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RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside

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Vol. 36, No. 18

May 5, 2021

@riversidebrookfieldlandmark

New mayor, board seated in North Riverside PAGE 6

Brookfield fountain upgrade moves ahead

With prairie reserve under threat, Brookfielder steps up PAGE 10

Grappling with success

Trustees give green light for project to be completed in 2021 By BOB UPHUES Editor

The village of Brookfield’s plan to replace the fountain at Veterans Memorial Circle, shelved last year because money from a promised state grant still hadn’t materialized, is back on the radar. At its committee of the whole meeting on April 26, village trustees gave the go-ahead to Hitchcock Design Group to resume its efforts, use funds from the Eight Corners TIF District to pay up front costs and reimburse the TIF fund when the $250,000 state grant arrives. Village trustees are expected to approve an agreement with Hitchcock Design Group at an upcoming board meeting to prepare plans and bid documents. Once that happens, said Village Manager Timothy Wiberg, the plan is to complete the fountain improvements this year. “This is such a focal point of our town, it’s such a unique part of our town,” said Village President Kit Ketchmark, presiding over the final committee of the whole See FOUNTAIN on page 12

BIG TIME: Amanda Martinez (left) looks for an opening against Lauren Louive, a Team USA athlete and one of the nation’s top wrestlers, during the U.S. Olympic Trials in April. JIM THRALL/WWW.MATFOCUS.COM

Former RBHS wrestler placed in top 8 at women’s U.S Olympic Trials By LAUREN RECCHIA

Contributing Reporter

ormer Riverside-Brookfield and now North Central College wrestler Amanda Martinez garnered her share of accolades during her high school career, including a championship at the girls high school state tournament in 2017 as a senior.

And now she has competed against some of the best in the world. In April, Martinez wrestled in the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials Dickies Arena in Fort Worth Texas, where women’s freestyle along with men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman trials were all being held. A collegiate All-American, Martinez qualified to compete after taking second place in the National Collegiate Women’s

Wrestling Championships in March. Martinez was seeded 12th in the weight class. After competing in three matches and finishing in the top eight for women in the 57 kg weight class, Martinez was delighted with the whole experience overall. “The competition itself was great to be a part of,” she said. “Everyone there was a See MARTINEZ on page 16

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The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Support4U is a free anonymous text line for

WHAT IS SU SUPPORT4U?

students, answered within minutes by licensed clinicians. Students can text about anxiety, school pressure, relationship conflict or when in a crisis. These are difficult times

SUPPORTING THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LOCAL STUDENTS The Pandemic has impacted lives of students, families and educators. Compared with 2019, the proportion of mental health– related visits for children aged 5–11 and 12–17 years increased approximately 24%. and 31%, respectively.

– you are not alone!

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Simply go to www.support4u.live and click on your school logo to start texting with a licensed mental health professional.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE www.support4u.live Find us on Instagram! @support4u

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Virtual revue brings local actor to Chicago stage Marcus Canada one of the 10 ‘New Faces’ featured by Porchlight Theatre

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

By MICHELLE DYBAL

Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Arts Editor

For those ready for musical theater entertainment, Porchlight Musical Theatre of Chicago delivers with their virtual musical revue, “New Faces Sing Broadway 1961,” featuring 10 young artists, including 23-year-old Marcus Canada of Brookfield. The show is based on a series of “New Faces” revues put out from 1934 to 1968 and which introduced unknowns at the time, including as Maggie Smith, Henry Fonda and Eartha Kitt. Host of the Porchlight show, Kelvin Ralston, Jr., provides information such as this as well as factoids on the musicals and songs sung from them before and after each number in the program. Musicals represented from 1961 range from the well-known “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying” to the virtually unknown “Subways are for Sleeping” to those with songs that became very popular, such as “Make Someone Happy” from “Do Re Mi” and recorded by artists including Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Tony Bennett and The Supremes. Musical theater has been an important part of Canada’s life since he was young. He began acting and singing with Christian Youth Theater at age 11, he said, and stayed with the group through age 18. He was in shows including “Annie, Jr.,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Seussical.” “Through that, I really fell in love with it,” Canada said. While he was involved with acrobatics for a while – his dad Paul Canada owns and runs The Flipside Academy of Movement in North Riverside – by the end of high school, the stage was Canada’s only focus. He went on to major in musical theater in college, and after graduation he was lined up to participate in showcases in New York City in May 2020. However, when COVID-19 hit, that foiled his plans. Although not the same,

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

PROVIDED

INTRODUCING: Brookfield resident Marcus Canada is one of 10 up-and-coming actors featured by Porchlight Theater in their virtual musical revue “New Faces Sing Broadway 1961,” available online through May 16. he said, Canada participated in a virtual showcase and submitted a tape of himself “singing in his basement.” From this, he was signed by a New York talent agency, Creative Artists. No work has come from this agency yet due to many New York theaters being shut down. However, Canada pursued work on his own in Chicago while living in his Brookfield home. In the fall he received word from Porchlight to audition for “New Faces.” “In March of 2020, I auditioned for their season; I think this show was included,” Canada said. “In the fall, I got the callback specifically for ‘New Faces.’ … Porchlight has been really great. I think they were really one of the first larger theaters to figure out how to do a virtual production.” The show itself has more in-person performing than most shows in the area have had since that pandemic began. “New Faces Sing Broadway 1961” was filmed at the Studebaker Theatre in the Fine Arts Building on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Canada said he took part in one in-person rehearsal and one in-person filming day. Canada sings a solo -- “Artificial Flowers” from the musical “Tenderloin” -- as well as in a duet and a trio. For the duet and trio, the singers are to-

gether, unmasked, but socially distanced. Seeing people together singing in the same space is a welcome sight. The space of the restored theater, built in 1898, is used to create variety for the musical numbers. For the trio, the singers are positioned in the balconies as they sing “Sez I” from “Donnybrook!” and they sing from the stairs for “Strange Duet” from “Subways are for Sleeping.” “At that first in-person rehearsal when we were together, we all had this moment of, ‘Oh, it’s been so long since we’ve done this, since we’ve had other people in a room to sing with,’” Canada said. “That was really great.” Each New Face also shares something about themselves throughout the show, giving the production a personal touch. There are also viewer engaging sing-alongs with multiple New Faces and opening and closing numbers with the whole group. Canada said five at a time were on stage singing those group songs, a departure from the many individually recorded and edited numbers of other pandemic performances. Porchlight Music Theatre’s “New Faces Sing Broadway 1961” is available for streaming through May 16. Tickets are $25-$50 from porchlightmusictheatre.org/events/new-faces-sing-broadway-1961.

Brookfield exploring parks & rec foundation Nonprofit would raise funds to make programs more inclusive By BOB UPHUES Editor

The Brookfield Parks and Recreation Commission plans to ask the village board to give its blessing to creating a nonprofit parks and recreation foundation to raise money and provide opportunities for local families in financial need a way to participate in before- and

after-school programs, summer camps and other programming they couldn’t otherwise afford. Recreation Director Stevie Ferrari pitched the idea of a foundation to the commission last year after having had some experience working with them in the past. When she was at Lockport Township Park District, Ferrari said a foundation served a similar purpose in

helping families afford programs and also to fund large capital projects. Village trustees could get a chance to discuss the proposal at their committee of the whole meeting scheduled for May 24. Ferrari said the Parks and Recreation Commission is to further discuss language for the founda-

Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Digital Strategist James Kay Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Javier Govea, Mark Moroney Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

Growing Community Media BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL buphues@wjinc.com ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $34 within Cook County and $44 outside the county. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.

See FOUNDATION on page 14

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Author visit by Alex Kotlowitz

Riverside Public Library will host a fireside chat, via Zoom, with author Alex Kotlowitz, moderated by Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich, on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. A journalist, author and filmmaker, Kotlowitz has written “An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago,” the award winning national bestseller “There Are No Children Here” and ALEX KOTLOWITZ also has won an Emmy for the 2011 documentary “The Interrupters.” Kotlowitz and Schmich will have a 45-minute wide ranging discussion followed by a roughly 15-minute question-and-answer session. Registration is required by visiting online at riversidelibrary.libcal. com/calendar.

BIG WEEK

May 5-12 KATE SLADEK

CZS virtual lecture on vet techs

The Chicago Zoological Society presents a virtual lecture “The Role of Veterinary technicians in Animal Health and Conservation” via Zoom on Wednesday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Kate Sladek, a CZS veterinary technician, will share a behind-the-scenes look into the Brookfield Zoo Animal Hospital’s operations and the support she and other “vet techs”provide. The lecture is free, though a $10 donation is appreciated. Online reservations are required and can be made at CZS.org/LectureSeries.

Umbrella art project at North Riverside Mall

North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, is looking for budding artists to decorate white paper parasols for their Umbrella Art Contest, which runs through the month of May. Open to all ages. Just pick up an umbrella at the mall’s Customer Service Center (M-Sat 11 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sun 11 a.m.-6 pm.), decorate it at home and return it by May 31. Umbrellas will be displayed throughout the month and shoppers will determine winners of gift cards ranging from $25 to $300 during voting in June.

Riverside recycling, shredding, hazard disposal event

Riverside Arts Center, 34 E. Quincy St., presents the Riverside-Brookfield High School Advance Placement Art Exhibition through May 15 in the Freeark Gallery. The gallery is open by appointment by emailing to info@riversideartscenter.com. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., offers a number of virtual programs through Facebook Live (facebook.com/NRPL2400), conference calls and the teleconferencing app Zoom. ■

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Dave Andrusyk, environmental interpreter with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, will help you dig into native plants that will make your landscape a pollinator DAVE ANDRUSYK paradise during “Native Plants and Pollinators for Our Local Landscape” a Zoom presentation from the Brookfield Public Library on Monday, May 10 at 6 p.m. Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit brookfield. evanced.info/signup to register.

PIXELJONES/CC BY-SA 2.0

The village of Riverside and Flood Brothers will host a household hazards disposal, recycling and shredding event on Saturday, May 8 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Riverside Public Works facility, 3860 Columbus Blvd. in Riverside Lawn. Proof of Riverside residency is required and there will be a limit of 15 gallons or 125 pounds per household. There’s also a limit of 10 fluorescent bulbs and no business waste will be accepted. Do not mix waste streams. Visit the Riverside website at riverside.il.us for more information on items being accepted.

And more

Bring native plants into your landscape

Kiddieland Remembered From 80 years, Kiddieland in Melrose Park was one of Chicago’s favorite amusement parks. Relive the past with Cheryl Brown as she revisits the park with vintage photos and videos from a busy summer day during “Kiddieland Remembered 1929-2009,” a Zoom program from North Riverside Public Library on Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. Learn why the park had to close, the final auction of the rides and where the rides are today. Register to attend and obtain the Zoom link by visiting online at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new.

For adults, there’s Book Club Telephone Talk on May 11 at 6:45 p.m. via conference call (1-800-7475150, code 1453322) to discuss “The Baker’s Secret” by Stephen Kiernan. Register at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new for Zoom access. For kids there’s ABCs and 123s (ages 3+) via Zoom on Mondays at 10:30 a.m.; Story Safari (ages 3+) via Zoom on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.; and Lego Builders Club (ages 5+) via Zoom on Thursdays at 4 p.m.

Call 708-447-0836, ext. 230, email youthservices@ northriversidelibrary.org or visit northriversidelibrary. org/events-new for Zoom meeting access info. Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ BrookfieldPublicLibrary. For adults, there’s also Chair Yoga via Zoom on May 6 at 11 a.m. and the Zoom presentation Healthy Living for Your Brain and Body by the Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association on May 11 at 11 a.m. ■

Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit brookfield. evanced.info/signup to register for Zoom programs. Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents a Medicare Seminar on May 5 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom with Courtney Erb and Bill Scanlon and “The Grotesque 10,” a Zoom presentation on May 12 at 7 p.m. Presenter Mathew Duman traveled to 10 universities around the country, photographing grotesques and gargoyles on academic buildings, manifestations of the Collegiate Gothic style. ■

Visit riversidelibrary.libcal.com/calendar more info.

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Carjacking suspect nabbed after fleeing crash Two Bellwood women were injured when a vehicle driven by a man suspected of carjacking and kidnapping a woman in Forest Park crashed head-on into their 2017 Chevy Malibu on Cermak Road at 5th Avenue in North Riverside on April 30 at about 7:45 p.m. The two women, ages 61 and 65, were transported by paramedics to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for treatment. Both have been released from the hospital. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Travis J. Williams Jr., of Chicago, who police say was behind the wheel of the stolen 2020 Subaru Crosstrek that crashed into the Chevy and another vehicle, is being held on $1 million bond at Cook County Jail, charged with aggravated kidnapping and vehicular hijacking. North Riverside police also expect to enter charges against Williams soon. According to Forest Park police, a 30-yearold woman was sitting her gray Subaru, which was parked at the intersection of Harvard Street and Circle Avenue at about 5:45 p.m., when a man with his right hand wrapped in a blue nylon jacket entered the passenger side of the vehicle. The man, later identified as Williams, reportedly implied he had a weapon under the jacket and demanded that the woman drive to a Chase bank in Chicago to withdraw money from her account. The woman complied and drove to a Chase bank branch and went into the vestibule accompanied by Williams, police said. The woman did not have much money in her account, so the withdrawal was declined. Williams then drove the woman to a gas station, according to police, to attempt another withdrawal, which also was declined. Williams eventually let the woman out of the vehicle at the Harlem Avenue/I-290 intersection. The woman last saw the vehicle headed westbound on I-290 and then called police to report the incident at about 6:45 p.m. An hour later, North Riverside police responded to Cermak Road and 5th Avenue for a reported hit-and-run crash with injuries involving three vehicles. The driver of the Subaru Crosstrek involved in the crash ran south from the scene, said witnesses, and North Riverside police shut down traffic on Cermak Road, set up a perimeter and called in their K-9 unit, a Chicago police helicopter and Riverside’s drone to search for the offender. At 8:30 p.m., police reported finding Williams hiding inside a garbage can in the alley behind the 2200 blocks of 4th and 5th Avenue. Police also canvassed the area for the weapon Williams reportedly had implied to the kidnapping victim, but they did not find one. Police said witnesses reported that Williams was driving recklessly at high speed while eastbound on Cermak Road prior to the crash. He reportedly sideswiped a car while trying to pass it, lost control of the Subaru and crossed into the westbound lanes of traffic where it struck the Chevy head on.

Alleged dine-and-dasher hits employee with car A 21-year-old woman who is an employee at Famous Dave’s, 7201 25th St. in North Riverside, suffered injuries to her left leg and foot after being hit by a car driven by someone who reportedly had left the restaurant without paying the bill on May 1 at about 3:50 p.m. According to police, a party of five walked out of the restaurant without paying their $170.89 bill. Two employees followed them out and tried to stop them from leaving, but as the female employee approached the driver’s side of the vehicle, the driver allegedly backed out of the parking space, jumping a curb and striking the employee, who police observed on the ground when they arrived. The investigation continues. The employee was treated and released from an area hospital that same day.

Lost gun A man went to Riverside police on the afternoon of May 1 to report that sometime during the prior week he was riding his bike in Swan Pond Park and believes he dropped his 9 mm pistol during the ride. Since that time, the man said, he has checked that area, his house, his car and his clothes but can’t find the gun. Riverside police requested that the Brookfield Zoo K-9 unit sweep Swan Pond Park, but no gun was located.

Vehicle break-in A resident of the 3000 block of Harlem Avenue, Riverside, called police on April 28 to report that sometime during the prior week someone entered his unlocked vehicle, which was parked behind his building, and removed loose change and gift cards.

DUI hit and run North Riverside police charged a 31-yearold Cicero man with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs after he allegedly drove his 2013 Volkswagen into the rear of a 2018 Mazda stopped at a red light on Harlem Avenue at 26th Street. The offender reportedly sped away westbound on 26th Street in his heavily damaged car, which police stopped in the 2300 block of Desplaines Avenue. Police reported recovering beer bottles in the car and a small amount of cocaine from the driver’s pants pocket. The man’s blood-alcohol content was reportedly .190, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08. These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, April 26May 2 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

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The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Mengoni sworn in as North Riverside mayor Special meeting next week regarding personnel changes By BOB UPHUES

at the North Riverside Village Commons for the board meeting and swearing-in ceremony for himself, Clerk Kathy Ranieri and trustees Jason Bianco, Fernando Flores and Terri Sarro. “I expected him not to come,” said Mengoni of Hermanek after he was sworn in. Hermanek in comments to the Landmark prior to the May 3 ceremony made clear he was still stung by his defeat and by the fact that the village’s political establishment, the former VIP members, community supporters and financial backers, had abandoned him. Former Mayor Richard Scheck, who formerly backed Hermanek in his earlier runs for trustee and mayor, was the largest single financial supporter of the North Riverside United Party slate that swept the election. He was among those standing to applaud Mengoni and his slate mates on May 3. “Most importantly I want to

Editor

Joseph Mengoni assumed office as North Riverside’s mayor May 3, receiving a standing ovation after swearing the oath of office in front of Cook County Circuit Court Judge Joanne Rosado and a gymnasium crowded with family members and political supporters. He did it after presiding over his last village board meeting as a trustee, having been appointed by his fellow trustees as president-protem in the absence of outgoing twoterm Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr., who did not attend either of the two board meetings scheduled after the April 6 election, where Hermanek finished third behind Mengoni and Trustee Marybelle Mandel. Hermanek told the Landmark he was instead celebrating his mother’s 89th birthday. Mengoni said he found out Hermanek was going to be a no-show only when he arrived

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SWORN IN: Joseph Mengoni takes the oath of office as mayor of North Riverside, sworn in by Judge Joanne Rosado, on May 3 in the gymnasium of the North riverside Village Commons. thank our citizens and residents, those who are here and those who are watching on Zoom,” Mengoni said. “I want to congratulate the trustees and clerk this evening and our dedicated team. We will work closely with our staff and provide the highest quality services to the

village of North Riverside.” Mengoni’s first order of business was to call a special meeting of the village board for May 10 at 6 p.m. That meeting will play out predominantly in executive session and will concern personnel, he said.

Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight Beach Ave BBQ 3453 Grand Blvd, Brookfield 708-255-5025 Beachavebbq.com Owners: Juan Silva, Christopher Chin

Number of years in business? Beach Ave BBQ began in 2016 as a catering business. Began vending at the Brookfield farmers market in 2018. Spring of 2019 decision was made to open a brick and mortar location at 3453 Grand Blvd. Unofficially opened our doors in May 2020. What inspired you to open the business? Ultimately it comes down to the love of great food. Both of us have a passion for barbeque and utilizing wood, heat and smoke as an ingredient in our cooking. We want to be able to share our passion for this and what better way than to open a restaurant.

Best selling product / service OR something you want to highlight at the time of the article We pride ourselves on our commitment to quality and serving the best barbeque period. Beef brisket and pork are the mainstays of any barbeque restaurant. We take it up a notch by serving wagyu brisket, which is known for its intense marbling, as our everyday brisket. We single source our brisket from Mishima Farms, located in Washington State. Currently, Beach Ave BBQ is the only barbeque restaurant in Illinois to serve Mishima wagyu brisket. We went through more than a dozen farms before deciding Mishima Farms was “the one”. The other “thing” that sets Beach Ave BBQ apart from other BBQ restaurants is our whole hog barbeque. Whole hog barbeque is normally found in the Carolinas. We wanted to bring this aspect of barbeque to the Midwest and when we serve pulled pork at Beach Ave BBQ, we pull it from a whole hog. Something that no one knows about your business We smoke pig ears as treats for your dog. Smoked pig ears have been a long time treat to give to “man’s best friend”. We have a constant supply of pig ears and one day there was a light bulb moment of, “Hey, why don’t we sell these?” We began selling them a couple months ago

and they have been a hit. I believe a large part of there popularity is knowing they are locally made and human grade. You can eat our pig ears if you’d like, but you had better have a good set of teeth. What is the best part about being in Brookfield (or something to “talk up” being a business in Brookfield)? The community support has been amazing. Brookfield is a tight knit community, not only from its residents, but also its businesses. One of the main deciding factors of opening up in Brookfield was directly related to the Brookfield Farmers Market. The farmers market was the test bed of whether or not Beach Ave BBQ was really that good and good enough to stand on its own as a sustainable business. Your favorite thing about your business Community interaction and the ability to affect positive change. When Beach Ave BBQ started, it was a two man operation (Juan and Chris). The only influence we had was between each other. Since having opened up the brick and mortar location, we have been provided the opportunity to help those around us and the ability to affect positive change. For instance, Beach Ave BBQ made its mission to upgrade the food pantry at 8 corners, to help those in time of need, which we have been able to do. One of the benefits of being a local

The new mayor confirmed that he is intending to make some changes immediately, including appointing a new police chief and a new firm to serve as the village’s legal counsel. Police Chief Carlos Garcia, who was appointed by Hermanek to that post in May 2019, confirmed he intends to retire later this summer. Mengoni did not reveal who Garcia’s replacement would be, nor who he was considering as the village’s new law firm. North Riverside has been represented by Odelson, Sterk, Murphey, Frazier & McGrath Ltd. since Hermanek appointed the firm as legal counsel in 2013. Like Hermanek, their role in the legal effort to privatize North Riverside’s firefighting services, had become a political liability. Following the executive session on May 10 Mengoni is also likely to announce whether or not Sue Scarpiniti will be named village administrator on a permanent basis. She was appointed acting administrator in early 2020 after longtime administrator Guy Belmonte announced his retirement.

Presented by

business owner is the ability to interact with those within the community and be able to talk with them on an individual level. To know someone by name and have a conversation with them, when they come through our doors, is something that we value and pride ourselves on. In terms of being able to affect positive change starts with our employees. The majority of our employees are local residents and are high school/college students. Both of us are fathers and see to it that our employees are provided proper guidance and direction to not only be good employees, but also good people in life. We believe in mentoring and take that to heart when we have direct influence on somebody’s life.

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

New day dawns for LTHS school board Dillon elected president of board where most experienced members have been aboard 2 years

as well as incumbent Michael Thomas, who was appointed to the District 204 school board last year, were elected in the April 6 election. Departing the board are longtime board members George Dougherty Tom Cushing, Molly Bruton, and Jessica McLean. They all decided not to run for reelection. Dougherty served on the school board for 12 years. By BOB SKOLNIK Cushing has been on the school board for Contributing Reporter nine years and served as president for the Kari Dillon was elected the new school last six. Bruton and McLean both served on board president in Lyons Township High the board for six years. The new board will not have that kind of School District 204 on May 3 afexperience. Dillon and Alison ter four new board members and Kelly have the served on the one incumbent were sworn in board the longest, having been on a historic night at the LTHS elected just two years ago. ThomNorth Campus. as was appointed to the school For the first time ever, the board last year after serving on LTHS school board has no white the District 102 board. men on it -- the new board conDillon, 48, lives in Indian Head sists of six women and a Black Park and is the mother to two man. As recently as 2014, the LTHS students, a junior and a LTHS school board consisted freshman. She works in marketof six white men and one white KARI DILLON ing for company called Synergy woman. Creative that specializes in high“I think it’s different, it’s a little unique to LT’s history and I think it will er education marketing. She is the first female school board presibe really exciting to see what just comes up out of the dynamic,” said Dillon in a tele- dent since Heather Alderman served as phone interview with the Landmark after president from 2013 to 2015. Dillon’s election as board president is perbeing selected as the new school board presihaps indicative of the new atmosphere on dent. “I’m looking forward to it.” There are four new members of the school the board. Kelly, like Cushing, is a graduate board, including former District 102 school of LTHS and when she ran in 2019 she was board member Dawn Aubert, Jill Beda Dan- aligned with incumbent candidates Barbara iels, Jill Grech, and Julie Swinehart. They, Rosinsky and Phil Palmer, while Dillon was

more of an outsider who ran an independent campaign. “There’s an appetite for there to be different perspectives and people coming from different backgrounds right now, and I think that’s what the election results showed us,” Dillon said. Equity has emerged as a major issue at LTHS and will be a priority for the school board, Dillon said. “Equity is a primary focus of ours and I just hope to continue that work,” Dillon said. “I’m also looking to partner with the board and superintendent on our strategic plan for LT.” Dillon is not especially concerned about the relative inexperience of the new school board. She said she thinks the new board will bring a fresh set of eyes and ears to the board table. “I think it will be very healthy for the community, because it probably means that information that people maybe take for granted -- that everyone knows because it’s just been that way for so long -- will be bought back up again,” Dillon said. “People will be asking questions, and so the community will get to hear firsthand from the administration and from the board how the decisions are made and how we come to where we’re at.” The four new board members and the new board president come during a time of transition for LTHS. Superintendent Tim Kilrea is retiring on July 1 and will be replaced by Principal Brian Waterman. A new principal, Jennifer Tyrrell, also starts at LTHS this summer.

In-person learning returns for students in D103 Hybrid model allows kids in school two afternoons a week, two hours each By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Students in Lyons-Brookfield School District 103 were able to their classrooms for the first time in more than a year this week, allowing them to spend the final three weeks of the academic year learning in person. Beginning May 4 students had the option to attend classes in person two afternoons per week for two hours each until the school year ends on May 24. “I really look forward to seeing the children back in the schools,” said District 103 Superintendent Kristopher Rivera. Alone among area school districts, District 103 had been doing 100-percent remote learning for the entire school year. Recently, students had been coming to their schools to take federally mandated standardized tests. Nearly 36 percent of District 103 students are expected to come to school in person

for the two afternoon sessions each week in May. Half will come on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the other half will come on Wednesdays and Friday. Remote learning with teachers online will continue in the mornings five days a week. On Monday afternoons and during the afternoons when students are not at school, students will do homework assignments. The district is calling the back-to-school plan a “reconnection” plan. The main goals are to allow students to readapt to the classroom and have the opportunity to socialize with other students. Computers will not be used in the buildings during the afternoon in-person sessions. “There is going to be no technology,” Rivera said. “We are going to focus on socialemotional learning and engagement activities. … There are kids out there struggling with that social-emotional aspect and we want to address that.” Students who stay home those afternoons will participate in engagement ac-

tivities remotely. The students who do come to school for the two afternoons a week will have academic instruction during the mornings and do asynchronous academic work in the afternoons that they are not in school buildings. Rivera said it took a lot of planning and negotiating with various unions to develop the back-to-school plan. “We’ve been bargaining with all these groups,” Rivera said, mentioning the teachers’ union, the teacher aides’ union and the custodial union. Rivera praised his administrative staff for working very hard to put together a plan get kids into the buildings. “I pushed them very hard and they stepped up,” Rivera said. While they are in the school buildings, students will have to wear face masks. They will also have to remain six feet apart and face in the same direction whenever possible.

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The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Local pol key in getting school saliva test costs reimbursed After introducing legislation, Zalewski convinces state agencies to OK fed money for D96, D102 programs By BOB SKOLNIK

including New Trier District 203, Glenbard District 87 and others. The change will save District 102 more than In March, LaGrange-Brookfield School Dis- $300,000 and District 96, which contracts with District 102 for saliva testing to detect the trict 102 submitted a request to the state of Illinois for reimbursement for saliva testing presence of the coronavirus, at least $100,000. Through March, District 102 had spent costs under the federal program to reimburse school districts for expenditures related to $262,000, while District 96 had paid $81,654 for testing done from December through March. the COVID-19 pandemic. District 96 Superintendent MarThat request was denied betha Ryan-Toye said she had read cause, at that time, state policy the Patch story by Mark Konkol was to only reimburse school outlining how state officials were districts using a University of monitoring Campbell’s company, Illinois-developed test. SafeGuard Surveillance, and atBut after an investigative story tempting to steer Illinois school by the online news site Patch and districts away from it and toward a heads up from Riverside EleShield Illinois, a for-profit commentary School District 96 school pany developed at the University board member Wesley Muirheid, of Illinois. state Rep. Mike Zalewski (D-RivRyan-Toye forwarded the story erside) got to work. MIKE ZALEWSKI and her concerns about whether Zalewski introduced a bill that District 96 would be reimbursed persuaded state officials to reimburse school districts using the test used by for costs of the saliva testing it was doing to District 102 and District 96. That test is the District 96 school board members in a weekly one used by the company SafeGuard Surveil- update. Muirheid, who is a friend of Zalewski’s and lance, which was co-founded by District 102 school board member and Brookfield resi- a fellow Ames School parent, shot off a text dent Ed Campbell, a professor of microbiol- message to Zalewski about the issue. Zalewsogy and immunology at Loyola University ki spoke with Ryan-Toye and Campbell about Medical Center, SafeGuard has contracted to the issue and with a few fellow suburban lawdo saliva testing for suburban school districts makers. Contributing Reporter

After Zalewski introduced a bill mandating that the state allow reimbursement for the kind of testing SafeGuard Surveillance was doing, state officials met with Zalewski and agreed to approve federal reimbursement for both types of saliva testing. “I’m extremely grateful to Mike,” Campbell said. “He was really great. He reached out to me. He had a lot of good questions. And he really started an effort downstate with a number of other local representatives to make sure that the schools that are using this kind of surveillance got reimbursed. I think it’s a great example of how local government can matter.” Campbell’s for-profit company, SafeGuard Surveillance, does not do the testing for Districts 102 and 96, but Campbell personally set up the District 102 testing lab and the lab uses the same surveillance test SafeGuard uses. It’s not a diagnostic test and those who test positive are urged to get a diagnostic test; however, the surveillance testing has proved to very accurate. State officials had raised concerns that SafeGuard’s lab on Ogden Avenue in Brookfield was not certified by the federal Food and Drug Administration. Safeguard eventually applied for and received that certification although the District 102 lab, located in the basement of Barnsdale Road School in

LaGrange Park, is still not certified. Zalewski said that after he and other legislators met with officials from the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois State Board of Education, they agreed to change their policy and allow federal money to reimburse districts using the surveillance testing. That agreement was memorialized in two memorandums of understanding and Zalewski withdrew his bill. The issue was personal for Zalewski, who has four children who attend Ames School in Riverside and have been participating in the weekly saliva testing. The controversy over SafeGuard Surveillance and its test has also generated stories in the New York Times and Chicago Tribune. Campbell said the concerns over certification didn’t cause any of Safeguard’s existing customers to cancel their contracts, although they were worried that they might not be reimbursed for the cost of the testing. “It didn’t affect any of our clients’ decision to keep testing; everyone kept testing throughout this,” Campbell said. “We really haven’t lost any of our clients since the drama began in late March, but certainly there was a realization that the [former] policy left local taxpayers on the hook for something that everyone felt should have reimbursed by the state.”

High schools planning for ‘normal’ operation in fall Medical waivers at RB for anyone still wishing to attend remotely

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

School is expected to return to normal next fall at the area’s two public high schools. “Students should be preparing for a return to a traditional school year,” said Riverside Brookfield High School District 208 Superintendent Kevin Skinkis at the April 27 school board meeting. “This entails regular school day bell schedule, lunches on campus, extracurricular activities after school.” Lyons Township High School officials have also been planning for a return to a traditional schedule next year. “It is our expectation that we will return to our pre-pandemic schedule,” said Lyons Township High School Community Relations Coordinator Jennifer Bialobok. The only students who will be allowed to attend school remotely next year will be students who have serious medical conditions that don’t allow them to be vaccinated or put them at additional risk of severe complications if they come down with COVID-19. Stu-

dents who desire to attend school remotely against COVID to return to school next fall, next year will have to apply for a medical although vaccines now are available to students 16 and older and many have already waiver. “The paperwork and the process for the been vaccinated. There is hope that a vacremote option will be rigorous,” Skinkis said. cine will become available Both RBHS and LTHS with to kids between the ages of other near west suburban 12 and 16 over the summer. high schools are exploring It is not yet certain if face through the West 40 Intercoverings will be required mediate Service Center to in schools next year, but it create a remote academy to seems likely they will still teach the very few students be required when school rewho are expected to qualify sumes in August. KEVIN SKINKIS to attend school remotely “A lot will depend on when RBHS superintendent next year. vaccinations become availThose classes would not be able for children 12 years and taught by RBHS teachers but older,” Skinkis said in a text perhaps by teachers hired by message. West 40. Currently, about 450 RBHS “I’m sure some families won’t be happy students, about 28 percent, are attending that it may not be classes with RB teachers, school in person. At LTHS about 57 percent but at this point we’re anticipating a large of students are now attending school in permajority, if not all of our students, return- son at least two days a week. Thirty-one pering,” Skinkis said. cent of LTHS students are coming to school Students will not have to be vaccinated in person four days a week.

“The paperwork and the process for the remote option will be rigorous.”

Local elementary school districts are also planning for a return to full day, in-person school next year. RBHS officials are planning to take steps to ease the transition for students, many of whom who last came to school in person in March 2020 when schools shut down inperson operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Skinkis said that the RBHS is considering purchasing additional psychological services through the LaGrange Area Special Education District (LADSE), which provides psychologists to the school. The school may also add some behavioral interventionists to help students who might struggle getting reacclimated. RBHS is also taking steps to combat the expected learning loss experienced by students who have not attended school in person for more than a year. Students will be given a new assessment in reading and math when they return next year and lowperforming students will be pulled out of elective or PE classes and given additional instruction.

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

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Company’s price to improve ESDA building nearly one-third estimated cost By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield trustees on April 26 awarded a $64,500 contract to replace the roof and make façade improvements to a public works storage building after Public Works Director Carl Muell assured them that the company submitting the surprisingly low bid was capable of pulling off the job. Chicago-based YAD Construction LLC submitted the lowest of five bids for the work at the former EDSA building at 4523 Eberly Ave. with its $65,400 price less than half of the next lowest bidder, Red Feather Group, which submitted a bid of $146,210. The highest bidder, TORI Construction, bid $319,600 for the work. The Brookfield job is not a simple roof replacement. YAD Construction will be required to replace decayed fascia, roof sheathing and roof joists from the northeast corner of the building, install a new waterproof membrane over the entire flat roof, replace gutters and downspouts, and do masonry improvements on all four walls. Work will include tuck pointing as well as replacing bricks and stone where needed. The entire brick portion of the building must also be painted. Inside, the company must remove and replace water-damaged drywall, renovate an existing restroom and prepare the space so it can be used as additional office space as well as a storage area. The village had estimated that it would cost $170,000 to do all of the work, and YAD Construction’s bid initially raised some eyebrows, according to Muell. “We were kind of concerned about the

low price, but after speaking with them, the village of Brookfield is going to benefit from YAD Construction coming in,” Muell said. Muell told trustees at their April 26 meeting that he invited representatives from YAD Construction to Brookfield after the bid opening to confirm they could do the work for the amount they bid. “We were all on the same page,” said Muell. “They understood the scope around the entire exterior and interior of the building. They were very comfortable with their pricing.” Muell said YAD Construction’s references also came back positive. Large budget projects are not foreign to YAD Construction, Muell said, citing work the company has done for the Chicago Housing Authority. The company’s legal and financial history also didn’t raise any red flags, Muell said. Brookfield was getting such a good price, he indicated, because YAD Construction has not won a municipal contract previously, and they saw this job as their way in. “This project really fit into their wheelhouse, their specialty,” Muell said. “They’re trying to get their foot into municipal work, and this job worked out perfect.” Muell said the village had a similarly good experience with the company that submitted the low bid for the Public Works Department roof replacement last year, Red Feather group, which submitted the secondlowest bid, also under the village’s estimated budget. “We believe YAD Construction will also work out,” Muell said. Work is expected to begin in May or June and take three to four weeks to complete.

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The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Brookfielder helps lead effort to protect nature preserve Fears impact of proposed 180-unit development next to Wolf Road Prairie By MICHAEL ROMAIN Equity Editor/Ombudsman

A Brookfield resident who helps lead a nonprofit dedicated to preserving a native prairie in Westchester has joined local residents and stakeholders to push back against a developer’s plan to build a luxury townhome community on 15 acres of land adjacent to the roughly 80-acre Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve and the 43-acre Hickory Lane buffer lands — an area known worldwide for its biodiversity and soil composition. Wyatt Widmer, associate director of the Save the Prairie Society, a nonprofit chartered in 1975 to protect the rare black soil prairie in Westchester, said he’s been conducting research on the proposed development’s potential environmental effects. Widmer, 23, of Brookfield, said he can only speculate on the possible impact without seeing the developer’s blueprints, but added that construction of the development will almost certainly indirectly affect the prairie reserve, which is downwind from the proposed Springs at Wolf Prairie development, located a 2 Hickory Lane. “Where they’re building, the last time it was tested, the sediment and the groundwater contained a variety of carcinogenic and neurologically degrading compounds,” Widmer said. “And methane — a greenhouse gas that is 26 times stronger than carbon dioxide at degrading the ozone.” The prairie at Wolf Road has “over 370 species of native plants known to the site and more than 140 species of birds have been documented using the preserve for migratory stopovers, habitat needs and nesting,” according to the Salt Creek Greenway Association.

SHANEL ROMAIN/Contributor

BACKING THE LAND: Wyatt Widmer, who volunteers as the Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve’s land manager, says the construction of luxury townhomes at 2 Hickory Lane, roughly a quarter-mile to the west, could impact the prairie and its biodiversity. “Mammals, large and small, amphibians and untold numbers of insects, dragonflies and damselflies also inhabit the preserve,” the association explains on its website. “The seasonal migration of Monarch butterflies is a mid-September spectacle.” During their committee of the whole meeting on March 9, Westchester trustees unanimously agreed to send the proposed luxury townhome development, which would be called the Springs at Wolf Prairie, to the village’s Planning and Zoning Commission. The 15 acres are owned by luxury home developer Gallagher & Henry, which is based in Countryside. Wisconsin-based Continental Properties will manage the community, which proposes 180 luxury units, all of them rentals, at 2 Hickory Lane, according to information the developer provided to the Westchester Village Board last month. Widmer is concerned that the large amount of excavation that would come with a development of this scale, could disturb and disperse contaminants. “Usually, we have an eastbound wind, so all of that particulate matter, filled with carcinogens, neurological compounds and methane, gets blown this way,” Widmer said, during an interview conducted on the prairie earlier this month. “And if it doesn’t just flow right into our sediments, it blows into

our waterways and into their neighborhoods. “In addition to that, there’s a bedrock of dolomite six feet under the soil. In order to build anything there, there’s going to be some serious excavating,” he added. “We’re no longer talking about just digging the soil out, we’re talking about possibly the use of plastic, we’re talking about things that haven’t been dug up for 10,000 to 12,000 years getting suddenly released.” The land near 31st Street and I-294 was once the site of a 275acre landfill, which closed in 1982 after being in operation for 24 years, according to a 1989 Chicago Tribune article. At the time, Sexton Sand & Gravel Corp., the proprietors of the landfill, were “trying to find the source of a carcinogenic chemical suspected to be leaking from there.” Back in 1982, Hickory Lane was the site of an exclusive subdivision of roughly a dozen homes, whose private wells, once the source of their municipal water, had to be capped because the chemical, vinyl chloride, was suspected to have leaked into the water supplies. Despite the wells being capped and Sexton building a $300,000 water pipeline that carried Lake Michigan water to the Westchester subdivision, the residents of Hickory Lane told the Tribune at the time that they still feared for their health.

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ON THE WAY? The proposed 15-acre Springs at Wolf Prairie development (shown in the lower left corner) would be located on land that once was an exclusive subdivision largely abandoned in the 1980s after toxic chemicals from a nearby landfill, now capped, were found to have made their way into the water supply. Vinyl chloride, the paper reported, “is a versatile but toxic, man-made flammable liquid and gas widely used in the manufacture of plastics and paints. It can cause cancer, including liver and lung cancer.” Sexton also developed and operated along with Allied Waste Transportation Inc. the landfill at Hillside Quarry in Hillside, which closed in 2008, according to the Tribune. That landfill has since been capped. Six of the houses in the Hickory Lane subdivision are still standing, Widmer said. Most of them are abandoned. The Save the Prairie Society owns one of the homes, which it rents out to tenants. The Cook County Forest Preserve District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources own the other portions of prairie and oak savanna surrounding the 15 acres proposed for development. Widmer said that the potentially harmful compounds underneath the land near 2 Hickory Lane “are better off staying in the soil and not having to be cleaned up by anyone.” He said if he can obtain the blueprints from Gallagher & Henry, he may be able to make a case for how the development might directly impact the prairie and surrounding oak savanna, prompting possible governmental intervention. The prairie is federally protected land. During the board’s committee of the whole meeting on March 9, a representative with Continental Properties said that they had reduced the number of townhome units from 260 to 180 due to some board members’ concerns about how the site might impact the surrounding nature and forest preserves.

The developers also plan to construct an open space area on the site that could be dedicated to tree preservation. Widmer said that the idea to include the tree preservation was a concession the developers gave the Save the Prairie Society members and others concerned about the impact to the area’s biodiversity. But Widmer said he suspects the tree area would only conserve invasive plant species that could imperil the health of the prairie. He said the prairie already gets overrun with invasive trees and other vegetation that risk turning the diverse local ecosystem into a monoculture. He said he and other Save the Prairie Society members would prefer that the developers simply abstain from developing the site. Instead, he said, the Hickory Lane subdivision should be turned into an oak savanna again alongside, perhaps, a public park. “There is no more efficient form of carbon sequestration, which is getting carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and turning it back into compounds that we can use and so can the rest of life than grasslands and wetlands [than] the two environments we have here,” Widmer said. The prairie, Widmer added, also works as one of the most effective forms of flood control, retaining water from flood events and preventing the surrounding properties from being overwhelmed. Widmer said Save the Prairie members plan on bringing their concerns about the development directly to the Westchester village board, which will get a new mayor, Frank Perry, and several new trustees, this month.

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FOUNTAIN Costs rising from page 1 meeting of his tenure before slipping back into the role of village trustee next week. “This is very key to the Broadway [Avenue] business district,” Ketchmark added. “Plus, this is a veterans’ memorial, and the condition of it over the last years has deteriorated somewhat where I don’t think it’s serving our veterans quite as well as it could or should.” Back in May 2019, trustees expressed an interest in improving the fountain but making it something enjoyed a distance. Set in the middle of the Eight Corners roundabout, it’s dangerous for pedestrians to get to and it is not wheelchair accessible. At that time, Hitchcock Design Group estimated that to enlarge the fountain, raising the center section and installing a nozzle that could create a 10-foot high spray and LED lights to illuminate the fountain at night would cost about $250,000. Now, Hitchcock Design Group estimates that the cost to improve the fountain would be more in the vicinity of $465,000. Tim King, a principal at Hitchcock Design Group, told trustees on April 26 that $100,000 of that would go toward the construction of a sewer junction chamber beneath the new fountain, made necessary because there is a

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NEW AND IMPROVED: A computer rendering of the proposed new fountain at Veterans Memorial Circle shows that the central feature with a more impressive fountain will be raised above a lower pool and surrounded by plantings and monuments representing each branch of the Armed Forces. manhole in the center of the circle. In order for the new fountain to be located in the center of the circle – the existing one is not – the chamber needs to be built to provide access to the sewer. The cost for the fountain itself is also about $22,000 higher than the 2019 estimate, while the cost for landscaping the circle

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is also about $20,000 higher. Another cost not included in the 2019 estimate is about $60,000 for six proposed stone monuments fitted with plaques representing each of the branches of the Armed Forces. Closer to the roadway around the circle, lower to the ground will be bollards that will serve as barriers to vehicles. One of

the reasons the fountain is in its current condition is that vehicles, often driven by impaired motorists, have crashed into the circle. In 2006, a vehicle crashed into the fountain, destroying it. There have been other crashes since then, the most recent in 2018, when a car struck the fountain’s retaining wall, scattering bricks and concrete across the circle and into the street. Trustee Nicole Gilhooley, in her last meeting before leaving the board after serving two terms, said it was key that the village budget annually to maintain what will be a much more elaborately landscaped circle. Trustee Michael Garvey, who will assume the village president’s chair next week, pledged to do that. “It’s going to look great the first year it’s up, but we have to build this so it looks great permanently,” Garvey said. “This is a big price tag, but we want to do it right. … We have to plan in and budget the annual maintenance and upkeep of this to make sure going forward it’s the right way.” The existing war memorial monuments that ring the fountain will be relocated to Veterans Park, a few blocks south of the circle at Grand Boulevard and Sunnyside Avenue. In addition to the improvements at the circle itself, the village wants to improve seating areas that ring the outer edge of the roundabout, adding benches and signage describing the circle’s history as a veterans’ memorial.

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Brookfield offers grants to improve commercial properties 50-50 program will match up to $20K in TIF funds for range of exterior projects

By BOB UPHUES Editor

If you own commercial property in one of the village’s tax increment financing (TIF) districts and you’re planning on making improvements to the exterior of the building, parking lot or landscaping, you may qualify for a village grant of up to $20,000 to defray the cost. In April, the Brookfield Community and Economic Development Department quietly launched a new Property Improvement Program (PIP) to encourage commercial property owners in the Eight Corners, Downtown and Ogden Avenue TIFs to improve their buildings. The village board set aside $100,000 this year in each of the TIFs to fund projects that qualify under the terms of the program, which can be found on the village’s website brookfieldil.gov. Michael Schwarz, who departed last week as the village’s community development director, put together the program, drawing from similar programs in towns like Lincolnwood, Oak Park and Plainfield. Such an initiative has been on the village’s

radar since trustees adopted the Brookfield restoring original building features; replacComprehensive Plan in 2018, and there was ing signs and awnings; re-roofing visible surmoney budgeted in the 2020 budget for such a faces with non-standard materials (like shake program, but it was shelved due to a combina- or slate); extensive original masonry repair/ tion of staffing changes and the pandemic. restoration and extensive exterior painting “The comprehensive plan talks about im- projects. proving the Ogden Avenue Other eligible projects incorridor and business disclude planting trees, shrubs tricts,” said Schwarz. “By usand groundcover; landing TIF districts as a tool, we scaped parking lot islands have a means of making this and for dedicated outdoor happen.” patio/dining areas. PIP is not intended for new To initiate the process, construction or building adproperty owners must subMICHAEL SCHWARZ ditions, interior improvemit an application outlinFormer Brookfield community ments or routine mainteing the proposed improvedevelopment director nance projects. ments and meet with village Rather, the 50-50 matchstaff to discuss the scope of ing grants are intended to work. Village staff will then encourage property owners review the application and to make substantial improvements to a build- forward it to the village board for consideration and approval. ing’s or property’s appearance. Once approved by trustees, the village Projects costs eligible for reimbursement under the program include exterior upgrades will issue a formal letter of approval for the that will improve a building’s character; re- project and grant amount. Property owners placement of storefront elements such as must get at least three estimates for work doors, windows and trim; removing inappro- and obtain building permits. priate architectural features on buildings and After the project is complete, the village

“By using TIF districts as a tool, we have a means of making this happen.”

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Green improvement grants coming In addition, the village of Brookfield will soon launch a program called Green Infrastructure for Tomorrow (GIFT). Similar to PIP, the 50-50 reimbursement grants are open to commercial property owners in any of Brookfield’s TIF districts. The process for obtaining a GIFT grant is identical to the PIP initiative, but can be used for sustainable building projects, like installing solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, green roofs, rain gardens and rain barrels, native plantings, permeable paver parking lots, energy-efficient windows, doors and furnaces. Details of the GIFT program are still being finalized, including the maximum amount of the match, but the program ought to roll out in the near future, Schwarz said.

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FOUNDATION

Providing support from page 3 tion’s mission, philosophy and objectives at their meeting on May 18. If commissioners come to a consensus on those matters, they will send it along to the village board. Such a foundation, which would be a 501c3 entity, would have its own board of directors. A similar foundation, Beautify Brookfield, was created in 2012 to raise funds to support public art installations and other initiatives of the Brookfield Beautification Commission.

“The foundations are focused on one or two large fundraising events annually,” said Ferrari, who said she and recreation commissioners have made sure the new commission would not compete with or overlap with the mission of Beautify Brookfield. “They will have very specific missions and objectives.” Parks and Rec commissioners Julie Narimatsu and Kyle Whitehead have been spearheading the foundation initiative for the group. Narimatsu was appointed to the commission last July and Whitehead last September. “I’ve always been interested in how many families have access to our programs, especially summer camp,” said Narimatsu. “When Kyle joined the commission, we started the process of figuring out how to

start the process [of forming a foundation].” Whitehead, who works for a nonprofit, put together a memo for his fellow commissioners to provide background, which they have discussed a couple times, most recently at their meeting in April, but there’s still more they need to understand. The memo indicates there is a definite need for financial assistance for families. The Oddfellows Lodge donates between $500 and $1,000 annually to put toward recreation program “scholarships,” an amount that’s not enough to meet the need, said Whitehead. “There are families who are stretching themselves for [before and after-school programs] and camps because they know how much it’s benefiting their kids and families,”

said Whitehead. As the village increases fees in the future to cover the costs of staffing and running programs, those program costs will also increase. “It’ll be easier for us to approve those fee increases and the village to implement them if we have a foundation providing support for our lowest-income families who will be most affected by those increases,” Whitehead said. Whitehead said it could take several months for a foundation’s paperwork to obtain 501c3 status to make it through IRS channels, but that the commission could continue to work out details of how it would serve residents. “The first step was to get initial buy-in from commissioners and village staff and establish a roadmap,” said Whitehead. “But there are still several more steps to take.”

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Opinion Change is hard

KOSEY CORNER

THE LANDMARK VIEW

he transition of power from one mayor to another is not always a celebratory one for the outgoing mayor. In North Riverside, unhappy transitions from one administration to the next have been exceedingly rare, non-existent in fact, for the past three decades. After the way the election for mayor played out on April 6, it was always going to be interesting how this particular transition was going to come off. In the end, it was a bit of an anticlimax, with outgoing Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. opting to skip his final meeting and cede the field entirely to Joseph Mengoni, his one-time political ally, slate mate and, now, successor. It was not at all surprising, but still disappointing, particularly with the tenor of politics nationally and the unwillingness to graciously pass the baton from one administration to the next. It’s not that Hermanek disputes the outcome of the North Riverside election, because he certainly does not. We believe it’s more the case of Hermanek’s sense that he was abandoned by a village whose voters once sent him on his way to a pair of easy victories. The second win, in 2017, was a full three years after his bid to privatize the fire department and it could be argued Hermanek believed it was evidence that voters really didn’t object to that idea as much as his opponents or this newspaper did. In the end, however, we believe that the privatization bid was an albatross from which Hermanek couldn’t free himself. Hermanek’s hurt at not only losing but finishing third in the 2021 election was compounded by a clear sense that he saw himself as taking the fall for having to make some other hard decisions during his eight years in office. While his opponents might not want to give him full credit, Hermanek did finally assure – under duress, no doubt – to fund police and fire pensions at their full amounts annually. To do so, he ramped up the village’s red-light cameras program. That was unpopular and some political opponents have called for him to abolish the cameras, but the revenue they produce is crucial and Hermanek never tried to pretend otherwise. Hermanek also oversaw an aggressive expansion of video gambling in North Riverside, which provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue annually to help balance a budget reliant on volatile retail sales taxes. To address long-deferred improvements to the village’s roads and water and sewer systems, Hermanek’s administration issued debt to fund a large side street improvement program and instituted a water administration fee to fund critical water main improvements. The water fee has been unpopular, but it is a fundamental source of funding for important municipal infrastructure. Hermanek’s No. 1 achievement may have been in demonstrating to residents that they can’t count on others to fund their government operations. It’s up to them. The disappointment in Hermanek not being present May 3 is that he could have left publicly with his head high after two full terms as mayor, the second of which also saw him navigate a pandemic and civil unrest. Voters simply wanted change, that’s all.

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

It’s almost time to pull out the makeup again

hings are starting to relax a little, and I mean just a little, from the pandemic. I think we have all learned a number of things over the past year. I know I have and one of those things is that I did not accomplish all that I had wanted to do. One thing I do know I have to go through is my makeup. I am one who does not like to go out without make-up, but with the help of a year’s worth of mask wearing, I have left makeup off. However, when I recently did go to put makeup on, I felt I needed a tutorial on how to apply that which helps what nature has given me. I know I’ll have to sort through what I have and replenish my stock. Like food in the pantry, makeup does expire. I have way too many tubes of lipstick and usually wind up only wearing one or two shades, my favorite being Bronze Coin by L’Oreal. Hope they still make it. Husband Joe on the other hand needed directions on how to tie a tie, since he has not needed one for a long time. I’m sure he would be content with a clipon but, no, you will relearn, I told him I/we, will continue to wear masks when we go out.

We’re not out of the woods yet and I want you as well as us to be safe. And, yes, we have been vaccinated. Besides I have purchased quite a few masks and refer to them now as accessories. And haven’t you lost some of yours, just like gloves or mittens? We’re still following the rules as presented, but be assured behind my mask I am still smiling, like behind the clouds the sun is still shining. Businesses, get yourself signs that read, “No shirt, no shoes, no mask, no service.” Stay safe. Facebook frustrations: Many people spend too much time on Facebook and social media and not all of it is nice. Write nice things; we don’t need more to sadden or aggravate us. Better yet, pick up the phone and talk to someone. A real person on the other end of the line can be quite uplifting. Say it with me: Regarding last week’s column on Bishop Lyne -- the correct pronunciation of his name is “line.” Now you know. He is gone but not forgotten and now more people will know about the man who helped shape St. Mary’s Parish.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

No one at RBHS should feel invisible The article, “Black students at RBHS call for inclusion, anti-racism training” (News, April 28) saddened me. The stories from the two students in the article were enlightening. I was a social studies teacher at RBHS for almost four decades. When I started in the mid-70s, the n-word was used constantly. I was beyond shocked. I sent anyone using it to the dean’s office. The dean backed me up. I think the kids being sent were shocked, because they felt so natural using it. When student Tirza Elliott spoke of her feelings during a discussion following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, my heart broke. A teacher cannot ignore a student’s racist comments. Doing so implies agreement. RBHS was sued in the 1990s when a teacher ignored homophobic comments. No one wants a repeat of that situation. Many politicians also compared last summer’s protests to the Jan. 6 insurrection. Teachers had a perfect opportunity to point out the false analogy, the blatant lies, the absolute racism and the history leading up to both events. Student Raven McKelvin talked about black culture

and history not being represented in class curriculum. There are so many resources in every subject for teachers to use. I am sure that many teachers do use these resources. “Roots”’ appeared on TV a few years after I started teaching. “Eyes on the Prize,” an excellent PBS series, appeared a few years later. Many episodes led to many great class discussions. Integrating black history into American History, American political science, sociology or urban studies was easy. No one should ever feel invisible. I want to thank those two students for speaking out. The Minority Empowerment Club should be a place where students can discuss ways for teachers to help students of color feel more empowered. A list could be presented to the administration for review. Empowering students is what education is all about. We need to listen to our young people.

Jan Goldberg Riverside

See LETTERS on page 16

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

LETTERS continued from page 15

Thanks to kind soul who returned lost check On Monday morning April 26, I was taking a walk and heading to First National Bank of Brookfield to deposit a check. I had put the check in a bank envelope and put it in the pocket of my hoodie, along with my phone and radio. When I got to the bank, I went to take the check out of the pocket and it was not there. I immediately called my husband to ask him to look if maybe I forgot it, and didn’t put it in the pocket of the hoodie. No, was his response. On the walk back home I retraced my steps to see if maybe it dropped out and I didn’t realize it. When I got home, I was distressed that I had lost the check. My first response was to say a prayer to St. Anthony for lost items then I called

the bank to protect myself. I had hoped that maybe someone would find it and return it. Two days later when I returned from picking up dinner, I noticed that there was a piece of paper under the clay frog that I have on a table on our front porch, and much to my surprise it was the check. Two things occurred to me: First someone was honest and good to return it to me and second that St. Anthony helped me find my lost check. So whoever you are, this is a great big thank you for returning the check. In this day of COVID and all that we are dealing with in society, it reinforces my belief in humankind.

Christine Wedekind Brookfield

RBEF board thanks community for supporting raffle The board of trustees of the Riverside-Brookfield High School Educational Foundation would like to thank all those who supported the foundation’s recent raffle to raise funds to support educational grants to students and staff at RiversideBrookfield High School. The RBEF has as its mission providing educational grants to help students expand their learning experiences outside the classroom. To all who participated, you are a winner by showing your willingness to sup-

port the foundation. To learn more about the RBEF contact Dave Monti at 442-7500. Special thanks go to Aunt Diana’s Fudge Shop in Riverside and Mary’s Morning Mix-up in Brookfield for their additional support.

Dave Monti, president Jim Franko, JoAnne Kosey, Rick LaBelle, Julie Laube, Holly Miezio, Jacob Palka, Mary Todhunter, trustees Riverside-Brookfield Education Foundation

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GETTING A GRIP: Amanda Martinez (top) battles Lauren Louive of Team USA during the U.S. Olympic Trials in April. Louive would win the match, but Martinez still notched a top 8 finish at the tournament.

MARTINEZ Giving back from page 1 stud, so being on that level was a pretty big deal. I knew I was not going to have any boring matches and I did not. Weighing in with Olympic champs and warming up next to some of the best in the world made me come to the realization that it was big time.” During the competition, Martinez was victorious against current NAIA national champion Bridgette Duty of the University of the Cumberlands, who was ranked above Martinez heading into the tournament. “That was pretty cool because we hadn’t been able to compete against any of the NAIA teams this year due to COVID,” Martinez said. “It was fun to see how that would have stacked up. I could have definitely wrestled better, but the experience was amazing, and I can’t wait for 2024 to go for it again.” Martinez, who transferred to North Central after two years at Lindenwood University in Missouri, went 30-5 in the 2019-20 season, and despite not having regular season matches this year was thrilled to be able to compete in the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships. She also took fifth place at the World Team trials last November. Her experience in college has been a memorable one, as she can compete on an allwomen’s team. “Being able to see all the women with similar determination that have probably dealt with some of the same obstacles coming into the sport is pretty amazing,” she said. “You relate to them just as much as you want to beat them, and in such a tight community there is so much respect.” Martinez’s successful career started with lessons she learned from the coaching staff at RBHS, and she said was indebted to her high school coaches Matt Regnier, Mario Shermack, Nick Curby and, most notably, coach Mike Boyd.

PROVIDED

Amanda Martinez (center) with coaches Mike Boyd (left) and Nicholas Curby during her days as a state champion wrestler at RBHS. “I definitely would not be the wrestler I am today without him,” Martinez said. “Just knowing that the sacrifices will be worth it, when you do not have to ask yourself if you could have done more. And, of course, not putting too much pressure on the result but instead working to be 1 percent better every day in any and every aspect of life not just wrestling.” Martinez is now teaching young wrestlers herself as a coach with the West Suburban Girls Wrestling Club in Naperville, where she hopes to instill the same values she learned at RBHS to the young women that want to be great at the sport. “This sport has developed me so much both physically and mentally, and I’m glad that I can help give back a little,” Martinez said. “Women’s wrestling is only getting bigger and to be part of that growth is an absolute blessing. I can’t wait to see what’s next.”

Sports

@RBLandmark

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

RBHS wrestlers look to build on last year’s strong finish Seven who competed in state dual tourney back in 2021

By LAUREN RECCHIA and MELVIN TATE

Roadrunners look ahead to June restart

Contributing Reporters

In 2019-20 the Riverside-Brookfield High School wrestling team won their regional to qualify for the IHSA Class 2A team dual tournament and head coach Nick Curby hopes the Bulldogs are ready in 2021 to pick up exactly where they left off. The first week was a bit of a rough ride, with the Bulldogs going 2-4 in six matches, earning victories against St. Laurence and Niles West but falling to Providence, Plainfield North, Plainfield East and Vernon Hills. “The hope this year is to be able to have the seniors end their wrestling career on a good experience,” Curby said. “For the rest of the team, we hope that many underclassmen can get match experience to help set the program up for future success. The theme for the season will be growth of each wrestler and the program for future years.” The Bulldogs return seven wrestlers from the team that competed in the dual meet state tournament, including both wrestlers who qualified for the state meet as individuals, senior Quintin Godlewski and junior Mateo Costello. Also returning from the 2020 state dual meet team are Matt Patino, Brock Hoyd, Ethan Ranft, Daeshawn Jackson and Isaiah Noe. Senior Jovani Nava, along with juniors Liam Cote and Mike Racanelli and sophomores Quintavius Murrell and Bill Martin are new additions to varsity this season. “All of these wrestlers are young and hungry to build their varsity wrestling experience and prepare for upcoming years,” Curby said. The season will look quite different this year with no state tour-

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

TAKING HIS SHOT: Mateo Costello (right) is one of two RBHS wrestlers who return this spring after competing at the IHSA individual and dual team state meets in 2020. nament or large invitationals. Meets are limited to duals and triangulars. “I am confident that this team will improve throughout the season, they are bonding as a team and want everyone to do well,” he said. “They push each other in practice and hope to put the program in a position to continue building on the success that we had as a program in 2020.”

The Nazareth Academy wrestling team may have had to wait nearly six months to begin its season, but coach Denis Laughlin is simply happy to have his athletes back on the mats. “But it’s better than no season at all,” said Laughlin, reflecting the open-minded attitude all coaches and student-athletes have had to have in this unique and challenging time. The Roadrunners return three quality wrestlers from its 2019-20 season in Javaughn Jossell at 113 pounds, Zach Milos at 138 pounds and Joe Urso at 220 pounds. Nazareth participates in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, which Laughlin considers one of the premier wrestling conferences in the state. He sees Joliet Catholic, Marian Central and Marist as the teams to beat. The goal for the Roadrunners this season is simple: gradually improving with each practice. And Laughlin, in his 10th year as head coach, feels his team has had the right attitude and approach given the circumstances. “The one thing wrestlers can do is adapt to adversity,” he said. “The boys have done a nice job of [doing] this. I think we learned not to take anything for granted.” While most schools have already had matches, Nazareth won’t face any competition until June 3, when the Roadrunners visit Fenwick for a triangular meet against the Friars and Fenton.

LTHS pitching silences bats to top OPRF 3-2 Hanafin fans five of final seven Huskies batters to cement victory By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Senior pitchers Ava Kostecki and Lily Hanafin combined for 13 strikeouts as the Lyons Township High School softball team notched a 3-2 victory April 30 at Oak Park and River Forest High School. “Ava has a great spin on her pitches, and Lily’s speed is unmatchable. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said LTHS senior first baseman Anne Bryant, who was the game’s offensive star with two RBI. “It’s always an intense competition [with OPRF]. There were lots of great pitching on both sides,” said LTHS coach Nicole Paluch. “Ava and Lily are a great combination who complement each other well.”

OPRF coach Mel Kolbusz gave credit to Kostecki and Hanafin for their performances, but also expressed disappointment with the Huskies’ approach at the plate. “It’s not realizing what the opposing pitchers are trying to do with us,” he said. “We weren’t making adjustments and swung at whatever. I told the kids that in my opinion, we’re a better team than LTHS, but we didn’t play like it today and lost.” With two outs in the top of the fourth inning, Hanafin drew a walk off OPRF starting pitcher Cassie Metzger, then came around to score on a double by Bryant. Metzger helped her own cause in the bottom of the fifth with a home run to left center off Kostecki that tied the game. But in the top of the sixth, the Lions took advantage of shaky defense by the Huskies to take the lead for good. With one out, Ava Paganis reached second when OPRF shortstop Ella Kuenster dropped a pop up, then scored on a double by Tess Meyer, aided by some confusion between the

outfielders. Bryant then banged a single up the middle to bring home Meyer. “The soft hit [by Meyer] to left, that run should have never scored. The kids were wrestling over the ball,” said Kolbusz. Bryant said she was nervous at the start, but gradually relaxed as the game went on. “After my first at-bat [a strikeout], I learned from my mistakes and adjusted,” she said. OPRF first baseman Maddie Grant homered to lead off the bottom of the sixth, cutting the Huskies’ deficit to one and forcing Paluch to make a pitching change. Hanafin, who started out as the designated player, replaced Kostecki and fanned five of the final seven OPRF batters, including a strikeout of Kuenster to end the game with the tying run aboard. Kostecki allowed two runs on five hits in five-plus innings, while walking one and striking out eight for LTHS (7-2). For OPRF (5-2), Metzger went six-plus innings allowing three runs (two unearned) on six hits, walking two and striking out five.

Paluch feels the season has gone well so far based on the hard offseason work the team put in. She also believes the loss of last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a hunger inside the Lions. “They’re not holding back,” Paluch said. “They know how precious time is, and they’re looking to capitalize every game. We’ll continue to work on getting the timely hits and making sure our defense is solid all-around.” For his part, Kolbusz is happy to be back on the field this year with the Huskies. “I told them while I don’t like losing, it’s still fun to be with them,” he said. “We’re just in a little slump right now, and we’re going to try our hardest to get out of it.” On May 1, OPRF broke its’ two-game losing streak with a 13-5 rout of host Downers Grove South. The Huskies pounded out 19 hits, including home runs by Kuenster, Cate Barkdoll, and Sydney Ross. Ross and Rachel Hartman each finished with four hits, while Barkdoll drove in five runs and Ross four.

S P O R T S

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

OPRF bats unload to sweep Lyons Township Lions’ comeback falls short, then Huskies turn up heat By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Baseball games between Lyons Township and Oak Park and River Forest High Schools are usually fiercely competitive and often come down to the wire. And while that might have been the case on May 1 as OPRF held off a late LTHS charge to secure a 12-11 victory to complete a suspended game from April 29, the regularly scheduled game that followed was drastically different, with the Huskies breaking open a pitchers’ duel with a nine-run outburst over two innings to rout the Lions 10-0. “Give Lyons credit; they came out with a little more energy than we did,” said OPRF coach Joe Parenti of the suspended game’s conclusion, which ended with LTHS leaving the bases loaded. “We were a little flat and that made the game closer than we would’ve liked.” LTHS coach Kevin Diete was proud of the effort the Lions (6-3) showed when the suspended game -- which the Huskies led 12-8 after five innings -- resumed. “It’s tough to continue a game [from another day], but our kids came out and brought some energy,” Diete said. “It was a playoff-type game

and we just came up on the wrong side.” Following the conclusion of the suspended game, the regularly scheduled game started with a scare when LTHS starting pitcher Luke Stonebridge went down on the mound in the first inning after being hit by a line drive by Ethan Glossa. However, he escaped injury and was able to continue. “Luke said he got his glove on it a little bit to slow the impact,” Diete said. “Luke was more rattled with what happened, but that’s to be expected. He’s tough for staying out there, and give him a lot of credit.” In the bottom of the second, OPRF’s Jack Flagg connected off Stonebridge for a windaided solo home run to right field, giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead. Meanwhile, OPRF starting pitcher Calvin Proskey kept the Lions’ batters off-balance, mixing in his fastballs and breaking balls. The sophomore allowed one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts in five innings. In the bottom of the fourth, the Huskies’ bats came to life. Glossa led off with a home run to left, then singles by Aidan Krupp and Dan Michaud followed by a walk to Gio Pamias loaded the bases. Then Flagg greeted LTHS relief pitcher Freddy Rangel with a bases-clearing double to give OPRF (8-2) a 5-0 lead. “I was looking for a first-pitch fastball. I was looking to attack the zone,” said Flagg. After Mason Phillips reached on an infield single, Josh Diamond brought home Flagg

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GRANDFATHER CLOCK Perfect condition, oak wood, chimes all work. Everything is perfect. $499.00. 708-488-8755

ITEMS FOR SALE BRASS HEADBOARD Solid brass headboard.Originally from Marshall Field’s. $189.00. 708-488-8755

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

with a sacrifice fly to make the score 6-0 OPRF. Then the Huskies scored four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to end the contest. Pamias’ RBI single scored Jack Willsey. Flagg followed with another double to score Michaud, then Phillips singled to plate Pamias. With two outs and the bases loaded, Miles Kirk’s single to left brought in Flagg and invoked the 10-run mercy rule. “We hung in for a little bit, and then [OPRF] just took over,” Diete said. “We’ve got a couple of young guys in the lineup, and we’ve got to learn how to put the ball in play and force pres-

sure on the defense. We also have to pitch and play defense ourselves, and we didn’t do those things. We’ve got to pick it up a little bit.” Unlike most sports in this pandemic-abbreviated IHSA athletic season, there will be a state tournament for baseball, and while both LTHS and OPRF appreciate the opportunity ahead, they both know there’s a lot of work to be done first. “I’m excited to get that,” said Diete of postseason play. “It’s great for our kids, and it’s great for the younger guys who’ll find out what it’s like to be in the playoffs.”

HELP WANTED HELP WANTED PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking a Part-time (FTE 0.77) Elementary School Physical Education Teacher.

HELP WANTED SECRETARY/ASSISTANT Part-time, very flexible small law office in Oak Park. Ability to navigate a desktop essential

Qualifications: Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with Grade-Appropriate Physical Education Endorsement; successful teaching experience in physical education preferred; Master’s Degree is preferred.

Email resume to: bob@downslaw.com

Job Duties: The part-time PE Teacher will work in partnership with the full-time PE teacher to instruct students in Pre-K through 4th grade on how to develop habits of mind and actions that support good health, fitness and enjoyment of sport and play. The PE teacher will facilitate a learning environment that engages students in learning skills for sport and fitness, as well as SEL skills by growing confidence, sportsmanship and team spirit.

ALL POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e.cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing. HOMECARE AIDES Sahara Homecare is hiring Homecare Aides for our Melrose Park location. We are looking for compassionate caregivers to assist elderly clients with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and other errands. Pay starts at $14.00 per hour and flexible hours are available. Please call our Melrose Park office at (708) 344-2273 if interested or email Nicole Gray at nicoleg@saharahomecare.com and Greyder Martinez at greyderm@saharahomecare.com. SENIOR POLICE RECORDS CLERK The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Senior Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. this employee is responsible for distributing assignments, checking the work of others to ensure compliance with rules, policies, codes or other requirements, and referring matters that require supervisory intervention to the Police Records Supervisor. This employee also performs the full domain of clerical duties in the support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Application deadline May 14, 2021.

YOUR WEEKLY AD

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

Bartenders Bussers Line Cooks Servers Apply in person after 3pm.

KALAMATA

Greek Cuisine 105 N Marion Street 708-628-3661 DRIVER NEEDED NOW HIRING DRIVERS!!!! Lucas Medi Car has an opening for a full time wheelchair van driver. To be considered must have: • • • • •

a current Illinois driver license be friendly and courtoues have a good driving recoed must be 18 years or older in age pass a criminal background check

To schedule an interview CALL (708) 442-7533, MONDAY THRU SUNDAY (10AM TO 4PM) SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET ASSISTANT The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Assistant in the Development Customer Services Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmers’ Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-334

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@ GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

We are hiring Relationship Bankers in Oak Park, IL.

Visit the link below to check out this opportunity to join a great team! https://wintrust.taleo.net/careersection/2/ jobdetail.ftl?job=2100424&lang=en You can also learn about other career opportunities nearby.

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year RBLandmark.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF STICKNEY, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

IMPORTANT NOTICE: As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Governor of the State of Illinois’ declaration of an emergency, the below described public hearing will be conducted in person and via Zoom in compliance with P.A. 101-0640. All persons attending the meeting in-person will be required to wear a face mask at all times while in the building and will further be subject to strict social distancing (6 feet separation). Electronic attendance via Zoom is strongly encouraged. The information for the Zoom meeting is as follows: Website: Zoom.us Meeting ID: 312 915 7558 Password: 768782

PUBLIC COMMENT: Persons not attending the meeting in person may submit “Public Comment” to the Village Clerk no later than one (1) hour before the scheduled start of the meeting. Please send public comments to the Village Clerk at villageclerk@villageofstickney.com. Notice is hereby given that on the 18th day of May, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at the Stickney Village Hall, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois, a public hearing will be held to consider the approval of the proposed redevelopment plan (the “Redevelopment Plan”) and the designation of that certain proposed redevelopment project area to be known as the Cicero-Pershing Redevelopment Project Area (the “Redevelopment Project Area”). The Redevelopment Project Area consists of the territory legally and generally described below: THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 33 TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, AND THAT PART OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 4, TOWNSHIP 38 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, LYING NORTHERLY OF THE SOUTHERLY LINE OF LOTS 54, 56, 58 AND 60 OF THE SANITARY DISTRICT TRUSTEES’ SUBDIVISION, RECORDED MARCH 31, 1908 AS DOCUMENT 4180218, EXCEPT THAT PART LYING EAST OF THE EASTERN BOUNDARY LINE OF THE VILLAGE OF STICKNEY; (SAID EXCEPTION BEING THAT PART OF THE EAST 649.14 FEET OF SAID NORTHEAST QUARTER LYING NORTH OF THE NORTH LINE OF SAID LOT 54, AND BEING THE EASTERLY PART OF SAID LOT 54), IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

The proposed Redevelopment Project Area (RPA or Project Area) is located in the easternmost portion of the Village and is generally bounded by 35th Street to the north, Cicero Avenue to the east, the I-55 Expressway to the south and Laramie Avenue to the west. Land uses in the proposed RPA consist of industrial, commercial and residential uses. Hawthorne Race Course is located in the northern portion of the RPA. The RPA’s western, northern and eastern boundaries are contiguous with the Town of Cicero. The RPA’s eastern boundary is contiguous with the City of Chicago.

There will be considered at the hearing approval of the Redevelopment Plan and Project for and the designation of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area and adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The proposed Redevelopment Plan and Project is on file and available for public inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, Stickney Village Hall, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois. Pursuant to the Redevelopment Plan and Project the Village proposes to alleviate blighted area conditions in the Redevelopment Project Area and to enhance the tax base of the Village and the taxing districts having taxable property within the Redevelopment Project Area by utilizing tax increment financing to fund various eligible project costs to stimulate private investment within the Redevelopment Project Area. These eligible project costs may include, but may not be limited to, studies, surveys, professional fees, property assembly costs, construction of public improvements and facilities, financing, administrative and other professional costs, all as authorized under the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, as amended. The Redevelopment Plan objectives include promoting and protecting the health, safety, morals and welfare of the public by establishing a public/ private partnership, establishing economic growth, development and training in the Village by working within the guidelines of the business attraction and retention strategies developed by the Village, encouraging private investment while conforming with the Village’s comprehensive planning process, restoring and enhancing the Village’s tax base, enhancing the value of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area, improving the environmental quality of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area, and retaining and attracting employment opportunities Published in Landmark April 28, and May 5, 2021

within the proposed Redevelopment Project Area. To achieve these objectives, the Redevelopment Plan proposes to provide assistance by paying or reimbursing costs related to the acquisition, construction and installation of public facilities, property assembly, site preparation and improvement, job training and other eligible redevelopment project costs, the execution of one or more redevelopment agreements, and the payment of financing, administrative and other professional costs. Prior to the date of the hearing, each taxing district having property in the Redevelopment Project Area and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may submit written comments to the Village, to the attention of the Village Clerk, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois 60402. There has been duly convened by the Village a joint review board that considered the proposed Redevelopment Plan and Project for and the designation of the proposed Redevelopment Project Area and the adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The joint review board consists of a representative selected by each community college district, local elementary school district and high school district or each local community unit school district, park district, township, fire protection district and county that will have the authority to directly levy taxes on the property within the Redevelopment Project Area at the time that the Redevelopment Project Area is approved, a representative selected by the Village, and a public member. The first meeting of said joint review board was held at 3:00 p.m. on the 16th day of April, 2021, at the Stickney Village Hall, 6533 Pershing Road, Stickney, Illinois. At the hearing, all interested persons or affected taxing districts may file written objections with the Village Clerk and may be heard orally with respect to any issues regarding the approval of the Redevelopment Plan and Project for and the designation of the Redevelopment Project Area and the adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The hearing may be adjourned by the Mayor and the Village Board of the Village without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the subsequent hearing. Village Clerk Village of Stickney Cook County, Illinois

Starting a new business? Call the experts before you place your legal ad! Publish your assumed name legal notice in • Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside/Brookfield Landmark • Austin Weekly News Call Mary Ellen for details: 708/613-3342

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MAY 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM

Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall.

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 2021-22 school year. Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208.net Zoom invitation will be forwarded prior to the meeting.

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: Y21006706 on April 26, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of UNIQUE NOTARY SERVICES & TRAINING with the business located at: 1122 N HAYES, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: BEVERLY DENISE SINGLETON 1122 N HAYES, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA.

NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for variances from the Village Code for property located at 8845 Burlington Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PINs 15-34-433-001-0000; 15-34-433-002-0000; 15-34-433003-0000). The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Please check the following webpage one week before the meeting for more information: https://brookfieldil.gov/ meeting-packets/ The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kendra Kuehlem, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 at kkuehlem@brookfieldil.gov. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark May 5, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MAY 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for variances from the Village Code for property located at 3209 Raymond Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PIN 15-34-113-053-0000). The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Please check the following webpage one week before the meeting for more information: https://brookfieldil.gov/ meeting-packets/ The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kendra Kuehlem, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 at kkuehlem@brookfieldil. gov.

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark May 5, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MAY 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for variances from the Village Code for property located at 3209 Oak Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PIN 15-34-210-003-0000). The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Please check the following webpage one week before the meeting for more information: https://brookfieldil.gov/ meeting-packets/ The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kendra Kuehlem, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 at kkuehlem@brookfieldil. gov. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark May 5, 2021

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 21, 2021, at 10:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546---Due to the Pandemic this meeting will be held via Zoom. The

Published in RB Landmark May 5 and May 12, 2021 PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Little Irene Grace Ryu Case Number 20214001675. There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Little Irene Grace Ryu to the new name of: Irene Grace Ryu The court date will be held: On 6/29/2021 at 9:30 a.m. at 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Cook County in Courtroom # 111. Published in Forest Park Review May 5, May 12, May 19, 2021

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: Y21006683 on April 22, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of TOP TIER PRINTING with the business located at 6436 18TH STREET 1FL, BERWYN, IL 60402. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: LINDA P RICO 6436 18TH STREET 1 FL BERWYN, IL 60402, USA Published in Wednesday Journal May 5, May 12, May 19, 2021

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: Y21006745 on April 27, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of UNIQUELY VICTORIOUS with the business located at 1021 MARENGO AVE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: URVONNIE FRANKLIN 1021 MARENGO AVE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130, USA Published in Forest Park Review May 5, May 12, May 19, 2021

Published in Wednesday Journal May 5, May 12, May 19, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of VARSHAWN CHRISTOPHER HANSEN Case Number 2021 CONC 000527 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: VARSHAWN CHRISTOPHER HANSEN to the new name of: VERSHAWN CHRISTOPHER HANSEN The court date will be held: on July 12, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Daley Center, Chicago, Cook County in Courtroom # 1704, Calendar 9. Published in Forest Park Review April 28, May 5, May 12, 2021 LEGAL NOTICE: Harrison Street Bible Church has ceased operations and is dissolving effective June 7, 2021. Any person with a claim against the church should contact the church at P. O. Box 4532, Oak Park, IL 60304. Published in Wednesday Journal April 28 & May 5, 2021

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, located at 201 N. Scoville will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation Meeting which will take place remotely via video/telephone conference on Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 4:00p.m. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private/parochial schools and who are home schooled within the district for the 2021-22 school year. If you are the parent of a home-schooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200, you are urged to attend. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact Marilyn Thivel at mthivel@oprfhs.org or call (708) 434-3706 to request the Zoom Link information. Published in Wednesday Journal April 28 & May 5, 2021

The Landmark, May 5, 2021

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841 Robinhood Ln, LaGrange Park $849,900

3215 Wenonah Ave, Berwyn $389,900

272 Blackhawk Rd, Riverside $519,000

337 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $975,000

125 Barrypoint Rd, Riverside $511,000

32-22 Chicago Ave, Oak Park $499,000

59 East Quincy, Riverside $349,000

3303 S Grove Ave South #603, Berwyn $159,900

354 N Delaplaine Rd, Riverside $469,000

192 Waubansee Rd, Riverside $539,000

G! TINL S I L TA

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71 Forest Ave, Riverside $1,950/mo

229 Park Ave #404, Clarendon Hills $3,350/mo

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622 Robinhood Ln, LaGrange Park $2,200/mo

L TA N RE

34 S Kensington Ave #3, LaGrange $1,665/mo

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320 N Marion St #2, Oak Park $2,550/mo.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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