The Cycle Brookfield Criterium is shifting into gear
Valadez sa rout Burlin
It’s July, the sun is bright and temperatures are hot. And in Brookfield, it means a full day of professional bic over the horizon.
The third Criterium, part of the 10-day Grit series across Chicagoland, is coming to town next Wednesda
“The biggest ing through is, first and course chang that’s on Grand Boule still underwa we used in the two years prior … was no longer available to us,” Chris Valad the president of Cycle Brookfield, told the Landmark.
See CYCLE on page 8
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Members of the progressive advocacy group Indivisible took to the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library on Wednesday, July 9, to Rep. Sean Casten and state Rep. La Shawn speak out against President Donald ’s reconciliation bill, often dubbed the “big, beautiful bill,” which he signed into law ly 4.
“I was on [W]TTW yesterday, and they asked re there any good parts of the bill?’ and I said, ‘You’re sitting there. Someone’s serving
See INDIVISIBLE on page 10
ERICA BENSON
Two-way communication R-B’s goal with new ParentSquare
Pivots to new so wa for families and teache
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 teachers and families will ha new communications platform for the 202526 school year.
According to Kiley Fletcher, district community engagement coordinator, entSquare is designed to centralize virtually all district communications within one app, and will replace the text app Remind, which is no longer being updated. Goleta, Calif.-based ParentSquare acquired mind at the end of 2023.
F letcher said ParentSquare is de signed to ke ep staf f, parents, g uardians and students infor med wh i le also sup po rt ing greater two-way eng agement with District 208. T he app will be available in the Apple App S tore and S amsung Galaxy Store.
the app Guard911.
Though the start of the school year is just around the corner on Aug. 12, Fletcher said the plan is for ParentSquare to be in place by then, after staf f training.
“That’s the hope,” added Dave Mannon, assistant principal for student affairs, who collaborated with F letcher on the adoption process. “Typically for the onboarding process for completion, it’s about two months or so, but since we’re one building, we can expedite that process and g et it r unning in the next two weeks. We’re doing the back end, the uploading and making sure it’s connected with Skyward.”
Skyward is the district’s student info rm ation system, Mannon said, used for attendanc e, gr a ding, enrollment and re gistration. A p lus for the distric t is that ParentSquare has a partnershi p with Skyward, so parents and guardians do n’ t necessarily have to download the ap p, but the app is much easier to use, he said.
A dditionally, in the c ase of emergencies, ParentSquare will be tied into local first responder s, wh ich for merly used
“There are so many things ParentSquare can do,” F letcher said. “You can use it to help manage attendance. It can do appointment signups, for ms and permission slips. I can create newsletters on there. We’re hoping it can work with the residency process.”
One subtlety is the name. Parents will have ParentSquare, while students will have StudentSquare, basically the same product, but a different name. Fletcher said students aren’t exactly keen on using an app with “parent” in the name.
She also said students won’t be able to use the app to contact other students, and likewise parents won’t be able to use it to contact students. Teachers and coaches will be able to use the app to inform on
assignments and practices, and can field responses from students and parents when clarifications are necessary.
Another key is the fact that ParentSquare automatically translates into virtually any language. Anytime a post is made, F letcher said, it can be translated into the user’s preferred language, which is chosen within the app’s settings.
“The biggest thing is they are p hasing out the Remind platfo rm in two year s, ” Mannon said. “Pricewise it ’s the same It ’s a no brainer to g et that going and take advantage of everything they have included in it.”
Added Fletcher: “It’s the right time. We’re continually trying to streamline things. It’s going to make a lot of people’s lives easier to have everything there.”
Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf
Staff Repor ter Trent Brown
Senior Audience Manager Stacy Coleman
ntributing Editor Donna Greene
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea n McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls tising Associate Emma Cullnan elopment Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner ill@oakpark.com
Audra Wilson
dhaley@wjinc.com
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Nazareth grad Fauske drafted by the White Sox
Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year taken No. 44 overall in second round
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Jaden Fauske grew up a huge baseball fan of the Chicago White Sox. After what happened Sunday night, the recent Nazareth Academy graduate might be playing for them in the near future.
Fauske was selected by the White Sox in the Major League Baseball draft with the No. 44 overall pick and the first pick of the second round. He enjoyed the moment at a draft party in the Willowbrook-Burr Ridge Sports Performance Center in Willowbrook with family and friends that included Nazareth baseball teammates and coaches
“He was stoked to be able to play for the White Sox so that’s super-exciting for him,” said Nazareth rising senior and baseball teammate Landon Thome. He’s become one of my really good friends over these last few years at Naz, and I’m so proud of how far he’s come. It’s cool to see he’s staying home as well. I’m really happy for him.”
Fauske now becomes the highest of the seven for mer Nazareth baseball players drafted. Nazareth head coach Lee Milano said Monday morning the Louisiana State University recruit is still deciding his baseball future.
“I’m just extremely proud of his accomplishment and his future is very bright,” Milano said. “There were a lot of things that took place, a lot of scenarios in a very quick period of time. There were other teams in play and it just was meant to be the White Sox took him with the 44th pick.”
Fauske was named the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year this past season. The four-year starter also was chosen all-state for the third straight year by the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association (twice Class 4A, once 3A) and the East Suburban Catholic Conference’s Most Valuable Player for the second time.
Fauske is listed as a 6-foot-2, 205-pound outfielder/catcher on the Nazareth roster. Thome, a shortstop committed to Tennessee, joined Fauske on this year’s 4A allstate team for the first time in his third varsity season.
Jim Thome, Landon’s father, is a Nazareth
Jaden Fauske was part of four state championships at Nazareth, two in baseball as a four-year starter and three-time all-stater and two in football.
Academy assistant coach and MLB Hall of Famer who played for the White Sox from 2006-09 and currently works for the team.
“He was actually in the draft room when they drafted Jaden so that was awesome. That was definitely exciting for him, especially being able to coach him and take him as well,” Landon Thome said.
Fauske was the starting third baseman and left-fielder, respectively, for the Roadrunners’ back-to-back 3A state championship teams in 2022-23 followed by 4A re gional titles the past two seasons. The teams Fauske played with had a combined 135-21 record. Fauske also contributed to two state championship football teams. This past season, Fauske had a .475 batting average, 601 on-base percentage, 832 slugging percentage and 1.433 OPS with six home runs, 40 runs batted in and 33 stolen bases. His career totals: .492 average, .590 OBP, .744 SLG, 1.334 OPS, 12 homers, 136 RBIs, 73 stolen bases in 78 attempts, 44 doubles and 10 triples
After the Roadrunners lost in the sectional semifinals, Fauske acknowledged the pressure of playing in front of numerous MLB scouts throughout the season.
“He was definitely the most scrutinized player we’ve had, being watched on a daily basis, and he handled it so well, which shows you how good of a job his parents have done,” Milano said. “Like every experience, this is unique. Every story’s different. I’m just extremely proud of the way Jaden and his family handled the process.”
Fauske said he gained insight as a junior watching 2024 Nazareth graduate Cooper Malamazian handle similar draft pressures before being taken in the 17th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Malamazian elected to play for Indiana University.
“It was really impressive to see how [Fauske] could stay composed it front of all of those guys. He didn’t really show it but you could kind of tell he was under the spotlight,” Thome said. “Every move he made
was being looked at. I looked up to him this year. He really motivated me as far as composing myself and keeping my emotions.”
Last summer also saw the previous highest initial Nazareth draft selection when 2021 graduate Ryan Smith was taken in the ninth round by the Houston Astros. In addition, 2019 graduate Michael Prosecky was drafted in the sixth round by the Colorado Rockies in 2022 after initially being drafted in the 35th round in 2019 by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Other for mer Nazareth players drafted were 2018 graduate Derek Salata in 2023 (19th round by Oakland Athletics), 2016 graduate Brandon Bossard (31st round by White Sox in 2016) and 2000 graduate Mike Spidale (12th round by White Sox in 2000).
Spidale was a minor league player for 13 years with the White Sox and Phillies. In April, Spidale’s No. 10 became Nazareth’s first baseball uniform number officially retired by the school.
PROPER TY TR ANSFERS
Brookfield home on Arthur Ave. sales for $770,000
The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from April 2025. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that info rmation was not provided by the clerk’s office.
RIVERSIDE
NORTH RIVERSIDE
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Brookfield refines new economic incentives
e board could adopt the policy on July 28
to business owners for sustainable improvements so they don’t have to tie them into renovations for village reimbursement.
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
By the end of the month, Brookfield could have a for mal policy outlining potential financial perks to encourage new businesses and developers to come to the village
The village board discussed the draft policy for a second time Monday night at the committee of the whole meeting, and trustees are expected to vote on it at their next re gular meeting on July 28.
“I do appreciate that it’s in there,” Trustee Jennifer Hendricks said of the added sustainability-focused changes. “They’re economic development policies, so they’re intended to change the look of the area, to elevate everybody. I think that if we were to make it so that people could get these grants for just solar panels on their roofs, while that would generally help the community, it doesn’t help raise the look of Grand Boulevard or Ogden Avenue in the way that we’re trying to do with these grants.”
The policy contained changes based on previous feedback from trustees, including new definitions and explanations of the village’s existing economic incentive programs, like its tax-increment financing districts, which allow increases in property value through redevelopment to funnel into further improvements to the area.
The board also discussed fast-tracking signage and awning PIP grant applications through the village’s economic development commission straight to regular village board meetings. Larger-scale PIP projects would need to go through the planning and zoning commission and the committee of the whole before the village board’s final vote
For example, the Theater Building, which Brookfield is seeking to have fully redeveloped, is located within the Grand Boulevard TIF district.
One of the biggest changes for everyday businesses in Brookfield is an addition to the Property Improvement Program, through which owners could seek up to 50% reimbursement for the cost of external improvements to their storefront. The program is set to be split in two with the creation of one grant of up to $2,000 for signage improvements and the other up to $20,000 for larger facade improvements or overall renovations.
That larger grant now includes costs related to sustainable or environmentally friendly upgrades taking place at the same time as facade work, though Libby Popovic, the community development director, said reimbursements will not be considered solely for that work.
“Eligible costs have to be directly tied to a facade in the overall project, and not just independent, a la carte sustainable upgrades,” she said.
Trustee Katie Kaluzny said members of Brookfield’s conservation commission hoped to review the addition to the policy at their next meeting. She said they may create a supplemental list of grants available
Other members of the board lauded additions that emphasized the board’s right to have a final say in which incentives are of fered to businesses or developers, re gardless of the options within the policy.
“Our role in evaluating eligibility, I think, is going to be critical moving forward as representatives of the public. Something like the ‘but for’ test for the property tax rebate, there’s potential significant revenue loss for the village in that scenario,” Trustee Kyle Whitehead said. “Would this investment be made without this incentive? I think a lot of the people making that investment would want to make that case, so we can use consultant support to evaluate the argument and the data.”
Trustee Kit Ketchmark said the policy should emphasize to developers that sales tax or property tax rebates or abatements would come from Brookfield’s relatively small share of the taxes collected.
“The village share of sales tax is 1%, so if somebody comes in and think there’s a rebate, possibly, of a 10% sales tax like we pay here, that’s not correct,” he said.
He made a similar point about Cook County incentives that are outlined in the draft policy but that Brookfield has no control in offering directly.
Overall, trustees seemed supportive of the policy as a way to increase development within the village
New program provides free baby, menstrual products
About two-thirds of Share Food Share Love’s visitors are women
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Neighbors in need will now be able to get more than just food from Brookfield’s Share Food Share Love food pantry.
This month, the pantry launched its new Families First program, which provides visitors with access to free items for women and babies, including diapers, baby wipes, for mula and menstrual products like pads and tampons.
John Dumas, Share Food Share Love’s administrative director, told the Landmark the program was born out of a partnership with another organization in town last year
“We don’t collect an enormous amount of information about the folks that come to the pantry, but we do collect demographic information, and we do know that single mothers and women in general are a big part of the people we serve, so we felt that was something we needed to address,” he said. “We started working with the Brookfield Women’s Club on a program to provide feminine hygiene products.”
Dumas said about two-thirds of neighbors who visit the food pantry are women. The pantry serves 20-25 single mothers each month out of roughly 600 people, he added, a rate of about 4%.
“They may represent their whole family, but it’s the women that come to the pantry. That was what started it with us, because [we knew] the numbers are bigger, but I think we were all kind of surprised at what the difference really was there,” he said. “It’s the same story that you have with everything else that folks are facing. They have to make choices, and if they get food, maybe they can af ford some other things, and it’s the same thought process.”
In the year after the collaboration with the Women’s Club started, “it became apparent,” Dumas said, that the prog ram wasn’t meeting all the needs of the pan-
try’s visitors, so it crafted the new version to rope in the needs of babies and young children.
In the past, Dumas said the pantry would give out similar items it had received as donations to people in need, but it didn’t specifically ask for or advertise them.
“We realize that when you start any new program, it’s never perfect at the beginning, but we are committed, as time goes on, to continue to expand that and get to a point where we can confidently offer babytype products to families,” he said. “I’ve never really been around that many babies, so I had no idea what we were getting into, myself. Other folks have been doing a lot more work on this, and I’m really proud of the ef fort that our development team has put into this.”
Last week, the food pantry asked residents to donate items to the program of f its Amazon wish list while items were discounted through Amazon Prime Days, which ran from July 8-11.
“It’s been a tremendous response. It’s really been great,” Dumas said. “It’s a significant amount. We’re getting six, eight, 10 packages a day, every day this week … We see that it’s relatable. Women hear about this, and they know what it’s like to need, whether it’s for your baby or yourself, those kinds of products.”
He added that anyone out there who may find themselves struggling to make ends meet is welcome to visit the pantry for whatever they may need, whether that’s food, menstrual products or goods for babies; in fact, pantry staf f make an ef fort to keep the process dignified.
“It runs through our entire operation. There are many people who are embarrassed to come for food, too, that they have to admit they need help … We have this stuf f, whether it’s food or these products or whatever, and if we don’t have things, we have a lot of resources, and we have access to a lot of things,” Dumas said. “There really isn’t any need for folks to have to suffer through life without getting the things that they need when there are resources out there that will help them. It’s not 100% perfect, but we can usually find things that they need if we don’t have them.”
By
THE IRS OFFERS PENALTY RELIEF TO ELIGIBLE TAXPAYERS: PART III
Business taxpayers’ online payment plan options include: Long-term payment plan (also called an installment agreement) - For business taxpayers who have a total balance less than $25,000 in combined tax, penalties and interest from the current and preceding tax year. They can make monthly payments for up to 24 months. Taxpayers can choose to set up payments using direct debit (automatic bank withdraw). Direct deposit is required on balances between $10,000 and $25,000. Online tools for payment plans: Qualified taxpayers with existing payment plans may be able to use the Online Payment Agreement to make changes to their plans that include
revising payment dates, payment amounts or bank information for direct debit payments. Payment options for taxpayers already working with the IRS: Individuals and out-ofbusiness sole proprietors who are already working with the IRS to resolve a tax issue, and who owe $250,000 or less, have the option to propose a monthly payment that will pay the balance over the length of the collection statute - usually 10 years. These payment plans don’t require a financial statement, but a determination for the filing of a notice of federal tax lien still applies.
Individual taxpayers have the option to sign into or create their own Online Account. This account allows them to:
• Check on any scheduled or pending payments.
• Review payment plan details and payment history.
• View the amount they owe.
Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.
CYCLE
Race just ahead
from page 1
That new course will have racers start in front of Irish Times and head southwest on Burlington Boulevard before making a sharp turn east onto Southview Avenue, heading north on Grove Avenue and completing a lap.
Valadez said there was a chance Brookfield could have been out of the running to host the race in future years if they weren’t able to find a new route. The work on Grand Boulevard, which started in the spring, is set to last through August.
“When we were first selected to come on board in 2023 in the first version of this race, Burr Ridge was hot on the heels to accept it. Burr Ridge really wanted the bid; they saw the value in bringing a criterium race to their city,” he said. “Brookfield ultimately won the bid, primarily because we had a good business district that the route could go through. We had an activated bike community already. We had an advocacy group, that being Cycle Brookfield. All of
the elements to run a really good criterium race were there, so that’s what made it very attractive to Chicago Grit.”
He said the new route led to the creation of a “more condensed” expo area for spectators and vendors to gather. In the past, the route along Grand Boulevard had two natural places to gather: by the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and downtown at the corner of Prairie Avenue, which both featured tight turns
This year, the expo will sit within the course along the block of Prairie Avenue between Burlington and Southview avenues.
“Everyone entering the course on Prairie, which is the main access point — Prairie north of the tracks or Prairie south of Southview from Ogden Avenue — if you’re entering the course, parking along there, you’re basically going to be flooded directly into the expo area first,” Valadez said. “Hopefully, everyone who comes comes hungry, comes thirsty, because we’re going to have some of the big hitter food trucks, Imperial Oak. Everyone’s going to be stationed out there.”
Despite the benefits, Valadez said the new course was not Cycle Brookfield’s first option.
“We initially looked at some courses actually going around Eight Corners,” he said.
“We went through about five or six different variations of different items like that. Ultimately, with the south course that we found, we decided as a group that this was the single best course we could provide without shutting down a ton of artery streets that run into different traffic things.”
On top of traffic concerns, he said the group had to consider “a checklist of about 50 items” that make for a good criterium course. Running through a commercial district with businesses to activate is at the top of the list, alongside considerations for spectator viewing and the aesthetics of the area.
Valadez said he’s heard feedback from residents and business owners alike wishing for the return of the old course, which brought a lot of foot traffic to the stores and restaurants along Grand Boulevard, but he hopes the new route will bring more business to Irish Times and Phil’s Sports Bar and be exciting for the cyclists “It’s going to be different for the racers, but
Our Century, Your New Beginning.
I think they’re going to enjoy it. Burlington is newly paved. It’s fast, it’s fresh, and we make a really sharp turn onto Southview, which is going to challenge the racers,” he said.
“This was the single best course we could provide w ithout shutting dow n a ton of arter y streets that r un into di erent tra c things. ”
CHRIS VA L ADEZ
President of Cycle Brook eld
This year’s criterium will also feature a partnership with SRAM, a Chicago-based bicycle component vendor and one of Chicago Grit’s main sponsors, to bring pro cyclists from the Miami Blazers and L39ION (pronounced “legion”) of LA teams, which SRAM also sponsors, to Brookfield for a meet and greet and autograph signing.
“Come with the same enthusiasm and excitement as before We have the community ride at 6:15; please re gister for that. Every year, Chicago Grit is continually impressed with how much Brookfield shows up,” Valadez said. “Seeing people that I know, kids and families that I’ve seen out on our slow rolls, come out and enjoy the thing that Cycle Brookfield has been able to provide — for me, it brings the biggest smile to my face.”
Riverside driver charged with DUI in Brook eld
Brookfield police arrested a 47-year-old Riverside man July 13 for driving drunk.
Around 12:08 a.m., an officer was on patrol at the intersection of 31st Street and Grand Boulevard when they observed a white Jeep heading southeast with expired license plates. After confirming the vehicle’s re gistration was expired, the officer initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, who they saw “excessively moving” and reaching into the backseat.
Due to the car having tinted back windows, the officer had the driver roll them down and observed an open 12-ounce can of beer in the back cup holder. The officer also noticed the man’s breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were bloodshot and he slur red his words when talking.
While running the man’s driver’s license and proof of insurance, the officer saw him reach into the back of the car. The man told the officer he had moved the beer to the center console. When asked, the man said he had drunk one beer.
T he man ag reed to step out of his car at the officer’s request but declined to take field sobriety tests or blow a portable breath test, so the officer placed him under ar rest for driving under the influence, police said.
At the police station, the man declined to take a chemical breath test. Police charged the man for driving under the influence of alcohol, illegally transporting alcohol and driving with expired re gistration. Police set an Aug. 12 court date and sent the man on his way.
No headlights, no license
Brookfield police charged a 34-year-old LaGrange woman after they saw her driving at night without headlights or taillights
Around 10:42 p.m., an officer on patrol was waiting in the parking lot at the Citibank at 9009 Ogden Ave. when they observed a gray Jeep heading east without any car lights on.
The officer pulled the car over on Ogden Avenue just west of Rose Avenue in Lyons. After hearing the reason for the stop, the woman said she had just left her home in LaGrange and must have forgotten to turn on her lights. She then turned on the
car lights before the of ficer asked her fo r her driver’s license and proof of insurance. T he woman provided her Illinois ID card and said she had never been issued a driver’s license
The officer told the woman she would be charged and her car would be towed if she could not find a valid driver, but she called a friend to take her car.
The officer charged the woman for driving without her headlights and for driving without a valid license. Police set an Aug. 26 court date and let the woman go in her car with her friend driving.
These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department reports dated July 7-14; 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
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INDIVISIBLE
Hosted in B
from pa
you a horseshit cake, and you’ whether it was a free-range used,’” Casten said, eliciting laughter from many of the 80-or-so attendees. “Don bogged in the details. It health care in our country’s histor biggest cut in food assistance in our country’s history. It’s the biggest lionaires in our country’s history.”
The bill will result in an estimated 12 million Americans losing their health insurance over the next 10 year to the Congressional Budget Offic cuts in who is eligible for Medicaid, including through ments, and newly required every six months instead of each year.
T he bill affects who fits through the Supplemental Assistance Progr am (S states to contribute financially to the program, which will make it harder income people to af ford cates $100 billion to funding Immi and Customs Enforcement making it the largest federal law enforcement agency, according to the Brennan Center for Justice
Both representatives said these changes, alongside others, will affect everyday people on multiple fronts and could be “weaponized” against the governing bodies that have to deal with the consequences.
“When President Obama was presid ent, he fought for the Af fordable Care Act … He really helped Illinois’ budget. It really helped the county budget, because it took the burden of f the state and the counties and provided health care for those that were not eligible for health care. Before Obamacare, they relied on emergency room care, and emergency room care was harmful to the state, city and county budgets,” Ford said. “If the funds are not coming down from Washington, then Illinois has to have a budget to protect Illinoisans, so where do we get the money? What’s scary for me is, it may cause us to raise taxes on people in Illinois to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.”
As the conversation turned to the effects of the Medicaid cuts on hospitals — Medicaid accounts for 19% of all spending on hospital care, NPR reported — Casten pointed out that everyone will feel the blow “Even if you have the absolute best
down,” he said. As more people become uninsured, he said, they will lose af fordable access to preventative health care, meaning emergency rooms will become inundated with patients with more severe injuries or ailments.
“I want to give an example of how these things ripple through. They have layers of evil. Let’s say, right now, you’re a parent who works. You are not Medicaid eligible, but just barely. You’re struggling to get by, and you got a special needs kid who goes to a day program that is funded by Medicaid. When your kid goes to that day program, that’s when you work,” Casten said. “Now, Medicaid shuts of f that day program, so then, kid’s at home, so now you got to stop working. You go to Medicaid and say, ‘Hey, I got to get on Medicaid.’ Now, they say, ‘Well, we got work requirements.’ Like, think of how evil this is, right?”
The meeting was hosted by the West Suburban Chicago chapter of Indivisible, which spans Brookfield, LaGrange, LaGrange Park and Western Springs, but it drew attendees from across the region.
Kelly Kilboy, a Villa Park resident, told the Landmark her fears about increased ICE funding pushed her to attend.
“We have a large Hispanic community throughout the area. I’m scared because I
I’m afraid she’ll get abducted right of f the street. That’s my biggest fear right now, so I’m doing whatever I can to be involved,” she said.
Kilboy said she hoped Illinois officials, especially Gov. JB Pritzker, would work to require ICE agents within the state to identify themselves as such and not wear masks obscuring their faces.
Meg Phinick, who lives in Indian Head Park, said she felt “especially compelled” to hear from Casten as a re gular attendee of his town halls. She said “every single thing” in the reconciliation bill worried her, but she named the Medicaid cuts as her top issue.
“I have an elderly father. I’m worried about the effect of that on nursing homes,” she said.
Bob Mankiewicz, a teacher who lives in Berwyn, said he felt the need to attend due to his area of specialty.
“I’ve been teaching history, social studies for a long time. I’m very concerned with our democracy, with where we’re headed, with the Constitution being shredded, it feels like. The fact that my neighbors, my friends, my family members are under threat from this re gime that wants to be authoritarian — I think we all need to do something to stop it.”
TRENT BROWN
Rep. Sean Casten and state Rep. La Shawn Ford were the guests of honor at Indiv isible West Suburban Chicago’s meeting July 9.
LETTERS
Taxes are democracy’s price of admission
This past Independence Day my family and I celebrated our country’s birthday by attending multiple events in neighboring villages. During those events, attendees were asked to clap in appreciation of veterans, first responders, teachers, and other professionals who “take care of us.” In each instance I reflected upon the disconnect between taxes, government services, and the American mindset, particularly at the local level. I often hear people express their frustration over the cost of property taxes. As a property owner myself, I understand and empathize with these sentiments. However, upon an objective review of the property tax bill, one would observe that the vast majority of our property taxes pay for vital services, such as the salaries/benefits of our village ’s firemen and police officers. T hey pay for public libraries staff/services, and they pay for access to quality public education. I often see Back the Blue flags and hear the phrase “Back the Blue” by many people who don’ t want to pay the Blue. For those residents who choose to send their children to public school,
their return on investment is significant. The average property tax bills in Brookfield ($7,174), La Grange Park ($8,150) and Riverside ($10,613) are inadequate to cover the per pupil cost. Particularly at the high school level, where per pupil cost ranges from $14,498 (RB) to $17,760 (LT). Thus, it is the retired residents, households without children, and private school families, who collectively underwrite local public education for public school families.
This not to say that we should not question any allocation of our tax dollars, particularly at the federal level. Our democracy requires patriotic citizens to be infor med and engaged. And we should have discussions about how our tax dollars are spent and critique pork spending. When politicians engage in corrupt behavior or misappropriate tax dollars they should be voted out of office and, if appropriate, be held legally accountable.
That said, taxes are the admission to a functional democracy.
A few years back, while working at a subsidized gover nment apar tment building, I would have weekly conversations with a self-described fiscal conservative Re publican. Actually, “con-
versation” is technically inaccurate. He would vent and share his frustration with “the gover nment,” gover nment spending, and those “free loaders” who were using gover nment services. Upon completion of his soliloquy, he would promptly exit my office, barely allowing me the time to wish him a good day. After a number of months had passed, I decided to preemptively share a story with this resident.
On a wintery F riday morning, he entered my office. He politely ag reed to my request to share a story with him. I told him of a guy I knew who grew up in the wester n suburbs of Chicago. He attended public grammar school and public high school. Upon high school graduation he enlisted in the ar my. After serving four years, he used the GI Bill to pay for his tuition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Fast forward 40 years, this g entleman is residing in a federally subsidized gover nment apar tment building, where his sole sources of income are a small Veterans Pension and Supplemental Security Income.
When I finished, the befuddled resident looked at me and said, “What’s your point?”
Shawn Lewis is a resident of Brookfield
OBITUARIES
Automotive assistant manager
Joseph Jay Dusek, 69, of Lyons, died on July 5, 2025. An assistant manager of an automotive business, he was the son of the late Joseph H. Dusek Jr. and the late Rosemarie A. Dusek (nee Pearcy); the father of Diana, Jason and Dominique Dusek; the brother of Rosanne Dusek Tenuta; the uncle of Krista Tenuta and Jessica (Kesav) Gandham; and the great-uncle of Tala Gandham and Indra Gandham.
A graveside service was held on July 10 at Clarendon Hills Cemetery, 6900 S. Cass Ave., Darien, IL 60561.
Memorials are appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Arrangements were handled by Hitzeman Funeral Home Ltd., 9445 W. 31st St., Brookfield, IL 60513. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, c/o the Joseph Jay Dusek Family. They will gladly forward it.
SHAWN LEWIS
One View
Joseph Dusek, 69
Sports
Brook eld 10U softball reaches nals, loses to LGP
Brook eld Majors, Riverside 11U reach semi nals in District 9 baseball
By BILL STONE
Contributing Reporter
Even though there were no District 9 titles this year for Brookfield Little League softball, the future looks promising. Brookfield’s youngest group, the 10-and-under all-stars, reached the District 9 championship series but lost to LaGrange Park 12-6 Monday at Veterans Park in North Riverside.
Team members are Evangeline Anderson, Annabella Beattie, Ava Burns, Molly Byrne, Charlie Campos, Eliska Chase, Olive Costello, Carina Marin, Victoria Melendez, Jocelynn Patricio, Alina Pytel, Emma Tejack and Sophie Winger nick. Coaches were manager Mike Melendez, Jack Byrne, Destiny Carroll, Kevin Pytel, John Anderson and Alex Campos.
Mike Melendez coached four straight District 9 title teams with a group that rode of f as last year’s Majors District 9 champions in the oldest division. This year’s Brookfield Majors all-stars reached the championship series.
“It just wasn’t our year this year. We ran into a really good LaGrange Park team,” Melendez said. “Their pitchers did a great job. At the end, the little plays didn’t go our way. We’re used to things breaking our way and this was one of those years where they didn’t. That’s OK. We’re going to learn from it and we’ll be back. We’ve got a young group coming up that I expect to be very competitive next year in 10U.”
Brookfield 10U, which finished 3-2, needed to beat LaGrange Park twice Monday to win districts after previously losing 3-1 Saturday in the six-team, double-elimination format. Brookfield beat Riverside 10-3, Sunday, to reach the finals after opening by previously beating Western Springs 105, Thursday, and North Riverside 16-1 in three innings, July 9.
On Monday, LaGrange Park, batting as the visiting team, and Brookfield each scored four runs in the first inning. LaGrange Park pulled ahead 9-4 in the top of
Brook eld’s Alina Pytel (99) at bat against LaGrange Park during the Illinois 10U So ball District 9 Championship game, July 14, in North Riverside
the third. Brookfield held LaGrange Park scoreless the next two innings and scored single runs in the third and four th innings to close to 9-6, with a runner tagged out at home and another stranded at third and second in the fourth and fifth innings. LaGrange Park added three runs with two outs in the sixth.
“You’ve got to give credit where credit’s due. They made some really nice plays that kept us of f the bases and prevented us from having a big inning,” Melendez said. “There’s some balls I thought we hit nicely They made nice plays.”
Brookfield had three hits from Marin, Tejack and Campos after one in the first meeting, a run-scoring single by Beattie
that brought in Patel in the fifth. Chase and Campos were po ers throughout districts. Chase struck out 15 Monday in relief of nine against Riverside. Campos fanned 11 against LaGrange Park (first meeting) and Western Springs and seven Riverside.
Multiple-hit games came from Costello, Anderson, Patel and Melend against Riverside (2-2), Melend and Marin against Western Springs and Costello and Anderson against Riverside (0-2). Against Western Springs, Brookfield had a seven-run fourth to erase a 5-3 deficit.
terms of working with the girls,” Mike Melendez said. “I was with my traveling team at nationals so they took over and ran all the practices and they got the girls ready. They were instr umental.”
Baseball
The Brookfield baseball Majors team reached the District 9 single-elimination semifinals but lost to champion LaGrange Park 10-4, Friday, and finished with a 2-2 record.
Brookfield finished second in its pool by beating Lyons Township 5-3 and Stickney/ Forest View 10-0 in four innings while losing to Western Springs 10-4. Riverside (1-2) and North Riverside (0-3) did not advance out of pool play.
In 11U baseball, Riverside reached the single-elimination District 9 semifinals but was edged by second-place LaGrange Park 3-2, Sunday, to finish 1-2.
Riverside was second in pool play by beating Lyons Township 11-3 and losing to champion Western Springs 10-0 in four innings. Brookfield (0-2) did not advance from pool play
“[Our coaches] all were tremendous in
Brook eld’s pitcher Ambrose Kissel (46) elds a come backer and throws to rst against LaGrange Park dur ing an Illinois 11U Baseball District 9 game, July 11, in Wester n Springs
STEVE JOHNSTON
STEVE JOHNSTON
Nor th Riverside 11U softball dominates for District 9 title
Strong
o ense, pitching fuel rst NR so ball district title since 2018
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Before playing at nationals with her traveling softball team, pitcher Eli Favela had some District 9 history to make with her North Riverside softball 11-and-under allstar teammates, Thursday.
North Riverside defeated La Grange 14-2 in four innings at Veterans Park in North Riverside for what is believed to be the program’s first softball district title since 2018 for any age level.
“I think we really deserved it because we put in the hard work for it. This is actually great for me [as an achievement],” Favela said. “I’m always going to remember how it felt pitching in this game. It was kind of nerve-wracking, but it was also fun while doing it.”
North Riverside players are Lailah Farias, Favela, Ellie Hooper, Audrey Jamriska, Gigi Limonez, Willow Merrill, Maecie Mitchell, Anamarie Modugno, Grace Runquist, Isabella Sanchez and Scarlett Santos. They are coached by manager Willie Merrill and assistants Jessie Favela and Abby Favela.
Favela threw her second no-hitter in the three district victories, Thursday, with four strikeouts, two walks and one earned run. She then joined the Chicago Prospects for the 9-and-under U.S. Sports Specialty Association Midwest National Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
“It’s good to bring some energy [to nationals]. I’m hoping to win that, too, but I think it’s just nice that we won something,” Favela said.
North Riverside outscored La Grange and Riverside by a combined 37-8 in the three-team, double-elimination district even with a young roster that played about 30 games together, including at the Majors level. Because of a lack of players, North Riverside had to withdraw from this past weekend’s state tour nament in Peru. However, several players could contribute to a repeat next season.
“We only have four 11s so we’re a young team,” Willie Merrill said.
“It’s been a long time. It’s a little surreal. I was definitely nervous [Thursday] but the girls played really well. The defense was on point, the pitching was top-notch as always. Very proud of them.”
North Riverside opened by beating erside 12-5, July 7, and beat La Grange 11-1 in four innings, July 8, in Favela’s first nohitter. La Grange beat Riverside 7-5, Ju 9, to reach the championship series and would have needed to beat Nor th Riverside twice.
“I would put [this accomplishment] the highest,” first baseman Willow Merrill said. “I think we did well hitting and making our plays [overall]. We felt like had an offensive team going into the tournament.”
For the three games combined, leadof hitter Farias had four hits with two doubles, Limonez and Mitchell had three hits, and Favela (home run in first La Grange game), Jamriska (double), Runquist and Cooper had two. Farias added four runs batted in and six runs scored and Favela had six runs and six walks.
North Riverside combined that with Favela’s pitching and just one er ror defensively. Most of the runs surrendered came in Riverside’s five-run fifth after North Riverside already led 11-0.
Thursday’s defensive highlights included Merrill (5 putouts, 2 assists), second baseman Runquist (2 putouts), shortstop Jamriska (putout, 2 assists) and catcher Farias, who threw to Jamriska to tag out a runner trying to steal second base in the third.
“Besides winning a championship, I feel like we’re going to succeed more,” Jamriska said. “I feel like the people with more experience could help other people and help to succeed more and come together as a group.”
In 14 innings pitched, Favela allowed just one hit with 25 strikeouts, 12 walks and four earned runs – even with the mound being a further distance than her 9U games. Willie Merrill said two other pitchers were ready if needed Thursday, but Favela allowed just three baserunners on two walks and a hit batter.
“It just so happened she was doing really well on the mound and you try not to mess with how well she was doing,” Willie Merrill said.
“I felt like I had pressure, but I’m glad I could do it,” Favela said. “I haven’t thrown this distance in a pretty long time, but I did it and it felt good.”
North Riverside defeated La Grange for the Illinois 9-11 So ball District 9 championship, July 10, in North Riverside.
STEVE JOHNSTON
North Riverside’s pitcher Eli Favela (6) delivers.
STEVE JOHNSTON
RESOLUTION NO. R - 2025- 50
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF ADDITIONAL TAX FOR LIBRARY PURPOSES IN THE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS
WHEREAS, the Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Brookfield has requested the corporate authorities of the Village of Brookfield to levy an additional tax of 0.02% for certain library purposes, pursuant to Article 3 of the Illinois Local Library Act [75 ILCS 5/1-0.1 et seq. (2016)]; and WHEREAS, this 0.02% additional tax shall be in addition to the annual levy of .35% allowed for the establishment and maintenance of the library.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, as follows:
Section 1: The corporate authorities of the Village of Brookfield herewith determine to levy an additional 0.02% tax for library purposes for the tax year commencing January 1, 2025.
Section 2: Such 0.02% additional tax shall be levied on the value of all taxable property in the Village of Brookfield, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, and shall be used for the purpose of sites and buildings, for the construction and equipment of buildings, for the rental of buildings required for library purposes, and for maintenance, repairs and alterations of library buildings and equipment.
Section 3: The levy of said additional 0.02% tax shall be effected by the adoption of an appropriate levy ordinance by the corporate authorities pursuant to statutory requirements, which ordinance shall be filed in the office of the Cook County Clerk.
Section 4: The Village Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish a copy of this Resolution at least once in the Riverside/Brookfield Landmark, a newspaper with a general circulation in the Village of Brookfield, within fifteen (15) days after its adoption, and also the “Public Notice” attached hereto as “Exhibit A” hereof, shall be included with such publication or posting.
Section 5: If no petition is filed with the corporate authorities of the Village of Brookfield within thirty (30) days after publication of this resolution, requesting that the question of the adoption of this resolution be submitted to the electors of the Village of Brookfield, or if all petitions so filed are determined to be invalid and insufficient, the Village shall then be authorized to levy the tax. However, if a petition is filed with the corporate authorities within said thirty (30) day period, which petition is signed by electors of the Village of Brookfield equal in number to 10% of the total number of registered voters in the Village of Brookfield and which asks that the question of levying such a 0.02%
tax be submitted to the electors of the Village, then the question shall be submitted at the next applicable election, or at any special election called in accordance with law. The Village Clerk shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. Section 6: This Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its adoption.
ADOPTED this 14th day of July 2025 pursuant to a roll call vote as follows:
AYES: Trustees Ketchmark, Hendricks, Narimatsu, Gilhooley, Kaluzny, Whitehead
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTENTION: None
APPROVED by me this 14th day of July 2025.
Michael J. Garvey, President of the Village of Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois
ATTESTED and filed in my office, this 14th day of July 2025.
____________/s/____________________
Michael G. Melendez, Clerk of the Village of Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois
“EXHIBIT A” PUBLIC NOTICE
The public is hereby notified regarding the above “Resolution authorizing the levy of additional tax for library purposes in the Village of Brookfield, Illinois” determining to Levy for the tax year beginning January 1, 2025 an Additional Tax of up to 0.02 Percent of Equalized or Assessed Value of Taxable Property for Particular Building and Equipment Purposes in accordance with Article 3 of the Illinois Local Library Act [75 ILCS 5/1-0.1 et seq. (2016)] that:
1. The specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the question of adoption of the Resolution be submitted to the electors of the Village is 1,401 voters.
2. The time in which the petition must be filed is from the date of publication of this Resolution until 30 days hereof, being the 13th day of August 2025.
3. The date of the prospective referendum, if one should be called pursuant to such petition, is the General Election, held Tuesday the 17th of March, 2026.
4. The Village Clerk shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one.
Published in RB Landmark July 16, 2025
CALENDAR NUMBER� 15�25�Z
HEARING DATE� August 6, 2025
town Zoning District �Hemingway Sub-District).
CALENDAR NUMBER� 13�25�Z
TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Kendall Lynch, seeking a variance from Section 8.3�A� �1� of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, which restricts nonretail uses from locating within the first 50 feet of the street lot line at grade level or on the ground floor of any building. The Applicant proposes a physical therapy clinic at the property commonly known as 163 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�07�306�018�0000 �“Subject Property”), in the DT�2 Down-
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CALENDAR NUMBER� 14�25�Z
HEARING DATE� August 6, 2025
TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, KidSpace Academy, to operate a Day Care Center, pursuant to Section 8.3 �Table 8�1� Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, at the property located at 505 North Ridgeland Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�06�424�023�0000 (“Subject Property”) in the NC Neighborhood Commercial Zoning District.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: M25000637 on June 26, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of THE PINWHEEL LAB with the business located at:1545 MONROE AVE APT 2, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JESSICA MO 1545 MONROE AVE APT 2, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305, USA
Published in Wednesday Journal July 2, 9, 16, 2025
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
HEARING DATE� August 6, 2025
TIME� 7�00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING� Room 201 �Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION� The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Yves Hughes, requesting a special use permit to develop an Electric Vehicle Charging Station parking lot, pursuant to Section 8.3 �Table 8�1� Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, at the property located at 6104 Roosevelt Road, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16�17�329�035�0000 in the RR Roosevelt Road Form-Based District.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8�30 a.m. and 5�00 p.m. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5�00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Submit events and see full calendar at rblandmark.com/events
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