The Jr. Bulldogs – girls and boys – make history at state
Girls nish fourth in feeder program’s rst trip in recent memory
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
The Riverside Brookfield Junior Bulldogs fifth-grade girls basketball team established the goal of improving upon last season’s 13-12 record.
The team achieved beyond that all the way into program history.
These Junior Bulldogs became the feeder program’s first girls team qualifier – at least in recent memory -- for the Illinois Middle School Basketball Championships March 20-22 in Bloomington-Nor mal.
“I just thought we were really motivated and kept lifting each other up,” said wing/ post player Olivia Prosser, who attends Central Elementary School in Riverside.
“I just thought (state) was so great. We were all super excited. We were just happy to get the experience to be in that tournament.”
Team members are Lisette Cabanas, Lila Claps, Vivian Herrera, CJ Hodina, Claire Marx, Esme Pierik, Prosser, Hana Schiemann and Molly Wojtowicz. The head coach was Missy Wojtowicz with assistant coaches Joanne Schiemann,
Boys team strikes gold, repeats state title
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Maksas Bursua and his Riverside Brookfield Junior Bulldogs fifth grade boys Blue teammates won a wild game March 22 that they probably will never forget. By the way, it also happened to be for the state championship.
Lasting three overtimes, the Junior Bulldogs first rallied and then persevered and survived to edge TLK Black 39-36 for the Gold Division title in Normal and the feeder program’s second straight championship at the fifth-grade level.
“It was crazy, honestly a dream come true,” said Bursua, who attends Central Elementary School in Riverside.
“We were all crying at the end because it was so amazing. It was very emotional when we won. Just to pull out that victory is a complete accomplishment, even if it wasn’t for a state championship.”
Team members are Bursua, Declan Chmelar, Owen Frame, Germaal Gervais, Angel Loera, Finn Johnson, Aedan Ketchmark, Freddie Krafnick, Cole Ryan and Salvador Tucker.
z e Riverside Brook eld Junior Bulldogs h grade girls basketball team earned a historic berth to the Illinois Middle School Basketball Championship. Team members are (front row, from le ) Lisette Cabanas, Claire Marx, Hana Schiemann, Lila Claps, (back row) Olive Prosser, CJ Hodina, Esme Pierik, Molly Wojtow icz and Viv ian Herrera. See GIRL JR. BULLDOGS on page 11 See BOYS JR. BULLDOGS on page 15
The head coach was Jason Gant with assistants Chris Chmelar and Chris Frame. Gant has been a varsity assistant coach for the
COURTESY OF MISSY WOJTOWIC
Brook eld passes anti-ICE ordinance
e village board voted 7-0 for the resolution
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Officials in Brookfield approved a resolution on Monday, March 23, ratifying the village’s commitment against working with federal immigration enforcement agents
The resolution affir ms that Brookfield police and all other village personnel, unless required by federal law, will not participate in federal immigration enforcement activity; village property and resources cannot be used to support immigration enforcement; and village staff and residents can document federal immigration activity in town by calling the police, whose body-worn cameras will capture footage of the incident.
The village board voted 7-0 to approve the resolution, with Village President Michael Garvey marking the seventh ‘aye’ vote. Nor mally, the village president only votes in the event of a tie
At the meeting last Monday, Trustee Kyle Whitehead thanked village staffers, including Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla, Village Manager Tim Wiberg and Village Attorney Adam Durkin for their collaboration in bringing forth the resolution for a board vote while Trustee Julie Narimatsu thanked Whitehead for his leadership on the issue
In an interview with the Landmark,
residents,” he said. “People were calling and emailing us; people were talking to us in the community at school drop-off and in the park, saying, ‘Look, what can we do as a community to make sure we’re protecting our neighbors?’
First, he said, he reached out to Kuruvilla to hear how a resolution could affect police’s ability to operate before working with Durkin to put the resolution together correctly from a legal standpoint, taking inspiration from similar ordinances passed by other municipalities in the region.
The resolution builds on guidance Brookfield issued in November, when officials invoked the Illinois TRUST Act of 2021, which bars local law enforcement from assisting with or intervening in federal immigration activity.
Additionally, it specifies that federal immigration agents may not use Brookfield’s facilities, equipment or internal databases for investigative or enforcement purposes and that village employees may not provide information to federal immigration agents that is not already publicly available.
Whitehead said he was less involved in but “comfortable with” the village’s initial approach to the issue in the fall, but after hearing from residents and speaking with some fellow trustees, he reached out to staff about bringing the resolution forward.
“Since the fall, the surge has calmed down in the Chicago area, but the issue has not gone away, I think, for our residents and for people across the country. We consistently over the last several months heard from
“I have young kids myself. We’re living in difficult times. Life is hard for everybody, but life is even harder for people who are most vulnerable, who don’t have the resources and support and protection that families like mine have,” Whitehead said.
“There’s nothing more basic than personal safety and the safety of your family, the safety of your children, the safety of your mother and father,” he added. “When I think about how that would affect a family to have a federal agency come in and take somebody, or take the whole family, it’s terrifying. I don’t think that’s what anyone in this community wants to see.”
In a written statement issued to the Landmark, a group of Brookfield residents who had advocated for the passage of an ordinance restricting the abilities of federal immigration agents praised the boar d’s unanimous vote and thanked Trustee Jennifer Hendricks, who they said acted as a liaison to the committee.
Residents Jonathan Platt, Beth Berendsen, Carrie Felix, Ana Alvare z-Lundvick, Chris Meier and Katie Vina, who comprise the group, “would like to thank the community of Brookfield for its support through letters and emails to the village board, public comments at board meetings and expressions of opinions to board members individually,” they said in the statement. “We also thank the village board for the implementation and passage of this resolution.”
Multiple members of the group have attended village board meetings since last year to ask the village board to approve a resolution much like this one during its public comment periods.
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2nd developer pitches apartments for Theater Building
is rendering shows the front facade of Nath Construction’s proposed apar tment building along Grand Boulevard.
Nath Construction representatives said they’d build 40 apartments above retail space
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield officials heard a pitch from the second of two fir ms vying to redevelop the site of the Theater Building along Grand Boulevard
Shreya Singh and other representatives from Nath Construction spoke before the village board on Monday, March 23, to propose a five-story, mixed-use building with about 2,600 square feet of retail space alongside a lobby and publicly accessible amenity space on the ground floor. Four floors of apar tments
Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight
above would total 40 units with a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom designs.
After hearing the presentation, trustees did not immediately direct staf f on how to proceed with the proposals from Nath or Redwood Construction, which presented its plan for a 20-to-30-unit apar tment building or hotel at a meeting on March 9. The village board is expected to reach a consensus and give staf f direction soon.
“The base of this building is going to be focused on community access as well as community retail,” Singh said.
“Amenity space is typically on the second floor of a residential building, and what we want to do is bring that amenity space down to the ground floor. [For example,] you have a fitness gym on the second floor that’s only limited to residents, but with this, you could have a gym that’s successful for residents and patrons from the community.”
While Singh and other re presenta-
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tives brought three possible configurations for the proposed apar tment building, they recommended sticking to 40 units rather than the 50 they included in one design.
Another configuration would have included 40 parking spaces in an underground parking garage beneath the apar tments, but Singh said she recommended against it due to the high construction costs of about $317,000 per unit, rivaling rates to buy a home in some par ts of town.
“We’ re able to squee ze 17 park ing spaces inside the building, and we would li ke to wo rk with the village to identify 10 offsite pa rk ing spaces,” Singh said of Nath’s recommended c onfiguration for the building. “Maybe [we could attract] folks who wo rk at local i nstitutions that have one car per household, and then the rest of the units are made up by train c ommuter s. ”
While that ratio c ould leave some resid ents without a p lace to pa rk , Singh sai d she and her team focused on the area’s o rientation around transit in the hopes of attracting new residents who would make use of the Metra to access downtown Chicago.
In response to Trustee Kyle Whitehead
mentioning the difficulty of life without a car in Brookfield, Singh said the buildin g would include a storage area for bicycles Singh said Nath would plan to own the building for up to four years after construction before selling it, and, in the meantime, the company would outsource management to a third pa rty.
If Nath is awarded the contract, Singh said the firm would work to start construction in August and finish within a year, meaning new residents could move in as soon as August 2027.
According to Nath’s response to Brookfield’s request for proposals, the fir m would not request any funds from the village’s tax-increment financing district downtown. However, it would ask for the T heater Building parcel and adjacent property to be conveyed for free. In total, Nath’s proposal would cost about $12.4 million to build.
Geoffrey Dickinson, a partner at SB F riedman, Brookfield’s TIF consultant, said the firm could work to create TIF revenue projections for both development proposals to show officials how much money each would generate that the village could capture for further improvements to the area.
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Lastyear, wesawpermanentcuts tofederalprogramsthatdeservingpeople relyontosurvive. Weevensawneighborslivinginaneedless stateoffear. Butwealsosawthepowerofacommunitytoriseup forasharedcause.
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Ourfoodpantryexiststohelpreducelocalhunger andthe causesofthathunger. Werecognizethatthelong-termsolutionis notjustmoreefficient “ fooddistribution”. Thewayforwardstarts byendingthestigmaofhunger, byprotectingandupliftingthe dignityofpeople : Sharingfoodwithneighborsinadignified grocerystoresetting. DevelopingprogramssuchasourResource Hubservicesadvisorycenter. Provingwhatispossible , when enoughofuscometogethertoupliftallofus .
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YOUR BEST LIFE withLisaCapone
Riverside aims to reclaim the night from too much light
t Lisa Capone
YourBestLife
ThisSpring
Your Best Life This Spring with
e village is partnering with an international organization to reduce light pollution
Asthedaysgrowlongerandtheair turnswarmer,springistheperfect timeforseniorstorefreshtheir routinesandrefocusonoverall wellness.Thisseasonbringsrenewed energy,bloomingsurroundings,and newopportunitiestostayactive, social,andengaged.Takinga proactiveapproachtowellnesscan supportyourwell-beingandhelpyou feelyourbestandenjoyallthatspring hastooffer.
As the days grow longer and the air turns warmer, spring is the perfect time for seniors to refresh their routines and refocus on overall wellness This season brings renewed energ y, blooming surroundings, and new opportuni ties to stay active, social, and engaged. Taking a proactive approach to wellness can support your well-being and help you feel your best and enjoy all that spring has to offer
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Riverside is working with an international organization to assess the village’s outdoor lighting and reduce nighttime light pollution in town in pursuit ofa rare community designation.
Spendtimeoutdoorstoenjoy freshair,sunshine,andthebeauty oftheseason
Spend time outdoors to enjoy fresh air, sunshine, and the beauty of the season
Stayactivewithlightexerciselike walking,stretching,oryogato supportstrength,andmobility
Stay active wi th lig ht exercise like walking, stretching, or yoga to support strength, and mobili ty
Incorporatefresh,seasonalfoods likeleafygreens,berries,and vegetablestonourishyourbody
Incorporate fresh, seasonal foods like leafy greens, berries, and vegetables to nourish your body
This year, Riverside partnered with DarkSky International in pursuit ofbeing named a DarkSky Community. Founded in 1988, the nonprofit describes itselfas “the globally reco gnized authority” on issues surrounding light pollution and conserving the night sky.
Declutterandrefreshyourliving spacetocreateacalm,organized, andupliftingenvironment
Declutter and refresh your living space to create a calm, organized, and uplifting environment
Reconnectsociallybyjoining activities,events,orsimply spendingtimewithfriendsand neighbors
Reconnect socially by joining activi ties, events, or simply spending time wi th friends and neig hbors
“Our mission is to protect a natural nighttime sky and the night,” said Ken Walczak, a senior manager at Adler Planetarium and board member ofDarkSky International.
… A town can follow those guidelines and say, ‘OK, our lights in our town are dark sky friendly,’” he said. “It’s not like towns have to change all their lights overnight. It’s the process and the showing of plans or an ef fort to, for example, have dark sky friendly ordinances.”
navigate by orienting themselves to the sky, and what does a lit-up city at night look like to a bird who’s evolved for tens of millions of years? Well, it kind oflooks like a starry sky.”
Stayontopofwellnessby schedulingcheck-ups,reviewing medications,andsettingnew healthgoals
Stay on top of wellness by scheduling check-ups, reviewing medications, and setting new health goals
Byembracingthesesimplehabits,you canmakethemostoftheseason whilesupportingyourhealthand vitality.Springisatimeofrenewal— makingittheperfectopportunityto reset,refresh,andcontinueliving yourbestlifeeveryday.
By embracing these simple habi ts, you can make the most of the season while supporting your health and vi tali ty. Spring is a time of renewal making i t the perfect opportuni ty to reset, refresh, and continue living your best life ever y day.
Walczak is in charge oftaking an inventory of Riverside’s nighttime lighting and finding ways to reduce it. Once those problems are addressed, the village can seek to apply for the rare community-wide designation.
In an email, Village Manager Jessica Frances said the process is budgeted at a maximum cost of $5,000 to the village.
Birds can become trapped in bright cities during their migration instead ofarriving at their intended destination, he added. And birds aren’t the only animals affected by light pollution.
VisitCantata.orgformore seniorlivingadviceorcall (708)387-1030.
Visit Cantata org for more senior living advice or call 708) 387-1030.
So far, only 65 communities worldwide can say they’ve earned the title. IfRiverside applies successfully, it will become the third such municipality in Illinois, following Homer Glen in Will County and Hawthorn Woods in Lake County.
“Our goal is to implement best practices as it relates to sustainable lighting in the village,” Village President Doug Pollock told the Landmark. “It’s part of the overall village board goal ofimplementing sustainable practices. I’ve never been through this process myself, but my expectation is that this is going to end up in a set of recommendations for code amendments and policy changes.”
Indeed, Walczak said one “big step” ofthe process involves showing commitment, such as through the passage ofordinances regu-
Walczak gave an hourlong talk in Riverside last March on the benefits of reducing light pollution, to which he attributed the village’s efforts this year.
Pollock said the effort falls in line with Riverside’s recent efforts to prioritize sustainability and environmentalism, including its adoption ofa climate action and resilience plan last May entitled “Road to 2025.”
“It’s one ofthese environmental issues that I think a lot of people don’t even consider, but we always say, once you see bad lighting — once you’re introduced to it and given the vocabulary to understand, ‘That’s what I’ve been noticing’ — you can’t unsee it,” Walczak said.
For example, Riverside falls within a regional migration route for birds known as the Mississippi Flyway, he said, to which he called light pollution “a major disruptor.”
“At peak, there could be actually hundreds ofmillions ofbirds passing over our region
“There are nighttime pollinators. A lot of insects are nocturnal as well, and a lot of them are pollinators. If you have a flower garden or you enjoy fireflies, those are all creatures who help keep our ecosystem healthy, and they are highly influenced and impacted by light at night,” he said.
On top ofour animal neighbors, Walczak said humans can be negatively impacted by the kinds and amount oflighting used at night, too. Alongside rod and cone cells, which enable us to see, our eyes have a third sensor that was discovered in the 1990s
“That is a very blue-sensitive cell, and it senses blue light as a trigger or the signal for daytime. Our circadian rhythms [that dictate sleep patterns] are literally encoded into our biology and triggered by blue light,” he said. “That’s why you’ve probably heard that thing about blue light at night; it’s not very good because it’s tricking your body, chemically and biologically, into thinking it’s daytime, and we need the night.”
Downtown Riverside
e back of the envelopes gives guidance to drivers and o cers alike to ensure an interaction goes smoothly.
Brook eld police launch program for people with communication struggles
New ‘blue envelope’ program eases encounters with autistic or non-verbal individuals
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
The Brookfield Police Department has instituted a new program using blue envelopes to assist people who are autistic or who otherwise struggle with communication or sensory input during interactions with police.
The envelopes, which are free to pick up at the police station, are designed to contain a driver’s license and the re gistration and insurance card for their vehicle.
The front offers spaces to check of f how a person can communicate verbally or nonverbally and whether they are autistic or have other communication challenges as well as a spot to name a support person and their contact information.
The back of the envelope provides guidance to drivers about how to act during a
traffic stop and to officers about how to show the driver grace due to communication or sensory struggles.
Deputy Police Chief Jim Mihalik drove the initiation of the program in Brookfield after a resident reached out about other municipalities like Elgin, Naperville and Downers Grove offering similar programs, he said.
“Not being familiar with it, I had reached out to those organizations, and they utilize it solely for someone with autism. In my research, I had reached out to Downers Grove, and, in speaking with their social worker, [learned] they used it a little bit more broadly,” he said.
The wider target, also applying to people with communication or sensory struggles, spoke to him, he said.
“At least for the community in Brookfield, I thought it would be a better adoption, if you can reach a larger demographic,” he said. “Often times, [police officers] don’t know what we’re up against, and some people’s actions can give an appearance of intoxication, whether it be alcohol or drugs. We really want every police encounter to be a good one, and this is a tool that can at least provide us with infor ma-
Drunk driver arrested after swerving into vehicle
Brookfield police arrested a 61-year-old Brookfield man on March 18 for driving drunk after responding to a report of a crash.
Around 10:45 p.m., officers responded to the 4000 block of Maple Avenue on the report, where they observed a dark blue car facing southwest with heavy front passenger side damage and a black car pa rked directly north of the blue car with rear bumper damage
Two officers approached the blue car and made contact with the driver and sole occupant, who was standing just behind it; one of the officers noted a strong alcoholic odor from the man’s breath as he spoke, slurring his words.
The man told police he had been driving the blue car before the crash, when he swerved after seeing a rodent or small animal run into the street. The man said he didn’t recall striking the black car. He said he had been coming from the Cordial Inn and had drunk three rum and Coke mixed drinks while there.
Paramedics with the Brookfield Fire Department arrived on the scene and medi-
cally cleared the man before he ag reed to police’s request that he take field sobriety tests, during which the officer observed multiple signs of impairment. The man declined to take a preliminary breath test.
Police arrested the man for driving under the influence at 11:23 p.m. and transported him to the Brookfield police station, where he again declined to take a chemical breath test after a 20-minute observation period.
Police charged the man with driving under the influence and failing to reduce his vehicle’s speed to avoid a crash and set an April 21 court date before driving him back to his residence.
Police respond to domestic dispute
Brookfield police on March 19 responded to Cong ress Park School in response to a domestic disturbance, but no one was ar rested
Around 3:30 p.m., an officer responded to the school after a woman re ported her husband had entered her vehicle against
her wishes in an ef fort to speak with her while both of them were there to pick their daughter up from school, leading to a verbal altercation. T he officer spoke to the man, who affirmed his wife’s re port; he said he entered her vehicle to try and discuss issues in their relationship and that she drove of f after he exited the vehicle.
T he officer responded to the f amily’s home address, shared by the man, and spoke to the woman, who said she called police because she did not want him inside her vehicle due to how he acts when he g ets angry. She told the officer her father was on the way to pick her son up from school to bring him home.
About 20 minutes later, the officer responded to the residence again on a second re port of a domestic incident and spoke with the woman, who said her husband had blocked her vehicle into the driveway to prevent her from leaving after she told him she was bringing their children to her parents’ house T he man told the officer he did not want
the children to go to his wife’s parents’ house in their best interest and of fered to leave the home if they did not go. After speaking with the officer, the woman ag reed to the conditions. T he officer explained to her the process to obtain an order of protection before taking the man’s house keys from him at her request, which he gave willingly
T he officer remained on the scene until the man left, at which point police took no further action.
These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department reports dated March 18-23; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Stella Brown
Local journalism matters. That’s why we made a bold decision to protect its future.
The RB Landmark is now part of NEWSWELL, a nonpro t journalism organization that provides resources, technology, and long-term support to community newsrooms across the country. This partnership strengthens our foundation while keeping everything that matters the same. Our newsroom remains local. Our staff remains in place. Our commitment to this community is unchanged. With the added support of NEWSWELL, we are better positioned than ever to continue delivering the independent, communityfocused journalism our readers rely on. Same mission. New chapter. Stronger future. All donations
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GoodFridayoftheLord’sPassion,April3
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HolySaturday,April4
No Regular Saturday Evening Masses
12:00pmBlessingofEasterBaskets& Foodat bothcampuses
7:00pmEasterVigilMass(Bilingual)Mater ChristiChurch
EASTERSUNDAY
MassoftheResurrectionoftheLord,April5
8:00AMMaterChristiChurch(Spanish)
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12:30PMMaterChristiChurch(Spanish)
No5:00PMMassEasterSunday
Visit www.stpaulviparish.org, or scan the QR code for more information.
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MAUNDY THURSDAY Thursday, April 2 7:00 pm Worship and Holy Communion, In-person only
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D96 board approves Dolezal resignation
District,
director of teaching and lear ning
mum about reasons for departure
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
The Riverside School District 96 Board ofEducation, at a special meeting March 26, approved the resignation ofAngela Dolezal, director ofteaching and learning.
In a meeting that lasted about five minutes, the board was unanimous in its decision to accept Dolezal’s resignation. had been in her role in the district since 2019. Dolezal was not present at the meeting.
No reasons were given for the resignation.
Superintendent Dr. Martha Ryan-Toye lauded Dolezal’s accomplishments. Those mentioned included implementing district-wide full-day kindergarten, implementing updated and revised curriculum resources and and helping the district navigate the pandemic by supporting both remote and in-person learning.
“I know I speak for the board and everyone in District 96 when I express my deep appreciation for all that Angela has done for D96 and wish her the absolute best as she continues her leadership in education,” Ryan-Toye said, adding that Dolezal will “assist me remotely on specific projects as she transitions from her role at the end of June 2026.”
Dole zal recently was a finalist for the superintendent position at Oak Park School District 97, but was not selected. By a 5-0 board vote, with two members absent, the board approved the hiring of Terri Bresnahan, superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 59. Prior to her tenure at District 96, Dolezal was principal at Longfellow School in Oak Park ears.
When asked ifDolezal’s resignation was related to her applifor the District 97 superintendent’s position, Ryan-Toye was clear that it was not. When asked ifthere was a specific reason for Dolezal’s resignation, she said, “I can’t comment on that.” And when asked ifDolezal’s contract would have been renewed had she not resigned, the response was the same. Board members T hursday complemented Ryan-Toye’s remarks re garding Dolezal’s work in District 96.
ANGELA DOLEZAL “I’m not ready to talk about any of it.”
ANGELA DOLEZAL
ting D96 administrator
Casimira Gordon, principal ofBlythe Park Elementary School, will take on some of those responsibilities part-time as well, she said.
However, the specific reasons for Dolezal’s resignation weren’ t made clear. When contacted Friday via phone, Dolezal was reticent to discuss the situation.
“I’m not ready to talk about any ofit,” she said.
“From the board’s perspective, speaking for the board, I do ag ree with that as well, there have been a lot ofmajor accomplishments in her time here and we wish her well,” board president Wesley Muirheid said.
“I want to echo my thanks to Angela for her dedication during her time within our district,” added board secretary Stephanie Basanez Gunn. “I appreciated getting to know her and work with her as a board member and also as a parent, and of course our paths crossed just as members ofthe same community, and similarly I just wish her the best.”
Board member Dan Hunt said, “It’s a regret that I will be voting this evening on this.”
GIRLS JR. BULLDOGS
from page 1
Salina Claps and Megan Claucherty. Gretchen Lupfer is the program coordinator
“(State) was very exciting and I loved being out there with my team and laughing and celebrating,” said points guard Molly Wojtowicz, also a fifth grader at Central.
“We’ve grown a lot (since 2025) and are really good teammates and very focused. It was really exciting to hear (our making history) and we’re going to work hard again next year to get back to state.”
BLUE ENVELOPE
from page 7
tion so we get it right.”
Mihalik said the envelopes don’t just apply to traffic stops.
“We do have incidents within the community with somebody leaving the home — and us out there trying to find them — with different communication issues,” he said. “Even outside of contact with police
The Junior Bulldogs finished fourth in the Silver Division with a 2-3 record at state among six teams and ended the season 1513. This season’s progress also included boosting their 8-8 record in the DuPage Youth Basketball Travel League to 11-5.
“They’re learning that all of their hard work pays of f and they can achieve big goals,” Missy Wojtowicz said.
“I told the girls at the beginning of the season we wanted one more win and they surpassed that. Just the state tournament and the whole experience showed them that they belonged there.”
The Junior Bulldogs lost to champion Carol Stream 23-14 in the semifinals. In the
during a traffic stop, we’re encouraging the public, if they want, to utilize it within their home. If a f amily member or someone calls, they can provide that to us if we come to their house.”
He said he hopes the progr am furthers the strong relationship between Brookfield police and residents
“You see a lot of ne gative interactions with police, and we have a great department. We have great officers who are intuitive and reco gnize situations very well,” he said. “We have a positive relationship
four-team bracket for third place, they beat the Oswe go East Wolfpack 20-18 and lost to Wheaton Thunder White 22-8 for third In pool play, the Junior Bulldogs lost to the Highland Jr. Bulldogs 35-13 and followed with an emotional 27-24 victory over the Willowbrook Junior War riors.
The Junior Bulldogs had lost to Willowbrook in both of their re gular-season games
“We knew we had to lock in and focus and be confident and they did that,” Missy Wojtowicz said. “That was a really big win for them and a real high point during the weekend.”
Teams qualify for state with top two fin-
with the community and its members, but all it takes is one bad incident to lose that trust with the c ommunity, so [we’ re] g etting ahead of something li ke that.”
This is n’ t the first step Brookfield p olice have taken to a ccommodate resid ents with disabilities, Mihalik added.
“We have c ue cards in the squad cars for the hearing impaired. We have autism tools for c ommunication, dry erase b oards for talking if they ’re non- ve rbal, ” he said.
Ultimately, Mihalik said he hopes
ishes at qualifying re gular-season tournaments. The Junior Bulldogs only added to the success of the boys program, which captured a second straight title at the fifthgrade level and had a third-place eighthgrade team.
“(Willowbrook) was a huge victory for us. I thought the difference was we knew what they were doing, how they were playing and we just worked around that,” Prosser said.
“I think we learned (this season) we definitely should never quit and give up. We were just happy to get that win against Willowbrook and some other teams we thought we wouldn’t beat. We never thought we would get that far.”
the progr am assists drive rs in i nteractions with p olice that c an be stressful or alarming
“We reco gnize that there are people out in the public that can have a difficult time communicating. Let’s face it: Whether you have communication or special needs issues, a policeman behind your vehicle or responding to your house can be a very difficult situation,” he said. “We want people to know that we’re human, too, and we’re willing to do whatever we can to help that communication.”
Cantata’s continuum of care, you can live your best life today, tomorrow and into the future. We’ve been here, right across from the zoo, for more than a century passionately serving the needs of local seniors.
Makrame Green heads to Brook eld Shops
e plant care business replaces New Book Joy a er its brick-and-mortar move
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Makrame Green is the newest business set to open at the Brookfield Shops retail incubator program this spring.
The shop, which owner Fabiola Jimenez said specializes in handmade macrame decorations and houseplants, is set to open May 8 in one of the sheds at Progress Park, making it the fourth new vendor to open at the Brookfield Shops this year.
“One of the services we will be providing is almost a plant hospital, you could say. If people have a plant they’re worried for that isn’t doing too well, they can bring it in. We’ll take care of it, see what it has wrong and what it needs. We’ll also transfer it to another pot if they need,” said Jiminez’s busi-
ness partner, Leo Navarro, translating on Jimenez’s behalf from her native Spanish.
Makrame Green was initially one of three runners-up after applying for the 2026 cohort that was scheduled to appear at Brookfield’s upcoming French market, but now it will join the cohort following New Book Joy’s departure for a brick-and-mortar location.
“We’re super excited to have Fabiola move in. She’s already had some experience at the Berwyn Shops, and then she was at [Berwyn] Sprout, and she’s done a number of different workshops and other vendor events,” said Libby Popovic, Brookfield’s community development director.
“She was our top runner-up,” Popovic added. “She’s coming in as a second-level cohort [member] because she’s already been through [a retail incubator] program once. She’s got a quick timeline, but she already knows what needs to happen, and her products are amazing.”
The business got its start in 2020, Jimenez and Navarro said.
was, to her, more like a therapy to get through COVID and the quarantine. After that, she started making more and more and started selling at pop-ups and marFrom there people started asking for lants [to go with] the plant hangers that would sell, so she started bringing that in, too, and made a fusion of both,” rro said.
Shops through social media and felt drawn to the Brookfield community.
“She had a couple pop-ups around the area and in Brookfield around the first year of the Brookfield Shops, and she saw that the community was really homey and heartwarming, close together and respectful and nice, and she wanted to get into that community,” Navarro said.
Now that she’s been accepted to the program, Navarro said Jiminez is excited to share her wealth of green knowledge
“She’s looking forward to being able to bring more green to Brookfield and share her wisdom on plants to the entire community, teaching people how to take care of their plants and how to reco gnize what’s wrong with them,” Navarro said. “She also wants to do a pop-up event she’s done with Morton Colle ge in Cicero, where she does a class on plants and transferring plants into pots. She has a group of people, and they pick out their plant, they decorate a pot, and she shows them how to transplant them into the new pot correctly.”
When she got the call that she would be able to join the Brookfield Shops directly, Jiminez was equal parts happy and nervous, Navarro said.
“She was glad to see that she would be able to incorporate herself more into the Brookfield community, and she was slowly starting to see her dream of opening her store in Brookfield come closer to reality,” he said. “It is one of her dreams to open a brick-and-mortar, especially in
LETTERS
A thank-you to the voters
Rachel Marrello, our daughter, has been elected a judge.
We are proud and grateful for her recent accomplishment of receiving over 70% ofthe vote. She will honor her position by being fair, thoughtful, respectful, and so much more in her decisions
We wish her well and know that we will see her fill the position in an honorable fashion.
David Wandel
Send letters to the editor
Ken Trainor, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark
E-mail: ktrainor@newswellchicago.org
Please include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.
OBITUARIES
Mary Sasuta, 94
Sts. Peter and Paul member
Mary Louise Sasuta (nee Crossken), 94, of Willowbrook, for merly of Lombard and Brookfield, died on March 27, 2026. A homemaker, she was a longtime member ofthe La Grange YMCA, the Oakbrook Park District, and the Christian he was also a oted member ofSts. Peter tion in Rivears.
Mary was the wife ofthe late Nicholas Sasuta; the mother of Susan (Terry) Robb, Nancy (James) Brown, James Sasuta and Janet (John) Broussard; grandmother Robb, Beth (Thomas) , Daniel (Liz) Robb and grandmother ofOlivia, Charlotte, Allison, Autumn, Samantha and and Michael O’Hare; and sister (Susan) Crossken. sitation will be held on Tuesday,
March 31 from 3 to 8 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home Ltd., 9445 31st Street, Brookfield. Lying in State on Wednesday, April 1 will be followed at 10 A.M. by the funeral service at Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, 250 Woodside Road, Riverside. Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Forest Park. Memorials appreciated to Sts. Peter and Paul Lutheran Church, 250 Woodside Road, Riverside, IL 60546.
To run an obituary
Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@newswellchicago.org, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
Author, scholar and community activist Dr. Eve Ewing’s most recent book, Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, was named a Best Book of 2025 by The New Yorker, Esquire, Elle and the Chicago Public Library.
Dr. Ewing also has been involved in several projects for Marvel Comics, including the Black Panther and Exceptional X-Men series. Her Ironheart series provides the Chicago backstory of young genius Riri Williams following her introduction in the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Her first book for young readers, Maya and the Robot, received starred reviews in School Library Journal, Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.
Dr. Sara Rezvi, Dominican University School of Education, will moderate the conversation with Dr. Ewing.
BOYS JR. BULLDOGS Triple
overtime
from page 1
RBHS boys basketball program the past four years.
Including the playoffs and pool play, the Junior Bulldogs went a perfect 4-0 at state in winning the highest Gold Division. Last year’s fifth-grade championship was in the Silver Division.
“When I started coaching them the previous spring, the mindset was to win a state championship,” Gant said.
“The previous fifth-grade team had won a state championship. The group before laid the foundation, showed it was possible. We took it to another level by winning it again but in the Gold this time.”
Gervais, a 5-foot-7 center who attends Central, made his basketball debut this season and often was among the team’s top scorers and rebounders.
“(Winning state) was super exciting,” Gervais said. “Playing close together and passing the ball (helped us). It was exciting to play with my teammates and I like playing against other teams.”
The championship was epic. In the third overtime with about 20 seconds left, the Junior Bulldogs pulled of f an inbounds play with Bursua passing to Chmelar for a bas-
Boys Jr. Bulldogs team
ket and 38-36 lead.
After a TLK turnover, Frame made one free throw and missed the second. Gervais momentarily controlled the rebound before the ball went out of bounds to TLK but under its basket with only a couple of seconds left.
The long inbounds pass was intercepted by Bursua.
“(I’ll remember) my buddy Declan making that shot and Coach Gant still having faith in us and saying we’re going to come back and win,” Bursua said.
The game was tied 31-31 after re gulation and 34-34 after the first and second overtime but the Junior Bulldogs played catchup early on after struggling against a rare zone defense used against them.
“After we won and the buzzer went of f, the players stormed the court and half of the team was crying tears of joy. Probably the most heartwarming picture,” Gant said. “It was such an incredible game. We were losing the whole time. The boys showed so much dedication.”
Gervais finished with 14 points and 23 rebounds in the final and averaged 13 points and 18 rebounds at state
In the semifinals, the Junior Bulldogs defeated Hinsdale Inferno Red 42-36 after losing 45-39 in overtime earlier this season. They won their pool by edging Glen Ellyn Titans Green 43-41 with help from Bursua’s three-pointer in the final minute to re gain the lead.
T he Junior Bulldogs are comprised mostly of players from Central but also Brook Park Elementary School in LaGrange Pa rk and Blyth Park in Riverside. T he Junior Bulldogs eighth-grade boys Blue team also finished third in the School Division, beating the Roselle Raptors 36-28 after losing in the semifinals to champion It Takes A Village Leadership Academy 67-40.
About half of the fifth-grade champions were on the 2025 fourth-grade state team, which finished 2-2.
“(Last season’s fifth graders) definitely carved a path for us,” Bursua said. “It definitely brought motivation to us. We knew we could do it if they did it, and we did exactly that.”
WHAT A WIN: It was jubilation a er the Jr. Bulldogs won another state title.
RBHS boys volleyball trying to build upon winning lessons
LTHS looks to another senior-heavy group for continued success
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Senior Noah Beals is among many important returning Riverside Brookfield High School boys volleyball players who learned plenty from their 2025 varsity debuts
“Last year, I don’t think I was ready to perform at that level, but I have grown a lot since then. I feel much more prepared for this season,” Beals said.
“I hope to improve my confidence on the court and I want to be a force at the net, intimidating the other team.”
The Bulldogs want to build upon their strong 23-14 finish last season. That included sharing the Upstate Eight Conference East Division title in their debut season with Glenbard East and West Chicago at 5-1 and winning 11 of their final 15 matches. They lost to state quarterfinalist Sandburg 25-19, 25-20 in the regional final.
The previous two seasons, the Bulldogs captured the program’s first conference titles as part of the Metro Suburban. They’ve also reached 20 victories two of the past three seasons.
Off to a 2-4 start, the team already has dealt with three injuries.
“This team is pretty scrappy and we hope to play great defense and extend rallies,” RBHS coach Dan Bonarigo said. “Keys to a successful season are staying healthy – or getting healthy – minimizing errors in late-game situations and outworking opponents.”
Middle/right-side hitter Beals and junior setter Gianfranco Crancich are returning starters.
Senior John Bielobradek and junior Michael Austin (outside hitters) and seniors Aiden Schoeff (middle hitter), Quinn Shipley (right-side hitter) and Gavin Sharenow (libero) also are expected to play key roles. Other
team members are seniors Jorian Lopez and Santiago Madellin, juniors Mateo Roman Garcia and Hunter Twitty and sophomores Aidan Darrah and Kyle Kummer.
“This year, I feel we are more interconnected,” said Shipley, another second-year varsity player who is an outside and right-side hitter
“Last season prepared me to be flexible with schedules and overall positions. Last season prepared me to be flexible and able to adapt to what (position) the team required at the time.”
Last season, Crancich was second in assists (244) and third in service aces (27). Beals was fifth in blocks (32) and Bielobradek was fifth in digs (91). In kills, Beals (66) and Bielobradek (38) were sixth and seventh.
“I would say our team strengths are athletic ability and chemistry,” Bielobradek said. “The biggest thing is going to be effort. We have the talent. We just have to put it together.”
The Bulldogs opened with a three-set loss at Morton March 25. At the Marist Invitational Friday and Saturday, the Bulldogs beat Providence and Plainfield South in two sets and lost to Lincoln-Way Central and Downers Grove South in two sets and Lincoln-Way West in three.
LTHS boys volleyball
Another strong season for the Lyons Township boys volleyball team probably will take some time
The Lions graduated many from last season’s 29-9 team but have five returning full or part-time staters – senior outside hitters Brody Lee-Caracci and Owen Carroll, libero Brady Schlichter and middle blockers Jack Hartman and Weston Aram.
Other team members are seniors Michael Becker, Nathan Crandall, Jake Garcia, Sebastian Myers and Roy Piagnarelli, juniors Logan Jones, Ilija Kisic, Darek Kwak, Jack Majernik, RJ Pora, Trevor Richard, Oliver Sordyl and Ethan Vlahos and sophomores Evan DeGraff and Tyson Sweigard
LTHS has started 0-2 with losses at Brother
Riverside-Brook eld’s Michael Austin (5) returns a serve against Lincoln-Way Central during pool play of the Marist Madness Redhawk Invitational, March 27, in Palos Heights.
Rice March 24 and Wheaton Warrenville South Thursday
“We struggle in the moment sometimes (in matches). I’ve seen a lot of improvements since the beginning of the year,” Lee-Carocci said.
“We have a lot of club players on our team and everyone’s really experienced so I’m sure we’ll figure everything out.”
Last season, the Lions also were 2-4 in the highly competitive West Suburban Conference Silver Division. They again finished strong, winning nine straight before their hopes for a third straight trip to the state quarterfinals was stopped by a 25-19, 22-25, 26-24 loss to Oak Park and River Forest in the sectional semifinals.
Lee-Caracci was named second-team allstate by the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association and All-WSC Silver.
Lee-Caracci (Lewis) and Schlichter (Missouri S&T) will play college volleyball.
Setter Becker, Crandall, Sordyl, Vlahos and Piagnarelli are among those expected to make greater contributions
LTHS coach Brad Skendzel expects the lineup to undergo many changes and tweaks, also a product of the team’s overall depth.
“We are a strong offensive team with size,
which should all us to establish a consistent and dominant presence at the net,” Skendzel said.
“Consistency across all facets of the game will be the key to our success. We must remain committed to the details and execute them at a high level to achieve our goals.”
Lee-Caracci improved to 341 kills in 2025 from being third on the team with 184 in his 2024 varsity debut season. Lee-Caracci and Carroll are the lone returnees who played in the 2024 state quarterfinals.
Carroll (169 kills) and Hartman (60 total blocks) also were among 2025 stat leaders. Carroll currently is sidelined by a thumb injury from basketball but is expected back this month.
Offensively, the Lions already have shown an ability to get multiple contributions from the outside and middle. Defensively, Schlichter shared the libero role last year.
“Since we’re mainly senior-based, we know each other well. We complement each other well,” Schlichter said.
“We started off the season with our strength being more on offense so we’ve wanted to focus more on defense. Offense and defense are now at the same level and now they just have to get even better.”
STEVE JOHNSTON
Seniors, starters have RBHS girls soccer thinking success
LTHS brings experience, momentum from 2025 regional champions
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Seniors Audrey Raymond and Abby Fo already sense the bond of this season’s erside Brookfield High School girls soccer team.
They’re not only returning starters as central defenders in the Bulldogs’ back line, but they’re also team captains with seniors Michelle Panduro and Sofia Sanchez.
“We have been keeping a positive a tude and supporting one another building our chemistry,” Raymond said. “As a captain, I’m going to continue supporting teammates and keep a positive attitude.
The Bulldogs expect better results building of f of their finish in 2025.
They return eight starters – Ford, duro, Raymond and Sanchez, seniors Marianna Giron and Aylin Romero and Maya Tennicott and junior Jocelyn Jaimes
PROVIDED
oals, 9 assists) and Bigenwald (133 saves) ned 2025 all-conference honors.
“The team is hungry, great chemistry last year, but many of them learned how hard we have to work to win g ames against the level of competition we have in our conference and overall schedule,” HS coach Bill Lanspeary said.
“(Our keys are) playing sound defenvely and continuing to work to g ether think we’re going to g et a lot of posicontributions from everyone on the team. We’ ll need all of those to be sucessful.”
Capizzi was the Lions’ No. 2 scorer last season (9 goals, 8 assists) behind graduted all-stater Caroline Mortonson. Capizzi missed her sophomore varsity season because of injury. Last season, Capizzi was injured for part of May but retur ned for sectionals
Other team members are seniors Valeria Martinez, Riise Hall and Mia Rodriguez, juniors Ruby Barajas, Ruby Boyle, Kaylee Guzman and Jaelyn Manjar re z, sophomores Elsie Clark, Camila Mar tine z, Charlotte Pinnick and Me gan Tumpach and freshman Lea Becker.
In 2025, the Bulldogs were 6-14-1 and 2-4 for their debut in the Upstate Eight Conference East Division. They lost to Morton for the third time last season 3-0 in the Class 3A re gional semifinals
After enduring a nine-match losing streak, they finished the season 3-3-1, started by an electrifying 2-1 home conference victory over Fenton on penalty kicks.
The Bulldogs started 2-2 at the Windy City Classic, beating Hancock 4-0 March 19 and Leyden 3-0 March 21 while losing 1-0 to Plainfield South in the March 18 season opener and Lemont March 24 in the consolation semifinals.
“We have a great group of girls and are looking forward to see what they can accomplish,” RBHS coach Ivek Halic said.
Midfielder Panduro (4 goals, 3 assists in 2025) earned honorable mention allsectional last season. Also at midfield are Romero and Sanchez, who each have two goals this season, and Jaimes, who has three assists along with Boyle.
Returning as well on defense are Giron and goalie Tennicott, one of the stars in
the Fenton victory who is healthy after being injured during the girls basketball season.
“Our team is all very close together and I think the chemistry helps us both on and of f the field be better,” Ford said. “I want this season to be successful but also fun and I think we achieve both those goals as a team.”
LTHS girls soccer
Senior Zibby Michaelson already sees a winning spirit in her retur n this season to the Lyons Township girls soccer team lineup
“Not playing last year was hard but I’m really excited knowing our team is going to be so good and it makes our senior season so much better,” Michaelson said.
T hey’ve started the season 2-0-1 in beating Oswe go East 2-0 March 18 and Jones 8-0 March 19 and tying Wheaton Warrenville South 1-1 March 25.
Last season, the Lions finished 10-101 after starting 2-6-1 by winning five of their last seven g ames. That included a rally to beat Fenwick 3-1 for their 12th straight re gional title before losing to rival Hinsdale Central 2-1 in the 3A sectional semifinals.
Seniors Anna Bigenwald , Carolina Capizzi, Allie Hennessy, Avery Lusk, Audrey McCarty and juniors Claire Mortonson, Grace Chevalier and Aofie Griffin return from last season’s postseason starting lineups. Also back are seniors Quinn Conway, Maura Schneider and Charlie Wichman, juniors Izzy Dullick and Lila Tower and sophomores Lauren Salvino and Emma Thimm. Newcomers include senior Carli Proctor, juniors Mia Anderson, Fiona Fay and Sadie O’Hare, and freshmen Lena Giustini and Abby McKenna.
“Our improvement from the first g ame, we’ve all g etting used to playing with each other and as the g ames go on, we g et a lot better,” Capizzi said. “I think we have a chance of being solid.”
All-sectional midfielder Capizzi (DePaul), goalie Bigenwald (Loyola), forward Michaelson (Mercer) and defender Proctor (Florida Southern) are set to play colle ge soccer. Capizzi (8
Michaelson scored a teambest 13 goals in 2024. She served as a manager last year to focus on club soccer and her recr uitment.
Defensively, the Lions agai n should be solid with Bigenwald and a defensive line that’s been using Claire Mortonson and Giustini in the middle and Chevalier, Hennessy, Proctor and Lusk on the outsides.
“Our center backs have been doing really well, kee ping the ball and passing well. T hey’re very composed,” Bigenwald said.
Last season, Salvino had five goals, including two against Fenwick, and Lusk had three assists. T he Lions scored 53 goals and lost six one-goal g ames
“Scoring more goals would definitely be a success,” Lusk said. “Last year we kind of kicked the ball up but this year we’ve definitely been moving and g etting open for each other.”
Seniors So a Sanchez (le ), Michelle Panduro, Audrey Raymond and Abby Ford are captains for the Riverside Brook eld girls soccer team.
ZIBBY MICHAELSON
C AROLINA C APIZZI
AVERY LUSK
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M26001443 on March 10, 2026 Under the Assumed Business Name of 6700 SSD 17D with the business located at: 6700 S SOUTH SHORE DRIVE #17D, CHICAGO, IL 60649. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is:
EDWARD MATTHEWS 322 WEST 52ND STREET #323 NEW YORK, NY 10019, USA.
Published in Wednesday Journal March 25, April 1, 8, 2026
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET
The Village of River Forest will hold a public hearing on Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in the 1st floor Community Room of the Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois concerning the Village of River Forest proposed budget for the fiscal period starting May 1, 2026 and ending April 30, 2027.
A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the Village Hall during regular business hours or on the Village’s website at www.vrf.us. For more information, please contact Finance Director Rosemary McAdams at 708-366-8500.
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
SECTION 00 11 16
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Notice is hereby given that the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education is accepting sealed bids for the Julian Middle School Roof Replacement located in Oak Park, Illinois.
Lump Sum Bids will be received, publicly opened, and read at the District Administration Office, 260 W Madison, Oak Park, IL 60302, at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. Bids received after the designated time and date of bid opening will not be considered. Bidders must comply with all of the requirements set forth in the Project Manual.
Bidding Documents will be available on April 3, 2026. To view and obtain bidding documents, please visit Best Imaging Solutions planroom at http:// www.bestimagingplanroom.com/ jobs/public.
Bidders are strongly encouraged to schedule an on-site visit at Julian Middle School, located at 416 S. Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302. Please contact either Michael Arensdorff(708-524-3015; marensdorff@op97.org) or John Pahlman (708-524-3125; jpahlman@op97.org) to schedule the visit.
All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-12)
Board of Education Oak Park Elementary School District 97
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of North Riverside, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: Concrete and Sidewalk Proposals
PUBLIC NOTICE
SECTION 00 11 16
ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS
Notice is hereby given that the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Board of Education is accepting sealed bids for the Mann ES Parking Lot Improvements project located in Oak Park, Illinois.
Lump Sum Bids will be received, publicly opened, and read at the District Administration Office, 260 W Madison, Oak Park, IL 60302, at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. Bids received after the designated time and date of bid opening will not be considered. Bidders must comply with all of the requirements set forth in the Project Manual.
Bidding Documents will be available on March 30, 2026. To view and obtain bidding documents, please visit Best Imaging Solutions planroom at http://www.bestimagingplanroom. com/jobs/public.
Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference on April 6, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., at Mann Elementary School, located at 921 N Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302. Site inspections will immediately follow the pre-bid conference.
All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-12)
Board of Education Oak Park Elementary School District 97
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
This project consists of concrete replacement and removal in an as needed capacity on work ranging from sidewalk removal and replacement, curb removal and replacement, and driveway apron removal and replacement.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at: https://www.northriverside-il.org/ Bids.aspx
Bids must be submitted by Friday, April 10, 2026, at 3pm CDT at: 2401 S Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois, 60546
Or
Emailed to the following e-mail address: administration@northriverside-il.org
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of any proposal.
Published in RB Landmark April 1, 2026
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of North Riverside, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: Water and Sewer Repair Proposals
This project consists of water and sewer repairs in an as needed capacity on water mains ranging from 4” to 18” ductile iron, residential and commercial service line repairs and replacement, water valve replacement and removal, fire hydrant replacement, fire hydrant removal, new installation of fire hydrants, catch basin removal and replacement, sewer line repair ranging from 6” to 33”, and high pressure cleaning of main sewer lines.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026, at: https://www.northriverside-il.org/ Bids.aspx
Bids must be submitted by Friday, April 10, 2026, at 3pm CDT at: 2401 S Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois, 60546 Or Emailed to the following e-mail address: administration@northriverside-il.org
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of any proposal.
Published in RB Landmark April 1, 2026
LEGAL NOTICE
Village of Oak Park
NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park will hold a Public Information Meeting #1 in an open house format welcoming all community members to learn about the Bridging the Ike study and participate in the planning process. During the meeting, officials will discuss opportunities for expanded bridge decking over I-290, which could yield new development, public plazas and park spaces over the expressway.
Date: Tuesday April 7, 2026 Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Location: Oak Park Conservatory, Rubinstein Community Room, 615 Garfield St, Oak Park, Illinois.
The Bridging the Ike study aims to examine community needs including safety, roadway improvements, mobility and connectivity and the best uses for any newly created spaces on expanded bridge decks. This initial meeting serves as an opportunity to introduce the project and solicit resident feedback to understand the important issues that will help develop and refine the improvement opportunities at these bridges. For more information about the public information meeting and ways residents can share their priorities for future bridge crossing improvements, visit https://engageoakpark.com/
Published in Wednesday Journal April 1, 2026
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.
The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.
This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. -- WJ/FPR/RB LANDMARK --
Submit events and see full calendar at rblandmark.com/events
