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RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside

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Vol. 36, No. 10 @riversidebrookfieldlandmark

March 10, 2021

Craft brewery set to open on Ogden Ave. in Brookfield PAGE 3

LTHS alum to give school $1 million for science education PAGE 15

RBHS, zoo at impasse on field use, parking deal

Chicago Zoological Society apparently shelving further negotiation

By BOB UPHUES Editor

BIG CHANGES: Riverside Village Manager Jessica Frances announced a sweeping internal staff restructuring last week.

Riverside manager announces sweeping internal reorg

FILE

Public safety director to oversee police, fire; building dept. overhauled

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside Village Manager Jessica Frances on March 4 announced a major staff restructuring, naming Fire Chief Matthew Buckley as the village’s new

director of public safety and emergency management overseeing both the police and fire departments and reorganizing the village’s building department, which is presently operating without any permanent, full-time staff.

The overhaul has been in the works

since the beginning of the year after the retirement of the village’s building inspector in December, the resignation of the department’s management analyst and the departure of former Community Development Director Sonya Abt for a See REORG on page 16

The Chicago Zoological Society, which operates Brookfield Zoo, appears to have closed the door on a land-sharing agreement with Riverside-Brookfield High School that would have secured permanent, clear access to athletic fields north of the school in exchange for increased paved parking for zoo visitors.

Last fall, RBHS District 208 Superintendent Kevin Skinkis thought he had found an acceptable solution, one approved by both the high school and the Cook County Forest Preserve District, which owns the land.

That solution included shrinking the size of the athletic field and reducing the total amount of paved parking from 851 spaces to 618. The size of the field and the number of paved parking spaces were reduced after the Forest Preserve District nixed a plan acceptable to the zoo and high school last summer that would have resulted in the removal of too many bur oak trees, some of which were said to be at least 250 years old.

In late February, Jennifer Baader, vice president See PARKING on page 17

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

Imperial Oak Brewery ready to branch out in Brookfield

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Craft beers the focus at new Ogden Avenue establishment

Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

By BOB UPHUES

Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Editor

Chris DiBraccio will see a long-held dream come true this month when Brookfield’s first brew pub, Imperial Oak Brewing, opens its doors to craft beer enthusiasts at 9526 Ogden Ave., the former home of Brixie’s Saloon.

“It’s a little different, right?” DiBraccio said during an interview at the brewery last week as workers hustled to put the finishing touches on the business. “This is what I really wanted to do here.”

It’s the second location for Imperial Oak, which tapped the first of its signature brews at its brewery in Willow Springs in 2014. The Brookfield location features a seven-barrel system, whose gleaming stainless-steel tanks are on full view for visitors and will produce 800 barrels of beer a year.

The location’s signature brew, in a nod to the building’s history, is the Brixie’s Lager, a crisp, clean Czech-style pilsner with 5-percent alcohol by volume. The lager will be just one of 16 Imperial Oak beers on tap. The brewery will also offer hard cider, wine and a full selection of hard liquor.

As far as the beers go, however, the only ones being served all bear the Imperial CHRIS DIBRACCIO Oak label.

Co-owner of “Our beer is what Imperial Oak Brewing we believe in, so we want them to drink our beer,” DiBraccio said. “The only beer we have is our beer.”

The first impression upon visiting Imperial Oak Brewery is that this is clearly no longer Brixie’s. The glass-paneled overhead garage doors will open out onto a covered outdoor beer garden area, and the inside of the place is brighter, with the brewing system taking center stage.

“We’re a great craft brewery, and I think you’ll come in here and find something you like. I think it’s going to be a plus to the community,” DiBraccio said. “But, if you’re looking for Brixie’s, it’s probably not going to be here.”

“Our beer is what we believe in, so we want them to drink our beer.”

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

BOB UPHUES/Editor

READY TO GO: Chris DiBraccio stands before the three fermenting tanks that are part of Imperial Oak Brewery’s seven-barrel system at its Brookfield location on Ogden Avenue, the longtime former home of Brixie’s Saloon.

Custom-made mini wood beer barrels shade the lights hanging from the ceiling, and the Imperial Oak logo adorns the walls and tables whose glass covers reveal the barley used by the brewery for its beer. The bar has been extended and, to reinforce Imperial Oak’s focus on its beer, there are a few other differences from the brew pub’s predecessor.

You won’t find any video gambling machines and there’s no kitchen. However, said DiBraccio, the brewery will encourage patrons to bring in food from other Brookfield establishments, particularly those along Ogden Avenue. Imperial Oak will also bring in food trucks to feed hungry beer drinkers.

“We’ll have a menu book and anyone can bring food in,” DiBraccio said. “The places here on Ogden Avenue are getting so much better and you’re hearing so many good things about them.”

DiBraccio estimated he and his business partners have poured about $400,000 into the renovation of the brewery. In addition to the brewing system, new lighting, tables and other décor, there are two new heating and air-conditioning systems and two new ADAcompliant bathrooms.

Imperial Oak’s location in Brookfield will

have a different feel than its Willow Springs brewery, where the outdoor space is used for large events and it’s a much more pronounced feature.

The Brookfield brewery has more of a city feel, although DiBraccio said he hopes the brewery can partner with other local businesses on events and said the pandemic has demonstrated just how important outdoor spaces can be.

“Outdoor is key,” said DiBraccio, who added that, for the Willow Springs location, the pandemic has made patrons more open to being outdoors. The outdoor seating is more important than it’s ever been. It’s day to day trying to balance your employees’ safety and the comfort of everybody in the place.”

Imperial Oak, said DiBraccio, will abide by the state’s guidelines for indoor service, including capacity limits, wearing masks when you’re not at your table, limited bar seating and no moving of tables and chairs.

When it opens, according to the Imperial Oak website, the brewery’s hours will be Monday through Thursday from noon to 11 p.m., Friday from noon to 1 a.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Editor Bob Uphues Sports Editor James Kay Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designers Javier Govea, Mark Moroney Debbie Becker Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

Growing Community Media BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL buphues@wjinc.com ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00.

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Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2021 Growing Community Media NFP.

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

BIG WEEK

Mater Christi basket raffle

The men’s Holy Name Society of Mater Christi Parish in North Riverside will host their first-ever Easter Basket Raffle on Sunday, March 28 at 3 p.m.

Twenty-five baskets containing a spiral-cut ham, smoked sausage, rye bread, butter lamb, houska, eggs, lamb cake, solid chocolate bunny, jelly beans, Peeps, an Easter lily and more will be raffled. There will also be a split-the-pot with cash prizes.

There will be no physical gathering, so tickets must be purchased in advance. More info and entry forms are at materchristichurch.org. The deadline for entries is March 27 at noon.

You can watch the raffle live online through a link on the Mater Christi website. Call Steven Piszczor at 708-602-1927 with questions.

March 10-17

MALAKA GHARIB

Get rooted

North Riverside Public Library invites you to participate in a discussion, via Zoom, of the book “I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir”

by Malaka Gharib, this month’s selection for the Deeply Rooted Book Club, which explores the history of inequality and civil rights in American through a mixture of fiction and non-fiction.

The discussion takes place on Thursday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. RSVP to bodenl@northriversidelibrary. org or visit northriversidelibrary.org/events for Zoom meeting access info.

RBHS school board candidate forum

COURTESY OF WWW.LTHS.NET

MARTINA MATHISEN

Hear them roar

Educational entertainer Martina Mathisen presents a fascinating look at dynamic women in history, including Annie Oakley, Harriet Tubman, Madame Curie, Clara Barton, Amelia Earhart and more during “Women in History,” a Zoom presentation brought to you by Brookfield Public Library.

The program will take place on Thursday, March 11 at 7 p.m. and registration is required by calling 708485-6917, ext. 130 or visiting the online calendar at brookfield.evanced.info/signup.

And more Tallgrass Sudbury School, 82 Woodside Road in Riverside (at Riverside United Methodist Church) will host an open house on March 16 from 6 to 7 p.m.

Learn about the Tallgrass education, get a tour and talk with students, staff and parents. The open house will be held in person within CDC guidelines. RSVP required.

Visit tallgrasssudbury.org for a registration link.

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 ■

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Indivisible West Suburban Action League will host a virtual Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 school board candidate forum on Wednesday, March 10, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Moderated by RBHS Senior & Student Association Vice President Omar Padilla, the forum will give the candidates a chance to introduce themselves and answer questions from IWSAL members and the community.

All are invited to submit questions in advance to indivisiblewestsuburbanaction@gmail.com. The audience also will have the opportunity to submit questions to be asked as time allows.

The forum will take place via Zoom. To join, go to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89867916519

LTHS students filling holiday baskets The Lyons Township High School Peaceable Schools Initiative (PSI) Club is hoping to fill holiday baskets for needy children at the Off the Streets Club, Chicago’s oldest boys and girls club.

Any and all donations are welcome. Please drop off baskets/buckets, small toys, books, art supplies, juice boxes, snacks or anything to brighten a child’s holiday. Pre-assembled baskets will also be gladly accepted. Monetary donations are also welcome.

Items may be dropped off at either campus main entrance (100 S. Brainard Ave. in LaGrange (North Campus) or 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs (South Campus) by Monday, March 29. Students will be assembling the baskets for delivery the following day.

For additional information or questions, email PSI sponsor Michelle Harbin at mharbin@lths.net.

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 Makerspace Mondays on March 15 at 7 p.m. on Facebook Live and Game Night Wednesdays on March 17 at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

There’s also Crafternoons: Terracotta Pot Wind Chime via Zoom on March 13 at 1:30 p.m. and Stretching and Meditation on March 15 at ■

6:30 p.m. via conference call (800-747-5150, code 1453322).

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.

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For adults, there’s Chair Yoga via Zoom on March 11 at 11 a.m. and College 101 on March 17 at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission

will talk to teens about their post-high school options, finding your best match and how to visit safely during the pandemic.

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

Riverside Public Library will host a pair of Zoom events for adults in the coming week, including a Riverside Reads book discussion of “The Particular Sadness” by Aimee Bender on March 16 at 2:30 p.m. and a Medicare Information Seminar with Bill Scanlon and Courtney Erb on March 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Register to obtain Zoom access by visiting the library’s online calendar at riversidelibrary.org/calendar.html.

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Creeper arrested for following mail carrier after warnings Brookfield police charged a 65-year-old Summit man with disorderly conduct after he continued to follow a female postal carrier around as she delivered her route in south Brookfield after being warned not to and previously being given a citation.

The mail carrier contacted police on the morning of March 4 to report that for about a week, the man had been following her in his car and attempting to speak with her while she delivered mail.

She gave police the car’s license plate number, which registered to a Summit man who’d been charged with disorderly conduct last October in Riverside for allegedly offering a child candy from his vehicle and claiming he was just trying to be nice.

Later on March 4, police located the vehicle driving on Ogden Avenue and pulled it over.

An officer warned the driver, who admitted to speaking with the mail carrier, to leave the woman alone, and he reportedly agreed.

At about 3 p.m. that same day, the mail carrier called to police to report that the man had made contact with her again, allegedly stating, “Thanks for calling the police” before leaving the area.

Police went to the man’s home and issued him a local ordinance violation citation for disorderly conduct.

On March 5 at about 3:40 p.m., the mail carrier again called police, saying the man had been following her again and again had spoken to her. About 15 minutes later, police located the vehicle pulling out of the parking lot of a tavern in the 8900 block of Burlington Avenue.

Police took the man, who allegedly resisted arrest, into custody and charged him with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Car hits fire hydrant, home on First Ave. A 27-year-old Berkeley woman was hospitalized with unspecified injuries on the evening of March 1 after her 2011 Hyundai Sonata, which was southbound on First Avenue in North Riverside, veered off the roadway in the 2400 block before striking a fire hydrant at the corner of 25th Street and First Avenue and driving across the lawns of four properties before hitting the corner of a home and coming to rest on the front lawn.

The incident occurred at about 6:55 p.m. The impact of the crash reportedly damaged the home’s downspout, gas meter and porch railing, while the fire hydrant ended up coming to rest after striking a car parked in the driveway of the home to the south of the crash site.

The woman was cited for destroying public property, according to the crash report. According to police, the driver was suffering from “medical distress” at the time of the crash.

Cops: Guns thrown from car during chase

The driver of a Dodge Charger who led North Riverside police on a high speed chase on the afternoon of March 2, blew multiple red lights on Cermak Road before striking a box truck while dodging other vehicles in traffic and then abandoned the vehicle on 26th Street was charged with felony fleeing and eluding and ticketed for 10 traffic offenses, including reckless driving and leaving the scene of a crash.

Keonte J. Davis, of Willowbrook, was also arrested on a warrant issue by Naperville police for failing to appear in court for an alleged forgery offense. Two others who reportedly were in the car at the time, a 19-year-old man from Chicago and a 19-year-old man from Silver Lake, Wisconsin, were released without charges.

The chase started at about 4:40 p.m. and ended about 5:15 p.m. after a search throughout northeast Riverside when the trio were seen entering a gray Honda near Selborne and Longcommon roads. The driver told police the girlfriend of one of the men asked him to pick them up. All three suspects were in the backseat of the Honda, according to police.

Police had sought to charge all three men with felony unlawful use of weapons charges after finding two handguns that allegedly were thrown from the vehicle during the chase. Surveillance cameras captured video of at least one of the weapons being tossed from the car near the Traube/Burr Oak intersection.

In addition, the Dodge Charger reportedly had been purchased on Feb. 8 from a dealer in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The man whose name was used to buy the car told police he never bought the vehicle or gave permission for anyone to buy it under his name.

Burglary Riverside police responded to the 300 block of Blackhawk Road on the morning of March 1 after a resident reported that someone tried to pry open their garage door during the overnight hours. Police reported observing pry marks by the lock, but the offender did not gain entry.

Catalytic converter stolen A resident of the 500 block of York Road in Riverside reported that during the overnight hours of March 4-5 someone cut off the catalytic converter from his Jeep Cherokee, which was parked on the street.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, March 1-7 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 10, 2021

After 6-year decline, Riverside crime ticked up in 2020 Robberies, thefts spike during pandemic that altered routine patrol

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Last year was an unusual year for any number of reasons, from the pandemic to mass demonstrations and civil unrest to a two-month long challenge of a presidential election.

It was also an unusual year for crime in the village of Riverside, where the number of serious violent and property crimes rose after seeing decreases during the six prior years.

At the village board’s March 4 meeting, Police Chief Thomas Weitzel announced an 18-percent increase in the number of crimes that are tracked annually for what’s known as the Uniform Crime Report, submitted annually to the Illinois State Police by all law enforcement agencies in the state.

The data is used by the FBI to compile a nationwide report on the kinds of violent and property crimes the federal agency deems the most serious: murder, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault/battery, burglary, theft, vehicle theft and arson.

Many crimes are not included in the

Uniform Crime Report, including drug offenses, impaired driving and many other misdemeanor crimes.

Riverside logged 117 crimes in its 2020 Uniform Crime Report, up from 99 in 2019.

While that represents an 18-percent overall increase, it also represents just 18 more crimes – identical to the increased number of theft complaints in 2020 compared to the prior year.

“This is a very unusual year because of the pandemic, to say the least,” Weitzel told trustees at last week’s meeting. “But even overall our crime is very low. Small communities like Riverside with a small population and small, reduced crime, any fluctuation in those numbers, those percentages are going to look more alarming than they actually are.

“I would caution everyone that this is an extremely safe community. Statistically it will say 18 percent, but overall our crime is very low.”

As has been the case for the past two decades, there were no murders reported in Riverside in 2020 and reports of criminal sexual assault were also down. Aggravated assault/battery, where there have been five

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For more event info, call Riverside Township at (708) 442-4400 or visit our website: www.riversidetownship.org

Riverside crime through the years The following table represents crime statistics for the village of Riverside, 2013-20 from the Uniform Crime Reporting program, which municipalities file with the Illinois State Police on an annual basis. The following eight categories are considered to be major crimes:

2013 Murder Criminal sexual assault Robbery Agg. assault/battery Burglary Theft Vehicle theft Arson Total

2014 2015

0 0 2 0 1 2 15 52 33 19 118 83 4 0 1 1 174 157

0 1 0 57 11 71 1 0 141

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

0 2 0 12 24 90 2 2 132

0 2 0 5 4 94 3 2 110

0 5 4 3 11 77 4 0 104

0 5 3 1 19 70 3 0 99

0 3 8 2 15 88 1 0 117

Source: Riverside Police Department or fewer incidents reported during the past three years was up by one in 2020, to three.

Riverside did report its highest number of robberies in 2020 in at least 17 years. In a year that saw robberies spike area wide with a rash of carjacking incidents in Chicago and the west suburbs, Riverside was not immune.

There were eight robberies reported in Riverside last year, five more than in 2019 and the most since 2009, when there were six. In the past three years, there have been 15 robberies in Riverside following three years in which there were none at all.

In terms of property crime, there were 15 burglaries in Riverside in 2020, four fewer than occurred the prior year. Where the village saw the largest single jump in incidents was in the category of theft.

There were 88 thefts reported in 2020, the largest total in four years and a 25-percent jump over the 70 thefts reported in 2019.

“Historically, Riverside’s number one crime index column is always property crime, whether that be burglary or theft,” Weitzel said. “Almost 40 percent of those thefts were from motor vehicles, and those motor vehicles were not locked. In the entire year we only had four cars that were physically broken into.”

Patrol activity down across the board The pandemic had a tremendous impact on patrol activities, with calls for service, crash reports, arrests, traffic and parking tickets down across the board.

Part of the decline can be attributed to the early months of the pandemic when the state was operating under a general stayat-home order, with most businesses closed

and motor traffic greatly diminished.

There were 119 fewer traffic crashes reported in Riverside in 2020 compared to the previous year, a 36-percent decline while total arrests were down 38 percent from 303 in 2019 to 188 in 2020.

In an effort to limit police officers’ exposure to COVID-19, Weitzel also issued several directives that affected patrol activities, including pausing grant-funded traffic enforcement efforts.

Those directives were essential, Weitzel said, to prevent what could have been a debilitating virus outbreak among police officers.

“When the pandemic hit, we made the conscious decision to limit officers’ contact with the public to any extent we could,” Weitzel said. “For a small agency like Riverside, if we had a large outbreak of COVID-19 in our department it would have been devastating.”

One particular aspect of local enforcement that fell off the charts in 2020 was in the total number of citations – parking, equipment violations and traffic tickets – written by police officers and community service officers.

Traffic tickets were down 65 percent and parking tickets were down by almost 56 percent compared to 2019. In all, police wrote 2,250 citations last year -- nearly 4,000 fewer than the 6,021 written by Riverside police in 2019.

Weitzel told trustees that now that nearly every police department employee has been vaccinated against COVID-19, he has already begun rescinding some of those pandemic-related directives, including restarting the special traffic enforcement patrols and resuming routine traffic enforcement.

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

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Riverside police arrest ATM burglary suspect Crime lab reportedly matched DNA with blood evidence at scene

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Riverside police say they have arrested one of the men suspected of breaking into a Harlem Avenue gas station minimart in November 2019 and attempting to steal an ATM from the business.

According to police, Demuiro D. Williams, 28, of Chicago, had been identified as a suspect a year ago after Illinois State Police were able to match his DNA to blood evidence recovered from the scene.

Chicago police took Williams into custody on Riverside’s warrant for his arrest during a traffic stop in the 500 block of North Laramie Avenue on March 3.

“The use of technology combined with

early morning hours of Nov. 28, effective investigative tools and 2019 at the Citgo gas station at evidence collection helped to 539 Longcommon Road, which is identify Mr. Williams as the suson the southwest corner of Longpect in this burglary,” said Police common and Harlem.

Chief Thomas Weitzel in a press The incident was the third time release. “The Illinois State Police that particular ATM had been Crime Lab and U.S. Department targeted. Crews also had forced of Justice DNA database were their way into the minimart on instrumental in bringing closure Nov. 2 and Nov. 13 and attempted to this case.” to remove the ATM, which was Williams reportedly has an exDEMUIRO D. WILLIAMS bolted to the floor. tensive criminal history, includOn Nov. 28 at about 4:50 ing arrests for trespass to property and vehicle theft as well as weapons a.m., just 10 minutes before the business and drug offenses. Police say he is a self-ad- was scheduled to open for the day, two mitted and documented street gang member. men smashed the glass front door of the He has been charged with burglary for the minimart and then pried off the top of the minimart break in that occurred during the ATM, taking it and fleeing in a blue Dodge

Durango with no license plates.

Police later reported finding the top of the ATM on the public parkway in the 100 block of Herrick Road. There was no money in the ATM at the time of the Nov. 28 burglary. The ATM had not even been operation since the first burglary in early November, and the offenders ignored a “No ATM service please” sign taped to door of the minimart.

The Riverside burglary was just one in a series of ATM burglaries and attempted burglaries in 2019 in Chicago and the west suburbs.

Weitzel said the search for the second person who broke into the Citgo minimart on Nov. 28, 2019 continues. Detectives are also attempting to link Williams to the two prior attempts to steal the Citgo ATM that month.

COVID positivity rate, hospitalizations remain near pandemic lows Villages saw uptick in virus rates during the past week

By TIM KIRSININKAS Capitol News Illinois

The state’s rolling seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate held steady near 2 percent on March 8 as officials continue to increase vaccination efforts in all parts of the state.

The positivity rate stood at 2.3 percent, a number that has not moved more than twotenths of a percentage point for the past 10 days.

Public health officials announced 1,182 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on March 8. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported five additional deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the state’s death toll to 20,767.

Hospitalizations also continued on a steady decline near pandemic lows, with 1,178 people reported hospitalized with COVID-19 at the end of Sunday, including 266 in intensive care unit beds and 118 on ventilators.

As of Monday, the state had administered over 3.3 million COVID-19 vaccine doses in total.

March 5 saw a single-day record for vaccines administered with over 134,000 administered statewide, while a total of 98,550 doses were administered Saturday and 29,564 on Sunday.

The state has a seven-day rolling average of 90,135 doses administered per day, an increase of 10,000 additional doses from one week ago when that figure stood at 80,416.

As of March 8, just over 9 percent, or 1.1 million, of the state’s 12.7 million residents have been fully vaccinated.

In a news conference late last week, Gov. J.B. Pritzker acknowledged that some residents

who are currently eligible to receive a vaccine may still find it difficult to schedule an appointment as the federal government continues to increase production and delivery of vaccine doses.

“The increasing supply of vaccine is frankly very exciting, but there is still a shortage across the nation,” Pritzker said on Friday.

“That means getting an appointment is still a frustrating experience.”

Pritzker expressed optimism, however, that vaccination numbers will continue to improve as the state expects to receive upward of 100,000 doses per day from the federal government by mid-March.

Local positivity rates inch up While the total number of new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in the past week in Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside remained at levels comparable to late last summer, the 60513 and 60546 ZIP codes saw a slight increase in positivity rates.

According to the Northwestern University School of Medicine’s online database tracking positivity rates in the state, the 7-day rolling positivity rate for 60546, which includes both Riverside and North Riverside was 4.06 percent on March 8. That was up from the 14-day rate, which was 2.93 percent as of March 8.

Riverside recorded 11 new cases of COV-

ID-19 over the week-long period ending on the morning of March 9, up from five the week prior. However, in North Riverside the number of new cases fell week over week from nine to four.

In the 60513 ZIP code, which is Brookfield, the 7-day rolling positivity rate as of March 8 was 2 percent, up a tad from the 14-day rate of 1.3 percent. There were nine new COVID-19 cases reported for Brookfield during the past week, up slightly from the six reported the week prior.

There were no deaths from COVID-19 reported in any of the villages in the past week.

Bob Uphues contributed to this report.

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

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Village ranks 8th among suburbs analyzed in new study

By MICHAEL ROMAIN and BOB UPHUES Staff Reporter and Editor

A new report released in February by the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) shows that, from 2016 to 2020, Brookfield had among the highest mortality rates from opioid overdoses in suburban Cook County.

The report -- by Alfreda Holloway-Beth and Nhan Nguyen of the Cook County Department of Public Health’s Epidemiology Unit, and Lee Friedman with the University of Illinois Chicago’s School of Public Health — gathered results from the Illinois Poison Center, outpatient and emergency department data from area hospitals and the Cook County Medical Examiner.

From January 2016 to June 2020, the report found, 1,576 people in the municipalities that fall under the Cook County health department’s jurisdiction died from opioid overdoses, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. Among those overdose deaths, roughly 83 percent involved heroin and/or fentanyl.

The study also lists a Cook County Medical Examiner analysis of 22 suburban ZIP codes where the mortality rate from opioid overdoses was highest. Brookfield’s ZIP code of 60513 ranked eighth, with a mortality rate of 28 deaths per 100,000 residents.

The analysis of that ZIP code, according to the study, also included sections of North Riverside, LaGrange, LaGrange Park, Lyons, McCook and Riverside. That mortality rate was roughly double the rate of 13.9 per 100,000 for the rest of suburban Cook County, according to the study.

The highest mortality rates in the suburbs, the study concluded, were in the west, southwest and south suburbs – including towns adjacent to areas in the city of Chicago where mortality rates are also among the highest.

“The highest mortality rates were observed in ZIP codes that include the municipalities of Worth, Broadview, Maywood and Forest Park,” according to the study. “These ZIP codes, and others hardest hit by the opioid epidemic, have substantially lower median household incomes and higher poverty rates.”

The analysis of the 60130 zip, which is Forest Park, indicated a mortality rate of 37.6 people per 100,000 residents, which was more than double the state average of 17 per 100,000.

That ZIP code, which ranked fourth highest among Cook County suburbs in mortality rate from opioid overdoses, also included sec-

tions of Berwyn, North Riverside, Maywood, Oak Park and River Forest in its analysis.

The report’s other key findings included the “sharp increase in opioid overdose mortality rates” among middle-aged Black men, ages 35 to 64, in suburban Cook County.

“This increase mirrors national trends also showing a marked rise beginning in 2016,” the report stated. “Hospital and mortality rates were more than two times lower among Hispanic/Latinx residents compared to Black/ African-American and white non-Hispanic residents” in suburban Cook County.

In addition to the emotional and personal cost, the opioid epidemic also came at an enormous financial cost, the report explained.

“From 2016 to 2019, the cumulative hospital charges to treat suburban Cook County residents for any opioid related issues (including medical conditions induced by opioid use, withdrawal and treatment) was almost $800 million,” the report added. “Of which, treatment of acute opioid intoxication-overdose cases alone exceeded $500 million in hospital charges.”

In a statement released Feb. 18, HollowayBeth said that fentanyl and heroin “continue to be an incredibly lethal combination in opioid use and no group is immune to these factors in overdose deaths.”

Dr. Kiran Joshi, the senior medical officer and co-lead for CCDPH, said the report “reveals not only surprising trends, but potential blind spots in our systems that can be improved to save lives.”

Joshi added that the department “will use this analysis to inform our activities and customize intervention programs to target the needs of different groups with opioid use disorders. By sharing this data with community leaders and stakeholders, we can leverage our collective expertise and resources to address this crisis.”

You can read the entire report at cookcountypublichealth.org/behavioral-health/ opioids.

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

9

Waste hauling exec claims ‘harassment’

by North Riverside trustee’s husband Roy Strom employee writes village to complain of repeated calls, alleged threat

By BOB UPHUES Editor

An account executive at the waste hauling firm used by the village of North Riverside wrote to the village administrator last month to complain he was being “harassed” by the husband of a village trustee.

Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. read the letter from Edward McCormick of Roy Strom Refuse Removal Service, printed on company letterhead, aloud during the mayoral report portion of village board’s March 1 meeting.

McCormick in his letter accused David Mandel, the husband of Trustee Marybelle Mandel, of “harassing our team members, stating we are a horrible company and more

trouble, a racist company.”

McCormick wrote that David Mandel had called the company “numerous” times and complained the company did not haul away construction material for free, a service not provided by the company.

More troubling, according to McCormick, Mandel threatened that “when his wife becomes mayor, we will be thrown out of town.”

Marybelle Mandel, who won election as trustee in 2019 and is one of three people running for mayor this spring, stated, “That’s a lie,” when Hermanek read that part of the letter.

McCormick did not respond to phone messages left by the Landmark seeking more information on David Mandel’s calls to the company.

Marybelle Mandel faces Hermanek and fellow Trustee Joseph Mengoni in the mayoral race. Election Day is April 6.

McCormick’s letter is the latest flashpoint over the village’s waste hauling contract with Roy Strom. In January, it was announced that Lakeshore Recycling Systems

would purchase Roy Strom, which apparently led Mandel to question whether the existing contract would still be valid or open to renegotiation.

North Riverside hired Roy Strom as its waste hauling firm in 2012 after a competitive bidding process. As the initial contract approached its 2017 expiration date, village board voted to extend the contract for another 10 years, with Roy Strom agreeing to freeze its residential waste hauling rates for three years.

Trustees, including H. Bob Demopoulos, who is co-chairman of Mandel’s political party, voted unanimously for the extension.

At the village board’s meeting on Jan. 18, Mandel angrily accused the village’s administration of withholding the waste hauling contract from her, with Hermanek allegedly responding to her request, according to Mandel, by saying it “was none of my business.”

“What is the administration hiding from the public?” Mandel asked.

Hermanek responded that the village

was halfway through the contract and that the sale of Strom to Lakeshore Recycling Systems had not been finalized.

“Whatever you’re looking for is premature and I told you that,” Hermanek said.

“There’s nothing to discuss and nothing to see.”

The village’s waste hauling contract with Roy Strom, a copy of which the Landmark obtained via a Freedom of Information request, is a pretty straightforward 11-page document that lays out the terms and responsibilities of each party as well as the rate structure.

The contract does not have a specific severability clause, apart from actions each party can take if the other fails to perform their contractual duties. It also states that any modifications to the contract need to be agreed upon in writing by both parties.

Also on March 1, Hermanek read a letter dated Jan. 4 from Roy Strom President George Strom and Lakeshore Recycling Systems CEO Alan Handley announcing the merger and indicating the change would be seamless for residents.

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del – referred to in the court record by her maiden name Marybelle Sanchez – was a knowing participant in her husband David’s mortgage fraud scheme.

David Mandel was convicted in 2000 of making a false statement to a financial institution and sentenced to 12 months in federal prison. Marybelle Mandel was not charged. She was elected to the position of village trustee in 2019 and is presently running for mayor in a three-way race against incumbent Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. and Trustee Joseph Mengoni.

In appealing his sentence, David Mandel argued that his wife was an “unknowing facilitator” in the scheme. According to the court record, “Mandel had [Marybelle] Sanchez prepare a gift letter in which she falsely claimed that she was a relative of the buyers and had given them $12,900 for the down payment. Mandel used $12,900 from his personal account to obtain a cashier’s check, deleted the last digit of the serial number, and made a copy for the lender as verification of the earnest money.”

The appellate court panel of judges affirmed the U.S. District Court’s sentencing, stating “a preponderance of the evidence

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Former mayor questions trustee’s past, prompting attack on administrator

By BOB UPHUES Editor

A former North Riverside mayor asked the village attorney whether he believed a sitting trustee to be “a criminal,” prompting the trustee to call in the U.S. Attorney to investigate and accuse the current village administrator of illegally taking payments for doing her job. This all took place during the public comment portion of a North Riverside Village Board meeting and was the latest meeting to devolve into political squabbling.

Village Attorney Michael Hayes declined to answer the question “is a criminal participant a criminal” posed to him by Kenneth Krochmal, who served as the village’s mayor from 2009-13, at the March 1 village board meeting.

Krochmal prefaced his question by reading portions of an appellate court opinion where a federal judge wrote that sitting trustee and current mayoral candidate Marybelle Man-

supports the conclusion that Sanchez was a criminally responsible participant” and “could have been charged with making a false statement to a financial institution.”

Marybelle Mandel responded to Krochmal’s statements by affirming her innocence and asking anyone who has their doubts to call in the feds.

“Why don’t you and everybody else who’s curious contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office, invite them here to the village hall, the FBI, and ask them, ‘Was I ever charged, was I ever accused, was I ever arrested?’

No, I was not.”

Mandel also said she would allow North Riverside Police Chief Carlos Garcia “to do a thorough background check on me. …

I will give you any information you need to put this to rest.”

She then switched gears and asked her colleagues on the village board whether they were concerned that Village Administrator Sue Scarpiniti had not returned $52,000 in additional salary granted to her last year when she took on the role of village administrator after Guy Belmonte’s retirement.

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

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North Riverside Mall theaters will reopen April 15 Screens have been dark for all but 2 weeks for nearly a year

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The North Riverside Luxury 6, the movie theaters operated by Classic Cinemas at the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, will blow the dust off their projectors and reopen their doors to the film-watching public on Thursday, April 15.

Crippled by mitigations imposed by the state to limit the spread of COVID-19, the mall’s six movie screens have been dark for all but two weeks since mid-March 2020. But, when the doors reopen next month, said Classic Cinemas CEO Chris Johnson, they’re staying open.

“I have no plans of re-closing,” said Johnson, who shut down the theaters July 9 for good after a two-week trial. With Hollywood delaying new film releases because movie houses in New York and Los Angeles were closed, Johnson determined second-run movies were not the solution.

“It’s been super tough,” Johnson said. “In many ways it was the worst possible of all situations, but the good news is that we’re going to be able to make it to the other side.”

New York’s movie theaters were given the go ahead to reopen last week and Los Angeles theaters are slated to reopen March 19.

When Johnson closed the chain’s theaters last July, he made the decision to furlough the company’s employees. He maintained contact with them throughout the past eight months, updating them on possible reopening dates (some of which fell through) and soliciting feedback from them.

The good news from the staffing perspective,

said Johnson, is that all of the company’s theater managers are returning along with many employees.

“We had enthusiastic support from our employees, and that was great because we were worried about that,” Johnson said. “They’ve been way too nice, kind and understanding.

We’re ready to go.”

Although Hollywood is still tweaking its release schedule and at least one blockbuster that was supposed to open this spring in theaters got sold to Netflix, Johnson said there are other draws that will be coming out in April and May, including “Mortal Kombat” and “Black Widow.” Another movie that had been delayed until September, “Quiet Place 2,” has been moved back to May, and “Top Gun” is slated to open July 2.

“It’s enough to get going,” Johnson said.

The theaters will be operating under some COVID-19 mitigations, including a requirement that patrons wear face coverings. The theaters will limit capacity based on state guidelines and parties will be socially distanced from one another.

Johnson said he’s hopeful that the governor will ease the capacity limits to allow for more than 50 patrons in spaces that can accommodate them safely.

I absolutely am ready,” Johnson said. “The outpouring of support has been fantastic and I share the belief that people will get out of the house and return to the theaters.”

Johnson also gave kudos to the management of the North Riverside Park Mall, his landlord, for their willingness to work with Classic Cinemas to ensure their long-term presence at the shopping center.

“They were the first landlord to reach out, be accommodating and work with us,” said Johnson. “They are a class act and really did what’s right and couldn’t have been more supportive.

That’s a partnership. They got it, understood it and cultivated that relationship.”

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

Brookfield library on track for summer opening Construction more than half done on bright, new facility

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Eleven months since construction started on the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library residents have a pretty good picture of how the building sits on its site at the northeast corner of Park and Lincoln avenues.

Most of the windows enclosing the ground-floor spaces are in, while the coppercolored metal cladding is partially in place, giving a sense of texture and shimmering in the afternoon sunlight.

According to Dan Eallonardo, owner’s rep for the library’s board of trustees, construction is 60- to 70-percent complete and the plan is still for the new facility to open to the public this summer.

“A lot of finishes are going on now,” said Eallonardo during a tour of the construction site for about two dozen people, including library and village officials as well as the Landmark.

“Many surfaces are painted, others are prepared for paint, ceilings are being installed, most of the mechanical systems are pretty well far along and the building is being finished from the bottom up, so the most complete floor is the basement, then the main level and the second level,” Eallonardo said.

Library Director Kimberly Coughran said she hoped for a soft opening in June with

a more formal grand opening at the end of that month. Once the building is operational, work will begin to demolish the existing library across the street at 3609 Grand Blvd. and construction a parking lot and small park on that site.

“It’s going great,” said Dan Pohrte, principal with Product Architecture and Design, the firm the library board hired to design the 21,000-square-foot building. “Construction has been pretty seamless.”

While those driving and walking past the new library have a sense of the building’s scale, what comes across most noticeably inside the building, even during the morning hours when the front of the building is shaded, is the light.

Expanses of glass along the south and west walls flood the interior with light, including the main stairwell in the southeast corner of the building where large windows let in sunlight that also filters through perforated stair risers and brightens the interior through a wall of glass separating the lobby from the stairwell.

Glass walls throughout the building open up those spaces and allow light to penetrate, including the basement, where light filters in through the stairwell and through a light well along the north wall that provides natural light to staff offices and a staff break room in that part of the building where windows are otherwise scarce.

The seven staff offices are glass-walled to allow in as much light as possible, and there’s also a large open area for staff without private offices to work when they are not at their desks in the library proper.

Right now those full- and part-time staff members – about five in all – share a cramped roughly 8-by-6-foot office where

BOB UPHUES/Editor

COMING TOGETHER: The copper-colored textured metal cladding has been applied to about half of the new library’s second floor, which will be flooded with light during afternoon through walls of glass. two people can work by facing one another, just inches apart.

“In a pandemic, that situation has been impossible,” Coughran said.

The lower level also includes a large meeting room for library programming and public meetings. The room will be able to be divided into two separate spaces and a storage room will be able to hold all of the room’s chairs and tables if the space needs to be cleared out for a particular program.

The room will be equipped with a video monitor, projector, projection screen and sound system.

Project architect Jim Lonergan led the tour group through the building, from bottom to top. While the spaces remain unfinished, particularly on the ground and sec-

BOB UPHUES/Editor

IN PROGRESS: Project architect Jim Lonergan (above left) points out the finishes that will adorn the second-floor interior, which will be devoted to teens and adults. The palette is more muted than the first floor, which will feature shades of blue and green in spaces where Youth Services will be located (above right).

ond floors, Lonergan provided visual aids to demonstrate how colorful the interior spaces will be when finished and provide samples of the materials, such as carpeting in the main areas of the three floors, hardsurface flooring in the second-floor teen room and maker space, paint and furniture colors and fabrics.

The palette for the ground-floor spaces, which focus on younger patrons, is brighter with shades of green and blue predominating. The second-floor colors, in the adultcentric areas, are more muted blues and grays.

A walk through the building also reinforces one of the project’s goals of limiting noise and separating spaces set aside for children, teens and adults.

The Youth Services Department will be located on the ground floor and has direct access to the large outdoor area to the west, which itself will be bordered by shrubs to give it a sense of enclosure.

The second floor includes a teen room and adjacent maker space, which will be enclosed by glass walls and allow patrons to access each of those rooms from inside the space. The maker space will also have a separate editing room, which will be nearly soundproof, Lonergan said, where patrons can edit video and audio.

Along the west wall of the second floor will be a mix of booth and other seating, with a quiet study area – complete with a gas fireplace (remote controlled by staff) – in the northwest corner. Five quiet study rooms, whose glass doors can be closed to make them even quieter, each with a monitor with an interface for laptops.

The second floor, in particular, is a bright space – and will be more so during afternoons when the sun is shining on the west façade.

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

15

LTHS alum gifting $1 million for science innovation 1962 grad makes bequest in honor of freshman biology teacher

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

A Lyons Township High School alumnus who is now a professor emeritus of biochemistry at the University of Missouri has pledged to give $1 million to the high school to foster innovative science teaching there.

Gerald Hazelbauer, a 1962 graduate from LTHS in 1962 is making the bequest in honor of Ruth Wenner, who was his freshman biology teacher during the 1958-59 school year.

LTHS won’t get the full $1 million until after both Hazelbauer and his wife die but Hazelbauer is making an initial donation of $20,000

this year and will continue to dowas an innovative and challenging nate $20,000 while he is alive. teacher who treated her students Hazelbauer, 76, is the Curators like scientists.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus She arranged for him to do a of biochemistry and the former summer program at an Illinois chairman of the biochemistry deInstitute of Technology laborapartment at the University of Mistory the summer after his freshsouri. He came to LTHS a year afman year and that Wenner was the ter the Soviet Union had launched most influential teacher he ever the Sputnik rocket, a move that had a LTHS. started the space race and shocked GERALD HAZELBAUER “Everybody remembers Mrs. Americans.

Wenner,” Hazelbauer said of his The fear that the United States cohort. “They don’t necessarily remember all was falling behind the Soviet Union sparked the details about Biology, but they remember an emphasis on more rigorous education, par- the notion that science is basically what huticularly in science and math, in American mans do. They try to figure out things. How schools. does this work? Whether it ends up being ecoHazelbauer, who grew up in Western nomics or sociology or architecture, I mean, Springs, was part of a cohort of 25 or so fresh- that’s what we do, that’s what our heads have men grouped together for advanced courses us do, and she made that extraordinarily clear in science, math and English. He says Wenner and it sunk in to everybody.”

Hazelbauer notified called LTHS officials last year to tell them of his intentions. After graduating in 1962, Hazelbauer went to Williams College where he majored in biology.

He earned a master’s degree from Case Western Reserve University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Hazelbauer was inducted into the LT Hall of Fame in 2007.

He is known for his research into the molecular mechanisms of bacterial sensory system and has published more than 100 articles in scholarly journals.

LTHS officials were surprised and delighted by the unexpected bequest.

“That’s a very generous give back and it’s a testimonial to the experience he had while a student here,” Superintendent Tim Kilrea said.

The first $20,000 will be split next fall among six LTHS science teachers and in subsequent years be open to all LTHS science teachers.

D95 sticking with hybrid model to end school year Officials: Switching to full-day, in-person learning too ‘disruptive’

By BOB SKOLNIK

ing more kids in a classroom would require more students to quarantine if they were in a class with a student who tested positive for Students in Brookfield-LaGrange Park COVID-19.

“We would have to quarantine that entire School District 95 will not return to full-day, class,” Kuzniewski said. “The amount of in-person school this academic year.

After facing pressure last month from some absenteeism that we could face, we weren’t ready to do that.” parents for the district to switch Kuzniewski said that with the to a full-day school as soon as posschool year ending in late May sible, District 95 Superintendent it wasn’t worth it to make such Mark Kuzniewski announced on a drastic change now. District 95 Feb. 28 in an email to parents that has had a hybrid model with a rethe district will continue with its mote option for the entire school hybrid learning model and a fully year. remote option for the remainder “We didn’t see that that type of of the school year. disruption warranted trying to “We will be focused on creating get back to a full, in-person moda reopening plan with the goal of MARK KUZNIEWSKI el,” Kuzniewski said. full in-person instruction in the Kuzniewski said state-mandatfall,” Kuzniewski wrote. “Further, we will explore options as to if and how time ed academic testing will consume much of during the summer may be used to address April, making the logistical challenges even more daunting. To change to full, in-person student needs.”

At last month’s school board meeting, school this far into the school year would be a number of parents urged the district to a difficult process.

“We’ve kind of analogized it with making switch to full-day school or to at least survey the community to see what parents thought this transition is like turning a large ship,” Kuzniewski said. “You turn the wheel and it about returning to full-day school.

But Kuzniewski and the school board de- takes a while to go. You just don’t turn over cided that it was too difficult to move from tomorrow and we’re in full in-person. If we its hybrid model of a half day of in-person were having this conversation back in Noinstruction to full-day school for the final vember, yeah maybe, but not in talking about coming back after spring break in April.” months of 2020-21.

Kuzniewski and the school board had “Kids would be changing teachers at the elementary building and we would have to reached a consensus that sticking with the hyreduce significantly our six-foot social dis- brid model for the rest of the current school tancing requirement,” Kuzniewski said in a year was the right decision and said that he wanted to be honest and upfront about that. telephone interview with the Landmark.

The decision to stick with hybrid learning The reduction in social distancing by havContributing Reporter

has not been universally well received, and Kuzniewski said the district has received some harsh emails.

On March 4, District 95 school board President Scott Encher sent a letter to parents explaining the decision and warning against harassment.

“As we witness other communities becoming divided by this emotional topic, it is our deepest hope that the D95 community will remain committed to being unified,” Encher wrote. “We encourage respectful disagreement and welcome the positive stories you share about your D95 experiences. Harassment, insults, and intimidation have never been the D95 way and will only divide our community when we need to remain together.”

Kuzniewski said that he and the school board must make difficult decisions.

“My responsibility is to provide the instructional model that the organization is equipped to handle,” Kuzniewski said. “The will of the community doesn’t mean we do a survey. The board represents the community.”

Melissa Biskupic, president of the Gross PTO and a nurse who spoke in favor of returning to in-person last month said she accepts the administration’s explanation of the difficulties for making that happen to end the school year.

“I have a lot of respect for the school board, the administrators and the staff in District 95, and if they tell me that it would be too disruptive to return to school this year I believe that they have the best interest of the children at heart,” Biskupic said. “What I’m happy about is that we have started the conversation and now as a team, collaboratively, we can move toward discussing and getting

these kids back to school in the fall.”

Kuzniewski said that while in-person instruction is best, students have been learning this year despite the limitations of the hybrid model, which features 2.5 hours of in-person instruction each day along with remote learning.

“By and large we’re doing as well of a job as could be expected in a hybrid model,” Kuzniewski said. “Our kids are learning, they’re happy, we have opportunities for kids to participate in clubs after school, we’re getting social-emotional learning addressed through getting kids involved, we’re live streaming. So, we’ve really gotten the system down and to shift gears and to have the chaos that would come with that didn’t make sense.”

D96 mulls full-day school Other area school districts are wrestling with the same decision. On March 3, the Riverside Elementary School District 96 Board of Education spent nearly all of its two-hour meeting discussing the same issue, whether to pivot from hybrid learning to full-day instruction.

The board heard public comments from 14 parents, all supporting a switch to full-day instruction for elementary school students and complaining that 2.5 hours of in-person instruction was not enough.

But in a lengthy presentation to the school board the District 96 administrators pointed out all the difficulties switching to full-day instruction in the elementary schools. The administration and school board left the door open to perhaps switching to full-day instruction in April.

16

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

REORG

zel said. “Matt is an extremely hard worker.

Anyone who knows him will tell you that.”

Buckley, a lifelong Riverside resident who has been village’s fire chief since 2015, also was a police officer in the village of Lyons for 21 years. He started as a patrolman in Lyons in 1998 and was promoted to sergeant before being named deputy police chief there in 2014.

He retired as Lyons deputy police chief in 2018 to take on the role of Riverside fire chief full-time. He had been working part time prior to his retirement and has been a Riverside firefighter since 1988.

He said the fact he is also a Riverside resident makes this position special for him.

“It’s what makes this job so important to me,” Buckley said. “There are so many times I can help a friend, and I consider everyone a neighbor. Being available to help residents and getting them the services they need and deserve makes this job so rewarding.”

Buckley’s background as a police command staffer and as fire chief makes him an ideal candidate to lead a combined public safety operation, but Frances said the arrangement doesn’t depend on Buckley to work.

“We were fortunate to have someone with both certifications, but there’s opportunity in the future for people to be trained [so there

remains a line of succession in the future],” Frances said.

“This makes absolute sense for the community currently,” said Frances, who indicated there would be no sweeping changes to the supervisory structure of the police and fire operations. “I think we have a great team across the departments. Ultimately, the supervisors will report to Buckley. The accountability across the two departments will not change.”

With the departure of Weitzel in May and of a patrolman in late 2020, Frances said the village plans to hire two new police officers to replace them.

Weitzel said he and Buckley recently met for several hours to talk through the leadership transition and how he and his command staff could assist in that transition.

“I’ll bring him up to speed on everything and then we’ll hold a departmental meeting at the end of April or early May, where I will hand over the department to Matt so he will be free to lay out his vision,” Weitzel said.

In addition to the changes in public safety, Frances announced that she was eliminating the position of community develop-

ment director. Instead, the operations of the building department will be overseen by the assistant village manager, a new position for the village.

The assistant village manager will also directly supervise the person who ends up filling another new position – village planner. While Abt was a certified planner and handled planning and zoning reviews and managed building department staff, she was also tasked with other duties, including economic development initiatives.

In the future, the village planner will concentrate efforts on the planning and zoning aspects of the job, serve as village hall’s liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Preservation Commission and manage the building permit process.

The assistant village manager will oversee the building department, handle economic development and supervise village inspectors, code enforcement initiatives and oversee the village clerk’s office.

Frances said the assistant village manager and planner positions will be posted immediately in order to get candidates interviewed within the next couple of months.

Frances said she also wants to hire two interns who are pursuing advanced degrees on public administration to take on projects and record minutes for advisory commissions.

She also plans on hiring a third part-time community service officer and then use all three of those employees to begin responding to code enforcement complaints, instead of building inspectors or police officers.

Hiring a third CSO will also allow the village to have one of them on duty every day of the week instead of only weekdays, as is the case now. The assistant village manager will also supervise the CSOs as it relates to code enforcement, France said.

One position in the new reorganization has already been filled. Ian Splitt assumed the role of management analyst part time in early February before moving into the role full time on Feb. 22.

Splitt previously worked part time in the Department of Parks and Recreation and he will be cross-trained, said Frances, so that he can manage projects across departments, from building to public safety.

del surfaced at a village board meeting via an anonymous public comment in December, a complaint about Scarpiniti’s extra pay surfaced.

Also submitted as a public comment in January, the purported author of the comment claimed the payments to Scarpiniti were “illegal” and cited a provision in the village code that states the finance director “shall not receive compensation for any other office other than director of finance.”

“Now that’s a crime,” Mandel said at the March 1 village board meeting.

Hermanek said the code is referring to other duties the finance director performs pursuant to that position, such as village treasurer and as the village’s representa-

tive on various pension boards – duties for which Scarpiniti is not compensated.

Scarpiniti bristled at being drawn into the village board’s intramural political battles.

“On behalf of the village staff, I don’t appreciate the harassment that you have provided to me,” Scarpiniti said. “The village board provided me with additional duties as acting village administrator and I have done nothing wrong and the stipend that I was provided was given to me with the consent of the village board. That is not something I did on my own. … So you, sitting on the village board, were partly responsible for providing me with that stipend, because you didn’t provide any objection to it when it was proposed by the mayor.”

Mandel claimed she was the one being harassed, prompting Hermanek to state that it’s because of Mandel’s harassment of staff that the village’s public works employees and village hall clerical staff had voted to unionize.

The two new bargaining units are presently in separate contract negotiations with the village administration.

Mandel professed to not be aware that she was the reason for the employees’ decision to unionize. Employees have been careful in their public statements about specific people, but two employees – one from each bargaining unit -- stated for the record at a village board meeting in late 2020 that the current administration was not to blame for the move to unionize.

Money savings from page 1 new position in the far southwest suburbs in late February.

Also last month, Police Chief Thomas Weitzel announced his retirement effective May 20 after serving the village for more than three decades, 13 as chief. Frances said the large number of openings provided an opportunity to realign staff to both save money and respond to changing trends in local government management.

“It is an opportunity to sit back and say, ‘Things are changing in government – in how we do business and how we maximize what we have in terms of staff while still providing the high levels of service our residents deserve,’” Frances said in a phone interview with the Landmark.

Frances said that by 2022, the staffing reorganization will also result in a savings to the village in the area of $150,000 to $200,000 annually, with those funds now able to be used for other purposes.

Village President Ben Sells emphasized the importance of that cost savings at the village board’s March 4 meeting where the reorganization was announced.

“What she and her staff have done is basically created an ongoing funding source for our capital improvement projects, which we did not have prior to this plan,” Sells said.

“That $150,000 to $200,000 a year is extremely important to this village.”

Buckley, 52, will assume the role of director of public safety on May 1, leaving him nearly a month to transition into the role while Weitzel wraps up his duties as police chief.

“Tom has been one of my biggest mentors throughout my entire career,” Buckley said.

“We have always worked tremendously great together. He’s one of the people I emulate my career off of.”

Weitzel, who has known Buckley for three decades as a fire fighter and as a police officer, said Buckley is a perfect fit for the Riverside job.

“It takes a special individual to do the job because you need training in two fields,” Weit-

MEETING

Stipend questioned from page 9 Scarpiniti, the village’s longtime finance director, retains her old position and was awarded an additional $1,000 a week to serve as administrator. Mayor Hubert Hermanek had laid out the arrangement in a memo to elected officials in early 2020 before it became official.

At the time, no one, including Mandel raised any objection. But, after information about David Mandel’s fraud conviction and its connection to Marybelle Man-

FILE

DUAL ROLE: Riverside Fire Chief Matthew Buckley will take on the role of director of public safety and emergency management, overseeing both police and fire operations, on May 1.

Assistant manager, planner eyed

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

17

PARKING

Asked by the Landmark whether there was any way forward on a solution in the future, Baader said that the Chicago Zoological was committed to allowing the high school to continue its present field/parkfrom page 1 ing-sharing arrangement.

However, her response also indicated neof government affairs for the Chicago Zoo- gotiations with the high school were over. logical Society informed Skinkis that the “While we worked with all parties to find latest plan, which had the approval of both a mutually agreeable way forward, ultithe high school and the Cook mately no plan was identified County Forest Preserve District that could provide exclusive was not acceptable. use of the ballfields to the high According to Baader, in an school while retaining adequate email to Skinkis on Feb. 24, parking for the zoo and respectreducing the amount of paved ing the Conservation & Policy parking spaces by 233 was just Council of the Forest Preserves too much. of Cook County’s Nature-Com“Having 233 less spaces on patible Recreation position papeak days means 233 cars are per,” Baader said in an email to stacked up on all available the Landmark on March 5. routes to the zoo, often in RiverThe Chicago Zoological SociKEVIN SKINKIS side and Brookfield commerce ety’s decision is a blow to high D208 Superintendent areas and along First Avenue,” school officials who have been Baader wrote. “It also means working for the past four years slower cycling of available to secure a deal where the ball spaces, which makes the probfields north of the school are lem worse. able to be used at all times by “All this reduces guest experistudents and athletes. ence as well as revenue to the “At this time I’m not sure zoo at a time when our levy has what the next steps will be,” remained flat. And earned revenue is at a Skinkis said in an email to the Landmark premium. last week. “I need to discuss this with the “We cannot afford to do this as an institu- [school] board. It appears as if the zoo is tion to our guests, members and surround- walking away from the table.”

The school pays more than $20,000 aning municipalities.”

Negotiations over?

“It appears as if the zoo is walking away from the table.”

RENDERINGS BY NOVOTNY ENGINEERING

NOT ENOUGH: The high school and Brookfield Zoo had a handshake deal on a plan last summer (above left) that would have provided 851 paved parking spaces for zoo visitors, but the Forest Preserve District nixed it due to the potential tree loss. Last fall, the high school and Forest Preserves agreed on a plan that reduced field space and parking (above right), but that didn’t fly with the zoo. nually to rent the fields and the 166-space parking lot immediately west of them. The school uses that parking lot on schools days for staff vehicles. It also plows snow from the parking lot and repairs damage to the field that results when Brookfield Zoo uses it for overflow parking on busy days.

When that happens, the school loses the ability to use the fields and the cars leave behind ruts that make the fields dangerous to play on if they’re not repaired. As a result, the high school buses varsity baseball and softball teams as well as lowerlevel lacrosse and soccer teams to parks in Brookfield and North Riverside for games, which comes at additional costs in time and money.

In order to secure permanent, sole use of the fields, the District 208 school board in 2017 issued $3 million in working cash bonds to fund the investigation and implementation of a solution. They also hired a consultant to serve as a liaison between

the school district and both county and Brookfield Zoo officials.

According to Skinkis, “the school district has spent approximately $17,000 on engineering and surveying services related to the revisions/proposals discussed at multiple meetings with the zoo and forest preserve over the last 18 months.”

Skinkis said he did not know what the next move would be with respect to the field/ parking issue, saying the zoo’s response to the latest plan was “disappointing.”

“We have met every design request they suggested,” Skinkis told the Landmark.

“We had a verbal agreement this summer on a plan, but the Forest Preserve District requested design changes to minimize some of the trees being impacted.

“The school district went back to the table and came up with a new design. The latest plan had the support of the commissioners and the forest preserve, but we couldn’t get the zoo on board.”

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

18

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

S P O N S O R E D

Chi Taco Grill: Look for fries inside

C O N T E N T

Elmwood Park taqueria puts a Cal-Mex twist on tradition Located northwest of Elmwood Park’s bustling “restaurant row” on North Avenue and just east of “the circle,” Chi Taco Grill, a relative newcomer on the local dining scene, confidently stands alone at 7530 W. Grand Ave. “The road to opening was long because of the renovation and dealing with the pandemic,” said Emilio Godinez, Food Writer co-owner of Chi Taco Grill. “But the Village of Elmwood Park has been great about everything and business so far has been really good.”

Father and son, Hector and Emilio Godinez, purchased the small-scale property three years ago after agreeing something about the eatery appealed to them. It took the co-owners a few years to complete a thoughtful renovation to bring Chi Taco Grill to life, but the passionate

MELISSA ELSMO

duo’s modern taqueria is up and running and bringing a unique California twist to burritos, tacos, tortas and bowls.

Hector, a native of Jalisco in western Mexico, spent his early years cooking alongside his mother and father. Though the self-taught cook’s salsas are influenced by recipes he learned cooking alongside his parents, he had the menu for Chi Taco Grill in the back of his mind ever since he learned about California-style burritos.

Chi Taco puts a twist on tradition by cramming a handful of fresh cut fries into every CALI TORTA: Look for fresh cut fries on the side and inside of Chi Taco’s steak torta. burrito in true Cal Mex style.

Hector took the concept a step farther by including fries inside of Chi Taco’s tortas and vegetarian tacos. In fact, fries are the first ingredient mentioned in nearly every menu item at Chi Taco Grill.

Feedback from eager customers has revealed steak is the most popular filling for Chi Taco’s offerings. Hector credits his special blend of seasonings for the popularity of his meat offerings—he spent years tweaking the recipe until it was just right. Vegetarians, however, have nothing to fear at Chi Taco. A robust mushroom and

IT’S A SIGN: Chi Taco Grill is located at 7530 W Grand Ave. in Elmwood Park.

Lourdes Nicholls

Vegetarians will delight in well-seasoned mushroom and potato tacos from Chi Taco Grill shown here with a duo of house-made salsas.

The Landmark, March 10, 2020

19

Dine -in / Carry Out / Delivery Catering / Bar / Banquet Chinese • Thai • Japanese Cuisine Hibachi Steak House Co-owner Emilio Godinez shows off the branded exterior of Chi Taco Grill. potato mixture can form the base of any bowl, burrito, torta or taco.

As summer draws nearer Hector and Emilio are eager to place a few tables outside and attach drop down benches along the east side of the building to increase their outdoor dining footprint. The taqueria has also been approved for a liquor license by the Village of Elmwood Park and the owners are currently exploring the option of adding a limited bar program to the restaurant including beer offerings and house-made micheladas.

In addition to his thoughtful menu, Hector is especially proud of the distinctive branding behind Chi Taco. Hector’s brother, Felipe Godinez is a creative director and brought Chicago-centric design elements

forward in the branding. Both the logos and color scheme evoke the highly recognizable Chicago flag.

Hector and Emilio are eager to grow the business and replicate the Chi Taco brand of California i n s p i r e d Mexican fare at future locations.

“People from every walk of life are coming to my business and we have a really wonderful clientele,” said Hector. “We are proud our food at Chi Taco is always fresh and delicious. People love the taste of the food.

It is 100% worth the trip from a neighboring suburb.”

Chi Taco puts a twist on tradition by cramming a handful of fresh cut fries into every burrito in true Cal Mex style

*All food items were ordered via carry out and plated at home.

All photos, Melissa Elsmo

Discover more culinary delights at OakPark.com

Hours: Sun.–Thurs. 11:45am–9:45pm Fri. & Sat. 11:45am–10:45pm

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK • FREE PARKING All Major Credit Cards Accepted

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7444 North Avenue • Elmwood Park FAX 708-453-3044 • www.newstarrestaurant.com

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Election fever

W

e’re not sure what a contested election does to people in North Riverside, but it’s unlike any other town we cover when it comes to the embarrassing lengths partisans will go to smear their opponents to gain a per-

ceived edge.

The village board meeting on March 1 was the most recent jaw-dropper. We’re not sure what the most remarkable moment was – the mayor reading a letter from a waste hauling executive complaining about a trustee’s husband “harassing” him and his staff, a former mayor asking the village attorney whether he thought that trustee was a criminal or the trustee accusing the acting village administrator of committing a crime by accepting a stipend that no one objected to a year ago when it was given.

Imagine being a North Riverside resident witnessing this.

Certainly, Trustee Marybelle Mandel knows that the long-entrenched political majority in town sees her as a real threat in her run for mayor – one made more real by the presence of two former political allies who are also running and who may split the vote and open the door for Mandel’s victory.

She is hurt and feels harassed herself, because of the revelation brought to light late last year that she was involved – though not accused of wrongdoing or charged with any crime – in a fraud scheme that landed her husband with a federal conviction in 2000 for making a false statement to a financial institution.

That’s a long time ago and it may seem unfair for her opponents to keep bringing this up, particularly at a village board meeting, but it’s a reality Mandel needs to accept. Her husband’s past is what it is.

It does not help her case with voters when he then lashes out as he apparently did with the waste hauling executive, who took the extraordinary action of writing a formal letter of complaint, in which the executive also accused Mandel’s husband of threatening that his wife would get rid of the waste hauling company if she were elected.

Trustee Mandel called that accusation “a lie,” and the executive did not respond to the Landmark’s calls asking for more information, but it leaves us wondering why a village vendor would feel so threatened he would lodge a formal complaint and apparently ask that it be read aloud at a village board meeting.

Long story short, it’s not a good look.

Perhaps the most stunning moment, however, was for a sitting elected official to accuse the village’s top administrative employee of committing a crime – essentially stealing money from the village.

“Now that’s a crime,” Trustee Mandel said, referencing a $1,000 per week stipend being given to Administrator Sue Scarpiniti for taking on the job of acting administrator while retaining her role as finance director. The plan to pay Scarpiniti more money to take on the job was implemented a year ago, without objection.

Accusing people of crimes is serious business, and we’re frankly surprised those accusations are being tossed around so casually, especially when it comes to elected officials accusing village employees.

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

One vaccine dose down, one to go

T

hey didn’t give me a sucker, but they did give me a sticker which I proudly wear after receiving my first vaccine shot. I had registered myself and Husband Joe when the state first announced Phase 1B of the vaccine rollout, and I began looking for where to get the shot.

As more places opened up it appeared it would be easier, they said. I was told the best time to find a place was to get on the computer during the night when it wasn’t as busy. I was not always diligent doing that, though I believed it would happen and it did.

Seems our daughter-in-law Pam had made it her quest to get Grammy and Poppy their shots. Good job, Pam! She made appointments for us at the Cook County clinic on Harlem Avenue in North Riverside in just a few days.

I decided on my left arm for shot No. 1. Shot No. 2 will go on my right arm, just to balance them out.

Parking was a breeze and we entered the building to be greeted by the National Guard and people from FEMA. Moving right along, I was impressed by the efficiency. I was more impressed by the young lady who administered the shot, because I didn’t feel a thing.

She said she had given around 3,000 shots already. We’ll see how shot No. 2 goes. I’m thinking positive.

Where you go for the vaccine is not as important as that you get it, and the sooner the better. I met a woman who said she was going to the United Center for her shot. I told her of places closer to home, but she was set on getting it at the United Center.

Gee, lady, it’s not like Michael Jordan will be dispensing the shots.

As for the masks, I still intend to wear mine; they are becoming for me a fashion statement. Husband Joe wears the regular blue ones, no statement there, and he tends to misplace them anyway, so better he not have a fancy one.

I encourage you all to keep wearing the masks just to be safe. Keep washing your hands, which is a good habit anyway. How many times did our moms tell us to wash our hands? I can remember my mom having to remind us to wash both sides, because it looked like we had gloves on. As usual, mom was right.

So the sun is shining, the snow has melted and there are brighter days ahead if we work together and make sure we all get vaccinated. Stay safe!

JOANNE KOSEY

OBITUARIES

David F. Bauer, 61 Limousine driver David F. Bauer, 61, of Westchester, died March 5, 2021.

He worked as a limousine driver.

M. Bauer was the son of Anne Pauksta (nee Skibinski) and the late Leon Pauksta and Joseph Bauer; the brother of Elizabeth (Joseph) Boblie; the uncle of Becky (Jeremey Davis) Boblie, Jojo Boblie, Taylor Dorsey and Brody Dorsey; the half brother of Carrie (Eric) Dorsey; the stepson of Cathie Bauer; and the nephew of Ed (Helga) Skibinski, Stefanie (Lawrence) Freund and Rose (the late David) Lypchek. Numerous cousins also survive. He was father to his pet cat, Baby.

Visitation is Friday, March 12 from 3 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday, March 13 from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. COVID Regulations allow for a maximum of 50 people in the funeral home at a time.

Face coverings are required, the lounge facilities are closed and outside food or beverages are not allowed at this time. All are asked to pay their respects/condolences to David and his family and be cognitive of others waiting to do the same.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, March 13 at 10 a.m. at. Holy Guardian Angels Parish/St. Louise de

Marillac Church, LaGrange Park.

A maximum of 100 people will be allowed to attend Mass. Face coverings are required. Register to attend at hgaparish.org/en/funerals. Additional guests not registered will be allowed to attend if space allows that day.

Registration closes March 12 at 3 P.M. If you wish to send a sympathy card to the family, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o David F. Bauer family.

John ‘Roger’ Bossingham, 83 Agronomist

JOHN BOSSINGHAM

John “Roger” Bossingham, 83, of Riverside and formerly of Bloomington, died on Feb. 17, 2021 at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.

Mr. Bossingham was born on July 30, 1937 in Stanford in central Illinois, a son of Floyd and Ardis (nee Patterson) Bossingham.

He graduated from Stanford High School and University of Illinois-Champaign where

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

21

CANDIDATE OP-ED

Swinehart touts experience in finance, school governance, equity advocacy

I

’m pleased to introduce myself today – I’m Julie Swinehart, one of the candidates running for the Lyons Township High School District 204 School Board.

I decided to run because I would love to bring my financial expertise, love of the school, leadership experience, collaborative nature and both listening and decisionmaking skills to the LT school board.

I’m a parent of a current LT sophomore and incoming freshmen twins, and my three children will be third generation LT Lions, as I graduated in 1993 and my mom was in the Class of 1958. I’m an active and committed member of the community who has a demonstrated history of volunteering and giving back to the local area in many ways.

If elected, I would work diligently to understand the school’s budgeting process, both for the annual operating budget and

for the longer-term capital budget. It’s critically important that LT act as stewards of taxpayer dollars and the School Board plays a primary role in that effort.

I’m extremely comfortable with numbers as I currently serve as CFO and treasurer of publicly traded commercial real estate company, RPAI. We are a shopping center owner and operator and my role covers various areas of the business, but largely focuses on finance, accounting and internal controls.

I’m passionate about diversity and would work hard to further the efforts the current school board has undertaken. I recognize the board’s recent approval of an equity

JULIE

SWINEHART One View

statement, and I would encourage advancing the dialogue and putting more steps into action to move LT along the right path.

My wife, Andrea Hornickle, and I have always supported diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. In fact, we started a scholarship at LT called the PRISM Pride Scholarship for a graduating senior who has been active in LT’s LGBTQ+ PRISM group. I have some great ideas as to how the school board can influence positive change in this area and I’m ready to share

them.

Finally, in the near term, I would work with the rest of the school board to guide the LT administration team in its efforts to fully re-open the school safely. My lead-

ership experience in my day job as CFO, my past experience serving as treasurer and also president of the LaGrange Field Club, and my current experience serving as assistant treasurer and trustee for The Avery Coonley School Board of Trustees allow me to bring years of relevant experience to the role.

The Avery Coonley School has been operating all year as full-day, in-person learning five days per week. We worked hard as a board to plan for being fully open, and I’m happy to bring many of those ideas to LT. When all students can be safely back in person at LT, that will be a day to celebrate.

Please contact me through my website at www.swinehartlths.com and thank you!

Julie Swinehart is a candidate running for a seat on the Lyons Township High School District 204 Board of Education.

OBITUARIES he studied agronomy. He worked as an agronomist at Edwards Soil Service in Pontiac for many years before moving to Gibson City and then to Bloomington, where he had many different sales/management positions.

Mr. Bossingham married Sandra Sue Willan on June 28, 1958, and he was a devoted Christian and active in his local church community. He was a member of College Park Community Church in Bloomington. For the last six years he and Sandra lived in Riverside to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

He was the father of Greg (Kathy) Bossingham and Gwen (Michael) Jebb; the grandfather of Rachel (Anthony) Bellcourt, Nathan (Hannah) Jebb, Alexandra (Alexander) Hamilton, Luke (Kelsey) Jebb, Margaret (Brian) Flavin, Vanessa Jebb, Isaiah Jebb, Sophie Jebb and Marshall Jebb; the great grandfather of six; and the brother of Mary Lou (late Melvin) Schuler, David (Joanne) Bossingham, and the late Vivian Joan (late Harvey) Graff.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorials can be made to College Park Christian Church, Normal, at collegeparkcc.net Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, Riverside, handled arrangements.

Lee Michal, 98 Beautician

LEE MICHAL

Lee Michal (nee Bartos), 98, a 70-year resident of Brookfield and formerly of Berwyn, died peacefully with her family by her side on March 5, 2021.

She was a 1940 graduate of Morton East High School, an accomplished jitterbug dancer at Melody Mill Ballroom in North Riverside and a meticulous beautician.

Known for her authentic Czech cooking and exuberant card play-

ing, she was above all else a devoted and compassionate wife and mother. Her wise counsel to family and friends based on commonsense instincts was cherished by all.

She will be dearly missed.

Ms. Michal was the wife of the late Captain Milo Michal; the mother of Sandee Lee (Theodore S. Wright, Jr., M.D.) Wright; the sister of the late Mae Ahntholz, Rose Kropacek and Libby Marousek; and the aunt of several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105 or The Anti-Cruelty Society, 157 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, 60654 Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled 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 Lee Michal family.

Debra L. Harrington, 67 Worked for school district Debra L. Harrington, 67, of North Riverside and formerly of Berwyn, died Feb. 23, 2021 at her home.

Ms. Harrington was born in Berwyn on Dec. 22, 1953 and worked for the Naperville School District.

She enjoyed fishing and following the Cubs, Bulls and Bears.

She was the sister of Martin (Bernadette) Radtke; the aunt of Adrienne (Steve) Jinks, Brian (BelDEBRA L. HARRINGTON en) Radtke and Natalie Radtke; and the great aunt of Ethan Radtke.

Cremation was private.

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.

Evelyn M. Kasher, 97

Longtime active member of St. Barbara Church Evelyn M. Kasher (nee Pinta), 97 formerly of Brookfield, died March 3, 2021 in Streamwood.

Born in Chicago on Oct. 3, 1923, Ms. Kasher was a longtime member of St. Barbara Church, where she was a Sacrastine Helper and a member of the Council of Catholic Women and Senior Citizens Club.

She enjoyed spending time with her family and gardening.

EVELYN M. KASHER She was the wife of the late Joseph J. Kasher; the mother of Carol (late Charles) Matrona and Richard Kasher; the grandmother of Anne Bixby, Matt Matrona, Pamela Reineke, Steve Kasher; the great-grandmother of Nikki, Jason, Justin, Angel, Ryan, Caroline and Paige; and the aunt of Sandy Ritze, Susan McCreery, Craig Kasher and Diane Eslinger.

Services have been held. Interment was at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside. Memorials to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated. Online condolences may be offered to the family at JohnsonNosek.com.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

To run an obituary Please contact Bob Uphues by e-mail: buphues@wjinc.com, before Monday at noon.

Please include a photo if possible.

22

The Landmark, March 10, 2021 New local ads this week

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.RBLandmark.com/Classified/

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion.

The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@RBLANDMARK.COM HELP WANTED

OFFICE & RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT

Director of Customer Care Midwest/East sought by Mérieux NutriSciences (Chicago, IL) 10% US &/or Int’l travel. Deg’d applicants exp’d w/LIMs for operation of lab testing processes, etc. Send resume to Corrine.castillo@mxns.com.

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

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.

ITEMS FOR SALE ANTIQUE HALL TREE Antique American Hall Tree, solid oak. Excellent condition. 29”w x 78”h x 11”d, with covered shelf and mirror. $159.00.

708-488-8755 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

SUBURBAN RENTALS

KENMORE WASHER & DRYER Sold as set. $100.00.

Call Terry Baggett 773-988-6468

STUDIO APARTMENTS BROADVIEW Studio apartments for rent. $600/mo and up, all utilities incl. $25 credit application fee.

9200 W. Cermak Broadview 708-715-7292

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

Variety of composers. $3.00 each.

708-488-8755

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

You have jobs. We have readers!

Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified!

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:

CEMENT

CEMENT

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

REFINISHING

PUBLIC NOTICES

HANDYMAN

Terry's

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

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

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.

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848

WANTED TO BUY 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

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

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

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

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

Lost & Found, Items For Sale and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified.

To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

HANDYMAN

PAINTING & DECORATING

Mike’s Home Repair

CLASSIC PAINTING

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

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.

HANDYMAN

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

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

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

www.rblandmark.com

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 PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE 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

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

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

Attention! Home-improvement pros!

Reach the people making the decisions – your target demographic.

Place an ad in Wednesday Classifieds! Call 708/613-3342

P

PB

The Landmark, March 10, 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

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE 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

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: Y21006062 on February 24, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of FIRST FINANCIAL PLUS with the business located at: 4232 EDGEWATER AVENUE, HILLSIDE, IL 60162. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: STEEVE KIDD 4232 EDGEWATER AVENUE, HILLSIDE, IL 60162

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/3, 3/10, 3/17/2021

The Landmark, March 10, 2021

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: 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

Published in Forest Park Review 3/10, 3/17, 3/24/2021

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Maeve Madeleine Kennedy Riordan Case Number 2021CONC000230 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Maeve Madeleine Kennedy Riordan to the new name of: Rory Quinn Kennedy Riordan The court date will be held: On May 13, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Cook County Court Calendar 6.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/10, 3/17, 3/24/2021

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: Y21006185 on March 5, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of TWISTED SOU’LS CATERING with the business located at:139 HARRISON ST APT 2N, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ANTHONY BOWMAN 139 HARISON ST APT 2N, OAK PARK, IL 60304, USA

INVITATION TO COMMENT ON A PROPOSED TOWER CONSTRUCTION: The Village of Riverside is proposing to construct a 120-foot tall self-support communications tower (overall height including top-mounted appurtenances) at the Public Works Department, 3860 Columbus Boulevard, Riverside, Cook County, Illinois. The type of lighting (if required) for the tower has not yet been determined.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/10, 3/17, 3/24/2021

Starting a new business in 2021?

The Village of Riverside invites comments from any interested party on the impact the proposed undertaking may have on any districts, sites, buildings, structures or objects significant in American history, archaeology, engineering, or culture that are listed or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Comments pertaining specifically to potential effects on historic resources may be submitted within 30 days from this publication to: Ben Youra, G2 Consulting Group, LLC, 1186 Heather Dr. in Lake Zurich, IL 60047, Phone: 847-3538740, e-mail: byoura@g2consultinggroup.com This notice is provided in accordance with the regulations of the Federal Communications Commission, 47 C.F.R. Part 1, Subpart I and Appendices B and C. Published in RB Landmark 3/10/2021

Call the experts before you place your legal ad!

Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in • Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside Brookfield Landmark • Austin Weekly News • Village Free Press Call 708/613-3342 to advertise.

PUBLIC NOTICES

local employees...

happy employees!

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE SECTION 000020 – LEGAL NOTICE Village of Brookfield 8820 Brookfield Avenue Brookfield, Illinois 60513 Candy Cane Park The Village of Brookfield does hereby invite sealed bids for redevelopment construction of Candy Cane Park. Work will include site clearing, earthwork operations, storm sewer, asphalt paving, concrete curbs, walks and paving, shelter, site furnishings, playfield equipment, fencing, and planting and seeding.

Project manuals, including bid form and specifications, and construction documents are available after 10:00 AM on March 11, 2021 from Accurate Reprographics, 2368 Corporate Lane, Suite 100, Naperville, Illinois 60563, 630-428-4433 www. hitchcockplanroom.com.

Bidding documents are available for download and print at the non-refundable cost of reproduction.

Bids will be accepted at the Village of Brookfield, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513, during regular office hours. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the Contractor’s name and address, and “Bid for Candy Cane Park,” on the face of the envelope. Bids must be received no later than 10:00 AM March 25, 2021. Bids will be opened on March 25, 2021 at 10:01 AM at the Village of Brookfield, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513. All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Bid Bond, Certified Check, Cashier’s Check in the amount of 10% of the Base Bid, payable to the Village of Brookfield.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

The successful bidder, as determined by the Village of Brookfield, shall be required to pay, and to agree to pay no less than the Prevailing Rate of Wages, pursuant to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) for the locality of the Village of Brookfield (Cook County), to each laborer worker, or mechanic needed or used to complete the work as detailed in the contract to be let. The successful contractor, and all subcontractors shall be required to submit, to the Village of Brookfield, certified payrolls no later than the tenth day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding month.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, parts of any and all proposals, or to waive technical errors or omissions in submitted proposals.

No submitted bid may be withdrawn until a period of sixty (60) days after the bid opening date, without written consent of the Village of Brookfield.

The Village of Brookfield encourages minority business firms to submit bids on this project and the successful contract bidder to utilize minority businesses as sub-contractors for supplies, equipment, services, and construction.

Questions should be directed to Bridget Deatrick or Steve Konters, Hitchcock Design Group at 630.961.1787 bdeatrick@hitchcockdesigngroup.com or skonters@ hitchcockdesigngroup.com.

Wednesday Classified 3 Great Papers, 6 Communities To Place Your Ad, Call: 708/613-3333

PUBLIC NOTICES

This project is being financed, in part, with funds from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, “Open Space Land Acquisition & Development” (OSLAD) grant program.

END OF SECTION 000020 Published in RB Landmark 3/10/2021

Hire Local. Place an ad on Wednesday Classified’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to RBLandmark.com/classified today!

Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information.

(708) 613-3342 • maryellen@rblandmark.com

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The Landmark, March 10, 2021

NG MI O C

ON SO

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ON SO W NE

G! IN T LIS

W NE

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3 11-

354 N Delaplaine Rd, Riverside $500,000

294 Northwood Rd, Riverside $649,000

324 Herrick Rd, Riverside $489,000

2800 N Lake Shore Drive, #3307, Chicago $275,000

293 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $975,000

444 Washington Blvd, #204, Oak Park $189,500

3608 Wenonah Ave, Berwyn $279,000

59 East Quincy, Riverside $369,000

591 E Parkway Rd, Riverside $524,900

192 Waubansee Rd, Riverside $539,000

AL NT E R

178 Maplewood Rd, Riverside $625,000

144 Scottswood Rd, Riverside $799,000

45 Longcommon Rd, Riverside $975,000

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.