Landmark 091620

RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside $1.00

Vol. 35, No. 38

September 16, 2020

Sold at last After a decade on market, Riverside landmark has new owner PAGE 3

Follow us Online!

rblandmark.com

RBHS officials project $1.6 million budget deficit PAGE 6

@riversidebrookfieldlandmark @riversidebrookfield_landmark

Riverside police arrest 7-Eleven robbery ‘ringleader’ PAGE 11

@RBLandmark

North Riverside Park Mall faces foreclosure

Lender filed complaint July 30, nine months after owner defaulted on loan

By BOB UPHUES Editor

It’s been a tough year for the North Riverside Park Mall, which has spent 2020 weathering a prolonged shutdown due to a pandemic, civil unrest that resulted in looting and a second shutdown, two shootings, the closure of Sears and the uncertain future of J.C Penney.

Late this summer, the shopping center’s lender added foreclosure to the mix.

The Landmark has learned that on July 30, a company called JPMBB 2014-C24 West Cermak Road LLC filed a complaint in the Chancery Division of Cook County Circuit Court seeking to foreclose on a $75 million loan given in 2014 to the mall’s owner, North Riverside Park Associates LLC, which is affiliated with The Feil Organization.

The Feil Organization operates malls and shopping centers in four states, including Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana and New York. The firm acquired North Riverside Park Mall in 2004.

North Riverside Park Associates owns a little less than half of the roughly 1 million-square-foot shopping center. Its three large anchor spaces are owned independently.

See FORECLOSURE on page 16

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

DAILY CHECK: Before students are allowed inside schools in Riverside District 96, their temperatures are checked. On the first day of school, Sept 2 (above), a staff member posted outside Ames School used a no-touch thermometer to take students’ temperatures.

D96 says 3 students tested COVID-positive Classmates, teachers, some staff told to quarantine for two weeks

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Three students in Riverside Elementary School District 96 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the first two weeks of the new school year. The school district

reported the first case in an email sent to parents on Sept. 11, the second case in an email on Sept. 13 and the third on Sept.

15.

The students do not attend the same school and there is no indication of student to student spread of the virus, Dis-

trict 96 Superintendent Martha RyanToye said.

“The cases appear to be completely separate,” Ryan-Toye told the Landmark on Monday.

See COVID-19 on page 7

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The Landmark, September 16, 2020

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The Landmark, September 16, 2020

Historic Riverside landmark finally lands new owner

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Architect ‘blown away’ by Vaux-designed cottage on market for 12 years

By BOB UPHUES

Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Editor

One of Riverside’s most historic homes, the picturesque Swiss-style cottage at 100 Fairbank Road, designed by Calvert Vaux and built around 1870, has new owners at long last.

On and off the market since 2008, the property just couldn’t find the right buyer – until July.

“We saw it on a Sunday and made an offer in 24 to 48 hours,” said Kapil Khanna, a Chicago architect who, with his wife, purchased the home on July 29 for $560,000.

The couple, who have two small children and were looking to decamp from the city as their oldest reached school age, had been searching for homes in Oak Park and River Forest.

Being an architect himself, Khanna knew about Riverside and its connection to Olmsted and Vaux, who were hired in 1869 to design the village’s plan. The listing for 100 Fairbank Road popped up during their search and they decided to have a look.

“We were blown away with the house and fell in love immediately,” said Khanna, who is president of The Lamar Johnson Collaborative, an architecture firm in the Loop. “It was just what we were looking for, not only the historical significance, but the scale of the house and how one arrives at it is amazing and special.”

The cottage was built as a country retreat for John C. Dore, Chicago’s first superintendent of schools, president of the Chicago Board of Trade and an Illinois state senator.

That Vaux himself was the architect says something about how special the site was.

The view from the north-facing home is now blocked by heavy overgrowth on the bank of Swan Pond Park, but the vista when the house was built would have taken in the park and the bend in the river as well as the train station, water tower and the Riverside Hotel and refectory.

Second-floor balconies on the north, east and west facades of the home would have provided splendid views of the downtown, the river and Scottswood Common, and give the house itself a picturesque, country character.

One of the reasons the home had such a tough time selling was that its original

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Editor Bob Uphues Sports Editor James Kay Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Javier Govea, Mark Moroney Debbie Becker Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com BOB UPHUES/Editor

100 Fairbank Road, Riverside design and features remained largely intact. Despite the informal cottage exterior, the first-floor rooms are rather grand and formal.

There are four bedrooms, three of which sport original marble fireplaces, on the second floor, but only one full bathroom.

Former owners Ralph and Jane O’Donnell told village officials that the home’s historic designation and limitations on how the exterior could be altered scared away buyers.

The lack of a garage – the property has a large carport/gazebo structure in the backyard – also wasn’t popular with potential buyers. The house listed at more than $1 million in 2008 when it originally went on the market, but the price has fallen through the years. It was most recently listed at $599,000.

After falling for the home, Khanna said he researched its history and understood the O’Donnells’ concerns. But, Khanna said he has no plans to alter the home.

“I don’t have big plans for the house right now,” he said. “We want to live in it, experi-

Publisher Dan Haley ence it and let the house talk to us a little bit.”

As for the lack of a garage, that suits Khanna fine as well.

“We’re not a big car family,” said Khanna, who added the family has just one vehicle and that since moving into the house in August, he’s been taking the train to work. “We use the carport as an outdoor living space, and in the winter we can put the car there.”

Despite the home’s Victorian roots, Khanna says the interior spaces mesh well with the couple’s modernist/minimalist tastes.

“Even though it’s different, there’s something really simple about its scale, and those are values, as an architect, that are really important,” Khanna said. “The way it’s sited, the property itself, the location and scale is pretty amazing.”

The O’Donnells gifted the new owners a box containing artifacts related to the home, ones they were given when the bought the home back in 1992.

“I’m grateful a young family wound up buying it,” said Ralph O’Donnell. “Hopefully, they’ll enjoy it as much as we did.”

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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 $30 within Cook County and $40 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. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP.

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The Landmark, September 16, 2020

BIG WEEK

September 16-23

Homework assistance and more

Riverside Arts Center online auction

Riverside Arts Center opens bidding for its RAC 2020 Online Fine Art Auction on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. and will take bids through Thursday, Oct. 1 at 8 p.m.

Bid on work in a variety of media by a more than two dozen artists to add to your collection while supporting and celebrating the Riverside Arts Center.

You can also become a Publication Patron, an annual membership option that helps fund publication of RAC’s exhibition catalogues.

Proceeds provide critical support for the RAC. You may also donate money directly by pressing the “donate” button on the auction’s website at 32auctions.com/2020RAC. Installment payment plans are available, upon request, for winning bidders.

With school back in full swing Brookfield Public Library is helping local students keep up with their work by offering a range of academic assistance, from online tutoring to homework help.

On Sept. 16 at 4 p.m., get a Zoom primer on Tutor.com’s Elementary School Edition. An intro to the Tutor.com Middle School Edition will follow on Sept. 30 at 4 p.m., with info on using the High School Edition of Tutor.com as well as Learning Express Library’s ACT/SAT test prep presented via Zoom on Oct. 1 at 4 p.m.

For parents homeschooling their kids, there’s How Your Library Can Help, a Zoom workshop to help you navigate your journey on Sept. 17 at 1 p.m.

For more info on these classes and resources, call Youth Services at 708-485-6917 or visit brookfieldlibrary.info.

LaGrange Arts Stroll

Will you be a big winner?

The Brookfield Chamber of Commerce will once again be giving away $1,000 every Thursday, beginning Sept. 17 through Nov. 19 at 4:30 p.m. to those who bought tickets for its annual 60-to-Win raffle.

You can hear you name announced in person at the weekly raffle drawing at Joe’s Saloon, 9220 47th St. in Brookfield, or you can watch a livestream on the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce Facebook page (facebook.com/BrookfieldIllinois).

Winners’ names will be posted each week at brookfieldchamber.net.

And more Riverside Arts Center, 34 E. Quincy St., presents “Still,” featuring the work of Jerry Bleem through Oct. 17. The exhibit is a continuation of Bleem’s extended series “Nationalism,” begun in response to the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. Masks and social distancing required. Visit riversideartscenter. com for more information.

Tune in to Lyons Township High School’s radio station WLTL (88.1 FM) every Friday at 7 p.m. for “Friday Night Lights Classic Games,” featuring classic broadcasts of football and soccer games from the 1970s and 1980s.

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LaGrange has kicked off its month-long LaGrange Arts Stroll, featuring an eclectic array of pop-up art events and window exhibitions, food demonstrations, live music and an art auction all taking place in the village’s downtown.

Highlights include Pop-Up Art Studios on Sept. 19 and 26 at 26 S. LaGrange Road; the Community Chalk Project every Saturday near Boyce Chiropractic, 114 W. Calendar Ave.; Art in the Windows featuring 12 storefront displays (walking guide maps available); and live outdoor music on Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. featuring Fiddlesticks at The Elm (23 W. Harris Ave.) and at Palmer Place (56 S. LaGrange Rd.) every Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

For a full list of events visit lgba.chambermaster.com/events/ details/2020-la-grange-arts-stroll.

RB Young Life hosts its annual golf outing Sept.

28 at Mistwood Golf Club in Romeoville with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The funds raised at the outing will support the mission of Young Life in the local community.

Minimum donation of $150 will cover the cost of 18 holes of golf, cart, boxed lunch, 2 drink tickets, dinner and swag bag. Register at riversidebrookfield. younglife.org. Questions? Email Chesleigh Jarrett at chesleigh@ylchicago.com.

The Riverside Farmers Market is open for business every Wednesday from 2:30 to 7 p.m. in Centennial Park – in the shadow of the village’s downtown water tower at 10 Pine Ave. – through Oct. 7. For more info, visit riverside.il.us/369/Farmers-Market.

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‘Lives Well Lived’ screening and discussion

Join Brookfield Public Library for a celebration of older adults with the acclaimed documentary “Lives Well Lived,” which will be available for streaming on Vimeo from Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. through 10 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 20.

Then join the film’s director Sky Bergam for an engaging virtual discussion via Zoom on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd at 2 p.m.

Advance registration at bit.ly/bplliveswelllived is required. Access information will be sent via email after registration.

For more information contact Brookfield Public Library at 708485-6917, ext. 130.

The Brookfield Farmers Market continues through Oct. 10 every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. For details, visit their website at brookfieldfarmers.org.

North Riverside Public Library is offering the following virtual programs through Facebook Live, conference calls and the teleconferencing app Zoom. Programs include Makerspace Mondays on the first and third Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. and Talented Tuesdays on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. both via Facebook Live on North Riverside Public Library’s Facebook page; and Game Night Wednesdays ■

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every Wednesday at 7 p.m. via Zoom. RSVP to bodenl@northriversidelibrary.org or visit northriversidelibrary.org/events for all Zoom meeting access info.

Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities, including Think of Something Quiet: Meditation for Kids on Sept. 17 at 4 p.m., will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ BrookfieldPublicLibrary. For adults, there’s Chair Yoga via Zoom on Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. Register for Zoom access info by visiting brookfield.evanced. info/signup.

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The Landmark, September 16, 2020

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Cash taken from ATM in North Riverside burglary

Someone forced open the front door to Sliccily Pizza Pub, 8427 Cermak Road in North Riverside, during the early morning hours of Sept. 12 and then broke into an ATM in the video gambling area of the establishment, making off with thousands of dollars.

Police reported observing pry marks on the inside of the front door frame, which apparently was the point of entry for the burglar, who then went to the rear of the business, cut the outer metal bar on the ATM and pried open the machine.

A technician from the company that owns the ATM and video gambling machines at Sliccily determined the ATM was pried open a 3:40 a.m., a little more than an hour and half after the night manager had left the business.

The offender took all of the containers that hold paper currency from the ATM, leaving behind the change. In all, nearly $8,000 was stolen, according to the police report.

Money stolen from laundromat A crew of three people who apparently had obtained some sort of master key worked together to systematically remove money from washing machines and vending machines inside Family Sudz Laundromat, 9016 47th St. in Brookfield between 9:48 and 11:32 p.m. on Aug. 26.

The thefts weren’t noticed for weeks, however, and it wasn’t until Sept. 8, after a customer notified the owner that a vending machine wasn’t working properly, that the thefts were reported to police.

Police said it wasn’t immediately clear just how much money had been taken from the business, but security cameras did manage to capture the events from that night.

The three people arrived at the property in a white sedan and then made their way around the laundromat using a set of keys to open the washing machines and vending machines, removing the money and then replacing the coin containers in their proper spots.

Police said the three worked as a team, providing cover and looking out the front windows while the others made their way around the business.

North Riverside home burglarized North Riverside police responded to a residence in the 2400 block of Westover Avenue on Sept. 9 after the homeowner called to report that sometime during the prior 24 hours someone had entered his home and removed numerous items, including a dog, a 9 mm Luger pistol and about 12 rounds of ammunition.

According to the police report, entry was likely gained through an unlocked rear window. The victim told police he arrived back home at about 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 9 and noticed that his dog, a 7-month-old American Bully, was missing and that the house appeared to

have been rummaged through.

In addition to the dog, gun and ammunition, items take from the house and garage included an infant car seat, diamond earrings, title to a car, two tool boxes containing tools, a Husky air compressor and four towel stands.

A witness reported observing a Chevy Silverado park in the alley behind the home between 6:30 and 7 p.m. on Sept. 8 but did not think it was suspicious at the time.

■ A resident of the 3800 block of Park Avenue, Brookfield, called police on Sept. 11 to report that for the third time someone had attempted to break into the garage by pushing in a wood panel of the overhead door. No entry was gained, said police.

Cops: Delivery driver took neighbor’s package Brookfield police have subpoenaed the records of a third-party delivery company after one its drivers was observed allegedly stealing a package from the home of a neighbor where he’d just made a delivery on the afternoon of Sept. 4.

A witness told police the driver pulled up in a gray sedan, walked up to the front porch of a home and placed a delivery there. The driver started walking back to his vehicle but then walked across the street to another residence and removed a large package from the porch.

The driver then put the package into his vehicle before driving away.

The stolen package reportedly contained a high chair.

Vehicle break-ins ■ North Riverside police responded to the west side of the village on the morning of Sept. 8 for two vehicle break-ins overnight in the 2300 block of 17th Avenue and the 2200 block of 18th Avenue.

Neither vehicle was locked, said police.

Loose change was taken from one and a wallet containing $80 in cash and a debit card from the other. The wallet was recovered in the alley, minus the cash and debit card.

■ Police responded to the 2300 block of 17th Avenue, North Riverside, on the morning of Sept. 12 after a resident reported that her vehicle, which was likely unlocked, was burglarized.

The victim’s purse, containing $200 in cash, ID and a credit card, were taken.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Sept.

4-13, 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.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

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The Landmark, September 16, 2020

RBHS projects $1.6 million budget deficit for 2020-21 Lower property tax collections, drop in facility rentals, foodservice and student fees are factors

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

The financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Riverside-Brookfield High School could be nearly $1 million, school officials say.

On Sept. 8, the District 208 Board of Education unanimously approved a budget for the 2020-21 fiscal year that projects a roughly $1.6 million operating deficit. If that projection is correct, it would be the largest operating budget deficit for RBHS since 2011 when the school finished with a $1.8 million operating deficit.

That budget was approved after a tax increase referendum was defeated.

In March, before the pandemic hit with full force, Assistant Superintendent Kristin Smetana had projected an operating deficit of $640,880 for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

“I feel pretty confident that, without COVID, I could have gotten a budget for fiscal year ’21 around the $640,000 deficit,” Smetana said last week. “I think a lot of that million-dollar increase is due to COVID.” The deficit could well be end up less than the projected $1.6 million, because Smetana, who prepared the budget, is making conservative revenue projections. The budget projects that only 97 percent of property tax dollars

owed to the district will be collected this year compared to last year’s 99 percent collection rate.

The lower property tax collection projection accounts for roughly $400,000 of the deficit.

Smetana is projecting a lower property tax collection rate because the financial impact of the pandemic on area households could cause some residents not to be able to pay their property tax bills this year.

RBHS traditionally has made very conservative revenue projections and actual budget results are typically better than the projections. Last year’s budget projected an operating deficit of $402,714 but when the final numbers were tallied this summer, RBHS finished with a surplus of $44,001.

Ironically, the shutdown of the school last March helped RBHS financially as the school saved on utility, athletic transportation, and substitute teacher costs while almost all of the property tax revenue had already been collected.

This year’s budget projects collecting $25,854,083 operating revenues, a 2.56 percent decrease from last year, while projecting expenses of $27,454,083, a 3.3 percent increase.

Overall, revenues are projected to decrease by about $678,000 while expenses are projected to increase by about $877,000.

The impact of the pandemic is most felt in

the loss of income from facility rentals, reduced athletic fees, lost gate attendance from cancelled or fan-free sporting events, the loss of commissions for providing hot lunches to other local school districts, and the loss of income from vending machines, since RBHS has opted for remote learning, for now.

Rental income is projected to essentially dry up, dropping by 94 percent to just $6,000 this year compared to $90,000 last year.

The loss of income from rentals and fees means that budget line item is projected to generate 28 percent less revenue than one year ago. Property tax revenue is projected to be essentially flat, increasing only by about $200,000.

Local property taxes account for 79 percent of District 208’s revenue. State aid is projected to be essentially flat, down about $17,000, and federal aid is projected to decrease by about $187,000. District 208 will receive about $116,000 in federal CARES act money.

Special education costs are projected to rise by $300,000 this year, further straining the budget as costs for incoming freshman are projected to be more than those of outgoing seniors. One student has also transferred to a more expensive placement.

Last year, special education expenses came in more than $150,000 over budget.

For this year only, RBHS also has reduced

its pay-to-participate fees for student-athletes.

The Illinois High School Athletic Association has issued a revised sports schedule this year that envisions four sports seasons this year instead of the normal three.

Fees to participate in clubs have also been cut this year. The activity fee for a non-competitive extracurricular activity has been reduced to $25 from $75. The cost to participate in a competitive activity has been reduced to $50 from $100.

“No organization or company feels good about a projected deficit budget,” said District 208 Superintendent Kevin Skinkis. “Unfortunately, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has almost doubled that [original] projection for District 208. I am hopeful that property tax collection and some of the other areas of decreased revenue will turn out better than we are anticipating.”

Despite the $1.6 million deficit projection, RBHS remains in a solid financial position with healthy cash reserves.

Even if the deficit comes in as projected, the operating fund reserve at the close of the fiscal year on June 30, 2021 will be either 42.95 percent or 53.51 percent of annual operating expenditures depending on whether $2.9 million in the working cash fund that has been reserved for property acquisition is counted in the operating budget or not.

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

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BACKUP WITHHOLDING

axpayers who receive certain types of income may need to have backup withholding taken from these payments. Backup withholding can apply to most payments reported on Forms 1099 and W-2G. Here are some facts to help taxpayers understand backup withholding and determine if they should have it withheld from their income payments.

First, here’s what backup withholding is: The person or business paying the taxpayer doesn’t generally withhold taxes from certain payments. They don’t do this because it’s assumed the taxpayer will report and pay taxes on this income when they file their federal tax return. There are, however, situations when the payer is required to withhold a certain percentage of tax to make sure the IRS receives the tax due on this income. This is what is known as backup withholding.

Backup withholding is set at a specific percentage. The current percentage is 24 percent.

Payments subject to backup withholding include: interest payments;· dividends; payment card and third-party network transactions; patronage dividends, but only if at least half the payment is in money; rents, profits, or other gains; commissions, fees, or other payments for work done as an independent contractor; payments by brokers; barter exchanges; payments by fishing boat operators, but only the part that is paid in actual money and that represents a share of the proceeds of the catch; royalty payments; and gambling winnings.

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The Landmark, September 16, 2020

7

District 96 set to hire contact tracer for Riverside schools On-call part timer would track contacts of anyone positive for COVID-19

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Running schools in the midst of a pandemic creates challenges, and a new job in at least one area school district.

Earlier this month, the Riverside Elementary School District 96 Board of Education approved hiring an on-call, part-time contact tracer to track the contacts of any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19.

The new employee will probably be hired at the Sept. 16 school board meeting. District 96 Superintendent Martha Ryan-Toye said that she has a person in mind for the job who already has completed a contact tracing class.

COVID19

Teachers working remotely from page 1 According to the email sent to parents announcing the third positive COVID test on Sept. 15, the students attended Ames, Central and Hollywood schools.

Both Ames Principal Todd Gierman and Hollywood Principal Kim Hefner said that they could not comment.

More than just the students who tested positive have been asked to quarantine for two weeks. At Ames and Hollywood, the respective teachers have been told to quarantine as have some students who sat near the students who tested positive.

The teachers are now working remotely, while an aide provides in-classroom assistance on days when students attend class in person. It was not immediately clear if the teacher at Central School was also directed to quarantine.

“We have a number of teachers that may occasionally be shifted to remote teaching based on their unique circumstances, and that could be anything from having travelled to a quarantine state to being quarantined for their own possible COVID symptoms to possible exposure, whether it’s in the school or outside the school,” RyanToye said.

One Hollywood School parent said that all but four of the students in the classroom where a student tested positive have been instructed to quarantine for two weeks.

“Out of an abundance of caution we have made recommendations that other students who were seated near, and that was six feet or more, to quarantine for now,” Ryan-Toye said. “And that’s a little bit more conservative and a little bit more cautious than the public health guidance, but it’s the decision we made for now and

Ryan-Toye said there were no positive tests of any District 96 student or staff member during the first week of school.

“With our goal to contain the virus in every possible way, we believe this is an added support to our school nurse who will likely or could be hearing from families that have a COVID positive situation in their home,” Ryan-Toye said. “In those cases we need to quarantine students and we also need to understand other contacts, other contacts with other District 96 students specifically.”

Ryan-Toye said that the district is adding this position because the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), does not currently have adequate staff to immediately help the district if a student or staff member tests

positive.

In the event of a positive test in the district, the contact tracer would then question the person who tested positive to find out who that person had come into contact with.

Those people would likely be instructed to quarantine for 14 days to prevent the virus from spreading.

“The aim [is] to identify and isolate infected people before they spread the virus,” RyanToye wrote in a memo to the school board asking them to approve the position.

The contact tracer would work as needed and be paid $18 an hour and receive no benefits. The memo said that the contact tracer would probably work from two to 20 hours a week. The person who will be hired will have

completed an approved contact tracing class.

In the first three days of school fewer than 10 students were turned away from in District 96 buildings because they and their parents reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19. These symptoms included such common symptoms as cough, sore throat, fever, chills, headache, shortness of breath, and muscle pain.

“Unfortunately, we had to send a small number of children home due to cold-like symptoms and stomach ache, because they could be consistent with COVID,” Ryan-Toye said. “This is how the IDPH guidelines read.

You really cannot have any symptoms that might be consistent with COVID and stay in school.”

Brook Park student quarantining after positive test A student at Brook Park School in LaGrange Park has tested positive for COVID -19 and has been instructed to quarantine at home.

Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 Superintendent Mark Kuzniewski delivered the news to Brook Park parents on Sept. 14 after being informed of the student’s positive test the night before.

The student had already been staying away from school since Sept. 4, because a parent had tested positive for COVID-19.

“A Brook Park student that was on quarantine already because she was in close contact with a parent who had tested positive and during the quarantine she had a positive test,” Kuzniewski told the Landmark on Monday evening. “We notified all the Brook Park community of

we’ll be monitoring that.”

Ryan-Toye would not say when the students who tested positive last attended school. Other school staff who had close contact with the students who have tested positive also were told to quarantine.

The superintendent said she was disappointed to have three positive COVID tests so early in the school year.

“I’m surprised, I’m disappointed, it’s unfortunate. We’ll keep working through it,” Ryan-Toye said. “Our guidance and guidelines are very clear. They present challenges in terms of enacting them, and we have to remain confident that our protocols and procedures work and we will not see student to student spread. If we see studentto-student spread, we would be making a very different decision about school staying open.”

Ryan-Toye said that the three students

the issue and then we notified that classroom.”

Kuzniewski said that the student was in a morning hybrid session but declined to say which class the student was in. No other students in the class have been directed to quarantine.

“We’ve kept social distancing, and we don’t believe that there’s a close contact and that there’s a reason to shut down that section, particularly given that the child has been gone for 10 days already,” Kuzniewski said.

The district has also reported the positive test to the Cook County Department of Public Health and is awaiting a response.

The student will have to stay away from school until at least Sept. 27.

who tested positive caught the virus outside of school.

“Both were exposed outside of the school setting, and that information was shared with us directly,” Ryan-Toye said.

Ryan-Toye said it is important that parents share information about their students’ health with school officials.

“We’re appreciative of parents who’ve been willing to share this information with us and we encourage parents to have open lines of communication with us, because it’s very important for us to know what’s going on in family situations and in neighborhoods or pods of children,” Ryan-Toye said. “Communication directly with parents is very valuable.”

District 96 is offering both hybrid and remote learning models this year. Hybridlearning students attend school in person about half the time and remotely the rest

“Now she’s on a new quarantine which is its own,” Kuzniewski said. “Fourteen days is the minimum that she would be quarantined.”

Kuzniewski said that he didn’t know if the student had any symptoms.

During quarantine the student can participate in the remote portion of her hybrid learning plan and can study reading and math using MobyMax, an online learning system.

The student’s positive test is the first COVID-19 case in District 95, which began classes on Aug. 26, though it probably won’t be the last.

“We’ll just continue to handle each case that comes up,” Kuzniewski said. “They all have unique circumstances.”

— Bob Skolnik

of the time. Those using the remote-learning option do not attend class in person.

Seventy percent of District 96 students are enrolled in the hybrid plan. Ryan-Toye said Monday afternoon that no parents had requested to take their child out the hybrid plan as a result of the positive tests.

Ryan-Toye said that as long as there is no evidence of students infecting other students and staff at school and the positivity test rate in suburban Cook County stays below 8 percent, she would keep schools open.

She said that she would switch to remote learning if she thought she could no longer operate a safe school district.

“An outbreak, by public health, is defined as a situation where two or more children in the same class present as COVID-positive, which could be indicative of studentto-student spread,” Ryan-Toye said. “That is not what we have.”

8

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

RBHS school board votes to eliminate class rank

Latin honors system will be used beginning with the Class of 2024

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Class rank will be eliminated at RiversideBrookfield High in three years. On Sept. 8 the District 208 Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to eliminate class rank beginning with the class of 2024, this year’s freshman class.

That means the current sophomore class will be the last class in which the top 10 students in the class will be recognized at graduation with medals.

After 2023, instead of precisely ranking students by their grade-point averages, RBHS will adopt the so-called Latin system of honors used at many colleges. Students who graduate with a GPA of 3.0 to 3.49 will graduate cum laude (with honors), students with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 will graduate magna cum laude (with high honors) and students with GPAs of 4.0 and above would graduate summa cum

laude (with highest honors).

All honors graduates would receive medals at graduation with cum laude graduates receiving bronze medals, magna cum laude graduates receiving silver medals and summa graduates receiving gold medals.

At the Sept. 8 school board meeting Principal Hector Freytas estimated that, based on recent numbers, about 60 percent of a graduating class would receive a medal by graduating with some type of honors.

In ditching class rank RBHS joins a many other high schools that have eliminated the practice in recent years, including Lyons Township High School, which eliminated class rank in 2014, New Trier High School, Oak Park and River Forest High School, Morton High School and many other Chicago suburban high schools.

Those who favor eliminating class rank argue that it promotes needless competition and gamesmanship among students as they vie to reach or stay in the top 10 of the class. Proponents of eliminating class rank also say that class rank also hurts minority students.

“Historically, class rank contributes to the disenfranchisement of Black and Brown stu-

dents,” Freytas said at the meeting.

Freytas said RBHS does a good job with top students and students with great needs but needs to do better with the broad middle group of students.

“We move that middle group by creating a standard that recognizes academic achievement,” Freytas said.

Freytas and others who favored eliminating class rank said that very few colleges even look at or care about class rank these days.

“It’s just not that important to college admissions anymore,” Freytas said.

School board member Laura Hruska cast the only vote against eliminating class rank.

“I think to lose the top 10 is a great loss, a great loss to the tradition of the school,” Hruska said, adding that the very best students deserve to be recognized.

“We recognize excellence in our society all the time,” Hruska said.

Hruska also addressed the argument that class rank is unfair to minority students.

“We’ve had several Latino students in the top 10 in the last few years,” Hruska said.

Last year’s valedictorian was Ricardo Linares, and the top ranked student in the Class

of 2021 was his cousin, Isabella Linarez.

Lily Adlesick, a student representative to the school board who currently ranks in the top 10 of the senior class, pleaded with the school board to keep class rank.

Adlesick, who said that she was also speaking for friends and classmates who favored keeping class rank, said that top-ranked students take multiple Advanced Placement courses and deserve to be recognized for their hard work.

“I can graduate with the same honors as someone who took no honors or AP classes.”

Adlesick said of the new Latin honors plan.

“And that is just not right.”

After the meeting, Adlesick said she and fellow student representative to the school board, Michael Ciszewski, had met with Freytas about class rank and were relieved that class rank will at least remain for her class and the current sophomores and juniors.

Superintendent Kevin Skinkis did not weigh in much during the debate, except to note that many other high schools have already eliminated class rank.

“There has to be a reason why we’re one of the last schools doing it,” Skinkis said.

Virus cases slowed locally in past two weeks

No new fatalities from COVID-19 reported

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Over the past two weeks, 34 more Brookfield residents tested positive for COVID-19, pushing the village’s total number of cases to 344 since the global pandemic first became a local reality in March.

According to the Cook County Department of Public Health, the number of new cases in the most recent seven-day period slowed somewhat compared to the prior week. As of the morning of Sept. 15, Brookfield had recorded 13 cases during the seven-day period ending at that time. The previous week, Brookfield

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added 21 cases.

The rate of new cases has also slowed in North Riverside, although it ticked up slightly during the past week in Riverside. In the seven-day period ending the morning of Sept.

15, 11 more Riverside residents tested positive, compared to seven the week before.

Riverside has now recorded 181 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

For the second week running, there were just three new COVID-19 cases reported in North Riverside for the seven-day period ending on the morning of Sept. 15. Those two weeks followed a week in which North Riverside saw seven new cases. The village’s total during the pandemic now stands at 119.

None of the villages have recorded any fatal cases of COVID-19 in nearly two months. The last fatality was a North Riverside resident,

who died July 19. Three North Riverside residents have died from the disease.

Meanwhile, Riverside has had two people succumb to COVID-19, while Brookfield has seen four fatal cases since March.

Statewide positivity rate drops The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that the COVID-19 test positivity rate fell to 3.6 percent statewide Monday, decreasing in two regions that have faced increased economic restrictions due to high rates.

The seven-day rolling positivity rate average is as low as it’s been since July 25, while Region 7 and Region 4 each saw decreases to their positivity rate as of Friday, Sept. 11.

Region 7, which includes Will and Kankakee counties, saw the seven-day average positivity rate decrease to 7.2 percent, which is

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still above the 6.5 percent threshold that will allow the rollback of some economic restrictions. Currently, the region is closed to indoor dining and bar services at restaurants and bars.

Region 4, which includes the area on the Missouri border near St. Louis, saw its rolling positivity rate decrease to 9.4 percent, marking three straight days of decreases.

Other regions ranged from 2.4 percent in eastern Illinois to 6.7 in Region 9, which includes McHenry and Lake counties in northern Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 41 deaths from Saturday to Monday, pushing the total Illinois casualty count to 8,314 since the pandemic first reached Illinois.

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

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8

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

RBHS school board votes to eliminate class rank

Latin honors system will be used beginning with the Class of 2024

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Class rank will be eliminated at RiversideBrookfield High in three years. On Sept. 8 the District 208 Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to eliminate class rank beginning with the class of 2024, this year’s freshman class.

That means the current sophomore class will be the last class in which the top 10 students in the class will be recognized at graduation with medals.

After 2023, instead of precisely ranking students by their grade-point averages, RBHS will adopt the so-called Latin system of honors used at many colleges. Students who graduate with a GPA of 3.0 to 3.49 will graduate cum laude (with honors), students with a GPA of 3.5 to 3.99 will graduate magna cum laude (with high honors) and students with GPAs of 4.0 and above would graduate summa cum

laude (with highest honors).

All honors graduates would receive medals at graduation with cum laude graduates receiving bronze medals, magna cum laude graduates receiving silver medals and summa graduates receiving gold medals.

At the Sept. 8 school board meeting Principal Hector Freytas estimated that, based on recent numbers, about 60 percent of a graduating class would receive a medal by graduating with some type of honors.

In ditching class rank RBHS joins a many other high schools that have eliminated the practice in recent years, including Lyons Township High School, which eliminated class rank in 2014, New Trier High School, Oak Park and River Forest High School, Morton High School and many other Chicago suburban high schools.

Those who favor eliminating class rank argue that it promotes needless competition and gamesmanship among students as they vie to reach or stay in the top 10 of the class. Proponents of eliminating class rank also say that class rank also hurts minority students.

“Historically, class rank contributes to the disenfranchisement of Black and Brown stu-

dents,” Freytas said at the meeting.

Freytas said RBHS does a good job with top students and students with great needs but needs to do better with the broad middle group of students.

“We move that middle group by creating a standard that recognizes academic achievement,” Freytas said.

Freytas and others who favored eliminating class rank said that very few colleges even look at or care about class rank these days.

“It’s just not that important to college admissions anymore,” Freytas said.

School board member Laura Hruska cast the only vote against eliminating class rank.

“I think to lose the top 10 is a great loss, a great loss to the tradition of the school,” Hruska said, adding that the very best students deserve to be recognized.

“We recognize excellence in our society all the time,” Hruska said.

Hruska also addressed the argument that class rank is unfair to minority students.

“We’ve had several Latino students in the top 10 in the last few years,” Hruska said.

Last year’s valedictorian was Ricardo Linares, and the top ranked student in the Class

of 2021 was his cousin, Isabella Linarez.

Lily Adlesick, a student representative to the school board who currently ranks in the top 10 of the senior class, pleaded with the school board to keep class rank.

Adlesick, who said that she was also speaking for friends and classmates who favored keeping class rank, said that top-ranked students take multiple Advanced Placement courses and deserve to be recognized for their hard work.

“I can graduate with the same honors as someone who took no honors or AP classes.”

Adlesick said of the new Latin honors plan.

“And that is just not right.”

After the meeting, Adlesick said she and fellow student representative to the school board, Michael Ciszewski, had met with Freytas about class rank and were relieved that class rank will at least remain for her class and the current sophomores and juniors.

Superintendent Kevin Skinkis did not weigh in much during the debate, except to note that many other high schools have already eliminated class rank.

“There has to be a reason why we’re one of the last schools doing it,” Skinkis said.

Virus cases slowed locally in past week

No new fatalities from COVID-19 reported

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Over the past two weeks, 34 more Brookfield residents tested positive for COVID-19, pushing the village’s total number of cases to 344 since the global pandemic first became a local reality in March.

According to the Cook County Department of Public Health, the number of new cases in the most recent seven-day period slowed somewhat compared to the prior week. As of the morning of Sept. 15, Brookfield had recorded 13 cases during the seven-

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day period ending at that time. The previous week, Brookfield added 21 cases.

The rate of new cases also slowed week over week in both Riverside and North Riverside. In the seven-day period ending the morning of Sept. 15, seven more Riverside residents tested positive, compared to eight the week before.

Riverside has now recorded 170 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began.

There were just three new COVID-19 cases reported in North Riverside for the sevenday period ending on the morning of Sept.

15, following a week where the village saw seven new cases. North Riverside’s total now stands at 116.

None of the villages have recorded any fatal cases of COVID-19 in nearly two months.

The last fatality was a North Riverside resi-

dent, who died July 19. Three North Riverside residents have died from the disease.

Meanwhile, Riverside has had two people succumb to COVID-19, while Brookfield has seen four fatal cases since March.

Statewide positivity rate drops The Illinois Department of Public Health announced that the COVID-19 test positivity rate fell to 3.6 percent statewide Monday, decreasing in two regions that have faced increased economic restrictions due to high rates.

The seven-day rolling positivity rate average is as low as it’s been since July 25, while Region 7 and Region 4 each saw decreases to their positivity rate as of Friday, Sept. 11.

Region 7, which includes Will and Kankakee counties, saw the seven-day average positiv-

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I work from home setting appointments and opening new shopping accounts for a very large manufacturing/wholesale company similar to Sam’s Club and Costco.

It’s a great opportunity for stay-at-home Moms, Dads, singles, retirees, or anyone looking for extra income. We are expanding rapidly.

There is no inventory and no collecting money or delivering products.

The hours are flexible and can be done alongside a full-time position as well as around your schedule.

Serious inquiries only! (847) 530-5999

ity rate decrease to 7.2 percent, which is still above the 6.5 percent threshold that will allow the rollback of some economic restrictions.

Currently, the region is closed to indoor dining and bar services at restaurants and bars.

Region 4, which includes the area on the Missouri border near St. Louis, saw its rolling positivity rate decrease to 9.4 percent, marking three straight days of decreases.

Other regions ranged from 2.4 percent in eastern Illinois to 6.7 in Region 9, which includes McHenry and Lake counties in northern Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 41 deaths from Saturday to Monday, pushing the total Illinois casualty count to 8,314 since the pandemic first reached Illinois.

Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

Golden Wok Restaurant 1122 Maple - 17th Ave. La Grange Park • 354-3930 Finest Cantonese and Mandarin Food at reasonable prices.

WE NOW DELIVER TO RIVERSIDE AREA CALL FOR DETAILS

Fast Carry-outs or enjoy Lunch & Dinner in our new Dining Room • Serving Beer & Wine•

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

9

North Riverside Library beefs up digital services

From 1-on-1 tutoring for kids to iPad and hotspot checkout for seniors

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Although the North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., has expanded its hours of operation, access to the collection and other regular services remain limited.

To help connect North Riverside cardholders unable to freely use the library with more resources as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers, officials have expanded online services.

Those offerings include a battery of research databases, including Ancestry.com and access to one-on-one tutoring services. The library has also assembled “kits” that patrons can order and pick up curbside – ones specifically to provide senior citizens technological access to online resources and programs, learning kits for young students, home entertainment kits, workout equipment and more.

“It’s been an ongoing process to establish all of the things we need to be adding,” said North Riverside Library Director Natalie Starosta. “Do people have access to the internet? Are there tutoring and entertainment opportunities? [With limited access to the building] we didn’t want to minimize our standard services, so there’s been a lot of diversification.”

With classes back in session remotely at Komarek School District 94 and at Riverside-Brookfield High School, and with only limited in-person attendance in Riverside School District 96, the library has dusted off a service it once provided but discontinued several years ago.

Students – from kindergarten through college – as well as adults seeking help with a job search can obtain expert help in a variety of subject matters through a website called Tutor.com.

“They can provide live tutors, review papers, help with resumes and cover letters,” said Susan Locander, youth services manager at North Riverside Public Library. “We’re targeting this more toward children and youth, but it’s for adults, too.”

There are no limits on the amount of time, a user can request for help, said Locander, and it can be used to help on anything from a worksheet to something wider in scope.

Users can also “like” a specific tutor to work with on an ongoing basis. There’s also no cost to use the service, but

you need to be a North Riverside Library cardholder to take advantage of the service, as well as others being offered.

Lizzy Boden, adult services manager at the library, said Tutor.com offers career coaching and test prep for everything ranging from the Armed Services vocational test to the citizenship test.

Access to Tutor.com went live for North Riverside cardholders on Sept. 1.

“We’re hoping to work with the schools more to let them know it’s available to them,” Starosta said.

The library also offers 14 different databases to cardholders, from movies and audio books and magazines to research databases, including the Chicago News Collection, Ancestry.com, Consumer Reports, science references and business references.

To help senior citizens connect online, the library is partnering with Age Options to offer kits that include an internet hotspot and an iPad loaded with the Zoom app, so seniors can participate in the library’s online programming.

The library currently has five iPads, which can be checked out for three weeks at a time, along with 20 hotspots.

“We’re thinking about getting additional devices for people to check out,” said Starosta.

Patrons can check out items from the library’s new makerspace, including robots and 3D pens. There are also videogame consoles, a karaoke box, a light box, stamps and puzzles that patrons can check out.

“It’s a wide variety of items,” Starosta said.

Patrons interested in checking out the items or finding out more about them can call the library’s main number at 708-447-0869.

10

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM

S P O N S O R E D

C O N T E N T

Flapjack Brewery makes a business out of brotherhood Berwyn’s Depot District is a destination for artisan pizza and craft beer Flapjack Brewery, 6833 Stanley Ave, has been serving up an iconic food and drink pairing since opening in Berwyn’s vibrant Depot District three years ago.

“Anytime you have pizza and beer you know you’re in for a good time,” says chef and co-owner James Macchione.

“My brother Paul is the Food Writer beer guy. I handle the food and always wanted to do pizzas” Brothers and co-owners, Paul and James Macchione were raised in Berwyn. James, four years Paul’s senior, recollects harassing his younger brother as a child, but the two became closer as they got older. They started brewing beer together as hobbyists well before brewing became their business of choice.

Often bustling, Flapjack Brewery is housed in a 2,000 square-foot building in the Depot District.

Though the brothers discussed various locations they remained loyal to their hometown because they like the feel of Berwyn and saw potential in The Depot District. Even the brewery’s name came from one of Paul’s childhood nicknames.

“He wore a lot of flannel shirts as a kid and developed facial hair early,” said James.

“I looked like a lumberjack,” said Paul.

“So, we started calling him Flapjack,” replied James.

The rest is history.

Paul operates a tiny three-barrel system and keeps 8 beers on tap including Gabba Ghoul -an Italian Saison with notes of basil and black peppercorn that make it an ideal pizza pairing.

Huddled up in a garage, the duo also developed the recipe for their Fantasmo Vanilla Cream Ale together. Today the beer, made with Mexican vanilla beans, is Flapjack’s flagship offering.

Drinkers will find James’ face at the bottom of pint glasses at Flapjack Brewery — the etching, an image of James at his first communion, keeps

MELISSA ELSMO

LOOKING FOR A MEMORABLE PIE? Try the four-cheese arugula

THE “BEERWYN SUPREME PIZZA” is one of the tavern style pizzas available at Flapjack Brewery

FROM LEFT: James and Paul Macchione make a businsess out of brotherhood. the beer effervescent. James, a culinary school graduate, bounced around between restaurants before spending 15 years working in finance.

He eagerly turned his attention back to the kitchen when he and Paul opened the brewery.

“Our mother made homemade pizza for us weekly — sometimes two or three times a week,” said James of his childhood in Berwyn.

“We had a pool in our backyard, and she would bang on the picture window when the pizzas were done to call my brother, me and all our friends in to eat.”

Mama Macchione’s pizzas, baked in a wellloved cast iron pan and topped with sauce straight from the can, featured a fluff y bakery style crust. While the budding cook learned the joy of sharing pizza from his mother, James created a completely different pizza recipe for Flapjack Brewery.

James is quick to admit there are plenty of quality pizzas available in Berwyn but aimed at the outset to create a pizza that was different from traditional pies served in the area. Flapjack’s Neapolitan-style pizzas cook in a 750-800 degree woodfired oven for just two minutes. The result-

A GLIMPSE into the three-barrel brewing system at Flapjack Brewery in Berwyn.

FANTASMO VANILLA CREAM ALE and Hugo Luh-Layn Juicy IPA Citra & Mosaic Edition as poured at Flapjacks are also available in 16-ounce cans and 32-ounce crowlers. ing pie has a raised airy rim, is thin in the center and light on toppings.

Customers clamor for the “danger pizza” brimming with ingredients designed to test hot heads’ tolerance. Expect habanero infused tomato sauce, Calabrian chili flakes and smoked ghost pepper honey to put a different kind of fire in Flapjack’s woodfired pizzas.

James, however, is particularly fond of his far less intense four-cheese arugula pizza.

“I am not a salad guy, but I was inspired by smoked Scamorza cheese and added fresh arugula and lemon juice,” said James. It’s a white pizza and I think it is my personal favorite.”

Two tavern style pizzas also grace the menu.

They bake slightly longer, are rolled flat across, and topped generously to the edge of the pie. The “Beerwyn Supreme” is a notable offering featuring San Marzano tomato sauce, sausage, cremini mushrooms, shallots, and green peppers.

As perfect a pairing as pizza and beer, James and Paul Macchione have a proper business based on brotherhood.

“I don’t think I could work for anyone else again,” said James. “Owning a business comes with challenges, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

11

Riverside police arrest alleged robbery ‘ringleader’ Crew suspected of numerous hold-ups in Chicago, suburbs

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside police have arrested a 17-yearold Chicago boy who they are calling the “ringleader” of a burglary crew suspected of more than half a dozen hold-ups in Chicago and its suburbs, including Riverside.

The juvenile reportedly was one of three people who robbed 7-Eleven, 2600 Harlem Ave., on Sept. 5 at 8:50 p.m. That crew, said police, parked their getaway car behind a strip mall across 26th Street and walked to the convenience store.

They entered the business twice, said police, casing it the first time and then returning a half hour later when the only person inside was a store clerk.

One of the offenders reportedly implied he was armed with a handgun, and the trio stole cash and cigarettes before exiting through the rear emergency exit and running back to their vehicle.

Burbank police informed Riverside on Sept. 8 that they had arrested the juvenile and charged him with robbery there. They

then turned him over to Chicago police, who charged the juvenile with three counts of robbery for incidents that occurred in the city.

Police connected the Burbank robbery suspect to Riverside because the vehicle he used reportedly matched the one used in Riverside. The car, which had temporary plates, reportedly belonged to the alleged ringleader’s girlfriend.

Riverside detectives interviewed the juvenile, who reportedly confessed to the 7-Eleven robbery but refused to provide information on his accomplices. Riverside police charged him with robbery on Sept. 9.

The boy remains in the custody of Cook County Juvenile Justice authorities. According to police, the boy led a burglary crew suspected of two armed robberies in Bedford Park as well as robberies in Palos Park, Hickory Hills, Northbrook and Chicago.

The crew reportedly also committed a robbery in Addison on the same day as the Riverside incident. Detectives continue to seek the apprehension of the two others involved in the Riverside robbery.

“This is a textbook case of officers responding immediately, collecting evidence and contacting detectives, who also immediately responded to the scene and did immediate follow up with other police agencies,” said Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel

Self-styled ‘minister’ again arrested in company of girl A 39-year-old self-styled “minister” arrested in Riverside in January and charged with harboring a missing juvenile has been arrested again after allegedly being found with the same girl in a suburban Cleveland hotel room last month.

Juan C. Ocampo, who lived at a residence on East Burlington Street in downtown Riverside when he was arrested in January, was charged with obstructing jusJUAN C. OCAMPO tice and interference with custody by Cleveland police on Aug. 25.

According to a copy of the police report obtained by the Landmark, the girl’s mother called Cleveland police shortly before 1 a.m. on Aug. 23 to report that the 17 year old had left the house at 11 a.m. the previous day and had not returned home.

Police learned that Ocampo was in the Cleveland area and later discovered he might be with the 17-year-old girl at a hotel in Brook Park, a southwest suburb of Cleveland near the airport.

Officers went to the hotel and confirmed Ocampo was registered there. They knocked on the door of the room where he was staying and asked to speak with the girl. Ocampo, who kept the door chained while speaking to police, reportedly shut the door on officers, who continued to knock and ask for the girl.

That situation repeated itself several times, but Ocampo eventually agreed to let the girl leave the room, at which time police took him into custody.

Ocampo has a hearing scheduled in Cleveland Municipal Court on Sept. 30. It is unclear just how long Ocampo had been in Cleveland prior to his arrest. His address is listed in the court record as one housing the Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry Men’s Shelter in downtown Cleveland.

At the time of his arrest in August, Ocampo’s case in Riverside was still pending.

He was arrested outside of his East Burlington Street residence on the night of Jan. 26.

Inside Ocampo’s vehicle, police observed two girls who he identified as his daughters.

Police determined that one of them was actually a 16-year-old Cleveland girl who had run away from home in December 2019 and had been missing since at least Dec. 29, when she walked away from a shelter in Chicago.

Police reported at the time of Ocampo’s arrest in January that he apparently knew friends of the missing girl. He reportedly told police he ran a ministry that helped young people living on the streets and that he put them up in his Riverside apartment.

Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel called that claim “ludicrous.”

“Our investigation clearly showed that he hid this juvenile, not only from her parents and other family members, but from law enforcement as well,” Weitzel said in January.

— Bob Uphues

toring program after posting 10 percent of the $150,000 bond set on Aug. 6. He was scheduled for arraignment on Sept. 10.

Riverside police arrested Noah on Aug. 5 as he left a hearing for an unrelated offense at the Maybrook courthouse in Maywood.

A Cook County grand jury has indicted a That case, which is still pending, involves man accused of a 2019 home invasion and the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old man at a kidnapping, charging him with 27 felony Berwyn auto repair shop during an altercacounts – 16 of them Class X offenses that tion over the progress of a repair job. each carry a prison sentence of Riverside police say Noah was between six and 30 years, if conone of three men who forced victed. their way inside a home in the On Sept. 2, the grand jury re200 block of West Quincy Street turned the indictment against early in the morning on Jan. 25, 23-year-old Berwyn resident 2019. The home invasion reportJoshua Noah at a hearing before edly was over an unpaid drug Judge LeRoy K. Martin at the debt.

Leighton Criminal Court BuildDuring the incident, one of ing in Chicago. the offenders pistol whipped the Noah is charged with eight mother of a man in his 20s who counts of home invasion, four also lived at the house. They then counts of aggravated kidnapJOSHUA NOAH allegedly kidnapped and blindping, two counts of aggravated folded the man, stole his mother’s vehicular hijacking and two car, severely beat him and then dumped him counts of armed robbery, which are all Class in an alley on the Southwest Side of Chicago.

X felonies.

Police reportedly were able to use cellIn addition, the grand jury charged Noah phone data to place Noah near the scene of with three counts of residential burglary, six the home invasion at the time it took place counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and and also recovered physical evidence tying two counts of aggravated battery causing him to it. great bodily harm.

The other offenders have not been appreNoah is on Cook County’s electronic moni- hended yet. in a press release. “All that quick action allowed us to make an arrest within three days of the [Riverside] robbery.”

Home invasion suspect indicted

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12

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

PEOPLE

Former St. Barbara pastor named diocese’s vicar general

C

ardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, has announced the appointment of Auxiliary Bishop Robert G. Casey, 52, as vicar general of the Archdiocese of Chicago, effective Sept. 12.

Casey, episcopal vicar for Vicariate III will replace Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, who was named the sixth bishop of Joliet by Pope Francis in July. Cardinal Cupich will name an interim vicar for Vicariate III in the near future.

“Bishop Casey has served the people of the archdiocese as a pastor and leader in diocesan renewal,” Cupich said in a BISHOP ROBERT G. CASEY press release. “His love for our Hispanic faithful is evident in his work of forming priests from Latin America and his cofounding of Taller de José.”

Casey served as episcopal vicar for Vicariate III, a region serving South and Southwest side parishes. He is a native of Evergreen Park and grew up in Alsip where he attended public elementary schools.

He was ordained to the priesthood May 21, 1994 and served as an associate at St. Ita Parish, in Chicago, where he served until 1999.

Casey, who is fluent in Spanish was named associate director of Casa Jesús, a house of discernment for men from Latin America in 1998. In 1999, he became its full-time director.

In 2003, he was named pastor of Our Lady of Tepeyac Parish in Chicago and in 2008, he co-founded Taller de José, a ministry sponsored by the Congregation of St. Joseph that offers accompaniment to people in need.

Casey served as pastor of St. Barbara Parish in Brookfield from 2009 to 2016, when he was appointed pastor of St. Bede the Venerable in Chicago. He also served on the priests’ placement board and the priest steering committee for Renew My Church. Casey was appointed auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis on July 3, 2018.

North Riversider named leadership fellow

North Riverside resident Blanca Jara, who is the executive director of institutional advancement at Morton College in Cicero, is among 26 fellows selected for the Hispanic Association of Colleges BLANCA JARA and Universities’ second cohort of its Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo.

The program is designed to increase diverse representation in executive and senior-level positions in higher education.

Fellows were named in August.

Jara, a 1997 graduate of Morton West High School and 2005 graduate of Morton College, has been working at Morton College since

2016, beginning her career as director of public relations.

On campus ■ Maclean Nolan and Bria Parker, both of Riverside, received their bachelor’s degrees from Northern Illinois University in August. Nolan received a B.A. in psychology and sociology while Parker earned a B.S. in human development and family sciences.

■ Among those receiving bachelor’s degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University on Aug. 2 during the institution’s first-ever virtual commencement ceremony were Brookfield resident Ryan Swift (accounting, magna cum laude); North Riverside resident Frances Urbanski (finance); and Riverside resident Dean Zigulich (business administration).

■ Brookfield resident Rachel Bast was named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s list at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights for earning a semester grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale.

Brookfield Beautification awards local restaurant, museum ‘Brookies’ In August, the Brookfield Beautification Commission awarded “Brookies” to a local restaurant and a local museum that have made efforts to improve or otherwise beautify their locations and increase business within the village.

Commission members on Aug. 21 personally delivered the awards to Dan and Brenna Velcich, owners of Burger Antics at 3740 Grand Blvd, and Kit Ketchmark, president of the Brookfield Historical Society and director of the Brookfield Historical Museum at 8820½ Brookfield Ave. The commission recognized Burger Antics for being a consistent presence in the Grand Boulevard district since it opened its doors in 2015. In addition to their gourmet burgers, the restaurant’s walls serves as a showcase for local artists.

Joining the Velciches in accepting the award on Aug. 21 was Burger Antics server Jason Michael West, who is an artist himself and curates the work the restaurant displays monthly.

“We are delighted to recognize this Brookfield fan favorite,” said Beautification Commissioner Martha Carlson in an email.

The Brookfield Historical Society operates the museum inside one of the village’s oldest structures, the 1889 Grossdale Station, which has been designated

BOB UPHUES/Editor

BROOK-TASTIC: The Brookfield Beautification Commission awarded their annual Brookie Awards to Dan and Brenna Velcich, shown above left (at left) with server Jason Michael West of Burger Antics and Kit Ketchmark (above right), president of the Brookfield Historical Society and director of the Brookfield History Museum. a national landmark.

The commission selected it for recognition for its efforts to maintain the

history of Brookfield. In 2018, to mark the 125th anniversary of Brookfield’s incorporation as a village, Ketchmark led

a significant overhaul to update the museum’s exhibits and improve the train depot’s interior spaces.

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

13

PEOPLE

Brookfield deputy chief chosen for 40 Under 40 Award The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has chosen Brookfield Deputy Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla as one of its 40 Under 40 Award winners, featured in the September 2020 issue of Police Chief magazine.

Kuruvilla, 37, was nominated for the award, which includes 40 police officials under the age of 40 – from a dispatcher in Colorado to a major in the Spanish Guardia Civil to a detective inspector for the Ghana Police Service to the acting U.S. Marshal – by Brookfield Police Chief Edward Petrak on the suggestion of Lt. James Mihalik.

“Needless to say, I’m very proud of Mike,” said Petrak in an email announcing the award. “This is a tremendous honor for both Mike and our police department.”

In nominating Kuruvilla for the award, Petrak wrote that the deputy chief was “an up-and-coming leader in our ever-changing field of law enforcement. Over the last 14 years, I have watched Mike grow from an eager learner to a true leader in our police department. His positive and progressive attitude is infectious and makes him a strong, naturally suited leader.”

Kuruvilla, the first Indian-American hired by Brookfield police, joined the department in 2006 after obtaining a master’s degree in social work and then working as a police crisis worker in Brookfield.

“Although I have shed the formal title of social worker, my job still requires mediating between and for people in crisis and discord almost daily,” Kuruvilla wrote in his application for the award. “Our profession has shifted immensely in recent years to increased mental health awareness, and

MICHAEL KURUVILLA I have proudly led the charge to model and teach my department members and those in neighboring communities how best to serve those in need.”

In addition to his role as a deputy police chief, Kuruvilla and his wife volunteer with a nonprofit that serves the needs of at-risk women victimized by the adult entertainment industry and human/sex trafficking. Kuruvilla has been a member of the organization’s board for more than six years.

“My ability and the opportunity to provide someone who may be suffering and in pain even just a moment of reprieve and peace is important and fulfilling to me,” Kuruvilla wrote.

Do you want to keep your public officials accountable?

Police, firefighters commended for fireworks explosion response Brookfield Fire Chief Jim Adams awarded certificates of commendation to eight of the village’s first responders – four police officers and four firefighters – for their roles in aiding two people seriously injured in a fireworks explosion on July 5 in the 9000 block of Fairview Avenue.

Police officers David Harrison, Anthony Reyes, Freddy Vargas and Kathleen Golden along with Fire Capt. Brian Baldwin and firefighters Marc Fisher, Erik Porter and Michael Teska responded to the scene, providing aid to the two injured men and interviewing witnesses.

“Fortunately for those who were injured, it was these first responders that truly made the difference,” said Adams prior to presenting them with the commendations at the Brookfield Village Board’s Aug. 24 meeting.

Reyes and Harrison worked as a team to apply tourniquets to the arms of a 20-yearold man who’d had both hands blown off by a fireworks mortar shell, and Harrison drove the ambulance carrying the man to

the hospital, allowing an additional paramedic to stay on scene and aid the 19-yearold victim.

Vargas and Golden secured the scene, requested a second ambulance, interviewed witnesses and collected evidence.

“Their poise and the professionalism they displayed aided in keeping the victims as well as the witnesses calm and cooperative throughout this incident, helping alleviate the magnitude of this event,” Adams said.

Baldwin, Fisher, Porter and Teska provided advanced care to the more critical patient and additional care to the other injured man, tending to the latter until a Riverside ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital.

“Their definitive life-saving care also contributed to saving this patient’s life,” Adams said. “It was the efforts of all the police and fire personnel that were involved on that call that allowed both victims to survive.”

— Bob Uphues

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14

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Teachers’ concerns look prescient two weeks in

S

hortly before classes were scheduled to begin in person in Riverside School District 96, two representatives from the teachers’ union addressed the school board’s decision to conduct in-person learning.

According to a survey the union sent to district faculty, 60 percent of teachers were not in favor of starting classes in person. The reason was simple. Teachers would be at risk of exposure to COVID-19, putting them in danger and possibly exposing their own families.

At the time, the union indicated some comfort with protocols adopted by the school board to adhere to state guidelines on positivity rates in deciding when it might be time to shift to all-remote learning.

Now, two weeks into the school year Riverside District 96 has seen students at three of its five schools test positive for COVID-19. None of the cases, apparently, was contracted at school, but those positive tests have had a ripple effect.

In at least two of the cases, teachers and other staff at the school have been directed to quarantine for two weeks. Those teachers are now providing instruction from their homes to students in their classrooms, overseen by an aide.

In at least one of the instances, the Landmark has been told by a parent, nearly an entire classroom of students has been directed to quarantine for two weeks.

The same day parents in District 96 learned about the second student’s positive test, school officials in BrookfieldLaGrange Park School District 95 sent an email to parents informing them that a student at Brook Park School had contracted the virus.

Of course, we would hope that these kinds of reports are rare in the future, but we doubt that these will be the last. If students are coming into classrooms, they are bringing with them their parents, siblings and anyone with whom those people might have come into contact.

So, far none of the cases reported at any of the schools involves the virus being spread from one student to another.

That’s good, because once there’s evidence the virus is being spread around classrooms, then this experiment with inperson education during a pandemic must come to an end.

We must say that one thing we completely support is District 96’s move to hire a contact tracer to help quickly identify and notify close contacts in the case of a positive test. This ought to be something every public school district and private school ought to be doing.

Most likely this is going to be a part-time, on-call position but it’s critical to quickly determine who is at risk when someone in a classroom setting tests positive for COVID-19.

We urge other school districts and private schools to follow District 96’s example with respect to contact tracing. This is not going away in one month or one semester. Yes, dealing with this pandemic is mentally and emotionally exhausting, but we can’t let down our guard.

After 94 years, St. Mary’s still going strong

W

ho would have thought back on Sept. 12, 1926, when St. Mary Parish in Riverside was established that on Sept. 13, 2020 I would be a member of the parish, watching Mass at home on TV from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

I assure you it is not our intention, but is an accommodation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are other options, but this was the most suitable for us. We are never late for Mass (almost) don’t have to worry about a parking space (car’s in the garage), don’t have to worry about what to wear (jammies are acceptable) and keep the prescribed distance from the only other person in the house (Husband Joe).

There is no wine, but coffee will suffice. While we do miss the interaction with fellow parishioners, we do know the day will come again, though not soon enough.

We have enjoyed the service and the homilies given

by Cardinal Cupich. He has his timing right down, although I do believe there is someone cueing him. He gets Mass done in a half hour, complete with a commercial reminding how to continue giving offerings.

St. Mary Parish just celebrated 94 years, and much has happened in those years. The original church was

located in Lyons before moving to Riverside on Blackhawk Road and then to its present location on Herrick Road.

The church itself faced Herrick Road while the attached two-story school facing East Burlington Street. The school had 49 students in grades one through six taught by the Sisters of St Joseph, whose motherhouse was in LaGrange.

The parish maintained quite a bit of property. Across Herrick Road from the church, facing Longcommon Road, were two Victorian structures. The rectory for the priests was directly across from the church next door to the convent for the nuns.

Over the years, the parish has built an addition to the original school and a parish center. The old convent and the rectory were razed, making way for a new rectory, and just last year the parish purchased a former bank branch on Burlington Street for office and meeting space. The interior of the church has been remodeled numerous times.

What hasn’t changed? The lovely stained glass windows and the heart of the parish which, looks forward to resuming services on Sunday and weekdays and for loyal parishioners to greet each other with a handshake of peace. May the day come soon for all of us.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

Rev. Landahl was ‘rock of stability’ It was with great sadness that I read about the death of Rev. Paul Landahl in the Landmark (“Rev. Paul Landahl, 82, Lutheran bishop served on RBHS board,” Obituaries, Sept. 9).

Paul was a fabulous neighbor, pastor and school board member. As a longtime teacher at Riverside-Brookfield High School and a union officer, I had many meetings with Paul. He approached all issues with fairness and kindness.

He truly cared about his community and about the

students at RB. He handled many difficult personal situations that arose at the high school and throughout the community. He was a rock of stability during turbulent times.

I felt honored to know him and to teach his children. My heart goes out to his family. He will be sorely missed, but I will never forget him.

Jan Goldberg Riverside

Safeguards in Cook County to prevent voting twice Preying on unjustified fears of voter fraud, some have suggested that people vote by mail and then try to vote again on Election Day to prove there can be fraud. Apart from the fact that voter fraud is illegal, the voting systems in both Chicago and Suburban Cook County will prevent people from voting twice.

Having served as election judges in both suburban Cook County and in Chicago, we know that the names of voters who have requested a vote-by-mail ballot, as well those who have voted early at early voting sites are

clearly marked as such on the list of voters provided to election judges on Election Day. When a voter checks in with the election judges on Election Day, the election judges will see that the voter is marked as having requested a vote-by-mail ballot and inform the voter.

If the voter says that they have not voted by mail, the voter will be allowed to vote normally at the polling place, but only if the voter is able to give the vote-by-mail ballot to the judges.

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

LETTERS

15

OBITUARIES

However, if the voter does not have the vote-bymail ballot to give the election judges, they will allow the voter to utilize a “provisional ballot.” After the voter has marked the provisional ballot, it is not inserted into the scanner, but instead is placed in an envelope with an attached affidavit completed by the voter who signs to swear or affirm that the person has not already voted.

That envelope with the affidavit and the provisional ballot is given to the judges, who deliver it separately to the election authority after the polls close.

Only if the election authority is able to confirm that no vote-by-mail ballot has been counted for that voter, will that provisional ballot be counted after Election Day.

Laurie Braun, co-president Ann Lee, co-president

League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area

Clean Energy Jobs Act addresses climate change The Landmark presented an innovative green approach to storm water management in an op-ed and article in the July 29 edition. The partnership between the Nature Conservancy and the Metropolitan Planning Council could help alleviate the problem of flooding in Riverside and Brookfield neighborhoods that has become more troublesome in the last decade. Future weather may well increase the number of properties along Salt Creek and the Des Plaines River that flood in times of excessive rainfall.

The plan does not address the cause of increased flooding, among other issues, however. The Chicago area recently experienced the warmest months of June through August ever recorded based, on the average summer temperature measured by the National Weather Service.

Northern Illinois was recently struck by violent derecho storms causing much damage. Lake Michigan water levels have reached all time high levels.

It has been a long hot summer in many ways as we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic fallout as well as civil disruption.

Climate change is believed responsible for many of the weather extremes we have experienced.

Greenhouse gas emissions are a primary cause of climate change. The Clean Energy Jobs Act has been introduced in bills before the Illinois House and Senate.

The CEJA aims to address the problem of carbon emissions by incentivizing renewable energy sources to replace fossil fuels. It would also lead to the creation of jobs in the renewable energy field and ensure that many of these jobs would be accessible to communities affected by economic disruption. These jobs would outlast the current crises.

Local state representatives Michael Zalewski, Elizabeth Hernandez and Edgar Gonzalez as well as senators Kimberly Lightford and Celina Villanueva are among sponsors of the CEJA. Hopefully, they can help advance this bill to a vote during the upcoming veto session in Springfield.

Richard Swanson

Brookfield

Rita M. Bambach, 90 Owned beauty salon Rita Mae Bambach (nee Bennett), 90, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Sept. 10, 2020.

Ms. Bambach was born in Chicago, on Jan. 1, 1930 to the late Robert Bennett and the late Anna Bennett. She was one of four children. She grew up in Brookfield and attended RiversideBrookfield High School. After high school, she owned her own beauty salon in Western Springs.

She married Richard “Dick” Bambach on May 11, 1963 at St. Louise de Marillac Church in La Grange Park.

The couple settled in LaGrange Park, where they raised their three children.

She loved to travel and visited all 50 states. She also loved to garden, bake and play games with her grandchildren. She was best known for her kind and loving way.

Ms. Bambach was the wife of Richard; the mother of Rich, Rod and Robyn; the mother-in-law of Robin, Linda and Scott; and the grandmother of Haley, Jackson, Olivia, Bradley, Georgia, Adriana and Kevin.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Sept.

12 at St. Louise de Marillac Church, followed by interment Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Those wishing to express condolences online can visit HitzemanFuneral. com. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Rita Mae Bambach family.

Kerri A. Bradford, 41 Riverside Juniors officer, scout leader Kerri Ann Bradford (nee Koscik), 41, of Riverside and formerly of Chicago and Richton Park, died Sept. 5, 2020.

Ms. Bradford earned a master’s degree in KERRI A. BRADFORD early childhood education from the Erikson Institute in Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority.

She was an active member of the Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity, where she had served terms as an officer of

the club and chaired and co-chaired numerous committees. She was involved in Riverside Cub Scouts Pack 24. where she served as an assistant leader and helped organize events. She previously served as the leader of combined Girl Scout Troops 1123 and 1321 in Chicago, where she was also actively involved in leadership of the service unit.

Kerri was a doting mother, caring and loved wife, beloved daughter, sister, aunt, niece and friend to many. She leaves a legacy of perseverance and living life to its fullest no matter the challenges.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Albert Bradford; her son, Ryan Alexander Bradford; her parents, Richard A. Koscik and Nancy J. (nee Erwin) Koscik; her brother, Scott M. Koscik, and sister-in-law, Joellyn Koscik (nee Tendy); her nephew, Jason Koscik; and her uncle and aunt Robert and Linda Koscik.

Funeral services and interment were private. Donations are appreciated in Kerri’s name to the Comprehensive Transplant Center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (feinberg.northwestern. edu/giving) or Riverside Pack 24 Cub Scouts to pack24riverside@gmail.com via PayPal. Online condolences may be offered at KuratkoNosek.com.

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.

Gerald A. Carlson, 89 Retired master tool and die maker Gerald A. “Jerry” Carlson, 89, of Brookfield, died Sept. 12, 2020.

Mr. Carlson served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was retired from a GERALD A. CARLSON career as a master tool and die maker.

He was the husband of 67 years to Madeline Carlson (nee Condon); the father of Deacon Tom (Pamela) Carlson, James Carlson, Karen (Phil) Kedzuch, Kevin (Kris) Carlson, Amy (Tom) Kuchynka and the late Gerald P. Carlson; the grandfather of Andy (Austeja) Kedzuch, Nicholas (Jill) Kedzuch, Brian (Ashley) Carlson, Austin Carlson, Corey Kuchynka, Timothy Kuchynka, Steven (Kelsey) Carlson, Christine Carlson, Casey Carlson and Julianna Carlson; the great grandfather of Weston Kedzuch; the brother of John (Joanna) Carlson, Patricia Carlson,

Dave (Mary) Burry and the late Rose (Michael) Calabrese; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, Sept. 17, from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Sept.

17 at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara Church, Brookfield. Interment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside All wishing to attend Mass need to register. More information at HitzemanFuneral.com.

Memorials appreciated to the St. Barbara’s Food Pantry.

To express condolences online visit HitzemanFuneral.com. Send sympathy cards to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Jerry Carlson family.

Lloyd A. Lawson, 92 Retired computer programmer Lloyd Arelando Lawson, 92, of Brookfield and formerly of Downers Grove, died Sept. 7, 2020.

Mr. Lawson served in two branches of the Armed Forces, LLOYD LAWSON joining the Navy in June of 1946 and then serving as a lieutenant in the Air Force during the Korean War. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and his MBA from Ohio State. He went on to work as a computer programmer for Western Electric, Waukesha Motors and Caterpillar Tractor. Using his education and experience, he also taught accounting part time at the College of DuPage for over 20 years.

Mr. Lawson sang with College of DuPage Chorale, West Suburban Symphony Chorus, several Lutheran church choirs as well United Methodist Church of Downers Grove and the Downers Grove Choral Society, where he had the opportunity to sing at several churches in Europe. He also had the experience of singing at Carnegie Hall with Sherill Milnes.

When not singing, traveling and teaching, Lloyd loved gardening both flowers and vegetables.

He was the husband of 62 years to L. Elaine Lawson (nee Kranz); the father of Lana (Eric) Larson and Cathy (Jim) Lawson-Kennedy; the grandfather of See OBITUARIES on page 16

16

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

OBITUARIES

NEWS

Continued from page 15 Bradley Larson and Liz Larson; the brother of the late Idablle (the late Walter) Bills, Claude Lawson and Bill (the late Roberta) Lawson; and the uncle and great uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 12:30 p.m. to time of service at 1 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. Interment is at Fairmount Willow Hills Memorial Park, Willow Springs.

Memorial donations are appreciated to the family.

For those wishing to express condolences online, visit HitzemanFuneral.com. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o Lloyd Lawson family.

Victor Maruska, 80 Business owner Victor Maruska, 80, of North Riverside, died Sept. 6, 2020.

Mr. Maruska served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a member of the Shriners. He owned the business Tape & Label VICTOR MARUSKA Graphics, Inc. He was the husband of Gloria (nee Ross); the father of Michael, Joseph (Andrea) Maruska and Vicki (Brian) Pencak; the grandfather of Adam, Victor, Natalie and Andrew (Diana) Maruska and Alyssa and Ella Pencak; and an uncle and friend of many.

Services have been held. Interment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside.

Memorial donations are appreciated to a charity of your choice.

Ivins/Moravecek Funeral, Riverside, handled arrangements.

Richard J. Zaborsky, 87 Attorney Richard Joseph Zaborsky, 87, a longtime resident of Brookfield and Lyons, died Sept. 10, 2020.

Mr. Zaborsky was born Jan. 4, 1933 in Chicago. He was a proud alumnus of Tonti School Class of 1947, Lindblom TechRICHARD ZABORSKY nical High School Class of 1951, University of Illinois Class of 1955 and The John Marshall Law School Class of 1958. He was an attorney with an office in Brookfield.

He was also an antique car collector and an avid world traveler. He was a ticket holder of the Indianapolis Speedway and would take his friends to the race every year. His favorite TV show was “Perry Mason.”

Mr. Zaborsky loved going to the theater to see old musicals and loved to read, specifically about the history of Chicago. He was an avid student of the history of Chicago, was exceptionally knowledgeable of the good and bad politics and politicians, the city’s architecture, streets and notable people of all the eras. In recent years, he enjoyed visiting and reminiscing with many old friends.

He was the son of the late Emil and Anna (nee Spousta); the brother of the late Emil R., late George A. and the late James H.; the uncle of Barbara Zaborsky Sharp Copeland, Maryann Zaborsky, Georgia Zaborsky Eitel and Robert Zaborsky; and a great uncle and greatgreat uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Visitation Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 2 to 9 p.m. at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Barbara Church in Brookfield. Interment is at Bohemian National Cemetery, Chicago.

Online condolences may be offered JohnsonNosek.com.

To run an obituary Please contact Bob Uphues by e-mail: buphues@rblandmark.com, or fax: 708/524-0447 before Monday at noon.

Please include a photo if possible.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

FORECLOSURE Loan in default from page 1 Fears of foreclosure have dogged North Riverside Park Mall for months. In March, the mall’s lender disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that North Riverside Park Associates LLC’s loan was in default after the company failed to make a roughly $68 million balloon payment due Oct. 6, 2019.

Also troubling was news that in November 2019, the mall property was appraised at $48.8 million, far below the amount owed on the mortgage.

Mall officials earlier this year pointed to a Cook County Assessor valuation of $85.3 million for the property and said they were continuing to work with the lender to avoid foreclosure.

“We’ve been negotiating with the lender for the past six to eight months,” said North Riverside Park Mall general manager Harvey Ahitow in March. “We have a new proposal in that we’re waiting to see the result of. We’re going to get this done.

It’s just a matter of time.”

The foreclosure action does not mean a deal can’t be worked out, and in a recent SEC filing, the lender noted that while the foreclosure action makes its way through the courts, they would be “simultaneously continuing discussions with the borrower until a resolution is reached.”

Ahitow did not respond to phone and email messages from the Landmark seeking comment on the foreclosure action.

J.C. Penney strikes sale deal With Carson, Pirie, Scott shutting its doors in 2018 and Sears announcing it

would be doing the same this month, news in May that J.C. Penney was seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection ignited fears that North Riverside Park Mall could be left with no retail anchor tenants should Penny’s be liquidated.

However, the 118-year-old department store chain, and the North Riverside location with it, appears to have been saved for the moment.

On Sept. 9, J.C. Penney announced it had agreed in principle for its assets to be purchased by Simon Property Group and Brookfield Property Group, a pair of shopping mall operators whose properties include a number of J.C. Penney stores as anchor tenants.

Also involved in the $1.75 billion deal are a group of J.C. Penney’s creditors. Simon/ Brookfield would acquire J.C. Penney’s retail and operating assets, while creditors would form a real estate investment trust that would include 161 properties and all of J.C. Penney’s distribution centers.

An SEC filing on Sept. 10 laid out the terms of the master lease for those properties, but the properties to be owned by the real estate trust were not identified. That same filing included a business plan that indicated J.C. Penney intended to operate 653 stores going forward.

When it announced bankruptcy proceedings in May, J.C. Penney operated close to 850 stores. The company identified 156 stores for closure in 2020; those closures are under way.

But the business plan in the most recent SEC filing also indicates the company plans to close 37 more stores in 2021. The filing did not identify which stores would be on that list, and indicated that number could change depending on conditions.

A bankruptcy court filing on Sept. 10 suggested that the sale of J.C. Penney’s assets would be completed by the end of the month.

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM New local ads this week

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

17

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion.

The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.RBLandmark.com/ClassiďŹ ed/

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

HELP WANTED

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

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

Qualifications: - In good physical condition - Reside within 1.5 miles of the boundaries of the Village of Riverside at time of appointment - Be 18 years of age at the time of application - Possess a high school diploma or GED - Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record Miscellaneous Applications are reviewed in October 2020.

Application deadline is Friday, September 25, 2020.

The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

Accounting Specialist (Chicago, IL) sought by Home Health Care Services co. with exp. in all of the following: (i) providing accounting and administrative support in large volume billing activities, meeting biweekly billing projections, assisting in reconciliation of accounts, auditing payments and invoices to reduce billing errors, recording checks, creating strategies to collect accounts receivables, and analyzing aging reports, (ii) using accounting software, such as QuickBooks, to prepare invoices and record, store, and analyze financial information, and (iii) using Microsoft Office Software, specifically Microsoft Excel’s Pivot tables, Vlookups, graphs, dashboards, and advanced formulas to assist in accounting activities. Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Computer Science, or Computer Engineering (or foreign equivalent) + 3M exp. in the job duties. No travel or lang. fluency req. Please send resumes by postal mail only to: Samrong So, COO, Renewal Care Partners LLC, 150 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 2800, Chicago, IL 60601.

FLOATER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Hephzibah Children’s Association is a social service agency in Oak Park, IL providing a variety of programs including Residential Group Homes, Foster Care programs and other Family Based services and Day Care.

ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER PART-TIME Part-time Electrician’s Helper.

Must have own transportation.

Call for more info.

708-738-3848 HAPPY KIDD’S WEST INC. 6928 W 16th St Berwyn, IL 60513 We are seeking a Director and 2 teachers. Director must be qualiďŹ ed and have Associate’s degree or equivalent. Teachers must be director or teacher qualiďŹ ed. Mon thru Fri. working with Infants to 6 yrs old. Compensable salary negotiable based on experience.

Call 773-619-5545 or fax resume to 773-728-5437.

You have jobs.

We have readers!

Find the best employees in Wednesday Classified!

Call 708-613-3342.

We are accepting applications for part time Floater Youth Development Specialists in our Day Care program for the 20-21 school year.

You will assist with e-learning and provide supervision and care to 5-11-year-old (Kindergarten-5th grade) children in the Oak Park community.

The position is part time, as needed, between the hours of 7:20 am and 3:20 pm weekdays – approximately 16-24 hours per week.

SUBURBAN RENTALS FOREST PARK 3BR 3 BR apt, 2nd oor, w/ dining rm and breakfast nook. New kitchen w/ granite & stainless. New baths central air, free laundry. Garage space included. 2 blks to blue line. $1800 + deposit & credit check required.

312-802-8291 COZY TOWN HOME FOR RENT Cozy Town Home for Rent. Two bedroom, One Bath, with partial ďŹ nished basement and washer and dryer. 1 block from the amazing Lincoln Elementary School. Walk to the Blue Line, Grocery Store, Cafe, Ice Cream Shop, and great parks. One parking space included. Tenant pays all utilities. One month rent and one month security deposit required.

Credit check required. Owner pays water and refuse. $1450. Available October 15, 2020.

Please email townhomeoakpark@gmail.com for inquiries.

OAK PARK: ROOSEVELT/ OAK PARK AVE. CORRIDOR 2BR 4RMS close to blue line. On site laundry, parking, heat & water incl. $1200/ month 708-383-9223

CITY RENTALS DELUXE 3BR APT 5955 W HURON First Floor. Large kitchen, all electric appliances. Near West Suburban Hospital. Near all public trans. $1150/mo.

Call 773-637-8677 for appt.

Requirements include: • Minimum of 6 semester hours in education, recreation, social work, or related college courses • Experience working with children

SUBURBAN RENTALS

You will supervise and assist children with e-learning programs; plan and supervise arts and crafts, indoor & outdoor play, games, sports, homework help, lunchtime, snack time and more.

M&M

The program follows the safety guidelines of the IDPH including daily health screening of all staff and participations (temperature check and health questionnaire) required face masks, social distancing and cleaning & disinfecting.

ROOMS FOR RENT AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro.

Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up.

773-637-5957

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT DOWNTOWN OAK PARK Downtown Oak Park, on Marion St. Nice ofďŹ ce with skylight. Heat and A/C included. Approx 220 sf. Call Mr. McNamara 630-215-3253

RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. *1116 sq. ft. suite *569 sq. ft. with patio RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. *926 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6597 North Ave. *598 sq. ft.

6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. *3 and 5 room suites Strand& & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

Buying? Selling?

Renting? Hiring?

Wednesday Classified 708-613-3333

SUBURBAN RENTALS

property management, inc.

708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

Contact: MJ Joyce at mjjoyce@hephzibahhome.org

SAWA’S OLD WARSAW 9200 CERMAK RD BROADVIEW APPLY IN PERSON MONDAYS 10AM TO NOON Please bring all necessary documentation.

North Riverside

AUTISM SPEAKS FUNDRAISER GARAGE SALE 2413 S 3RD FRI 9/18 & SAT 19/19 9AM TO 3PM

Holiday dĂŠcor, clothes, shoes, too much to list! All proceeds go to Autism Speaks.

ITEMS FOR SALE VINTAGE HOWELL RED CHAIRS 6 beautiful vintage red chrome steel dining chairs by furniture maker Howell (St. Charles, IL) from the 1950s. All chairs in great condition.

Small tears in two of the seats and extremely minor tear in third. Other three are in excellent condition.

Wear is consistent with age/vintage condition and all chairs have been temporarily repaired to prevent further tearing.

Price is $100/chair or $500/set of 6.

Delivery available.

773-780-6315

AUTOS FOR SALE FORD INTERCEPTOR 2008 FORD CROWN VIC INTERCEPTOR 62K miles. $7500, 2013 FORD TAURUS INTERCEPTOR 140K MILES. $8500.

Call Pearson 773-540-7650

WANTED TO BUY WE BUY RECORDS!!

We pay cash for your jazz, soul, punk, metal, rock, reggae, country records! Give us a call at 773-3726643. We make house calls!!

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

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

PETS

Equal Opportunity Employer PARTTIME VISION THERAPIST Late afternoon and pm hours weekdays and possible Saturdays Work one on one with patients to improve vision skills. Training provided. Fax resume to 708-771-0513 or email to eyegirls@att.net

GARAGE/YARD SALES

While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References

524-1030

Advertise your business in Wednesday Classified. Call 708/613-3342

AIR CONDITIONING/ HEATING AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Air Conditioning Automotive A/C Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Hot Water Heaters Rodding Sewers

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood ooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-ďŹ nishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

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

GARAGE DOORS Our 73rd Year

Garage Doors &

Smart Door Openers

Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

Sales & Service

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

(708) 652-9415

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000 Attention Home-Improvement Pros!

Reach the people making the decisions.

Place an ad in Wednesday Classifieds! Call 708/613-3342

Free Estimates

www.forestdoor.com

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

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

CEMENT Residential Commercial Industrial Licensed Bonded Insured Free Estimates ¡ Veteran Owned

Drives Walks Patios Stamped Concrete Curbs/Gutters Garage Floors Foundations Parking Lots Water Control

devegaconcrete.com ¡ 708-945-9001

MAGANA

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

COMMERCIAL ˜ INDUSTRIAL ˜ RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 Â&#x2021; )281'$7,216 Â&#x2021; 3$7,26 67(36 Â&#x2021; &85% *877(56 Â&#x2021; 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* Â&#x2021; 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

18

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM

CLASSIFIED ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@RBLANDMARK.COM

Let the sun shine in...

ELECTRICAL

Public Notice: Your right to know

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

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

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

HANDYMAN

PUBLIC NOTICES

Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

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: Y20004227 on August 27, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of POP-UP MUSIC SCHOOL with the business located at: 244 WESLEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: MAGALY CORDERO-DIETZ 244 WESLEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA.

Ask for John

Published in Wednesday Journal 9/2, 9/9, 9/16/2020

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

708-296-2060

HANDYMAN 773-637-0692

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

LANDSCAPING NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP

Evergreen trimming & more.

Hand weed removal.

Clean-ups.

Call 24 hrs.

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLIONIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Kazimir Hugh Boyle Case Number. 20 M4 2415 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Kazimir Hugh Boyle to the new name of: Kazimir Huard Boyle The court date will be held: on 10/27/2020 at 9:30 a.m. at 1500 Maybrook Dr., Maywood, Cook County in Courtroom # 111.

708-447-1762

Published in Wednesday Journal 9/16, 9/23, 9/30/2020

PAINTING & DECORATING

LEGAL NOTICE SERRANO LEGAL SOLUTIONS, LLC 1144 LAKE STREET, SUITE 201 OAK PARK, IL 60301

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

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

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

ROOFING

MIDWEST ROOFING All types of roofing repairs Commercial - Residential Call for free estimate

773-637-0692

Starting a New Business?

Publish your assumed name legal notice here.

708/613-3342

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of KAREN WOJNAROWSKI, Petitioner and ABDEL RZAQ KAYED, Respondent, Case No. 2020 D 004989.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before October 5, 2020, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal September 2, September 9, September 16, 2020

In print • Online • Available to you 24/7/365 PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE SOUTH END SIDEWALK CONSTRUCTION I. TIME AND PLACE OF OPENING OF BIDS: Sealed Proposals for the improvement described herein will be received at the office of the Village Clerk, Village of North Riverside, 2401 S. Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546, until 10:00 a.m., September 29, 2020, and will be publicly opened and read at that time.

II. DESCRIPTION OF WORK: Constructing P.C. concrete sidewalk gaps, complete with earth excavation, aggregate base, combination concrete curb and gutter removal and replacement, detectable warnings, topsoil and sod parkway restoration, and all appurtenant construction.

III. INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS: A. All applicable work will be in conformance with the “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”, dated April 1, 2016.

B. Proposal forms are available for download only from QuestCDN via the Novotny Engineering website, http://novotnyengineering.com, “Bidding” tab, for a non-refundable charge of $30.00. Please contact Novotny Engineering (630-887-8640) to obtain the QuestCDN password.

Proposal forms are non-transferable. Only those Proposals that have been obtained from, and with the approval of, Novotny Engineering will be accepted at the bid opening.

C. Only qualified Contractors who can furnish satisfactory proof that they have performed work of similar nature as Contractors will be entitled to receive bid documents and submit Proposals. To meet this requirement, at the request of the Engineer, bidders will be required to submit a “Statement of Experience” consisting of a list of previous projects of similar nature in order to receive bid documents. The Owner reserves the right to issue Bid Documents only to those Contractors deemed qualified.

D. All Proposals must be accompanied by a Bank Cashier’s Check, Bank Draft, Certified Check, or Bid Bond for not less than five percent (5%) of the total amount of the Bid, or as provided in the applicable sections of the “Standard Specifications”.

E. No Bid may be withdrawn after opening of Proposals without the consent of the Owner for a period of forty-five (45) days after the scheduled time of opening of Bids.

F. The Contractor will be required to furnish a labor and material “Performance Bond” in the full amount of the Contract.

G. The Contractor will be required to pay Prevailing Wages in accordance with all applicable laws.

H. Special Covid-19 Bid Opening Requirements: 1. The Village Commons Campus is currently open to the general public. Bids may be mailed to the address provided in Section I of this Notice or dropped off in person.

2. In order to protect the health of our community, the Village of North Riverside has implemented recommendations provided by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Cook County Department of Public Health, including Social Distancing and the Mask Mandate as recommended in the Restore Illinois Phase 4 Guidelines. Please practice social distancing and wear a mask when in buildings on the Village Commons Campus.

IV. REJECTION OF BIDS: The Owner reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals, to waive technicalities, and to accept the Proposal deemed to be most favorable to the Owner.

BY ORDER OF: VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE PRESIDENT & BOARD OF TRUSTEES Kathy Ranieri Village Clerk

(s) Published in the Landmark September 16, 2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR FFMLT TRUST 2005-FF11, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005FF11 Plaintiff, -v.BRIAN HOLLOWAY Defendants 19 CH 00561 125 SOUTH LOMBARD AVENUE 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 January 23, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 24, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South

Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 125 SOUTH LOMBARD AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-302-0150000 The real estate is improved with a yellow vinyl siding, one story single family home with a detached two car garage.

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, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. 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.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

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.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 268445 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 19 CH 00561 TJSC#: 40-595 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 # 19 CH 00561 I3154996

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF CSMC 2018-RPL12 TRUST. Plaintiff, -v.KARL A. REESE, ROSALYN CUMMINGS-YEATES A/K/A ROSALIND CUMMINGS-YEATES, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019CH08990 439 S. TAYLOR AVE. #2/3-B 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 December 11, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 28, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 439 S. TAYLOR AVE. #2/3-B, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-321-0311006, Property Index No. 16-08-321031-1007 The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse.

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, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. 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. 14-19-04531 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH08990 TJSC#: 40-2114 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 # 2019CH08990 I3155206

Illinois Classified Advertising Network MISCELLANEOUS

FREE Ice Cream? Available at ALL Jewel-Osco locations, Nightfood ice cream will pay for your first pint! Visit TryNightfood.com

WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans.

R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals.

Call 312-598-1758 or visit RefrigerantFinders.com

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

RBLANDMARK.COM

live local?

PUBLIC NOTICES

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

19

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

work local.

Find your local job here!

On the Landmarkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Local Online Job Board.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Search our ads today at RBLandmark.com/classified

To place an ad, contact Mary Ellen Nelligan (708) 613-3342 â&#x20AC;˘ maryellen@oakpark.com

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

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

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

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800669-9777.

Wednesday Journal Landmark Forest Park Review

20

The Landmark, September 16, 2020

EN OP

N SU

EN OP

59 East Quincy, Riverside $369,000

N SU

-2 12

7651 Adams, Forest Park $639,900

151 Bloomingbank Rd, Riverside $975,000

1128 Washington Blvd, 3A, Oak Park $147,500 W NE

56 N Cowley Rd, Riverside $409,900

192 Waubansee Rd, Riverside $539,000

591 E Parkway Rd, Riverside $539,900 W NE

321 Delaplaine Rd, Riverside $790,000

144 Scottswood Rd, Riverside $875,000

E IC PR

172 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $599,000

4441 Wolf Rd, #401, Western Springs $699,000 L TA N RE

E IC PR

299 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $879,000

444 Washington Blvd, #204, Oak Park $197,500

45 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $975,000

84 Pine Ave, Riverside $1,500/mo

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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