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Vol. 35, No. 48

@riversidebrookfieldlandmark

November 25, 2020

New party names slate for North Riverside election PAGE 4

Riverside mourns man who saved, restored Arcade Building PAGE 15

Riverside, Brookfield call off holiday kickoff events No Holiday Stroll, tree-lighting or open houses next week due to pandemic

By BOB UPHUES Editor

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

ALL DRESSED UP... Chris Borzym had expected a blowout party amid a sea of holiday decorations for Christopher Mark Fine Flowers’ 15th anniversary last week and looked forward to another holiday open house in early December, but COVID dashed those plans. Instead, he’s looking forward to a “Sweet 16” party next November.

It’ll be tougher than ever for the holidays to make your days merry and bright, as the surging COVID-19 pandemic has led to the cancellation of almost all of the traditional celebrations in Riverside and Brookfield that kick off the season right after Thanksgiving.

The Riverside Chamber of Commerce for 45 straight years has invited residents to wander in and out of See HOLIDAY EVENTS on page 20

Body cameras coming for Brookfield cops in 2021 Trustees expected to approve funding the initiative next month

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield’s Police Department will become the first law enforcement agency

within West Central Consolidated Communications (WC3) to equip patrol officers with body cameras.

Village trustees next month are expected to approve earmarking about $25,500 in the

village’s 2021 operating budget to get the program off the ground. Over the next five years, the village is likely to spend about $100,000 to buy the body cameras and technology infrastructure to support them.

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The Landmark, November 25, 2020

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

Pandemic especially hard on those with special needs Day programs restarting has brought crucial routine, interpersonal interaction

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

By JACKIE PISANO

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Contributing Reporter

Closed doors have become routine during the COVID-19 pandemic -- closed schools, closed offices, closed businesses, closed homes.

And for most people, adapting to this “new normal” has been challenging but possible -learning online, working from home, taking on new employment and virtually meeting with family and friends through phone calls and video chats.

One group of people in particular, however, has not been as fortunate in easily adapting to these trying times: those with special needs.

The pandemic has meant an interruption in lifestyle consistency, routines and in-person interaction, especially for things like physical therapy and group-based activities. Isolation and cancelled programming has thrown curveballs into the daily lives of those who have a variety of physical and developmental special needs.

Additionally, because many with special needs also have compromised immune systems, adhering to social distancing guidelines and avoiding normal daily activities has become essential to ensuring health and safety.

One area group which had to become creative in delivering services to those with special needs is Community Support Services (CSS), the Brookfield- and Cicero-based organization that provides support to children, adults and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout western Cook County and eastern DuPage County.

For many of CSS’ day program participants, the pandemic has meant they have had to go long periods of time without visiting friends in person, working part-time jobs and volunteering in the community — all activities which they rely on for wellbeing.

Fortunately, with the development of virtual programming, CSS has been able to provide various classes and group activities via Zoom for both residents of CSS’ eight community group homes and those who live independently with intermittent care. Classes taught included art, fitness and culture, with sometimes, three different CSS sites being connected in one Zoom call.

“This provided great relief and enjoyment to them,” said Cassandra Colucy, director of clinical services for CSS. “The families and participants who engage in the virtual activities are very appreciative. They say they are happy to have something to do while in the safety and comfort of their own home. Plus, a majority of participants have registered for

Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

PROVIDED

TOGETHER, AGAIN: During the pandemic, Community Support Services day program classes were provided virtually on Zoom, including an art class that connected participants to their art therapist. multiple classes and multiple sessions of the same class because they want to continue to participate.”

However, Colucy says that like children and adults who have had to adjust to virtual learning and working, some participants have faced a learning curve, whether navigating Zoom or gaining access to a computer or the internet.

But in recent weeks, thanks to state-wide mandates targeted for special education populations, CSS has been allowed to resume much of its in-person work and learning.

On Aug. 1, Illinois allowed a soft-opening for in-person day services, though most service agencies, including CSS, did not open until September because of the amount of paperwork that needed to be submitted to the State prior to opening all sites.

Funded through the Illinois Department of Human Services contracts, CSS has been able to resume a lot of in-person interactions, albeit with COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions in place.

To comply with state guidelines, wearing masks is mandatory, along with frequent hand washing and routine temperature checks for employees, group home residents and day program participants.

After sheltering-in-place for several months, residents and employees of CSS’ group homes have slowly restarted regular schedules and programming.

“Especially during the pandemic, we felt it was especially important for this group to resume productive and interactive activities in a new environment,” said Diane Farina White, president and CEO of CSS.

With group home residents now resuming in-person programming full time, Monday through Friday day programming has also picked up. Both sites in Brookfield and Cicero are at full capacity with 30 participants.

“With a smaller size, we are able to have a higher staff-to-participant ratio and offer more individualized programming,” Farina White said.

And, the recent Tier 3 mitigations imposed by the governor won’t force the day programs to go on hiatus at this time.

“Because we are deemed an essential service according to Illinois Department of Human Services, we can continue to operate our two day services programs under the current recommendation,” said Michelle Jimenez, vice president of marketing and development for CSS. “If it goes into a more stringent phase, then we will have to reevaluate.”

Overall, Farina White says that because the residential and day programs supported

by CSS help provide the stimulating environments of social activities and opportunities for continuous learning for some of the area’s most vulnerable populations, a continued dedication to doing so, whether virtual or in-person, remains the paramount obligation for the organization.

“The camaraderie that develops [from CSS programming] can be the most important part,” she said. “Knowing you have a safe place to go where you will see a friend and do something new and interesting is important to us all.”

For more information about CSS, call 708354-4547 or email info@CSSservices.org.

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The Landmark, November 25, 2020

New North Riverside political party names 2021 slate Mengoni sits atop ticket with former VIP members

By BOB UPHUES Editor

For the first time in more than 30 years, there won’t be a slate of candidates fielded by North Riverside’s VIP Party when voters tick off their choices for mayor, clerk and trustee on ballots next spring.

That’s because for all intents and purposes VIP is a relic of the past. On Nov. 18, a group of former VIP members filed paperwork with the Illinois State Board of Elections to create a political committee called the North Riverside United Party.

And with that filing, the party designated a full slate of candidates for next spring’s election, with Joseph Mengoni its choice for mayor.

Kathy Ranieri will seek her third term as village clerk and her first as a member of the new party, while the North Riverside United Party’s candidates for trustee will be incumbents Fernando Flores and Terri Sarro along with Jason Bianco, who formerly served as a VIP trustee for one term from 2015-19.

Bianco wasn’t slated by the VIP in 2019, an election that saw two of the three party’s can-

didates defeated.

At this point, Mengoni will be facing off against incumbent Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr., who is running without a slate as an independent. However, Trustee Marybelle Mandel, elected as an independent in 2019 after a campaign that resulted in the VIP breakup, is expected to run for mayor as well.

While Mengoni and Hermanek are former VIP colleagues, one important difference is in their approaches to the mayor’s job. Hermanek has, like his mentor Richard Scheck, believed in a hands-on approach that touches day to day operation of the village.

Mengoni, a two-term trustee, said he believes the day-to-day operation of the village is best left to professional staff, particularly the village administrator. He said trustees also should have more of a voice in helping craft policy, through the village board’s committee structure.

“You have to let people have an opportunity to speak their minds and opinions and then let the people we hire run the show,” Mengoni said.

While all of the North Riverside United Party candidates were members of VIP up until recently, the party’s chairman says this isn’t a rebranding, it’s a new direction.

“Things are not the same anymore,” said party chairman Martin DeLeonardis, who

was one of the two VIP trustee candidates defeated in 2019. “It was time to go in a different direction. We weren’t satisfied with the outcome of the last election, but we knew the reasons why.”

Those reasons included VIP not directly confronting its political opponents and largely staying out of the fray on social media, where much of the political messaging took root.

Mandel, who won election as trustee in 2019 as the highest vote-getter out of six candidates, remains a strong presence on local North Riverside group pages on Facebook and clearly has many ardent supporters pushing her candidacy for mayor, though she has not announced yet.

Ranieri said technological changes being implemented at village hall to make local government more available to residents along with a wish to be part of the village’s 100th anniversary celebration in 2023 factored into her decision to run for re-election. She also said VIP’s reputation as an older, “closed-off ” party hurt it in recent years.

“We’re trying to get new members and new ideas,” Ranieri said, pointing to 26-year-old Luca Melone, who is the new party’s treasurer and has social media savvy, as an example of the change they’re looking for. “People want to get involved whether it’s politics or to have a voice.”

Ranieri said she is in the process of closing out VIP’s political campaign committee with the state board of elections.

“VIP is pretty much done,” she said.

Hermanek has already announced he’s running for a third term, this time as an independent. He has not put together a slate, saying he didn’t want to draw away votes from other former VIP candidates who he still essentially supports.

Both Hermanek and Mengoni understand the peril of them splitting the vote and paving the way for a third-party challenger like Mandel, who has much less experience, win the mayor’s office.

The difference this time, said Mengoni, is that the new party intends on communicating its message to voters, engaging on social media and in any public forums where candidates can air their differences.

“I think if the playing field is level in terms of communicating out our message, we can win people over,” Mengoni said.

DeLeonardis also acknowledged the dangers of a three-person race, but said the campaign would be different this time around.

“We hope people can put the political part aside and look at the candidates and what they have to offer,” DeLeonardis said. “We want to put the best candidate out there and let the people decide.”

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation

I’ve worked at Growing Community Media for nearly 25 years – for the last 17 as editor of the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark -- for one reason:

For over 25 years I have worked at Wednesday Journal because I believe in local, public interest journalism.

Wednesday Journal is the best independent news platform in the area, reporting only on Oak Park and River Forest issues. I am proud to be a part of this amazing team!

The work we do here matters.

Community newspapers are an endangered species, but they’re indispensable. We’re the place where our communities tell their own stories.

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The Landmark, November 25, 2020

North Riverside looks to switch lobbying firms

Village poised to hire GR Consulting in December

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The village of North Riverside earlier this fall quietly jettisoned the firm that has served as its principal lobbyist in Springfield since August 2017.

Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. said at a meeting of the village board’s administrative committee on Nov. 9 that he had terminated the village’s $48,000 annual contract with The Roosevelt Group.

On Dec. 14, village trustees are expected to approve a contract with a new lobbying firm, the newly formed GR Consulting, which will be paid the same amount the village had been paying The Roosevelt Group.

The new lobbying firm’s principals are Arthur Turner Jr. and Larry Luster.

Turner is the son of longtime former state Rep. Art Turner Sr. The younger Turner succeeded his father in representing the 9th District in 2010. Turner Jr. resigned as state representative in the 9th District in July, a month after GR Consulting filed incorporation papers with the Illinois Secretary of State.

Luster, a lifelong resident of Springfield, is the former director of policy and outreach at The Roosevelt Group and was political director for Kwame Raoul’s campaign for Illinois Attorney General.

“I think it’s absolutely imperative we have a lobbyist in Springfield,” Hermanek told trustees on Nov. 9.

Hermanek said he was recommending the change, because he’d terminated The Roosevelt Group’s contract a month earlier. Why? “Their ability to lobby has been greatly diminished,” Hermanek told trustees at the meeting.

Fire damages home on Selborne Road in Riverside

A fire which seriously damaged the rear portion of the home at 540 Selborne Road in Riverside on the morning of Nov. 21 started on the building’s flat tar-covered roof, according to Fire Chief Matthew Buckley, and appears to have resulted from repair work being done at the time.

No one was hurt, but the house was rendered uninhabitable by the fire, which traveled through the rear interior walls and joist channels. A pair of bedrooms on the top floor of the split level sustained “extensive” damage as well, Buckley said. There was also

The reason for that is because The Roosevelt Group has been caught up in a wide-ranging federal corruption probe involving state and local politicians and firms seeking their favor.

WBEZ reported in July that federal agents had issued a subpoena to House Speaker Michael Madigan seeking information on, among other things, The Roosevelt Group as well as documents pertaining to Exelon and ComEd. The Chicago Sun-Times in September noted that Roosevelt Group partner Victor Reyes had lobbied on behalf of ComEd and that another Roosevelt Group partner, Mike Noonan, had served as a paid consultant to the red-light camera company SafeSpeed LLC. Earlier this year a former SafeSpeed founding partner, Omar Maani, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with prosecutors in exchange for his cooperation in the corruption probe.

North Riverside hired The Roosevelt Group in 2017 after the retirement of their former lobbyist Jack Kubik. According to the minutes of a village board committee meeting from July 2017, The Roosevelt Group came recommended by then-Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski, who found himself a target in the same federal corruption probe and in September pleaded guilty to extortion and filing a false tax return.

The 2017 committee meeting minutes indicate that Hermanek and Village Attorney Burt Odelson personally met with Noonan about The Roosevelt Group signing on as North Riverside’s lobbyist on a $4,000 monthly retainer.

Hermanek credited The Roosevelt Group with pushing through legislation that last year created a non-home rule gasoline tax. The mayor said the law was written specifically to benefit North Riverside, a non-home rule community in Illinois that houses a Costco store and gas station.

The village got its first month’s worth of gasoline tax revenue recently, a check for $19,000. smoke damage throughout the house.

“Where the two roofs meet, it’s a split level, and the fire actually was in the walls where all that comes together and meets,” said Buckley.

“You can see just by looking at all the different layers it was difficult to get in there and dig and get to actually where the fire was.”

The blaze also damaged the non-structural brick face of the rear wall, and firefighters were forced to take down a section of the brick wall, which was detaching from the frame structure beneath.

The home was purchased by new owners within the past two months and they had been doing a number of improvement projects since that time. A neighbor told the Landmark that a worker was using an open flame on the roof Friday.

A work van and trailer were parked in the driveway of the home on Saturday morning.

— Bob Uphues

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation Community matters. The lives, the people, the personalities, the ways and whys and how things work (or don’t work) is covered in our hyper local news. Caring about how our taxes are being spent, how our neighborhood children are doing and knowing that a duckling is rescued from a fall in a sewer, matter. Growing Community Media takes the time to tell these stories, because these stories matter. I care deeply about our communities and it is an honor to be a part of this local journalism team and be supported by the neighborhoods we serve.

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The Landmark, November 25, 2020

BIG WEEK November 25-December 2

WSSRA Celebration of Stars

Celebrate those who make the West Suburban Special Recreation Association, which provides special recreation programming for the villages of Riverside and North Riverside, hum during its Celebration of Stars virtual benefit from Monday, Nov. 30 at 9 a.m. to Friday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

The celebration includes a Shooting Stars Silent Auction, Holiday Stars Raffle, Holiday Donations and more. View auction items, register and more by visiting wssra.net.

Animal Care League Holiday Bazaar

Shop for baked goods, holiday items, donate through the giving tree, try your luck at the online raffle and purchase apparel to support homeless pets during the Animal Care League’s Holiday Bazaar.

For the bake sale, order online at animalcareleague.org/holidaybazaar.html through Sunday, Nov. 29. For bazaar shopping and the raffle, browse selected items online starting Nov. 30 through Dec. 5.

In-person shopping at the Animal Care League, 1003 Garfield St. in Oak Park, is Friday, Dec. 4 from 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Wear your mask and be prepared to wait in line.

Pickup online bake sale, bazaar merchandise and winning raffle items at the league’s headquarters on Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the league’s headquarters.

Around Riverside in 80 Days

Coping with COVID anxiety

As children navigate online learning during the pandemic, anxiety may manifest in many ways.

On Thursday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m., National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Metro Suburban invites you to join Dr. Erin Terada and Madison Hewitt, LCSW, for the virtual presentation “COVID Anxiety: Helping Your Kids Do the Impossible during Online Learning.”

They will provide an overview of anxiety related to the impact on social and academic environments, highlight the differences between normal anxiety and clinically relevant anxiety, provide parents with strategies for helping their children adapt to change and anxiety-related behavioral issues.

It also airs Sunday, Dec. 6, 1:30 p.m. Register at tinyurl.com/yx8q2rdc.

Art in a box

There are 80 days between Thanksgiving Day and Valentine’s Day, so with that in mind the Riverside Department of Parks and Recreation invites you to register for Around Riverside in 80 Days, which challenges you to get out there every day between Thanksgiving and Feb. 14 and walk, run or bike any distance to stay healthy this winter.

With the governor’s Tier 3 COVID-19 mitigations closing Riverside Arts Center’s galleries and in-person classes to the public, the organization invites you to bring art to your home in the form of a Paint Your Own Pottery box.

Choose either a platter or serving bowl and receive a box containing glaze, a palette, paintbrushes and instruction sheets -- everything you’ll need to create a painted masterpiece.

Kits are $50 (non-members $55) and you can order online at riversideartscenter.com/ kids-art-classes-camps/bisque-box. RAC will arrange for delivery or pick up of your box on your specified day.

Track your trips on the downloadable tracker sheet and see just how far you can go in 80 days. Send your pictures and keep Parks and Rec posted on your achievements by emailing to riversidepr@riverside.il.us.

Register to participate in the fun run campaign at tinyurl.com/y55r9zny and receive a sweatshirt of your choice.

And more North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., 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 Wednes■

days every Wednesday at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

For adults, there’s the Afternoon Tea and Talk via Zoom on Nov. 28 at 1:30 p.m. RSVP to bodenl@ northriversidelibrary.org or visit northriversidelibrary. org/events for adult Zoom meeting access info.

For teens, there’s Jackbox Game - Bracketeering on Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. via Zoom. Register for Zoom info at northriversidelibrary.org/teens.

For kids, there are the following Zoom programs: ABCs and 123s on Mondays at 10:30, Stories and

Sharing on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.; and Lego Builders Club on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.

Register by calling 708-447-0869, ext. 230 or at northriversidelibrary.org/kids/youth-servicesregistration.

Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook. com/BrookfieldPublicLibrary.

■

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Woman stopped for speeding learns car she bought was stolen A 22-year-old Chicago woman drove into Brookfield with a 2009 Chevy sedan last week and left walking away with a handful of traffic tickets and looking for answers after learning the vehicle she thought she bought for $2,500 in September was actually reported stolen a day after she made the purchase.

Brookfield police pulled the woman over in the 8800 block of 31st Street for allegedly going 43 mph in a 30 mph zone just before 3 a.m. on Nov. 18.

During the stop, the officer learned that the car had been reported stolen out of Chicago on Oct. 1, a revelation the driver disputed, saying she and her boyfriend had bought the car from two men they met in the vicinity of Western Avenue and Taylor Street in Chicago on Sept. 30.

After buying the car, the woman was able to obtain valid registration for it at a currency exchange. Police, however, learned that the owner of the car reported it stolen on Oct. 1. The owner had removed the license plates, because she had intended to sell the car and left it parked on the street, apparently with the keys and the vehicle’s title still inside.

The victim told police they saw the vehicle for sale on an online site called Offerup and showed them text messages and photographs of the sellers’ Offerup profile page, but police determined that the victim appeared to have been the victim of a scam and indicated they would seek to reunite the car with its rightful owner.

Before letting the Chicago woman go, police handed her tickets for speeding and operating an uninsured vehicle.

Burglary suspect drops proceeds, speeds away A man suspected of burglarizing the garage of an apartment building in the 8800 block of Plainfield Road, Brookfield, just before noon on Nov. 17 dropped his ill-gotten gains and sped off on a bicycle after a resident caught him in the act.

Police responded to the area after a witness called 911 to report seeing a man walk out of the backyard of the building and place some items under a bush at the edge of the property.

The man then walked onto the front porch of the building, hopped on a bicycle and then picked up the items from under the bush.

The witness reportedly chased the suspect, who dropped the items at Gerritsen and Plainfield and was last seen riding away northbound on Prairie Avenue. The witness told police that the items, a power drill and a small air compressor, which had been dropped by the suspect, had been taken from the garage at the property.

Police searched the area for the suspect, without success.

Riverside garage and vehicle burglaries ■ A resident of

the 300 block of East Quincy Street, Riverside, called police on Nov. 20 to report that sometime during the early morning hours of the day, someone had entered two unlocked vehicles and removed unspecified items.

Surveillance video obtained by police reportedly showed a man wearing a hood over his head and black gloves entering the cars at about 5:30 a.m.

■ Police responded to the 300 block of East Burlington Street, Riverside, on Nov. 20 after a resident called to report that someone had ransacked the interior of a vehicle parked in the rear lot of their building.

Items were strewn about the inside of the unlocked vehicle and about $3 in loose change was missing.

■ A resident of the 300 block of Addison Road, Riverside, contacted police on the morning of Nov. 20 after realizing that someone had entered his garage through an unlocked side service door and removed two cordless drills, a cordless leaf blower and a Bose Bluetooth speaker.

In addition, a vehicle inside the garage had been entered and rifled through. The break-in occurred during the overnight hours, the victim said, between 10:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.

■ Riverside police responded to the 100 block of Forest Avenue on the morning of Nov. 22 after a resident called to report that someone had entered his unlocked garage sometime after 3 p.m. on the prior day and removed a Honda power washer and a Husky air compressor, each valued at $300.

Cops: DUI suspect drove 98 mph Riverside police charged a 43-year-old Chicago resident Tumas J. Norwood with drunken driving, aggravated speeding, felony possession of a controlled substance and other offenses after an officer stopped his 2019 Chevy sedan, which reportedly was clocked traveling at 98 mph in a 35 mph zone while westbound on 26th Street from Harlem Avenue at about 1:20 a.m. on Nov. 19.

Inside the vehicle, police reported recovering an open bottle of cognac, eight foil packets containing PCP and a large amount of cash.

Norwood’s blood-alcohol content, according to police, was .110, which is greater than the legal limit of .08.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Nov. 1622, 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, November 25, 2020

German language classes just about kaput at RBHS Unable to find a teacher after summer retirement, RBHS’ virtual option not a hit

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The study of German is ending at Riverside-Brookfield High School. In July, longtime German teacher Patricia Reeves, known to her students at Frau Reeves, decided to retire a year earlier than planned Students did not learn of Reeves’ retirement until just a couple of weeks before school started.

“It was a little bizarre, but I kind of expected it because my German teacher was really scared of COVID,” said RBHS sophomore Carroll Creedon who took freshman German last year. “She was talking about it in late December, early January.”

RBHS administrators tried to hire a new German teacher to replace Reeves, but they could not find anyone and have now given up looking for a replacement.

“We conducted a pretty extensive search for a German teacher,” said Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Kylie Lindquist at a recent school board meeting.

“We’re in a situation right now where we can’t find a German teacher. We still have a robust Spanish program [and] we still have French as an option. But right now we are

not able to provide students with a teacher who would be able to teach German moving forward.”

RBHS Principal Hector Freytas told the Landmark that he tried hard to find a German teacher last summer but wasn’t able to.

“It’s not easy,” Freytas said. “I reached out to the German consulate to help me find people. Unfortunately, right now it’s hard to find a certified German teacher.”

Without a German teacher in the building, students taking German this year are doing so through the Illinois Virtual School, a Peoria-based company that provides online instruction.

Many German students at RBHS decided to drop the class rather than take it online with a non-RBHS teacher. This year 28 students, only seven of whom are taking German I, are taking German at RBHS, down from 50 last year.

In contrast this year, 843 students take Spanish and 95 take French. With the low numbers of students taking German, the school cannot justify continuing to search for a full-time German teacher.

Going forward, RBHS students already taking German can continue to take it through the Illinois Virtual School, with

the school district footing the bill. Incoming students who want to take German, or any other course not offered at RBHS, can do so virtually and get credit for it, but they’ll have to pay the cost of the class.

Reeves taught German at RBHS for 25 years. She was known as a strict but dedicated and passionate teacher.

“I liked her a lot,” said sophomore Taylor Baird who took German I last year. “I thought she was a good teacher.”

Both Baird and Creedon say taking German online with the Illinois Virtual School is nothing like taking German with Reeves.

“It’s not nearly as good, it’s not as hands on,” Baird said of his online German II class. “And they’re doing the best they can, but there’s not much they can really do to change that fact. Just being one to one with someone is a lot better.”

The students say they watch videos and get assignments online. Occasionally, at most once a week and usually less, they have an online chat with the teacher.

“It’s really helpful because it gives me a gauge for where I’m at, but other than that I’m not really learning anything,” Creedon said. “It’s a very boring thing, because I don’t get to talk to any classmates.”

Learning pronunciation and speaking German is especially difficult because there is little interaction with other students taking German.

“I don’t really have anybody to practice speaking German to,” Creedon said.

Freshman Jack Baird, Taylor’s younger brother, is trying to learn a new language completely online taking German I through the Illinois Virtual School. He says it’s not going very well.

“I feel like I’m not learning anything,” Jack Baird said. “I feel like it’s going in one ear and coming out the other.”

The Baird family has hired a tutor to come in once a week to work with the boys to supplement the online instruction.

Both Taylor Baird and Creedon say that they are not planning to take German III next year if it is online but would take it if RBHS had a German teacher.

“I don’t feel that I’m learning enough this year to keep myself going through German III,” Creedon said. “Half the kids from my German class of last year didn’t do German II this year and half of the kids who did do German II this year have either already dropped out or are thinking about it because they really dislike this new system. I don’t blame them.”

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

SUMMER EMPLOYMENT: TAX TIPS FOR STUDENTS

E

mployment during the summer is a great opportunity for students to build a resume, gain experience, create valuable connections and develop some financial independence. Summer jobs can also provide students with spending money, assist with college tuition payments ( or more realistically, one semester of books), start a 401(k) or Roth IRA and potentially offer practical experience for a future career. Summer employment offers experiences that are often not available or cannot be replicated in a classroom.

Along with such benefits, summer employment will introduce students to taxes.

They will quickly learn the reality that earning $15 an hour does not equal $15 an hour in their pockets.

Here are some tax tips for students with or contemplating starting summer jobs: Employee Paperwork When you get a new job, you will need to complete IRS Form W-4, Employee’s

Withholding Allowance Certificate. Employers use this form to determine how much federal income tax to withhold from your pay. The lower the number of “exemptions” claimed, the higher your income tax withholding.

Conversely, the higher the number of “exemptions” claimed, the lower your income tax withholding. Irrespective of amounts withheld for income taxes, Social Security and Medicare tax will be withheld at a 6.2 percent and 1.45 percent rate, respectively, and is not available for refund unless you earn more than $132,900.

If you are treated as an employee, your employer withholds tax from your paychecks. If you are treated as self-employed (think babysitting, lawn care, painting, consulting), you may have to pay estimated tax directly to the IRS on a quarterly basis. If you earn $400 or more, you will need to file a federal tax return.

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The Landmark, November 25, 2020

9

Positivity rate decreases as hospitalization growth slows Officials urge caution ahead of Thanksgiving holiday

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois

The statewide COVID-19 case positivity rate dipped to a seven-day rolling average of 10.9 percent on Nov. 23, marking three straight days of decreases which put it at 2.3 percentage points below a Nov. 13 second-wave high.

The state reported 8,322 cases Monday among 91,562 test results reported, a one-day positivity rate of 9.1 percent. From Saturday through Monday, the state averaged 10,075 cases among more than 104,000 test results reported each day.

Hospitalizations showed signs they could be leveling as well, although they remained near record highs and ticked up from the day prior. As of Nov. 22, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 6,171 hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients, which was an increase of 99 from the evening before but four below the record-high of 6,175 set Nov. 20.

The decrease from Friday to Saturday was the first time hospitalizations did not increase from the day prior since Oct. 24.

Last week, IDPH began reporting hospital capacity based on available staff, rather than existing beds, in order to “make sure we had a fully accurate picture of how many patients could actually be cared for in hospitals across the state,” according to the department’s director, Dr. Ngozi Ezike.

“We can’t look only at the number of empty beds, but also the ability of the hospital to staff those empty beds,” she said. “Without doctors or nurses or respiratory therapists or other health care workers that can actually care for the patients, it really doesn’t matter how many beds you have.”

See COVID-19 on page 19

Riverside, Brookfield close village offices to the public Residents encouraged to interact with staff via phone, email

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside’s village government offices inside the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, and Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave., will be closed to the public until further notice due to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases locally.

The closure was effective in Riverside as of Nov. 18, while the village of Brookfield closed its front counter window as of Nov. 23.

Village staff will be working onsite in their offices, said Riverside Village Manager Jessica Frances, and will be available by phone (708-447-2700) and email during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Residents are encouraged to conduct village business online through the village website at riverside.il.us. The village’s Community Development Department will continue to schedule inspections, and staff will wear appropriate PPE when they make site visits, Frances said.

“We just want to make sure we’re protecting people as much as possible,” she said.

The Riverside Village Board’s next meeting, which had been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19, has been canceled. The village board moved earlier this month to hold its meetings virtually. That practice will continue for the foreseeable future. The village board is still planning to hold two meetings in December, although that could change.

As was the case during the first wave of the pandemic in spring and early summer, village hall employees will be available through phone (708-485-7344) or email. Half will be working onsite and half offsite on any given day.

More information is available at the village of Brookfield’s website at brookfieldil. gov.

All recreation programs were canceled as of Nov. 20, as the governor’s Tier 3 COVID-19 mitigation measures took effect.

Village board meetings will also follow the model adopted in March. At least half of the trustees will attend meetings via Zoom and village staff will participate from their

offices unless presenting information to the board. No more than 10 people will be allowed in the council chamber at any one time.

North Riverside Village Commons still open North Riverside Village Administrator Sue Scarpiniti said the Village Commons building remains open to the public as does the front counter window, although residents are encouraged to call or email and to use the new drop box that’s been erected out front of the building to pay bills.

“We’ve had very little foot traffic here, so we’re going to remain open, for now,” Scarpiniti said.

Meanwhile, North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. announced last week that the village board meeting scheduled for Dec. 14 and future meetings until further notice would be conducted virtually and accessible to residents via Zoom.

North Riverside Parks and Recreation Director Teresa Mrozik confirmed that all of her department’s programming was on hia-

tus, except for its preschool and bus service.

“We will be back at the drawing board creating new adapted programming whether it’s virtual, outdoors, etc.,” Mrozik wrote in an email.

The Illinois Department of Public Health reported that the seven-day rolling COVID-19 positivity rate in Region 10, which includes all of suburban Cook County, was 15.9 percent as of Nov. 14.

As a result, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he was imposing further restrictions effective Nov. 20.

Those restrictions include limiting retail and big box stores to 25 percent of capacity and grocery stores to 50 percent capacity.

Health and fitness centers can operate at 25 percent capacity, masks must be worn at all times regardless of spacing, locker rooms should be closed and indoor group classes are prohibited Indoor recreation and performance centers, video gambling parlors, theaters and indoor museum spaces must close and outdoor group activities are limited to 10 people or fewer.

10

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation Food writing has become especially valuable in recent months and GCM supports my tireless desire to bring attention to the restauranteurs, chefs, and artisans who form the spine of our local food scene.

Humanizing the people who nourish our community is essential in times of both struggle and triumph.

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Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation It’s easy to take the Forest Park Review for granted. What makes the paper special and important, though, is that we’re here. At the school board meetings. Reporting on the village council. In tune with the businesses. We’re a source for hyper-local news about what’s happening HERE. I live in town and have for over 18 years, I care deeply about what happens here -- it’s more than just a job -- and I work hard to report on all aspects of life in Forest Park.

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State senator to replace Garcia as Illinois presidential elector U.S. Constitution bars members of Congress from serving

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia will not serve as a presidential elector in Illinois.

Instead, he is being replaced by state Sen. Omar Aquino, the state Democratic Party confirmed, and the reason has to do with a requirement of the U.S. Constitution.

Garcia, whose 4th District includes all of North Riverside, all but one precinct of Riverside and the north half GRANT MORGAN/CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS of Brookfield, was selected to serve as an elector when UP NEXT: State Sen. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) speaks at the Democratic Party of Il- a Statehouse news conference in May 2019. The Demolinois’ state central commit- cratic Party chose Aquino as a U.S. presidential elector, tee met in July. He was even replacing their initial choice of U.S. Rep. Jesus “Chuy” listed on a press release the Garcia, as the Constitution prevents congressmen from party sent out July 15.

Capitol News Illinois used serving as electors. that list for a story first diswritten, no other country chose their heads tributed on Nov. 18 and also confirmed with of government through direct popular eleca party spokesperson that the names and tions. descriptions were accurate.

Others at the time, however, objected to But soon after the story was first pubCongress having any role in choosing a lished, Freeport High School civics teacher president because they wanted a clear sepaJim Winker emailed CNI to point out that ration of powers between the executive and there must have been a mistake. And, inlegislative branches. deed there was.

Jason Mazzone, who teaches constitutionThat’s because Article II, Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which gives states author- al law at the University of Illinois at Urbaity to decide how their presidential electors na-Champaign College of Law, said the ban will be chosen, also places one specific limit on members of Congress serving as electors on who can serve: “no Senator or Represen- was meant as an additional check to prevent tative, or Person holding an Office of Trust the office of president from becoming too or Profit under the United States, shall be much like a prime minister.

“It preserves the Article II branch as a disappointed an Elector.” tinct branch of government in a system in The entire Electoral College system has which we don’t elect the president directly,” been the subject of considerable controversy in recent years. It was primarily respon- he said in an email. “If you don’t want citisible for George W. Bush winning the presi- zens voting directly for the president then dency in 2000 and Donald Trump winning in you have to give the vote to somebody else.

2016, despite the fact that both had lost the If you give it to members of Congress, then you are very close to the parliamentary syspopular vote.

There have been three other instances tem that was otherwise rejected.”

A spokeswoman for the state Democratic when the elected president failed to win the popular vote, including the election of 1876, Party did not immediately respond to queswhen the Electoral College chose Repub- tions about why Garcia was initially placed lican Rutherford B. Hayes over Democrat on the slate of electors, but she acknowlSamuel J. Tilden as part of a compromise edged Thursday that he had been replaced that brought about the end of Reconstruc- by Aquino, whose state Senate 2nd District includes a part of Chicago’s Northwest Side. tion.

The list of electors still has not been offiMany historians say that the Electoral College itself was part of a compromise by cially submitted to the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. A spokesman there said that the framers of the Constitution, some of whom feared that a chief executive directly is expected to happen “on or about” Dec. 4, elected by the people could lead to despo- the day final election results statewide are tism. In 1789, when the Constitution was certified.

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

S P O N S O R E D

11

C O N T E N T

A Mexican feast on 26th St. Welcoming and unassuming here are four genuine finds

Folks who are east-west bound in Berwyn are rarely unfamiliar with 26th St. Quieter than its Cermak Road counterpart, the throughfare feels more residential and pedestrian friendly.

Over the past several months we have noticed several welcoming Mexican restaurants tucked on 26th Street. We just could not resist checking out a quartet of these quaint establishments.

We were enchanted with the Caldo de Cameron offered by Tacos Y Salsa, 6346 W. 26th St., when we visited the restaurant in September and have been thinking Food Writer about that shrimp soup ever since — it was love at first spoonful. No exploration of Mexican fare on 26th St. would be complete without a return visit to the unassuming restaurant helmed by Ms. Laura Guerrero, a fierce and inspirational woman.

Tacos y Salsa is a local favorite for authentic Mexican fare and their piping hot Flautas de pollo came four to an order with rice, beans, guacamole, and sour cream. Our taster em-

MELISSA ELSMO

phatically dubbed them the “best flautas” he had ever tasted. From there we moved on to chicken soup. Served with warm corn tortillas, it features three pieces of bone-in chicken in a broth brimming with chunks of zucchini and carrot. Assorted garnishes, including onion, cilantro, rice, dried red chilies, and limes make the soup memorable and customizable.

The tiny and mighty, Nuevo Poncitlan, 6322 W. 26th St., was the busiest stop of the bunch when we dropped by during lunch. The restaurant drew a diverse crowd including police officers and families to their carryout counter.

Reviewers recommend their burritos as the best in the area. We snagged a chicken burrito with a side of rice and beans and a steak torta for good measure. The burrito boasted a flavorful shredded chicken in a fresh flour tortilla with lettuce, tomato and cheese. The straightforward offering is exactly what burrito lovers crave.

We headed to Los Corrales, 6713 W. 26th St., in search of a street food inspired taco. Any proper Mexican food exploration would be incomplete without a taste of tacos al pastor.

Inspired by the spit-roasted shawarma dishes that influenced Mexican cuisine in the early 1900’s, “the shepherd’s taco” is a beloved Mexican-Lebanese fusion dish. Charred bits are the best part of the flavorful marinated orangehued pork that stars in Los Corrales tacos al pastor.

And just when we thought we’d had our fill, we discovered gorditas and fajitas and tacos (oh my) at Torres Fresh Market, 6227 W. 26th St. We never would have known about the tiny taqueria tucked into a grocery store had we not been tipped off by Berwyn resident and realtor, Patrick Washington while picking up from another 26th St. location.

In addition to snagging several tacos at Washington’s suggestion, we also selected the chicken fajita plate, a steak

Homestyle Mexican soup at its finest — Tacos Y Salsa makes a memorable chicken soup with an array of garnishes.

Six tortillas, rice and beans accompany the chicken fajita meat at Torres Fresh Market. torta and house-made beef gorditas. Every dish remained piping hot while we traveled home and the fajita plate may have looked unassuming, but the boldly flavored meat was a 26th St. standout. Each taco was more satisfying than the next and the gordita — a thick corn tortilla pocket filled with beef — proved to be a filling and tasty lunch selection. Torres Fresh Market is a notable place to source a memorable meal and you can do some grocery shopping, too. *All dishes were ordered for carry-out and plated at home. all photos by Melissa Elsmo

The chicken burrito from Nuevo Poncitlan is a satisfying and filling meal.

A quartet of Torres tacos — chicken, steak, beef and pork — each as flavorful as the next.

The flautas de pollo from Tacos Y Salsa are crispy and delicious. The mild dish can handle a little heat from their house-made salsas.

Spit roasted pork with pineapple essences needs little more than cilantro and onions to make a memorable bite at Los Corrales.

12

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

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The village of Riverside will seek a 2020 property tax levy extension of 4.86 percent to fund village operations, special recreation services and pay down long-term debt during the 2021 fiscal year.

Village trustees are expected to approve the tax levy request at their next business meeting on Dec. 3, which will be held virtually and will be broadcast live on Riverside TV (riversidetv.us), Comcast Channel 16 and U-Verse Channel 99.

The increase in the levy includes all of the so-called “capped” funds – those governed by the state’s tax cap law, which limits non-home rule communities, like Riverside, to annual property tax increases of 5 percent or the consumer price index, whichever is lower.

Capped funds include ones earmarked

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for things like village operations, public safety, public works and pensions. The village will levy additional taxes, which are not governed by tax caps, to fund special recreation and debt service.

CPI for this year is 2.3 percent. The village is asking to extend the levy by 4.86 percent, however, in order to capture the value of all new property development from 2020.

That amount won’t be known for sure until sometime next year, when Cook County assesses property values, so the levy request is a best-guess estimate.

In 2019, for example, Riverside requested almost $5.1 million for its capped fund levy, an amount about 5 percent more than 2018’s tax levy. In the end, the final levy turned out to be about $4.9 million.

The total 2020 levy for capped funds, which will be collected in 2021, is $5,177,395.

Officials expect the final number to be closer to $5 million.

Riverside plans to direct a bit more of the tax levy this year toward general corporate purposes and police protection.

Part of the reason is because the village will be contributing slightly less than last year toward its police pension obligation.

Village trustees earlier this year agreed to contribute the statutory minimum (90 percent) for police pensions as a way to help balance the 2021 budget. That decision saved the village about $80,000 compared to what it paid into the police pension fund in 2020.

Police pension obligations have been a concerning and growing burden on village finances, taking more and more of the annual tax levy to meet legal obligations for funding.

In 2021, the village will contribute $1,342,450 to the police pension fund, roughly 26 percent of taxes levied for capped funds.

Library levy reflects new debt Riverside Public Library’s proposed tax levy, which the village board will also vote to approve on Dec. 2, represents a 12.1-percent increase over its 2019 tax levy.

Like the village, the library’s tax levy is limited to 5 percent or the CPI, whichever is lower.

The library’s 2020 levy for operations, $1,169,303 exactly reflects the 2.3 percent consumer price index. An additional $112,000 is being levied to pay the debt service on a $1.5 million bond issue approved by voters in March to fund renovating the library’s lower level.

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

A

Leftover love: Thanksgiving egg rolls

savvy Thanksgiving dinner guest appreciates how each component of a proper turkey dinner, from the stuffing to the Brussels sprouts, is not only delicious on its own, but designed to intermingle on the plate in a mishmash of savory abundance.

Bourbon-spiked sweet potatoes practically beg to cozy up to a rosemarycranberry compote, while orangescented green beans clamor for a little kiss of giblet gravy. Autumn’s peak holiday offers a cornucopia of combinations and each and every one can handle a little morsel of turkey or two! It’s no wonder most folks cannot wait to get hungry again after the main event is over.

Given all the changes to Thanksgiving celebrations this year, leftovers are bound to be more plentiful, but that does not mean they’ll be any less delicious. A haze of milehigh sandwiches, open-face turkey and gravy, and even the occasional hokey 1950s casserole make the hours and days following this food focused holiday nothing short of a tryptophan-laden dreamland.

Right after the turkey tetrazzini and just before the carcass gives up its last burst of flavor in a lovely homemade soup, I look forward to transforming the waning remnants of my Thanksgiving menu into a batch of crispy egg rolls.

This creative spin on holiday leftovers celebrates the hodgepodge Turkey Day flavors and offers maximum flexibility for everyone to create their own perfect snack.

Keeping Thanksgiving leftovers safe to serve

MELISSA ELSMO Food Writer

PHOTO BY MELISSA ELSMO

Thanksgiving Egg Rolls (make as many or few as you want!)

I filled my rolls with whipped sweet potatoes, stuffing, turkey, cranberry, parsley and sage, but feel free to use this recipe as a gentle guide for creating an array of personalized rolls. Extra wrappers can be frozen for later use.

1 package egg roll wrappers 1 egg, lightly beaten Leftover mashed potatoes, sweet or white Leftover turkey meat, shredded Leftover stuffing Leftover cranberry sauce Leftover Thanksgiving vegetables Chopped leftover fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary, sage and/or thyme Canola oil for frying Leftover gravy for dipping

Pour oil to a depth of 3 inches into a large high-sided skillet. Heat the oil until a piece of bread sizzles on contact, but the oil is not smoking (about 325 degrees).

Meanwhile, place an eggroll wrapper on a work surface like a diamond with a point facing you. Spread a generous tablespoon of mashed potato in the lower third of the diamond. Top with a few shreds of cooked turkey, a tablespoon of stuffing, a hint of veggies and a sprinkling of cranberry and herbs. The wrapper should hold about ¼ cup of combined ingredients.

Fold the bottom corner up toward the top corner to enclose the filling. Pull back slightly on the wrapper to ensure everything is firmly held inside. Putting the potatoes down first helps with this process as they act like glue to hold everything else in place.

Food safety begins when you are prepping the foods. Be sure to wash your hands frequently while you prepare your holiday feast and keep raw foods away from cooked foods.

Lingering at the Thanksgiving table is lovely, but not at the expense of keeping uneaten food safe. Once everyone has had their fill and communal dishes are just slightly cool to the touch (about 95 degrees) get things transferred to shallow storage containers and placed in the refrigerator.

Foods should be cooled quickly and refrigerated within two hours of coming out of the oven. Any longer than that and leftovers should be tossed.

Use or freeze all Thanksgiving leftovers within four days. Period.

Cooked turkey can be frozen for up to 6 months. I like to chop mine up and freeze it in Ziploc bags for easy additions to soups and stir fries.

Heat all leftover dishes to 165 degrees and be sure to bring your soups and gravies to a boil before serving them up for Thanksgiving round two.

Using a finger, spread some beaten egg on the top triangle of the diamond. Fold the side corners in toward the center of the filling; the eggroll will look like an envelope at this point. Roll the egg roll up to the end making sure the egg seals the edges.

Dust the wrapped rolls with cornstarch and cover them with a towel until you’ve filled all the wrappers you are planning to make. Fry the eggrolls in batches as soon as you are finished wrapping them, two minutes per side until golden brown and crunchy. Serve the egg rolls with leftover Thanksgiving gravy for dipping.

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Giuseppe Zappani, who saved Arcade Building, dies at 65

Restored endangered Riverside landmark later named to National Register

By BOB UPHUES Editor

It might be easy to forget that not too long ago the Arcade Building, the Victorian gothic landmark at 1 Riverside Road in downtown Riverside, was once deemed one of the state’s most endangered historic buildings.

Vacant and boarded up after being ensnared in an international Ponzi scheme that resulted in the building’s former owner being sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, the fate of Riverside first commercial building, built in 1871, was far from secure in 2008.

But, eight years later the Arcade Building would be the third Riverside structure named to the National Register of Historic Places and it continues to shine like a jewel in downtown Riverside, its exterior restored to its 19th-century glory – complete with a central tower that had been missing for 90 years.

The person responsible for the reclamation of one of Riverside’s most historic structures was not a resident of the village, but an Italian immigrant and self-made roofing contractor who recognized an opportunity to save a beloved landmark.

Giuseppe “Joe” Zappani bought the Arcade Building, which had reverted to bank ownership, in 2010 and quickly set about stripping the first floor of stucco that had hidden the original Milwaukee cream brick walls and red brick accents for almost a century.

In 2014, Landmarks Illinois, which had declared the Arcade Building “endangered” just five years earlier, recognized Mr. Zappani’s restoration efforts with its highest honor, a Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award.

“I like those historic buildings. That’s why I did all the work,” said Zappani, who preferred staying out of the spotlight, at the time.

Mr. Zappani died Oct. 10, 2020 at the age of 65. He was buried last week in his hometown of Coccorino, Italy.

“He loved Riverside,” said Mr. Zappani’s sonin-law Matt Thomsen. “Everyone in the town treated him well and he loved the people of Riverside.”

Thomsen and his wife, Carmela, Mr. Zappani’s daughter, said what drew him to the Arcade Building was that it was about the closest thing in suburban Chicago to the ancient ruins so common in his native Calabria.

“He always loved old things,” said Carmela Thomsen. “That this was something pretty old drew him even more to it. He saw lots of opportunity and potential in it.”

Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga, whose efforts to draw attention to the building in 2008-09 largely resulted in its being named endangered by Landmark Illinois, said the Arcade Building will remain Mr. Zappani’s legacy in Riverside.

“His thoughtful restoration enhanced not just the building, but our whole sense of place in the heart of Riverside,” Marsh-Ozga said.

“It is a tremendous gift to our community.”

Mr. Zappani grew up in Coccorino, a farming village near the Calabrian coast (“On a clear day you can see Sicily,” said his daughter Carmela) but left Italy at the age of 18 in search opportunities unavailable at home.

“Most people from the town went north or to America or Argentina,” said Carmela Thomsen.

He father settled on Chicago’s northwest side near Harlem Avenue and worked in factories and restaurants before opening up a pizzeria. Eventually, he and a business partner would start a roofing company, A&Z Roofing and Construction.

Mr. Zappani met his future wife, Agata Wegrzynowicz, just a couple of days after she arrived in the U.S. from her native Poland.

He met her through Carmela’s cousin, with whom she was staying at the time.

They would later build a home in southwest suburban Bloomingdale, where Mr. Zappani lived for near three decades until his death last month.

“He truly loved to work, but family meant

everything to him,” said Matt Thomsen. “If he was able to help anybody in some way, he did.”

Thomsen said the family intended to maintain ownership of the Arcade Building and find tenants for the storefronts along Riverside Road, which have proven tougher to lease than those on East Quincy Street and the offices on the two top floors.

They also would like to achieve Mr. Zappani’s dream of rehabilitating the 1920s-era mixed-use building he bought in 2015 at 363-69 E. Burlington St. At one time, Thomsen had pitched and won approval from the village to operate a microbrewery at the site, but it never

got off the ground and the building remains vacant.

“The kids would like to try to do something with that building,” Thomsen said. “It was a project Joe always wanted to do. It would be our way of finishing what he started and honoring him.”

Mr. Zappani is survived by his wife, Agata (nee Wegrzynowicz); his daughters Carmela (Matt) Thomson, Angela Zappani, Sara (Michael) Castaldo and Gioia Zappani; his brother, Antonio (Maria Cocciolo) Zappani; his grandchildren, Ariana and Siena; and his nephews Dario and Giuseppe.

NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208 I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for Riverside Brookfield Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois for 2020 will be held on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Main Gym of the high school at 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Dr. Kristin Smetana, Assistant Superintendent, Riverside Brookfield Township High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Illinois, telephone number 708-442-7500.

II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended for 2019 were $21,025,082. The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2020 are $21,403,849. This represents a 1.8% increase over the previous year.

III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2019 were $5,977,965. The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2020 are $5,697,800.

This represents a 4.6% decrease over the previous year.

IV. The total property taxes extended for 2019 were $27,003,047. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2020 are $27,101,649. This represents a 0.36% increase over the previous year.

FILE 2010

OVERHAUL: Giuseppe Zappani (right) inspects restoration work being done to the ground-floor brick facade of the Arcade Building in downtown Riverside just months after he bought the distressed landmark in 2010.

All hearings shall be open to the public. The corporate authority of the taxing district must explain the reasons for the proposed levy and shall permit persons desiring to be heard an opportunity to present testimony within reasonable time limits as the authority determines.

16

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation One day several years ago, a candidate running for a local school board seat said she got involved in local school politics, in large part, because of an article she’d read in Forest Park Review. Moments like that are why I work for Growing Community Media. We have impact.

Michael Romain, Equity reporter and columnist

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Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation For me, shining a light on the arts and the people involved in their creation – musicians, visual artists, authors, singers, dancers – is only part of the story. Getting to know details, like all the ways they are adapting during the pandemic, and then being able to share that is a great feeling.

Michelle Dybal, Arts Editor

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Brookfield will raise some fees to balance 2021 budget Ambulance charges more than doubling, some building permits going up

By BOB UPHUES

change if state COVID-19 mitigations – which have shut down all video gambling terminals, eliminated indoor dining and Faced with a 2021 general operating fund have largely canceled group recreation acdeficit of about $252,000, Brookfield elected tivities – continue well past Jan. 1. officials have given the OK to increase “It looks like with everything happening, some fees as a way to not only erase the we are in line to end 2021 with a minimal deficit but to build in a financial cushion surplus,” Cooper told the Landmark. as the nation heads into its second calenThe 2021 general fund budget, which indar year under the cloud of pandemic. cludes line items directly related to dayAt a budget workshop earlier this month, to-day village operations, like salaries and village trustees gave the go-ahead to raise benefits, projects about $18.85 million in ambulance fees by nearly 130 percent from expenditures, a 5.35 percent increase over $1,400 to $3,200, a move that is 2020’s expenditures, which were estimated to bring in an addireduced by nearly a half miltional $685,000 in annual revlion dollars due to the COVID-19 enue. pandemic.

That decision comes shortly In 2020, those spending cuts after the village joined the included both personnel exstate’s Ground Emergency Medpenses and large capital expenical Transport program, which ditures, some of which were dewill allow Brookfield to obtain ferred until 2021. significantly larger state MedAmong the large capital exicaid reimbursements for ampenditures on tap for 2021 are bulance bills. the purchase of three vehicles To be conservative, officials – a dump truck, a Bobcat, a have estimated $400,000 in adsnow tractor and a John Deere ditional revenue for ambulance tractor – for the Public Works fees in the 2021 budget. The vilDepartment, improvements to DOUG COOPER lage won’t change the way it colthree bathrooms at the police Brookfield finance director lects ambulance fees. Residents department and offices for the who have insurance will be community development debilled through their insurance partment, replacing overhead companies. The village will not garage doors at both fire stabill residents for balances not tions, upgrading entrance door paid by their insurance compasecurity at village hall, buying nies. equipment and software to teleBrookfield expects to capture vise village board meetings and manage an additional $27,000 in revenue due to documents, replace the roof of the ESDA proposed increases in building permit fees building at 4523 Eberly Avenue and the for drain tile work, fences, plumbing, roofs rollout of a five-year program to equip poand windows.

And, the village will begin passing along lice with body cameras.

Also budgeted for 2021 are the first phase fees it currently absorbs when people use of improvements to the Congress Park Mecredit cards to process payments for fees, for example when residents pay bills on- tra station area, tunnel and platform (deline. Passing those fees along to customers ferred this year), a complete makeover of Candy Cane Park (deferred this year) and will save the village about $42,000 a year. the construction of a canoe launch on Salt Brookfield Finance Director Doug Cooper said that as a result of the fee increases Creek at Kiwanis Park The village has also budgeted about $2.5 and other budget assumptions, the preliminary general fund operating budget now million for street improvements, marking the final year of a bond-funded campaign projects a surplus of about $135,000.

However, that number is likely to change that resulted in resurfacing or reconstructquickly. On Monday, the Brookfield Village ing roughly one-third of the village’s resiBoard approved a measure to waive 50-per- dential side streets since 2016.

Another project that may be completed cent of 2021 liquor license fees for bars and in 2021, if $250,000 in state grant funds are restaurants.

Also, some revenue projections related released next year, is the replacement of to sales taxes, places-for-eating taxes, video the fountain at Veterans Memorial Circle gambling taxes and recreation fees could at Eight Corners.

Editor

“With everything happening, we are in line to end 2021 with a minimal surplus.”

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

BODY CAMS

Rollout by mid-2021 from page 1 the body camera program. “It’s a significant change to the way we do business.”

Once trustees approve the 2021 appropriations ordinance in early January, said Kuruvilla, the police department will seek competitive bids for the cameras and back-end technological infrastructure and support.

The village likely will enter into a fiveyear contract with whatever body camera vendor it chooses. Brookfield can expect to pay around $22,000 per year to operate and maintain the system, Kuruvilla said.

“The largest cost is the [video] storage aspect,” Kuruvilla said. “Other technical needs associated with this could change the [cost] significantly.”

In addition to awarding a contract, Kuruvilla said the department will need to adopt a body camera use policy and train officers how to use them.

“My optimistic goal, if it’s approved in the budget, and that’s looking pretty good, is to have them in use in the first six months of the year,” Kuruvilla said.

While the details still need to be worked out, Kuruvilla said he expects the village to purchase enough cameras for every police officer working a shift, with a few to spare.

Essentially, Kuruvilla said, the village will buy two banks of six to eight cameras. One bank would be in use on the street while the other would be recharging and uploading video.

While the village is looking to fund part of the cost with a grant – such grants are sometimes available through municipal risk management agencies, said Kuruvilla – the initiative is in the budget that trustees will vote to approve on Dec. 14.

It’s perhaps not surprising that Brookfield is the first WC3 police agency adopting body cameras. After he was named deputy chief, Kuruvilla attended the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s Police School of Staff and Command.

There he chose body cameras as his area of study, recognizing even before this year’s widespread civil unrest in response to instances of police brutality, especially

against people of color, that their use was inevitable.

“It’s a topic that frankly has been going on for several years in law enforcement generally,” Kuruvilla said, adding that body camera video is used constantly for police training.

“I started to recognize personally how this tool has been a benefit, particularly for police departments,” he said. “Even before all of the tragic things that have happened this year, this is a topic I thought we were going to have to face sooner than later.”

Kuruvilla said Brookfield’s police officers generally support the idea of wearing body cameras, and that the message from commanders to patrol officers, even now, is to assume they are always being recorded.

A benefit for police, said Kuruvilla, is that body camera footage will show an incident from an officer’s perspective, from start to finish and not a short snippet. The benefit to the public is an added layer of transparency.

“We recognize what the public is expecting and calling for,” Kuruvilla said. “We have to recognize there is a need for more transparency, more openness from us as the community’s police department as well. We don’t have a problem with that.”

Police, fire departments to share drone In addition to police body cameras, village trustees are expected to approve a joint fire

and police department purchase of a drone to serve as an eye in the sky during certain types of incidents.

The expense won’t be too much – you can buy a drone equipped with a camera and thermal imaging capability for $5,000, said Fire Chief Jim Adams – and drones can be used for a variety of purposes, from searching forest preserves for missing people and criminal suspects to pinpointing hot spots at fire scenes.

Adams has experience using drones from his former job as fire chief in Westchester and Brookfield Police Lt. Terry Schreiber is a certified drone pilot.

In past emergencies when an aerial assist was needed, police would have to call in a helicopter from Chicago police, which could take as much as an hour to arrive, if it was available at all.

“Day or night you can throw a drone up real quick,” Adams said.

A drone can maintain its altitude and position to monitor a scene, like a water rescue, to ensure first responders maintain eyes on a victim. They can be used in railroad hazmat situations, giving a closer look at what might be a scene too dangerous to approach closely.

“It’s got huge potential,” Adams said. “It’s definitely a useful tool.”

Adams said he is seeking grant funding for the drone, although it’s likely the village would purchase one without a grant.

“These aren’t just toys anymore,” Adams said.

Why I work at Growing Community Media and why I’m asking you to make a donation

Why I work at Growing Community Media, and why I’m asking you to make a donation

Community journalism matters. While large media organizations place focus almost entirely on national news, what happens at home matters just as much.

If there’s no local newspaper, what can citizens rely on to stay informed about their schools, their elected leaders, their businesses? Every community deserves access to local news and that’s why I work at Growing Community Media.

I value that at GCM we write and design content that is relevant to the local community.

We are not influenced by large corporations who cater content that has underlying motives. As designers, we have the freedom to create imagery that we feel showcases our community in a way that truly represents the spirit of the area.

Stacey Sheridan, Staff Reporter

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17

Mark Moroney, Editorial designer

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18

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

Opinion

THE LANDMARK VIEW

KOSEY CORNER

Plenty to be thankful for

No more Wish Book, but plenty of local gift options

Y

ou’d think that given the state of the situation – still mid-pandemic with more cases of COVID-19 exploding around us than ever and facing a Thanksgiving (and probably Hanukkah and Christmas) without family – that might be hard to find things to be thankful for in 2020.

But, that’s just not so.

While there has been plenty about 2020 to make us wish it disappear and consigned to oblivion, the pandemic also brought out, as Abe Lincoln might have said, “our better angels.”

In fact, so many people stepped up to respond in the face of crisis, that we’re sure to leave some out. But, we’ll take that risk, simply to remind everyone just how thankful we ought to be as a remarkable year draws to a close with the prospect of a new dawn approaching.

We’re thankful this year for …

■ The owners of Tischler’s and Riverside Foods, who worked tirelessly in the face of a panic-buying public to make sure fridges and cabinets remained stocked with food.

■ The army of residents, from Sue and Tim Pipal to Riia O’Donnell to local scouts to the owners of FocusOm Yoga in Brookfield and faculty at local high schools who made and donated thousands face shields, masks and gloves to health care workers as well as delivered meals to hospitals.

■ Amy Jacksic, who after the death of her own father from COVID-19, set about raising more than $10,000 to buy Riverside Food gift cards to help feed those in need due to the massive job cuts resulting from the pandemic, and Tony Williams, who responded to the civil unrest of May and June by creating United Pride and Produce and feeding hundreds of those without homes this summer.

■ Jerry Owens’ Quarantunes initiative that raised money to help restaurant and bar staff thrown out of work during the shutdown, and Wayne McCallum’s 5 p.m. dance parties on Kimbark Road and Jim Vonesh’s sax walks through Riverside, not to mention driveway concerts performed by the Giampietro family in LaGrange Park and Patrick Williams and Kara Kesselring in Brookfield that brightened the seemingly endless days at home.

■ BEDS Plus, for changing its shelter model on the fly and creating a central shelter in Brookfield serving more than two dozen people without permanent homes.

■ Alice Harris and Katelyn Nichol, whose Brookfield Rocks initiative – painting rocks with cheerful designs and scattering them about the village as pleasant surprises brought a ray of sunshine to many.

■ The first responders, medical professionals and all of those who aided and supported the Kusper family of Brookfield after 11-year-old Maxx Kusper’s horrible accident. Struck by a train March 28, Maxx returned home from the hospital May 16. Amid a spring of chaos and loss, Maxx Kusper was our miracle.

■ And, finally, thanks to the scores of local residents who stepped up to donate money to Growing Community Media when our fledgling nonprofit needed you most.

This little publication -- this very month, if you can believe it -- celebrated its 35th anniversary and the 23rd under our ownership in 2020. We could not have done it without you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Y

ou know what I miss this time of year? Lots of things, but in particular I miss the big Christmas catalogs.

I could hardly wait for the Sears Wish Book to show up in the mail.

I would stop whatever I was doing to go through it. When I was younger, I’d immediately go to the toy section, looking for the “exclusives.” Today they would probably be online exclusives only. As I “matured,” using the word loosely, I would head to the clothing section.

That toy section! I thought it had every toy imaginable, and I was sure I had been good enough to receive every one of them. I knew that there were some toys I was too old for (they’d list had the appropriate age level) and there were those I wasn’t old enough for, but I’d get excited because I knew the time would come when I would be.

Dolls, in particular, held my interest since that is what I was into. I played a lot with baby dolls and collected Madame Alexander dolls, most of which I still have. Would you believe I never had an Easy-Bake Oven? I didn’t, but I wanted one.

When my own children came along, they had the same fascination with the catalog and it held their attention

for hours. We encouraged them to circle the items of interest so we could convey Santa their wishes. The same rules applied when grandchildren came upon the scene.

The next step was to order the items which could be picked up at a counter at the small Sears store at the Cermak Plaza, in Berwyn, where Office Depot is now.

It’s so different now, and this year much of the shopping will be done online. Still, shopping locally is a good thing, not only because it’s convenient but it’s a help to the merchants.

You can never go wrong with gift certificates from local grocery stores and restaurants stores, even if you can’t dine-in. You can pick up art at Higgins Glass, sweet treats at Aunt Diana’s and arrangements at local flower shops in can be good sources of gifts.

In Brookfield, stop in at For the Birds, where there’s something for everyone and not just the birds, including a great selection of children’s books.

Laura Atwood Studio bead shop has items out of the ordinary. Brookfield also can boast two jewelry stores.

Check the hours on any of the shops to guarantee when they will be open. Cash is always good!

Wherever you do go wear your mask. They make good gifts too.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

Teacher didn’t deserve such poor treatment The article from last week’s Landmark “D208 board members tune up band teacher over past comments” (News, Nov. 18) described a horrible exchange of comments between an RB teacher and his school board.

James Baum spoke at a recent board meeting for the sole purpose of praising his students. He was proud of how they were performing with their instruments under very difficult remote circumstances. He was anxious to share some good news about students with the school board.

Instead of being thanked for passing along the information or praised for this achievement, he was questioned about his stance on in-person learning by at least three board members, according to the article. The questions by these members were off topic and quite rude.

James Baum is a teacher at RBHS and was also an excellent student at this school. He kept his cool during this questioning. He explained why he was opposed to in-person band lessons in a logical and consistent manner.

Anyone who has been seated in the audience row nearest the stage or band section knows how perform-

ers may spit in an effort to project voices or instruments. What could be more unsafe during a pandemic?

He did not deserve to be ridiculed in such a public way.

I can only hope he will not be silenced because of this incident.

Having taught at RBHS for almost four decades, I have had my share of heated disagreements with board members. But these disagreements never took place in public. They were always during a one -on- one meeting or over the phone.

Everyone is frustrated by the remote vs. in-person learning debate. Teachers are performing small miracles under the circumstances. They deserve much credit from their board members, not public shaming.

Jan Goldberg Riverside

Farewell to a loyal American Legionnaire I am beside myself in sorrow over the passing of a wonderful American Legionnaire, Jim Ruzicka. Originally from Riverside, Jim had been a resident of Yorkville, Illinois for years. Wherever he lived, he kept his

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

OBITUARIES

William R. Newcomb, 71 Meat company supervisor William R. Newcomb, 71, of Lyons and formerly of Berwyn, died Nov. 14, 2020 at his home.

Mr. Newcomb was born March 18, 1949 in Burnsville, Mississippi, and he worked as a supervisor for a meat company.

He was the husband of Cristina (nee Garcia) and the late Della (nee Cherone); the father of Roberto (Louisa) Rodriguez, Cristina (Alex) WILLIAM NEWCOMB Hernandez, Mirna (Jose) Sanchez, Juventino (Vicky) Rodriguez, Maria (Senon) Medina, Febronio (Elena) Rodriguez, Eric (Ester) Rodriguez, Kimberlee (Brian Hajduch) Newcomb, Kristen Newcomb and the late Scott Newcomb; the grandfather of 29; the great-grandfather of 14; the brother of Olene (Lodge) Stevens, Ruby (Lester) Strickland, Mary (Hershel) Strickland, Winston (Margaret) Newcomb Jr., Orlando Newcomb, Christene (James) Wimon, Willie (Genny) Newcomb and Horace (Wanda) Newcomb; and an uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Services have been held. Interment was at Resurrection Cemetery, Justice.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Online condolences may be offered at JohnsonNosek.com.

Marion Pierson, 92 Worked for Cicero public school district Marion “Dolly” Pierson (née: Cervenka), 92, died Nov. 20, 2020 at Seasons Hospice at MacNeal

LETTERS membership active with American Legion Post #488 and always maintained his love for the village of Riverside.

Two years ago, I saw Mr. Ruzicka for the first time since I took command of the post five years ago. He came to one of our inperson meetings. He told me how much he missed the post, and that he was glad that it is was coming back. He drove all the way from Yorkville to come to the meeting.

Fast forward to our COVID-plagued landscape and American Legion Post #488’s transition to virtual meetings on Zoom and Facebook Live in March. Jim was one of our first members to engage with the post virtually.

He was a role model for us all. Even at his age (I used to joke with him that he was our youngest member of Post #488), he figured out how to get his webcam working, and he also figured out how to use Zoom effectively.

Two weeks ago, I saw him at our weekly Commander’s Call. He rarely missed one

Hospital.

A 32-year resident of Riverside and formerly of Cicero, Ms. Pierson was a long time employee of the Cicero Board of Education District 99, where she had arranged substitute teachers every school day for all their schools for many years before her retirement.

She is survived by her three children, Linda Pierson, Barbara Falk and William Pierson, 12 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

At her request, there are no services. You may honor her memory by donating to your favorite animal shelter or welfare organization or Shriners Hospital.

Eleanor V. Smith, 100 Retired computer programmer Eleanor V. Smith, 100, of Lyons, died Nov. 16, 2020 at her home.

Ms. Smith was born Jan. 13, 1920 in Chicago and was retired from her job as a computer programmer for the Spiegel Catalog Company in Chicago. She was a ELEANOR V. SMITH member of St. Barbara Church in Brookfield and enjoyed traveling, reading and art.

She was the aunt of Marlene Peterson and Maureen (Kevin) McKee and great-aunt of Jeremy Jech, Robert McKee and David McKee. Services have bene held. Interment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Online condolences may be offered at JohnsonNosek.com.

of these meetings, where members are encouraged to attend and just talk and socialize. It was great to see him at our virtual Riverside Veterans Day event featuring a President Grant interpreter, and it was also great seeing him at our virtual Riverside Fourth of July event featuring a President Teddy Roosevelt interpreter.

As much as COVID has brought our community restrictions and sadness, it forced Post #488 to go virtual and, therefore, brought us closer to Jim. Seeing him weekly and monthly was good tonic for the post membership.

He never missed a monthly post meeting since March. He attended our last post meeting on Nov. 13. Our guest speaker addressed Veterans Affairs disability claims and burial benefits including burial at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery. Sadly, and ironically, Jim was laid to rest at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery on Friday, Nov. 20.

The members of American Legion Post #488 and Sons of the American Legion

COVID19

COVID rates still high locally, but slowing

‘Lessen the burden’ from page 9 Intensive care bed usage pushed to a second-wave high as of Sunday night, with 1,206 COVID-19 patients occupying ICU beds. That left about 23 percent of the state’s staffable ICU beds unused.

Ventilator use on Sunday night shot to a high not seen since May 29, with 635 COVID-19 patients requiring the machines, an increase of 46 from the day prior.

“Let’s lessen the burden on all of our hospital teams and we can do this by not spreading infection over the Thanksgiving holiday by wearing our mask, by watching our distance, by washing our hands and by getting our flu shots,” she said.

She said people should consider hosting Thanksgiving events virtually rather than in person.

“Thanksgiving hasn’t happened yet,” she said. “People can still change their plans and change the outcome. We don’t have to have super-spreader events at homes throughout our state and throughout the country and then bring it back. Please reconsider your plans and see if we can be part of the solution to decrease infections instead of part of the plan to increase them.”

On a weekly, seven-day average from Monday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 22, the state averaged 6,058 people hospitalized for COVID-19 each day, an increase of 790, or 15 percent from the previous week. That rate of increase slowed significantly from the four weeks prior, when it increased anywhere from 24 to 31 percent each week.

Squadron #488 will not forget Jim. We will pay him a final, albeit virtual, salute at our last virtual meeting for 2020 on Dec. 4.

God bless you Jim (or as I always called him, Mr. Ruzicka). I will miss you so very much.

Joseph Baar Topinka, post commander American Legion Post #488 Riverside

Doctors implore you to enjoy holidays safely Sometimes doctors have to deliver bad news to their patients. Unfortunately, because of COVID-19, the physicians of Illinois implore you to reconsider your holiday plans this year. Large gatherings of family and friends inside a home or restaurant are not a good idea. Nor is playing that traditional Thanks-

19

At a local level, reports of new cases of COVID-19 in Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside continued to be much higher than at any time during the first seven months of the pandemic, but last week the rate of new cases indicated a possible slowdown.

After hitting a high of 152 cases for the week ending on the morning of Nov. 17, Brookfield saw its number of new cases in one week fall for the first time in more than a month.

For the week ending on the morning of Nov. 24, Brookfield saw 94 new confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 added to its total. That ended six straight weeks where the number of new cases increased, with the count exploding Nov. 10 when the village topped 100 cases for the first time in a one-week period.

Brookfield in just the past four weeks has added just shy of 400 new cases. It took the village about 29 weeks to reach its first 400 cases. To date, the village has experienced 853 cases of COVID-19, four of them fatal.

The number of new cases ending on the morning of Nov. 24 also fell week over week in Riverside and North Riverside.

There were 58 new cases in Riverside compared to an all-time one-week high of 60 the week prior. Since the pandemic began, there have been 440 cases of COVID-19 in Riverside, with two people dying from the disease.

After reporting 34 new cases the week prior, North Riverside added 27 new cases for the week ending the morning of Nov. 24. That brought the village’s total number of cases since March to 256.

Three North Riverside residents have died from COVID-19.

Bob Uphues contributed to this report.

giving football game with a bunch of people you haven’t seen in a long time.

We are experiencing yet another dramatic increase in the number of COVID cases and our Illinois hospitals are filling up with patients. We know how much you want to celebrate, but your doctor wants you to stay healthy by avoiding situations that increase your risk of contracting the coronavirus.

Sadly, that means staying away from your loved ones who may be most vulnerable to this deadly virus.

Although many may be suffering from COVID-19 fatigue, it’s important to stay particularly vigilant to protect against the spread of the coronavirus this holiday season. That means wearing a face covering in public places, keeping a physical distance from people who are not in your household, and washing your hands often and thoroughly.

Enjoy the holidays safely and please consider a virtual gathering via computer or telephone.

Robert W. Panton, MD, president Illinois State Medical Society

20

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

HOLIDAY EVENTS

‘Out of sight, out of mind’ from page 1 downtown businesses, the township hall and other locations, soaking up holiday cheer during the annual Holiday Stroll.

But, the beloved event – including the arrival of Santa Claus via fire engine for a tree lighting beneath the water tower at Centennial Park – is off this year.

The story is the same in Brookfield, where the village has called off its Santa meetand-greet and tree-lighting ceremony that typically takes place the Saturday following Thanksgiving weekend.

The village’s chamber of commerce, likewise, has called off that day’s business open house event on Grand Boulevard and at Eight Corners.

With the governor instituting Tier 3 mitigations due to COVID-19, there’s just no safe way to have crowds of people wandering in and out of cramped stores.

“We get over 1,000 people in here during the Holiday Stroll,” said Derrick Mancini, owner of Quincy Street Distillery, 39 E. Quincy St. in downtown Riverside, a popular stop to grab a cup of hard punch and perhaps pick up a bottle of bourbon or gin. “It’s a big deal. We make a significant number of sales that day.

That’s going to affect us, obviously.”

While Mancini expects some uptick of business simply due to the upcoming gift-giving season, he said the Holiday Stroll provides a reminder to people to perhaps follow up with a purchase. But, even purchases by regular customers have fallen off a bit.

“Out of sight, out of mind,” said Mancini, whose tasting room has been closed since the initial shutdown of bars and restaurants was ordered in March.

Quincy Street Distillery’s tasting room is too small to have allowed for proper social distancing and there’s no outdoor space for tables. When the state allowed cocktails to go for bars and restaurants, craft distilleries were cut out of the picture.

“We’ve never been able to figure out a way to serve at all,” Mancini said.

A few weeks ago, the distillery was able to

Golden Wok Restaurant

North Riverside will host tree lighting, fireworks

What’s a start to the holiday season without a full-blown fireworks display? In North Riverside, they don’t want to find out.

While Brookfield and Riverside have cancelled their holiday kickoff events, the village of North Riverside will still hold its annual tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks display – in a socially distanced fashion – on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.

This is meant as a resident-only event and parking begins at 6 p.m. Cars must display a village of North Riverside vehicle sticker to be allowed in.

All vehicles must arrive from 26th Street and head northbound toward the Village Commons. Village staff will direct you where to park. You must stay in your vehicle during the event.

For those who would prefer to watch from their own homes, the tree lighting and fireworks will be livestreamed on the North Riverside Department of Parks and Recreation Facebook page at facebook. com/NRRecreation.

Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. will accompany Santa as they flip the switch to illuminate the blue spruce in front of the North Riverside Village Commons, which signals resume tours that included tastings by limiting participation to single social groups. Now those are in jeopardy.

“Every marketing tool we lose is a big deal,” Mancini said.

And while liquor sales are up generally during the pandemic, craft distillers whose high-end products come with higher prices, haven’t benefitted as much, according to Mancini.

“While liquor sales are up in larger venues, craft spirit sales have fallen,” he said. “People may be buying more for their homes, but because of the financial stresses are buying down market.”

Higgins Glass Studio, 33 E. Quincy St., is another popular stop for Holiday Strollers, though the makers of art glass objects have relied more recently by hosting an open

FILE 2019

the start of the fireworks, which are being paid for by donations from a handful of companies, including the village’s former lobbying firm The Roosevelt Group, Federal Center (North Riverside Plaza), North Riverside Park Mall and West Town Bank.

The donations were to have funded the house on Small Business Saturday as a revenue generator.

“That works out better for us, because it’s a whole day instead of just a couple hours,” said Celeste Loeffler, daughter of Higgins Glass owner Louise Wimmer.

Assuming the Holiday Stroll and open house were not happening this year, said Loeffler, Higgins Glass also got an early jump on advertising holiday gift ideas via social media and postcards to people on their mailing list. The store is still open by appointment.

With no downtown open house in Brookfield next week, foot traffic is guaranteed to be lighter over at Christopher Mark Fine Flowers and Gifts, 3742 Grand Blvd.

“On tree-lighting day we do have people come in and we do have a decent day [for sales,]” said owner Chris Borzym. “I don’t

Sts. Peter and Paul

Funeral Home & Cremation Services Family owned since 1885 David Moravecek - Owner

Finest Cantonese and Mandarin Food at reasonable prices.

WE NOW DELIVER TO RIVERSIDE AREA CALL FOR DETAILS

• Serving Beer & Wine•

foresee that happening this year.”

The pandemic has also thrown cold water on the store’s annual anniversary celebration, for which Borzym hauls out all of the Christmas decorations, does up the store and throws an open house/sale weekend with food and drinks for customers.

“We’re not able to do it the way we want,” said Borzym, who marked his 15th anniversary in business last week with a week-long drop-by-and-say-hi version of the celebration.

“It’s just not the same as when it’s a party atmosphere,” Borzym said.

Instead, inspired by a customer suggestion, Borzym is planning a blowout “Sweet 16” anniversary celebration next November.

“That idea brought my spirits right back up,” he said.

Ivins /Moravecek

1122 Maple - 17th Ave. La Grange Park • 354-3930

Fast Carry-outs or enjoy Lunch & Dinner in our new Dining Room

fireworks for last year’s Autumn Fest, which was canceled due to bad weather and the scrapped again this spring due to the pandemic.

“It’s not a holiday season unless there are fireworks in North Riverside,” Hermanek said.

Keep in touch by visiting our website at: stspeterandpaulriverside.org

Additional Suburban Chapel Locations Available Specializing in Pre Need & Veteran Care

80 E. Burlington St., Riverside

(708) 447-2261 | www.ivinsfh.com

The Landmark, November 25, 2020 New local ads this week

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

YOUR WEEKLY AD

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

21

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/Classified/

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

HELP WANTED

LIBRARY SERVICE UPDATE The Library is now under the Essential Service Model. Computer Sessions by appointment only. 30 min sessions. Call 708-366-7171 or sign up at fppl.org/computersignup. Copy machine (copy/scan) available for drop in. Vestibule Pick Up of library holds available. Place holds online at fppl.org or call.

PERSONAL ASSISTANTS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Progress Center is hosting five personal assistant orientations in November. Personal Assistants earn $13.48 an hour to support people with disabilities so that they may live independently in their own homes, instead of institutions. Duties may include dressing, bathing, cooking, toileting, and cleaning. The orientations will be over zoom on November 13 (9:30 a.m.), 17 (9:30 a.m.), 21 (10 a.m.), 24 (9:30 a.m.), and 30 (9:30 a.m.). For information, contact garnold@progresscil or 708-2091500.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking a Part-time School Social Worker (One Day a Week) Qualifications: a) Valid State of Illinois Professional Educator License b) Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) preferred Job Duties: The School Social Worker provides needs-based behavioral and social-emotional services to the students, parents, and faculty/staff of a school. The role includes, but is not limited to, individual and group counseling with students; direct and indirect consultation with students and teachers; assessment, behavior planning and intervention implementation and monitoring; and universal screening/prevention of behavioral & social-emotional concerns. The individual hired for this position will be required to develop ISP goals, monitor progress towards goals and participate in annual reviews and re-evaluations as needed.

The School Social Worker hired for this position will work with D90’s team and provide services at one of the private and parochial schools located in River Forest. The social worker will collaborate with parents, faculty and administration at the private and parochial school to meet the needs of students. This individual fulfills the requirements of the role as stated in Rules and Regulations for Special Education. Apply online at district90.org TEACHER AND TEACHER AIDE MINI ME BUNCH seeks teacher and teacher aide to enhance and expand daycare serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Teacher must have at least Associates’ degree in Early Childhood Education. Minimum 1 year experience preferred in each position. Must love children and be outgoing, patient, flexible.

Contact 773-521-9499.

SUBURBAN RENTALS OAK PARK 2BR 2BA CONDO Condo for rent on a great location near downtown oak park: 2 bedroom 2 bath condo, only electric bill not included. $1400 a month, $1400 deposit. For more information please call 224-475-7929.

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

Attention! Homeimprovement pros!

Reach the people making decisions.

Advertise in Wednesday Classified.

Call 708/613-3342

SUBURBAN RENTALS

COMMERCIAL/ RETAIL SPACE

COMMERCIAL/ RETAIL SPACE

A RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT–

1635 Sq Ft. IN SHOPPING CENTER: 315–325 S. Harlem Ave., Forest Park, IL.

• Very Good Condition–Recent Updates: NEW: Ceiling/floor tiles, basebrds, HVAC Unit, bath lav & sink/faucet, drywall. White primed walls throughout. • Suitable for almost ANY business type.

• Heavy traffic area; Across: Rush-Oak Park Hosp.

No Agents, pls. CALL: Jim (708) 828-6491

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. *1116 sq. ft. suite *569 sq. ft. with patio OAK PARK–1053 Lake St. *Entire 3rd Floor, 1275 sq. ft.

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

ITEMS FOR SALE SMALL CHEST Small plastic chest with six dustproof drawers. Pretty burnt orange color, like new. 33”h x 12”d x 15”w.

708-488-8755 SMALL METAL FILE CABINET 13”w x 30”h x 10”d. 6 skinny drawers.

708-488-8755

CEMETERY PLOTS

Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

TWO BURIAL PLOTS WOODLAWN (2) burial plots at Woodlawn Cemetery side by side. Located in Birchwood Section. $5000 for both 847-858-7726 Andytarnoff@comcast.net

SUBURBAN RENTALS

ITEMS TO BE GIVEN AWAY

M&M

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:

FREE SPINET PIANO You arrange and pay for mover.

708-383-7993

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

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

PETS 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.

Starting a New Business?

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

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

PAINTING & DECORATING

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

CLASSIC PAINTING

Let an American Veteran do your work

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

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.

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

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

FIREWOOD

HANDYMAN

FIREWOOD HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs UNLIMITED

Fast Delivery MIXED HARDWOODS CBH & MIX 100% OAK CHERRY OR HICKORY 100% BIRCH Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available

847-888-9999 Order online:

www. suregreen landscape.com

Credit Cards Accepted

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

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

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

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

708-296-2060

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

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

773-637-0692 Ask for John

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers

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

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20005127 on November 9, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of FOODIE AND FABULOUS with the business located at: 728 N AUSTIN, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: SHERRIE GREEN 728 N AUSTIN OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA Published in Wednesday Journal 11/11, 11/18, 11/25/20

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: Y20005108 on November 5, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of LA CUCINA DI SCUDIERO with the business located at: 2113 W LAKE STREET, MELROSE PARK, IL 60160. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ALEX A SCUDIERO 2113 W. LAKE STREET MELROSE PARK, IL 60160, USA

Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

Call the experts before you place your legal ad! Publish your assumed name legal notice in Wednesday Classified! Call Mary Ellen for details: 708/613-3342

Published in Forest Park Review 11/11, 11/18, 11/25/20

22

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

CLASSIFIED

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

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know

In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year RBLandmark.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE SERRANO LEGAL SOLUTIONS, LLC Attorney for Petitioner P. O. Box 3581 Oak Park, IL 60303 Attorney for Petitioner

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE TO BIDDERS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

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

In re the marriage of MARIA ESPARZA, Petitioner and BRADLEY HILLERVIK, Respondent, Case No. 2020D007886 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 December 11, 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.

HEARING DATE: December 10, 2020 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits APPLICATION: The Village of Oak Park Historic Preservation Commission (“Commission”) will conduct a public hearing on the Historic Landmark nomination filed by the property owners for 609 Linden Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois (P.I.N.: 16-06-414021-0000), which is located in the Frank Lloyd Wright-Prairie School of Architecture Historic District.

LOCATION OF HEARING: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www. oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT Uverse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7 (e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present

at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Written testimony or comments regarding the application may be provided prior to the public hearing by email to historicpreservation@ oak-park.us. The individual’s name and a reasonable part of their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. If email is not an option, written testimony or comment can be dropped off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the south entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 10, 2020. All written testimony and comments will be distributed to the Commission and made a part of the official hearing record. Those wishing to provide public testimony at the hearing must contact the Village Historic Preservation Planner at historicpreservation@oak-park.us for instructions on attending the hearing live via Zoom by 5:00 PM the day of the hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by contacting the Village Historic Preservation Planner

at historicpreservation@oak-park. us for instructions before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the hearing online through Zoom webconference means or by phone.

Questions regarding written testimony, comment or cross examination may be directed by phone to 708358-5420 or email to historicpreservation@oak-park.us.

A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www. oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday and Tuesday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Historic Preservation Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof. Anyone with questions about the application may contact the Village by phone at 708-358-5420 or by email at historicpreservation@oak-park.us.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 25, 2020

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 11/11, 11/18, 11/25/2020

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: Y20005148 on November 12, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of FREELAND & THATCHER with the business located at: 805 LAKE ST UNIT 429, OAK PARK, IL 60301.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: HAWANYA BLAKELY 479 N HARLEM AVE UNIT 501 OAK PARK, IL 60301, USA Published in Wednesday Journal 11/18, 11/25, 12/2/2020

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: Y20005178 on November 12, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of INCLINE REAL ESTATE ADVISORS with the business located at: 319 UVEDALE ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JEFFREY K. CERMAK, 319 UVEDALE ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL, 60546, USA Published in RB Landmark 11/18, 11/25, 12/2/2020

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway, Ste. 101B Chicago, iL 60614 STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of WILLIAM JESUS GONZALES, Petitioner and FRANCISCO JAVIER ESPARRAGOZA ESPINOSA, Respondent, Case No. 2020 D 008427 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 Appearance and Response electronically to said Petition in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, on or before December 23, 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 11/25, 12/2, 12/9/2020

Selling your condo by owner?

Advertise here!

Call Mary Ellen for details 708-613-3342:

Selling your home by owner?

Make it stand out!

Advertise here. Call 708-613-3342 to place your ad.

Sealed separate bids will be received by the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (the “Board”) for the following project: OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 SD97 - SUMMER 2021 ADDITION & RENOVATIONS BEYE, LINCOLN, LONGFELLOW, WHITTIER OAK PARK, IL 60302 BID GROUP 1 – DEMOLITION, EXCAVATION, CONCRETE, MASONRY, STEEL, GENERAL TRADES, MILLWORK/ CASEWORK, ROOFING, METAL PANELS, DOORS FRAMES & HARDWARE, GLAZING, DRYWALL & ACT, FLOORING, PAINTING, SPECIALTIES, ELEVATOR, WHEELCHAIR LIFT, PLUMBING, HVAC, and ELECTRICAL Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m.

CST on Friday, December 11, 2020 at the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Administrative offices, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, and will be virtually opened via zoom and read at 2:30 p.m. CST on that date. Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked: Oak Park Elementary School District 97 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 Attention: Bulley & Andrews Project: SD97 - SUMMER 2021 ADDITION & RENOVATIONS Virtual Bid Opening will be held at 2:30pm CST on 12/11/2020 per link: https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/84381616944?pwd=cGRPcVZuVVh5S0tmZmVBUXlFSEJ5QT09

Meeting ID: 843 8161 6944 / Passcode: 039859 / +13126266799,, 84381616944# US (Chicago)

LLC One Drive, located at the following link. No username or password is required.

Scope of work for Bid Group 1 generally includes, but is not limited to: Demolition, excavation, concrete, masonry, steel, general trades, millwork/ casework, roofing, metal panels, doors frames & hardware, glazing, drywall & ACT, flooring, painting, specialties, elevator, wheelchair lift, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical.

https://bulleyandrews-my. sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/amantel_bulley_com/ EnFU50U2lZJHvgH8M5EOgUsB37AO8_Gejp_4_ry47Ql0mQ?e=AyfkWu

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project. Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid amount shall be submitted with the bid. Should a bid bond be submitted, the bond shall be payable to the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. All documents and information required by the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project shall be submitted with the bid. Incomplete, late or non-conforming bids may not be accepted.

No bids shall be withdrawn, cancelled or modified after the time for opening of bids without the Board’s consent for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled time of bid opening.

The Bidding Documents for the project (which include the bidding instructions for the project and other related documents) will be available Wednesday November 25, 2020 and are available for viewing/ download online without cost or purchase on the Bulley & Andrews,

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities, and to make an award that in the Board’s sole opinion is in the best interest of the District.

The site will be available for visits by appointment to be coordinated with Bulley & Andrews, LLC. Interested parties may inspect the existing conditions. Schedule an appointment with Alex Mantel of Bulley & Andrews in advance if you wish to visit the sites.

All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all Contractors working on public works. If during the time period of work, the prevailing wage rates change, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount. All bidders must comply with the Illinois Statutory requirements regarding labor, including Equal Employment Opportunity Laws.

For additional information on the project, contact Alex Mantel of Bulley & Andrews, LLC at amantel@ bulley.com or 219-678-8383.

Dated: 11/5/20 Alex Mantel Bulley & Andrews, LLC

Published in Wednesday Journal November 25, December 2 and 9, 2020

local employees = happy employees!

Hire Local.

Place an ad on Landmark’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to RBLandmark.com/ classified today!

Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information.

(708) 613-3342 Classifieds@RBLandmark.com

P

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

23

Find the GCM donation envelope in this week’s paper

Why we work at Growing Community Media and why we’re asking you to make a donation.

Across our pages today you’ve seen our colleagues here at Growing Community Media explain why their work in our independent community newsroom is so important to them.

They write about the impact they feel they have on our communities, about the accountability we bring to local government, about the stories we tell, especially in these hard days of COVID-19.

Underlying the 50 words each contributed is their sense of privilege that we get to do this work, to connect our neighbors, to be that glue in a moment when things feel tugged apart.

All of us are also asking you to consider making a donation to our non-profit during this exciting national NewsMatch opportunity. Local news isn’t guaranteed. It needs to be paid for and these days a portion of that cost has to come from our readers.

Between NewsMatch honoring us as one of 267 non-profit newsrooms in America to be funded this year and the generosity of so many in our seven neighborhoods we’re off to a strong start.

Now we need you.

On behalf of my colleagues please become a member of this team.

Dan Haley, Editor and Publisher Growing Community Media

Stacey Sheridan, Staff reporter

Michael Romain, Equity reporter and columnist

Lacey Sikora, Real Estate editor

Jill Wagner, Reader engagement manager

Maria Maxham, Forest Park Review editor

Michelle Dybal, Arts editor

Melissa Elsmo, Food editor

Ken Trainor, Viewpoints editor and columnist

Alex Rogals, Staff photographer

Bob Uphues, Senior editor

Mark Moroney, Editorial designer

Lourdes Nicholls, Sales and marketing rep

To donate, visit www.growingcommunitymedia.com/donate

24

The Landmark, November 25, 2020

W NE

G TIN S I L

W NE

G TIN LIS

112 Burlington St, Riverside $339,500

336 Nuttall Rd, Riverside $345,000

112.5 Lincoln Ave, 2H, Riverside $109,900

444 Washington Blvd, #204, Oak Park $195,000

3608 Wenonah Ave, Berwyn $289,900

56 N Cowley Rd, Riverside $399,000

1168 Clarence Ave, Oak Park $399,900

7240 Ogden Ave, Riverside $485,000

192 Waubansee Rd, Riverside $539,000

399 Audubon Rd, Riverside $635,000 L TA N RE

178 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $645,000

4441 Wolf Rd, #401, Western Springs $699,000

144 Scottswood Rd, Riverside $799,000

45 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $975,000

622 Robinhood Ln, LaGrange Park $2,400/mo

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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