Landmark 060524

INVEST IN OUR REPORTERS. $10K MATCH. Details on page 28

RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD

2024

The Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association at the River Forest Memorial Day Parade

$1.00

TODD A. BANNOR

PRIDE MONTH EVENTS PAGE 8

Vol. 39, No. 23

Also serving North Riverside

June 5, 2024

See how many RBHS students graduated with honors. page 10

Pride month events Page 13

The village now estimates construction will be done in November

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

STORY BY TRENT BROWN,ON PAGE 11

MACKENZIE HUDSON / CHICAGO WHITE SOX

From left to right, Natalie O’Callaghan, Mary O’Callaghan, Monica O’Callaghan and Alex Alfaro-Gonzalez pose with White Sox pitcher Tanner Banks (center). Monica O’Callaghan’s two daughters and physical therapist accompanied her onto the field May 26 to help MLB celebrate Lou Gehrig Day.

CONCERTS

PAGE 10

Brookfield previews final design for Ehlert Park renovations

For a good cause

FREE

ANGEL LEBARE

PAGE 9

Riversider tries novel way to connect families to nonprofits. page 8

Pitching Let’s go to some

ILLINOIS ID

Brookfield has taken another step forward in its project to renovate the southwest corner of Ehlert Park.

At the village board’s May 28 committee of the whole meeting, Parks & Recreation Director Luke Gundersen presented trustees with an update on the timeline and final design for the renovations.

Under the new timeline, construction on Ehlert Park should start around July 22 assuming a contract is awarded at the board’s July 8 meeting, Gundersen See EHLERT on page 7

@

FOR MORE INFO:

events.dom.edu

2

The Landmark, June 5, 2024 Presented by

Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight

Celebrating 120 Years of Excellence!

One Family — One Name Father to Son – Five Generations

F

Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services Celebrates Anniversary

or 120 years, Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services has been honored to serve the community during the most difficult times of family’s lives.

Hitzeman Funeral Home was founded in Chicago,

by Frederick H. Hitzeman, a German immigrant who entered the funeral business in 1904. The firm made it’s new home in Brookfield, IL. in 1963.

Owned by fifth-generation funeral director Charles “Chuck” Hitzeman and his wife Danielle, the funeral home remains focused on taking care of every funeral detail for the families they serve.

As his father (Todd Hitzeman) before him, Chuck grew up in the industry. “I started out, cutting the lawn, washing cars and assisting where I could”, Chuck said “it also gave me the opportunity to see how families were impacted by the services we of-

fered and how we made a difference. I knew early on this was my future.”

if you need them providing every family with peace of mind.

“We do our very best to exceed each family’s expectations. I am truly grateful when a family tells us everything was just the way they wanted, that we made everything stress free, we went above and beyond and they appreciated everything we did for them. That is what our services are about, that is what makes us different: knowing that we were able to make somebody’s life a little easier during a very difficult time,” Chuck stated.

“We make our families, friends and neighbors feel comfortable before, during and after their time of need. Many families utilize our services because my grandfather or my dad was good to them and it is my intention to do the same for generations to come,” Chuck said.

Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services offer contemporary amenities and offerings with traditional founder based charm. In today’s ever-changing industry, families need guidance when it comes to their loved one’s care. Whether they can assist with planning in advance, an immediate need, personalization of services or helping to celebrate a life lived, the Hitzeman family and staff are there when and

This year marks their 120th year in business. “We know our longevity is due to the community’s trust in us, and for that we are forever grateful and we are honored to serve”, Chuck said.

To learn more about Hitzeman Funeral Home, Ltd., visit their website at www.HitzemanFuneral.com

Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services 9445 31st Street Brookfield, IL 60513 708-485-2000 www.HitzemanFuneral.com

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF TERRY SCHREIBER

Brookfield installs traffic bollards at Eight Corners The ‘low-cost, engineered solution’ was installed to improve safety at the roundabout

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

If you’ve driven through Eight Corners in Brookfield this week, you may have noticed new yellow bollards directing the flow of traffic.

Brookfield Public Works Director Vincent Smith said 32 traffic bollards, also called delineators, were installed Monday, May 20, at the roundabout, four at each intersection. The village’s goal is to improve safety after three motorists since December have struck the memorial fountain, which it rededicated to veterans last summer.

“We were assessing the condition of that intersection and the hazards that lied within. We had discussions with the crossing guards, and they expressed concerns with commuters, especially in that school area with the children, with individuals driving erratically,” Smith said

in a phone call Friday, May 24.

Smith said he, alongside Village Manager Timothy Wiberg and Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla, assessed the area near Eight Corners and settled on the traffic bollards as an immediate way forward.

“We wanted to try and create a lowcost, engineered solution that would improve the safety of that circle. It’s a very challenging area without committing initially to some very large infrastructure improvements,” Smith said. “We thought that if we implemented some engineered solutions in there that were at a reasonable cost … we could create the outcome or the desire we wanted to improve the traffic flow and the safety within that circle.”

While Brookfield paid for the traffic bollards itself, as opposed to receiving outside funding, “It was relatively a low impact financially to us,” Smith said. “I believe it was under $2,500 to purchase these.”

Some residents may worry about the possibility of the bollards being bent or broken by drivers using the roundabout, but Smith said Brookfield had purchased enough of them to have backups.

“They do get knocked down. We do have extras; we’ll replace those as needed,” he said. “With the high flow of traf-

fic and managing channeling that traffic over, this is a maintenance that would typically take place at night, just due to the volume of traffic and trying to control the work environment.”

He said one goal of the traffic bollards was to “create a pathway” for motorists entering the roundabout.

“As they’re approaching that intersection, it guides them in the direction of the circle,” he said. “People had a tendency to drive the wrong way in the circle, so this will help to control the flow of that traffic.”

While the bollards have only been installed since the start of the week, Smith said the village has already noticed them having a positive effect.

“We have been monitoring them as we’re out on site, and we have noticed an improvement in the conditions out there.

People are more cautious. They are slowing down, and they’re more mindful as to the flow of traffic and the direction that they’re taking. It’s definitely pushing traffic into the right direction,” he said. “We feel that, as of right now — it’s only been a week — that this low-cost, engineered solution has improved the traffic conditions at the circle.”

Editor Erika Hobbs Staff Reporters Trent Brown, Amaris E. Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner EMAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, 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 erika@growingcommunitymedia.org 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 $45 within Cook County and $65 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. © 2024 Growing Community Media NFP.

3

4

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

BIG WEEK June 5-12

Riverside Farmers Market Opening Day Wednesday, June 5, 2:30 - 7 p.m.

Centennial Plaza Attention all Riverside folks: the Farmers Market is back and better than ever. It kicks off on Wednesday, June 5. Stop by the water tower for a wide variety of different vendors this season.

Start the season off right by picking up your locally grown fruits and veggies, bath and body necessities, and more. 10 Pine Ave.

Mystery Quilt Project Monday, June 10, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

North Riverside Public Library Can you keep a secret? Well, you are going to have to with this upcoming event at the Riverside Library.

Starting this Saturday, participants can grab a bag with a mystery quilt square that you must sew and return to the library before Aug. 1. For every square returned, you will receive a prize and rights to see what your contribution helped make on Aug. 17. Remember, secrets are so fun, unless you don’t share with everyone (or however that rhyme goes). 2400 S. Desplaines Ave.

Dungeons and Dragons Campaign for 6th - 8th Graders

Storytime & Picnic Wednesday, June 5, 10 a.m., Twenty-Sixth Street Woods Come out and enjoy the nice summer weather with your favorite library at Storytime & Picnic. Attendees can be of all ages but those under the age of 7 must be accompanied by an adult. This event is BYOS so make sure you stack your picnic basket with every snack and drink you may want. What better location for a storytime than in nature? Other activities will take place as well. No registration is required, just show up with your own goodies. 26th Street, East of South 25th Ave.

Listing your event ■ If you would like your event to be featured here, please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published. We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights. Email calendar@wjinc.com.

WHAT?! That’s in Illinois?

Wednesday, June 12, 7 - 8 p.m.

LSF Brookfield Library Come listen to Celeste Brown as she recounts her adventures with wildlife and using GPS on her travels to many of Illinois’ state parks. You may think Illinois is boring and doesn’t have much to offer but Brown aims to prove you wrong. In fact, she is qualified to speak on behalf of Illinois’ geodiversity because she has visited 101 out of the 150 state parks. 3541 Park Ave.

Wednesdays, June 12 - July 24, 1 - 2:30 p.m. (no session on July 3) Riverside Public Library Kids entering 6th - 8th grade can join in on a daring quest to retrieve a wizard’s missing spell book.

Items such as paper, pencils, dice, and character sheets will be loaned out to participants, but registrants are more than welcome to bring their own dice. Because this is a small campaign with a limited number of spots available, participants must register and attend a minimum of 4 of the 6 sessions. When you register for the June 12 date, you will be automatically enrolled for the other sessions on June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17 and July 24. 3541 Park Ave.

Compiled by Grace Harty

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

5

LT trims construction plans amid cost increases Higher costs for 2024 work on South Campus forces delays in some plans for North Campus

By BOB SKOLNIK Bids for the planned work at South Campus came in 25% higher than anticipated this spring, leading the Lyons Township High School District 204 Board of Education to cut back its expectations.

The board voted 6-1 May 20 to direct the school’s architectural firm, DLA Architects, to create bid specifications for 2025 work that is projected to cost of $10 million to $12 million. Board member Michael Thomas cast the lone dissenting vote.

The 2025 work is expected to focus on LT’s North campus after $30.5 million in upgrades are done this summer at LT’s

South Campus. This summer’s South Campus includes a new cafeteria and music wing, accessibility and safety upgrades, replacing the lights in the South Campus field house and swimming pool, adding additional air conditioning, and mechanical renovations to the building’s HVAC system. Cost increases in that work forced the board to trim North Campus work.

That work, which is expected to begin in 2025, will be limited to adding additional air conditioning to the North Campus main building, renovating restrooms, and replacing an old elevator. It might also include renovating the two bathrooms at the North Campus Fieldhouse at a cost of $500,000.

Classroom modernization work at North Campus which had been projected to cost $6.6 million is being deferred. Another project that is being deferred is the installation of a turf field at the West Field which had been anticipated to cost about $3.5 million. Plans to add another elevator at North Campus have also been deferred.

Board member Michael Thomas voted against authorizing the bid specifications because he opposed delaying the work on modernizing classrooms at North Campus.

“What I’m opposed to is that the scope of this project changed from what we originally saw in Phase 1 with the modernization of classrooms being part of Phase 1,” Thomas said explaining, his no vote.

Board member Jill Beda Daniels said that expectations had to be scaled back because of the increased costs of the South Campus work.

“The costs have far exceeded what our expectations were, so our dream list had to come back down,” board member Jill Beda Daniels said. “We’re doing boring stuff.”

Daniels added that the school board must begin considering how to find the funds to fund the extensive facilities improvements that are still needed. She said that she is uncomfortable with reducing the school’s still hefty cash reserves to less than 47% of the annual operating budget, adding that the board should again talk about selling

DLA ARCHITECTS

Rendering of the LT south campus the property it owns in Willow Springs, a subject that had been temporally taken off the table after former school board president Dawn Aubert resigned from the school board on April 2. Daniels said that a bond referendum is another option to raise money for facilities improvements.

“It’s like the elephant in the room, between the land and, you know, a referendum,” Daniels said.

We’re growing community, one story at a time.

g n i r p S Support our

FUND DRIVE

6

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Weishaar leaves RBHS for Hinsdale South The industrial arts teacher and track coach has served for 10 years

RIVERSIDE ARTS

WEEKEND

JUNE 8&9

SATURDAY, 10 am - 5 pm • SUNDAY, 10 am - 4 pm Make plans to join us for this family-friendly event!

Enjoy refreshments from local vendors, art demonstrations and musical entertainment in historic downtown Riverside.

35+ Artist Exhibits Including ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography, watercolor, wood working, and more!

Children’s Art Activities • Live Music & Performances • Local Food & Drink Vendors • Secure Bicycle Valet • FREE ENTRY Thank You to Our 2024 RAW Sponsors!

Dave Weishaar industrial arts teacher and head boys track coach at Riverside Brookfield High School is leaving RB to take a job at Hinsdale South High School next year.

Weishaar taught nine classes at RB during the past 10 years, ranging from automotive classes to pre-engineering and pre-architecture classes.

“This decision comes after ten incredibly rewarding years at RBHS,” Weishaar wrote in his resignation letter. “I’ve been particularly proud of collaborating with Patty Sarkady and Patti Farlee in the Applied Arts Department in my tenure. Together, we fostered a collaborative spirit that led to significant achievements: growing our programs, establishing dual credit opportunities with Triton College, and integrating industry credentials into the curriculum.”

Farlee retired last year.

Weishaar was so versatile that the school has posted two openings to replace him, one for an automotive teacher and one for a technology teacher.

“He has built such a rapport with the students,” Sarkady said. “He treats his classroom like a workplace environment.”

DAVE WEISHAAR Weishaar also served as the head boys track coach for the past six years.

His teams have won or shared four consecutive conference championships.

Weishaar told the Landmark that he expects to coach track in some capacity at either Hinsdale South or Hinsdale Central next year.

Help Wanted: Park Specialist

Diamond Sponsors:

Starting Salary Range: $20.00 - $22.90/HR Summary: The Park Specialist is responsible for assisting the Superintendent of Parks with the maintenance operations of the Park District grounds, facilities, and equipment. The work includes, but not limited to: Landscape maintenance operations for the Park District.

Custodial maintenance of all Park District facilities.

Platinum Sponsors:

A full Job Description is available at: www.rfparks.com/job-opportunities Interested candidates shall submit an application by email to John Beto at jbeto@rfparks.com

www.riversideartsweekend.org 2024_Landmark_halfpage.indd 1

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

5/17/24 1:10 PM

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

EHLERT

Polishing playgrounds from page 1 said. Construction should reach “substantial completion” by Oct. 30 before being finished by Nov. 15 as long as there are no delays.

The project has remained mostly on track since the board last heard about the renovations in March, when the village partnered with architectural firm Wight & Company to design them.

At that time, a village memo said staff planned for the project to go out to bid for construction in May before the board would approve the contractor in June and ground would break in July. While the project is now set to go out to bid on June 2, construction is still set to begin in July following board approval. The same memo said the village’s goal then was to complete the project by March 2025.

New playground features Alongside the timeline for the project, one of the biggest updates Gundersen gave trustees was about the final layout for the renovated playground, which is designed to be fully accessible with pour-in-place rubber surfacing, like the kind at Candy Cane Park.

Outside of the classic swing set and slide, the playground will feature accessible elements like a universal swing, an inclusive orbit, a sensory rail and more. One such element is called the 360 loop; it’s a slide with a wide platform attached to the bottom that leads to an incline kids can walk, crawl or pull themselves up, allowing them to get back on the slide.

“It’s fully accessible and provides in-

dependent play for somebody who’s in a wheelchair,” Gundersen said at the meeting. “They would go down the slide and then scoot across, and then they can crawl back up that area.”

The playground will feature a raised ramp path that wraps around the southern half of the area to allow children to enter the main portion of the structure, about 32 inches off the ground, without climbing or using stairs. There will also be a wheelchair-accessible entrance to the playground structure at ground level.

Kids in town will be excited to learn about the addition of a gaga ball pit. For those unfamiliar, gaga ball is similar to dodgeball. Players within the octagonal pit must use their hands to hit a ball around the area; any player who is touched by the ball below the knee is out. The last player standing wins that round.

Gundersen said a group of Brookfield students wrote to the village with suggestions for what they’d like to see in the new playground.

“It was Hollywood School. The secondgrade elementary students wrote letters to us. They had a lot of creative ideas in there. Some weren’t practical for the space, but the gaga pit was one that we could” include, he said.

“A gaga ball pit was one of the big things they wanted to see in the park,” said Daniel Wilson, a landscape architect at Wight, at the meeting. “They are kind of inexpensive to add, and we have the budget to be able to add that in there to show the kids that we actually listened to them, to include it in the park for them.”

Residents were able to give their feedback on the playground layout at an open house held May 9. Attendees voted on two potential plans for the playground with different inclusive features; the version Gundersen ultimately presented to trust-

Golden Wok Restaurant 1122 N. Maple - 17th Ave. LaGrange Park • 708-354-3930 www.wok138.com

Finest Cantonese and Mandarin Food at reasonable prices.

TUES - SUNDAY: NOON - 8PM • CLOSED MONDAYS

Dining Room Is Currently Closed WE ARE OPEN FOR CARRY-OUT & DELIVERY

ees received 39 votes out of 50, he said.

Other changes Aside from the redone playground, changes coming to Ehlert Park will affect the park’s memorial garden plaza, soccer field and baseball diamond.

The memorial plaza will be shifted over “maybe five or 10 feet west and a little bit south” from its current location, Wilson said. The planter in the middle of the memorial will be removed, though there will be two benches as well as new landscaping and plants in the area around it.

“We are taking out that center area, just because, in our experience at Wight & Company, we’ve done memorial gardens.

Having that center island, the plant vegetation never really thrives well, so we’re just going to have that all as brick pavers,” Wilson said.

Trustee Kit Ketchmark raised concerns about replacing the memorial bricks at the plaza, many of which have names inscribed on them, but Wilson clarified that those bricks will be reused after the renovations.

“Our plan is to have the contractor clean those up and reseal them, and then they’ll go right back into that memorial garden,” he said.

The soccer field is getting spectator seating and new portable goals, which will be left out seasonally and stored in sheds nearby during winter. The field will also be regraded to improve drainage.

Like the soccer field, the baseball infield is getting redone to improve drainage.

“It’s not just going to be the clay infield,” Wilson said. “It’s a sandy clay mix that allows water to move through that really easily.”

The infield will be marked with bases and base paths both 60 and 70 feet away from each other so adolescents and teen-

7

agers alike can play on the diamond.

The baseball field is also getting a “concrete walk” put in behind home base, which will enable accessible spectator seating in the form of benches and bleachers. The concrete will also act as a base for two dugouts, each with a pair of accessible entrances and exits. New eight-foot-tall fencing will be installed in front of the dugout and spectator area alongside a new backstop. The fencing will extend about 20 feet past the dugouts, but it won’t envelop the outfield so that space can continue to be used for football and other sports.

COURTESY OF THE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Parks and recreation Director Luke Gundersen presented this finalized plan for the Ehlert Park renovations to village trustees. The plans include a new, fully accessible playground and a new dugout for the baseball field.

Ivins /Moravecek

Funeral Home & Cremation Services Family owned since 1885 David Moravecek - Owner Additional Suburban Chapel Locations Available Specializing in Pre Need & Veteran Care

80 E. Burlington St., Riverside (708) 447-2261 | www.ivinsfh.com

8

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Thinking about a career in local government?

Community • Connection Service • Respect

The Village of Oak Park has job opportunities available.

Please visit www.oak-park.us or scan the QR code

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

T

AFTER A DISASTER, AFFECTED TAXPAYERS MAY QUALIFY FOR TAX RELIEF

ax relief is available for people living in areas that are declared disasters by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To find out whether an area qualifies for federal disaster relief, taxpayers should check DisasterAssistance.gov.

Affected taxpayers have more time to file and pay: If taxpayers live at an address in an area that qualifies for IRS disaster tax relief, they automatically get extra time from the IRS to file returns and pay taxes.

Casualty loss tax deduction: If people have damaged or lost property due to a federally declared disaster, they may qualify to claim a casualty loss deduction and get a larger refund. They can claim this on their current or prior-year tax return.

Rebuild lost records with a tax return transcript: If people have lost their tax records, they can request a tax return transcript and a copy of their tax return from the IRS.

Taxpayers can get tax return transcripts online or request mail delivery with Get Transcript.

Taxpayers can also file Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return.

To get a copy of a tax return, taxpayers can file Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return. The IRS waives the fees and expedites these requests for people who need to apply for disaster-related benefits or file amended returns to claim disaster-related losses.

To speed up the process, taxpayers who file Forms 4506-T or 4506 should: • Write on the form that the request is disaster-related.

• Indicate the type of disaster and the state where it occurred.

Linda Sokol Francis, E.A.

3439 Grand Boulevard • Brookfield, Illinois 60513 • 708-485-9224 Brought to you as a public service since 1975

RBlandmark.com

advertise • 708-442-6739

Riversider’s new venture aims to provide essentials to families in need Her new nonprofit wants to bridge the gap between families and nonprofits to help forge service-based learning opportunities for kids

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

Ever since she was a child, Riverside native Audrey Connelly has had a strong pull toward a life dedicated to meaningful work with children and families.

An innate desire, perhaps.

Growing up in a family of five siblings, Connelly was continually immersed in countless ‘round-the-clock familial adventures, alongside kid-centered activities through her roles over the years as a babysitter, camp counselor, coach and tutor.

So, after graduating from Riverside Brookfield High School in 2020, it was a no-brainer her next move would be heavy on the emphasis of early childhood education.

In tandem with her college studies, in the summer of 2021, Connelly launched her first nonprofit, NannyNonProfit, providing opportunities for children and families to get involved with other Chicago-area nonprofits through volunteering and donating essential goods to families in need.

NannyNonProfit, as Connelly envisioned, acted as a bridge between families and nonprofits to help forge service-based learning opportunities and inspire children to live a life of service and lead with a heart of compassion. Through the venture, partnerships included collecting new and gently used baby items to Share Our Spare, a Chicago organization helping families living in poverty; donations and volunteering for New Moms, a Chicago and Oak Park-based organization partnering with young moms facing housing instability; and the Chicago Period Project,

AUDREY CONNELLY

Connelly stops for a photo at the Riverside Public Library with a group of children she’s cared for. She led an event for making Thanksgiving cards for residents at Brookfield’s Cantata senior living facility. distributing menstrual products to area shelters, schools and crisis support networks.

Three years later, Connelly’s vision of helping children and families remains the same, though her platform goals have evolved.

Enter Nannies for Non-Profits.

In the early stages of development, Nannies for Non-Profits is set to be a “matured nannying platform,” or a care network focused on civic engagement through partnership with local nonprofits to educate families, caregivers and children about social initiatives and how they can get involved in their communities.

According to Connelly, the premise of the platform is to build strong relationships on the foundation of both shared social values and care perspectives as a means to educate families on the understanding that the way we take care of our families should be modeled on caring for others as well, demonstrating positive behavior from adults as caregivers that they hope to pass on to the children in their care.

“The way we take care of our families is the way we take care of our world,” Connelly explained. “The people who take care of our children should be people we trust, those who See ESSENTIALS on page 25

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

How to eat well using the weeds in your yard Skeptical? This professional forager wants to show you how

708-795-0700 Serving your Community Since 1982

Replace that old water heater!

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Summer is here and native plants are poking up everywhere: in yards, parks, and in sidewalk cracks. Most people never wonder, “Can I eat those weeds?”

Now you can.

Each month this summer, foraging expert Dave Odd kicks off one-hours tours from Carnivore in Oak Park. His express intent is to get you to consume the landscape. According to Odd, he is the only full-time professional forager in the Chicago area. He has been at it for more than 20 years.

The first tour of the season started in a weedy parking lot next door to Carnivore and ended in Mills Park. In a radius of two blocks Odd identified more than 50 edible and medicinal plants.

Many people know that dandelions leaves are edible. But did you know that every part, except the fluff is? Before the flowers open the leaves are good as a peppery lettuce. Buds are a decent substitute for capers. Flowers are best lightly battered and fried or made into wine.

Roasted roots can be ground into a coffee alternative and if you roast them darker, a chocolate powder substitute.

There is a difference between edible and enjoyable, but it all depends on your reason for eating, said tour guide Odd. Many plants identified on the trip are ones dined on or used medicinally by Native Americans, he said.

One particularly useful plant is plantago, a native that has many health benefits.

“This plant is like magic for bug bites, bee stings, eczema, sunburn,” Odd said.

“Take one of the leaves, smash it up, put it directly over the affected area and hold it on there. Put down a piece of tape or a Band-Aid or whatever. It will stop the pain immediately. It is not just a

9

Professional Installation www.Sullivans-Plumbing.com

50.00 OFF

$

Limit 1 coupon per Heater

7018 W. 16th St, Berwyn, IL 60402

WIKIPEDIA

Pokeweek is edible in the spring, David Odd said. symptom reliever. It is a cure.”

Non-native plants, introduced to beautify the landscape, are edible as well, such as the very common tiger lily. All parts of the lily are edible: the flower, the leaves, the roots.

There are several plant families that fall into what Odd called the 90% rule.

“Most anything in the viola, rose, lily family, as well as stone fruit, clovers, mustards, are edible.”

“My favorite wild mustard of the region is called poor man’s pepper,” he added. “This is a very common Chicago area alley weed. Because before you could go to the grocery store and buy pepper, people would use these seeds as a replacement.”

There were 10 curious souls on the tour, including three Japanese entomologists visiting the state to experience the

historic cicada emergence. One is even working on a book about edible insects.

Of course, not every plant is safe to eat at every stage of growth. Take pokeweed for instance, it is fine in the early spring.

But, he said, “later on in the summer, it’s going to get real tall, with bright magenta string of pearls berries on it.

That’s when it’s poisonous.”

Odd emphasized that most everything can be tested for potential allergies or poison by eating a piece of it about the size of your fingernail, wait a few hours, “If you feel fine, then it’s probably edible.”

At the end of the trek, Carnivore offered a foraged lunch. Chefs served a seasonal appetizer, tempura fried cicadas.

Looking at the bowl filled with tater totsized nuggets was daunting, but the taste was mostly oil and salt, with a slightly nutty addition that was not unpleasant.

The main course was a spring pasta medley with items Odd had foraged the day before. It included wild onions, asparagus, and nettles. Dessert was a milkshake flavored with rhubarb and mint.

Carnivore’s owner Brad Knaub said he feels there is a connection between what Odd does and his butcher shop.

“He does a cool thing with food that’s

hyperlocal. And we do a thing with food that’s hyperlocal too.”

In the pre-carnivore past, both Knaub and co-owner Erik Williams worked for Odd, foraging materials for other local chefs.

“Anytime you were out of work, you would jump into Dave’s 18-passenger church van ride down by Joliet and pick ramps all day long,” Knaub said.

It made ends meet.

“Foraging is something that Eric and I both have done for fun and for profit most of our careers. So, it’s a nice tie in,” said Knaub.

Odd offers tours throughout the Chicago area, is available for private outings, and also conducts more extensive classes.

If you can’t get enough foraging on a tour, Odd also operates the “Land of Odd,” billed as a nature retreat and survival camp in Beaverville, Illinois, near Kankakee. There you can take longer tours and even camp overnight. *** Know before you go: Sign up for local foraging tours at: odd-produce.com/events More Odd info at: EatTheNeighborhood.com

10

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

HELP WANTED

Executive Driver Needed Responsibilities include maintaining a personal and professional schedule, coordinating meetings and events. Must be reliable and arrive at appointments on time. The ideal candidate must have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and must be incredibly organized with a strong work ethic.

Send resume and cover letter to Alessiacruz45@gmail.com for details

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ELECTRICAL

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Ceiling Fans Let an American Veteran do your work Installed We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

CEMENT

CEMENT

HANDYMAN

Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

LANDSCAPING Polish Dave’s Local Lawn Weekly Lawn Service, Sod, Mulch, Paver Patios & Sidewalks Spring/Fall Cleanups, Bush Trimming

Free estimates!

Mention this ad and receive 10% off any service!

Contact Dave at 708-256-8712

BRUCE LAWN SERVICE COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720

DRIVEWAYS • FOUNDATIONS • PATIOS • STEPS CURB/GUTTERS • SIDEWALKS • SNOW PLOWING STAMPED, COLORED & AGGREGATE CONCRETE • FREE ESTIMATES • LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining.

Low prices, insured.

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

Lawn Maintenance Fall Leaf Clean-Up Sodding/Slit Seeding Bush Trimming Senior Discount

brucelawns.com

708�243�0571

MASONRY

Accurate Exterior

Brick Work - Tuckpointing - Chimney Rebuild

773-592-4535

accurateexterior@yahoo.com

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat • Painting/ Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost 708.749.0011

More than 2/3 of RB seniors graduate with honors under new system

It’s the first year of the Latin Honors system

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

For the first time in decades, the top 10 students in Riverside Brookfield High School’s graduating class, ranked by grade point average, were not called to the stage and given medals.

That’s because in 2020, at the recommendation of Principal Hector Freytas, the school board voted 6 to 1 to eliminate class rank and switch to a Latin Honors system that is more commonly used at colleges and universities.

School board member Laura Hruska cast the only vote against the change.

This year, those graduating summa cum laude, with GPAs of 4.0 and above; magna com laude, with GPAs of 3.5 to 3.99; and cum laude, with GPA’s of 3.0 to 3.49, were recognized by being asked to stand at their seats for a moment during the ceremony.

Summa cum laude graduates wore gold tassels, magna cum laude graduates wore silver tassels, and cum laude graduates wore bronze tassels.

Just more than 67 % of the Class of 2024 graduated with some kind of honors with 101 students graduating summa cum laude, 98 at magna cum laude and 73 with com laude.

“It’s a nice way to recognize more kids,” said Assistant Principal for curriculum and instruction Kylie Lindquist of the Latin Honors system.

Lindquist said that the high number of students graduating summa cum laude is a result of the system of weighted grades, in which grades in honors and Advanced Placement classes get a numerical boost.

“I think weighted grades obviously plays in as a factor,” Lindquist said. “I think one of things that it speaks to for sure is the open access we have to our AP program.”

Lindquist said that RB offered more than five sections of AP Statistics class.

“I think it speaks to the rigor of the programs that our kids elect to go into,”

BOB SKOLNIK

More than 100 RB students graduated summa cum laude.

Lindquist said.

Lindquist said that the high number of students graduating with honors is also a result of the switch in education toward what is called mastery learning. In mastery learning, students are often permitted to retake tests and redo assignments until they demonstrate a mastery of the subject matter being taught.

“I think education in general now is trending towards students having opportunities to relearn, students having opportunities to demonstrate learning at different times,” Lindquist said. “We also are developing a culture of when students try something and they don’t get to the benchmark that they wanted to hit or the goal that they have set for themselves or that their teacher has set, that they can continue to try and build that mastery. So, I think you see across the board you see a lot less failures in education I think than you used to and I think you see a lot more students learning that you can try more than one time to reach success if you need to, and schools are o.k. with that now.

That’s not seen as something negative.”

Eliminating class rank was also seen as a way to reduce stress for students who sometimes engaged in some gamesmanship to boost their grade point averages. In past years, being at the top on the class came down to how many AP and honors classes a student took because a number of students typically graduate from RB having never received a grade lower than an A.

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Riversider with ALS throws first pitch at White Sox game

YOUR

BEST

LIFE

with Lisa Capone Make Your Home Show Ready

Monica O’Callaghan took the plate May 26 in honor of Lou Gehrig Day

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

For many people, throwing the first pitch at your favorite Major League Baseball team’s home game sounds like a dream. That dream came true for Riverside resident Monica O’Callaghan, who took to the diamond Sunday, May 26, at Guaranteed Rate Field, alongside her daughters and physical therapist, to help the White Sox celebrate Lou Gehrig Day. The holiday, celebrated by teams on or around June 2 since 2021, is MLB’s way of raising awareness for ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The incurable terminal illness, which affects people’s nervous systems and causes a progressive loss of muscle control, halted the career of legendary Yankees player Lou Gehrig in 1939 before he died from it in 1941. Since then, ALS has frequently been associated with Gehrig and is sometimes known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

O’Callaghan was diagnosed with ALS in 2022 after she started having trouble speaking the year before. Since then, the disease has progressed to affect her fine motor skills and mobility, requiring her to use leg braces and a walker.

“But she’s generally very positive,” said her daughter, Natalie O’Callaghan.

Because of Monica O’Callaghan’s difficulty speaking, her daughter often spoke on her behalf or clarified what she was saying during a joint interview with the Landmark on May 24.

Natalie O’Callaghan said the chance for her mom to throw the first pitch for the White Sox arose around March through I AM ALS, a “patient-led community” for those with ALS that she and her mom got connected with last year.

“I AM ALS put out on their social media channels that they needed volunteers to help with Lou Gehrig Day … for a whole bunch of different teams, and the White Sox was listed,” Natalie O’Callaghan said. “We’ve always been White Sox fans. My late father, Monica’s late husband, was a huge White Sox fan, so I jumped on it and got connected with the folks I knew over there.”

Monica O’Callaghan was one of several ALS patients present at the White Sox game to recognize Lou Gehrig Day. Others attended the game through other ALS organizations such as the Les Turner ALS Foundation, ALS United Greater Chicago and the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Natalie O’Callaghan said. Altogether, people living with ALS handed over the game ball and lineup cards at the game in addition to throwing the first pitch and yelling, “Play ball!”

Natalie O’Callaghan said she “voluntold” her mom for the opportunity even though her mom was hesitant at first.

“I was like, Mom, if we were at a Sox game two years ago when you first got diagnosed, and I saw a mom and her two daughters go out on

11

2024 CHICAGO WHITE SOX/MACKENZIE HUDSON

Monica O’Callaghan and her daughters, Natalie and Mary O’Callaghan, smile together while she prepares to throw a baseball. the [field], it would bring me so much peace in knowing, too, that even though this is an awful disease with no cure and really limited treatment options, that life goes on,” she said. “It looks different, but you can still do different things.”

She added that her family’s experience working with the White Sox was “so wonderful.”

“They might not be winning a lot of games, but they are a class act of an organization, truly,” she said.

With only a couple days until the game, Monica O’Callaghan said she felt happy about getting to throw the first pitch.

“It’s not for me, it’s for everyone and awareness,” she said herself.

Natalie O’Callaghan said Lou Gehrig Day and ALS Awareness Month, which is celebrated in May, are important for raising awareness about the “misunderstood disease” and the different ways it can manifest.

“It progresses so differently. So many people will experience symptoms that start in their limbs, and their speech stays fine for a long time, and then you have people like my mom, where it starts with their speech, but they can still walk with a walker and do different things,” she said. “We all remember the ice bucket challenge from a while ago, but since then, there hasn’t been a lot of large-scale fundraising and awareness efforts.”

The ice bucket challenge, wherein celebrities poured buckets of ice water over their heads to raise awareness for ALS, went viral on social media in 2014.

Monica O’Callaghan agreed that ALS awareness is important because anyone can develop it at any stage of life.

“Because it’s a rare disease, it gets ignored, but it’s increasing and it can strike at any age,” she said using a text-to-speech device. “Oftentimes, it strikes those that are physically fit.”

According to I AM ALS, about one in 300 people will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime and only about 10% of patients have a family history with ALS. While patients with ALS have access to accommodations to improve their quality of life, like mobility devices, text-to-speech technology and home modifications, progress on treatment is not always steady.

O’Callaghan is now a member of a drug trial at Northwestern Medicine after one of her medications, Relyvrio, was pulled from the market in April. There is still no known cure for ALS. “It’s one of those things that kind of shakes up your world, and you don’t know how to deal with it,” Natalie O’Callaghan said. “But through a good community, you can get through it, I think.”

You’ve decided to move to a senior living community, now what? If you have a home to sell, get it show ready by following these easy steps.

• Declutter, Depersonalize & Deep Clean. Help home shoppers focus on the house and not who lives there. Remove framed photos, bulletin boards and personal items, and get rid of anything dirty, dusty or smelly.

• Go Neutral. Buyers often can’t see past your décor so paint over any bright colors. Stick with whites, light gray, beige, or greige shades, they make spaces seem larger and more welcoming.

• Light It Up. Make sure all lamps and light fixtures have working bulbs and rooms are bright and well lit.

• Fix It Up. Repair small and large issues to present a home that’s been well cared for. If a project is too large to do it yourself, hire a handyman.

Remember, you only have one chance to make a great first impression with potential home buyers.

Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-1030.

Independent Living•Assisted Living•Memory Support Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home Care

12

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Summer Serenade Dance Summer Serenade Dance June 14 2024

June 14 2024

6pm-8pm 6pm-8pm RSVPRSVP Call 708-386-4040 Call 708-386-4040 Proper DressDress AttireAttire Required Proper Required

RB students hold online protest after art teacher is fired

A review of emails obtained by the LandThey say Laura Turk mark through a public records request show that Turk was offered the option to resign. deserves to hold onto Turk indicated she wanted to know what be the consequences of not resigning, her position that was would but chose not to resign.

“I was incredibly fortunate to work with eliminated because of low excellent Fine Arts educators at RBHS,” Turk class enrollment told the Landmark in an email. “I appreciate

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

408 S. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park

408 S. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL. 60302

Oakparkarms.com

Oakparkarms.com

SPRING y SPR SP PRI RIN ING NG Invent I ventt rry In REDUCTION SALE

Chicago’s favorite NEW & Consigned Furniture Store sofas buffets vanities benches bedroom loveseats bar stools sectionals side tables step stools night stands dining tables home decor

JUNE 7-9 In-Store & Online

1800 S. Harlem Ave. North Riverside, IL 60546

DIVINECONSIGN.COM

Riverside Brookfield High School art teacher Laura Turk won’t be back at RB next year after school board officials declined to renew her contract.

Turk, who taught at RB for two years, declined to resign.

As a result, students have created a Change. org petition to protest her dismissal. It is titled “Ensure Mrs. Turk’s Continuation as a Teacher From 2025 and Beyond” and has garnered 611 online signatures as of May 30.

“Our beloved teacher, Mrs. Turk, has made an indelible impact on our lives,” the petition’s authors wrote online. “Known for her patience, understanding, and dedication to her job, she is more than just an educator — she is a mentor and a guiding light for many students in Illinois.”

They said that Turk’s ability to connect with students on a personal level sets her apart, and claim that she has “consistently demonstrated excellence in her role, earning the respect and admiration of both students and parents alike.”

“We cannot afford to lose someone as valuable as Mrs. Turk after 2024,” they said.

Sophomore Sophie Fingerhut spoke out against Turk’s dismissal during the public comment portion of the District 208 school board meeting May 14, saying that Turk was the reason that a lot of students took art classes.

“I understand that, you know, people get fired and that’s just how it is,” Fingerhut said.

“But Ms. Turk was a teacher that really inspired a lot of students here.”

all that they do to generate safe and creative spaces for students. The students at RBHS are amazing young adults who made my job enjoyable each and every day.”

Supt. Kevin Skinkis declined to elaborate about why Turk was dismissed.

“She was non-tenured so she was nonrenewed,” Skinkis said. “We cannot go into specifics but we wish Ms. Turk the best of luck in her future in education.”

Turk, who had 13 years of teaching experience, was credited only with three years of experience for seniority for salary purposes when she was hired in 2022. A year later, RBTV teacher Matt Holdren was credited for all of his seniority earned at HomewoodFlossmoor High School when he was hired in 2023. Skinkis told the Landmark that RB does not have a formal policy about crediting seniority teachers accumulate at other districts, but typically gives one year of seniority for each three years worked at other districts, except for hard-to-fill positions, such as the RBTV teacher position.

Skinkis said she was not dismissed because she had questioned her compensation and seniority.

School board president Deanna Zalas said that the decision to dismiss Turk, which was approved by the school board by a 6-0 vote at the March 12 school board meeting, was a result of declining enrollment in visual arts classes.

The number of students who registered for visual arts classes next year declined by 232 students to 435, according to district records.

School officials said that enrollment in visual arts classes were inflated in 2023-24 because many students who could not get into a culinary class due to lack of space enrolled in a visual arts class instead.

PRIDE 2024

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

13

2024

The Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association at the River Forest Memorial Day Parade TODD A. BANNOR

PRIDE MONTH EVENTS PAGE 14

ANGEL LEBARE

ILLINOIS ID

PAGE 16

PAGE 18

14

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

PRIDE 2024

Annual Pride Month is in full swing Celebrations of identity and selfexpression invigorate the West Suburbs and Chicago

By ALEX GOLDSTEIN Contributing Reporter As June marks a month of celebration in LGBTQ+ communities nationwide, the Western suburbs and West Side are no strangers to the festivities.

Looking to celebrate? Here are concerts, parades, scavenger hunts and other events you don’t want to miss.

Oak Park/River Forest Wednesday Matinee Film Series: “Pride” Wednesday, June 12, Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

This film screening highlights a friendship between a mining community in Wales and a group of London-based queer activists. Registration is limited.

Grandad’s Pride Parade & Craft Monday, June 17, Oak Park Public Library outside plaza, 11 a.m. to noon This craft hour will start with a reading of “Grandad’s Pride” outside the main library. Afterward, staff will scatter ribbons throughout Scoville Park for participants to find to create their own rainbow wands.

Pride Shake, Rattle & Read with Oak Park Public Library Tuesday, June 20 , Lindberg Park, 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

This storytime session features books, songs and games centered around identity, self-expression and love. Weather permitting, the event will feature a visit from the Oak Park Book Bike, OPPL’s mobile library where patrons can learn about services and programs, check out books and apply for a library card.

2024 Oak Park Pride Party Saturday, June 22, Village Hall South Lawn, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Participants should bring their rainbow-themed outfits

for this family-friendly celebration. Hosted by the Village of Oak Park, it will feature ice cream, face painting, a DJ, games, a bounce house and a magician.

Brunchin’ Beauties drag show Saturday, June 29 Two shows at Kettlestrings Tavern, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the OPRF Chamber of Commerce, this year’s event features two drag shows, up from one due to popular demand, along with drinks, mocktails and a fourcourse meal.

Forest Park Pride Kite Kits June 1 to June 17, Forest Park Public Library Starting on the first day of Pride Month, the library will distribute make-your-own kite kits to library patrons for pride-themed decoration. Participants must return their kite by June 17 for display at the library and a chance to win an Escape Factor gift card.

The winner will be drawn July 5. Participants who wish to be entered in the raffle must include their name somewhere on the kite. Registration is limited.

Rainbow Dance Party Pride Storytime Thursday, June 20, Forest Park Public Library Austin Room, 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Celebrate love and self-expression with a morning of music and movement at the Forest Park Public Library.

The event is designed for children ages six and under, accompanied by a parent. Registration is limited.

Forest Park Annual Pride Fest Friday, June 21, Constitution Court, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Co-hosted by the Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association (OPALGA+), Play it Again Sports and Robert’s Westside, admission is free to this evening of drag performances, live music, food and drinks.

Pisco 4 Pride Friday, June 21, Table and Lain, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Featuring cocktails, appetizers, a live DJ, dancing and a drag show, all proceeds from ticket sales for this community party will go towards OPALGA+ fundraising.

Riverside/Brookfield and Berwyn Teen Craft: Rainbow Bookmarks Wednesday, June 12, Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Library patrons are invited to make their own rainbow bookmarks. Registration is required and limited, but walkins are welcome to observe.

Fifth Annual Berwyn Pride Walk Saturday, June 24, Beginning at Stanley Avenue and Gunderson Avenue, noon. to 2 p.m.

The Progress and Pride LGBTQ+ Youth Advocate Panel will precede the parade at noon at Youth Crossroads, where youth activists will welcome participants and provide insights on challenges and triumphs in the community.

The parade starts outside Youth Crossroads at 1 p.m., loops around Proksa Park and ends at 2 p.m. with a Juneteenth celebration.

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

PRIDE 2024 West Side/Chicago

15

Pride Picnic — Chicago Urban Pride Sunday, June 30 Beginning at Jackson Park from noon to 8 p.m. with an after party at The Promontory from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

This free and family-friendly picnic will feature live DJs, entertainment, giveaways and food. The after party is limited to patrons 21 and over.

Film screening: The Kids Are Alright Wednesday, June 5, Chicago Public Library — Austin Branch, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

This romantic comedy is a tale of commitment and the emotional flows of raising children in a queer relationship. It’s a part of the Chicago Public Library’s Community Cinema program.

West Side Chicago Gay/LGBTQ+ Ride Sunday, June 23, Starting at 2 p.m. at Joey G’s Mac n’ Cheese, Augusta Boulevard. and Western Avenue This event is tailored to enthusiasts of bikes, motorcycles, scooters and other two-wheeled contraptions. Joey G’s Mac n’ Cheese organized the ride through Chicago’s West Side as a celebration of love, identity, diversity and the community formed around riding in groups. Participants are free to don their pride-themed gear, and no prior registration is required.

Chicago Pride Parade

Film screening: Bros Thursday, June 27, Chicago Public Library — Austin Branch, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.,

This coming-of-age film follows a gay couple’s journey from attraction to commitment as they expose their vulnerabil-

WIKIPEDIA

ities. It’s shown as a part of the Chicago Public Library’s Community Cinema program.

PRIDEChicago’s Chicago Pride Parade Saturday, June 30, Starting at West Sheridan Road and North Broadway at 11 a.m.

On the last Sunday of June for more than 50 years, the organization PRIDEChicago has topped off the month of celebration with a procession through Lakeview and Lincoln Park. It’s one of the city and country’s most widely known and well-attended pride events, and one of the world’s largest neighborhood parades.

This year’s parade features 150 registered entries including community organizations, businesses, government officials and individual community members. It’s decked out with floats, outfitted vehicles, marching bands and performance groups.

Garland Flowers Celebrating Pride!

Kate McGuire Kroker long time president of PFLag

November 1, 1942 March 5, 2024

Celebrate diversity with Check out our events schedule for Pride month & beyond

137 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park • 708-848-2777 or 1-877-244-3181 • www.garlandflowers.net

www.opalga.org info@opalga.org facebook.com/groups/opalga meetup.com/opalga-socialgroup instagram.com/opalga_plus_ P.O. Box 1460, Oak Park, IL 60304

16

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

PRIDE 2024

Pride is ‘loving who you are,’ Angel LeBare says Forest Park’s famous drag queen shares insights into their life behind the stage

By JACK HELBIG

and dance and am also ballroom instructor and musical theater teacher.

Contributing Reporter

Reporter: So, you were, like, a theater kid growing up?

Angel: I did plays and musicals growing up. Roles I have played outside or drag include Paul in “A Chorus Line,” The Beast in “Beauty and the Beast,” Emmett in “Legally Blonde,” Judas in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” The Tin Man and The Lion in “The Wizard of Oz,” The Scarecrow in “The Wiz,” and Skimbleshanks and Munkustrap in “Cats.”

Angel LeBare, Forest Park actor, ballroom dancer, drag queen sublime, used to host shows for five years at the late, lamented Oak Park branch of Hamburger Mary’s, but now hosts at the original Hamburger Mary’s in Andersonville.

LeBare also hosts events throughout the suburbs and is one of the forces behind the Forest Park Pride Celebration Friday, June 21, that was founded three years ago by Forest Park business owner and resident, Erich Krumrei, LeBare, and their partner, Dan Walsh.

The event includes Pride Drag Performance at 7 p.m. at the Constitution Court in downtown Forest Park, which LeBare, naturally, hosting. The event also includes a retinue of other performers: Fox E. Kim, Andromeda, Alex Kay, Akasha Voyer, Elle Bowz, Britney Taylor, and London BaCall. After the event, an afterparty with additional drag performances will be held at the 2nd floor of the nearby Scratch Public House.

Reporter: How did you get into drag?

Angel: I got into drag when I played the role of Angel in a production of (Jonathan Larson’s iconic musical) RENT. Side note: Angel is an ambiguous character in RENT who some believe is a drag queen, others a transgender woman, and others read as genderfluid; the author never specified. The piece itself is incredible, and I felt honored to be able to be a part of telling that story.

The performance as Angel inspired my drag career and will always hold a very special place in my heart.

While performing as Angel, I entered a local drag competition and won. That led to competing the following month.

I continued to win, which led to me being offered a host position. While performing there, various other venues approached me about performing for them and things just sort of took off.

We recently caught up with Angel to discuss their life and career. The conversation has been lightly edited for clarity, style and length.

Reporter: You have been performing drag for how long?

Angel: 15 years.

Reporter: What do you like best about performing drag?

Angel: Things I like most to perform in drag are impersonations or female artists.

I like to pay homage to their looks and performance styles. I do impersonations of Dolly Parton, Katy Perry, JLo, Cher, and Pink. I also enjoy doing cosplay and character drag, performing various superheroes, cartoon characters, and Disney characters.

I have costumes for almost every Disney Princess, superheroes and villains. Every Halloween my performance troupe does a Hocus Pocus tribute. I play Winnifred.

Reporter: Who were the performers you idolized growing up?

Angel: The Spice Girls, Judy Garland, Charlie’s Angels Reporter: Who, other than yourself, is your favorite performer?

Angel: Beyonce Reporter. If you could meet anyone in history, who would you meet and why?

Angel: Judy Garland. I am a huge Wizard of Oz fan.

Reporter: Where have you performed?

Angel: I have performed extensively throughout the Chicagoland area, I ANGEL LEBARE was a hostess at the Hamburger Mary’s in Andersonville for 8 years and the Reporter: What was the last movie or Oak Park location for 5 years. I’ve also TV that really touched you? performed at every other performance Angel: I am currently entrenched in venue in Chicago’s Boystown, as well watching Bridgerton. The storyline is as The Office in Rockford, LaCage in great and the costuming is sublime.

Milwaukee, and Club Icon in Kenosha.

I have also performed at venues in New Reporter: How did you get into perYork, Texas, Florida, and Hawaii. forming?

Angel: I have been a performer my Reporter: How long does it take you to whole life. I have always been a natural get ready for a show? performer. I have studied theater, music, Angel: It really depends on the look I am

PRIDE 2024 doing and how extensive the make-up and/ or costuming is. Generally, about 2 hours.

Reporter: Do you become someone different when you become Angel, or is Angel just another side of your real life personality?

Angel: Angel is absolutely an extension of me, Angel is a very extroverted version of me.

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

17

year we are adding more. The community really seems to love it so that is why it has continued into year three.

Reporter: What does Pride mean to you?

Angel: Loving who you are and striving to be the best person you can be.

Reporter: What does Pride mean in Forest Park?

L E A D I N G W I T H LOV E A safe place to find understanding and support for all families, friends, allies and members of the LGBTQIA+ community

Reporter: What do you like to do when you are not on stage?

Angel: I like to play video games and enjoy time with my partner and pets. I have two Pomeranians, a Shiba Inu, and two Persian cats.

Serving the Oak Park area for 22 years

We meet on the 4th Sunday • First United Church of Oak Park 848 Lake St., Oak Park (at Kenilworth) 3 pm - 5 pm This is a place of confidentiality.

Reporter: Are you developing something special for the show in Forest Park in June?

Support....Education...Advocacy Back to in-person meetings!

773.491.6194 • pflagoakpark@pflagillinois.org Come to our annual bake sale: Oak Park Farmers Market, Saturday, August 31st.

ANGEL LEBARE

Angel: I can only speak for what Pride means to me, but I would assume the feelings would be similar for the village of Forest Park — Pride in oneself and pride in the community.

Angel: I have created three new looks for the Forest Park Pride Performance and the after party at Scratch Public House. I am looking forward to presenting them.

Reporter: This is not your first Pride event in Forest Park. What is it about this event that keeps you coming back?

Angel: This has been a project my partner and I helped to build and create from the ground up three years ago and we are very proud and honored of what we have built and hope everyone will join us. Our first year was a trial, setting up the event with the village. It went well, so the next year we added some elements and this

Reporter: As a Forest Parker, do you find the community welcoming? A good place to live? Open to the LBGTQIA+ community?

Angel: Yes, I do. I have been a part of various Pride events in Forest Park, Oak Park and Berwyn, and have always felt that the general populace is welcoming and inclusive.

Reporter: How do you create energy and a sense of community in your shows?

Or is it just something you have always been able to do?

Angel: I don’t really think about it to be honest. Once the show starts it just sort of naturally happens. I am a people person and I try to make everyone at my shows feel welcome and a part of it.

H S E R F CAL O L & NEWS Call Jill at (708) 524-8300 or visit RBLandmark.com/subscribe

18

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

PRIDE 2024

How to change your gender on Illinois state IDs A new law permitting this went into effect in April — what does that mean for nonbinary residents?

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

As of April 1, Illinois residents now have three gender options, “M,” “F,” and gender-neutral “X,” on driver’s licenses and state identification documents. By doing this, Illinois joins 21 other states with similar policies.

A 2019 law allowed gender-neutral markers on Illinois IDs, but it wasn’t until this spring that residents had the opportunity to select the gender-neutral option for IDs, because the Secretary of State’s office needed to update its card issuance system.

Shortly after the new policy came into effect, Christopher Jensen, board member of LAGBAC, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ bar association, went to the DMV to change their ID. Jensen uses he and they pronouns and was the first openly nonbinary memmber on the board.

“I was excited,” they said. “I wanted it so badly. I was just really excited to have it, for it to accurately reflect who I am…It’s a really powerful affirmation from the state, and it takes a step towards taking away that erasure, giving people their identities back, hearing their voices.”

The National Center for Transgender Equality’s 2022 U.S. Trans Survey Early Insights report showed that 22% of respondents had been “verbally harassed, assaulted, asked to leave a location, or denied services” after showing an ID with a name or gender that did not correspond with their presentation.

Gender incongruent identification can result in denial of employment, t, housing, and benefits and bring harassassment and violence, according to the NCTE’s 2015 National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Accurate and consistent identification is necessary to open bank accounts, starting jobs, enrolling in school, and traveling.

For transgender and nonbinary individuals, affirmation of gender and pronouns can also be life-saving and vital in suicide prevention. According to the Trevor Project, respecting gender identity among young transgender and nonbinary people is consistently associated

with lower attempts of attempted suicide.

“For people who are getting it, it’s a peace of mind,” said Jensen. “There is a comfort in knowing that the state acknowledges that we aren’t male or female, and that’s okay.”

Jensen also said that having documentation of nonbinary residents in Illinois could help to create new programs for nonbinary and transgender residents.

“I think if they noticed that there is a significant enough amount of the population then they can say this is a community that needs to be addressed,” they said.

However, some people are hesitant to How iden identify as nonbinary on IDs. The trans co community experiences high levels of vi violence, especially transgender peop of color and Black transgender ple women. According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Illinois State Report, 69% of respondents who interacted with police or other law enforcement who knew they were transgender reported experiencing mistreatment. Especially for those with additional identities targeted by police violence, the “X” marker as an automatic signifier of a trans identity brings some concerns.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people a about this and a lot of them are co concerned about the fact that it is goin to be a signal immediately to a going police officer that they’re trans,” Jensen id “Just “J said. by handing over their ID. Same for TSA security, bars checking IDs… I think there’s some personal safety concerns that people have about sharing that information with everyone they encounter.”

Some people have advocated for an elimination of gender altogether on identification documents.

“While including a gender-neutral option on identity documents is a step in the right direction, it would be better to eliminate gender from IDs altogether. It’s not

relevant anymore since the photo ID became prominent,” Stephanie Skora, executive director of Brave Space Alliance, a Black- and Trans-led LGBTQ center on the South Side, told the Chicago Sun-Times in 2019.

For people who do choose to change the gender on their ID, the nonbinary option can bring security, comfort, and affirmation.

“The most important thing is for affirmation of individual people’s gender identity,” said Jensen. “For me, having a state ID that says accurately what my gender is, rather than being forced to pick between one of two things that don’t apply, there’s a psychological benefit to that for individuals.”

To ensure that this new policy is positive, regular trainings could be essential. “Anybody that interacts with the public, as a government official, should have some kind of training on how to have a respectful conversation with people that you may not understand or even agree with,” Jensen said. “It’s still none of your business. You still have to treat them with as much respect as you do anyone else.”

Since April 2022, United States citizens also have been able to choose the nonbinary “X” gender on passports.

The government has resources for nonbinary international travelers: https://ow.ly/SIIf50S7gzm Illinois residents wanting to change their gender can go to the DMV and complete a gender designation change form. The fee for a new driver’s license is $5 and for a new state ID card is $10.

Planned Parenthood has a comprehensive guide on how to change gender and name markers in Illinois: https:// ow.ly/b0GO50S7gI2 To find more information on different states’ policies on ID documents and gender, visit transequality.org/documents.

PRIDE 2024

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!

Assistant Majority Leader Camille Y. Lilly, 78th District 6937 W. North Ave, Oak Park 773-473-7300

Assistant Majority Leader Senate President

Camille Y. Lilly

Don Harmon

Senate President Don Harmon, 39th District 6941 W. North Ave, Oak Park 708-848-2002 www.donharmon.org

19

20

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Brookfield opens registration for 2024-25 STARS program The village runs the before- and after-school program in D95 and D103

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Brookfield has opened registration for STARS, its before- and after-school care program, for the upcoming school year.

Short for Students Together in an Active Recreation Setting, the program allows parents to drop off their elementary students early or pick them up late for a monthly fee.

The schools will watch enrolled students from 6:30 a.m. until school starts and from when school ends until 6 p.m.

For students at Brook Park Elementary School in Brookfield-La Grange Park School District 95, the program takes place at Brookfield’s village hall. Transportation between STARS and the school is provided as part of the program.

For students in Lyons-Brookfield Elementary School District 103, the program takes place at each elementary school.

This year, there is a $125 registration fee due at the time of enrollment. Monthly prices for the program vary depending on when in the day and how many times per week a family needs to use it, from $75 for three days of before-school care to $270 for five days of both before- and after-school care.

For more information or to register your student for STARS, contact Youth, Athletic and STARS Recreation Supervisor Nick Magro at nmagro@brookfield. gov or 708-485-1528.

Junior Bulldogs football players selected for Chicagoland all-star team 3 players will go to the all-Chicagoland Youth Football League game

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Three players from the Junior Bulldogs youth football program have been selected as all-stars by The Chicagoland Youth Football League to represent Jr. Bulldogs in the All-TCYFL game, which will be played July 13th at Mundelein High School.

David DeLeon and Vincent O’Keefe of

Brookfield and Daniel McComb of Countryside will all be eighth graders in area schools next year. O’Keefe and McComb will represent the Varsity division while DeLeon will represent the Lightweight division. DeLeon was a member of the champion Middleweight Jr. Bulldog team last year.

TCYFL is the largest independent youth football league in the country, comprised of 38 member communities across Chicagoland and southeastern Wisconsin. Jr. Bulldogs provides opportunities for more than 300 area athletes, from kindergarten through eighth grade, to participate in football and cheer programs.

Sponsored by Riverside Township Sponsored by Riverside Township Sponsored by Riverside Township Sponsored by Riverside Township Sponsored by Riverside Township

Saturday,June June 88th 9:00 Noon Saturday, 9:00am am– – Noon th Saturday, June 8 9:00 am – Noon Riverside Masonic th Lodge parking lot Saturday, June 8Avenue, 9:00 am lot – Noon Riverside Masonic Lodge parking 40 Forest Riverside th Lodge parking lot Riverside Masonic Saturday,40June am – Noon Forest8Avenue,9:00 Riverside th

40 Forest Avenue, Riverside Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot

This FREE event is only for Riverside Township Forest Avenue, Riverside Riverside Masonic Lodge parking lot and only40 for personal, confidential This residents FREE event is only for Riverside Township documents.

No business shredding, 40 Forest Avenue, Riverside This FREE event isfor only for Riverside Township residents and only personal, magazines, or junk mail. Each confidential household is residents and only for personal, confidential documents.

No business shredding, This restricted FREE event ismore only for Riverside Township to no than 3 boxes of paper.

documents. No business shredding, magazines, oronly junk mail.

Each household is residents and for personal, confidential This FREE event is only for Riverside Township magazines, orYour junk mail.

Each household isdestroyed on site by documents will be securely documents. business shredding, restricted toNo no more than 3confidential boxes of paper. residents and only for personal, American Mobile Shredding and Recycling. restricted toor no more than 3household boxes of magazines, junk mail.

Each is paper. documents.Your No business shredding, documents will be securely destroyed on site by As always, this will bethan aEach contactless, drive-up event. No need to get restricted to nojunk more boxes of paper. magazines, or mail. household isdestroyed Your documents will3 be securely on site byout of American Mobile Shredding andthe Recycling. your car; place the documents in your trunk, follow signs at the event and Mobile Shredding and Recycling. restricted to noAmerican more than boxes paper. then simply pop the trunk.

We3will removeof thedestroyed documents from your Your documents will be securely on site byvehicle and shred them for you.

As always, thisAmerican will be a contactless, drive-up event.

No need to get out of Mobile and Recycling.

Your will beShredding securely destroyed sitetoby As always, thisdocuments will be a contactless, drive-up event.

Noon need get out of

your car; place the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and your car; place the documents in your trunk,the follow the signsfrom atfood the event and Please bring aremove non-perishable, unexpired item American Mobile Shredding and Recycling. then simply pop the trunk.

We will documents your vehicle As always, a contactless, drive-up event.

No need get vehicle out of to donate toremove the Riverside Township Food Pantry! then simply this pop will the be trunk.

We shred will the you. documents fromto your and them for your car; place the documents in yourthem trunk, the signs at the event and and shred forfollow you.

As always, this will be a contactless, drive-up event. No need to get out of then simplyFor pop theevent trunk.

We will remove the documents from your vehicle more info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 your car; place the documents in your trunk, follow the signs at the event and bring awww.riversidetownship.org non-perishable, or Please visit ourand website: shred them for you. unexpired food item bring non-perishable, unexpired food item then simply pop thePlease trunk.

We will the documents from your vehicle to donate toaremove the Riverside Township Food Pantry! and shred them for you. to donate to the Riverside Township Food Pantry!

Please bring a non-perishable, unexpired food item For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 to info, donate to the Riverside Food Pantry!

For more call Riverside TownshipTownship at (708) 442-4400 Please bring awww.riversidetownship.org non-perishable, unexpired food item or event visit our website:

THE MACLEAN HOUSE AT CALEDONIA SENIOR LIVING.

They will never forget the feeling of being loved.

IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY FOR MEMORY CARE SCHEDULE A PERSONAL TOUR TODAY!

2800 Des Plaines Avenue North Riverside, IL 60546 (708) 477-5092 | CaledoniaSeniorLiving.org

Escape, Relax, Recharge.

> edwardjones.com | Member The Landmark, June 5,SIPC 2024

2:1

SENIOR LIVING Escape, Recharge.

SUMMER RESPITE SPECIAL Escape,Relax, Relax, Recharge.

21

> edwardjones.com | Member SIPC > edwardjones.com | Member SIPC

We understand the challenges of caregiving!

SENIOR LIVING SENIOR Whether you LIVING need relief while Escape, Relax, Recharge.

Escape, Relax, Recharge.

SUMMER RESPITE SPECIAL managing personal commitments or planning a vacation, SUMMER RESPITE SPECIAL Escape, Relax, Recharge. our expert healthcare team is here for your loved one.

We understand the challenges of caregiving!

We understand the challenges of caregiving!

SENIOR LIVING SENIOR LIVING Whether you need relief while SENIOR LIVING Whether you need relief while SUMMER RESPITE SPECIAL managing personal commitments or planning aa vacation, SUMMER RESPITE SPECIAL Let us provide the care they need, so managing personal commitments or planning vacation, SUMMER RESPITE SPECIAL our expert healthcare team is here for your loved one. you can the recharge and peace of one. mind!

We challenges offind caregiving! our understand expert healthcare team here for your loved We understand the is challenges of caregiving!

2:1

Photos to pull from Marketing Hub image library

Personalized is kind our thing.

Photos to service pull from Marketing Hubof image library

2:1

We understand the challenges of caregiving!

We understand thewhile challenges ofcommitments caregiving! or Whether you Whether you need reliefneed while managing personal Whether yourelief need relief while

Personalized service is kind of our thing.

2:1

Personalized service meansservice having a financial advisor who Personalized means having a financial Let us provide the care they need, so who understands you managing personal or planning a relief vacation, Letpersonal uscommitments provide thehealthcare care they need, so Personalized is kind of and our thing. and helps Whether you need while planning a vacation, our expert team isExperts here for your loved one. understands youadvisor and service what you’re trying towhat achieve, Call Our Senior Living Today! managing commitments or planning a vacation, you can recharge and find peace of mind! our expert healthcare team is here for your loved one. you can recharge and find peace of mind! you’re trying to achieve, and helps to create managing personal commitments or planning a vacation, Let us provide the careis they so you canone. our expert healthcare team hereneed, for your loved Personalized service meansbased having aon financial advisor who to create a unique strategy your needs our expert healthcare team is here for your loved one. a unique strategy based on your needs andand recharge and find peace of(708) mind!

387-1030 understands you and what you’re trying to achieve, and helps Let us provide the care they need, so Call Our Senior Living Experts Today!

Call Our Living Experts circumstances. circumstances. usSenior provide the care they need, so Today! youCall can Let recharge and find peace of mind! to create a unique strategy based on your needs and our Senior Living Experts Today!

Photos to pull from Photos Marketing Hub image library Hub image library Let us provide thepeace care they need, so to pull from Marketing you can recharge and find of mind! info@cantata.org (708) 387-1030 387-1030 circumstances.

We’re ready when you are.

Contact us us today. you can recharge (708) and find peace of mind!

We’re ready when you are.

Contact today.

Call Our Senior Living Experts Today!

(708) 387-1030 Call Our Senior Living Experts Today!

We’re ready when you are. Contact us today. info@cantata.org info@cantata.org info@cantata.org Call Our Senior Living Experts Today!

(708) 387-1030 Personalized service is kind of our thing.

(708) 387-1030

Personalized service® is kind of our thing.

® (708) 387-1030 info@cantata.org Steven CSteven Langworthy, CFP Cfinancial Langworthy, CFP Scan hereservice means Personalized having a advisor who info@cantata.org Advisor means having a financial advisor who Personalized service Financial Financial Advisor to visit Scan here info@cantata.org Scan here you and understands what you’re trying to what achieve, andtrying helps to achieve, and helps 9136 Broadway to understands visit our website! you and you’re 9136 Broadway to visit Brookfield, IL 60513 our website! create a unique strategy based on your needs based and on your needs and ourto website!

Brookfield, 60513 Scan here 708-485-8291 to create aILunique strategy 2940 McCormick Avenue • Brookfield, IL 60513 • Cantata.org to visit circumstances.

2940 McCormick Avenue • Brookfield, IL 60513 • Cantata.org 708-485-8291 MKD-8652E-A AECSPAD Scan here circumstances.

2940 McCormick Avenue • Brookfield, IL 60513 • Cantata.org our website!

22006948

Scan hereCare Independent Living•Memory Support•Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home IndependentLiving•Assisted Living•Assisted Living•Memory Support•Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home to visitCare

We’re ready when you are. Contact us today.

We’re ready when you are. Contact us today.

Independent Living•Assisted Living•Memory Support•Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home Careto visit our website!

2940 McCormick Avenue • Brookfield, IL 60513 • Cantata.org Independent Living•Assisted Living•Memory Support•Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home Care

our website!

2940 McCormick Avenue • Brookfield, IL 60513 • Cantata.org 2940 McCormick Avenue • Brookfield, IL 60513 • Cantata.org

Independent Living•Assisted Living•Memory Support•Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home Care Independent Living•Assisted Living•Memory Support•Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home Care

MKD-8652E-A AECSPAD 22006948

IT’S HERE ®

® Steven C Langworthy, CFP Steven C Langworthy, CFP

Financial Advisor

9136 Broadway Brookfield, IL 60513 708-485-8291

Financial Advisor

9136 Broadway Brookfield, IL 60513 708-485-8291

5.30% APY*

13 Month Certificate of Deposit

5.00% APY*

MKD-8652E-A AECSPAD 22006948

MKD-8652E-A AECSPAD 22006948

18 Month Certificate of Deposit

5.00% APY*

24 Month Certificate of Deposit

7820 West 26th Street, North Riverside, IL 60546 P: 919.948.1990 | westtownbank.com

*Annual Yield (APY) is accurate of of May 31,22, 2024 and and is subject to change.

A minimum Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as May is subject change.

A is of *AnnualPercentage Westof26th Street, North Riverside, IL 60546 *Annual Percentage Yield (APY)asaccurate as2024 of October 26,to2023 and subject to change.7820 A minimum $10,000 is required to open the account and to obtain the stated Feesthe maystated reduceAPY. earnings the minimum of $10,000 is required to open the account and toAPY. obtain Feeson may $10,000 is required to open the account and to obtain the stated APY. Fees may reduce earnings on the account.

Penalties apply foraccount. early withdrawal.

Balances that drop below the account opening minimum reduce earnings on the A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal.

Offer is for P: 919.948.1990 | westtownbank.com account. penalty may for early withdrawal. Offer is for new money only. will earnAinterest.

Offer is forbe newimposed money only. newnot money only.

adno=STM000115931401

adno=STM000116375801

22

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

UCHICAGO MEDICINE SPECIALTY CARE CLOSE TO HOME. As a national leader in whole-person care, AdventHealth connects you to the renowned specialty care of UChicago Medicine. That means nearby access to leading-edge care for cancer, heart surgery and pediatric specialty care, along with the latest clinical trials. When you need advanced care, we are near.

Learn more at: HealthyChicagoland.org

BOLINGBROOK • GLENOAKS • HINSDALE • LA GRANGE

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

23

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT Public Water Supply For The Monitoring Year 2023 June, 2024 Dear North Riverside Water Customer: The Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) rule requires all community water systems to provide reports to their customers on the quality of their drinking water. The Village of North Riverside, in conjunction with the City of Chicago and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA), is providing the required information pertaining to source water monitoring for the period January 2023 through December 2023.

The Village of North Riverside has provided water that meets all the requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) drinking water standards. The following reports are being provided to help you better understand the quality of the water you consume and use on a daily basis. Consumers with medical conditions may use the water quality analysis provided or request a City of Chicago complete water analysis, to consult with their family doctors. Others may learn ways to better protect their children from the effects of lead in our environment, or how to conserve water in our daily lives. A well-informed consumer is the best ally the Village has in providing clean, safe water to its customers.

a watershed. Stenciling along with an educational component is necessary to keep the lake a safe and reliable source of drinking water.

Village Testing; The Village of North Riverside tests the water supply for chlorine content on a daily basis to maintain the optimum levels for the consumers’ needs. On a monthly basis, bacteriological samples are taken. On a yearly basis, samples are submitted for Total Trihalomethane (TTHM) Analysis. Samples are also provided for lead and copper monitoring on a schedule established by the IEPA. All testing and reports are performed according to the requirements of IEPA. A copy of the IEPA Water Quality Report for the Village of North Riverside and City of Chicago are included later in this report.

Violations: The Village of North Riverside Water Supply met all standards set by the EPA. No violations occurred during this period.

Educational Information:

1) Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.

If there are any questions, or if additional information is needed, The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants please contact Matt Kerke, Water Operator, at (708) 762-5892. and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Sincerely, Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426- 4791).

Matt Kerke 2) In Order to ensure tap water is safe to drink, EPA prescribes regulations which limit the amount of certain contaminants in Water Operator water provided by public water systems. FDA regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health Water Supply: The Village of North Riverside purchases Lake Michigan potable 3) Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in water from the City of Chicago via the Brookfield-North Riverside drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised Water Commission. City of Chicago water treatment facilities persons, such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, chemically treat and filter the water from Lake Michigan. Once persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/ the Water Commission receives the potable water, the water is re- AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants chlorinated to safeguard its quality. As a potable water supplier, the can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should City of Chicago constantly monitors water quality and publishes seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. laboratory results. Copies are public record and can be requested. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are For more information, water quality reports can be obtained available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791). from the City of Chicago, the Brookfield-North Riverside Water Commission and the Water Department of the Village of North 4) If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health Riverside. Water Commission meetings are conducted every problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. second Wednesday of each month at the Water Commission Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components Offices located at 8636 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois associated with service lines and home plumbing. Village of North 60513. Information can be obtained by contacting Matt Kerke, Riverside is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, Water Operator or Vince Ranieri, Director of Public Works. Copies but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing of this report will not be mailed to each customer but are available components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, by telephoning the Water Department at (708) 762-5885 or online you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or at https://www.northriverside-il.org/570/Water-Quality-Reports . cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may Water Quality: wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking The Illinois EPA considers all surface water sources of community water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize water supply to be susceptible to potential pollution problems. The exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800very nature of surface water allows contaminants to migrate 426-4791) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. into the intake with no protection only dilution. This is the reason 5) The Village of North Riverside recommends their customers for mandatory treatment for all surface water supplies in Illinois. follow the water conservation recommendations of the IEPA on Chicago’s offshore intakes are located at a distance that shoreline sprinkling restrictions and restrict sprinkling to the hours between impacts are not usually considered a factor on water quality. At 6:00 am to 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm during the period certain times of the year, however, the potential for contamination of May 15 to September 15. exists due to wet-weather flows and river reversals. In addition, the placement of the crib structures may serve to attract waterfowl, Sources of Contamination; gulls and terns that frequent the Great Lakes area, thereby The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) concentrating fecal deposits at the intake and thus compromising include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and the source water quality. Conversely, the shore intakes are highly wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through susceptible to storm water runoff, marinas and shoreline point the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some sources due to the influx of groundwater to the lake. Throughout cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting history, there have been extraordinary steps taken to assure a safe from the presence of animals or from human activity. source of drinking water in the Chicagoland area. From the building Contaminants that may be present in source water include: of the offshore cribs and the introduction of interceptor sewers to the lock-and-dam system of Chicago’s waterways and the city’s • Microbial Contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which Lakefront Zoning Ordinance. The city now looks to the recently may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, created Department of the Water Management, Department agricultural livestock operations and wildlife. of Environment and the MWRDGC to assure the safety of the • Inorganic Contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can city’s water supply. Also, water supply officials from Chicago are be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, active members of the West Shore Water Producers Association. industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas Coordination of water quality situations (i.e., spills, tanker leaks, production, mining or farming. exotic species, etc.) and general lake conditions are frequently discussed during the association’s quarterly meetings. Also, Lake • Pesticides and Herbicides, which may come from a variety Michigan has a variety of organizations and associations that are of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff and residential uses. currently working to either maintain or improve water quality.

Finally, one of the best ways to ensure a safe source of drinking water is to develop a program designed to protect the source water against potential contamination on the local level. Since the predominant land use within Illinois’ boundary of Lake Michigan watershed is urban, a majority of the watershed protection activities in this document are aimed at this purpose. Citizens should be aware that everyday activities in an urban setting might have a negative impact on their source water. Efforts should be made to improve awareness of storm water drains and their direct link to the lake within the identified local source water area.

A proven best management practice (BMP) for this purpose has been the identification and stenciling of storm water drains within

• Organic Chemical Contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, and septic systems.

• Radioactive Contaminants, which can be naturally occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.

In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the EPA prescribes regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Chicago Regulated Contaminants Detected in 2023 (collected in 2023 unless noted) Microbial Contaminants Regulated

Highest No. of Positive

Total No of Positive Samples

MCLG

MCL Total Coliform

Violation

Likely Source of Contaminants

Total Coliform Bacteria 5% of monthly samples are positive

0.4

0

0

5%

No

Naturally present in the environment.

Lead and Copper Definitions: Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow. Action Level Goal (AGL): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health. AGL’s allow for a margin of safety.

Lead& Copper

Action Level

MCLG

90Percentile

# Sites Over AL

Units

Violation

Likely Source of Contaminant

Copper

1.3

1.3

0.079

0

ppm

No

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Leaching from wood preservatives; Erosion of natural deposits.

Collection Date: 2023

Lead

15

0

7.7

1

ppb

No

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.

Collection Date: 2023

Water Quality Test Results Definitions: The following tables contain scientific terms and measures, some of which may require explanation.

Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water MCL’s are set as close to the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal as feasible using the best available treatment technology Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG): The level of a contaminant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLG’s allow for a margin of safety. mg/l or ppm: milligrams per litre or parts per million or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water. ug/1 or ppb: micrograms per litre or parts per billion or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water, na: not applicable.

Avg: Regulatory compliance with some MCL’s are based on running annual average of monthly samples.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of disinfectant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s allow for a margin of safety.

Regulated

Highest Level

Range of Levels

Unit of Measurement

MCLG

MCL

Violation

Likely Source of Contaminant

Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products Inorganic Contaminants (Collection Date: 2023) Sodium

9

8.43-8.71

ppm

NA

NA

No

Erosion of natural occurring deposits; used in water softener regeneration Sampled: 2023

Barium

0.0195

0.01920.0195

ppm

2

2

No

Discharge of drilling wastes; Discharge from refineries; Erosion of natural deposits. Sampled. 2023

Fluoride

0.7

0.65 0.72

ppm

4

4

No

Erosion of natural deposits; Water additive which promotes strong teeth; Discharge from Fertilizer and aluminum factories. Sampled: 2023

Nitrate (As N)

0.33

0.29 0.33

ppm

10

10

No

Runoff from fertilizer use; leaching form septic tanks, sewage; Erosion of natural deposits. Sampled: 2023

• Note: The state requires monitoring of certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Therefore, some of this data may be more than one year old Not all sample results may have been used for calculating the Highest Level because some maybe part of an evaluation to determine where compliance sampling should occur in the future

24

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT Public Water Supply For The Monitoring Year 2023

UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT MONITORING

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of disinfectant allowed in drinking water.

Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of disinfectant in drinking water below, which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLG’s allow for a margin of safety.

Regulated

Highest Level

Range of Levels

Unit of Measurement

MCLG

MCL

Violation

Likely Source of Contaminant

Disinfectants & Disinfection By-Products Chlorine

1

1-1

ppm

MRDLG =4

MRDLG =4

No

Water additive to control microbes Collection Date 2023

Total Haloacetic

16

6-26.9

ppm

No goal for total

60

No

By-Product of drinking water chlorination. Collection Date: 2023

TTHM’s (Total Trihalomethane)

32

16-51

ppm

No goal for total

80

No

By-Product of drinking water chlorination. Collection Date: 2023

Not all sample results may have been used for calculating the Highest Level Detected because some results may be part of an evaluation to determine where compliance sampling should occur in the future • Note: The state requires monitoring of certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Therefore, some of this data may be more than one year old Not all sample results may have been used for calculating the Highest Level because some maybe part of an evaluation to determine where compliance sampling should occur in the future NORTH RIVERSIDE WATER SUPPLY ADDITIONAL MONITORING Our water system has sampled for a series of unregulated contaminants. Unregulated contaminants are those that don’t yet have a drinking water standard set by EPA. The purpose of monitoring for these contaminants is to help EPA decide whether the contaminants should have a standard. As our customers, you have a right to know that these data are available. Below are the results of the first of four samplings we have for the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances sampling which looks into the frequency of 29 different per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and Lithium in the nation’s drinking water systems. The Village is set to sample again in May 2024, August 2024, and November 2024. Because of the turnaround on results; the May, August, and November results will not appear until next year’s Consumer Confidence Report. For more information on the UCMR5 Rule, please visit https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/fifth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule.

Reported Level (µg/L) <9 <0.008 <0.007 <0.005 <0.006 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.004 <0.004 <0.004 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.002 <0.005 <0.002 <0.003 <0.005 <0.005 <0.005 <0.003 <0.005 <0.004 <0.003 <0.003 <0.003 <0.02 <0.004 <0.003

Minimum Reporting Level (MRL) (µg/L) 9 0.008 0.007 0.005 0.006 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.004 0.004 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.002 0.005 0.002 0.003 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.003 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.003 0.003 0.02 0.004 0.003

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/water/supp_info/water_quality_resultsandreports/city_of_chicago_emergincontaminantstudy.html Chicago Department of Water Management For more information, please contact 1000 East Ohio Street Patrick Schwer Chicago, IL 60611 At 312-744-8190 This notice is being sent to you by:The City of Chicago Department of Water Management Water System ID# IL0316000

UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5) Contaminants Lithium PFTA PFTrDA NEtFOSAA NMeFOSAA PFBS PFHpA PFHxS PFNA PFOS PFOA PFDA PFDoA PFHxA PFUnA 11Cl-PF3OUdS 9Cl-PF3ONS ADONA HFPO-DA PFBA 6:2 FTS 4:2 FTS 8:2 FTS PFMPA PFPeA PFMBA PFEESA NFDHA PFPeS PFHpS

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT SUMMARY Source Water Location The City of Chicago utilizes Lake Michigan as its source water via two water treatment plants. The Jardine Water Purification Plant serves the northern areas of the City and suburbs, while the Sawyer Water Purification Plant serves the southern areas of the City and suburbs. Lake Michigan is the only Great Lake that is entirely contained within the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin, and is the second largest Great lake by volume with 1,180 cubic miles of water and third largest by area.

Source Water Assessment Summary The Illinois EPA implemented a Source Water Assessment Program (SWAP) to assist with watershed protection of public drinking water supplies. The SWAP inventories potential sources of contamination and determined the susceptibility of the source water to contamination. The Illinois EPA has completed the Source Water Assessment Program for our supply.

Susceptibility to Contamination The Illinois EPA considers all surface water sources of community water supply to be susceptible to potential pollution problems.

The very nature of surface water allows contaminants to migrate into the intake with no protection only dilution. This is the reason for mandatory treatment of all surface water supplies in Illinois. Chicago’s offshore intakes are located at a distance that shoreline impacts are not usually considered a factor on water quality. At certain times of the year, however, the potential for contamination exists due to wet-weather flows and river reversals. In addition, the placement of the crib structures may serve to attract waterfowl, gulls and terns that frequent the Great Lakes area, thereby concentrating fecal deposits at the intake and thus compromising the source water quality. Conversely, the shore intakes are highly susceptible to storm water runoff, marinas and shoreline point sources due to the influx of groundwater to the lake.

Further information on our community water supply’s Source Water Assessment Program is available by calling DWM at 312-7422406 or by going online at http://dataservices.epa.illinois.gov/swap/factsheet.aspx 2023 VOLUNTARY MONITORING The City of Chicago has continued monitoring for Cryptosporidium, Giardia and E. coli in its source water as part of its water quality program. No Cryptosporidium or Giardia was detected in source water samples collected in 2023. Treatment processes have been optimized to provide effective barriers for removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts in the source water, effectively removing these organisms in the treatment process. By maintaining low turbidity through the removal of particles from the water, the possibility of Cryptosporidium and Giardia organisms getting into the drinking water system is greatly reduced.

In 2023, CDWM has also continued monitoring for hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6. USEPA has not yet established a standard for chromium-6, a contaminant of concern which has both natural and industrial sources. Please address any questions or concerns to DWM’s Water Quality Division at 312-744-8190. Data reports on the monitoring program for chromium-6 are posted on the City’s website which can be accessed at the following address below:

Collection Date 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24 2/6/24

Radioactive & Synthetic Organic Contaminants Regulated

Highest Level

Range of Levels

Unit of Measurement

MCLG

MCL

Violation

Likely Source of Contaminant

Combined Radium 226/228

0.95

0.83-0.95

pCi/L

0

5

No

Erosion of natural deposits. Collection Date: 2020

Gross Alpha excluding radon &

3.1

2.8-3.1

pCi/L

0

15

No

Erosion of natural deposits. Collection Date: 2020

• Note: The state requires monitoring of certain contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Therefore, some of this data may be more than one year old Not all sample results may have been used for calculating the Highest Level because some maybe part of an evaluation to determine where compliance sampling should occur in the future Turbidity - Regulated at the Water Treatment Plant - Information Statement: Turbidity is a measurement of the cloudiness of the water caused by suspended particles. We monitor it because it is a good indicator of water quality and the effectiveness of our filtration system and disinfectants.

Turbidity

Limit (Treatment Technique)

Level Detected

Violation

Likely Source of Contamination

Highest Single Measurement

1.0 NTU

0.25 NTU

No

Soil Runoff

Lowest Monthly % meeting limit

0.3 NTU

100%

No

Soil Runoff

The percentage of Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal was measured each month and the system met all TOC removal requirements set, unless a TOC violation is noted in the violations section.

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

25

LEGAL NOTICE VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT Public Water Supply For The Monitoring Year 2023 North Riverside Regulated Contaminants Detected in 2023 (collected in 2023 unless noted)

Lead & Copper

90 # Sites Percentile Over AL

Date Sampled

MCLG

Action Level

Copper

9/12/2022

1.3

1.3

0.033

Lead

9/12/2022

0

15

6.8

North Riverside Regulated Contaminants Detected in 2023 (collected in 2023 unless noted)

water system must follow.

Action Level Goal (ALG): The level of a contaminant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. ALGs allow for a margin of safety.

Lead and Copper Definitions: Action Level (AL): The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a

Likely Source of Contaminant

Units

Violation

0

ppm

N

Erosion of natural deposits; Leaching from wood preservatives; Corrosion of household plumbing systems.

0

ppm

N

Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natural deposits.

Water Quality Test Results Definition The following tables contain scientific terms and measures, some of which may require explanation Ave: Regulatory compliance with some MCLs are based on running annual average of monthly samples Level 1 Assessment: A Level 1 assessment is a study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system.

Level 2 Assessment: A Level 2 assessment is a very detailed study of the water system to identify potential problems and determine (if possible) why an E. coli MCL violation has occurred and/or why total coliform bacteria have been found in our water system on multiple occasions.

Maximum Contaminant Level or MCL: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.

Maximum Contaminant Level Goal or MCLG: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health.

MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.

Maximum residual disinfectant level or MRDL: The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants. na: not applicable. mrem: millirems per year (a measure of radiation absorbed by the body) ppb: micrograms per liter or parts per billion - or one ounce in 7,350,000 gallons of water. ppm: milligrams per liter or parts per million - or one ounce in 7,350 gallons of water.

Treatment Technique or TT: A required process intended to reduce the level of a contaminant in drinking water

ESSENTIALS

Building community from page 8 conduct themselves with good decisions in and outside of the home. This platform is about modeling behavior and being the change we want to see. It all starts with children and one small set of hands.”

Nannies for Non-Profits is a service that Connelly said would begin as a networking platform for caregivers and families to connect with one another, and allow for opportunities to exchange information for nannying and childcare needs, as well as maintain contact as they see fit. There is no matchmaking for individualized services or hiring of nannies. Essentially, Connelly hopes for the organization to serve strictly as a networking venture.

“The [Nannies for Non-Profits] platform would partner with a new Chicago nonprofit organization every quarter and educate members about their mission,” she said. “We’d share ways to get

involved, offer volunteering or service opportunities, and emphasize the importance of their social value and what it means on a broader scale.”

Building her platform from the ground up, Connelly is now looking for help in monetary form for everything from purchasing and building a website domain, business consulting and professional mentorship, working with a brand-kit designer, securing photo and video equipment to document work and registering as an LLC and ongoing maintenance costs. Her hope is to launch the platform

by December, when she is set to graduate from the University of Illinois Chicago with a degree in educational psychology and human development and learning with a minor in nonprofit management.

One example of a months-long sponsored organizational partnership through Nannies for Non-Profits would be back with her previous partner, Share Our Spare.

Through her group’s intervention, families and caregivers in the Nannies for Non-Profits network would be encouraged to learn about the organization, increase social literacy through introducing the children in their care

Disinfectants & Disinfection ByProducts

Collection Date

Highest Level Detected

Range of Levels

MCLG

MCL

Units

Violation

Chlorine

2023

1

1-1

MRDLG = 4

MRDL = 4

ppm

N

Water additive to control microbes.

Haloacetic Acids

2023

19

16.4- 18.61

No goal for the total

60

ppb

N

By-product of drinking water disinfection.

Total Trihalomethan (TTHM)

2023

33

27.9 - 32.7

No goal for the total

80

ppb

N

By-Product of drinking water disinfection.

Violations Table Violation Type NONE

Violation Begin N/A

Violation End N/A

Violation Explanation N/A

to books with concepts similar to what Share Our Spare does and discuss the importance of concepts like giving, family and empathy, and then parents and caregivers would then promote Nannies for Non-Profits sponsored events, donations or group volunteer opportunities for the cause, all while helping children with their social/emotional skills through the programs which provide both community engagement and exposure to new concepts and literature.

With Nannies for Non-Profits, Connelly said that her mission is simple: to bridge what she considers the 21st-century social disconnect of the distribution of quality child and family care.

“We tend to make our households private, but there is a shift in reliance on outside care and childcare support,” she said. “I believe we all want to do good in the world and make our mark. In this way, connecting generations to embark on their journey of service will allow for broader, continual impact.”

Alhough Connelly now lives in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, she hopes that Landmark-area readers see the value in her startup nonprofit be-

Likely Sources of Contaminants

The Village of North Riverside Water Supply is proud to report no violations occurred during the 2023 monitoring period .

cause of the local importance she witnessed growing up of the joy it brings to the lives of children and families when a tight-knit community comes together to take care of one another.

“I was born and raised in Riverside and I am lucky to know so many familiar faces and neighbors that have established my strong roots here,” she said. “Everywhere I go, I am guaranteed to bump into someone I know and have a conversation with them. I believe we all want to do good here and give our children the best forms of care and education.”

Passionate about building authentic communities and championing social justice causes, Connelly coins herself as “not a person who will ever just do one thing.” Her future goals alongside building up the Nannies for Non-Profits network include working in family and women’s services public sector positions — and of course, being a mom.

To get in touch with Connelly, learn more about her startup goals and donate, visit Instagram.com/nanniesfornonprofits or her GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/f/nannies-for-nonprofits-startup-costs

26

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Opinion

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Roundabout roulette

W

e’ve never been fans of roundabouts, those traffic whirligigs where you fly into moving traffic, negotiate an exit route and then spin out of a pedestrian crossing.

What could go wrong?

Well at Eight Corners, the iconic roundabout in Brookfield, you just might crash into the memorial fountain, which is the hub of the entire experience. Three motorists have accomplished that feat just since last December. And remember, the fountain area was rededicated to veterans only a year ago.

Now, with full respect to the brain trust, the public works chief, police chief and village manager, have had 32 traffic bollards — really colorful plastic sticks — installed in an effort to guide drivers through this anxiety-producing circle.

The good news is that said bollards are so cheap, the village has a stack of replacements in reserve because they know motorists will flatten them soon.

We know this roundabout isn’t going anyplace soon. We understand that the village does not want to contemplate major infrastructure investments to straighten out, so to speak, this circle.

We might suggest slowing down, but it is our impression that it’s the tentative drivers who cause the most trouble once you’ve committed to the roundabout. So just be alert, and keep your insurance up to date.

Parking, as expected

Riverside has a 37-car parking lot on Quincy Street and is working, with not great success, to make those prime spaces work for three different groups of drivers. Right now, 20 spaces are reserved for commuters with permits. A dozen spaces are set aside for staff members in nearby businesses. And the final five spots are designated for use by First American Bank on Riverside Road.

It all seems logical and well considered. Now, as the lot is about to be rebuilt this summer as a “green” parking lot, the village has been counting cars and discovered less than half of the 12 spaces for employees are typically used while just one in five of the bank’s spots is in use.

These are the sort of challenges that turn the hair of municipal staffers white. That’s because there isn’t a right answer. Business employees are always going to park in front of their business if they can get away with it. Doesn’t matter that they are sucking up the best parking spaces of their prime customers. And carving a 37-car lot into three specific uses is some pretty fine, and potentially confusing, hair-splitting.

We admire the determination, the counting, the hope. But we’re not hopeful for a perfect solution.

OBITUARIES

Jeremy Kolasa, 24 Loved helping people Jeremy Thomas Kolasa, 24, of Brookfield died on May 23, 2024. Born on April 7, 2000 in Hinsdale, he graduated from Olivet Nazarene University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Social Work degree. His favorite band was Red Hot Chili Peppers and he loved collecting records.

He had a big heart and wanted to help people as much as he could. A “gentle giant,” he loved playing Pokémon and video games.

Jeremy was the son of Thomas Edward and Alicia Ann (nee Brockel) Kolasa; the brother of Dylan Michael Kolasa and the late Thomas Michael Kolasa; and the grandson of Michael I. and Delia M. Brockel and Thomas F. and Dreama K. Kolasa.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield, followed by a service of remembrance at 4 p.m.

Memorial donations to a homeless shelter of your choice would be appreciated. Online condolences, memories and photographs may be shared with the family at www.JohnsonNosek.com.

Paul Braun, 69 Electrician Paul F. Braun, 69, of Brookfield, died on May 31, 2024. He worked as an electrician.

Paul was the husband of Helen Kay-Braun; the

former husband of Marianne Meyers; the father of Elizabeth (James) Dempsey, Lauren Braun, and Matthew Braun; the grandfather of James Dempsey Jr.; and the brother of Debbie Braun.

Services are private.

Arrangements were handled by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513.

Information 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, please send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, c/o the Paul Braun family. We will gladly forward it.

Naomi Sweet, 97 Registered Nurse Naomi Marie Sweet (nee Warren), 97, of Brookfield, died on May 25, 2024. Born on Jan. 5, 1927, she was a Registered Nurse before retiring.

Naomi was the wife of the late Donald Sweet; the sister of the late Reneda (Kevin) Parker, the late Dr. Judith R. Sweet PhD, and the late Holly (Douglas) Funk; the grandmother of 9 and great-grandmother of 9.

Visitation was held on May 31 at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield, followed by the funeral service on June 1 in the chapel at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home and interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with the family at www.JohnsonNosek.com.

To run an obituary Please contact Erika Hobbs by e-mail: erika@growingcommunitymedia.org, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

P O L I C E

Riversider arrested for DUI after striking tree, parked car Police arrested a Riverside man May 25 for driving under the influence after his car struck a parked car and a village tree.

Around 10 a.m. that day, two officers responded to a report of a crash on Eastgrove Road. According to police, the officers saw that the parked car had damage on the front left side. The officers saw a black car leaving the scene, which witnesses and the owner of the parked car identified as the one involved in the crash.

The officers followed the car, which went north onto Kent Road before continuing east onto Lindberg Road, where the driver pulled into a driveway before exiting his car. Police said the car had damage on the front left and front right sides, which was consistent with the damage sustained by the parked car and tree. While speaking with the man, an officer smelled alcohol on his breath and saw he had glassy eyes.

The man told police he had heard the police siren as he left the scene but did not see the police car. When asked, he said he had not drunk alcohol that day.

The man agreed to take field sobriety tests, during which he struggled with his balance and had to be corrected on how to properly take the tests. The man declined to take a portable breath test.

Police arrested the man around 10:20 a.m. After being handcuffed and placed in the squad car, the man told police he had been driving home to drop off his car so he could return to the scene of the crash in another car.

The man was transported to the police station for processing. At the station, he declined to take a second breath test before hearing and signing his Miranda warning. While talking to police, the man said again he had not been drinking that day. When asked how he struck the parked car, the man said he believed something in his car had distracted him.

The man was booked on seven charges, including driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to decrease speed to avoid a collision and failing to stop at a stop sign. He was released to his mother and a July 5 court date was set.

27

R E P O R T S

Pro-Trump flags put up near Metra railroad A Brookfield officer responded to the Metra railroad crossing on Prairie Avenue around 2:30 p.m. on May 27 on a report of political signs that had been taped over construction signs. No one was arrested.

According to police, the officer did not see any construction signs that had been tampered with; instead, freestanding flagpoles were “embedded into the railroad parkway.” Each flagpole bore several flags, which consisted of American flags as well as flags in support of former President Donald Trump and the Second Amendment’s guarantee of the right to bear arms. One of the flagpoles was zip-tied to a construction signpost.

The officer spoke with a man who was sitting in the parkway on the north side of the train tracks. The man said he had tried to organize a pro-Trump rally at the railroad crossing but that no one showed up. The man told the officer he planned to stay out with his flags until 4 p.m. that day.

The officer told the man that he needed to remove the zip-ties connecting the single flagpole to the construction signpost so the flagpole stood alone. The officer told him Brookfield police would not take the flags down but that the Metra Police Department had been notified of the flags due to their proximity to the BNSF line and may take action.

The officer left the scene after the man removed the zip-ties. Shortly after, the officer was alerted by the dispatch center that Metra police were en route to remove the flags. Later that day, the officer observed the man and his flags to be gone from the railroad crossing, police said.

Collisions in Riverside Police responded to a two-car collision at the intersection of 31st Street and First Avenue around 10 a.m. on May 24.

No one was arrested.

According to police, the responding offers saw a maroon car and a white car were blocking southbound traffic on First Avenue, so they shut down traffic in that direction. Both drivers declined medical attention from police and provided valid driver’s licenses and proof of insurance.

The officers first spoke with the driver of the maroon car, who said the other driver was at fault. She told police the other driver disobeyed the red light, causing her to strike the side of the white car head-on.

The driver of the white car told police that her car was struck by the maroon car after she drove through the red light.

A witness at the scene said he saw the white car drive through the red light, corroborating both drivers’ stories.

Police drove the maroon car’s driver home while the white car’s driver was taken to the Riverside police station to wait for a ride from family.

Police responded to another collision, this one between a car and a bicycle, around 8:15 a.m. on May 29 at the intersection of Bartram Road and North Delaplaine Road. When officers arrived, the cyclist and driver both said they were uninjured. Neither was arrested.

The driver of the car told police she had been driving east on N Delaplaine Road when she came to the intersection and waved through two bicyclists heading west, who turned left onto Bartram

Road. She said she looked to the right at the bicyclists as she continued through the intersection; when she looked back to the road, there was a third bicyclist making the turn. The driver said she slammed on her brakes but still struck the bicyclist with the front of her car.

The bicyclist’s story was largely similar. She told police she was heading west on North Delaplaine Road and made the left turn after she saw the other bicyclists were waved through when the driver proceeded through the intersection and struck her bicycle. She said she didn’t fall or hit her head but had scraped her right hand and left ankle.

All four individuals involved in the two collisions were instructed by police about how to obtain their crash reports.

These items were obtained from the Riverside Police Department reports dated May 24-29 and the Brookfield Police Department reports dated May 27 to June 3; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Trent Brown

28

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Reporters on the ground. Editors on the desk. The most local news.

Amaris Rodriguez, Reporter

Jessica Mordacq, Reporter

Luzanne Draughon, Reporter

Trent Brown, Reporter

Erika Hobbs, Editor

Stacy Coleman, Digital manager

Javier Govea, Editorial design manager

Ken Trainor, Viewpoints editor

Here’s our most fundamental message. Genuine local news with real reporters, editors backing them up, a design and digital team are all essential to crafting actual news that’s important to you. And it costs money.

We’re asking you to support our nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of Growing Community Media.

Right now, we have a $10,000 Match provided by members of our board of directors. Help us meet this match

by June 12 and you’ll be directly supporting our reporters and editors.

If local news is important to you now is the moment to support the reporters and editors who do this work.

With thanks.

Help us make this match.

Invest in our newsroom at RBLandmark.com/donate We’re growing community, one story at a time

Sports

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

29

Lions book return trip to state volleyball tourney Kostic, Culver, Ruiz lead LTHS to back-to-back state berths

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

For senior Luka Kostic and other Lyons Township boys volleyball players, many surroundings and feelings were similar in this second straight trip to the state finals at Hoffman Estates High School.

“The same building, the same gym, the same mentality,” Kostic said. “We didn’t let emotions get in the way of us.

We’ve got a lot of people returning, the same coaches. Pretty much the same to me with the same goal in mind, too.”

The Lions even drew a familiar opponent, defending state champion and West Suburban Conference Silver Division rival Glenbard West. This time, the Lions lost 25-20, 22-25, 25-15 in the quarterfinals after losing to the Hilltoppers in the 2023 championship match 25-18, 25-20.

Kostic had a single-match season-high 16 kills in 36 attacks along with four digs for the Lions (34-6). Also contributing were seniors Tommy Culver (35 assists, 6 digs), Zaccary Ruiz 9 kills, 4 digs) and Timothy Shepard, juniors Gavin Mockton (4 kills, 2 total blocks), libero Vaughn Guilfoile (8 digs, 3 assists), Tyler Chambers (3 kills, 2 blocks) and Cooper Komsthoeft and sophomores Brody Lee-Caracci (8 kills) and Owen Carroll.

Glenbard West (39-3) finished third, beating Loyola 27-29, 25-18, 25-22 Saturday.

“Watching the film, we knew who they were,” Kostic said. “We came into the game confident. We honestly thought we could beat them and pretty much knew what we were getting coming into the game.”

The Lions continued showing who they were as a program. The 2023 second-place state finish is the program’s highest. This season’s berth marked just the second time the Lions reached the state quarterfinals in back-to-back seasons other than 2002-03.

“It’s absolutely amazing [getting back],” Culver said. “A lot of other teams at the beginning of the season were saying, ‘You guys aren’t as good as last year.’ Everybody was predicting our downfall. But we came back here. I’d like to say LT is like a home to me, a family. Our chemistry is absolutely amazing so I think that’s a big part why we succeed as a program.”

Kostic, Culver and Ruiz excelled as the lone returnees from the 10 Lions who played in the 2023 state championship match.

This season, Kostic led the Lions with 294 kills and 36 service aces along with 35 blocks and 154 digs. He was among 15 players named first-team all-state by the Illinois Volleyball Coaches Association and will play club volleyball at Miami (Ohio). Second-team all-state Culver had a

STEVE JOHNSTON

Lyons Township’s Luka Kostic (6) goes up for a kill against Oak Park and River Forest during the Sandburg Sectional championship Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in Orland Park team-best 678 assists and 119 digs. Last year’s libero, Ruiz was third-team all-state and collected 198 kills and 124 digs.

They now will be teammates at Augustana.

“This senior class has been great to coach with their dedication, consistency, work ethic, commitment and dedication to the program,” LTHS coach Brad Skendzel said.

“They kept the season positive and made this season their own. They never talked about or focused on the past and played in the moment which contributed to our success this year.”

The only past the Lions focused on with Glenbard West was playing better than in the 25-22, 25-23 loss May 14 in Glen Ellyn. In the second set Friday, the Lions opened leads of 16-8 and 19-14. The Hilltoppers closed to 23-22 but LTHS held with a Kostic kill for set point.

In the third set, the teams exchanged sideouts through a 6-6 tie before the Hilltoppers pulled ahead 9-6. Another run soon followed for a 15-7 lead. The Lions scored just two points serving in the set. The first was an ace by Carroll, but by that time Glenbard West led 19-11.

“In that third set, we had that one rotation that just went on and on. I think we were just a little tense in that moment,” Skendzel said. “Especially those first two sets (Friday) and even the third set, those first few points, we were trading points back and forth. Defensively, I thought we matched up well. I think we did a good job.”

Another difference was Culver and Ruiz said they returned to state with much more confidence. This time, seven others made their state debuts.

“I was real scared last year. But for this year I was a little more calm and collected,” Ruiz said. “I was ready to go. I was ready to play.”

That mentality helped the Lions reach state. They won the Sandburg Sectional 25-23, 22-25, 25-12, May 28, over Oak Park and River Forest, third in state in 2023. The Huskies had beaten the Lions 25-23, 25-23 on April 9.

“It was a great feeling. It was a really loud environment, too,” Kostic said. “We felt like obviously we could be back [at state]. We lost a lot of talent but the guys on our team really stepped up and filled those roles really well.”

30

S P O R T S

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

Nazareth’s strong softball run ends at 3A super-sectional Brookfield’s Barnes helps Roadrunners win first sectional since 2017

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Junior catcher Emme Barnes, of Brookfield, wanted to earn a downstate berth with the Nazareth Academy softball team Monday. Older sister Monica was a member of the Roadrunners’ only state qualifier, which finished third in Class 3A in 2017.

The Roadrunners battled but were edged

by Fenwick 2-1 in the 3A Benedictine University Super-Sectional in Lisle. Nazareth (16-20) had seven hits but stranded four runners in scoring position. Both teams scored in the first inning before Fenwick (17-9) took the lead on a fourth-inning home run.

The Roadrunners return a strong corps, including Barnes, All-East Suburban Catholic pitcher Annabella Rychetsky, and center-fielder Kennedy Joe, all threeyear varsity players. They graduate five starters, including All-ESCC pitcher/in-

fielder Catie Luzzi.

This season, Barnes made catcher her primary position after often being used as a utility infielder. With the Roadrunners’ new uniforms, she switched to No. 64, the number worn by older brother Noah as a starting offensive lineman for Nazareth’s 2022 state championship football team.

“We left it all out there and played until the very end,” Barnes said. “[Our seniors] left as a sisterhood. How close we were helped us get here and all of the passion and love we have for each other and the game.”

The Friars scored with their first two hitters on an error and run-scoring double. Junior Joe led off the Nazareth first with a double and scored on a wild pitch.

“We knew it was going to be a really competitive game. I think we hit the ball hard but unfortunately we couldn’t punch through enough base hits to string together and score,” Nazareth coach Vicki Sobol said.

“We played solid all around. They just maxi-

mized on the little mistakes we made.”

Fenwick also got clutch pitching from Sophie Stone, (5 strikeouts, 3 walks). One of three four-year players, Stone will play at Oberlin College.

Nazareth beat Fenwick 2-1 on March 22 with 15 strikeouts. Rychetsky had 11 Monday with no walks while allowing six hits. On Friday, she had an RBI single and threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts as Nazareth beat St. Laurence for the first time 1-0 to win the Hinsdale South Sectional, its first sectional title since 2017. “[Monday’s game] was stressful to say the least. I felt like it was a roller coaster of emotions that eventually evened out and allowed me to play my game,” Rychetsky said.

“We’ve taken the lessons that the seniors have given us and I feel we’re going to implement them really well next year.”

Fenwick is making its second state trip and first since finishing fourth in Class AA in 1998. Senior Ellie Kolb and junior

Molly Mullen are Riverside residents. Firstyear head coach Valerie Jisa also lives in Riverside. Kolb joins Stone and third baseman Maddie Entler as four-year varsity players. Kolb was Stone’s courtesy runner Monday after her second-inning double.

“Awesome. It’s just a great way to end the four-year streak of softball here,” Kolb said. “I think we all came here amped up, ready to win and that’s what happened.”

In her third varsity season, Mullen played first base on Monday and Saturday, when she walked in the Friars’ three-run sixth that pulled out the Glenbard South Sectional final 5-3 over Elmwood Park. After Stone got a strikeout with the bases loaded to end the Tigers’ sixth, heavy rains in the seventh forced the game to be called.

“It’s a great feeling,” Mullen said Monday. “It’s definitely due to our coaching.

We’re all relaxed in the dugout and we all want to be here.”

Nazareth baseball’s epic senior class for the ages Six Division I recruits contribute to two state titles, 132 victories

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

As one of six freshman starters on varsity in 2021, senior John Hughes realized quickly he was going to be part of significant Nazareth Academy baseball history.

“We came in, won 27 games, made a sectional. That year, all of the freshmen contributed,” Hughes said. “We knew for sure we had a special group of guys. The coaches knew. Everyone knew. I think we capitalized on it pretty well.”

The incredible run by the seniors and the Roadrunners came to an end Friday with a 5-3 loss to Mt. Carmel in the Class 4A Reavis Sectional final. Nazareth (37-1) hoped to pull off yet another state title in this season’s move to 4A after back-to-back state championships in 3A. The season’s end was made tougher by saying goodbye to six Division I four-year varsity seniors — Hughes (North Carolina), Cooper Malamazian (Indiana), David Cox (Illinois

Chicago), Nick Drtina (Louisville), Luca Fiore (Illinois Chicago) and Cole Reifsteck (Belmont). There were 14 seniors on the roster, including Danny Gentile of Riverside.

“This class is going to go down as one of the greatest classes in the history of the state,” Nazareth coach Lee Milano said. “As good as they are as baseball players, they’re even better people.”

The only loss of the season also ended streaks of 46 straight victories and 17 straight in playoff action. In all, the fouryear seniors combined for 132 victories (2734-34-37). This was the Roadrunners’ most victories in any season.

“I don’t know how many classes have that many wins in state history. It’s a once-in-alifetime group,” Milano said.

“We’ve had probably the craziest four years any class has had in the state,” Malamazian said. “Obviously you want to come out on top every game. We’re thankful for the last four years we’ve had. Especially right now you feel the emotions, but it’s baseball.”

The Roadrunners nearly had another victory Friday against Mt. Carmel (22-15). Nazareth tied the game 3-3 on Malamazian’s 353foot home run over the left-field scoreboard.

But the Caravan hung tough behind sophomore pitcher Jake Matise, who threw more than 100 pitches over his six innings, along with big defensive plays. Then they scored runs in the sixth on a wild pitch and the seventh with a single, sacrifice and single. Providence beat Mt. Carmel 3-2 in Monday’s Crestwood Super-Sectional at Ozinga Field.

“It was a good game. [Mt. Carmel] flat-out beat us,” Milano said. “It’s a one-game playoff every playoff game. You play enough games, it’s not going to go your way and today just wasn’t our day.”

Nazareth had six hits but just one after the third. The Roadrunners took a 2-0 lead in the first on a two-out, two-run double

by Drtina after Malamazian walked and junior Jaden Fauske doubled. Fauske and Malamazian each had two hits.

Malamazian singled with one out in the seventh after leadoff hitter Luca Fiore was robbed by center-fielder Kolin Adams’ diving catch. Hughes pitched the first three innings, followed by Andrew Kouris and Malamazian (2 innings each).

“It’s baseball and that’s why baseball’s great because anything can happen on any given day,” Hughes said. “We were on the wrong end of it today, but we’ve been on the right end of it a lot of times. Luck runs out sometimes.”

In the sectional semifinals, May 29, Nazareth beat St. Ignatius 5-0 as Cox (6 strikeouts in 6 innings) and Kouris combined on a four-hit shutout. Junior catcher Chuck Roche had three doubles. “[I’ll remember] practicing, the games.

The state championship games,” Malamazian said. “I won’t forget any of these four years of my life, the impact that this team has had on me, Coach Milano, all of the other coaches. It’s special.”

The Landmark, June 5, 2024 31

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application for a Special Use permit to allow a Private School to operate at 53 Northgate Rd in the R1-A Zoning District.

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Application No.: PZ 24-0004 Petitioner: Richard and Milagros Andrews for Intiraymi Montessori House Inc. Address: 53 Northgate Rd PIN: 15-25-302-008-0000 Requested Special Use: Private School The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the matters being considered. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to the Village’s Community Development Department at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. the day of the public hearing.

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application for Variations related to a new development.

Application No.: PZ 24-0005 Petitioner: Star Buds Property Owner: Village of Riverside Addresses: 3320 S Harlem Ave and 363-369 E Burlington St PINs: 15-36-212-013-0000 and 1536-212-012-0000 Zoning District: B1-TOD The variations sought include, but may not be limited to, variations from the following sections of the Riverside Zoning Ordinance: 1. 10-9-6, to allow fewer interior landscape medians than required.

2. 10-6-2(C), to allow a portion of the landscape median next to the drive-through lane to be less than 10 feet wide.

3. 10-8-4(A)1 to allow the drivethrough lane to be 12 feet wide in areas.

4. 10-5-6(D)1, to allow the building to have public entrances at locations other than the primary street frontage.

5. 10-5-6(E)2 to allow Lexon paneling as a building material.

6. 10-5-6(B)2, to allow the ground floor windows of a commercial building to have a transparency of less than 50 percent.

7. 10-7-2(B), to allow light to shine on the public-right-way and to allow light intensity to exceed 1-foot candle at the property line.

Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson The above application is available for Planning & Zoning Commission inspection at the office of the Village Dated this 5th day of June, 2024.

Published in RB Landmark June 5, 2024

Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the matters being considered. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to the Village’s Community Development Department at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. the day of the public hearing.

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Dated this 5th day of June, 2024.

Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson Planning & Zoning Commission Published in RB Landmark June 5, 2024

Let the sun shine in...

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.

Your right to know...In print • Online

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application for a Variation to allow the entire length of a 31 foot, 7-inch-long driveway providing access to an attached garage to be widened to 12 feet, 8 inches wide.

Application No.: PZ 24-0003 Petitioner: Christopher Begbie Address: 162 Northgate Rd PIN: 15-25-300-037-0000 Requested Variation: To allow the entire length of a 31 foot, 7-inch-long driveway providing access to an attached garage to be widened to 12 feet, 8 inches wide.

The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the matters being considered. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to the Village’s Community Development Department at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. the day of the public hearing.

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Mon thru Fri, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm local time until 10:00 am on Mon, June 24, 2024 for the following: Village of Oak Park Building Maintenance Services Proposal Number: 24-122 Issuance Date: 6/5/24 There will be a mandatory pre-bid meeting at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL on Mon, June 10, 2024 at 8:30 am. Bid documents may be obtained from the Village website at http://www.oak-park.us/bid.

For questions please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 5, 2023

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Dated this 5th day of June, 2024.

Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson Planning & Zoning Commission Published in RB Landmark June 5, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES

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 PublicNoticeIllinois.com

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION MORTGAGE ASSESTS MANAGEMENT, LLC F/K/A REVERSE MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC Plaintiff, -v.ANDREW C. CRAWFORD, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Defendants 2021 CH 05362 827 N. GROVE AVE Application No.: PZ 24-0007 OAK PARK, IL 60302 Petitioner: Star Buds NOTICE OF SALE Property Owner: Village of Riverside Addresses: 3320 S Harlem Ave and PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of 363-369 E Burlington St PINs: 15-36-212-013-0000 and 15- Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 22, 2024, an 36-212-012-0000 agent for The Judicial Sales CorpoZoning District: B1-TOD Requested Special Use: To allow ration, will at 10:30 AM on June 24, a retail sales establishment with a 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corpodrive-through facility in the B1-TOD ration, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell District per Section 10-5-9. at a public sale to the highest bidder, The above application is available for as set forth below, the following deinspection at the office of the Village scribed real estate: Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Commonly known as 827 N. GROVE Illinois 60546. During the Public AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Hearing the Planning and Zoning Property Index No. 16-06-305-020Commission will hear testimony from 0000 and consider any evidence present- The real estate is improved with a ed by persons interested to speak single family residence. on these matters. Persons wishing Sale terms: 25% down of the highest to appear at this hearing may do bid by certified funds at the close so in person or by attorney or other of the sale payable to The Judicial representative and may speak for or Sales Corporation. No third paragainst the matters being considered. ty checks will be accepted. The Communications in writing in relation balance, in certified funds/or wire thereto may be filed at such hearing transfer, is due within twenty-four or with the Planning and Zoning Com- (24) hours. The subject property is mission in advance by submission to subject to general real estate taxes, the Village’s Community Develop- special assessments, or special taxment Department at 27 Riverside es levied against said real estate and Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 is offered for sale without any reprep.m. the day of the public hearing. sentation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff The Public Hearing may be contin- and in “AS IS” condition. The sale ued from time to time without further is further subject to confirmation by notice, except as otherwise required the court. under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Dated this 5th day of June, 2024.

Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate

after confirmation of the sale.

Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson Where a sale of real estate is made Planning & Zoning Commission to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale Published in RB Landmark within which to redeem, except that June 5, 2024 with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Con-

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application for a Special Use.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE dominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-20-03979 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2021 CH 05362 TJSC#: 44-840 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2021 CH 05362 I3244734

32

The Landmark, June 5, 2024

2 1 E . B U R L I N GTO N R OA D, R I V E R S I D E | 70 8 . 4 47.72 07 NG MI O C

ON SO W NE

G TIN S I L

W NE

G TIN LIS

W NE

E IC PR

7410 W Dixon St, #203, Forest Park $168,000

831 S Kensington Ave, LaGrange $475,000

4745 W Berenice Ave, Chicago $550,000

8223 30th St, North Riverside $410,000

1530 Morgan Ave, LaGrange Park $405,000

482 Uvedale Rd, Riverside $825,000

273 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $1,175,000

205 Bloomingbank Rd, Riverside $1,350,000

392 Blackhawk Rd, Riverside $685,000

2321 Scoville Ave, Berwyn $380,000

When it comes to selling and buying homes... experience, results and ties to the community make all the difference.

Curious about the current real estate market and the impact on your home’s value? Thinking about selling, but need to find your next home first? Can’t find your dream home in this competitive market? Contact one of our local market experts for a free, confidential consultation.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

SO