pleased with how it has been going.

“We’ve gotten some very positive feedback from our parent community,” Ryan-Toye said.

“I’m very proud of our teachers and really our whole team.”

After teachers in District 95 scrambled to set up a remote learning plan before schools shut down two weeks ago, Kuzniewski is pleased with how the first week went and with the development of plans going forward.

“I would say, given the circumstances, it’s going exceptionally well in District 95,” Kuzniewski said. “Our staff has done an incredible job of shifting gears and reworking what education looks like for kids.”

Superintendents don’t know when, or if, students will again be able to attend school in person. That is now up to the governor. Most area schools are scheduled to reopen on April 7, but it looks like that won’t happen.

“I don’t believe we will back in school this year,” Kuzniewski said.

District 95 is developing plans to deliver remote learning for the rest of this school year if that turns out to be necessary.

As of now, schools are still expected to de-

liver 176 total days of instruction. Remote learning days will count toward that total.

District 95 sent out a survey to parents to determine the level of internet access in the district as it prepares for extended remote learning. Kuzniewski said the district is encouraging families without internet access to take advantage offers of free access made by Comcast and AT&T during the coronavirus pandemic.

Unlike District 96, where every thirdthrough eighth-grader has a school-issued Chromebook, District 95 students do not have school-issued computers. But the district is making plans to get more devices into students’ hands if the schools remain shut down for a lengthy period. On March 17, District 95 ordered 250 Chromebooks, which should arrive around the end of April.

“Devices are a challenge,” Kuzniewski said.

But Kuzniewski said the bigger challenge is ensuring internet access for the few District 95 families that don’t have it at home. District 95 officials are investigating the possibility of providing remote hotspots to families without internet access at home.

Lyons School District 103, which is on spring break this week, is planning to distribute Chromebooks to families next week, Su-

perintendent Kristopher Rivera said. While there won’t be enough for every student, Rivera said he hopes to distribute one Chromebook to every District 103 family.

Next week, District 96 plans to distribute iPads to first- and second-graders. This week some District 96 teachers began using the Zoom video conference app to teach their classes, allowing for real-time interactions between students and teachers.

District 96 has switched from daily to twiceweekly lunch distribution to families. School districts are still required to provide lunches to students who qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program.

Double lunches will be available on Mondays and Wednesdays for pick up at Door 5 at L.J. Hauser Junior High School. Even families that don’t qualify for the free or reduced lunch program can pick up a free lunch at Hauser. Families requesting lunches are asked to fill out an online form for each child that needs or wants a lunch.

Finally, responding to a request from Riverside Police Chief Tom Weitzel, all playgrounds and play areas at District 96 schools have been closed and are cordoned off with yellow caution tape in an attempt to prevent kids from congregating.

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Next virtual post meeting April 10, 6 pm.

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For general questions or for help setting up Zoom for veterans, contact americanlegionriverside@gmail.com.

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Please Call (708) 613-3362 to add a listing in the Church Guide

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

9

D103 board hands unproven firm communications contract Company has no website, social media presence itself

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

At a special meeting last month a bitterly divided Lyons-Brookfield School District 103 Board of Education voted 4 to 3 to award a $2,000-a-month social media contract to a 20-something graduate the district.

Board members approved a month-tomonth deal to hire a company called City Media LLC to create and manage a Facebook page for District 103 and prepare the District 103 quarterly newsletters.

City Media was created by Julian “Jay” Torres last fall. The address for the company is a two-bedroom condominium in LaGrange Highlands where Torres apparently lives. The company has no website or presence on social media. Torres is listed as the CEO of the City Media.

Torres apparently is not related to District 103 school board President Jorge Torres. But, it was the school board president who pitched using City Media’s services, according to Superintendent Kristopher Rivera.

“He was brought to my attention, he had approached, I believe, Jorge Torres and we coordinated a meeting to have him present to us,” Rivera said. “He gave us a presentation.”

Rivera said those in attendance during the presentation were himself, Jorge Torres, Human Resources Director Brian Towne and Director of Student Services Colleen Bergren.

School board members had voted 6 to 1 in February to table a vote on hiring City media, with Jorge Torres casting the only dissenting vote, until Julian Torres could

that board members had not even seen Torappear before the entire school board.

But Julian Torres was not present at the res’ resume. “We don’t know his credentials.

March 18 meeting and never appeared be- We’re not getting to ask him questions. This fore the entire school board. Nor were his guy might be the best thing since sliced qualifications ever presented to the entire bread, but we don’t know.”

Multiple attempts by the Landmark to school board.

The only thing board members, other reach Julian Torres through intermediaries than Jorge Torres, received was a one-page have not been successful.

According to his LinkedIn page, Torres contract. This angered board members Sharon Anderson, Marge Hubacek and works as a pricing administrator for Newly Shannon Johnson, who all voted against Weds Foods, a company that makes batters, breadings, coatings, spice the contract at a meeting mixes and seasonings for the marked by bickering and processed food industry. He raised voices. graduated from DePaul UniAnderson, Hubacek and versity in 2014 with a degree Johnson accused Jorge Torin finance. res of ramming through the “He’s a kid from our discontract at a special meeting trict, and I believe we should limited to only 10 people -- the give him the opportunity,” six school board members, Jorge Torres said.

Rivera, the school district secretary, a lawyer for the Julian Torres seems to school district and one memhave connections to the forcber of the press. es behind the current school MARGE HUBACEK Another member of the board majority.

D103 board member press was told he could not He is a longtime Facebook stay inside the room, because friend of Ted Tala, the direcit was limited to 10 people untor of parks and recreation at der an exception to the Illinois Open Meet- the village of Lyons. His likes on Facebook ings Act authorized to combat the spread include Parents for Student Excellence, the of the coronavirus. campaign group that supported Jorge Tor“We have a board meeting next week res and the rest of the current majority, Vito and you could have waited, but you chose Campanile, Olivia Quintero and Winfred to dupe the public,” Johnson said to Jorge Rodriguez, in last year’s school board elecTorres during the meeting. tions. Those four all voted to award the conHubacek complained that board mem- tract to City Media. bers didn’t know anything about the man Quintero and Rodriguez declined to comthey gave the contract to. ment after the meeting.

“We didn’t get a presentation from this Julian Torres’ Facebook likes also inperson. We really don’t know what his cluded the village of Lyons and Odelson qualifications are,” Hubacek said, adding and Sterk, the politically connected law

“We didn’t get a presentation from this person. We really don’t know what his qualifications are.”

firm hired by the current school board majority.

Discussion was heated during the March 18 meeting.

A motion to table the contract nearly succeeded when Campanile, who was participating by telephone from his home, initially voted yes. Jorge Torres asked Campanile if that was what he really wanted to do, drawing howls of outrage from Anderson and Johnson.

“Jorge, he just voted you don’t get to do that,” Anderson shouted.

But Campanile then changed his vote, effectively killing the motion to table.

“I couldn’t hear with all the talking,” Campanile said, explaining that he was confused at first whether he was voting to approve the contract or to table the motion to approve the contract.

Johnson told Jorge Torres that she would report him to the West 40 Intermediate Service Center, which supervises local school districts for the Illinois State Board of Education.

“I have been in contact with our field representative all day today,” Johnson said.

“They are on to you. They are investigating it and as soon as I report this, they’re going to know what’s going on.”

With school out until at least mid-April because of the coronavirus outbreak, Hubacek questioned the wisdom of approving the contract right now.

“We don’t even know if school is coming back,” Hubacek said. “I don’t think we have to approve this today.”

Those voting against the contract noted that the yearly amount of the contract fell just under the $25,000 amount that triggers a requirement for competitive bidding.

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

. t n i r P

10

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

Brookfield Library prepares to break ground for new building Unclear if start date will hold to mid-April plan

By BOB UPHUES Editor

While the “official” groundbreaking for the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library is still somewhat up in the air – the plan is for work to begin in earnest the week of April 13 – technically the digging started March 25.

That morning, a backhoe rolled up onto the site of the future library at 3541 Park Ave. and excavated a “test hole” in preparation for shoring work needed for the project.

The test hole dig was supposed to have taken place a week earlier, but was postponed in the uncertainty of an impending statewide stay-at-home order and the closure of non-essential businesses.

However, the construction industry learned it was deemed “essential,” allowing work to continue for now if companies choose to do so. Whether that will remain the case is unclear.

“We’re in unprecedented territory here,” said Dan Eallonardo, the Brookfield Library Board’s owner’s representative for the project. “We in the construction industry are reacting hourly. No one knows.”

Asked on March 23 if mid-April was still the presumed time frame for the start of construction, Library Director Kimberly Coughran said, “Nothing is for certain right now. It’s too early to know whether we’ll be moving forward the week of April 13. All I can say right now is that we’re on for the test hole.”

As of March 26, Eallonardo said the original start date is still what officials are shooting for.

“The start date is still pending issuance

BOB UPHUES/Editor

TESTING: A backhoe carves out a test hole at the site of the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library on March 25 in preparation for the start of construction on the new facility at 3541 Park Ave. of the building permit from the village, but our hope is that the work will start as originally scheduled, April 13,” Eallonardo said in an email.

Diane Papenhause, project manager for the contractor, IHC Construction Companies, said she was meeting with village officials this week to go over construction staging.

When excavation does begin, the construction site will be fenced off and there will be some impacts immediately adjacent

to the property.

According to Eallonardo, the first phase of the plan, which involves the construction of the new building, will require closing a portion of Lincoln Avenue to traffic.

Fencing will enclose the entire site and will extend to the south curb line on Lincoln Avenue between Park Avenue and the alley immediately east of the property.

The placement of the fence will also result in losing the diagonal parking spaces outside the Brookfield Public Library on

Lincoln Avenue. The existing library at 3609 Grand Blvd. will remain open during the entire period of construction.

That street closure will be lengthy, probably about a year, with that portion of Lincoln Avenue serving as a main construction staging area, said Eallonardo. Fencing will also close the sidewalk and parkway on the east side of Park Avenue adjacent to the construction site.

“The plan was a collaboration between the architect and the village of Brookfield, in terms of coming up with guidelines for construction staging in the area,” Eallonardo said.

The alley east of the construction site will remain open to residents. Eallonardo said the contract specifically excludes IHC Construction from using the alley.

Crews will be allowed to work during the times allowed by the village code, meaning between 7:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.

However, said Eallonardo, “The contractor has not indicated working a tremendous amount of overtime.” Weekend work, as a result, appears unlikely.

Residents of the area may also note an increase in the number of vehicles belonging to construction workers parked on the street during working hours.

Once the new library opens its doors, work will shift into phase two, which involves demolishing the existing library and constructing a parking lot and small corner park in its place.

During that phase of work, Lincoln Avenue will be reduced to one lane of westbound traffic on the north side of the street.

Stuck at home? Celebrate Census Day on April 1 Now’s the time to do your duty and fill out the form

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of scores of local events, from library programs to concerts and theatrical performances, but there’s one event that has not been called off, and you just might be in a really good position to take part.

April 1 is Census Day and anyone living in the United States is being asked to fill out a form for the 2020 Census, which is being conducted this year.

The United States does a census every 10 years, and aside from providing demographic data, the numbers in the census are used to determine representation in Congress and per-capita federal funding.

Each person counted represents $1,400 a year in federal funding, so it’s important that everyone is counted.

By now, you should have received a post card in the mail urging you to complete a census form online at mycensus2020.gov.

You may have even received a reminder to do so. The postcard and reminders would have provided you with a 12-digit code to verify your address This is the first census where forms can be completed online. If you wish, you can also complete a census form by phone by calling 844-330-2020. Those who don’t respond online or by phone will receive a paper census form that can be filled out and mailed back to the U.S. Census.

People have been able to fill out the forms

online since March 12, and many people have already taken the time to complete them. According to a census response map (2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html), as of March 31, the biggest local response had come from Riverside, where the response rate was 47.2 percent.

Brookfield’s response rate since March 12 was running at 44.7 percent, while in North Riverside the response rate was 40.1 percent.

Statewide, according the U.S. Census map, the response rate was 37.6 percent, which still outperformed the national response rate of 34.7 percent.

In Riverside, local officials leading the census effort have created a video to encourage people, if they haven’t already done so, to fill out the form on Census Day. The 33-sec-

ond video, shot in the new Early Learners Room of the Riverside Public Library and featuring Riverside kids Emmett and Hana Schiemann can be viewed on the Riverside TV website at riversidetv.tv.

The kids’ dad, Scott, is a Riverside firefighter while their mom, is active with Riverside Juniors.

Riverside Trustee Cristin Evans, who has been the village board’s liaison for census efforts, drafted the script and helped arrange the shoot.

“We really want to thank the Schiemann family for making the effort for the census,” Evans said in an email. “Riverside census participation is vitally important.”

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

11

Brookfield seeks planning proposals for Ogden Ave. ‘Market-based’ plan to consider redevelopment, land use and more

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The village of Brookfield is seeking proposals from firms which would like to guide local officials, commercial property owners and residents through a process that will result in a comprehensive Ogden Avenue Corridor Plan to help guide redevelopment decisions over the next two decades.

Firms have until April 20 to submit proposals to the Brookfield Community and Economic Development Department. According to the request for proposals issued last week, the village hopes to reach a decision on a firm

by May 22, though that date could change.

“Obviously, things are a little up in the air,” said Brookfield Community Development Director Ross Klicker, who has been working remotely during the statewide stay-at-home order to check the spread of COVID-19. “We’re looking to have a decision from the village board by the end of May or early June.”

While Ogden Avenue has been the subject of planning efforts in the past – both in the

COURTESY OF VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

DEEP DIVE: The 2018 Brookfield Comprehensive Plan (above) will provide the framework for the corridor study.

Brookfield 2020 Master Plan adopted in 2004 and the most recent Brookfield Comprehensive Plan in 2018 – but Klicker called those documents “the 30,000-foot view.”

“We want to get it to the approach-to-landing view,” Klicker said.

Earlier this year, village trustees adopted an operating budget for the Ogden Avenue Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District that includes a $100,000 line item for “consulting.”

Expenses related to the Ogden Avenue Corridor Plan would fall under that line item.

“We want this plan to be market realitybased,” Klicker said. “It’s not just a village plan, it has to be the property owners’ plan, the developers’ plan and the community’s

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plan.”

The RFP asks the chosen firm to look at the entire length of Ogden Avenue through the village, from Custer to Eberly, and identify development opportunities at various sites, taking into consideration “appropriate uses, necessary roadway and infrastructure improvements and character issues.”

Klicker said the Ogden Avenue Corridor Plan will take the framework of the comprehensive plan and “do a deep dive on Ogden Avenue that’s realistic, market-driven and provides a plan going forward for the foreseeable future.”

The plan will provide a vision for highest and best use of sites along Ogden Avenue,

their development potential and for land use.

“The master plan should provide flexibility to allow the village to react and adapt to the changing marketplace and potential opportunities,” the RFP states. The plan “should also outline implementation strategies that are both comprehensive and creative.”

Klicker said creating such a plan will take six to nine months, and that there will be opportunity for the public to provide input, although it’s not clear at this time how. However, public interaction will be addressed in the proposals, he said.

“I’m deferring to the experts to tell me what to do to make this the most effective process,” Klicker said.

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The Landmark, April 1, 2020

Mixed bag locally for some Dem-endorsed candidates Rashid fares better, Foxx much worse in down ballot races

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

What difference does a name make? Apparently a lot, especially in a race for an obscure office.

Harvard graduate Abdelnasser Rashid, 30, was soundly beaten by attorney Tammy Wendt in the March 17 Democratic primary in the race to become the Democratic nominee for a seat on the Cook County Board of Review, a three-person panel that hears property tax appeals.

Two years ago, Rashid, whose parents immigrated to the United States from a rural Palestinian village 53 years ago, had narrowly lost a county board race to Republican Sean Morrison.

In the Board or Review race this year, Rashid was the endorsed candidate of the Cook County Democratic Party and was also endorsed by both the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times.

Yet Rashid was soundly beaten, getting 45.24 percent of the vote to 54.76 percent for Wendt in the district which includes the western third of Cook County and runs from Tinley Park to Barrington.

Wendt, who was part of the defense team in the murder trial of former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke, will face incumbent Republican Dan Patlak in the November general election.

Rashid, who works as chief policy officer for Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, had the support of about a dozen passion-

COVID19

Cases begin to mount from page 1 As the Landmark story was shared after it was published on March 26, web traffic apparently overwhelmed the site -- ccdphcd.shinyapps.io/covid19 -- which was unavailable for the next three days.

The website, which includes a link to an interactive map tracking the number of cases, was working again by March 30, although it was not always responsive.

The website had been updated, however, confirming five cases in Brookfield, seven in Riverside and between one and four in North Riverside.

“I think it’s a great resource but we have a little way to go,” said Riverside Fire Chief Matthew Buckley, who said he did not receive any answers from the county as to why the website was down for so long.

In addition to providing some level of information to local officials, the website is also a tangible way to show citizens that the disease is present, right now.

“It tells other people out there that this is

ate and hardworking volunteers in Riverside and Brookfield.

Their work had an impact, as Rashid had his strongest showing in those two towns winning 55 percent of the vote in Riverside and 54 percent in Brookfield. Rashid didn’t do nearly as well in North Riverside, capturing only 45 percent of the vote.

While pleased with Rashid’s strong performance in Riverside and Brookfield Rashid’s local supporters were surprised and disappointed by his loss.

“I think that when people go to the polls, I think we are still dealing with some level of racism and xenophobia,” said Mitzi Norton, a leader of the Indivisible Brookfield group who was an active volunteer for the Rashid campaign for about six months.

Villages prefer Conway for state’s attorney In another Cook County race our local area also backed the loser, with Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside supporting challenger Bill Conway over incumbent Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

But Foxx, powered by strong support from African-American voters, easily won with nearly 49 percent of the vote countywide in a four-way race, finishing far ahead of Conway (30 percent). Donna More finished third with nearly 17 percent and former Chicago alderman Bob Fioretti received 5 percent.

But Conway easily swept North Riverside, Brookfield, and Riverside winning 46 percent of the vote in North Riverside,

here,” Buckley said. “It’s not a joke; you’ve got to do your part.”

Buckley said that, as far as he is aware, Riverside paramedics have not personally treated anyone positive for COVID-19, but he didn’t rule it out, since the county is keeping patient information confidential, even from local officials.

“We’re trying to put on a full-court press,” said Buckley. “I just want to know what house is under isolation to help us respond appropriately. I want my guys ready for when they go into these places. It’s just one more layer of protection to keep them safe.”

Buckley said he was personally aware of two positive cases in Riverside, a husband and wife. One of the two is being treated at a hospital. The other is being isolated at home, Buckley said.

Other than the limited information available from the Cook County Department of Public Health’s map, Buckley and other local officials say their information is coming through word of mouth.

“We’re only getting it from people nice enough to call and tell us, ‘We’re under isolation,’” Buckley said. “But, some are so sick they don’t even have the strength to pick up the phone.”

44 percent in Brookfield and 43 percent in Riverside.

Foxx received 32 percent of the vote in Brookfield, 30 percent in North Riverside, and only 28 percent in Riverside.

Riversider falls in judicial race Riverside resident John O’Meara was soundly defeated in his second race for judge. O’Meara, who narrowly lost a judicial subcircuit race in the 2018 primary, was running countywide this time, trying to fill a vacancy on the Cook County Circuit Court.

Despite having the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune, O’Meara was badly beaten by prosecutor Laura AyalaGonzalez, who had the important endorsement of the Cook County Democratic Party.

Countywide, Ayala-Gonzalez, a resident of Western Springs, won 62 percent of the vote in a three-person race.

O’Meara, who works as an administrative law judge for the Illinois Department of Labor and served as a Cook County Judge from 2016 to 2018, finished second with 22 percent of the vote.

O’Meara fared better in his hometown. He received 40 percent of the vote in Riverside compared to 49 percent for Ayala-Gonzalez.

Still, Ayala-Gonzalez won every precinct in Riverside except for the tiny Lyons Township Precinct 1, which includes the southern tip of Riverside’s First Division. There, he won decisively, 23 votes to 11.

Prior to finding out about the map, North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. said his knowledge of local cases were ones where he knew those who’d tested positive. He said Monday he knew of five people who’d tested positive, including two close friends, a husband and wife and one of their children, who were being treated at a local hospital.

About a week earlier, through a friend, he’d learned of a young woman who worked at a Chicago hospital who’d contracted the disease and was isolating at her North Riverside home.

As of Monday afternoon, the Cook County Department of Public Health’s map showed fewer than five cases, leading Hermanek to conclude it’s not completely up to date.

“The site is nice, but I’m not sure how accurate they are,” Hermanek said.

Like Buckley, Hermanek said it’s vital to get more information to first responders before they come into contact with someone positive for COVID-19.

“I think it’s important for each village to have statistics on cases,” Hermanek said. “It helps first responders, so when they go to an address if there’s an issue, or if it’s concentrated in a certain area.”

Buckley said Cook County has resisted

sharing any patient information with municipalities, even addresses where they know people are self-isolating. County officials are waiting for a directive from the governor on that issue, Buckley said.

The fears for first responders are real.

Brookfield Police Chief Edward Petrak and Fire Chief Jim Adams had to quarantine two police officers and three paramedics briefly last week after they responded to a call for someone having a panic attack, saying he had flu-like symptoms and needed to be restrained.

After the physical interaction with that patient, the police officers and paramedics were told to isolate at home until the patient’s test results came back. Two days later the test came back negative.

“It’s scary stuff,” Petrak said. “We worry about bringing it home to our families. We don’t want to expose them to anything.”

Petrak, too, said local first responders need more information about people who’ve tested positive live.

“We’d like to know what we’re stepping into before we get there,” Petrak said, saying the county’s case map is a good start.

“But it’s more advantageous if we knew the addresses. That’d be good information for our officers.”

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

13

POLICE SUBSTATIONS Temporary measure from page 1 The gym is dotted with tables where officers can write reports and take breaks.

Four squad cars are kept at the site to serve the two shifts – the department has temporarily instituted 12-hour shifts – that work out of the school. And shifts are set up so that officers rarely, if ever, come into contact with one another.

Officers have been ordered to report for their shifts at S.E. Gross School and not to go to the police station. Deputy Chief Michael Kuruvilla is overseeing operations at S.E. Gross School. He is joined there by a lieutenant in addition to the two sergeants and nine patrol officers that comprise the shifts.

Petrak and another lieutenant are the command staff manning the main police station, with a third lieutenant, who has been assigned as the department’s COVID-19 point person, floating between the two and handling logistics.

No weapons are allowed to be stored at S.E. Gross School and all prisoners are to be taken to the joint lockup facility at the North Riverside Police Department.

Petrak said the department is scheduling shifts using this arrangement in two-week blocks. All schools in the state have been ordered closed until April 7, but that date could be extended.

“If things continue this way, we’ll extend the schedule out every two weeks,” Petrak said. “If schools open on April 7, we’ll have to relocate.”

While the setup at S.E. Gross School is a little makeshift, it has its benefits.

“It’s beautiful in there,” said Officer Dan McCarthy, who works the day shift out of the S.E. Gross School gym. “It’s a conve-

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

nient, nice place to work out of.”

The lighting is bright, the locker room is larger and there’s enough room to spread out in the gym, McCarthy said.

Petrak, who remains in the windowless main station at village hall, agreed that the temporary substation might even be something of an upgrade.

“You really appreciate what modern looks like when you go into the school,” Petrak said.

Police emergency calls decline as folks hunker down With people hunkering down, riding out the statewide stay-at-home order in response to the COVID-19 emergency, there have definitely been far fewer vehicles and people on the streets of Brookfield, North Riverside and Riverside.

And now, local police are observing fewer calls for their services as well.

According to Jason Rodgers, executive director of West Central Consolidated Communications (WC3), the central emergency dispatch center serving Brookfield, Riverside, North Riverside and McCook, overall calls into the center declined during March, with police calls falling sharply after March 13.

“I’d be speculating, but I think the biggest impact has been the closing of businesses,” Rodgers said in an email. “Without the usual volume of people out there traveling and shopping, there is just a lot less demand for responses to accidents and businesses.”

According to Rodgers, between March 1 and March 13, WC3 received an average of 154 police calls per day. But from March 13 through March 26, that average had fallen to 91 per day, a decrease of 41 percent.

Fire/emergency medical calls, meanwhile, have remained pretty steady. According to Rodgers, EMS calls averaged 14 per day between March 1 and March 13.

Since March 13, that load has decreased slightly to 11 per day. The total number of phone calls into WC3 also decreased during the second half of March.

During the first two weeks, the center fielded an average of 314 calls. From March 14 to March 26, that average had fallen to 224 per day.

On Sunday, March 22, the first full day of the shutdown, total calls to WC3 nosedived to just 104 before ticking back up to 234 the following day.

— Bob Uphues

BOB UPHUES/Editor

COP STOP: For the time being, residents should get used to seeing police vehicles parked outside S.E, Gross Midddle School in Brookfield (top) and the Scout Cabin in Riverside (above).

Riverside cops commandeer Scout Cabin Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel announced on March 26 that a portion of his force would be working solely out of the Scout Cabin in the 400 block of Fairbank Road until further notice.

Officers assigned to the Scout Cabin are being asked to report for duty in uniform and “fully ready to work,” said Weitzel.

“We’ll do roll call by email or in a parking lot, in the open and standing at least six feet

from one another, to get assignments,” Weitzel said.

As in the case of the substation at S.E. Gross School, no weapons will be stored at the Scout Cabin and bookings must take place in North Riverside. Police squad cars will be parked at the Scout Cabin so they are immediately accessible to officers reporting for their shifts.

Weitzel added that the Scout Cabin substation is for officer use only. Anyone wishing to make a report or speak to an officer should visit the main police station at 31 Riverside Road or call 708-447-2127.

14

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

THE LANDMARK VIEW

A

Get it right

s we suffer through endless — and daily — muddle and blather from the current president related to COVID-19, local residents have come to rely on substantially more immediate and accurate information from our hometown and state officials.

Local leaders have grasped that we’ll all deal better and follow the imposed restrictions more closely if we know this virus is all about us. At the city and state level, Lightfoot and Pritzker have been exemplars of plain talk, delivered with context and concern every day at the same hour.

That’s why it has been disturbing, confounding to see the Cook County Department of Public Health so thoroughly botch a public-facing website seemingly designed to tell residents and officials across suburban Cook County how many COVID-19 cases are in their towns and of any deaths linked to their communities.

Our Growing Community Media reporters discovered this largely unknown site last week after tips from local officials. Since then the site has disappeared, reappeared, crashed, provided conflicting information. All the things a good public health communications strategy should avoid.

As of March 30, that site was back up with what looked to be updated information. That’s good as far as it goes, but it’s not enough.

The website needs to be better able to handle traffic from citizens who want information about their own communities. There’s a feeling sometimes that there are those who think the pandemic is abstract, because they don’t see obvious signs other than the warnings and decrees of state and federal leaders.

On March 25, local parks were teeming with families and kids, playing on park structures, on basketball courts – exactly what shouldn’t have happened. The following day, we found out about a map showing positive COVID-19 cases in all of our communities.

That knowledge might have helped prevent the congregating at the parks from happening. It might have provided local officials information they needed to move more quickly to close down parks and playgrounds.

The biggest outrage has been the failure of the county to share with local police and fire chiefs specific information on where they know for sure COVID-19 resides.

We are asking first responders to put their health and the health of their families on the line by going into the homes of people infected by this virus to give them aid.

The very least these first responders need to know is – how much protection do I need here. Sure, you could say they should assume everyone is infected. But supplies of personal protective equipment are not unlimited, and our local police and fire departments don’t have unlimited staff.

If our local first responders believe they’ve been exposed to COVID-19, they may need to be sidelined until testing confirms it one way or the other. If they end up with the disease, the problem magnifies. Local first responders need this information before answering calls.

If the county is reluctant to provide this information, the state ought to compel them to make it so. We all know the virus is here. Those on the front lines need to know exactly where.

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

Getting socially creative in quarantine

T

he coronavirus is not selective.

It has us all in the same position of keeping safe and finding some form of normalcy in our lives when there isn’t any. But, it does encourage people to seek ways of being creative to deal with it.

For one group of nine people from Brookfield, that meant a virtual happy hour on a Friday evening, when people may have normally gotten together after a long week to relax to talk about anything and everything.

From 7:45 to 8:15 p.m., the group hoisted their libations, ranging from beer to wine to bourbon, and socialized without physical contact through the wonders of technology.

Conversation centered on how everyone was coping, with some now juggling working from home and doing the job of home schooling. Teachers in the group described keeping in contact with their students and the challenges that came with the arrangement. Couples also discussed how they managed schedules as they worked from home.

The kids, restless and missing their friends, got a little face time to say hello. While it was nice to be home, they admitted missing school and their friends.

According to Pam Kosey (yes we’re related), the virtual party will be happening again since it’s a great way to keep in touch -- the hope being this won’t be a long-lasting occurrence.

How about a “sip and stroll? Brookfield couple Monica and Mark Maylath took a hike around the neighborhood with their libations, snapping pictures of friends’ homes and texting them with a picture and a greeting, which led to them opening their doors to say hello. Good way to see other people other than those you are cooped up with and still mind the 6-foot rule.

People are stepping up in many ways. Times like this can show what people are really made of and how they react to make a bad situation somewhat better. Try to support those eateries that are open and add a few dollars for tips for the employees.

If you would like to share how you are handling everything, send me an email at ko5ey1@ameritech.net.

It makes sense to fill out the census! If you haven’t filled it out yet, it is very easy to do online. The directions are all there as well as the answers to any questions you may have. It was simple for our household because there are only two of us. What took the longest was having to scroll down to the year of our birth.

Wash your hands (take a drink)!

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

Vote-by-mail snafus just outrageous

Voting by mail bypassed Election Day snafus

Since our last election, I feel it is very important to give my opinion on how terribly our process of voting by mail needs a drastic overhaul.

In the mail, I received a brochure on how to vote three different ways – one by mail, early voting and voting at the polls. This was sent by Dan Lipinski. I chose to vote by mail since I am not in the best of health.

To vote, you had to call Karen A. Yarbrough’s office to get an application starting on March 1. I started to call on March 1 to find out that the office was closed on weekends.

So on March 3, I started to call and it took at least three days to make contact for an application to vote in this election. It took at least five days to get the application. I filled it out and then I managed to get it in the mail box the same day.

Then I waited for the ballot to come in the mail. Finally, it came on March 16. According to the rules, mail voting was closed on March 13.

So I was forced to go to village hall to vote.

When I mentioned it to a lady at the polls, she said, “Oh, yes, many people did not get a ballot in time to vote by mail.”

Being in the poor health that I am, I thought that this was outrageous. There should be some way they can overhaul the process to vote by mail.

JoAnne Kosey’s litany of snafus that took place on primary day in Riverside’s 8th Precinct (“Polling place snafus aplenty on Election Day,” Kosey Corner, March 25) were obviously an unfortunate result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kudos to JoAnne and the rest of the judges for the long day they put in. However, the situation in Precinct 8 could be a good opportunity to promote voting by mail, which our household did prior to primary day.

It was easy to apply for mail ballots online with the County Clerk’s Election Division.

Our ballots were mailed to us in a timely manner and we were able to return the completed ballots in postage paid envelopes. All very efficient and done in the comfort of our home.

Brookfield

Riverside

Edwin Sytko

Joe Rose

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

OBITUARIES

Joan D. Creedon Riverside resident Joan D. Creedon (nee Carroll), 89, of Riverside and formerly of Oak Park and River Forest, died March 25, 2020.

She was the wife of the late Daniel F. Creedon; the mother of Mark (Lynn), Edward (Karen), Daniel B. (Nancy), John (Ingrid) and Richard; the grandmother of 13; the great-grandmother of nine; and a cousin of Joe Kane.

JOAN D. CREEDON Due to present circumstances, services are private. A memorial Service will be held at a later date.

Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, Westchester, handled arrangements.

Kevin G. Katsis, 65 Attorney Kevin G. Katsis, 65, a lifelong resident of Riverside, died March 26, 2020. Mr. Katsis worked as an attorney.

He was the husband of Joanne J. Katsis (nee Pusateri); the father of Kevin, Caitlin and Chris; the son of Mary and the late John Katsis Sr.; the brother of John Jr. (Joan), Mike, Mark (Carol), Mary Beth (Rick) Moulis and Keith (Laura); and an uncle of many.

Funeral services were held at Ivins/ Moravecek Funeral Home in Riverside. Interment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

Harriet C. Knack, 94 Brookfield resident Harriet C. Knack (nee McLean), 94, of Brookfield and formerly of Glasgow, Scotland, died March 26, 2020 at her home.

Ms. Knack was born in Glasgow on Oct. 8, 1925. She arrived in the United States with her daughter, Anne, in 1946. She was a homemaker who enjoyed knitting, traveling, reading and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She the beloved war bride of the late Clarence F. Knack; the mother of Anne W. (Robert) Funk, Patricia M. Victor and Paul W. (Sharron) Knack; the grandmother of Jennifer A. (Jason) Hawkins, Cairney J. (Steven) Kumis, David T. Victor, Christopher (Sherry) Funk and Susan (Kevin Meissner) Funk; and the great-grandmother of Ashley C. Hawkins, Alexa V. Hawkins, Sophie Kumis, Dylan Kumis, Alex Funk, Lilly Funk and Zoe Funk.

Private cremation services have been held.

A memorial to celebrate Harriet’s life will be announced at a later date.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Marjorie Ann Novak, 85 Longtime Riverside resident Marjorie Ann Novak (nee Licar), 85, cherished for her compassionate, caring ways, and devotion to family died on March 21, 2020.

Born June 5, 1934, she was a longtime Riverside resident and the loving wife of the late Dr. Robert Novak, who preceded his wife in death in 2012.

Ms. Novak grew up in Cicero, graduated Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park and Rosary College (now Dominican University) in River Forest. She worked as a third-grade teacher at LaVergne School in Berwyn.

Following her wedding on June 7, 1958, she embraced marriage and motherhood. On rare occasions when she wasn’t focusing on family, she enjoyed traveling, music, entertainment, and MARJORIE ANN NOVAK her beloved club, comprising lifelong college girlfriends.

She leaned on her Catholic faith as a guiding light, serving her church community through the Altar and Rosary Society and numerous committees. She was a Girl Scout Marion Award leader, served on the Women’s Auxiliary of MacNeal Hospital (with particular pride for their scholarship program), and assisted Dr. Bob with his medical practice.

We will always hold dear the memories of her exceptional school lunches, vacation activity bags, great Easter baskets, precision ironing, family slide shows, and her humorous observations. Her love for life will endure forever.

She is survived by her brother, Tom (Kathy) Licar; her children, Mary (Tom) Piette, Cathi (Dave) Kirchner, Liz (Jeff) Palmer, John Novak and Rob Novak; and grandchildren Olivia Novak, Mackenzie Kirchner, Chase Kirchner, Alana Novak and Carson Kirchner. She was a cousin of many and an aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Ms. Novak was preceded in death by parents, Helen and John Licar; her brother and sister-in-law, Ron and Phyllis Lycar; her sister, Connie (Jim) Blazek; and her brother, Jack (Mary) Licar.

A wake will be held Friday, July 9 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Adolph Funeral Home, 2921 S Harlem Ave. in Berwyn. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, July 10 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church, 126 Herrick Road in Riverside, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

Richard T. Sliwka, 89 Art teacher Richard T. Sliwka, 89, of Riverside died on March 29, 2020, at his home, in the presence of family.

Mr. Sliwka received his B.S. degree from Seton Hall University in 1953. Following college, he served in the U.S. Army from October 1953 to October 1955 in the medical corps.

After his service, Mr. Sliwka relocated to Chicago to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1961. This was also where he met his future wife, Rita, in the museum store in 1959. They were married in 1963.

Mr. Sliwka taught art in Chicago and suburbs for the Archdiocese of Chicago and taught Science at South Shore High School.

He retired from teaching at the Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy School in 1993. He was a devout Roman Catholic and attended many Opus Dei meetings.

One of his greatest loves was the arts. His paintings and digital artwork lined the walls of his Riverside home. In retirement, Mr. Sliwka found inspiration with digital art, which he created with computerized light pens in his upstairs computer lab. Some of this work has been displayed at suburban art exhibits and shows.

He also loved music, and his tastes ranged from classical to jazz and bluegrass with Talking Heads thrown in for good measure. Anyone who met Mr. Sliwka quickly learned of his love of good conversation, and he could talk with a degree of knowledge on a variety of subjects. He also had a passion for photography and had his own dark room for developing back in the day.

Mr. Sliwka was a devoted husband to Rita (nee Gailloreto); the father of Greg, Karla (Thomas) Witte, Martin and Jason (Jolene); the grandfather of Kayla, Kurtis, Kendall, Camilla and Grace; and the brother of the late Stanley (late Carol).

Private funeral services are at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1, at Ivins/ Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside.

Interment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at St. Mary Church at a later date.

Dolores L. Pilat, 84 Brookfield homemaker Dolores L. Pilat (nee Grunwald), 84, of Brookfield, died March 29, 2020. Born on May 13, 1935, she was a homemaker.

Ms. Pilat was the wife of Ronald E. Pilat Sr.; the mother of Susan (Randy Sachs) Simek, Cynthia (James) Vaile, Sherry (Steve) Vileta, Ronald (April) Pilat Jr. and James (Kristine) Pilat; the grandmother of Courtney Simek, DOLORES L. PILAT Alyson Simek, Kevin (Allison) Simek, Stacy Vaile, Kristin Williams, Abby Williams, Taryn (Robert) Mackowiak, Lindsay (Michael) Brown, Amber (George) Kline, Erik (Stephanie), Gomez, Matthew Pilat, Megan Pilat, Joshua Pilat and Cullen Pilat; and the great-grandmother of Collin

15

Rehfeld, Norah Simek, Lukas Salvaterra, Emma Brown, Elijah Brown, Leyna Brown, Isaac Brown, Jason Brown, Emmett Kline, Gianna Gomez, Solina Gomez, Roman Gomez and Riley Gomez.

Services are private per federal and state COVID-19 regulations. A memorial service will be scheduled in the future. Interment is private at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park.

Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

To run an obituary Please contact Bob Uphues by e-mail: buphues@wjinc.com, Please include a photo if possible.

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16

Sports

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

@RBLandmark

The On Deck Pod: One on one with Paul Zilinskas

RBHS basketball player tells his story

By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

In the third edition of The On Deck Pod, I’m joined by RBHS basketball player Paul Zilinskas to discuss his journey from Lithuania to the United States and how basketball has taken him places he only dreamed of as a child. You can find the podcast on Apple Podcasts or PodBean.

Highlights from the episode Zilinskas was 6 years old when he and his mother moved to Chicago from Lithuania. He faced the challenge of adjusting to a new culture and trying to catch up with his peers from an educational standpoint.

“In school, everyone seemed to know what they were doing, and I felt kind of lost since the communication was different for me,” said Zilinskas. “I really wanted to fit in at the time because I felt lost and didn’t know what I was doing at the time. As I got older and I went through elementary school, I started to feel more comfortable and I got some friends. Basketball was the thing that got me more friends at school, which was a really good barrier to kind of break through.”

Zilinskas’ mother, Vilia, was a professional basketball player in Lithuania before she decided to move her and Paul’s life to the United States. She trained him with her vast knowledge of the game and ended up writing a book called, “Basketball Can Change Your Life: A Comprehensive Guide for Coaches, Parents, and Students of the Game.”

In the book, Vilia breaks down how to execute the fundamentals of basketball and uses pictures of Paul when he was a child as visuals. However, the book also discusses the importance of leadership and the mental aspect of the game which makes it a well-rounded guide for parents to use for their children as they age into serious basketball players.

Paul, who read the book right after its release in 2017, still takes some of the lessons his mom outlines in the book with him including his shooting form, which looks exactly the same as it does now. “[The pictures] are a little bit embarrassing because I was so little,” said Paul. “But the shooting form you talked about hasn’t changed. It has been there since I was a kid. My mom taught me how to shoot the correct way and it has stayed and helped me throughout my whole career.”

That shooting form and his natural scoring prowess started to get Paul recognition from college scouts entering his senior season. After playing at Richards Career Academy High School for three years, Paul decided to make the move to RBHS to round out his time playing high school basketball and credits his teammates and coaching staff for making that transition easy for him “There was a lot of uncertainty going into that transfer and [it was] my last season. Senior year [was going to be] very important,” said Zilinskas. “But I felt like RB was going to be the right fit for me.”

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

NATURAL SCORER: After Bulldogs’ Paul Zilinskas (No. 10) played his senior year at RBHS, he was rewarded with a scholarship by Quincy University where he will get a chance to flash his offensive prowess.

He continued to talk about the basketball fit for his playing style and how the team worked well together.

“There was tons of ball movement, we played together.

Coach Reingruber does an excellent job in maintaining the team and, even though there was a lot of uncertainty and it was a scary process not knowing anyone when I got there, I still strongly believe in the decision.”

As of last week, Paul, a senior, had accepted a scholarship from Quincy University to play basketball for them next year. At Quincy, he will get an opportunity to do what he does best: score the basketball.

“Quincy Coach [Ryan] Hellenthal mentioned to me that they really needed a scorer and a shooter ... a player of my type,” said Zilinskas. “I think that’s where I kind of fit into the rotation. During my visit, I got to play with the guys and the whole team in a scrimmage, and I think I fit in well in that short time period, which is what the coaching staff said also. I felt like I was a part of the team, and it was just really fun to get along with the guys, play with them and show what I can do.”

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

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Requirements include: High school diploma or equivalent Quantity cooking experience Food Sanitation Manager CertiďŹ cation (or willingness to obtain by June 8th) Contact: Amy O’Rourke – Director of Day Care at: aorourke@hephzibahhome.org Equal Opportunity Employer.

IT Production Support Specialist U.S. Bank Nat’l Assoc (Chicago, IL) to analyze science, eng, bus & other data processing problems to automate/improve existing systems.

Req Master’s/CS, Analytics or rltd ďŹ eld & 2 yrs exp in trader facing IT Prod Supp role or Bachelor’s & 5 yrs. 2 yrs (w/Master’s) or 5 yrs (w/Bachelor’s) w/Calypso. 2 yrs w/Putty; Oracle; Windows Batch Scripting; trading issues incl pricing, trade ow, proďŹ t & loss; Eclipse; & Java. 1 yr w/SQL & UNIX. Apply online www.usbank.com.

MAINTENANCE PERSON WANTED American Security in Forest Park is seeking an experienced Maintenance Person to work part-time Mon-Fri, 4-6 hours p/day. $17 - $20 p/h, based on your experience and abilities.

You must live within 20 min of 15th & Harlem.

Job Req: Vehicle, Cell phone w/ texting, no criminal record.

Responsibilities: Building repairs and maint, basic electrical & plumbing, light cleaning, & a variety of other tasks.

Email your resume to jobs@ americansecurityservices.com or call 708-383-6969 ext. 240 M-F 9a-5 SUMMER SEASONAL STUDENT EMPLOYMENT The Village of Oak Park has openings for the 2020 Summer Seasonal Student Employment. Opportunities are in the Engineering, Water & Sewer, Streets Division, and Fleet & Forestry Divisions. Interested applicants must be 18 years old and actively enrolled in a post-secondary academic program. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www. oak-park.us/. Interested and qualiďŹ ed applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

ROOMS FOR RENT

Mobile Senior Software Engineer sought by Body Shop Bids d/b/a Snapsheet in Chicago, IL to work as a full stack mobile software engineer, designing and developing new mobile apps on iOS and Android.

Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com Ref# 83706.

SUBSTITUTE CUSTODIAN Substitute Custodian position at a church in Oak Park. Hours are 2:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m, each third Monday, and 2:00 p.m - 7:00 all other Mondays, throughout the year. There is potential for additional hours as needed throughout the week, and during regular Custodian’s vacation times. Must possess proven ability to clean and maintain a large building, lift 50 pounds, and set-up/takedown tables and chairs for events.

Must also have good communication skills, work well with groups, positively represent the church when greeting visitors, and safely monitor entrances to the building.

This position reports to the Church’s Facility Manager. Please send inquiry or resume to churchofďŹ ce@ ďŹ rstumcoakpark.org

AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro.

Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up.

773-637-5957

NETWORK SPECIALIST The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualiďŹ ed candidates for the position of Network Specialist in the Information Technology Department.

The ideal candidate will need to be knowledgeable and capable to apply the principles and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis. Hardware and software conďŹ guration of computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environments of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, IOS/ Android. Network protocols, security, conďŹ guration and administration, including ďŹ rewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology. Cabling and wiring, including ďŹ ber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down. Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Interested and qualiďŹ ed applicants can visit our website at http://www. oak-park.us/ for more details.

PRESCHOOL ASST DIRECTOR & TEACHER HAPPY KIDD’S WEST INC. We are looking to hire 2 positions: Daycare preschool assistant director teacher qualiďŹ ed and a teacher position. Flexible hours. Associates Degree or credited ECE hours.

Total college credit is a minimum.

Candidate must be fun loving and friendly, and an energetic individual who is knowledgeable in daycare action and DCFS protocol. Degree and experience will determine your hourly salary. Call 708-484-8188 or fax resume to 708-484-8616.

SUMMER PART TIME SEASONAL HELP The Hephzibah Children’s Association Summer Day Care Program is accepting applications for the following part time seasonal opportunity in our summer program that runs from June 8th through August 14th.

Youth Development Specialist – Greeter: Two hour shifts Monday through Friday from either 7:30-9:30 am or 4:00-6:00 pm. Provide care and supervision of the children. Responsibilities include supervising indoor and outdoor free play, greeting and welcoming parents and children and serving snack. Requirements include H.S. diploma or equivalent and experience working with children.

Contact: Amy O’Rourke – Director of Day Care at: aorourke@hephzibahhome.org Equal Opportunity Employer.

SITUATION WANTED EXPERIENCED CAREGIVER Experienced caregiver licensed in compassionate care seeking employment within a home environment. Salary negotiable. Please call Ms. Tate at 708-691-2770

CITY RENTALS LOOK q

A MUST-SEE!!!

929-933 N. LEAMINGTON ST. BEAUTIFUL newly renovated Studios ($725 - $750) & 2-bdrm Apts. ($875 - $900) in quiet bldg.

Appls incld; tenant pays utilities.

Credit/bkgrnd check req’d. Sect.

8 Welcome! For private viewing, call 708-307-8178.

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT DOWNTOWN OAK PARK SUBLEASE We are looking to sublease our beautiful, spa-like ofďŹ ce. Our ofďŹ ce is already set up and is available for sublease in downtown Oak Park.

This ofďŹ ce is perfect for a physician, anesthetist, masseuse, and/or acupuncturist. Space is available immediately. Please contact us for pricing and to schedule a tour of the ofďŹ ce.

Ask for NikI. 708-613-4417 Nikimoreno33@gmail.com THERAPY OFFICES FOR RENT Therapy ofďŹ ces for rent in north Oak Park. Rehabbed building. Nicely furnished. Flexible leasing. Free parking. Free wiďŹ ; Secure building; Friendly colleagues providing referrals. Shared waiting room; optional Conference. Call or email with questions. Shown on Sundays.

Lee 708.383.0729 drlmadden@ameritech.net

SELLING YOUR HOME

BY OWNER?

Call Us For Advertising Rates!

708/613-3333

SUBURBAN RENTALS

M&M property management, inc.

708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

COMMERCIAL RETAIL SPACE A RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASE IN STRIP MALL: 1600-1635 Sq Ft. *315 S. Harlem Ave. and Madison St. area - Forest Park, IL. *Very Good Condition-Recently Updated. *Formerly a Cleaners. *Heavy foot/road trafďŹ c area. *End space. 45-Space Parking Lot! *For more details; Serious Inquiries ONLY: *EMAIL: poppygator@yahoo.com *CALL/TEXT, at: P.B. (708)250-7997 Or: D.B. (708)828-6491

ITEMS FOR SALE CHINA CABINET & CHINA China cabinet with 12 5-piece place settings of Bavarian china. $259.00 708-488-8755 DINING ROOM TABLE Very large, genuine antique. Empire style from Marshall Field’s. Orig. $9000. Priced at $1900.

VICTORIAN DINING CHAIRS 6 beautiful Victorian chairs, reproductions. $500.

708-488-8755

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, ags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

NOVENAS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL) Oh, most beautiful ower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor in my necessity (make request).

There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. CAC

TAX ASSESSMENTS TAX ASSESSMENTS BUSINESS & APARTMENT BUILDING OWNERS Your current reassessment can affect your bottom line.

Find out future tax liability.

Contact us for a free review at www.ashtaxsolutions.com or call 773-941-4949

CEMENT

CEMENT Residential Commercial Industrial Licensed Bonded Insured Free Estimates ¡ Veteran Owned

Drives Walks Patios Stamped Concrete Curbs/Gutters Garage Floors Foundations Parking Lots Water Control

devegaconcrete.com ¡ 708-945-9001

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION� ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL ˜ INDUSTRIAL ˜ RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 Â&#x2021; )281'$7,216 Â&#x2021; 3$7,26 67(36 Â&#x2021; &85% *877(56 Â&#x2021; 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* Â&#x2021; 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors â&#x20AC;˘ Home Re-wiring â&#x20AC;˘ New Plugs & Switches Added â&#x20AC;˘ New circuit breaker boxes â&#x20AC;˘ Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp â&#x20AC;˘ Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial â&#x20AC;˘ Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. â&#x20AC;˘ Bonded â&#x20AC;˘ Ins. â&#x20AC;˘ Low Rates â&#x20AC;˘ Free Est.

708-409-0988 â&#x20AC;˘ 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts â&#x20AC;˘ 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park â&#x20AC;˘ All surrounding suburbs â&#x20AC;˘ Chicago area

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

Attention! Home-improvement pros!

Reach the people making decisions - your target demographic.

Advertise in Wednesday Classified.

Call 708/613-3342

18

The Landmark, April 1, 2020

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CLASSIFIED ELECTRICAL Red Star Electric

Your Neighborhood Electricians *Licensed *Bonded *Insured

-Residential/ Commercial Electrical Upgrades -Electrical Service/ Panel Upgrades -Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations -Standby Generators 708 722 1388 www.RedStarElectric.net

GARAGE DOORS Our 73rd Year

Garage Doors &

Smart Door Openers

Sales & Service Free Estimates

(708) 652-9415 www.forestdoor.com

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

HANDYMAN CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-637-0692 Ask for John

Starting a new business?

Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice here Call for details: 708/613-3342

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@RBLANDMARK.COM

HEATING / AIR CONDITIONING

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know

HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

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: Y20003431 on March 13, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of SPARK & SHINE ONLINE with the business located at: 45 E. BURLINGTON UNIT 10, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ROBIN QUINN NEWBERRY 262 NORWOOD RIVERSIDE, IL 60546 Published in RBLandmark 3/18, 3/25, 4/1/2020

You have jobs. We have readers!

Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified!

Call 708-613-3342 to advertise.

In print • Online • Available to you 24/7/365

RBLandmark.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

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: Y20003383 on March 10, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of A HAND UP with the business located at: 901 LAKE ST. UNIT 901, OAK PARK, IL 60303. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: PLESHETTE SIMONE DAVIS 901 LAKE ST. UNIT 901 OAK PARK, IL 60303 Published in Wednesday Journal 3/18, 3/25, 4/1/2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 ABFC ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005WMC1 Plaintiff, -v.DARYL SATCHER, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., OAK PARK TERRACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 2018 CH 08851 914 NORTH AUSTIN BOULEVARD UNIT #C-8 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 February 7, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 14, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 914 NORTH AUSTIN BOULEVARD UNIT #C-8, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-320-0401025 The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse.

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-18-07459 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2018 CH 08851 TJSC#: 40-1381 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 # 2018 CH 08851 I3148148

UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019 CH 05533 300-302 NORTH CUYLER 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 January 23, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 27, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 300-302 NORTH CUYLER AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-107-0090000 The real estate is improved with a multi-family residence.

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, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-04111 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019 CH 05533 TJSC#: 40-655 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 # 2019 CH 05533 I3148307

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.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

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

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 268445 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 19 CH 00561 TJSC#: 40-595 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 00561 I3148758

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS LEGAL TITLE TRUSTEE FOR TRUMAN 2016 SC6 TITLE TRUST Plaintiff, -v.EDILBERTO V. VERZO, MARCELINA C. VERZO,

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FFMLT TRUST 2005-FF11, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005FF11 Plaintiff, -v.BRIAN HOLLOWAY Defendants 19 CH 00561 125 SOUTH LOMBARD 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 January 23, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 24, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 125 SOUTH LOMBARD AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-302-0150000 The real estate is improved with a yellow vinyl siding, one story single family home with a detached two car garage.

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

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21 E. BURLINGTON ROAD, RIVERSIDE | MYBURLINGTONREALTY.COM | 708.447.7207

2500 Keystone, North Riverside $275,000

3412 Euclid Ave, Berwyn $279,000

475 Shenstone Rd, #102, Riverside $152,900

2341 Hainsworth Ave, North Riverside $219,000

170 West Burlington, Riverside $279,000

276 Lionel Rd, Riverside $375,000

74 Woodside, Riverside $599,999

465 Uvedale Rd, Riverside $645,000

172 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $649,900

294 Northwood Rd, Riverside $650,000

82 Lawton Rd, Riverside $745,000

133 Scottswood Rd, Riverside $765,000

321 Delaplaine Rd, Riverside $825,000

181 N Delaplaine Rd, Riverside $949,995

329 Scottswood Rd, Riverside $1,059,000

WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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