Landmark 041520

RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside $1.00

Vol. 35, No. 16

April 15, 2020

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Star surprise

Brookfield’s new library facility breaks ground PAGE 3

Rock legend serenades BEDS Plus clients PAGE 2

Man critically injured in crash into river PAGE 7

Villages cast wary eye toward future finance hit

rblandmark.com @riversidebrookfieldlandmark @riversidebrookfield_landmark @RBLandmark

ROCK-MOBILE

As COVID-19 shutdown persists, officials assess revenue losses and delays

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Municipal governments haven’t started to feel any pinch from lost revenues due to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that could change if the stay-athome order, and the closure of businesses and local attractions stretches into the summer.

With that in mind, local leaders are trying to plan for what could be lean months as the impact of lost or delayed sales taxes, state income taxes and other critical revenue streams intensifies.

“We really expect the tension to really start in early June,” said Doug Cooper, finance director for the village of Brookfield. “We have to really play it month by month, but we have enough money to keep us liquid for the next two months.”

Brookfield, along with Riverside and North Riverside, received its first installment of property tax revenue beginning in February, and sales taxes have been coming in at expected levels and will continue to do so for the next couple of months, since they are collected three months in arrears.

In Brookfield, property taxes represent about 47.5 percent of total operating revenues. As such, it’s an important revenue stream to keep coming in times of crisis for See FINANCE on page 13

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

North Riverside Parks and Rec employee Julie O’Brien waves to residents along 11th Avenue on April 13 from the bed of the Mobile DJ truck, which takes to village streets every Monday at 5 p.m. See story on page 4.

Good morning, virtual classroom

Challenges of engaging, nurturing elementary students revealed during closure

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Instead of sitting in their classrooms with their eyes on their teachers, lo-

cal elementary and middle school students are going to school at home. They still see their teachers occasionally, but it is through a screen.

Since schools in Illinois were shut

down in mid-March by order of Gov. J.B. Pritzker in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, area school districts See eLEARNING on page 11

Real Estate remains an essential need. LAUREN CODY is providing Virtual/Facetime services to include consultations, showings, & video walkthroughs to assist buyers and sellers, as personal safety is foremost during this difficult time of COVID-19.

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT LAUREN CODY: 708-514-3366 or lauren.cody@bairdwarner.com

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The Landmark, April 15, 2020

Rock legend gives concert for BEDS Plus clients

Jim Peterik plays for two dozen staying at consolidated shelter

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The clients at the consolidated emergency shelter set up by BEDS Plus in Brookfield to safely house those experiencing homelessness during the state’s stay-at-home order to limit the spread of COVID-19 received a musical treat by a bona fide star over the weekend.

The hit songwriter who fronted the Ides of March and Survivor, for whom he penned the mega-hit “Eye of the Tiger,” staged a brief outdoor concert on April 11 for clients at the shelter and a small group of staffers – who maintained social distance by watching from their cars.

Peterik, strumming an acoustic guitar, performed a handful of songs from the parking lot of the St. Barbara Church Social Hall, where a little less than 30 clients have been living around the clock since the shelter was established on March 18.

“There are so many online, driveby parties for kids’ birthdays and engagements and other things, and I thought, ‘You know, these people are on 24/7 lockdown and they never get to leave their space either, so let’s do something for them,’” said BEDS Plus volunteer Beth Myburgh, in a press release. “It’s just nice for them to get some fresh air and do something different.”

Myburgh, a LaGrange resident, organized the event, asking Peterik if he’d come by to perform for the clients.

“He’s just all about supporting the homeless community and the disadvantaged,” Myburgh said.

“He’s a really nice guy.”

The appearance by Peterik was the highlight of the impromptu parking lot dance party, which also featured Myburgh and her husband, Francois, blasting some tunes from a boom box they brought with them. Volunteers and clients alike sang along and danced amid the almost summery

temperatures on Saturday.

Among the songs that Peterik performed was his big hit, “Eye of the Tiger.”

“I know everybody needs a little of this,” Peterik said to those assembled. “Remember in this COVID atmosphere, you gotta have faith.

You gotta have the eye of the tiger.”

For some clients, it was a chance to reconnect with an artist they had enjoyed for decades.

“I had one client tell me she had seen him in the 1970s in St. Louis,” said Valerie Vedral, communications specialist for BEDS Plus.

BEDS Plus will be posting video from Peterik’s performance on their YouTube channel this week and will also share the videos on their Facebook page.

The 69-year-old Peterik, who grew up in Berwyn and performed with Ides of March while a student at Morton West High School and Morton Junior College in the 1960s, still lives in the southwest suburbs.

COURTESY OF BEDS PLUS

ROCK ON: Jim Peterik performs a tune from the parking lot of the BEDS Plus consolidated shelter in Brookfield on April 11.

If it’s 7:30, it must be time for music on Raymond Ave. Local family belts out tunes during daily socially distant block party

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

The 1500 block of Raymond Avenue in LaGrange Park is like your average west suburban residential street -- a quaint, tree-lined street of modest-sized mid-century modern homes where the lawns are neatly manicured, kids ride their bikes along the sidewalk and birds chirp throughout the day.

But, for nearly a month now since the statewide stay-in-place quarantine has been in effect, the usually ordinary block has turned into one of the suburb’s most rocking streets, as one family has initiated a socially distant block party of sorts — a daily dose of neighborhood singalongs.

JACKIE PISANO/Contributor

TUNE TIME: Pasquale Giampietro and family turn up the volume and serenade their neighbors nightly, weather permitting, with short, social-distancing song sessions.

Every night around 7:30, weather permitting, Pasquale Giampietro and his wife, Madonna, roll up their garage door, drag a speaker

and microphone to the end of the driveway and summon their neighbors to their doorsteps or front curb to enjoy renditions of

pop and rock songs.

Some nights, it’s Bon Jovi or Pink.

On other nights, throwback hits from Cher take the stage. But each time, the 30-minute show brings out neighbors who are cooped up in the house all day for a little comic relief and camaraderie.

The Giampietros, who are not singers or musicians, simply started the evening routine as a way to get their neighbors to crack a smile amid the stressful new normal the global pandemic has caused.

“We’re singing to keep the fun on the block going and forget about the coronavirus for a few minutes,” Pasquale Giampietro said.

Some nights, a few neighbors will join in with a favorite song of theirs. But most nights, it’s just the Giampietros crooning and cracking smiles.

Michael Bertacchi, a lifelong resident of the block, says while his neighbors have always been friendly toward one another, he’s never seen the block as animated

as it is now.

“The singing has brought life to the whole block,” he said. “We look forward to this every night.”

Fellow neighbor Mel Krejci agrees. Krejci, who has lived on the block for the past 40 years, says no one on the block has never done anything similar to this and that he hasn’t seen such innovation from neighbors in La Grange Park like this for years.

“We’ve had a number of people come out here, and it’s been good for morale,” he said. “It’s become a family affair for neighbors.”

Along with taking song requests from neighbors, the Giampietros also say some words of encouragement and take some time to engage with folks who walk past their house.

Overall, Pasquale Giampietro says the goal is simple -- just to bring back a little lightheartedness to people’s lives.

“We’re just having a good time and laughing,” he said. “It’s just a fun thing to make people smile.”

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

New Brookfield library breaks ground this week Site fencing, construction trailer was slated to go up April 14

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Construction of the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library begins this week, officials announced April 10, climaxing a more-than-decade-long effort to build a facility that can adequately deliver library services to residents of the village.

For the next year or so, construction will cause some disruption to traffic in the immediate vicinity of the work site, which will straddle Lincoln Avenue, between Park Avenue and the alley to the east.

Construction fencing, which will enclose the entire property at 3541 Park Ave., including the sidewalk and parkway, was slated to go up April 14. Fencing will extend to the south curb of Lincoln Avenue.

A construction trailer will be located in parking area on Lincoln Avenue outside the existing library at 3609 Grand Blvd.

Access to the north-south alley between the construction site and homes in the 3500 block of Oak Avenue will remain fully open to residential traffic. No construction traffic will be allowed in the alley or on Lincoln Avenue east of the alley.

Construction vehicles will exit and access the work site through gates at Lincoln Avenue and Grand Boulevard.

According to a press release issued by Library Director Kimberly Coughran, surveyors will begin their work the week on April 20. Toward the end of that week, it’s expected that workers will begin stripping the topsoil from the site of the new library in order to build a temporary road for construction vehicles along the west side of the property.

Residents can watch the progress of construction through time-lapse videos that library officials plan to release weekly and monthly. A camera has been positioned on the roof of the existing library to capture the action.

The library will share the videos on social media, on its website and in the library’s pe-

PROVIDED

An architect’s rendering of the future Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library at 3542 Park Ave. riodic e-blasts to residents who have signed up to receive them. You can register for the eblasts at brookfieldlibrary.info/newfacility.

The Brookfield Public Library, once it is able to reopen when the statewide stay-athome order is lifted, will remain open during construction. Once the new facility is ready to open its doors, work will shift south of Lincoln Avenue for the demolition of the existing library and the construction of a new parking lot and small corner park.

A ceremonial groundbreaking will take place once concerns regarding public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic have passed.

The 21,000-square-foot, roughly $10.7 million library is being funded largely through about $7.5 million the library board has set

aside in recent years after voters rejected a 2016 referendum to fund a larger project that had been approved by the village of Brookfield after a contentious approval process.

The library board changed its strategy following that defeat and began planning for a smaller library that could be constructed without asking voters for a tax increase to pay for it. In addition to the savings, the library board has secured issuance of $3.6 million debt certificates from the First National Bank of Brookfield.

But the linchpin to the project was securing a $1 million donation for construction from local businesswoman Linda Sokol Francis. That donation assured the library board had the funds to move ahead with a final design.

Editor Bob Uphues Sports Editor James Kay Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Editorial Designers Mark Moroney Javier Govea Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designer Debbie Becker IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Revenue & Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Front Desk Maria Murzyn, Carolyn Henning Publisher Dan Haley Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Business Manager Joyce Minich

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

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The Landmark, April 15, 2020

North Riverside rolls out ‘unity’ campaign to connect village Mobile DJ, banners, window signs, ribbons, lights all part of effort

By BOB UPHUES Editor

For the past two Mondays – and on every Monday to come until this COVID-19 scare is over – it’s been dance night in North Riverside. Where? Well, everywhere courtesy of the North Riverside Parks and Rec’s Mobile DJ, Bryant Rouleau, who’s been blasting music while slowly snaking through the village from west to east.

The Mobile DJ is part of a larger “unity” campaign being rolled out this week by the village of North Riverside to help residents maintain a connection with their neighbors, first responders and other village officials during a time when large community gatherings have been scrapped.

“With everyone stuck at home, the village created a campaign to bring some joy to the town,” said Teresa Mrozik, the village’s recreation director.

The Mobile DJ made his first pass through the village on April 6, drawing residents out of their homes for a time to wave hello and move to the music. The plan is to start wind-

ing through town street by street, beginning at 5 p.m. each Monday at 19th Avenue and head east.

It takes about an hour to make it through each half of the village. The DJ-mobile drives slowly down each street to give people a chance to participate, but doesn’t linger in any one spot.

“We keep in motion to keep anyone from congregating,” Mrozik said.

The unity campaign really gets going this week, with the unveiling of three large banners – at the 14th Avenue Tot Spot, Village Commons and Veterans Park – emblazoned with the campaign’s slogan “Even apart, we’re better together” and the hashtag #NorthRiversideStrong.

That same slogan will also be printed on some 3,000 window signs that the village is giving out to residents. Late last week, Mrozik said the village was finalizing how best to distribute the signs. Most are likely to be given to the village’s roughly 100 block captains to pass out in their neighborhoods.

There will also be a box of window signs at the Village Commons building.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

MUSIC LOVERS: Residents of 11th Avenue in North Riverside wave to the Parks and Rec Mobile DJ as it cruises through the village on a chilly evening on April 13.

Parks and Rec will also be placing boxes containing ribbons of various colors outside the Village Commons entrances. Residents are being asked to tie the ribbons on trees throughout the village to create a rainbow effect throughout the town.

On Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m., residents are being asked to step outside their homes and applaud to show appreciation for first responders and essential employees – many of whom work in the village’s food service businesses, grocery stores and pharmacies who are required to be in close contact daily with

the public despite the danger of infection.

The Parks and Rec Department is also asking residents to “Light Up the Spirit of North Riverside” by pulling out lawn decorations and hanging strands of holiday lights on bushes and windows and then flipping the switch on Friday, April 17 to illuminate the village.

“We’re working on different community pieces with the rec department to give people something to look forward to and keep the community connected,” said Village Administrator Sue Scarpiniti.

North Riverside offers face masks to residents Handmade, fabric coverings available at no cost upon request

By BOB UPHUES Editor

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

COVERED: North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr., right, gives masks to residents of a home on 10th Avenue on April 10.

Last week, the village of North Riverside handed out 150 homemade facemasks to senior citizens and other people vulnerable to infection by the coronavirus. And, moving forward, the village plans to distribute another 1,500 to anyone in the village requesting one.

The masks, which come at no cost to residents, are being made by three local women who have been hired by the village for that task, said Village Administrator Sue Scarpiniti.

The village is paying each seamstress

$3 per mask, she said. Anyone wanting a mask is asked to call the police records division at 708-762-5431 and give your name, address and phone number. The masks are delivered by a public works employee, who hangs a bag containing the mask on homes’ front door handles.

“The masks are machine washable,” said Scarpiniti. “They’re not N-95 certified, but they will help protect individuals. We encourage seniors to have them for an extra layer of protection.”

The idea for creating a program to distribute the colorful, fabric masks came See MASKS on page 13

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

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For high schoolers, eLearning is a mixed bag Concern over grades, but it’s tough keeping motivated during shutdown

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Since high schools were closed a month ago throughout Illinois to combat the spread of the coronavirus, many students are now sleeping in often, not getting out of bed until nearly noon, as schools have shifted to remote learning.

But just because they don’t have to be at school by 8 a.m. anymore, that doesn’t mean that they don’t have any school work to do. In fact, students at Riverside-Brookfield High School say they still have lots to do, and some say that confusion over grading has made things more stressful for them. “eLearning is more difficult than I anticipated,” said RBHS senior Kenna Howorth. “I think in some of my classes we are going at the same pace as we would have in school. However, since we’re expected to do it on our own and not doing the assignments in class, it can be a bit overwhelming.”

Howorth is taking four Advanced Placement courses among her seven classes, which makes for a lot of work.

“It is a little bit difficult for me to complete all of my assignments in a day,” Howorth said.

Second semester seniors often succumb to the temptation to slack off when they are actually attending school, but attending school from home makes it even more dif-

ficult to maintain focus.

“For me it’s really difficult to keep up my motivation, because I’m a senior and have already gotten into the university of my choice,” Howorth said.

Teenagers can often be distracted by all sorts of temptations, including social media, video games or other distractions while stuck at home.

“I often get distracted and do something else for a few hours and completely forget about my assignment,” said RBHS sophomore Olivia O’Donnell.

Confusion over whether the remote school work will count for grades also caused some RBHS students to slack off when schools were closed last month.

The Illinois State Board of Education, concerned about fairness for students who don’t have access to the internet, has issued guidelines that no student’s grade should suffer because of work not completed during the remote learning period.

A few days after Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered schools closed in midMarch, RBHS Principal Hector Freytas and Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Kylie Lindquist sent out an email to students, staff, and parents stating that any assignments completed during “act of God” days can only help students’ grades, and that students would not be penal-

PROVIDED

MEET-UP: Members of the RBHS softball team get some face time with each other via the Zoom video conferencing app. ized for assignments not completed during this time.

But when Pritzker extended his initial two-week school shutdown to all of April, RBHS officials, per-

haps because of confusion about whether assignments needed to be done or a fear that students would not work hard if they would suffer no consequence for not turning in

work, came out with a more formal grading matrix.

Under the new matrix, RBHS students who complete less than 60 percent of remote/eLearning assignments and assessments in a class because of a lack of effort would receive a failing grade in that class for the fourth quarter and a grade of “incomplete” for the semester.

A student would have to make up the work in summer school or the “incomplete” would remain on the student’s transcript.

That was harsh wake call to some students who had to rush to try and catch up and make up missed assignments.

“For me it’s definitely driving me to do more work, not out of good work ethic but out of fear of going to summer school,” O’Donnell said.

If students earn a better grade during in the remote learning during the fourth quarter than they received attending school in person, they can improve their semester grade so long as they complete at least 60 percent of the required work during remote learning.

“I think this is a good opportunity for me to raise some grades,” O’Donnell said.

Freytas told the Landmark that the grading system is not meant to penalize students.

See HIGH SCHOOL on page 16

Riverside reports first fatal case of COVID-19 58-year-old man died April 11 at Loyola University Medical Center

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside has experienced its first fatal case of COVID-19, a 58-year-old man who lived in the 100 block of East Quincy Street, according to Fire Chief Matthew Buckley.

Paramedics responded to the residence at about 7 p.m. on April 10, and the man was pronounced dead at about 3 a.m. on April 11.

A test later revealed the man was positive for COVID-19.

He was the second local fatality from the disease, which has resulted in a global pandemic and has prompted a statewide stay-athome order in order to limit its spread.

While Gov. J.B. Pritzker over the weekend expressed hope that Illinois might be mak-

ing progress toward “bending the curve” of new and fatal cases, the disease has continued to spread locally at about the same rate.

Riverside saw its number of positive cases jump to 22 by Monday after reporting 14 just three days earlier. The infection rate in Riverside also increased to about 248 per 100,000 people.

Both Brookfield and North Riverside also saw upticks in both reported cases and rate of infection over the weekend. By Monday, the Cook County Department of Public Health was reporting 37 cases in Brookfield and 13 cases in North Riverside. The infection rate in both of those villages was listed as about 195 per 100,000 people.

Cook County reported that through April 13, there have been 5,753 confirmed subur-

ban cases, including 216 deaths from COVID-19. Of the total number of confirmed cases, about 25 percent have resulted in hospitalization, according to Cook County, with 5.3 percent of those cases requiring intensive care.

Similar to the advance of the disease seen a week ago, the number of cases locally almost doubled. On April 7, Brookfield had 21 confirmed cases, while Riverside and North Riverside each had 10.

Numbers of confirmed cases in the communities immediately surrounding the three villages have also increased at similar or faster rates. Berwyn and Cicero, which were reporting cases in the mid 50s on April 3, had 157 and 225 confirmed cases, respectively, on April 13.

Other nearby communities reporting positive cases included Lyons (17), LaGrange (31), LaGrange Park (16) and Countryside (8).

Berwyn’s infection rate of 277.11 per 100,000 people was also higher than all but two nearby communities.

The highest rates of infection were reported in Forest Park, where as of April 13 there were 43 confirmed cases, and Broadview, where there were 26. Forest Park’s infection rate is 303.52 per 100,000 people, while Broadview’s was 327.71.

Prior to news of the fatal COVID-19 case in Riverside, the only confirmed local fatality from COVID-19 was reported April 1, a 73-year-old North Riverside man who lived in a multifamily building in the 2900 block of Lincoln Avenue.

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The Landmark, April 15, 2020

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TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF THESE TAX SCAMS-PART I

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he tax filing deadline has come and gone, but tax scammers continue to work. These scams are often aggressive and happen throughout the year.

The schemes run the gamut from simple refund inflation scams to complex tax shelter deals. A common theme throughout all: scams put taxpayers at risk.

Here is a recap of the first three scams.

Phishing: Taxpayers should be alert to potential fake emails or websites looking to steal personal information. The IRS will never initiate contact with taxpayers by email about a bill or tax refund. Don’t click on one claiming to be from the IRS. Phone Scams: Phone calls from criminals impersonating IRS agents remain an ongoing threat to taxpayers. The IRS has seen a surge of these phone scams in recent years as con artists threaten taxpayers with things like police arrest, deportation, and license revocation.

Identity Theft: Taxpayers should be alert all year long to tactics aimed at stealing their identities. The IRS, working in conjunction with the Security Summit partnership of state tax agencies and the tax industry, has made major improvements in detecting tax return related identity theft during the last several years. The agency reminds taxpayers that they can help in preventing this crime.

The IRS continues to aggressively pursue criminals that file fraudulent tax returns using someone else’s Social Security number.

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Manuel Mercado, 28, of Melrose Park, faces felony stalking and aggravated battery charges, after reportedly following his estranged wife in his vehicle, cutting her off in the 2500 block of Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, and then ramming his Chevy Suburban into her GMC pickup truck on April 6 at about 6:15 p.m.

The incident capped three days of Mercado allegedly following his wife, according to police.

The first incident was on April 4 in Cicero, where Mercado reportedly boxed his wife’s car in near 26th Street and Austin Boulevard. He reportedly got out of his SUV and attempted to talk to her before getting back inside his vehicle and ramming it into his wife’s pickup truck, twice. He left the scene before police arrived on that occasion, police said.

On April 5, Mercado’s wife called Berwyn police to report that her husband was circling her home.

Then, on April 6, Mercado had been driving around looking for his wife when he spotted her southbound on Harlem Avenue. He allegedly followed her to the North Riverside Park Mall, where his wife attempted to lose him by driving her pickup into a parking structure where other pickup trucks are stored for a local car dealer.

She waited there for about 10 minutes before leaving the garage, but her husband spotted her again and began following her on 26th Street to Desplaines Avenue. She had driven to that area, because she knew the North Riverside Police Department was located nearby.

Mercado’s Chevy Suburban allegedly cut off his wife’s truck on Desplaines Avenue and he reportedly got out and began slamming his fists on the driver’s side window of his wife’s pickup truck. After that he reportedly got back into the Suburban and reversed it into the pickup truck so hard that the truck’s driver’s side airbags deployed.

Police said a witness corroborated the events that played out on Desplaines Avenue, though Mercado reportedly denied backing his vehicle into his wife’s. Police took Mercado into custody at the scene.

Overdose victim revived A North Riverside police officer who responded to a disturbance call at 7-Eleven, 2600 Harlem Ave. in Riverside on April 12 at about 11:25 a.m. revived a 24-year-old man who had apparently overdosed on heroin in the parking lot.

Riverside police arriving on scene reported observing the victim lying on the parking lot pavement and the North Riverside officer administering a dose of opioid antidote that police are equipped with.

After about 30 seconds, the man revived and told police that he’d snorted a bag of heroin prior to police arriving. He was taken to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn for additional treatment.

Gambling parlor burglary North Riverside police responded to Anna’s Gaming Café at the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, on the morning of April 11 after a tenant of the mall observed damage to the glass entrance door and called police.

Police entered the gambling parlor, which has been closed for the past couple of weeks due to the statewide COVID-19 pandemic, and noticed that the ATM inside the business had been pried open. The door to the ATM was left open and an empty coin cartridge was on the floor.

The café’s business manager told police that all of the money had been removed from the machine in March.

Running car stolen A resident of the 4100 block of DuBois Boulevard, Brookfield, called police on April 13 at 7:20 a.m. to report that someone had stolen her blue 2010 Volkswagen Routan, which had been left running and unlocked in the driveway.

Break-in suspect gets a break A 43-year-old Chicago man suspected of breaking into a North Riverside auto repair shop and ransacking three vehicles in the shop’s outdoor parking area escaped being charged after the victims declined to prosecute the case.

Police responded to Auto Tek, 8659 Cermak Road, at about 3:45 a.m. on April 10 after being notified of an activated burglar alarm at the business. Officers reported that a glass window on the garage door was broken, but no one was inside the building.

Surveillance video obtained quickly showed a man wearing a black jacket, a small backpack and stethoscope around his neck hit and break the window. He then entered the lobby but quickly left, running west.

Exterior cameras also captured video of the same man entering three vehicles in the lot.

All had their glove boxes ransacked. A short time later, police located the suspect inside the 7-Eleven at Cermak Road and 17th Avenue. He reportedly possessed items from one of the vehicles, including an insurance card belonging to the vehicle’s owner.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, April 6-13, 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 15, 2020

Driver critically injured after truck plunges into river Pickup went headfirst into Des Plaines after leaving Riverside Road at Olmsted

brought to you by

By BOB UPHUES Editor

A 24-year-old Countryside man who crashed his pickup truck into the Des Plaines River near the intersection of Riverside and Olmsted roads in Riverside on April 9 remained hospitalized in critical condition as of Tuesday morning, according to Riverside Fire Chief Matthew Buckley.

Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said detectives are still trying to obtain more video of the truck in the moments just before the crash, but the investigation thus far shows that at about 6:35 p.m. on April 9, the 2003 Chevy pickup truck was headed westbound on Riverside Road at Olmsted Road when it left the roadway and apparently struck a tree before plunging over the river embankment headfirst into the water.

Photos show that the truck tumbled into the river and landed on the driver’s side, completely submerging the driver. The fire department’s Buckley said he and three other firefighters donned cold-water rescue gear and waded, tethered to the shore, into the water, which was about 6 feet deep.

They were able to remove the driver, who was unresponsive and without a pulse, from the exposed passenger side of the truck.

Once on shore, Riverside and Lyons paramedics were able to get the driver’s heart beating again. He was taken to the emergency room and was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, according to Weitzel.

Buckley said the driver was later transferred to Loyola University Medical Center, where he remains critical and under intensive care.

On April 10, Riverside police revealed that detectives had obtained video of the incident from a doorbell camera mounted on the front of a Riverside Road home. The video shows

During COVID-19, Stepping Up As An Essential Business

COURTESY OF THE RIVERSIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT

A 2003 Chevy pickup that left the roadway at Riverside and Olmsted roads in Riverside on April 9 landed on its driver’s side in the Des Plaines River. The driver is in critical condition at Loyola University Medical Center. the truck speeding westbound on Riverside Road before swerving onto the front lawn of a home on the north side of the street and striking a parkway tree before careening south into the park and over the riverbank.

Detectives have also learned that shortly prior to the crash into the river, the same truck was reported driving erratically on Ogden Avenue.

A witness told police he was eastbound on Ogden Avenue, waiting at a red light at Pershing Road, when he saw the driver of a white pickup screaming while waiting for the light to change.

When the light turned green, the witness told police, the driver accelerated quickly, squealing the truck’s tires before reaching an estimated 70 mph. The truck then tried to turn left onto Lionel Road, but it skidded

sideways and knocked over a sign before heading south on Powell Avenue toward Pershing Road.

The witness reportedly followed the pickup truck and took a photo of it while the truck was pulled over to the curb at Powell and Pershing. Police say it was the same truck later found in the river.

The pickup truck appears to have been the only vehicle involved in the incident, and the driver appears to be the only person who was inside the truck. First responders searched the area near the pickup truck to see if there were any other victims, but found no one.

The WESTAF task force crash reconstruction unit was called in to help with the investigation. Police were on the scene until just after 10 p.m. at the site of crash.

Cops: North Riverside man stole car, groped woman Charged in three separate incidents within 24 hours

By BOB UPHUES Editor

ANTHONY POGVARA SANDOVAL

A 20-year-old North Riverside man is being held without bond at Cook County Jail after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a local car dealer on the morning of April 8 and, later that same day, groping the buttocks of an employee at CVS, 7200 Cermak Road.

But, Anthony J. Pogvara-Sandoval’s troubled day began the night before. North Riverside police responded to the 2200 block of Burr Oak Avenue on April 7 at about 7:20 p.m. and arrested Pogvara-Sandoval, after a

woman called to report that he had been on their property and, when told to leave, remained across the street from their house, verbally harassing them.

Police charged Pogvara-Sandoval with criminal trespass. According to police, he was released from custody on April 8 at about 5:10 a.m. and given a lift to the vicinity of Oak Park Avenue and 26th Street in Berwyn.

Just after 6 a.m., however, police were called to Castle Buick, 7400 Cermak Road, to investigate a vehicle theft that had just taken place.

See CAR THEFT on page 8

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The Landmark, April 15, 2020

County commissioner joins push for COVID-19 reforms Moratorium on evictions, 20 days paid emergency leave, other reforms comprise pandemic response

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities increase in Illinois, the state’s entrenched racial divide has been brought into stark relief.

In Illinois, African Americans are roughly 14 percent of the population, but they comprise around 28 percent confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 and account for around 43 percent of confirmed COVID-19-related deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

First District Cook County Commissioner Brandon Johnson, whose district includes a portion of North Riverside, recently joined a group of activists and elected officials who are pressuring local and state officials

The proposals, according to a to support measures that they memo released by the Right to say are less radical now that the Recovery coalition in March, incountry faces a pandemic and a clude 20 days of paid emergency recession. leave for all workers who need “It’s very clear that this panit; a “moratorium on evictions, demic has exposed what is wrong foreclosures, rent and mortgage with our society,” Johnson said. collections, housing for home“Many of the families that are less and lease extensions for suffering in this pandemic have tenants, if needed”; and weekly been living in crisis mode for payments of $750 “to all famigenerations.”

BRANDON JOHNSON Johnson said the package lies with school children and all of reforms, collectively called workers facing furloughs, layoff Right to Recovery legislation, is a series of and reduction in hours” among other meaprogressive proposals that have been on the sures. table at various levels of government for The proposals also include the release of years, but that have not gotten much trac- inmates in Cook County Jail who are locked tion. The pandemic, however, has illustrated up on cash bonds and the immediate release their importance. of individuals who are 50 and older, or who

are at high-risk for contracting COVID-19.

“It’s interesting that there’s such a harsh critique over finding necessary resources to invest in communities that have been disinvested in for generations and decades,” Johnson said. “What we see is the idea of government being socially responsible is not as far-fetched an idea as people want to make it out to be.

“The last depression in this country that people can refer to, outside of 2008 -- the Great Depression -- had 30 percent unemployment among white men. Our country called that a national crisis. Nobody pulled themselves up by their bootstraps. The government invested in them.”

Read a full list of Right to Recovery legislation and watch the coalition’s press conferences at actionnetwork.org/campaigns/ right-to-recovery.

Beach Avenue BBQ opens its doors – for takeout Final inspections cleared, the smoke commences

By BOB UPHUES Editor

This wasn’t exactly the way Beach Avenue BBQ owners Christopher Chinn and Juan Silva imagined opening their new restaurant at 3453 Grand Blvd. in Brookfield, at Eight Corners.

But, the fact remains: they are officially open.

On April 10, the Cook County Health Department gave its green light and with a business license from the village already in hand, the business opened its doors for Beach Avenue BBQ’s pre-planned Saturday pop-up.

It was the first time they were allowed to

See what all the buzz is about.

use the restaurant space for business and from here on out they’ll be able to work out of their commercial kitchen in the storefront space facing the Veterans Memorial Circle.

“Even if this [COVID-19 restaurant dining room shutdown] wasn’t happening, we had still planned on doing a slow rollout,” Chinn said. “This is just a bit different.”

The ability to work out of the restaurant likely will mean that the now twice-weekly pop-ups will add another day to the rotation.

Chinn said they may also try to roll out graband-go lunch service.

The parking arrangement near Eight Corners makes a pickup-only business a little tougher to manage, but Chinn said the eatery will simply have to “see how it goes and work out the kinks.”

“We just have to deal with it and adapt to what’s happening,” he said.

Courtesy of Claudia Valadez Photography, claudia4shots.com

CAR THEFT from page 7

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An employee told police she was sitting in her office when an unknown man walked past. She asked a co-worker if anyone was supposed to be picking up parts, and was told no.

The man then entered a white GMC Arcadia with dealer plates and drove away.

Surveillance video from the dealer showed the unknown man to be Pogvara-Sandoval, according to police.

Later that day police learned that Pogvara-Sandoval had driven the vehicle to another car dealership in Villa Park and

dropped it off there and left before police arrived.

He reportedly told police he drove it to the Villa Park dealership because he used to work there. Pogvara-Sandoval then reportedly walked back to North Riverside and entered the CVS at about 7:55 p.m.

Pogvara-Sandoval reportedly asked an employee where the restrooms were. A few minutes later, Pogvara-Sandoval allegedly approached another female employee from behind and grabbed her buttocks before walking away and out of the store.

Police located him inside Jewel-Osco, 7201 24th St., a short time later and took him into custody. He was charged with burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle and battery.

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

Boy struck by train continues to improve

9

Since I became a licensed Realtor in 1982, learned from mentors and found success in the real estate business throughout the years, it’s been my philosophy that real estate is a “people business”; houses are the product, but it is the people who are the business.

If I can be helpful to any people during this unprecedented health situation, either personally or professionally, please let me help!

Maxx Kusper transferring to rehab hospital to continue recovery

I love people!

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Maxx Kusper, the 11-year-old Brookfield boy critically injured when he was struck by an Amtrak train at the Prairie Avenue crossing, has made remarkable progress in the past week and will be transferred to a rehab hospital in Chicago to continue his recovery.

Maxx, who was in a medically induced coma while recovering from surgery after the March 28 accident, was removed from a ventilator and sedation early last week. Since that time, Maxx has sat up, spoken and interacted with his parents.

“He has slowly regained consciousness and is now entering the process of relearning many things,” said Maxx’s mother, Marcey Raymond Kusper, in an email to the Landmark on Monday. “His doctors are amazed at his progress.”

According to Kusper, Maxx will spend the next four to six weeks at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, followed by continued outpatient therapy.

Within six months, Maxx will undergo another round of surgery to replace a portion of his skull, which was surgically removed after the accident to relieve pressure on his brain.

Kusper said Maxx had sustained multiple injuries, including a fractured skull, broken collar bones, a broken pelvis and damage to one of his knees.

She said that on the afternoon of March 28, bored with quarantine at home, Maxx decided to go out for a walk.

“Word travels fast in town, and when I heard there was an accident, I just had a feeling,” Kusper said. “He had left just 10 minutes before to go for a walk. … I started calling his phone, but he wasn’t answering.

“His twin sister was about to walk out the door to look for him when a policeman answered his phone. ‘There’s been an accident.

What’s your son’s name?’ Right away I knew.”

Kusper said that while Maxx is rehabilitating at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, one parent will have to remain at the hospital with him due to COVID-19 fears. Since the accident more than two weeks ago, Kusper and her husband, Don, have been at Loyola University Medical Center for all but a few hours every day.

When she is able to return home to care for her other children, Kusper said the sight of blue ribbons and signs is overwhelming.

“I cannot describe the feeling of seeing the town blanketed in Blue and seeing my boy … everywhere,” Kusper said. “It means the world to us, but more importantly has helped Maxx’s brothers and sister feel the support

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Maxx Kusper and love they so desperately need.”

Brookfield, said Kusper, “has helped our family through the hardest time in our lives.”

Shows of support include the boys in Maxx’s fifth-grade classroom at Hollywood School shaving their heads.

“They all made a video so I could show him these as he comes out of the coma and regains communication,” Kusper said.

Maggie Hiestand, a seventh-grader at Hauser Junior High, made a video featuring all of Maxx’s classmates, while other videos have come from unexpected sources. Former Major League Baseball player Curtis Granderson, a Chicago native, passed along a video giving Maxx his best wishes.

Dan McGuinness, guitar player for the band Creedence Clearwater Revisited, sent a video of him performing “Centerfield,” Maxx’s favorite song, while local musician Matt Scharpf hosted a Facebook Live #MaxxStrong concert on April 5.

On April 18 at 8 p.m., Dave Wzorek is planning a Facebook Live #MaxxStrong concert of his own.

Meanwhile, an online fundraiser (gofundme.com/f/48tt2-maxx-strong) created soon after the accident had raised a little more than $54,000 as of April 13. Donations are still being accepted.

“Because the quarantine prevented our family from getting the support and hugs we so desperately needed, Brookfield stepped up to show us this love and support in every other way,” Kusper said.

“I have always loved Brookfield; this is why.”

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The Landmark, April 15, 2020

BIG WEEK

April 15-22

L Lucky Plush Virtual DDance Lab RRiverside-based dance company comp Lucky Plush Productions Product is offering a Dance Lab in collaboration Virtual Dan University of Chicago’s dance with the Univer program, where h LLucky k PPlush founder Julia Rhoads is director of dance.

The lab has more than 25 weekly online classes to keep people moving while staying put at home.

Classes include all styles of dance, yoga, improvisation, kids’ classes, physical theater, a wake-up dance jam and more.

Classes are free to students everywhere. There’s a suggested contribution of $5 to $15 for others to help pay artists and teachers.

Visit luckyplush.com/virtual-classes for more information.

Blast off to Mars Did you know there are five U.S. spacecraft either orbiting or on the surface of Mars? You can learn what we’ve discovered about the red planet from Michelle Nichols, director of public observing at Adler Planetarium, during a Zoom teleconference courtesy of Riverside Public Library on Wednesday, April 22 from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The presentation will cover past, present and future Martian exploration and is appropriate for adults and children 10 and up.

Visit riversidelibrary.org/calendar.html to reserve a spot and get login info.

Get outside and groove

Start your week off on a funky note during North Riverside Park and Rec’s Mobile DJ Mondays, starting every Monday at 5 p.m. on the west end of the village and slowly moving east down every street.

DJ Bryant will bring the party past your front porch so you can shake off that cabin fever, get some fresh air and wave hello to your neighbors. Traversing the entire village takes about two hours. The DJ-Mobile will not be stopping in order to

Share your art with RAC

maintain social distancing. Watch the North Riverside’s Rec Department’s Facebook page at facebook.com/NRRecreation for updates on the DJ’s location.

And more North Riverside Public Library is offering the following virtual programs through Facebook Live, conference calls and the teleconferencing app Zoom.

Programs include Meditation and Stretching every other Monday, beginning April 20 at 6:30 p.m. Call 800-747-5150, Code 1453322; Talented Tuesdays every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. via Facebook Live on North Riverside Public Library’s Facebook page; Whatcha Readin’ and Watchin’ Wednesday every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. via Zoom.; Game Night Fridays every Friday at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

You’ll need to be prepared to download an app. RSVP ■

Riverside Arts Center wants to see the creative work you’re making while staying safe at home and share the inspiration.

Post pictures and/or video of your work on Instagram and/or Facebook, tag @riversideartscenter and use the hashtag #RACartduringcorona to inspire others during this difficult time.

If you aren’t on social media, send your pictures to info@ riversideartscenter.com and the RAC will post them for you. The Riverside Arts Center is also thinking of ways it might share all of the local creativity in an upcoming show when we can all gather again.

to bodenl@northriversidelibrary.org for all Zoom meeting access info.

Riverside Arts Center offers Boredom Buster Boxes to give the kids some hands-on fun. Each box contains 6 pounds of clay, a scoring tool, a sponge, six underglaze colors, a slip, a paintbrush and project and instruction sheets.

Order online and RAC will deliver the boxes to your front porch (no contact). RAC delivers to Riverside, North Riverside, Lyons, Brookfield, Berwyn, LaGrange, Oak Park, Austin and Belmont Cragin. Boxes are $36 members/$40 non-members. Order at riversideartscenter.com/ boredom-buster-boxes ■

If you hold a Riverside Public Library card, you can delve into your family tree using Ancestry.com for free during the month of April. Get started at riversidelibrary.org/genealogy. The library also offers virtual programs, including Eco-Friendly Clear the Clutter! on Zoom on April 16 at 7 p.m. For kids in preschool and kindergarten, there’s Storytime Yoga with Blissful Owl on Zoom at 1 p.m. on April 21.

Visit riversidelibrary.org/calendar.html to register and get access info.

Lucky Plush Productions, the contemporary dance ensemble founded and directed by Riverside resident Julia Rhoads, invites you to celebrate its 20th anniversary during a virtual party planned ■

■

Virtual meet-up for writers

The North Riverside Public Library Writers Group will meet digitally on Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. via the teleconference app Zoom. Join in the discussion with other supportive writers.

Email bodenl@northriversidelibrary.org for information on how to access the meeting. for May 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets begin at $25 and can be purchased at luckyplush.com/calendar/2020/3/8/ plucky-lush-20. A link to the party will be sent by email prior to the event.

CALENDAR EVENTS ■ If you would like your event to be featured here,

please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published.

We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights.

Email calendar@wjinc.com.

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

eLEARNING

Monitoring engagement from page 1 have made an abrupt shift to remote learning while understanding that, especially in the primary grades, nothing can make up for the physical presence of a teacher.

“Remote learning can’t take the place of in-person instruction at any point,” said Angela Dolezal, the director of teaching and learning for Riverside Elementary School District 96. “We can only do our best work and put forth our best effort to ensure our students are having this continuity of learning.”

District 96 was the best equipped of all area elementary school district to make the switch to online learning. All fifththrough eighth-graders in District 96 have had school provided Chromebooks all year.

When school shut down in March, third- and fourth-graders were given Chromebooks.

Last week families of first- and secondgraders in District 96 went to their schools to pick up iPads. Kindergarten students might be next.

“We are currently working on determining the need for kindergarten iPads,” Dolezal said. “We sent an email out to families who needed a device for home for their kindergarteners to continue remote learning and we’re working with that list.”

Other local elementary schools are trying to distribute as many computers and devices as they can to their students. BrookfieldLaGrange Park District 95 has distributed about 80 Chromebooks and also handed out 10 hotspots to families who lack internet access. Lyons-Brookfield School District 103 and Komarek School in North Riverside are also handing out Chromebooks.

Teachers are using a variety of techniques, including recorded videos, video conferences, reading to students, videos

showing students how to do math problems and worksheets -- lots of worksheets -- to keep students engaged and help them learn.

Engagement is what the districts are looking for. Teachers are providing feedback, but they’re not handing out formal grades.

“We keep track of assignments that students are completing,” said Jen Kovar who teaches English language arts at L.J. Hauser Junior High School in Riverside. “We’re not taking anything for grades, but we’re keeping track of work completion.”

Grades are not a priority, especially since the Illinois State Board of Education has decreed that remote learning work should not negatively affect a student’s grade.

“We are actually still working out the details of grading,” Dolezal said. “Currently the administrative team is working with teachers to figure what method will best meet our students’ needs for feedback, and our staff and parents’ need for communication on how the students are doing on the work that they are completing at home.”

Most districts are not requiring daily attendance for remote learning, but they are monitoring attendance and engagement, mostly out of a concern for the well-being of students.

“When we notice students aren’t engaged in daily activities, then we do mark that ‘non-engagement,’ so that we’re documenting that. And then the principals work with the social workers and school psychologists to reach out to those families to see if there is anything that they need, any type of resources, both academic but also social-emotional,” Dolezal said.

District 95 Superintendent Mark Kuzniewski that his district is trying keep assignments reasonable and moderate.

“We’ve built a model of instruction that is flexible for parents and, hopefully, manageable,” Kuzniewski said. “Those have been our two key words in designing this.

We’re not looking to overwhelm parents who are trying to work from home while

PROVIDED

ONE ROOM SCHOOL: Nick Corradino, left, and his brother Jimmy, both fifth-graders at Brook Park School in LaGrange Park, hit the laptops during Phase II of eLearning while schools are closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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PROVIDED

SCREEN TIME: Riverside second-grader Katie Fournier attends class virtually via her laptop computer. also trying to teach and help, especially the younger kids, with work.”

Central School second-grader Katie Fournier, of Riverside, says that she is enjoying remote learning.

“I think it’s actually nice because you can focus on your work better because there aren’t as many distractions as there is at school sometimes,” Fournier said.

“But I also miss going to school and seeing my friends.”

Teachers say that they miss their students. Every school day Molly Knott, a fourth-grade teacher at Congress Park School in Brookfield, holds a virtual class meeting in the afternoon via Zoom, the video conferencing app.

She estimates that about half her students attend the virtual meeting on an average day. LaGrange-Brookfield District 102 has reserved Mondays for teacher planning, but teachers are interacting with their classes Tuesday through Friday.

Knott, like most teachers, is especially concerned about the emotional well-being of her students who are isolated at home.

“I am so concerned about them emotionally and how they are handling the loss of school and everything they know and were used to,” Knott said. “The academic work does not matter to me nearly as much as the emotional health and the physical health.”

Knott says that she tries to provide positive feedback as she looks at the work her fourth-graders turn in. She says it is hard for her to be in touch with her students only through a screen.

“I really miss seeing and understanding the growth that they’ve made or what their struggles are,” Knott said. “It’s really difficult to see that now.”

Kovar says that she also misses her sixthgraders at Hauser, and she checks in with them regularly through video meetings.

“My first concern is just staying connect-

ed with them, so we do a little check in and see how everybody’s doing,” Kovar said.

“Like a typical middle schoolers, they’re tired and they’re bored and they miss their friends.”

She says most of them are turning in assigned work.

“I would say most of them are not slacking off,” Kovar said. “They have learned to be conscientious students just through their education years. Most of them are stepping up to the plate. But middle school students are social beings. They’re so desperately missing the connection with each other, and that’s what they thrive on when they’re at school.”

Kovar is working on having her students read a novel together and is working to organize a voluntary book exchange where students can share favorite books with their classmates.

“We’re being super, super cautious with social distancing and keeping the books clean,” Kovar said.

Most classes are not covering as much material as they would if students and teachers were back inside their school buildings but, given the situation, teachers and administrators are not troubled by that.

“We can’t do as much as we normally would,” Kovar said. “We’re only doing a smaller portion of work because every kid’s home situation is so different.”

Administrators say that they don’t know if students will return to their physical classrooms before the school year ends in June.

“We will be pleasantly surprised if the governor on April 30, or shortly before, decides that schools can open again in May,” Dolezal said. “But, right now, we plan with the thought in mind that this is going to go through at least the end of May if not to the summer.”

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The Landmark, April 15, 2020

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Pandemic shutdown delays quirky township event Annual meeting, which has its roots in area’s rural past, postponed by governor

By BOB UPHUES

and setting the date for the following year’s meeting.

There also is room for discussion of new An executive order issued on April 7 by business, and in Riverside Township that’s Gov. J.B. Pritzker as part of the state’s on- where it can get interesting. going response to the COVID-19 pandemic Anyone who does a little organizing bewill delay one of its the oldest democratic forehand can make sure enough electors gatherings – the annual meeting of town- show up to push and approve a favored ship electors. cause, which in Riverside Township often By law, every township in the state was takes the form of an advisory referendum required to hold its 2020 annual meeting on the next ballot. no earlier than 6 p.m. on either April 14 or “It’s easier to get through a small petition April 21. to put something on the agenda and vote to Riverside Township was slated to hold get something on the ballot,” said Wilt. that meeting on April 14 at Of course, the results of 6:01 p.m. But, with the state’s such referenda are not bindstay-at-home order and a ban ing and in Riverside Townon gatherings of more than ship’s case cross municipal 10 people in place through at boundaries, so they’re not least the end of the month, necessarily good indications that exercise in democracy of village-wide interest. will have to wait.

In the past, the referenda Riverside Township Suplaced on the ballot through pervisor Vera Wilt said she the township annual meeting wasn’t sure when the annual have been larger-than-local meeting would take place. political questions, sometimes VERA WILT “The suspension will last on the political fringes. In Riverside Township supervisor as long as the general order,” 2006, township electors voted Wilt said. “We know it won’t to place a question on the balhappen before May 1, and we lot asking for the immediate all suspect it’s going to last withdrawal of U.S. troops from longer than that.”

Iraq. Sixty-two percent of those who voted The annual meeting of the township’s that November favored the troop withdrawal. electors – defined in the Illinois TownIn 2008, meanwhile, electors delivered two ship Code as any registered voter within referendum questions. One asked whether the township – is typically not a very well Riverside Township voters favored seceding attended or long affair. In Riverside Town- from Cook County (they didn’t) and the other ship, it’s typically held immediately before asked whether township voters favored phasa regularly scheduled township board of ing out nuclear power in Illinois (they did).

More recently, in 2018, there was a motrustees meeting.

According to Wilt, about 15 to 20 people tion and a second to get a climate change show up for the annual event, and they tend referendum on the ballot. The resolution to be “regulars” – elected and retired offi- was defeated by a 14-8 margin after some cials, relatives, curious neighbors. Because back and forth over illegible signatures it’s a township meeting and not municipal, and petition information that didn’t match electors in Riverside Township might come voting rolls. The minutes also noted there from parts of Riverside, North Riverside, was a typo in the resolution, which misstated the date as 2016.

Brookfield and even Riverside Lawn.

Wilt said the township annual meeting is Before municipal boundaries were drawn and incorporated – Riverside became a vil- more important for larger townships. The lage in 1875, Brookfield in 1893 and North purchase or sale of land by a township, for Riverside not until 1923 – the annual town- example, can only be approved at an annual ship meeting was a more important venue meeting. for deciding local matters.

Riverside Township doesn’t own any land “It’s the original and truly only direct de- – not even the land on which the township mocracy we still have in township govern- hall stands. The land is owned by the village ment,” said Wilt. of Riverside.

The agenda is brief, consisting of the elecThe township, on the other hand, does tion of a meeting moderator (who takes an own a bridge. So if anyone would like to buy oath of office), approval of the minutes from the Swinging Bridge, the township meeting the last year’s meeting, township reports would be the place to make your offer.

Editor

“It’s the original and truly only direct democracy we still have in township government.”

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

FINANCE

Impact in June from page 1 other revenue streams, like sales taxes or the tax the village collects on the sale of food and drink in restaurants and bars or its cut of revenue from the state tax on video gambling.

Cooper said he estimates that Brookfield, if the stay-at-home order remains in effect, will begin losing about $110,000 monthly in revenue due to lower sales tax revenue, state income taxes, video gambling revenue and other potentially lost revenues.

“It gives us a rough idea of where the revenue impacts are going to be if this keeps going,” Cooper said.

For a municipality like North Riverside, where property taxes represent just a fraction of total operating revenues – about 3 percent – a prolonged shutdown that sucks away sales taxes and video gambling revenues and delays red-light camera fine collection could make a serious dent.

Asked to estimate what that impact might be, North Riverside Administrator Sue Scarpiniti said she hadn’t yet completed that analysis, but that she’d received information from the state to help her sort out what the impact would be on sales taxes from, for example, an extended closure of the North Riverside Park Mall.

Offsetting that lost sales tax revenue, however, have been what appear to be record sales figures since mid-March at Costco and the village’s two grocery stores, Jewel-Osco and Aldi.

Michael’s remains open as well, with demand remaining high for fabric and elastic for making face masks.

And because those are large corporations, Scarpiniti said she expects no delay in getting that sales tax revenue, even though the governor has extended the time

MASKS

Village making 1,500 from page 4 together quickly after North Riverside Village Clerk Kathy Ranieri shared a Facebook post from resident Jeanette DeBartolo, who was embarking on an effort to sew face masks for healthcare workers.

DeBartolo was soliciting donations for the project, and Ranieri thought it was a perfect request to share with the followers of a new Facebook page -- North Riverside

13

businesses have to report sales tax infor- about $1.6 million.

While the 2009 recession forced all mumation to the state.

“It’s hard to estimate what the impact nicipalities to tighten belts and reduce will be on our community because Costco staff, how this pandemic is affecting muis still open,” Scarpiniti said. “It’s helping nicipalities will vary widely based on to mitigate some of the lost revenue.” where each town draws its funding.

There has been some talk of Cook County In a place like Riverside, which is dependelaying the mailing of second installment dent largely on local property taxes and property tax bills, which has concerned fees, fines and charges for local services, municipal leaders. While they support al- the impact will look a lot different than it lowing taxpayers more time will in North Riverside. to pay those bills, delaying “This is going to be very the entire process could redifferent than 2009,” Frances ally put a financial strain on said. “Everybody is taking village governments. measures to minimize the “We don’t support delayimpact on services to resiing the second installment, dents.” but we do support giving Riverside furloughed more time to pay,” said Scarcrossing guards through piniti. “There are a lot of April and their return will people and businesses who only happen if school rewill continue to pay, because sumes. The village may end they’ve been planning for it up deciding not to hire any and have set it aside.” seasonal public works emWith property taxes repployees for the summer and resenting about 49 percent will not hire any in April, of its annual operating revsaid Frances.

JESSICA FRANCES enues, Riverside’s financial Part-time parks and rec Riverside village manager position a month into the employees have seen their COVID-19 pandemic rehours reduced for the month sponse is similar to Brookof April, and part-time/ field’s. seasonal staff who provide Riverside got its expected summer support for various first installment of about departments have been elim$4.8 million in property taxinated. es in February and March, The village ought to see but Village Manager Jessica some savings through modiFrances said she and other officials are fied police scheduling, which includes a running various projections regarding the detective being assigned to the patrol divipandemics impact on village finances if a sion. With courts closed, the village is also stay-at-home order stretches into the sum- saving some money it normally sees going mer months. toward police overtime.

One area where Brookfield differs from “Additional reductions will be reviewed Riverside is with respect to sales taxes. and implemented over the next three Where sales taxes represent less than 3 months,” Frances said. percent of Riverside revenues – about In Brookfield and North Riverside, cost$270,000 -- in Brookfield sales taxes are al- saving measures have included delaying most 9 percent of total operating revenues, some large capital expenditures in order

to keep as much cash on hand as possible.

Brookfield is holding off as long as it can on grant-funded improvements it’s planning for Candy Cane Park to keep the village’s $350,000 match available for other purposes if it comes to that.

Other projects on hold for now include replacing the roof at the Department of Public Works headquarters and pavement striping.

Some part-time employees, like crossing guards and preschool staff have been furloughed, since school’s not in session.

A decision will have to be made soon on whether or not to move ahead with the Recreation Department’s summer day camp program, which provides a good chunk of revenue and also requires hiring a number of seasonal employees.

North Riverside, meanwhile, is delaying this year’s phase of the Cermak Road water main installation, scheduled street resurfacing and the demolition of the recently acquired Methodist church.

“Those are on hold until we see what kind of financial impact this has,” Scarpiniti said.

Scarpiniti said only essential operating expenditures are being approved, and department heads are being asked to be frugal with their 2020-21 budget requests.

The new fiscal year started April 1, and the pandemic has forced a rethink of this year’s budget projections.

The village board hopes to be able to hold budget workshops in June. By law, the village must pass its appropriations ordinance by the end of July, although Scarpiniti said leaders of small communities around the state whose fiscal years begin mid-year have asked the governor to extend that deadline.

On the bright side, Scarpiniti said, the recently completed fiscal year was a good one for North Riverside.

“We finished with surpluses in all of our funds, so we’ve yet to feel an effect for 2020,” she said.

Galvan began a face mask-making campaign from her home, charging $3 per mask and matching any order mask for masks.

That meant DeBartolo’s purchase of 400 masks resulted in a total of 800, which are being shipped directly to Chicago area hospitals this week. In all, Galvan said she’s made more than 2,800 masks and has distributed them throughout the country.

“It’s just people working together to help others,” said DeBartolo. “I don’t think Liz comprehends the impact she’s making on people. She buys all the supplies and makes the masks by hand by herself. This is all 100-percent donated. None of the hospitals are being charged.”

Ranieri approached DeBartolo about the possibility of getting masks as a seed inventory for a village program for seniors, and through DeBartolo was able to secure 50.

Ranieri then enlisted an experienced local seamstress, Renee Zakosek, to begin producing more masks for the village – based on a pattern similar to the one used by Galvan – at $3 each.

With hours, she had made 100. The village has since enlisted two more women, Patricia Gargano and Audrey Sprague, to make masks. The only hold up has been a scarcity of elastic.

“To me, this is money well-spent,” Ranieri said.

“Everybody is taking measures to minimize the impact on services to residents.”

Neighbors Helping Neighbors – created

by Ranieri, with help from Trustee Terri Sarro and her friend Laurie Berscheid, on March 19, just as the statewide stay-athome order was set to go onto effect and panic buying was emptying grocery store shelves.

Within four hours of DeBartolo’s fundraising request, she’d raised $1,200 from about 40 people, many from North Riverside and Riverside, enough to make 400 masks.

The masks themselves were to be made by a New Mexico woman named Liz Galvan, who DeBartolo got to know through DeBartolo’s online boutique.

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

14

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

THE LANDMARK VIEW

The long haul

W

hile all of our personal lives have been upended as the state of Illinois and the nation have come to grips with the rapid spread COVID-19 pandemic, municipal services continue to be delivered, albeit under some odd circumstances – like virtual recreation programs, certain police shifts operating out of a Brookfield middle school and almost all village business being handled over the phone or through email.

Village boards continue to meet virtually – Brookfield and North Riverside met again Monday night and Riverside is slated to meet for the first time since last month on Thursday – and get business done.

While the COVID-19 shutdown made almost an immediate impact on personal financial situations, its impact at the municipal level has yet to be felt in any significant way.

But, that’s going to change by the time we hit summer if the stay-at-home order remains in place.

While officials in Riverside and North Riverside did not share any firm financial projections for the summer months with respect to impact on revenues, Brookfield officials have been taking a close look at what any prolonged shutdown might mean, and the picture isn’t pretty.

All three villages are in somewhat different situation with respect to revenue sources, so it’s hard to draw any general conclusion about how each would fare during a prolonged shutdown.

Riverside is the least dependent on things like sales taxes, and more dependent on property tax revenue, which appears to be the most stable revenue source for the time being.

While North Riverside depends heavily on sales taxes and lost a large sales tax producer when the North Riverside Park Mall shut down, other sales tax producers in the village – Costco, Jewel, Aldi, CVS -- saw their sales go through the roof in March and early April.

Brookfield’s revenue streams are more diverse. If the shutdown lasts into the summer, Brookfield will lose sales tax revenue from its largest producer, Brookfield Zoo. The village estimates the total sales tax hit monthly would be about $27,000.

If the state of Illinois begins slowing down its monthly installment of income taxes it shares with municipalities, that could amount to another $35,000 per month. All revenue streams combined – from taxes on gasoline to video gambling taxes, the places for eating tax, commuter parking fees, lost recreation program revenue – Brookfield is looking potentially at $110,000 a month in lost revenues.

While officials will try to protect as many municipal jobs as possible, that revenue interruption could result in delayed or canceled capital purchases and projects, like sidewalk replacement, scheduled improvements to municipal buildings and the like.

What we’re saying here is that, while the villages appear to be handling this shutdown so far, it could get dicey once we hit June and beyond.

We don’t know what this is going to look like on the other side of the pandemic. We don’t even know when that will happen – probably not until there’s a vaccine. If we can sustain the spirit of everyone working toward and acting in the interest of public health and the common good, we’ll get through this, despite facing hardships we haven’t even imagined yet.

I

The summer polio came calling

t was the early 1950s and my summers centered around playing and having fun. We were too young to be aware of the fear of polio that was gripping the world.

There were not many children in the neighborhood, and my best friend was Susie Kessler, who lived next door. Susie is three years older than I, but we got along fine, playing games, making ice cream, going to the library and generally keeping occupied.

Polio was the “scare” at that time. It seemed to attack children more, causing paralysis, or the bulbar form which was more lethal. The only one I had ever heard of as having polio was President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Mrs. Kessler, Susie’s mom, was a teacher and had us doing creative and educational things, but one summer there was a change in what we were doing.

Caution was the key word. We no longer went to the swimming pool or drank from public drinking fountains, and each day we took a nap, even though we thought we were past the nap stage.

One day I went to see if Susie could play. Her grandmother was at the house, and she told me Susie was at the hospital. That was all I was told.

My mother called the Kesslers only to find out

Susie had polio. From then on I was watched closely to see if I exhibited any of the signs of the disease. Fortunately I didn’t, but didn’t understand how my friend got sick and we were always together.

Susie’s recuperation from polio was long and I missed the times we had in the past, when we could play together. It was a long road for her, but she grew up, went to college, got married and raised her family. She lives in Michigan and we communicate at Christmas.

Those years had people changing their lives and living in a degree of fear. Help came through.

Dr. Jonas Salk from the University of Pittsburgh had been researching polio and in 1952 primary testing began. Today there are few cases of the disease with vaccinations administered at an early age.

Right now there is someone working on a vaccine to attack the coronavirus, and for that we need to hope and believe and have faith over fear.

Thanks … to Glenn Klecka for reminding me to have readers check out the Czech Plaza restaurant on Cermak Road for carryout. Nothing like comfort food, Czech style.

Stay well.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

Physicians laud governor’s COVID-19 efforts Illinois physicians and hospitals commend Governor J.B. Pritzker for his steadfast leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every day he faces tough choices and he is clearly making decisions with the interests of Illinoisans in mind. Our Governor is also taking the time to listen to the experts. A good example was his recent executive order extending civil liability protection to health professionals and hospitals during this crisis.

The Illinois State Medical Society and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association jointly asked his office to issue this order. It did not take long for our conversations with the governor’s office to lead to much-needed protections for frontline health care workers. We thank the governor for his leadership.

Increasing COVID-19 testing statewide, the incredible momentum to turn McCormick Place into an alternative care site and engaging the Army Corps of Engineers to open shuttered facilities are signifi-

cant accomplishments.

The executive order from a few weeks ago requiring health insurer payment of telemedicine is another decisive action that cleared the way for non-COVID-19 patients to maintain treatment with physicians and health systems.

Governor Pritzker’s daily battles to obtain personal protective equipment, ventilators and other critical resources are very much appreciated as we near a surge of expected COVID-19 hospitalizations.

The days and weeks ahead will be difficult, but decisiveness and ability to make hard choices is critical right now. Thank you, Governor Pritzker, for doing what is right to protect the wellness and safety of us all.

Paul E. Pedersen, M.D., president Illinois State Medical Society

A.J. Wilhelmi, president and CEO Illinois Health and Hospital Association

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

LETTERS

OBITUARIES

Riverside Legion Post invites you to connect virtually Thank you for providing American Legion Post #488 a great advertisement in the April 1 issue of The Landmark. Your newspaper is part of the community just as much as Post #0488 and now, Sons of the American Legion Squadron #488, is part of the community. When all is said, we all serve our fellow citizens.

American Legion Post #488 has an additional responsibility to ensure the veteran community is doing well during these very trying times. To that end, on March 27, we had our monthly meeting virtually through the online conferencing platform known as Zoom. Fourteen people attended, and it was a great uplifting experience. Post #0488 will continue to reach out to our veteran community virtually in four ways.

First, we will help all post members, squadron members, and any other veterans access Zoom so they can attend monthly meetings. Our latest post meeting was also virtual via Zoom on April 10.

Our guest speaker was Major Gen. (Retired) Elder Granger, U.S. Army Medical Corps. More information about Gen. Granger can be found at the5psllc.com/ mg_elder_granger.html. He was an incredibly inspirational speaker.

Second, in response to the pandemic and both the physical and mental toll the situation may bring on not only for Post #488 members but all veterans everywhere, we will be holding weekly, Wednesday Zoom meetings from 4:30 to 6 p.m. CST as a form of “buddy check.”

Veterans are welcome to drop in and out as they please as it is not an official meeting. For the casual comfort of everyone, this meeting will not be recorded and

people can be as open or as anonymous as they please.

Third, we will be constantly updating our website. The official website for American Legion Post #488 is americanlegionpost488.weebly.com. At this site, veterans can see our meeting information, our calendar, contact information, meeting agendas/minutes, and more. Veterans should check the site out and let us know what they think!

In addition, veterans and other members of the community can find links to our allies including Bugles Across America, Guardian Corps, The Pritzker Military Museum and Library, Combined Veterans of Berwyn, the Riverside Lions Club and the Landmark. These organizations need our support especially in these challenging times.

Finally, we are constantly improving our Facebook site at facebook.com/americanlegionriverside. This is a great way to see photos of legion events, keep up to date with veteran resources and to contact us. Our Facebook site is easy to use and people can share their own pages for more exposure to more people, and ultimately, to more veterans who need valuable information.

Veterans needing help in setting up Zoom should reach out to the post at americanlegionriverside@gmail.com.

Members of the community with ideas of how Post #0488 and Squadron #488 can more actively engage with our fellow citizens should feel free to reach out to us as well.

“For God and Country”

Joseph Baar Topinka, commander Jason Hinsley, vice commander American Legion Post #488

Valda K. Bole, 81 Western Electric retiree Valda K. Bole (nee Kalvins), 81 of North Riverside and formerly of Berwyn, died April 7, 2020 in Maywood.

Ms. Bole was born June 24, 1938, in Liepaja, Latvia. She worked as a data processor at the Western Electric Company.

She was the wife of the late Janis; the mother of Valdis (Rita), Andrejs (KarVALDA K. BOLE ina) and Ligita; and the grandmother of Karlis, Arnis, Kaija, Nicholas and Aleks.

Private interment was at Oakridge Cemetery, Hillside.

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

Dolores C. Krochman, 92 Former North Riverside resident Dolores C. Krochman (nee Saloman) of Willowbrook and formerly of North Riverside, died peacefully on April 7, 2020, at the age of 92.

Ms. Krochman was the wife of 65 DOLORES C. KROCHMAN years of the late Gene Krochman; the mother of Sandy (Doug) Youngren and Janice (Peter) Jilbert; thee grandmother of Christine (Jake) Chiodo, Adrienne (Nick) Caccamo and Jonathan (Laura) Youngren;

the great-grandmother of Addison Chiodo, Dominic Chiodo, William Caccamo and Charlotte Caccamo; the sister of the late Arthur Saloman; and an aunt, cousin and friend to many.

Her love of God and decades of devotion to her Mater Christi Church have been an inspiration to many.

Services were held on April 9 at St. Adalbert Cemetery attended by her immediate family only. A memorial Mass and celebration of Dolores’ life will be held at a later date once public gatherings are permitted.

Arrangements were coordinated by Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, Westchester.

Mary K. Kuta, 70 Former Brookfield resident Mary K. Kuta, nee Burrell, 70 of LaGrange Park and formerly of Brookfield, died April 12, 2020 in Lagrange Park.

Born Oct. 9, 1949 in Chicago, she was a homemaker.

Ms. Kuta was the wife of William J.; MARY K. KUTA the mother of Kimberly Blaylock; the grandmother of Courtney, Tyler and William; the great grandmother of Lilliana; the sister of Linda Ventrelle and Gene Burrell; and the aunt of Dena, Angie, Vinson, Salvador and Lisa.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all funeral services are private.

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at KuratkoNosek.com.

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The Landmark, April 15, 2020

HIGH SCHOOL Grading concerns from page 5 “An incomplete is not a failure,” Freytas said. “An incomplete is an opportunity for mastery. No student is going to fail, quote unquote, but there could be an incomplete issued if they don’t turn in the work or show evidence of mastery.”

Freytas said the grading system is designed to help students.

“Students are going to have a chance to redo assignments, to retake assessments,” Freytas said. “Students are going to have multiple, multiple opportunities to pass.

We want students to get credit.”

Overall Freytas said that he is happy with the way remote learning is going. In the past month, Freytas said that he has sat in on, virtually through the Zoom video conference app, many classes including a calculus class, a biology class and a Zumba class.

The Zumba class, taught by Madelyn Doyle, was tougher than he anticipated.

“I thought it was going to be something light,” Freytas said. “I didn’t realize how hard advanced dance was.”

Freytas admitted that the abrupt shift to remote learning has been difficult and challenging for students and teachers.

“In some areas there’s been some high engagement and in other areas students are just getting used to it, are just engaging teachers for the first time in an eLearning, remote format,” Freytas said. “There are things we can’t control. What’s their situation at home like?”

RBHS students are required to sign in on their school-provided Chromebooks by noon each school day. Teachers send them assignments electronically and students meet with their teachers and classmates every few days on Zoom or in another video conferencing format.

Some teachers record lectures or demonstrations. Students say they are learning, but many say that they don’t learn as much as they would if they were still attending classes in person.

“The actual assignments that we get are

Pandemic forces cancellation of RBHS prom The Riverside-Brookfield High School prom is just one of the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic cause.

The prom had been scheduled for April 24 at the Esplanade Lakes event center in Downers Grove, but it had to be cancelled when Gov. J. B. Pritzker extended his stay-at-home order to April 30.

Many students, especially seniors, were disappointed. For senior Kenna Howorth it was going to be her first and only prom.

She spent her junior year as a foreign exchange student.

“I’m really sad about it,” Howorth said.

“I didn’t think it was going to that big of a deal for me, but I’m pretty devastated because I never got to go to prom. So, I feel like I’m missing out on kind of the quintessential American teenager experience.”

RBHS Principal Hector Freytas said it was painful for him to have to cancel the prom, but he had no choice given the stayat-home order.

“I’m devastated as much as the students are,” Freytas said. “Anytime you have to

probably shorter in length and easier to figure out by ourselves than if we were doing it in class, but it’s harder to stay focused and stay on track with all the stuff you’re doing,” said junior Ethan Miller.

“It’s a lot of harder because you don’t have any teachers there.”

Chemistry teacher and science department instructional coach Christy Hughes said teachers have been developing virtual lessons using whatever resources they can find.

“There are so many tools out there,” Hughes said. “This is not ideal, this is not anything that anybody has even expected that we would have to do, I don’t think, but every day it seems like I find some other resource that makes eLearning easier.”

Science can be particularly challenging to teach virtually. Instead of doing experiments, students watch a video of someone

tell students that they’re not going to be able to celebrate an occasion it’s never a good feeling. I personally felt terrible because I had a prom. I mean many of my coworkers had proms. … Just thinking about it was devastating.”

RBHS will not be able to get back the $1,000 non-refundable deposit that it paid to book the Esplanade Lakes, according to Dave Mannon, assistant principal for student affairs.

The Lyons Township High School prom, scheduled for May 28 at Navy Pier is on for now, but that could change depending on what the situation is in late May. Freytas said that the RBHS graduation ceremony is still scheduled for May 22, but the type of event it will be is dependent on the conditions at the time and what public health orders are in place then.

“We are going to do our best to bring them together when it’s safe, and if we can’t come together then we may have to do something virtually,” Freytas said.

— Bob Skolnik

doing the experiment.

“I think there is something that’s going to be lost there, but this is the best we can do right now,” Hughes said.

Students say that some of the work they are assigned can seem like busywork, but other assignments are challenging. For her French class, O’Donnell records herself speaking French and sends in an audio file to her teacher in addition to video conferencing.

Many students appreciate the video chats and the chance to connect with teachers and classmates.

“I think the teachers are doing an amazing, phenomenal job about eLearning, because this is a huge adjustment for them too,” Howorth said. “I’m really grateful for the amount of support that they’re giving us in terms of trying to schedule video conferences or emailing us and asking how things are going.”

. t n i r P

Remote learning a challenge at LTHS Lyons Township High School, which serves the south half of Brookfield, does not provide devices to its students, so the shift to remote learning has been even more difficult there.

After school shut down LTHS gave out more than 300 laptop computers to students who needed the devices. But since 3 to 4 percent of LTHS families lack reliable internet access at home, those students have the option to pick up weekly written packets of assignments at the school as well as accessing them on the internet.

Teachers post assignments online by 9 a.m. on school days.

Remote learning at LTHS cannot match the rigor students get attending school in person, said Scott Eggerding, the director of curriculum and instruction at LTHS. “Because we’re not one-to-one it’s not remote learning in the sense of like an online course,” Eggerding said. “One of our tech coaches said, ‘It’s not remote learning, it’s pandemic learning.’”

LTHS is following the state guideline that performance during remote learning can only help, not hurt, a student’s grade. A student’s grade cannot fall below the grade the student earned in the third quarter.

Specific guidance about semester grades won’t be issued until administrators know whether schools will reopen on May. Freytas said that he doesn’t know what final exams would look like, or if there will even be any final exams, if school buildings remain closed for the rest of school year.

“We may not have a normal, traditional final exam experience,” Freytas said. “I trust in my teachers that there might be some kind of final assessment or final project for the students.”

While students have enjoyed the opportunity to sleep in, many are now missing their friends and the social aspect of school. Some still hope to return to school before the school year ends in May. “I’m very bored without going to school, and I definitely miss some of my classmates, for sure,” O’Donnell said. “I definitely would be disappointed if it didn’t [resume this year].”

Sports

@RBLandmark

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

17

With season on hold, RBHS volleyball stays positive ‘We just want to get back out there’

By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

Coming off of a 29-9 season last year, Riverside-Brookfield High School’s boys volleyball team was poised to make a postseason run in the 2020 campaign. While losing some valuable seniors from last year’s team was going to be a challenge, this year’s upperclassmen came into 2020 ready to take the Metro Suburban Conference.

However, after only participating in three practices before the first match of the season, the IHSA suspended the spring sports season, potentially ending the Bulldogs’ shot at building off last year’s success.

“It’s hard because [the seniors] are missing out on finishing their final year at RB,” said RBHS boys volleyball head coach Dan Bonarigo. “But that is the case for everyone right now. The senior class of 2020 from every high school has a very unique experience that hopefully no one else will ever have to deal with again.”

While the IHSA has maintained that it wants to figure out a way to hold a spring sports season, the odds of that become bleaker with each passing day. Even with this in mind, the Bulldogs are trying to stay in shape in case there is a turnaround where the season can start up again. While operating within social distancing protocols, the players are going on VYTAS CUPLINSKAS/Contributor

UP IN THE AIR: RBHS outside hitter Vejas Cuplinskas (No. 3) and setter Jonah Raith (No. 2) celebrate during a match last year. The team went 29-9. runs and have been communicating through a group chat. “[Raith] and I had talked about breaking a few school reRBHS outside hitter Vejas Cuplinskas has found a way cords which probably isn’t going to happen now, which is to stay in shape by lifting weights and hitting a volleyball sad,” said Cuplinskas. “Maybe it could happen if we get one off the side of his house. He has commitgame in, but we really just want to play.” ted to St. Xavier University to play volleyWhile Cuplinskas will play volleyball at ball next year and is trying to mentally the next level, there are seniors who viewed and physically prepare for when play rethis as their last hurrah in the sport. sumes at RBHS or, if the season doesn’t “I was thinking about playing intramural occur, stay in shape for when he moves on when I go to college next year, but I wasn’t to the collegiate level. planning on playing [in college],” said Even with all of those efforts, he beRBHS senior Matthew Hanson. “Knowing this was my last year to play volleyball for lieves there is only so much players can RB and missing senior night, it makes it do to condition without being able to pracharder that we only got three practices and tice on the court. that we probably won’t get to play with each “Personally, I think I could bounce other.” back, but we are all pretty out of shape While the team is trying to stay optimiscompared to where we would usually be tic about the prospect of the season resumat this point in the season,” said Cuplinsing, there have been some talks about what kas. “If we were to come back, any game it could do to honor the seniors. Hanson we would be play would be very different mentioned that the team could attempt to from a normal game since everyone would VEJAS CUPLINSKAS be very exhausted. But we just want to get do something virtually if they are unable RBHS outside hitter back out there.” to hold their annual senior banquet. HowFor Cuplinskas and senior three-year ever, those talks are in the preliminary varsity player Jonah Raith, the loss of stage since there is still hope that there the season hurts more since the duo had could be a season. a chance to break RBHS’ program record for assists and “I mean, this is heart breaking,” said Raith. “We look kills in a career and single match. Cuplinskas already forward to this every year. I love my coaches, my teambroke the record for kills in a single match last season mates are great and I am very disappointed that we don’t with 21 kills (the previous record was 18). get to play this season.”

“If we were to come back, any game we would play would be very different from a normal game since everyone would be very exhausted. But we just want to get back out there.”

VYTAS CUPLINSKAS/Contributor

BLOCK PARTY: RBHS setter Jonah Raith (No. 2) and his teammate Colby Campbell (No. 5) rise up over the net for a block.

18

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM New local ads this week

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.RBLandmark.com/ClassiďŹ ed/

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion.

The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@RBLANDMARK.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

ROOMS FOR RENT

FOOD SERVICE WORKER – TEMPORARY FT SUMMER The Hephzibah Children’s Association Summer Day Care program is accepting applications for a Food Service Worker to be a full time seasonal employee in our program that runs from June 8th through August 14th. The days and hours are Monday through Friday, from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Computer Science Teacher (Chicago, IL) Dsgn, write & use lesson plans; teach Comp Sci to middle school &/or high school students; implmt appropriate instructional & learning strategies, activities, materials & eqpmt; prep students for comp sci/technology rltd competitions & standardized tests; coord school technology fairs &/or extracurricular activities as assigned; produce formal & informal testing; provide input on book, eqpmt & material selection; gather, manage & maintain all reports, records & other docs reqd.

Master’s deg in Comp Sci, or Comp Engg + at least substitute teaching license in Illinois State req. M-F, 40 hrs/wk. Send resume (only by mail) to Michael KURAN, Chicago Math and Science Academy, 7212 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60626.

AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro.

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

773-637-5957

Responsibilities include preparing and serving snacks and lunch, maintaining established standards of food safety, keeping kitchen, lunchroom and equipment in good and sanitary condition, and meeting all required reporting requirements.

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.

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

Financial Research Analyst sought

by Nanhua USA LLC for its ofďŹ ce in Chicago, IL. Candidate must have a Masters deg in Finance & at least 1 yr exp in ďŹ n’l analysis. Send resume to ATTN: HR, 30 S Wacker Drive, Ste 3850, Chicago, IL 60606.

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.

SUBURBAN RENTALS OAK PARK 1ST FLOOR 2BR 1185 S OAK PARK AVE $1300/mo plus security deposit. Incl. garage parking. You control heat/ac.

Available May 1. No pets.

708-246-2579

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Call the Library Help Line

The Forest Park Public Library has set up a phone line to assist Forest Park. Give us a call to talk with library staff. We can help you get a virtual library card, assist with library resources, connect you with job/ business resources, and much more.

Call 708-366-7171 Monday – Friday 11 am – 5 pm Or leave a message at any time.

More info at fppl.org.

ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ? ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ?ď ?

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

ITEMS FOR SALE LENOX CHINA 5 piece place settings Lenox china, Tuxedo pattern IRISH CARDIGAN Men’s size large.

WATERFORD GLASSES Colleen pattern, 2 water goblets, 2 wine glasses, 5 double old fashioned glasses 708-386-6160

TRUCKS FOR SALE

WANTED TO BUY

2000 VOLVO VNL 670 Ready to work semi, good brakes 75% tires, new air compressor, only 400 K on overhaul.

Asking price $ 7500 708-267-4579

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

ELECTRICAL

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

SUBURBAN RENTALS

M&M property management, inc.

708-386-7355 â&#x20AC;˘ 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:

Ceiling Fans Installed

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.

HANDYMAN

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

FLOORS

GARAGE DOORS

KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood ďŹ&#x201A;ooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-ďŹ nishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

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

HANDYMAN CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair â&#x20AC;˘ Painting Fans Installed â&#x20AC;˘ Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning â&#x20AC;˘ Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

CUSTOM ACRYLIC

Our 73rd Year

Garage Doors &

Smart Door Openers

Sales & Service Free Estimates

(708) 652-9415 www.forestdoor.com

HANDYMAN Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do

708-296-2060

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs â&#x20AC;˘ Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-637-0692 Ask for John

Attention! Homeimprovement pros!

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.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be caught shortâ&#x20AC;Ś reach the people making the decisions. Advertise your home improvement business in Wednesday Classified.

Call 708/613-3342

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM

CLASSIFIED HEATING / AIR CONDITIONING

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 NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Attention: Parents of Home-Schooled Students On Monday, May 11, 2020 at 9 am, Forest Park Schools District 91 will conduct a meeting via Zoom.us.

The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private schools and home schools within the district for the 2020-21 school year. If you are the parent of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Forest Park Schools District 91, you are urged to attend.

You can join the meeting by emailing Michelle Hopper at mhopper1@ fpsd91.org for the Zoom link. If you have further questions pertaining to this meeting, please contact Michelle Hopper, Director of Special Education, at (708) 366-5742 or at mhopper1@fpsd91.org.

Published in Forest Park Review 4/15/2020

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

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

19

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

RBLandmark.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE TO BIDDERS AND INVITATION FOR BIDS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD 2020 SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT RECEIPT OF BIDS The Village of Brookfield will receive sealed proposals for the 2020 Sidewalk Improvements Project until 11:00 A.M. Central Time, Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at the Office of the Village Manager. Bids will be opened and read in the Edward Barcall Hall in the Municipal Building, located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois, on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 11:00 A.M., Central Time. The Project includes the removal and replacement of approximately 9,700 square feet of sidewalk and other related work.

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company at 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154, upon payment of a non-refundable charge of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per set of bidding documents. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Friday, April 24, 2020. Bid proposals must be submitted on the forms provided. Submission of a bid shall be conclusive assurance and warranty that the bidder has examined the plans, the site of the work and the local conditions affecting the contract and understands all of the requirements for performance of the work. The bidder will be responsible for all errors in its proposal resulting from failure or neglect to conduct an in-depth examination. The Village of Brookfield will, in no case be responsible for any costs, expenses, losses or changes in anticipated profits resulting from such failure or neglect of the bidder. The bidder shall not take advantage of any error or omission in the plans or proposal. Sealed envelopes or packages containing bids shall be addressed to the Village Manager and plainly marked “Village of Brookfield - 2020 Sidewalk Improvements Project” on the outside of the envelope.

QUESTIONS, CHANGES, CLARIFICATION Any questions that arise must be made in writing and shall be directed by electronic mail to the Timothy C. Wiberg, Village Manager, Village of Brookfield at twiberg@brookfieldil. gov. The written questions, along with the Village’s response, shall be circulated to all known potential bidders without identifying the party submitting the questions. The cutoff for receipt of additional questions shall be 12:00 Noon, Central Time on Monday, April 27, 2020, in order to facilitate preparation of any addenda. No inquiry received after that time will be given consideration. Replies and/or addenda will be mailed and faxed to all known potential contractors by 4:00 P.M., Central Time on April 28, 2020. Receipt of any addenda must be acknowledged in writing as part of the Bidder’s Proposal. Bidders shall be responsible for ensuring that they have received any and all addenda.

The Village of Brookfield shall not assume responsibility for the receipt by the Bidder of any addenda.

BID SECURITY Each proposal shall be accompanied by a proposal guaranty in the form of a bid bond, executed by a corporate surety company, a bank cashier’s check or a certified check payable to the “Village of Brookfield” for not less than five percent (5%) of the amount of the proposal. The proposal guaranty checks of all, except the two responsive, responsible proposers which the Village determines in its sole discretion to be the proposers with whom the Village desires to commence negotiations for a contract, will be returned after the proposals have been checked and tabulated.

The proposal guaranty checks of the two responsive, responsible proposers will be returned after the contract and the contract bond of

the successful proposer have been properly executed and approved.

Bid bonds will not be returned.

RIGHT TO REJECT BIDS The Village of Brookfield reserves the right to waive technicalities and to reject any and all proposals for any reason deemed in the best interest of the Village of Brookfield.

AWARD OF CONTRACT Unless all bids are rejected, the contract award will be made to the lowest responsive responsible bidder that the Village of Brookfield in its sole discretion determines to be in the best interest of the Village.

In determining who the lowest responsive, responsible bidder is, the Village of Brookfield will consider all factors that it, in its discretion, deems relevant in determining who the lowest responsive responsible bidder is.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS The general prevailing rate of wages in Cook County, Illinois, for each craft or type of worker or mechanic needed to execute the contract or perform the work, also the general prevailing rate for legal holiday and overtime work, as ascertained by the Illinois Department of Labor, shall be paid for each craft or type of worker needed to execute the contract or to perform the work. Work performed under this contract shall be in accordance with Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 820, Act 130, Sections 1-12), Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 30, Act 570, Sections 1-7), Drug Free Workplace Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 30, Act 580, Sections 1-11).

Village of Brookfield, Illinois _____________________________ Timothy C. Wiberg, Village Manager

Published in Landmark 4/15/2020

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Driver Ed Fee Increase The Board of Education of Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 will hold a virtual public hearing on Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. The purpose of said hearing will be to receive written public comments on a proposed driver education fee increase and to allow the District to charge a maximum driver education fee of $250 for the 2020-2021 school year. To submit a comment for the Driver Ed Fee Increase, go to: https://forms. gle/1uG2W5Bemwyw3yGRA. Comments should be submitted by 5:30 p.m. on April 23, 2020 in order to have them read at the Board meeting.

To join the webinar Board Meeting, go to: https://zoom.us/j/130997818 or telephone in U.S.: 1-312-6266799 and enter Webinar ID: 130997-818.

Published in Wednesday Journal 4/15/2020

Starting a new business?

Call the Experts! Publish your Assumed-Name Legal Notice in Wednesday Classified. Call 708/613-3342 to place your ad.

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Driver Ed Fee Waiver The Board of Education of Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 will hold a virtual public hearing on Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. The purpose of said hearing will be to receive written public comments on a renewal of a proposed waiver application to allow the District to charge a maximum driver education fee of $250 and for a percentage of District personnel salaries and/or benefits to be included in the calculation of this fee. To submit a comment for the Driver Ed Fee Waiver, go to: https://forms.gle/ mYPtoZJyFPRJVf2J6. Comments should be submitted by 5:30 p.m. on April 23, 2020 in order to have them read at the Board meeting To join the webinar Board Meeting, go to: https://zoom.us/j/130997818 or telephone in U.S.: 1-312-626-6799 and enter Webinar ID: 130-997-818.

Published in Wednesday Journal 4/15/2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION SELENE FINANCE LP Plaintiff, -v.LARSENIA HORTON, NEIL SMITH, ASSURANCE RESTORATION & CONSTRUCTION, INC., PRAIRIE HOUSES OWNERS ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 18 CH 12736 14 DIVISION STREET, # 14 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 December 16, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 20, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 14 DIVISION STREET, # 14, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-127-0480000 The real estate is improved with a brown brick, three story townhouse with an attached one 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 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) 236SALE 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. 267501 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 18 CH 12736 TJSC#: 39-8007 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 # 18 CH 12736 I3149364

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Place an ad on Wednesday Classified’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to RBLandmark.com/classified today!

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(708) 613-3342 classifieds@ RBLandmark.com

20

The Landmark, April 15, 2020

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

110 Lincoln Ave, #3F, Riverside $110,000

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

2341 Hainsworth Ave, North Riverside $219,000

1618 Forest, LaGrange Park $374,900

276 Lionel Rd, Riverside $375,000

930 Meadowcrest Rd, LaGrange Park $389,900

428 Loudon Rd, Riverside $425,000

539 Selborne Rd, Riverside $439,000

74 Woodside, Riverside $599,999

465 Uvedale Rd, Riverside $645,000

172 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $649,900

82 Lawton Rd, Riverside $745,000

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

Visit us at www.atproperties.com/agents/Burlington to view all of our properties and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates on the local real estate market.