Crime

P O LICE REPO R T S Alzheimer’s patient dies after going missing

An 82-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, who walked away from his Riverside home in July before being found safe in a Berwyn park, died Sept. 1 after walking away again and suffering a heart attack at an Oak Park hospital.

A family member reported the man missing from his residence in the 400 block of Herrick Road on Aug. 31 at about 9:20 p.m. Police searched for him in the immediate area using a bloodhound and in Proksa Park in Berwyn, where he was found after walking away from home in July.

Unable to find him nearby, Riverside police contacted surrounding agencies about the missing man. Chicago police later notified Riverside that they had located the man in the 1400 block of North Parkside Avenue in Chicago.

Officers had been called there for a report of a burglary in progress, but quickly observed the elderly man was confused. Chicago paramedics transported him to West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park.

On Sept. 1 at 4:40 p.m., Riverside police learned the man had gone into cardiac arrest while in the emergency room at the hospital and died.

Alleged package thief arrested

Brookfield police charged a 42-year-old Brookfield man with theft after he allegedly stole a package from the front porch of a home in the 9200 block of Monroe Avenue, placed it in the basket of a tricycle-style adult bike and then pedaled away on Aug. 31 at about 5:05 p.m.

The victims told police they had been notified that a Yeti cooler valued at about $215 had been delivered to their home at about 1 p.m. that day.

Someone who witnessed the theft called police, who observed a man matching the description of the suspect, along with a tricycle parked nearby, at a residence nearby in the 3400 block of Madison Avenue.

Police didn’t recover the cooler, but the witness identified the suspect as the alleged offender and police took him into custody at about 5:40 p.m.

Cops: Drunk man enters former home

Riverside police charged a 49-year-old Berwyn man with criminal trespassing on the evening of Sept. 2 after he reportedly walked into a house in the 100 block of East Burlington Street and was wrestled to the ground by the homeowner who held him down until officers arrived.

Initially, the call came in at about 5:55 p.m. as a home invasion. The man allegedly entered the home through the rear door and was confronted in the kitchen by the homeowner, who held him down on the floor until police arrived.

Police responding to the scene reported that that man was extremely intoxicated and learned that he had lived at the East Burlington Street address several years ago. He was so drunk, said police, that he returned to the house, believing he still lived there, forcing his way through the back door.

Riverside police said the man had been arrested 26 times previously.

Suspicious fi re

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of a suspicious fire that destroyed part of a wood fence and damaged some vinyl siding to a home in the 9000 block of 27th Street in Brookfield during the early morning hours of Sept. 3.

A neighbor getting ready to go to work at about 4:15 a.m. told police he noticed flames and smoke coming from the w est side of the residence. At first the neighbor thought it might be a bonfire, but upon closer inspection he observed a section of the fence on fire and immediately knocked on his neighbor’s door to alert him.

The homeowner had doused the fire before emergency personnel arrived, but not before part of the fence was destroyed and siding on his home damaged. The homeowner told police that there were trash and recycling bins next to the fence, but that nothing in them was flammable.

Vehicle break-ins

Brookfield police responded to the 4200 block of Madison Avenue on the morning of Sept. 3 after a resident called to report that someone had entered two unlocked vehicles parked in the driveway of his home overnight.

Both vehicles were ransacked, with items strewn about the interior. The only things reported missing were a pair of sunglasses, cellphone cords and an owner’s manual.

Bricks through windows

A resident of the 3600 block of Blanchan Avenue called police at about 4:10 a.m. on Sept. 3 to report that someone had just thrown something through the windows of his home.

A police officer who was in the vicinity checked the area for suspects, but was unsuccessful. He then spoke to the homeowner, who showed him the two broken windows.

While investigating, the officer reported observing four landscaping bricks underneath the damaged windows. They had been removed from the landscaping in the front yard. The victim told police he had no idea who would do such a thing to his home.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Aug. 31-Sept. 4, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

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Riverside chief seeks state’s help on health response teams

With calls for mental health and related responses mounting, alternative to police needed

By BOB UPHUES “It’s well worth discussing and putting Editor forth as a policy proposal in the broader discussion on police reform and accountability,”

Following up on his call to create health Zalewski said in an email to the Landmark. “I response teams as a way to limit police insee it having two [areas] of value: helping devolvement in emergency calls involving those escalate situations where police must respond suffering from mental health issues or underto a person suffering from mental illness, and going other non-criminal crises, Riverside potentially freeing up police manpower rePolice Chief Thomas Weitzel has sent a letter sources so that they can be more flexible in to Illinois Gov. J.B Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana responding to criminal activity.” Stratton and state Rep. Michael Zalewski (DCrisis response teams are not a new idea, Riverside) asking them to support legislation but they may now be getting a broader look to make those teams – and funding for them after a summer of protest nationwide against -- a reality. police brutality following the

In his Aug. 28 letter, Weitzel death of George Floyd at the hand stated that police are not always of Minneapolis police in May and adequately prepared to address the police shooting of Jacob Blake situations involving psychiatric in Kenosha in August. patients or those in need tal health evaluations. of men“I believe the Reporter examined Juliet the conc Isselbacher ept of men“We need to do more transport people to area than just hospitals general public tal in health a July c 29 risis response article in the teams online for zel psychiatric evaluations,” Weitwrote. “That itself is a revolvwill support healthcare journal Stat Isselbacher pointed . to a Euing door.” the funding of gene, Oregon, program called CAIn a week, telephone interview last Weitzel said that even if [such a HOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out on the Streets), which has there’s no legislation interest in pursuing at this time, perhaps program].” existed tiative since 1989, in Denver and a called new iniSupport the governor could enlist a blueTHOMAS WEITZEL Team Assisted Response (STAR). ribbon panel of police, fire/EMS Riverside police chief CAHOOTS is run by an orgaand health professionals to craft nization called the White Bird a strategy that could result in acClinic and funded in part by the tion statewide. Eugene Police Depar tment. STAR

“I believe the general public is funded by the Caring for Denver will support the funding of [such Foundation and has been rolled a program],” Weitzel said. out as a pilot program.

Weitzel pointed as an example Both employ crisis teams conof the value of health response teams to a case sisting of a paramedic and a mental health revealed last week involving 41-year-old Danprofessional who are dispatched to respond iel Prude, a Chicago resident, who died after to calls, according to Isselbacher, for “welfare being released from police custody in Rocheschecks, emergency counseling, suicide aster, New York, in March. sessments or nonviolent conflict resolution.”

Prude, who reportedly suffered acute menThose teams also can connect patients with tal health and drug problems, died of asphyxia resources they need. after being hooded, pinned to the ground and While there are times the crisis response handcuffed by about a half dozen police offiteams need police assistance, more often than cers who responded to a 911 call from Prude’s not they operate without it. According to Isselbrother seeking help for Daniel. bacher’s report, in 2019 CAHOOTS responded

After being pinned to the ground for about to 24,000 calls but only requested police backthree minutes, Prude reportedly had stopped up 150 times. breathing; paramedics performed CPR at the The issue of funding crises response teams scene to restart his heart. Prude died in a hosis central to their effectiveness, which is why pital after a week on life support. The county Weitzel has asked for state government’s help. medical examiner ruled Prude’s death a hoBut there could be other sources of funding, micide. Weitzel acknowledged, including direct local

“It’s obviously something that clearly needs funding or something like diverting police seito change,” Weitzel said. zure funds toward such a program.

Zalewski said he supported the idea of cri“These calls are taking more and more of sis response teams as an alternative to sendour time,” Weitzel said. “We need to find a ing police to handle calls involving mental way for true mental health professionals to health issues. respond, instead of police.”

Veteran planner hired as Brookfield building dept. chief New community development director comes a er 4-year stint in Joliet

By BOB UPHUES When the state shut most businesses down Editor in March, Joliet, a city of nearly 150,000 people, lost revenue from its three casinos and

For the past four years, Michael Schwarz other sales tax producing businesses. has overseen the planning initiatives of one He led a planning division of about five of the state’s largest cities. But, as of Sept. 8 people, small enough that he remained he’s the new community development direchands on despite his supervisory role. tor of Brookfield. “I was not only a manager but

Schwarz, who has more than a player,” said Schwarz, who de20 years of community planning scribed his style as “inclusive.” experience, will bring a depth “I like working with other peoof knowledge to the job, said ple,” he said. “My door is always Brookfield Manager Timothy open.” Wiberg. From 2016 until June of While Schwarz acknowledged this year, Schwarz was director that most of his career has seen of planning for the city of Joliet, him working in ex-urban municand he has held top planning ipalities engaged in greenfield positions in Homer Glen, places as varied as Bartlett, Plainfield, MICHAEL SCHWARZ development, he has historic communities worked in and ones Naperville and Davenport, Iowa. along the Ogden Avenue corridor,

“What impressed me about him was he so Brookfield was an attractive opportunity. was able to relay how applicable his expe“That aspect of Brookfield is attractive riences in Joliet, Naperville and Plainfield in that it has a lot of potential for the kind is. The best practices he learned there he of redev elopment Wheaton and LaGrange wants to bring here.” have had,” Schwarz said. “There’s support

Schwarz, 51, was laid off from his post in for reasonable density in proximity to the Joliet, he said, as a result of revenue shorttrain stations.” falls caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Schwarz said he was also intrigued by the fact that the village is trying to implement Klicker made an impact in his brief time a new comprehensive plan, which indicated with Brookfield. He pushed village officials an openness on the part of residents and the to consider hiring a marketing agency to business community to changes that would promote local businesses – an idea that evenhelp revive the downtown area. tually resulted in the village’s “Brookfield has opportunities, since it’s open to the idea of density, to do some amazing things,” Schwarz said. “Brook opportu eld has nities, new Brookfield Bucks program, launched late last month. He also sought and got funding in the 2020 budget for a Wiberg said Schwarz out six other people who beat intersince it’s open comprehensive planning for the Ogden Avenue cor study ridor. viewed for the position, includto the idea of Klicker left before the village ing two paid a other salary finalists. He’ of $112,500, ll be Widensity, to do could study, select a firm to lead but Wiberg said mo that ving berg said. Schwarz replaces Ross Klicksome amazing that initiative forward on Schwarz’s plate. will be er, who lasted as Brookfield’s community development directhings.” “I’d also like grams in our to kick start proTIF districts, intor just eight months before MICHAEL SCHWARZ cluding our new one [in the villeaving to take a similar posiBrookeld community lage’s downtown], to provide a tion in northwest suburban development director face-lift and rejuvenation of the Wheeling. downtown area,” Wiberg said.

Like Schwarz, Klicker had an Wiberg said he would also impressive resume and years like Schwarz to continue Klickof experience working munity and economic tives on a scale not nor Brookfield. on comdevelopment initiamally undertaken in er’s effort to review the village zoning code and suggest updates to it. “He’ll have his plate full,” Wiberg said of his new hire.

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COURTESY OF VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD COMING SOON: Work is expected to begin in late September on the  rst phase of renovations to the Congress Park Metra station area. e upgrades include the construction of a new parking lot and improvements to the tunnel, stairways and platformshelters.

Congress Park station face-lift set to break ground

Phase one work slated to begin in late September

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The first phase of a major face-lift for the Congress Park Metra station area is expected to break ground later this month after Brookfield village trustees on Aug. 24 awarded a $334,806 construction contract to Chicago-based Master Design Build LLC.

The winning bid, one of four submitted for the work, came in below the $375,908 estimate from the village’s planning consultant for the project, Hitchcock Design Group.

About 45 percent of the cost of the work is being paid for through a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant. The rest will come from the Congress Park Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District via a loan from the Ogden Avenue TIF.

The work will include improvement to the Congress Park station tunnel, stairways and commuter rail platforms and the construction of a 21-space commuter parking lot in the Burlington Avenue right-of-way lot west of DuBois Boulevard.

Earlier this year, the village completed improvements to the sidewalk west of DuBois on the south side of Burlington Avenue. That project also included the installation of two bicycle shelters next to what will be the southwest corner of the new parking lot.

In addition to the new parking lot and decorative landscaping around it, the project will include power washing and painting the stairways to the platforms as well as the walls and ceiling of the pedestrian tunnel. Minor repairs will also be done to the masonry walls of the stairways, and new LED lighting will be installed in the tunnel.

The north platform shelter and the south shelter nearest the stairs will both be reroofed and will also receive new glazing and LED lighting. Brick walls will enclose the south platform, replacing temporary plywood sheeting and matching the brick walls of the north shelter. The two smaller shelters on the south platform will be power washed.

New benches and trash cans will also be placed in the north and south shelters.

According to the terms of the contract, the work ought to be completed within 30 days of beginning. Master Design Build LLC, according to Village Planner Elyse Vukelich, is in the process of obtaining a temporary occupancy permit from the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad to start the job.

The BNSF is requiring that the train platforms be kept open to the public throughout the project, though daytime closures will be permitted when they’re needed to allow workers to complete projects. Any work on the platforms themselves will be limited to between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Phase two of the Congress Park Metra station will involve reconstructing the crumbling south embankment that faces Burlington Avenue. The unsightly green retaining wall, which looks like it’s constructed out of old railroad ties, is actually slabs of concrete piled on top of one another.

The BNSF has told the village that it will repair the wall, but no actual date has been set for the work. Rebuilding the retaining wall must happen before the final piece of the puzzle – the construction of a brick paver plaza and drop-off/pickup area in front of the station entrance can be completed.

Candy Cane Park design contract awarded

Brookfield trustees voted unanimously on Aug. 24 to award a $79,800 design and construction administration contract to Hitchcock Design Group to lead the makeover of Candy Cane Park on the village’s north end.

Hitchcock Design group has been working for the village as its park planning consultant for more than a decade, and the firm has guided planning for Candy Cane Park for the past five years.

Half of the roughly $680,000 overhaul of the park, located west of Park Av enue between 28th and 29th streets, is being funded by an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The balance of the cost will be paid from village operating funds.

Originally scheduled to begin in 2020, the work will now start in spring/summer 2021 and be complete by spring /summer of 2022. Village officials decided to delay the project a year due to financial uncertainties related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The village will seek bids from landscape contractors for the improvements next January.

Brook eld Zoo program helps save endangered local turtles ‘Head-start’ partnership give young specimens a better shot at survival

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield Zoo and the DuPage County Forest Preserve District celebrated a day that was a decade in the making on Sept. 2 when they released 22 Blanding’s turtles into the wild in northwest DuPage County.

They were the first cohort of Blanding’s turtles – an endangered species in Illinois – released into the wild that were bred and hatched at Brookfield Zoo’s “head-start” program, which is a nearly decade-old partnership with the DuPage County Forest Preserve District.

Since 2011, DuPage County has provided Brookfield Zoo with wild-born juvenile turtles, which are raised in a predator-free pond at the zoo. But because it takes between 14 and 20 years for Blanding’s turtle females to reach reproductive maturity, last year was the first year any of the zoo’s 25 females laid fertile eggs.

“Nothing happens quickly with turtles,” said Andy Snider, curator of herpetology and aquatics at Brookfield Zoo.

Blanding’s turtles are native to the Great Lakes region, but can be found across a huge swath of North America, from Nova Scotia to Nebraska.

Snider said it’s hard to tell just how many Blanding’s turtles there are in Illinois, adding that their habitats tend to be small and scattered. Mobility has also decreased due to barriers like roads and increased development.

According to a press release, the survival rate of Blanding’s turtles in the wild is minuscule, with only about 2 percent reaching breeding maturity due to predators like raccoons. About 90 percent of turtle nests are destroyed by predators annually during the 60-day incubation period.

Brookfield Zoo’s head-start program gives the young Blanding’s turtles a better chance at survival, said Snider. In the spring, hatchlings are placed in protected outdoor pens at the Dragonfly Marsh habitat at Brookfield Zoo.

Snider says the young tur tles get a taste of living in the wild, hunt for their own food while growing.

“When they’re released, they are considerably bigger than when they are put in there in the spring,” Snider said. “They have a much better shot at it [in the wild] than if they were a hatchling.”

The turtles released into the wild on Sept. 2 will also benefit the local population by reintroducing strains of DNA lost over time. Most of the breeding turtles at the zoo were the offspring of now-dead wild turtles.

“The offspring we’re releasing now are returning genetic information back to the wild population that may have been lost more than 20 years ago,” said Dan Thompson, ecologist for the DuPage County Forest Preserve District in a press release.

The Forest Preserve District started its first head-start program in 1996, collecting eggs from pregnant turtles found in the wild and then either caring for the eggs and hatchlings themselves or by partnering with other institutions, like Brookfield Zoo.

In all, the DuPage County Forest Preserve District has released more than 3,000 microchipped turtles from the head-start programs into the wild.

Snider said Brookfield Zoo plans to keep up its breeding program – more hatchings were born in 2020 than in 2019 and will be released into the wild next year – in the future. Female Blanding’s turtles can live up to 80 years and can lay fertilized eggs for decades.

“Now that the females are big enough, we should be getting more and more hatchlings per year,” Snider said. “I expect that trend to continue as the females mature. Whatever hatchlings we have here will go out into the wild every year.”

JIM SCHULZ/CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OFF YOU GO: JeBocek, senior animal care specialist for the Chicago Zoological Society (le) and Dan
ompson, ecologist for the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, release two of the 22 Blanding’s turtles to the wild in northwest DuPage County.
e society is a partner in the district’s “head-start” program for the species.
is is the „rst time in the program’s 25-year history that Blanding’s turtles bred and hatched in managed careat the zoo were released to the wild.

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Hodgkins, McCook, Forest View, Summit and Bridgeview.

Early during the investigation, it was revealed that at some point after her disappearance, Thompson’s cellphone pinged a tower in Springfield, Missouri.

Other than that, however, there hasn’t been a trace of either Thompson or her car, a dark than 150 supplemental reports documenting purple 2014 Nissan Juke with Illinois license their investigation, indicating they have purplate number E27 3380. sued numerous leads.

“It’s just mentally exhausting. With the Kujawski said she met in person with added stress of the pandemic, it’s just amazBrookfield detectives in late August to get an ing how hard it is,” said Dana Thompson update on the investigation, describing the Kujawski, who is Erica’s sister, in a phone more than 200-page file on the investigation. interview last week. “We’re still hoping that But there wasn’t much new police could remaybe she’s somewhere.” veal, she said.

The police investigation so far has involved “Police didn’t tell me a whole lot, so what a number of agencies, including two suburI gathered is they’re still actively working on ban task forces and the FBI, it,” Kujawski said. “We’re waiting for somewhich helped track cellphone body to talk, because somedata. The FBI led Brookfield ’s contribution police to hire “We’re waiting for body knows something.” Erica Thompson’s son, Mian organization to help them search waterways in the vicinity of where her phone traveled somebody to talk, because somebody chael Russo, who said he’s battled anxiety and depression for years, now has the early on Se Using pt. 26, 2019. a sonar-equipped knows something.” added worry of mother ’s home. saving his boat, police searched shipping canals trying to find vehicles matching the dimensions of DANA THOMPSON KUJAWSKI Erica Thompson’s sister Russo’s aunt pointed him in the direction of an attorney to see if there’s a way he Thompson’s Nissan Juke. Only can serve as the property’s one of the dozen vehicles they administrator, so he can found submerged in those wawork with his mother’s lendterways fit the dimensions of er and avoid foreclosure. Thompson’s car, but a diver sent down to in Attorney GregMartucci told the Landmark vestigate confirmed it was not hers. that he has filed a petition for Letters of Ad

Brookfield Police Chief Edward Petrak ministration to Collect in Cook County Prosaid last week that Brookfield detectives have bate Court. sought the assistance of police “in other ju“If her son, Michael J. Russo, my client, is risdictions,” though he declined to specify granted Letters of Office, he will have authorwhere exactly. ity to represent his mother’s estate in matters

“From the beginning this was a case of a pertaining to her property and her creditors,” missing person with suspicious circumstancMartucci said. es,” Petrak said. “We’ve handled it almost as He and Russo appeared via Zoom before a if it was a homicide case. We’re still hopeful judge on Aug. 27 and that due to the case’s unwe can find her, and we’re going to keep workusual circumstances, the judge took the mating at this until the case is solved.” ter under advisement.

Petrak said he was unable to provide any “We are currently monitoring the case to further information on whether police have see whether and when the order is entered,” interviewed anyone suspected to have been Martucci said. “Unfortunately, the Clerk of involved in Thompson’s disappearance. He the Court has been slow to post the orders did mention that detectives had written more after they have been signed. But, so far as I can determine, there has not been any legal action filed to date with respect to the mortgage on Erica’s home.” Russo said the lender, which at first was willing to communicate with him, has cut off communication. He added that a bank representative indicated to him that the institution likely would seek foreclosure after one year of nonpayment. It’s unclear whether the bank will act due to the pandemic, but PROVIDED the property is not out of the

PROVIDED

WAITING FOR A BREAK: Erica ompson’s sister, Dana ompson Kujawski (top le), and ompsn’s son, Michael Russo (above le) are hoping for a break in the case. Last fall, CrimeStoppers oered a rewardand police are actively investigating, but neither ompson nor her car, Nissan Juke (like the one see at lower le) have surfaced.

woods. The property taxes haven’t been paid for the past two installments and are eligible for sale, although the pandemic has delayed the tax sale indefinitely.

He’s set up an online fundraiser (gofundme. com/f/save-erica-thompson039s-home-mortgage-relief-fund), setting a goal of $135,000. But the pitch hasn’t gained much traction, raising a little more than $800 in the month since it was started.

Russo said he also spoke to police recently but, like his aunt, they didn’t have much new information to reveal.

“They’re still trying to figure out where the car went and where the phone traveled,” Russo said.

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Teachers, students dazzled by new-look Ames School Bright, airy addition provides classroom space, library,multipurpose room and more

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Last year, Ames School fifthgrade teacher Amy Seymour worked in a windowless classroom. This year Seymour is teaching in a modern, bright, airy and spacious classroom bathed in natural light from a row of four tall north-facing windows.

“This is a serious upgrade,” Seymour said after teaching in her classroom for the first time on Sept. 2. “Walking in here was like walking into a different world. It feels very different than the old part of the school.”

Seymour’s new classroom is part of an 18,000-square-foot $10 million addition to Ames School completed with not a second to spare.

As schools in Riverside Elementary District 96 opened last week, a few finishing touches were still being buffed, including adding permeable pavers to the parking lot. The work went down to the wire.

District 96 didn’t receive an occupancy permit for the Ames School addition and its other elementary schools, which underwent smaller construction projects, until 10 p.m. on Sept. 1.

“It was a complex project,” said Ramesh Nair, who oversaw the construction projects at all of the elementary schools for Riverside District 96.

The project has transformed Ames School. The two-story addition has a bright, open, airy look and feels very different than the more traditional older part of the school which was built in 1924 and added onto in 1988.

The addition supplied two new large classrooms, an early learners wing with three classrooms that now houses the district’s pre-kindergarten program, a new library, a multipurpose room where lunch can be serve d, two learning hubs, a sensory room, a speech pathologist office, a room for English language learning classes and remodeled or new art and music rooms, as well as a brand new playground .

“I love the new addition to Ames,” said Ames Principal Todd Gierman in an email. “These spaces were designed with 21st century learners in mind, and are very inviting to students.”

Gierman said that in addition to the bright natural light that

ALEX ROGALS/Sta Photographer WELCOME BACK: Ames School students check in at a tent out front before entering the newly renovated and expanded building on Sept. 2, the  rst day of the new school year for Riverside District 96.

now floods the library, the area also has a maker space to accommodate STEAM classes as well as a separate, open learning space.

“The open feel to the library is fantastic for our students,” Gierman said.

The new multipurpose room will not only serve in the future as a lunch room, it can also be used as a learning space for larger groups of students across multiple grade levels, Gierman said.

Desks in the new classrooms also function as white boards, meaning that students can write on the desks and then wipe them clean. The new classrooms also have built in cabinetry that also functions as white boards, built-in bookshelves and dimmable lights. Cubbies for student belongings are located in classrooms rather than out in the hallway.

“Everything is just built into the design, which I think is very

“I think the students are going to love being in this environment.”

ELIZABETH KING Ames School art teacher

thoughtful of the architects,” Seymour said.

Art teacher Elizabeth King was impressed with the new art room, which was built where a fourthgrade classroom once stood.

“I’m just very impressed overall, from the planning to the execution, with what they’ve been able to do with the space,” King said. “I think the students are going to love being in this environment where it ’s really bright and happy, colorful.”

Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the new playground will be off limits to students for now.

The district obtained the space for the addition and new outdoor space by buying and demolishing two homes that had stood on either side of the school.

The early childhood classrooms all have separate individual doors to the outside. The early childhood wing also has a separate drive-up entrance on the west side of the building, allowing the youngest children to be kept apart from older students. The separate entrance also allows for easy pickup and drop-off.

Smaller changes were made at the other three elementary schools in the district. Central School got a new multipurpose room in the area that once housed the school district’s administrative offices.

The new multipurpose room means Central students will not have to go to the Hauser cafeteria for lunch. Central School also got an elevator.

At Blythe Park School, the office was moved across the hall adjacent to a new secure entrance and small addition that holds two classrooms. At Hollywood School the office was moved to be closer to the entrance to enhance security.

The district did not have to borrow any money for any of the other construction work this year. All the work combined cost about approximately $16.25 million, which the district paid for using its cash reserves.

“Our buildings are transformed,” said District 96 Superintendent Martha Ryan-Toye.

LTHS board looks for new member after resignation

School board secretary Barbara Rosinsky out a er six years

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Barbara Rosinsky, who has served on the Lyons Township High School Board of Education since 2014, resigned from her post on Aug. 24, the school announced last week.

It’s unclear why Rosinsky, who served as the secretary of the school board, resigned. A press release announcing her departure did not give a reason, and Rosinsky did not respond to telephone or text messages from the Landmark.

Rosinsky was first appointed to the school board in 2014 to replace Mark Pera, who resigned when he moved out of the district. Rosinsky then was elected to full four-year terms on the school board in 2015 and again in 2019, when she finished third in a fivecandidate field.

In addition to serving as board secretary, Rosinsky served as the chair of the board’s policy and human resources R osinsky in 2019, former board committees. member Phil Palmer and Ricar

“Barb has provided distindo Martinez, are both considerguished service for more than ing applying to fill the vacancy. six years,” said Tom Cushing, “I may, but I haven’t made up the president of the LTHS Board my mind yet,” Palmer said in of Education, in a press release response to an inquiry by the issued by LTHS. “She is highly Landmark. respected by her fellow board Palmer, an LTHS graduate, members, which led her to be is the co-owner of the popuelected to an officer position. It lar Palmer Place restaurant in has been a privilege to serve with BARBARA ROSINSKY downtown LaGrange. He ran on Barb, and she will be missed. On a slate with Rosinsky and Alibehalf of the entire board and son Kelly last year, finishing 318 district, we wish her well.” votes behind Rosinsky. Palmer served on the

LTHS Superintendent Tim Kilrea also LTHS board for eight years from 2011 until praised Rosinsky in the press release. 2019.

“Barb is an advocate for all students,” Martinez, who finished fifth in 2019 after Kilrea said. “She brought a straightfora campaign during which he was often critiward, commonsense approach to all board cal of the school board, said he will probmatters. As a parent of three LT graduates ably apply to fill the vacancy. and volunteer with extensive community “I think I’ll put in an application,” Marservice, she brought a wealth of experience tinez said, adding that he thinks the LTHS and well-rounded perspective.” board needs to become more diverse.

The board will now choose a replacement The school board must pick a replacement to serve until the next election in April 2021. by Oct. 23. Those interested in being considWhoever is elected will serve out the reered may download an application from the maining two years on Rosinsky’s term. LTHS website (lths.net) or pick up an appli

The two candidates who finished behind cation packet from Clerk of the Board Lisa

FIRE CHIEF ‘Timing is everything’

from page 1

While both Kiser and North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. said the parting of the ways was mutual, the timing was unexpected and things came together very rapidly this week.

Hermanek said he interviewed McDermott on Monday, Aug. 30 after an internal candidate had turned down an offer to become fire chief. That candidate reportedly recommended McDermott for the post. The Forest Park chief had just announced he was retiring effective Sept. 30. Bob McDermott

“Timing is everything,” said Hermanek. “I think he’ll be a real good the mayor and Village Administrator Sue fit. He knows the guys and gets along with Scarpiniti assured him that battle was over. them. I think this is a step toward permanent “The mayor and administrator said the peace over there.” past is past and they want to move forward,

Hermanek was referring to a years’ long and I believe them,” McDermott said. “I want feud between village government and union to be part of that process.” firefighters that peaked during a five-year Hermanek and Kiser reportedly have campaign to privatize the fire service in agreed to the terms of his separation from North Riverside. the village, though they have not been made

The lengthy court battle, which started in public yet. the summer of 2014 and resulted in expensive Kiser, who celebrated his second anniand seemingly endless litigation and labor versary as North Riverside’s fire chief last complaints, ended in December 2019 when the week, confirmed that he had submitted a lettwo sides inked a seven-year contract that exter of resignation to the mayor. pires next April 30. “The relationship recently has been

McDermott was well aware of that history stressed,” said Kiser. “Both parties were in when he decided to take the job, saying both agreement that it was time for a change and maybe another person might be better for the position.”

Asked where the stress came from, Kiser indicated it was North Riverside’s pervasive penchant for politicking.

“Politics in North Riverside obviously is very heavy,” Kiser said. “Playing the political game may not be my best attribute.”

As for the man who will be replacing him as chief in North Riverside, Kiser had nothing but positive words for McDermott.

“He’s obviously a wellqualified candidate and fa

BOB UPHUES/Editor miliar with the area,” said Kiser, noting that McDermott was also president of MABAS Division 11, a mutual aid organization that includes the North Riverside Fire Department. “He’s has a great relationship with people here that should make him successful as the chief of North Riverside.”

Kiser said that while he doesn’t have another job lined up immediately, he was sure he’d be able to land somewhere else.

“I’ve had a variety of opportunities over the last six months,” said Kiser, who came to North Riverside after a stint as chief of operations for the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and years as a firefighter in Forest View. “I’m confident based off my skill set, resume and experience that I’ll land on my feet.” Dombro, who works in the superintendent’s office located on the LTHS North Campus, 100 S. Cossitt Ave. in LaGrange.

To be eligible to serve on the school board an individual must be at least 18 years old, have lived in the school district for at least one year and be registered to vote.

Applications to fill the vacancy must be received by no later than 3 p.m. on Sept. 24. The school board will hold a special meeting in September during which the board will interview candidates for the vacancy in closed session.

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