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Vol. 36, No. 32 @riversidebrookfieldlandmark

August 11, 2021

Brookfield sees biggest weekly COVID caseload since April PAGE 8

D95 board selects educator to fill latest vacancy PAGE 13

D96 will require opt out for weekly saliva testing Shield Illinois will take student, staff samples at schools

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Pollinator’s paradise Unloved strip of land behind Morton Avenue garage now a butterfly waystation and incubator

By BOB UPHUES

T

Editor

he alley that runs between the 3600 blocks of Morton and Harrison avenues in Brookfield is pretty typical – a rough stretch of gravel framed by garages and fences and lined on one side by utility poles -- until you get to Daniel Gerdes’ garage.

Bursting with the blooms of native plants like milkweed, wingstem, obedient plant, liatris, cup plant and prairie dock it has become a haven for wildlife – monarch and swallowtail butterflies, who are drawn to their host plants, and other pollinators drawn to nectar.

“I love the idea of using just a dead space that doesn’t have an apparent value and turning it into something really special,” said Gerdes, who moved into his Morton Av-

BOB UPHUES/Editor

Daniel Gerdes welcomes wildlife to his property via a series of gardens with a focus on native species. enue home with his wife, Jenny, and daughter, Tessa, five years ago.

Gerdes started transforming the roughly 50-by-3-foot strip that runs behind his garage and rear fence into a prairie three years ago.

In that short time, it’s become special enough to have qualified as a Monarch Watch-certified monarch butterfly waystation.

See GARDEN on page 10

If you have a student attending a school in Riverside Elementary District 96 for the upcoming year, you will need to actively opt your child out of weekly COVID-19 testing, the school board has decided.

For the 2021-22 school year, unvaccinated staff and students will automatically be subject to weekly onsite testing using the salviabased rapid Shield test developed by the University of Illinois, which is being offered to school districts in the state at no cost.

The new program replaces the saliva testing program developed by LaGrangeBrookfield School District 102, which Riverside schools joined last fall as a way to catch students infected by the novel coronavirus who were participating in the District 96’s hybrid learning model.

In addition to being free, the Shield test differs from the District 102 test in that it is considered diagnostic, meaning the district will no longer recommend that the student get a diagnostic PCR test elsewhere. Exact student quarantine protocols are still being worked out.

See D96 on page 16

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The Landmark, August 11, 2021

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Riverside Village President Joseph Ballerine suggested Turtle Park (above) as a location where the village might start with its efforts to improve parks over the next decade. Officials intend to survey residents for input and develop a master plan.

Riverside looks to fund future park improvements

Trustees likely to hike special rec tax levy to help pay for initiatives

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside appears poised to raise its tax levy for special recreation later this year as local officials begin reviewing and planning for major capital investments in parks over the next decade.

Trustees at their meeting on Aug. 5 indicated they’d support raising the special recreation levy by $5.30 per $100,000 of property market value, an action that would result in the owner of a home valued at $400,000 seeing the levy for special recreation go up by about $21 annually.

“I think we should seriously consider levying the [special recreation] funds to do nothing more than to at least get one of our parks ADA-approved or make it easier for our ADA residents to use the park,” said Village President Joseph Ballerine.

Ballerine suggested that Turtle Park, which is located in the middle of the Long Common south of Big Ball Park, would be a good park to start with since it’s so popular with families who have small children.

No actual plans for making over any of Riverside’s parks have been drawn up, but increasing the special recreation tax levy would set those wheels into motion.

Among the initiatives the levy increase would help fund is a comprehensive park

master plan tentatively scheduled for 2024 and preceded in 2022 and 2023, respectively, with a community survey to get input on what Riverside residents feel is needed in local parks and a park/facility/program analysis.

“Any survey should be part of the preparation for the master plan,” said Trustee Doug Pollock. “There are a tremendous number of new families moving into town, and we need to find out what their needs are and try to meet those needs.”

Trustees generally also favored replacing the wood mulch playground surfaces in village parks with poured-in-place rubber surfaces that are more accessible. Trustee Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga, who wanted more information related to health safety issues for poured-in-place surfaces, was the only trustee present who raised an objection to the switch.

A tentative timeline for installing the poured-in-place surfaces, which was included in the Aug. 5 village board meeting packet, shows that Turtle Park, which is also the village’s smallest playground, would be first on the list to get such a surface in 2022.

The tentative schedule for parks capital projects also includes an ambitious makeover of Harrington Park, which is located at South Delaplaine Road and Robinson Court. The village would seek an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant to help fund such a large project, which is esti-

mated at about $680,000, a figure arrived at by officials looking at a similarly sized project under way at Candy Cane Park in Brookfield.

Marsh-Ozga, who formerly served on the Riverside Preservation Commission and is a member of the Frederick Law Olmsted Society, urged officials to get the input of the Riverside Landscape Advisory Commission for any improvement initiatives.

“I would think there should be a collaboration between the Parks and Rec Department and the Landscape Advisory Commission on this given that Olmsted designed the village of parks, so it should not be done in isolation and based solely on a survey of residents’ recreational desires,” she said. “There has to be that design input as well, and if that was part of the process I’d be in favor of that.”

But, Ballerine was skeptical of looping the LAC into decisions on park design, saying that is the purview of the Parks and Recreation Board, though members of those groups could certainly voice opinions on decisions being made about park improvements.

In all, the parks and recreation capital plan from 2022-31 includes nearly $2 million in improvements, ranging from park playground surface upgrades and equipment replacement to fencing, renovations at the Scout Cabin and water tower facility, plantings, vehicle replacement and computer hardware and software purchases.

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

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

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL buphues@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 11, 2021

BIG WEEK

Riv-inia with a touch of Vegas

August 11-18

NICK PONTARELLI AND GINA KNIGHT

Riverside Parks and Rec invites you to have a swinging time at Riv-inia, a free outdoor concert on Friday, Aug. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Guthrie Park, Riverside and Bloomingbank roads in downtown Riverside.

This year’s concert features Nick@Knight, where Nick Pontarelli and Gina Knight put a transcendent twist on the nostalgic Vegas “lounge act” delivering an energetic sampling of the American songbook, ’60s and ’70s hits, tributes to the greats and R&B classics.

PHOTO BY AMARA RICCIO

‘Freaky Friday’ on Friday the 13th

FREAKY FRIDAY

North Riverside Parks and Rec invites families to join them for a free outdoor movie in the park at the North riverside Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave., on Friday, Aug. 13.

Bring a chair or blanket and kick back and enjoy the movie “Freaky Friday,” which begins at 8:30 p.m. Concessions will be available. All current COVID guidelines will be followed.

IN THE STIX

Brookfield Parks and Rec continues its summer outdoor concert series on Friday, Aug. 13 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., presenting the rocking modern country sounds of In the Stix.

Concerts are held at the band shell in Kiwanis Park, 8820 Brookfield Ave. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.

Cancellations due to inclement weather will be made at 3 p.m. on concert day.

Mr. Molecule Science Show at the mall North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, invites kids in grades K-8 to their next Kids Club event, Mr. Molecule’s Bing Bang Boom Science Show, on Saturday, Aug. 14 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the mall’s food court.

Blood drive in North Riverside The North Riverside Firefighters Union Local 2714, the village North Riverside, North Riverside Police Union PBPA Lodge 73 and Oak Park Firefighters Union Local 95 will host a blood drive on Wednesday, Aug. 11 from 2 to 8 p.m. in the gymnasium of the North Riverside Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave.

See science come alive when Mr. Molecule unleashes the power and excitement of science right before your eyes. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. The first 100 kids will receive a dinosaur egg squeeze toy.

Free. All attendees must wear face masks.

And more The Riverside Farmers Market continues every Wednesday from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, 10 Pine Ave., in downtown Riverside. Social distancing encouraged. Face coverings are required for those who are not vaccinated and no pets are allowed.

The Brookfield Farmers Market continues every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. for locally sourced fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, baked goods and artisan ware. Live music and a picnic area. Social distancing is encouraged and face coverings are required for nonvaccinated guests.

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North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites adults to Storm Chasing 101 via Zoom on Aug. 12 at 6:30 p.m. There’s also Crafternoons: Custom House Sign via Zoom on Aug. 14 at 1:30 p.m. and Stretching and Meditation via conference call (800-747-5150, code 1453322) on Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m.

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Kids in grades 6-12 can play the Jackbox game Earwax at the library on Aug. 14 at 3 p.m.

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Visit northriversidelibrary.org/events-new for more info.

Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth ■

Brookfield concert in the park

activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/BrookfieldPublicLibrary.

For adults/seniors, there’s Chair Yoga via Zoom on Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. and Walk and Talk with Laona in Kiwanis Park, 8820 Brookfield Ave. (meet at the pavilion), on Aug. 17 at 9:30 a.m. Topics change weekly.

Presented by Laona Fleischer.

Kids can join Miss Carlee in the Storytime Room on Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. for a new role-playing adventure, Step into the Page of Harry Potter.

Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit brookfield. evanced.info/signup to register for programs.

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, invites kids ■

The blood drive is being handled by Vitalant.

Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are welcome.

For more info or to schedule a donation call 877258-4825 or visit vitalant.org and use group code 960C.

to Friday Outdoor Storytime on Aug. 13 at 10 a.m.

Visit riversidelibrary.libcal.com/calendar more info.

Riverside Chess Club, open to anyone age 5 through adult, meets in person each Wednesday through Aug. 25 at 6:45 p.m. in the Community Room of the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road. Players of all levels welcome. Children under 7 require caregiver over 13. Registration required.

Visit riversidelibrary.libcal.com/calendar.

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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. Next bingo night is Aug. 8.

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The Landmark, August 11, 2021

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Driver eludes police during chase that hit 100 mph North Riverside police say they intend to charge a 22-year-old Stickney man with aggravated fleeing and eluding after leading officers on a high-speed chase at speeds topping 100 mph during the early morning hours of Aug. 5.

At about 1:45 a.m., a Riverside police office radioed dispatchers to report a black Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling in excess of 100 mph while northbound on Harlem Avenue from 26th Street. The Jeep turned west on Cermak Road, then south on Lathrop and west on 23rd Street where it reportedly sped head-on towards a North Riverside police squad car before swerving around it at Keystone Avenue and then heading north on Desplaines.

The pursuit continued in that area until an officer spotted the Jeep in the alley behind the 7900 block of Cermak Road and recorded the vehicle’s license plates. The Jeep then sped off again northbound on Desplaines Avenue and then west on Cermak before reportedly blowing the red light at First Avenue and turning right, where the pursuit ended.

The vehicle was registered to a Stickney address and police found the Jeep parked there.

A woman identifying herself as the wanted man’s girlfriend reportedly told police the Jeep hadn’t moved from the spot all night, but said she’d go inside and get her boyfriend.

However, she never returned and police were unable to contact either of them.

Police attempted to tow the vehicle, which was behind an unlocked fence but called that off when the tow truck driver said it would be impossible to remove the vehicle without causing property damage. Police reported that the 22-year-old man was also wanted by North Riverside police in connection with a hit-andrun incident in March.

Mall kiosk burglarized A salesperson at Royal Prestige, a kiosk in one of the common concourses of the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, called police on the morning of Aug. 6 to report that four items totaling $1,460 were missing from the business.

The employee said he discovered the missing items while doing a morning inventory prior to opening for business that day. The items had been accounted for at the close of business on Aug. 5, according to the employee.

It's your move

Package stolen in Brookfield A resident of the 4400 block of Raymond Avenue, Brookfield, reported to police on Aug. 3 that on July 31 between the hours of 2:30 and 6:30 p.m., someone removed the contents of a package that had been delivered to her house.

When she arrived home several hours after the delivery was made, the box was open and the wood Louisville Slugger baseball bat inside it, valued at $40, was missing.

Two injured in crash Two people sustained injuries in a crash at Prairie Avenue and 31st Street on the evening of Aug. 7 that also resulted in the destruction of a traffic signal box on the southeast corner of the intersection.

According to the police report, a blue Buick driven by a 34-year-old Brookfield woman was turning left from westbound 31st Street onto southbound Prairie Avenue when it collided with a blue Chevy driven by a 26-year-old Chicago man which was eastbound on 31st Street in the curb lane.

The impact of the crash sent the Chevy into the traffic control box on the southeast corner, knocking it over and disabling the traffic signals at the intersection. A witness told police he pulled the driver of the Chevy from his vehicle because the engine began smoking.

The man was on the parkway being tended to by several bystanders when police arrived. He sustained a concussion and sprains in the crash, according to the police report. Police reported that the woman driving the Buick also was injured but did not elaborate on the extent of those injuries.

It was unclear from the police report whether police issued any citations.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Aug. 2-8 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 11, 2021

Slain Chicago cop had ties to Riverside, Brookfield 29-year-old Ella French attended St. Mary, S.E. Gross schools

By BOB SKOLNIK

and weapons offenses.

Eric Morgan, 22, was charged with two weapons offenses and obstruction of justice.

The Chicago police officer who was shot A third person taken into custody, a woman, and killed Aug. 7 grew up in the Landmark was not charged.

French attended St. Mary area, attending school in both RivSchool in Riverside through fifth erside and Brookfield. grade and then attended S.E. Ella French, 29, was killed SatGross Middle School in Brookurday night after being one of field for sixth, seventh and eighth three Chicago police officers who grade, graduating in 2005. stopped a car around 9 p.m. near S.E. Gross Middle School Prin63rd Street and Bell Avenue in the cipal Ryan Evans was a student West Englewood neighborhood of teacher at the school when French the city. was a student there.

A passenger in the car that was “My recollection, and some of stopped by French and two other the staff that I’ve talked to, was officers shot and killed French ELLA FRENCH that she was just energetic, nice, and gravely wounded another officer. French became a Chicago police officer kind of quintessential middle school student, just finding herself and was well liked,” Evin April of 2018.

Two men, who are brothers, have been ans said.

Two of her former teachers at S.E. Gross charged. Emonte Morgan, 21, was charged with first-degree murder of a peace office, Middle School recall French as a talkative, two counts of attempted first-degree murder enthusiastic, and happy student.

Contributing Reporter

“She was very accepting of everyone, she was kind to everyone regardless of who you were, what class you were in, she would talk to anybody about anything,” said Debby Cornacchia who was French’s seventh-grade science teacher. “Very good natured, she had a huge heart. Loved to talk; seemed like she enjoyed school. She always made me laugh. That is a for sure. Whether she intended to or not she always made me laugh, was a joy to have in class.”

Lori Glazik, French’s homeroom teacher and eighth-grade science teacher at S.E. Gross, has similar memories of French.

“I remember her as a happy, silly and very sweet student who did not have a mean bone in her body,” Glazik said in a text message to the Landmark. “She would always tell me stories about her weekend and would make me laugh.”

French did not attend Riverside-Brookfield High School. She reportedly graduated from Downers Grove North High School in 2009.

While an elementary school student at St. Mary School in Riverside, French lived in

Berwyn and was a member of the school’s Brownie troop. Co-troop leader Mary Welch has fond memories of her.

“She participated in a lot of things and she was always compassionate,” Welch told the Landmark. “I think most of the girls in our Brownie Girl Scout troop were very close.

She was very caring for other people, so it doesn’t surprise that she became a police officer, though I would have never guessed. I only found out from the news.

“She definitely had a servant’s heart and she was compassionate and considerate and always willing to participate.”

Welch took her Brownies on many overnight trips and French once slept over at the Welch’s home.

“We hung out at the Scout Cabin a lot,” Welch said.

French was the first female Chicago police officer to be killed in the line of duty in 33 years. She is survived by her brother, Andrew, and her mother. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Ogden Ave. drive-in closes for interior renovation Tom N Lou’s owner hopes to reopen doors

by October

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The Brookfield Village Board on July 26 voted unanimously to amend its liquor code allowing Tom N Lou’s Drive In at 8819 Ogden Ave. to sell beer and wine through its drive-thru, something owner Lacey Mizell had hoped for as a novel convenience for customers.

But, if you’re hankering for a cold one to go with your Tom N Lou’s burger you’re going to have to wait a while. Mizell announced the business would be temporarily closing on July 25, just six months after it opened its doors, to undergo an interior face-lift.

Work didn’t immediately begin, leading some to speculate whether or not Tom N Lou’s was returning at all, but on Aug. 1 the interior demolition began in earnest. In an interview at the pint-sized restaurant last weekend, Mizell told the Landmark she hopes to unveil the new-look Tom N Lou’s this fall.

“I think my target is to reopen Oct. 1,” Mizell told the Landmark. “I do feel there’s an opportunity to hit that target.”

Mizell said the time was right for beginning the renovation with traffic slowing down some during the summer after a brisk spring just after opening.

“I think that there’s a lot going on,” Mizell

BOB UPHUES/Editor

Lacey Mizell stands inside the service area of Tom N Lou’s following the initial demolition of the space. She’s moving the kitchen to the rear of the building in order to enlarge the tiny customer waiting area. Mizell said she’s shooting to reopen the business by Oct. 1. said. “I kind of looked at COVID as one of the factors. Everyone can travel again. People can go to festivals. There’s so much happening.”

As of Aug. 7, when the Landmark visited Tom N Lou’s, all of the equipment – including the two fryers and 48-inch grill had been removed. The plan is to move the kitchen into the rear of the building, said Mizell, and increase the amount of space available for customers to wait while their orders are

prepared.

Tables are not part of the remodel as that would trigger other code requirements, such as bathrooms, but Mizell said the counter along the front window will remain and she may add some barstools for additional seating.

“The idea is just to create a nicer image inside,” said Mizell, who bought the property last fall from the previous owner, who leased

the space to a string of failed small hamburger and taco joints over the past seven years. “I would like to update and modernize the interior of the building.”

When it reopens the menu may change a bit, Mizell said. While the drive-thru will continue to be a focus of the place, selling burgers and chicken sandwiches, Mizell also said the new kitchen also will be equipped with a range/oven, which will allow Tom N Lou’s to offer other menu items.

“The drive-thru is still happening,” Mizell said. “As far as drive-thru liquor, I think it’s going to be really popular still. A large number of our customers are using the drive-thru. They like it. It’s great and I love offering that.”

According to the liquor code amendment adopted by the village board last month, drive-thru liquor service will require a Basset-trained employee to bring alcohol out to the vehicle and must place it into the trunk or a non-accessible rear compartment. No beer or wine will be delivered directly through the drive-thru window.

“I was really agreeable with whatever they wanted to do,” Mizell said of the trustees’ decision. “I know this was uncomfortable for some of them. I think it comes down to trust to some extent. I’m trying to be amenable to everyone and I think they see that.”

Mizell said that there will still be events at Tom N Lou’s during the construction shutdown. The popular monthly car shows, which draw 35-40 classic cars, will continue, with the next one scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 18 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

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Riverside trustee floats dedicated levy for streets Instead of paying bond interest, pitch made for perpetual funding source

By BOB UPHUES Editor

It’s been nearly 20 years ago since Riverside’s elected officials chose to fund street improvements by asking voters to support issuing bonds and levying a tax to pay off the debt over 10 years.

In 2004, voters overwhelmingly supported a $2 million bond issue for that purpose and followed up in 2014 with a bond issue of $2.15 million. If they were to hold to the same schedule, elected officials would again be scheduled to go to voters for another bond issue in 2024.

But, Trustee Doug Pollock on Aug. 5 suggested to fellow elected officials that he’d prefer a permanent solution for funding street improvements – one that didn’t cost the village what has amounted to close a half million dollars in interest payments every 10 years.

That half million dollars represents the cost of another street improvement project, Pollock said.

“I know the political risk in doing this, but I really think we have to consider asking the voters to make a permanent levy of that same amount that we’ll always have for streets,” Pollock said. “Because streets is

not a one-time capital project. It is ongoing maintenance that is critical to this village.”

The goal, said Pollock, would be to levy enough for an ongoing road improvement program that could resurface every road in the village every 15 to 20 years.

While trustees did not discuss the matter in any depth, no one voiced an objection to exploring the idea further. Village President Joseph Ballerine appeared open to the idea as long as a new tax levy would simply replace the existing debt service borne by property owners when the 2014 bond issue retires in three years and not add to it.

Ballerine also wanted to make sure capital projects in the pipeline wouldn’t be delayed by a new tax levy needing to build up reserves before work could begin.

Village Manager Jessica Frances said the annual debt service in the 2014 bonds was roughly $265,000 per year. Adding an annual tax levy at the levy with other sources of infrastructure funding would be able to provide enough annually for an ongoing initiative, said Finance Director Karin Johns.

In addition to a standalone tax levy for street improvements, the village collects around $200,000 annually in non-home rule sales taxes and around $320,000 in state motor fuel taxes, both of which must be earmarked for road and other infrastructure improvements.

Combined with a dedicated road improvement tax levy, the village could have around $785,500 annually at its disposal for ongoing street improvements. During the next decade, Riverside has tentatively scheduled

Parks pro hired as Brookfield recreation supervisor Cindy Yelich joins the village after nine years in Des Plaines

By BOB UPHUES

opening in May, she received more than 110 applications for the Editor recreation supervisor vacancy.

Yelich’s name stood out and, after When Brookfield Recreation two rounds of interviews, she had Supervisor Ben White left the the job. post for another job early this “It really came down to Cindy’s summer, the timing couldn’t have notoriety in the field,” said Ferrabeen worse. With summer prori, who ticked off Yelich’s accomgrams just about to start, Recreplishments, from her involvement ation Director Stevie Ferrari was in the Illinois Park and Recreation up to her eyeballs in extra work, CINDY YELICH Association, to spearheading comfirst having to hire camp staff and mittees and leading professional then having to relocate the camps after heavy rains in late June flooded the low- field development training.

“I was excited to see her name,” Ferrari er-level recreation area at the village hall, taksaid. ing it offline for five weeks.

For roughly the past nine years, Yelich has So it came as a great relief on July 19 when veteran parks and recreation pro Cin- served as recreation supervisor for the Des dy Yelich started as the department’s new Plaines Park District, organizing various special events, community celebrations and fesrecreation supervisor.

Ferrari said that after posting the job tivals. Yelich also managed the department’s

social media outreach.

Before that, Yelich was recreation director for seven years for the Pleasant Dale Park District, leading day camps and events such as the Fourth of July celebration. She has a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University in recreation administration, a master’s in business administration from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and is working on a Ph.D. in economics.

As the No. 2 person at Brookfield Parks and Rec, Yelich will be tasked with managing all recreation programming for elementary school age children through teens. She’ll also be in charge of the department’s STARS (Students Together in an Active Recreation Setting) before- and after-school program, which was a new initiative last year and serves families with kids in first through fifth grades.

According to Ferrari, Yelich’s starting salary is $61,000 annually.

annual road projects ranging from $360,000 to $2 million.

Those projects vary widely and include alley reconstructions, basic street maintenance and resurfacing projects connected to sewer repairs. Some of those projects, like the East Quincy Street streetscape makeover and the extension of the Des Plaines River Trail, are dependent on state or federal grant funding.

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The Landmark, August 11, 2021

Weekly COVID cases in Brookfield highest since April 29 new positives in the village; 7-day rolling positivity rate at 6.53%

By BOB UPHUES Editor

There were 29 people who were reported as positive for COVID-19 in Brookfield for the week ending on the morning of Aug. 10, the largest single-week total in the village since the end of April.

After reporting no new cases through most of July, Riverside reported six new COVID-19 cases for the second straight week, while North Riverside reported seven cases in the past week and a total of 16 in the past two weeks. That village had recorded just nine new cases in the prior nine weeks.

The rise in new cases, driven by the highly contagious delta variant, comes at a time when schools are about to reopen their doors to full-time, in-person learning.

Students under the age of 12 are not eligible to receive vaccinations, which has led to a statewide mandate, announced by Gov. J.B. Pritzker last week, for universal masking in elementary schools and high schools.

The governor’s order also included day care and long-term care facilities. Sian Ste-

vens, the chief operating officer of Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care in North Riverside announced Aug. 6 that the nursing and skilled-care facility was adopting the policy immediately.

Caledonia, which mandated vaccines for all of its residents and employees in February had relaxed its masking policy as cases fell earlier this spring, so the new mandate is somewhat of a setback for residents and families.

“While I know this change is frustrating to hear I ask for your full support in complying with this IDPH guideline so that we can keep everyone safe and be in compliance,” Stevens said on Caledonia’s website.

In North Riverside, in particular, the vaccination rate is low among residents. According to the Cook County Department of Public Health, as of Aug. 8 just 37.3% of North Riverside residents were fully vaccinated and 45% had been administered at least one dose.

While the mask mandate did not extend to gatherings in other indoor settings, signs on the doors at the North Riverside Village

Commons state that masks are required for entry. However, at the village board’s meeting Aug. 8, which drew a large crowd celebrating the installation of a new police chief, deputy chief, commander and sergeant, just a handful of those attending wore face coverings.

In Riverside, where more than 90% of residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine and 78.5% are fully vaccinated, everyone attending the village board meeting Aug. 5, including elected officials, wore face coverings.

In Brookfield as of Aug. 8, 56.3% of residents had been fully vaccinated and 68.5% had received at least one dose.

At the governor’s press conference last week announcing the mask mandate, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike stated that of the millions of fully vaccinated individuals, just 714 have spent time in the hospital with COVID-19, according to IDPH. Since January, 180 vaccinated individuals have died of COVID-19 symptoms, accounting for just 2.58% of the COVID-19-related deaths this calendar

year. That number increased by 11 from the state’s reporting of the numbers last week.

That’s about 0.01 percent of vaccinated individuals who have been hospitalized for the virus and 0.003 percent who have died of complications.

“The overwhelming majority of cases, the hospitalizations, the deaths are among those who are not vaccinated,” Ezike said.

“And the majority of transmission is also among the unvaccinated. … But the key is that we actually have the tools to turn the tide on the next wave. And that next wave wants to threaten us if we don’t avail ourselves of these tools.”

The seven-day rolling positivity rate in Brookfield was also up week over week, but fell in the 60546 ZIP code, which includes both Riverside and Brookfield.

As of Aug. 9, the seven-day rolling positivity rate in Brookfield had jumped to 6.53 percent compared to 2.74 percent on Aug. 2. In the 60546 ZIP code, the positivity rate was 3.66 percent, compared to 5.6 percent on Aug. 2.

Jerry Nowicki of Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

9

Tumbling in head first Gymnastics can be the gateway to diving

By JOHN RICE Contributing Reporter

There has long been a connection between gymnastics and diving. Both sports require a similar skill set and many champion divers started out as gymnasts. Paul Canada, who teaches gymnastics at Flipside Academy of Movement in North Riverside, recently began training one of his gymnasts, Oscar Bursa, in diving. They practice at the Riverside Public Pool and the Forest Park Aquatic Center.

Canada was never a diver himself but has had success as a coach. When he was living in Indianapolis, he trained a diver named Corey Cole, who won the state championship in diving. Cole was not only the first African American to take the title, he was the first state diving champ from an Indianapolis public school since 1929.

When he’s training divers, Canada gets valuable advice from his wife, Carol. She was a competitive diver in college and was trained by the same coach who taught Greg Louganis. Louganis started out as a gymnast and switched to diving when he was 9 years old.

Canada grew up in Virginia and performed acrobatics in high school and college. After earning a degree in youth ministry, he didn’t want to serve in a church. “I decided to use ac-

robatics for outreach, instead of the traditional approach to ministry,” he said. “I started a program for inner-city, at-risk kids in Indianapolis called Jireh.”

After leaving Jireh, Canada spent a year training acrobats for the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. Eight years ago, he moved to Brookfield and started Flipside in a former grocery store at 7918 W. 26th St. Flipside offers lessons in parkour, which involves navigating an obstacle course by running, climbing and leaping. Bursa started out flipping and tumbling in parkour. When he expressed an interest in diving, Canada took him to the local pools.

The Forest Park Aquatic Center had already served as a training facility for a future champion diver. Michael Wright grew up practicing acrobatics at his parents’ facility, Tri-Star Gymnastics and graduated to diving.

He became a USA Diving Champion and now coaches diving at his alma mater, the University of Tennessee. Wright also competes on the American Ninja Warrior TV show. At Flipside, American Ninja Warrior training is their most popular program.

Bursa, though, wants to become a diver more than a ninja. Canada said the key to diving is the same as in gymnastics. “You have to have aerial awareness. You need to know

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Diving coach Paul Canada, left, talks with Oscar Bursa, of North Riverside, as he practices his dives on Aug. 5, at the Riverside Swim Club in Riverside. where you are in relation to the ground and the water. If you lose your aerial awareness, it could be very dangerous.”

Many gymnasts gravitate to diving because they think diving headfirst into water will be less painful than landing feet-first on the ground. Canada begs to differ. “That water hurts if you don’t enter it the right way. You can injure your wrist or shoulder if you dive

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incorrectly.”

He is more than willing to train more diving students but his primary focus remains gymnastics. Teaching proper technique at Flipside, though, is not his most important lesson.

“We want to help kids achieve their best in whatever sport they choose. Encouraging them and motivating them is our priority.”

10

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

BOB UPHUES/Editor

Gerdes transformed a weedy strip of lava rocks into a monarch butterfly waystation by planting it up with milkweed, cup plant, rue, liatris, wingstem and other native species, turning a dead space “into something really special.”

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Monarch waystations must meet specific criteria, including square footage and percentage of native species.

“This garden was certified last year with about half as many plants, so I think I’d do even better this year,” Gerdes said.

What was once just a bed of lava rock is now a garden framed by railroad ties he bought from Menard’s and packed with plants that attract pollinators and other wildlife. Some hug the ground or grow just a foot or so tall. Others have thrust up six-foot tall spikes of flowers.

A centerpiece of the garden, however, is not a plant at all. It’s a converted bee box that serves as a butterfly incubator, which is tended to daily by Gerdes and his 5-year-old daughter, Tessa, Now in its second year of use, the box holds monarch and swallowtail caterpillars, that complete their life cycles there and which Daniel and Tessa release into the wild as butterflies.

“There’s usually a butterfly waiting for us to come out and we release it into the air here,” Gerdes said. “Last year we had only under 10. This year we’re going to be upwards of 50 at least.”

According to Gerdes, only about 5 percent of caterpillars survive if left alone in the wild. His garden in back of the garage as well as his backyard and side yard gardens draw plenty of birds, which feast on the monarch caterpillars lounging on stems of milkweed and the swallowtail caterpillars munching on the ferny leaves of the rue.

The caterpillars inside the incubator are

hungry creatures and Daniel and Tessa replenish it with milkweed and rue stems, taking the critters off the spent stems and putting them back on the new ones.

Maintaining a prairie, even one as narrow as Gerdes’ is a big job.

“I’m out here every day at least an hour a day,” Gerdes said. “Every morning and evening I’m out here working on something.”

Gerdes isn’t your typical home gardener in that respect. He not only has laid out, planted and maintains his own gardens, it’s also his day job. For the past 20 years Gerdes has worked as a landscape designer for a large Chicago firm.

While plants are an inescapable part of his life, however, planting with pollinators in mind is not necessarily a regular part of his job.

“I work for one of the biggest companies in the city and we do not necessarily do ecological landscaping,” he said. “Most of the industry doesn’t do ecological landscaping.

It’s just not the norm for the past 50 years.”

Having grown up in the country, Gerdes said his childhood was filled with wildlife.

When he and Jenny moved to Brookfield five years ago with Tessa, who was then an infant, he saw his suburban lot as a blank canvas to try a new project.

“We moved into this house and the landscape was kind of barren, some random daylilies and some bushes and that was it,” Gerdes said. “I started dipping my toe into the native plants and put my first couple of plants in the yard and was just kind of blown away by the instantaneous igniting of wildlife that happened in and around those plants.”

The first order of business was replacing a strip of daylilies from his south fence line and planting a mix of native and non-native plants, including roses, swamp milkweed, red switchgrass, prairie dropseed and a

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

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Gerdes converted an old bee box (top) into a butterfly incubator, picking caterpillars off plants out back and placing them inside (above) to finish their life cycles before turning the adult butterflies loose. fledgling red oak.

Gerdes then removed a large concrete slab that took up a good portion of the backyard to extend the native species north of the driveway, planting chokeberries, dogwood, summersweet and others.

The side yard north of the house is slowly being transformed into a micro-forest, said Gerdes, which will eventually have its own canopy, understory and ground-level plants.

He’s even brought elements of the forest, like pieces of moss and deadwood logs, “tucking them into the landscape to create little microenvironments for wildlife.”

Those backyard efforts are what inspired, three years ago, the garden out back in the alley.

“I thought, I have this raw space in the alley that is literally just weeds and rocks right now. Let me see what I can do with it,” Gerdes

said. “And I set out on the idea that I’m going to try to make the ultimate pollinator garden.

It’s still a work in progress and is taking up a lot of my thoughts and time right now.”

So, what’s been the reaction to all of this new wildlife being attracted to the family’s property on Morton Avenue? Mostly positive, says Gerdes, though not universally enthusiastic.

“People have a strange relationship with bugs, so it’s been controversial,” Gerdes said.

“It’s been generally very supportive …but I think one of the biggest hurdles with going in the direction in your garden is that you have to kind of change your idea about insects and change your whole comfort level with them, because it’s not just going to attract the pretty ones. It’s going to attract all the things people are usually trying to drive out of their yards.”

Call Jill at 708-442-6739 or visit RBLandmark.com and click subscribe

12

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

PEOPLE

Thomas named board chair of Chicago Zoological Society

T

he Chicago Zoological Society, which manages Brookfield Zoo, has announced Cherryl T. Thomas as its new chair of the board of trustees.

Thomas, a Chicago native, joined CZS’s board in 1999 and over the past 22 years has supported the organization by serving on various committees. Most recently, she was vice chair of the board and co-chair of the community engagement and social innovation committee.

“I am so pleased to be a part of animal conservation and efforts to preserve our fragile ecosystem, “said Thomas in a press release.

“I look forward to collaborating with CZS’s board of trustees and staff in advancing the society’s mission, vision, and its master planning efforts.”

Thomas is the chief strategy officer of Chicago-based Ardmore Roderick, a full-service engineering and construction management firm. Prior to that she was president and CEO of Ardmore Associates, which she co-founded in 2003.

Before starting her own engineering firm, Thomas worked in government for 34 years. She was appointed chair of the Chicagobased United States Railroad Retirement Board by President Bill Clinton from 1998 to 2003. She also has served in several leadership positions with the City of Chicago.

Bill Sherman

In memory Family and friends the late Bill Sherman, longtime Riverside resident and the village’s deputy fire chief, gathered July 31 at the 16inch Softball Hall of Fame in Forest Park to mark the setting of a memorial paver bearing Sherman’s name in the Hall of Fame plaza.

Sherman, who died of cancer in 2019 at the age of 66, was an avid 16inch softball player who over more than a decade played with a squad called variously through the years Strokers, Old Strokes and Leftovers.

The teams were inducted into the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame in 2016, and Sherman was a big part of the team until his death, said teammate Jim Quinn.

“He was a great teammate and became a great friend of all those he played with,” Quinn said in an email. “He was always a pleasure to be around and a heck of a softball player. He could play any position while on defense and usually batted leadoff because he was an excellent hitter.”

Cherryl T. Thomas

On campus

I’d be honored On July 20, the national anticrime group Fight Crime: Invest in Kids presented a plaque to former Riverside Chief of Police Thomas Weitzel, honoring his 37 years with the Riverside Police Department and his commitment to children in Illinois.

“Chief Weitzel has been a powerful voice for early childhood education, afterschool programs, and services that support families and strengthen communities,” said Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois Deputy Director David Isaacson in a press release. “In conversations with state and federal policymakers over the years, he has

Thomas Weitzel provided a consistent vision for crime prevention that starts with investments in our state’s young children.”

Weitzel retired in May after serving as Riverside Chief of Police and as member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids for

13 years.

“Along with thousands of other law enforcement leaders from around the country, I am a deep believer in their mission to address the root causes of crime through support of research-based programs for children,” Weitzel said.

■ Brookfield resident Anthony Delestowicz graduated in May from the University of WisconsinLa Crosse with a Bachelor of Science degree in general studies.

■ Charlie Marcou, of Riverside, graduated magna cum laude in May with Bachelor of Science degrees in both economics and statistics, with a minor in mathematics from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.

■ Evan Jones, of Riverside, was among the more than 4,000 students from Miami University of Ohio who received degrees during the school’s spring commencement in May. Jones graduated summa cum laude, university hon-

Family members gather around the memorial paver for Bill Sherman at the 16-inch Softball Hall of Fame. ors with a B.S. in business and an M.S. in business analytics.

■ University of Wisconsin-Madison has announced several local students were awarded degrees during their May commencement ceremonies, including Brookfield residents Luke Graham (B.A. Japanese), Monica Schmidt (B.S. computer sciences) and Anna Souders (B.S. psychology) and Riverside resident Claire Hejna (B.S. nursing).

■ Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington awarded degrees to more than 360 candidates for graduation in May, including Riverside resident Rachel McCarthy, who graduated summa cum laude in English literature and psychology, and Brookfield resident Madeline Hanrahan, who graduated summa cum laude in vocal performance.

■ Kieran Hynes, of Riverside, was named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at the University of Minnesota for earning a semester grade-point average of at least 3.66 on a 4-point scale.

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

Educator picked to fill latest D95 board vacancy Kyle Wood resigns as family moves out of school district

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Kyle Wood, who was appointed to the Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 Board of Education in June 2020 and won a four-year term in his first bid for election in April, is leaving the school board after serving for 13 months.

A Brookfield resident for about 10 years, Wood and his family are moving out of District 95’s boundaries in what he described as an unexpected circumstance.

ELIZABETH LOEROP “We had been passively looking, and we were looking at places within our area,” Wood told the Landmark in a phone interview Aug. 4. “Then something came up that was just too nice to pass on.”

An art teacher at an elementary school in Naperville, Wood said the move has the benefit of cutting his commute time in half.

While it’s typical for school boards to solicit the community for applicants to fill any vacancies caused by mid-term resignations, that won’t be the case in District 95 this time.

School board President Katie Mulcrone confirmed that Brookfield resident Elizabeth Loerop will be appointed to fill the vacancy at the board’s next meeting on Aug. 12.

The school board not that long ago sought applicants to fill a vacancy on the school board created when only three candidates ran for four open seats in the April election.

That call for candidates drew nine applicants, one of whom – LaGrange Park resident and former S.E. Gross Middle School PTO president Melissa Biskupic – was chosen to for that vacancy. Another of the applicants was Loerop, said Mulcrone.

“We just went through this process in May and we are taking one candidate from that pool instead of starting over from scratch,” Mulcrone said.

Loerop, like Wood, is also an educator.

Since 2008, Loerop has worked as a teacher for Chicago Public Schools. She has a B.A. in elementary education from Anderson University and an M.A. in reading teacher education from Concordia University in River Forest.

After starting as a special education

teacher, Loerop eight years ago became the lead literacy teacher at Evergreen Academy Middle School in the McKinley Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the few standalone middle schools in the CPS system. She teaches eighth-grade English language arts there.

“Education and doing what’s right for the community interests me,” said Loerop, who has a second-grader at Brook Park School “I’m excited to dive in, observe and do what’s best for the community.”

In his short time on the school board, Wood sought to connect directly with constituents, and even created a specific Twitter and Instagram accounts, using the handle @ K y l e Wo o d S D 9 5 so residents could keep track of school board topics and school district news.

Wood’s Twitter feed was an active KYLE WOOD one through February, but his last post was March 16 as the school district wrestled with staying with a hybrid learning approach or returning students to classrooms for full-day, in-person instruction.

Two weeks earlier, Wood tweeted about someone screaming obscenities at his wife related to the reopening debate.

But, Wood said, seeking to join the school board last year in the midst of a pandemic was a conscious choice.

“I wanted to join because it was a difficult time with difficult decisions to make,” Wood said. “I wanted to be part of that conversation.”

Wood’s last school board meeting in District 95 on July 29 involved another contentious issue, whether to implement a universal mask mandate in District 95 schools when classes begin Aug. 25.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on Aug. 4 that face coverings would be mandated in K-12 schools in the coming school year due to a recent rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the state, but parents who spoke at that meeting prior to the state mandate were split equally on whether to mandate masks or make them optional for students.

While school board members, including Wood, eventually chose a universal mask mandate, Wood said he was impressed by the tenor of the public input at the July 29 meeting.

“People shared their beliefs and feelings, but they maintained a respectful dialogue,” Wood said. “There’s room for disagreements about policies, but I think everyone who stood up and made a statement can feel good about it and showed respect.”

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14

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

THE LANDMARK VIEW

I

Lead by example

t remains to be seen whether the dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases we saw last fall is destined for a repeat in 2021. While the delta variant rages among the unvaccinated population, it has made little inroads so far among those who have been inoculated.

But with the FDA still not approving the vaccine’s use for those under the age of 12 and the vaccine’s full FDAcertification still hanging in the balance despite more than 150 million people having been vaccine-protected against the disease – and an entire segment of the media willfully and maliciously spreading misinformation and fear – vaccine rates just aren’t high enough.

While we here in our little corner of northeast Illinois can’t do much about what is going on in places like Florida, where its governor seems intent on sending people to their deaths to satisfy his political principles, we can do more locally to encourage those still sitting on the vaccine fence to get off it and get inoculated.

More to the point, local officials should make educating residents about the importance of being vaccinated and giving them information on how and where to get vaccinated a priority.

None of the village websites in the Landmark’s coverage area – Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside – have direct links to vaccine information on their home pages. While North Riverside’s includes a COVID-19 update section, there’s been no new info since May. North Riverside, in particular, should make vaccines a focus. Among the three villages it has by far the lowest vaccination rate. With just 37.5 percent of residents fully vaccinated, it seems clear that more needs to be done, because that number has not moved substantially in more than a month.

Educational information about vaccines and how residents can get then should be part of every communication sent by the village to residents, whether that’s in newsletters, water bills or routine announcements. Links to info should be prominently displayed on the website.

North Riverside was the first of the three villages to host a vaccine clinic, and the village should seek to organize more of them and actively reach out to residents to show them how easy it is to get protected against COVID-19.

The village has been actively organizing and promoting village-wide events, such as Pack the Park last weekend and the upcoming, always popular Autumn Fest next month. With so many residents unvaccinated, those events might be good places to reach them to provide info or even vaccines.

While vaccination rates are higher in Brookfield and Riverside, officials there should make vaccine education and clinics a priority there as well. This public health crisis will not abate if we don’t do more to control it.

Local governments leading by example could go a long way to ensure that we here in suburban Cook County are protecting ourselves and our families, even if there are other parts of the nation where death and misery are apparently acceptable consequences of ignoring the greatest public health crisis in a century.

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

Happy half century of marriage to Audubon Road’s Dvoraks

‘A

nd this is our Nancy!” Those were the words that introduced us to Nancy Spink of St. Louis, who was soon to become Nancy Dvorak when she married Joe Dvorak of Riverside.

Well, that was 50 years ago and on Aug. 14, 2021 Nancy and Joe will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They met while students in Fulton, Missouri, where she attended William Woods College and he was a student at Westminster College.

They settled in on Audubon Road, yes, the Audubon Road of the great July 4 floats and parties. They raised their daughter Christine, who is now Christine Long. She and her husband Bryan are the parents of James and Avery.

A son, Joe, is husband to Jennifer and they are parents to Adelynn and Joey.

It’s been a busy life for the Dvoraks, Joe with his law practice and Nancy teaching pre-school. They believe in community and Joe served as a member of the District 96 Board of Education and was active in the Riverside Chamber of Commerce, the Bohemian Lawyers Association to name a few. Nancy gives time to the AAUW organization in town. The Riverside Presbyterian Church has also been a focal point in their lives.

Their generosity has not gone unnoticed, with Nancy

receiving the Jansky Award from the Lions Club and Joe being named Riverside’s Person of the Year in 2012.

Life is full for the couple, with annual family trips to Traverse City, Michigan, keeping up with grandchildren and enjoying each other and the friendships they have made during these 50 years.

I did not think a half century ago Nancy and I would be laughing about when we were Avon ladies or when we took our first computer classes together or how Joe Dvorak and Husband Joe would be sharing their love of jaternice, or we would be celebrating New Year’s together at The Chew Chew and exchanging gifts of Whoppers and day-at-aglance calendars at Christmas.

So congratulations, Nancy and Joe on 50 years together and thank you for sharing so much of yourselves with friends and family, many of whom will be on hand to help you celebrate at a party in your honor at the Riverside Golf Club. You make our lives better for knowing you.

If you happen to be driving down Audubon Road you might see them sitting at their front patio at the umbrella table. Toot your horn and give them a wave – you’re sure to get a wave back and a smile from Nancy that you can’t miss.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

New Brookfield library is way too loud

Vaccine passports gateway to autocracy

Well, that didn’t last long.

The new Brookfield Library looks great on the outside and is nice on the inside, with amenities like quiet study rooms and plenty of quiet places to work.

But don’t go in the afternoons because it turns into Romper Room.

Unsupervised kids are making for a loud environment — a very loud environment.

We’ve waited for this library for a long time, a facility that can easily go up against modern libraries in neighboring suburbs and make us proud.

But it’s going to be difficult to enjoy it with all the noise. Good luck.

Vaccine passports are a Trojan horse, forcing the vaccinated to give up intimate private health information to God knows what unsecure government agency database or worse yet, a censorship loving big tech monopoly.

As time passes, who knows what other information they will require for you to use the passport? Maybe they will require you to get a flu shot. Maybe people with only a certain health profile will be allowed to eat at certain restaurants. The potential for abuse is gradual, but endless. The government can change the rules any time and in any way they want.

Worse still, a two-tier society will be created making unvaccinated people essentially outcasts in their own communities and country. A vaccine passport would legalize discrimination, criminalizing the unvaccinated and institutions who break the rules. It would

Constantina Corradino Brookfield

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

15

OBITUARIES

Robert J. Chierico, 71 University professor, department chair Robert J. Chierico, 71 of Riverside, died Aug. 3, 2021.

Mr. Chierico received his master’s degree from Roosevelt University and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University.

A professor at ROBERT J. CHIERICO Chicago State University, Dr. Chierico taught Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages and was a dedicated teacher who supported and mentored his students.

He planned and led frequent Spain/ France summer abroad programs for students. These programs, especially the ones in Toledo, Spain, were very popular, and other faculty often took part.

Dr. Chierico was an active faculty member at the university as well as at the college level. While in the Department of Modern Languages he served as department chair.

Later, when the department merged with the English department, he served as chair of the Department of English, Foreign Languages and Interdisciplinary Studies.

He was also a leader university-wide. For several years he chaired the faculty development committee. In that capacity, he cooperated with other faculty in implementing a variety of in-service workshops. Members of the committee occasionally provided entertainment at university holiday parties.

A lover of the arts, he enjoyed theater, musical and opera performances. He was a regular season subscriber to the Lyric Opera, which he attended with Chicago State University colleagues.

Dr. Chierico was an excellent cook. Colleagues in the Modern Language Department and other departments took pleasure in his cooking at the many gatherings at his home in Riverside.

Dr. Rachel Lindsey, former dean of arts and sciences at Chicago State University remarked, “This is very sad news. I have such fond memories of Bob, many of them humorous. I appreciated working with him and his commitment to students, faculty, and his discipline.”

He was the son of the late Vincent and late Frances (nee Gambino); the brother of Richard (late Nancy) and David (Marcia); the uncle of Dustin (Kimberly), Tony and Tina; and the great uncle of Bryce, Kayli, Alexis and Nicholas.

Visitation is Saturday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. until time of services at 1 p.m. at Ivins/ Moravecek Funeral Home 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside. Entombment is at Oakridge Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers donations are appreciated to ASPCA at aspca.org/givecar or 855652-7722.

Kathryn K. O’Flynn, 70 Healthcare administrator Kathryn Krubel O’Flynn, 70, of Bluffton, South Carolina, and formerly of Riverside, died suddenly on July 29, 2021, following a short illness at the Duke Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina.

Ms. O’Flynn was born on March 20, 1951 in Chicago and raised in Riverside. She always spoke of the fond memories of her days walking to Blythe Park Elementary School on Leesley Road and developing strong friendships which she maintained for the rest of her life.

She went on to attend Riverside-Brookfield High School and then graduated from the School of Allied Health at the Univer-

LETTERS be a crime for an unvaccinated person to enter certain places, and if they did, punishment would follow.

Can you imagine being arrested, fined, and jailed for eating at a restaurant? Our country suffered a long and bloody civil rights movement to end these inhumane practices that are now being embraced by so many. The vaccine passport means you give the government complete control over who is and is not allowed to go certain places. A culture where one must “show their papers” is not on the verge of becoming a totalitarian state, it is one.

I understand people are scared, angry, stressed and long for a return to normal, but sacrificing our cherished rights will only make matters worse, not better.

We must remain mindful of our shared values and stand up for them in the face of mounting pressure from those who would take our rights away for the illusion of safety.

Stressful times do reveal people’s true character. This devastating hardship is revealing each of ours right now as we live through it. So, I ask you to search your own soul and do what you know may be hard, but right. I hope you will stand with the cause of freedom and privacy and against the inhumane vaccine passports.

All this coming from someone who is vaccinated but will gladly stand up for the rights of those who aren’t.

Mike Dobbins Riverside

sity of Illinois.

Ms. O’Flynn was an accomplished healthcare administrator in the field of health information management. She enjoyed large, complex medical systems and during her career worked at Cook County Hospital, the University of Illinois and the University of Louisville. Free time was for fashion, shopping and the arts as well as family and spoiling her Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. She was a skilled designer and an avid traveler.

She is survived by her husband, Paul, and her daughter, Alison. She is also survived by an elder sibling, Cynthia, and a brother, Fred and his wife Jeanie, of Brookfield. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Frederick; her mother, Dorothy, whom Kathryn cared for in the final years of her life, and her younger brother, Christopher.

While she did not wish to have a traditional funeral, a celebration of her life will take place in her hometown of Riverside, which she loved so much. The date will be determined by the family based on COVIDrelated public health guidelines.

During her lifetime Kathryn volunteered to help the homeless, animal shelters and shelters for abused women. If you would like to make a memorial contribution in her name, please direct it to one of these charities in your area.

Paul F. Lareau, 78 Worked at Ryerson Steel for 40 years Paul F. Lareau, 78, of Brookfield, died Aug. 7, 2021.

Mr. Lareau was born Nov. 24, 1942, in Detroit to Philip Lareau and Marie (nee Swartz) Lareau. He attended St. David’s grade school and De LaPAUL F. LAREAU Salle High School.

He then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. Thomas Aquinas College in St. Paul.

He joined the Army Reserves for six years and upon graduation from college, he was hired by Ryerson Steel in Chicago, and he remained there for his entire 40year career. While there, he earned his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

On a visit home to Detroit, he met his wife Kathy, who was the sister of his good friend, Dan. They were married more than 53 years, and she was the love of his life.

Together, they raised four daughters and were blessed with 10 grandchildren.

Over the years, they enjoyed sunsets in Bayfield, Canada, lakeside fires and boat rides on Lake Templene in Michigan, and winters in Florida.

He volunteered and served St. Louise de Marillac Parish in various positions, including pancake maker at community breakfasts, member of the finance committee for many years and chair of the Spirit of St. Louise fundraising effort. In addition, he served on the board of Pillars Community Health organization and was involved in the Lawndale Community Center during his days at Ryerson.

Mr. Lareau was the husband of Kathleen Lareau (nee Quinn); the father of Carol (James) Barlow, Jennifer (Tim) Baxa, Karen (Sanjay) Patel and Elizabeth Lareau; the grandfather of Kate, Leigh, Anne Barlow, Ellie, Maddie, Mimi Baxa, Ailey, Neela, Finley and Ian Patel; the brother of Suzanne Lareau; and the brother-in-law and uncle of many.

Visitation is Wednesday, Aug. 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. A funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, Aug. 12 at 10 a.m. at St. Louise de Marillac Church, corner of 30th and Raymond Ave., LaGrange Park.

All are asked to meet at church for Mass and masks are required. Interment is private.

Memorials appreciated to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 E. Ohio St., Chicago 60611 or Pillars Community Health, 23 Calendar Ave., LaGrange, 60525.

Express condolences online at HitzemanFuneral.com. Sympathy cards can be mailed to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Paul Lareau family.

Julie P. Morley, 80 Retired RBHS home ec teacher Julie Patricia Morley (nee McGrenera), 80, of Riverside and Michigan City, Indiana, died Aug. 8, 2021.

Ms. Morley was retired from a career as a home economics teacher and department head JULIE P. MORLEY at Riverside-Brookfield High School.

She was the daughter of the late James Peter and late Julia Rose McGrenera; the mother of Maureen (Norman White) Larson and Colleen Morley; the grandmother of Andy and Mary Claire Larson and Cait and Maggie Morley; the sister of the late Laurian FitzPatrick; and the soulmate of the late George Hanson.

Visitation is Wednesday, Aug. 11 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. until time of services at noon at Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside.

See OBITUARIES on page 16

16

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

Masks mandated at schools, day cares, long-term care facilities State says COVID-19 proving more problematic for those 20 and younger

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois

Masks will be required at all Illinois longterm care facilities, day cares and Pre-K-12 schools, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Aug. 4 amid a nationwide surge of COVID-19.

“Every time we think we know where this virus is headed, it changes and it shifts,” Pritzker said at a COVID-19 briefing in Chicago.

“For example, unlike before, people 29 years old and younger accounted for 12 percent of hospitalizations. All across the nation, we are seeing young people with no underlying conditions now on ventilators. I want to say specifically to young adults: Please do not think that the worst case scenario can’t happen to you. It can happen. It is happening. Get vaccinated.”

Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said youth hospitalizations and infections have been rising.

About 5.5 percent of COVID-19 cases were among those who are younger than 10 years of age in January, Ezike said, but that number increased to 15 percent last month.

Approximately 13 percent of cases in January were among those 10-19 years old, increasing to 23 percent in July. Hospitalizations for those 20 years old and younger have tripled from 2.5 percent to 7.8 percent in that time span.

“And yes, while most children who get COVID have fewer symptoms than adults, they absolutely can still get COVID-19 and they can absolutely spread it to others,” Ezike said, noting many cases of the virus have spread at youth camps this summer.

The masking requirement extends to indoor but not outdoor activities and sports.

While Pritzker said masks are important in schools, especially for students who are not yet eligible for the vaccine, the best approach to limiting the spread of COVID-19 is getting vaccinated. It’s also the best way to limit severe illness and death.

In Illinois, 6.5 million people are fully vaccinated, or 51.2 percent of the population, while 73 percent of the population that is older than 12 years of age has received at least one dose of the vaccine. The state averaged 28,180 vaccine doses administered each day over the past seven days.

Of the millions of fully vaccinated individuals, just 714 have spent time in the hospital with COVID-19, according to IDPH. Since January, 180 vaccinated individuals have died of COVID-19 symptoms, accounting for just

2.58 percent of the COVID-19-related deaths this calendar year. That number increased by 11 from the state’s reporting of the numbers last week.

That’s about 0.01 percent of vaccinated individuals who have been hospitalized for the virus and 0.003 percent who have died of complications.

“The overwhelming majority of cases, the hospitalizations, the deaths are among those who are not vaccinated,” Ezike said. “And the majority of transmission is also among the unvaccinated. … But the key is that we actually have the tools to turn the tide on the next wave. And that next wave wants to threaten us if we don’t avail ourselves of these tools.”

Pritzker said there are two routes to enforcing the mask mandate, including civil liability for schools not enforcing the mandate and the removal of recognition status by the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Illinois Department of Public Health also announced Wednesday it is making free COVID-19 testing available to K-12 schools across the state through the Shield Illinois saliva-based test developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The test can detect the virus and its variants in those with or without symptoms.

The testing would allow close contacts of a COVID-19-positivie individual to stay in the classroom as long as they test negative. Funding comes from federal COVID-19 relief packages.

By Oct. 4, all Illinois state employees working in congregate facilities will be required to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

The order covers certain employees at the Departments of Human Services, Veterans’ Affairs, Corrections and Juvenile Justice working in congregate facilities, and Pritzker said the state has reached out to the unions representing those employees to work out the details.

Illinois is also requiring universal masking in private long-term care facilities and “strongly encourages owners of private facilities to join the state in adopting vaccination requirements,” according to the governor’s office.

Pritzker’s announcement came as 1,165 people were hospitalized for COVID-19, including 246 in intensive care unit beds and 94 on ventilators as of Tuesday night The state’s seven-day average case positivity rate for COVID-19 was 4.4 percent as of Aug. 4, while the state reported another 18 deaths, a high since June 24. That brought the death toll to 23,476 since the pandemic began with another 2,428 deaths reported with probable links to COVID-19.

Pritzker said the state is “evaluating every day” the trajectory of the virus and other potential mitigations that may be needed.

OBITUARIES Continued from page 15

Craig D. Skweres, 68 Computer programmer A memorial gathering is Craig D. Skweres, 68, of Brookplanned for Thursday, Aug. 12 field, died Aug. 4, 2021. from 3 to 8 p.m. at Hitzeman Mr. Skweres worked as a proFuneral Home, 9445 31st St., grammer in information techBrookfield. Interment Private. nology development. He was a Memorials are appreciated to founding member of Thursday the Juvenile Diabetes Research Night Bridge Club and an avid Foundation – 1 E. Wacker Dr., collector of model trains who Suite 1400, Chicago, 60601. loved to play pinball.

Express condolences online Mr. Skweres was the father of at HitzemanFuneral.com. SymBrian (Denise) Skweres and KevCRAIG D. SKWERES pathy cards can be mailed to in Skweres; the brother of Frank Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 (Paula) Skweres, Jim (Linda) Skweres and Lorrie (John) Hymel; and the 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Craig Skweres family. uncle of many nieces and nephews.

D96

Not mandatory from page 1 Shield will handle all aspects of the testing, from the logistics to collecting the samples. There is no cost at all for the school district to participate in the program. For now the testing is anticipated to be weekly, though there is a twice-weekly option, said Superintendent Martha Ryan-Toye, if case rates escalate.

The school district is also looking to obtain BinaxNOW quick tests, likely to do rapid testing for anyone considered a close contact. The protocols for their use are still being worked out by the Illinois Department of Public Health, Ryan-Toye said.

Testing is not mandatory, but anyone who does not wish to participate in the program must formally opt out, school board members decided at a special meeting on Aug. 4 at Ames School in Riverside.

Ryan-Toye said the district would communicate often to parents the need to opt out of testing in the run-up to the start of classes later this month.

“If you want to do the opt-out, [I] just [want] to make sure we have very layered, heavy communication to parents,” Ryan-Toye said.

“If we were sending that frequently, regularly, sending it in multiple languages, etc. It’s certainly doable and it’s not something our legal counsel opposes.”

The decision to go with an opt-out model was not a unanimous one. School board President Dan Hunt indicated he was uncomfortable with it, as were school board members Lynda Murphy and Stephanie Gunn. RyanToye also said the school district’s legal counsel preferred an opt-in model, though they recognized the opt-out model as an option.

“We have to be mindful of folks’ rights, we have to be mindful of subjecting the district to liability,” Hunt said.

Board member David Barsotti noted that the school district already calls for parents to opt their students out of other things, such

as having their names published in school directories or allowing their children to be photographed in schools, so there’s a precedent for it. There was also the larger public health aspect to take into consideration, Barsotti said.

Going for the opt-out option might also drive up participation rates, giving the school district better data, and according to board member Wesley Muirheid would also limit paperwork, since participation in the weekly saliva screening is expected to be high, as it was during the 2020-21 school year.

There will also be more students, who with the exception of some middle schoolers will not be unvaccinated, in the school buildings all day, a far cry from the limited capacity, limited classroom time of last year’s hybrid experience.

“This year is certainly different because we will be in school all day, the whole time,” said school board member Joel Marhoul.

“We are looking at many more students in the building at the same time, and so therefore there’s greater possibilities for contact.”

The school district will not require families to provide daily health screenings of their students via the Raptor app as they did last year. The school district will instead have parents sign off on a form where they pledge to keep students who are showing any symptoms home from school.

“People know not to come to work or to send their child to school when they’re sick,” Ryan-Toye said. “As we start the school year, we’re asking for a one-time signoff that they won’t do that.”

The school district also won’t be asking families to have their children go home for lunch as they did last year. While individual school principals are still working out exactly how food will be served and lunchtime seating arrangements – kids will utilize any number of larger spaces within their schools to have lunch, from multipurpose rooms to gyms to libraries – they’re welcome to stay on campus the whole day.

“We really twisted arms last year to have children go home for lunch,” Ryan-Toye said. “Kids can stay for lunch.”

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

17

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

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: September 1, 2021

that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during GoverTIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon therenor JB Pritzker’s current disaster after as the Agenda permits proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the CALENDAR NUMBER: 14-21-Z public hearing due to public safety APPLICATION: The Applicant, concerns related to the COVID-19 Daniel Krout, seeks a variance from outbreak.

Section 4.3 (Table 4-1: Residential District Dimensional Standards) of All interested persons will be given the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, an opportunity to be heard at the which provides that a property lo- public hearing. Interested persons cated within an R-4 Single-Family may provide written evidence, tesDistrict shall not exceed a maximum timony and public comment on impervious surface area of 60% of the application by email to Zonthe lot, to permit construction of a ing@oak-park.us or by drop off in new 20’ x 22’ garage resulting in a the Oak Park Payment Drop Box maximum impervious surface area across from the main entrance to of approximately 70% of the lot at Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, the premises commonly known as Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no 142 Le Moyne Parkway, Oak Park, later than 5:00 p.m. on September Illinois, Property Index Number 1, 2021. An individual’s name and 16-05-103-027-0000, in the R-4 their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the Single-Family Zoning District. public hearing if received no later A copy of the application and ap- than 30 minutes prior to the start of plicable documents are on file and the public hearing. Interested perare available for inspection at Vil- sons may also sign up to participate lage Hall, Development Customer in the hearing to cross examine the Services Department, 123 Madison applicant and its witnesses, presStreet, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, ent evidence, testimony or public Monday through Friday between comment by emailing Zoning @ 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to The Board will conduct the public sign up. Individuals who sign up hearing remotely with live audio to participate in this manner will reavailable and optional video. The ceive an email from Village staff with meeting will be streamed live and information about how to join the archived online for on-demand meeting online through Zoom webviewing at www.oak-park.us/comconference means or by phone. missiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Com- The public hearing may be adcast subscribers on channel 6 and journed by the Board to another ATT U-Verse subscribers on chan- date without further notice by nel 99. The remote public hearing public announcement at the hearis authorized pursuant to Section ing setting forth the time and place 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The thereof.

Village President has determined Published in Wednesday Journal August 11, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21007364 on July 20, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of TOTALLY LEGIT CARD CO. with the business located at: PO BOX 5292, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: ELAINE D LUTHER 7723 ADAMS ST, FOREST PARK, IL 60130, USA Published in Forest Park Review July 28, August 4, August 11, 2021

Find Help Wanted & Marketplace listings on the next page!

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: Y21007478 on August 2, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of HUFF RESOLUTION SERVICES with the business located at: 4909 W THOMAS ST, CHICAGO, IL 60651.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: DINAH HUFF 4909 W THOMAS ST, CHICAGO, IL 60651, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal August 4, 11 and 18, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON 2021-2022 BUDGET

Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission August 26, 2021, at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that a public hearing continued from the July 22 meeting will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Brookfield on Thursday, August 26, 2021, at 7:00 PM in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois to consider a zoning text amendment to Sec. 62-219 Parking Credits and Reductions.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Please check the following webpage one week before the meeting for more information: https://brookfieldil.gov/ audio-files/ The variance 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 meeting to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kendra Kuehlem, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 and at kkuehlem@brookfieldil.gov.

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 2021 2022 school year on the 14th day of September, 2021, 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 13, 2021, 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 2021-2022 budget following the public hearing. /s/ Jung Kim President Board of Education Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Dated: August 11, 2021

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in any meeting may contact the Village of Brookfield at (708) 4857344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (south) entrance of Village Hall.

Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark August 11, 2021

Published in Wednesday Journal August 11, 2021

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CLASSIFIED

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

HELP WANTED

MARKETPLACE

River Forest Public Schools District 90

District 90 is seeking qualified and experienced applicants for the following positions:

• English Language Learners Teacher (Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Part-time FTE 0.50 at Lincoln Elementary School) • School Social Worker (Part-time FTE 0.50 at Lincoln Elementary School & Part-time FTE 0.50 Willard Elementary School) • Physical Education Teacher ( Part-time FTE 0.60 at Lincoln Elementary School)

For detailed qualifications requirements and job duties, please visit our website at https://www.district90.org/about/ employment for our complete list of employment opportunities.

Interested candidates should complete the online application available at www.district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.

BUDGET AND REVENUE ANALYST

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Budget and Revenue Analyst in the Development Customer Service Department. This position will Serve the public with professional administrative and analytical duties in the areas of budget preparation, purchasing, payroll, data analysis and process improvement. Provides, prepares and maintains records, and financial and statistical reports and analysis which assist in the Village’s ability to improve business processes and gain efficiencies through better use of technology. Budget duties include assisting in the development, analysis and application of performance measures with regard to Village services and resources; preparing, modifying, tracking and monitoring Village expenses and transfers; and conducting budget-related research and analysis. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications August 16, 2021.

TEACHER AND TEACHER AIDE

MINI ME BUNCH seeks teacher and teacher aide to enhance and expand daycare serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Teacher must have at least Associates’ degree in Early Childhood Education. Minimum 1 year experience preferred in each position. Must love children and be outgoing, patient, flexible. Contact 773-521-9499

PAID-ON-CALL FIREFIGHTER Job Title: Paid-on-Call Firefighter Description: The Village of Riverside Fire Department is seeking applicants for the position of Paid-on-Call Firefighter.

Additional Status Information: This is not a full-time position.

Qualifications: - In good physical condition - Reside within 1.5 miles of the boundaries of the Village of Riverside at time of appointment - Be 18 years of age at the time of application - Possess a high school diploma or GED - Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record Miscellaneous Applications are reviewed in October 2021.

Application deadline is Friday, October 8th, 2021.

The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

VAN DRIVER

Part-time/1-3 hrs per day, M-F, 2:15 pm start time. No weekends or holidays. Safety, reliability, punctuality are the gold standard. Cell phone and clean driving record required. Dependability is a must.

Must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Drive an easy, local 3-mile route. You’ll make 2-4 stops, pick up less than 10 children and drop them all off at the same place at the same time. Pleasant conditions and appreciation! $18-25/hour depending on experience. Se habla español. To schedule an interview, email seedMontessori@gmail.com or leave a message at (708) 6135860 with contact information and best time to call.

GRANTS SUPERVISOR

GARAGE/YARD SALES Oak Park

CARS WANTED

COMMUNITY YARD SALE NINETEENTH CENTURY CLUB 178 FOREST AVE SATURDAY 8/21 9AM TO 1PM MORE THAN 15 SELLERS! (RAIN DATE SATURDAY 8/28)

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS

WANTED TO BUY

Cars Motorcycles Cars & & Vintage Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Import Cars: Cars: Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, MuscleCars, Cars, Ferrari’s,Jaguars, Jaguars, Muscle Mustang && Mopars Mopars Mustang

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400 Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-334

Restored or Restored or Unrestored Unrestored

Top $$ Etc. $$$$Top $$allallmakes, makes, Etc.

Collector James Collector James 630-201-8122 630-201-8122

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Supervisor in the Development Customer Services Department. This position will perform a variety of responsible for developing. Administering and coordinating activities related to Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and other grant-funded programs for the Village. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Position opened until filled.

CLASSICS WANTED

HIRING BONUS! HEPHZIBAH DAY CARE PROGRAM SITE SUPERVISOR

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

Hephzibah Children’s Association offers after school day care on site at each of the Oak Park elementary schools.

The Day Care Program is accepting applications for a Site Supervisor for the 2021-2022 school year to provide supervision to childcare staff as well as care and supervision of 5-11-year-old children.

Regular days and hours are Monday through Friday from 2:30 6:00 PM, Wednesday 1:30 – 6:00 PM. Additional hours on school closing days, in coordination with the school district calendar. May work other hours during school holidays and for staff meetings.

Associate degree in child development or early childhood education, or the equivalent in child development or education desired.

Previous experience working with children required.

Program starts mid-August and runs through the school year.

Additional hours for staff meetings and on school closing days in coordination with the school district calendar.

Contact MJ Joyce at: mjjoyce@hephzibahhome.org Equal Opportunity Employer We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all backgrounds to apply

HIRING BONUS!

Part Time Positions Available for 2021-22 school year

AFTER-SCHOOL RECREATION / DAY CARE WORKER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST ON SITE AT OAK PARK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Day Care Program of Hephzibah Children’s Association is accepting applications for nurturing individuals to provide care and supervision of 5-11-year-old children in the After School Day Care program on site at Oak Park public schools. The days and hours are Mon – Fri from 2:30-6:00 PM and 2:00-6:00 PM on Wednesdays.

Plan and supervise arts and crafts, indoor & outdoor play, games, sports, homework help and more.

Requirements include: -previous experience working with children -6 semester hours in education, recreation, social work or related college courses desired Program starts mid-August and runs through the 2021-22 school year.

Contact MJ Joyce at mjjoyce@hephzibahhome.org Equal Opportunity Employer We are an inclusive employer and welcome people from all backgrounds to apply

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars:

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc. Collector James

630-201-8122

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

CLASSIFIED

19

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG R E N TA L S & R E A L E S TAT E

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708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com BERWYN DELUXE 5 RMS

Deluxe 5 RMS, 2 BDRMS, close to train and hospital. Includes heat, water, all appliances, laundry facility, parking. Just painted, new blinds. $1200/mo.

Sec. dep. 1 mo. Credit Check.

BROKER

708-347-2500

CITY RENTALS AUSTIN RENAISSANCE APARTMENTS

A HUD subsidized affordable Apartment property announces the opening of its waiting list for both One and Two Bedroom Apartments! Resident rent is approximately 30% of gross household income, some restrictions apply. Our property is located on Washington Blvd in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Apartments offered with an occupancy of one to four persons. Properties feature modern kitchens, include appliances, and offer onsite maintenance. Austin Renaissance will accept requests for application packages by U.S. Mail postmarked no later than , September 15, 2021. Send or email a written request for an application package that includes your name, mailing address. Daytime telephone number, Email address, and the number of persons in your household to: Town Center Realty Group LLC, PO Box 64, Huntley IL 60142-0064 or Email requests to mrpaul.tcrg@gmail.com Application packages available by mail or email delivery only. No walk-ins accepted.

Town Center Realty Group LLC

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equalopportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review

HOME SERVICES CEMENT

CEMENT

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

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

FLOORS

LANDSCAPING

KLIS FLOORING INC.

BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

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

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

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

708-296-2060

Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance brucelawns.com

708-243-0571

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP

Evergreen trimming & more. Clean-ups.

Garden weed removal.

Storm Branch Tree Removal.

708-447-1762

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

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

Public Notice: Your right to know • In print • Online • Available to you 24/7/365

PublicNoticeIllinois.com

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES:

OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST,FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

20

The Landmark, August 11, 2021

W NE

G TIN S I L

G IN M CO

ON SO

NG MI O C

ON SO

355 N Delaplaine Rd, Riverside $669,000

84 Riverside Rd, Riverside

205 E Quincy St, Riverside $290,000

3125 Madison Ave, Brookfield $334,900

3137 Kenilworth Ave, Berwyn $345,000

841 Robinhood Ln, LaGrange Park $899,000

152 E Burlington Rd, Riverside $364,900

2037 W Iowa St, Chicago $369,000

290 Lawton Rd, Riverside $979,000

9841 S Hoyne Ave, Chicago $549,000 AL NT E R

312 Downing Rd, Riverside $909,900

555 Byrd Rd, Riverside $600,000

7549 Wilson Terrace, Morton Grove $399,000

7001 W 71st Pl, Burbank $249,000

229 Park Ave #214, Clarendon Hills $2,750/mo

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

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

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Visit us at www.atproperties.com/agents/Burlington to view all of our properties and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates on the local real estate market.