LandmarkAnswerBook_2026

2026 Answer Book

C ONTENTS

Interim Executive Director

Max Reinsdorf

Crowds of spectators lined the sidewalks during last year’s Riverside 4th of July parade.

Section Editor

Lacey Sikora

Contributing Reporters

Hector Cervantes, Jackie Pisano, Elizabeth Short, Risé Sanders-Weir

Development Manager

Mary Ellen Nelligan

Design/Production Manager

Andrew Mead

Editorial & Digital Design Lead

Javier Govea

Designers

Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Senior Audience Manager

Stacy Coleman

Contributing Photographers

Todd Bannor, Steve Johnston

Risé Sanders-Weir, Stella Brown

Jill Wagner

Marketing & Advertising Associate

Emma Cullnan

Senior Media Strategist

Lourdes Nicholls

Circulation Manager

Jill Wagner

Dan Haley RIVERSIDE/BROOKFIELD

Senior Advisor

On the cover: RBHS Bulldogs run out onto the field before their game against Elgin during an Upstate Eight Conference football game, Sept. 19, 2025 in Brookfield.

Photo by Steve Johnston

PHOTO BY JILL WAGNER

A healing ritual, customcrafted for your skin’s condition and spirit, using only botanical, non-toxic products

Detox, heal, and reconnect you with your body using custom techniques and botanical, nontoxic oils.

Firefighters respond to fire at 4011 Forest Ave. in Brookfield.

For information, contact:

Riverside Village Clerk: (708) 447-2700

Brookfield Village Manager: (708) 485-7344

For more detailed voter registration information and to find your local polling place, visit the Cook County Clerk’s website at https:// www.cookcountyclerkil.gov/.

U.S. Congressional Districts

Riverside and Brookfield fall within two U.S. Congressional Districts.

Parts of Brookfield and Riverside are part of Riverside Township Parts of North Riverside and Brookfield are part of Proviso Township A small portion of Riverside and the south half of Brookfield are part of Township of Lyons.

Emergency Numbers

General: 911

Illinois Poison Control: (800) 222-1222

Numbers

Riverside Police: (708) 447-2127 Fire: (708) 447-2123

Brookfield Police: (708) 485-8131 Fire: (708) 485-0076

Important Phone Numbers

Village and Township Offices

■ Riverside Village Hall: (708) 447-2700

■ Brookfield Village Hall: (708) 485-7344

■ Riverside Township: (708) 442-4400

Local School Districts

Riverside/North Riverside

■ Riverside School District 96: (708) 447-5007

Brookfield/La Grange Park

■ Brookfield-La Grange Park School District 95: (708) 485-0606

■ La Grange District 102: (708) 482-2400

■ Lyons School District 103: (708) 783-4100

■ Riverside Brookfield High School District 208: (708) 442-7500

PROVIDED BY JIM ADAMS

Riverside Garage

New R esident ’s

Post Offices

Brookfield

3731 Prairie Ave. (708) 485-0572

La Grange Park 701 E. 31st St (708) 354-4606

Riverside 45 E. Burlington St (708) 442-8207

Local Hospitals

UChicago Medicine

AdventHealth Hinsdale Hospital

120 N. Oak St., Hinsdale (630) 856-9000

UChicago Medicine

AT&T (Phone, Cable, Internet): (800) 331-0500

Xfinity (Phone, Cable, Internet): (800) 934-6489

Cook County State Agencies

Attorney General Consumer Protection Bureau: (800) 386-5438

Attorney General Senior Citizens Consumer Fraud Hotline: (800) 243-5377

Attorney General Military and Veterans’ Rights Hotline: (800) 382-3000

Cook County Clerk’s Office: Bureau of Vital Records: (312) 603-7790

AdventHealth LaGrange Memorial Hospital 5101 Willow Springs Road, La Grange (708) 245-9000

Loyola University Medical Center

2160 S. First Ave., Maywood (888) 584-7888

MacNeal Hospital

3249 S. Oak Park Ave., Berwyn (708) 783-9100

RUSH Oak Park Hospital 520 S. Maple Ave., Oak Park (708) 383-9300

West Suburban Medical Center

3 Erie St., Oak Park (708) 383-6200

Utilities

Nicor Gas (Natural Gas): (888) 642-6748

ComEd (Electric) (Oakbrook Terrace): (800) 334-7661

Cook County Department of Public Health: (708) 836-8600

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office: (312) 603-1880

Forest Preserve District of Cook County: (800) 870-3666

Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department: (708) 865-4700

Illinois Child Abuse Hotline (DCFS): (800) 252-2873

Illinois Department of Employment Security: (800) 244-5631

Illinois Department of Human Services: (800) 843-6154

Illinois Department of Revenue: (800) 732-8866

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): (217) 782-3397

U.S. Post Office Customer Service: (800) 275-8777

Brookfield is ‘second home’ for Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla

Kuruvilla says his job has given him a special appreciation for the Brookfield community

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

Brookfield is the “second home” of Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla.

“I didn’t grow up and I don’t live in Brookfield,” said Kuruvilla, “But of all the communities, this is the place that feels like home.”

This summer will mark Kuruvilla’s 20th year of working at the Brookfield Police Department. His entire career has been based in Brookfield, where he has worked as an officer, sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief, and chief since 2021.

Growing up, Kuruvilla says he was enamored with the police. He saw there was good and bad in the world and wanted to be a police officer to work for good. As a first-generation American born to Indian immigrants, Kuruvilla did not see many people who looked like him in law enforcement.

Kuruvilla graduated from Stevenson High School and received his bachelor’s and master’s in social work from University of Illinois–Chicago Six weeks after graduating with his master’s degree, he was offered the job in Brookfield.

Over time, Kuruvilla said he learned that the simple “good and bad” view of the world was not always true. However, he says he continues to see his educational and professional work as giving him the opportunity to help people. Keeping the community safe remains the priority of Kuruvilla and his department. “My team does great work, he said, “and we’re supported by a great community.”

Throughout his career, Kuruvilla said he has worked to reframe the traditional law enforcement mindset and has advocated for crisis intervention,

de-escalation, and more holistic approaches to people who commit crimes while experiencing mental health crises.

Outside of work, Kuruvilla is a proud husband and father His family spends free time and holidays in Brookfield, and his job means he is always at community events. Every year, he attends Monsters on Main, Music on Grand, the July 4 parade, Farmers’ Markets, and other events. Kuruvilla said that seeing the spirit of the village through his job has endeared his heart to the Brookfield community.

GETTING TO KNOW

Brookfield Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla

PROVIDED

Matthew Dubik steps up as interim fire chief

The former battalion chief is excited to take on his new responsibilities

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

When Matthew Dubik, interim Fire Chief in Brookfield, was a child, his dad worked as a police officer in Bridgeview. He also worked part-time as a security guard across the street from the fire department. When work wasn’t busy, Dubik and his dad would cross the street and talk to the firemen.

PROVIDED

“I just thought it was the coolest job in the world, being a fireman,” said Dubik. Dubik’s father would ask him, “Are you sure you don’t want to be a policeman?” But Dubik was confident in his plans: “I want to be a fireman.”

Dubik’s first full-time job after he graduated from paramedic school at 19 was with the Brookfield Fire Department. He began working as a firefighterparamedic in 2002, was promoted to lieutenant in 2017, and became a battalion chief in 2021. Dubik has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Fire Service Administration and a master’s degree from the University of Illinois in Public Administration.

Spending most of his career in Brookfield has been “the best experience,” said Dubik. “We like to see the same people over and over again…We see the growth of the community Over such a long time, it’s nice to see everybody’s progression, whether it’s employees in the fire department, the employees at the hall, the small business owners. Having the organizational knowledge over time is good for the organization and the residents.”

On Jan. 5, Dubik became interim fire chief. One of the biggest adjustments for Dubik and his family (he has a wife and two children) has been adjusting to the Monday through Friday schedule. Since he started working in Brookfield in 2002, Dubik has worked a schedule of one day on and two days off.

Dubik said he is treating his time in the position as an “audition.” Taking on the administrative tasks and responsibilities that make the department run smoothly, Dubik said he now has the opportunity to make the organization what he thinks it should be.

“You get to make those policies and procedures that guide the organization in the direction you want it to, to ultimately provide what you believe to be the best service to the citizens,” he said. “I’m most excited to work with the members of the department on my vision, and then bring that to fruition.”

The best part of taking on this new role, said Dubik, is that “the village manager trusts [me] to take over the organization, and take care of the fire department, which translates into taking care of the village residents.”

GETTING TO KNOW

Brookfield Interim Fire Chief Matthew Dubik

Government

VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Village Hall

8820 Brookfield Ave. (708) 485-7344

brookfieldil.gov

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Saturday & Sunday Brookfield operates under a village manager form of government. The village manager is appointed by the board of trustees and serves as the administrative head of the government, responsible for administration of all departments. The village president, clerk and six trustees are elected by residents. The board meets the 2nd and 4th Monday each month at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall.

Village President

Michael Garvey mgarvey@brookfieldil.gov

Village Trustees

Nicole Gilhooley

Jennifer Hendricks

Kathryn S. Kaluzny

Kit P. Ketchmark

Julie Narimatsu

Kyle T. Whitehead

Village Clerk

Michael G. Meléndez mmelendez@brookfieldil.gov

Village Manager

Timothy C. Wiberg twiberg@brookfieldil.gov

Chief of Police

Michael Kuruvilla (708) 485-1777

mkuruvilla@brookfieldil.gov

Village Clerk Emily Stenzel swears in newly elected

village board on May 1, 2025.

Fire Chief

Jim Adams jadams@brookfieldil.gov (708) 485-0076

Director of Community Development

Libby Popovic (708) 485-1113 permits@brookfieldil.gov

Director of Parks and Recreation

Luke Gundersen (708) 485-1474 brookfield@rectrac.com

Director of Public Works (708) 485-2540 publicworks@brookfieldil. gov

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE

Village

Offices

27 Riverside Road (708) 447-2700 riverside.il.us

Hours: Mon. thru Fri., 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Riverside is a non-home rule municipality. A president and six-member board of trustees serve the village. The board appoints a manager, who is responsible for the administration of the village. The Board of Trustees meets at 7 p.m. the 1st and 3rd Thursday each month in the Village Hall auditorium.

Village President

Douglas Pollock (708) 447-2700 x216

dpollock@riverside.il.us

Board of Trustees

Cristin Evans

Joseph Fitzgerald

Alexander Gallegos

Elizabeth Kos

Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga Jill Mateo

Village Manager

Jessica Frances (708) 442-2700 x233 jfrances@riverside.il.us

Special Assistant to Administration and Finance

Emily Stenzel (708) 447-2700

estenzel@riverside.il.us

Public Works Director

Dan Tabb (708) 442-3590

dtabb@riverside.il.us

Trustee Joseph Fitzgerald to the Riverside

STELLA BROWN

Government

Director of Public Safety

Matthew Buckley (708) 447-2700 x306 mbuckley@riverside.il.us

Community

Development Director

Anne Cyran (708) 447-1241 acyran@riverside.il.us

Parks & Recreation

Director

Ron Malchiodi rmalchiodi@riverside.il.us (708) 442-7025 x221

TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT

Pr oviso Township

Proviso Township includes Brookfield north of South-

view Avenue and west of Salt Creek.

Office of the Supervisor

4565 W. Harrison St., Hillside (708) 449-4300 provisotownship.com

Supervisor

Michael A. Corrigan supervisor@provisotownship.illinois.gov

Clerk

Anthony “Tony” Williams

Assessor

Steven J. Zawaski

Trustees

Evelyn Chavez

Joseph Christopher

Tommy Olson

Gay F. Chase

Riverside Township

Riverside Township includes all of Riverside north of 39th Street, including unincorporated Riverside Lawn and the Hollywood section of Brookfield.

Riverside Town Hall 27 Riverside Road, Riverside (708) 442-4400 riversidetownship.org

Supervisor

Vera A. Wilt supervisor@riversidetownship. org

Clerk

Jay Reyes clerk@riversidetownship.org

Assessor

Mary Jo Miller assessor@riversidetownship.org

Riverside Township

Trustees

Mary Rob Clarke

Timothy Heilenbach

Kelly Navarro

Matthew J. Decosola

COOK COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Cook County Board

Toni Preckwinkle, president 118 Clark St., Chicago, IL 60602 (312) 603-6400

cookcountyil.gov info@tonipreckwinkle.org

Cook County

Commissioner,16th District

Frank J. Aguilar

District Office 7833 Ogden Ave., Lyons (708) 447-5461

commissionerfrankjaguilar.com

27 Riverside Road, Riverside | (708) 442-4400 | www.riversidetownship.org

Monday / Wednesday / Friday Thursdays – 12:30 pm Noon – 1:00 pm 1st Floor 2nd Floor Auditorium Services

Community Resource Center Food Pantry

Monday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Nurse’s Closet Tuesday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm Notary Services Wednesday: 9:00 am – 1:00 pm General Assistance

Thursday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Emergency Assistance Temporary Handicap Placards (708) 853-9578 Assessor Services (708) 447-7700 crc@riversidetownship.org

Provides referrals for: Aging Services, Benefits Counseling, Intellectual & Vera A. Wilt, Supervisor Developmental Disability Services, Mental Health Jay Reyes, Clerk | Mary Jo Miller, Assessor Services, and Substance Abuse Services Trustees | Mary Rob Clarke, Timothy Heilenbach, Matthew J. Decosola, Kelly Navarro

Government

STATE GOVERNMENT

Stat e R epr esentatives

House District 2

Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez (D-Cicero) repehernandez@yahoo.com

District Office 6117 W. Cermak Road, Cicero, IL 60804 (708) 222-5240

Springfield Office

109 Capitol Building Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-8173

House District 8

La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) lashawnkford.com

District Office 5500 W. Madison Street, Chicago, IL 60644 (773) 750-0866

Springfield Office 239-E Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-5962

House District 21

Abdelnasser Rashid (D-Chicago) office@reprashid.com reprashid.com

District Office 6901 W. Cermak Road, Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 956-7563

Springfield Office 242-A Stratton Office Building, Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-5280

State Senators

Senate District 1 Javier L. Cervantes (D-Chicago) senator.jcervantes@gmail. com senatorcervantes.com

Congressman Danny Davis with State Representative LaShawn Ford and Congressman Davis’s wife Vera (at right) at a press conference on July 31, 2025.

Government

District Office

6729 Stanley Ave. 1st Floor, Suite A Berwyn, IL 60402 (773) 869-9050

Springfield Office

Stratton Office Building, Section F, Room K Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-9415

Senate District 4

Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) senatorlightford.com

District Office

4415 W. Harrison St., Suite 550, Hillside, IL 60162 (708) 632-4500

Springfield Office

309-H Capitol Building, Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-8505

Senate District 11

Mike Porfirio (D-Bridgeview) info@senatorporfirio.com senatorporfirio.com

District Office

6215 West 79th Street, Suite 1A Burbank, IL 60459 (708) 430-2510

Springfield Office

Stratton Office Building Section F, Room L, Springfield, IL 62706 (217) 782-0054

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

United States R epresentatives

4th Congressional District

All of Riverside, all of Brookfield

Jesus ‘Chuy’ Garcia (D-Chicago) chuygarcia.house.gov

4376 S. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60632 (773) 475-0833

125 N. 19th Ave, Suite A Melrose Park, IL 60160 (773) 342-0774

2334 House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-8203

7th Congressional District

North Riverside west of 9th Avenue.

Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago) davis.house.gov

2815 W. 5th Ave., Chicago IL 60612 (773) 533-7520

2159 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-5006

U .S. Senators

Richard Durbin (D-Springfield) durbin.senate.gov

230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 3892, Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 353-4952

711 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-2152

Tammy Duckworth (D-Hoffman Estates) duckworth.senate.gov

230 S. Dearborn St., Suite 3900, Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 886-3506

524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 (202) 224-2854

produce a week, 100 pounds of meat a day and millions of crick and mealworms every year

Dr. Jennifer Watts, Brookfield Zoo’s Director of Nutrition, oversees the diets of hundr of animals, working closely with animal care specialists to mak sure every resident, from lions to orangutans gets the right food in the right amounts. When asked how much food the zoo feeds its animals each year and which types make up the largest portions, she responded with the largest portion of food the zoo uses is produce.

our African painted dog puppies. There are 10 of them, so they eat quite a lot.

And then there’s fish as well— we go through roughly 50 to 60 pounds a day,” Watts said.

“The next largest food items would be meat or fish. For meat, we go through about 100 pounds a day for all of our big cats, especially now that we have

Bears are among the zoo’s biggest eaters, particularly during their hyperphagic season in July and August when they prepare for torpor During this time, they can consume up to 30 pounds of lettuce a day to stay full while keeping their calorie intake in check. The diet is carefully managed to ensure the bears get enough food without overeating.

“At that point, they can eat

up to 30 pounds of lettuce a day That’s to make sure they are full while not consuming too many calories. Most of their nutrition comes from bear chow, a complete and formulated diet that provides all the vitamins and minerals they need. The lettuce is just to help fill them up Watts said.Most animals at the zoo do not drastically change their eating habits with the seasons, though some adjustments are made. Bears, both polar and brown, show significant seasonal changes, and their diets are carefully modified to signal the start of torpor. “For hay, we go through about 3,000 bales a year and each bale weighs around 50 pounds, which adds up to roughly 150,000 pounds. We also use about 160,000 pounds of fish annually. As for bananas, surprisingly, we don’t go through as many as people think. I sometimes get phone calls asking if we have a trailer truck full of bananas, but that’s not the case,” Watts said. The zoo also feeds a large number of insects, as many birds and mammals are insectivorous at some point in their lives. Each year, the zoo goes through roughly 4 million crickets and about 3 million mealworms.

2,000 lbs produce/week

150,000 lbs hay/year

160,000 lbs fish/year

4 million crickets/year

3 million mealworms/year

The Language and Music School

Established in Oak Park in 1994

Private lessons and tutoring for all ages, taught by experienced educators and professional artists in a historic Oak Park setting.

We offer:

• Music lessons: piano, guitar, drums, voice, strings, winds, and more

• World languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and more

• Academic tutoring: Math, Language Arts, SAT/ACT preparation

• Flexible scheduling for children, teens, and adults

The school is also home to a K–12 microschool, offering a highly individualized educational environment, as featured on WGN Chicago’s Very Best

������ lmschool��com

The staying power of printed word

Nearly a century later, RB’s student newspaper remains popular among students and staff

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

In today’s digital age where clickbait headlines are king and social media content reigns supreme, it would almost seem unbelievable to argue that print journalism holds any relevance for teenagers in 2026.

But at Riverside Brookfield High School, the students involved with long-time student newspaper, The Clarion, would beg to differ

In publication for 94 years, The Clarion’s presence at RB remains as strong as ever With the student-led publication boast-

BY

ing not only upwards of five print issues, but regular updates to its website, RB’ student journalists continue to prove the staying power of quality journalism.

For English teacher and Clarion advisor Marc Helgeson, The Clarion’s largest point of pride is that the paper is 100 per student-run.

“I have been surprised many times over that kids still value print journalism, and the students in this course take gr of the paper,” said Helgeson, who has served as the newspaper’s advisor for 11 years. “The expectation is that kids are in

THE CLARION, continued on page 16

RBHS students reading The Clarion newspaper.

PHOTOS

JACKIE PISANO

Marc Helgeson speaking to a student about best journalism practices.

THE CLARION

Continued from page 16

class learning the basics of journalism, but they also have many responsibilities outside of class, like doing interviews and taking photographs.”

At RB, The Clarion is operated as a hybrid course/club, where students sign up for a full-year of the class and meet on a daily basis, but are often found in the newsroom before school or after school taking care of business.

At the helm of The Clarion this academic year are seniors Aryan Hernandez, of Brookfield, and Chloe Borkowicz, of La Grange Park. Hernandez, who serves as editor-in-chief, and Borkowicz, who is the general managing editor Both students have been involved with the paper since freshman year

What they love most about The Clarion is that the class is a living lab — a feature they find distinctive from other programs at RB. Both Hernandez and Borkowicz

agree with The Clarion, there is an overwhelming sense of pride and ownership over the paper

“I think The Clarion is a really special class — it’s definitely a comfort class for me,” Borkowicz explained. “There’s no other class that I go into where I just know that I can be completely myself, and I feel like it’s rare to find that in high school. Whatever source of creativity you have, it can be met here.”

Hernandez says what he enjoys most about The Clarion is the people and the environment they create.

“We get to do everything how we want to do it and how we see fit,” he said. “Hard copy layout is my favorite part of the year because we’re all laughing, talking and working together. There’s a place for everyone here, and it’s just a really special environment for a lot of us.”

egarding the relevance of print journalism at the school, both Borkowicz and Hernandez agree that at RB, there remains a yearning for local school news and unique peer perspectives on national and global issues.

“I think people really appreciate that in the newspaper, we have every voice shared, whether we feature a specific student or teacher, or in our ‘reacts’ section, where we interview a bunch of students on a specific topic,” Borkowicz said. “I think that for students, reading articles written by their peers is very accessible.”

Hernandez says students and staff alike remain excited and engaged with The

Borkowicz (right) working with a peer to develop publication deadlines.

Clarion as the staff continually finds ways to make reporting on news exciting.

“A big part of making sure we feature as many types of stories as we can is we have discussions where the entire class is focused on giving their ideas,” he said. “Everyone here knows there is no such thing as a bad article idea. We also really push opinion pieces, including food reviews, and light-hearted stories that really stick with people.”

As for the forecast of The Clarion’s future presence at RB, Hernandez and Borkowicz don’t foresee the paper losing its relevance. In their opinion, the demand for quality news on campus isn’t going away

“Not everyone is going to want a physical newspaper, but RB is a really supportive community and people really like to see what we do,” Hernandez said. “Actually having tangible hard copies is a lot more personal and human than going online. The future is unpredictable, but I think there’s always still the human part of the hard copies that people enjoy.”

Borkowicz adds that alongside student demand is

staff appreciation of campus journalism.

“Our teachers really enjoy the print edition too — I hear a lot of teachers ask when the next hard copy is coming out,” she said. “We also bring them out into the community at libraries and grocery stores, and they tend to go pretty quickly, so I think that there’s definitely positive reactions to our physical copies.”

In leading the students, Helgeson says what he finds the most value in is the true sense of teamwork and camaraderie the students have all year long.

“I love watching the students start as freshmen and matriculate up through the ranks as editors, and watching them start from developing ideas, then move to distribution of that idea is invaluable,” Helgeson said. “It’s unbelievable to watch them grow through that process and watch them communicate not just between themselves, but to the outside world. And, I value the freedom that Riverside Brookfield gives us to write whatever we think we need to report on — they trust us.”

Hernandez (far right) speaking to peers over topics to cover in The Clarion.

Working Together Toward Health Wellness

LGBTQ+

We believe there is a bene t to you by our collaborating with health care partners to make the therapy experience for adults, children, couples, and families happen in innovative ways. We see integrative therapy and counseling as a way to explore, develop, and enrich the self for you and your family.

Personality

Adjustment

Schools

BrookfieldLaGr ange P School District 95

Administrative Office

3724 Prairie Ave., Brookfi (708) 485-0606 district95.org

Superintendent

Ryan Evans

Board of Education

Katie Mulcrone

Jackie Jordan

Elizabeth Loerop

Kristin Reingruber

Chris Camacho

Rachel Novak

Rebecca Schreiber

Brook Park Elementary School

1214 Raymond Ave., LaGrange Park (708) 354-3740

Grades: K-5

Kelly King, K-2 Principal kking@district95.org

Michael Sorensen, Grades: 3-5 Principal msorensen@district95.org

S.E. Gross Middle School

3524 Maple Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-0600

Grades: 6-8

Lauren Colberg, Principal

Dave Parolin, Assistant Principal

Riverside School District 96

3340 S Harlem Ave., Riverside (708) 447-5007 district96.org

Superintendent

Martha Ryan-Toye ryan-toyem@district96.org

Board of Education

Wesley Muirheid

Stephanie Basanez Gunn

David Barsotti

Salina Claps

Dan Hunt

Marlowe Djuric Kachlic

Matt Olech

A.F. Ames Elementary School

86 Southcote Road, Riverside (708) 447-0759

Grades: PreK-5

Todd Gierman, Principal giermant@district96.org

Blythe Park Elementary

School

735 Leesley Road., Riverside (708) 447-2168

Grades: PreK-5

Casimira Gorman, Principal gormanc@district96.org

Central

Elementary School

61 Woodside Road, Riverside (708) 447-1106

Grades: K-5

Pete Gatz, Principal gatzp@district96.org

Hollywood

Elementary School

3423 Hollywood Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-7630

Grades:PreK-5

Dr. Erin Dwyer, Principal

L.J. Hauser Junior High School

65 Woodside Road, Riverside (708) 447-3896

Grades: 6-8

Chris Harvalis, Principal

Katherine Kayastha, Assistant Principal

La Gr ange District 102

Administrative Office

333 N. Park Road, La Grange Park (708) 482-2400

dist102.k12.il.us

Hollywood School students during the Halloween Parade on October 31, 2025.

TODD BANNOR

Schools

Superintendent

Christopher Covino

covinoch@dist102.k12.il.us

Board of Education

Tiz Lambert

Molly Knott

Katy McQuiston

Cathy Murphy

Brian Grogan

Joanna Lago

Erik Toman

Congress Park School

9311 Shields Ave., Brookfield (708) 215-6007

Grades: K-6

Catherine Rodriguez, Principal Catie Leon, Assistant Principal

Park Junior High School

325 N. Park Road, La Grange Park

(708) 482-2500

Grades: 7-8

Jerome Green, Principal greenje@dist102.k12.il.us

Tyler Finley, Assistant Principal campbellly@dist102.k12.il.us

L yons School District 103

Administrative Office

4100 Joliet Ave., Lyons (708) 783-4100 sd103.com

Superintendent

Kristopher Rivera riverak@lyons103.org

Board of Education

Jorge Torres Winifred Rodrigez

Sara Andreas

Olivia Quintero

Mario Ramirez

Slagiana Aleksikj

Nancy Miller

Lincoln

Elementary School 4300 Grove Ave., Brookfield (708) 783-4600

Grades: PreK-5

Theresa Silva, Principal silvat@lyons103.org

Emelia Zarenana, Assistant Principal zarenanae@lyons103.org

George Washington Middle School

8101 Ogden Ave., Lyons (708) 783-4200

Grades: 6-8

Christopher Cybulski, Principal cybulskic@lyons103.org

Ana Verduzco, Assistant Principal verduzcoa@lyons103.org

L yons Township High School District 204

Administration Office

100 S. Brainard Ave., La Grange (708) 579-6300 www.lths.net

Superintendent

Brian Waterman bwaterman@lths.net

Principal

Jennifer Tyrrell jtyrrell@lths.net

Schools

Board of Education

Tim Albores

Jill Beda Daniels

Kari Dillon

Gioia Giannotti Frye

Christine Kozelka Campbell

Shawn Kennedy

Elias Lopez

Lyons Township High School-North Campus

100 S. Brainard Ave., La Grange (708) 579-6300

Lyons Township High School-South Campus

4900 S. Willow Springs Road, Western Springs (708) 579-6500

Riverside Br ookfield High School District 208

Riverside Brookfield High School

160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside (708) 442-7500 rbhs208.net

Superintendent

Kevin Skinkis

skinkisk@rbhs208.net

Assistant Superintendent

Kristin Smetana smetanak@rbhs208.net

Principal

Hector Freytas freytash@rbhs208.net

Board of Education

Deanna Zalas

Lorena Gasca

William Durkin

Riverside-Brookfield’s Maria Ellis swims the 100-Yard Butterfly during the Hinsdale Central Girls Sectional swim meet in 2025.

Laura Hruska

Carolyn Lach

Nicholas Novak

Nicholas Caputo

Patrick Williams

P

rivate Elementary Schools and Pr eschools

Building Blocks Preschool

St Paul’s Church

60 Akenside Road, Riverside (708) 447-3373

Ages: 3 to 5 years

Ann Jablonski, Executive Director

Montessori Children’s Community

3424 Maple Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-9542

montessori-cc.com

Ages: 3 to 6 years old

St. Mary School

97 Herrick Road, Riverside (708) 442-5747

stmaryschoolriverside.org

Grades: PreK-8

Nicole Nolazco, Principal principal@stmaryriverside.org

St. Paul’s Lutheran School

9035 Grant Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-0650

Grades: K-8

Dave Hall, Headmaster spbrookfield.org

Tallgrass Sudbury School

100 6th Ave., La Grange (708) 328-8546

Melissa Bradford, Board President tallgrasssudbury.org

Ages: 5 to 19

P rivate High Schools

Fenwick High School

505 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park (708) 386-0127 fenwickfriars.com

Otto Rutt, President orutt@fenwickfriars.com

John Finan, Principal jfinan@fenwickfriars.com

Nazareth Academy

1209 W. Ogden Ave., La Grange Park (708) 354-0061

nazarethacademy.com

Deborah Vondrasek Tracy, President dtracy@nazarethacademy.com

Therese Uphues Hawkins, Principal thawkins@nazarethacademy.com

Trinity High School

7574 Division St., River Forest (708) 771-8383

trinityhs.org

Dr. Tina Taylor-Ritzler, President tritzler@trinityhs.org

Amy Gallie, Principal agallie@trinityhs.org

C ommunity C olleges

College of DuPage

425 Fawell Boulevard, Glen Ellyn (630) 942-2800 cod.edu

Dr Muddassir Siddiqi, President officeofthepresident@cod.edu

Triton College

2000 5th Ave., River Grove (708) 456-0300 triton.edu

Mary-Rita Moore, President president@triton.edu

STEVE JOHNSTON

GETTING TO KNOW

District 96 superintendent reflects on a decade of leadership

Ryan-Toye reflects on prioritizing the district community thr her tenur

By HECTOR CERV Contributing Reporter

Reflecting on her decade-long career in District 96, Superintendent of Schools Martha Ryan-Toye said she is most proud of putting students, families, and staff at the center of everything the district does. She joined District 96 in 2016 and has led the district with a steady hand, with her administrative team largely remaining consistent over the years.

Ryan-Toye said this chapter of her career is defined by the honor of serving as a superintendent and continuing a long path in district leadership She reflected on her 21 years in River Forest District 90, where much of her career was shaped by 16 years as a special education director and additional time in district office roles focused on curriculum and professional development.

Earlier in her career, she also served as a principal and assistant principal in schools supporting students with autism and serious emotional needs.

“Being a superintendent has really been the most exciting part of my career It’s the opportunity to connect all the puzzle pieces, as I like to say, in terms of what makes a great school district. Children always need to be at the center, but having the trust of the community, the Board of Education and the team of educators is how the work truly gets done,” Ryan-Toye. A strong, consistent leadership team was key to improving outcomes for students, she said, adding

that her priority was developing leaders to provide lasting stability in District 96.

“Our team is changing a bit and our new leaders are really great. Change is going to occur, but being able to support people and manage that change thoughtfully and carefully is critical. Even with the change, I believe the consistency is still here,” RyanToye said.

Ryan-Toye found it difficult to point to a single accomplishment, but the alignment and stability of the board and leadership team stand out as especially meaningful to her.. The implementation of full-day kindergarten is another point of pride, requiring significant facilities and staffing changes to meet the needs of the community and educators. Navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic is also a defining achievement.

“In all of those efforts, we really put our students and families at the center. Even during the pandemic, we focused on our students, families, and staff. Figuring out how to protect everyone while still providing a successful education for children,” Ryan-Toye said.

Ryan-Toye plans to retire from her role as superintendent in 2027, concluding over a decade of leadership in District 96.

Martha Ryan-Toye

Clubs

BROOKFIELD

Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 38

Brookfield, (708) 268-8080

brookfieldchamber.net

The Brookfi of Commer to the continued growth and revitalization of our business districts, as well as the enhancements of the quality of life for both businesses and residents in Br

Brookfield Elks

Lodge #1510

9022 31st St., Br (708) 387-1510

Elks Lodges bring so much more to their communities than just a building, golf course or pool. hey are places where neighbors come together, families share meals, and children grow up.

Brookfield Garden Club

brookfieldgardenclub.weebly.com

The Brookfield Garden Club meets on the last Saturday of the month at 10 a.m., January through October. Check the website for meeting locations.

Brookfield Historical Society

8820-1/2 Brookfield Ave. (708) 485-7344

brookfieldilhistory.org

Preserving the old Prairie Avenue (Grossdale) railroad station is the society’s number one goal. The station also serves as a

museum about Brookfield and the surrounding area. Tours are available with prior arrangement.

Rotary Club of Brookfield-Riverside

9210 Broadway Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-3439

brookfieldriverside.rotary6450.org Meets every Tuesday at 8 a.m. at The Compassion Factory Art Gallery & Studio, 9210 Broadway Ave.

Brookfield Women’s Club

brookfieldwomensclub@ gmail.com brookfieldwomensclub.com

The Brookfield Women’s Club is devoted to improving area communities with compassion and enthusiasm and supporting area non-forprofit organizations. Their objective is to offer civic, moral and social helpfulness by providing volunteer opportunities for women to better their community and networking opportunities for common goals and mutual interests.

Brookfield Aging Well Team

brookfieldagingwell@gmail.com www.facebook.com/ brookfieldagingwell/

Brookfield’s neighborhood program of Aging Care Connections and Village of Brookfield’s Parks and Recreation Commission provides a Senior Resource Guide and creates events for seniors throughout the year.

Cycle Brookfield

cyclebrookfield.com

Cycle Brookfield is a 501c3 not-for-profit advocacy group with a mission to make cycling, walking and driving safe and enjoyable for all. The group encourages all cyclists to wear helmets and light up their bikes.

Pro bikers during the annual Cycle Brookfield Criterium races on July 23, 2025.

STELLA BROWN

Clubs

Hollywood Citizens Association

3435 Hollywood Ave, Brookfield (708) 387-9113 hollywoodcitizensassociation.org/

Meetings are at 7 p.m. at the Hollywood Community House on the second Monday of every month, excluding December, July and August. The group works to maintain and preserve the Hollywood Community House and support Hollywood Elementary School and the Hollywood neighborhood.

Sokol Spirit

3909 Prairie Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-9663 sokolspirit.org

Sokol offers physical training in gymnastics and other athletics, as well as providing Czech cultural and family oriented activities. Visit their website for information and a calendar of events. Their hall is also available for rent.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, Joshua W. Harris Memorial Post #2868

Shawn Ligeikis, Commander 8844 Ogden Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-9670 facebook.com/Brookfield.VFW.2868

Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.

RIVERSIDE

American Association of University Women

Diane Balin, President riverside-il.aauw.net

The Riverside Branch of the AAUW sponsors programs,

Brookfield/Riverside

lectures, community events and activities, cultivating the intellectual and personal development of women and girls. New members welcome. See website for more information.

Frederick Law Olmsted Society

Dan Murphy, president PO Box 65 Riverside, Illinois 60546

Olmsteadsociety.org

The Frederick Law Olmsted Society is dedicated to sustaining Olmsted’s vision for Riverside for generations to come. Its members are guided by his concern for humanity, nature, sense of community and the innovative and thoughtful essence of his work. The Olmsted Society invites residents and visitors to join in learning, protecting the environment, and preserving Riverside’s cultural and physical heritage.

Lyric Opera of Chicago, Riverside Chapter

lyricopera.org/chapters

Learn more about opera within the community and support the Lyric Opera of Chicago Runs an annual bridge marathon to benefit the Lyric. New members welcome.

Riverside Masonic Lodge #862

Riverside Masonic Temple, 40 Forest Ave. (708) 447-9628 facebook.com/riverside862 afam/ 862-il.ourlodgepage.com/ Meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m.

Riverside Arts Center

Ann Filmer, Executive Director 32 E. Quincy St. (708) 442-6400 riversideartscenter.com

The RAC provides Riverside and surrounding communities with art classes, exhibitions and special events. Their clay studio features one of the largest kilns in the state. The Freeark Contemporary Art Gallery offers frequently changing exhibits.

Riverside Chamber of Commerce (708) 288-9992 www.facebook.com/Riverside ChamberofCommerce/ chamberriverside@gmail.com Bringing local businesses together for networking.

Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity

27 Riverside Rd. (708) 447-5869

Danielle Hoffman, President president@riversidejuniors.org www.facebook.com/RJWC RiversideJuniors/ Riversidejuniors.org

The Riverside Township Lions Club hosted a Star Wars dinner on May 4 in Riverside Township Hall.

PROVIDED BY ALEX GALLEGOS

Clubs

Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity (RJWC) strives to build a stronger community by fostering friendships among neighbors, addressing the needs of others and improving the quality of life in the township and surrounding areas. New members welcome.

Riverside Little League

P.O. Box 3

David Halvorsen, President info@riversidell.com Riversidell.com

Baseball and softball programs for boys and girls, ages 5-15. The league is operated by volunteers. More coaches, umpires and sponsors are always welcome.

Riverside Police Auxiliary

27 Riverside Road (708) 447-9191

riverside.il.us/230/Police-AuxiliaryOfficers

The Riverside Police Auxiliary is made up of Riverside area residents interested in law enforcement. The auxiliary supplements the regular police department with additional manpower on a monthly and as-needed basis. For information, or to volunteer, contact the Riverside Police Department.

Riverside Swim Club

Paul Lendman, President 100 Bloomingbank Road

(708) 447-6134

riversideswimclub.org

The Riverside Swim Club (RSC) is a private club founded over 50 years ago by the residents of the community RSC offers various aquatics programs including swim team, swim lessons and water polo The club also offers a snack bar, locker room amenities and a sports court. Visit the website for membership

Riverside Township Lions Club

Eric Sundstrum, Membership Coordinator (708) 209-0467

https://e-clubhouse.org/sites/ riversidetownship/index.php

MISSION STATEMENT

The club conducts a variety of community and humanitarian projects. Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Rd.

Riverside Township Senior Services

Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road (708) 442-4400

Call for information about services including taxpayer advocacy, medical equipment lending library, handicap placards, senior transit cards, exercise classes, movie screenings, and more.

The Olmsted Society is dedicated to sustaining Olmsted's vision for Riverside for generations to come. Its members are guided by his concern for humanity, nature, sense of community & innovative and thoughtful essence of his work. The Society invites residents & visitors to join us in learning, protecting the environment & preserving our cultural & physical heritage.

ACTIVITIES/EVENTS

January Annual Meetings, Landscape Workdays, Earth Day/Arbor Day celebrations, Walking Tours, Vintage Baseball games, Hop Stop craft beer festivals, Spooktacular ghost tours, Olmsted Collection at the Riverside Public Library, and Tributes & Trees recognition program.

DUES

$35 a year and tax deductible. Members receive a quarterly e-newsletter and discounts on events (Hop Stop, walking tours, and Spooktacular tours).

Brookfield’s Dancing with the Chamber puts local residents in the spotlight

Local dance studio brings Latin ballroom and swing to Brookfield residents

By Hector Cervantes Contributing Reporter

BChamber returns March 21, bringing 10 local business owners and community members to the stage for a friendly, high-energy dance competition.

, the event pairs ers with professional instructors and features a variety of dance styles choreographed by Teresa Swanson, owner of Sway Dance Chicago and Brookfi resident. While the competition cr , the focus remains on community connection, personal growth and stepping outside one’s comfort zone. a competition, but it’s a very friendly competition. We try to break up the dances so all 10 dancers perform difent styles. That’s why it’s such a nice variety of a show. There are three judges. I’m one of them,” Swanson said.

Audience size for Dancing with the Chamber is around 500 people, making it a significant event for both performers and spectators.

Rehearsals for Dancing with the Chamber kick off weeks before the March 21 performance.

Sway Dance Chicago opened in 2010

When asked what makes Dancing with the Chamber different from other dance or fundraising events, especially for people who have never danced before, Swanson said that the key is that none of the competitors are dancers.

“To perform in front of 500 people, learn a dance, and follow through to really accomplish something like that is

PHOTOS COURTESY OF SWAY DANCE CHICAGO

is

complish something like that is pretty amazing. It’s a huge challenge, like I said, to step outside your comfort zone and really push yourself to try something new,” Swanson said.

Swanson explains that participants learn the skill of dancing, which adds to their lives. Many from previous years have continued taking her classes and are still dancing, which she finds exciting. The experience sparks their interest, helping them stay active and accomplish something significant

Sway Dance Chicago recently expanded to Brookfield with a new studio offering Latin ballroom and swing classes,

including popular styles like salsa, bachata, swing, and tango. The classes, available as six-week group sessions or private lessons, are designed for dancers of all experience levels.

“Sway Dance Chicago is the dance studio I own in the city, and it opened in 2010. I live in Brookfi I was just renting space fr local businesses and teaching here and ther wanted to have my own space in Brookfield, have my studio in the city my teachers there ar taking over to spend more time out her

When

A winner

crowned at the 2025 Dancing with the Chamber event.

SWAY DANCE CHICAGO

Participants take a

Welcome to the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce!

The Brookfield Chamber of Commerce is entering its 72nd year of dedication to the continued growth and revitalization of our business districts. We advocate at a local and state level to give businesses a unified voice, working to promote pro-business policies. The chamber provides valuable networking opportunities and resources to the regional business community.

2026 launches a new membership platform for the chamber allowing businesses to choose the tier that best serves their needs. Each tier has been curated to give additional representation, marketing and event sponsorship to our members. It allows both the chamber and the businesses to plan strategic marketing. Membership instantly plugs your business into the community calendar for the year. We know that small businesses support each other. Chamber membership goes beyond lunch networking- members gain access to our

local preferred business list with the ability to market and connect directly with your fellow members. We are here to provide resources and information that helps your business grow and serve the community at large.

Brookfield is home to a diverse business community. From established mom and pop businesses to new entrepreneurs and services, each storefront and online brand has unique needs. Our mission is to leverage our relationships to give those many businesses of Brookfield a voice to be heard and grow.

We are sending a personal invitation to all businesses- whether current members or not, whether they are in Brookfield or the surrounding communities, whether they have been in business for many years or are newcomers here to be part of the process of making Brookfield and our surrounding communities THRIVE together.

Chamber’s Board of Directors is made up of the following business owners:

Brian Sharenow (President) FMG EVENTS

John Dumas (Vice President)

SHARE FOOD SHARE LOVE FOOD PANTRY

Clara D’Onofrio (Treasurer)

BROOKFIELD ACADEMY FOR MINI MUSICIANS

Anne Clark (Administrator)

Gina Sharenow

BROOKFIELD FARMERS MARKET

Annette Pardun

FILL MY JAR

Teresa Swanson

SWAY DANCE - CHICAGO

Wendy Moore

DAISY’S BAKERY & TREATS

Stafa Amin

SEBASTIAN’S ALE & WHISKEY HOUSE

Julia Hamilton

JUST WALLPAPER

Lizzy McKenna

MAMA BARONE’S PIZZA

Kelly Thompson

SHOP & STYLE HOUSE SALON

Check out the details online for each membership option:

Save the Date

Street

• COMMUNITY BUILDER

• COMMUNITY CONNECTOR

• COMMUNITY CULTIVATOR

• COMMUNITY CHAMPION

• COMMUNITY CORNERSTONE

UPCOMING 2026 EVENTS*:

• Senior Social

• Brookfield Dancing with the Chamber

• National Night Out

• Brookfield Arts Festival

• Classic Car Show

• Grand Blvd Summer Block Parties

FARMER’S MARKET: DID YOU KNOW?

• Strengthens the local economy by keeping dollars circulating within our community

June 10, 5 pm - 11

9200 Block of Broadway Avenue

• Run by the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

• Number 1 farmers market in IL

• 80+ vendors including live music and food trucks

• 2000+ visitors

• Chamber Membership gets a discount to be a market vendor

Farmers Market Every Saturday June 3 - October 8 amVillage

8820 Brookfield Avenue

• Friday Concerts in the Park

• Brookfield Witch Crawl

• Illinois #1 Farmers Market

• Brookfield Kris Kringle Market

*Visit Brookfieldchamber.net for dates & information

Join us for Dancing with the Chamber March 21, 2026

Celebrating nearly two decades of serving the Brookfield community as a vibrant gathering place for fresh food, local business, and connection. Beyond being a fresh marketplace, the market encourages youth involvement with a dedicated Young Entrepreneurs program for vendors under 16. The market offers programs like SNAP/Link Match to make fresh food accessible to more families.

Classic Car & Bike

July 23, 9 am

Join us for fresh flavors in a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere with live music, special theme days, and seasonal activities.

The Brookfield Farmers Market runs Saturdays, June 6th through October 31st, 2026, from 8am to 1pm.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

National Night August 1, 5 pm - 7 pm Ehlert

3700 Block of Grand Fine Arts Festival September 20, 10 am - 3 pm Kiwanis

60 to Win Drawing

Tickets on Sale July 5, Drawing Begins September 14,

The arts grow in Riverside and Brookfield

RBy ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

iverside and Brookfield are the site of growing arts scenes and home to many artists, both professional and amateur A number of local organizations exist to support community members who are interested in viewing the arts, joining a community of artists, or becoming more creative.

The Riverside Arts Center is a “space for lifelong learning and creativity,” said executive director Ann Filmer. The arts center also has two galleries, a studio for classes, a ceramics studio, and an outdoor garden where they host events. The center offers a full arts education program for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Exhibits, which are always free and open to the public, feature art primarily from artists based in Illinois and the Chicago area Every year, the center displays a collection produced by students at Riverside Brookfield High School as well as a members show featuring pieces submitted by members of the arts center

RIVERSIDE ARTS CENTER/FACEBOOK

The Compassion Factory in the 8 Corners District of Brookfield is part of the village’s growing arts scene. The Compassion Factory has an arts studio that hosts classes for all ages and “open studio” arts nights. They also have a gallery space which displays exhibits from both established and amateur artists. The 8 Corners District in Brookfield has especially become a hub of the growing arts presence in the area In the fall of 2025, nine pieces of public art by community members went up at the Brookfield Shops business incubator project.

Grey Phoenix Art Studio, a new arts space in Brookfield, is set to open this February. The Brookfield Fine Arts Fest celebrates the community’s creativity every year Starts with Art provides financial assistance to children and teens in the Chicago area to pursue the arts. For crafters, the Linda Sokol Francis

Brookfield Library

has a makerspace with maker technology including a Cricut machine, a 3d printer, and sewing and embroidery machines. For those interested in the performing arts, Sway Dance recently opened for dance classes and the Brookfield Theater Corporation has plans to convert an old auto repair shop into the Strand Theater

For people looking to looking to get involved in the local arts community, Filmer said her advice would be to get out to different galleries and to just meet people. “Attend art openings, attend music shows, pop up art shows. It’s just really important to show up, because when you’re meeting people face to face, that’s how you connect.” Gallery viewers explore a special

animals at Compassion Factory

Your Guide to Local Businesses and Services in Riverside

A curated list of Riverside Chamber of Commerce members serving our community.

We’re grateful to our community for supporting local businesses. In turn, Riverside Chamber members give back through their time, financial support, and involvement in local schools, community causes, and shared traditions across Riverside and our surrounding communities. In 2025, that included celebrating the Riverside Chamber of Commerce’s 50th anniversary Holiday Stroll and being part of the village-wide Sesquicentennial celebrations.

Eat and Drink

Buckledown Brewing

La Barra

Riverside Foods

The Chew Chew & Sawmilly

Health, Wellness, and Fitness

Athletico

Centre Physical Therapy

Every Single Day (ESD) Basketball

In Motion Counseling

Next Level Wellness of Riverside

Orland Family Dental

Pillars Community Health

The Tree House

Way Back Inn

Retail and Specialty Shops

Star Buds Riverside

Wixs on Northwood

Personal and Creative Services

D’Works, Inc.

Le Village Cowork Old Route 66

Rosie’s Tailor Shop & Cleaners

Salon D’Amore

Salon Elia

Sophia’s Cleaning Service

Home, Auto, and Local Services

J Andersen Construction

Jeff’s Auto Garage

Landmark Design Inc

Metal Mites

Riverside Garage

Riverside Plumbing Heating Cooling Inc

Wright Services Corp.

Professional and Financial Services

Adam Doe Insurance Agency

Begbie Wealth Advisors

Chris Straney, Aflac Insurance

First American Bank

Fullerton Tax Planning

Mike Adelsbach State Farm

New American Funding Mortgage

Northwood Oaks Investments

Riverside Bank, A Wintrust Bank

Legal Services

Holzauer Law

Joseph Dvorak Law Office

Law Offices of Melinda Higgins Brom

Palermo Law Group

Real Estate Professionals

Amy Regan Realty • @properties Christie’s International Real Estate

Baird & Warner La Grange

Burlington @properties

Century 21 Circle Westchester

Michelle Galindo, Baird & Warner Real Estate

Pelton Collaborative Real Estate, Sarah & Arrick Pelton • @properties

Christie’s International Real Estate

Rory & Partners Real Estate

• Keller Williams

The Sheila Gentile Group, Coldwell Banker Realty

Arts, Culture, and Community Organizations

Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

Brookfield Zoo

Clarendon Courier, Inc.

Comic Collector

The Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside

Knights of Columbus

Le Village Cowork, Old Route 66

Riverside Arts Center

Riverside Farmer’s Market

Riverside Historical Museum

Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity

Riverside Masonic Lodge #862

Riverside Public Library

Riverside Rocks

Riverside Township

St. Paul VI Parish

Interested in getting involved? Scan the QR to learn more about the Riverside Chamber of Commerce. The Riverside Chamber of Commerce connects local businesses, supports our community, and helps Riverside thrive.

Local spots offer Mocktail options

An adventure in juices, non-alcoholic spirits and good humor

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

In honor of those who wish to partake in not partaking, I went on a bar crawl around the area to see what I would get served when asking for a non-alcohol drink. The results were positive, except for one bar which declined to participate. They know their clientele!

At Marlins on Pershing in Lyons, bartender Brenda Mendoza met my request with a raised eyebrow that said she was up to the challenge. Though they don’t have an official mocktail menu, she whipped up a pineapple sour and a pineapple sunrise. Both had lemonade and pineapple juice. The sunrise added a splash of grenadine that, I thought, balanced the sweet and sour in a very pleasant way

La Barra in Riverside actually does have a “zero-proof and mocktail” menu. I chose an amaretto sour, made with Lyre’s Amaretti (the company has a whole line of nonalcohol spirits). It was paired with lemon juice, simple syrup, bitters and fee foam (had to look this up – it ’s a plant-based alterative to egg white foam). The drink was elegant, balanced with a tinge of bite at the end. Just how I like it.

MOCKTAIL, continued on page 34

Marlins’ pineapple sour and pineapple sunrise | PHOTOS BY RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Amaretto sour at La Barra

Sawa’s Old Warsaw

Open for Dinner

MOCK T AIL

Continued from page 33

Across the street at Catrina Tequila Bar the vibe is Day of the Dead and dead-serious liquor After discussing what could be transformed into a solid non-alcohol drink, I opted for a virgin version of their Serpiente Emplumada, which blended lime juice, fresh-muddled mint leaves, jalapeno, cucumber and ginger beer The copper mug was rimmed with Tajin. The smokiness of mescal was missing, but the overall flavor was a spicy delight.

The last stop was Zubar and Grill in Brookfield. Again, my request was met with humor and can-do attitude. The bar’s stocks were a bit low, due to the recent raucous Bears v. Packers game, but bartender Tracy Smith was game to give it a go She poured a cranberry, lime concoction with a splash of lemon-lime soda. While there I also tried Guinness 0.0 beer. Typically, near beer doesn’t do it for me. But if you hold your head sideways and squint, you might not even notice this one is lacking anything.

Guinness 0.0 at Zubar

Catrina Tequila Bar ’s Serpiente Emplumada

Zubar’s cranberry spritz

Everybody is a neighbor to Public Safety Director Matt Buckley

The life-long Riverside resident has a career based in serving local communities in police and fire departments

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

When he was in high school, life-long Riverside resident and village Public Safety Director Matt Buckley worked as a security officer at Brookfield Zoo. While working this job, he tried to help a kid who was choking on a peanut, unable to breathe and turning blue. Another security officer ran over, performed mouthto-mouth on the child, and blew the peanut into his lungs. The child was rushed to the hospital where he underwent surgery A week later, the child returned to the zoo again to thank the officers.

This event “really helped set my course,” said Buckley “It showed the need to have people trained to have quick responses.” Seeing the positive impacts of this work “is truly gratifying,” he said. “It really makes a big difference. If we wouldn’t have been there, I don’t know what the results would have been.”

Dreaming of being a police officer, Buckley graduated from Lewis University with a degree in criminal justice. The law enforcement field was especially competitive in the late-80s, however, so Buckley took a job with the Riverside fire department after graduation. A decade later, he also started working for the Lyons police department. Buckley began working full-time as the Riverside

PROVIDED

Riverside Public Safety Director Matt Buckley PROVIDED

Fire Chief in 2018, and in 2021 he became the village’s first Public Safety Director In this role, he oversees the police and fire departments; “Basically I’m the fire chief and the police chief,” he said.

“One of the reasons why I like what I do is there isn’t a normal day,” said Buckley. He will visit schools when they are in session, go through the previous day’s reports, attend meetings, and go on fire and EMS calls when needed. Buckley meets with officers, village leaders, and residents to ensure questions are answered, issues are fixed, and responsibilities are fulfilled.

The people of Riverside motivate Buckley to continue his work. “We’re here to serve them,” he said. “We’re here to help them. Unfortunately, people call us sometimes in their worst time of need…We’re able to get there and help them out. So, to me, that’s probably the best part.”

Having lived in Riverside for “56 and a half years,” the community “means a lot to me,” said Buckley. “I live in town. So, to me, everybody is a neighbor, which is why we take great pride in helping everybody as much as we can…My ears are always open to what’s going on out there.”

GETTING TO KNOW

Food & Drink

BROOKFIELD

Mama Barone’s Pizza

9209 Broadway Ave. (708) 485-4300

baronesbrookfield.com

Pizza, pasta, chicken, ribs and sandwiches.

Beach Ave BBQ

3453 Grand Boulevard (708) 446-6867

beachavebbq.com

Handcrafted BBQ brisket, ribs, chicken, pulled pork, hot links and more.

Blue Water Lounge

9016 31st St (708) 485-9287 facebook.com/

bluewaterloungebrookfield

Full service bar featuring 100 martinis. Daily drink specials.

Broadway Pancake House

9215 Broadway Ave. (708) 485-4609

order.toasttab.com/online/broadway-pancake-house-brookfield

More than just pancakes, this casual family dining spot is open for breakfast and lunch.

Brookfield Breakfast

3755 Grand Boulevard (708) 905-5960

brookfieldbreakfast.com

Breakfast and lunch made with fresh ingredients. Daily special that include a touch of Mexican dishes.

Cordial Inn

9207 31st St (708) 485-9753

facebook.com/thecordialinn

Full service bar. Don’t miss the burgers.

Brookfield/Riverside

Daisy’s Treats and Bakery

3748 Grand Boulevard (708) 255-5771

daisystreatsbakery.com

Ice cream, cakes and treats.

Danny’s Italian Pizza & Beef

9123 Ogden Ave. (708) 387-7730

Pizza, pasta and sandwiches.

Dunav Restaurant 8801 Ogden Ave. (708) 255-5218

Serbian cuisine, soup and daily specials.

Dunkin’

9208 Ogden Ave. (708) 485-1117

Donuts, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, coffee.

Fill

My Jar

3726 Prairie Ave. (708) 905-5555

fillmyjar.com

Handcrafted, small-batch candies.

Fine Thai

9305 Ogden Ave. (708) 387-9082

finethaimenu.com

Thai noodles, curry, rice and seafood dishes, with a handful of Chinese options.

Gosia’s Coffee Shop

8836 Brookfield Ave. (708) 255-5418

facebook.com/gosiascoffee/

Coffee, tea, smoothies, specialty lattes, frappes and scratch-made bakery

Healthy Empire

3743 Prairie Ave. (331) 290-3246

instagram.com/healthy_empire_

Protein bar serving fruit smoothies, smoothie bowls, waffles and more healthy eats.

Irish Times Pub & Restaurant

8869 Burlington Ave. (708) 485-8787

irishtimespub.com

Full bar and Irish pub fare. Available for parties and larger gatherings.

Imperial Oak Brewing 9526 Ogden Ave. (708) 255-5452

imperialoakbrewing.com

Small brewery with focus on imperial strength and barrel-aged brews with a changing variety of styles.

Joe’s Saloon

9220 47th St (708) 485-9640

Full-service bar in a classic roadhouse building.

La Cabanita 9438 Ogden Ave. (708) 387-9100

lacabanita.com

Mexican cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner Beer and wine.

Mama Barone’s Pizza

MAMA BARONE’S PIZZA/FACEBOOK

Food & Drink

Little Owl Social Pub

3747 Grand Blvd. (708) 255-5445 littleowlbrookfield.com

Upscale Midwestern pub food, craft beer, and classic arcade games.

Loca Mocha Cafe

8858 Burlington Ave. (inside the train station) (708) 485-7990 facebook.com/p/Loca-Mocha-CafeInc-100063747242250

Coffee, smoothies, specialty drinks and pastries.

Mary’s Morning Mix Up

9110 Broadway Ave. (708) 387-0552 marysmorningmixup.com

Extensive breakfast and lunch menu.

Mr. Submarine

9016 47th St (708) 485-0599

mrsubmarine.com/brookfield

Sandwiches, salads.

Off Broadway Pub 9048 Monroe Ave. (708) 485-4553

offbroadwaypub.com

Full bar also serving pizza, pasta, ribs, sandwiches and hot wings.

Paisan’s Pizzeria

3720 Grand Blvd. (708) 485-6833

paisanspizza.com

Thin crust, deep dish and Sicilian style pizza, chicken, ribs, pasta and sandwiches.

BURGERS, BEERS, & CHEERS

Chicken sandwich and fries at the Little Owl Social Pub

LITTLE OWL SOCIAL PUB

Food & Drink

Phil’s Sports Bar & Grill

8901 Burlington Ave. (708) 485-9528 facebook.com/PhilsSBG

Full bar also serving appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches and chili.

Pub 78

3733 Grand Blvd. (708) 255-5542 pub78.com

Neighborhood sports bar featuring pub food and live music.

Ryan’s Public House

8942 Ogden Ave. (708) 485-7400 ryanspublichouse.com

Irish pub serving appetizers, pub classics, soup, sandwiches, chili and daily specials.

Sebastian’s Ale & Whiskey House

8900 Fairview Ave. (708) 255-5933 sebastianshouse.com

Sports-centric establishment with 56 drafts, 350 whiskeys and chef-inspired menu. UFC, boxing, football and more on 35 screens.

Skadarliya

9237 Ogden Ave. (708) 905-5919 skadarliya.com

Balkan cuisine, a mix of many cultures and influences

Slager ’s on 47th 9308 47th St (708) 387-0317

slagerson47th.com

Full bar, drink specials, pizza, appetizers and snacks, video gaming

Brookfield/Riverside

Taco Stop

9304 Ogden Ave. (708) 485-5884

Standard Mexican fare featuring tacos, burritos, tortas and weekly specials.

Taqueria El Grande 9132 31st St (708) 854-6030

Authentic Mexican food includes tacos, sopes, gorditas, burritos and more.

Tony’s Breakfast Cafe

8900 Ogden Ave. (708) 387-0155 tonysofbrookfield.com

Despite the name, Tony’s is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Extensive menu.

Zubar and Grill

8436 Brookfield Ave. (708) 485-4504

Mom’s homemade cooking. Full service bar

RIVERSIDE

Catrina Tequila Bar

7 Longcommon Rd (708) 853-7192

facebook.com/CatrinaTequilaBar Tequilas and cocktails with a Latin flair.

The Chew Chew

33 E. Burlington St (708) 447-8781

thechewchew.com

Casual contemporary American cuisine, including oysters, appetizers, salads, flatbreads, burgers, pasta, fish, seafood, steaks and chops. Good wine list. Full bar

Cubanito Express #2

3222 Harlem Ave. (708) 777-1416

cubanitoexpress.com

Signature pressed sandwiches, salads, empanadas and Cuban coffee. Open breakfast, lunch, dinner Carryout focused.

Dulce Mami Cafe

1 Riverside Road (708) 777-1233

dulcemamicafe.com

Mexican cafe and pastries, Mexican breakfasts, soups, assorted crepe dishes, paninis and more.

Empanadus

7 E. Burlington St. (708) 442-5002 empanadus.com

Choose from a wide selection of empanadas — an Argentinian specialty featuring a flaky pastry crust filled with everything from beef to pork, ham, cheese, sausage, onions, spinach and more. Don’t forget the chimichurri sauce.

El Faro #2

3422 Harlem Ave. (708) 777-1347

elfaro2.business.site

Home of famous giant burritos, tacos and other traditional Mexican dishes.

CUBANITO EXPRESS

La Barra

2 E. Burlington St (708) 887-7700 labarrariverside.com

Italian entrees, awardwinning pizza and an extensive wine list.

La Estancia

25 Forest Ave. (708) 530-1830

Serving tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, sopes, tamales, tostadas, gorditas, horchata, margaritas and more.

London Ice Cream Shop

38 East Ave. (708) 853-7109

Sweet treats including ice cream, banana splits, macaroons, cakes and sundaes.

Michael’s Pancake House

25 E. Burlington St (708) 442-1251

michaelspancakehouseil.com

Always open for breakfast and brunch, serving American traditional food.

Quincy Street Distillery

39 E. Quincy St. (708) 357-7414

quincystreetdistillery.com

Artisanal spirits including bourbon, gin, rye whiskey and vodka hand-crafted onsite. Tours by appointment.

Sawmilly

35 E. Burlington St. (708) 265-2670

sawmilly.com

Hand-crafted sandwiches, stuffed potatoes, salads, sides, sweets, craft beer, wine and natural sodas.

White Fence Farm

3704 S. Harlem Ave. (708) 447-9325 whitefencefarm-il.com

Fried chicken, shrimp, sides. Carry out only

Tacos at La Estancia LA ESTANCIA

A cozy date night out

Low stress and low cost, just might get the sparks flying

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Eats Reporter

Afancy dinner out is romantic, but a cozy night out has its own sort of appeal. These three restaurants might be labeled as one for him, one for her and one for everyone. No matter where you go, you are sure to be well fed and the drag on your wallet won’t bring you down to earth.

At Cordial Inn, 9207 31st Street in Brookfield, they’ve been grilling burgers for more than 80 years, according to the owner Joe Kenny He’s been in charge since buying the business in 2022 but he didn’t touch the menu.

“One of the things when we took it over was just don’t screw it up,” Kenny said. “It was just an incredible, simple, simple menu. We cut the vegetables fresh each day, and our burgers come from a small company.”

The flame-grilled burgers ($8.75) come topped with American cheese, onion, tomato and lettuce. Pickles ride on the side and mayo, mustard and

ketchup are provided. Hot dogs, a pork chop sandwich, brats and pizza make up the rest of the menu. It might seem like a lack of choices, but in reality it allows you to focus on the person sitting across from you.

“We get a lot of couples, whether it ’s parents coming back from a school meeting or younger people who just want to get away for a little bit. It ’s not that uncommon for people just to come in and hang out and, have a

burger,” Kenny said.

Over in Riverside the vibe at Dulce Mama, 1 Riverside Road, is more romantic. Hearts hang from the ceiling and even the paninis come in a heart-shaped version.

This location of an eight outlet, local chain opened two and a half years ago Andrea Torres is co-owner with Lauren Gallegos. The original concept was a coffee and sweets shop, but it has now evolved into a full breakfast, lunch and dinner menu.

“It’s a very cozy place,” Torres said. “It’s soul warming. We do have people who like to stay there for hours talking, laughing all the time. We have some plates that are good to share.”

The churro pancakes ($11.50) get high marks on many online reviews. Three fluffy pancakes are topped with bananas,

Cordial Inn’s venerable hamburger

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Dulce Mama’s churro pancakes

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

cajeta sauce, crunchy cinnamon squares and a dollop of pink whipped cream.

“We try to do everything with a lot of love,” Torres said. “We try to be very focused on the details. We are best friends, co-owners. We really like to share what we love to do.”

Golden Wok has long been a fixture in the area at 1122 Maple Ave in La Grange Park. The restaurant focuses on Mandarin and Cantonese specialties. These dishes have become staples of Chinese food in America, think moo shu pork, egg foo young or noodle dishes, like, lo mein (which are pan-fried Cantonese thin noodles) or chow mein (which are crispy noodles) or even wor mein (which are boiled noodles).

The beef lo mein ($11.75) is a favorite with thin sliced, tender beef and vegetables in a savory, thick soy-based sauce.

“We have a relaxing restaurant. We have a good food, like specials and lunch and regular dinner specials. It’s a pretty good deal for that,” owner Yan Wu said.

Family style dinners are for sharing. Sized for two, three, four or five diners, you can choose how many tag along on your date. Each comes with soup, appetizer, chicken fried rice and one entrée per person. There is a deluxe version that adds on more options and larger portions. Each meal comes with almond cookies for a sweet ending. You may be too full to do anything else.

Golden Wok’s

St eeple

Do you know these local churches? Test your knowledge of these steeples (yes, we know, technically, they are not all steeples!) and match the church to its identifying facade here.

PHOTOS BY JILL WAGNER

6. St . Peter and Paul

lutheran church - b 7. Riverside byPres arianrt

Chase F G H

St. Barbara - Holy Guardian Angels Parish

CHABAD JEWISH CENTER

Churches

BROOKFIELD

Brookfield Church of Christ

Anthony G. Padgett and Barry G. Johnson Sr., Evangelists 3700 Forest Ave. (708) 485-7606 brookfieldcoc.com

Compassion United Methodist Church

Rev. Karl Sokol, Pastor 9210 Broadway Ave. (708) 680-6749 revkarl@gmail.com

compassionumc.com

Cornerstone

Community Church

9008 Fairview Ave. (708) 485-8730

Brandon Siwula, Lead Pastor cornerstone-grow.org cornerstonebrookfield@outlook.com

Czech Catholic Mission of Sts. Cyril and Methodius

9415 Rochester Ave. (708) 533-1050 slovenskamisia.org

Holy Covenant Metropolitan Community Church

9145 Grant Ave. (708) 387-1611 hcmcc.org

Holy Guardian Angels

Catholic Parish (St. Barbara Church, Brookfield and St. Louise de Marillac Church, La Grange Park)

Rev. Brian Kean, Pastor 4008 Prairie Ave. (708) 485-2900 hgaparish.org bkean@hgaparish.org

Iglesia De Dios Torre Fuerte

9108 Lincoln Ave. (708) 485-5104

Roberto Garcia and Damaris Garcia, Lead Pastors mytorrefuerte.church

Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses

3829 Prairie Ave. (708) 485-8383

St. Nikola Serbian Orthodox Church

Father Nemanja Tesic, Pastor 4301 Prairie Ave. (708) 854-6062 stnikolasoc.org

St. Paul Lutheran Church

Rev. Dr Edward Naumann, Pastor 9035 Grant Ave. (708) 485-6987

RIVERSIDE

Ascension Lutheran Church

Chris Honig, Pastor 400 Nuttall Road (708) 447-2600 ascension-riverside.org

Riverside Presbyterian Church

Rev. Mark Zimmerly, Pastor 116 Barrypoint Road (708) 447-1520 rpcusa.org mark@rpcusa.org

Riverside United Methodist Church 82 Woodside Road (708) 447-1760 umcriverside.org

St. Paul VI Parish (St. Mary Church)

2401 S 10th Ave (708) 447-1020 stpaulviparish.org tmay@archchicago.org

St. Paul’s Parish

Father Luke Wetzel 60 Akenside Road (708) 447-1604 stpaulsparish.org

Sts. Peter and Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church

Rev. Dennis J. Lauritsen, Pastor 250 Woodside Road (708) 442-5250 stspeterandpaulriverside.org pastor@stspeterandpaulriverside.org

Volunteers pray at St Paul VI Parish Service day at St Mary Church on November 8, 2025.

TODD BANNOR

Glow Wild lights up Brookfield Zoo this spring

New lantern festival features over 70 illuminated animal sculptures, cultural performances and immersive conservation storytelling

By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter

Bup the spring nights with Glow Wild: A Lantern Festival of Hope, debuting March 19.

Glow Wild at Brookfield Zoo is an evening lantern festival featuring more than 70 larger-than-life illuminated animal displays. Guests can wander through the zoo after dark, enjoying cultural performances, interactive experiences, and stories highlighting wildlife conservation. The event combines art, global culture and education to create an immersive, family-friendly experience.

“Glow Wild blends wonder, global culture and conservation storytelling. You’ll be able to learn a lot about the animals reflected in the lanterns, which truly uplifts our mission to connect people with wildlife and nature,”

Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Public Relations Director Julianne Olivo said.

Olivo explained that as guests walk through the festival, educational signage will provide information about the

Hope” will feature performances from community partners and global-inspired cuisine will be available, offering visitors a taste of different cultures as part of the experience.

“We hope that Glow Wild creates a powerful and emotional connection between our guests and the animals they see, as well as with nature, connecting them in a way that’s different from their usual visits to the zoo,” Olivo said.

Glow Wild complements the zoo’s full 2026 calendar, which features returning

the Roaring Knights concerts, the Zoo on Cork series, the Reindeer Run, and Holiday Magic. Holiday Magic will mark a major milestone this year, celebrating its 45th anniversary.

“Glow Wild is a brand-new nighttime event and it will be the first time in our area that anything like this has been offered,” Olivo said.

The event will run through May 10, offering guests the opportunity to learn about the animals represented in the lanterns.

Tickets for Glow Wild are now available at brookfieldzoo.org/glow-wild, with prices starting at $9.95 for children and $19.95 for adults. This outdoor, evening-only event includes access to all festival experiences, unlimited rides on the Carousel and Ferris Wheel, and complimentary North Gate parking. Zoo members receive discounted admission, making Glow Wild an added perk of membership.

PHOTOS COURTESTY OF BROOKFIELD ZOO CHICAGO

Iconic Frank Lloyd Wright Estate is the Heart of Riverside

Avery Coonley Estate Speaks to Preservation as well as Community d y

FBy LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

rank Lloyd Wright designed Riverside’s Avery Coonley house between 1908 and 1912. Known as the Coonley the multi-acre property was built for Coonley, a Chicago industrialist, and his wife, Queene Ferry, an heir to Detroit’s Ferry Seed Company fortune.

right designed the ety of the 10,000 e-foot home, down to the rugs and textiles. very Coonley sold the house in 1921, and subsequent owners made many changes to the property. In the mid-1950’s a developer bought the property, intending to demolish the structures and build a series of ranch homes on the property.

Carolyn Howlett, Riverside resident and a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago convinced the developer to subdivide the property instead. She and her husband ended up purchasing the coach house and converting it into their home.

Today, the Coonley property is divided into multiple residences, including the coach house, the gardener’s cottage, and the public wing and family wing of the main house.

Stephanus, “Fanie,” Greeff and his late husband John Farneda purchased the family wing of the home in 2015. Greeff recalls that the residence was a short sale purchase in need of restoration.

“The roof was leaking everywhere. It was a teenager party house,” he recalls.

For Greeff, whose only prior knowledge of Wright’s work was the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the condition of the house appeared daunting when Farneda first took him to tour it.

But for Farneda, who had grown up in the area and was familiar with Wright’s work, the house was too good to pass up.

After a four-year process of restoring and repairing the home, the couple’s restoration received awards from the Frederick Law Olmsted Society and the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy

Richard Marritt and Steven Oldham were not interested in purchasing a Frank Lloyd Wright house in 2019. In fact, they weren’t looking for a house at all. The

couple had their sights set on a condominium in Chicago

On a whim, they decided to tour the public wing of the Coonley House, which was being offered for sale by Ella Mae Eastman. She and her husband Dean had meticulously restored their side of the home.

Marritt recalls, “We had no connection to Riverside at all, but we decided to take this dive.”

While acknowledging that owning an architecturally significant, historic home is no walk in the park- did he

mention roof leaks, ice dams, and bursting pipes? - Marritt says it ’s also been wonderful.

“It ’s so great to share the home with the community,” he notes. “Ella Mae left us a box of notes that visitors left her, because they were really notes to the house. We plan to do the same with the notes people send us.”

Greeff and Marritt agree that there is a seemingly neverending list of work to do. The home’s 270 art glass windows aren’t particularly easy to clean, and both are on a first name basis with their roofer

Marritt notes that there are two types of contractors: those who are overjoyed to be working on such a significant house, and those who drive up the driveway and are so intimidated that they want to back right out.

In spite of this, Greeff and Marritt also take pride in being responsible for maintaining the home. In September, they hosted a dinner for everyone connected to the estate, and they continue to open up their home for fundraisers and events, including hosting a dinner for guests of the annual Wright Plus Housewalk.

Greeff states, “We’re happy to share it, and people are happy to come.”

CREDIT: ©VHT STUDIOS

Brookfield Parks and Facilities

Candy Cane Park

28th St and Park Ave.

Creekside Park

3815 Grove Ave.

Harrison Park 3233 Harrison Ave.

Ehlert Park

4338 Congress Park Ave.

Kiwanis Park 8820 Brookfield Ave.

Madison Park 4019 Madison Ave.

Madlin Park

Lincoln Ave. between Madison Ave. and Raymond Ave.

Maple North Park 3840 Maple Ave.

The mission of SEASPAR is to provide recreation programs and services for residents with disabilities by providing excellence in recreation through programs and services. For more information, visit seaspar.org or call 630) 960-7600.

Riverside Parks and Facilities

Big Ball Park

197 Longcommon Rd

Blythe Park 360 Blythe Rd

Guthrie Park Longcommon Road and Bloomingbank Road

Maple South Park 3915 Madison Ave.

Veterans Memorial Park 3648 Sunnyside Ave

Special RecreationSEASPAR

Brookfield is a member of the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation (SEASPAR).

Harrington Park Robinson Court and Delaplaine Road

Indian Gardens

Located south off of Fairbank Road

Swan Pond

Located south off of Burling Road and Bloomingbank Road

Brookfield Forester Victor Janusz, fellow forestry employee Vincent Fraga and resident Elaine Jans shovel dirt onto a galaxy magnolia at Candy Cane Park on April 25, 2025.

STELLA BROWN

Brookfield Library

3541 Park Ave., Brookfield (708) 485-6917

lsfbrookfieldlibrary.org

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Closed on Sundays between Memorial Day and Labor Day

Library Director

Kimberly Coughran kcoughran@ lsfbrookfieldlibrary.org

Board of Trustees

Jennifer Paliatka, President

Michelle Parker, Vice President

Linda Kampschroeder, Secretary

Edgar Mihelic, Treasurer

David Jakubiak

Phil Weglarz

Natalie DeJonghe

Public Library

1 Burling Road, Riverside (708) 442-6366 riversidelibrary.org

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

Library Director

Janice Foley janicefoley@riversidelibrary.org

Board of Trustees

Ken Circo, President

Courtney Greve Hack, Vice President

Nancy DeFauw, Treasurer

Dan Loucks, Secretary

Amy Bilow

Tracy Bohrer

Mickey Novak

Riverside Public Library

JAVIER GOVEA

st Checked out books at Riverside Public Library in 2025 adult books

5)

6) e Let em eor y by Mel

7) e Crash by Freida McFadden

8) Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

9) Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

10) James by Percival Everett

11)

By Ariel Lawhon

By Kristin Hannah

4) Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

e God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Robbins

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

By Alison Espach

Je Kinney

J.K. Rowling

Stuart Gibbs

Rick Riordan 5) Tui T. Sutherland 6) Judd Winick

7) Andy Gri ths 8) Gordon Koman 9) Max Brallier 10) Katherine Applegate

dren's authors

Captain Underpants

Big Nate

Baby-Sitters Club

Magic Treehouse

Phoebe & Her Unicorn

Survived Series

Mo st Checked out books at Brookfiel d Library in 2025 adult books

Clare Leslie Hall

By Mel Robbins

9) Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

1) Naruto 2) Sunrise on the Reaping 3) Demon Slayer

4) Black Butler 5) My Hero Academia 6) Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You

Spy x Family

Bleach

Assassination Classroom

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon

Dog Man 2) Big Nate 3) Cat Kid Comic Club 4) Hilo 5) Kirby Manga Mania 6) Baby-Sitters Little Sister

7) Diary of a Wimpy Kid 8) Investi Gators 9) Animal Crossing: New Horizons 10) Max Meow

“Putting food on the table is a form of saying, I got you. Everything is going to be okay.” – a neighbor in need

The ANSWER to hunger is community. Our new video brings forward the voices of our neighbors in need. Expressing the importance of human dignity. Showing the way forward for our pantry and our community. SEE THE VIDEO!

John Dumas works to give back to the Brookfield community

Dumas works to make the community a better place through the Share Food Share Love pantry and Brookfield Theater Corporation

By ELIZABETH SHORT Contributing Reporter

John Dumas retired from his career in last year, but he says he’s just as busy these days. The life-long Brookfield resident time running the Share Food Share Love pantry leading the Brookfield Theater Corporation as managing director, and serving as the vice pr of the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce.

Dumas was a founder of the Share Food Shar Love pantry at Faith Lutheran Church in 2015. The congregation was getting smaller community wanted to create a “legacy pr to continue its ministry when the church closed. Even though Faith Lutheran closed in 2022 and the pantry moved, the organization continues its work to support families in need, feeding appr 4,300 families last year. Today, Dumas serves as the pantry’s administrative director

When Dumas was a freshman in high school, his father was in a car accident and became unable to continue his work as a mechanic. The family lost its main source of income. With his mother working and extended family chipping in, his family was able to support itself without relying on the services of a food pantry But his family was “not immune to the possibility,” he said.

“Many, many, many families, probably more than you would like to admit, are in that same spot. If they lost their income overnight like that, they would be in a bad spot. And if they didn’t have the support system that my family had, what would you do? You have to go to a food pantry or something,” he said. “There’d be no choice.”

He said this perspective motivated him to work for struggling families with the Share Food Share Love pantry Dumas’s faith was also a driving force — he grew up attending Faith Lutheran — as he said the primary directives of the church were to love and take care of one another. This background made it “very, very difficult” for him to not participate in community service.

Dumas has also been involved in local theater for

decades. When he started high school, Dumas was unsure of how to become more involved. He quickly found his place in the theater community “One of the great things about the theater community is that everybody is welcome and everybody is treated the same,” said Dumas.

After high school, he continued to work on theater with the Riverside Theater Guild and later with the Brookfield Theater Corporation, which he works for as managing director Theater is where Dumas found a creative outlet and a community and where he met his wife. Community theater has “given me so much,” said Dumas, “so I’ve really felt the need to give back to that.” The Brookfield Theater Corporation has plans to purchase an old auto repair shop to transform the space into a theater

“The food pantry and the theater are the things that I wanted to accomplish in my life,” said Dumas. “It’s been a great life, and I really want to share that with people and try to make the world a better place, because it was certainly good to me.”

GETTING TO KNOW

John Dumas at the Soup and Bread event at Robert’s Westside in 2025.

TODD BANNOR

This data represents sales of single-family homes and condo/townhomes in Riverside and Brookfield from January 1 to December 31, 2025. In addition to total homes sold and average sale prices, we’ve also included other statistics.

Sales Price/Listing Price Ratio indicates the percentage of the listing price that a property was sold for. You might expect this number to be less than 100%, since buyers often try to negotiate discounts off the listing price. If the number is 101%, as it is in Brookfield single-family, homes, that means sellers are getting even more than they are asking.

Most Expensive/Least Expensive sales

Detached Single Family Home:

Least Expensive Sale: 204 E. Burlington St. (2BR/1BA) $305,000, November 2025

Most Expensive Sale: 270 Scottswood Rd. $1,365,000 (5BR/4.1BA), May 2025

Attached Unit:

Least Expensive Sale: 114 Lincoln Ave., Unit G, 1 BR/1BA condo, $129,000, September 2025

Most Expensive Sale: 10 E. Burlington Ave., 3BR/3.1BA townhome, $935,000, June 2025

Detached Home Stats:

Number of Units Sold: 91

Average Market Time: 45 days

Median Sold Price: $555,000

Average Sold Price: $607,356

Total Volume of Sales: $55,269,405

Sale Price/Listing Price: 100%

Median Price Decrease over same period 2024: -2.6%

Median Price increase or decrease over the same time period the previous year can indicate overall trends in pricing. For instance, Brookfield’s condominiums and townhomes saw a 21.7% price increase over the previous year, while single-family housing saw a 7% increase, indicating appreciation across the market.

Our thanks to the Oak Park Area Association of Realtors for providing these statistics.

Attached Unit Stats:

Number of Units Sold: 20

Average Market Time: 42 days

Median Sold Price: $185,500

Average Sold Price: $294,225

Total Volume of Sales: $5,884,500

Sale Price/Listing Price: 95%

Median Price Increase Over Same Period 2024: +4.5%

Riverside

2026 local real estate snapshot

Most Expensive/Least Expensive sales

Detached Single Family:

Least Expensive: 4138 Arthur Ave. (4 BR/1 BA)$185,000 – July 2025

Most Expensive: 4510 Raymond Ave. (4BR/4.1 BA)

- $908,000 – December 2025

Attached Units:

Least Expensive: 8812 45th Place, Unit 3 (1 BR, 1BA Condo) - $150,000 – October 2025

Most Expensive: 4313 Eberly Ave., (3 BR/2.1 BA Townhome) - $385,000 – November 2025

Detached Home Stats:

Number of Units Sold: 173

Average Market Time: 29 days

Median Sold Price: $380,000

Average Sold Price: $398,208

Total Volume of Sales: $68,889,964

Sale Price/Listing Price: 101%

Median Price Increase over same period 2024: +7%

Brookfield

Attached Unit Stats:

Number of Units Sold: 23

Average Market Time: 31 days

Median Sold Price: $280,000

Average Sold Price: $279,152

Total Volume of Sales: $6,420,499

Sale Price/Listing Price: 100%

Median Price Decrease Over Same Period 2024: +21.7%