By STELLA BROWN
In a digital cial media algorithms by artificial inducing fear endless scrolling and days without us realizing it Not all har mful, but in recent y technology risen. At Ri younger students issued tablets ing while older Chromebooks educational in the district dren are overexposed course of their lear
Sheila Schrems
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e village will ask voters for a one-time tax hike to fund a 25year road improvement program as debt falls o
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield is planning to ask its voters in November to approve a referendum question that would allow the village to fund street improvements for the next 25 years. With an eye to explaining its case to voters, the village government is considering working with a consultant who specializes in educating residents.
“The intention is to raise $2 million annually without increasing the tax rate, taking advantage of the fact that some of the debt from the previous road referendum is falling off the tax rolls,” Finance Director Doug Cooper told village trustees on April 13. With the prior referendum’s debt being paid of f, taxpayers would normally experience a decrease in the amount of property taxes they owe, but if voters approve the new referendum, taxes will remain steady, Cooper said. The portion of the levy that had gone toward debt would instead go toward Brookfield’s street maintenance through 2051.
The proposed referendum is similar to one that Riverside officials put before their voters in 2024, which nar rowly passed. In August, Village President Michael Garvey called the two referenda “analogous” to one another.
“We can’t advocate for a ‘yes’ vote or a ‘no’ vote, but it’s our duty to make sure we get information out there about the reason and the issues,” Garvey said at the April 13 meeting.
In Illinois, the annual property tax levy in any given municipality cannot increase beyond the prior year’s Consumer Price Index inflation rate or 5% if the CPI is higher without the passage of a referendum. The Property Tax Extension Law Limit makes sure property tax rates don’t skyrocket in years where inflation does According to a memo prepared by Cooper, a 25-year road program would cost Brookfield an estimated $3.5 million to $4
million each year, but the village now only spends about $1.5 million to $2 million on road maintenance. Those expenditures come from a mix of the village’s general fund, water sewer fund and motor fuel tax revenues, according to the memo.
Brookfield could have instead pursued a referendum to issue debt for the same purpose of funding street maintenance, but staf f thought the costs associated with issuing the debt and paying back interest wouldn’t be in the village’s best interests, according to the memo.
After reviewing proposals and interviewing re presentatives, staf f recommended to trustees that Brookfield contract with Metro Strategies Group, which is based in Downers Grove and has worked with multiple nearby municipalities and taxing bodies including Berwyn, LaGrange Park, Oak Park and the Illinois Department of Transportation, according to its website. Trustees voted to approve the contract on Monday, April 27.
In exchange for no more than $28,000, Metro will develop a plan for reaching out to residents and educating them on the reasons for the referendum, granting its approval to village communications before they are sent out, according to the memo.
In a letter to Brookfield staf f, Tammy Wierciak, principal of Metro, boasted a 70% voter approval rate for an $8 million
bond referendum the firm supported in Clarendon Hills to pay for “critical improvements” to its park district facilities.
At the meeting, Trustee Julie Narimatsu asked whether Metro would be asking the public to choose a path forward for the referendum, but Cooper clarified that the choice between issuing debt or increasing the property tax limit is up to staff and the village board.
“We were going to go with the limiting rate increase,” he said. “The consultant is really there to help us move through the referendum process and guide us toward the end result.”
The possibility of proposing a street maintenance referendum arose last year as village trustees discussed methods to fund a potential community recreation center at Ehlert Park following the conclusion of a feasibility study.
In 2016, Brookfield voters approved a referendum to issue three sets of bond debt in 2016, 2018 and 2020 to pay for street maintenance through the present day. Each set of bonds lasts 10 years, meaning Brookfield’s debt capacity won’t be freed up to cover the construction costs of the recreation center — which could cost $25 million or more, depending on when the process starts — until 2030.
Village trustees are expected to vote on the contract with Metro at their meeting on April 27.
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ere were tree plantings galore on ursday and Friday
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
It’s April, which means spring is in bloom: the birds are singing, the sun is shining, and there’s no better time than the present to plant a tree.
At least, that’s the case in Brookfield and Riverside, where village foresters led tree plantings in reco gnition of the annual holiday that celebrates the stewardship of our fibrous friends, whose leaves take in carbon dioxide and produce oxyg en through photosynthesis, whose roots can provide stability underground and whose trunks are great for leaning on or sitting under in shade.
Riverside’s village forester, Michael Collins, led a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students at Ames Elementary School in singing “Know Your Oaks” and learning about the importance of trees before the students helped shovel dirt onto the newly planted pecan and sweet birch trees, which were donated by the Olmsted Society.
“Part of Frederick Law Olmsted’s le gacy is to bring people close to nature. He built this village and all the trees here, so it’s part of our mission to bring more trees to the landscape. Every year, we donate a tree,” said Linda LaBelle, an Olmsted Society member who attended the planting at the triangle park between Re pton and Southcote roads.
and trying to inspire them to follow the path of working with nature, working the land, being good stewards of the land,” he said. “Probably the [most fun] part is inspiring the children and trying to get them to be the next generation to start planting trees.”
“Olmsted ‘built this village and all the trees here, so it’s par t of our mission to bring more trees to the landscape.’”
LINDA L ABELLE Olmsted Society
The event bore resemblance to last year’s Arbor Day celebration, where the students assisted Collins and David Kusnierz, a certified arborist with SavATree, in planting a bald cypress tree. Collins said Arbor Day is “like a forester’s Christmas.”
His favorite part of the day is “connecting with the kids
Like last year, SavATree provided the students with seedlings they could take home and plant in their own yards to watch grow over the years.
On Thursday, in joint recognition of Arbor Day as well as Earth Day the day before, staff and volunteers at St. Mary School and St. Mary Church in Riverside led the school’s students in planting twin catalpa trees in front of the chapel. Bob Finn, the volunteer leader of the St. Paul VI Parish’s Creation Care team, led the planting.
“I was able to get a couple trees donated by the Chicago Region Trees Initiative, which is a group through Morton Arboretum that donates and plants trees throughout the Chicago area,” Finn said.
The Creation Care team has been active for around three years, Finn told the Landmark. The group undertakes other environmental efforts, like organizing Styrofoam recycling events, discouraging idling cars and spread-
ing the word about other sustainability events, he said.
“The whole Creation Care team is driven by the ‘Laudato Si’ encyclical that Pope Francis wrote in 2015,” which is a for mal letter the late Pope issued calling for people to take action against climate change and environmental de gradation, Finn said.
In Brookfield, Village Forester Victor Janusz led a similar event at Ehlert Park later Friday morning, where he quoted J. Sterling Morton, the 1872 founder of Arbor Day, before leading a handful of residents in planting a New Horizon elm from Hinsdale Nurseries.
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago provided swamp white oak and pin oak seedlings for attendees to take home and plant, Janusz said.
“Arbor Day is important because it helps bring reco gnition to making sure that we plant trees, because we’ve done such a great job taking them down,” he said.
Janusz said he enjoys the holida y as an extension of his role as an arbor expert in Brookfield.
“Being that resource for the community, that’s why I periodically do these plantings. Sometimes, I do school plantings, where I can get involved with the kids and get them to interact and asking questions, correct them lead them into the right direction,” he said. “I think that can actually spawn their interest in the whole concept other than, ‘Hey, it’s a tree I can climb.’”
By BRENDAN HEFFERNAN Staff Reporter
Oak Park’s village board unanimously ap proved a new economic development plan fo Roosevelt Road this week, but it’ll take “a lot of effort” in order for it make an impact, vil lage leaders said.
The board heard from a team of consultants that spent the last year working on “the Roosevelt Road Corridor Plan,” the new economic development and streetscaping plan sponsored by Oak Park’s village gover nment and the Berwyn Development Corporation. The plan will look to boost residential de velopment, support local businesses and im prove road safety and pedestrian access along the bustling thoroughfare, which serves as defining border for suburban Oak Park, Ber wyn and Cicero.
Last March, Oak Pa rk’s village board ap proved $50,000 in funding for The Lakota Group, a project management and urban design fir m that had helped develop Oak Park’s Pleasant District streetscaping proj ect, to help develop the plan. Berwyn also pledged $50,000 for the study, according to village documents.
Study area and surrounding communities
Safety, beautification and economic development solutions that consultants presented included adding more crosswalks on Roosevelt Road, building curb bump outs at busy intersections, adding flashing lights to new pedestrian crossings, adding trees and public art to the corridor, utilizing vacant lots for regular events or outdoor dining and supporting “Main Street style” mixed-use development along the road
“We’re trying to achieve cohesion along the corridor, making it seem like a district, a destination from west to east and east to west,” said Alexis Stien of the Lakota Group Work on the project included field studies of the corridor and 17 focus group interviews with Berwyn and Oak Park residents There
were also two open houses for the project, according to the consultants
The Roosevelt Road border between Oak Park and Berwyn has long been a target for hoped for development, as this plan comes 20 years after the communities jointly-adopted the “Plan for the Redevelopment of Roosevelt Road” in March 2005. That plan, which took four years to finalize, was “the first-ever comprehensive redevelopment study of this corridor,” according to Oak Park documents.
Implementing this new development plan will require a heightened level of collaboration between Oak Park and Berwyn, Trustee Chibuike Enyia said.
“How do we have these larger conversa-
tions, having that conversation around what we mutually want to see with this space,” he said. “Whether that’s with the growing of the arts, continuing with safety and building up mutually beneficial buildings and how each side of the street is developed. I want to see all of that done in the area because my neighbors are asking for it.”
“I feel like Roosevelt is one of the most trafficked parts of Oak Park but that doesn’t matter if no one stops and stays.”
Trustee Brian Straw said that inter-municipal collaboration has been a barrier that’s led to parts the 2005 plan going unimplemented. That cycle can’t be repeated if the corridor is going to be revitalized, he said.
“Actually, setting up agreements whereby each of the municipalities involved cooperate and have a plan for maintenance is really important because otherwise it’s a temporary solution, it’s lipstick on a pig,” Straw said. “I appreciate the thoughtfulness of the plan and I do believe if we’re able to execute on this we could see Roosevelt Road come back to life, because I think right now it’s a very confusing stretch to go down. There are some blocks where you’ll say,‘this is incredible,’ and then you get a block or two down and you’re saying, ‘this is not a place where I want to be.’ I think we can get there but it’s not going to be easy, I think it’s going to take a lot of time a lot of effort and a lot of communication.”
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
Husky News has been the primary source of headlines at Hollywood Elementary School for a full decade.
And while the headlines are robust, including a feature story about its 10-year anniversary in the latest issue, along with a profile of the Riverside School District 96 board of education, the enthusiasm of the 30-plus third-, fourth- and fifth-grade student journalists is just as strong. Keep in mind that 30 to 45 student participants each school year
Now consider there are just over 100 students at Hollywood School, so roughly a third are members of Husky News, as reporters, photographers and layout personnel.
What do these students enjoy about being journalists?
“I like it because you can learn about more things than you could if you weren’ t a journalist and you didn’t know much,” said fourth-grader Sammy. “It kind of relaxes me to write.”
But like any profession, including journalism, it’s not always easy.
What’s the hardest part about being a journalist?
“I think going over it and figuring out what I need to change and edit is the hardest part,” said another fourth-grader, Tyler. “I always look over it, and then I change my mind and so I go back and for th and back and forth.”
Spoken like a true wordsmith.
There is plenty for everyone in Husky News. In addition to hard news, there are features like a no-holds-barred Q&A with new Hollywood School principal Dr. Erin Dwyer in the December 2025 issue, where she is portrayed as “kind, fair, fun and or-
ganized.” Plus there are games, puzzles, comics, photography – essentially the full gamut of content that is published by other newspapers, including the RiversideBrookfield Landmark.
That makes Dwyer plenty proud. It makes her even more proud when her students ste pped into the limelight at a recent school board meeting and described what Husky News is and what they do. They even wore their press passes.
“I think they are adding to the culture and climate of our school,” Dwyer said. “They really dig into the happenings of our school behind the scenes, not only the academics but the extracurriculars.”
What was it like to be interviewed by student re porters Penelope and Meredith?
One word: Intense
“I have to say it is awe-inspiring to watch the kids interview,” she said. “They bring questions and take notes. (They) read the answers and then clarify, ‘Okay, Dr. Dwyer, what did you mean by this?’”
Husky News was launched in 2016 by school paraprofessional Sharon Tomecek, who coordinated the first edition on her own. Christine Cooley joined soon after and the two have been astute executive editors, marshaling their journalists to create a solid news product.
“I had the idea of doing the school newspaper, since I had been working in journalism before,” Tomecek said, referencing her time as a student journalist in high school and colle ge. “I used to always want to teach kids and do things with kids with journalism. I had worked previously at Central where my kids went to school, creating their yearbook, which had fifth graders interviewing people as part of it
“Ten years ago, I decided to ask the principal, is this something we can do here?”
Cooley was on maternity leave back then, and when she returned, she was impressed with the first-ever issue
“I remember in the hallway (saying) very casually, ‘If you need any help, let me know,’” she said to Tomecek. “I joined that and since I’m a reading specialist, I thought this would
Husky News student journalists explain what they do at a recent Riverside School District 96 board of education meeting.
be a great opportunity to help kids write fo r an authentic audience.”
But it’s more than writing. Fourth grader Meredith works in layout, among other responsibilities, for Husky News
Once ag ain … not an easy jo b. Wh at’s her process?
“For me, I have a bunch of pictures and they are all scrambled on a page,” she said. “I have to shrink them, I have to make them bigger. I have to figure out which have the same kid in them and sometimes take some out. I have to put the wording in the correct spot where it will nicely fit.”
T hen the pages are of f to Tomecek and Cooley, she said, “and it will either be approved, or not.”
Again, very common in the journalism industry.
But bottom line? This is just as much fun for the student journalists as it is work
“Sometimes we meet during lunch and it’s a time where I can talk to my friends and also draw a comic or write an ar ticl e and I’m still talking to my friends,” said another four th grader, Luca “It’s just doing something else that’s fun, too.”
directed sta to dra an ordinance soon; ice cream trucks are back
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Ice cream trucks will again be allowed to operate in Riverside following the village board’s most recent discussion of food truck licensing regulations on Thursday, April 16. That discussion may be its last before the village passes an ordinance putting the matter to rest.
first, four trustees — Cristin Evans, Jill Mateo, Joseph Fitzgerald and Aberdeen MarshOzga — said they would not want to allow the property owner to skirt the best interest of the brick-and-mortar operator.
“I would say yes if the brick-and-mortar restaurant agrees, for each case,” Mateo said.
Village President Doug Pollock turned to Village Attorney Bob Pickrell to ask whether Riverside, as a regulatory body, should consider the restaurant tenant to have agency in the legal sense
“I would not want to cede regulatory authority to any individual up or down on this,” Pickrell said. “[The restaurant] can speak out about it. It can be a factor that we consider, but I think it would ultimately be up to the village board to approve it, not the neighbor.”
With trustees having reached a consensus on the rules for food trucks contracted for a special event in February, Community Development Director Anne Cyran asked the board to weigh in on a few open threads for food trucks seeking to be licensed as a business for daily operation.
“There was an issue that was previously mentioned by staff but not discussed by the board,” Cyran said. “The issue is whether the owner of a multi-unit commercial shopping center should be able to wave the 100-foot separation requirement between a food truck on their property and a brick-and-mortar restaurant on the same property. The one example of this would be the Shining Smiles shopping center” at the corner of Harlem Avenue and Longcommon Road
“In that case, I would change my answer to no. I would not be in favor of it,” Marsh-Ozga said. “The restaurant owner leased the space with the expectation of it being a certain way. If there’s only one restaurant space in the plaza, and they’ve leased it, then they have an expectation that they’re going to be able to operate in a certain way without direct competition.”
Kos said the presence of a food truck could instead be collaborative if it offered another specialty separate from the existing restaurant, which sells Thai food and sushi, though Marsh-Ozga said it would take parking spaces away for potential customers.
She said she also sought the board’s feedback on whether to allow ice cream trucks and mobile bicycle units with food storage space to operate in Riverside. Finally, she asked trustees to determine whether licensed food trucks should have a strict timeframe within which to operate, possibly from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The board agreed to limiting the hours, with a carve-out for food truck owners to request exceptions, as in Trustee Elizabeth Kos’s example of a truck serving coffee that might like to open earlier in the morning
The board also agreed to allow ice cream trucks, or any truck selling frozen desserts, as well as food bicycles, to operate only while stationary to reduce the risk of traffic collisions, like with a child running into the road to catch an ice cream truck.
But on the topic of allowing a food truck at the Shining Smiles plaza, the board was split on whether the property owner should require the permission of the existing restaurant. At
After much discussion, Pollock asked Pickrell to look further into whether the village could legally ask the tenant to weigh in on the matter or not due to the private nature of its lease and a potential agreement with a food truck.
In the meantime, Riverside’s planning and zoning commission and preservation commission will each take one final look at the standards the board agreed to before an ordinance is presented for passage by trustees.
Milad Nourahmadi, the owner of the Shining Smiles plaza, told the Landmark he might be interested in leasing space to a licensed food truck, depending on the circumstances.
“I’d be open to hearing about it and seeing how something like that could work. I’m not opposed to food trucks, but I guess it would have to be something that would work where it doesn’t disrupt our normal traffic,” Nourahmadi said. “It would have to be something that I would have to make sure the tenants are OK with … The existing tenants would come first.”
Teaching tech from page 1
Schrems is a kindergarten teacher at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 and her two children, a fourth grader and a second grader, attend Central Elementary School in Riverside. She also started a Facebook group, called Riverside Unplugged Connections, for parents in Riverside and the sur rounding area who wish to delay their children’s access to smar tphones until high school.
“I’d assume that graduating fifth grade is a very popular time to g et your kid a smar tphone, but if you see,
‘Wow, there are six or 10 kids at Central, and there’s six or 10 kids at Ames, and they’re not g etting a phone for middle school, I can hold of f,’” she said.
Schrems said she has concer ns about the lack of transparency from administrators on how much time students spend on their devices in the classroom following a Central PTO meeting in March
ers in their classrooms with their kids and the device use that they might have going on.”
Marquardt said she could not break down how much screentime students receive by grade or classroom.
D96’s parent handbook has a section on the acce ptable usage of technolo gy at school, Marquardt said, though it mostly outlines what behavior from students is above board or not, like eng aging in ille g al or prohibited conduct. T he policy does not touch on the amount or kinds of screentime students get.
Marquardt said the potential ne gative impacts of excess technolo gy use is “par t of the continuous and evolving conversations around screentime, technolo gy, kids, cur riculum, all of the things that are incorporated.”
“Watching a screen like that is stimulating to the brain. It’s not a break for your brain at all.”
“We know that it’s impor tant to our parents, our community and the entire Riverside area. It comes up at parent-teacher nights and community nights,” she said. “Our top priority is making sure that students are receiving a good education, that they’re g etting the knowledge that they need, that they’re growing and they’re lear ning.”
is dif ferent between analo g and digital and g enerally superior when we do it in an analo g way.”
Hull said he understands the district may want to teach students how to use technolo gy responsibly, “but that doesn’t mean they need to be the primary teaching mechanism.”
Lindsey Stolley’s son initially attended two years of school at D96 before she beg an homeschooling her children due to a myriad of reasons, she said, “but the technolo gy stuf f was what actually pushed us over the edge in the end.”
“School star ted on a Wednesday. It was Wednesday, T hursday, and F riday. By F riday after noon when he came home, they’d watched one and a half e pisodes of ‘The Magic School Bus’ and most of ‘Chicken Run,’ a movie with zero educational value,” Stolley said. “I asked about this, and they said, ‘Oh, they needed a reward at the end of the day’ … It was August. They could have been outside playing.”
She said she wor ried about the use of screens to both teach students and as their reward while they purpor tedly take a break.
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“It’s hard to tell. I’m not sure what the screentime is like,” she said. “When [Principal Peter] Gatz said, ‘Oh, it’s about this percentage of the day,’ to me as a teacher, it sounded like, ‘Ideally, it’s this much,’ but I have a sneaking suspicion it’s more than that. My son accidentally ratted himself out; he was like, ‘I watched part of the NCAA tour nament g ame today.’ I was like, ‘When were you doing that, and why didn’t your teacher notice?’”
Molly Marquardt, the director of technolo gy at D96, said the district leaves it up to each teacher to decide how and how often screens should be used in their classroom.
“Our leadership that we have here work really closely to g ether as a whole team to make sure we are addressing student use and the things that are going on, but there are dif ferent cur riculum components that are inte grated with technolo gy,” Marquardt said. “It could vary by grade. It could vary by what’s being taught at that time. We have a lot of trust in our teach-
Y STOLLE Y Parent
Schrems said she wor ries students may be lear ning less optimally due to the proclivity for screens
“My son’s handwriting is hor rible, and maybe it was always going to be hor rible, but I think there’s a lot less writing. I think there’s more and more evidence out there saying the more you write it down physically with a pen or a pencil, the more it g ets locked into your brain,” she said.
Studies from recent years have shown that students who took notes by hand had higher brain activity in the re gion responsible for memory than those who typed them, according to Scientific American
Michael Hull is another parent in Riverside who has similar concer ns about the ef fects of screentime on his children in D96.
“I would prefer that the use of devices were minimized,” said Hull, who used to teach at a high school and colle giate level.
“The literature in the space of teaching and lear ning is pretty clear at this point that the way our brains encode lear ning
“Watching a screen like that is stimulating to the brain. It’s not a break for your brain at all,” Stolley said. “The worst thing, though, is that we know these aren’t the best ways to do things, and they keep doing them.”
Schrems said the ubiquity of smar tphones in our society, both in and out of the classroom, is impacting young minds.
“I’ve been seeing it in my classroom. I hear it from my colleagues throughout Oak Park. I’m seeing it on social media,” she said. “They don’ t know how to wait. Even as adults, if we have a few minutes, and we’re just waiting, we look at our phones. Kids see their parents doing that, and I see kids at restaurants with iPads, and they don’ t know how to wait for the food to come without a screen in front of them.”
Schrems, Stolley and Hull told the Landmark they restrict their children’s access to screens at home during the week and allow them limited access on weekends, sometimes to watch a movie as a f amily Stolley said she sometimes lets her kids watch an educational video to supplement her at-home cur riculum.
“If I want my children to have a healthy digital life, the first person for modeling that is me, not the school. T he school is a context, but if I model bad digital life habits at home, that’s way worse, right? I try not to be on my phone when my kids are around,” Hull said.
Stay active wi th lig ht exercise like walking, stretching, or yoga to support strength, and mobili ty
Incorporate fresh, seasonal foods like leafy greens, berries, and vegetables to nourish your body
Declutter and refresh your living space to create a calm, organized, and uplifting environment
Reconnect socially by joining activi ties, events, or simply spending time wi th friends and neig hbors
Stay on top of wellness by scheduling check-ups, reviewing medications, and setting new health goals
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or call (708) 387-1030.
April7,2026
April7,2026
withAuthorJohnPalfrey
withAuthorJohnPalfrey
April7,2026
2 PM - 3 PM CT Zoom
2 PM - 3 PM CT
Saturday, May 9, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
April7,2026
April7,2026
2 PM - 3 PM CT
2 PM - 3 PM CT
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association • 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park Free Event. Refreshments served. Registration requested.
April7,2026
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Hear their insights on storytelling, media trust, and the importance of local voices. This engaging conversation offers a unique opportunity to hear from experienced media leaders and reflect on how news shapes our understanding of the world around us.
This program may be offered on ZOOM and will be recorded for future viewing. Register for information to come at a later date.
The need for fact-based, current journalism in our communities has never been greater — and more threatened. Join us at the historic Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park for a dynamic panel discussion around the evolving state of the news.
WiredWisdom providesasurprisingwindowinto theonlinelivesofpeoplesixtyandover—offering essentialinsights,nomatterone’sage.Intheireyeopeningbookontheinternet’sfastest-growing demographic,JohnPalfreyandcoauthorEszter Hargittaipaintamorenuancedpicture—debunking commonmythsaboutolderadults’internetuse, presentinghopeandanecessarycalltoaction.The bookprovidespracticaladviceandshowsthatour stereotypescanbehurdlesthatkeepusfrom buildingintergenerational-supportcommunities, helpinglovedonesadoptnewtechnologythatmay improvetheirlives,andthrivingtogetheronline.
WiredWisdom providesasurprisingwindowinto theonlinelivesofpeoplesixtyandover—offering essentialinsights,nomatterone’sage.Intheireyeopeningbookontheinternet’sfastest-growing demographic,JohnPalfreyandcoauthorEszter Hargittaipaintamorenuancedpicture—debunking commonmythsaboutolderadults’internetuse, presentinghopeandanecessarycalltoaction.The bookprovidespracticaladviceandshowsthatour stereotypescanbehurdlesthatkeepusfrom buildingintergenerational-supportcommunities, helpinglovedonesadoptnewtechnologythatmay improvetheirlives,andthrivingtogetheronline.
WiredWisdom providesasurprisingwindowinto theonlinelivesofpeoplesixtyandover—offering essentialinsights,nomatterone’sage.Intheireyeopeningbookontheinternet’sfastest-growing demographic,JohnPalfreyandcoauthorEszter Hargittaipaintamorenuancedpicture—debunking commonmythsaboutolderadults’internetuse, presentinghopeandanecessarycalltoaction.The bookprovidespracticaladviceandshowsthatour stereotypescanbehurdlesthatkeepusfrom buildingintergenerational-supportcommunities, helpinglovedonesadoptnewtechnologythatmay improvetheirlives,andthrivingtogetheronline.
April7,2026
2 PM - 3 PM
Zoom
WiredWisdom providesasurprisingwindowinto theonlinelivesofpeoplesixtyandover—offering essentialinsights,nomatterone’sage.Intheireyeopeningbookontheinternet’sfastest-growing demographic,JohnPalfreyandcoauthorEszter Hargittaipaintamorenuancedpicture—debunking commonmythsaboutolderadults’internetuse, presentinghopeandanecessarycalltoaction.The bookprovidespracticaladviceandshowsthatour stereotypescanbehurdlesthatkeepusfrom buildingintergenerational-supportcommunities, helpinglovedonesadoptnewtechnologythatmay improvetheirlives,andthrivingtogetheronline.
WiredWisdom providesasurprisingwindowinto theonlinelivesofpeoplesixtyandover—offering essentialinsights,nomatterone’sage.Intheireyeopeningbookontheinternet’sfastest-growing demographic,JohnPalfreyandcoauthorEszter Hargittaipaintamorenuancedpicture—debunking commonmythsaboutolderadults’internetuse, presentinghopeandanecessarycalltoaction.The bookprovidespracticaladviceandshowsthatour stereotypescanbehurdlesthatkeepusfrom buildingintergenerational-supportcommunities, helpinglovedonesadoptnewtechnologythatmay improvetheirlives,andthrivingtogetheronline.
Receive30%offyourbookpurchasefrom UniversityofChicagoPresswithcode:UCPNEW
WiredWisdom providesasurprisingwindowinto theonlinelivesofpeoplesixtyandover—offering essentialinsights,nomatterone’sage.Intheireyeopeningbookontheinternet’sfastest-growing demographic,JohnPalfreyandcoauthorEszter Hargittaipaintamorenuancedpicture—debunking commonmythsaboutolderadults’internetuse, presentinghopeandanecessarycalltoaction.The bookprovidespracticaladviceandshowsthatour stereotypescanbehurdlesthatkeepusfrom buildingintergenerational-supportcommunities, helpinglovedonesadoptnewtechnologythatmay improvetheirlives,andthrivingtogetheronline.
Receive30%offyourbookpurchasefrom UniversityofChicagoPresswithcode:UCPNEW
Receive30%offyourbookpurchasefrom UniversityofChicagoPresswithcode:UCPNEW
WiredWisdom providesasurprisingwindowinto theonlinelivesofpeoplesixtyandover—offering essentialinsights,nomatterone’sage.Intheireyeopeningbookontheinternet’sfastest-growing demographic,JohnPalfreyandcoauthorEszter Hargittaipaintamorenuancedpicture—debunking commonmythsaboutolderadults’internetuse, presentinghopeandanecessarycalltoaction.The bookprovidespracticaladviceandshowsthatour stereotypescanbehurdlesthatkeepusfrom buildingintergenerational-supportcommunities, helpinglovedonesadoptnewtechnologythatmay improvetheirlives,andthrivingtogetheronline.
Receive30%offyourbookpurchasefrom UniversityofChicagoPresswithcode:UCPNEW
Receive30%offyourbookpurchasefrom
Receive30%offyourbookpurchasefrom UniversityofChicagoPresswithcode:UCPNEW
JohnPalfreyis presidentoftheJohn D.andCatherineT. MacArthur Foundation.Heisan educator,scholar,and lawprofessor.
Receive30%offyourbookpurchasefrom UniversityofChicagoPresswithcode:UCPNEW
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Brookfield police arrested a 30-year-old Chicago man for driving under the influence on April 18.
An officer was on routine patrol around 2:50 a.m. when they noticed a vehicle heading west on Burlington Avenue that did not have its headlamps activated and was moving into the oncoming traffic lane. After the officer made a U-turn in their squad car to pull the car over, its headlamps turned on as it turned north onto Maple Avenue.
The officer watched the driver turn too sharply and cause the vehicle to enter the parking lane, where it nearly missed a parked car before returning to the driving lane Then, the car braked sharply before reaccelerating, again drifting into the parking lane and narrowly missing a second vehicle. The car drifted from left to right within the driving lane before crossing the center median and then drifting into the parking lane for a third time
The officer pulled the car over and made contact with the driver, at which point they smelled a strong alcoholic odor. The driver provided his license upon request but could not produce proof of insurance, instead offering a city parking sticker, police said.
The man initially declined to exit his vehicle at the officer’s command but then exited voluntarily, at which point the officer observed an open alcohol container in the driver-side door panel. The man told the officer he was coming from a bar and later said he had drunk one beer before agreeing to take standardized field testing, during which he displayed indicators of being impaired.
The officer arrested the man for DUI and transported him to lockup in Berwyn. After police had the man’s car towed, a search revealed three alcoholic Twisted Tea drinks within ar m’s reach of the driver’s seat.
At lockup, police read the man his Miranda war ning, and he declined to provide a chemical breath sample to detect his blood alcohol content. Police issued the man citations for driving under the influence, failing to provide insurance information, driving without headlights, illegally transporting alcohol and improper lane usage before releasing him on pre-trial conditions
Brookfield police ticketed a 28-year-old Hinsdale man on April 18 after he disobeyed a red light.
Around 10:08 p.m., an officer was heading south on Prairie Avenue when they saw a gold Honda making an illegal right tur n to head west on Ogden Avenue during a red light despite the posted “no turn on red” sign
The officer pulled the car over and spoke with the driver, who provided a driver’s license and proof of insurance. When the officer ran the man’s license, they learned it had expired in November 2025. The officer returned the man’s paperwork and advised him of the citations he would be receiving and sent him on his way with a May 26 court date.
Brookfield police on April 16 cited a 60-year-old Brookfield man for driving with suspended license plates
While on patrol around 9:15 p.m., an officer observed the man’s car, whose registration had been suspended due to the vehicle previously being uninsured. The officer pulled the car over and spoke with the driver, who confirmed he was the owner of the car and confirmed he did not have car insurance, which is legally mandatory.
The officer had the man’s car towed and issued two citations for operating an uninsured vehicle with suspended registration. The officer set a May 12 court date and sent the man on his way.
These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department reports dated April 13-20; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Stella Brown
Janis Stehlik-Barry died on April 5, 2026. She grew up in Brookfield and attended Hollywood School, Hauser Junior High and Riverside Brookfield High School (RBHS) before enrolling at UIC where she earned her BA in Anthropology. Janis did graduate work in anthropology at UIC and the University of Chicago, where she met her husband, Ken. She continued to value and pursue education throughout her life, recently earning a certificate in museum curation rsity of Chicago.
After her parents, Alois (who went by Louis) and Marion Stehlik (née Wesley), died, she returned to her Hollywood home, where she and Ken raised three daughters: Cassiopeia, Leila and Thea. They followed the same educational path as their mother from Hollywood School through RBHS. Last August, she was happy to see her oldest grandchild, Orion, continue the tradition by starting Hollywood School. An anthropologist, editor, teacher, librarian and advocate, Jan had a career that included work at the Institute for Juve-
nile Research and the American Bar Foundation, Triton College, Brookfield Zoo and the Brookfield Public Library. She cared deeply about human and animal rights and social and environmental justice. She loved volunteering to bring art, dance and theater to our schools and community.
She maintained a membership at the Art Institute of Chicago, where her mother and great-grandfather had been students. Jan always made time to visit museums large and small in Amsterdam, Athens, Boston, Honolulu, Mexico City, New Orleans, New York, Paris, Prague, San Francisco, Santa Fe, Vienna, Washington, D.C. and many other locations
She was conscientious, gracious, patient and humorous She loved to look at beautiful trees, birds, squirrels and deer Janis would decorate for the holidays, savor sunsets, laugh, identify a plant or tree, sing, joke, dance in the kitchen and tell her children about their ancestors.
Perhaps you can savor some little thing that brings you and your loved ones joy after you read this.
Jan is survived by her husband, Ken; her daughters, Cassiopeia (Charles Stehlikbarry-Gjondla), Leila (Corey Williams), and Thea (Brandon Gonia); her grandsons, Orion, Apollo and Atlas (all Stehlikbarry-Gjondlas); and her granddaughter, Kara Gonia.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to groups whose missions reflect Jan’s commitment to promoting human and animal rights: the ASPCA, Cat Nap from the Heart, Save the Children and UNICEF
Mother and grandmother Gwyn Jones, 83, of La Grange, died on April 25, 2026. She was the mother of Melissa R. (Bert Bishop) Boughner and Susannah L. Owens; the grandmother of Savannah Bishop; and a friend to many. Services and interment private.
Arrangements were handled by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513.
Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com
Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@newswellchicago.org, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
Bulldogs win 7-4 as both teams remain strong in conference standings
By BILL STONE
Contributing Reporter
Senior shortstop Connor Dominick and his Riverside Brookfield High School baseball teammates entered their big game against rival Lyons Township, April 22, with memories of a rough first inning in their previous outing. But when the Lions scored three runs in the top of the first, the Bulldogs had the answer this time.
RBHS unleashed seven runs, and senior winning pitcher Ronnie that hold in a 7-4 victory at Ehler
“This is a big win, a top-15 state. This is our best win far and we’re only going to here,” Dominick said. “It’s just put the ball in play, put pressure on them. and they messed up a couple got some good hits, some ning. A whole team ef fort right ther
The Bulldogs (12-5, 7-2 in Conference East Division) en runs with two outs and The scoring concluded with double by leadof f hitter Marco and included run-scoring singles nick and Tommy Bogdan. than enough of fense for Mur ear ned-run average), who over six innings with seven one walk. Sophomore Wi pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with tw
“This is definitely the top said. “I felt my best. I felt the strongest, felt I was throwing the hardest. spot my pitches well. It’s a huge win for our team.”
In the Bulldogs’ previous home game against Oak Lawn, April 17, the Spar tans greeted them with a seven-run first en route to a 7-1 victory. Oak Lawn defeated RBHS 4-1 in last year’s Class 4A re gional semifinals
“Two games in a row where all of the production was in the first inning,” RBHS coach Mark Ori said.
“It was nice to see our guys respond. We didn’t really help Ronnie out in the top of the first inning – some balls I thought we
The Bulldogs could have wavered after the Lions (14-3, 5-1 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) struck with their three-run first fueled by Tommy Georgelos’ two-run, opposite-field double to left field
made plays on. But we respond-
timely hits, the Bulldogs’ first inMichael Kallas getting hit by a pitch bases loaded and Braeden Noon a third-strike wild pitch. re two er rors, two walks and o passed balls.
one bad inning,” LTHS coach said. “We just talked about it. one bad inning like that, that’s ke this will do. It’s good to exHopefully we’ ll see them again in
doubled after Brady Koren Rober ts reached on an inand Aidan Webster walked scored on a passed ball. The other hits were in the sixth on Nick Hines, Georgelos and EJ uhlman (RBI).
The Bulldogs followed on April 23 with a 7-4 UEC crossover victory over West Aurora. Villardito had a double, three hits and three RBIs Aidan Polich (3 strikeouts in 3 innings) was the winning pitcher in relief of Damian Noa (5 strikeouts in 4 innings).
In WSC Silver play, the Lions swept Glenbard West 5-0, Thursday, 3-2, April 21, and 14-2, April 20.
Sophomore pitcher Tommy Cavaliere threw a four-hit shutout T hursday with five strikeouts and no walks. Rober ts (3 for 4, double) and Webster (3 RBIs) and Justin Heydorn (2 doubles) had seven of the nine hits.
In the 3-2 win, pitcher Jack Slightom threw a one-hitter in his six scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts and one walk, but the Lions had just three hits. Georgelos (4 RBIs) and Heydor n (2 doubles) led the 14-2 victory.
Senior Abe Caseres has been playing shortstop as junior Blake Ragsdale recovers from a hip injury
“The bottom line is we’re just haven’t been playing well. We’re making a lot of little mistakes,” Diete said following the RBHS game
“I thought we put the ball in play better (against RBHS) than (in our 3-2 win), but if you’re striking out nine, 10 times, you’re not going to win many games We’ve got to be better, bottom line.”
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
While Riverside Brookfield High School senior Kennedy Holakovsky is a three-sport athlete, senior Olivia Ballon only plays one. They look forward to softball season – and being reunited – just the same
“I just think it’s making the end of my year so much more exciting and better because I get to look forward to something after school every day,” Ballon said. “Especially since school’s winding down, I don’t have as much to do. And especially being outside, now since it’s nicer, (softball) just gives the whole day something to look forward to.”
The Bulldogs honored seven seniors, April 23, in typical fashion – another victory.
RBHS defeated Larkin 10-0 in six innings at Ehlert Park in an Upstate Eight Conference crossover. Trinity Stevenson, Abby Weinert, Rosie Gonzalez, Jocelyn Her nandez and Abby Krue ger are the other seniors for the Bulldogs (15-2, 5-1 in UEC East Division), who remain tied for first in the UEC East with Glenbard East (13-2, 5-1) at the halfway point after beating Ridgewood 10-4, April 21.
“(Senior Day) was emotional just walking out with my family and taking photos and kind of the realization, ‘Oh, it’s coming to an end in a month,’” Ballon said. “I really love all of the underclassmen for doing such a great job and supporting us through the whole entire day.”
Six seniors are four-year program members Gonzalez played freshman baseball. Stevenson and Weinert have played varsity since freshman year Ballon was promoted during her freshman season.
“(Senior Day) was nice and sunny and the underclassmen did a good job setting everything up so it was mainly more happy than sad,” said Holakovsky, now in her second varsity season. “(Our success) makes going to practice really just something that makes my day so much better after a long day of school. I get to hang out with my friends. I know that we’re pushing ourselves every day to get better and better.”
The seven seniors started along with sophomores Brailyn Nailor, Mia Melendez and winning pitcher Amelia Pytel, who threw a two-hitter with 14 strikeouts and recorded her 250th career strikeout in the first inning Stevenson (shortstop), Weiner t (second
base) and Ballon (third base) played their re gular infield positions.
Holakovsky, usually the flex, was catcher in place of junior Alexis Busse Gonzale z and Her nande z played left and right field, respectively Krue ger was the flex for Patel.
“I’m like we’re running out of room here (for seniors on the field),” joked RBHS coach Emma Jarrell. “They’re great kids. They work so hard and they’re very smart so they’re awesome to be around. It’s fun to celebrate them. They’re the heart of our team so it’s nice to have a good game for them.”
Melende z hit her 10th home run in a fourrun third. Stevenson tripled and doubled
and Weiner t (3 RBIs) and Krue ger also had two hits. Holakovsky doubled.
Holakovsky had a strong 2025 varsity debut with three home runs The deep RBI double was the first of two left-field drives just shy of this year’s first home run.
“Very disappointing, but it’s OK,” Holakovsky said. “I think (last season) definitely helped a lot, especially going into travel, too. I just came in with better confidence because I never really had a hitting experience like I did last year.”
She also plays RBHS basketball and tennis and also travel softball in the fall with Ballon on the BRW Blast along with Krue ger and Weiner t.
“We’re together all the time (actually),” Ballon said.
In 2025, Ballon struggled at times with hitting but has been on a recent tear She had a double, two singles and five RBIs against Ridgewood after her first home run in an of ficial varsity game against Tinley Park, April 18.
“I was so excited because I wasn’t hitting the best. Once I hit it out, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh,’” Ballon said. “I just feel like I kind of got my confidence back after travel. I’ve been working and practicing and once I started to get my groove back, I had more confidence and was able to perfor m better.”
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Riverside Brookfield High School athlete Maya Tennicott had the worst luck this past girls basketball season. Receiving a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection for her injured left ankle, Tennicott was unable to play her entire senior season.
“I like being active so sitting out basketball season was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done,” Tennicott said.
Now it’s girls soccer season and the 5-foot-11 Tennicott once again is standing tall as starting goalie. On April 21, she went the entire 80 minutes in the Bulldogs’ 1-0 home victory over Glenbard East in a pivotal Upstate Eight Conference East Division matchup.
“I got (medically) cleared the first day of tryouts,” Tennicott said. “I kind of assumed I was going to be back just because of the recovery time from the shot. It lined up with the season. It feels good to be back. I like being back there (in goal).”
Senior Mia Rodriguez scored for the Bulldogs (5-4-1, 2-0 in UEC East) with 9:54 left in the first half after senior Sofia Sanchez’s free kick from 34 yards out was bobbled by the goalie and numerous players converged on the rebound. With the victory, the Bulldogs not only are close to last year’s victory total but recorded their third shutout and avenged the 2-1 loss at Glenbard East in 2025.
“This is a really big win. We lost to them last year, so going into the game we really wanted to win,” said RBHS senior defender Audrey Raymond, who will play Division III soccer at Millikin. “We’ve been kind of on a streak, winning a lot of games.”
Several returnees are helping the significant strides from last year’s lineup that finished 6-14-1. That record includes one penalty-kick victory over Fenton because UEC East games require winners even if the game remains tied after overtime.
“A solid win against a great program (Glenbard East). It was a fight from the start,” RBHS coach Ivek Halic said. “They were very physical and we brought the intensity. We matched the energy and capitalized on that opportunity.”
Raymond and senior Abby Ford form a solid central defensive line with senior
Mariana Giron and junior Jaelyne Manjar re z starting on the outsides. As part of her comeback, Tennicott has shared time in goal with senior Riise Nall, last year’s junior varsity starter. Tennicott said she initially hurt her ankle during last season but ke pt playing. Physical therapy wasn’t helping her recover.
RBHS still must play fellow UEC East frontrunners Glenbard South (3-6-3, 2-1-1) and West Chicago (10-3, 3-0). Glenbard East (1-9-2, 0-1-1) lost to Glenbard South on penalty kicks.
“I think this year the team connection and chemistry is way better,” Ford said. “We’re a lot closer as friends and that definitely helps our chemistry on the field and for us to connect. The communication on the field helps.”
The Bulldogs are undefeated in all six games in which they have scored a goal. They tied Niles West 1-1 April 14 on senior Michelle Panduro’s goal with 3:04 remaining.
Other top offensive players include juniors Ruby Boyle (2 goals, 3 assists) and Jocelyn Jaimes (4 assists), sophomore Charlotte Pinnick (3 goals, assist) and senior Aylin Romero and Sanchez (2 goals, assist each).
“Last year we were a little shaky but I think this year we’re way better. As a whole we’re better,” Panduro said. “I think (Glenbard East) this is one of the wins. I feel like we can have more wins.”
After recording five straight shutouts, the Lyons Township girls soccer team was victim of a scoring barrage Frida ons, ranked No. 12 by the Chicagoland cer website, lost at undefeated No. 2 Nape ville Central 5-0 as part of the Naperville Invitational.
“Five goals is a lot but we let in goals that I feel we could have prevented,” said senior defensive center midfielder Lusk. “They were very good. They playing the ball very fast and I feel li were pretty slow to anticipate the passes they were making.”
Downers Grove North 3-0 and both No. 14 Loyola and Lake Forest 2-0 with a scoreless tie against No. 8 Naperville North, already their second 0-0 result. The Lions also have 3-1 a Silver victory over York April 6 with their other loss to No. 6 Libertyville 1-0 April 11.
Senior goalie and Loyola recruit Anna Bigenwald and junior central defender Claire Mortonson are veterans of a defense with senior Audrey McCarty, junior Grace Chevalier and freshman Lena Giustini. The Lions have eight shutouts overall and have allowed just eight goals even with Friday’s result.
“If the other team ever has a breakaway, we’ve been doing really good on the recovery, making sure they don’t get a shot or
cross of f,” Lusk said. “If the ball is in the corner, we’ve been really good at forcing them back or kicking it out of bounds.”
Seniors Zibby Michaelson (9 goals, 3 assists) and Carolina Capizzi (6 goals, 7 assists) are top scorers along with sophomore Lauren Salvino (5 goals, 2 assists), senior Quinn Conway and freshman Abby McKenna (2 goals each) and Lusk (2 assists). Capizzi sat out F riday with an ankle injury.
“What we’re doing in the attacking third has been working really well,” Lusk said. “We have been creating a lot of of fensive pressure. Zibby shoots from wherever and manages always to be super close to the goal. Also we’ve been really good on the 1v1s on the wings.”
The shutout streak by the Lions (7-2-3, 2-0 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) included beating Minooka 6-0,
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
HSBC Bank USA, National Association as Trustee for Renaissance Home Equity Loan Asset-Backed Certificates, Series 2007-3
Plaintiff vs. Unknown Heirs and Legatees of Dorothy M. McGlory a/k/a Dorothy M. Mcglory a/k/a Dorothy McGlory; Carmen. L. Graves; Daphne Graves; Brandon Heard; Shawn Heard a/k/a Robert Shawnell Heard; Reginald E. McGlory, Individually and as Executor of the Estate of Dorothy M. McGlory a/k/a Dorothy M. Mcglory a/k/a Dorothy McGlory; Estate of Dorothy M. McGlory a/k/a Dorothy M. Mcglory a/k/a Dorothy McGlory; Unknown Owners and Non Record Claimants Defendant 24 CH 1157 CALENDAR 58
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on May 27, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-08-315-029-0000. Commonly known as 114 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection(g-1) of Section 189.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% (or 25% if so ordered in the Judgment of Foreclosure) down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property is sold AS IS subject to all liens or encumbrances. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the circuit court case record, property tax record and the title record to verify all information before bidding. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(c) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group LLC, 33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1540, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 360-9455. W23-0512 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3285454
LEGAL NOTICE
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS
Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:
The ZBA will consider an application for a major zoning variation submitted by George & Laura Toerner, owners of the property at 846 Forest Ave, who are proposing to add a 2nd floor addition onto a portion of their residence.
Section 4-8-5 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board with jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning variations to the Zoning Ordinance. The applicant is requesting a major variation to Section 10-9-7 of the Zoning Ordinance.
For secondary front yard setbacks, Section 10-9-7 of the Zoning ordinance (10-8-7-A-2) requires “On the secondary street the front yard shall be a minimum of thirteen feet for a fifty foot wide lot…”; for side yard setbacks, Section 10-8-7-C-2-b requires “…and the height of a wall that maintains a nonconforming side yard setback may not be increased.”
The applicant is requesting that the north elevation of the 2nd floor addition match the current setback of the main structure at the eave’s edge (6.57’ instead of the required 13’) and that the south elevation of the addition increase the wall height of the existing nonconforming setback (4.79’ instead of the minimum 5’) to match the existing structure’s wall height.
The legal description of the property at 846 Forest Ave is as follows:
LOT 24 IN OGDEN’S SUBDIVISION OF BLOCK 5 IN SNOW AND DICKENSON’S ADDITION TO RIVER FOREST, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF PARTS OF SECTIONS 1 AND 2, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The Zoning Board of Appeals’ meeting packet, which includes a copy of this zoning variation application, will be available at www.vrf.us/meetings no less than 48 hours prior to the public hearing.
All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/ zoningvariation.
Sincerely, Christian Luis Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M26001576 on April 17, 2026 Under the Assumed Business Name of ATWOOD STUDIOS with the business located at: 9214 BROADWAY AVE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JUSTIN LYSONS ATWOOD 9214 BROADWAY AVE BROKFIELD, IL 60513, USA.
Published in RB Landmark April 22, 29, May 6, 2026
PUBLIC NOTICES
RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208 TIMELY AND MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), Riverside Brookfield High School will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities, who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the district boundaries, will be served by District 208 during the 2026-27 school year.
Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208. net.
Published in RB Landmark April 29, May 6, 13, 2026
Submit events and see full calendar at rblandmark.com/events
Record Mandala by Pat Williams created from a discarded and damaged record, paint and paint markers.
By JILL WAGNER Contributing Reporter
Actively participating in Ear th Day, artists in Forest Park gathered for a public exhibit of art made from repurposed items Reimagining waste from our daily lives was the challenge set by Commissioner Michelle Melin- Rogovin after recently completing the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) training. This event was used to spread the lessons and connect community to engage with community members on a small scale.
C3 teaches leaders about sustainable agriculture, food access, waste reduction, and the aim to support green-living projects throughout Chicago and near suburbs In addition, leaders have access to more resources and connections to scale up local change.
Leaning on the strong arts and environmentally conscious networks in Forest Park, Melin-Rogovin partnered with the village’s environmental commission and the Forest Park Arts Alliance to spread the word in a call to artists
The call was answered and the show featured 10” x10” art that was made with a variety of materials including plastic caps, paper scraps, a record, plastic bags, objects tucked away in drawers, and items found on the sidewalk during a walk.
“Something now exists where there was nothing,” said Melin- Rogovin “Something that was considered to be of no value has been transfor med by art into something of value.”
See ART on page B4
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
Tom Nor they will be the first to tell you that he has a passion for litter
But let’s be clear: The Oak Pa rk resident’s passion focuses on removal, not distribution.
“Litter has been the bane of my existence since I was a little kid,” Nor they said. “My dad would take us for a walk and I’d come back with an ar mful of trash. This was the 1960s (and I thought) how does this happen? How do you address this?”
As he got into his late high school and early colle ge years, he became familiar with the broken window theory.
“It says, if you let broken windows and graf fiti and litter exist, that’s where other antisocial behaviors start,” he said. “Take care of the little stuf f and it will take care of the big stuf f.
“Everybody is looking to solve big issues, but what if we solved the little things?”
For residents of a certain age, the commercials for Keep America Beautiful, with the tearful indigenous American, also had a profound effect on him, and he’s ke pt all of those things close to his heart for decades.
Now, he’s a driving force locally for Keep Oak Park Beautiful, an extension of Keep America Beautiful and an umbrella program for the village for four ef for ts: the Neighborhood Clean-Up, Adopt a Block, Green Block Party and Graf fiti Re porting and Removal.
GROUND LEVEL: Keep Oak Park Beautif ul volunteers clean up a stretch of Madison Street near Ridgeland.
According to Christina Waters, Oak Park’s village clerk, these ef for ts are specific to various areas of the village For example, in Adopt a Block, residents and business owners work together to keep their chosen adopted block clean. For Neighborhood Clean-Up, Nor they’s prime focus, the village provides black plastic bags for garbage and clear plastic bags for re cyclables, litter pickers, gloves and pink
TBD; Nor they is working that detail out with Publican Quality Bread at 211 Har rison St. Re gistration is easy; go to https://www.oak-park.us/Events-directory/Neighborhood-Clean-Up-Days on the village website.
y 15 that businesses talk Oak comes to garbage and recyclables and consider the long-ter m consequences
“That gum is never going to disinte grate,” he said. “Put it in a receptacle.”
Resident and local artisan, Meghan Hunt used the mesh netting that is used to package purchased fruits and vegetables to create her “For the Love of Flowers.” Her reflections ofthe simple fruits and vegetables which are born from the earth then enter the global marketplace. This includes far mers, harvesters, migrant workers, packers, packaging, shipping, storage, showcasing and all the additional connections and micro plastics introduced along the way before coming to her home. She reshaped the vibrant colors ofthe mesh bags from onions, avocados, sweet potatoes and garlic into flowers. “The flowers are surrounded by packing paper from shipping boxes that reflect how things come to us.”
Susan Baus re purposed cereal boxes and other packaging to create a woven tablecloth for her “Forever Still Life.” Reimagining six-pack yokes as flowers, alongside colored dried allium and sage grass were part ofthe focal point. Mimicking lily-inthe-valley in the vases with egg cartons, re-
Sponsored by Riverside Township
Sponsored by Riverside Township
using pill bottles, and an embellished ruffle from candy wrappers made a maximizing impact at the base. Showing her whimsy and charm, she set a small table for a guest beetle to enjoy a glass of wine.
Sponsored by Riverside Township
Sponsored by Riverside Township
found objects and Forest Park trinkets in a wooden frame. Rethinking uses for old plates, bowls and cups Deb McNichols designed a clever bird feeder and craftsman
Steve Metro re purposed wood into a stunning checkered board.
Sponsored by Riverside Township
Louis Rivera created an interactive piece sending people to the village website included using fragments from his art,
Sponsored by Riverside Township
Sponsored by Riverside Township
Embracing beauty and hope was a common theme throughout the exhibit. Participants
were awarded upcycled cardboard “ribbons,” Nature Museum passes and gift cards to WasteShed, a non-profit reuse art supply center. Connecting with other community members gave an additional layer of optimism to access for experience to take action in sustainability principles and practices in daily living in town.
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 am –Noon
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 am –Noon
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 am –Noon
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 am –Noon
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 am –Noon
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 am –Noon
Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 am –Noon
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents. No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
9:00 am –Noon
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents. No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents. No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents. No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents. No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
This FREE event is only for Riverside Township residents and only for personal, confidential documents. No business shredding, magazines, or junk mail. Each household is restricted to no more than 3 boxes of paper.
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling.
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling.
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling.
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling.
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling.
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling.
As always, this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of your car; place the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and then simply pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
As always, this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of your car; place the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
As always, this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
As always, this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of lace the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
As always, this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling.
Please bring a non-perishable, unexpired food item to donate to the Riverside Township Food Pantry!
Please bring a non-perishable, unexpired food item to donate to the Riverside Township Food Pantry!
Please bring a non-perishable, unexpired food item to donate to the Riverside Township Food Pantry!
Your documents will be securely destroyed on site by American Mobile Shredding and Recycling. , this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
As always, this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
Please bring a non-perishable, unexpired food item to donate to the Riverside Township Food Pantry!
Please bring a non-perishable, unexpired food item to donate to the Riverside Township Food Pantry!
For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 or visit our website: www.riversidetownship.org
For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 or visit our website: www.riversidetownship.org
Please bring a non-perishable, unexpired food item to donate to the Riverside Township Food Pantry!
As always, this will be a drive-up event. No need to get out of your car; place the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and then simply pop the trunk. We will remove the documents from your vehicle and shred them for you.
For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 or visit our website: www.riversidetownship.org
For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 or visit our website: www.riversidetownship.org
Please
For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 or visit our website: www.riversidetownship.org
For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 or visit our website: www.riversidetownship.org
By HEC TOR CERVANTES
Contributing Reporter
As Seven Generations Ahead marks its 25th anniversary, founder and executive director Gary Cuneen says the organization is entering a critical new phase, expanding its role as a connector between communities and climate solutions.
Rooted in local and regional sustainabil ity, Seven Generations Ahead has emphasized climate, equity and long-ter m impact throughout its work Looking ahead, organization aims to connect public private institutions with initiatives lower expenses while achieving greenhouse gas reduction targets, creating community benefits, and advancing wider sustainabil ity goals
“It’s really about identifying resource connecting our institutions with par operating in the clean energy and broader sustainability space, and driving these lutions forward. We’re in this interesting period, of course, with the federal go ment funding cutbacks, which requires to dig in stronger and harder at the level. There are tremendous opportunities for mainstream institutions to take action, Cuneen said.
He said part of the organization’s r to connect institutions with suitable ners and projects tailored to their need while also helping them access the resources necessary to carry those projects out.
“Our current federal administration denying climate change, so they are providing funding resources. I think pa our job, honestly, is to parse out what is still available. We’re doing that with respect to federal incentives and funding programs established in previous administrations, and helping our institutions take advantage of those opportunities,” Cuneen said.
lenges is that there is a lot of information out there and many different types of projects and approaches We are working with institutions that, by nature, are designed to do what they are intended to do for K–12 schools, that is, to educate children,” Cuneen said.
Cuneen said local gover nments are tasked with numerous responsibilities, including public safety and yd services such
ing ways to strengthen partnerships across neighboring communities, as well as with gover nment agencies, nonprofits, and private companies. Building on the concept of public-private partnerships, the founding team came together through shared connections and a mutual interest in collaborative, community-focused work.
“W beli that ould ha eater
a grant through the EPA, Cook County, the state, or any other organizations that would be appropriate, he looks at where that grant would make the greatest impact,” Scaman said.
Many institutions do not have sufficient staff to consistently track advances in sustainability, particularly in underserved arand Se en Generations Ahead steps in gap by serving as an extended director across communities , they deliver information and opthat support local residents and
CONNEC TED: Gary Cuneen of Seven Generations Ahead and his sta at the Microbrew Review on August 17, 2024.
laborative efforts across the region.
for support in this venture,” Scaman said.
onnecting youth to some of the inidoing with adult leaders in our community institutions and also providwith the capacity to advocate for solutions in their local schools and That’s a big piece for us moving forward.” Cuneen said. ed what success looks like for Generations Ahead over the next dereal impact will be measured, it will be reflected in the voleenhouse gas emissions reduced egies related to energy effilean energy, and composting, among
hoping to expand the number of in our cross-community cliollaborative. … We want to get more ed,” Cuneen said.
Even as federal tax incentives through the Inflation Reduction Act phase out onsite solar tax credits by July of this year, institutions still have viable pathways forward, said Cuneen. Battery storage credits remain available and can be combined with solar projects to generate high retur ns and meaningful cost savings.
“It’s putting some of these opportunities in front of our municipalities now, as well as community institutions One of the chal-
One such effort is the initiative known as C4, which began around 2022. Building on the concept of public-private partnerships, the founding team came together in collaborative, community-focused work C4 is led collaboratively by the mayors of Broadview, Oak Park and River Forest, along with the Urban Efficiency Group and Seven Generations Ahead. This coalition deepens coordination among communities, gover nments, nonprofits and private sector partners.
Oak Park Village President Vixki Scaman said when C4 began it started explor-
According to Scaman, when a community joins C4, the first step is meeting with Cuneen and Urban Efficiency Group CEO Dar nell Johnson to assess where it currently stands. She said they meet communities where they are, whether they are just starting sustainability efforts or have been engaged for years and help them develop a roadmap based on their specific needs and goals.
“We also work to have everyone report back regularly so that we’re able to track our progress with the C4 initiative Gary is primarily the grant writer So if he identifies
ommunities have signed a memounderstanding to collaborate on equity and sustainability. The goal participation by bringing more ommunities into the initiative equipping them with the tools to take action. This includes supporting not only municipal gover nments but also other institutions in implementing strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as electric vehicle infrastructure, onsite solar, onsite geother mal, and the procurement of clean energy from projects developed in Illinois.
“There are so many different organizations that are advancing solutions and working in these different spaces and I would encourage people to get connected to those organizations. There are many ways to volunteer, do inter nships, and support existing organizations and initiatives and we have a lot of that in the Chicago metro area that have been working on these issues for quite some time, like us,” Cuneen said.
The exhibition showcases gardeners and land stewards using green space as a tool for care and identity
By HEC TOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter
Since opening on April 3 at BUILD, the “West Side Ear th Keepers” exhibition has showcased the stories and portraits of West Side gardeners whose stewardship sustains both community and future generations
Kesiah Bascom, manager of Austin Grown, a program from BUILD helped shaped the “West Side Earth Keepers” exhibition by leading interviews and community engagement, while Kenn Cook Jr., a West Side photographer and culture keeper, created the project’s portraits documenting local gardeners and land stewards.
Cook said the project grew out of meeting Bascom last year, which sparked his curiosity about the rise of community gardens and urban farming in Austin. As he connected with her and other West Side Ear th Keepers, he be gan lear ning more about the work and was inspired to explore and document it.
“We want to say, ‘Hey, we see you, we honor you and we want you to know that the work you’re doing doesn’t go unrecognized.’”
KENN COOK Photographer for projec t
“I lear ned that Austin has 26 community gardens that have developed over the last few years, and people started recommending books for me to read. From there, we be gan discussing a potential project to honor those doing this work, because I realized I
didn’t know much about it,” Cook said.
The vision behind the West Side Ear th Keepers art exhibit is to uplift longtime community members doing this work and place them at the center of attention, according to Bascom. The exhibit aims to reco gnize and celebrate their contributions by putting them on display.
“We want to say, ‘Hey, we see you, we honor you, and we want you to know that the work you’re doing doesn’t go unrecognized.’ We would love for other people to share in our pride in the work that you’re doing. I feel like Kenn really played an important role in bringing that to life and exceeded my expectations of what it could be, so it was a really fun project,” Bascom said.
Bascom described how a mother and daughter participated in the project together at Harambee Garden, being both interviewed and photographed side by side. The ex-
perience highlighted the intergenerational nature of the work, as the mother passed down her care for the earth while the daughter inter preted it in her own way.
Cook said when people came to see themselves on the walls, it became a powerful moment, bringing families and friends together to honor them and reco gnize the importance of caring for the land and for one another.
“While we often think of memory and archives as records in past tense, I’ve always seen my work as bridging the gap between generations. When I’m making these images, I feel like I’m in the presence of history and also creating it through these photographs, because these are people who are continuing to shape the West Side and the culture we live in,” Cook said.
There was a reflection on the historical connection of Black people as stewards of the earth, noting how land
care has long been a significant part of Black culture and movement. This relationship was also acknowledged as being shaped by history, including enslavement and its impacts.
“I think that natural connection to land is just who we are. But also, as an act of resistance, these earth keepers are taking spaces that would otherwise be empty in our community and turning them into something beautiful. They are inviting people into this culture of resistance that doesn’t depend on large companies or chain stores to produce our food; instead, they’re trying to give people the skills so they can survive. With that, I think there is a lot of resistance built in there,” Cook said.
Bascom said the team sat down to be intentional about the questions they were asking participants, aiming to capture a
range of perspectives depending on each person’s background.
“The easiest way to a gardener’s heart is to just ask them what’s growing in their backyards, or what they’re most excited about in nature for the growing season. Not everybody was a farmer, but people are doing this work not to make money or anything like that, they’re doing it because they truly love it. It’s their passion,” Bascom said.
The interview questions were shaped around themes of advocacy, people’s relationships to nature and what they personally enjoyed in the natural world.
“I love that having these photographs and stories will continue that le gacy for future generations to see and hear what we’ve been doing, and to understand why we feel so passionate about protecting our earth,” Bascom said.
