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Vol. 38, No. 33

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Also serving North Riverside

August 16, 2023

Therapy dogs coming to D95 schools this fall PAGE 3

@RBLandmark

‘Barbenheimer’ a boon for local movie theaters PAGE 13

Stocked for the future

Church sale ensures Brookfield food pantry has a permanent home base to serve the community SEE STORY, PAGE 8

New development pitched for 8845 Burlington Ave.

Three-story, 12-unit apartment building eyed for site near Metra stop

By BOB UPHUES Editor

STEVE JOHNSTON

Volunteer Sophie May, of Riverside, organizes the produce prior to food distribution at the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry on Aug. 12 in Brookfield.

T R O P PASS

Your

After plans for an apartment complex at 8845 Burlington Ave. in Brookfield collapsed more than a year ago, a new development team is pitching another apartment complex that seeks to take advantage of its location close to the downtown Metra station.

“The Canopy,” as the development is being pitched, would be a three-story, 12-unit building with enclosed parking in the rear topped by a rooftop deck.

The development company is Three Green Vegetables LLC, whose managers are listed by the Illinois Secretary of State as John Fairclough, of Romeoville, and Peter Haleas, of Hinsdale.

t o NE W S & C O M

See DEVELOPMENT on page 11

MUNITY

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

D95 to roll out therapy dog program this fall Each school to be assigned two dogs who will be onsite twice a month

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brook Park School’s newest staff member is only about 2-feet tall, has long, floppy ears and a shaggy coat of brown fur.

Sailor – that’s his name – is one of four therapy dogs in Brookfield-LaGrange Park District 95 during the 2023-24 school year.

He’ll be there to provide comfort and joy to both students and other staff members twice a month.

The school district’s new therapy dog program was proposed last spring by Cathy Cannon, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning for District 95, and she’s worked throughout the summer identifying dogs and their owners as good fits for both Brook Park School in LaGrange Park and S.E. Gross Middle School in Brookfield.

Last week, Cannon sent letters out to all families in the district introducing the dog therapy program, which families can opt out of if they choose, for whatever reason.

Cannon is in the final stages of vetting the two dogs for S.E. Gross Middle School and the second dog for Brook Park. Those three dogs have been sourced through Therapaw, a program affiliated with the Hinsdale Humane Society.

Sailor, a 7-year-old Goldendoodle, comes to Brook Park School through Love on a Leash, a California-based nonprofit with a network of certified therapy dogs/owners throughout the country.

“I’m very excited for this opportunity and for the enthusiasm surrounding it from the board level and teachers,” Cannon told the Landmark in a phone interview. “There’s an excitement building up to the start of a school year, and this adds another layer of excitement rolling out a new year.”

The two therapy dogs assigned to each building will be onsite twice a month, working with students in the different grade levels.

Cannon has convened a committee of teachers who are meeting to brainstorm how the dogs can be used in each grade.

Those interactions could be a way to encourage attendance or work on reading and writing skills. For students who are struggling academically or emotionally, the dogs could be used to help staff support those students or be calming influences.

“Sailor’s role at [Brook Park School] will

Editor Erika Hobbs Managing Editor Bob Uphues Staff Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe, Tram Huynh Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner EMAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf PROVIDED

Brook Park’s first therapy dog, Sailor -- pictured here with (from left) Assistant Superintendent Cathy Cannon and Brook Park principals Mike Sorensen and Kelly King -- will visit with students at the school twice a month beginning in September. be to visit classrooms, participate in reading sessions and be available to offer support and affection to any student who may benefit from spending time with him,” Cannon wrote in her letter to Brook Park families last week.

Each dog and owner assigned to the school district will be certified and Cannon said she has evaluated each dog’s temperament to make sure they are good fits for the buildings they’ll be working in.

Students who are allergic to dogs or who may be afraid of them can be opted out of the program. The dogs will interact with stu-

dents in designated areas of each school.

Cannon rolled out the therapy dog program to the entire district staff at institute days scheduled prior to the first day of school on Aug. 23. Even before the institute days, the response from staff has been very positive, according to Cannon.

“They are already asking if they can have water bowls, dog treats and dog beds in their classrooms,” Cannon told the Landmark. “We will walk through all the logistics prior to the start date for the dog therapy program that is expected to launch in September.”

Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL buphues@rblandmark.com ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00.

A one-year subscription costs $41 within Cook County and $51 outside the county. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP.

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

BIG WEEK August 16-23

Friday night outdoor concerts

Riverside Parks & Rec invites the public to enjoy its final outdoor concert of the summer on Aug. 18 from 8 to 10 p.m.

Mosey on over to Big Ball Park, THE REDMONDS Longcommon and North Delaplaine roads, and catch local favorites The Redmonds and their eclectic mix of rock classics, Americana and originals. Bring a blanket, food and refreshments.

Admission is free.

Brookfield Parks & Rec continues its Friday Night Concert Series on Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. with a performance by The Sumthins, who play a mix of classic and original rock ‘n’ roll.

The concert is at the band shell in Kiwanis Park, Arden and Brookfield avenues. Bring your coolers, blankets and chairs. Free.

Swing by and wander through a fleet of classic cars, hot rods and custom vehicles around Centennial Park on Pine and East avenues. Free admission for spectators. Bring your cameras!

Anyone looking to display a vehicle can call Andy at 708-447-7221.

Loca Mocha, 8858 Burlington Ave. in Brookfield (inside the Metra station), welcomes back troubadour Mark Dvorak to the Maria’s Morning Coffee House Series on Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. Free. Donations accepted, CDs and books available for purchase.

The Frederick Law Olmsted Society and village of Riverside will hold a Landscape Workday on Aug. 19 from 9 a.m. to noon Akenside/Longcommon Triangle. Come for as long as you like. Supervised children welcome. Bring work gloves and a water bottle. All other supplies and snacks provided.

Look for the public works dump truck.

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., ■

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Stop by the North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., and meet a variety of pythons from Ali’s Reptile Den during the next Reptile Roadshow on Aug. 17 from 4 to 5 p.m.

Learn fun facts about reptiles and the importance of preserving wildlife.

For all ages with adult. Register at the Youth Service Help Desk, by calling 708447-0869 or at northriversidelibrary. org/events.

Grab the kids and head on over to Ehlert Park, Elm and Congress Park avenues in Brookfield, on Aug. 19 for the village’s final Outdoor Movie Night of the summer.

This month, go to infinity and beyond while watching Pixar’s 2022 animated film “Lightyear,” with actor Chris Evans performing the voice of the iconic space ranger Buzz Lightyear.

Bring coolers and popcorn and grab a choice spot for the film, which begins at dusk. Activities start at 7 p.m.

Riverside Garage will host its final Cruise Night of the summer on Aug. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. in downtown Riverside.

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

The Riverside Farmers Market operates each Wednesday through Oct. 4 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. in Centennial Park, at Forest Avenue and Longcommon Road. The Brookfield Farmers Market returns every Saturday through Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to Baby & Me (ages 4-24 months w/adult) on Aug. 18 at 10:30 a.m., Lego Club on

Reptile Roadshow

Movie under the stars

Riverside Cruise Night

And more

ALI’S REPTILE DEN

Aug. 18 at 4 p.m., a Videogame Tournament (grades 6-12) on Aug. 19 at 1:30 p.m., Big and Little Storytime (children w/adult) on Aug. 21 at 10:30 a.m., Science Explorers (all ages) on Aug. 21 at 4:30 p.m., My First Storytime (4-24 months w/ adult) on Aug. 22 at 11 a.m., a Koko’s Film Club screening of “Blue Bayou” on Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. and Safari ABCs (child w/adult, every other week in Spanish) on Aug. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/events.

Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents a Dinosaur Dig (grades K-3) on Aug. 17 at 4 p.m., Chair Zumba on Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m., a Movies with Marty celebration of Alfred Hitchcock’s birthday on Aug. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m., ■

Chair Yoga (virtual) on Aug. 21 at 11 a.m., Cards & Coffee on Aug. 22 at 10:30 a.m. and STEAM for Teens: Lemon Volcano on Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online at brookfield.evanced. info/signup to register for programs.

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents Mindful Chair Yoga on Aug. 17 at 11 a.m., Drop-In Tech Help on Aug. 17 from 2 to 3 p.m., Friday Outside Storytime on Aug. 18 at 10 a.m., Storytime at the Community Garden (400 Nuttall Road) on Aug. 22 at 9 a.m. and All in the Family Genealogy Club on Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrary. org/events.

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Battery charges for man who grabbed women’s buttocks North Riverside police charged a 36-year-old Cicero man with two counts of battery and two counts of disorderly conduct after he allegedly grabbed the buttocks of a woman inside Wendy’s, 7200 25th St., on Aug. 8 and slapping the buttocks of another woman outside Sally Beauty Supply, 7357 25th St., on April 11.

Police arrested the man at his home in Cicero after the victim and her mother identified him in a photo lineup conducted after the Aug. 8 incident.

The two women first encountered the man at the Social Security office at 7222 Cermak Road on Aug. 8, at which time he allegedly blew kisses at the victim.

Later, the women were in line at Wendy’s when the man reported approached one of them, hugged her and grabbed her buttocks before leaving the restaurant and riding away on his bicycle.

Police said the description of the man involved in the Aug. 8 incident was the same as an incident April 11 outside Sally Beauty Supply, about a block away. Police had obtained security video from that incident, which shows a man on a bicycle riding past a woman and slapping her buttocks.

The offender reportedly admitted to those actions in an interview with police after his arrest. Police also noted the man had been arrested in Cicero on Aug. 3, but did not detail what that incident was about.

Vehicle break-ins ■ North Riverside police responded to

the 2300 block of 17th Avenue at about 5:10 a.m. on Aug. 12 after a resident called to report that someone had entered her vehicle overnight.

The victim said she noticed the driver’s side door ajar when she went outside at 4 a.m. to take her husband to work. The vehicle had been rummaged through, according to police, but nothing appeared to be missing. The vehicle likely was left unlocked, the victim said.

■ A resident of the 2300 block of 17th Avenue in North Riverside called police

on the morning of Aug. 12 to report that someone had broken into her 2020 Kia overnight and had attempted to steal it.

According to the police report, the driver’s side window of the vehicle had been broken out and the steering column and ignition switch had been tampered with.

The victim also reported that her purse, which contained her driver’s license, state ID, passport and credit and debit cards, was missing.

A security camera reportedly captured video of someone wearing a hooded sweatshirt breaking into the car at around 2:30 a.m. Police also reported recovering a screwdriver entangled in a sweatshirt from the passenger seat of the vehicle.

Those items did not belong to the victim.

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These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Aug. 7-13, 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.

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DUI crash Brookfield police charged a 61-year-old LaGrange Park man with driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs after he allegedly drove his blue Chevy Equinox off the roadway and into a house in the 9300 block of Lincoln Avenue on Aug. 11 at 1:10 a.m.

When police arrived at the scene, they reported that the vehicle had snapped a stop sign and then drove through a fence into the gangway between two homes, striking the wall of one, and causing both exterior and interior damage. Other damaged items included a flagpole, a downspout and patio furniture.

Police reported recovering an open bottle of vodka from the back seat of the vehicle. The driver, who was not injured, also reportedly indicated he had taken a prescription opioid within the prior six hours.

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UNDERSTANDING TAXES WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER SIGNS THE PAYCHECK: PART I

any people work for a family member, whether it’s a child helping out at their parent’s shop or spouses running a business together. When someone is employed by a family member, the tax implications depend on the relationship and the type of business. It’s important for taxpayers and employers to understand their tax situation.

Married people in business together Generally a qualified joint venture whose only members are a married couple filing a joint return isn’t treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes.

Someone who works for their spouse is considered an employee if the first spouse makes the business’s management decisions and the second spouse is under the direction of the first spouse.

The wages for someone who works for their spouse are subject to income tax withholding and Social Security and Medicare taxes, but not to RITA tax.

Children employed by their parents If the business is a parent’s sole proprietorship or a partnership in which both partners are parents of the child: • Wages paid to a child of any age are subject to income tax withholding.

• Wages paid to a child age 18+ are subject to social security and Medicare taxes.

• Wages paid to a child age 21+ are subject to Federal Unemployment Tax.

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

Congressman, state rep tour RBHS, meet officials Want to learn more about issues facing public educators

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia and state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid stopped

by Riverside-Brookfield High School last week for a get-to-know-you visit.

School officials had invited Rashid (D-Bridgeview), a first-term state representative to come to the school and meet with top officials. Garcia (D-Chicago), who along with Rashid has been visiting area schools before the start of the school year and making the rounds at local municipal board meetings, decided to come along. Garcia and Rashid are longtime allies. It was their first visit to RBHS. Garcia and Rashid visited the school for approximately 90 minutes on Aug. 9. They met with Superintendent Kevin Skinkis and school board President Deanna Zalas, who gave them a tour of the school.

They also talked in the school’s conference room and met briefly with Principal Hector Freytas and the rest of the school’s administrative team, who were in the midst of the training session.

“The discussion was about adequacy of state and federal funding,” Zalas said.

“We briefed them on the zoo [strategic planning] project, our cooperation with the zoo and then we talked about the upcoming school year.”

Rashid was surprised that the gate to the school’s faculty parking lot was locked when he and Garcia arrived at RBHS. Skinkis explained that Brookfield Zoo owns the lot and only rents it to the

PHOTO COURTESY OF RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (second from left) and state Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid (third from left) take a tour of Riverside-Brookfield High School on Aug. 9, guided by school board President Deanna Zalas (far left) and Superintendent Kevin Skinkis (far right). school during the school year.

Skinkis and Zalas briefed Rashid and Garcia on the ongoing discussions Skinkis has been having with zoo officials.

RBHS has long sought to gain control over the athletic fields between the school building and Brookfield Zoo, which are also owned by the zoo.

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Because the zoo uses the fields for overflow parking, RBHS at times cannot use the fields for games and vehicle tires chew up the area, making the surface unusable or unsafe. Skinkis said that Rashid was interested in the issues with the zoo.

“It was a nice visit,” Skinkis said.

Rashid said the visit was part of his

ongoing effort to learn about education issues faced by schools in his district.

“For me, the purpose was to really learn more about the needs of schools and public education in my district,” Rashid said. “Meeting superintendents is a fantastic source of information and insights on education issues.”

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

Pressure pays off for music supporters at RBHS After outcry, administration restores class load for choir teacher

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

After a summer of pressure by music supporters at Riverside-Brookfield High School choir teacher Kayley Smetana is back and teaching the same three choir classes that she taught last year.

In the spring, Smetana’s teaching load had been cut to just one class and many music students and their parents feared she would leave RBHS. For three consecutive school board meetings over the summer, music parents, alumni, students and some community allies, turned out in force, imploring the school board to fund three full-time music teachers at RBHS. Last week, the school board approved increasing Smetana’s teaching load this year to three classes, up from the one that she was given last spring. That is still shy of the five classes that a full-time teacher teaches, so this year Smetana, who is starting her third year at the school, will be paid $39,344.46 as a teacher.

She will also earn $21.50 an hour working as a study hall supervisor and also will be

paid $930 to serve as the faculty sponsor of the A Capella Club.

The administration freed up two classes for Smetana by splitting the jazz band class into two sections and having the school’s other music teachers, James Baum and Matthew Loeb team teach the symphonic band class.

Those adjustments mirrored recommendations made by music supporters and came after three music advocates met with Superintendent Kevin Skinkis, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Kylie Lindquist and school board president Deanna Zalas on Aug. 1.

Skinkis and Zalas said that the decision to increase Smetana’s teaching load was made prior to the meeting.

While the music supporters are happy Smetana will again teach all three choir classes, they said that they would continue to press school officials for three full-time music teachers.

“The work is not over because we want her to be full time,” said Lisa Janunas, the president of the RBHS Music and Theater Sponsors parent organization. “We still

have work to do.”

After the open portion of the school board meeting ended on Aug. 8, school board member Bill Durkin briefly spoke to music advocates.

“Thank you for making us aware,” Durkin told the five music supporters.

Music advocate Kara Kesselring said the summer of advocacy and organizing had been empowering.

“It’s been nice rallying the community,” Kesselring said. “It feels powerful and awesome.”

School officials have always maintained that staffing decisions are driven by enrollment and that the only way RBHS can support three full-time music teachers is to increase enrollment in music classes.

“I think we had a good discussion with them, and they understand the number of enrolled students need to increase,” Zalas said of the meeting with the music supporters.

Zalas said that bumping up Smetana to three classes this year gives music supporters more time to work to increase interest in music classes among younger students.

Skinkis said music teachers at RBHS must build interest in the program.

“They need to continue to work to build enthusiasm for the music program so that we can sustain numbers that warrant the [staffing], or if those numbers could go up maybe we can add more,” Skinkis said The 35 students who signed up for Jazz Band are being split into two sections, an Honors Jazz Ensemble led and taught by Baum and the Jazz Band taught by Loeb.

The symphonic band class to be cotaught by Baum and Loeb has 47 students in it the first semester but will drop to 36 students second semester.

The three choir classes that Smetana will teach -- Chamber Choir, Concert Choir and Madrigal Singers -- will have a combined enrollment of 67 students this semester.

Smetana did not respond to a request for comment from the Landmark.

Other music classes being taught this year are Concert Marching Band, Honors Chamber Orchestra, Honors Wind Ensemble, Rock Band, String Orchestra and two classes in studio music production.

RBHS marching band picked for Chicago Thanksgiving parade For what is believed to be the first time ever the Riverside-Brookfield High School marching band will march in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day parade this November.

“We’re excited to represent our community to the larger Chicago community,” said RBHS band director James Baum. “It’s a huge thing for us.

The kids are all really excited, the parents are really excited and hopefully the community will turn out and cheer us on from the sidelines.”

In June, a representative from the parade invited Baum to submit an application for the RBHS band to march in the parade. The application consisted of submitting videos of the band marching and photos of the band in their uniforms.

Baum was recently notified that the band was selected to march in the parade.

The parade will take place from 8 to 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23. The band will march down State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street.

Lisa Janunas, the president of the RBHS Music and Theater Sponsors Board, was excited to hear the news that the band will march in the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“We are thrilled that RB’s marching band has been invited to perform in the 2023 Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade,” Janunas was quoted as saying in a press release RBHS issued about the news. “It’s a point of pride to have the marching band represent our school in this high profile, regional event. There’s nothing like performing outside of the school campus to create lasting memories as students, musicians and representatives of the Riverside and Brookfield communities.”

For years the RBHS band has marched in the Von Steuben Day parade in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago and will do so again this year. This year’s Von Steuben Day parade is on Sept. 9. The parade begins at 2 p.m. at 4100 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

— Bob Skolnik

FILE

The RBHS marching band performing during the homecoming halftime show at Riverside Brookfield High School in 2021.

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Growing Community Media hires editor We have big news to share from Growing Community Media.

We have hired an editor to lead our newsroom, to mentor our newsroom staff and to guide our efforts to grow our reporting and widen our ways of telling stories.

Erika Hobbs is a veteran editor and reporter who has worked in the newsrooms of goodsized regional dailies (Orlando and Baltimore), at national publications and in digital newsroom startups. She has also been an editor ERIKA HOBBS with Patch, a hyperlocal news project, and she has worked toward the launch of her own local digital newsroom called Citizen Grit covering Chicago Heights. Her reporting focus has been in education, equity and social justice. She also has expertise in running investigative projects.

Erika is also active as a member of national journalism organizations including the Poynter Institute, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) and Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS).

We have been planning to add this position for a year and began actively searching for the right person to fill this new post this spring. We have talked to many talented journalists. But in interviews with our editorial staff, with input from members of our board, Erika was our clear choice.

She’ll join us this week and we cannot be more excited.

With Erika leading our newsroom, my role as publisher at Growing Community Media will refocus on growing the organization particularly on our philanthropic and advertising sides.

This is a big, bold moment for GCM as we continue to build a new model for community news that is sustainable for years to come and which always builds connections in the communities we cover.

Always feel free to reach out to either one of us with a question, concern or suggestion.

I’m at dhaley@wjinc.com. Erika is Erika@ GrowingCommunityMedia.org.

With thanks.

Dan Haley Publisher Growing Community Media

Brookfield church is gone, but legacy lives on in food pantry Proceeds from Faith Lutheran’s sale in April paid off Share Food Share Love’s mortgage

no, who at first used the rear of the warehouse while the food pantry operated in the front two-thirds.

Now, Share Food Share Love plans to expand into the rear space after paying off the mortgage outright in April. They raised the funds by selling the Faith Lutheran Church property, which Share Food Share Love acquired in late 2022 when it was donated to the 501c3 charity by the congregation.

By BOB UPHUES “When we decided that we had no further options and that Editor we were going to need to close, we had a congregational meetA decade ago, the small congregation at Faith Lutheran ing and voted to turn the proceeds of the building over to the food pantry,” Dumas said. “And that went back to the fact that Church in Brookfield could see the warning signs.

The number of active congregants had dwindled to about in 2013, that [legacy] had been our goal.”

Share Food Share Love Food 50, and it was unlikely that Pantry is a robust operation trend was going to reverse itstaffed entirely by volunteers, self. The conversation turned including pantry manager to creating a legacy, one that Dumas; her husband, John, would keep the spirit of Faith who is the administrative diLutheran Church alive, if rector; and her daughter, Jesonly in their memories. sie Meyer, one of two pantry In 2015, they opened the coordinators. John and JesShare Food Share Love Food sie are also on the nonprofit’s Pantry in the basement of board of directors. the church at 3801 Madison You’ll find volunteers there Ave. Eight years later, Faith just about every Tuesday and Lutheran Church is no more, Friday morning, when main but its legacy mission grows deliveries from the Greater stronger by the day.

Chicago Food Depository, of “The biggest part is really which Share Food Share Love getting food to people and is an affiliate, arrive. maybe some non-food items The food pantry also rethey can’t always get,” said ceives weekly deliveries of Linda Dumas, a former Faith food and other items, like Lutheran congregant who flowers, from Trader Joe’s in serves as the pantry manager LaGrange. Food pantry volfor Share Food Share Love. unteers also regularly collect “We’re always looking for food items placed in a drop ways to better serve the combox at Tischler Finer Foods in munity,” she added. “This Brookfield. Others call Linda was designed as a community Dumas to schedule drop offs pantry, not as a church pantry, at the pantry. She’ll even go that’s why it never had the to people’s homes to pick up church’s name on it. We do STEVE JOHNSTON donations herself. want to make sure we have a Marc Abraham, of Brookfield, sets up the cones outside of Food distribution takes positive presence and make place every Tuesday from 7 the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry to direct clients an impact in the community.” to 9 p.m. and Saturday mornIn November 2021, Share inside during the pantry’s distribution day on Aug. 12 at ings from 10 am. to noon.

Food Share Love made the 9030 Brookfield Ave. According to Linda Dumas, leap out of the church baseanywhere from eight to 20 ment – they’d outgrown the volunteers will be on hand to help register those seeking the small space – and into a 7,000-square-foot warehouse at 9030 pantry’s services and guide them through the main food distriBrookfield Ave. bution area.

The $325,000 purchase was financed by getting a $275,000 Some volunteers, like LaGrange Park resident Ken Bahl, mortgage from the property’s former owner, Julius Sparaci- work mainly behind the scenes, accepting deliveries and shelv-

The Landmark, August 16, 2023 ing items. Bahl was not a Faith Lutheran Church member.

He found out about the food pantry because his daughter lived near the church.

Before moving to LaGrange Park, Bahl had lived for many years in Oak Park and donated to a local food pantry there every holiday season.

When he went to the church one day to make a donation, he found the door locked.

On the door, however, was a sign with Share Food Share Love’s website address. After visiting the site, he decided he wanted to volunteer.

“People always say you get more out of it than you put in,” said Bahl. “That’s the case here. Even though I’m helping someone else out, I feel like I’m doing more for myself in a lot of ways.”

Around 40 families are served at each distribution day, said Linda Dumas. People take a number as they arrive and then sit in a waiting room at the front of the building.

Those who haven’t used the pantry before are registered, and clients – Dumas said they are starting to use the term “neighbors” because that’s how they want those coming to the pantry to feel – are called by number into the main pantry to “shop” for items.

People grab a shopping cart – many donated by Tischler’s – and are guided by a

STEVE JOHNSTON

Kathleen Hennelly, of Riverside, gets some instructions from pantry manager Linda Dumas (right) prior to the start of distribution day on Aug. 12 at the Share Food Share Love Food Pantry in Brookfield. volunteer past tables stocked with non-perishable items, like canned and dried beans, mac and cheese and peanut butter, picking items they want.

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They then pass by about a dozen refrigerators and freezers lining the walls, where they can find items like eggs, milk, meat and cheese. On more tables there’s

9

an assortment of bread and fresh produce – which, at this time of year, includes vegetables from local gardens.

There’s yet more items in the back with perishable items stocked in an enormous walk-in fridge/freezer donated and custom built by the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

The next phase, now that Share Food Share Love owns the building free and clear, is to move storage to the rear and increase the “store” space. Linda Dumas said they’d like to create more aisles to mimic a grocery store setup.

When her husband, John, took on the role of administrative director, Linda Dumas was still working full-time and told him not to expect her there very often.

“The second time I was here, I was hooked,” said Linda, who is now retired.

“You can actually see the impact you make on people, when you talk to the client who came in. … Often they say to us, ‘We’ve gone to other pantries and you are by far the nicest.’ And that’s what we push, treating people with dignity, always being nice.”

The message of the food pantry is summed up, Bahl said, by the Share Food Share Love sign now affixed to brick front of the warehouse.

“The sign out front tells the whole story,” Bahl said. “It’s been a great thing.”

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

LaGrange group seeks volunteers to help complete mural project Community Center artwork celebrates diversity of village’s east side

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

Since 1994, the CommUNITY Diversity Group of LaGrange’s mission has been to educate area residents on how the area’s diversity in racial, ethnic and religious affiliation of neighbors enriches the community.

Over the past three decades, the nonprofit has worked both to advocate for people of colors in the greater La Grange area and remind the majority white population of issues often facing them, whether due to racism, poverty or other isolating factors.

By hosting educational workshops with schools, elected officials and civic groups, annual Diversity Days featuring movie screenings and discussion on race, the annual “Race Unity Rally” each September at LaGrange Village Hall and sponsoring small educational scholarships for children who complete community service hours for area agencies in need, the organization involves LaGrange residents, representatives from local churches and friends from neighboring Brookfield and LaGrange Park.

In an effort to create a permanent visual reminder of the beauty of that diversity, CommUNITY Diversity Group of La Grange, or CDG, is in the midst of creating

a large mosaic mural at The Community Center, 200 S. Washington Ave., operated by the Park District of LaGrange.

The Community Center — a beloved historic facility that offers park district programming and hosts everything from baby and wedding showers to family reunions, church services and after-school programs — lies smack-dab in the middle of what the organization calls “the culturally rich east side of LaGrange.”

Nancy Bramson, a Brookfield resident who has been a member of CDG for the past five years, says the location encapsulates the past, present and future of the neighborhood, and is exactly what the group was looking for in order to create a unique, community-driven permanent art installation telling the story of the historic neighborhood.

“The Community Center neighborhood in the mid-20th century was a majority African American neighborhood, due in large part to redlining,” she said.

“It is a historic neighborhood that has been home to many local activists and leaders, and has always been a proud, self-sufficient and vital contributor to the distinctiveness of this extraordinary community — despite its long history of disinvestment, discrimination and segregation.”

In 2021, through research and interviews of residents, CDG created the African Americans in Early La Grange Walking Tour, and in 2022, the CDG’s CommUNITY Arts Committee launched the mural project as just another new way of bringing more awareness both to the Community Center and the neighborhood.

PROVIDED

Above, CommUNITY Mosaic Project design brainstorming workshop participants.

Below left, a rendering of one of the eight panels that will tell the story of the neighborhood.

“The Arts Committee uses a consensus decision-making process to ensure the content presented to the public is representative of residents and the mosaic project’s mission and vision of bringing unity to the LaGrange area through the power of art by building relationships through collaborative art projects and engaging activities,” Bramson said.

This past spring, with guidance from the Green Star Movement — a Chicagobased public art initiative with the purpose of revitalizing urban neighborhoods through teamwork — CDG held two design workshops, bringing together more than 30 participants and yielding an eight-panel design sharing the story of the community as told by the community.

With a theme titled “The Community Center: Past-Present-Future,” the project will focus on collective images which are currently being turned into panels to be tiled by volunteers.

From discussions at the design workshops, imagery of a tree was a common theme, and decided upon as being the thread that connects the mural. The overall design will begin with roots, continue with community connections, or outstretched hands, and end with a fruit tree. Other elements will be unveiled when the mural is completed this fall.

According to Bramson, feedback from the design workshops proved that the project has been a positive community

experience.

“Some expressed that they were inspired, uplifted and enlightened,” she said. “Community perspectives were valued, and we all learned a little something about each other.”

For lifelong LaGrange resident Bernadine Sims, getting involved in the mural project was a no-brainer. Not only does she descend from the first Black family who moved into LaGrange, but she lives in a home on one of the family’s original properties on the village’s east side.

“I wanted to get involved because it’s a beautifying point,” she said. “A lot of the community takes part in activity at the center, and to have something pretty there that reminds them of the unity that we’re trying to incorporate in the area is a good thing.”

Though the workshops included mostly LaGrange and Brookfield participants, for its upcoming tile-laying workshops in August and September, CDG is recruiting widely and welcomes residents from all neighboring communities with the goal of making new friends all while becoming a part of a community art story.

Workshops will be held Aug. 22 through Aug. 30 and Sept. 9 at the Community Center. All are one-hour sessions open to participants over the age of 9. Interested participants must register for time slots at tinyurl.com/bdk85x6u For more information about CDG, visit communitydiversity.org.

The Landmark, August 16, 2023

DEVELOPMENT

Public hearing on tap from page 1

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which will go through the same process.

Plans for the 20,000-square-foot building show four two-bedroom apartments on each floor with the smallest (the rear two groundfloor units) at 852 square feet and the largest (the front two units on the second and third floors) at 1,360 square feet.

All of the units have two bathrooms, except for the two ground-floor units at the rear of the building, which have one, according to the plans on file. All of the units feature walk-in closets and open-plan kitchen/living areas.

A one-story extension for the covered onsite parking area is to the south almost to the east-west alley. There are 14 vehicle parking spaces shown on the plans, along with parking for a handful of bicycles.

The roof of the extension is proposed as a common open-air gathering area with seat-

It’s a company that appears to have jumped into Brookfield with both feet all at once in early 2022, buying three six-unit apartment buildings in the 4500 and 4600 blocks of Grove Avenue that January before Fairclough’s Pima Property Group bought the Burlington Avenue property that February for $385,000.

Three Green Vegetables LLC acquired 8845 Burlington Ave. via quit claim deed on Feb. 28, 2022.

Elevations of the proposed apartment building, which are part of the planned development application on file with the village, depict an apartment block with a main entrance on the Burlington Avenue façade.

The front two-thirds of the building is shown as having a 3-foot setback on the north, east and west sides, with the parking structure reaching from lot line to lot line on the east and west.

Haleas, who submitPROVIDED ted the planned development application, Plans submitted to the village call for a 12-unit apartment said he and his partner building with an enclosed rear parking structure supporting a went that route, rather rooftop deck for residents. than simply seeking several zoning variations, because of the substantial size of the ing areas, potted trees and plants. proposed building.

Plans also indicate that the developers are “We want to explain what the development requesting the village allow them to add four is all about rather than doing it piecemeal, to diagonal parking spaces by cutting out a secaddress all of the issues holistically,” Haleas tion of the public parkway on the east side of told the Landmark in a phone interview. “I Forest Avenue. believe this is a significant upgrade on the With the plan calling for 12 units, the adprevious project [which the village board ap- ditional diagonal parking would appear to proved in July 2021].” allow the development to meet the zoning The Brookfield Planning and Zoning Com- district’s parking requirements. mission will conduct a public hearing on the However, the building type itself is not preliminary planned development applica- allowed in the zoning district, an issue the tion on Aug. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Brookfield Vil- Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commislage Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. sion had with the prior development. The Any member of the public wishing to pro- zoning district calls for townhomes, and the vide comment may do so at the hearing or prior project’s architect had to change the prior to it by emailing correspondence to design in order to create more ground-floor Village Planner Kate Portillo at kportillo@ entrances to give it a more “townhome” feel. brookfieldil.gov.

The Canopy as presented is massed like The Brookfield Village Board will have the a traditional apartment block, with a main final say on whether to approve the prelimi- front entrance. There are no other groundnary application, which would then trigger floor entrances except for access through the a final planned development application, enclosed parking area to the rear.

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The Landmark, August 16, 2023

‘Barbenheimer’ provides a big lift for local cinemas

The movie theater is everything again.

Streaming is just Ken

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

Margot Robbie.

“Barbie” has been quite popular with audiences at the North Riverside Luxury 6, too, amassing $116,042 in ticket sales to date. “Oppenheimer” is not playing in North Riverside, due to a limited number of screens. Jason Ibarra, the Luxury 6 assistant manager, contributed to Lake Theatre’s “Oppenheimer” sales by catching the film over there.

Ibarra has been too busy to see “Barbie” but plans to as soon as he can. Nor is he the only man taking an interest in what could easily be written off as a “chick flick.”

While the Landmark was interviewing a mother and daughter about to see “Barbie” in North Riverside, both in matching “Barbie” T-shirts, a male moviegoer interjected his thoughts on the movie that reportedly caused a shortage of pink paint.

“It’s a good movie,” Mario Agatti told the mother and daughter.

“Barbie” has been a family viewing experience for many, including Agatti, who also saw it with his own daughter – and did

TODD A. BANNOR

Buzz doesn’t even begin to cover the exMoviegoers dressed as Barbie outside the Lake Theatre in Oak Park on July 22, before citement surrounding “Barbie” and “Opviewing the new film. penheimer.” The atmosphere of anticipation generated by the movies and their just for women. It’s women’s empower- ple out of theaters. From Labor Day 2022 shared July 21 release date could only be to the present, more than 3.8 million people ment, but it’s still a good show.” described as a roar.

Diaz played with Barbie dolls growing have seen shows at its theaters.

The cinematic spectacle of the two pic“We’ve been selling more than we have up, then passed them onto her daughter. tures has resurrected the movie theater Now 11-years-old, Diaz’s daughter had for years and years, and then you lay over experience, raking in a combined $235.5 that the ‘Barbenheimer’ success, and it’s been waiting all day for her mom to get off million at the box office over opening just been invigorating,” said Johnson. work, so they could go see the movie. weekend. But are local theaters feeling Their shared release date and the pubA resurgence in movie theater ticket that success? sales has been a blessing for movie mak- lic’s giddiness has positioned “Barbie” and “Absolutely. And then some,” said Chris ers and theaters alike, as both struggled “Oppenheimer” movies not as competitors, Johnson, CEO of Classic Cinemas, the to draw audiences back to cinema’s post- but as partners, giving rise to the “BarbenIllinois-based, family-run theater chain, heimer” portmanteau and making for one pandemic shutdown. which operates the North Riverside LuxuNow, thanks in no small part to strange double feature, immortalized in inry 6 at North Riverside Park Mall.

“Barbie” and to a slightly lesser ex- ternet history through memes and silly so“Barbie,” currently playing at tent “Oppenheimer,” the fear of the cial media posts. Those involved in the films all 16 Classic Cinemas movie thehave joined in the fun as well, publicly supmovies being another casualty of aters, had brought in $1.32 million COVID-19 feels less acute. “Oppen- porting their cinematic counterparts. for the company as of last week.

“Oppenheimer” star Cillian Murphy heimer” director Christopher Nolan “Oppenheimer,” and its considersaid he couldn’t wait to see “Barbie” and agrees. able three-hour runtime, has gen“I think for those of us who care was interested in starring as a Ken doll in erated $429,038 for Classic Cineabout movies, we’ve been really wait- its unconfirmed-but-hoped-for sequel. Robmas, playing in 13 of its locations. ing to have a crowded marketplace bie, who easily stepped into her character’s Even Classic Cinemas’ smaller again, and now it’s here and that’s plastic high heels, posed with “Barbie” ditheaters are doing big numbers, rector Greta Gerwig in front of an “OppenCOURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURE - © 2023 - WARNER BROS terrific,” Nolan told media publicaproving there’s still room for movheimer” poster, showing off their tickets to tion IGN. ie theaters in the age of stream- Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie in Barbie.

Adding to the bomb and “Barbie” the historical drama. ing. Lake Theatre in Oak Park has The opposing narratives of the films, one blockbuster experience, Classic Cinmade $113,978 and $45,355 in ticket sales to so wearing a pink shirt, which has become emas has been investing in its theaters, starring a beloved or infamous toy, dependdate for “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” re- something of an unofficial requirement. with the addition of alcoholic beverages ing on who you ask, and the other about the spectively.

Katrina Diaz, the maternal half of the at concession stands and replacing tra- creation of the atomic bomb, inexplicably “We’ve been sold out since they came mother-daughter duo seeing “Barbie,” ap- ditional seats in the company’s theaters complement each other, not unlike mixing out,” said Taylor Griffin, who works the preciates that more men than expected with luxury, heated recliners, which are M&M candy into movie theater popcorn. box office at Lake Theatre. are seeing the film, which has been alter- available at both Lake Theatre and Luxury Explosions of pink married to literal explosions – that’s the magic of “Barbenheimer.”

Griffin admitted she’s seen “Barbie” natingly praised and criticized for its pro- 6 Theatre.

“It’s really resonating with people,” three times, but she’s not the only one en- feminist theme.

Johnson said Classic Cinemas is doing amored with the feature film featuring the “I love that men can come see it and put better this year than it did in 2019, just be- Johnson said. “And we’re just happy to be tiny-waisted, long-legged doll played by their pride to the side,” said Diaz. “It’s not fore the threat of viral infection drove peo- a part of it.”

Opinion THE LANDMARK VIEW

The heart of education

S

tudents, parents and alumni appear to have successfully pressured administrators at Riverside-Brookfield High School to find a way to increase the number of classes for a music teacher whose position had been cut to just one class for the 2023-24 school year.

The argument for reducing the teaching load for that particular faculty member was that enrollment is down across the board in music and the number of teachers has to align with the amount of interest.

That can be a compelling argument for administrators who are constantly weighing what they can offer versus what they have to spend to make it happen.

But we’d also argue that when it comes to education in the arts and humanities, dropping enrollments can also be viewed as the legacy of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

There is a much wider trend, which we are now seeing play out in states across the nation, to strangle what used to be considered the foundation of a liberal education.

Higher education has been, over a long period now, tailored to view its role as a training ground for minting the latest wave of corporate employees, vocational schools for the business sector – the value of an academic major being weighed on its ability to provide a new graduate with the money necessary to pay off the exorbitant loan payments with their attendant usurious interest rates.

There’s been some movement at the high school level, at least locally, to not view secondary education as preparation for that version of higher education. RBHS is exploring ways, for example, to provide its students with real world experience to enable them to move directly into a chosen profession.

While we have conditioned ourselves to think the result of education ought simply to be a job, that’s incredibly shortsighted from a nation whose very democratic foundation requires a citizenry that is educated and able to think critically about the reality it encounters.

That ability comes through an education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences – one that values critical thinking above all else. We have to resist the self-serving corporate view of education as their training ground.

While certainly students with solid educations in the liberal arts make fine corporate employees, that’s a secondary benefit.

The first is to ensure that we have a population capable of governing itself by being able to think critically enough to avoid being manipulated by those interested in profiting from a poorly educated populace.

So, good for RBHS in finding a way to at least maintain the status quo when it comes to music education. Perhaps the administration can increase their own efforts at promoting those offerings and others in the liberal arts to counteract falling enrollment in the future.

The Landmark, August 16, 2023

13

KOSEY CORNER

Back home again on Selborne Road

W

ell, finally after six and a half months, I am back on Selborne Road. Trust me, it hasn’t been an easy six and a half months, spending time at MacNeal Hospital, The Woodlands at Cantata and the rehab center at Cantata.

So here goes for today’s trek home -- a trip I wasn’t sure I was going to make.

There had been whispers that Aug. 14 was the day, but nobody told me definitely.

Around 10 a.m. they told me they were going to transport me at 11 a.m.

Hey, that means I’ll miss my lunch which would have come between 11:30 a.m. and noon. It sounded pretty good also, a barbeque pork sandwich.

So came the announcement, “They’re here to pick you up.” Don’t I get a chance to put everything together? No, that’s where the aides came in armed with large plastic bags and proceeded to pack everything. I grabbed my purse so I could put my “valuables” like my York Peppermint Patty bars and a few other things.

Now here comes the transport team, both of them guaranteeing they had done this 1,000 times, although

I don’t think they were old enough to achieve that number. So, I close my eyes, give my body and, on a count of 1, 2, 3, I’m moved.

The kids were stronger than they looked.

Safely in the ambulance we go to Riverside and home. I must say the timing was perfect as we opened the doors of Cantata -- thunder and rain. Poor me, now we were all wet. The ambulance service didn’t have anything to put over me, so I arrived to Selborne Road sopping wet but finally home. Another flip onto the hospital bed, now a wet bed but one at home.

While it may have seemed that there was time for a damp nap, no such luck as it was time for a visit from the service that would be helping us at home.

The good thing about being home, and there are many -- I can have more visitors or wave to you as you pass the house. I’ve missed seeing outside.

Those of you who have sent cards, thank you and if you think I don’t know who you are, I do. Too bad I wasn’t able to use the flower purse this year.

Thanks, Jeri.

Now, and I mean it, it’s time for a little snooze.

LETTERS

soften the space.

We lost so many trees to the cyclone that tore through North Riverside, some of that canopy needs to be replaced. The trees torn down to make room for the Komarek construction need to be replaced. Finishing the project by covering the entire footprint of Komarek’s property with black tar asphalt seems to me to be a disrespectful way of considering the space we live in as children, villagers and people.

Now we have a large heatsink of black tar at the east end for parking spaces to absorb and radiate heat, and a runway along the south side of the building for cars to line up like at a terminal at O’Hare.

While I appreciate the start with the five trees we have now, a fair bit more landscaping can and should be incorporated to the property. Now that the heavy lifting of the construction is out of the way, can we please find a bit of time and budget to make room for some more trees and greenery that will grow to honor and shelter Komarek and the children and educators who go there?

Ross LeMesurier, North Riverside

JOANNE KOSEY

Replace trees lost to Komarek construction As I live a block away from the school, I wish to commend the construction planners and crews who have brought Komarek into the 21st century. On the whole, the work has progressed quickly and quietly, for this we are thankful.

But now as the final shape of the school is coming into focus, I am distressed by how much we have traded trees and gardens for black tar and parking spaces. The five new trees that have been planted seem like an afterthought in the conception of the Komarek remodel.

Before the project, there were three smaller trees on 12th Avenue alone, and 24th Street had the massive shade trees and a garden hard up by the school wall to

14

The Landmark, August 16, 2023

Frank A. Aznar, 65 Riverside resident Frank A. Aznar, 65, of Riverside, died Aug. 6, 2023 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

He was the son of Haydee Porro and the late Jose Aznar, the husband of Rocio and the father of Haydee (Cameron) Harati and Frankie Aznar.

Visitation is Thursday, Aug. 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Friday, Aug. 18, from 11 a.m. until time of services at 12:30 p.m., at Ivins/ Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. at St. Leonard Church in Berwyn, followed by interment at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Stickney.

Delores Clark, 92 Nurse became pilot Delores “Dee” Clark, of North Riverside, died July 30, 2023 at 92 years of age.

Delores was born to Georgia and Alex Fairley in Roberts, Illinois. She attended a one-room school in Roberts, graduated from Roberts Township High School in 1948 and West Suburban School of Nursing in 1951.

She returned to college as an emptynester and graduated from the College of St. Francis in 1982 with a B.S. in public health.

Dee married James Clark in 1953. She worked at Hines Hospital, Amoco Research, the Medical Surgical Department at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet, and -- for 16 years -- at the Grundy County Health Department. Dee became a pilot in 1971.

Dee was active in her church and volunteered at the Rialto Square Theatre for 15 years. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, knitting, scrapbooking, gardening, and most of all spending time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was a member of the International Flying Nurses association; VFW Post 1824 Auxiliary in Glen Ellyn; and the NinetyNines, an international organization for women pilots.

Dee was preceded in death by Jim, her husband of 65 years. She is survived by their three sons, Michael (Anita Houck), Jay (Janell) and Tim (Tara); nine grandchildren, Justin (Lauren), Jaclyn McKay (Alan), Jason (Aleksandra), Jenna (Kevin) Emery, Caitlin, Haven, Joshua, Caleb, and Hope; and nine great-grandchildren, Mila, Adaiah, Harvey, Seth, Grant, Peter,

OBITUARIES Brooks, Reese, and Rhet. She is also survived by brothers Earl Fairley and Merle Fairley (Cathy).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to BSF international at BSFInternational.com, Conference Point Center at lgyc.org or Roberts Gym, ℅ Debbie Burns, 106 W. Weldon St., Roberts, IL 60962.

A memorial service will be held at Calvary Memorial Church of Oak Park, 931 Lake St., on Saturday, Aug. 26, at 10 a.m.

Russell A. Chorley, 87 Worked at Lyons Township High School Russell A. Chorley, 87, of LaGrange Park, died Aug. 9, 2023.

Mr. Chorley was proud of his hard work in supporting his family. In his early years, he worked as head pasteurizer at Willow Farm Dairy in Brookfield. After serving as part owner of Riverside Mobil Gas Station, he worked for 17 years as the dock supervisor at Lyons Township High School’s South Campus in Western Springs, retiring in 1995.

He was the husband of Betty Ann Chorley (nee Komerska), his lifelong high school sweetheart of 68 years, whom he met at Farragut High School in Chicago; the father of Russell A. (Gina) Chorley Jr. and Jeffrey (Allison) Chorley; the grandfather of Amanda, Jessica (Brian), Katherine, Andrew (Kat) and Jennifer (JT); the brother of Margot, Lee (Joyce), the late Dennis and Edith; and the uncle and great uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Services and interment are private. Interment is at Clarendon Hills Cemetery, Darien.

Memorials appreciated to Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care, 2800 Desplaines Ave., North Riverside, 60546 Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Send sympathy cards to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Russell Chorley family.

Helene A. James, 87 Retired law secretary Helene A. James (nee Stanek), 87, of Brookfield, died Aug. 7, 2023 at her Brookfield home.

Ms. James was born July 1, 1936 in Chicago. She worked as a secretary for a law firm before retiring.

She had a great love of animals and enjoyed traveling, playing poker and watching football and the Kentucky Derby. Helene was a kind and selfless person who had an impact on everyone who knew her.

Helene had a deep love for her family and friends and always took the time to have meaningful talks with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She shared her wisdom and insight to teach these important life lessons and for that her family will be forever grateful.

Helene touched the lives of many and will be greatly missed by all those who knew her.

She was the wife of the late Curtis A. James Sr.; the mother of Debra L. (Chris Straka) James, Curtis A. (Efi) James Jr. and the late Sharon L. James; the grandmother of Kelly (Bill Schurman) Andrews, Larry (Robyn) Andrews Jr., John (Rose) Andrews, Christal (Andrew) Beyer, Matthew James, Joanna James; the great grandmother of Breann Andrews, Haley Andrews, Madelyn Andrews, Pearl Beyer, Gabriel Beyer and Avery Andrews; the sister of Gail Stanek Koziel; and a sister-inlaw to many.

Services have been held. Interment was at All Saints Polish National Catholic Cemetery, Chicago.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

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

Charles L. Olson, 83 Worked for GM for 31 years Charles L. “Chuck” Olson died May 16, 2023, surrounded by loving family in his home in Boise, Idaho, at the age of 83.

Chuck was born in Chicago in 1939 to Tage and Amanda (nee Grafstrom) Olson. He attended Bryn Mawr Elementary School and Chicago Vocational High School in Chicago.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from General Motors Institute, learning everything from the shop where his father once worked all the way to engineering design and production. He received a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota and completed the management program at the University of Illinois.

In 1961, Chuck married his junior high school sweetheart, Bonnie (nee Bohne) Olson. Together they raised three children, Kurt, Christine and Karen, in Riverside.

Following his 31-year career with General Motors, Chuck and Bonnie took advantage of an early retirement offer and moved to Boise. There Chuck had the opportunity at Morrison Knudsen to assist in refurbishing the locomotives he had originally been involved in building.

This new experience eventually took them on a year-long adventure living in southwest France where he helped build an all-electric high-speed train. They spent another two years in Hornell, New York, seeing it to fruition, and finally returned to Boise to retire.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children Kurt (Jan) Olson, Christine (Craig) Chvatal and Karen (Mark) Binder; grandchildren Jake and Eric Chvatal and Megan and Lauren Binder. Survivors also include many cousins in the U.S. and Sweden.

A private celebration of life is planned for late summer.

Alan G. Strunc, 80 Retired high school teacher Alan George Strunc, formerly of North Riverside and Westchester, died peacefully on Aug. 2, 2023, at the age of 80 after a years’ long struggle with early onset dementia.

Mr. Strunc was born to John and Angeline Strunc on May 22, 1943 and spent his childhood and school years in North Riverside. He served his country in Vietnam from 1967-69 and returned grateful he made it home.

He completed his master’s degree in education and taught for over 25 years at J. Sterling Morton West High School in Berwyn. Mr. Strunc’s one true passion was spending every summer at his cabin in northern Wisconsin, honing his fishing skills and winning a few muskie tournaments along the way.

Mr. Strunc is survived by his wife of 30 years, Carol (nee Huebner). He was the stepfather of Robert (Stephanie) Metzger and Joanna (Carlos Torres) Metzger; the grandfather of Sebastian Torres; the brother of Bruce Strunc, Paul (Betie) Strunc and the late Richard (late Judy) Strunc; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews.

A memorial visitation is Friday, Aug. 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, 2447 Desplaines Ave., North Riverside.

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

Sports

The Landmark, August 16, 2023

15

Combo of youth, talent puts RBHS boys golf in good spot Coach calls team ‘youngest and most talented’ in years

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Joey Garvey and Ben Wilkowski are the lone seniors for one of the youngest Riverside-Brookfield High School boys golf lineups in years.

It’s also appearing to be one of the Bulldogs’ best.

The team’s first three tournament totals, including a first-place 322 at the Reavis Invite on Aug. 10, are better than any 18-hole team totals from 2022.

Four players have enjoyed best rounds of 80 or lower – Garvey (77), junior Brady McCallum (79), sophomore Connor Dominick (79) and junior Josh Udelson (80).

“This is by far the youngest and most talent-

ed of my teams in seven years at RB,” coach Jim Festle said. “A great goal this year would be for our team to advance to sectionals.”

In 2022, Garvey and Udelson were two of the Bulldogs’ four individual qualifiers for the IHSA Class 3A Conant Sectional after shooting 92s at the Payton Regional.

A three-sport athlete, Garvey also served as a team captain last season and was an individual sectional qualifier in 2021.

McCallum also was part of the Payton Regional lineup. More juniors who will see significant action are Michael Oppegard, Cal Milchhoefer, Ben O’Brien, Nate Stanard and Nick Ambrosia.

Dominick, Gavin Sharenow and Ronnie Murray from a promising sophomore class will see time in varsity matches as well.

RBHS finished 10th at the 18-team PaytonJones Invite (327) on Aug. 11, nine strokes from sixth, and shot 331 at the Oak Park and River Forest Invite on Aug. 12 at Indian Boundary.

This season’s revamped Metro Suburban Conference includes Elmwood Park, Ridgewood and Westmont.

IAN McLEOD

RBHS’ Cal Milchhoefer hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the Oak Park and River Forest High School Invitational at Indian Boundary Golf Course on Aug. 12.

LTHS volleyball returns strong lineup from regional champ squad Senior Maggie Kachmarik and her Lyons Township High School girls volleyball teammates tried something new this preseason.

The Lions collectively enjoyed a fun and productive time along with some conditioning on Aug. 11 at North Avenue Beach in Chicago.

“We got some volleyball ‘sisters’ within the program,” Kachmarik said. “We kind of got to know everybody so that was really good for the chemistry, too.”

The Lions graduated some familiar faces, but another solid core should help them continue riding the wave of success.

Five senior starters return, including two 2022 All-West Suburban Conference Silver Division selections – libero Kiley

Mahoney and fourth-year starting setter Abby Markworth, already committed to George Washington University.

The season opener is Aug. 15, after the Landmark’s print deadline, at South Campus against Lockport. With the North Campus fieldhouse under construction, home matches currently are at South Campus or the North Campus’ Vaughan wrestling gym.

“We have a really good returning group and also with the juniors. We also have a freshman, which is really exciting, people that are willing to step up and fill those spots,” Markworth said. “We’re excited to go out and see how we’re able to compete.”

Grace Turner, Anabelle Montgomery

and Kachmarik also were part of the starting rotation. Seniors Lydia Busker, Alita Folkening, Cat Niego, Sienna Olson, Abby Saunders and Laine Violante also are varsity returnees. Newcomers are senior Ava Buckendahl, juniors Kate Badrov, Reagan Farnan, Livia Metrik, Molly Ogden, Madeline Richard and Nina Wasz, and freshman Taylor Carroll.

The 2022 Lions finished 30-8 and captured their second straight IHSA Class 4A regional before losing 21-25, 25-23, 25-12 to Marist in the LT Sectional semifinals.

The 6-foot Markworth will be integral to a more balanced attack after LTHS graduated predominant hitters Kamryn Lee-Caracci (402 kills in 2022) and Grace Brennan (217).

Markworth has 1,750 career assists. She had 814 in 2022 with 78 kills, 188 digs and 49 total blocks.

Mahoney (team-best 348 digs) and Kachmarik (212) anchored last year’s back row. Mahoney added a team-best 42 aces with Kachmarik (34) and Markworth (29) close behind. Violante and Farnan will be among other defensive contributors.

The 6-2 Turner should have a breakout season after collecting 161 kills with team bests of a .310 attack percentage and 79 total blocks with 15 solos. Other offensive contributors should include middle Folkening and Montgomery (76 kills, 33 total blocks), Olson and the 6-1 Carroll on the outside.

— Bill Stone

16

S P O R T S

The Landmark, August 16, 2023

New look RBHS volleyball eyes league title in 2022 Bulldogs seek to improve on last year’s 13-20 record

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

As a returning player for the Riverside-Brookfield High School girls volleyball team, senior middle hitter Addie Blomgren senses a change approaching this season.

“Being a senior is part of it, for sure. It feels like a different energy,” Blomgren said. “It feels more positive. I just feel a lot more energy for this season than last season.”

The Bulldogs hope to build upon the 2022 success they had under coach Caitlin Staib-Lipinski in her first season.

Senior setter/hitter Annabel Krueger and junior outside hitter Sofia Owens, who both earned All-Metro Suburban Conference Red Division honors, senior defensive specialist Kelley Tyler and sophomore setter Claire Cameron also return, but otherwise the roster is relatively new.

Other players are senior Emily Organ, juniors Aimee Di Battista, Elaina Harazin, Natalie Koltz, Avery O’Shaughnessy and Tatiana Sanchez, sophomore Lucy Boyle and freshman Mackenzie Sloger.

The season begins with the Plainfield North Invite on Aug. 25-26.

“It’s more of like a fresh team because seven of our seniors left. It’s almost a whole new team,” Owens said.

“Definitely just winning conference [is the goal]. Last year, we just fell short by one game.”

BILL STONE

Kelley Tyler (from left), Annabel Krueger, Addie Blomgren and Sofia Owens The Bulldogs finished 13-20 in 2022, losing at Whitney Young 25-16, 25-19 in the Class 4A Young Regional semifinals.

They tied for first in the MSC Red with Bishop McNamara with 5-1 records, but the Irish were recognized as the champion by winning the head-to-head match. With all private schools leaving the MSC, this season’s conference consists of RBHS, Elmwood Park, Ridgewood and Westmont playing each other twice.

“We want to win conference and I still want to be the best serving team in the conference. Serving is the first line of attack,” Staib-Lipinski said. “We’re going to do everything we can to make sure we get further in the postseason.”

In her third varsity season, the 5-foot-11 Owens improved from 109 to a team-high 130 kills in 2022 and continued progressing offseason with 1st Alliance club action. Among MSC players, Owens ranked No. 5 in kills.

“The past two years I’ve always been close to being No. 1 in the conference in kills so this year I want to achieve that goal,” Owens said.

Krueger had a team-high 217 assists and Cameron 163 after joining the varsity in mid-season. That gives the Bulldogs options for a two-setter offense or using one as a hitter. Krueger collected 49 kills as a junior.

Krueger (32) and Owens (27) were among leaders in aces.

Krueger also hopes to expand her leadership role after being a co-captain last season with graduated Kira Conroy.

“I definitely want to contribute to the team with assists and kills, any way that I can, and just be a wellrounded player,” Krueger said.

The 6-1 Blomgren (54) and Owens (50) finished 1-2 in total blocks. After off-season work with 1st Alliance, Blomgren looks to well surpass last season’s 46 kills.

Tyler (117 digs) and Krueger (112) are the top defensive returnees. The Bulldogs graduated their top three dig leaders, including Conroy, who had a single-season school record 386.

“I’m just going to do my best and put everything I have onto the floor and hopefully that’s enough for my team,” Tyler said.

Organ, a three-sport athlete who will play softball at Bradley, rejoins the program after a one-season absence. The large junior class mostly formed last season’s junior varsity.

Sanchez and Di Battista should contribute in the back row. The 5-10 Sloger is showing promise as an outside hitter. Her parents played collegiately.

“I do consider us a young team, even though we do have more upperclassmen,” Staib-Lipinski said. “I’m really hoping our senior class with Emily steps up, positive leadership, really shows [the varsity newcomers] this is how we do Bulldog varsity.”

Covarrubias seeks third straight golf state meet berth RBHS girls hope team can finally break state barrier

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Riverside-Brookfield High School senior Mayan Covarrubias had an impressive second summer of Illinois Junior Golf Association tournament results.

Covarrubias won four consecutive titles, including par-72s at Cog Hill No. 3 and Jackson Park in Chicago.

“It was a really good summer, probably my best summer,” Covarrubias said. “I feel

like right now I’ve improved immensely on my short game.”

As Covarrubias seeks her third consecutive IHSA Class 2A individual state berth, she is even more excited about the team.

The Bulldogs return their other two 2022 individual sectional qualifiers -- junior Taryn Schultz and sophomore Lucia Vazzana.

With more varsity returnees in sophomore Tali Schultz, juniors Ellie Megall and Lucy Drenth and seniors Cassidy Erb and Kate Newberry, they also have the depth to contend for at least a sectional team berth.

Other varsity members are senior Jenna Schmidt and Sadie Springer and junior Ella Jurgens. In all, the 23 program mem-

bers are 15 returnees and eight freshmen.

In 2022, the Bulldogs’ 355 at the Shepard Regional missed out for the last team sectional spot on a fifth-score tiebreaker with Mother McAuley (93 to 99).

“This definitely is our best chance in my five years. Coming back with everybody returning and our depth, I think we have a great chance of breaking that barrier,” RBHS coach Doug Schultz said. “With Mayan, there’s no other way to say it than she’s the best female golfer in RB history.

You’re looking at someone who has the potential to be a top-10 golfer in the state.”

Covarrubias tied for 70th at state in 2022 with a 167 (84-83) but had to win a four-hole

playoff for the final berth out of the Hinsdale South Sectional after shooting 79.

At 2021 state, she shot 101 and missed the second-day cut.

“One hundred twenty percent that’s the goal. I’m hoping to make it to state,” Covarrubias said. “Hopefully I’ll have someone join me.”

Vazzana, last year’s No. 2 golfer, and the Schultz sisters (no relation to coach Schultz) will generally be the Bulldogs’ other counting scores.

“What’s great is our top four, if not six, are very competitive. They feed off each other,” coach Schultz said. “Everyone’s pushing to get better.”

The Landmark, August 16, 2023 17

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

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PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010865 on August 1, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of IMAGINATION STATION LEARNING CENTER with the business located at: 615 SOUTH BLVD C, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CASHMERE WIGGINS 615 SOUTH BLVD C OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA.

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE TO BIDDERS

bidder requesting the interpretation shall be responsible for its prompt delivery. At the request of the bidder, or in the event that the Village deems the interpretation to be substantive, the interpretation will be made by written addendum issued by the Village.

PUBLIC NOTICES ADVERTISEMENT FOR NOTIFICATION OF BID FOR PROVISO SCHOOL DISTRICT 209

Published in Wednesday Journal August 9, 16, 23, 2023

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

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

PUBLIC 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: Y23010902 on August 11, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of ACCURATE ASSISTANTS with the business located at: 2425 S 16TH AVE, BROADVIEW, IL 60155.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: SHANELLE MACK, 2425 S 16TH AVE BROADVIEW, IL 60155, USA Published in Forest Park Review August 16, 23, 30, 2023

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois that bid proposals will be received for the following project: VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING ROOF TRUSS REPAIRS This project includes improvements to the Village of Brookfield Public Works Building located at 4545 Eberly Avenue consisting of structural repairs to the existing building roof truss system.

Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, the 30th day of August, 2023, in the office of the Village Manager in the Village Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. All sealed bids received will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 A.M. on the same day, Wednesday, the 30th day of August, 2023, at the Village Hall.

Electronic copies of bidding documents, consisting of the bid proposal, project specifications, and project plans are available from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Co., 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Bidding documents can be requested by emailing info@ ehancock.com and a non-refundable fee of Fifteen dollars ($15.00) will be required to obtain bidding documents. Proposals must be submitted on the forms provided and will only be accepted from bidders that have obtained bidding documents from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday, the 23rd day of August, 2023. A mandatory site inspection will be required between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M. on Friday the 25th day of August, Monday the 28th day of August, or Tuesday the 29th day of August, 2023 for all potential bidders interested in submitting a proposal for the work.

Submission of a bid shall be conclusive assurance and warranty that the bidder has examined the plans, the site of the work, and the local conditions affecting the contract and understands all the requirements for the performance of the work. The bidder will be responsible for all errors in its proposal resulting from failure or neglect to conduct an in-depth examination. The bidder shall not take advantage of any error or omission in the plans or proposal. Sealed envelopes or packages containing bids shall be addressed to the Village Manager and plainly marked “Village of Brookfield – Public Works Building Roof Truss Repairs Project” on the outside of the envelope.

All bid proposals offered must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s check or certified check in an amount not less than Five Percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into, and the performance of the contract properly secured. Checks shall be made payable to the Order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

Any bidder in doubt as to the true meaning of any part of the bidding documents may request an interpretation thereof from the Village. The

In the event that a written addendum is issued, either as a result of a request for interpretation or the result of a change in the bidding documents issued by the Village, a copy of such addendum will be emailed to all prospective bidders. The Village will not assume responsibility for receipt of such addendum. In all cases it will be the bidders’ responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

The Contractor and Subcontractor shall comply with all regulations issued pursuant to Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130), and other applicable Federal Laws and regulations pertaining to labor standards.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the right to determine the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS Published in RB Landmark August 16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE OF NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF TENTATIVE BUDGET Notice is hereby given by the Board of Education of Oak Park and River Forest High School, District 200 of Cook County, Illinois that a tentative budget for said School District for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023 will be available for viewing on the school’s homepage at www.oprfhs. org or by appointment only during school hours at the School District located at 201 North Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, from and after 8:00 a.m. on August 18, 2023. For an appointment, email Marian Gerena at: mgerena@oprfhs.org The Board of Education intends to hold a public hearing on Thursday, September 21, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in accordance with Public Act 101-640 to receive public comments on the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023. To submit a written comment to be included in the Board minutes, go to: https://forms.gle/ZdgdmsQKugkCYTbk8.

To make oral public comments via Zoom go to: https://forms.gle/uoMfeFNFy6Lo9aEM6.

All written and oral comments via Zoom should be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on September 21. Public comments can also be made in person at the public hearing. To join the webinar Board Meeting on September 21, 2023, go to: https://oprfhs-org.zoom.us/ j/89398873748?pwd=VWJRYnRmK2ZORlhmN1FBWFBYOWF1UT09 Passcode: 890767 Published in Wednesday Journal August 16, 2023

Gilbane Building Company, Construction Manager, for and acting on behalf of The Board of Education of Proviso Township High School District 209, is receiving lump sum proposals from interested contractors for the Proviso School District Capital Improvements Project. This release includes the following: Security Camera Improvements work at Proviso East, Proviso West, and Proviso Math and Science Academy.

Salt Shed Work at Proviso Math and Science Academy and Underground Well Repair Work at Proviso West.

PUBLIC NOTICES The Proviso Township High School District 209 and Gilbane Building Company reserve the right to reject any or all bids. All information submitted as part of this process shall be considered public information under the State Freedom of Information Act unless specifically disclosed on the applicable information by the Bidder.

Challenges to such exemptions shall be defended solely by the Bidder Published in Forest Park Review August 16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES OAK PARK TOWNSHIP NOTICE OF OPEN MEETING

12D Salt Shed Work (Proviso Math and Science Academy)

On June 10th, 2022, Governor JB Pritzker signed the Decennial Committee on Local Government Efficiency Act (50 ILCS 70). This new law requires Illinois Townships, Road Districts and Multi-Assessment Districts, and all taxing bodies (except counties and municipalities) to convene a committee to study and report on local government efficiency.

28D Security Cameras Work (Proviso East, Proviso West, and Proviso Math and Science Academy)

Oak Park Township Decennial Committee will hold its meetings on the following dates:

33C Underground Well Repair Work (Proviso West)

August 22, 2023 at 5:30 pm September 26, 2023 at 6:00 pm October 24, 2023 at 6:00 pm

Bid Release 16 includes the following bid packages: 04C Masonry Restoration Work (Proviso East)

1. The bid documents will be distributed to bidders on or about Monday, August 14, 2023 2. An in-person Pre-Bid will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023 at 10:00AM 3. The last day for bidders’ questions is Thursday, September 21, 2023, 5:00PM 4. The proposals will be due on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at 10:00AM. via www.ibidpro.com.

To bid this project, bidders should prequalify with Gilbane Building Company via Compass at https:// compass-app.com/auth/register.

The bid proposals are to be completed online at www.ibidpro.com.

Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid is required from all bidders. Guarantee Bonds in the form of a Performance Bond and Labor and Material Payment Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the bid will be required from the awarded Bidder.

The work will be done in accordance with the Contract Documents.

“FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS INVITATION TO BID MAY RESULT IN THE DISQUALIFICATION OF THE BIDDER”.

This contract calls for the construction of a “public work,” within the meaning of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/.01 et seq. (“the Act”). The Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics performing services on public works projects no less than the “prevailing rate of wages” (hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits) in the county where the work is performed. For information regarding current prevailing wage rates, please refer to the Illinois Department of Labor’s website at: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/LawsRules/CONMED/Pages/Rates.aspx.

All contractors and subcontractors rendering services under this contract must comply with all requirements of the Act, including but not limited to, all wage, notice and record keeping duties.

Oak Park Township will make residents aware of any changes to the meeting dates and/or time.

The meeting will take place at: 130 S Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal August 16, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE WEST CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS (WC3) SEALED PROPOSAL FOR 9-1-1 Fire Radio System TO BE IN THE HANDS OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WEST CENTRAL CONSOLIDATED COMMUNICATIONS, BY 1:30 P.M., THURSDAY, AUGUST 31st, 2023.

BACKGROUND INFO West Central Consolidated Communications (WC3) is a Joint Emergency Telephone System located in North Riverside, Illinois. WC3 provides emergency and non-emergency communications services to both the police and fire departments from the villages of Riverside, North Riverside, Brookfield, and McCook.

A WC# Agency Jurisdictions map has been attached to this Request for Proposal for reference.

WC3 services a jurisdictional area that has roughly 35,000 full time residents, and sees a much higher daily population with multiple large commercial establishments in its area, as well as the Brookfield Zoo. WC3 currently operates on a local VHF fire band that is shared with four other fire departments not serviced by WC3. WC3 and its partner agencies now seek to build out their own repeated VHF radio band for fire operations and have the frequencies to do so.

Additionally, WC3 owns a dark fiber network that may be utilized for connection points and to carry traffic between sites. There is an at-

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

tached map of this network included as an attachment to this Request for Proposal.

INSTRUCTIONS All parties intending to submit a proposal must submit a Notice of Intent via email to the Executive Director at bhicks@wccc911.org no later than August 18th, 2023 at 4:00 PM. All parties submitting a notice of intent will be copied on all responses to all questions from all bidders in regards to this Request for Proposal.

All proposals submitted must be made substantially as shown under this specification including total prices and unit prices, as required. All proposals must be signed by an authorized official. Proposals that contain omissions, erasures, alterations, or additions not called for, conditional or alternate proposals unless called for, or that contain irregularities of any kind may be rejected as informal.

Statement of Competency All proposals submitted shall be accompanied by an experience record showing a statement of competency to perform the work contemplated.

This record shall indicate the names, cost of similar projects which the vendor has handled, their addresses and contact person in addition to date of completion. In particular, the proposal shall state if any work has been done with any other governmental agencies.

Delivery of Proposals Proposals may be delivered by mail or in person. Each proposal shall be submitted in a sealed envelope or package plainly marked to indicate its contents. If forwarded by mail, the proposal shall be placed in an envelope addressed to Bud Hicks, Executive Director (WC3), 2359 Des Plaines Ave., North Riverside, Illinois 60546. If forwarded otherwise than by mail, it must be sealed and delivered to the above. Proposals received after the deadline above will be returned to the vendor unopened.

WC3 reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and waive any technicalities.

For responses and to acquire a copy of the RFP contact Bud Hicks at bhicks@wccc911.org.

Entire RFP available at: https://www.northriverside-il.org/582/ Advertisements-and-Solicitations-ofBids Bud Hicks West Central Communications

Consolidated

Published in RB Landmark August 16, 2023

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice:

Your right to know In print Online

The Landmark, August 16, 2023 19

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com RBLandmark.com ForestParkReview.com AustinWeeklyNews.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com

CALENDAR NUMBER: 14-23-Z HEARING DATE: September 6, 2023 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicants, Michael and Molly Monaco, seeking variances from Section 9.3 (N)(2)(c) and Section 9.3 (N)(2)(b) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance which require that a detached garage must be constructed so that access is from the public alley to permit construction of a garage with access from an existing curbcut on Adams Street located within the eight (8’) foot corner side yard setback, sitting approximately three (3’) feet from the corner side lot line at the premises commonly known as 600 Clarence Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-18-211-001-0000.

1. Section 9.3 (N) (2) (b) of the Zoning Ordinance, which section requires that detached accessory garages are only permitted in the front and interior side yard, to allow the construction of a garage within the corner side yard,

three (3’) feet from the corner side lot line along Adam Street at the Subject Property located at 600 Clarence Avenue; and 2. Section 9.3 (N) (2) (c) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance which require that a detached garage must be constructed so that access is from the public alley to permit construction of a garage that features access from an existing curb-cut on Adams Street at the premises.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, August 16, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS CALENDAR NUMBER: 13-23-Z HEARING DATE: September 6, 2023 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Jesse Hathaway, seeking a variance from Section 4.3 (Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance requiring a five (5’) foot interior setback, where the existing structure sits 3.41’ from the lot line. The variance would permit a dormer addition on the north side of the home with a proposed .32’ setback, in line with an existing bay window on the residence that sits .32’ from the lot line, at the premises commonly known as 412 Clinton Avenue, Oak Park,

Illinois, Property Index Number 16-07-325-003-0000 (“Subject Property”), in the R-5 Two-Family Zoning District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, August 16, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE

100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-22-09619 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2023 CH 00031 TJSC#: 43-2462 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2023 CH 00031 I3226051

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

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

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-22-09640 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2023 CH 00062 TJSC#: 43-2722 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2023 CH 00062 I3226570

The judgment amount was $584,316.19.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 20 8287.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710 E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com Attorney File No. 20 8287 Attorney Code. 40342 Case Number: 2020 CH 07380 TJSC#: 43-3260 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2020 CH 07380 I3227286

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF14 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FF14 Plaintiff, -v.JUANITA J. LACOURT, CHARLES T. GRANT, WELLS FARGO BANK N.A. Defendants 2020 CH 07380 817 S. SCOVILLE AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 16, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 19, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 817 S. SCOVILLE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-18-228-019000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

20

The Landmark, August 16, 2023

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

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

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

717 S 6th Ave, LaGrange $720,000

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

1447 N Cleveland Ave, Chicago $725,000

125 Woodside Rd, Riverside $625,000

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

7722 Madison St, River Forest $18/sq ft

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

4534 Arthur Ave, Brookfield $169,900

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