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Most Riversiders probably aren’t aware, but as of Jan. 1, for the first time ever, the village of Riverside began staffing both of its fire stations around the clock, seven days a week.

Prior to the beginning of 2023, the village had only staffed its main fire station 24/7 every day of the year, and two contract

LTHS board critics coalescing around three candidates

Local Awake Illinois leader among pushing endorsement

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

Critics of the Lyons Township High School Board of Education and administration policies and of the school board’s attempt to sell the nearly 70-acre tract of land it owns in Willow Springs appear to be coalescing around three candidates in the school board race, Timothy Vlcek, Frank Evans, and David Her ndon.

Janelle Towne, the leader of Awake Illinois’ Wester n Springs chapter, is one of those supporting Vlcek, Evans, and Her ndon.

In a post on her personal Facebook page, after criticizing the LTHS leadership for what she called lies, deceit and deception concer ning LTHS’s attempt to sell the Willow Springs property, Towne wrote “Elect Frank Evans, Timothy Vlcek and David Her ndon”.

Towne told the Landmark the message was posted on her personal page and was not an endorsement from the Awake Illinois, a rightwing group that initially opposed mask mandates in schools during the COVID-19 and has evolved to oppose what it sees as left-leaning teaching about race and gender in schools Critics of Awake Illinois have called the group hateful and anti-LGBTQ+.

Vlcek, Evans and Herndon held a meet and greet event at Flagg Creek Golf Course in Indian Head Park on Feb. 15. The other four candidates for the LTHS school board were not invited.

“We’re not on a ticket together,” said Vlcek, a resident of LaGrange Park who works as the director of plant operations for Weinstein Wholesale Meats “I mean we were invited by the people of Willow Springs, that’s all I know.”

However, the three do appear to be working together in some fashion. On his campaign page on Facebook, Evans recently posted a message stating people could obtain yard signs for him, Vlcek and Her ndon by contacting him, stating “We need your support to affect positive change for LTHS.”

Promotional material about the event mentioned the proposed Willow Springs land sale which fell apart last month.

A notice about the event was posted on the

Facebook page of Awake Illinois Wester n Springs, according to a screen shot sent to the Landmark.

Evans, who could not be reached for comment on Feb. 20, told the Landmark in December that he was aware of Awake Illinois, but was not active in it.

“I get their text updates and I follow them on Facebook, but I have not been to any meetings or anything like that at all,” said Evans, a LaGrange resident who founded and runs the fir m CBA Pensions

Vlcek and Her ndon, who both graduated from LTHS, said that they have no connection to Awake Illinois.

“I don’t even know anybody at Awake Illinois,” Vlcek said.

Her ndon, a resident of LaGrange who served for 12 years on the LaGrange District 105 school board, eight as president until he was defeated in a bid for a fourth ter m in 2021, said he has no connection with Awake Illinois or other partisan groups.

“I am not connected with any organizations like that,” said Her ndon a vice president at an investment fir m. “I don’t know Janelle; I’ve never met Janelle. I’m not supported by anyone at Turning Point, 1776, I’m not supported by Indivisible

“I wouldn’t answer Indivisible’s questionnaire because school board elections are nonpartisan and that’s a partisan group just as those other ones are. I don’t believe in what they stand for. I don’t believe in any groups that try to demonize and tear apart other human beings, which is why I don’t participate and I’m not associated with any of them. I can’t help what anyone says.”

Vlcek, Her ndon and Evans all said that they were not running as a slate although emails are being sent to voters in District 204 asking them to vote for the three of them.

“We’re running independently, our platfor ms are very similar,” Vlcek said.

Vlcek said that any sale of the Willow Springs property should conform to its existing zoning.

“I’m not saying they shouldn’t sell the property, what I’m saying is that it should be sold the way that it is zoned to maintain the inte grity of Willow Springs,” Vlcek said.

All three have said that they are concer ned about a decline in academic standards at LTHS.

“Education and not lowering standards is important to me,” said Vlcek who is a volunteer mentor at LTHS in the school’s business incubator program. “Everybody getting a tro-

phy is not the way the real world works. And do I think they’ve gotten away with that.”

They have also been critical of the new grading system that has been used at LTHS for the past couple of years, but which has been modified significantly this year to make homework once again count towards a student’s grade and to limit retakes of tests

Her ndon said his youngest daughter, a freshman at the University of Kentucky, called him this year and said that she was surprised not to be able to retake tests in college as she could at LTHS. Her ndon said that he thinks his older daughter, who graduated from LTHS four years before his youngest daughter, was better prepared for college

Evans is also concer ned about academic standards at LTHS

“These past couple of years have been difficult as far as the COVID lockdowns, and there’s been some serious challenges in the past couple years and I think the school has potentially strayed away from fundamentals,” Evans said. “I’m running just to make sure that there’s some solid stewardship, get the school back on track and hopefully start to increase these rankings and get back to the fundamentals of lear ning.”

The other candidates in the LTHS school board race are school board President Kari Dillon, incumbent Jill Beda Daniels, and two school administrators. Tim Albores is director of student services at Plainfield District 202 and Justin Clark is an assistant principal at Richards High School.

Albores and Clark both said that they are running independent campaigns and didn’t want to comment about any alliance Vlcek, Evans and Her ndon might have. Beda Daniels declined to comment on her opponents Dillon said, “I hope that they’re running for all the good reasons that make board members effective board members, which is that they care about the community and students and teachers.”

Two other candidates who filed to run in December, Jill VanHimbergen and Gina Sirchio-Lotus, withdrew from the race last month. While both said that the time commitments were a factor in their decisions to drop out, VanHimbergen said finding out that Evans, Her ndon and Vlcek were allied and had similar views also contributed to her decision to withdraw.

“I do think the more that we can not split the vote between likeminded people, that could help some of the better candidates to get on,” said VanHimbergen, a for mer teacher. “And a lot of the candidates that are not running in that kind of conservative slate just have more school experience too They actually have careers in education so just from an experience standpoint they probably would be better suited too.”

Editor Bob Uphues

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BIG WEEK

Februar y 22-March 1

Radio Players recreate classic shows

The Riverside Township Radio Players per form two more classic shows from Radio’s Golden Age on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road in Riverside.

The troupe will recreate the episode “Justice Wears and Blindfold” from “The Green Hornet” and “Dick Whittington and His Cat” from the show “Let’s Pretend.”

Free and open to the public. Visit riversidetownshipradioplayers.com for more.

Histor y of the Chicago Por tage

Leyna Delmonico, 2023, ceramic

AP Ar t Exhibition at RAC

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quinc y St., presents its 13th Annual Riverside-Brook eld High School Advanced Placement Art Exhibition from Feb. 24 through March 18 in the Freeark Galler y.

The group exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs and more by students in their sophomore, junior and senior years. An opening reception is planned for Feb. 25 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Regular galler y hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

And more

■ Join troubadour Mark Dvorak once a month beginning Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. as Loca Mocha, inside the Metra station at 8858 Burlington Ave. in Brook eld, resumes its Morning Co ee House series. No admission charge; donations accepted. Books and CDs available for purchase.

■ Nazareth Academy, 1209 W. Ogden Ave. in LaGrange Park, hosts its Spring Choir Concert featuring traditional and contemporary choral selections on March 1 at 7 p.m. in the Alexine Chapel. Free.

■ Riverside School District 96 will host a virtual kindergarten information program on March 2 at 6 p.m. If your child will be 5 years old before Sept. 1 you are invited to attend. Visit district96.org for details.

■ North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents After School Art Escape (child with adult) on Feb. 23 at 4 p.m., Crafterdarks: Lucky Banner Garland on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m., a Club de Lectura discussion of “La Buena Suerte” by Rosa Montero on Feb. 24 at 10:30 a.m., Calming Craft for Kids (child with adult) on Feb. 24 at 4 p.m., a Family Movie Matinee screening of “Spies in

African Americans’ Music at the Movies

In honor of Black History Month, John LeGear examines some of the ways African American writers, musicians and per formers have enriched the American experience during “African Americans’ Music at the Movies” on Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. in Meeting Room 1 of the Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave

The 75-minute multimedia presentation will reveal perspectives you may not have considered before. A brief Q&A session follows the show.

BEN SELLS

Friends of the Chicago Portage continue their lecture series celebrating the 350th anniversary of Jolliet’s discovery of Chicago with the presentation “A History of the Chicago Portage” by Riverside author Ben Sells on F Public Library, 4209 Joliet A Sells, the author of y of the Chicago Portage: The Crossroads that Made Chicago and Helped Make America,” tells how a seven-mile stretch of marshland gave rise to the city of Chicago.

Free and open to the public. For more, visit chicagopor tage.org.

Disguise” on Feb. 25 at 1 p.m., Morning Munchkin Stories with Miss Karen on Feb. 27 at 10:30 a.m., and a Koko’s Film Club screening of “Mr. Malcolm’s List” on Feb. 28 at 2 p.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new.

■ Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Librar y, 3541 Park Ave., presents Google Docs 101 on Feb 23 at 7 p.m., Chair Zumba on Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m., Embroider y Basics on Feb. 25 at 3:30 p.m., Chair Yoga (vir tual) on Feb. 27 at 11 a.m., Cards & Co ee on Feb. 28 at 10:30 a.m. and Intro to Digitization on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online at brook eld

Register to attend by calling 708-485-6917, ext 130 or visiting brook eld.evanced.info/signup.

Family Toy S ale

Brook eld Parks & Rec invites families to nd deals on gently used toys, games and books during its Family Toy Sale on Feb. 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the lower-level recreation hall at the Brook eld Village Hall, 8820 Brook eld Ave. Free admission for shoppers.

evanced.info/signup to register for programs

■ Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents All Ages Yoga Storytimes (all ages) on Feb. 24 at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., Mindfulness Together meditation on Feb. 24 at 11 a.m., Legopalooza on Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to noon, Mini-Movers Storytime (3-under with caregiver) on Feb. 27 at 9:30 and 10:15 a.m., Knitting, Crochet and Needlework Group (ages 13+) on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. and All in the Family Genealogy Program on Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrar y.org/events

Bill Robinson, Lena Horne and Cab Calloway in “Stormy Weather”

Riverside water customers should brace for big rate hike

54.5% increase over 9 years proposed to fund lead service line replacement

By BOB UPHUES Editor

With state and federal grant funding apparently off the table for Riverside as it faces the prospect of replacing all lead water service lines in the village, local officials are zeroing in on just how to cover that enor mous statemandated expense

While decisions probably won’t be made until early April, all signs point to Riverside’s water customers – residential and commercial property owners – swallowing a 54.5% increase in the village’s water/sewer rate over the next nine years.

Last year, a new state law went into effect, starting the clock for a mandated removal of all lead water service lines across Illinois.

Municipalities must submit an initial replacement plan to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency in 2024 and a final plan by 2027.

All municipalities will then be required to replace all lead water service lines within 17 years at a rate of no less than 6% per year

The prospect of such a large overall increase comes on the heels of two increases last year, which increased the minimum bimonthly bill (for water customers using five units, or 500 cubic feet) to $88.20 or $529.20 annually.

The “average” Riverside residential water customer – who uses 11 units per billing period – now pays a bi-monthly bill of $220.50, or $1,323 annually, according to data provided by the village.

By 2032, proposed rate increases presented to elected officials at their Feb. 16 meeting indicate that minimum bi-monthly bills will rise to $136.29, or $817.72 annually. The average customer by 2032 would see a bi-monthly increase to $340.72, or to $2,044.30 annually.

Those rate increases take into account the cost for replacing the lead service lines only. They don’t include any increases the village

of McCook, which supplies water to Riverside, might apply in future years, nor does it include any unexpected future spikes in labor and material costs

The rate increases will be needed to cover the unexpected prospect of having to roughly double the amount of money Riverside will seek to issue in bonds to pay for the long-ter m water line replacement project.

Riverside had planned to issue $11 million in bonds in two installments – one in 2025 and one in 2030 -- to cover the cost of planned water and sewer system improvements, including the replacement of lead service lines in the public way, from the water main to the B-box.

Without grants available to help fund the

replacement of the “private” water service lines – from the B-box to the water meter –the village is now looking at a total bond issue of $19 million. The first bond issue in 2025 would be for $9 million and the second in 2030 for $10 million.

The annual debt service on those bonds would rise over time from about $360,000 in 2025 to $800,000 in 2032, thus the proposed water/sewer rate increases during that time.

Village officials still need to settle on the timing and exact amounts of the water/sewer rate increases, but they’ll need to make the first call soon. Riverside is planning a water main replacement on Shenstone Road later this year, which requires the replacement of 51 lead water service lines

RBHS student charged after reported threat to bring gun to school

Juvenile faces felony for comment made on Instagram

By BOB UPHUES Editor

A Riverside-Brookfield High School student has been charged with a felony count of disorderly conduct after he alle gedly threatened in a comment on social media on Feb. 13, the day before a scheduled allschool pep rally, to bring a gun to school.

According to the police re port obtained

by the Landmark through a public records request, the boy, who is a juvenile, left the message as a comment to a post on the @rbdo gpound Instagram feed, which hypes upcoming RBHS athletic events and achievements

The manager of the account aler ted Dean Cara Weinberg about the comment, which was taken down from the page The same person then sent a second comment, also re por tedly of a threatening nature.

With RBHS scheduled to host the allschool assembly at 9:45 a.m. on Feb. 14, of ficials called police, who initiated an investigation. Police were able to identify a suspect and contacted his mother

Later that day, police went to the suspect’s home where he re por tedly admitted making the comment about bringing a gun to school. According to the police re port, the boy told police he made the comment “out of frustration and anger” but that he did not have any access to a weapon and had no intention of acting on it.

Riverside Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley confir med to the Landmark that the boy did not have access to a weapon. The boy’s case is being adjudicated through the Cook County Juvenile Justice

In the wake of the incident, RBHS Principal Hector Freytas sent a message to students, parents and staf f notifying them of

the social media threat and stating, “there is no imminent threat to the building.”

Riverside police beefed up their presence at the school on the mor ning of Feb. 14.

“I thought it was impor tant for us to be there and be visible so everyone felt safe during that event,” Buckley said.

Reached by email, Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 Superintendent Kevin Skinkis declined to comment on any disciplinary action the school had taken or being taken ag ainst the student.

Student discipline was one of the topics listed for discussion in executive session during the re gularly scheduled Feb. 14 school board meeting

Trustee candidate addresses lawsuit, past political ties

Del Angel cut ties in Cicero a er misconduct complaint settled

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The April 4 election for village trustee in North Riverside may be the first run for elective office for Jose Del Angel, but it’s not his first foray into local gover nment.

For about a decade, Del Angel worked for the town of Cicero, working his way up the organizational ladder from entrylevel clerical positions to director of the town’s water department.

Del Angel’s days working in Cicero did not surface during a down interview with the candidate in late January, but emerge as the Landmark did further porting. Also in late January, anonymous letter made its wa to North Riverside homes, referencing a 2007 federal civil lawsuit accusing Del Angel of sexual harassment of a subordinate Cicero employee.

in the lawsuit, and I believe that the residents and people who know me are the best judge of character.”

A 2009 Chicago Tribune article reporting the settlement of the lawsuit, stated that Del Angel, who had been the town’s parking enforcement supervisor, had been suspended from work for two days and sent to sensitivity training “for engaging in consensual sexual banter” with the woman.

d about the disciplinary action taken by the town, Del AnCicero had no policy in for handling those kinds of omplaints.

tion and left the town of Cicero following the resolution of the lawsuit.

“I had a lot of trouble with that lawsuit,” Del Angel said. “It affected my family, and it affected me personally.”

Del Angel was 20 years old when he was first hired during the administration of Cicero President Betty Loren Maltese in 1998 as a Spanishlanguage interpreter for the police department.

he would not be a political punching bag for them.

“There’s a saying in Spanish -- there’s people in this campaign that also have a long tail that can be stepped on,” Del Angel said.

During the 2021 election for North Riverside mayor, Marybelle Mandel came under fire in connection to her husband’s 2000 federal conviction for making false statements to a financial institution.

JOSE DEL ANGEL

The town of Cicero settled that lawsuit, which was filed in 2007, for an unknown amount of money in 2009. Del Angel admitted no wrongdoing, and in an interview last week with the Landmark he denied the allegations

“Sexual misconduct is a terrible thing, just like being accused of a crime you didn’t commit is a terrible thing, like the accusation is proof enough of your guilt,” Del Angel said. “I believe that false accusations are also for ms of sexual misconduct.

“I emphatically deny the allegations made

By the time the lawsuit against Angel was filed in 2007, Cicesettled multiple lawsuits had paid out millions of dollars to people filing sexual harassment lawsuits against town officials

A spokesman for the town of Cicero at that time, Dan Proft, told the Tribune that people filed lawsuits against Cicero officials because it was seen as an easy payday.

“There’s a belief that you can get paid out by filing a lawsuit, no matter how frivolous,” Proft told the Tribune in 2008.

Del Angel said of the town’s decision to discipline him, “I still to this day do not know what exactly policy I violated. It’s my belief there was no policy in reference to that.”

Following the lawsuit against him, Del Angel was promoted to water department director Del Angel said he resigned from the posi-

By 2004, after Loren Maltese had been convicted of federal corruption charges, Del Angel was working as the town’s towing coordinator during the tenure of President Ramiro Gonzalez.

Laid off along with several other town employees in 2004, Del Angel worked as a precinct captain for Gonzalez’s opponent in the 2005 election for town president, Larry Dominick, a retired Cicero police officer Del Angel got to know while working as towing coordinator

JOSE DEL ANGEL

Nor th Riverside trustee candidate

After Dominick’s election in 2005, he hired Del Angel to handle constituent services and later made him supervisor of the town’s parking enforcement division.

Del Angel, 45, acknowledged that his opponents in the 2023 election would seek to use his Cicero ties and the lawsuit, in particular, against him during the campaign, but said

David Mandel appealed the decision, but the conviction was upheld. In his ruling, an appellate court judge implicated Marybelle Mandel in her husband’s scheme, although she was never charged with a crime.

Last year, Marybelle Mandel filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court against seven people, claiming they had defamed her in statements made in public meetings, on social media and privately while campaigning door-to-door

One of those sued was Nicholas Tricoci, who is running for trustee against Mandel this spring. The lawsuit is still pending.

“It’s important for me to be transparent with the people, because these sideshows only distract and it’s not fair to the residents,” Del Angel said. “The residents would like to focus on issues that affect them.”

Brook eld to host public workshop on sustainability

The village of Brookfield, which joined a network of west suburban communities on the Cross-Community Climate Collaborat ive (C4) initiative last August, will host a workshop next week to g et public input that will help shape local ef for ts to address sustainability and climate initiatives.

T he workshop on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave., will be hosted by the Brookfield Conservation Commis-

sion and will also include re presentatives from Brookfield village gover nment and staf f as well as those from the Cook County De par tment of Environment and sustainability.

According to Brookfield Trustee Katie Kaluzny, who is the village board’s liaison to the Conservation Commission, the workshop will serve to tie to g ether both the C4 initiative and the work the Conservation Commission has been doing over the past year to write a sustainabil-

ity plan for Brookfield using the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’ Greenest Re gion Compact framework.

T he Conservation Commission will use the input gained at the workshop to help develop its sustainability re port , which it hopes to present to the village board this summer in time for consideration when it comes to 2024 budget planning

In addition to g etting an overview of C4 and the Conservation Commission’s efforts, attendees will work in small groups

to identify priorities for various sustainability topics, including energy ef ficiency and renewable energy, water quality and management, waste and recycling, air quality, transpor tation and land use RSVPs for the workshop are not required, but those re gistering to attend will rece ive email notices of future sessions and planning ef forts. Anyone interested in re gistering can visit brookfieldsustainabilityplanning.eventbrite.com.

— Bob Uphues

“These sideshows only distract and it’s not fair to the residents.”

Nor th Riverside police investigate gambling parlor break-in

Nor th Riverside police are investigating a Feb. 15 break-in at a local video gambling parlor where of fenders attempted to take cash from the machine that redeems winnings

Police responded to Spins Café, 9261 Cermak Road, at about 4:35 a.m. after being notified of an active burglar alar m there. Upon ar rival, a police of ficer re por ted observing the glass front door had been shattered.

Inside the g ambling café, police said the plastic cover had been removed from the payout device, which was damaged by someone who appeared to have used a power saw to g ain entry to the cash box.

However, police said, the of fender failed to open the cash box and no cash was missing. Police have requested security camera video from the owner to assist in their investigation.

Blackmail over photos threatened

An 18-year-old Brookfield man went to police on Feb. 15 to re port that someone with whom he’d exchanged nude photos via Instagram was threatening to share the images with his friends unless he paid money.

The victim told police someone he initially believed to be a woman sent a friend request on Instagram. He acce pted the request and be g an corresponding with the person, exchanging nude photos

The of fender then demanded $500, saying he’d share the nude photos to the victim’s friend list. The victim sent the of fender $48 through Venmo, after which the of fender called the victim via Instagram. Afterward, a man with what was described in the police re port as a “Jamaican accent” re por tedly demanded more money

At that time the victim called police, who advised him to block the of fender on Instagram and monitor his bank account closely, re port any fraudulent activity and re port any further contacts to police.

Apar tment burglarized

A resident of the 2500 block of Desplaines Avenue, Nor th Riverside, called police on Feb. 16 to report that her apartment had been burglariz ed sometime between 8 a.m. and 1:10 p.m. that day.

According to the police re port, the door

to the entrance of the apar tment building appeared to have been pried open, and there were pry marks on the door and door frame of the victim’s unit.

Two dresser drawers in a bedroom were opened and had been rifled through, but nothing appeared to be missing. Jewelry, iPads and cash were left undisturbed.

Security camera video re por tedly showed a woman dressed all in black, wearing white gloves and car rying a black bag walking toward the rear of the building at about 3:20 p.m. A second video from 3:27 p.m. showed the same woman walking to the rear of the building.

Package stolen from porch

A Brookfield woman called police on Feb. 13 to re port that someone had stolen a package from the front porch of her home in the 4100 block of Raymond Avenue sometime between 8:20 and 10 a.m.

The victim had received notification that the package containing fruit cups and vitamins had been delivered, but when she went to retrieve it, it was gone.

Hit and run

A 14-year-old girl struck by a car while crossing Plainfield Road at Forest Avenue in Brookfield on the evening of Feb. 13 was not seriously injured, police repor ted.

The girl was crossing in a crosswalk at about 7 p.m. when she was struck in the left hip by a silver sedan which re por tedly went around her and sped of f westbound without the driver checking to see if the girl was hur t.

The victim complained of a sore hip but did not appear to be seriously hur t, according to police Paramedics took her LaGrange Hospital for evaluation.

Criminal damage

Nor th Riverside police re por ted identifying a 12-year-old boy who alle gedly threw a chunk of concrete through the window of a car parked in the lower-level parking deck at the Nor th Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cer mak Road, on Feb. 19, but ended up not charging him with a crime.

Police responded to the scene around 7:10 p.m. after someone called to re port someone in a group of five people throw an object at the front passenger window of a silver Jeep, causing it to shatter

Security cameras re por tedly showed police which of the of fenders threw the object, and mall security infor med police that the group on camera had entered Round One on the other side of the mall.

Police made contact with the alle ged offender, but no charges were filed, according to the police re port, because of the boy’s age and because the owner of the Jeep left the mall without contacting police

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Ri verside, North Ri verside and Brookfield police departments, Feb. 1319, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime. These cases hav e not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

North Riverside Mall owner pitches major redevelopment to village

Favored concept appears to be mi xed-use development, demolition of Carson’s box

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The owners of Nor th Riverside Park Mall unveiled what was described as a major redevelopment of the for mer Carson Pirie Scott property on the west side of the mall during a face-to-face meeting involving the mall’s ownership, senior executives and village of ficials on Feb. 15.

Village Administrator Sue Scar piniti, who attended the meeting along with Mayor Jose ph Mengoni, said re presentatives of The Feil Org anization were “putting to gether an aggressive redevelopment plan of the entire property” and sounded out village of ficials on what they might suppor t as mall ownership finalizes concepts.

“From what our initial discussions were, it was way larger than an outward renovation,” Scar piniti said. “They want to moder nize the look of the shopping center, but they are talking about a whole dif ferent development use, including demolishing the Carson’s building and redeveloping from the ground up.”

Brian Feil, principal and executive vice president/president of leasing of The Feil Org anization, was among those re presenting the company at the meeting with local of ficials.

The meeting follows on the heels of The Feil Org anization’s acquisition in January of the for mer Carson’s prop-

er ty, an 11.55-acre parcel that includes 180,000-square-foot retail box and pa lots to the west and southwest of mer Carson’s store. The Feil Org anization purchased the property, which had foreclosure, for $3,075,000, according Cook County Recorder of Deeds.

Contacted by the Landmark, Feil address specific questions about the future redevelopment in an email through the company’s marketing agency, indicat ing plans were still being developed

“The Feil Org anization is in the ve ly stages of deter mining plans for the said Feil. “We are committed to creating a thorough redevelopment plan that creates long-ter m value for the shopping center and the sur rounding community,”

Scar piniti said she and the mayor shared feedback that the village board had received from its ad hoc Economic Development Committee, which delivered a re port in 2019 envisioning the mall property and neighboring under-utilized retail areas as an enter tainment/restaurant district.

She and the mayor also re por tedly emphasized the need for the mall ownership to address stor m water issues and aesthetics, especially with re gard to the west side of the mall, which abuts a single-family residential area.

It likely will be months before The Feil Org anization comes back to the village with a planned development application, which would require public hearings before the Nor th Riverside Planning and Zoning Commission.

Any zoning relief requested by the Feil Org anization would need to be approved by village trustees, following a recommendation by the commission.

“It sounded like Feil would go back and come back to us within a year or so,” Scar-

piniti said.

Two concepts that are likely to be part of any redevelopment plan, said Scar piniti, appear to be the demolition of the Carson’s building and the construction of a mixeduse development, which would include both sales-tax producing commercial uses and residential uses

Feil re por tedly also re por tedly g auged the village’s interest in a higher-impact medical use, but Scar piniti said that sor t of use is not in line with the village ’s goals for the property

“The village definitely wants to keep the original intent of the Service Business District,” Scar piniti said. “We want sales tax-producing businesses outside of just property taxes.”

While the village still prioritizes retail uses, Scar piniti said the village would be open to mixed-use development on some sor t of percentage basis. Asked what sor t of residential development Feil is likely contemplating for the west side of the mall, Scar piniti said it sounded like rental units

“We expressed the need to look at making sure the [residential] use fits, because it buts up to a residential area, so there’s a smooth transition from use to use,” Scarpiniti said. “We are not in favor of very

dense residential development. We’re looking to improve that area aesthetically, with more greenspace and enter tainment and restaurant uses, something that would be a good draw for the area.”

Meanwhile, Scar piniti said The Feil Org anization is moving forward with a new application to amend their planned development ag reement with the village in order to build two new outlot buildings in the east parking lot, which it owns.

While the company has not submitted a final plan yet, they appear confident it’ ll become a reality The commercial real estate broker CBRE is already marketing one of two proposed buildings, a 4,000-squarefoot space as a retail/restaurant oppor tunity

The Feil Org anization apparently already has a tenant lined up for the larger of the two proposed buildings, which would be located in the parking lot south of Olive Garden. The market materials available on CBRE’s website indicates Discount Tire is “coming soon.”

In early 2020, the mall’s owner had proposed a similar, but more ambitious outlot development in the east parking lot, but that plan fizzled with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

GOOGLE MAPS

e Carson Pirie Scott anchor property at North Riverside Park Mall includes more than the store itself. e 11.5-acre site includes a large area of the west parking lot.

“We want sales tax-producing businesses outside of just property taxes.”

SUE SC ARPINITI Village administrator

Seritage o oads former Sears anchor at mall

Seritage Growth Properties, the real estate investment trust created in 2015 to buy all Sears properties and lease them back to the retailer as it sought to stave of f liquidation, has sold the for mer Sears anchor property at the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cer mak Road

The 13.2-acre parcel includes the 180,000-square foot, two-story big box at the north end of the shopping center; the pa rking lot immediately to the north, including the new Aldi store; the for mer Sears Auto Center, a portion of which has been converted into a Blink Fitness gym; and the parking lot immediately to the west of the for mer Sears store.

That property, along with 14 other for mer Sears locations owned by Seritage Growth Property, was acquired around the be ginning of February by Fidelis Realty Partners, headquartered in suburban Houston. Stacey Matejka, marketing manager for

Fidelis, confir med the sale to the mark. She said the company had no to redevelop the property, which has eral tenants In addition to Aldi and Fitness, which occupy outlots, the proper houses Round One, Amita Health and man Mills inside the for mer Sears anchor space.

“We’re just looking for tenants to couple of vacancies,” Matejka said.

Ter ms of the sale were not disclosed. Cook County Recorder of Deeds has not yet recorded the transaction.

Fidelis is the fourth owner of the north anchor property at North Riverside Park Mall. The first was Montgomery Ward, one of the three original anchor tenants at the mall, along with Carson Pirie Scott and J.C. Penney

The deed to the property was acquired in 2001 by Sears Roebuck & Co., which conveyed the property to Seritage Growth

Seritage Growth Properties has sold the former Sears anchor property at the North Riverside Park Mall (above) to Fidelis Realty Partners.

properties in 2015. Fidelis purchased the property through a corporation called NR Park Associates LLC, whose management is listed in Illinois Secretary of State Records as Fidelis Retail Opportunity Fund II LP

In 2021, J.C. Penney conveyed its property, which includes the retail store and parking lots to the south and east, to CTL

Propco LLC, a real estate investment trust along the lines of Seritage. CTL Propco was created by J.C. Penny creditors in the wake of the retail giant seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May 2020.

The Feil Organization, which owns the shopping center proper, bought the for mer Carson’s anchor property in January.

— Bob Uphues

When I asked my kids for ideas of what to buy them for a Christmas gift this past year, they said they wanted an experiential gift. Not surprisingly, this was also the type of gift they gave. So, last Christmas our family gave and received many interesting gifts. There was a helicopter ride, 360 yoga in the sky, pottery classes, Dining in the Dark, Candlelight Concerts, Cirque du Soleil tickets, Second City tickets, woodworking lessons, dance lessons, music lessons, and sailing lessons.

Sure, experiential gift giving is not new. Plenty of tickets to a show or dinner gift cards have been given as gifts. However, in the past, a gift card was a default gift given when you could not think of something original. Nowadays, at least for younger people, an experiential gift is the original gift not the default gift and it has been taken to an all-new level.

There are whole companies devoted to selling experiences. A 2018 study found 63% of U.S. adults would prefer an experience to a material gift. A 2021 study

found that percentage has now jumped to 71%. So, I was curious, how did we get here?

It all started back in the late 1990s. Goods and services were starting to lose consumers’ attention. Economists saw an emerging 4th economic offering to the three existing economies of commodities, goods, and services. Enter the experience economy. In the experience economy a company uses goods and services to create a memorable event or experience for the customer. This experience is inherently personal, engaging the consumer on an emotional, physical, intellectual, or even spiritual level.

THERESA CLANCY Estate Planning Attorney

to show the world they have an exciting, interesting life. Experiential gifting capitalizes on this encouragement. Giving a friend an experience you do together provides content for both of your social media accounts.

People are also taking a more holistic perspective on what leads to happiness. We are shunning materialism for good reason. One study found that satisfaction in a purchase of material goods diminishes quickly but satisfaction of an experience often increases over time.

Gifts of experiences are not just more fun; they are better for us than material gifts. One 2017 study found that experiential gifts produce greater improvements in relationship strength than material giftsregardless of whether the gift giver and recipient consume the gift together. Those relationship improvements stem from the intensity of emotion that is evoked when we consume the gifts rather than when the gifts are received.

The experience economy has emerged for several reasons. Social media use, a new idea of happiness, a belief in minimalism, and renewed family interest are among those reasons.

For better or worse social media has encouraged (or compelled) consumers

Americans are also embracing minimalism. Whether for environmental reasons or a growing lack of materialism, we are just not as interested in stuff as we used to be.  Post pandemic shut down, we want to spend more time with family and friends while doing something more than just a living room visit. Experiential gifts bring us together and get us out of the house.

So, consider making your next gift an experiential gift. It may be just as beneficial for you to give this gift as it is for your friend/family to receive it. Like experiential gift giving, estate planning is as beneficial for you as it is for your family/friends. You feel relief because you have set up things correctly and your family feels gratitude that their burden in handling your affairs is reduced.

GOOGLE MAPS

FIRE STAFFING Hybrid model

from page 1

paramedics from Paramedic Services of Illinois continue to staff the ambulance at all times

What’s changed is that Fire Station 2 at 59 Pine Ave., north of the railroad tracks, is now also staffed around the clock, every day by three firefighters, which is the minimum staffing required to operate the fire engine housed there.

“We planned for this during our budget cycle [last fall],” anticipating staffing needs would be more than we [previously] had,” said Village Manager Jessica Frances Riverside, which has never employed a roster of full-time firefighters, had been moving toward more intense fire department staffing for years. The only full-time fire department employee is Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley, who also oversees police operations

The fire department also has permanent part-time employees in the form of Deputy Chief James Mulligan, who works full time as a firefighter in Carol Stream, and Battal-

Sawa’s Old

ion Chief Dan Tabb, who is also Riverside’s public works director

In 1998, Riverside began staffing Fire Station 2 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to bolster the number of personnel immediately available in the event of emergency medical or fire calls.

The department extended its weekday staffing of Fire Station 2 to 6 p.m. beginning in 2013, and then saw a more pressing need for additional personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the village ran a specific ambulance for COVID-related calls.

In the event of a fire, Riverside has always depended on a roster of paid-on-call firefighters, who must live within a certain distance of the village, to respond to fire emergencies. Those firefighters were paid for the hours they worked in response to those calls

While Riverside still uses the paid-on-call model to try to adequately staff a fire scene, they now have at least one engine that can respond immediately, in addition to putting out the usual calls for mutual aid from neighbor-

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ing fire departments

Shifts at Fire Station 2 are typically 12 hours, but can be as much as 24 hours depending on firefighter availability, said Buckley, and are usually staffed by personnel on of f days from their full-time firefighting jobs.

When manning those shifts, those firefighters are now considered paid-onpremises employees, who are paid at a different rate than the paid-on-call rate

On Feb. 16, Riverside trustees updated the village’s employee handbook to clarify paid-on-premises employees are not eligible for paid time off or paid sick leave benefits. If any paid-on-premises employee works at least 20 hours per week, however, they then are eligible for Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) benefits. IMRF is the pension plan open to non-union village employees

While the scheduling software is still being fine-tuned, the plan is to monitor paidon-premises staffing to ensure no employee ends up working full-time hours. The plan is

to make an app available to the village’s list of paid-on-call firefighters so they can claim shifts.

Staffing Fire Station 2 around the clock means the village is looking to bolster its ranks of firefighters eligible to take those shifts.

Right now, Buckley said, Riverside has a list of 24 firefighters. He’d like to grow that number by another 15. Anyone interested, however, must already have basic firefighter certification.

The change in the fire staffing model comes with a cost. During the 2022 fiscal year, the village had budgeted spending about $1.4 million for fire department operations, and ended up spending about $1.5 million.

The 2023 fire department budget is $1.8 million. Part of that increase reflects the 24-hour staffing at Fire Station 2. A good deal of that increase, however, is due to a large, expected increase in contract paramedic services.

In its 2023 budget, the village projected a $217,000 increase in its contract paramedic costs compared to 2022. The village has issued a Request for Proposals for those services, and those proposals are due back to the village in March.

2337 S. 5TH AVENUE, NORTH RIVERSIDE

SEEKING BUYERS with a vision to turn this diamond in the rough into your Castle. Ideally located between Cermak Road and 26th Street. Featuring 3 BRs on the 2nd floor with an extraordinarily large primary BR. One full BA and attic storage space. Living room, dining room and a walk out den bonus room offer bright natural sunlight. A full framed out unfinished basement. One car attached garage off a side driveway. Property to be sold in 100% as-is condition including any village violations. Here’s an opportunity to live in a schools district with brand new buildings K-8 and access to the walking or biking path, Brookfield Zoo, Cermak Road shopping district and a brand newly built Aldi to the east. $259,000

3616 RIDGELAND AVENUE, BERWYN

MUCH POTENTIAL here for simple/easy improvements to make this your new home. Good bones. 2 BRs on the main floor, 1 upstairs. 1 full bath on the main floor. Commode but no sink in the semi-finished basement. Gas forced air heat, central air. 30 gallon hot water tank. Some tuckpointing around the chimney recently done. Transferred in 100% As-Is. $229,000

“

We planned for this dur ing our budget cycle, anticipating staing needs would be more than we [previously] had.”

JESSIC A FR ANCES

Riverside village manager

Brook eld seeks to bring vehicle sticker sco aws into compliance

Data entry glitch results in many receiv ing violation notices in error

By BOB UPHUES Editor

There’s a good chance if you live in Brookfield and own some sort of motor vehicle that you received a letter from the village telling you that you were vehicle-sticker delinquent and owed them $50 plus a $20 late fee to come into compliance.

Some 5,200 letters to that effect hit local mailboxes on Feb. 11, and the village is giving vehicle owners until the end of March to get their 2022-23 vehicle stickers or face some other sort of penalty, which hasn’t been deter mined at this time.

“At the end of March, we’ ll rerun the numbers and then talk with the police department about enforcement,” said Brookfield Finance Director Doug Cooper

In 2023, Brookfield officials undertook an

audit of vehicles registered to Brookfield addresses after seeing vehicle sticker revenues decline for three straight years.

According to Cooper, in 2019 the village collected $580,203 from the sale of vehicle stickers, revenue that is used to fund labor and materials for annual street maintenance, such as patching and salting during the winter

In 2022, the village collected $524,631, a 10-percent overall decrease compared to 2019.

Following a similar audit done in January 2018, the village realized a $106,200 increase in vehicle sticker sales that summer compared to 2017. Vehicle sticker revenue went up slightly in 2019 due to an increase in the vehicle sticker fee, from $40 to $50.

But every year since, vehicle sticker revenue has fallen.

“Logic seems to suggest people are perhaps not buying the stickers they need to,” said Village Manager Timothy Wiberg at the Feb. 13 village board meeting.

The village did similar audits in 2012 and 2018, which netted additional revenue and vehicle information used to send out an-

nual renewal notices.

Inevitably, the audit and subsequent mass mailing earlier this month resulted in some people getting letters in er ror, either because the vehicle flagged by the database was no longer in their possession or due to a data entry glitch that flagged vehicles that were actually in compliance.

For all three audits performed by the village in 2012, 2018 and 2023, Brookfield officials used vehicle re gistration infor mation obtained from the Illinois Secretary of State. In 2012 and 2018, the village used a third party vendor to cross-reference the state data with local vehicle sticker data. That firm was paid about $2,100 to do that work in 2018.

This year, the village tasked its consultant from the GIS Consortium to perfor m the cross-referencing at no additional cost.

As was the case in the two previous audits, the Secretary of State information was not infallible, and officials expected to hear from residents who no longer owned the vehicles in question.

A particular wrinkle this time around, Wiberg told elected officials at their meet-

ing on Feb. 13, was that if the person doing the data entry, for example, did not add spaces between license plate letters and numbers when one existed on a license plate, that re gistration would be flagged as a violation.

Wiberg asked residents who were sent violation notices because of that sort of er ror to call the village at 708-485-7344 and click Option 1 when the voice attendant prompts, so that staff can rectify the er ror.

“We have not found anything wrong with the data, it’s just that little vagary of the formatting,” Wiberg said.

It wasn’t clear just how many violation notices were sent due to that er ror. However, every member of the village board and the village clerk stated at their meeting that they’d incorrectly received letters re garding violations

“I would say with the number of people that called in, that is the problem, that space,” Cooper told elected officials. “You’re talking about a vehicle sticker and people don’t want to pay that fee to be gin with, and to have this on top of that it’s just adding frustration to the residents.”

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more important.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

Will your child be 5 years old on or before September 1st?

Will your child be 5 years old on or before September 1st?

Will your child be 5 years old on or before September 1st?

Riverside School District 96

Riverside School District 96

Riverside School District 96

Kindergarten Registration Presentation

Kindergarten Registration Presentation

Kindergarten

Registration

Presentation

Parents are highly encouraged to view our presentation to learn about our kindergarten program and District 96’s registration process

Parents are highly encouraged to view our presentation to learn about our kindergarten program and District 96’s registration process

Parents are highly encouraged to view our presentation to learn about our kindergarten program and District 96’s registration process

Available for viewing On-Demand Beginning on March 2, 2023 after 6pm at www.district96.org

Available for viewing On-Demand Beginning on March 2, 2023 after 6pm at www.district96.org

(see District 96 Website Calendar of Events)

(see District 96 Website Calendar of Events)

Available for viewing On-Demand Beginning on March 2, 2023 after 6pm at www.district96.org

For additional information or questions, please call 708-447-7089

For additional information or questions, please call 708-447-7089

(see District 96 Website Calendar of Events)

For additional information or questions, please call 708-447-7089

Irish Times recognized for pouring 1 millionth Guinness

At the Jan. 23 meeting of the Brookfield Village Board, President Michael Garvey presented Martin Lynch, owner of Irish Times Pub and Restaurant, with a certificate of appreciation and a certificate of achievement honoring the business.

In addition to owning the pub since 2008, Lynch was honored last year by the Guinness Brewery of Dublin, Ireland, for pouring its 1 millionth pint. The business marked that achievement during a celebration on Nov. 19, 2022.

“Even more than that, he’s been a big part of the Brookfield community for decades and a very important part of our business community,” Garvey said prior to presenting the certificate.

Lynch accepted the certificates accompanied by his wife, Lauren, and his son, Seamus. He explained that he was infor med by Guinness of the 1 millionth achievement pint last February, but with COVID-19 restrictions still in place and a 30th anniversary in 2021 missed due to the pandemic, he decided to wrap both into one event last fall.

“It was the first time since March 2020 that we were able to kind of send out the bat call and invite people in for an event that we were hosting, and it really was a huge success,” Lynch said. “I have to say that throughout the last few years in particular, the support from the village … all the residents that have come together and supported us through those difficult times at the start, it really, really humbled me and makes me so proud of what we do ov er there.”

Promoted

At the Jan. 23 meeting of the Brookfield Village police Sgt. Nicholas Hahn orn in as the department’s newest lieutenant. Hahn an his career in Brookfield in Deember 2002 and een a sergeant past decade, which he has

also been the department’s field training coordinator.

For the past three years Hahn has served as detective sergeant for the Brookfield Police Department. He is the coordinator of the department’s chaplain program and heads up officer wellness initiatives.

On board

■ Riverside resident and veteran journalist Darcy Lewis has been named to the board of directors of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Lewis writes about health, medicine and the business of healthcare in such publications as Medscape, U.S. News & World Report, Scientific American, AARP and more. She also writes and edits for leading health systems and nonprofits. She is also a for mer longtime contributor to Growing Community Media publications.

BOB UPHUES/Editor

ean’s list at the University of Iowa in Iowa City were Riverside residents Lizbeth Casillas (psychology), Mary Dorenbos (pre-business), Sara LaMantia (human physiology), Isabella Mullins (sustainbility science), Gabrielle Nolan (finance) Ethan Ranft (biomedical engineering) and Zachary Vaia (marketing) and Brookfield esident Katelyn Malikowski (elementary education).

Daniela Ulloa, of North Riverside, is among the 22 college students studying at the LaSallian Universities Center for Education in Rome for the 2023 semester. Ulloa is studying psychology at Lewis University in omeoville.

verside residents Charlie Buh (acountancy), Hunter Spohnholtz (accountancy) and Benjamin Buchman (business economics) were among those named to the all semester dean’s list at Miami Unirsity in Oxford, Ohio.

Ryan Gaynor, of Riverside, was named to the 2022 fall semester dean’s list at Alma (Michigan) College for achieving a semester GPA of at least 3.5.

The ASJA is an association of professional freelance writers who provide support to and advocate on behalf of professional freelance writers across the publishing industry.

■ During the annual meeting of the Frederick Law Olmsted Society on Jan. 20, the membership elected the following people as board officers and directors:

Officers: Dr. Yvonne Lucero, president; Jim Petrzilka, vice president; Susan Worthington, secretary; and Kim Freeark, treasurer.

Renewing directors: Trisha and David Flassing, Kim Freeark, Constance and Thomas Guardi, Cathy and Mike Maloney, Tim Ozga and Susan Worthington

New directors: Richard Marritt and Steve Oldham.

On campus

■ Alyssa Cabrera, of Riverside, was named to the 2022 fall semester dean’s list at the College of the Holy Cross in Worchester, Massachusetts, for attaining a semester grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale

■ Among the more than 4,000 undergraduate students named to the 2022 fall semes-

■ Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park has named the following local students to its honor rolls for the first semester of the 202223 school year

A Honor Roll (4.0 GPA+): Brookfield residents Emme Barnes, Aileen Hernandez, Sarah Newman, Kevin Prosen and Janelle Steger; North Riverside resident Gianina Montoro; and Riverside residents Erin Briars, Maura DeFauw, Gabriel Kaminski, Elizabeth Selover, Shannon Selover, Emma Udelson and Chase Zidlicky.

B Honor Roll (3.33-3.99 GPA): Brookfield residents Yandiel Colon, Audrey Gutierrez, Daniel Lewis, Philip Steger, Andrew Buenrostro, Noah Barnes and Owen Reichl; North Riverside residents Nathan Eugling and Jillian Barnes; and Riverside residents Alice Buchman, Daniel Gentile and Madeline Markham

■ Riverside-Brookfield High School student Ellen Krivak was selected as a member of the Tech Crew for the 2023 Theatre Fest All-State Production of “Shrek.” Students involved in the production rehearsed and prepared throughout the fall semester in preparation for the state production, staged Jan. 12 at the festival, held at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Irish Times Pub and Restaurant owner Martin Lynch (far right), accompanied by his w ife, Lauren, and son, Seamus (le ), receives a certi cate of appreciation for his contributions to the business communit y from Village President Michael Garvey at the v illage board’s Jan. 23 meeting.

NICHOLAS HAHN

DARC Y LE WIS

Opinion

THE L ANDMARK VIEW

KOSEY CORNER

Still on the mend but eyeing a return home Daring to dream

Nor th Riverside of ficials and residents have maintained for years that the key to kee ping property taxes low – at least those that go to fund village gover nment – is optimizing revenues elsewhere.

That “elsewhere” is the concentration of commercial retail properties that line Harlem Avenue from 18th Street to 26th Street and Cer mak Road from Harlem to Lathrop avenues

It’s a re gional shopping mecca that most prominently includes the North Riverside Park Mall, which local residents alter nately sneer at and depend on to fund critical village operations.

The global financial crisis of 2008-12 coupled with a very real change in brick-and-mortar retailing gave Nor th Riverside insight into de pending solely on an aging model for producing revenue through sales taxes

All three of the Nor th Riverside Park Mall’s anchor tenants have undergone dif ficult bankruptcy proceedings – ones that ended in liquidation for Carson Pirie Scott and Sears – and the owner of the shopping center itself, The Feil Org anization, fended of f a foreclosure action due to the appraised value of the mall nosediving far below its indebtedness

What’s clearer more than ever is that the shopping mall model of the 1970s through the 1990s is long past over

Four years ago the village of Nor th Riverside for med an ad hoc Economic Development Commission to brainstor m visions for the future of the village’s commercial core.

What they settled on was what they themselves described as a “mini-Rosemont” – an entertainment and restaurant district centered in and around the mall property.

Now it appears that The Feil Organization, which has now acquired the Carson’s property, may be thinking along the same lines, pitching what was described as a mixed-use residential and commercial development on the west side of the mall.

Concepts are still vague, but that’s the general idea, and it would fundamentally transform that property and impact neighboring properties to the west, which now face mostly empty parking lots.

Whether or not The Feil Org anization can expand on that conce pt for the two other anchor properties is unclear. The for mer Sears site just sold to another big realty fir m while Penney’s sits in a real estate trust much like Seritage, likely waiting for the right buyer to take it of f their hands.

While Nor th Riverside doesn’t have the ar terial infrastructure to match Rosemont, village residents and officials might be on their way to getting a version of what the Economic Development Commission dared to dream of in 2019.

Still at Cantata rehabbing and lear ning more about the place.

Located on 31st in Brookfield, it was founded in 1920 by the Daughters of the British Empire. Originally serving those of British heritage, today it serves all of those of dif ferent backg rounds, which is evidenced by this Italian girl here for rehab.

I’ve been working on walking, getting up from a sitting position and stairs. Stairs are a big challenge but it’s coming along. I had been going to one of the stairwells and going up and down when one of the trainers (Robert or Roy) noticed an indentation in the wall.

It hid a plaque designating a part of the building stating “BHH Infir mary Cor nerstone was by Mrs. George Cooke Adams O.B.E. Founder and President of the organization on the 20th of September 1952 A.D.”

It is apparent there have been additions to the building and this cor nerstone was part of an original building and could not be removed. Too bad it is in a place that can’t be seen. Sorry Mrs. George Cooke. When rehabbing or reading, and yes I am almost

finished with the John Grisham book, there is television.

Just when I thought we were through with political ads, we have the Chicago mayoral election. I have to remind myself we don’t vote for that one. Have my feelings who will win, but I’ll keep that to myself

Lots of furniture ads, Smithe in particular, featuring some Riverside residents I have a breath machine to use. When I asked when I should use it, they said every commercial. Heck, I’d run out of breath.

Coming up this week is Mardi Gras and I will miss celebrating it at Chew Chew, with Beads and Bananas Foster, a good way to celebrate. There is also the tradition of the King Cake, which has a small plastic baby doll inside. Tradition says the one who gets the baby doll will be king or queen for the year and have to bring the King Cake next year. Maybe Billy the Activity Person here has something planned for Mardi Gras.

I will also miss having a Hurricane, a traditional Mardi Gras drink. Maybe I will have a Mardi Gras celebration of my own when I get home, which by the way, is scheduled for later this week. That means this is the last column from here. I’ll miss the place and the people

LET TERS

When and how will this insanity end?

With the tragedy at Michig an State, Americans have witnessed 67 mass shootings in the first 43 days of 2023. That’s three mass shootings every two days At that rate we can look forward to 260 mass shootings in calendar year 2023.

How long will we as a nation be shackled by the gun lobby -- and let’s be honest, the Republican Party in Congress? Poll after poll shows that 90 percent of Americans agree they want to see a commonsense measure requiring a universal background check. As paltry as that seems, when do we get it?

“A well-re gulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Ar ms, shall not be Infringed.” And a “wellre gulated Militia” could be defined as the police or National Guard.

The language does not say “any and every kind of ar ms.” James Madison, George Mason, George Washington and the other founders of the Constitution envisioned ar ms in the context of their times: a single shot musket, a single shot pistol and maybe a pitchfork here and there. Would they favor limitless, uncontrollable numbers of assault rifles?

With betting now le g al almost everywhere, I put my money squarely on Madison, Mason and Washington all saying: “End this insanity. Now.”

Mike Perricone

The key is whether the village is up to the task of managing the impacts such development would surely have. See LETTERS on pa ge 14

How long before someone finally speaks truth to power and cites the entire text of the Second Amendment:

JOANNE

OBITUARIES

Mark E. Egger, 68 Mechanical engineer was public servant

Mark Edward Egger, 68, of Nor th Riverside, died Feb. 17, 2023.

Mr. Egger grew up in Brookfield, played baseball, was a Boy Scout and attended Riverside-Brookfield High School, where he joined the German Club, whose members reunited at their 50th reunion. He was adventurous, riding motorcycles, skydiving and going whitewater rafting.

After graduating from Illinois Institute of Technology, Mr Egger star ted a 39-year career as a mechanical engineer He married Jo Ann and proudly raised two beloved daughters in Nor th Riverside, where he served on the Komarek School Board, Plan Commission, Water Commission and Nor th Riverside Public Library Board.

Mr. Egger was the husband of JoAnn Egger (nee Sroda); the son of the late Warren Egger and Lois Egger (nee McNamara); the father of Carolyn Egger and Kelsey Egger; the brother of Debra (Bill Zaksas) Egger, Marilyn (Ron) Scarbeary, the late Barbara Egger and Cynthia Egger; and the uncle of many nieces and ne phews.

neral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. Inur nment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside

Express condolences online at HitzemanFuneral.com. Send sympathy cards

to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Mark Edward Egger family

Mar y E. Hosso, 73 Grocery store cashier

Mary E. Hosso (nee Russ), 73, of Brookfield, died Feb. 14, 2023. Ms. Hosso had worked as a cashier at a grocery store.

She was the wife of George Hosso; the mother of Jennifer (Dan) Cooper and the late Ryan Hosso; the Mammy of Sydnie (Jason Brown) Cooper, Logan Cooper, Ashton Cooper and Alexandra Brown; the sister of Michael J. Russ; and the daughter of the late Joseph Russ and Lavergne Russ (nee Darling). Funeral services have been held. Inter ment was at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Stickney. Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Send sympathy cards to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Mary E. Hosso family

Lorraine A. Kwiatkowski, 91 Riverside homemaker

She was the wife of the late Julian K. Kwiatkowski, the mother of Susan (Thomas) Good and Diane Kwiatkowski Walsh, the grandmother of Danielle Walsh, the sister of Ber nandine (late Rober t) Burke, the late Virginia (late Alber t), Dybas and late Edward Gliwa and an aunt to many.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 18 at St. Mary Church in Riverside, followed by inter ment at Resur rection Cemetery, Justice

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, Nor th Riverside, handled ar rangements.

Online condolences, photo graphs and memories may be shared at KuratkoNosek. com.

Judith R. Sweet, Ph.D., 68

Clinical psychologist was Brook eld Librar y trustee

Judith Romelle Sweet, Ph.D., 68, of Brookfield, died Feb. 16, 2023 at Hinsdale Hospital.

clinical psycholo gist. She lent quite a bit to our discussions.”

Dr Sweet was the daughter of Naomi (nee Warren) and the late Donald Sweet, the sister of the late Reneda (Kevin) Parker and the late Holly (Douglas) Funk and an aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Services have been held. Inter ment is at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled ar rangements

Online condolences, memories and photo graphs may be shared at JohnsonNosek. com.

James C. Wurst, 77 Auto mechanic

James C. Wurst, 77, of Brookfield, died Feb. 13, 2023 at Hines V.A. Hospital.

Mr Wurst was born Oct. 26, 1945 in Chicago and served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a retired auto mechanic.

He was the husband of Darlene (nee Cook) Wurst, the father of James (Carrie) Wurst and Thomas (Erin) Wurst and the grandfather of Michael, Alina and Frankie.

Services have been held. Inter ment was at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood

Memorials to Hines V.A. Hospital, 5000 5th Avenue, Hines, Illinois, 60141 would be appreciated.

LET TERS

Visitation is Friday, Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to time of service at noon at Hitzeman Fucontinued from page 13

We can’t become numb to gun violence

The events at Michig an State University last night left me speechless, devastated and hear tbroken. While I do not attend Michigan State University, my boyfriend does; I cannot imagine what he and his

Lor raine A. Kwiatkowski (nee Gliwa), 91, of Riverside, died Feb. 13, 2023. Ms. Kwiatkowski was born May 28, 1931 and was a homemaker. She also worked as a secretary.

community are going through.

I am a public health major at Purdue University. Gun violence is an issue that we discuss frequently in my public health classes, especially in re gard to gun violence being a public health crisis

It has always been a topic of discussion, but never one in which I have had an emotional connection. I am guilty of being numb to the tragedies. I have attended school during Sandy Hook, Parkland and Uvedale I have lear ned to use my desk as a bar ricade during active shooters drills

These events are hardly ever talked about and are just acce pted. Today, not a single professor of mine mentioned the Michigan State shooting. We did not get a letter from the university. And we surely

Bor n Oct. 17, 1954 in Chicago, Dr. Sweet was a clinical psychologist who also served for 10 years as an elected of ficial on the Brookfield Public Library Board of Trustees She resigned from the board in June 2015 for health reasons.

“When she was in good health, Judith was a powerhouse,” said Brookfield Library Director Kimberly Coughran. “It was an asset to have her on the board as a

did not get extensions on assignments or exams. Purdue University is not immune to the gun violence e pidemic, so why the silence?

I study at Purdue’s Union like many other students do at their schools One of the places that the shooting occurred was at Michig an State’s Union. The gunman walked into the building and opened fire. This could have happened to anyone anywhere at any time, so why the silence? Why do we not talk about it? Why do we continue on like it will not happen to us? It should not take personal encounters with gun violence for people to open their eyes to the issue.

I do understand that this issue is larger than the ine ptitude of policymakers and

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled ar rangements

Online condolences, memories and photo graphs may be shared at JohnsonNosek. com.

le gislative of ficials. While I do believe gun violence is a public health issue, I believe that mental health is the underlying factor that perpetuates it. You have to be a disturbed individual to commit har m to another person.

The father of the gunman issued a wellness check on him the week prior. These need to be taken seriously and follow up needs to occur. Individuals need to do their par t in “if you see something, then say something.”

We need to look out for each other It could happen to any of us We need to stop being silent. We need to stop becoming numb to these issues.

Abigail Higgins Brookfield

JUDITH R. SWEET

MARK E. EGGER

Alijosius sets RBHS boys season record for 3-pointers

Top of the arc trey in OT gives senior 104 during regular season

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Riverside-Brookfield High School senior Arius Alijosius started becoming a basketball sharpshooter during the COVID-affected spring of 2020.

Then a freshman at Stagg, his family began reserving court time at Moraine Valley Community College to get exercise

Alijosius shot. Dad rebounded. Alijosius continued improving.

“As a freshman, I don’t really know how to describe my game, but not how it is today,” Alijosius said.

Now a prolific shooter, Alijosius used his final 3-pointer in his final home game Feb. 14 to make history.

Alijosius set the single-season school record with 104 threes in the 67-62 overtime victory over Aurora Christian that gave the Bulldogs (25-5) a perfect 12-0 mark while winning the Metro Suburban Conference Blue title for the second straight season heading into the Class 4A state tour nament as the No 7 seed

Arius Alijosius

in the Hinsdale Central Sectional.

“My last three. It was top of the key. I knew it was the homestretch. Thank God I got it, though,” said Alijosius, the Winona State recruit who passed the 103 threes by Dan Howe in 1991.

Juniors Stefan Cicic (25 points, 11 rebounds) and Will Gonzalez (13 points, 11 assists), Alijosius (12 points) and senior Hunter Ferguson (10 points, 3 threes) led the Bulldogs

Gonzalez fed Ferguson for his cor ner three that sent the game into overtime

“I’m not considered the best shooter on the team. Right when I caught it, I just knew I had to shoot it and it felt good coming off my fingertips,” Ferguson said.

Last season, the Bulldogs won the MSC Blue with an 11-1 record, splitting with Aurora Christian. RBHS needed triple overtime to beat the Eagles 72-66 Jan. 19 in Aurora.

“We always have great games with them. I’m just glad we came out on top,” RBHS coach Mike Reingruber said. “We really talked about the seniors, this is their last home game They wanted to leave it all on the floor and fortunately we came away with the win.”

In the last minute of overtime, Ferguson suffered to a bloody nose while diving for a loose ball but by then the Bulldogs had a twopossession advantage.

“Both nostrils were leaking a lot. It was bad,” Ferguson said.

RBHS opens Lane Tech Regional play Feb. 22 against No 11 Lane Tech with the winner playing No 2 Hinsdale Central or No 15 Proviso West for the regional title Feb. 24. No 3

Curie or No. 5 Lyons Township most likely awaits in the March 1 sectional semifinals.

Alijosius has come on strong after opponents focused on stifling him following perfor mances such as 29 points on 7-fo r-9 3-point shooting in the 59-38 victory over Schaumburg at York’s Jack Tosh Tour nament Dec 26 and 30 points with eight threes in a 67-57 loss to Curie in November, the Bulldogs’ only home defeat all season.

Last season as a junior transfer, his threes as a key reserve often provided a spark.

“He’s a phenomenal shooter. He definitely has come on the last few games and hopefully continues that into the state tour nament,” Reingruber said. “He’s got good form. I don’t mess with it. He’s a hard worker. He puts tons of time into his shot and tons of effort.”

The left-handed Alijosius has developed a shooting workout all around the 3-point arc as well as mid-range shots and free throws, often when most exhausted. Alijosius was a York Tour nament-best 18-for-18 from the freethrow line.

The day before Senior Night, Alijosius and his father had a 400-shot session.

“A lot of repetition and a lot of confidence,” Alijosius said. “You don’t let a little slump throw you off because especially when I’m in a slump I get in my head. You don’t let your confidence get shaken.”

Christiansen’s 9.45 vault good for 16th at state

Sophomore is rst RBHS gymnast to advance to nals since 2009

By BILL STONE

Contributing

Reporter

Riverside-Brookfield High School sophomore Lia Christiansen had plenty of time to prepare for her first girls gymnastics state meet on Feb. 17.

The Bulldogs’ first state qualifier since

2009 was the 35th of 66 entries on vault.

“I was a little bit nervous, but I think a little bit of nerves are good for competition,” Christiansen said. “I had a great war mup. I was just feeling so ready and tried my best.”

Christiansen scored a 9.45 on her pike Yurchenko to equal her season-high score and tie for 16th, just .10 points from a top-10 finish to advance to the event’s finals on Feb. 18.

Like sectionals, when Christiansen qualified at-large with a 9.325, she had a po werful first of two attempts, but this time with several steps upon landing instead of falling

She then again landed her second attempt, taking just one step.

“In practice, I’ve really been trying to work on sticking it, so I wouldn’t get an extra tenth off for taking that step back, but it’s better than falling,” Christiansen said. “I was super happy to end the year off with a good, high score.”

LTHS girls gymnastics

Lyons Township High School freshman Carli Proctor had a great impression of what she hopes is just her first girls gymnastics state meet.

“I liked watching all of the other routines and seeing everyone from other schools and what their routines were,” said Proctor, who was 27th on floor exercise (8.8). “I think I did pretty good. I was just happy that I did it because it was my first high school state meet. It just motivates me to qualify for state again.”

The Lions’ first state qualifier since 2018, Proctor advanced at-large with an 8.95 at sectionals after winning re gionals with a personal-best 9.35. The Lions advanced to sectionals as a team for the first time since 2017.

BILL STONE

LTHS swimmers advance 4 individuals, 2 relays to state meet

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

As a youth swimmer, Lyons Township High School senior Quinn Collins was a pretty decent sprint freestyler

When he felt getting passed by taller opponents, Collins found another focus, the backstroke.

“Most of backstroke is under water, like 60 percent. I like that because it’s something you can really focus on in practice, the kick sets and stuf f,” Collins said.

The University of Denver recruit has grown into one of the state’s top backstrokers and a leader for a less experienced LTHS lineup

Collins gets one last chance with the Lions as part of their six state berths at the Hinsdale Central Sectional on Feb. 18. The state meet is Feb. 24-25 at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

Collins’ third-place 50.63 in the 100-yard back and 1:53.22 in the 200 individual medley beat state-cut times of 52.79 and 1:56.88 respectively

Also advancing was third-place junior diver Matt Adler (449.75 points) and the second-place 200 medley relay (Collins, juniors Jack Dillon and Peter Smith, senior Marko Trajanovski in 1:35.92) and the second place 400 free relay (Collins, Smith, senior Garrett Walls, Trajanovski in 3:12.04) which

also advanced by equaling the state cut.

Only Collins and Adler previously have competed at state

“I think we wanted to get that one relay that missed just barely. Personally I’m pretty satisfied and I think the other guys are too,” Collins said.

“I think I did pretty good considering I wasn’t shaved or didn’t have much of a ta-

Top-12 perfor mers Feb. 24 advance to the championship (1-6) or consolation (7-12) finals Feb. 25.

Rosa statebound in 100 fly, 100 breast

Riverside-Brookfield High School junior swimmer Drew Rosa had a great mentor

for the IHSA Hinsdale Central Sectional meet on Feb. 18 in older brother Michael.

The 2019 RBHS graduate and three-year state qualifier is now a senior at the University of Notre Dame who swam there his first two years.

“We talk a lot about [swimming],” Rosa said. “I was texting, telling him how I felt in the water. We were talking race strategies. We do definitely keep in contact a lot.”

Rosa continued coming closer to his and Michael’s bests by qualifying again for the state swimming and diving prelims on Feb. 24 in Westmont in two individual events

Rosa’s third-place 50.95 in the 100-yard butterfly and 58.50 in the 100 breaststroke – both personal bests -- beat the state-qualifying cuts of 51.90 and 59.24, respectively.

“They were some pretty good swims, especially since I’m not fully tapered and I wasn’t shaved and I was wearing an old suit,” Rosa said. “

T hose among the top 12 times F riday advance to Saturday’s championship (1-6) and consolation (7-12) finals

Last season, Rosa was 25th at state in the 200 individual medley in a sophomore school-record 1:56.30.

T he Bulldogs (204 points) finished third behind state power Hinsdale Central (352) and Lyons Township (253).

Garelli LTHS’ rst all-state wrestler since 2017

Junior brushes o quarter nal loss to nish 4th at 160 pounds

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Lyons Township High School junior Gunnar Garelli retur ned to the IHSA Class 3A boys wresting individual state meet more motivated, bigger and healthier. He left with his first top-six, all-state medal and even more motivation.

Garelli (41-11) became the Lions’ first all-stater since 2017 on Feb. 18 after finishing four th at 160 pounds, a weight he moved up to the final month of the season. Garelli already had jumped to

152 from 126, where he was 1-2 at the 2022 state meet, battling a broken left thumb suf fered at sectionals to finish 34-12.

“I’m content with it. It’s really nice to look back at it, being the four th best in the state,” Garelli said. “I’m also not totally satisfied with it but it’s a really good feeling knowing that I’m in that top-five, top four rang e. Hopefully it sets me up to win it next year.”

Garelli won his opening match 4-3 and then captured three wrestleback matches after losing 15-4 in the quar terfinals to

nationally ranked Conant senior Ethan Stiles (32-0), the state champion.

Garelli’s match over Stevenson senior T homas Schoolman (39-7) to clinch allstate was a strong one. Garelli fought of f a shot and got a late first-period takedown for the only points of the match. Garelli was down but never tur ned the entire second period and rode Schoolman the third period.

RBHS wrestlers don’t advance at state

Riverside-Brookfield High School senior Joe Midona had the same result in his

second straight trip to the Class 2A boys wrestling individual state meet but with a greater sense of accomplishment and enjoyment.

“Having the past experience, it made it all feel a little less nervous. It was a little more of a fun experience I think,” Midona said.

Midona, who first joined wrestling as a junior, shared this state trip with senior Devontae Givens, who became a varsity re gular after also joining as a junior, and junior Josh Gonzale z.

Midona (31-8 at 220 pounds), Givens (3018 at 285) and Gonzale z (31-16 at 138) all lost their two matches.

GUNNAR GARELLI

BILL STONE

Quinn Collins

HELP WANTED

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Human Resources Generalist in the Human Resources Department. This position will perform a variety of professional and technical functions in support human resource management including orientation, hiring, employee testing, classification analysis, compensation analysis and benefits administration. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Position opened until filled.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

IT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of IT Operations Specialist. The ideal candidate is responsible for the effective operation of information technology services and support across the organization. The IT Operations Specialist serves as a technical expert for the implementation, maintenance and support of systems and networks. The IT Operations Specialist plans and carries out various complex assignments and develops new methods and approaches in a wide variety of IT specialties. Evaluates new and enhanced approaches to deliver IT services; test and optimize the functionality of systems, networks, and data; and define technical requirements. The IT Operations Specialist is responsible for providing various forms of computer-related technical assistance and improving the efficiency of the work of the staff through the use of technology. Interested and qualified applicants can visit our website at http://www.oakpark.us/ for more details.

BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

HELP WANTED

PARALEGAL

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Paralegal. The ideal candidate will perform a variety of responsible duties in support of the Law Department, including research, document preparation, administrative support to Law Department staff and other related duties. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled.

DAYCARE CENTER DIRECTOR QUALIFIED TEACHER

Early childhood transcripts needed Immediate opening CALL TODAY! (773) 619-5545.

Analyst, Supply Chain Engineering sought by Coyote Logistics, LLC in Chicago, IL. Supprt supply chain consultng for clients. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref# 61731.

Commissioning & Energy Engineer (Chicago, IL) 2 F/T Positions - Dsgn, dvlp, or evaluate energy-rltd projects or prgms to reduce energy costs or improve energy efficiency during the dsgng, bldg, or remodeling stages of construction. Lead & execute condition assessments & energy audits. Conduct engg site surveys for bldg & system assessments that result in recommendations & energy conservation measures. Provide engg consulting svcs for commercial & institutional bldgs, as well as industrial facilities, incl (but not limited to) LEED consulting & energy audits for new & existing bldgs. Master’s deg in Energy Engg, Architectural Engg, or Construction Mgmt or closely rltd field reqd. LEED AP Building Design

+ Construction certificate OR LEED Green Associate certificate reqd. Email resume to Baumann Consulting Inc., Attn: Oliver Baumann, President, at: O.Baumann@baumann-us. com

INFANT TEACHER

Under the guidance of the childcare center Director, the Teacher is responsible for planning and implementing an effective developmental program to meet the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual needs of each child in line with the philosophy and mission statement of The Giving Tree. In addition, the Teacher is responsible for efficient and timely communication with parents.

One year of child development experience in a school or childcare setting, along with CPR, First Aid and Food handlers’ certifications.

(Required but can be obtained upon hiring)

Medical insurance offered.

Salary commensurate with experience and education.

Contact information.

Director Hazel Bell 708-209-1555 hazeltbell@gmail.com

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

Call for more info.

708-738-3848

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Administrative Assistant in the Public Health Department. This position provides a variety of responsible administrative and analytical functions; records and monitors department budget and fiscal requirements of grant-funded programs; oversight of Accounts Payable process; prepares reports and serves as a resource for computerized office applications. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

Oak Park Residence Corporation is hiring and inviting candidates to apply for:

• Case Manager – HCV Program

• Accounting Clerk (PT)

• Assistant Property Manager – The Oaks and The FarrellyMuriello Apartments

• Property Assistant/Cleaner –Mills Park Tower

We offer benefits such as 401(k) with employer contribution, Health, Dental, Vision, Life, and Short-term and Long-Term Disability Insurance, EAP, FSA, Professional Development Assistance as well as these added Benefits:

- PTO, Paid Sick Leave, Paid Vacation, and Paid Holidays

- Tuition Reimbursement

- A Collaborative, Supportive, and Fun Work Environment

For a complete job description please go to our website: Work for OPRC –OPRC (oakparkrc.com) or to apply send cover letter and resume to bswaggerty@oakparkrc.com.

OPRC strives to provide a positive and meaningful work experience, where you can make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Oak Park Residence Corporation is a community-based, non-profit organization. For over 46 years, we have led the way in promoting Oak Park’s housing diversity and economic balance by offering quality apartments at affordable prices.

CARS WANTED

While

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010134 on February 1, 2023.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CLASSICS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or Unrestored

Restored or Unrestored

Under the Assumed Business Name of TRAVELS & TREASURES with the business located at: 1016 ERIE STREET, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: TANYA TAYLOR 1016 ERIE STREET, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010087 on January 24, 2023 Under the Assumed Business Name of DONOR 4 A CAUSE SOLUTIONS with the business located at: 930 ONTARIO ST 2D, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: SULE KIVANC-ANCIETA 930 ONTARIO ST 2D, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

Domestic / Import Cars:

Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars: Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

Published in Wednesday Journal February 8, 15, 22, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

WOODWORK

Published in Wednesday Journal February 8, 15, 22, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Collector James • 630-201-8122

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

CLASSICS WANTED

Collector James 630-201-8122

Terry's Woodwork

On-site refinishing of wood and fiberglass since 1977. Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty!

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Experienced

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County.

Registration Number: Y23010121 on January 31, 2023 Under the Assumed

Business Name of JUST CALL JAK with the business located at: 9119 FRANKLIN COURT, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: JONATHAN MICHAEL CARSTEN 9119 FRANKLIN COURT, ORLAND PARK, IL 60462.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 8, 15, 22, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010112 on January 27, 2023 Under the Assumed Business

Name of KC KAREN’S CREATIONS with the business located at: 622 HANNAH AVE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: KAREN CHILDS 622 HANNAH AVE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 8, 15, 22, 2023

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010173 on February 9, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of MARY CANTU CREATIVE with the business located at: 704 N KENILWORTH AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MARY CANTU 704 N KENILWORTH AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 15, 22, March 1, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

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:

2023 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.

NEVER FAIL NOVENA

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored and glorified throughout the world, now and for-ever. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put my trust in you. Holy Mary Mother of Jesus, pray for me. St. Theresa child of Jesus, pray for me. St. Jude, helper of hopeless causes, pray for me and grant this favorI ask. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days .R.B

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail .Publication must be promised. Thank you Jesus. Thank You St . Jude. R.B.

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL)

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to suc cor in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. R.B.

The bidding documents are available for download starting Friday, February 17, 2023 at: www.vrf.us/bids

Bids must be submitted by Friday, March 3, 2023 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.

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE ATTENTION

DEVONTA T HURD & WESTLAKE FINANCIAL SERVICES.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on 3/31/23, a sale will be held at 1510 Hannah Ave, Forest Park, IL, 60130 to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois against such articles for labor, services, skill or material expended upon a storage furnished for such articles at the request of the following designated persons, unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice.

Our records show, your 2014, Jeep, Cherokee with the following VIN

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17, 2023 for the following:

Village of Oak Park

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NEWREZ LLC DBA SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING; Plaintiff, vs. ROSALIE ZAYIA; OAK PARK TERRACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS, GENERALLY AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 4330

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE (CWALT 2005-56); Plaintiff, vs. CELESTE MARIOTTI; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.;

3N1AB7AP5JY240173 was towed to our facility per police ordinance. Our records show that the current amount due and owing is $2000.00. If payment is not received within 30 days Nobs Towing Inc. will enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 50/3.

Published in Forest Park Review

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

e Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

is newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

1C4PJLCB0EW158370 was towed to our facility per police ordinance. Our records show that the current amount due and owing is $2000.00.

If payment is not received within 30 days Nobs Towing Inc. will enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 50/3.

Published in Forest Park Review

February 22, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE ATTENTION

KELILA MAUREEN BOWEN & SCS CREDIT CORP.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on

3/31/23, a sale will be held at 1510 Hannah Ave, Forest Park, IL, 60130 to sell the following articles to enforce a lien existing under the laws of the State of Illinois against such articles for labor, services, skill or material expended upon a storage furnished for such articles at the request of the following designated persons, unless such articles are redeemed within thirty days of the publication of this notice. Our records show, your 2015, Chevy, Malibu with the following VIN 1G11B5SL6FF312597 was towed to our facility per police ordinance.

Our records show that the current amount due and owing is $2000.00.

If payment is not received within 30 days Nobs Towing Inc. will enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 50/3.

Published in Forest Park Review February 22, 2023

2023 Redi Mix Concrete

Purchase Bid Number: 23-109

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

Published in Wednesday Journal February 22, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 17th, 2023 for the following:

Village of Oak Park

2023 Surface Hot Mix Asphalt Purchase Bid Number: 23-113

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

Published in Wednesday Journal February 22, 2023

EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, March 13, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-05-320-040-1005. Commonly known as 914 N. Austin Blvd, Apt A5, Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g) (4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Matthew C. Abad at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Kluever Law Group, 225 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 236-0077. ADC SMS000539-22FC1 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3212746

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWALT, INC., ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2005-56, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-56; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 18 CH 10982

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in