Landmark_020525 by Wednesday Journal

e LTHS cheerleading squard quali es for the state competition for the four th year in a row. Back row: Erin Gugliuzza, Ashlynn Monckton, Devon Mackenzie, Vivi Koppel (manage r), Skyla Hendrix, Audreya Wilkins, Maggie Sammon, Ryan Renderman. Middle row: Averie Grigus, Aracely McNamara, Sophia Horwath , Kennedi Ross, Glor ia Podolner, Meg Gray, Maddie Brennan, Oliv ia VanWyck, Bridget Waight. Front row: Hayden Livingston, Aleigh Zeman, Melissa Marquez, Grace Lannon, Annie Sarno, Katie Villarreal, Aylee Holguin

Hundreds of stude nt s lear n how to bake, cook and ca ter at school

By RACHEL DUCKETT Contributing Reporter

This school year, hundreds of students at Riverside Brookfield High School (RBHS) will learn much more than the average home economics class could offer. That’s thanks to a new commercial-style kitchen, called Bulldog Bistro, at the school.

Grant Lewis teaches around 130 students in his three advanced culinary classes at RBHS.

STORY BY BILL STONE, PAGE 13

PROVIDED BY ANA SAMANIEGO

Riverside Brook eld HS plans for potential impact of Trump’s immigration enforcement

Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf

Staﬀ Repor ter Trent Brown

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Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

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Superintendent says administrators are following state board’s advice in requir ing court orders or warrants

By RACHEL DUCKETT Contributing Reporter

Riverside Brookfield High School officials ar e taking pr ep aratory steps to d eal with any p ossible ef fo rt by federal officials to enforce new p olicies of President Donald Trump d esigned to find ille g al immi gr ants

In an email he sent last week to families in the school district, Superintendent Kevin Skinkis said that in line with previously ag reed upon state policies Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents “will not have access to District 208 facilities unless they provide a court order or warrant signed by a federal judge.”

Also, the school will not share student records unless they’re required to do so by a signed court order or with consent from a parent or guardian.

The email came after the Illinois State Board of Education issued a “non-re gulatory” guidance on immigration enforcement in the days following Trump’s inauguration. This, as Trump’s new head of the Department of Homeland Security overturned a policy that had limited immigration enforcement at schools, child care centers, playgrounds and bus stops. The guidance encouraged local districts to plan for such a scenario

Skinkis says District 208 is following the state board’s advice, which includes designating a point person for immigration inquiries – in this case Principal Héctor Freytas – and making a clear plan, with help from legal counsel.

“We’ve also met with the local police chiefs just to see if they have any concer ns or any intel of any upcoming interactions or things that we need to have on our ra-

dar,” he said. “From all initial responses, we do think that it’ll be a very rare case for someone to show up at the high school.”

So far, ICE agents have not attempted to en-

that you need to require the signed warrant or court order or subpoena,” he said. Still, he wants to reassure families that the school would check for that documen-

all students and

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Loveseat Spotlight: Stylish

& Cozy Ways to Elevate Your Space

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ULINARY

Jumpword subbhed

Remade: RBHS has grow n its food and hospitality courses with the new

CULINARY

New commercial kitchen from page 1

“That’s just in my program. The other Foods teacher also has another 130. So while I’m teaching five periods, because we opened up a second room, we were able to double our class sizes and allow for another five sections of Foods 1.”

This year’s students are the first to take classes in the new kitchen. Before, the school had similar classes that were held in mock homestyle kitchens.

“We were still pushing the boundaries of home ec even within that classroom,” Lewis said. As interest in the program grew, “it was obviously time to expand to something that mimicked and mirrored the industry a little bit more.”

Last summer, RBHS began construction for Bulldog Bistro in what used to be the Alumni Lounge.

Now, Lewis says the new space allows students to learn much more than cooking and baking.

Students work in groups, taking turns as head chef, sous chef, manager and dishwasher, to mimic the hierarchy of a professional kitchen. They learn industry safety and sanitation standards, plus business

and catering skills.

“They use commercial ovens, a commercial flat top, a commercial range,” he said. “We have a giant to-go window, so we can sell items right out of there and kind of run a mock business for them.”

Lewis is also an a djunct professor at T riton C ommunity C olle ge, wh ich has partnered with RBHS to offer c olle ge credits for two of the c ulinary c ourses, now that the high school has the proper equipment. T he high school’s Baking and P astry c lass is equiv alent to T riton’s C ulinary Mathematics c ourse. T he Honors C ulinary Arts students earn credit equal to T riton’s Knife Skills and Food and Sanitation courses.

Students taking the RBHS courses also get ServSafe certifications.

“A lot of my honors kids are already wo rk ing in the industr y, ” Lewis said, “S o we ’r e able to offer them seve r al years of a f ood handler ce rt ification for free in our pr ogr ams.”

He says many of his students are interested in turning the skills they’ re learning into a future career.

“For some k ids, it ’s watching them find their l ifelong p assion. I’ ve had several k ids tell me that because of our c ourses, they want to go into the food ind ustr y, ” he said. Fo r other k ids, it ’s “just finding a hob by that brings them some kind of joy throughout their day wher e

they look forward to b aking, they look forward to c oming to Foods c lass, they ’r e excited to do the next recipe.”

Either way, Lewis says he enjoys watching his students challenge themselves in the kitchen.

“I love watching them surprise themselves,” he said. “They always c ome in , they’ll tell me, ‘N o, I do n’ t know how to do that. I ca n’ t do that. I’m not g ood at b aking.’ And then they turn around and b ust out homemade croissants and yo u c an see the awe on their face of b elievin g in themselves.”

PROVIDED BY RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

Bulldog Bist ro.

Brookﬁeld boy, 8, shot fatally in Wisconsin

e boy’s stepfather is charged with reckless homicide

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

An 8-year- old boy from Brookfield wh o a ttended Brook Pa rk E lementary School in L aGrange Pa rk was shot and killed J an. 20 in Wi sconsin.

Michael Meagher ’s stepfather, St even Merkel, 52, has been charged with firstde gree reckless homicide and was ordered Jan. 27 to stand trial for the boy’s death.

According to WG N, p olice we re dispatched to Merkel’s La ke Geneva home around 2:25 a.m. on J an. 20. T hey f ound the boy with a g unshot wound and transported him to a local hospital, where he died from his injury

WISN 12 News re ported that Merke l

admitted to p olice he had b een drinking when he t ried to “be c ool and exciting by showing the boy a handgun. He told p olice he r emove d the magazine from the g un and thought it would not fir W hen he pointed it at the boy and pulled the t rigge r, a r ound still in the c hamber fired and struck the boy in the neck.

According to 12 News, prosecutors sai in cour t Merkel has a history of alcoholr elated of f enses in Illinoi s.

Brookfield-LaGrange Pa rk School Dist rict 95 officials r eleased a statement about the death of the second gr ader

“Michael brought amazing energy to life at Brook Park Elementary, where he was known for his incredible kindness and was beloved by all,” the district said. “The entire school community mourns his loss.”

A GoFundMe f undraiser, org anize d by Katherine Koskinas on b ehalf of Mic hael’s f amily, has raised $24,520 as of Fe b. 4 to pay for the boy’s f uneral and other expenses

Minor found dead in Riverside’s Turtle Park

Police said the juvenile died by apparent suicide

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Riverside police found a missing child dead by apparent suicide in Turtle Park

At about 9:15 p. m. on Fe b. 2, Rive rside p olice located a deceased individual in the pa rk who matched the d escriptio n of a local missing juvenile. In a w ritten statement, p olice said they rece ived the re po rt of a missing child “who had not

b een answe ring their p hone” around 8:45 p. m. that day after the juvenile was last seen around 5:30 p. m. in the Rivers ide area.

Rive rside p olice said officers tracked the signal of child’s c ell p hone using their p hone number to a 500-meter radiu s near L ongcommon and N uttall roads before they thoroughly searched the area.

Police determined the minor died from a single gunshot wound that appeared to be self-inflicted, they said. Police recovered a firear m at the scene

According to police, an investigation into the incident remains active

Ending hunger by connecting the four corners of our community

Exciting news from the Landmark

Dear Landmark reader s,

In 1980, when my two partners and I launched wh at would later become the L andmark’s parent company, Growing Community Media (GCM), we dreamed of creating a local community newspaper filled with the kind of journalism we wanted to read and that our fellow residents desperately needed

T hen, as now, we set out to create a paper that provided rigorous, i nsightf ul cove rage of local gove r nment; helped parents and taxp ayers f ollow events in their local schools; c onnected r eaders and b usiness owners to local b usinesses right here in our own backya rd; and showc ased the ric h stories and strong o pinions of the remarkably talented and dive r se gr oup of neighbors in the c ommunities we call home

Fo rt y-five year s later, I c ould not be prouder of all that we have acc omplished along the way.

As we reach that milestone, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the future—for Growing Community Media, and for me personally.

L eading this organization has b een the joy and privil eg e of a l ifetime

But I’ ve c ome to b eli eve that the time is right to scale back my day-to-day r esponsibilities and p ass the baton to new leadershi p.

So I’m d elighted to announce that, with the suppo rt of our Board of Director s, I will be moving i nto a ne w r ole as Senior Advisor. This will let me spend a bit more time with my f amily wh i le also allowing me to c ontinue to suppo rt our team as we str ive to buil d a strong, sustainable f oundation fo r GCM’s f utur e. My primary focus will be on gr ow ing our partnerships and f undraising, and I’ll also lead specia l projects from time to time

Later this s pring, the Board will be h iring a f ull-time Executive Director to lead the organization i nto i ts next

Ending hunger by connecting the four corners of our community...

Gaming the system?

You be the judge

...

You be the judge ...

Gaming the system

chapter of gr owth, service and impact. T he Executive Director title will re p lace the Publisher title, wh ich b etter reflects the r ealities of our not-fo rprofit org anization.

In the meantime, I’m p leased to announce that Max Re i nsdor f will bec ome our i nterim Executive Director Effect ive i mmediately, Max will lead eve ry aspect of our ef fo rt and wo rk with all of us and our Board of Directors to sustain and gr ow this essential nonprofit newsroom.

Max has already b een wo rk ing with GCM to help us do a de ep dive on our b usiness management and operations, so he knows our organization, our team and our need s. Max brings a p assion for c ommunity news, having previousl y wo rked at b oth the T ribune and the Better Gove rnment A ssociation. He has a sharp foc us and de ep understanding of digital gr owth with a healthy r espect for the v alue of print.

He has also wo rked on the philanthropic s ide of local news. Importantl y, Max is a g ood listener and knows well our staf f’s commitment to this wo rk

I could not be more excited for the future.

But these are not easy times for local journalism, as you know. Changing habits, new platfor ms and evolving business models have taken their toll on far too many local newsrooms around the country.

A c ommunity news organization is nothing without a c ommunity willing to suppo rt it —as r eader s, adve rt i ser s, subscribers, donors and champions. You’ ve b een essential to our success over these last 45 years—and you’ re c ritical to our futur e, too

I look forward to wo rk ing with our new leadership and with all of you to ke ep that mission alive and thriving in Rive rside and Brookfield . Wi th gr atitud e, Dan

Ending hunger by connecting the four corners of our community...

You be the judge ...

Life can happen in unfortunate ways . And when it does , few of us are eager to ask for a hand up. Even fewer want a handout . So imagine what it feels like when your family needs food, and you find yourself waiting in line at your local food pantry.

Gaming the system?

You be the judge ...

Waiting in line for food can be stigmatizing enough. Yet , there are those who would stand in judgement of our neighbors in need. Here is what some of our volunteers here at the pantry have to say about that ...

Life can happen in unfortunate ways . And when it does, few of us are eager to ask for a hand up Even fewer want a handout So imagine what it feels like when your family needs food, and you find yourself waiting in line at your local food pantry

"I have a neighbor that heads to the food pantry three hours before it opens to make sure he gets food, because he relies on the food pantry as his primary source of food."— Cheryl, SFSL Volunteer

" There’s no feeling on my part that you're a failure because you have to come to the food pantry. I’ ve seen a variety of people getting help, someone my kid went to school with, their parents . It can be anyone." Joyce , SFSL Volunteer

"I have a neighbor that heads to the food pantry three hours before it opens to make sure he gets food, because he relies on the food pantry as his primary source of food."— Cheryl, SFSL Volunteer

"In the last six months , I have two family members , both the bread winners , who became unemployed at the same time. Even in my own family, from the outside , it might look like everything's fine. You just don' t know what 's going on behind closed doors . So, I don’ t judge." Sue , SFSL Volunteer

" There’s no feeling on my part that you re a failure because you have to come to the food pantry I’ ve seen a variety of people getting help, someone my kid went to school with, their parents . It can be anyone." Joyce , SFSL Volunteer

"In the last six months, I have two family members, both the bread winners, who became unemployed at the same time. Even in my own family, from the outside , it might look like everything's fine. You just don' t know what 's going on behind closed doors So, I don’ t judge." Sue , SFSL Volunteer

"I think going to a food pantry has a stigma. And I think making people feel dignified while getting their food is important As a volunteer wanting to help, you just be kind Otherwise , it becomes a senseless situation, having any thoughts that are judgmental. It ’s the pantry ’s business to help people. We know we're all here to provide a service Not to judge people." Janet , SFSL Volunteer

"I think going to a food pantry has a stigma And I think making people feel dignified while getting their food is important As a volunteer wanting to help, you just be kind Otherwise , it becomes a senseless situation, having any thoughts that are judgmental. It ’s the pantry ’s business to help people. We know we're all here to provide a service. Not to judge people." Janet , SFSL Volunteer

Get the facts about hunger in our area...

We' re all neighbors here . Todos somos vecinos aqui .

MAX REINSDORF DA N HALE Y

Brookﬁeld ﬁnalizes Theater Building development bid terms

Trustees have weighed details of the bid request at their last 3 meetings

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Brookfield officials have nailed down the d etails of the village ’s request for bid proposals from p otential developers fo r the T heater Building and the a djacent property that to g ether span 3717-3723 Grand Blvd. Both parcels are now owned by the village gove r nment.

At the village board’s Jan. 27 committee of the whole meeting, trustees approved the final draft of the request after having discussed it at meetings since December. Trustees discussed the fine details of the triple bottom line assessment — a three-pronged evaluation of a proposed development’s return on investment in terms of finances, social improvements and sustainability.

Community Development Director Libby Popovic explained that each portion of the assessment will be weighted according to the village board’s priorities and that the assessment itself is one of three criteria for the request alongside financial information and public incentive plans. In the draft presented to trustees, which they later approved, the financial return was weighted at 55% of the overall assessment with the social return at 25% and the environmental retur n at 20%.

According to the draft, the financial return on investment for a development includes criteria like the amount of property tax revenue projected, the number of jobs created, long-term financial stability and whether the developer plans to purchase the properties outright.

The social return includes whether the development will bring public amenities like seating or gathering places, long-term improvements to public safety and pedestrian access, the inclusion of artistic, historic or cultural elements and the aesthetic of the frontage along Grand Boulevard.

The environmental return considers whether developers plan to build some or all of the development “green,” such as pursuing thirdparty green certification; make the rooftop ready for potential solar panels; incorporate elements of Brookfield’s sustainabiliy plan or pursue electrification within the building.

Popovic told trustees she chose the weighted percentages for each kind of return based on other bid proposal requests she had seen but that each return could be weighted however the board saw fit

In response to questions from Trustee Kit Ketchmark and Village President Michael Garvey, Popovic said that nearby businesses experiencing increased traffic due to a new development could count for either the financial or social return on investment for the triple bottom line assessment.

“As part of the financial analysis, the developer or whoever submits [a bid], if they have that information — that’s quantifiable infor mation that’s verified as to what the other sales tax will be for other businesses, [which is] a little more collateral, they can certainly provide it in this section,” she said. “This is a multi-layer analysis that the board would be able to do.”

What’s next? : e eater Building on Gr and Blvd. is part of a new v illage FRP.

While Ketchmark questioned whether the chosen percentages were “the right makeup” for the assessment, Trustee Julie Narimatsu emphasized that they are guidelines rather than a strict reflection of the board’s priorities. Narimatsu suggested removing the percentages entirely, which Village Manager Tim Wiberg and Trustee Edward Côté agreed with, but Popovic said she recommended against it

“All of the [requests for bid proposals] I looked at that actually do include the triple bottom line net do include percentages because it gives a very quantifiable number for an investor to include that as part of their package,” she said. “Any high-level developers would expect it.”

After more discussion about the percentages, Côté made the point that developers seeking clarity on the percentages could just reach out themselves.

“Tim, how long have you been in municipal government?” he asked Wiberg. When the village manager answered “34 years,” Côté asked, “In that 34 years, any developer worth his weight or her weight that is serious about putting something in would call and get clarification on [a bid request], right?”

“Yes,” Wiberg said.

“So, it’s not like they’re going to take this RFP and say, ‘Well, this is all I have to work with, so I’m not going to submit one,’” Côté said. “If they have a question, they’re going to call.”

While the board continued to discuss the fine points of the percenta ges, no trustee ultimately of fered an alternate breakdown to weigh the assessment when Garvey asked for one

After the board reached a consensus on the request for bids , Gar ve y thanked Po povic and other village staffers for wo rk in g out the details

“I know this has been a hard, long process, and it’s taken a lot of twists when we got the second property, so I appreciate your patience with the board,” he said.

Healthy Heart, Happy Life YOUR BEST LIFE with Lisa Capone

February is American Heart Month, a time to focus on cardiovascular health and the steps we can take to maintain a strong heart. At Cantata Senior Living, we recognize the importance of heart health, especially for older adults. Here are some easy ways to prioritize cardiovascular wellness:

Stay Active – Engage in light exercise like walking, chair yoga, or stretching to keep your heart strong.

Eat Heart-Healthy Foods – Enjoy meals rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while limiting sodium and processed foods.

Manage Stress – Practice deep breathing, meditation, or social activities to reduce stress and support heart health.

Monitor Your Health – Keep up with regular check-ups, blood pressure screenings, and medications as prescribed.

Stay Hydrated – Drink plenty of water to help maintain circulation and overall health.

Stay Connected – Engage in social activities to boost mental and emotional well-being, which benefits the heart.

This February, take simple steps toward a healthier heart. Let’s embrace wellness together— because a healthy heart is a happy heart!

Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-1030.

Independent Living • Assisted Living • Memory Support Short-Term Rehab • Long-Term Care • Home Care

PROVIDED BY THE VILL AG E OF BROOKFIELD

Drunk woman in driver’s seat of parked car arrested

Riverside police arrested a Chicago woman Jan. 27 for driving drunk when they found her in the driver’s seat of a parked car.

Around 2 a.m., an officer on patrol noticed a running car with the driver’s door open parked partially on the lawn of a house on the 7300 block of Ogden Avenue. The officer spoke with a woman in the driver’s seat, who smelled of alcohol and spoke in a “slurred” manner. When asked, the woman said she did not live at the residence but in Chicago. She could not produce a driver’s license but gave the officer a firearm owner’s ID card. The officer found she had a valid license after running her name. After another officer arrived on the scene to speak with the man in the passenger’s seat, the first officer asked the woman to take field sobriety tests outside her car. During the tests, the officer noticed indicators of impairment in the woman’s eye movements, struggle to balance and failure to recite the alphabet from E to R. The officer asked the woman to take a preliminary breath test, which showed a blood alcohol content of .23. The officer turned the vehicle over to the male passenger, who had a valid driver’s license and was found to be sober Po-

lice transported the woman to police lockup in North Riverside

After being read her Miranda warnings, the woman told police she had drunk cognac and Red Bull before driving but denied being drunk, “stating she was a ‘3’ out of ‘10’ in terms of intoxication,” police said. While speaking to police, the woman made statements threatening suicide, so paramedics from the North Riverside Fire Department evaluated her and transported her to the hospital. Police charged the woman with driving under the influence and later provided her with a copy of her citation and infor med her at the hospital of her court date.

Felony identity theft

Brookfield police arrested a 29-year-old Chicago man Jan. 23 for felony identity theft in connection to a theft reported Dec. 16, 2024. Around 6:45 a.m. on that date, a resident on the 4600 block of DuBois Boulevard re ported an overnight burglary to her unlocked car that was parked on the street. When an officer responded to the scene, the woman said her purse containing in-

surance cards, her driver’s license, a debit card and other items had been taken and the glove box and center console had been “rifled through,” police said. The woman told police she had received a notification on her phone around 2:20 a.m. from her banking app about a declined transaction at an Amoco gas station on her debit card that had been taken.

Police noted that around 1:11 a.m. that morning, an officer had responded to the 4100 block of Forest Avenue on a re port of two men pulling on the door handles of unoccupied cars. While at the scene, the officer made contact with the men and noticed a purse and construction tools inside their car before identifying them and sending them on their way.

At about 4:10 p.m., an officer spoke with the woman on the phone, who said after seeing a still photo of surveillance footage from the incident on Forest Avenue that the purse in the men’s vehicle was not her stolen purse. She told police her bank could not tell her where the declined transaction took place but that she searched the internet and found an Amoco at the intersec-

tion of Roosevelt Road and Kostner Avenue in Chicago. An officer who called the gas station confirmed the store’s ID number matched the one shown in the woman’s bank notification.

On Dec. 17 around 9 a.m., an officer arrived at the gas station and was given access to its real-time surveillance system. In the footage, the officer saw the two men arrive at the gas station on foot around 2:16 a.m. Dec. 16 wearing the same clothes. At 2:19 a.m., cameras inside the store caught the men trying to buy snacks with several cards from one of the men’s pockets before they left the snacks and exited the store without purchasing them. At 2:20 a.m., the men were seen walking out of the parking lot and heading north on foot.

Around 1:30 p.m. that day, the officer arrived at an auto shop one street over from the Amoco to access its surveillance system. Around 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 16, the men were seen exiting their vehicle and heading south on foot before returning from that direction and leaving around 2:22 a.m.

See POLICE REPORTS on pa ge 12

Reservations may be called in to Bryant at 708-408-2868, or by mail, send a check payable to Village of North Riverside and mailed to: Bryant Rouleau, 2513 Forest Ave, North Riverside, IL 60546 North Riverside Players Presents Our 18th Annual Murder Mystery Fundraiser

& Times: Check One Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 6:30P ____ Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 1:00P ____

$45* per person.

*includes sandwich lunch & salad

Tasty Catering will again provide this year’s delicious boxed lunches. Please see sandwich selections below. Tasty will provide all patrons with a zesty pasta salad. As always, there will be appetizers by the NRP team. Desserts will be provided by Tasty and Rose’s. Maximum of 100 patrons each day.

Reservations are $40 per person if paid by Friday, February 7, 2025. After February 7, reservations are $45 per person.

We are Riverside’s only non-partisan, community organization that encourages and supports residents running for village government. Join your friends and neighbors in finding the best leaders for Riverside!

Reservations may be called in to Bryant at 708-408-2868, or By mail, send a check payable to Village of North Riverside to Bryant Rouleau, 2513 Forest Ave, North Riverside, IL 60546.

Membership is open now — ➜ JOIN ON OUR WEBSITE BEFORE OUR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING! Your VOTE is your VOICE at all levels of government –JOIN TODAY!

and longtime resident of Brookfield, where she and her husband raised their family. With a deep commitment to her faith, she was a member of St. Louise de Marillac Church in LaGrange Park for nearly 50 years. Warm, kind, and compassionate, she unselfishly gave her time and creative talents, such as knitting countless numbers of scarves, hats, and bandages for the homeless and loved ones. She was an employee for over 20 years at the Ray Graham Association, a nonprofit providing care and ser-

POLICE REPORTS

from page 10

Later that day, the officer spoke with a police detective from Elmhurst, who said Elmhurst police had received a report of a burglary to a vehicle where construction tools were taken before Brookfield police spoke with the two men on Forest Avenue. The officer infor med the Elmhurst detective that Brookfield police had seen the tools in the men’s vehicle.

On Dec. 23, the detective told Brookfield po-

OBITUARIES

vices for people with disabilities. Acknowledging her strength and grace an Alzheimer’s journey in recent the f amily expresses great gratitude to the care givers at Terra Vista of Terrace.

was the wife of Patrick Horgan; the Patrick (Emily) Horgan Jr., Pamela Roberts, and Amy Simler; the grandPatrick (Mehnaz) Horgan V, Collin lexandra Horgan, Connor Roberts, Powell, Aidan Simler and Caleb ell; the great-grandmother of Damien an; the sister of Dr. Frank Trankina and the late Nina (the late Geno) Del Boccio; and the aunt of many nieces and nephews. sitation will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 5 p.m. and Feb. 6 from 9:30 to 10 a.m. Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St. in Brookfield, followed by celebration of the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Louise de Marilhurch, LaGrange Park, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside elebration of Fran’s vibrant style and family encourages wearing bright olors to the visitation and services. Memorials are appreciated to the Ray Graham Association, 901 Warrenville Road, Suite 500, Lisle, IL 60532 or Alzheimer’s Association, 6200 S. Drexel Ave., Chicago, IL 60637.

David Spale, 45

Lifelong North Riverside resident

David A. Spale, 45, a lifetime resident of North Riverside, died on Jan. 31, 2025. Born on April 27, 1979, he will be remembered for his smile and laugh when playing games with family and friends and watching his favorite programs.

David was the son and true angel of Frank and Carol (nee Hunka) Spale; the brother of Allan (Mei) Spale and Kathleen Spale; the uncle of Phyllis “Phoebe” Spale; the nephew of Chuck (Chris) Hunka, Larry (Liz) Hunka, the late Bob (Claudia) Hunka and the late Ken (the late Valerie) Spale and the late Rose Marie (the late Frank) Skisak; and the cousin of Larry (Linda), Chris, and the late Ken Skisak, Barbara (Gary) Jacklin, Keith (Nilla) Spale, Ellen, Lauren, Melissa (Elliot), and Jeremy (Nicole) Hunka. Visitation will take place at ConboyWestchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on T hursday, Feb. 6 from 4 until 8 p.m. Funeral will be held on Friday, 10:15 a.m. from the funeral home to Mater Christi Church in North Riverside for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Inter ment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko-Funeral Director.

Maria Burdi, 94 Homemaker

Maria Burdi, 94, of San Juan Capistrano, C alifo rn ia, for merly of North Rive rside, Romeoville, and C learwater, F lorida, die d on Jan. 22, 2025, at I vy Pa rk S an Juan Capistrano A ssisted Living Facility. Bor n on Jan. 11, 1931, she was a loving mother and homemaker

Maria is survived by her children, Annette (Edmund) Gaeke, Anna (Gino) Labellarte, and Michael Burdi; and her grandchildren, Mary Gaeke, Marie Labellarte, Michael Labellarte, Isla Burdi, Gianni Burdi, and Milo Burdi. She was preceded

in death by her husband, Frank, and an infant son, Michael Vito.

Laura Rice, 75 Hauser School paraprofessional

Laura E. Rice, 75, of Riverside, died on Jan. 20, 2025. A retired paraprofessional at Hau ser School, District 96 in Rive rside, she was the w ife of Richard and the mother of Heather Rice (Nate Gr aves) and Vanessa (Jim) Lewandowski

Arrangements are being handled by Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home in Riverside. Funeral info 708-447-2261 or www. moravecek.com.

lice they had located one of the men, who did not give a statement but whose phone police “recovered” and searched with a warrant, which revealed the phone had hit on cell towers from the 4600 block of DuBois Boulevard and elsewhere in Brookfield the morning of Dec. 16.

Due to the second man having a court date on Jan. 23 in Maywood, Brookfield police waited until then to contact him.

On Jan. 23, two Brookfield officers arrived at the Maybrook Courthouse around 9:30 a.m. to await the man’s court call and arrest him. Police gave the man the chance to call family to collect his car from the parking lot

before taking him to be processed at the Berwyn Police Department.

After police read the man his Miranda warning and inventoried his cell phone into evidence, the Elmhurst police detective arrived to collect the man’s phone while awaiting a warrant to search it, police said.

Officers contacted the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for felony review, which approved one felony charge of identity theft, which was upgraded to a Class 3 felony due to the man’s “criminal history,” police said. Police also charged the man with one misdemeanor count of trespassing to a vehicle before setting a Feb. 6 court date and

releasing the man.

These items were obtained from the Riverside Police Department reports dated Jan. 27 and the Brookfield Police Department reports dated Jan. 23 to Feb. 3; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest

Compiled by Trent Brown

Sports

LTHS cheerleaders head back to state

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

The Lyons Township competitive cheerleading team earned its fourth straight trip to the state meet in Bloomington after delivering a season-high 93.07 Saturday for third place in their Coed Division at the Buffalo Grove Sectional.

Needing a top-five sectional finish to advance, the Lions built of f their then-best 92.08 that defended their West Suburban Conference title, Jan. 20, at Hinsdale South. Team members are seniors Maddie Brennan, Meg Gray, Grace Lannon, Devon Mackenzie, Marquez, Annie Sarno and Katie Villarreal, juniors Erin Gugliuzza, Skyla Hendrix, Sophia Horwath, Vivi Koppel (manager), Aracely McNamara, Ryan Renderman, Maggie Sammon and Bridget Waight, sophomores Averie Grigus, Hayden Livingston, Ashlynn Monckton, Gloria Podolner, Kennedi Ross, Olivia Van Wyck, Audreya Wilkins and Aleigh Zeman and freshman Aylee Holguin.

The Lions are coached by Sharon Lupo and Ana Samaniego. Marquez, Mackenzie and Gray are Brookfield residents.

These are the only four state berths in

Gonzalez pins Lions’ rst girls wrestling regional title

program history.

“These athletes had a bumpy start to the season, but they knew they had to wo rk hard and improve to meet thei r g oals. T hey 100 percent have d one that,” Lupo responded

Top-10 finishers at state Friday advance to Saturday’s finals. Last season, the Lions finished a program-best 16th (88.86) after taking 22nd in both 2022 and 2021.

“Their first goal was winning conference. Their next goal was getting a bid to state,” Lupo responded. “Their next goal is making it to day two of state. I love this team and I know they can achieve that.”

RBHS/Nazareth cheerleading

The Bulldogs’ solid performance Saturday earned 11th in their Large Division at the Joliet West Sectional with an 83.30. RBHS had no routine deductions and came close to its re gular-season high of 84 after losing 10 seniors from 2024.

“(It’s) a significant accomplishment for a relatively new team,” RBHS head coach

Lauren Vara said. “Overall, I know we ended this season happy with our sectional performance. I am so incredibly proud

to have coached this team and to have watched them come together. That’s the real win for the season.”

Vara praised the leadership of seniors Mikayla Biggerstaf f, Olivia Denson and Natalie Torres. At their first Upstate Eight Conference Meet Jan. 22 at Bartlett, the Bullodgs took fourth and the junior varsity was seventh.

“This year’s team has forged an incredible bond. Their commitment and determination have been outstanding,” Vara said. “This young team gained valuable experience. We got a taste of the competition and are already hung ry for more.”

Nazareth Academy was 12th (78.03) in the Medium Division at the Buffalo Grove Sectional.

Girls wrestling

Senior trailblazer Avi Gonzalez once again added to the history of Lyons Township High School girls wrestling Saturday. Gonzalez made her third trip to sectionals the best after becoming the program’s first regional champion at the Hinsdale South Regional Saturday.

A program member since the start, Gonzalez (17-4) won the championship at 110 pounds as the No. 2 seed, pinning top-seeded Lockport sophomore Veronica Skibicki (34-13) just before the end of the first period.

“It means a lot to me. I started wrestling since my sophomore year and I’ve only made so much progress from here,” said Gonzalez, 4-0 at re gionals with four first-period pins.

“Honestly I thought wrestling was something I’d do on the side but never thought it would be something that means so much to me.”

Riverside Brookfield junior Danely Villagomez (22-7) also earned a return trip to sectionals with a top-four finish by taking third at 155 with a 4-1 record and four first-period pins.

Top-four finishers at the Schaumburg Sectional Feb. 14-15 advance to the state meet.

Villagomez qualified for state in 2023 at 135.

Gonzalez is going after her first state berth – and her first sectional victories -- after go-

ing 0-2 at sectionals the past two years. Last season, Gonzalez suffered her first loss at regionals by taking second after an undefeated regular season.

“That’s the plan (to reach state),” Gonzalez said. “Coming into this year, I knew it was going to be harder competition because girls wrestling has grown so fast. I wasn’t undefeated this year (in the regular season) but what matters most is I’m pushing my hardest every match.”

Gonzalez said she had no concerns after missing the West Suburban Conference Meet with illness. Her dramatic regional championship pin just as the buzzer sounded followed pins in 1:35, 1:50 and 56 seconds in the semifinals.

“It was awesome. She just wrestled one match at a time and wrestled tough the whole weekend,” LTHS coach Darwin DePina said.

RBHS sophomore Emily Anaya (18-13 at 135) and LTHS juniors Sofia Turek (16-7 at 135) and Ashley Uhler (13-8 at 115) and freshman Jhania Wickert-Harris (15-7 at 100) went 2-2 and came two consolation victories from top-four finishes. RBHS senior Frankie Abasta (15-11 at 125) also was 2-2, winning her first two matches with pins.

LTHS boys bowling

Lyons Township senior Nolan Deines finished 121st Friday at the boys bowling state meet in O’Fallon with a six-game series of 1,033 (172.2-pin average) with a 204 high game.

“The lanes didn’t play like practice,” Deines responded.

Deines was the last individual qualifier at the Naperville Central Sectional Jan. 25 with a personal-best 1,231 (205.2 average). In 2024, Deines bowled one game at state when the Lions made their third straight state appearance as a team.

“Outside of my bowling performance (Friday), I really enjoyed the experience,” Deines responded. “I was able to bring a few teammates and we had a lot of quality bonding.”

Bertucci hoping for fun, healthy gymnastics nish

Brook eld senior, Lions, Bulldogs prepare for postseason competition

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Gymnastics has played a big part in the life of senior Emmy Bertucci for more than a decade. The sport even eased the transition as she entered the large Lyons Township High School after her family moved to Brookfield just before her freshman year from Chicago’s Garfield Ridge community.

“It was a bit scary and I definitely was completely shocked by the new environment,” Bertucci said. “I think I adapted pretty well and enjoyed the fresh start and all of the new people surrounding me. [Gymnastics] definitely helped me.”

She still has some final goals in her final competitive season. The four-year varsity all-arounder hopes to help the Lions reach sectionals as a team for the third straight season and see multiple individuals qualify for their first state meets. She should be among the Lions’ state contenders, especially after her 8.95 at the 2024 sectional missed the at-large cut by just .05.

Bertucci and seniors Ava Hepokoski and Dahlia Highland are coming of f top-five, all-conference performances at the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet Saturday at Hinsdale Central.

“I always hope to qualify [for state] individually but there are no promises for any spot, so I want to make sure I don’t put too much pressure. Mostly I want to have fun with my team for my last year of gymnastics,” she said. “I think the biggest goal is more to perform extremely well as a team. As a team, we really thrive better and we get so motivated working together.”

Bertucci, named the team’s Most Valuable Performer as a sophomore, is having her strongest season with significant help from taking time of f from gymnastics this past offseason. After riding the Lions’ great wave last season with their first re gional title since 2015, she found herself exhausted and physically beaten, especially her left ankle, which somehow survived a rough landing early on.

“Last year was a lot of pressure, having to do all of my routines without getting more injured,” Bertucci said. “It was mostly my decision. But I talked about it with my family and [LTHS coach Brittany Milovanovic]. We all sort of ag reed it was better to take the time of f.”

In her first major invite after winter break, Jan. 11, at Andrew, she reached 36.00 in all-around, a 9.0 event average, for the first time after usually scoring in the 34s.

“That was the best meet I’ve ever performed in my life,” she said.

In the Lions’ dual at Hinsdale Central, Jan. 22, Bertucci scored a personal-best 9.35 on beam, second only to Highland’s personal-best 9.4.

“She needed a break for sure [after last season]. She’s still in pain, and we take it day by day, but she’s doing great,” Milovanovic said. “She always comes back [ev-

ery season] with her skills. She’s not scared of anything, which is awesome. She’s always motivated. Her competitive side comes out most once the season starts and especially since she started gymnastics so young, you can tell she’s experienced, comfortable with meets.”

At the Silver Meet, Bertucci was fourth on floor exercise (9.025) and fifth on uneven parallel bars (8.875). They were her first all-conference honors since taking second on beam and fifth in all-around as a sophomore.

On uneven bars, she gashed her toe during her routine, which caused an inter ruption to clean of f blood on the mats. Bertucci was given the opportunity to redo her routine but had to take that score.

“My highlight would be my floor routine. I was superbouncy and did really good tumbling passes and the energy was really high,” she said.

Hepokoski was second on uneven bars (9.15) and fifth on vault (8.875) and Highland was third on vault (9.2), fourth in all-around (35.65) and also sixth on floor (8.9). Her first all-conference honors especially were exciting on uneven bars, where she’s recently gone through three pairs of g rips after one that ripped and another that didn’t feel right.

“I had to get another pair but we’re back and I’m back on bars doing good,” Hepokoski said.

Highland added to her first all-conference honors last

year with fifth on vault. She now consistently lands pike Tsukaharas.

“I would honestly say my highlight was hitting my floor routine because it’s been a while. Also my vault was solid so that was a highlight,” Highland said.

The Lions also were third with a season-high 138.85 points and third in the final overall standings. They finally surpassed their previous best 138.10 from the Nov. 27 season opener even after losing sophomore all-arounder Brynn Krantz, last season’s MVP, to a stress fracture in her foot since late December.

The Lions play host to re gionals Thursday with hopes of reaching the six-team Hinsdale Central Sectional, Feb. 10, as the No. 7 seed in the state’s toughest sectional.

If they don’t advance as a team, the Lions should have several individual qualifiers.

“I’ve been working incredibly hard, specifically on floor and beam, and my results have been showing like crazy,” Bertucci said. “It’s such a good feeling when my work actually pays of f.”

RBHS girls gymnastics

Riverside Brookfield sophomore Paige Phelan continues to rise to the occasion.

On Saturday, Phelan finished second in all-around at the Upstate Eight Conference at RBHS with a 33.30 following her personal-best 34.20 at the RBHS Bulldog Invite, Jan. 25. Phelan also was a top-five, all-conference medalist by sharing fourth on vault (8.3) and was sixth on beam (8.8) — her highest score — and seventh on floor (8.2) and uneven bars (8.0).

“I think sticking beam was a highlight and just that we scored well as a team,” Phelan said. “I work on [beam] a lot, every single day at practice. I’ve newly put in the switch leap and round of f.”

The Bulldogs scored a season-high 127.11 for second to state power Oswe go co-op (143.35) and second in the final overall standings.

Three freshmen added multiple top-10 ef forts. Ana Bacik was sixth on floor (8.3), .15 from fifth, eighth on uneven bars (7.7), Cora Rosenfeld was eighth on beam (8.25) and floor (8.15) and tied for 10th on uneven bars (7.4) and Elly Dickerson tied for eighth on vault (8.1) and shared ninth on beam (7.95). RBHS surpassed its 125.30 from Dec. 25. The Bulldogs had a fourth-place 123.90 at their invite with a lineup depleted by illness or injury.

“We’re lucky to be here today and standing,” said RBHS coach Karyn Domzalski, hit by illness herself last week. “This was a great showing by them. We had four out of five stick beam. And then bars was pretty consistent.”

The Bulldogs competed at the Hinsdale South Re gional Tuesday with hopes of qualifying individuals for the Hinsdale Central Sectional, Feb. 10. Phelan reached sectionals last year on beam, floor and all-around.

STEVE JOHNSTON

Emmy Bertucci

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:

2025 Street Improvement Program

This project includes the replacement of curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway aprons, hot-mix asphalt surface removal, frame/lid adjustment, resurfacing, and other associated work.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Thursday, January 23, 2025 at: www.vrf.us/bids

Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at:

Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305

The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.

No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.

Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: HMA Paving

The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.

Published in Wednesday Journal January 29, & February 5, 2025

Illinois Classified Advertising Network EVENTS

GUN SHOW� February 7�8, 2025, Badger Military Collectible & Military Firearms Show Waukesha Expo, 1000 Northview RD. Waukesha, WI. Fri 3�8pm, Sat 9am-4pm, $10 �Under 14 FREE� Buy/ Sell, 608�752�6677, www.bobandrocco.com

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, for the following: 2025 Material Testing. Proposals can be sent electronically to eavgoustakis@oak-park.us

In general, the contract will require the following work: oncall material testing services for stone density testing, air/ slump/cylinder testing for concrete pavement, and QC testing for asphalt binder and surface courses. Work to be performed will follow IDOT standards and specifications.

Proposal forms may be obtained starting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Proposal forms can be found on the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/bid For questions, please call or email Elaine Avgoustakis, (708) 358-5726, eavgoustakis@oakpark.us.

The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal February 5, 2025

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7�30 a.m. to 4�00 p.m. local time until 2�00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 for the following: Village of Oak Park 2025 Tree Pit Maintenance Bid Number: 25�112

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358� 5700 during the hours above.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 5, 2025

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application from the Village of Riverside to review and consider various changes to the standards for accessory buildings and garages as set forth in the Riverside Zoning Ordinance. Application No.: PZ 25-0001

Petitioner: Village of Riverside Proposed Text Amendments: Various changes to the Village of Riverside Zoning Ordinance relative to accessory buildings and garages. The affected chapters include, but may not be limited to, Title 10, Chapter 11 (Definitions), Title 10, Chapter 7 (Site Development Standards), and Title 10, Chapter 4 (Residential Districts). Among the changes being considered include adding definitions, revising standards for accessory buildings, revising standards for garages, and adding building coverage incentives for new detached garages. The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the matters being considered. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to the Village’s Community Development Department at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. the day of the public hearing.

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.

Dated this 5th day of February, 2025.

Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson Planning & Zoning Commission

Published in RBLandmark February 5, 2025

of four local bakers in Oak Park Sweet Success

From custom cakes to cookies with a story, these bakers turned their love for baking into thriving home businesses.

By RISÉ SANDERS WEIR Contributing Reporter

While creaming butter, separating eggs and adding sugar, some local home bakers discovered a surprise: some people wanted to buy their delicious creations

And so the creative adventure began for several local bakers – but only once they developed a business plan and obtain necessary gover nment approvals to run a food operation from home.

Valentine’s Day seems an appropriate time to review the journey of four such local bakers.

Oak Parker Lillian Kong started her Lit Cake Bakery as a blog where she shared her baking techniques and used her love of literature to inspire the shapes and flavors of her treats

“I was told for years I should sell what I

made,” Kong said. While she began with weekly treat boxes, she shifted to custom orders like birthday and anniversary cakes to focus on quality and efficiency.

It is an artistic outlet, according to Kong, but “I do have to make enough to pay for ingredients, insure myself I have to make sure that I cover those at least.”

terpieces for celebrations,” Watkins said. “I love talking to someone. They tell me about their event, what they’re celebrating, the theme. Then I translate all of that into this edible piece of art.”

FOLLOW THEM ONLINE:

The business side was something Maywood resident Tanesha Watkins felt prepared for. But she said that she had to grow a thicker skin to deal with customers. There was one, for example, who agreed her cakes were the best but complained they cost the most. She responded “thank you so much for the compliment. And as you mentioned that my work looks the best, the price is reflective of the work that goes into it.”

During COVID-19, she expanded her reach to out-of-town orders sent to loved ones who couldn’t visit their families

Lit Cake Bakery: Instagram @thelitcake Tee Tee’s Sweets: teeteessweets.com

Cookie Dad: tiktok.com/@russell.ja e.cookie.dad

Petal & Moon: petalmoonpastr y.com

Watkins’ be g an making cupcakes for her ne phew for his first birthday – he is now 22 – baking has been her full-time job now for a decade

“I am a cake and cookie artist. I create cen-

COVID inspired Oak Park’s “Cookie Dad” Russell Jaffe to reach for his oven mitts and to cook more. When Christmas 2020 rolled around, he wondered what to do with the rest of a carton of eggnog

“I remember being like, are there recipes that use eggnog? I found one for cookies and then one for frosting,” said Jaffe.

The taste was spot on, so he proudly posted on a dads’ social media group

“It actually was sort of like the closest thing I can think of to Fight Club. One of the dads, reached out. He was like can I get some of them? The next year, I did it again,”

Jaffe said. By 2023, it had become a tradition. And in 2024, he decided to make it official. Because he still has a day job, Jaffe limits his offerings.

“I do not like expansive menus. I like a few things done really well,” Jaffe said.

Gluten-free options are an important part of that mix for the Cookie Dad

“I have a gluten allergy, a wheat allergy When I bake gluten stuff, I put on the mask and the gloves. And if I make gluten-free things, I have a whole second mixer that never touches gluten at all. I take it seriously because I live it,” said Jaffe.

Baking a cake for a child with allergies was what ramped up Oak Parker Ashley Renée Johnson’s business, Petal & Moon. She had been a pastry chef at well-known places like Somerset, then Spiaggia

“I had just gotten one of my pastries on the menu. It was this chocolate brioche with a hazelnut frangipane and some orange cream and chocolate ganache. It got on the brunch menu in February of 2020. Then everything came crashing down,” said Johnson, referring to the pandemic.

She went home and baked sourdough bread, like so many others.

“One of my customers was like, my child has all these allergies. Can you make his birthday cake? So that was the first. I posted it on my Instagram page and then it slowly snowballed,” said Johnson.

A career in kitchens led Johnson to put emphasis on ingredients. For her the more local the better.

“It just feels special because I’m connecting with the growers and the land. All those things are super important to me because even though it’s a cake, it’s still food. And

even though it’s sweet, it’s still going to nourish,” said Johnson.

She relies on Janie’s Mill flours from Illinois, growing and drying her own flowers for decorations and gathering local fruit in the summer to preserve their flavors into winter. She even gathers grapes from her

grandfather’s Oak Park backyard

All four of these bakers put their hearts into what they create. Their craft goes beyond business. For them, it’s about feeding their community and spreading love the way only a good bite of food can.

“When you go to your grandma’ or aunt’s

house. They say, ‘Do you want something to eat?’ That’s why I love doing this,” said Tanesha Watkins

Save the date for Bite the Burbs, area’s culinary event

Seize the deals and explore local restaurants Jan. 31 to Feb. 8

By DALAL ORFALI Vibe Assistant Editor

As we wrap the holiday season and dig into the bitter cold winter, a culinary event is set to heat up the west suburbs

Bite the Burbs is coming back for its second year from Jan. 31 to Feb. 8. The event brings together more than 70 local restaurants, offering you a chance to explore diverse dining options with enticing deals

Organized by Visit Oak Park, Bite the Burbs aims to energize local dining during a typically slow time of the year

Annie Coakley, executive director of Visit Oak Park, shared the inspiration behind the event, saying: “It’s a promotion to bring people in the area who would prefer to stay home and order food in to get them to go out, and we’re enticing them with some kind of a deal.”

She added: “Restaurants have a choice of

the deal that they want to provide, which is either a free appetizer with entree purchase or a free dessert with entree purchase or 15% off the check or providing a prix-fixed meal.”

While named for Oak Park, Bite the Burbs extends to Forest Park, Brookfield, La Grange, La Grange Park, Riverside and North Riverside

Coakley emphasized the event’s regional focus, saying, “We have so many interesting restaurants – not your cookie-cutter establishments. For example, we’ve included Cuban, Venezuelan and Mexican restaurants, along with unique takes on pizza like brick-oven styles.”

The timing of Bite the Burbs is strategic It coincides with Bite Nite, a food-focused fundraiser hosted by the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber on Jan. 31, creating synergy between two celebrations of local culinary art.

“We kick off the week with their event, then we have the rest of that week to get people out and explore restaurants they have tried and get a deal while they’re at it,” Coakley said.

Bite the Burbs provides an important platform for locally-owned restaurants, aiming to increase foot traffic and bolster community support

Participating restaurants were recruited through collaborations with local chambers and village economic development departments. “We are putting this promotion together. We provided them with a link to the form, and there is no cost for the restaurants to participate,” Coakley said. .

Restaurants also benefit from enhanced visibility through marketing strategies such as table tents with QR codes, posters and a user-friendly website listing all participating establishments and their deals

Feedback from last year’s event has influenced this year’s approach. “Restaurants requested more social media promotion, and we’ve increased our advertising budget,” Coakley noted. Additionally, partnerships with organizations like Yummy Food Tours and Takeout 25 have helped spread the word and elevate the event’s profile. Reflecting on Bite the Burbs’ potential, Coakley shared her enthusiasm. “Seeing the growth from 32 restaurants to over 70

in just one year shows that this benefits restaurants and that they appreciate the work we’re putting into it on their behalf,” she said.

While future plans may include extending the event’s duration or adding interactive elements like chef demonstrations, Coakley said that feedback from participants will shape the event’s evolution. She expressed gratitude for partnerships with organizations like Takeout 25 that have helped amplify the event’s reach. “They helped us spread the word to the restaurant community that this is available for them to take advantage of,” she said. .”

Bite the Burbs is not just a celebration of food; it’s a testament to the creativity of local restaurants. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or looking for a reason to venture out, this event promises an unforgettable culinary journey with the added value of a deal.

For more details, visit the Bite the Burbs website and check the list of participating restaurants. https://www.visitoakpark .com/bite-the-burbs-restau ra ntweek

RISÉ

SANDERS WEIR

From le : Tanesha Watkins, Tee Tee’s Sweets owner; Lillian Kong, Lit Cake Baker y owner; Ashley Renée Johnson, Petal & Moon owner; Russell Ja e, Cookie Dad owner.

Landmark, Februar y 5, 2025

Submit events and see full calendar at rblandmark.com/events

By ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter

OA K PARK

La Notte

■ Feb. 14, 1120 Pleasant St., Oak Park

Head over to La Notte to enjoy a special Valentine’s Day menu crafted by executive chef and owner Giovanni Mancini.

Cheney Mansion

■ Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m., 220 North Euclid Ave., Oak Park

View the Cheney Mansion decorated in lights at its Glow Valentine’s Day Dance Party. Expect dinner and dancing.

Little Gem Cafe

■ Feb. 14, 189 N. Marion St., Oak Park

Visit Little Gem Cafe for its four courses, Valentine’s Day prix-fixe menu. Choose between five diverse main courses and three tempting desserts.

Schoolhouse Kitchen + Studios

■ Feb.14 and Feb.16, at 9 a.m. and 4 a.m., 1011 Madison St., Oak Park

If you are looking for something f estive for your little ones to do this Valentine’s Day, look no further than Schoolhouse Kitchen + S tudio ’s Valentine C ooking C amp. Want a f amily activity? Indulge in i ts Valentine’s Day pizza pa rty for families.

Pleasant Home

■ Feb. 14, at 7 p.m., 217 Home Ave., Oak Park

Celebrate being single at Love Bites: An Anti-Valentine’s Day Celebration put on by the Park District of Oak Park at the Pleasant home. Expect a night of antilove ballads and fun activities.

FOREST

PARK

Robert’s Westside

■ Feb. 14, at 6:30 p.m., 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Feel neighborly love at Robert’s Westside’s King of Hearts event. The community is being asked to nominate a person who spreads the most love and joy; then they will be crowning a king or a queen while listening to the music of Jeff Mauro & The Jewel Bags and The Shams Band.

Table and Lain

■ Feb. 14 -15, at 6:30 p.m., 7322 Madison St, Forest Park

Cook a four-course romantic meal with your loved one at Table and Lain’s Valentine’s Day cooking class. From seared duck breast to a chocolate cake with gold leaf, this elevated experience will surely impress a date.

Scratch Public House

■ Feb. 15, at 12 p.m., 7505 Madison St., Forest Park

Get your gals and your dollar bills out for Valentine’s Diva Drag Brunch at Scratch Public House.

AUSTIN

Su Taqueria Thaly’s

■ Jan. 21 to Feb. 15, 3156 N. Austin Ave., Chicago

Su Ta q ueria T haly’s is the perfect spot for I nsta gr am- wo rt hy Valentine’s Day food, having all the heart-shaped snacks and love - themed drinks. Order a vitrolero (5-gallon jug) of horchata and a heart-shaped torta for a g ood meal and a good photo.

BROOKFIELD

Warm Wick Company

■ Feb. at 7 p.m., 3732 Prairie Ave., Brookfield

Cozy up with your loved one at Warm Wick Company’s Valentine’s Date Night candle-making event. Work to g ether to create a custom fra grance while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and chocolate-covered strawberries.