Vande Merkt bled Blue and White
Former RiversideBrook eld athletic director and coach who died last month fondly recalled
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
The southeast corner of Riverside-Brookfield High School’s main gym was Bill Vande Merkt’s favorite spot.
It was close to his office, and no matter what was going on during the day or in the evening, he was there, leaning against the wall, watching with rapt attention.
It’s one of Tracy Sloan’s enduring memories of her father, who enjoyed a 34-year career at the school as a teacher, coach and athletic director. He retired in 1990. Sloan, a 1989 graduate, played volleyball and basketball in the gym, along with softball.
“He was such a presence over there,”
See VANDE MERKT on page 23
works
RB
lawsuit
By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter
Lawyers for the 20-something for mer Riverside Brookfield High School student, identified only as Jane Doe in court filings, have filed an amended complaint that seeks to restore RBHS as a defendant in the case by laying out more details about how some students allegedly tried to warn school leaders that something inappropriate was going on between Gary Prokes, the director of its RBTV See DOE on page 10
BY TRAC Y SLOAN
CO OL SHADES: Bill Vande Merkt and a referee share thoug hts.
Brook eld previews 2026 budget
e
total budget is roughly $67M, up $288K from this year
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield officials previewed the village’s operating budget for 2026, which will likely be approved on Dec. 8. In total, the budget for all funds to be spent next year amounts to $67,016,860, Finance Director Doug Cooper wrote in a memo, an increase of about $288,000, or 0.43%, from the 2025 budget.
“It means that we really watched our budget, and we watched where we’re going for in 2026,” Cooper said of the increase at the village board’s Nov. 24 committee of the whole meeting.
Total revenues for Brookfield in 2026 are budgeted at about $75.9 million, according to the draft budget document, also prepared by Cooper.
The current year will be the seventh year, he wrote, ending with a surplus amount of money in Brookfield’s general fund based on current estimates before transfers from other funds, with about $24.6 million in revenues and about $23.3 million in expenditures. The general fund represents the village’s available monies to fund operations
In 2026, general fund revenues are budgeted to increase to $25.4 million while expenditures will grow to $24.6 million, representing a tightening of the funds Brookfield expects to keep in reserve.
“We have worked it so that over the last six years, we are still operating in a surplus, which is good; however, the surplus is narrowing down as we look at the 2026 budget,” Cooper told trustees. “We will start looking
COURTESY OF THE VILL AGE OF BROOKFIELD is pie graph shows the 2026 general fund expenditures broken down into discrete costs. About 70% of the budgeted expenditures w ill go toward personnel costs in salaries, bene ts and pensions
for other ways to expand these two lines so that revenues exceed expenditures by a little bit more. In that way, we will help build up our fund reserve.”
Cooper said the overall goal is for Brookfield to keep 25% of its operating costs in reserves at all times, which would allow the village to continue operating for three months with no revenues in an emergency.
At the end of 2025, the general fund reserve is estimated to be about $5.35 million, representing about 24% of total operating expenditures, Cooper’s memo said. The budgeted
reserve for the end of 2026 is roughly $5.46 million, which will comprise 23% of operation costs next year
Of the $24.6 million in general fund expenditures for 2026, about 70% are related to personnel costs, Cooper said. Some $13.4 million, or 54%, will be paid out to employees in their salaries and benefits, with another $4.2 million, or 17%, going to pension contributions
Cooper said much of the increase in Brookfield’s general fund expenditures from 2025 to 2026 can be attributed to growth in staffing costs, in the form of 3% cost-of-living raises for staff as well as overtime pay. Other costs in the budget include $359,000 paid toward pension funds and an additional $93,000 dedicated to park improvements and maintenance, like those planned for Ehlert Park and South Maple Park. The tighter ratio between revenues and expenditures can also be attributed to lower capital expenditures in 2025 compared to previous years, Cooper wrote, with those projects expected to increase again for 2026.
“What Doug just did for the past half hour is summarize what started with weeks and months of department- and staff-level meetings, and we had a three-and-a-half-hour budget workshop here in this room a month ago and then another hour executive session on some of the personnel matters,” said Village President Michael Garvey.
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A one-year subscription costs $57 within Cook County and $95 outside the county. Adver tising rates may be obtained by calling our o ce. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, PO Box 6670, River Forest, IL 60305. © 2025 Growing Community Media NFP.
Brook eld accepts $195K to ‘transform’ Brook eld Shops
e village is partnering with community groups to improve the courtyard
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield has accepted $195,200 in grant funding from Cook County to bring improvements to the courtyard behind the Brookfield Shops retail incubator program at Progress Park near Eight Corners.
Trustees on Nov. 24 approved a resolution to accept the funds from the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), which administers the Cook County Creative Placemaking Grant, on behalf of the Brookfield Theater Corporation.
The group, which is set to purchase property downtown to turn into the new Strand Theater, had applied for the grant itself, but could not accept it due to the county’s requirements, Village President Michael
Garvey said.
“Brookfield Theater was not able to be the main grant recipient. Staf f did an excellent job in basically working with the county so that the village could become the specific recipient of it to do some major improvements in the courtyard area and make it an event space going forward,”
Garvey said. “There were over 100 submissions for these types of grants, and the village of Brookfield was one of the 12 to get it, so we’re very proud.”
The grant will be available through Aug. 31, 2026, and will see improvements made to the area, including the addition of pavers in the courtyard, moveable stage pieces, technical audio and lighting equipment, sunshades, a storage shed, benches, bike racks, signage, solar panels, awnings and a wall dedicated to local art. Some of the grant will also go toward paying consultants for the program.
According to a village memo, the budget for the improvements was revised several times before the LISC approved it. “If any
line item is not completed as appr ed, the associated grant fund may be the memo stated.
In August, Libby community development director, told the Landmark the village Brookfield Theater Co of creating a space for community theater in the courtyard after proposed turning the historic Theater Building on Grand Boule such a space in September 2024. The Theater Building is now set to be way for a new development.
She said the village w the grant application order to beautify the area near Eight Co ners, which she described as “Brookfield uptown” in contrast to the downtown area by the intersection of Grand Boule and Prairie Avenue.
Nine pieces of public artwork were unveiled on Oct. 31 that have since been displayed at the Brookfield Shops and will contribute to the art wall.
the Brook eld Shops on Friday, October 31, 2025.
529 PLANS: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: PART I
Q. What is a 529 plan?
A. A 529 is plan operated by a state or educational institution, with tax advantages and potentially other incentives to make it easier to save for college and other postsecondary training, or for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school for a designated beneficiary, such as a child or grandchild.
Q. What is the main advantage of a typical 529 plan?
A. Interest earnings are not subject to federal tax and generally not subject to state tax when used for the qualified education expenses of the designated beneficiary, such as tuition, fees, books, as well as room and board at an eligible education institution and tuition at elementary or secondary schools. Contributions to a 529 plan, however, are not deductible.
Q. Can I make withdrawals from my 529 plan for tuition at elementary or secondary schools?
A. Yes. As of 2018, the term “qualified higher education expense” includes up to $10,000 in annual expenses for tuition in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school.
Q. Can anyone set up a 529 plan?
A. Yes. You can set one up and name anyone as a beneficiary - a relative, a friend, even yourself. There are no income restrictions on either you, as the contributor, or the beneficiary. There is also no limit to the number of plans you set up.
TODD BANNOR
Existing art at
By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.
Riverside Bank robbed Saturday
Man in 50s or 60s verbally threatened workers with a weapon but did not display one
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Rive rside Bank, 17 E. Burlington St., was robbed Nov. 29 by a man re por tedly in his 50s or 60s. He ve rbally threatened b ank employees with a we apon but did not actually displ ay a we apon to staffers Gabrielle S zlenkier, the public af fairs officer of the Fe deral Bureau of Investi gation’s Chicago field offic e, told the L andmark that the suspect has not ye t b een tracke d down. She said FBI investigators know wh at was stolen, includin g how much money was taken, but that she c ould not release that info rm ation.
S he said FBI personnel arrive d at the
b ank around 11 a.m. after the robber y was re ported. Local p olice li ke ly ar rive d at the b ank in advance of the FBI, she said. Rive rside Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley did not respond to a request for c omment by the L andmark by the time of publication.
Rive rside Bank is a local branch of Wi ntrust C ommunity Bank, wh ich is federally i nsured by the Fe deral De p osi t I nsurance Co rp oration, meaning the inc ident f alls under the FBI ’s federal-leve l purvie w, Szlenkier said.
If you witness a robbery in the f uture, S zlenkier said to ne ve r confront the robber and to c all 911 as soon as p ossibl e, especially if there is a threat of danger
If you have information related to the robbery, Szlenkier suggested submitting a tip to the FBI through its online tip form.
Au gie Garcia, the branch manage r for Rive rside Bank, did not respond to a L andmark request for c omment by the time of publication.
Attendees wait in line outside of the Riverside Bank to take photos with Santa Claus on Fr iday, Dec. 7, 2018, during the 44th annual Chamber of Commerce Holiday Stroll in downtown Riverside.
Community Foundation O ers Professional Development to Local Nonpro t Leaders
As part of its goal to strengthen the local nonpro t sector’s impact on the overall quality of life in our communities, the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation has launched the Nonpro t Excellence program, a training series focused on professional development and leadership for community-based organizations serving the greater West Side.
“We are out and about, actively listening to our community leaders. e message is crystal clear: they are facing a wide array of signi cant challenges, across many di erent issue areas. ey need funding. ey also need peer-to-peer support,” said Carrie Summy, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “ e Foundation is in a unique position to serve as a collaborative bridge between organizations that may be doing similar work in di erent geographies or elds, and to create
opportunities for nonpro t leaders to learn from and be resources for each other.”
e Nonpro t Excellence program grows out of Impact Excellence, a longrunning Foundation initiative for local leaders.
Nonpro t Excellence will provide multiple opportunities for learning and exchange, including workshops, seminars, executive roundtables and other events. ese programs address core elements of capacity building and sustainability, such as an organization’s mission and vision, human resources issues, board governance and infrastructure, technology, marketing and
fundraising strategy.
e program will launch o cially in January 2026, although the Foundation recently o ered a workshop on contingency planning in light of recent budget cuts and signi cant changes occurring at federal and state level, which was well attended and received. “ e information was super current and all extremely actionable” said one attendee.
“Nonpro t Excellence is key to our commitment to serve as a local resource and a trusted, valued partner for our social sector,” Summy said. “We are here to serve those helping our most vulnerable
community members, and we’re going to do that in as many creative ways as we can.” Programming is o ered free of charge, and events will soon be posted on the Nonpro t Excellence page of the Foundation website, oprfcf.org. Local nonpro t executives and sta interested in participating in the program are encouraged to contact Program Director Elizabeth Chadri at 708-848-1560 or by email at echadri@oprfcf.org for more information.
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Renter’s son cited for threatening property owner
Brookfield police cited a 38-year-old Brookfield man on Nov. 17 for assault after he reportedly threatened the owner of his mother’s apartment.
Around 9:15 a.m., an officer at the police station spoke with a woman, who said she and her husband are the owners of a property on the 4600 block of Maple Avenue. She said she had been preparing a unit for a new tenant when she heard a loud noise from the common hallway in the back of the building, where she found a man, the adult son of one of her tenants, smoking cannabis. The woman said she told him the building is non-smoking and that he should leave, as he is not a legal tenant. According to police, the woman said the man placed his index finger “within close proximity” of her face and threatened her if he saw her again when he returned. She said she became afraid at the threat and that her husband had to intervene just as he was arriving at the property.
The woman told police she wanted the man cited for assault and removed from the property and that the family has a history of causing incidents in the building. The officer searched previous reports and found police had responded to the man’s mother’s unit nearly 40 times since 2022 for various incidents including domestic complaints, disturbances, thefts, reports of intoxication and psych evaluations.
The woman added that she is in the process of evicting the man’s mother, as she had fallen behind on rent and lost access to electricity and gas in her unit due to not paying for the utilities
The officer and the village inspector met the woman and her husband at the property, where they made contact with the man’s mother, who “began to shout” over them before accusing them of harassment. She said she had fallen on “hard times,” police said, and could not pay her electricity and gas bills. When the inspector went in to check the conditions of the unit, her son left the apar tment, and the officer advised him of the complaint of assault made against him by the owner of the building.
The man denied threatening her but stated he would leave after gathering a few personal items, though he “refused to stand by
and receive a local ordinance citation,” police said. After trying to issue the citation, the officer allowed the man to leave the scene due to his antagonizing of them. The officer also provided the date and time of the scheduled adjudication hearing to the property owner, who ag reed to attend. The inspector deemed the unit uninhabitable and marked it as such, though the man’s mother refused to vacate, so the officer advised the owners that they would need to follow the proper eviction process through Cook County.
Evidence of trespassing in unrented home
Brookfield p olice on Nov. 17 investi gated a re po rt of trespassing, though no one was ar rested
Around 9:15 a.m., an officer was dispatched to the 3600 block of Cleveland Avenue on a re port of trespassing after receiving a call from an employee of Invitation Homes, a house rental company that owns the property in question. The man said the house is listed for rent, but the company had received a notification over the weekend that the real estate agent key box had been tampered with. When he came out to check the property, the man noticed a new “dimple” on the door handle and saw the box was missing, police said.
The man asked the officer to investigate the home after he unlocked the back door. The officer announced their presence inside the house and did not receive a response or find anyone inside, though they did find cookware in the kitchen as well as luggage bags elsewhere. Police noted that the home appeared as if someone had moved in; according to police, it is “well known” the company’s rental listings are relisted by scammers, so they suggested someone had moved in after believing they had spoken with the proper rental agent.
The employee said he would leave notices on the property for the potential inhabitant to contact Invitation Homes. The officer checked with village hall and lear ned the property’s utilities were still under the company’s name.
These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department reports dated Nov. 17-24; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled
by Stella Brown
Brook eld schedules vote on rental registration ordinance
Trustees must choose 1 of 3 versions on Dec. 8 for the program to start in 2026
By STELLA BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield trustees are set on Monday, Dec. 8, to vote on three proposed versions of a controversial ordinance implementing a rental re gistration program that could include inspections of common areas and even residential units within rental properties. If one of the versions is approved, the program would go into effect for 2026, giving rental property owners two months to re gister their buildings by March 1.
Village President Michael Garvey directed staf f to put the three versions of the ordinance up for a vote at the village board’s next meeting during its Nov. 24 committee of the whole meeting, where trustees dis-
cussed the proposed program for a fourth time.
The matter has consistently drawn ire from public commenters, many of whom are landlords operating rentals in town who would be charged an annual fee at the time of re gistry each year, ranging from $50 to $225 per property, depending on the number of units and the version of the program that could be implemented.
The least stringent version of a rental re gistration program would only require property owners to re gister their buildings, so village staf f knows who is accountable in case of a code violation or tenant dispute.
The second version would include inspections of building exteriors and common areas once every three years. No housing units would be entered or inspected due to the program. Village code now gives inspectors the power to enter only when a tenant reaches out with a complaint.
The strictest version would see annual inspections of common areas and exteriors, with a different random living unit in
REGISTRATION
Debating options
from page 7
At the Nov. 24 meeting, Libby Popovic, the village’s community development director, shared data from her department and the police department about the number of rental disputes and other code enforcement issues staf f has seen.
“We had about 90 [tenant-landlord disputes] between 2023 to 2025,” she said. “To date, for this year, we’ve processed a little over 1,000 code enforcement and property maintenance matters, and 315 of those were actually processed in adjudication, meaning there was a complaint, a summons and a finding.”
According to a memorandum from the meeting, Brookfield staf f received 106 complaints from tenants related to property maintenance or code enforcement between October 2024 and October 2025.
In previous meetings, Popovic said data was unavailable due to shoddy recordke eping, a point that public commenters have clung to when expressing their disapproval
of the proposed program.
“A well-designed re gistry, which is what we’re advocating for, would provide Brookfield with accountability, interdepartmental coordination — that is, crossing between code enforcement, police, public works, all of the departments together — having enforceable, consistent and fair standards across the board, and any strategic interventions,” she said.
At best, Popovic said, the revenue generated from re gistration fees would make the program revenue-neutral for Brookfield while allowing the village to proactively enforce safety standards.
The loosest re gistration program would generate $25,000 to $35,000 per year for Brookfield based on the number of rental buildings in town — staf f estimates between 500 and 700 — with the second bringing in $42,000 to $60,000 and the strictest earning $82,500 to $115,000, the memo said.
Still, staf f finds the program could cost about $78,000 to inspect 500 rental buildings, up to $110,000 to inspect 700 buildings, with the labor split between Brookfield’s full-time staf f inspector and contracted part-time workers.
Across town, staf f estimates there are 1,570 to 1,639 rental units spread across
those buildings.
While members of the public have suggested at prior meetings that staf f could obtain ownership information about a building through other methods, like tracing the billing of water utilities, Garvey disputed such claims.
“The re gistered owner who is responsible for citations to be served for violations is not necessarily the person who [manages] the building or is on the water bill,” he said.
Garvey addressed the topic of voluntary re gistration, which public commenters had suggested.
“A lot of people who are here are the responsible housing owners. You’re taking time to come here and have of fered very meaningful input, and you volunteer to re gister. That would be wonderful if you want to do that, but you’re not the ones who are the issue. You’re a very small percentage of people, and voluntary re gistration would not get us the same impact as if we had a required re gistration,” he said.
He also touched on comments from the public, both at meetings and online, that called the proposed ordinance a “money grab” by Brookfield.
“This is not going to be a money maker
Brook eld Chamber of Commerce Business Spotlight
Share Food Share Love
9030 Brook eld Ave.
Brook eld, IL 60513
www.sharefoodsharelove.org
There are over 800 food pantries in Cook County. Many started out decades ago to help “end hunger” and to make a di erence in their communities. Over the years, many have focused on the business of food distribution, often reporting their success based on how many pounds of food they distributed annually.
During our early years as a non-pro t, our food pantry reported similar success measures. Yet, here we all are, in an era of nearly unprecedented food insecurity.
Within the fteen villages we primarily serve, over 7,000 of our neighbors live in households with incomes below the federal poverty line. An additional 14,000 live in households considered to be at risk of becoming food insecure. And this was before the recent cuts in funding to food banks, the federal shutdown, and the disruption in SNAP bene ts.
for the village We ’re not looking to make money. T here are many things that we do as a village that c ost us money that do n’ t have a b ottom-line return in money. This is a p ossible public safety and public health i ssue,” he said. “We have great attorney s. If you want to give us the le ga l o pinion that we ca n’ t do thi s, that it ’s an invasion of p eople’s privacy, you’ re free to say that, but I know the b oard’s goin g to trust our attorneys and le g al advic e on wh at we can and can’ t do under existing case law. ”
While two trustees were absent at the meeting, Garvey assured the audience those trustees were watching the livestream or would watch it ahead of Dec. 8 meeting to ensure they understood the issue extensively
The four present trustees ag reed with Garvey’s suggestion to put all three proposed versions of the program to a vote at the next meeting, which is the last re gular meeting scheduled in 2025. Trustees are expected to approve one of the three versions or vote to table the matter for further discussion if they believe it is needed, he said, though public commenters will have another opportunity to address the board before a vote is taken.
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The Share Food Share Love food pantry has two goals as a non-pro t, community-invested business: Help alleviate food insecurity in our region and the causes that are driving food insecurity. To do this, we must bring together our neighbors in need, volunteers, donors, business and civic leaders — all who are shareholders in what is a shared business and economic challenge.
Some may question whether this is the proper mission of a food pantry. Some will even say that a food pantry should act like a charity and not aspire to the business of uplifting everyone else’s business. But to the contrary, we believe it to be the responsibility of every business to act like a charity when it comes to uplifting the nancial well-being of our region.
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Acrossthefifteenlocalvillagesourpantryprimarilyserves, over21,000peoplearelikelyfoodinsecure.Thiswasbefore steepfederalcutsinlocalfoodbankfunding.Cutsthatnow directlyimpactthesupplyoffoodtoourpantry.Butaswe witnessedthisThanksgiving,aconnectedcommunitycan trulymakeahopefuldifference.
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Foroverayearnow, thiscolumnhasbeentalkingaboutthe prevalenceofhungerandfoodinsecurityinourarea. Promisingthatby “connectingthefourcornersofcommunity ”, wecanhelpendhunger andthecausesofhungerhere. Thatwecanbuildprograms thatuplift ourneighborsinneed. Thattogether, wecantrulymakeadifference.
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Inthis , our 10thyear, it ’snotthelongevityofafood pantrythatwecelebrate. It ’sthegreaterpotentialofa communitytotrulymakeadifferencewhenenoughof uscometogethertoupliftallofus .
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DOE
Amended complaint from page 1
project, and Doe
leges that the student, only identified as “Student #1” in the amended complaint, showed the video recording to Dughetti and Mannon.
The amended complaint also alleges that after Student #1 emailed Dughetti to set up a meeting Prokes called the student into his office and locked the door.
“Prokes proceeded to tell Student #1 that ‘Nothing physical is going on” between himself and Doe, that Doe was ‘in a really bad place.” Prokes then allegedly implied that Doe had mental health issues.
On Oct. 9 Cook County Circuit Court Judge Frank Andreou dismissed RBHS District 208 as a defendant in the lawsuit but did so in a manner that allowed Doe’s lawyers to refile their complaint. The amended complaint, filed on Nov. 17, includes new details alleging that in 2017 four RBHS students suspected or knew that inappropriate behavior was going between Prokes and Doe and that one of those students met with Neil Dughetti, who was then a dean, and Assistant Principal of Student Af fairs Dave Mannon to accuse Prokes of misconduct. According to the complaint the student who met with Dughetti and Mannon presented them with a memo entitled “Yikes.”
“Student #1 observed that Prokes acted very nervous during the meeting in his office behind the locked door, and … asked Prokes why he was so agitated. Prokes responded that he was not supposed to be telling Student #1 about Doe’s mental health issues. …”
The amended complaint alleges that immediately after the meeting with Prokes the student walked to Dughetti’s office to tell him what had occurred.
Dughetti declined to be interviewed or answer questions when asked about the allegations in the amended complaint.
“I am unable to comment at this time due to the pending litigation,” Dughetti said in an email. Dughetti is now a science teacher at RBHS, a position he held before a stint as a dean.
“The Yikes memorandum outlined a number of specific instances for RBHS leadership that demonstrated the improper conduct and his inappropriate relationship with Doe,” the amended complaint states. “For instance, the students noticed after a football game around 10:30 or 11:00 at night that Prokes was rushing the students out of the building while the students noticed that Doe was still sitting in Prokes’s office waiting for him.”
The amended complaint alleges that during the meeting between Student #1 and Dughetti and Mannon, Mannon mentioned that it would be hard to find a replacement for Prokes if Prokes was suspended or fired.
The amended complaint also alleges that one student tried to enter an audio trailer that RBTV uses when it broadcasts home football games. Typically the trailer is unlocked but this time the door to the trailer was allegedly locked. The student allegedly knocked on the door to try to get in but no one opened the door until Prokes and Doe exited the trailer about 10 minutes later
The Yikes memorandum is attached to the amended complaint. It details, in brief outline form, a series of incidents from 2016 and 2017. It alleges that Prokes unnecessarily touched students other than Doe and made inappropriate comments. It also alleges that Prokes and Doe would be locked away in RBTV’s Studio B ostensibly to move boxes that the students said weren’t there.
The Yikes memorandum and the amended complaint also allege that a few RBTV students made a video trying to record inappropriate conduct between Prokes and Doe in Studio B.
“Specifically, the students put a post it note in the door lock of RBHS Studio B to prevent the door from locking when Prokes and Doe secreted away in that room,” the amended complaint states. “The students then planned a covert video-recording of Prokes liaison with Doe.”
It is unclear what, if anything, was captured on video but the amended complaint al-
Mannon also declined to answer questions posed by the Landmark responding with an email that was identical to Dughetti’s.
The amended complaint concedes that Mannon interviewed Doe after the meeting with Student #1 but notes that Doe told Mannon, as she was allegedly instructed to do so by Prokes, that she and Prokes had only engaged in a hug. The amended complaint also alleges that Prokes communicated to Doe’s mother that it is “perfectly natural” for a teacher to hug a student.
In their successful motion to dismiss the case against RBHS, RBHS’s lawyers relied heavily on Doe telling Mannon that she was not having a physical relationship with Prokes. RBHS’s lawyers used Doe’s denial of a sexual relationship with Prokes to argue that RBHS officials had no reason to suspect that Prokes was engaging in improper behavior.
The amended complaint alleges that Dughetti and Mannon never interviewed any students other than Student #1 who had concerns about Prokes’s behavior or reviewed text messages sent by Prokes
“Mannon and Dughetti whitewashed and dismissed the reports of Doe’s schoolmates,” the amended complaint claims.
RBHS District 208 Superintendent Kevin Skinkis also declined to get into the specifics of the allegations when asked to comment about the amended complaint.
Holida y Stroll 2025
annual Holiday Stroll PAGE 17
A re breather during the Brook eld Holiday Celebration last year.
BAnnual holiday celebration returns along village’s business dist ricts Dec. 6
By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter
rookfield’s beloved Holiday Celebration — the village’s annual Christmastime event uniting residents, business owners and village officials in yuletide joy — is back to kick off the holiday season this weekend.
Co-sponsored by the village and Brookfield’s Chamber of Commerce, this year’s Holiday Celebration will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 from 2 to 6 p.m. along the Grand Boulevard and Broadway Avenue business corridors, with festive stops in between, including Brookfield Village Hall and Historic Grossdale Station.
Throughout the afternoon, guests are welcome to park for free in the village’s business districts, stroll
on foot or hop aboard a courtesy trolley, which will run continuously among six stops: Brookfield Village Hall (8820 Brookfield Ave.), The Shop Salon & Style House (3735 Grand Boulevard), the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Public Library (3541 Park Ave.), the 9100 block of Broadway Avenue, S.E. Gross Middle School (9235 Broadway Ave.) and the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard
Bob Uphues, communications and marketing manager for the Village of Brookfield, says the event — now several decades in existence — is just one of the village’s many ways in which it showcases prioritizing providing locals with an old-fashioned, hometown-feel event to start the holiday season of f on the right foot.
See BROOKFIELD on page 13
PHOTO BY TODD BANNOR
BROOKFIELD
from page 11
“While some towns may have scaled back from these large-scale events, Brookfield has been expanding its offerings,” he says. “The holiday celebration has gone on for many decades, and people count on it to kick off the holiday season. It showcases the businesses in our community and is important for the community to feel like they have an event they can show off.”
And though the event has existed for many years, Uphues adds that Brookfield’s newest residents have shared seeing great value and pleasure in the celebration as well.
“The community really appreciates that Brookfield is able to exude this small-town aura,” he said. “A lot of the new, young families who have moved to Brookfield over the last decade really appreciate that the village is still leveraging that small-town feel, and this event helps tie people to the community.”
Back for its third year is the fan-favorite Kris Kringle Market — this year, all weekend long. Located at Brookfield Village Hall, the market will run Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., bringing more seasonal magic and two full days of soaking in the holiday spirit
The market will showcase more than 70 local vendors selling an array of unique finds from local entrepreneurs and business owners, including jewelry, home goods and gourmet bakery. Shop and stroll through a sparkling winter wonderland with the market’s exclusive collector’s mug in hand (while supplies last) and be inspired by the creativity of vendors, including kids who are part of the Brookfield Far mer’s Market’s Young Entrepreneurs program.
With the help of Santa’s elves, kids are invited to write heartfelt letters to Santa, and all postmarked letters are guaranteed to receive a response. Afterwards, strike a pose at one of the market’s many holiday-themed photo backdrops.
“The market is very loved, and every year we’re growing with vendors,” said Gina Sharenow, a Brookfield resident and market organizer. “I think it’s a nice, cherished community event where you don’t have to go into Chicago or Aurora to enjoy a Christmas market. And we’re really giving
See BROOKFIELD on page 14
HAPPY
The cordial inn is a great place to meet friends, catch a game, and enjoy the oldest neighborhood bar in the area.
HOLIDAYS from THE CORDIAL INN
Open at 7am Mon-Sat and 11am on Sundays!
We serve great cheeseburgers, ice cold beer and seltzers, and excellent cocktails! 9207 31st St., Brookfield, Il 60513 • 708-485-9753 • thecordialinn@gmail.com Mon-Thursday 7am to 1:30am, Fri-Sat 7am - 2:30am, Sun 11am to 1:30am.
Additional Free Parking at the corner of Maple and 31st
Visit our Facebook page for upcoming events and holiday hours!
Santa Claus during the Brook eld Holiday Celebration last year.
Holiday Stroll 2025
BROOKFIELD
from page 13
to our community in regards to local usinesses being represented at the market and independent local vendors really capitalizing. It’s about giving back to small community shops.”
Both days at the market will also feature a new “Gift of Giving Tree” — an opportufor visitors to bring a non-perishable item or winter clothing item (like hats, es, coats and scarves). Each item donated earns donors a raffle ticket, and a $250 ash raffle winner will be chosen on Sunday “We’re hoping that in light of everything going on these days that we can help families in the community,” Sharenow added.
While along Trolley Stop 1, visit Historic Grossdale Station (8820 ½ Brookfield Ave.), here the museum will be open until 4 p.m.; and catch live woodcarving demonstrations wcasing rustic art talents until 5 p.m. ep note — Grossdale Station is now the permanent home of the celebration’s Christmas tree lighting, which will close out the evening from 5 to 5:30 p.m.
Along Trolley Stop 2, keep warm with the
Help set the table for change
The expression, “putting food on the table”, has taken on a deeper meaning this holiday season. Our food pantry is facing an unexpected challenge. e food bank that supplies the majority of our food has put us on notice: We will not receive the usual volume of holiday food supplies this year, due to federal cuts in funding.
We’re all neighbors here. at’s how it’s been since we started out 10 years ago in a local church basement. It wasn’t long before we became an independent, 501(c)3 non-pro t organization. And when the church went out of business, the sale of the church property was donated to the pantry. at assured the launch of the pantry, helping to pay for the 7,000 square foot former factory building we
now occupy.
e Share Food Share
Love food pantry is a place where everyone can truly “make a di erence”. Our two-fold mission is to help reduce hunger in our area and the causes of that hunger. We have set out to do this by “connecting the four corners of community”. Bringing together all who are shareholders in a shared cause: Neighbors in need, volunteers, donors, and strategic partners.
Back in 2015, our small food pantry was visited by 860 neighbors. Last year, the pantry was visited nearly 5,000 times. Along the way, we’ve learned that setting the table for community driven change really is possible, when enough of us come together to upli all of us.
chill in the air and indulge in free hot chocolate at Ink Your Wear/Computech Pro (8838 Brookfield Ave.); meet-and-greet with your favorite characters from Disney’s “Frozen” and make your own reindeer food at Fill My Jar (3726 Prairie Ave.); snap a family photo during your wish list sharing visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Irish Times (8869 Burlington Ave.); catch mythical fire performers at Burger Antics (3740 Grand Boulevard); and grab a second cup of hot chocolate while shopping for one-of-a-kind natural, botanical skincare products — all for 20% off — at Luxxe Honor (3745 Grand Boulevard).
At Trolley Stop 3’s Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Public Library, staff will be passing out free hot chocolate and organizing crafts for all ages in their state-of-the-art Maker Studio until 6 p.m.
When making your way down to Trolley Stop 4, enjoy even more hot chocolate, kids holiday crafts and a Mom-Made Market from 1 to 3 p.m. at Winnie’s Playroom (9039 Monroe Ave.) — Brookfield’s new children’s indoor play space. Want to snack on some fun treats while shopping for hair products? Then head over to GoodxTimes Barbershop (3501 Maple Ave.), where you can buy two items, get $5 off your total for hair products, shirts and hats. Animal lovers can check out
woman and child at Brook eld’s Kris Kringle Market last year.
the fan-favorite petting zoo from 1 to 4 p.m. at the corner of Grand Boulevard and Washington Avenue, west of Beach Avenue BBQ Have you ever tried playing tic-tac-toe with ice? If not, then now’s your chance at the interactive ice game station at First National Bank of Brookfield (9136 Washington Ave.)
Along the S.E. Gross Middle School route (Trolley Stop 5), warm up inside the school and be entertained by the musically inclined youngsters of Brookfield and La Grange Park’s with performances by the school’s holiday band and choir throughout the afternoon. Inside the gym, a giant inflatable snow globe will be blown up for fun photo ops for the kids, along with other inflatables and fun activities for the kids. If you’re ready to showcase your twists, twirls and speed on skates, check out the iceless ice rink inside the school.
Across the street, join neighbors for fellowship over hot chocolate and another chance at making reindeer food at Palacky Lodge Odd Fellows (9234 Broadway Ave.) While there, don’t forget to purchase $10 raffle tickets for a chance to win a Nintendo Switch 2 and other exciting gift basket options. For the cycle-minded visitors, come say “hello” at Gears2You (9219 Broadway Ave.) and get a free bike headlight with your tuneup. More warm beverages, including free hot apple cider, can be found at Just Wallpaper (9219 Broadway Ave.). Join in the creative fun for free ornament making at Compassion Factory (9210 Broadway Ave.) and grab free s’mores at Beach Avenue BBQ (3453 Grand Boulevard).
Holiday Stroll 2025
And, this year’s introduction of the Brookfield Shops to town means even more opportunities for holiday cheer at the celebration! Located at Progress Park (9202 Broadway Ave.), the village’s innovative retail incubator program features local entrepreneurs and artisans with one-of-akind finds in seasonal mini retail sheds. At Four Star Coffee, kids can indulge in a winter wonderland hot chocolate bar, and adults can try out holiday espresso martinis. Frost With Us will be passing out holiday-flavored sweets and a holiday hot chocolate flight. At New Book Joy, adults can enjoy a complimentary glass of red wine, and book purchases come with complimentary holiday glasses. Adults looking for more fun Christmas libations can visit Rites of Wellness for spiked spiced cider or mulled wine, taste hot chocolate chai and see what shopping discounts are available. Organic Jewelry will have holiday specials and The Shop/Style House Boutique will be featuring a sale of buy one full-priced item, get an accessory for half of f. When you’re shopped out, test your hand at a frozen game of ice bags at the park — just don’t forget your gloves and mittens!
Of course, make sure you don’t miss the evening’s grand finale — the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Grossdale Station. At 5 p.m., carolers from RiversideBrookfield High School will set the mood with holiday tunes in anticipation of Santa’s arrival via fire truck, where he will merrily lead the crowd in a countdown to illuminate the tree at 5:30 p.m.
Fi y years of holiday cheer
By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter
For half a century, the Village of Riverside has joyfully kicked of f the Christmas season with its beloved Holiday Stroll — an early December tradition spreading yuletide cheer and neighborly camaraderie in the old-fashioned way only Riverside can. And this year, the holiday magic returns on Friday, Dec. 5, where from 5:30 to 9 p.m., the heart of downtown Riverside and the business districts will be abuzz with festive open houses, seasonal entertainment and engaging activities for guests of all ages
Longtime Riverside resident Amy Re gan, who serves on the Holiday Stroll’s committee, says this year’s milestone celebration of the event is a continued point of pride for business leaders and residents alike and truly illuminates Riverside’s sense of hometown pride.
“This year, we’re celebrating 50 years of a fantastic holiday tradition,” she said. “The entire village opens up — it’s festive and fun, and it’s great to see so many people come out. The streets being blocked off means that ev eryone is in the middle of the celebrations and it’s so welcoming and fun in a locally
Holiday Stroll 2025
centric way. It doesn’t matter what the weather is, so many people come out because they want to celebrate the season.”
And for the first time, the stroll’s Christmas tree lighting will be officially christened as “The Brian Brennan Memorial Tree Lighting Ceremony” in memory of the late Brian Brennan, a beloved longtime Riverside resident, Realtor and coach who served as the lead organizer of the Holiday Stroll for 30 years and passed away suddenly this past February. For his service and generosity to the village, Brennan was even honored for his contributions in 2004 as Riverside’s Man of the Year.
“He single-handedly organized the Holiday Stroll for three decades, and to celebrate his le gacy and generosity to our village, the tree lighting will forever be named in his honor,” Re gan said.
Stroll magic officially starts at 5:30 p.m., when Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive via fire truck at Centennial Park (Longcommon Road and Forest Avenue), mingling with guests before helping village officials and local children illuminate the grand Christmas tree at 6 p.m. To commemorate 50 years of the event, members of the RiversideBrookfield High School poms squad will be carrying 50 colorful lanterns leading the fire truck and the Clauses to the park.
Immediately following the tree lighting, stick around the Centennial Plaza/East Avenue/North Longcommon Road corridor for an array of fun activities. Riverside Parks and Recreation will be hosting a sugar-filled make-and-take holiday treat station at the Water Tower; Riverside Plumbing and Cooling, 3 Longcommon Ave., will feature an open house with yummy cookie treats; Salon Elia, 5 Longcommon Ave., will have hummus cups, gluten-free cookies and face painting for kids; Rosie’s Tailor Shop and Cleaners, 9 N. Longcommon, will be home to Christmas stocking decorating; Riverside Masonic Lodge, 40 Forest Ave., will feature a model train display, popcorn, hot chocolate and open mic karaoke; and Riverside Garage, 18 East Ave., will also be featuring its fan-favorite model train display, petting zoo, pony rides, hot chocolate and s’mores around a warm fire pit (courtesy of Young Life and the Boy Scouts). For adults looking for some fun libations, BuckleDown Brewing will also be in the area selling craft beer out of their trailer
Riverside’s historic train station will be
bustling all evening long with entertainment and the second season of the Santa Holiday Artisan Market. Catch upbeat holiday dance performances by the RB poms team — which is headed to the National Dance Team Championships this winter — every 15 minutes from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join their workshops and perform with the squad in their next performance!
Vinette, Riverside’s new boutique wine shop located inside the train station, will offer wine samplings and tastings for adults looking to add a special something to the holiday celebrations
Back for the second year, the Santa Holiday Artisan Market will feature local vendors offering unique gift finds for everyone on your gift giving list, including hand stamped cards from Crafted by Sheila Gentile; felt and glass ornaments and paper house gifts by Gelse Tkalec; Riverside apparel and throw pillows by the Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity; handcrafted popcorn by Liz Carey of Carey Corn; one-of-a-kind hand-crafted handbags and small accessories by Mary Margaret Collins of Two Crazy Daisies; handmade artisan bath and body products including soy wax candles, shampoo bars and gift sets by Hilary Quinn of Hilary’s Soap Box; “Not Your Average Oatmeal” children’s books by Riversider Abby Regan; and “Olmsted’s Riverside: Stewardship Meets Innovation in a Landmark Village” book sales by author Cathy Jean Maloney. Don’t forget to grab a balloon art piece by Tommy Twister while you’re at the market too!
Over at the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, stop for a family photo and gifts with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enjoy children’s crafts, and purchase 2025 Riverside ornaments or a Christmas book at the book sale Next door at Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, sit back to the cheerful sounds of Christmas music from the Riverside School District 96 Fourth and Fifth Grade Choir from 6:30 to 7 p.m.; witness wild fun with an interactive bug and reptile presentation by The Reptile Den from 6 to 9 p.m.; and browse at two-dimensional snow globe art and water color paintings by District 96 fifthand seventh-grade students
Along the Riverside Road/Quincy Street corridor, visit Centre Physical Therapy, 1 Riverside Road, for free crafts, adult beverages and unique vendors; The Treehouse, 1 Riverside Road, for savory hot chocolate and a holiday dance party in partnership with Hauser Junior High School’s PTO; First American Bank, 15 Riverside Road, for popcorn and surprise prizes; Jeff ’s Auto Garage, 20 E. Quincy St., for live sugar glider demonstrations, Italian beef sandwiches,
dogs and classical winter music by Winter’s Night Orchestra; Metal Mites Inc., 36 E. Quincy St., for Santa’s workshop, colorful balloons and popcorn; the Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., for hot chocolate and bourbon apple cider (for the adults), a ceramics pop-up shop and to create your own luminary lantern to light up the Sculpture Garden; and the Parks and Rec Community Center, 43 E. Quincy St., for a photo op with everyone’s favorite holiday curmudgeon, The Grinch, and inclusive holiday crafting sponsored by the West Suburban Special Recreation Association (WSSRA).
As always, Riverside’s old-fashioned Christmas vibes will abound outdoors as pony cart rides will take place all evening long, with loading and unloading taking place this year in front of the Parks and Rec Community Center. Take advantage of the opportunity to celebrate the season like Riverside’s early residents did in the late 1800s! Over at Burlington Street South, jam out with ’50s and ’60s rock ‘n’ roll hits with Elvis tribute performances at Riverside Bank, 17 E. Burlington St.; listen to the Frozen Robins Carolers while enjoying scrumptious holiday treats at @Properties, 21 E. Burlington St.; enjoy a $5 brandy-spiked holiday eggnog at The Chew Chew, 33 E. Burlington St.; and
Holiday Stroll 2025
sample a variety of refreshments presented by Ride Riverside at Northwood Oaks In vestments, 37 E. Burlington St. Finally, across the street along Burlington Street North, enter La Barra Restaurant, 2 E. Burlington St., for live holiday music; be one of the first 250 visitors for tote bags with water, candy, calendars and holiday cheer at Mike Adelsbach State Farm Insurance, 18 E. Burlington St.; say hello to the clergy and parishioners of St. Paul VI Parish and St. Mary School, 40 E. Burlington St., while enjoying Christmas caroling and popcorn; and decorate ornament crafts, try your hand at holiday “carol-oke” and purchase ornaments with proceeds benefiting Lurie Children’s Hospital at Salon D’Amore, 52 E. Burlington St. In front of Village Center will be tents this year featuring a bake sale of homemade cookies and dog greats by Girl Scouts; light-up holiday novelties by Baird & War ner La Grange and Oak Park; education on recreational cannabis and free swag by Star Buds Dispensary; bags of coffee for sale by Sloan Coffee Roasting; raffles and hot chocolate with Next Level Wellness; sensory bins and kids crafts by Le Village Cowork/ Old Route 66; and an opportunity to meet local athletes and learn about joining local club soccer with the RBFC Soccer Club.
TODD BANNOR
A young boy views a Christmas window dur ing the Riverside Holiday Stroll last year
Robert Brixie, 90
Ow ned Quality Sleep Shop
Robert W. Brixie, 90, of Brookfield, die d on Nov. 27, 2025. Born on Sept. 16, 1935, he was a U.S. Navy veteran and for mer owner of Quality Slee p Shop in Brookfield for 30 years.
Bob was the husband of the late Leona Brixie (nee Kronk); the father of Robert T. (Diane) Brixie, Steve (Silke) Brixie, and the late David Brixie; grandfather of Me ghan, Jenna, Taylor, Finn and Svea Brixie; brother of Janis Hadwigger; and brother-in-law of Irene Szopinski, Susan Brixie and Pat Brixie
Visitation will be held on Dec. 5 from 4 to 8 p.m., with a funeral service at 7 p.m. at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield.
Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the f amily at www. JohnsonNosek.com.
The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from August 2025. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that info rmation was not provided by the clerk’s office. ADDRESS
BROOKFIELD
VANDE MERKT
Shared his emotions
from page 1
Sloan said of her father, who died Nov. 17 at age 91 in Burr Ridge. “We would be playing a game and he would always be over. Other coaches and teachers would come in, and he would be sitting there. There was a school program going on in the middle of the day, he was there.”
For Vande Merkt, it was great to be a Bulldog.
He grew up in Oak Park and attended Oak Park and River Forest High School, before moving on to Western Illinois University, where he played quarterback and set school records for total offense and passing yards in a single season. He was inducted into the Western Illinois hall of fame in 1984. He also earned a master’s de gree in education from Northern Illinois.
But perhaps his greatest joy was his three-plus decades at RB, and the people he impacted, like Otto Zeman.
Zeman entered the high school in 1961 and had Vande Merkt for physical education class at the bleary hour of 8 a.m. He went on to play football for Vande Merkt in 1963 and 1964; after graduating from colle ge, he returned as an assistant coach.
Oh, the memories. There was one game in the fall of 1970 where Riverside-Brookfield played a stout Hinsdale team. Down 7-0, the Bulldogs scored, and then Vande Merkt elected to go for it instead of kicking the extra point.
“Nobody knew whether we got it or not, but they called it a two-point conversion,” Zeman recalled via phone conversation from his winter home in Naples, Florida.
Game over. But the le g end was j ust beginning
“Amazingly in 1970, he and I were the only two coaches on the varsity,” Zeman said. The one thing, it made you learn how to coach everything. He taught me everything I knew about coaching.
“He was emotional with the kids, and that was one of his strengths.”
Here’s another story that illustrates Vande Merkt’s character: Larry Rocco interviewed for a football coaching position in the early 1980s. By that time, Zeman was the head football coach and may, or may not, have wanted to hire Rocco.
Vande Merkt overruled him, Rocco recalled, adding that he spent a year coaching the sophomore football team before bumping up to varsity, along with 15 years
as softball coach … where Zeman was his assistant. They became great friends.
Vande Merkt and Rocco were both Chicago Cubs fans, and last summer the pair would be on the phone almost every day, lamenting the for tunes of the northsiders.
“He’s going to be missed,” Ro cco said. “Just a wonderful gu y. I would neve r have b een at RB if he had n’ t told Otto to hire me.”
Vande Merkt’s namesake is the Bill Vande Merkt T hanksgiving Classic boys basketball tournament, which concluded Saturday with the Bulldogs dropping a 63-59 heartbreaker to T hornwood in the title g ame.
His family, including Sloan, was there for a moment of silence and highlights of Vande Merkt’s career pre-game, and then to hand out the championship trophy postgame. Normally, Vande Merkt came to the games to present the winning team with their trophy.
The tournament began in 2003 and was the brainchild of for mer boys’ basketball
coach Tom McCloskey, Rocco and Zeman.
“He was a great man,” said McCloskey, who preceded current coach Mike Reingruber. “He gave me my first head coaching job. The thing about Vandy that stood out, everybody loved to go into his office, close the door and talk to him. He had good stories and had good advice. I owe him a lot.”
Reingruber, who grew up Brookfield, has fond memories of Vande Merkt’s presence at the tour nament.
“When he would come to all the Vande Merkt Thanksgiving Classics, he would sit in the stands or of f to the sides,” Reingruber said. “He took a lot of pride in being able to give those championship trophies to the teams, no matter what team it was.”
Of course, in a long career at one school, there are bound to be tough times, too.
Vande Merkt’s late son, Scott, was his quarterback in the late 1970s, and when he passed, Vande Merkt coached his grandson, Billy, in travel basketball.
“Vandy was coaching his team and Billy was in seventh or eighth grade when I saw
him play,” Reingruber said. “He was so into coaching this group of seventh and eighth graders, he was leaving it all on the floor, putting his heart and soul into it.”
Heart and soul. That may be the finest thing Bill Vande Merkt left behind for RB. Vande Merkt is survived by his wife, Norma; his children: Robin Adamchik (Bill) and Tracy Sloan (Jim); his nine grandchildren: William (Billy) Vande Merkt (Stephanie), Alexandra (Alleigh) Vande Merkt, Jack Vande Merkt, Shelby Adamchik, Will Adamchik, McKenna Sloan, T.J. Sloan, Charlie Sloan, and Braeden Sloan; and his great granddaughter: Ava Lauren Vande Merkt.
He is preceded in death by his son, Scott William Vande Merkt (Jayne) and his siblings, Albert (Mary Ann), Joan Leakakos (Jim) and Richard (Betty).
In honor of Vande Merkt’s wishes, there will be no public services. The family is planning a public celebration of his life to be held in 2026 with more infor mation for thcoming
TODD BANNOR
Riverside Brook eld High School basketball team members give a moment of silence in memo ry of fo rmer Athletic Director Bill Vande Merkt before the team’s championship game against ornwood High School in the VandeMerkt anksgiving Classic on Saturday November 29, 2025.
Sports
Bulldogs return to nals of VandeMerkt Tournament Mercer,
By BILL STONE
Contributing
Re
Riverside Brookfield High School senior boys basketball player Ben Biskupic is a battler. He felt lousy well before Saturda championship game of the Bulld annual Bill VandeMerkt Tournament, but the only visible difference was a little more bench time to recuperate.
“It was a little difficult. I definitely duced my minutes a lot just being Biskupic said. “And having to tell [RBHS coach Mike Reingruber], I’ tell a coach to sub me out in four years.”
Biskupic still played 26 minutes and the final ones come crunch time. His rebounds helped the Bulld tention before losing to Thornwood 63-59. RBHS seniors Cameron Mercer and Colin Cimino were named to the all-tournament team. Over the four games, Mercer scored 90 points with four games in the 20s and 15 three-pointers. Cimino had 57 points and 30 rebounds.
Against Thornwood, Biskupic an offensive rebound and into the left corner to Cimino, whose threepointer closed the gap to 61-59 with 27.3 seconds left. After two missed Thornwood free throws, sophomore Noah VanTholen found Cimino again in the corner but that three was unsuccessful. Thornwood made two free throws with 4.1 seconds.
Cimino all-tournament for second-place RBHS
“We really battled back and got those good looks. It was just an unfortunate outcome,” Biskupic said. “To me, it feels like if I was 100 percent maybe it goes another way, but then again, maybe it doesn’t.”
Mercer (20 points with 4 threes), Cimino (18 points, 10 rebounds) and senior Liam Enright (11 points, 5 assists) and VanTholen (8 points, 5 rebounds) led the Bulldogs. They made 25 of 68 shots (37 percent), 7 of 26 from three-point range, and 2 of 6 free throws with all four misses in the fourth quarter. They only had five turnovers.
“I thought we left some points on the board with some missed layups, a couple of
open looks, missed free throws,” Reingruber said. “We had opportunities and when you’re trying to win a championship and beat a really good team, you’ve got to take advantage. Unfortunately, we didn’t when we needed to at pivotal times.”
T he Bulldogs reached the final for the second time in three seasons and were intent on winning for the first time since 2018, especially after the Nov. 17 passing of VandeMerkt, the longtime RBHS coach
and athletic director. In pool play, RBHS beat Fenwick 64-57, F riday, Hinsdale South 73-34, Nov. 26, and Golder Prep 8726, Nov. 25.
“We weren’ t able to win the whole thing but the next best thing is to participate in the championship,” Reingr uber said.
“That’s a good environment for our guys, a high-level g ame that’s only going to make us better in the long run. ”
T hornwood won VandeMerkt for the
pool, the T hunderbirds three-time defending champion ool play 80-75 in over-
hornwood led 33-26 at halftime, SatCimino had 16 points in the secthe Bulldogs’ 20 in the uarter along with two Mercer
“I think the difference was mainly between the first half and the second half eally shoot the ball that well. ball that well,” Mercer said. “We knew the situation [at halftime] ust had to bring up the It was just coming to g ether elieving in ourselves that ”
an mixing in zones with its usual man-to-man defense and closed to quarter but never took
an a little bit of a contain zone,” Mercer said. “We just put it in. We thought it would be useful.”
ame through multiple enwick, which still has usy as part of its Class ootball finalist. RBHS led 52-36 ourth quarter but Fenwick lose as 52-51 with 3:43 left and missed a one-and-one free throw. Earlier, s’ 36-21 halftime lead dwindled to 36-33 before ending the third quarter with a 16-3 run.
“We would have liked to put them away, but the way we responded to their r uns says a lot about our guys,” Reingr uber said. “It was good to be in those situations and learn from those situations.”
Biskupic had 15 points and nine points against Fenwick and 15 points and seven rebounds against Hinsdale South. VanTholen had 18 points with 2 threes against Golder
“[As a sophomore on varsity] Cam was on a team that has beaten Fenwick. I’ve never beaten Fenwick so I really wanted to get that one and I was working hard,” Biskupic said.
STEVE JOHNSTON
Cameron Mercer (5) puts up a hook shot over Fenw ick’s Luke Vonglukiat (12) dur ing the RBHS VandeMerkt Tournament, Nov. 28, in Riverside.
Bulldogs’ Phelan makes splash in gymnastics opener
All-state diver Krantz, Martinez, Trolley fuel strong outlook for Lion s
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Riverside Brookfield High School junior Paige Phelan wasted little time diving into her next sport. Fresh of f her best diving season, Phelan earned three top-10 medals in the RBHS girls gymnastics team’s annual season opener Nov. 26 at Hinsdale South’s eight-team Hornet Thanksgiving Invitational. RBHS (120.95 points) was sixth.
“It’s a quick switch around [from diving] but I do club gymnastics so I’ve been practicing this whole year so I felt prepared,” Phelan said. “I think it’s going to be really fun (this season) because we have a lot of new girls coming in. I think it’s just going to make the team dynamic a lot more fun.”
The Bulldogs certainly are young with Natalia Maruska their lone senior yet still fairly experienced. Phelan is a two-time individual sectional qualifier. Maruska and sophomores Cora Rosenfeld, Elly Dickerson, Ana Bacik, Aaliyah Noel, Renee Murray and Sophie Dickerson also are back from the re gional lineup, helping RBHS score a third-place 123.975. The Bulldogs had scored a season-high 127.11 to finish second at their first Upstate Eight Conference Meet and second in the final overall standings. At the Hornet Invite, RBHS coach Karyn Domzalski used 10 Bulldogs by adding freshmen Greta Zhukova and Cadence Henry-McGreal.
Phelan was fifth in all-around (33.40), tied for sixth on floor exercise (8.55), tied for seventh on balance beam (8.6) and had team-high scores on uneven bars (11th, 7.9), vault (8.35).
“I was pretty proud of my beam score and I’d say floor, too,” Phelan said. Last year, she qualified for sectionals in two events and was 23rd in all-around (33.20) and tied for 28th on floor (8.525). For her allaround, she scored 9.05 on vault by landing a tuck Tsukahara for the first time in competition. As a freshman, Phelan qualified for sectionals in all-around, beam and floor. At diving sectionals, Nov. 8, Phelan scored a personal-best 399.25 points for 11 dives to just miss the at-large state cut of 408.35. For gymnastics, she has quickly gone from a freshman all-arounder to one of the veterans.
26 to finish second at the Hornet Thanksgiving Invite to host Hinsdale South/Lemont co-op (135.35). Martinez (34.10) and Trolley (34.00) were second and third in all-around, just shy of the first-place 34.30. Senior Maggie Denja and freshman Kaitlyn Sullivan also made their varsity debuts at the invite.
“[I’m impressed by] our strong group of senior leaders. They’re really great. And then some new talent,” LTHS coach Brittany Milovanovic said. “Then just the level of everybody and having a lot of girls that are enthusiastic to lear n new skills and really compete for those varsity spots.”
Martinez also was second on vault (9.1), fifth on floor (8.7) and tied for eighth on uneven bars (8.1). Trolley also was fourth on beam (8.95), fifth on uneven bars (8.3) and tied for 10th on floor (8.45). Krantz was fourth on the uneven bars (8.35) and tied for 11th on beam (8.3) and Kosensky tied for eighth on vault (8.6).
Krantz hardly had a transition from reaching her first 16-diver state finals, Nov. 15 after being a state preliminary qualifier the previous two seasons. She took 15th (419.95 points for 11 dives).
“Being one of the older ones is kind of different from what I’m used to,” Phelan said. “I really want us to score well as a team. And maybe make my scores go up at sectionals. I’m just working a lot on form.”
At the Hornet Invite, Zhukova competed on three events, Maruska, Bacik, Elly Dickerson, Noel and Rosenfeld two each and Murray, Sophie Dickerson and Henry-McGreal one each.
LTHS girls gymnastics
Lyons Township junior Brynn Krantz battled back from a stress fracture in her ankle last season to somehow qualify for sectionals individually. The injury once again will affect this season and possibly end it prematurely. Krantz will undergo surgery to remove a bone chip Dec. 19. The date of her return is uncertain.
“It’s just been hurting really bad. I only have like a month of gymnastics and then I have to get surgery,” Krantz said. “I’m glad because I just want to get it healed. I’ve been dealing with it for so long. I just want to be pain-free.”
Krantz, senior Clare Byrne, sophomores Jomarys Santos Morales and Mia Kosensky and currently sidelined senior Katherine Tucker are the lone returnees from last year’s powerful postseason lineup. LTHS scored 138.275 at re gionals to miss the sixteam sectional team berth by 1.425 points. The Lions said goodbye to a great senior class and three individual state qualifiers (Emmy Bertucci, Dahlia Highland and Ava Hepokoski). However, two new allarounders, junior Katherine Trolley and freshman Emily Martinez, have made immediate impacts.
The Lions opened with 133.20 points Nov.
“The past two years I’ve really wanted to make state, day two. I was a little worried that certain dives would not go well but it all went well, I made it and I was so happy,” she said. “It’s honestly not that hard (to transition). I’ve been doing it for two years. I go straight to gymnastics. I’m really no different.”
Krantz was a sectional qualifier in allaround and all four events as a freshman as the Lions won their first re gional since 2015. After being sidelined last season since late December, she received medical clearance two days before re gionals and advanced on uneven bars (8.775).
Could she make another comeback? At the team scrimmage Nov. 21, she earned a 9.0 on uneven bars from an IHSA judge even with a conservative routine.
“Brynn being Brynn she was able to pull out a beautiful routine,” Milovanovic said. “It’s supposed to be a small, quick surgery so [her return] just de pends on the how it will f all with the postseason. [If not] she’s so encouraging to everybody She’s a great leader. She helps me, knows what I need constantly and she’s always willing to help.”
STEVE JOHNSTON
Paige Phelan competes on the balance beam dur ing the Hornet anksgiving Invite, Nov. 26, in Darien.
PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES, LLC Plaintiff vs. CARY ROSENTHAL, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NICK P. ANGELACOS, DECEASED; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGATEES OF NICK P. ANGELACOS, DECEASED; TAMISHA ANGELACOS; AIDAN ANGELACOS; ALEXANDER ANGELACOS; GABRIEL ANGELACOS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendant 25 CH 1547 CALENDAR
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on January 5, 2026, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell, in person, to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-21-204-119-0000. Commonly known as 10072 Drury Ln., Westchester, IL 60154. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than the mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 189.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file before bidding. IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER THE ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(c) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Lender Legal PLLC, 1800 Pembrook Drive, Suite 250, Orlando, Florida 32810. 407-730-4644. LLS14129-IL INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3277126
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD for the: Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2023 CONSOLIDATED ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION REPORT
Date of Publication: December 3, 2025 Village of Oak Park 123 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302 �708� 383�6400
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park Program Year 2024 Community Development Block Grant �CDBG� Draft Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report �CAPER� will be available for public review beginning Thursday, December 4, 2025. The CAPER is the Village’s annual CDBG report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development �HUD�. It will reflect the Program Year 2024 results, which began October 1, 2024, and ended September 30, 2025.
The Village of Oak Park invites comments on the CAPER. The
public comment period will begin December 4, 2025, and end December 19, 2025 at 5�00pm CST. The report will be available by visiting the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 and at: www.oak-park. us/cdbg
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any comments concerning the CAPER may be submitted in writing to the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, via: email to Vanessa Matheny, Community Service Administrator, at vmatheny@oak-park.us, or at the Public Hearing to be held from 3�30PM�4�30PM on December 19, 2025. Please send a request to the above referenced email address to attend the virtual hearing. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.
Published in Wednesday Journal, December 3, 2025
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: M25001094 on November 18, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of ROAMWELL, A TRAVEL COMPANY with the business located at: 221 OLMSTED ROAD, RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: ALLISON FAKHOURY 221 OLMSTED ROAD RIVERSIDE, IL 60546, USA
Published in RB Landmark
November 26, December 3, 10, 2025
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: M25001053 on November 4, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of GREY PHOENIX ART STUDIO with the business located at: 3730-32 PRAIRIE AVENUE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: THERESE ANGARONE 3238 RAYMOND AVE BROOKFIELD, IL 60513, USA
Published in RB Landmark November 19, 26, December 3, 2025
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.
The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.
This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.
GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD
Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission December 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM
NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue Illinois for the purpose of considering a request from Village Court Holdings LLC for a Special Use Permit under §62-25 to allow a Cannabis Dispensary in an existing C-4 Local Retail District at the property located at 9046 31st Street, Brookfield, Illinois 60513
Legal Description: LOT TWENTY FIVE (25), LOT TWENTY SIX (26) AND LOT TWENTY SEVEN (27) IN BLOCK EIGHT (8) IN BROOKFIELD HOMESITES, A RESUBDIVISION OF BARTLETT AND ROACH ADDITION TO GROSSDALE, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE SOUTHEST QUARTER 91/4) OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER (1/4) OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, (EXCEPTING THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING LOTS WHICH ARE NOT INCLUDED AND ARE NOT PART OF THIS RESUBDIVISION, LOTS 25 TO 37 BOTH INCLUSIVE AND THE WEST HALF (1//2) OF LOT 38 IN BLOICK TWO (2), LOTS 26 AND 27 IN BLOCK FOUR (4), LOTS 9, 10, 37, 38, 39, 40, 45,46,47 AND 48 IN BLOCK SIX (6) ACCORDING TO THE PLAT OF SAID BARTLETT HOMESITES FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OF TITLES, JUNE 30, 1922 AS DOCUMENT NO. 15744. (PIN 15-27-420-024-0000, 15-27420-025-0000, 15-27-420-0260000)
The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Libby Popovic, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, lpopovic@ brookfieldil.gov, or 708-485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 25-18. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025.
Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD
Notice of Public Hearing
Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission December 18, 2025, at 7:00 PM
NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday December 18, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue Illinois for the purpose of considering a request of Martin Sahagun on behalf of Taqueria El Grande for a variation from: Section 62.290 Required Parking Spaces to reduce the number of required parking spaces from 37 to 15.
in an existing “C4” Local Retail District for property located at 9132 31st Street, Brookfield, Illinois 60513
Legal Description: LOTS 30 THROUGH 33, BOTH INCLUSIVE IN BLOCK 7 IN BROOKFIELD HOMESITES, A RESUBDIVISION OF BARTLETT AND ROACH ADDITION TO GROSSDALE, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE SOIUTH ¼ OF THE SOUTHEATST ¼ OF SECTION 27, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, EXCEPTING THEREFROM THE FOLLOWING LOTS WHICH ARE INCLUDED AND ARE NOT A PART OF SAID RESUBDIVISION, LOTS 35 TO 37 BOTH INCLUSIVE AND THE WEST ½ OF LOT 38 IN BLOCK 2, LOTS 26 AND 27 IN BLOCK 4, LOTS 9, 10, 37 TO 40, 45 TO 48 IN BLOCK 6 IN COOK COUNTY, ILLIINOIS.
(PIN 15 – 27 – 419 – 047 - 0000)
The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments.
Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Libby Popovic, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513, lpopovic@ brookfieldil.gov, or 708-485-1113. Oral or written testimony may be given during the public hearing. The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Please reference PZC Case 25-17. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall. By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman. Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025.
Published in RB Landmark December 3, 2025
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