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Vol. 38, No. 32

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Also serving North Riverside

August 9, 2023

Child porn, sex abuse charges filed against Brookfielder PAGE 5

Riverside Chess Club attracts players of all ages PAGE 10

Riverside moves to sell Harlem Ave. land as dispensary opening nears Local officials eager to get parking lot constructed soon

By BOB UPHUES Editor

BOB UPHUES

The Star Buds cannabis dispensary (above) could open at 2704 Harlem Ave. in mid-September, prompting elected officials to fast track the sale of land next door at 2710 Harlem Ave. for conversion into a parking lot.

T R O P PASS

Your

Riverside trustees on Aug. 3 voted 5-0 to remove a barrier that would have prevented the village selling property it owns at 2710 Harlem Ave. until a cannabis dispensary under construction next door at 2704 Harlem Ave. was open for one month.

With that action, Riverside will sell the parcel of vacant land it owns possibly within weeks to Dr. Milad Nourahmadi, who owns not only 2704 Harlem Ave. but also the strip mall at 2720 Harlem Ave.

t o NE W S & C O M

See RIVERSIDE on page 13

MUNITY

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023

The Landmark, August 9, 2023

LTHS alters approach to Willow Springs land sale IN THIS ISSUE

School board to hire consultant, promises collaboration with village

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The Lyons Township High School is taking a step toward a more collaborative approach in deciding the future of the approximately 70-acre parcel of vacant land it owns in Willow Springs.

At the school board’s Aug. 7 committee of the whole meeting District 204 school board President Dawn Aubert proposed that the school hire an independent landuse consultant to study the property, its zoning and help the school better understand its options.

The move comes approximately two months after the Willow Springs Village Board passed a nine-month moratorium on any development of the land located at 79th Street and Willow Springs Road.

Earlier this year LTHS had tried to sell the land that it has owned for more than 60 years to an industrial developer. That deal fell apart once the village of Willow Springs made clear it would not alter the zoning of the property.

The existing zoning only permits singlefamily housing, senior housing or commercial development. The proposed sale to an industrial developer generated intense opposition from those who near the land and those who have children at Pleasantdale Elementary School, which is located just west of the property.

Aubert said that she wanted LTHS to make a “fresh start” in its approach to the land and made clear she is looking to begin a more collaborative approach.

“We are hopeful that this can help establish a collaborative relationship that will allow the village and the district to find common goals and understanding of the needs and priorities of both our schools, students and community,” Aubert said.

The other five members of the school board at the Aug. 7 meeting, Jill Daniels was absent, indicated that they thought hiring a land use consultant was a good idea although board member Tim Albores

BOB SKOLNIK

Willow Springs Village President Melissa Neddermeyer addresses the Lyons Township High School Board of Education during a committee of the whole meeting on Aug. 7 at the school’s North Campus. made clear that he is opposed to selling the land to an industrial developer.

On Aug. 4, the school board sent out an email inviting the wider community and the Willow Springs Village Board to attend their Aug. 7 meeting. Approximately 75 people turned out and most seemed cautiously optimistic about LTHS’ new approach while remaining unalterably opposed to any industrial development on the site.

Willow Springs Village President Melissa Neddermeyer was among the 12 people who spoke during the public comment portion of meeting, thanking the school board for inviting her and other Willow Springs elected officials.

“Based on your discussion it appears now that there could be a fresh start and further collaboration, so I am hopeful and encouraged and appreciate that dialogue,” Neddermeyer told the school board.

Neddermeyer said she understood and supported LTHS’ desire to sell the property and use the proceeds to better the school district. But she said that LTHS should commit to selling the property to someone who will develop it within the current zoning.

“Zoning exists for a reason and industry is

not permitted on this site for good reason,” Neddermeyer said.

Willow Springs Village Adminstratror Ryan Grace said the entire Willow Springs Village Board was present at the meeting, as well as the village’s treasurer and special legal counsel, in the case the school board wanted to engage in substantive dialogue.

“We’re open to discussion,” Grace said.

“I’m glad to hear that you guys are looking to maybe move forward on current zoning, get an appraisal, look at your options. Fantastic. If you’d like to talk, reach out.”

Residents who live near the site were also cautiously optimistic but still had concerns.

“I really am encouraged to hear words like collaboration and good neighbor,” said Sue Gobey. “I really think that is going to set us on the right path towards a better solution for everyone involved.”

After the meeting Aubert said that she was encouraged by the reaction to the idea of hiring a consultant.

“We sincerely want to approach this with dialogue and with collaboration and with partnership with the village of Willow Springs and any other municipalities and with transparency to our entire community,” Aubert said.

Editor Bob Uphues Staff Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady, 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 buphues@rblandmark.com ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00.

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023

August 9-16

Find your comic voice ИРИНА ЛЕПНЁВА, CC BY-SA 3.0 BOB

BIG WEEK TOM PETTY

Whether you’re interested in being a comic or simply comic-curious, learn some fundamentals of comedy writing and standup during “Finding Your Comic Voice” with special host Bill Gorgo on Aug. 10 at 5 p.m. at the North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave. Register in person at the library, by calling 708-447-0869 or at northriversidelibrary.org/events.

Tom Petty laser light show

“Mallards” by Roberta Appleby, Thatcher Woods, April 2022

Forest Preserves photo contest The Forest Preserves of Cook County is accepting entries for its 2023 photo contest, ones that showcase the very best forest preserves landscapes – closeups of plants, insects, birds and other wildlife; pictures that highlight the seasons; and shots of people enjoying the outdoors or participating in recreational offerings, including photos taken at the Chicago Botanic Garden and Brookfield Zoo. Fifteen winning photos will be featured in the 2024 Forest Preserves of Cook County calendar and on social media accounts. Twenty-four additional photos will be selected as runners-up.

Photos must be emailed to fpdcc@cookcountyil.gov by Aug. 15, limit of five entries per person. For more, visit fpdcc.com/photo-contest.

And more Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents “Summer, Joy and Harmony,” featuring paintings by Joe Fournier, at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, through Sept. 29. Viewing hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

The Riverside Farmers Market operates each Wednesday through Oct. 4 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. in Centennial Park, at Forest Avenue and Longcommon Road. The Brookfield Farmers Market returns every Saturday through Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Rock out at the Triton College Cernan Earth and Space Center during the Tom Petty Cosmic Light Show on Aug. 12, 19 and 26 at 8:30 p.m. Triton College is at 2000 5th Ave. in River Grove.

The family friendly show incorporates laser light, thousands of stars and giant digital effects set to some of Tom Petty’s biggest hits, including “I Won’t Back Down,”“Refugee,”“Free Fallin’” and more.

Tickets are $10 ($5 for 55+ and kids 2-17) and can be purchased at the box office starting at 6:30 p.m. before each show. Triton students and faculty admitted free with ID.

RAQUEL AND THE WILDFLOWERS

Country rockers at Brookfield outdoor concert

Brookfield continues its Friday Night Concert Series on Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at the bandshell in Kiwanis Park, Arden and Brookfield avenues.

This week, enjoy the high-energy country rock from New York-based Raquel and the Wildflowers. Bring your coolers, blankets and chairs.

True Crime Club examines crime scenes What can a crime scene tell investigators about the psychology of a criminal, and how can they use that information to catch them?

Hannah Klein, assistant professor of justice, law and public safety studies at Lewis University, will join the

in the parking lot of the Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to Art Adventures (ages 2+ w/ adult) on Aug. 10 at 2 p.m., Crafternoon: Chalkboard Accessories on Aug. 11 at 1:30 p.m., Big and Little Storytime (children w/adult) on Aug. 14 at 10:30 a.m., Stretching and Meditation on Aug. 14 at 6 p.m., Safari ABCs (child w/adult, every other week in Spanish) on Aug. 16 at 10:30 a.m. and Preschool Yoga and Storytime (ages 2-5 w/ adult) on Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/events.

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BILL GORGO

Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents Fairytale Storytime (all ages w/ caregiver) on Aug. 10 at 10:30 a.m., Craft Craze: Yarn Wrapped Cats (grades 1-5) on Aug. 10 at 4 p.m., No Scrap Left Behind: DIY Planters for Small Space Gardening on Aug. 10 at 6 p.m., A Year of Slow Stitching on Aug. 12 at 2:30 p.m.., Chair Yoga (virtual) on Aug. 14 at 11 a.m., Movie Music Romance I with John LeGear on Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. and Maker Studio 101 on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online at brookfield. evanced.info/signup to register for programs.

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents ■

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True Crime Club at the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., on Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. for “Crime Scenes and Criminal Psychology.”

Register to attend by visiting brookfield.evanced. info/signup.

Mindful Chair Yoga on Aug. 10 at 11 a.m., At the Spot: ‘Cactus’ Rock Garden on Aug. 10 at 7 p.m., Friday Outside Storytime on Aug. 11 at 10 a.m., Mindfulness Together meditation on Aug. 11 at 11 a.m., At the Spot: Create with Cricut MiniCamp (teen/adult) on Aug. 14 at 6:30 p.m. and Movie & Music: Elvis Presley by John LeGear on Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrary.org/events.

The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo the second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023

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Brookfield man charged with child porn, sex abuse of a minor County investigators tipped off to man’s social media downloads

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart on Aug. 4 announced the arrest of a 29-year-old Brookfield man for child pornography and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor.

Investigators from the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the sheriff ’s department, assisted by Brookfield police,

Montesinos’ arrest. took Miguel Montesinos Jr., at ICAC opened its investigation his home in the 3400 block of into Montesinos after Brookfield Vernon Avenue, into custody police passed along a tip they after finding that he viewed and had received from the National shared files displaying child sex Center for Missing and Exploitabuse. ed Children about videos and During their months’ long inimages of child pornography alvestigation, police also reported legedly shared and downloaded learning that Montesinos had a through a social media account sexual relationship with a teenager during a four-year period MIGUEL MONTESINOS JR. belonging to Montesinos.

Sheriff ’s police obtained a that began when Montesinos search warrant for the account, where they was 24 years old.

The victim, who is now an adult, was of- found about 100 files containing sexually fered assistance through the Cook County explicit videos of children. Montesinos Sheriff ’s Victim Support Services Unit, reportedly admitted in an interview with according to a press release announcing police after his arrest that the social media

P O L I C E

account was his and that he’d viewed the videos on his cellphone multiple times.

Montesinos faces one Class X felony charge of dissemination of child pornography and a pair of Class 2 felonies, possession of child pornography and aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor.

The Class X felony is punishable by between six and 30 years in prison, if convicted. Class 2 felonies carry a prison sentence of between three and seven years.

Montesinos appeared at a hearing on Aug. 4 at the Maybrook courthouse in Maywood, where a Cook County judge set his bond at $200,000. He remains free while awaiting trial after posting bail following that hearing.

R E P O R T S

Parolee hit with two felony charges in Brookfield A Chicago man on parole after serving five years in state prison for a 2017 attempted armed robbery conviction is back behind bars after being charged with two felonies for an incident in Brookfield last week.

Jeremy Koonce, 38, was charged with aggravated battery and aggravated reckless driving, both felonies, after allegedly hitting a woman with his car in the 4100 block of Madison Avenue on Aug. 3 just before 11 p.m. and leaving the scene.

The exact sequence of events is unclear, but police received a 911 call from someone reporting a woman, who had either been hit by a car or fell, lying in the roadway injured.

According to police, the woman had a serious arm injury and was taken to the hospital by paramedics. A short time after responding to that call, police stopped a vehicle driven by Koonce, in the 9000 block of Ogden Avenue, for speeding.

Police learned during their investigation that Koonce was involved in the incident involving the injured woman. The two apparently knew each other, according to police. Koonce appeared in bond court on Aug. 5.

Koonce had been paroled from Pinckneyville Correctional Center last December. At the same time he was convicted of

attempted armed robbery with a firearm in 2017, Koonce was also convicted of two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

He was previously convicted of two counts of burglary in 2006, for which he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Residential burglary Brookfield police responded to the 9100 block of 26th Street on Aug. 3 at about 9:15 p.m. after a homeowner called to report that their home had been burglarized within the past hour.

The victim told police she had left the home at about 8:30 p.m. to pick up her husband from work. When the couple arrived home, the front door was ajar and the interior of the home was ransacked.

Police reported observing pry marks on the front door and on the door jamb, which was heavily damaged. According to the victims, multiple pieces of gold jewelry worth thousands of dollars were taken from a bedroom closet.

Hit and run North Riverside police cited a 25-yearold Cicero man for leaving the scene of a crash after he reportedly fled the 8500

block of Cermak Road where his black Ford Explorer struck a Chevy Malibu on Aug. 5 at about 6:15 p.m.

No one was injured, but both vehicles sustained front-end damage and multiple air bags deployed in the Malibu due to the impact of the crash. The victim told police a black Ford SUV had struck the Chevy, and a license plate police found lying in the street registered to a black Ford Explorer.

Cicero police pulled the Ford over as it pulled up to the address North Riverside police relayed to them. The driver reportedly told police he got scared and fled the scene.

DUI A 44-year-old Brookfield man faces a felony drunken driving charge after allegedly leading police on a high-speed chase through the north end of the village during mid-afternoon on Aug. 3.

An officer on patrol reported observing a silver Pontiac Firebird traveling at 74 mph in a 30-mph zone in the vicinity of Maple and Monroe avenues at about 2:40 p.m. The officer gave chase and the Firebird turned west on Jackson Avenue and then north through the alley between Maple and Arthur avenues, kicking up a

dust trail visible to police.

The Firebird’s driver, later identified as James L. Summers, allegedly then blew through four stop signs before trying to make a 180-degree turn while northbound on Cleveland Avenue and striking the curb, with one wheel coming to rest on the parkway.

Paramedics took Summers to the hospital for observation. Police reported that his blood-alcohol content was .261, which is more than three times the legal limit of .08.

Because Summers did not have a valid driver’s license, the Cook County State’s Attorney approved charging him with felony driving under the influence of alcohol. He was also charged with reckless driving, fleeing and eluding and several other traffic offenses.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, July 31-Aug. 6, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded.

Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023

County awards Brookfield grant for Congress Park station area improvements Plan calls for improving safety, access north of railroad right-of-way

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield will move ahead with a project to make improvements to the area connecting Southview Avenue with the north side of the Congress Park Metra tunnel after Cook County awarded the village a $208,845 grant for the work.

The Cook County Department of Transportation notified the village last month that its application for funding through the Invest in Cook program had been accepted to make the improvements to the north side of the railroad right-of-way.

The project is part of a larger initiative to make over the Congress Park Metra station area. Work was completed in 2020 on the area west of DuBois Boulevard south of the station, where the village constructed a new 21-space commuter parking lot and installed covered bicycle parking.

The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad is also

PROVIDED

The village of Brookfield has won a county grant to make hardscape and landscape improvements to the area north of the Congress Park train station, where pedestrians access it from the north. planning to improve the station area east of DuBois Boulevard, replacing the concrete retaining wall with a sloped berm. Once that’s complete, the village intends on creating a paved plaza area in front of the station en-

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It’s unclear when the BNSF intends to complete that improvement. Brookfield Village Manager Timothy Wiberg told the Landmark that the railroad has offered no update on when it might undertake that improvement.

Until that work is done, the plaza improvement remains on hold.

In 2022, Metra separately announced it had earmarked $1 million in its capital plan for “design concepts and environmental studies” to make the Congress Park station handicapped-accessible. At present, the inbound and outbound station platforms can only be accessed via flights of stairs on either side of the right-of-way.

A Metra spokesman did not respond to a request from the Landmark seeking an update on the status of the accessibility studies.

The improvements north of the railroad right of way will be constructed in an easement that BNSF first granted Brookfield in 1917, which is between Southview Avenue at the north railroad embankment.

The easement lines up roughly with Morton Avenue and provides a way for pedestrians and bicyclists to access the station from the north via a tunnel that runs beneath the tracks through to Burlington Avenue.

Right now, there’s a gravel access road with a sidewalk along its west side running south from Southview Avenue to a railroad spur that enters the Sweetener Supply factory to the west.

Another sidewalk continues south, past a lawn/storm water drainage area, from the spur line to the Congress Park tunnel.

The planned improvements call for paving the gravel access road with concrete, installing a new 7-foot-wide sidewalk and pedestrian lighting as well as planters and benches along the lawn area south of the railroad spur.

The plan also calls for the installation of wayfinding signage at the entry point to the easement at Southview Avenue and at the railroad spur, which pedestrians have to cross to get to the tunnel.

The total cost of the improvements is estimated at $417,690, of which the grant will cover half.

The village is in the beginning stages of working with BNSF to record its easement agreement, which was last updated in 1958.

It’s expected that the project will go out to bid in early 2024, with construction possibly next year as well.

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023

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Brookfield native chosen as village’s new public works chief Vincent Smith leaving Bensenville, where’s been operations superintendent for 3 years

By BOB UPHUES

works experience, starting in 2008 when he worked for nine years as a laborer and water operator for the village of Westchester.

Two months to the day of Carl Muell’s re- He then ran his own plumbing business for tirement as public works director in Brook- a time before returning in 2018 to the public sector as a water foreman for Elk field, Village Manager Timothy Grove Village.

Wiberg announced he’d chosen For the past three years, the Muell’s replacement.

41-year-old Smith has served as On Aug. 1, Wiberg said he’d operations superintendent for selected Vincent Smith, who was the Bensenville Public Works Deraised in Brookfield, to be the vilpartment. lage’s newest public works direcIn that role, he has served as tor. Smith’s start date with the the No. 2 supervisor in the devillage is Aug. 21. partment, filling in for the direc“Obviously he knows the comtor when needed and supervising munity, and I do think that was its 23 employees. Smith’s responone of the things that attracted VINCENT SMITH sibilities touch all aspects of pubhim to the job,” Wiberg told the lic works, overseeing the utilities, Landmark. “It certainly helps when the candidate has ties to the commu- streets and forestry divisions.

“He’s already doing a lot of things that he nity.”

But the community tie was not the only will be doing as the director,” Wiberg said. quality that elevated Smith above the six oth- “He has experience dealing with capital projects and budgets, but he also has hands-on er candidates interviewed for the job.

Smith has 15 years of municipal public experience managing staff.”

Editor

Smith was also tasked in Bensenville with conducting an inventory of that village’s lead water service lines, landing a $40,000 grant from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for that work.

“I’ve spoken deeply with the IEPA and believe I have a great grasp on that [lead water service line replacement] mandate,” Smith told the Landmark in a phone interview last week. “I can definitely bring a lot of efficiency to that program.”

Smith was also in charge of Bensenville’s snow and ice removal program, saying he made “drastic improvements” to the program.

“I think I’ll be a good asset for the village of Brookfield in creating efficient snow and ice removal,” Smith said.

Smith, whose starting salary will be $139,558, said he probably would not have considered leaving Bensenville had the opportunity in Brookfield, specifically, not been available.

Growing up on Brookfield’s southeast end, Smith attended Lincoln Elementary

School and Lyons Township High School.

He later owned a home in Brookfield, serving for a time as a basketball coach at George Washington Middle School. He now lives in LaGrange Highlands.

“Brookfield is part of me,” Smith said.

“It’s a place that feels like home and always will.”

Smith worked for Westchester from 2008 to 2017, and he got to know Muell during that time.

“I got to know his leadership style, and I think that if he did well in Brookfield, I think I’ll do well in that role with my skill set,” Smith said.

Muell was highly thought of during his four years at the helm of the Brookfield Public Works Department, improving the culture and streamlining operations, particularly with respect to snow removal and alley maintenance.

Since Muell’s retirement on June 1, public works has been overseen by Superintendent Rocco Barbanente, who was hired as the No. 2 person in the department in 2022.

Riverside trustees finalize fire engine purchase

Pumper upgrades increase cost by about $27,000

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside trustees voted 5-0 on Aug. 3 to officially purchase a new fire engine that it had approved in the 2023 budget last fall and which the fire department had ordered from the manufacturer at that time.

The roughly $725,000 price of the Pierce Enforcer pumper is about $27,000 or 4% more than the $698,000 the village had budgeted for the vehicle, but the increase is due to upgrades fire officials made to the vehicle during a final visit to the Pierce Manufacturing Co. factory in Appleton, Wisconsin, recently.

However, the price of the engine would have been far more expensive, Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley said, had he waited until now to order the engine.

“If we ordered the same vehicle today, it would be over $900,000,” Buckley said, referring to what have become monthly increases in the cost for fire engines.

Last month, Brookfield’s village board approved the pur-

PIERCE MANUFACTURING CO.

The Pierce Enforcer pumper fire engine. chase of a new ambulance – ordering the same model it had back in 2017 for $250,000. Fire Chief James Adams estimated that with cost increases, the same ambulance in 2023 would cost $275,000. The actual cost was about $356,000.

The Riverside Fire Department still does not expect to receive delivery of the new fire engine for seven or eight months.

“We’re hoping that it might be quicker now that everything has been approved,” Buckley said.

It routinely takes up to two years, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, for agencies to take possession of big-ticket items such as fire engines and ambulances.

In February 2022, the Riverside Village Board approved a purchase agreement for a new ambulance. According to Buckley, not only is the village still waiting for the vehicle, there’s still not a chassis available for it.

“We’re hoping maybe next May for that,” said Buckley.

The new pumper will replace the Riverside Fire Department’s 2003 E-One pumper, which is still a front-line engine with about 89,000 miles and nearly 10,000 engine hours on it.

It’s based at Fire Station 2 on Pine Avenue.

Upgrades to the new pumper include it having a galvanized steel frame to prevent rust and increase its useful life; additional storage cabinets, including an exterior cabinet where firefighters can store contaminated gear after fighting a fire; additional outlets to accommodate the department’s move toward using battery-powered equipment versus gas-powered equipment; and additional emergency and scene lighting.

The fire engine, as well as the still-to-come ambulance, are being funded through federal funds the village received in 2021 and 2022 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023

Unforeseen issues push Blythe Park project cost up $126,000 Workers to address water seepage in lower level, shore up parking lot bases

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

This summer’s renovation work at Blythe Park School will cost approximately $126,000 more than expected due to some unforeseen complications.

At their Aug. 16 meeting, the Riverside Elementary School District 96 Board of Education is expected to approve the expenditure to address water seeping into the lower level former auditorium space, which is being repurposed into a multipurpose room, and to improve the soil beneath the school’s parking lots, which are being repaved.

The projects were originally budgeted to cost the district a little more than $3.5 million.

Contractors found foul-smelling water almost 6 inches deep in the lower-level auditorium. The water had to be removed before pouring the new concrete slab for the multipurpose room.

The architect and a civil engineer designed a drain tile and water dispersal system to alleviate the issue, according to a report presented to the school board at its Aug. 2 meeting.

FILE

Blythe Park School, 735 Leesley Rd., Riverside The contractor also is installing a set of sump pumps with a new sewer tie-in at street level. The unanticipated work required District 96 to get amended construction permits from both the village of Riverside and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. That portion of the change order is estimated at about $65,400.

When testing the soil beneath the school’s parking lots

the contractor determined that the soil-bearing capacity was poor and did not meet required levels. The civil engineer recommended undercuts and soil dispersal to be done underneath both of the school’s parking lots.

New stone infill is being added and a new a geogrid system, which is an interlocking geosynthetic stabilization system, is being installed. This work will cost the district roughly $60,600.

A new boiler is also being installed at Blythe Park School this summer.

Despite the unforeseen complications, the work at Blythe Park is expected to be completed before school starts this year on Aug. 23, said Superintendent Martha Ryan-Toye.

The auditorium will be split into two spaces. One will house the school’s library and the other will be a music classroom.

Just in case the work is not completely finished before school starts, Ryan-Toye and Blythe Park Principal Casimira Gorman have working out contingency plans.

“Hopefully it will not be needed,” Ryan-Toye said.

Even if work remains to done on the new multipurpose room, the rest of the school will be ready to welcome students on Aug. 23.

The Landmark, August 9, 2023

9

Riverside trustees put brakes on authorizing funds for disc golf Surprise motion to fund controversial proposal fails to win majority

a 26-person advisory committee charged with finding the best solution for a disc golf course.

In the days prior to the Aug. 3 meeting, the village issued a Q&A about the proposal, seeking to defuse some of the controversy and allay fears that a preliminary course

By BOB UPHUES layout given to neighborhood residents in Editor late June was, in fact, the final layout.

Kos sought to further calm the waters Riverside trustees could vote again next month on whether to approve funding for a during her presentation, stating that any disc golf course in the wooded area of In- disc golf hole structures would be removed dian Gardens south of Fairbank Road after seasonally and that the chain-draped poles could be coated in brown or green plastic to they deadlocked 3-3 over domake them less visible and quiing so last week. eter when hit by discs.

The vote at the Aug. 3 vilShe also stressed that the adlage board came as somevisory committee, which met thing of a surprise after for the first time on July 26, was a presentation about the still studying exactly where hole proposal by Elizabeth Kos, locations go and that they were chair of the Riverside Parks at least considering a suggestion and Recreation Board, and to move the course farther east some antagonistic public into the area closer to the ball comments. field.

The meeting agenda listed But, that didn’t assuage the the disc golf subject as an plan’s opponents – six of whom “update” with no supportspoke against the proposal at the ing documents in the village meeting – citing ongoing conboard’s meeting packet and ABERDEEN MARSH-OZGA cerns over potential conflicts no indication that promisRiverside trustee with motorists and cars parked ing funding would be deon Fairbank Road, the safety cided. of children who visit the Scout Its inclusion on the agenCabin during recreation departda resulted from about two ment camps and other programs weeks’ worth of sniping between residents over social media about and that the activity is simply dangerous to the impact of such a course on the neigh- those who may be walking in the areas while borhood, a misleading scare campaign im- discs are flying.

Seven people spoke in favor of the disc plying the proposal put the future of the Scout Cabin in jeopardy, a recreation board golf proposal, discounting some of the safemeeting where opponents left frustrated ty concerns as overblown and expressing by a lack of answers and the formation of support for what they considered a family

“This process of being able to engage with one another in a civil manner ... will lead to a better product.”

RIVERSIDE TV

Elizabeth Kos, the chairwoman of the Riverside Parks and Recreation Board, responds to a question at the Riverside Village Board meeting on Aug. 3, where she provided elected officials with a status report on the recreation board’s disc golf proposal for Indian Gardens. friendly activity in a beautiful setting.

“We can ‘what if’ ourselves to death,” said Kimber Coombes, who spoke in favor of the proposal and also called out one of the opponents, Paul Schmeling, who also addressed the village board.

Schmeling a few minutes earlier had been reprimanded by Village President Joseph Ballerine for posting the address of a trustee on a flyer asking neighbors to voice their opposition to the plan. Ballerine said it amounted to intimidation, which Schmeling denied, saying the flyer only “went out to three or four neighbors.”

Coombes characterized the flyer as “doxxing” Trustee Megan Claucherty, who was not present at the meeting because she was out of town with her family.

“Doxxing is a form of harassment, of intimidation and it comes from a place of malicious intent,” Coombes said, adding the village posts trustees’ emails on its website for those wanted to correspond with them.

The expense of installing nine disc golf holes will amount to between $10,000 and $12,000, Kos told elected officials. While that money is coming from taxes levied spe-

cifically for recreation purposes, the village board must authorize the expenditure.

Ballerine, seeking to throw his unequivocal support for the proposal behind the Riverside Parks and Recreation Board, sought a motion to authorize the expenditure.

The motion got yes votes from Ballerine and trustees Cristin Evans and Alex Gallegos. However, it failed to succeed as trustees Jill Mateo, Doug Pollock and Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga voted against it.

Authorizing the expenditure at that time would be putting the cart before the horse, Mateo said.

“One option before the [advisory] committee is not having a course, so until we hear what their recommendations are, I’m happy to come back in four weeks,” Mateo said.

Marsh-Ozga also felt it was too soon to authorize an expenditure for a project still being worked out.

“This process of being able to engage with one another in a civil manner and learn to see where each other’s concerns come from will lead to a better product, a better project, a better outcome,” she said.

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

10

The Landmark, August 9, 2023

Riverside man parlays love of chess into club for all ages Riverside Chess Club meets every Monday at the library

of the Riverside community and the game of chess to create the Riverside Chess Club.

“There wasn’t a venue to play in person, so I figured why not start one for myself ? Just as a way to connect with people and provide a little bit of community,” Hennessy said.

Since its founding in April 2021, the group

By CLAIRE HARRISON has been meeting most every Monday from 5 Contributing Reporter to 7 p.m. at the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, attractIn 2020 as the COVID-19 paning community members of all demic set in and isolated people ages and skill levels. The weekly in their homes, born-and-raised crowd typically ranges between Riverside resident Sean Hen15 and 20 members, primarily nessy felt like he was watching regulars. too much television and that his One of those regular members brain was turning into mush. is Riverside-Brookfield High So, he decided to pick up chess School senior Jack Baird. He as a hobby. joined the club about a year and Three years later, Hennessy a half ago, having only started SEAN HENNESSY is a full-time chess instructor playing chess in the last two with over 39,000 games played on years. By competing against othchess.com. er players of higher skill levels, Baird was Seeing few opportunities to play face-toable to grow his skills while gaining overface, Hennessy combined his immense love

TODD A. BANNOR

TODD A. BANNOR

Players attending the Riverside Chess Club’s meeting at the Riverside Public Library on July 23 squared off against one another (above) and competed against online opponents (lower left). the-board experience.

“I could come here after playing the whole week and match my skills up against people that are pretty consistent. I found it super helpful, and then I went from number 13 at my school last year to number one at state this year,” Baird said.

Players like Baird come to club events to practice and get a leg up on future competitors, while other members come because of their love of the game.

Amando Mendoza, who lives in Berwyn, started playing chess against family members as a teenager and joined a chess club at his local YMCA. He started competing in tournaments, and his love of chess only grew from there.

A newer member of the club, Mendoza loves that the Riverside Chess Club includes children, unlike other venues at which he has played.

“I commend Sean for that, for bringing in children and showing them, ‘Hey, look, there’s more than just other types of sports.

You can play chess. Chess is a sport, too,’” Mendoza said.

Though he no longer competes and plays just for fun, Mendoza loves that chess offers the opportunity to play against opponents of all different types and ethnicities. In his mind, there is always more to learn in chess.

“There’s just so much to learn in chess, so much. Once you feel or you think you’ve

reached one stage of learning this game, there’s more constant learning,” Mendoza said.

Some in the club are learning advanced maneuvers and strategy, and others are just learning how the pieces move. Hennessy offers lessons to those between the ages of 5 and 105 at all skill levels. He has always loved to teach, especially kids, as no two games are the same — though he pointed out that it is technically possible to play the same game twice.

Outside of the Riverside Chess Club, Hennessy teaches online and group lessons at schools. He will also serve as a tournament director for the Pan-American Youth Chess Festival taking place from Aug. 11-18 in Chicago. Events like this draw players from all over the world and allow people from different backgrounds to play together, one of Hennessy’s favorite parts about chess.

“You meet so many people you never would have met. … You’re never going to hang out with little kids or a 95-year-old guy, but with chess, every type of person of every age,” Hennessy said.

For both casual and obsessive players, the Riverside Chess Club is a welcoming and down-to-earth place for everyone to learn and have fun, Hennessy said.

To learn more about upcoming events, visit the club’s website at riversidechessclub. org.

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Please, BNSF, move There are friends -- and then there are FRIENDS ahead at Congress Park

N

ot that it will do much good, because the nation’s great railroad companies appear to operate as independent principalities accountable only to themselves, but we are nonetheless asking the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad to please give the village of Brookfield some firm idea of when you intend to make improvements to the Congress Park train station’s south embankment.

For the past three years, the village has been slowly making over the area in and around that station. So far, to the south of station along Burlington Avenue, the village has created a new commuter parking area west of DuBois Boulevard. A grant also brought some much-needed covered bicycle parking as well.

The village has made some mainly cosmetic improvements to the station itself, upgrading the shelters, adding new lighting and platform furniture, and making some repairs to the stairs.

Next year, courtesy of a grant from Cook County, the village will improve the area north of the station, installing wayfinding signage and making the station easier and safer for pedestrians and bicyclists looking to access the station from Southview Avenue.

But the rest of the improvements for the area immediately south of the station are on hold until BNSF finally moves ahead with its plan to shore up the south embankment by replacing the unsightly, green-painted concrete retaining wall with a sloping earthwork.

Once that’s done, the village can finish off the project by removing the island east of DuBois Boulevard and creating a brick paver pickup/drop-off plaza in front of the station’s main entrance.

At the same time, Metra is studying what it can do to make the station fully accessible. Perhaps BNSF needs to be involved in that aspect of the plan, but we don’t know that since BNSF has not been in recent communication with Brookfield, and Metra hasn’t gotten back to us.

It shouldn’t have to take 5-10 years to get what amounts to, accessibility aspect excepted, a pretty modest but impactful improvement to a key public transport hub.

If Brookfield is ever to get a developer to view this area as viable and profitable for redevelopment, improving that station is key. Leaving it half finished for years while BNSF dawdles does no one any good.

So please, BNSF, let’s get cracking on that south embankment project, or at least let’s hear from you when you actually plan to get to it. It’s important to Brookfield.

T

here are friends, and there are FRIENDS. So, when I refer to Joe Ballerine, I use the spelling FRIENDS, indicating that special kind of friendship.

Joe was very active in the village of Riverside particularly in the area of the recreation, serving as the chairman of the Riverside Parks and Recreation Board for many years. In the early 2000s, the department was going through some administrative turmoil, and Joe was one of the people who was instrumental in keeping the Riverside Recreation Department going, That team of volunteers even managed to build Turtle Park and Patriots Park as well.

Joe served as trustee on the village board and ran for president, a position he currently holds.

Those are all things people can read about Joe, but I will tell you why Joe is my FRIEND. My favorite Riverside holiday is July 4, and when there were threats that the funding for Independence Day events might be cut off, I was determined the celebration would continue. Joe whispered in my ear that, if I was serious, he would help me -- and help me he did.

We assembled a committee, Danny Jisa, Andy Daun, Ben Sells, Rey Navarro and the Recreation Depart-

ment staff and called it the Friends of the Fourth. Through his help, the village’s July 4 celebration has continued to be more successful each year.

He has proved to be even more of a FRIEND this year. As many of you know, I have not been in the best of health this year, with trips between Cantata and MacNeal Hospital.

One of the first to come to see me was my FRIEND Joe Ballerine, who arrived at Cantata with a beautiful bouquet of flowers in a vase. He has visited me a number of times since and calls regularly -- now that is a FRIEND. So, it is safe to say I was disappointed my FRIEND would be moving to Florida. I knew he and Donna would be moving, but not this soon. However, good for them. Good FRIENDS remain close even though there is a distance.

My best childhood friend is Kelly, who lives in Indiana, and we have been friends since first grade.

So, I wish Joe and Donna the best as they start this new chapter in life in Florida. Much of their life together has been spent in Riverside, so they will always refer to this part of the world as home, where they have so many FRIENDS.

LETTERS

NIMBYism, divisive traits seemingly assigned to those who disagree with the disc golf siting. I am not anti-golf, anti-fun, anti-kids, or anti-change. I do, however, object to siting the game in the very woods integral to Riverside’s unique outdoor play offerings, national heritage and historic status.

This space is deemed a “natural area” in the Master Landscape Plan approved by the Riverside Village Board in 2015. It has enormous historical significance and is the last remnant forest of any size in Riverside.

It is not a “pristine” forest by any means, but instead offers the “Last Child in the Woods” (Richard Louv) a chance to escape “nature deficit disorder.” Contrary to the Landmark’s characterization of early Riversiders as isolationists (editorial Aug. 1), the trails along the river famously drew hundreds (thousands?) of people from outside the village.

In these woods, Jane Addams’ Hull House residents walked.

In these woods, the nascent forest preserve movement began with luminaries such as Dwight Perkins and Jens Jensen who hiked here with conservation groups. In these woods, “Father of North American Ecology” Henry Cowles walked

JOANNE KOSEY

No need to rush on disc golf proposal Why rush ahead with the disc golf project in Riverside when the Parks and Rec Department is planning a separate village-wide survey and master plan for the parks?

Might better uses of the funds be discovered through this comprehensive survey?

In addition to fair and thoughtful allocation of parks and rec resources, there are many well-founded issues with the proposed disc golf course, such as its environmental impact, safety near passing cars and people, and siting in a heavily used area for nature walks and kids’ nature play.

None of these concerns are rooted in xenophobia or

The Landmark, August 9, 2023

OBITUARIES

Jacqueline R. Dunn, 92 Former Riverside resident Jacqueline Ruth Dunn (nee Hack), 92, died July 12, 2023, of heart failure in North Aurora.

She was born June 8, 1931, to John Joseph Hack and Sigrid Elizabeth “Betty” Hack (nee Rundquist) in Berwyn. The Morton High School and Morton Junior College graduate had a full and happy life in Westchester (1958-1964), Riverside (1964-1990) and Littleton, Colorado (1990-2021), where she was a homemaker, state park volunteer guide and hiker, avid tennis and bridge player, busy mother and friend to many.

Some of her favorite pastimes would find her baking with her grandchildren, quilting, knitting and working on jigsaw puzzles with neighbors and family. She contributed her time and efforts to several charities and was devoted to her church.

Ms. Dunn was the beloved wife for 58 years of John Francis “Jack” Dunn, who died in 2011.

She is survived by her sister, Jayne Schultz, and by her 7

RIVERSIDE Phased work from page 1 Nourahmadi, whose dental practice Shining Smiles is housed in the strip mall, will turn the vacant lot into parking not only for the shopping center but also for the dispensary.

The village moved to speed up the sale of the land to Nourahmadi, who will pay $230,000 for the property, because the cannabis dispensary is said to be eyeing an early September open, which will displace strip mall employees’ vehicles, which park in that lot presently.

Nourahmadi said there’s no closing date for the sale yet, but that he hopes to have the deal sealed by the end of the month. Construction plans for the parking lot improvements have already been submitted to the village and Nourahmadi said he is evaluating three bids from contractors.

If he can get the property purchase completed this month, Nourahmadi said it might be possible to have the 2710 Harlem Ave. parking lot completed by the end of September.

That might be quick enough to avoid having to move employee parking onto Longcom-

LETTERS with his students to explore biology.

And let’s not forget the Native Americans, for whom this natural area is named, and who thrived and ultimately are believed bur-

children: Michael (Betty) Dunn, Patrick (Deborah) Dunn, Kevin (Julie) Dunn, Maureen Dunn, Kathleen (Dave) Tassi, John Dunn of and Julie (Tim) Kearns.

Jackie was also the proud and loving grandmother of 19 grandchildren listed oldest to youngest as follows: Julia Civardi, Steve Kudrna, Danielle Arrigo, Ryan Dunn, Morgan Dunn, Elizabeth Dunn, Jack Dunn, Korey Dunn, Dana Dunn, Juliet Tassi, Haley Dunn, Rachel Moxon, Lisa Tassi, Davis Moxon, Annie Tassi, Logan Kearns, Kelly Kearns, Maci Dunn and Bridget Kearns.

She was also the great-grandmother of one, Beatrix Dunn, and the fond aunt of two, Grant Kluzak and Karen Gonzales.

Services will be held at St. Francis Cabrini Catholic Church, Littleton, Colorado, at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 27, followed by burial at Fort Logan Military Cemetery, Denver.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Friends of Roxborough State Park (Friends@srspec.com), where Jackie had happy times as a docent naturalist, leading area school children on hikes to explain the unique features of an area she loved and called home.

Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko, funeral director.

13

Laura Rosko, 58 Teacher Laura Rosko (nee Lorentz), 58, of Brookfield, died Aug. 4, 2023 at Hinsdale Hospital.

Ms. Rosko was born June 21, 1965 in Chicago and she worked as a teacher. She enjoyed fishing, boating, puzzles, board games, gardening, billiards and card games.

She was the wife of Jozsef Rosko; the mother of Cara Melbou and Brian Gregg; the grandmother of Massy Melbou, Youba Melbou and Everly Gregg; the daughter of Alice (nee Svoboda) and the late James Lorentz; the sister of Chris Lorentz and Jenny (Sonny) Schroeder; and the aunt of Gina Scharle, Jackie Hilti, Chris Lorentz, Nick Schroeder, Claire Schroeder and Botond Rosko.

Visitation has been held.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared at JohnsonNosek.com.

mon Road. In any case, moving up the land sale will reduce the time employee vehicles might have to park on that street during construction.

Phase II of the project will make improvements to the adjoining parking lot at 2720 Harlem Ave., which will include bike racks, village gateway and new shopping center signage and green space.

The shopping center lot will also be reconfigured in a way that eliminates traffic from cutting through the lot between Harlem Avenue and Longcommon Road.

Village Manager Jessica Frances announced at the village board’s Aug. 3 meeting that Star Buds IL was hoping to open the dispensary’s doors next month.

The business’ signs are already in place with “opening soon” placards taped onto the front entrance doors. A peek inside the business last week showed the interior buildout was still in progress.

Reached on Aug. 7, Star Buds IL partner Ahmad Joudeh told the Landmark that “if all goes well” with the remaining interior build out and the state inspection process, the dispensary could open in mid-September.

“Our contractor is working full-on and we’re working closely with the village of Riverside [to keep the timing on track],” Joudeh said.

Nourahmadi and the village first agreed to the sale of 2710 Harlem Ave. in November 2021, when a different cannabis company had a tentative agreement in place to buy the 2704 Harlem Ave. property from Nourahmadi for a new dispensary.

Nourahmadi’s on again-off again deal with Mint IL LLC to buy his property collapsed in late 2022, but Nourahmadi inked a lease deal with Star Buds in early 2023, prompting the village to extend its 2710 Harlem Ave. sales agreement with Nourahmadi for a fourth time in March, adding in language requiring a dispensary to be open for at least one month to trigger the sale.

ied nearby. In an era where many inclusive communities are acknowledging the natural world of the Native Americans, is disc golf the best honorarium Riverside can do?

The Parks and Rec Department, with input from their committee and other residents, has significantly improved the original disc

golf proposal since their public July 24 meeting.

They have discussed how they will try to minimize discs thrown near the roads, rubberize the chains to reduce noise, minimize landscape disruption and research removable posts. They have talked about the pos-

Cannabis company buying Brookfield property While work renovating the property on Harlem Avenue in Riverside for a cannabis dispensary there has been ongoing for three months, things are all quiet at 8863 Ogden Ave. in Brookfield, where elected officials approved plans for a dispensary back in May. However, plans by The 1937 Group for renovating the former physicians’ office into a dispensary are moving full steam ahead behind the scenes, according to Sonia Antolec, the cannabis company’s legal counsel.

“Our original goal was October, and we’re still pushing for October,” Antolec, a Brookfield resident, told the Landmark in a phone interview last week.

Antolec said the company would be closing on the purchase of the property “soon” but did not provide a date. The property has been owned by A to Z Medical Real Estate LLC since 2015, when it was purchased for $450,000.

Part of the property’s renovation will include demolishing the single-family residence at the rear of the lot. The now-vacant home will be used by the Brookfield police and fire departments for training prior to its demolition, Antolec confirmed.

Razing the residence will allow The 1937 Group to expand the parking lot and introduce some green space to the property. The village’s approval of the company’s plan also requires them to erect a fence along the south property line to prevent cutthough in and out of the parking lot from the alley, erect or repair the fence along the east property line and to obtain permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to remove the curb cut into the parking lot from Ogden Avenue.

Vehicular access to the dispensary’s parking lot will be via a new curb cut on the east side of Prairie Avenue. sibility of locating the course closer to the ballfield (versus the natural areas and Scout Cabin).

I hope these and other compromises are made so that we are finally out of the woods.

Cathy Maloney Riverside

14 The Landmark, August 9, 2023 R E N TA L S

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The Landmark, August 9, 2023 15

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

LEGAL NOTICE The Village and Park District of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Friday September 1, 2023 for the following: Village and Park District of Oak Park 2024 Comprehensive Tree Maintenance Bid Number: 23-127 Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 3585700 during the above hours.

A mandatory pre-bid meeting shall be held on Wednesday, August 23 at 11 a.m. at the Public Works Center in Oak Park. Proposals received from bidders who do not send a representative to the pre-bid meeting shall not be considered.

The Village and Park District of Oak Park reserve the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening.

Published in Wednesday Journal August 9, 2023

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: Y23010865 on August 1, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of IMAGINATION STATION LEARNING CENTER with the business located at: 615 SOUTH BLVD C, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CASHMERE WIGGINS 615 SOUTH BLVD C OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal August 9, 16, 23, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of BARBARA RUTH GIBBS 20234004150.

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: BARBARA RUTH GIBBS to the new name of: RUTH T. WITTBRODT The court date will be held: On 9/19/23 at 11:00 AM at 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Cook County in Courtroom # 0111 Published in Wednesday Journal August 2, 9, 16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION August 24th, 2023 AT 7:00 P.M.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments.

Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kate Portillo, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, kportillo@brookfieldil.gov, or 708-485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing.

NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, August 24th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for a preliminary planned development application for a property located at 8845 Burlington Ave, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PINs 15-34-433-0010000; 15-34-433-002-0000; 15-34433-003-0000) by Peter Haleas for a proposed 12-unit, 3-story new construction residential building with enclosed parking.

Legal Description: Lots 17, 18, and 19 in Block 29 in the Subdivision of Blocks 27, 29 to 34 Inclusive, in Grossdale, a Subdivision in Section 34, Township 39 North, Range 12 east of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments.

The proposed planned development application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kate Portillo, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 or at kportillo@brookfieldil.gov. Please reference PZC Case 23-10. Oral or written public testimony may be given during the public hearing.

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

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark August 9, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission August 24, 2023 at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, August 24th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for variations from §62-75 Bulk, yard and space requirements of the Village Code in order to build a garage for property located at 3106 Oak Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PIN 15-34-202-019-0000).

Legal Description: Lot 2 in Block 5 in Brookfield Manor, being a Subdivision of the Northeast ¼ of Section 34, Township 39 North, Range 12 East of the Third Principal Meridian (Except the Right of Way of the Suburban Railroad), in Cook County, Illinois.

The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours.

Please reference PZC Case 23-11.

Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall.

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark August 9, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES OP Elementary D97 09/12/2023 PUBLIC HEARING ON 23-24 BUDGET PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON 2023-2024 BUDGET PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District Number 97, Cook County, Illinois, that it will hold a public hearing on its proposed budget for the 2023 - 2024 school year on the 12th day of September, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. The hearing will be held at the District Office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302.

Such proposed budget shall be on file conveniently available for public inspection from and after August 11, 2023, in the Business Office of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, between the hours of 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. The Board of Education intends to adopt the proposed 20232024 budget following the public hearing on 09/12/2023.

Published in Wednesday Journal August 9, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER Plaintiff, -v.PATRICE HOUSTON A/K/A PATRICE CAREY, PARRIS HOUSTON, OAK PARK PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 22 CH 8975 420 HOME AVENUE #208 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 31, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corpo-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

ration, will at 10:30 AM on September 1, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 420 HOME AVENUE #208, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-324-0331017 The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $104,989.28.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

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

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN 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, contact The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 22-096854.

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.

LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 22-096854 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 22 CH 8975

TJSC#: 43-2298 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 # 22 CH 8975 I3225644

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. 14-22-09619 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2023 CH 00031 TJSC#: 43-2462 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2023 CH 00031 I3226051

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

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

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN 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. 14-22-09640 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2023 CH 00062 TJSC#: 43-2722 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2023 CH 00062 I3226570

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FIFTH THIRD BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.ANTONIO A. BRAVO, THE TREMONT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 2023 CH 00031 227 W CHICAGO #3 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 6, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 8, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 227 W CHICAGO #3, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-102-0211009 The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

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

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

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN 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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION SANTANDER BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.KRIS M. KERTGEN, WISCONSIN WINDINGS CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2023 CH 00062 423 S. WISCONSIN AVENUE #1E OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on June 15, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 18, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 423 S. WISCONSIN AVENUE #1E, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-322-0611017; 16-07-322-061-1043 The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

16

The Landmark, August 9, 2023

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

71 Forest Ave, #1W, Riverside $2,100/mo

1425 Ashland Ave, River Forest $1,265,000

717 S 6th Ave, LaGrange $720,000

380 Herrick Rd, Riverside $424,900 AL CI R E MM CO

1447 N Cleveland Ave, Chicago $725,000

125 Woodside Rd, Riverside $625,000

404 N LaGrange Rd, LaGrange Park $2,200/mo

7722 Madison St, River Forest $18/sq ft

1247 S Plymouth Ct, Chicago $1,225,000 T LO T N CA VA

4534 Arthur Ave, Brookfield $169,900

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

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