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RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside

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Vol. 36, No. 9

March 3, 2021

@riversidebrookfieldlandmark

Steven Campbell, who helped entrepreneurs and exasperated officials, dies PAGE 7

RBHS board weighs cuts to music teaching staff as interest drops PAGE 12

A shot in the arm

Riverside police officer helped 30 seniors land vaccine appointments

By BOB UPHUES

A

Editor

Riverside police officer jumped at an opportunity to vaccinate local residents against COVID-19 last month, landing appointments for more than two dozen people through an Illinois State Police clinic at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Dan Marrello, a Riverside resident who has been a member of the police department for nearly 18 years, acted after receiving a string of emails from the Illinois State Police beginning on Feb. 5. According to the emails, the state police were running a pair of clinics, one at McCormick Place and one in Springfield, through Feb. 19.

See MARRELLO on page 14

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

BOOK ‘EM: Riverside resident Dan Marrello, who is also a Riverside police officer, helped more than two dozen senior citizens land vaccine appointments through a state police program in Chicago in February.

Weekend outdoor dining returns to Grand Blvd. in 2021 This year’s setup may even include monthly live entertainment

By BOB UPHUES Editor

After rave reviews late last summer from restaurant and bar owners as well as resi-

dents, Brookfield will once again close down roughly the south half of the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard -- perhaps as early as Memorial Day weekend -- on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays this summer to accommo-

date more outdoor food and drink service.

During an hour-long meeting Monday morning at the Brookfield Village Hall, business owners – even those whose customers were inconvenienced by the weekend shut-

downs last year – said they were on board with extending the outdoor service expansion, implemented late last July to counter See DINING on page 15

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

OH, DEER!

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

A pair of white-tail deer paused for a quick bite to eat out front of this Riverside home, where some carrots had been left on the lawn, possibly as an alternative to the property’s shrubs and trees, on the evening of Feb. 26.

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

Riverside trustees: Need to get Swan Pond path right

Shoreline stabilization will add more than $100,000 to project cost

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The final cost to construct a new walking path along the riverbank in Swan Pond Park in Riverside could be $125,000 more than anticipated as elected officials mulls options to stabilize the shoreline where erosion is common during floods.

If the village decides to pursue the more expensive of two shoreline stabilization solutions and must add the permeable pavers to the path, the final cost would increase to roughly $600,500, or by roughly 26 percent.

Trustees earmarked $475,500 for the path replacement in the village’s 2021 capital projects budget. Most of the funding would come courtesy of two grants, including $350,000 from the 2019 Illinois Capital Bill and $50,000 from a grant through Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways.

According to Village Manager Jessica Frances, the tentative plan is to begin construction in July with completion slated for September.

“Once we have bids on the projects, we will be able to provide a final schedule,” Frances said.

The plan is to remove the narrow 2,078-foot-long asphalt path, built as part of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dam removal and park regrading project in 2012, and replace it with a 10-foot-wide exposed aggregate concrete path which would also be ADA-compliant.

Public Works Director Dan Tabb told trustees at their meeting on Feb. 18 that the project has entered the final design stage. With construction planned for summer 2021, trustees need to settle on how much more they want to spend now that the village’s share of the cost may rise to a total of $200,500.

The village did receive some good news last week regarding another potential added expense, when state Rep. Michael Zalewski (D-Riverside) informed Village President Ben Sells that he and his staff believe the village still qualifies for the

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

FILE 2019

EXPENSIVE FIX: Riverside officials want to make sure that when they rebuild the Swan Pond Park path, they will be able to stabilize the riverbank to prevent the erosion that has washed out sections of earth and path (shown above after a flood in May 2019) in low areas where flood waters drain. $350,000 capital grant even if the path no longer will be permeable.

Last June, village trustees decided they preferred an all-concrete path and Sells asked Zalewski whether the state would allow the change. Because the path is located in a floodplain and the permeable pavers would have no impact during flood events, local officials felt making the path permeable would have no practical effect while also being more expensive.

If required, the permeable pavers would have been installed as they are in the two “green” alleys connecting Kent and York roads – as a brick paver ribbon framed in concrete.

“There’s an aesthetic part of me that thinks a ribbon looks good, but from a practical standpoint it doesn’t make any sense,” Sells said.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant for Riverside in the state’s 2019 Capital Bill was awarded for a “new permeable walking path.”

However, after talking to Zalewski last week, Sells said the village will pursue the all-concrete design.

“We’re going to move forward with the assurances of Representative Zalewski,” Sells said.

But trustees favored using the more expensive shoreline stabilization option, because the path is in such a high-profile area along the river.

“It’s a generational project on our river that I think we have to get right,” said Trustee Doug Pollock. “I think we learned from the asphalt that trying to save money on a project like this is not a prudent way to approach it.”

Trustees agreed with Village Engineer Orion Galey’s recommendation to stabilize the shoreline in three areas at the north end of Swan Pond Park using large limestone

ledges, measuring about 2.5 feet wide, 4 to 6 feet long and about 10 inches thick.

The ledge rock would be placed in a stairstep fashion from the top of the bank to the river in an area near the WPA walled plaza, near the culvert outlet and along the path near the hill where the river bends east.

In all, the ledge rock would stretch a total of about 150 feet divided between the three areas. In addition, the final design will include using thicker concrete edges on the upstream and downstream sides of the path where it erodes as flood waters recede.

Galey said that a much cheaper solution would be large boulders called “riprap” set into the bank to stabilize it. That solution would add about $40,000 to the project cost, but their use would make the river in those areas inaccessible and would also require some ongoing maintenance.

“The limestone ledge rock is also eight to 10 times heavier than the riprap would be, so it’s a much more long-term solution,” Galey told trustees last month. “If you are looking for stabilization of those banks, I would recommend the limestone.”

Pollock said the limestone ledges would also tie in aesthetically with the WPA-era stone improvements already present.

Trustee Edward Hannon called the planned improvements a “legacy project” that would provide a permanent solution.

“I think [it] ties into what the objective of the board was when pushing this project forward to begin with, which was to add to the beautification of that section of town which I think is unique given its position on the river,” Hannon said.

Sells agreed, saying that “there’s no point of putting the path in if you don’t stabilize the bank. And if you’re going to stabilize the bank ... we need to maintain access to the river, and from the aesthetics standpoint it’s a no-brainer.”

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

The Illinois Monarch Project

Learn more about Illinois’ state insect – the monarch butterfly – during the Chicago Zoological Society’s next winter virrtual lecture on Tuesday, March 9 at 7 p.m.

Find out what the state is doing and how the public can help protect the monarch butterfly during “The Illinois Monarchh Project: Helping Pollina-tors, Empowering People” le” by two leaders of the project, ect, Andre Copeland, interpretive programs manager for CZS CZS, and Iris Caldwell, program manager for the Energy Resources Center at University of Illinois at Chicago.

They’ll share the statewide action plan to add 150 million milkweed stems to the Illinois landscape by 2038.

Online reservations are required and can be made at czs.org/Brookfield-Zoo/Learning/Lectures.

BIG WEEK March 3-10

And more Nazareth Academy concludes its Parent Speaker Series on March 9 at 7 p.m. with the Zoom presentation “Parenting for Purity.” Jason Evert will assist parents in their task as the primary sex educators of their children. Register at nazarethacademy.com under the Student/Parent tab.

Boy Scout Troop 24 will host its annual pancake breakfast on March 6 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 116 Barrypoint Road in Riverside. The event will be drive-thru, with customers remaining in their cars to present or purchase tickets and pick up their meals. Tickets are $6 each in advance or $7 at the tent. Kids under 5 eat free. For advance tickets and information visit at everyyear.org.

Through March 5, the Lyons Township High School Recycling Club will host a battery and old phone recycling drive. Drop used batteries and old cell phones in the labeled collection boxes in the lobby of the North Campus is at 100 S. Brainard Ave. in LaGrange or South Campus at 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs.

Spent A, AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt batteries will be accepted at no cost.

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., invites you “The Kitchen Sink,” a group show which runs through April 3 in the Freeark Gallery. The exhibition features the work of artists Bimbola Akinbola, Alex Bradley Cohen, Mari Eastman, Cassidy Early, Zehra Khan, Kelly Neibert and Sophie Treppendahl. Free. Appointments required.

Hours are Thursday through Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m.

Email info@riversideartscenter.com to schedule an appointment.

North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., offers a number of virtual programs through Facebook Live (facebook.com/NRPL2400), conference calls and the teleconferencing app Zoom.

Programs include Game Night Wednesdays on March 10 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

There’s also NRPL Book Club via conference call (800-747-5150, code 1453322) discussing “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones on March 9 at 6:45 p.m.

RSVP to bodenl@northriversidelibrary.org or visit northriversidelibrary.org/events for adult Zoom meeting access info.

Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/BrookfieldPublicLibrary.

For adults, there’s Chair Yoga via Zoom on March 4 at 11 a.m. and Lunch and Learn: Here’s Where the Money Is with Melissa Duff Brown, director of Joseph Center Business Development in Forest Park, who will talk about federal programs to help businesses during the pandemic via Zoom on March 5 at noon.

Visit brookfield.evanced.info/signup to register for Zoom programs.

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Radio Players recreate Shadow, Sam Spade

The Riverside Township Radio Players’ latest performance is now available on YouTube.

Visit riversidetownshipradioplayers.com or go to YouTube.com and type “Riverside Township Radio Players” into the search bar to watch the troupe recreate two shows from the Golden Age of Radio, including “Isle of Fear” from mystery show “The Shadow” and “The Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail Caper” from the detective show “Adventures of Sam Spade.”

Be safe before paddling off

Before you know it, the weather will warm up and you’ll be itching to haul out the kayak and hit the river.

Whether you’re new to paddling or a seasoned veteran, you might brush up on dos and don’ts during a free virtual Paddle Craft Safety presentation via Zoom on Sunday, March 7 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, March 28 at 3 p.m.

The 90-minute presentation from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary covers such things as choosing the right craft, equipment you’ll need and recommendations for having a fun and safe experience.

To join, send an email to USCGAUX3725@gmail.com and specify which session you’d like to attend. You’ll receive a response with a Zoom link.

Create your own Cress Pets

Explore TV’s early days

Riverside Public Library invites you to join author Evan Weiner for his Zoom presentation “The Early Days of Television” on Thursday, March 4 at 7 p.m.

Weiner will dive into the beginning of television with a special focus on Chicago’s role as a major network hub and its contributions to the establishment of cable TV. Register to attend the presentation by visiting online at riversidelibrary.libcal.com/event/7357905.

Kids can take gardening to a fun level during Deep Seed Adventure, a special Facebook Live program (facebook.com/BrookfieldPublicLibrary) from Brookfield Public Library, 3609 Grand Blvd., to be held Saturday, March 6 at 1 p.m.

Pick up a free Deep Seed Kit in advance and get ready to follow along online to learn about the seeds and our connections to nature and create your own Cress Pet with the library and Brookfield Zoo. To request a kit, contact Youth Services at 708-485-6917, ext. 140 or at youthservices@ brookfieldlibrary.info.

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Former Riversider again charged withtrespassing A 71-year-old charged by Riverside police with criminal trespassing in late January for trying to enter a home in the 200 block of East Quincy Street was arrested and charged again for the same offense on March 1.

Riverside police apprehended the LaGrange Highlands man during the early morning hours in a taxi he hired to bring him to the residence. According to police, the suspect had lived at the residence about 20 years ago and in recent years has repeatedly returned there at all hours trying to enter the home.

Despite numerous warnings, he has continued to appear at the house. He allegedly tried to enter the home on the afternoon of Jan. 25 but fled before police arrived on that occasion.

He reportedly returned the following morning and was still on the scene when police arrived and charged him with trespassing.

Police received a 911 call at 1:24 a.m. on March 1 reporting a burglary in progress at the East Quincy Street home, with the caller saying the same man was attempting to enter through the back door.

The suspect was apprehended inside a taxi at Harlem Avenue and Pershing Road in Lyons. Also inside the taxi were groceries he’d purchased before coming to Riverside.

At the time of his arrest, police also learned the man was wanted on two outstanding warrants by Hillside police for harassment and disorderly conduct.

In 2018, the same man was charged with threatening a public official after allegedly saying he was going to kill Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel for the department’s role in him allegedly losing a job due to a 2005 arrest in Riverside.

At the time of that arrest, he was also wanted for allegedly threatening a public official in Oak Brook.

Driver cited in head-on crash Riverside police cited a 40-year-old Berwyn woman for improper lane usage and driving too fast for conditions after she lost control of her 2004 Honda sedan and crashed it head-on into a 2013 Nissan SUV driven by a 49-year-old Cicero man. A 2018 Chevy driven by a 19-yearold Berwyn woman then crashed into the rear of the Nissan.

The incident happened on Harlem Avenue near Herrick Road in Riverside on Feb. 21 at about 6:30 p.m.

The drivers of the Nissan and Chevy were taken by paramedics to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn for treatment of what police termed non-life threatening injuries. The driver of the Honda and several passengers in the vehicles were not hurt, police said.

According to the police report, the driver of the Honda was northbound on Harlem Avenue when the vehicle slid into the southbound lanes of traffic, striking the Nissan. The im-

pact caused the Nissan to stop abruptly and get rear-ended by the Chevy.

All three vehicles had to be towed from the scene. In addition to the citations given to driver of the Honda, the driver of the Chevy was ticketed for driving without a license and without insurance.

Flying down Cermak North Riverside police charged a 21-year-old Chicago man with aggravated speeding, fleeing police and cited him for other traffic offenses after an officer reported the man’s gray Chevy pickup traveling at 95 mph while westbound on Cermak Road on Feb. 23 at about 9:10 p.m.

The officer first reported clocking the truck at 83 mph in the 7300 block of Cermak Road, but said the truck accelerated to 95 mpg before turning north on Desplaines Avenue without stopping for a red light and then switching off the truck’s head and tail lights and hitting speeds in excess of 90 mph before pulling over near Roosevelt Road.

The driver reportedly told police that he was going so fast because he thought his girlfriend, who was in the car, was having a miscarriage and that he was taking her to the hospital.

The woman, who was a front seat passenger, reportedly told police she did not want medical attention or to be taken to the hospital.

Irate over sauce and change A 20-year-old Calumet City woman and a 22-year-old Chicago woman were both charged with battery after they allegedly shoved a 19-year-old cashier at Shark’s Fish and Chicken in the food court of North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, during a transaction on Feb. 23 at about 5:20 p.m.

According to the police report, the two woman had ordered food and requested extra hot sauce. When the cashier told them there would be a $1.18 upcharge for the extra sauce, both women were upset but still paid for it.

As the cashier handed change back to one of the women a quarter accidentally fell out of her hand, prompting her to get upset and allegedly throwing the quarter at the cashier and then pushing him.

The other woman then reportedly pushed the cash register.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Feb. 22-28 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

D102 teachers, parents at odds over reopening classrooms About half of families surveyed want full-day, in person learning

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Like school boards across much of the country, the LaGrange-Brookfield District 102 Board of Education is wrestling with whether to return to full-day, in-person attendance for the remainder of the school year and trying to balance the competing interests of parents and staff.

In a meeting that lasted for more than five hours on Feb. 25, the school board wrestled with the issue and heard more than one hour’s worth of public comment from parents and teachers like.

Teachers, who mostly spoke from prepared remarks at the beginning of the meeting were unanimous in opposing a return to full-day, in-person instruction this school year. They said the hybrid model that’s been in place this year has worked well and that scrapping it for full-day, in-person instruction would not be good for students and probably would result in some students having to switch teachers late in the school year.

But board member Brian Anderson and

many parents pushed back at that argument.

“The current system is the largest upheaval,” Anderson said. “I think we have to get back on the path we will be on in the fall.”

Board member Leah Werab, who teaches in Elmhurst, had a different view. Werab said she was not ready to consider returning to full-day instruction. Werab said she needed 20 questions answered before she could consider scrapping the hybrid model that has been in use all year.

“I am not endorsing full day until I know the consequences for every child,” said an emotional Werab.

The district recently surveyed parents, but the results were open to interpretation, with 49.7 percent of parents saying they wanted their children to go to school for a full day, including lunch.

Another 10 percent wanted their children to attend school for a full day but come home for lunch. About 19 percent wanted to stay in the current hybrid model where students attend school in person for 2.5 hours a day, while nearly 18 percent wanted to stay in fully remote learning.

But among the parents who want their children to attend school for a full day, 41.2 percent said they only wanted that option if their child would not have to change teachers.

Some teacher change would probably be necessary if the district returns to full-day learn-

ing, because some teachers teach different grades in the morning and afternoon in the current hybrid model. Because of confusion on how to interpret the results, the district is sending out another survey to parents.

“We may find out that there’s not a lot of teacher change that will be required,” said Superintendent Kyle Schumacher.

Any changes to the district’s schedule would go into effect on April 5 or 6, leading some to wonder whether a change for the final two months of the school year would be worth it.

If the district switches to full-day attendance the six-foot social distancing guidelines would be scrapped or perhaps reduced to something like three feet to fit more kids into classrooms.

Lunch would be another problem, since current guidelines are that no more than 50 people should gather in the same room at any one time. Teachers receive a contractual lunch break time.

Schumacher suggested that parents and community volunteers could be recruited to oversee students eating lunch in their classrooms.

Schumacher said that the district can only logistically offer two options. Since fully remote has to be one option, the choice is whether to continue with the hybrid or switch to all-day.

“The big question is how many want full day, how many want remote,” Schumacher said. “We cannot run three different models.

We cannot run full day, hybrid, and remote.”

Werab insisted that the new survey must also ask how many parents still want to stay in the hybrid model.

One parent, who said that she is a pediatric nurse, said that kids need to back in school.

“Our kids are out of school for five hours every day, and this is not acceptable,” the parent said.

While some parents criticized the teachers for using scripts and having a coordinated response, Kate Murray, the mother of two children who attend Ogden School in LaGrange, said teachers should be listened to.

“Why aren’t we listening to our teachers?”

Murray asked. “They are the experts on our kids.”

But Levi Duvall, the father of a first-grader, said his first-grade daughter has regressed socially and emotionally this year and that he didn’t consider learning via iPad a good education.

“What we’re doing today is not working at all,” Duvall said.

Near the end of the meeting school board president Michael Melendez summed up the board’s predicament.

“These decisions are not easy,” Melendez said. “We want to make the right decision.”

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

T

SUPREME COURT SETS LIMITS ON STATE INCOME TAXATION OF TRUSTS

he U.S. Supreme Co has issued a unanimous decision holding that a trust is not subject to fiduciary income tax in a state where the trust’s only contacts to the state are the presence of discretionary beneficiaries.

A New York resident created a trust in New York and named a New York resident as trustee. The trustee had the absolute discretion to distribute (or not distribute) the trust’s assets to the beneficiaries of the trust.

After one of the beneficiaries moved to North Carolina, the trustee divided the trust into three separate subtrusts, one of which was for the benefit of the North Carolina resident and her children.

The trustee, the assets and the administration of the trust remained outside of North Carolina. The trust’s only contact to North Carolina was the residency of the discretionary beneficiaries, who did not have a rig t to demand the distribution of trust income, and

no trust income was distributed to the beneficiaries during the relevant time period.

North Carolina’s trust income tax statute imposes a tax on any trust that “is for for the benefit of ” a North Carolina resident.

Applying this statute, North Carolina assessed an income tax on the undistributed income of the trust based solely on the residence of the beneficiaries.

The Supreme Court concluded that the presence of in-state discretionary beneficiaries alone does not give a state the power to tax undistributed trust income when the beneficiaries have no right to demand the income, have not received it, and may never receive it.

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

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Steven Campbell, small business champion and outspoken critic, dies at 71 Riverside resident escaped bizarre kidnap plot in 2012

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Steven Campbell, a Riverside resident whose property holdings in Brookfield made him an influential figure who commanded respect and admiration from other business owners and his tenants for his generosity while simultaneously irritating and exasperating local officials for battling them relentlessly over property issues large and small, died Feb. 27 at his Riverside home of natural causes. He was 71 years old.

Raised in LaGrange and a graduate of Lyons Township High School, Campbell by the 1980s had established a shop called Coachworks on Ogden Avenue, restoring high-end automobiles.

He would increasingly turn to buying commercial property along Brookfield’s main drag and by the end of his life owned parcels along both sides the village’s entire stretch of Ogden Avenue, including a substantial number of parcels west of Maple Avenue.

Campbell also purchased single-family homes that he rented and sometimes, like the one at the corner of Prairie and Washington avenues, used the front picture window to hang signs deriding various Brookfield officials over alleged violations of his rights as a property owner, perceived uneven application of the village’s zoning code or to express displeasure with village policies, such as Brookfield’s 1-percent municipal sales tax.

“He was a little too outspoken for some people,” said Campbell’s close friend Bill Brandt, a former Brookfield public works director who first met Campbell as a young laborer in the street department over an issue the village had with one of his properties.

Campbell saw himself as an economic development consultant, creating the Brookfield Economic Development Corporation and offering his services to those looking to start a business in the village or seek zoning relief from the village.

He also put his money where his mouth was. While Campbell concentrated his property acquisition on Ogden Avenue, he bought a pair of properties in downtown Brookfield in the early 2000s.

He spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renovating the building at 3733 Grand Blvd., transforming it in 2003 into the Boulevard Blues Club, which sought to deliver both live music and fine dining to downtown Brookfield.

The venture lasted 11 months, closing in May 2004.

“We built it and they didn’t come,” said Clare Childs, who Campbell named as the club’s manager, at the time.

Campbell had met Childs through his business dealings on Ogden Avenue and the two became close friends. After the blues club closed, Childs continued to work as Campbell’s assistant until his death.

“A lot of people thought that he was a bull-headed hard ass, but he was my dearest friend and safety net for 20 years,” said Childs.

After the blues club closed, the property would continue to house a series of restaurants and bars. It is currently home to Pub 78.

Campbell embraced the economic development role, particularly for first-time entrepreneurs seeking to launch their dream businesses.

Loca Mocha, a coffee shop at the Brookfield Metra station which has become something of a local institution, got its start in 2003 inside a Campbell-owned storefront on Brookfield Avenue in the downtown.

“From the very beginning Steve took my sister Silvia and I under his wing, and treated us more like a big brother/great friend rather than just a landlord,” said Loca Mocha owner Maria Verduzco in a Facebook post on Monday. “He was a witness to many of our fears and our tears (that came quite often) at the beginning of our business endeavor, and being new to this world we had many bloopers along the way ... but it was always Steve to the rescue!!”

Silvia Mancilla, who opened Loca Mocha 2 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, four years ago, called Campbell “the best landlord I ever had. Anything I need, in five minutes he always sends someone to fix the problem.”

In the 1990s, a 17-year-old Doc Mack approached Campbell after being referred to him by someone else. Mack was developing a video arcade game and needed a place to shoot video for it.

Campbell had no experience with video production or video games, and according to Mack, really didn’t understand what he was trying to accomplish.

“He was like, ‘Here are the keys to the building.’ He handed us a free building,” Mack said. “He was so instrumental in sending us in the right direction.”

That was the start of what would become the Galloping Ghost business empire that stretches along Ogden Avenue in six different Campbell-owned buildings that include everything from the flagship video arcade

FILE

MR. OGDEN AVE.: Steven Campbell stands next to a Brookfield welcome sign over which he got into a dispute with the village in 2013. Campbell bought the property and learned the village never recorded an easement for it. The village ended up removing the sign. and its roughly 800 games to a pinball arcade, game production studio, print shop, fitness gym and car repair business.

“He’s been everything,” Mack said. “We would not be where we are without him.”

Campbell could be hard on him at times, Mack said, but those criticisms “came from a good spot.”

“He wanted me to succeed,” Mack said. “I don’t think anyone has any idea what kind of positive impact he had on the town and how he made things work from behind the scenes.”

According to Childs, Campbell cut tenants slack when they faced financial difficulties, allowing them to defer or simply forego paying rent to get through difficult times.

“He was prepared to stick up for the little guy no matter what,” Childs said.

While most of Campbell’s business dealings were centered on Brookfield, his generosity also extended to his hometown of Riverside.

He donated thousands of dollars to the village to plant trees on public parkways and donated thousands more in new equipment for the Riverside Police Department, including a drone, heavy duty rechargeable flashlights for every officer on the force and recording devices for detectives to take statements.

The latter donation was the result of an experience Campbell himself had with police, when he sought to put on record details of incidents connected to a bizarre and frightening chapter of his life.

In 2012, Campbell went to police after being contacted by the FBI, who informed him he was the intended victim of an as-yet unexplained crime. The FBI asked Campbell for the use of one of his cars, one of his straw hats and one of his ubiquitous Hawaiian shirts and told him to lay low.

A couple of days later, the FBI announced they had arrested two men who had intended to kidnap and torture a businessman and

get him to turn over all of his property holdings and cash before killing him and disposing of his body.

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

Incumbent withdraws from LTHS school board race 2-year term now unopposed, six others air views at candidate forum

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

One race for the Lyons Township High School District 204 school board has already been decided.

In the race for a two-year term on the board, incumbent board member Jessica McLean has dropped out, leaving Jill Beda Daniels assured of victory as the only other candidate.

“It has been my great honor and joy to serve as a school board member at Lyons Township High School for the past six years, but due to ongoing family health concerns I will not be seeking re-election,” McLean said in a statement.

McLean is the fourth incumbent who has decided not to seek re-election.

“I am confident that the new board members will embrace their roles with open minds and enthusiasm,” McLean said in her statement. “Being on a school board can be challenging. Many issues that LT faces are complex and require both depth and breadth of knowledge. These volunteer board members, who are our friends and neighbors, will need our support and grace as they begin this work together. It is my hope they can count on all of us. Their success will be LT’s success.”

Daniels has been a critic of the current administration and school board’s approach to issues of equity and inclusivity.

She said last year she doesn’t think the school has adequately addressed the achievement gap between Black and white students.

She even paid out of her own pocket for a study of the achievement gap at LTHS and what can be done about it.

Daniels presented the study to the school board but has said the LTHS school board and administration has mostly ignored it.

Equity and inclusivity were topics addressed at a virtual candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the LaGrange Area last week for the six candidates competing for four four-year terms on the board. The forum can be viewed on the chapter’s Facebook page (facebook.com/TheLeagueofWomenVotersoftheLaGrangeArea).

There was not a lot of disagreements among the candidates, but all said more had to be done to promote equity and inclusion at the high school, which serves the south half of Brookfield.

“The school district hasn’t done a great job of driving a climate of inclusivity and that has to happen,” said Dawn Aubert, a former member of the LaGrange District 102 school board who is one of the candidates.

All the candidates said they favored new state requirements that teacher education programs in Illinois include training in culturally responsive teaching.

“It is important for kids to hear and see themselves in what’s being taught,” said Michael Thomas, who was appointed to the LTHS school board last fall after Barbara Rosinsky resigned.

Thomas, an alumnus of LTHS who is Black, served on the District 102 school board for about 3 years before being appointed to the District 204 board Ricardo Martinez, who ran unsuccessfully for the LTHS school board two years ago, also supported the new rules.

“I don’t understand why it wouldn’t be a

good idea,” Martinez said.

Martinez called the equity statement adopted by the school board last month “wonderful” but said that board should also adopt an equity statement that directly addresses race.

Tim Albores, who is the director of student services for high schools in Plainfield District 202, emphasized his experience in education.

He said that the school must make sure that every student is connected to someone at the school.

“A lot of it depends on the connections that our kids have to school, so I think we have to do a better job of making sure all of our kids find some level of connection within the school,” Albores said.

Albores also noted that because of his district’s work, he has been named a member of a state commission on suicide prevention.

He also said LTHS must address discrepancies in discipline between students of color and white students.

Some of the candidates called on the school board to develop a strategic plan.

“I’m shocked that LT has never had one,” Aubert said.

Jill Grech, a digital marketing strategist for Loyola University of Chicago, also said that the school should develop a strategic plan.

Aubert emphasized her experience serving eight years on the District 102 school board, noting that the new school board will be quite inexperienced. By May, no one will have served on the LTHS school board for more than two years.

“I definitely have the experience,” Aubert said. “First and foremost I’m going to keep what is in the best interests of all kids at the

forefront of any decision that I’m going to weigh in on.”

Martinez called for greater investment in facilities, notably the addition of more air conditioning in classrooms. He noted that LTHS is in line for a $1 million capital improvement grant from the state.

“I think there’s an opportunity for LT to invest in instructional spaces,” Martinez said. “We’ve done a good job of investing in non-instructional spaces, and this is our opportunity to invest in instructional spaces as well.”

Julie Swinehart, an alumna of LTHS, said her experience as the chief financial officer of a large company and her experience serving as member of a private school board would be valuable additions to the school board. Swinehart, who is gay, also mentioned that she would bring added diversity to the school board.

Albores and Aubert wondered why LTHS has not implemented saliva testing for the presence of the coronavirus this year during the pandemic.

One question dealt with whether LTHS should have armed police officers at school.

Each LTHS campus currently has one police officer assigned as a resource officer.

Thomas, Albores and Aubert, the three who were asked the question, all said they support the police presence in the school.

“Their role is to be community policing partners with the students,” Thomas said.

Aubert agreed.

“I’ve only heard positives about having officers in the building,” Aubert said. “I think it adds an additional level of safety.”

LTHS board adopts equity statement in 6-0 vote Cushing: ‘Will serve as the foundation for the leadership … to take action’

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The Lyons Township High School District 204 Board of Education, responding to pressure and an increased focus on racial equity during the past year, voted 6-0 on Feb. 16 to adopt a 148-word equity statement.

“As an institution that fosters the physical, social, and emotional well-being of all its students, we pledge to continue to promote practices, systems, and processes that enhance equity, access, and inclusivity,” the statement (see sidebar) reads in part.

The word “continue” appears twice in the statement and the word “remain” appears once in what seems to be an effort to try to make the point that LTHS has been focused on advancing equity for some time, a point not all critics might agree with.

School board president Tom Cushing said that although school leaders and the school board have

working on the equity issue for some time, this was an opportunity to refocus and make a point.

“We wanted everyone to know that even though we have been working on it for a number of years that we were rededicating ourselves as a board and as an institution to look at it with fresh eyes, to look at new things that could be done that perhaps we weren’t doing, new initiatives, perhaps some restructuring in some areas,” Cushing told the Landmark.

Cushing noted that LTHS currently has an African-American liaison position as well as a Hispanic liaison position. He said restructuring could perhaps lead to a director of equity position.

Cushing pushed back at the idea that LTHS has not focused on equity in the past.

“Equity has been on the radar at LT for decades,” Cushing said. “We do take different initiatives at different times to try and make things to more inclusive, to reexamine what we’re doing.”

See LTHS EQUITY on page 14

Lyons Township High School District 204 Equity Statement

Lyons Township High School remains committed to building a community based on a foundation of equity and inclusion where all students are treated with respect and dignity and know they belong.

As an institution that fosters the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of its students, we pledge to continue to promote practices, systems, and processes that advance equity, access, and inclusivity.

We understand the impact all of our decisions have on our students, their families and our community. Decisions will be made to

advance success, promote growth and support social emotional health of all LT students.

Improving academic achievement and promoting student engagement in all LT has to offer remain top District priorities. We will continue to partner with associate school districts, colleges, community agencies and others to continually enhance student opportunities, improve student preparedness, and provide positive learning environments for all students at Lyons Township High School.

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In 5-1 vote, officials say 4302 Maple Ave. can be developed using existing access

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield trustees on Feb. 22 denied a request by a LaGrange-based home developer to allow him to move a driveway for a proposed new residence at 4302 Maple Ave. closer to the intersection of Maple and Shields avenues.

In voting 5 to 1 against the request, trustees sided with the Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission, whose members unanimously felt placing the driveway within 40 feet of the intersection was dangerous and out of character with the neighborhood.

Trustee Brian Conroy, who cast the only vote in favor of the request, agreed with the developer that the south end of Brookfield already contained several examples of similar driveway placement. He also disagreed that the placement of the driveway closer to Maple and Shields was especially unsafe.

“In Brookfield there are a lot more precarious situations than [4302 Maple],” said Conroy.

“I think this goes well.”

Two weeks earlier, Mike Vukanic, an attorney representing IMX Group LLC, the developer, argued that the Planning and Zoning Commission had got their facts wrong when it came to declaring the site plan out of character with that part of Brookfield. He also alleged that the commission didn’t give him a “fair shake” by refusing to let him rebut com-

missioners’ statements about the plan.

He also argued that the development company’s plan should not be subjected to a recently amended section of the zoning code making curb cuts for driveways a special use requiring a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission.

IMX has developed three other homes near the Maple/Shields location. In all of those, the company was able to get permission from the village to either alter or create new curb cuts for driveways.

At 4302 Maple Ave., which sits on the intersection’s southwest corner, there is an existing curb cut adjacent to the alley which used to go to a rear detached garage. The home and garage that previously stood on the site have been demolished and IMX intended to re-site the residence so that it faced Shields Avenue instead of Maple Avenue.

In order to allow for a large open backyard, IMX proposed moving the garage away from the alley, attaching it to the east side of the home and moving the driveway closer to the Maple/Shields intersection.

During their deliberations, trustees who voted to deny the request said they believed the property could still be developed leaving the curb cut where it is, at the rear of the parcel.

See DRIVEWAY on page 14

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

Hollywood moms lift spirits through gift exchange Participants hand-pick items for one another from local businesses

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

When social distancing became the norm due to the coronavirus pandemic, everyone found themselves yearning for a way to safely connect with others.

For many, it was not until they were discouraged from daily interactions with others that they realized in-person time spent with family, friends and neighbors was such a vital part of their lives.

For one group of local moms, what started as a simple act of finding a creative way to maintain contact with one another and lift spirits during the pandemic turned into a monthly gift exchange, fostering both the importance of heartfelt connections and good will.

It began last October, when Brookfield resident and Hollywood Elementary School parent Kim Eddy spoke virtually with other parents both about how much they missed having meaningful in-person interaction, and how at-home learning, working from home and social distancing left many of them feeling alone and stressed.

It was then when she came up with a novel idea.

With Halloween fast approaching, Eddy decided to TESS LESNIAK loop other HollyGift exchange participant wood parents into a Halloween gift exchange, where moms would join a text chain, share a list of their favorite things, get paired with another school mom, shop locally and surprise one another with a hand-picked gift.

“The whole reason it started was just friends missing each other, having a need to feel connected to one another, having that sense of giving and the sense of receiving, and having surprises,” Eddy said.

To organize the exchange, Eddy set up a Google doc for people to sign up and share their likes and dislikes. From there, she randomly assigned each person to another, emailing each party and letting them know their gift recipient and informing them of the $20 price limit.

From there, the moms purchased gifts and delivered them, with photos of the gift openings shared in group text messages.

As of the group’s most recent exchange for Valentine’s Day — dubbed “Galantine’s” — the total number of participants was up to 17.

According to Eddy, what makes the

“It’s more rewarding than those generic monthly subscription boxes.”

PROVIDED

SURPRISE! Kara Smith receives her “Galentine’s” Day gifts from Brennan Massage & Spa in Brookfield and Buckledown Brewery in Lyons via fellow gift exchange participant Melissa Squeo last month. group special is that the moms were not necessarily even a tight group of friends at the beginning of the exchange in the fall. Some didn’t even know one another beforehand, and through word of mouth, she says, the activity has become a fun way to connect with both neighbors and new area parents.

While the gift exchange was originally meant to be a one- or two-time thing, Eddy says the group enjoyed it so much that after a Thanksgiving exchange, they continued to host one for Christmas, Valentine’s Day and for the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday.

Naturally, Eddy says, the gift shopping turned into an adventure, seeking items from local vendors and small businesses to finding a way to say ‘thank you’ to local business owners, especially during the trying times of a pandemic.

During each exchange, the moms have worked to purchase gifts from local vendors based on the specific interests of the others

in the group. The goal became to purchase local jewelry, desserts, flowers, soaps and other gifts all in either Brookfield, Riverside or the immediate surrounding suburbs.

This month, gifts featured items from places like Riverside’s The Seed, Quincy Street Distillery, Aunt Diana’s, Hilary’s Soapbox and Brookfield’s For the Birds, Laura Atwood Studio, Fill My Jar, Betty’s Flowers and Loca Mocha Cafe.

“If anything, we wanted everyone introducing the rest of the group to a place they might not know of, so we were welcoming any kind of local small business,” Eddy said. “It makes you feel really appreciative and appreciated and connected to your community. We love our wonderful local businesses and we want to help them succeed.”

For Brookfield resident and Hollywood parent Tess Lesniak, the gift exchange has been a happy distraction during the pandemic.

“I like participating because it’s more

rewarding than those generic monthly subscription boxes,” she said. “We receive a custom gift but, even better, we get to give a hand-picked gift. In our text thread, we can see the participants’ excitement and get recommendations on new items to try.”

Fellow Hollywood mom Callie Thompson, of Riverside, agrees that both the excitement in gifting, along with socializing, has been an important way to keep community connections alive.

“School drop-off and pickup socialization disappeared along with everything else because of the pandemic,” Thompson said. “Taking it to the next level by deciding to spend our money locally is just another reason why I love these moms so much.”

As for what the longevity of the gift exchange, Eddy says most of the moms are dedicated to continuing the exchange around major holidays, so long as interest remains within the Hollywood community.

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

11

Candy Cane Park overhaul breaks ground this spring Approximately $680,000 project expected to wrap up in summer

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The long-awaited overhaul of Candy Cane Park on Brookfield’s north end is set to break ground this spring with the expectation of reopening to the public during the summer, the village’s recreation director told trustees at their committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 22.

The initial start of construction had been scheduled for March 23, but that is unlikely now, said Parks and Recreation Director Stevie Ferrari, due to delays in getting soil samples because of the heavy snow and cold temperatures last month.

Those samples will be submitted to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and could result in additional MWRD permitting.

However, Ferrari said she fully expects a spring groundbreaking for the approximately $680,000 project, which will touch every inch of the park, located at the corner of 28th Street and Park Avenue.

The design includes a T-ball field with base paths and a new backstop, ADAcompliant walking paths throughout the park, a rain garden with native plantings in the northwest corner of the park to collect storm water runoff, new playground equipment, sport courts and a shelter.

A tennis court, which will be also marked for pickle ball, along with two half-court basketball courts will be located at the southwest end of the park. The entire sports court area will be fenced, with separate entrances for tennis/pickle ball and basketball.

The playground in the northeast corner will also be fenced to the north and east to provide protection and will feature ADAaccessible swings and separate areas with playground structures suitable for children ages 2-5 and kids 2-under. There will also be a bags court located in roughly the center of the park.

COURTESY OF VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

NEW AND IMPROVED: Candy Cane Park on Brookfield’s north end will get a comprehensive makeover beginning this spring. A new Tball field, playground equipment, walking paths and sport courts and a picnic shelter are all part of the plan.

A central feature of the playground area, a nod to feedback received from students at Hollywood School during the preliminary planning stages, is a zip line structure.

Funding for the work is being split between the village and an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant of up to $400,000 obtained through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Do you want to keep your public officials accountable?

The Candy Cane Park redevelopment plan has been in the works for the past six years, but it has sat in a holding pattern first due to a freeze on state grants under Gov. Bruce Rauner and then by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago.

Work was slated to begin in the second half of 2020 with completion early this year, but village trustees postponed the project in the face of the pandemic and

consequent shutdowns that impeded village revenues significantly for months.

The last major overhaul for Candy Cane Park, the third largest in the village and the only public park in Brookfield north of 31st Street, came two decades ago. The village’s two biggest parks, Kiwanis Park in central Brookfield and Ehlert Park on the south end, have undergone significant improvements in the past decade.

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12

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

Parents, students plead to keep orchestra teacher With music enrollment falling, school board mulls cutting new full-time instructor

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

In less than one year at Riverside-Brookfield High School, Matthew Loeb has made a quite an impact as a music teacher, focusing on the orchestra.

But Loeb’s job may be reduced or eliminated next month as projected enrollment in music classes next year has dipped and the school board prepares to send notices to teachers whose jobs will not be renewed.

At last week’s school board meeting, 10 people -- a combination of students, parents and community members -- implored the school board and administration to keep Loeb as a full-time MATTHEW LOEB music teacher.

Loeb’s supporters noted that in the last five years the school has had five different music teachers who focused on string instruments and the orchestra. The students who play string instruments say that Loeb has been a wonderful teacher and that they need and deserve consistency.

“This may not sound like a big deal to some, but to musicians it makes a huge difference in our playing, learning, and growth, as individuals and as a group when we are given the chance to build a relationship,” said junior Noah Briones, a violin player, noting that he has three different orchestra teachers in his three years at RBHS. Toria Burrell-Hrencecin, the mother of an orchestra musician and a professional musician herself, told the board that Loeb has impacted her daughter Sophie.

“I understand that enrollment in music is down for next year and that this cut is being made entirely due to that, but I feel that this is a very shortsighted move, especially in this case,” Burrell-Hrencecin said.

Burrell-Hrencecin called Loeb “an exceptionally talented and outstanding music educator.”

As a musician, conductor and composer for three decades and who trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London and Cambridge University, Burrell-Hrencecin said, “I recognize an outstanding musician and music educator when I see one.”

Burrell-Hrencecin said that Loeb has improved the orchestra at RBHS even while teaching remotely.

“He’s been especially ingenious in creating of helping music students learn, grow and feel included despite the pandemic,” BurrellHrencecin said. “To lose him now would be devastating for the RB orchestra and for the future of the RB music department.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF WENDY WINKLER

TUNING OUT? RBHS orchestra teacher Matthew Loeb received plenty of support from students and parents last week, but his job may be in jeopardy because about 25 percent fewer students have requested to enroll in band classes for the 2021-22 school year.

If Loeb’s position is eliminated or reduced to part-time status, it would be for financial reasons.

Superintendent Kevin Skinkis said in an email that no final decisions has been made about what will happen with Loeb’s position.

“Staffing decisions are based on student interest during the course selection process,” Skinkis wrote.

Enrollment in music classes at RBHS is projected to drop around 25 percent next year. For the 2020-21 academic year, 501 students requested enrollment in a music class.

For the 2021-22 academic year, 373 students have requested enrollment in music classes.

Loeb supporters said that some of the drop is attributable to the pandemic. Some students have not been signing up for music classes because they can’t play their instruments or sing in person due to restrictions imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19.

Skinkis said that the possible cut or reduction of Loeb’s job is in no way a reflection on Loeb’s teaching ability.

“The parent and student comments shared at the meeting reflect that Mr. Loeb has done a great job with orchestra program,” Skin-

kis wrote. “His performance has never been called into question.”

Skinkis said band teacher James Baum also can teach orchestra students, if needed, as Baum has done in the past.

Baum, a saxophonist, says he can teach string instruments such as the violin and cello, but that is not his forte.

“I love teaching orchestra, but Matt Loeb is a better fit,” Baum said.

Baum said that Loeb has been a great addition to the music department.

“Every kid who has him just loves him,” Baum said.

Baum also said Loeb has excellent technology skills and was instrumental in allowing music and choir classes to be taught remotely this year.

RBHS is facing projected budget deficits over the next five years but still has healthy cash reserves. This year RBHS could face a budget deficit of around $1 million, although the extent of the deficit won’t be known for a couple months after spring property tax collections are completed, according to Assistant Superintendent Kristin Smetana.

Deficits totaling more than $2.5 million are also forecast during the next five years.

But, even if the forecasts are accurate, RBHS would still have a cash reserve of about $12 million at the end of fiscal year 2024 -- almost 42 percent of the annual operating budget.

The state of Illinois generally recommends that school districts maintain reserves of at least 33 percent of operating expenditures.

This year and next year, Smetana is projecting that the district will only collect 97 percent of the property tax revenue due the district, down from the usual projection of a 99 percent, because of financial hardship caused by the pandemic. For 2023, Smetana is assuming a 98 percent property tax collection rate before returning to the 99 percent property tax rate assumptions in 2024 and 2025.

The administration is currently projecting a cut of 1.3 full-time teaching positions next year.

But in light of the projected deficits many board members are concerned about the district’s finances.

“I think we need to buckle down,” said board member Laura Hruska. “I think the storm is still coming.”

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

13

RBHS maintenance chief moves on after 9 years Custodial vendor Aramark transfers well-regarded employee elsewhere

By BOB SKOLNIK

and solved them.

Superintendent Kevin Skinkis said Hatje treated RBHS as he would his own home.

“We have been through a lot together One of the key behind-the-scenes people keeping Riverside Brookfield High School -- floods, construction projects, blizzards, running smoothly and looking spic and polar vortex, roof leaks, pool dehumidispan for the last nine years has moved on. fication problems, you name it,” Skinkis Facilities Manager Joel Hatje, said. “No matter what we were an employee of Aramark, the dealing with, you could always company that handles custodial count on Joel being at work, he operations and basic maintewas always thinking about how nance work at RBHS, has been to fix a problem and he took transferred to a new position pride in his job.” as facilities manager for the Skinkis said Hatje saved RBHS sprawling Indian Prairie School approximately $300,000 by doDistrict 204, which has 31 schools ing some of the stadium work in Naperville and Aurora. and other work internally or by Hatje came to RBHS in 2012 at using local contractors. Hatje JOEL HATJE a time when the high school was often helped land grant money, bedeviled by problems with the spearheaded the replacement of swimming pool’s ventilation system, water about half the light bulbs in the school with seeping into the new fieldhouse and prob- brighter, more energy-efficient LED lightlems with boilers. ing.

He took on each challenge, including the School board President Wes Smithing, work related to the construction of the who worked with Hatje as a member of Martin Kennelly Athletic Complex, and Skinkis’ facility advisory council also is won the respect and admiration of RBHS sorry to see Hatje move on. staff with his hard-working, diligent and “He will definitely be missed,” Smithing low-key demeanor. He dealt with problems said.

Contributing Reporter

Hatje said that he enjoyed working at ing LED lights throughout the school.

“We’ve been able to reduce the energy RBHS. “It was, for me, a fantastic experience,” consumption with that and it also proHatje said. “I got to work with some ter- vides better a better lighting source and a more reliable lighting source,” Hatje said. rific people.”

Hatje will be replaced by Burim GraHe said working on the $17 million football stadium project was a highlight and a jcevci, who has been working for Aramark at RBHS for the past five years, learning experience. starting in maintenance and “That project for me was a then being promoted two years new experience and a really reago to custodial manager. warding one,” Hatje said. “It in“He’s a fantastic mechanic volved so many people from the and maintenance technician,” community -- board members, Hatje said, noting that Grajcevstaff, athletic folks, architects, ci quickly adjusted to a new engineers. It was such as colmanagerial role when he was laborative effort.” promoted to custodial manager.

Hatje downplayed the role he Hatje said it was easier to had in addressing issues that BURIM GRAJCEVCI leave RBHS knowing that Grawere causing problems when he came to RBHS. jcevci is succeeding him.

“With any renovation that size, and es“The process was easier because we had pecially renovating a building that parts a terrific guy to take over the operation,” of it are over 100 years old, there’s no Hatje said. way to avoid some issues,” Hatje said. “So But Hatje said he will miss the people when I came in I was a set of fresh eyes, at RBHS – the administrators, teachers, and as those issues were brought to me other staff, school board members, and we just kind of figured out ways to solve community members who he has gotten to them.” know over the past nine years.

Hatje was also proud of his work install“RB is a special place,” Hatje said.

Villages see single-digit weekly virus cases for first time since July FDA authorizes emergency use for third vaccine

By BOB UPHUES Editor

For the first time since the first week of July 2020, the villages of Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside each reported fewer than 10 new cases of COVID-19, continuing a downward trend in cases the area has seen since midJanuary.

In Brookfield, where numbers of new weekly cases had skyrocketed past 150 last November, there were just six new cases of COVID-19 reported for the week-long period ending on the morning of March 2, down from nine the prior week and 17 the week before that.

The Cook County Department of Public Health on March 1 reported that Brookfield’s “recent percent change,” which measures the number of new cases in the latest two-week period against the two weeks preceding it, was down See COVID-19 on page 14

14

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

MARRELLO

Helping neighbors from page 1 At first, the clinics were open only to first responders, but that began to change within days, opening to family members of first responders who qualified for Phase 1B, that is, 65 or older and certain essential workers.

Marrello said his family were no longer living in the area, but within hours of getting the state police email update on Feb. 11, he got another that widened the pool to anyone a first responder knew who qualified for Phase 1B. The catch? The first responder had to be the one signing up those to be vaccinated.

Marrello said he’d read newspaper articles about how difficult it was for many senior citizens to land appointments on their own, including his own parents, who live in Florida.

They themselves dutifully would logon to their computers at an assigned time only to see appointments disappear in seconds.

“I know it’s difficult,” said Marrello.

“I just had the opportunity to help, and I didn’t want to waste it.”

LTHS EQUITY

Stake in the ground from page 8 For the past six months, the LTHS school board has been working with Floyd Cobb, the executive director of teaching and learning at the Colorado Department of Education and the co-author of the book, “Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity: The Keys to Successful Equity Implementation.”

The board met with Cobb, via Zoom, for two three-hour workshops and read his book. Cobb, who is Black, also met with the board to help the board draft the equity statement.

“We drew on his expertise and guidance on the issue of belonging and inclusion, and then we focused in the equity statement,” Cushing said.

Cushing said the statement serves as a stake in the ground, a marker that LTHS is committed to focus on promoting equity.

“We are going to state out loud what we be-

DRIVEWAY from page 9 “I do feel that it’s a danger to put it nearer to the busy intersection at Shields and Maple,” said Trustee Katie Kaluzny, who also said she trusted the judgment of zoning commissioners. “Looking at this, I do think the property can be developed with the curb cut as it is or with the alley access.”

Because Marrello is a first rea time, making sure there were sponder, he was also among the still appointments before seekfirst group in the state to receive ing out more. a vaccine and a sense of relief.

“Because I didn’t know how “I feel lucky and fortunate to long appointments would last, have received the vaccine early, I didn’t want to collect names and it is definitely a weight off and then have appointments of your shoulders,” Marrello run out,” Marrello said. said. “I never wanted to find out He also called Judy Mantel, how the virus might affect me. the executive director of PeoBut knowing that the risk for pleCare, a Riverside agency that severe illness with COVID-19 inprovides services for senior citcreases with age and assuming izens in the area, to see if she how stressful that must be for could identify anyone wanting them, and their family, [that] a vaccine. According to Manmotivated me to try to help.” tel, Marrello is a new volunteer The afternoon he go that fiwith the agency. nal email from the state police, She sent Marrello the names Marrello said he changed into of seven more people for whom his civilian clothes, grabbed to make appointments. Mantel a notebook and immediately herself would end up personally driving several of those walked across the street to ask DAN MARRELLO people to McCormick Place to his neighbor, a woman in her get their shots.

90s, if she had been vaccinated.

Marrello’s family made a trip She had not. Now she would be. to Wisconsin over the ValenMarrello took down her infortine’s Day weekend, but Marmation and ran home to enter her information into the system to make rello continued to find appointments for an appointment, print out forms and bring those who’d heard about his efforts. In all, them back to his neighbor. He made ap- Marrello was able to sign up 30 people to pointments for six other senior citizens in be vaccinated before the state police filled his neighborhood that same way -- one at every available slot on Feb. 18.

“I just had the opportunity to help, and I didn’t want to waste it.”

lieve is inherent within this institution through our practices, through our policies, through our structure,” Cushing said. “I believe that there is a heightened awareness now. … We care deeply about all of our students, we truly do. This equity statement will serve as the foundation for the leadership, which will shortly be new leadership, to take action.”

Action is what the members of the group Belonging and Equity at LT (BELT) wants to see.

“This is a great first step and we’re excited to see action from the words,” said Maureen Wierema, a member of the steering committee of BELT. BELT, which formed last summer, also issued a formal statement in response to the school board adopting the equity statement.

“We appreciate how challenging creating an equity statement is and are appreciative of their efforts thus far,” the BELT statement said. “We are excited to now see these words in action as the foundation for a strategic plan for D204 with equity embedded throughout, including hiring, discipline, class placement and college selection process, access to extracurriculars, and every facet of the students’ high school experience.”

Vukanic did not speak during the village board’s deliberation on Feb. 22 and immediately walked out of the council chambers after the trustees’ vote. Attempts by the Landmark to reach him and his son, who is the lead project manager for the building, were unsuccessful.

Michael Schwarz, the director of community and economic development for the village, said late last week he had not heard from Vukanic about discussing alternatives in the wake of the denial.

“Dan’s efforts to help our seniors went above and beyond,” said Mantel. “He spent the time it takes to be online, waiting in queue, entering info and then calling to make sure that time would work, then actually booking the appointment. He even did this while he was on a long weekend with his family. Dan was diligent in his heartfelt efforts to help as many seniors as he could, and it paid off with the ones getting the vaccine. The weight off the shoulders of the seniors has given them peace of mind.”

Since then, Marrello said he’s helped one more person find an appointment through Walgreens, an hour-and-a-half effort by itself. He has also reached out to Pillars Community Health to inquire about any clinics they may be running. When they do, Marrello said he’d like to connect more seniors with them.

Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said he was impressed by Marrello’s efforts, which he undertook simply as a Riverside resident and not as part of his duties as a local police officer.

“I am so proud to have an officer work for our agency who would display such kindheartedness during this pandemic,” said Weitzel in an email. “He did this on his own time and without direction from me.

“He is an extremely compassionate person.”

COVID19

6.5% fully inoculated from page 13 by 32 percent.

The recent percent change in Riverside as of March 1 declined 14 percent compared to the two-week period preceding it. Last week was the first time Riverside’s weekly total of new cases dropped into single digits since midSeptember 2020.

As of the morning of March 2, there had been five new COVID-19 cases reported in Riverside, the lowest singleweek total since late July of last year.

The drop in new cases during the most recent two-week period ending March 1 was even more dramatic in North Riverside. With four new cases two weeks ago and nine new cases last week, the village’s recent percent change, according to the CCDPH, was down by 68 percent.

There were no additional deaths due to COVID-19 reported in any of the three villages last week. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the Landmark has confirmed 12 fatalities in Brookfield, three in Riverside and four in North Riverside.

Single-dose vaccine gets green light The continued decline in local COVID-19 cases comes as the FDA granted

Emergency Use Authorization to a third vaccine, developed by Johnson & Johnson, over the weekend.

Vaccine distribution centers could start to see the new single-dose vaccine as early as March 2, USA Today reports.

White House officials announced 3.9 million doses could be expected by Tuesday and a total of 20 million doses could be sent to states throughout the remainder of the month.

Illinois has received more than 3 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as of March 1. A total of 2.7 million doses have been delivered to providers in the state, with an additional 443,700 doses allocated to the federal government’s Pharmacy Partnership Program for long-term care facilities.

A total of 2.7 million vaccines had been administered across the state, including 319,393 for long-term care facilities, as of Feb. 28.

About 6.5 percent of the state’s population has received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The seven-day rolling average of vaccines administered daily is 77,876 doses.

The statewide seven-day rolling positivity rate reached 2.4 percent, a rate not seen since June 23.

Illinois Department of Public Health is currently reporting a total of 1,187,839 cases throughout the state, including 20,536 total virus-related deaths, since the pandemic started.

Grace Barbic of Capitol News Illinois contributed to this report.

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

15

DINING

Stage for concerts? from page 1 the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on bars and restaurants.

“We would not have survived if you guys did not do that last year,” said Stathi Giafis, co-owner of Little Owl Social Pub at 3747 Grand Blvd., who advocated for repeating the weekend closure of Grand Boulevard this year. “It kind of made it like an event, like a town square.”

Brookfield Village Manager Timothy Wiberg presided over the meeting, which he called after getting input on Feb. 22 from elected officials about extending the street closure another year.

Wiberg said he invited all of the street’s business owners to the meeting to lay out three options for expanded outdoor dining.

Representatives from just six Grand Boulevard businesses attended the meeting, including two representing non-food/drink establishments.

A straw poll of those in attendance indicated wide support for closing the street to traffic Friday through Sunday. Wiberg also proposed two options that would not have shut down the street to traffic, leaving the driving lanes open while leaving either all or some of the on-street parking spaces for outdoor tables.

In those options, the eating areas would have been protected by KLARYSE ELLIS jersey barriers Christopher Mark Flowers that would have employee remained in place throughout the summer months.

Klaryse Ellis of Christopher Mark Fine Flowers said she preferred a version of that plan which would have limited the barricaded parking spaces to the ones outside the establishments themselves.

“During the day, our patrons have nowhere to park,” Ellis said, adding she was concerned about the shop’s older clientele who aren’t so mobile. She did admit that the street closure last summer brought other benefits.

“I like the sense of community, of people being able to get together, of children being able to move freely about,” Ellis said. “It’s really an improvement to how things used to be as far as community and people getting

“I like the sense of community, of people being able to get together.”

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

DINING IN THE STREETS: Last year’s decision to close down part of the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard to expand outdoor dining on weekends during the pandemic was so popular that the village will do it again in 2021, starting as early as Memorial Day weekend. together and improving on what we have.”

Restaurant and bar owners along the south half of the block were not in favor of simply barricading parking spaces, agreeing with Ellis about the family-friendly, open aspect that comes with closing the street completely to traffic.

In addition, they worried that cars backed up while waiting for trains to clear the Prairie Avenue crossing would be unappealing for outdoor diners sitting at tables next to them. “[Diners] don’t have to worry about traffic, they don’t have to worry about cars going by,” said Mike DiGiovanni, manager of Sebastian’s Whiskey and Ale House at 8900 Fairview Ave. at the corner of Fairview Avenue and Grand Boulevard. “If we have barricades and someone is eating and the train comes and they have to stop, there’s fumes while they’re eating. So, we have to look at that, too, because we’re not going to be able to have tables by the barricades.”

If COVID-19 positivity rates and case numbers continue to fall as the state and county roll out more vaccines to the public, the village is also pondering erecting a stage

for live entertainment once a month, either at the south end of the block or mid-block.

Tentatively, officials are looking at setting up the stage one Saturday a month between June and September, possibly hosting family entertainment in the morning and afternoon with a concert at night.

Exactly where the stage will be located hasn’t been settled – and it could be moot if the state’s COVID-19 mitigations don’t change – but some elected officials believed mid-block might be better in order to reduce noise from trains immediately behind the stage.

Linda Sokol Francis, who does not have a business on Grand Boulevard but is a Brookfield business owner, suggested perhaps moving the concert night to midweek, though that would add another layer of setup and takedown of barriers once a month.

The village does not want to have concerts on Friday night because that would compete with the Brookfield Parks and Recreation Department’s summer concert series in Kiwanis Park, which it hopes to reinstate in 2021 after all of last year’s shows were cancelled due to the pandemic.

As for making up for the lost parking spac-

es on the south end of Grand Boulevard on the weekends, the village will continue to allow customers to park in the commuters spots along the railroad tracks on Brookfield Avenue.

While it means a bit of a walk, there is plenty of parking there, said Wiberg.

“I’d like to get more people to use those spots,” Wiberg said.

Giafis said he was skeptical at first last year about the loss of the parking on Grand Boulevard, but said he didn’t hear any complaints from his customers. He suggested the village do more to advertise the location of the commuter parking spaces.

While the move to close down Grand Boulevard last year was spurred by an impulse to help bars and restaurants struggling to keep their doors open during a pandemic, its popularity has forced officials to think about making the practice permanent.

The intention for 2021, even if the state moves to fully open later this year, is to extend the expanded outdoor dining through September, at least.

“From our perspective, this is going to be there all summer long,” Wiberg said.

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

16

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

THE LANDMARK VIEW

O

Pathfinders

ne thing that’s become crystal clear since the removal of the Hofmann Dam on the Des Plaines River just west of the Barrypoint Road bridge and the smaller Fairbank Dam east of the bridge back in 2012 is that the area downstream in Swan Pond Park is a much different place.

Whether it’s due to a hydrologic change resulting from the dams’ removal or the effect of a changing climate and upstream development, Swan Pond Park has reverted to its origins as principally a flood basin.

There may have been a long stretch of time where kids could play soccer there and folks could wander through Swan Pond Park’s meadow-like field without risking a twisted ankle, but those days appear to be past.

The park itself has flooded repeatedly – unhelped or, some believe, aided by a drainage culvert installed in 2012 the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – making the most usable part of the park the path that winds atop the riverbank from Burling Road to the Barrypoint bridge.

The path was also built in 2012, and its shortcomings were apparent early on. First, it was too narrow in most places for two people to walk side by side much less let a bike or other pedestrians pass by without veering off the path.

Less than a year later, a devastating spring flood washed out parts of the path and a couple of winter floods in 2014 did serious damage to the path and the park itself when huge chunks of ice scoured their way through Swan Pond.

It’s been clear for a long time now that the asphalt path was going to have to go and now, with $400,000 in grant money from the state and Cook County in hand, it appears a better solution is on the way.

Riverside trustees appear to be in complete agreement on this score, which is good, because the solution is one that would never have passed muster in 2012. The 10-foot wide concrete path will be underpinned in key spots by thicker concrete edging and the river bank will be stabilized using large limestone ledges.

This might seem to be a remarkably large introduction of hardscape into the village’s jewel of a landscape. In the past, we’re guessing, there would have been howls of protest in the name of Frederick Law Olmsted.

It goes to show just how much Riverside has changed in terms of its relationship with its founding father. Olmsted’s original plan, which in many ways appears completely natural but was as man-made an imposition on the landscape as any real estate development, is still a wonder.

But, 150 years later, it doesn’t dictate how 21st century Riverside residents enjoy their village.

When it’s finished, the new path will provide access for more people to come into Swan Pond Park and immerse themselves in nature and revel in the river and its wildlife. It will hopefully be able to withstand what are certain to be more flood events, but it ought to do a better job in any case than what’s there now.

As a couple of trustees noted at a recent discussion of the path, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a difference in Swan Pond Park. It’s time for that investment to finally be made.

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

Raffle to replace RBEF telethon in 2021

W

hen the pandemic struck last year it also struck the plans for many nonprofit organizations and their fundraisers.

The Riverside-Brookfield High School Educational was affected as it had its annual telethon scheduled and ready to go when it had to be cancelled. Without the telethon, the proceeds which benefited educational opportunities for students and staff at the school would be limited. Grants were provided with existing funds.

In 2021, the foundation has switched gears, looking to continue its mission by raising funds through a raffle instead of a telethon. The raffle, called So Long 2020 Hello 2021, will offer 21 monetary prizes from $50 to the grand prize of $5,000.

Prize value is based on the selling of all tickets.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased from any foundation board member or at Aunt Diana’s Fudge Shop in Riverside or Mary’s Morning Mix-up in Brookfield. Tickets are on sale now. The drawing will be held on April 15 at 5 p.m. and can be viewed live on RBTV or at their website at rbtv.tv.

The foundation has provided numerous opportunities from academic enrichment classes to onsite camps. Last year many of the programs were cancelled since it was

not possible to do things in person. Where possible, programs were switched to virtual and online formats. It is anticipated that programs and classes offered this year will follow the same format.

The foundation was formed in 1987 and in 1989 it held its first telethon fundraiser with the cooperation of the media department at the high school under the direction of Gary Prokes.

The RBEF was revitalized in 2000 when a new board of trustees was assembled. Since that time through successful fundraising, the foundation has provided educational experiences that otherwise may not be possible financially for many of the students.

It is hoped that this year’s raffle will make it possible to continue providing those experiences. Students are already submitting grant requests to be reviewed by the foundation trustees. Students interested in learning about grants should contact their counselors.

More information on the raffle or about the foundation may be learned by contacting Jim Franko at frankoj@ rbhs208.net. This is a win-win for all involved and the raffle will help keep the foundation’s mission continuing until it can again put on the telethon.

Here’s hoping for 2022!

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

Dropping ‘Huck Finn’ at LTHS the wrong call I wish to comment on the article about the decision remove a classic book like “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the curriculum at LTHS. There is no question that the book accepts the racism existing during that time period and is graphic in its description, using the n-word many times, and that racism is wrong and nobody should condone it, not ever. However, the story is history in its description of the times and places it describes. It’s about a boy’s incredible adventures on the Mississippi River. It tells the truth, that racism existed, but the story does not promote it.

I read both “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn” as a young boy and loved them and never considered them anything other than what Mark Twain intended, adventure stories. I have visited

Hannibal, Missouri, Tom Sawyer’s and Huck Finn’s home, just across the Mississippi River from Quincy, Illinois (in 1900, the second largest Illinois city). If you’ve read the books, it’s a fun place to see.

I believe it’s extremely important to learn about history and the classics do a wonderful job of fulfilling that task. It’s so important that young minds learn. How can we make decisions about life if we remain ignorant?

Reading a book like “Huck Finn” that contains racist language or attitudes, does not mean that we condone it but we can still learn from it. Let’s not put our head in the sand. In my opinion, the decision to eliminate “Huck Finn” is narrow-minded and clearly wrongheaded.

Michael E Sammon Riverside

Hybrid OK as is, but more days is fine too I would like to comment on the article, “D96 boosts in-person days at Hauser for final trimester” (News, Feb. 24).

I think the hybrid schedule is fine.

I like going to school two days a week and being home the other days. I like only going two days a week to school. I would rather just go to school two days a week instead of four, but my mom thinks it’s important to go to school four days a week.

I liked going two days a week so I guess four days won’t be so bad. We don’t really get to socialize at school, so I don’t get to see my friends at school.

I have been hanging out with a few friends after school, so I don’t miss seeing them at school. I guess going four days a week will be OK.

Kyle Enochs

Brookfield Kyle Enochs is a seventh-grader at Hauser Junior High School in Riverside.

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

17

OBITUARIES

Brookfield cop, 76, survived shooting and served 30 years

By BOB UPHUES

Richard Sebek also inducted into martial arts hall of fame

was someone that everyone admired,” said Brookfield Police Chief Edward Petrak, who joined the force in 1990 and as a young officer Richard C. Sebek, a Brookfield police of- worked alongside Mr. Sebek. “He was always ficer who was seriously wounded by a gun- kind and a good-hearted, special person.”

Mr. Sebek was seriously shot in the line of duty in 1986 wounded in the line of duty but survived to enjoy a 30-year shortly after midnight on March career with the village, died Feb. 16, 1986 after responding to a 26, 2021 at the age of 76. shooting at a wedding reception Mr. Sebek started with the at the Sokol hall on Prairie AvBrookfield Police Department enue. The suspect had shot and in 1976 as a dispatcher. He was wounded a man outside the hall sworn in as a patrolman two in the parking lot and fled back years later and would remain a inside the building, where Mr. member of the force until he reSebek and another officer tried tired in June 2008.

RICHARD SEBEK to take him into custody.

He lived for many years in As the officers attempted to Brookfield with his wife, Mary, raising a family before moving later to In- take him down, the suspect fired three times dian Head Park. In retirement, Mr. Sebek inside the room where some 300 people were spent some time working for the Brookfield gathered. One round hit the ceiling, one hit Zoo police.

Mr. Sebek in both legs and the third killed a “For those that did not know Richie, he 17-year-old girl who was a guest at the wedEditor

Theodora Kiwiet, 84

Michael J. Smrt, 81

Past Riverside Garden Club, Historical Society president

U.S. Navy veteran

Theodora “Thea” Kiwiet, 84, a longtime resident of Riverside, died Feb. 8, 2021.

Mrs. Kiwiet was an ordained elder, deacon and active member of Riverside Presbyterian Church for 54 years, a past president of the Riverside Garden Club and past president of the THEODORA KIWIET Riverside Historical Society.

She was the wife of the late John Kiwiet; the mother of Laetitia (Tim) Lubenow, Elsa (Jean-Jacques) De Jaegher, Mark (Janine) Kiwiet and Andrew Kiwiet; the grandmother of 10; great-grandmother of 4; and the sister of Margaret Kiwiet (Dallas, Texas), Marijke Young (Toronto, CA) and Eef van der Werf (the Netherlands).

Memorial services will be held Saturday, June 26 at 11 a.m. on the outside lawn of Riverside Presbyterian Church, 116 Barrypoint Road in Riverside.

Memorial donations are appreciated and can be sent to Riverside Presbyterian Church or the Alzheimer’s Foundation.

Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.

Michael J. Smrt, 81, of Belvidere, died after an extended illness on Jan. 4, 2021 at OSF St. Anthony’s Hospital in Rockford. He was born in March 31, 1939 in Chicago, the son of Alfred and Mildred Smrt.

Mr. Smrt attended Riverside-Brookfield High School and joined the U.S. Navy in 1957.

He is predeceased by his parents and brothers Richard and Steven. He is survived by his children, Michael (Mary) Smrt and Michelle (Jeff) Anderberg, as well as his grandchildren, Steven, Ryan and Tyler and his sister Cindy (Bernie) Frank.

A celebration of life service will be held for family and friends in the future.

Ronald J. Szymanski, 73 Retired public defender Ronald J. Szymanski, 73, of Brookfield, died Feb. 18, 2021.

Mr. Szymanski served in the U.S. Army in military police during the Korean War. Following the war he earned a law degree was an attorney, working from 1978 until his retirement in 2012 as an assistant public defender in the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender. He was remembered by many for the service he gave to the community.

He was the brother of Norbert (Rose) Szymanski and the late Nancy Dalki and the uncle of Mark (Keri) Dalki, Christopher (Pat) Dalki, David (Jessica) Szymanski, Steven (Colleen) Szymanski and Anna (Andy) Novinger.

Services are private.

Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, han-

ding.

In a 2004 interview with the Landmark, Mr. Sebek said it took two months to recover from his injuries.

“Luckily, it hit the fleshy parts of my legs,” Mr. Sebek said. “It was bad enough, but it could have been worse.”

Mr. Sebek was also an avid and well-regarded expert in the Japanese martial art known as aikido. He told the Landmark he took up aikido in 1979 and used its arm locks and holds as an alternative to fighting with suspects who resisted arrest.

“I started doing the exercises in order to be able to control people,” he said. “When you have to make an arrest, you naturally don’t want to beat people up. That’s not a good thing. With arm locks, it provided a more humane way to take people into custody.”

Mr. Sebek taught aikido to other Brookfield police officers and also taught the martial art at Powell’s Way of Kenpo, long

dled arrangements.

If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o Ronald J. Szymanski family.

Scott A. Timke, 48 Made mission trip to Nicaragua Scott Alan Timke, 48, of Venice, Florida, died on Feb. 12, 2021.

Mr. Timke was born in Berwyn on April 12, 1972 to Vernon Henry Timke and LaVonda Timke. He served in the U.S. Navy and had a passion for being outdoors. He enjoyed skydiving, riding his bicycle and going to the beach. Scott’s proudest achievement was going on a mission trip to Nicaragua to help build a church.

Surviving family members include his mother, LaVonda SCOTT A. TIMKE Timke; sisters Deborah Byerly (Timke), Tammi Timke and her husband Jason Hensley, and Evelyn Boughton (Timke) and her husband Roland Boughton; brother Ronald Timke; niece Meagan Byerly; nephew Zechariah Timke and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Vernon, and his son, Steven Dean Pozega.

Services were private. To share a memory of Scott or to send a condolence to the family visit farleyfuneralhome.com.

Farley Funeral Home, Venice, Florida, handled arrangements.

located in a downtown Brookfield storefront on Grand Boulevard.

“One of the things with aikido is that as you learn you also teach,” Mr. Sebek told the Landmark. “If there is somebody lower than you, you teach them. So, I was teaching almost right from the beginning.”

In 2004, he was inducted into the United States Martial Arts Association International Hall of Fame as a distinguished instructor.

Mr. Sebek was the husband of the late Mary; the father of Rhonda (David) Bonbrake and Renee Sebek; the grandfather of Kyle (Kristen) Lovett, Richard (fiancé Sommer) Lovett and Alan Ingram; the great grandpa of Xavier Bermudez; and the brother of the late Alice Blaine.

Visitation is Tuesday, March 2 from 3 p.m. until time of services at 7 p.m. at Ivins/ Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside.

CAMPBELL

Targeted in plot from page 7 would-be kidnappers, who were arrested by federal agents outside a Chicago real estate office where they had planned to snatch Campbell.

Two years later in federal court, Campbell took the stand to recount how he’d been contacted as early as 2011 by the mastermind of the plot, a former Chicago cop named Steven Mandell.

Campbell never met the man, but Mandell had left a property inquiry note with his name and number inside the front door of Campbell’s Riverside home. When Campbell called him, Mandell gave Campbell a suspicious story about how he learned where Campbell lived. Campbell handed over Mandell’s note to Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel, who in turn gave it to the FBI as part of their investigation.

Mandell was found guilty of the plot – his accomplice died by suicide while in custody – and was sentenced to life in prison. He remains in custody at one of the nation’s most secure federal prisons in Colorado.

While Campbell would sometimes joke about the experience, it had a deep impact on him, said Childs.

“It affected him tremendously,” she said.

“He wasn’t very open with a lot of people before. Afterward you could count on one hand the people he trusted. It was very hard on him to put it mildly.”

Campbell was preceded in death by his wife, Linda, in 2006. He is survived by his daughter, Carly Campbell.

18

The Landmark, March 3, 2021 New local ads this week

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CITY RENTALS

Quantitative Analytics Lead Associate, Technology Operations and Services (multiple positions) (job code 45681BR) to work in Chicago, IL. Opportunity to work from home. KeyBank National Association, apply online at www.keybank.com. Must reference job code. EOE. SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET ASSISTANT The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Assistant in the Development Customer Services Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmers’ Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. 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. Open until filled.

SUBURBAN RENTALS OAK PARK: ROOSEVELT/ OAK PARK AVE. CORRIDOR 2BR 4RMS close to blue line. On site laundry, parking, heat & water incl. $1200/ month 708-383-9223

SELLING YOUR HOME

BY OWNER?

DELUXE 3BR APT 5955 W HURON First Floor. Large kitchen, all electric appliances. Near West Suburban Hospital. Near all public trans. $1150/mo.

Call 773-637-8677 for appt.

OFFICE & RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

ITEMS FOR SALE BRASS & GLASS SOFA TABLE Brass beveled glass sofa table. High quality, bought at Marshall Field’s.

27”h x 56”w x 15”d $249.00.

708-488-8755 KENMORE WASHER & DRYER Sold as set. $100.00.

Call Terry Baggett 773-988-6468

Call Us For Advertising Rates!

708/613-3333

MUSIC Music: piano scores, concertos, piano trios, flute music violin music.

Variety of composers. $3.00 each.

708-488-8755

SUBURBAN RENTALS

SUBURBAN RENTALS

STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com

Apartment listings updated daily at:

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

WANTED TO BUY

HANDYMAN

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE

AUTO FOR SALE 2003 LEXUS RX300 Silver w/ beige interior, 160,950 mi., great condition. New brakes, passed recent emissions test. $3275.00.

Call Terry Baggett 773-988-6468

PETS While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References

524-1030

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

ELECTRICAL

Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

HAULING

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

BASEMENT CLEANING

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

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: Y21006089 on February 25, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of WILSON FINANCIAL with the business located at: 1126 N. 6TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: ALEATHA WILSON 1126 N. 6TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153, USA

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

708-488-9411

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

HANDYMAN

REFINISHING

Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-637-0692 Ask for John

HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

Terry's

Woodwork Restoration 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!

References available.

Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of KEVIN KHANG DINH Case Number 20214000570 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: KEVIN KHANG DINH to the new name of: KEVIN KHANG LEODINH The court date will be held: On April 13, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom Video-conference. Please use the information below to access the hearing.

ZOOM MEETING ID: 914 3462 0283 ZOOM PASSSWORD: 988648 CALL IN: 3126266799 Published in RBLandmark 2/24, 3/3, 3/10/2021

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of WILLIAM DEWAYNE LEONE Case Number 20214000561 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: WILLIAM DEWAYNE LEONE to the new name of: WILLIAM DEWAYNE LEODINH The court date will be held: On April 13, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom Video-conference. Please use the information below to access the hearing.

ZOOM MEETING ID: 936 6870 5913 ZOOM PASSSWORD: 862976 CALL IN: 3126266799 Published in RBLandmark 2/24, 3/3 3/10/2021

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 17, 2021 for the following: Village of Oak Park Annual Preventative Maintenance to Standby Diesel Generators Bid Number: 21-117 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 March 3, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Asha Andriana Berry Case Number 20214000560 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Asha Andriana Berry to the new name of: Asha Andriana The court date will be held: On April 13, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. at 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Cook County, IL in Courtroom # 0112.

Published in Wednesday Journal 2/24, 3/3, 3/10/2021

Published in Forest Park Review 3/3, 3/10, 3/17/2021

PUBLIC NOTICE CLAIMS NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, COUNTY DEPARTMENT, PROBATE DIVISION. ESTATE OF JASON EDWARD BOBZIN, DECEASED. NO. 2020 P 006222.

Notice is given to creditors of the death of the above named decedent. Letters of office were issued to COURTNEY MARIE BOBZINMOHAMMED, 1002 SPRUCE ST., APT 1A, GELNDALE HTS., Il 60139, as Independent Administrator, whose attorney of record is DANSBY G. CHEEKS, 108 MADISON ST., OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, par.

5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk.

Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the clerk in Room 1202, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL, or with the representative, or both, on or before AUGUST 24, 2021, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the representative is required by section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred. Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered by the claimant to the representative and to the attorney within 10 days after it has been filed. E filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions. To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider. Visit http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/ service-providers.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, Visit http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp.asp.

ATTY. DANSBY G. CHEEKS, Published in Wednesday Journal 2/24, 3/3, 3/10/2021

You have jobs. We have readers! Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified! Call 708-613-3342 to advertise.

P

PB

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available 24/7/365 RBLandmark.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE Invitation to bid Whittier Boiler Replacement Notice is hereby given that the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, Oak Park, Cook County, Illinois, hereinafter known as Owner, is seeking bids for Boiler Replacement work at Whittier Elementary School located in Oak Park, Illinois.

Lump Sum Bids will be publicly opened and read at the District Office of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 W. Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, March 18, 2021.

Bids received after designated time and date of bid opening will not be considered. Bidders must comply with all of the requirements set forth in the Project Manual.

Bids mailed or delievered shall be marked to the attention of: Ms. Jeanne Keane Oak Park School District 97 260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302 The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “WHITTIER BOILER REPLACEMENT”.

The Landmark, March 3, 2021

RBLANDMARK.COM

Bid security, in the form of a bid bond or certified check, in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid shall be submitted with the bid. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds and Certificate of Insurance, as required by the Owner, will be required from the successful bidder.

The Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 reserves the right to reject any and all bids or parts thereof, to waive any irregularities or informalities in bidding procedures and to award the contract in a manner best serving the interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing rate of wage to all laborers, workmen and mechanics working on public funded projects. If during the time period of work, these rate changes, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount.

The proposed contract is subject to the requirements of the Equal Employment Practices Commission and the Illinois Human Rights Act (HRA) Illinois Revised Statues, Ch. 68, Par. 1-101, et. seg.”(Including the requirement that every party to a public contract shall have adopted written sexual harassment policies, P.A. 87-1257).

Bidding Documents will be available on March 3, 2021. To view and obtain bidding documents please visit Best Imaging Solutions’ planroom at http://www.bestimagingplanroom. com/jobs/public.

Bidders are strongly encouraged to attend a pre-bid conference on March 8, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. and a site inspection on March 11, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. as detailed in the Project Manual.

Sheryl Marinier Board of Education Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Published in Wednesday Journal 3/03/2021

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE TO BIDDERS AND INVITATION FOR BIDS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD 2021 ESDA BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT RECEIPT OF BIDS The Village of Brookfield will receive sealed proposals for the 2021 ESDA Building Improvements Project until 11:00 A.M. Central Time, Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at the Office of the Village Manager. Bids will be opened and read in the Edward Barcall Hall in the Municipal Building, located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois, on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at 11:00 A.M., Central Time. The Project includes the improvements to the Village of Brookfield ESDA Building (approximately 1,900 square feet in size) located at 4523 Eberly Avenue and consists of the removal of the existing roof, installation of tapered poly-iso insulation and a TPO roof membrane, grinding and repointing of existing brick and CMU exterior walls, replacement of sections of deteriorated CMU and brick has necessary, installation of new gutter and downspouts, removal and replacement of existing batt insulation and drywall in the southwest corner of the building, removal and replacement of existing batt insulation on the main ceiling of the structure, removal of existing fixtures and drywall and insulation in the existing bathroom, and replacement with the same with new.

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company at 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154, upon payment of a non-refundable charge of Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per set of bidding documents. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Thursday March 23, 2021. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on site on Friday, March 24, 2021 at 11;00 A.M. for all potential bidders interested in submitting a proposal for the work.

Bid proposals must be submitted on the forms provided. Submission of a bid shall be conclusive assurance and warranty that the bidder has examined the plans, the site of the work and the local conditions affecting the contract and understands all the requirements for performance of the work. The bidder will be responsible for all errors in its proposal resulting from failure or neglect to conduct an in-depth examination. The Village of Brookfield will, in no case be responsible for any costs, expenses, losses or changes in anticipated profits resulting from such failure or neglect of the bidder. The bidder shall not take advantage of any error or omission in the plans or proposal. Sealed envelopes or packages containing bids shall be addressed to the Village Manager and plainly marked “Village of Brookfield – 2021 ESDA Building Improvements Project” on the outside of the envelope.

QUESTIONS, CHANGES, CLARIFICATION Any questions that arise must be made in writing and shall be directed by electronic mail to Carl Muell, Director of Public Works, Village of Brookfield at cmuell@brookfieldil. gov. The written questions, along with the Village’s response, shall be circulated to all known potential bidders without identifying the party submitting the questions.

The cut-off for receipt of additional

questions shall be 12:00 Noon, Central Time on Friday, March 26, 2021, in order to facilitate preparation of any addenda. No inquiry received after that time will be given consideration. Replies and/ or addenda will be mailed and faxed to all known potential contractors by 4:00 P.M., Central Time on March 29, 2021. Receipt of any addenda must be acknowledged in writing as part of the Bidder’s Proposal. Bidders shall be responsible for ensuring that they have received any and all addenda. The Village of Brookfield shall not assume responsibility for the receipt by the Bidder of any addenda.

BID SECURITY Each proposal shall be accompanied by a proposal guaranty in the form of a bid bond, executed by a corporate surety company, a bank cashier’s check, or a certified check payable to the “Village of Brookfield” for not less than five percent (5%) of the amount of the proposal. The proposal guaranty checks of all, except the two responsive, responsible proposers which the Village determines in its sole discretion to be the proposers with whom the Village desires to commence negotiations for a contract, will be returned after the proposals have been checked and tabulated. The proposal guaranty checks of the two responsive, responsible proposers will be returned after the contract and the contract bond of the successful proposer have been properly executed and approved. Bid bonds will not be returned.

RIGHT TO REJECT BIDS The Village of Brookfield reserves the right to waive technicalities and to reject any and all proposals for any reason deemed in the best interest of the Village of Brookfield.

AWARD OF CONTRACT Unless all bids are rejected, the contract award will be made to the lowest responsive responsible bidder that the Village of Brookfield in its sole discretion determines to be in the best interest of the Village.

In determining who the lowest responsive, responsible bidder is, the Village of Brookfield will consider all factors that it, in its discretion, deems relevant in determining who the lowest responsive responsible bidder is.

LEGAL REQUIREMENTS The general prevailing rate of wages in Cook County, Illinois, for each craft or type of worker or mechanic needed to execute the contract or perform the work, also the general prevailing rate for legal holiday and overtime work, as ascertained by the Illinois Department of Labor, shall be paid for each craft or type of worker needed to execute the contract or to perform the work.

Work performed under this contract shall be in accordance with Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 820, Act 130, Sections 1-12), Employment of Illinois Workers on Public Works Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 30, Act 570, Sections 1-7), Drug Free Workplace Act (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Ch. 30, Act 580, Sections 1-11).

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK COMMUNITY DESIGN COMMISSION HEARING DATE: March 24, 2021 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 01-21-DRC APPLICANT: Chicagoland Sign Corp., on behalf of Oak Park Place Apartments ADDRESS: 479 N. Harlem Avenue, Oak Park, IL REQUEST: The Applicant is seeking variances from the following sections of the Village of Oak Park Sign Code, to permit the installation of one (1) approximately twenty-six square foot wall sign on the southwest corner elevation of the building where there is no street frontage.

1.

2.

Section 7-7-15 (D) (1) (b), which requires that wall signs for buildings located on corner lots shall only be placed along the front or corner lot line. The proposal features an “Oak Park Place Apartments” sign located on the south elevation of the building visible from Harlem Avenue where there is no street frontage; alternatively Section 7-7-12 (S), which requires that a directional sign shall not exceed four (4) square feet. The proposal features an “Oak Park Place Apartments” sign that is approximately 26 square feet.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The Commission will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video.

The meeting will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/commissiontv as well as cablecast

on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 24, 2021.

An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also participate in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing to sign up. Individuals who sign up to participate in this manner will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the meeting online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 3, 2021

LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given of a proposed substantial amendment to the Program Year 2020 Action Plan for a revised scope of work for the Community Development Block Grant Emergency Shelter project carried out by Housing Forward, funded at $30,000 to cover a rotating congregate shelter program. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Housing Forward’s congregation partners suspended shelter until it is safe for group activities. Housing Forward was able to lease the Write Inn, a hotel in Oak Park, and proposes a new Interim Housing project that will provide individual accommodations and meals for up to 90 days to persons experiencing homelessness. The project’s case management and other supports would continue with the revised project, and CDBG funds would support the same employee, just with a title change from Shelter Manager to Facilities Manager.

The proposed substantial amendment is available for public review and comment during business hours Monday-Friday, effective March 4 to 5 p.m. April 2, 2021.

Any comments can be submitted in writing to grants@oak-park.us.

Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 3, 2021

Village of Brookfield, Illinois Timothy C. Wiberg, Village Manager

Published in Landmark March 3, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICES

www.rblandmark.com

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: Y21006103 on February 25, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of ADG HANDYMAN SERVICES with the business located at: 2417 N. 75TH AVE UNIT F, ELMWOOD PARK, IL 60707. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ALBERT JOSEPH DEGENOVA 2417 N. 75TH AVE UIT F, ELMWOOD PARK, IL 60707, USA Published in Wednesday Journal 3/3, 3/10, 3/17/2021

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION QUICKEN LOANS INC. Plaintiff, -v.DRIKO DUCASSE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019CH08452 1226 N AUSTIN BLVD OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 17, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 25, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

19

Illinois Classified Advertising Network WANTED

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Publish your assumed name legal notice here.

Call Mary Ellen for details: 708/613-3342 REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Commonly known as 1226 N AUSTIN BLVD, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-127-0270000 The real estate is improved with a multi-family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale

other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-06429 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH08452 TJSC#: 41-167 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2019CH08452 I3164170

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The Landmark, March 3, 2021

W NE

G! IN T LIS

NG MI O C

ON SO

442 Kent Rd, Riverside $588,000

273 Blackhawk, Riverside $450,000

3608 Wenonah Ave, Berwyn $289,900

152 E Burlington St, Riverside $289,900

59 East Quincy, Riverside $369,000

9011 Monroe Ave, Brookfield $414,500

591 E Parkway Rd, Riverside $524,900

192 Waubansee Rd, Riverside $539,000

178 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $625,000

144 Scottswood Rd, Riverside $799,000

AL NT E R

293 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $975,000

45 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $975,000

34 S Kensington Ave #3, LaGrange $1,665/mo

AL NT E R

8613 Rockefeller Ave, Brookfield $1,800/mo.

AL NT E R

622 Robinhood Ln, LaGrange Park $2,200/mo

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Visit us at www.atproperties.com/agents/Burlington to view all of our properties and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates on the local real estate market.