People

Former St. Barbara pastor named diocese’s vicar general

Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, has announced the appointment of Auxiliary Casey served as episcopal vicar ate III, a region serving South and side parishes. He is a native of for VicariSouthwest Evergreen North Riversider named leadership fellow 2016, beginning her career as director of public relations. of Bishop Robert G. Casey, 52, as vicar general of the Archdiocese Chicago, effective Sept. 12. Park and grew up in Alsip where he attended public elementary schools. He was ordained to the priesthood May 21, North Riverside resident Blanca Jara, who is the ■ On campus Maclean Nolan and Bria Parker, both

Casey, episcopal vicar for Vicariate III will 1994 and served as an associate at St. Ita Parexecutive direcof Riverside, received their bachelor’s dereplace Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, who was ish, in Chicago, where he served until 1999. tor of institutional grees from Northern Illinois University in named the sixth bishop of Joliet by Pope Casey, who is fluent in Spanish was named advancement at August. Nolan received a B.A. in psychology Francis in July. Carassociate director of Casa Jesús, a house of Morton College in and sociology while Parker earned a B.S. in dinal Cupich will discernment for men from Latin America in Cicero, is among 26 human development and family sciences. name an interim vic1998. In 1999, he became its full-time director. fellows selected for ■ Among those receiving bachelor’s dear for Vicariate III in In 2003, he was named pastor of Our Lady the Hispanic Assogrees from Illinois Wesleyan University on the near future. “Bishop Casey has of Tepeyac co-founded Parish in Taller de Chicago and in 2008, he José, a ministry sponciation of C and Unive olleges rsities’ BLANCA JARA Aug. 2 during the institution’s first-ever virtual commencement ceremony were served the people of sored by the Congregation of St. Joseph that second cohort of Brookfield resident Ryan Swift (accountthe archdiocese as a offers accompaniment to people in need. its Leadership Academy/La Academia de ing, magna cum laude); North Riverside pastor and leader in Casey served as pastor of St. Barbara ParLiderazgo. resident Frances Urbanski (finance); and diocesan renewal,” ish in Brookfield from 2009 to 2016, when he The program is designed to increase Riverside resident Dean Zigulich (business BISHOP ROBERT G. CASEY Cupich said in a press release. “His was appointed pastor of St. Bede the Venerable in Chicago. He also served on the priests’ diverse representation in executive and senior-level positions in higher education. administration). ■ Brookfield resident Rachel Bast was love for our Hispanplacement board and the priest steering comFellows were named in August. named to the 2020 spring semester dean’s ic faithful is evident in his work of formmittee for Renew My Church. Casey was apJara, a 1997 graduate of Morton West High list at Trinity Christian College in Palos ing priests from Latin America and his copointed auxiliary bishop by Pope Francis on School and 2005 graduate of Morton College, Heights for earning a semester grade-point founding of Taller de José.” July 3, 2018. has been working at Morton College since average of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale.

Brookeld Beauti cation 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

BROOK-TASTIC:  e Brook eld Beauti cation Commission awarded their annual Brookie Awards to Dan and Brenna Velcich, shown above le (at le ) with server Jason Michael West of Burger Antics and Kit Ketchmark (above right), president of the Brook eld Historical Society and director of the Brook eld 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 BOB UPHUES/Editor a significant overhaul to update the museum’s exhibits and improve the train depot’s interior spaces.

PEOPLE

Brookeld 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.

Police,  reghters commended for  reworks 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

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

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