Landmark_042325 by Wednesday Journal

Hometown hero: Brookﬁeld teen saves grandfather from house ﬁre

Jordan Ma pulled Hect

64, from their bur

home,

By TRENT BROWN Staff

When the school

Marquez, 14, off in front of home on the 3500 b nue Monday, April 14, he wasn to open the front door to a

“It was weird. I wasn all. I couldn’t smell anything. It was contained in the house someho the Landmark Monda

The eighth grader said he leapt into action right away

“I was like, ‘Wait, I got to get everybo he said. “I was really shoc surprised, then adrenaline kic couldn’t think.”

Jordan said he let the dogs — bull terrier Stosh and Chihuahua mix Mushu — into the

See HERO on page 11

Jordan Marquez sits with his dogs (le ), Mushu and Stosh, that are currently staying at the neig hbors a er his home in Brook eld caught re this week.

Jordan got his grandfather and the two dogs out of the home dur ing the re His grandmother was at work when this occurred.

By TRENT BROWN

rside is settling a legal comthe land trust that owns the Tower and 25-39 Forest Ave., $75,000 to the village. trustees on April 3 approved a settlereement with the Chicago Title Land Trust verside had brought the trust and Property Rental, Inc., the first filed a complaint with the Cook 10, 2021, to force the company wer Building after it 7, 2021. A new boiler was installed on 12, 2021, and, after going out overnight and failral days, began working event prompted resithe building to protest publicly that week. Frances confirmed the ould end the same le g al action that an with the 2021 complaint. told the Landmark Monday that Riv-

See SETTLEMENT on page 9

ERICA BENSON

Riverside distiller says tari s could hurt his business, but a state bill could help

Tari s could a ect the Quincy Street Distillery ‘in many ways, both direct and indirect,’ owner says

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

While baseline 10% tariffs on all imports to the United States and higher tariffs on specific countries — up to 125%, in China’s case — are affecting the experienced costs of goods for consumers, they’re also affecting small businesses in multiple, sometimes conflicting, ways.

“I just got a notice today from my glass distributor … they used to have a U.S. factory, but they closed that. They’re located in India. They will be affected by tariffs,” said Derrick Mancini, the owner of Quincy Street Distillery, 39 E. Quincy St., in Riverside. “Some of my raw material, particularly some of the malt I purchase, comes from Canada. That will be af fected by tariffs.”

Mancini is hopeful that a potential change in state law that would allow distillers to ship directly to consumers could help

The distillery, which Mancini opened in 2012, sells whiskey, gin, bourbon, vodka and other spirits.

He told the Landmark the tariffs, which would increase the prices of imported spirits, could make the market volatile. He said the “first thought” might be that less foreign competition would help his business.

“But there are a couple ways in which it might not work that way. For example, our hardest problem is that we have to compete with large manufacturers, who can produce product at a far lower price because of scale. If they see a reduction of foreign exports because of tariffs, it will, potentially, create a glut of domestic product in the marketplace and might result in their prices going down. For a small producer, that’s not helpful,” he said.

Mancini added that even the distributors the distillery works with could be ne gatively impacted .

“We generally have to work with small distributors. Many small distributors, the

bulk of their distribution activity — this is actually the case for my distributor — ma not actually be distribution of a product that’s domestically produced,” he said. “It may be that a significant po portfolio is impo stroyed by these tariffs.”

Additionall the tariffs means the business ca what will happen, he said, explaining: “It’s not just a question of tariffs, but, ‘Do know what the tarif the answer, of idea.’ We ha pen to the ma out with this risk, and what’s happening.”

However, a bill in the sembly could alleviate some of Senate Bill 1618 Control Act of end of Prohibition, allowing distilleries to ship product directly to consumers and selfdistribute while maintaining on-site bars Mancini said the Quincy Street Distillery self-distributes a small amount of product already due to its specific state license.

“I would argue, probably, that self-distribution is the only way we think, currently, we can survive because we’re growing that self-distribution as we’re seeing the amount of product move through our distributor has been dropping,” he said. “For us, we think it’s critical.”

He said the ability to self-distribute could increase the number of products the distillery offers through retailers.

Mancini said he often receives requests to have products shipped to potential customers or to others as a gift, but it’s not allowed. Instead, he said the business has found a loophole that, if the bill is passed, would no longer be needed.

“If I want to sell my products by mail order in the state of Illinois, I have to work with a retailer who is outside the state of Illinois,” he said.

Right now, the distillery sells about seven different products through Shots Box, which is based in Los Angeles.

“California is a ‘dock-touch’ state. That means, even if I, just in time, ship product to that retailer, it must go through a distributor. It must go into the distributor’s

Derrick Mancini, owner of the Q uincy Street Distiller y in Riverside, poses outside his store front in 2021.

warehouse — ‘touch the dock’ — before it goes to the retailer,” he said. “I have to ship it to a California distributor, who then ships it to the California retailer, who then ships the product back to somebody in Illinois. That’s silly, right?”

The ability to ship products directly could increase interest in the products it can’t offer online now, which might signal to local retailers that they should carry those products, he said.

If the state legislature does not pass the bill, Mancini said it could ma ke the distillery less likely to survive.

“I don’t have exact numbers, but we’re probably doing something between 60% and 75% of the business that we were doing prior to the pandemic,” he said. “When the pandemic hit us, we dropped down to 20%. We only survived at all because we had [Paycheck Protection Program] money. Just before the pandemic, we were just about hitting break even after many years, and, now, we’re slowly recovering. But we are not at break even.”

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Brookﬁeld plans to demolish the Theater Building

e structure and an adjacent home will be razed to make way for new development

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Ahead of potential developers’ bids for the two village-owned properties being due at the end of May, Brookfield officials have agreed to look into tearing down the Theater Building and a neighboring house at 3717-23 Grand Blvd.

After acquiring the properties late last year, Brookfield is looking for a new owner to put in mixed-use development in order to economically bolster Grand Boulevard and the central business district there.

“The goal now is to get the site prepared for future development, so as part of that, it’s clearing it and having it what’s called ‘shovelready,’ removing any risk of having vacant or underutilized buildings stay there until the full development,” Community Development Director Libby Popovic told village trustees at their committee of the whole meeting on April 14.

While Popovic initially asked trustees to approve the solicitation of bids to demolish the two buildings, she agreed to have staff solicit, as an alternative option, bids from companies offering deconstruction, wherein structures are carefully taken apart so materials can be recovered and reused in future construction projects.

“Because people were very excited about the brick and the facade, and both of those [buildings] are brick, I’m curious if you would consider looking at, or have looked at, a deconstruction company,” Trustee Katie Kaluzny said. “Since we own it, we can take it apart sustainably instead of [it] going all in the landfill.”

She said quotes from deconstruction companies would likely be higher than those from demolition companies.

She and Trustee Jennifer Hendricks spoke in favor of keeping a tree between the two existing properties that Popovic recommended be removed as part of the demolition.

“If nothing happens there for a year or so, it still is providing shade in a nice space for a little bit longer, and that [removal] could happen at a separate time,” Kaluzny said.

“I completely agree with the idea of just leaving the tree there because we don’t technically know what [the development] is from here, and it is providing shade,” Hendricks said. “If having to take down one single tree is going to keep a developer from developing that property, that’s not a developer that we want. It’s just a tree. They can take it down.”

Village Manager Tim Wiberg said improvements to the Grand Boulevard streetscape, which started Monday and will last about four months, will result in more trees being planted along the street than “has ever been out there before,” which will offset the tree’s potential removal. Grand Boulevard will be closed to northbound traffic for the duration of the improvement work.

“If they were to build around that tree, it’s going to greatly reduce the size of whatever they can build, because it’s right halfway between the front and the back,” he said.

As part of the work on Grand Boulevard, Brookfield will seek to have new sanitary and water service lines built out to the site to prepare for the future development, said Dan O’Malley, a project manager for Hancock Engineering, the village’s contracted engineering fir m.

“Currently, we’re looking at doing two [new lines], at least for sanitary, just in case, because it’s not a foregone conclusion that it will be one development,” he said.

Trustee Kit Ketchmark emphasized that a potential developer should agree to reimburse the village for the cost of the demolition.

“I certainly don’t think it should be that the village is eating the cost to make it shovelready for a developer,” he said.

As the president of the Brookfield Historical Society, Ketchmark told the Landmark April 16 he felt the removal of the Theater Building was warranted

“If we look at what it’s been for the last 70plus years, it’s been a manufacturing facility It’s been car storage. Nothing like a theater,” he said. “If we go back to the early 1900s and picture a booming theater, and the whole neighborhood would be going to the theater to see a movie or a life performance, that would be wonderful to have, but I think we’re past the useful life of the building in that regard The building’s not in good shape.”

Trustee Edward Côté suggested selling individual bricks from the building to residents if the village pursues deconstruction over demolition.

The request for bid proposals specifies that the eventual developer must incorporate the historic “Brookfield Theater” sign into the new development’s facade.

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Can Riverside rock? Find out Saturday

Easy-going eve raises money t ght childhood illnesses

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing

he village of Ri many things — being a Fredrick La mstead p lanned c ommunity, ly winding streets and lush parkways li up by g as streetlights, town and historic water to landmark sw inging bridge crossing the Des Plaines Rive r.

But since 2020, there’s been one Riversiders who’ve hoped the village can become known for being one more thing — a place that really rocks.

Enter the Riverside Rocks Spring Fling — an open-air, rain-or-shine music festival hosted across various sites in Riverside which has attracted hundreds of fans annually and raised more than $215,000 in ticket sales to benefit organizations fighting childhood disease and illness.

From Yacht rock to country, grunge to cover bands, Spring Fling pitches itself as an outdoor concert series featuring lively music from local bands for audiences of all ages, leaving ears be gging for more and a day filled with exploring Riverside on foot.

This Saturday, April 26, the fun returns to Riverside from 12:30 P.M. to 5:30 p.m., promising an afternoon of lively tunes, great food and relaxed vibes.

According to Riverside resident and Riverside Rocks founding member Jessica Mieczkowski, the origin story of the event was a simple one — a way to create neighborly camaraderie in a safe way all while fundraising for a good cause.

“During the [COVID-19] pandemic, all charity events for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital were cancelled, but we still wanted to find a way to support St. Jude in any capacity we could,” she said. “Fellow Riverside residents Amy and Matt Benson contacted my husband, Mark, and I to see if we could come together and form a group to make this happen.”

“We try to help as many Riverside resi-

Following the success of the group’s inaugural event, the 2020 Halloween Walk, they were inspired to make a community fund raiser an annual happening, with a goal of expanding its outreach to work closely with local charities and create awareness toward a variety of different causes

This year, with the addition of newcomer Jody Ames, Kimber Day and Pete Durbin, Riverside Rocks now consists of seven members who have come together to organize this weekend’s event.

Each year since the group’s first event, the committee has chosen a secondary fundraising partner to donate to, with this year’s new premier charity one which is truly locally focused — Ann and Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

While exact performance locations are kept under wraps while marketing the event, past locations have included village parks, private home driveways, garages and porches, and even buses. With the purchase of a ticket, concert goers will be given a map of Spring Fling the day before the event disclosing exactly which bands will be performing, the locations of their performances and their set times.

“The vibe of the event is light-hearted fun for serious causes,” Mieczkowski said.

Individual tickets start at $45 a person, with 2- and 4-pack ticket bundle package op tions available at discounted rates as well.

For more about Riverside Rocks’ Spring Fling and to purchase tickets, visit RiversideRocks.net.

Free Presentations at Riverside Public Library

• April 24, 7pm, “Perspectives on Pollinator Well-Being from Illinois Bee Rescue”

• May 8, 7pm, “Get Out and Play: The Health Benefits of Outdoor and Nature Based Activities for Children”

• Landscape Workdays, Saturdays, 9 AM-Noon

• May 3, Indian Gardens (Garlic Mustard Pull)

• May 17, Longcommon

olmstedsociety.org | OlmstedSociety | Olmstedsociety

Riverside Rocks Spring Fling.

Stewards of the land and Olmsted’s Plan

We’re Hiring!

Colberg, Parolin set to lead S.E. Gross Middle School

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

Hiring not one but two people after an extensive interview process isn’t unprecedented, but it’s not exactly common either. But when you know, you know.

After accepting 50 applications for the principal’s position at S.E. Gross Middle School, a panel of Brookfield-La Grange Park School District 95 administrators, teachers and parents interviewed 25 candidates one-on-one. They ultimately settled on two to take the helm of school leadership in 2025-26.

Lauren Colberg, current S.E. Gross assistant principal, will become the new principal, replacing Jeff Tumpane, who is moving on to the district offices as director of operations. Colberg’s replacement will be David Parolin, who is finishing his third year as assistant principal at Elm Middle School in Elmwood Park

through the La Grange Area Department of Special Education.

“It has been so fun to see all the different levels of learning that we have in the building,” Colberg said. “While this is S.E. Gross Middle School, it’s a school for so many kids. Little kids see it as their school, big kids see it as their school, everyone feels like they are part of the community.”

Evans said that Colberg brings a deep knowledge of educational leadership and instructional coaching to her new role.

“This is a place where we want to go with the district, making sure our staf f members have everything they need to be successful in the classroom,” he said, adding the school will undergo a construction project this summer to add four early childhood classrooms and a Family and Consumer Science (FACS) lab.

Colberg is also believed to be the first female principal in S.E. Gross’s 130-year history, though that distinction is more anecdotal since the records from the school’s early years aren’t very reliable

“Through this process it was clear both of these individuals have qualities that could push S.E. Gross forward,” said Ryan Evans, district deputy superintendent, who will become superintendent July 1, replacing current superintendent Dr. Mark Kuzniewski, who is retiring.

“When you have strong recommendations for both of those candidates, and hearing statements like, ‘It would be great if we had both of those people at the school,’ that guided that decision,” he said.

Parolin, who like Colberg lives locally, said he was excited to emerge from the interview process with a leadership partnership with her. He said he brings plenty from his current role at Elm Middle School into his new position.

“I like to think that I bring in an evolved perspective,” he said. “I value all of my historical experiences up to this point. But I don’t come in with any pre-conceived ideas. I come with fresh eyes and lear n and be respectful to the processes that exist there.

“You want to be sensitive to the great people there and support them. You have to come in with that mindset.”

Colberg graduated from Riverside-Brookfield High School in 2004 and returned to the area about a year ago after many years in Philadelphia as a teacher and administrator, beginning her tenure there with the two-year Teach for America program after graduating from Bradley University. Along the way, she acquired a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania.

“I have been in education for 16 years and being a principal has always been my goal, and I can’t think of a better school community to become principal and meet this lifelong goal,” Colberg said. “I’m thrilled I am able to help drive the educational programming at school.”

Colberg will be overseeing a building with about 450 students, grades six through eight, along with early childhood three- and four-year-old learners and three special education cooperative classrooms

Tumpane was principal at S.E. Gross for one year, after 10 as assistant principal. He learned a lot in his only year at the helm, and as for his advice to Colberg and Parolin, it’s simple. Kids first.

“I think we always remind ourselves as educators, put students at the forefront of every decision that’s made,” Tumpane said. “Part of what makes this a special place is we have this strong community.”

As for C olberg and Parolin, message rece ived

“When I met Dave, I was immediately assured this was a great move,” she said. “We’re going to make S.E. Gross a powerhouse. It’s going to be a great next chapter.”

Riverside continues building code update after Trump administration rescinds grant

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Riverside is still pursuing an overdue update to its village building code after more than $22,000 in federal grant funding was rescinded by the Trump administration.

Village trustees on April 18 directed staf f to continue working on the project, which will align Riverside’s 20-year-old building code with new Illinois standards from last year while maintaining village-specific amendments. It has a maximum budgeted cost of $18,000. Riverside had previously budgeted $15,000 for the project in 2025.

Riverside had been awarded $22,138.50 for the project through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program of fered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

That funding was rescinded on April 4, when FEMA announced it had ended the program and would be canceling all BRIC

applications from 2020-2023 to “ensure that grant funding aligns with the President’s executive orders.”

Executive orders do not have the same le g ally binding power as laws, which must be passed by Congress, but instead direct the federal gover nment in its execution of existing laws

“A good deal of the funds required to complete the project were awarded, essentially, early this year. We were able to work for five weeks with our consultant team, which we’d been planning for for two years, and then we had no grant funding,” Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe said T hursday. “If we want to proceed with the project, which staf f recommends, we would need to do it without any kind of reimbursement. ”

Monroe said the village’s currently adopted codes date back to 2005 and 2006 and no longer conform to state requirements. She said the deadline for the update was

Jan. 1, 2025, so it “behooves” the village to update the code “as soon as possible.”

“We’ve been trying to execute this project for a couple of years,” she said. “We don’t want to be a jurisdiction without a building code, in which case we have to adhere to the codes from the state, and that won’t include our amendments that are specific to Riverside.”

She said Riverside has so far paid out $7,000 toward the project, which constituted the village’s local match with the grant funding for the total estimated cost of about $29,000.

According to a village memo, in the wake of losing the grant funds, Riverside staf f recommended spending village monies to continue to partner with a consulting firm, as completing the project internally is possible “theoretically” but “would take considerably longer.” Future code updates will be completed internally, the memo said.

Monroe said staf f estimated Riverside

would need to spend about $6,000 to $8,000 more on the project but wanted to set the budget cap at $18,000 in case the costs exceed those figures. She said she expects the updated building code to go into effect around the end of the year.

According to the memo, about $2,500 will go toward buying new technology so village staff can access building plans and other infor mation while in the field rather than continuing to use “papers and pens,” Monroe said.

According to an archived FEMA webpage, the agency previously described BRIC as a program that “aim[ed] to categorically shift the federal focus away from reactive disaster spending and toward research-supported, proactive investment in community resilience.”

As of April 4, a written statement “attributable to a FEMA spokesperson” instead said the program was “wasteful and ineffective” and did not “[help] Americans affected by natural disasters.”

axpayers who adopted or started the adoption process in 2024 may qualify for the adoption credit. This credit can be applied to international, domestic, private and public foster care adoption. Here is some basic information to help people understand this credit and whether they can claim it when they are filing their taxes: The maximum adoption credit taxpayers can claim on their 2024 tax return is $15,950 per eligible child. There are income limits that could affect the amount of the credit. Taxpayers should complete Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses, to figure how much credit they can claim on their tax return. An eligible child must be younger than 18. If the adopted person is older, they must be unable to physically take care of themselves. This credit is non-refundable. This means the amount of the credit is limited to the taxpayer’s taxes due for 2025. Any credit left over from their owed 2023 taxes can be carried forward for up to five years. Qualified expenses include:

• Reasonable and necessary adoption fees.

• Court costs and legal fees.

• Adoption related travel expenses like meals and lodging.

• Other expenses directly related to the legal adoption of an eligible child.

• In some cases, a registered domestic partner may pay the adoption expenses. Expenses may qualify even if the taxpayer pays them before an eligible child is identified. For example, some future adoptive parents pay for a home study at the beginning of the adoption process. These parents can claim the fees as qualified adoption expenses.

Taxpayers who adopt their spouse’s child cannot claim this credit.

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

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erside’s village attor ney was discussing modifications to the settlement with the opposing counsel, so the version of the ag reement trustees approved may not be final. A modified ag reement would retur n to the village board at a future meeting for approval, she said. A court date for the case is scheduled for Monday, April 28.

She said it was time for the lawsuit to begin “pretrial-related activities” or reach an “appropriate” settlement.

“The sides have been in ongoing discussions relative to settlement, and the village’s hope would be to come to a thoughtful conclusion with settlement, because, obviously, this litigation has been going on for a number of years,” she said.

Frances said Riverside did not initially seek financial compensation in the lawsuit but that quantifying the damages and village’s legal expenses is part of the settlement process. She said the $75,000 payout would be intended to cover attorney’s fees and to resolve any fines associated with code violations at the property It would be deposited into Riverside’s general fund, where it would be made fungible for the village’s use

According to the settlement ag reement, after the boiler failed, Riverside inspectors in 2021 found further code violations at the apar tments, including improper gas stove piping, the rotting and deterioration of the exterior, the roof drainage system being in disrepair, insuf ficient window glazing and interior water damage.

The agreement said the Tower Building’s owners have fixed the violations to Riverside’s satisfaction. In an email, Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe said by August 2022 they had replaced and repainted exterior wood and stucco; replaced the rear stairs; put in new switches, outlets, smoke alar ms and exit signs; and installed a new steam boiler and gas bur ner.

Other “necessary, urgent” re pairs, including to the roof, flooring and plumbing, have taken place since then, Monroe said, but despite the work done, “few of the units and common areas are yet to meet

full program compliance.”

A Riverside resident who asked to remain anonymous told the Landmark he had lived in the Tower Apar tments The resident identified Riverside resident Ronald Kafka as his landlord, though Kafka has denied ownership of the Tower Apar tments in the past.

“This settlement is the most significant thing the Village has accomplished for its residents in the last ten years,” the anonymous resident said in an emailed statement. “Kafka has a history of defeating the Village and the Illinois Attor ney General in lawsuits, so I’m grateful the Village didn’t give up.”

According to the Cook County Assessor’s Of fice, taxes on the Tower Building are paid by Property Rental, Inc. Those on the nearby apar tment complexes at 49 and 63 Forest Ave. are paid by Riverside Management, Inc., a separate corporate entity Business records from the Illinois Secretary of State’s Of fice indicate Riverside resident Sandy Centeno is the agent for both companies.Frances said she thought the quality of life for residents in the Tower Building has gone up since Riverside filed its complaint against the owners.

“They had to re place the boiler, which was done, and there were the other items that have occurred since that point in litigation. We’ve also built relationships with the dif ferent tenants within that building to ensure that, when there is an issue, to contact us, so that we can help facilitate corrections to those issues if the proper ty manager is not being responsive,” she said. “I think that’s the bigger piece: making sure that there’s a good dialo gue between village staf f and those residents if they’re not getting responses from the property manager.”

She said other changes that have stemmed from the litigation included the creation of Riverside’s rental property re gistration and inspection program.

“For individual units, we did not go into a property unless we got a complaint, so it was very reactive and not proactive,” she said. “We hired our code enforcement of ficer and inspector, Frank Krupa, who goes out and does the rental re gistry inspections. He notes any deficiencies. So, it was a complete overhaul of how we were approaching our dif ferent multi-family rental properties.”

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Opinion

THE L ANDMARK VIEW

So long, Theater Building

Historic preservation is important in communities with the long histories of Brookfield and Riverside. But it’s also important to pick your battles, as preservation often collides with current needs, including new housing and economic development.

That’s why the nostalgic tug to preserve Brookfield’s Theater Building is a fleeting feeling. A century ago, it was a destination on Grand Boulevard as a movie house. The reality though, as pointed out by Kit Ketchmark, who doubles as a village trustee and president of the Brookfield Historical Society, is that in the actual lifetimes of current residents this building has been deteriorating through half-lives as a manufacturing site or a car storage warehouse.

Honestly, until the village bought the building last year, we were only half aware of it as a blot on an improving streetscape.

Interesting discussion at the board table asking staf f to seek bids not only from demolition firms but from “deconstruction” firms which will salvage the buildin g materials and keep much of the wreckage out of landfill. De pending on the upside cost, this is the sort of action local gover nments ought to seriously consider.

Trump intrudes

Had a note of c omplaint a month or two ago from a reader who did not want to read about the actions of the Trump administration in their local pape r. In our note back, we wrote that we ag reed that the Landmark was not the place to debate national p olitics but that we we re wo r ried that Trump ’s ef for ts to dismantle gover nance was going to land in our laps anyhow

This week we have a story about the rewriting of Riverside ’s building code. The code has not been updated in 20 years and is about to fall out of sync with a revised Illinois building code update. Using a federal grant from FEMA, Riverside hired a consultant to help make the necessary revisions.

Well, the Trump administration on April 4 c ancelled all such gr ants and lef t Rive rside holding the bag to pay for i ts code project. T he gr ant was $22,138. Th e village will li ke ly now ante up the f unds necessary for the c onsultant to c omplete the project.

Not the end of the world. But another indicator that kee ping coverage of local and federal separate is not our ultimate goal at this point.

Apar tment mismanagement

Riverside is on the verge of a legal settlement with the owner of the Tower Apartments, the chronically decrepit building that four winters ago brought Riverside into a more aggressive property inspection re gimen. That followed the building owner’s recalcitrance in fixing or replacing the boiler in the 50-unit apar tment complex when it failed in the midst of an intense cold snap.

Final details of the settlement are still being worked out. But good for the village for bringing suit against this owner and recouping some of the costs of inspection and enforcement against a building owner always looking out for its own interests and not for its tenants.

OBITUARIES

Victoria Alejandre, 70

Bank manager, Chamber past-president

Victoria “Vicky” Alejandre (nee Villanueva), 70, a 50-year resident of Brookfield, died on April 13, 2025. She was known for her involvement in the banking community, serving as Chamber of Commerce president, and educating local grade school children on best banking practices.

Vicky was the wife of Thomas Alejandre; the mother of AnaMarie Alejandre and Re gina (Adam) Masterton; grandmother of Alexander Masterton, Crow Masterton and Ameliana Alejandre; daughter of Amelia Villanueva (nee Flores) and the late Luis Villanueva; sister of Katherine Lopez, Steven (Yolanda) Villanueva, Margaret (Gabe) Fernandez, Maria (David) Steinhaus, and Linda (Mike) Shields; and the aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Vi sitation and services we re held on April 17 and 18 at Hitzeman Funeral Home Ltd., 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, followe d by i nterment at Queen of Heaven C emeter y, Hillside.

To run an obituary

Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.

PO LICE REPO RT S

Hit-and-run driver caught the next day in Riverside

Riverside police arrested a 28-year-old Chicago woman, April 16, for a hit-and-run accident she caused the day before. Around 3:45 p.m. on April 15, two officers were dispatched to the intersection of Harlem and Ogden avenues on a report of a hit-and-run involving two cars. The victim told police she was driving south on Harlem Avenue in the right lane when another car passed her car on the right in the shoulder of the roadway. The woman said the other car, a black Jeep, struck hers on the right side when it moved to merge back into the traffic lane and did not stop afterward.

The officers observed damage to the right front door and fender with some black paint transfer. Police checked public security cameras and identified the car, including its license plate number, and found it was registered to a Chicago woman.

On April 16, police checked more cameras and found that the vehicle drives south on Harlem Avenue “almost every day” between 3-3:45 p.m. According to police, an officer waited at Berkeley Road for the car to pass and pulled it over. During the traffic stop, the officer learned the driver, who was the woman the car was registered to, had a revoked driver’s license. The officer arrested the woman, and she denied knowing about the previous day’s accident, though the officer noted white paint transfer on the rear driver’s side of the car matching what the other woman said.

The officer also smelled cannabis coming

from the car, and, when asked, the woman said there was a small amount in the center console. Police recovered a small baggie of cannabis and later placed it into evidence.

Police issued citations to the woman for driving on a revoked license, leaving the scene of an accident and improper lane usage. After being read her Miranda warning, the woman agreed to answer questions. She told police she had been driving south on Harlem Avenue around the time of the crash but denied that her car struck another car. She said she was driving in the left lane when she tried to get into the right lane, accelerating past and cutting off another driver. She said they both “flicked each other off” as they continued driving south, police said.

Police released the woman on pretrial conditions with a May 16 court date

These items were obtained from the Ri verside Police Department re ports dated April 15 and the Brookfield Police Department reports dated April 14-21 they re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Trent Brown

from page 1

before going back in for his grandfather, Hector Marquez, 64, who is unable to walk.

“The door was shut, so there wasn’t a lot of smoke in his room. I opened it, and I was like, ‘There’s a fire. Come on out.’ I picked him up, and I dragged him out.”

Then, the teenager ran to Brookfield’s Fire Station 2, one house down from his family’s, and banged on the door for help. A neighbor who saw the commotion called 911 while Jordan took a more direct route.

“The fire department person came out, and he was like, ‘What’s happening?’ I was like, ‘My house is on fire right here!’” he said. “He ran back in, and maybe five minutes later, there was like three [fire] trucks out here and like 16 squad cars. It was a lot.”

One of Jordan’s neighbors, Robyn Felten, said in a story tip the fire department had said Marquez and the dogs might not have survived if Jordan arrived even five or 10 minutes later than he did. Jordan confirmed as much and said he was glad he got there when he did.

Jordan said he and his grandpa lived there with his grandma, his father and his stepmother. He said one of his father’s cigarettes was the cause of the fire.

Joan Bradley, Jordan’s grandmother, said the teen’s father would store his used cigarettes in a can in the backyard. Unbeknownst to the family, the bottom of the can, which sat on the wooden edge of a garden bed, had rusted out, so the cigarette’s embers caught the wood on fire. While there was only a small amount of exterior damage, Jordan and Bradley said heavy wind caused the fire to spread underneath the home’s siding and into the walls, causing the internal blaze.

Brookfield Fire Chief Jim Adams said Marquez was treated for minor smoke inha-

the hospital. The cause of the fire is still formally under investigation. He said firefighters from Riverside, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, McCook, Oak Brook, Western Springs and Summit responded and helped Brookfield douse the fire.

“Damage to the house was relatively minor, and the residents were able to still live in the house,” Adams said.

Bradley, Jordan, and his father and stepmother are staying in a hotel for the moment, but Jordan said they might be able to move into a home in LaGrange Park this week, where they’ll stay until their home is fixed with the help of insurance. Jordan’s grandfather is staying with his mother and sister, who are acting as his care givers for the moment, Bradley said.

Jordan said his classmates and neighbors have checked in to make sure he’s OK.

“It was so scary. I was shaking for a good day or two,” he said. “I’m still shocked about it, but I’m trying to, not put it out of my mind, but calm down a little bit. It’s over, and what’s done is done.”

Felten — and even a passer-by during the interview — called Jordan a hero for saving his grandfather, but he said he has mixed thoughts on the label.

“I felt good about it, but I think I feel like there’s a little more to that. I don’t know how to really explain it,” he said. “I’m happy about being called a hero, but I think I could have done better [by] just go[ing] for my grandpa first, instead of the dogs.”

Jordan said he had two takeaways from what happened last week.

“Number one: Stop smoking,” he said. Number two: don’t ignore the smell of smoke.

“Last Monday morning, I smelled campfire, but I had a campfire with my friends outside, so I thought it was my clothes. [The fire department] said it [had] been smoldering for a little bit, so that’s probably when it started, in the morning,” Jordan said. “If you smell anything, don’t brush it off your shoulder. Just check around, make sure nothing is on fire.”

Sports

Mladjan an all-around standout for LTHS girls water polo

Michigan recruit from Brook eld helps Lions go a er another state trophy

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Lyons Township High School senior girls water polo player Maya Mladjan is one of the state’s top defenders. Her 5-foot-11 frame patrols the hole in front of the goal to often thwart the opponents’ top scorer. Within the blink of an eye, Mladjan races to the other end of the pool, fueling the Lions’ offense as one of the state’s top scorers. As a senior, team captain, four-year starter and University of Michigan recruit, she is trying to help the Lions to their third top-four state trophy in the past four seasons

The Brookfield resident is especially invigorated after missing nine of the first 12 matches because of a concussion, illness and spring break.

“I’m so excited I’m here. I’m not getting sick or concussed,” she exclaimed after contributing to the Lions’ 14-7 home victory over rival Hinsdale Central, April 16. “Generally, the season’s going really well but I feel like I’m not where I want to be right now. I had a long break. I’ve been in and out of the water so personally I feel like it’s not been according to plan. It’s kind of stressful but I think the team is doing really well.”

The Lions (12-3-1, 3-0 in West Suburban Conference) again are among the state’s top teams, scoring between nine and 20 goals in 12 games.

Their only losses were to Libertyville 8-7, Saturday, Evanston 6-1, April 5, and Stevenson 18-9, March 15, with a 5-5 tie against St. Ignatius, April 5. Stevenson beat Evanston for last year’s state championship. The Lions were third

Even with her absences, Mladjan has 37 goals, nine assists and 23 steals to join juniors Bella Recker (team-high 49 goals, 18 assists, 28 steals), Bebe Wright (21 goals, team-high 41 assists and 41 steals) and Avery Watanabe (10 goals, 16 assists), freshman Maddie Wieczorkiewicz (20 goals, 18

Ly ons Town ship’s May a Mladjan (9) receives a p ass down low against Hinsdale Ce nt ral dur ing a West Suburban C onference match, Apr i l 16, in Wester n Spr ings

assists) and sophomore Eileen Cavaliere (11 goals, 8 assists) as top offensive players.

“Maya’s a huge contributor in and out of the water. She’s a very positive person. She’s very uplifiting of her teammates and she holds herself to a high standard, which leads to her really performing in the water,” Recker said. “In my eyes, she’s one of our keystone players. She is just very, very vital to this team.”

Mladjan led the 2024 Lions with 122 goals and 52 ejections drawn and added 40 assists and 68 steals. She was named firstteam all-state after being second-team allstate in 2023 and third team all-state in 2022. This year, she’s contributing more to the defense, which has allowed five goals or fewer five times

Senior goalie Delaney Judkins (128 saves), the other defensive veteran, missed the Hinsdale Central match after her concussion suffered in practice. Recker and Judkins were second-team all-state in 2024. Mladjan, Judkins and senior Sarsha O’Sullivan are team captains.

“[Mladjan is] covering a lot of water, but her main position is defensive hole,” LTHS coach Megan Jacobs said.

“She’s our leading scorer. She’s our leading defender. She’s everywhere. She definitely directs people in the water, tells them where to go, what to do because she has so much experience. She’s definitely a leader in the water.”

She missed the 9-6 home victory over Sandburg match March 17 after suffering her concussion earlier that day. She was inside her parked car at the north campus when another vehicle backed into hers. Mladjan’s head struck a window As a sophomore, she suffered her first concussion during the closing seconds of the Lions’ two-goal victory in the WSC Tour nament final.

As a result, Mladjan had to sit out sectionals the following weekend. In the sectional final, the 26-5 Lions lost to Mother McAuley 13-11, a match they probably could have won with her presence.

“[This concussion] was very unfortunate but I’m glad it happened earlier rather

than later,” she said.

At Michigan, Mladjan will major in biology or biomedical engineering with plans to enter pre-med. The recruiting process ended with her verbal commitment in early August.

“I still subscribe to be the best version of myself. That’s always in the back of my mind, but (committing early) was still less stress,” she said. “I looked for an athletically challenging program. I feel like that was one of my top priorities. I love water polo. I knew Michig an would offer that but I feel like they value their academics a lot so in that aspect I felt like it was one of the best choices.”

Mladjan will be reunited with older sister Emilia, a 2023 LTHS graduate. Emilia is a Michig an women’s water polo sophomore with 16 goals and three assists this season for the Wolverines (9-6).

“Obviously, I love that she’s there but honestly I felt like [Michigan] was the best choice for me,” she said. “She’s there and she had some effect but the majority of the decision was my own.”

STEVE JOHNSTON

RBHS boys lacrosse building toward the postseason

Numerous four-year seniors, strong juniors seeking sectional victories

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Ben Lupfer is among many seniors who has seen the Riverside Brookfield High School boys lacrosse progr am come a long way. With the Bulldogs in their fourth varsity season, He has lived the progr am’s growing pains and progress since day one as a freshman.

“It’s grown a lot. [ RBHS c oach Jo e U rbanski] has d one eve rything he ca n to bring this pr ogr am up,” Lupfer said. “We’ve brought a lot of guys up and thi s year our team’s looking really g ood . We ’ve g ot all of our guys c oming back from last year. We ’ve j ust d one a great job of building a brotherhood.”

T he time appears right for the Bulldogs (4-4) to take the next ste p. T hey’re seek-

ing their first postseason victory after losing to Lemont 13-6 in last year’s St Rita Sectional opener. In 2024, RBHS improved to 11-6 after two four-win seasons.

T he Bulldogs return all of their starters except graduated four-year starting goalie Alexander Gome z.

“I think the g oal as a pr ogr am is j ust give it all we ’ve g ot because nothing ’s g uaranteed,” said senior Max Strong.

“The g oal, obviousl y, is to g et to state but it takes winning sectionals to do that. I think we c an do something big this year If we c an j ust g et the little things fixed, g et it to g ether as a pr ogr am, I think we ’ve got thi s. ”

Marmion 10-5, April 16, Kenwood 17-2 on Senior Night, April 8, and Nazareth 13-1, April 5.

“So far, so good. We’re making stride s for sure,” Urbanski said. “We just need to clean up the silly mistakes, stay out of the penalty box and play to g ether as a team, and we’re going to be good.”

Saturday’s 10-9 loss at Hof fman Estates on a goal in the final minute followed the Bulldogs’ last loss 11-10 to Waubonsie Valley, April 14.

T hey beat Oak Forest 9-5 on Monday,

Junior Xavier MrozikDeJesus, a 2024 all-sectional player, and Lupfer are leading scorers. Others providing significant minutes include Strong, seniors T homas Kos and Finbar Mathews and juniors Patrick Galloway and Joey Zimmer man.

“[ We ’ve impr oved on] of f ense, j ust p assing the b all, making sure we ’re doing g ood pl ay s and especially defense with our slide s and stick skills,” Galloway said.

With Gomez graduating, Galloway has been pivotal in returning to goalie, a posi-

tion he played as a freshman. He moved to attack in 2024.

“[Galloway] has been doing a phenomenal job,” Urbanski said.

“He’s a stud [in goal],” Lupfer added. Urbanski said moments after Saturday’s loss that multiple tough outcomes should serve to make the Bulldogs stronger. They next play Montini (3-2) Thursday and visit Lyons Township (6-1), April 29.

“Getting [at least] one playof f win would be hug e, and I think this season’s been awesome because we’ve had a lot of close g ames just to g et us ready for these types of tough matchups in the postseason,” Urbanski said.

T he victory over Oak Forest (9-2) was the Bulldogs’ fifth g ame decided by oneto-five goals.

“These losses don’ t define us and it’s just helping us to g et better,” said Lupfer about Hof fman Estates. “We g et to lear n what we’re doing wrong and how to fix it. It’s really going to g et us prepared for that first playof f g ame and I think we’ve got a really good chance.”

Bulldogs’ Caputo to continue soccer kicks at Drury

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Senior Ella Caputo has been a mainstay of the Riverside Brookfield High School girls soccer program since she was a freshman. Caputo anticipates the same soccer experience when she attends NCAA Division II Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.

“The coaches are absolutely amazing, completely supported me,” Caputo said. “I have an opportunity to start my freshman year. They’re losing a lot of seniors so I definitely have an opportunity to get a lot of playing time.”

Caputo joins Lucy Drenth, Isa Hernandez and Raleigh Jesswein as four-year varsity seniors for the Bulldogs (3-10, 0-1 in Upstate Eight Conference East Division), who hope to snap an eight-match losing streak as they enter the teeth of their conference schedule. Senior Katie Doyle will play soccer at Division III Knox (Galesburg).

Caputo ear ned All-Metro Suburban Conference honors in 2024. Caputo and Drenth were All-MSC Red in 2023 when the conference was larger with two divisions.

“It’s definitely weird being the oldest ones now,” Caputo said. “When we’re in the center and doing the team cheer, it’s very weird making sure we’re the ones getting each other hyped up and we’re the ones saying the team speech, taking leadership. It’s crazy how time flies.”

Juniors Mia Rodriguez (4 goals, assist) and Michelle Panduro (3 goal, 2 assists) and senior Abigail Jurkovic (4 assists) are current scoring leaders.

Caputo (goal, 2 assists) contributed to all three goals during the current streak. She

scored her first goal in the 2-1 UEC East loss at Elmwood Park, April 8, with an assist from Jurkovic. She assisted junior Aylin Romero (goal, 2 assists) in the 2-1 loss at Niles North April 16 and Panduro in the 5-1 loss at Hinsdale South April 12. Currently at 16 career goals and 23 assists for the Bulldogs, Caputo had 10 goals and a team-best 10 assists in 2024.

Her first goal is still the most memorable. That came March 21, 2022, freshman year against visiting Hinsdale Central in a 3-2 loss. The Bulld ogs later lost to the Red Devils in the re gional semifinals on penalty kick s.

“I remember Natalie Rubi sent a cross in. I trapped it with my thigh, shot it with

my left foot right into the right corner of the net,” Caputo said.

“It was such a good feeling, all of the seniors, juniors, everyone running and jumping on me. One of the upperclassmen I was really close to [Nina Bretz] started crying because she was so proud of me.”

At Drury, Caputo plans to study psycholog y and minor in criminology

This past fall, the Panthers ended with a program-best No. 14 national ranking in Division II after their 16-3-4 season and trip to the Midwest Re gional finals.

Caputo’s recruiting class is 15 players, two of them transfers.

“Other than their skills, the community is amazing,” Caputo said of Drury’s players.

“They’re family. They’re all close. They hang out every Sunday. They hang out every day. They’re all roommates so I have a built-in friend group. It’s the community that got to me.”

BEN LUPFER

ELLA C APUTO

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Plaintiff, -v.-

JOSE G. ROMERO, GEMA A. ROMERO, BYLINE BANK, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO COMMUNITY BANK OF OAK PARK RIVER FOREST, CROWN ASSET MANAGEMENT, LLC, LVNV FUNDING, LLC Defendants 2023 CH 02946

812 HUGH MUIR LN MAYWOOD, IL 60153

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 10, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on May 13, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 812 HUGH MUIR LN, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-02-322016-0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $183,864.65.

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, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

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 POSSES-

SION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 151701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact CHAD LEWIS, ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ

SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 205 N. MICHIGAN SUITE 810, CHICAGO, IL, 60601 (561) 241-6901. Please refer to file number 22-087686. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CHAD LEWIS

ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC

205 N. MICHIGAN SUITE 810 CHICAGO IL, 60601 561-241-6901

E-Mail: ILMAIL@RASLG.COM

Attorney File No. 22-087686

Attorney ARDC No. 6306439

Attorney Code. 65582

Case Number: 2023 CH 02946

TJSC#: 45-910

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 # 2023 CH 02946

I3264296

NOVENAS

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you Jesus. Thank You St. Jude. R.R.

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

Attention: Parents of Homeschooled Students

On Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 9:00am, Forest Park Schools District 91 will conduct a meeting at the Administration Office, 424 DesPlaines Avenue, Forest Park.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities and/or students that are eligible to receive Title 1 services who attend private schools and/or home schools within the district boundaries for the 2025-2026 school year. If you are the parent of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and/or is eligible to receive Title 1 services and you reside within the boundaries of Forest Park Schools District 91, you are urged to attend. If you have further questions pertaining to this meeting, please contact David Mekhiel, Director of Student Services, at (708) 366- 5700 ext 3306.

Published in Forest Park Review April 16, 23, 2025

Notice of Public Meeting

Proviso Township High School

(PTHS) District 209, located at 8601 N. Roosevelt Rd, Forest Park, IL, will hold a “timely and meaningful consultation” virtual public meeting on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private or parochial schools or are homeschooled within the district for the 2025-2026 school year.

Parents of homeschooled students residing within the boundaries of PTHS District 209 who have been or may be identified with a disability are encouraged to attend.

This meeting is being conducted in compliance with Illinois State Board of Education regulations.

To receive a Microsoft TEAMS invitation to participate in the meeting, please email rfleming@ pths209.org.

For questions or additional information, please contact: Ms. Ramonda Fleming, Ed.S District Coordinator (708) 497-4650

Published in Forest Park Review April 9, 16, 23, 30 and May 7, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Attention JP MORGAN CHASE BANK NA & MISAEL MARTINEZSALGADO, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on 5/30/25, a sale will be held at 1510 Hannah Ave, Forest Park, IL, 60130 to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois against such articles for labor, services, skill or material expended upon a storage furnished for such articles at the request of the following designated persons, unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice. Our records show, your 2016, CHEVROLET, SILVERADO 1500 with the following VIN 1GCVKREH9GZ142999 was towed to our facility per police ordinance. Our records show that the current amount due and owing is $2000.00. If payment is not received within 30 days Nobs Towing Inc. will enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 50/3.

Published in Forest Park Review April 23, 2025

NOTICE ON PUBLIC HEARING ON RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP BUDGET

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a tentative Budget and Appropriations Ordinance for the Township of River Forest, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, for the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2025 and ending March 31, 2026 will be on file and conveniently available to public inspection at the River Forest Civic Center Authority Building, 8020 Madison St., River Forest, and at the River Forest Public Library, 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest from Friday, May 9, 2024 as well on the Township website at www. RiverForestTownship.org.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN HEREBY that a public hearing on said Budget and Appropriations Ordinance will be held at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at the River Forest Township regular meeting at 8020 Madison St., River Forest and final hearing and action on the ordinance will be taken at the regular meeting held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 6:00PM.

Dated the 8th of April, 2025, Margaret Detmer, Township Clerk

Published in Wdnesday Journal April 23, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON 2024-2025 AMENDED BUDGET

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District Number 97, Cook County, State of Illinois, that it will hold a public hearing on its proposed amended budget for 2024-2025 school year on the 27th day of May, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. The hearing will be held at the District Office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302.

Such proposed amended budget shall be on file conveniently available for public inspection from and after April 25, 2025 in the Business Office of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm.

The Board of Education intends to adopt the proposed amended 2024-2025 budget following the public hearing.

Gavin Kearney President Board of Education

Oak Park Elementary School District 97

Published in Wdnesday Journal April 23, 2025

Civics

Submit events and see full calendar at rblandmark.com/events

Your News. Your Community.

Women’s wellness center Ad-B.pdf 1 4/17/25 10:14 AM

Sunday,April27,2025

Wellnessfair

11:00am-2:00pm

A word from the OPRF Chamber Executive Director, Darien-Marion-Burton

begins with a healthy one.

That’s why we’re proud to present the 2025 Community Health & Wellness Fair—our annual celebration of care, connection, and community. Whether you’re looking to explore new wellness services, speak directly with local health experts, or simply enjoy a familyfriendly day full of energy and education, this event is for you.

This year’s fair is our

most dynamic yet—with over 70 vendors, free health screenings provided by RUSH Oak Park Hospital, a relaxing Self-Care Lounge sponsored by the OPRF Community Foundation, and the return of Walk with a Doc, an interactive experience that brings health advice off the charts and onto the track.

It’s a chance to learn, engage, and invest in your well-being—all in one place, and all for free. We hope you’ll join us in building a healthier future—together.

We believe there is a benefit to you by our collaborating with health care partners to make the therapy experience for adults, children, couples, and families happen in innovative ways. We see integrative therapy and counseling as a way to explore, develop, and enrich the self for you and your family.

Darien-Marion-Burton

First Light Home Care - Supporting Parkinsons Care

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a time to spotlight one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the United States, second only to Alzheimer’s. While Parkinson’s does not yet have a cure, the millions of Americans diagnosed with Parkinson’s can live fulﬁlling lives with the right care and support.

Parkinson’s affects everybody differently, and this makes early diagnosis tricky. People typically think ﬁrst of the motor-related symptoms of Parkinson’s; tremors, slow movements, difﬁculty with balance, etc. Parkinson’s also manifests in other forms, however, such as depression, sleep disorders, and cognitive issues, which doctors

may initially diagnose as something else.

Parkinson’s is undoubtedly a challenge for those affected by it, but proper care and lifestyle changes can help to manage the disease and to slow its progression. Regular exercise, of 2.5 hours a week or more, has been shown to slow disease progression and improve overall well-being. Therapy (physical, occupational, and speech) is also crucial in maintaining both independence and quality of life.

In the early stages of Parkinson’s, the emotional effects can be as difﬁcult to navigate as the physical effects. In this stage especially, having a strong emotional support system, which can mitigate the effects of depression and other related symptoms, is every bit as important as any physical and therapeutic support.

Over time, Parkinson’s makes routine activities such as dressing, eating, and bathing more difﬁcult. By implementing a small number of practical changes, a patient with Parkinson’s can maintain independence for an extended period. For example, exchanging clothing with buttons for similar clothing with elastic waistbands and Velcro can allow someone with Parkinson’s to continue dressing themselves; similarly, using an electric toothbrush and an electric razor can allow them to continue to groom themselves. For safety and increased mobility in the home, rearranging the furniture, careful

attention to removing obstacles, and the addition of grab bars have proven beneﬁcial.

With the right approach—combining medication, exercise, and thoughtful adaptations—those with Parkinson’s can continue to live active, meaningful lives. Let’s use this month to spread awareness of Parkinson’s and to support those affected by this disease.

Join our research study

A race-based stress reduction and resilience program for African American women

Researchers at Loyola University Chicago and Columbia University in New York City are conducting a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research study examining the effectiveness of a race-based stress reduction program on well-being, inﬂammation, and DNA methylation in African American women at risk for heart or metabolic disease. The purpose of this study is to learn whether the stress reduction program, called “Resilience, Stress, and Ethnicity” (RiSE) improves the body’s response to stress in African American women who have risk factors for heart or metabolic disease.

development and empowerment.

Approximately 300 women will participate in this research from the Chicagoland and New York City areas.

This study is being conducted by Karen Saban, PhD, RN from Loyola University Chicago and Jacquelyn Taylor, PhD, RN from Columbia University, New York City.

No drugs are involved in this study and it will not change your regular medical care.

asked to participate in following the intervention. These “booster” sessions will also be provided online.

RiSE is a group-based, 8-week intervention that integrates cognitive behavioral strategies focused on the impact that social stress, such as racism has on the body, racial identity

If you decide to participate in this research study, you will be randomly assigned to participate in either the 8week stress reduction program (RiSE) or an 8-week general health education program. Both programs will meet online (i.e. Zoom) for approximately 2 hours each week for 8 consecutive weeks and will be led by experts in the ﬁeld. In addition, there will be two “booster” sessions that you will be

Participants will be scheduled for 4 clinic visits during the study period to complete surveys describing their health, emotions, stressors, and health behaviors and to provide a saliva sample to measure markers of inﬂammation. Participants will receive a $50 gift card for each clinic visit and $30 gift card for each RiSE or Health Education Program session for a total of up to $500.

If you have any questions or would like further information about this study, please feel free to call or email us. We appreciate your consideration.

Chicagoland area: Email: RiSEstudy@luc.edu Phone: 773-508-3990

Belmont Village Oak Park offers residents weekly Parkinson’s Exercise Classes, as a way to help improve activities of daily living. The class helps improve strength, endurance and coordination.

5 reasons your family should attend the Health & Wellness Fair!

Access Local Experts – For Free Where else can you meet dozens of health and wellness professionals from across the western suburbs in one place—and get your questions answered on the spot?

2 Free Screenings = Peace of Mind

Thanks to RUSH Oak Park Hospital, attendees can receive complimentary health screenings that might otherwise cost you time and money. Know your numbers, check in on your health, and take action early.

Walk with a Doc

Discover New Resources

Get your steps in and pick a healthcare professional’s brain during our Walk with a Doc program. No appointment, no waiting room—just real conversation while you move.

From physical therapy to nutrition to mental health support, the fair is packed with services you might not even know are available right here in your community.

It’s Fun for the Whole Family

With hands-on activities, giveaways, and healthy snacks, this event is designed for all ages. Health isn’t just personal—it’s a family affair.

The West Cook YMCA offers in-person, on-demand, and livestreaming programs that fit your needs and your schedule. All complimentary for members to help you reach your fitness goals, reduce your risk for chronic diseases, provide a safe and welcoming space for youth, and so much more. Stop in for a tour and we will show you all that the Y has to offer to meet your needs. Tour guides are available by reservation online at westcookymca.org/tour.

Cantata/The British Home Celebrates its 100th Anniversary!

Cantata/The British Home Celebrates its 100th Anniversary! Cantata/The British Home Celebrates its 100th Anniversary!

Cantata/The British Home Celebrates its 100th Anniversary!

This year marks the 100th year of Cantata Adult Life Services (formerly, The British Home) providing campus

and at home

This year marks the 100th year of Cantata Adult Life Services (formerly, The British Home) providing campus living and at home services for local seniors and their families in Brookfield and the surrounding area. Cantata’s founders were the Daughters of the British Empire (DBE), a group of women dedicated to honoring their British heritage and traditions in the United States.

for local seniors and their families in Brookfield and the surrounding area. Cantata’s founders were the Daughters of the British Empire (DBE), a group of women dedicated to honoring their British heritage and traditions in the United States.

In the early 1920’s, DBE members established a not-for-profit nursing home on Cantata’s current campus in Brookfield, after receiving a donation of land from Samuel Insull, the CEO of Commonwealth Edison at the time. They welcomed their first residents in 1925, and named their endeavor “The British Old People’s Home”. This name was subsequently changed to “The British Home for Retired Men and Women” in the 1950’s, and then to the more contemporary “Cantata Adult Life Services” in 2012. In the early 1970’s, The British Home broadened its mission to serve people of all nationalities and ethnicities.

Since its establishment 100 years ago, Cantata/The British Home has served tens of thousands of seniors and their families in the Chicago area, largely in the western suburbs of Chicago. In 2025, Cantata/The British Home will host and sponsor many activities and events throughout the year to commemorate and celebrate its century of exceptional service to seniors, their families, and our local community.

In a world ﬁlled with vibrant sounds –the laughter of loved ones, the melody of music, the gentle rustle of leaves – experiencing hearing loss can feel isolating and disheartening. However, it doesn't have to be that way. At our clinic, we understand the profound impact that hearing loss can have on your life, which is why we are dedicated to providing compassionate and effective treatment to help you rediscover the joy of sound.

Here are just a few reasons why you should choose us for your hearing loss treatment journey:

▪ Expertise and Experience: Our team consists of highly trained audiologists and hearing healthcare professionals who have years of experience in diagnosing and treating various types of hearing loss. Whether your hearing loss is due to aging, noise exposure, or other factors, rest assured that you are in capable hands.

▪ Comprehensive Evaluation: We believe in taking a personalized

approach to hearing healthcare. When you visit our clinic, we will conduct a thorough evaluation of your hearing abilities, taking into account your lifestyle, communication needs, and any speciﬁc concerns you may have. This allows us to tailor our treatment recommendations to suit your unique circumstances.

▪ State-of-the-Art Technology: We are committed to staying at the forefront of advancements in hearing healthcare technology. From cutting-edge diagnostic equipment to the latest hearing aid technologies, we offer a range of solutions designed to improve your hearing clarity and quality of life.

▪ Individualized Treatment Plans: We understand that hearing loss is not a one-size-ﬁts-all condition. That's why we take the time to listen to your concerns and preferences before developing a customized treatment plan that addresses your speciﬁc needs. Whether you require hearing aids, assistive listening devices, or auditory

Your Hearing Journey Starts with Us

rehabilitation therapy, we will work closely with you to ﬁnd the best solution.

▪ Ongoing Support and Care: Our commitment to your hearing health doesn't end after your initial treatment. We believe in building long-term relationships with our patients and providing ongoing support and care to ensure that you continue to enjoy optimal hearing health for years to come. From regular follow-up appointments to adjustments and maintenance services, we are here for you every step of the way.

▪ Improved Quality of Life: The ability to hear and communicate effectively is essential for maintaining social connections, staying engaged in activities you love, and preserving your overall well-being. By seeking treatment for your hearing loss, you can experience a signiﬁcant improvement in your quality of life, allowing you to fully participate in conversations, enjoy your favorite hobbies, and reconnect with the world around you.

Don't let hearing loss hold you back from living life to the fullest. Take the ﬁrst step towards better hearing health today by scheduling a consultation with us. Together, we can help you rediscover the joy of sound and embrace a brighter, more vibrant future.

Dr. Cynthia Chow

Thanks to our Health Fair Vendors

Presenting Sponsor

Rush Oak Park Hospital

Venue Sponsor

Park District of Oak Park

Gold Sponsor

Meridian Psychiatric Partners

Gold Sponsor

Sanoﬁ

AllerVie Health^

Analog Yoga*

Athletico Physical Therapy*

B-Health*

Birth Roots Community Midwifery*

ButcherBox^

CAYR Connections*

Celebrating Seniors Coalition*

Chiro One Wellness Centers

Coach Angie Ltd.*

Collaboration for Early Childhood*

Community Support Services*

Consulting Audiology Associates, LLC; The Hearing Place*

Envision Unlimited^

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park*

FirstLight Home Care of Oak Park*

Fitness Formula Clubs*

Flourish Research^

Frick Kids Art*

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network^

Glamour Health and Wellness

Medical Spa*

Gold Sponsor

Riveredge Hospital

Self-Care Lounge Sponsor

Oak Park - River Forest Community Foundation

Silver Sponsor

Centre Physical Therapy, LLC

Silver Sponsor

Mosaic Counseling and Wellness

Goodhope Healthcare and HHS, Inc.*

Grace Therapy and Wellness Center*

Illinois Dermatology Institute^

Intuitive resource^

Joland Home Care LLC^

Kadampa Meditation Center

Chicago*

Lake Street Family Physicians*

Main Line Beneﬁts*

Midwestern University - Chicago

College of Optometry^

Mindful Motion Physical Therapy*

MOMENTUM OP*

North West Housing Partnership

NAMI Metro Suburban*

Nehemiah Community Project

Niche Physical Therapy, LLC*

North West Housing Partnership*

Oak Park Public Library*

Pure Health Chiropractic*

Renewal by Andersen*

Royal Health Care*

Sage Lifestyle Concierge LLC*

Sage Therapy^

Serenity Holistic Health, Inc*

Silver Sponsor

Oak Park Township

Silver Sponsor

Village of Oak Park

Silver Sponsor

American House Oak Park

Silver Sponsor

Little Steps Pediatric House Calls

Smart Love Family Services*

Sparkle Aesthetics^

Super Teeth Pediatric Dentistry*

Synergy HomeCare*

Synergy Integrative Health & Wellness*

Teeth and Things*

The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration^

The Chicago Urban League*

The Pearl of Montclare*

Thrive Counseling Center*

Thrive Wellness & Aesthetics*

United Vein & Vascular Centers

Urban Unwind Wellness*

Way Back Inn/Grateful Houser*

Worthy Bodywork & Healing

Your Passion First^

Nutriquity, PLLC*

Styles 4 Kidz, NFP*

Andy Kaczkowski - WestPoint Financial Group*

HEAL Wellness + Longevity

Matt Donnelly’s Iron Garage*

Genesis Lab Services*

Caravan Sales, Inc.*

Oak Park River Forest

Infant Welfare Society*

Sinus and Snoring

MD - ENT Family Clinic^

TASC^

* OPRF Chamber member ^ non-member

Don’t miss our upcoming

2025 Rebuilders Celebration on Friday, September 19, 2025.

6 PM Social Hour and Silent Auction

7 PM Dinner

Presentation

Rebuilder Celebratio

HereatWayBackInn,webelievethateveryindividualhasthepotentialtochange andtherighttoafulfillinglife.Wehavededicatedourselvestohelpingthosein need-pullingthembackfromaddictionandguidingthemforward toanewbeginning.

Wearecommittedtorebuildinglives,andthecommunity, onepersonatatime.

Fromresidentialandoutpatientcaretorecoveryhomesand supportforlovedones,ourholisticapproachhelpseach personrebuildtheirlifewhilestrengtheningtheirrecovery fromsubstance/gamblinguseandco-occurringdisorders.

RESIDENTIALCARE

Adultindividualsliveon-siteinasupportive,structured environmentwhilereceivingclinicalservicesand bolsteringtheirdailylifeskills.

OUTPATIENTCARE

Gamblingtreatment,availableatourresidentiallevel,is alsoofferedonanoutpatientbasisinpersonorvia telehealth,tailoredtotheindividual’sschedule.

YOUTH&FAMILYCARE

Individualsaged13-17aretreatedonanoutpatient basis.Wealsosupportandcounsellovedones, workingtogethertofindsolutionsforthewholefamily.

ABOUT US

ADDITIONALINFORMATION

Programfeesareonaslidingscale.Thankstocommunity partnerships,someservicesareavailableatlittleornocost. Visitwww.waybackinn.orgorcall708-345-8422fordetails.

Wearecommittedtorebuildinglives,andthecommunity, onepersonatatime.