Remembering Michael Meagher
Brook eld’s Melissa Meagher and her family speak on the death of her 8-year-old son
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Michael Meagher made friends everywhere he went.
“Even if we went somewhere for a half hour, to a park or something, he made friends, and he really loved his friends,” said Melissa Meagher, Michael’s mother. “One time, I picked him up, and somebody made him this coloring or drawing, and he was like, ‘Don’t lose that, Mom. One of my friends made that for me.’ He just cherished everything about his friends.”
See MICHAEL MEAGHER on pa ge 24
Riverside OKs agreement with D96 to improve Blythe Park
e tennis court will be made into a ‘multi-purpose’ court
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Rive rside has finalized i ts ag reement with Rive rside School District 96 for a new pl ayground and multi-use c our t at Blythe Park . The upgr ades will be for Blythe Park E lementary students to use. T he school district will buil d the pl ayground, wh ich Rive rside will maintain, on villageowned property wh i le Rive rside will handle re p lacing the tennis c ourt with a new c ourt for multiple sports, including b oth tennis and basketball.
Trustees voted to unanimously approve the ag reement at the village board’s March 6 meeting, though Trustee Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga was absent.
“Just to clarify, this ag reement is an ag reement of intent by both parties,” Village President Doug Pollock told trustees at the meeting. “In the draft [intergovernmental ag reement], it talks about repurposing the tennis court as a multipurpose court, and the school district ag rees to re place the
See BLYTHE on pa ge 4
PROVIDED BY MELISSA MEAGHER
Michael’s favorite holidays were Christmas and Halloween.
Women-owned businesses spark Prairie A l
‘Everyone looks out for each other” among group of ‘mom stores’
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
The storefront businesses, all owned by women, are tucked into an enclave on Prairie Avenue in Brookfield, down and across the way from the village post office.
While these businesses are all independent entities, these women have made their evolving business district vibrant by determining that collaborating is better than working alone
That may be rare, but it works.
“Brookfield, in general, is very up and coming right now, if you look into the real estate market and what’s happening there,” said Julie Magno-Procich, who owns Sister Squared Florist with her sibling, Diane Magno, at 3741 Prairie Ave. The sisters have just begun their third year in space. “We’ve got these shops that are one of a kind
“We are what they used to call mom and pop stores … though most of us are mom stores,” she said.
Next door, at 3743 Prairie Ave., Eva Lopez is the owner of Healthy Empire, which offers protein shakes, acai bowls and other healthy options. It has been in business since the end of 2023. She is a firm believer that the women-owned businesses coming together at around the same time was no happenstance.
She also pays that forward.
“Every time I have customers that are new, I always let them know, ‘We have a candle shop across the street, her name is Yezenia, she is beautiful, she is lovely, you should go meet her,’” Lopez said, referring to Warm Wick Candle Company, 3734 Prairie Ave., owned by Yezenia Tejeda, who opened her business in 2022.
“I always try to let the community know what we have, and I always tell the girls, if you are doing something, bring me a flyer, bring me this, bring me that, so we can support each other and keep everything local,” Lopez said.
Across the street, you’ll find Fill My Jar, 3726 Prairie Ave., an artisan candy shop
Brook eld business ow ners (le -right) Krista Brazel of Krispies Sweet and Savory Shop, Annette Pardun of Fill My Jar, Eva Lopez of Healthy Empire, Lysset Castro of Sage and Stone Apothecary, Kaylee Ste of Lady Frankenstein Creations and 4 on the Floor K9 Care and Julie Magno-Procich of Sister Squared Florist Friday March 7, 2025.
that’s unique in that many of its tasty treats are packaged in small-to-large mason jars
Annette Pardun is the owner and was the first of the women to open her business there after she bought her building in early 2020. Though the term synergy is perhaps overused in business, what’s happening on Prairie Avenue is an example of that. Up the street from Fill My Jar is Krispie’s Bakery, 3730 Prairie Ave., followed by Warm Wick and then Sage and Stone Apothecary, 3736 Prairie Ave.
“When people come in from other areas, not just for my store, but for the other gals, if they are doing an event and they attract people, they come down to do a candle experience at Warm Wick or to go purchase stuf f at Krispie’s or something like that, it’s fun because then they’ll be like, Oh my gosh, I didn’t realize there were all these businesses,” Pardun said.
Krista Brazel opened Krispie’s last fall after a stint in downtown Riverside under the name Sips & Sweets. Like most of these businesses, she’s faced tough times, but her friends have been ready to help, including Lysset Castro, owner of Sage and Stone Apothecary.
“I went through some growing pains, I had to let go of a baker,” Brazel recalled. “If I wasn’t up here, Lysset, I would call her, and be like, ‘You know, I need some help,’ and she would be like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got you.’
“We all have each other’s backs.”
Castro, who opened her business about a year ago down the street but pivoted to her current space earlier this year, is unique in that she rents out space in her shop to other women entrepreneurs. Together they provide an offering of holistic wellness products, metaphysical tools, incense, jewelry, crystals, candles and clothing.
Kaylee Stefl, who owns Lady Frankenstein Creations, rents a corner space there.
“I’ve done a lot of craft and vendor shows with a lot of these people, including Krista at Krispie’s,” Stefl said. “So, I already knew them. I was trying to get out of the craft and vendor shows, because it’s a lot of work to have to pack up your stuff and do that, so I was happy to see Lysset got this space and was looking for someone to take over the corner spot.”
As far as C astro is c oncerned, the s pirit of c ollaboration is wh at makes Prairie Avenue special.
“When I know that I’m getting a new customer in, I let them know we are all womenowned businesses, we are all friends, we get along,” she said.
Tejeda agreed.
“I love working on Prairie,” she said. “It’s the collaboration, the friendliness, the neighborly love.”
S he a dded, “E ve ryone looks out for each other.”
Staff Repor ter Trent Brown
Digital Manager Stacy Coleman
Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan
Contributing Editor Donna Greene
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
EMAIL jill@oakpark.com
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
Senior Advisor Dan Haley BOARD OF DIREC
Eric Weinheimer Treasurer Nile Wendor f Deb Abrahamson, Mary Cahillane, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson, Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson
HOW TO REACH US
ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066
E-MAIL dhaley@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. A one-year subscription costs $45 within Cook County and $65 outside the county. Adver tising rates may be obtained by calling our o ce. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2025 Growing Community Media NFP.
TRENT BROWN
Riverside considers concerns about potential gas-powered leaf blower ban
A resident with landscaping experience said there could be unintended consequences
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
At the end of last year, Riverside trustees agreed to pursue an educational campaign on the environmental and noise impacts of gas-powered leaf blowers with the goal of phasing them out over the next two years. At the time, the village board acknowledged such a ban could negatively impact landscaping businesses that operate in town. But one resident worries a potential ban could have unintended consequences.
Tom Lupfer, president of Lupfer Landscaping and for mer president of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, aired his concerns to the village board during public comment at their Feb. 20 meeting. He told trustees he worried im-
BLY THE Green space use
from page 1
playground. Everything, the details of all of that, will come back to you for a vote. You’re not approving the playground. You’re not giving the school district carte blanche to build whatever playground they want. Everything has to come back to the village.”
T he ag reement specifies that durin g the course of construction, “all appropriate actions will be taken” to ke ep existing trees saf e, and no trees will be remove d from Blythe Pa rk to make room for the new pl ayground or c ourt, wh ich c ould have a larger footprint than the existing tennis cour t.
Both Riverside and D96 will work to divide the land at Blythe Park in a way that is “mutually acceptable” due to confusion from both parties on where the village’s
plementing the ban could have unintended effects that harm small businesses more than bigger companies and push them to use alternatives that are worse for the environment and for public safety than the gaspowered blowers.
“They didn’t have the information they needed to start down this road,” Lupfer told the Landmark in an interview. “It sounds like a great idea upfront, but when you look at all the issues tha t are involved, it quickly becomes a quagmire.”
At the meeting, he said banning gas-powered leaf blowers would allow large landscaping corporations to monopolize Riverside; while these companies would be able to af ford to convert a trailer’s worth of equipment to battery-powered leaf blowers, smaller companies would not. He said
“One backpack blower will use less than a gallon [of gas] a day, where those big mowers use over ve gallons a day, so the carbon footprint just skyrockets.”
medium-sized companies would be likely to leave town and seek business in other communities where they can use their existing equipment while small, local businesses that only operate in Riverside would be forced to use loopholes to stay in business.
“The real problem comes with the small companies, the Hispanic-owned companies. They have no idea that this is going to come. They’re not tuned into the village’s e-flashes; they don’t follow the local news,” he said.
TO M LUPFER President of Lupfer Landscaping
land ends at the park and where the school district’s begins. Village Manager Jessica Frances said neither Riverside nor D96 were able to track down property plans or titles for the area while working on the IGA.
Riverside has been considering an ag reement with D96 since last year, when trustees approved a different ag reement for new paint on the tennis court. While that ag reement was moot — the district did not end up painting the tennis court — it sparked communication between D96 and the village about the school’s playground, according to village documents
Trustees first considered an IGA with D96 in November, but they ag reed then to have the parks and recreation board and preservation commission weigh in. They also directed staf f to notify residents who live near Blythe Park about the planned changes, which at the time included paving a new basketball court rather than re purposing the tennis court.
Some neighbors, concerned about the impacts on greenspace, mentioned their
Lupfer said he thought it likely these small companies would face fines from ordinance violations before switching their equipment out — not to batterypowered blowers but to riding lawn mowers.
“One backpack blower will use less than a gallon [of gas] a day, where those big mowers use over five gallons
worries at a parks and recreation board meeting in January. One neighbor, Joe Wise, even started petitions to make the village aware of residents’ disapproval after he learned of the planned changes through the village’s letters.
He said his first petition, which he submitted to the village board in February, had 14 signatures. The total number of signatures rose to about 20-25 with a second petition that included some repeat signatories, he told the Landmark.
“I didn’t want to lose any of the green space,” he said. “I’m glad they’re not going to talk about putting up a separate basketball court. That would take away a lot of green space. I use it for cross-country skiing when the snow sticks and stays there.”
His petitions only re presented some residents, Wise said most neighbors he spoke with were against adding a separate basketball court. Only two residents were in favor of it, he said.
“One of the neighbors on Blythe [Road] said, if they put the basketball court in
a day, so the carbon footprint just skyrockets It’s an amazing increase in fuel usage,” he said. “It’s unfortunate, because these small companies don’t have a big territory, so they can’t just move to the next town. This is their business, and it really, really affects them.”
He said larger companies may even call in code violations on small companies, compounding the issue. Lupfer also said he worried about the potential for escalation if employees at these small companies are discovered to be undocumented immigrants
Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley told the Landmark that Riverside police are not currently enforcing immigration laws in accordance with Illinois and Cook County. He said they would only assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers if they had a valid warrant, which they would treat the same as any other warrant.
If a code violation were to be enforced following a potential ban, Buckley said, that would fall to a code enforcement officer rather than a police officer.
Assistant Village Manager Ashley Mon-
See LEAF BLOWERS on pa ge 7
there, they’re going to have to increase policing because, in the summer, that playground turns into a teenage playground,” he said. “Tennis is not that much noise. Tennis and pickleball aren’t that loud, but basketball is an increase in volume.”
Wise said he was glad to learn the village had shifted its focus to a combined court rather than adding new hardscape for a basketball court.
At the village board meeting, trustees found the drafted ag reement was a solid compromise.
“I think, as drafted, without amendment, it achieves a lot of goals here, right?” Trustee Megan Claucherty said. “We’re being asked to approve an ag reement between two taxing bodies in Riverside, whereby the other taxing body is willing to spend upwards of five times what we’re being asked to spend, to provide a playground in a much-needed location. That’s, plain and simple, what we’re being asked to do tonight. It’s difficult for me to see how we can object to that.”
Bill’s Place is coming back to Brook eld
Bill’s Place Ex will have a dr and counter for speed pickup
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
After three decade s, a food eatery is returning to Brookfield T he owners of Bill’s Place in Pa rk p lan to open a new end of the year. Bill’s Place Express, 8819 Ogden Ave., will servic e, with a drive - thru and walk-in c ounter for service b ut no ing. T he o riginal eatery 40th annive r sary last y Demetrios Konstantopoulos, son of owner Vasilios Konstantopoulos — also known as Bill, the r estaurant’s namesake — told the L andmark he wants to open the new location by this summer, though it may take longer
is rendering shows the planned nal facade for Bill’s Place Express along Ogden Avenue in Brook eld. e sign will be rotated 90 degrees in real life so approaching drivers can read it
100th Anniversary! YOUR BEST LIFE with Lisa Capone
This year marks the 100th year of Cantata Adult Life Services (formerly, The British Home) providing campus living and at home services for local seniors and their families in Brookfield and the surrounding area.
Cantata’s founders were the Daughters of the British Empire (DBE), a group of women dedicated to honoring their British heritage and traditions in the United States.
“My old man and my architect think I’m crazy, b ut I’m p ushing for the beginning of June,” he said. “My dad thinks it will take a year to do it, b ut I’m her e, b ehind the scenes, t rying to g et eve rybo dy lined up, so when I g et the pe rm it in-hand, we ’r e running.”
He said his f amily started talking about opening a second location back in November. T he o pportunity to open a new storefront in Brookfield, wher e Bill’s Place first opened in 1984 until it move d to L aGrange Pa rk in 1995, was too g ood to pass up, he said.
“We saw [the lot] was vacant for a long time. We saw that any previous business that went to that specific location didn’t r eally succeed because they neve r did any major impr ovements to the property to draw c ustomer s, ” he said. “We’ ve driven by that spot, and it was for sale for so long, and we j ust saw a g ood o pportunity to expand Bill’s Plac e. It ’s c lose enoug h to Bill’s Plac e, so we c an ke ep an eye on b oth locations.”
Speaking of major impr ovements, Konstantopoulos said he has a lot in mind for the location, wh ich most rec ently operated as Tom-n-Lou’s 34 Dr iveIn from 2021 through 2022, when it ap -
p ears to have fizzled out.
“We’ re doing a f ull remodel. We ’re doing an a ddition, new p lumbing, new electric. We ’re going to do wo rk on the pa rk ing lot. We ’re going to a dd a f enc e, ” he said. “We’ re investing a lot of money in that property because we feel that that pa rt of Brookfield is a g ood location, and some of our f uture c ustomers do n’ t kn ow about Bill’s Place because they do n’ t tr avel down Maple [Ave nue], so we ’ ll g et a lot of traffic of f of Ogden [Ave nue].”
He said he hopes to target new customers who live in south Brookfield and Lyons with the new location while the original spot will stay open for residents of north Brookfield or LaGrange Park who already know and love it. He said Miguel Galicia, a for mer longtime employee of Bill’s Place, will be a “working partner” who manages the new location.
Konstantopoulos is taking advantage of a property improvement program grant from Brookfield, which reimburses property owners for half the cost of aesthetic enhancements to their businesses up to $20,000. According to village documents, Bill’s Place is receiving the maximum
amount from the program to put toward the changes, which cost an estimated $41,100 altogether.
He said the grant will allow Bill’s Place to add new landscaping and lighting to the parking lot. A 200 square foot addition will allow the business to expand the building’s kitchen to prioritize quick food service.
While the food offerings haven’t been finalized, Konstantopoulos said Bill’s Place Express won’t carry pizza or roasted chicken like the original location, though many staple menu items like hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, gyros, hand-cut fries and soft service ice cream will be available.
While his eyes are set on the future of Bill’s Place, Konstantopoulos said the most exciting prospect of opening the new location is honoring the past.
“Expanding Bill’s Place, keeping my father’s le gacy going, using him as a steppingstone for his 40 years of owning a restaurant to broaden Bill’s Place’s reach,” he said. “Anything I do, I’m going to do with my dad in mind because, without him, we wouldn’t have Bill’s Place, and we wouldn’t be expanding. We wouldn’t be trying to grow his name.”
In the early 1920’s, DBE members established a not-for-profit nursing home on Cantata’s current campus in Brookfield, after receiving a donation of land from Samuel Insull, the CEO of Commonwealth Edison at the time. Construction was completed and we welcomed our first residents in 1925.
Since its establishment 100 years ago, Cantata/The British Home has served tens of thousands of seniors and their families in our community.
Cantata/British Home continues to offer a variety of services to meet the needs of seniors, including Independent & Assisted Living, Memory Support, Skilled Rehab & Long Term Care, Home Care, Meals and Handyman Services.
Stay tuned for upcoming events this year and celebrate with us a century of exceptional service.
more
PROVIDED BY DEMETRIOS KONSTANTOPOULOS
Special needs teens cut a rug at Naz prom
Event draws 40 student guests and 100 Nazareth student volunteers
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
As far as Rive rside resident Erin B riars is concerned, it’s one of the highlight events of her school year
A senior, the N azareth Academy cross c ountry and track r unner is in her final weeks of her high school career, but that
school’s F riends in Service and Hospitalit y, or FISH, prom abilitie s, held Saturda
T he event, held eve roughly 40 g uests and student volunteer
Each g uest was paired with a student unteer, called a budd
“It’s j ust as exciting who are c oming as it is said. “We are so excited to d ance with them. parents before the they j ust are gl ow ing their child is to come
By all a ccounts, the
een and King at Nazareth Academy’s FISH Prom for Teens with Disabilities
azareth cafeteria in front of g ames li ke a giant C oneanbag tic-tac-toe as well, and
b een held seven times since 2012, with a break d ue to the COVI D ich prompted the everyother-year fo rm at.
FISH is a N azareth service-centric, hospitality-based c lub that’s b een a pa rt of the school for decade s. It allows Roadrunner students to wo rk with popu -
lations they might not normally i nteract with, a ccording to A nthony Gonzalez, B riars’ c oach, who sported a gr een sweater and tie Saturday.
“Offering something that our students were looking for was a really cool piece,” he said. “Once he put that idea on the table, there were so many Nazareth students who wanted to become involved with it. This
continued on pa ge 7
TODD BANNOR
TODD BANNOR
continued from page 6
year, we literally had to tell students we couldn’t take any more volunteers.”
T he theme was green, d ue to the upc oming St. Paddy’s holiday. T here was even a green ca rp et rolled out for g uests from the park ing lot into the school.
Guests c ame from all over, primarily the Lyons Township High School specia l education c ommunity, B riars said. T hey c ame dressed for success, with one g uest decked out in a Batman logo tuxedo.
LEAF BLOWERS
from page 4
roe said Riverside staf f have taken Lupfer’s public comment into account, as “the question is still on the table” for village officials.
“Some of the things that he had shared were a little bit new, and most of it was other information that we’re aware of and that we’ve been considering over time,” she said.
She said staf f and the village board have sought examples of effectively implemented bans in other communities to see how a ban could work in Riverside. She said one method would be through changing the village’s noise ordinance.
“We don’t have anything that specifies landscaping versus construction versus general noise offences. Do we want to break that out into these different pieces, or do we just make changes to the hours?” she said. “Other communities have implemented certain types of exceptions for community special events or other clean up after a disaster We have a great deal of those within our existing code, but it would be an expansion of certain special circumstances where you
A nother g uest had wh i te b oots that had lights that flared when she walked .
T he idea for the FISH prom was bo rn in 2012, when Nick Cozzi, a student with a brother with Down syndrome, wanted to find a way to c onnect N azareth with a c ommunity that it wasn’t as c onnected with, Gonzalez said.
N azareth principal T herese Hawkins, also dressed in green, said wh at she sees at FISH prom is i nspiring, from the standpoint of happy facial expressions and the joy on guests’ faces.
“There are some who this is their sec -
might want that to be allowed.”
Monroe said enforcement of a ban would be difficult, as village staffers would be required to witness a code violation before issuing a citation.
“We can’t just take a phone call from someone saying, ‘Well, it was done on this day.’ We have to have some type of observation in order to be able to testify when it goes to adjudication,” she said. “That’s the challenge.”
She said that future ef for ts to reduce Riverside’s carbon emissions, which will be included in an upcoming draft of the village’s climate action plan, could focus on incentivizing residents and businesses to move toward greener practices rather than punishing those who don’t or can’t make the change. She said Riverside might even consider buying its own stock of batterypowered leaf blowers so residents can exchange their gas-powered equipment.
“I think from Riverside’s perspective, the board is, based on their last discussion, willing to observe and see how things are progressing in our general re gion,” she said. “They may still opt to make a change, but, overall, I think the emphasis [is] on encouraging and educating the community about the benefits of this rather than taking a more punitive outlook.”
ond time coming to our prom, so they kind of know the lay of the land, they know there is dancing and snacks and all kinds of fun things,” Hawkins said. “For those who are new, some of them are a little shy at first, but they meet our students and very quickly become very comfortable.”
S he a dded: “For me, watching the look in parents’ eyes, that’s really the thing that stays with me long after this night. T hey are so proud of their kids. They are so happy the k ids have an o pportunity to have an evening li ke thi s. ” Vicki van Alphen is one of those parents.
She’s a Nazareth alumni with two boys. Her older son Jack has Down syndrome and is a junior at Lyons Township and attended Saturday for the second time. Her younger son Charlie is a Nazareth sophomore and was volunteering for his first prom as a guest buddy.
“It’s amazing,” she said. “Knowing that the g oal for p eople with disabilities to be equally valued in their c ommunities, an event li ke this is so special for N azareth, wh ich is an amazing p lace but d oesn’t have students with disabilities as a core pa rt of their student population.”
brookfieldagingwell@gmail.com
at: LSF Brookfield Library, Lower Level Meeting Rooms #1 and #2 � 3541 Park Ave, Brookfield, IL Lunch Will Be Provided!
111 W. Harris Avenue | La Grange, IL 60525 t: 708-354-1323 | f: 708-354-0282 | e: awn@agingcareconnections.org | AgingCareConnections.org.
AIt’s time to vote. Here’s what you need to know
ll democracy is local. And in a moment when our democracy is at risk, focusing on local issues and local races has never been more important.
As Riverside and Brookfield move toward the Spring elections for village and library leaders, the Landmark is offering you this Election Guide That coverage comes in print today and, more expansively in the Election Guide at rblandmark. com/2025-local-elections.
This year we have been profiling many candidates and sending detailed questionnaires to candidates in the village government and library races. The answers to our questions for candidates are presented here in this Election Guide which was designed by Javier Govea, our editorial design manager and online in our Election Guide at rblandmark.com/2025local-elections That project was headed by Stacy Coleman, our digital manager.
Let’s start with the candidates.
There is something brave and generous, only occasionally
WHO IS RUNNING?
Brook eld
Village President (one seat open)
■ Michael Garvey (Incumbent)
Village Trustee (three seats open)
■ Jennifer Hendricks (Incumbent)
■ Kit Ketchmark (Incumbent)
■ Kyle Whitehead
Village Clerk (one seat open)
■ Michael Melendez
Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library (four seats open)
■ Natalie DeJonghe
■ Priscilla Grote
■ Tristan Gunn
■ David Jakubiak
■ Alan Miller
■ Karl Olson
■ Michelle Parker (Incumbent)
■ Phil Weglarz
Riverside
Village President (one seat open)
■ Douglas Pollock (Incumbent)
Village Trustee (three seats open)
■ Joseph Fitzgerald
ego-driven, that leads a local person to run for local office. We’ve been watching local elections for 45 years and our observation is that with a dud once in a while, with people we have disag reed with on policy, that in our non-partisan elections almost all candidates run because they care about the high school or the parks, have a vision for the library, are committed to better village services or holding taxes or growing equity. Or all of the above.
As you read these pages of questions and answers from each of these candidates know that there is a lot on the line this year.
Your vote truly matters.
Do you plan to early vote? The details on how to do it are just below.
Finally, this expanded coverage is possible because of a donation to our Growing Community Media nonprofit from the Good Heart Work Smart Foundation
This election is in your hands. Educate yourselves on the issues and the candidates. And then seize the power of your vote.
■ Elizabeth Kos (Incumbent)
■ Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga (Incumbent)
Riverside Public Library (three seats open)
■ Amy Bilow
■ Tracy Bohrer
■ Mickey Novak
Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 (four seats open)
■ Jacqueline Jordan (Incumbent)
Riverside School District 96 (four seats open)
■ David Barsotti (Incumbent)
■ Stephanie Basanez Gunn (Incumbent)
■ Daniel Hunt (Incumbent)
■ Matt Olech
Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 (three seats open)
■ Nicholas Caputo
■ Lorena Gasca (Incumbent)
■ Ryan VenHorst (Incumbent)
■ Eric West
■ Patrick Williams
EARLY VOTING LO CATIONS
(APRIL 1, 2025 C ONSOLIDATED GENERAL
ELECTION)
The early voting locations listed here are for Suburban Cook County voters only If you live in the City of Chicago please visit chicagoelections.gov for their Early Voting locations
BROOKFIELD VILLAGE HALL 8820 BROOKFIELD AVE. BROOKFIELD, IL 60513
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mar. 17 - Mar. 21
Mar. 24 - Mar. 28 Mar. 31
Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mar. 22, Mar. 29
Sunday
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mar. 23, Mar. 30
LYONS VILLAGE HALL 4200 LAWNDALE AVE. LYONS, IL 60534
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mar. 17 - Mar. 21 Mar. 24 - Mar. 28 Mar. 31
Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mar. 22, Mar. 29
Sunday
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mar. 23, Mar. 30
BERWYN (PAVEK COMMUNITY CENTER) 6501 31ST ST. BERWYN, IL 60402
Monday-Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mar. 17 - Mar. 21 Mar. 24 - Mar. 28 Mar. 31
Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mar. 22, Mar. 29
Sunday
10 a.m.
Why we no longer endorse candidates
Since 2020 Growing Community Media has been a nonprofit news organization. Because of that change we operate under regulations set by the Internal Revenue Service. Among those IRS require-
ments is the rule that as a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit that we are no longer permitted to endorse specific candidates for of fice. That ended our long-standing process of interviewing all local candidates and offering endorsements. In lieu of that we have stepped up our information gathering and reporting on the candidates and are presenting that to voters in this Election Guide
Two candidates in contested races for the April 1 election did not turn in the Landmark’s questionnaires by our print deadline. Missing from this section then are Priscilla Grote, a candidate for the Brookfield library board and Mick ey Novak a candidate for the library board in Riverside.
Dan Haley Growing Community Media
Brendan He ernan ELEC TION COORDINATOR Riverside-Brook eld Landmark
How to vote in Brook eld and Riverside’s local elections
Voters
will decide
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
the makeup of local governing agencies, including village, school and library boards
Voting is one way Brookfield and Riverside residents can make their voices heard and enact change on the local level during the April 2025 local elections
This year’s election takes place April 1, or voters can get out early to cast a ballot in March. Residents will choose the outcome of positions including village presidents, seats on the village boards of trustees, and local school and library boards.
Register to vote
First-time eligible voters, those looking to change their registration address or anyone looking to double check they’re set for Election Day can do so at https://www.cookcountyclerkil. gov/elections/voter-registration.
To vote in Illinois, you must turn 18 years old on or before the date of the consolidated election. You must be a United States citizen and live in your election precinct at least 30 days prior to the Election Day. You cannot be serving a jail or prison sentence and cannot have claimed the right to vote anywhere else
For the April 1 election, voters can register online, in person or by mail.
With an Illinois driver’s license or state ID, you can register through the Illinois State Board of Elections at https://ova elections.il.gov/ by March 16. You can also fill out a form on that website by printing and signing it and mailing it in by March 4.
To re gister in person, suburban Cook County residents can go to one of the Cook County Clerk’s locations, a village clerk, an Illinois Secretary of State’s driver’s license facility or deputy re gistrars.
Individuals wanting to re gister to vote during early voting can do so by bringing two pieces of identification, one with a current address, to their voting site. You can also re gister on Election Day at your home precinct or an Election Day Vote Center.
Voting early and day- of
Suburban Cook County voters can cast their ballot ahead of April 1 at Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. While there are no early voting locations in Riverside, voters can also cast early ballots at the Pavek Community Center in Berwyn, 6501 31st St., and Lyons Village Hall, 4200 Lawndale Ave. Suburban residents seeking to vote early can do so at any early voting location.
Other early voting locations can be found on the Cook
With Cantata’s continuum of care, you can live your best life today, tomorrow and into the future. You can count on our century of expertise dedicated to your lifestyle and healthcare needs.
County Clerk’s website.
Early voting is available from March 17-31. Polling locations will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays during this period.
Local voters can also apply for a mail-in ballot, which must be mailed by April 1 using a USPS mailbox, deposited at a designated drop site or turned in on Election Day in person. Brookfield Village Hall is one such drop site
Voting is open for the consolidated municipal elections from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 1. Brookfield Village Hall is not a polling place on Election Day. Instead, residents can find their designated polling place at https://www.cookcountyclerkil. gov/elections/your-voter-information.
By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.
BROOKFIELD VILLAGE PRESIDENT (1 CANDIDATE FOR 1 OPEN SEAT)
Political experience
Village of Brookfield President 2005-2013 and 2021 - present Village of Brookfield Village Trustee 1998-2001, 2003 - 2005 and 2013-2021. Chairman of West Cook County Solid Waste Agency 2007-2023 Executive Committee of West Central Municipal Conference 2023 - present
Community experience For mer Chairman of Village of Brookfield Plan Commission, For mer Brookfield Little League Manager For mer Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor For mer School Board President St. Louise de Mariilac School
What kind of residential development would you like to see in Brookfield’s future? Is the current focus on transit-oriented development working?
A variety of residential development would be most desirable to meet the needs and wants of residents. We have very strong single family districts that are seeing growth and renovations on a large scale. The focus on transit-oriented development is also working as planned. Higher density developments near the train and collector routes are supporting growth in the business districts by adding to the customer base
transformation of Brookfield over the past 15 years. By improving streets, sewers, parks and facilities we have improved the quality of life for our residents and businesses. The attraction and retention of professional staff and employees has allowed us to do more with less and weather the challenges that we have faced. Finally, we have improved the quality of life of our residents though supporting and sponsoring new and increased social activities like recreation programs, concerts, Far mers Markets and special events
What nearby communities do you compare Brookfield to? Lyons? Stickney? Riverside? LaGrange? LaGrange Park? Why?
I think Brookfield stands out as being unique. We have many of the desirable things that our neighboring communities have but also maintain that sense of being “Mayberry”. The people and groups that make up Brookfield are special. We have so many groups and individuals who volunteer to bring so much to our Village. Our people are what makes Brookfield.
What is the biggest challenge facing Brookfield?
hen researchers set out to study 401(k) retirement savings accumulation, they found that thousands of studies of retirement savings accumulation ignored the surprisingly high rate of departing employees who cash out retirement savings at job separation. This is concerning because, statistically, everyone will likely change jobs multiple times before retirement. Withdrawing savings when they leave a firm means that instead of keeping that money in savings for retirement, they’ve opted to take the money for other short-term consumption. only in the u.S. do the rules make this so easy. When people cash out, they are back at square 1, with no more savings than they had when they started the job. They set themselves back years in the ability to accumulate enough savings for a comfortable retirement.
When a departing employee in America taps 401(k) savings prior to the age of 55, they must pay a 10% penalty in addition to income taxes, This
means that people are losing an extra pile of their money on the way out the door.
Through their research, the team found evidence that a large component of cashing out is driven by psychology, not need. If cashing out was driven by need, it should not depend on whether the money in one’s 401(k) account came from the employer or employee. The team found that the bigger the proportion of the balance contributed by the employer, the more employees treated it like a windfall that is legitimate to spend. The researchers call this the “account composition effect.” The tendency prompts terminating employees to overlook the penalty and tax consequences of early withdrawals and liquidate their 401(k) savings when leaving a position.
What kind of residential development would you like to see in Brookfield’s future? Is the current focus on transit-oriented development working?
A variety of residential development would be most desirable to meet the needs and wants of residents. We have very strong single family districts that are seeing growth and renovations on a large scale. The focus on transit-oriented development is also working as planned. Higher density developments near the train and collector routes are supporting growth in the business districts by adding to the customer base
How do you perceive Brookfield has changed over the past 15 years? What specific things has the village done that led to these changes?
Improved infrastructure, more professional management and planning and increased social activities for residents are part of the
The biggest challenge facing Brookfield is trying to continue to make the necessary improvements and offer the desired services and facilities while understanding the financial costs and impact on taxpayers.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level?
I believe my role has a local official is to take care of Brookfield in the best possible way. We need to follow county, state and federal laws and react to the mandates that we have placed upon us and remember what our roles and areas of responsibility are.
MICHAEL GARVE Y
Political experience
I have been an elected Village Trustee for four years and prior to that I was a volunteer appointed Commissioner on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning and Zoning Commission since 2007.
Community experience
VILL AG E OF BROOKFIELD BOARD OF TRUSTEES (3 C ANDIDATES FOR FOR 3 OPEN SEATS )
I’ve lived in Brookfield since 2005, engaging with my neighbors and volunteering throughout the community. Whether it’s supporting my family at Brook Park, SE Gross, or RB, laughing and helping with the Brookfield Women’s Club, singing and working with a local arts organization, or learning with the Citizen’s Police Academy, I never cease to be amazed by our dedicated, energetic, caring residents in Brookfield
What kind of residential development would you like to see in Brookfield’s future? Is the current focus on transit-oriented development working?
Residential development should be considerate of its neighbors, activate the space and bring energy to its neighborhood. I believe that transit-oriented development is beneficial to our village. It encourages investment in properties that may have fallen into disrepair. It increases density of residents near downtown areas. When business is siphoned away by online retailers and many downtown areas are declining, this is an especially critical time to be be bringing people closer to our commercial centers. Additional foot traffic from transitoriented development energizes our downtown area while supporting local businesses and walkable neighborhoods, and we can see the success of this in new businesses along Grand and Prairie
How do you perceive Brookfield has changed over the past 15 years? What specific things has the village done that led to these changes?
I feel like in the last 15 years I’ve watched Brookfield enter a bit of a renaissance. Properties and storefronts that had felt forgotten have seen new investment. New businesses are opening and existing businesses are flourishing with people from all over beginning to see Brookfield as a destination. Our events and recreation programs have grown by leaps
and bounds. Communication and responsiveness have never been better. I credit much of that to the Board’s emphasis on professionalism and high standards in staffing. Village Hall is now full of motivated people who are eager to innovate, rethink ideas that aren’t working for us, and grow programs that are working all while making responsible financial choices.
What nearby communities do you compare Brookfield to?
Lyons? Stickney? Riverside? LaGrange? LaGrange Park? Why?*
I think Brookfield is one-of-a-kind. We’re in a great location and have unique and celebrated natural spaces and local assets like Salt Creek and of course the Brookfield Zoo. But most important of all, our engaged, involved, and supportive community members are unparalleled. Who else has groups like Cycle Brookfield and the Brookfield Arts League, residents who volunteer in droves for Covid vaccine clinics and charity duck races, business owners who find new ways to feed the needy, and neighbors who donate to fund a new library or offer support when someone falls ill? There’s no place I’d rather be than this wonderful, caring village.
What is the biggest challenge facing Brookfield?
Ogden Avenue as a corridor has been a challenge for a long time. With many property owners and regulatory agencies to contend with, change comes slowly. Our community worked together on actionable plans to make Ogden more welcoming and less of a barrier and those plans are progressing. The challenge is to keep all the moving parts engaged to make more visible progress
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level?
We’re closely monitoring the risk to federal grant funding for our street and water system projects during this chaotic time and we will continue to seek out funding available to us at all levels. I value integrity, respect, sustainability, responsibility, and professionalism and will always choose policies that protect human dignity. The occupant of the White House will not change my values or principles. I intend to continue working for the best interests of our entire community.
Political experience
Village Pres 2013-2021, Village Trustee 2001-2009, 2011-2013, 2021-current
Community experi ence
Dir Brookfield Historical Society 1993-current, youth baseball coach/manager 17 years
What kind of residential development would you like to see in Brookfield’s future? Is the current focus on transit-oriented development working?
The focus on TOD has worked in bringing mixed commercial/residential dev to the commercial districts, with several more key projects in the the works in the next 12-18 months. This will help to continue promoting economic development in the transit corridor. This shows up as increased sales tax revenue, reduced storefront vacancy, and more shopping/ dining options of our residents. We should continue to seek out high quality, sustainable development, both residentially and commercially.
How do you perceive Brookfield has changed over the past 15 years? What specific things has the village done that led to these changes?
Brfd has become a progressive, wellmanaged community, offering many opportunities to all demographics. A stable financial situation has been the basis for all of this, and village govt has operated in a responsible manner, focusing on the long-term. The consistent approach to seeking out grant opportunities has helped tremendously. The elimination of four am liquor licenses has helped to change the image of the town, as well as making it safer. There has been a substantial investment in infrastructure, more local events (i.e. the bike race, Music on Grand, the Duck Race, art shows, concerts, etc) , and a business-friendly approach to economic development.
What nearby communities do you compare Brookfield to? Lyons? Stickney? Riverside? LaGrange? LaGrange
Park? Why?
Each nearby community has good qualities, and there are things we can learn from each them. However, Brookfield has its own unique characteristics, history and community involvement. We need to focus on our strengths and what sets us apart from other communities...from nature settings like Salt Creek and the Oak Savanna, 3 Metra train stops, Brookfield Zoo, Ogden Ave. with a daily traffic count of nearly 25,000 cars, a tremendous sense of community, and unique events like the bike race that attract people to our village. These are all assets to focus on.
What is the biggest challenge facing Brookfield?
The biggest challenge facing our community is the economic surroundings we operate in. We need to constantly monitor the ever-changing state/fed environments, and take necessary steps to adjust when needed. This can affect budgeting, project scheduling and costs, staffing, etc At the same time, we need to continue taking steps to keep our community moving forward, specifically in terms of economic development.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trumpadministration policies at the local level?
Policy changes at Federal level need to to be constantly monitored to see what/if any affect they have on local govt mgmt. Things appear to be changing rapidly, and we need to look at both short-ter m and long-term effects. State/fed unfunded mandates and policy changes are not new, and our village govt has proactively navigated through these in the past.
JENNIFER HENDRICKS KIT KETCHMARK
VILL AG E OF BROOKFIELD BOARD OF TRUSTEES (3 C ANDIDATES FOR FOR 3 OPEN SEATS )
Political experience
None
Community experience
- Parks and Recreation Commission member since 2021 - Brookfield Parks and Recreation Foundation Co-Founder and Board President
What kind of residential development would you like to see in Brookfield’s future? Is the current focus on transit-oriented development working?
I appreciate Brookfield’s mix of traditional single family homes and newer apartments and condos to welcome all types of families to the area. I think focusing development near transit is necessary to continue to grow the downtown, support local businesses, and make it easier for people to walk and bike for their daily trips.
How do you perceive Brookfield has changed over the past 15 years? What
specific things has the village done that led to these changes
Since moving here in 2008 I’ve seen the village grow and continue to welcome new families like mine to the community. This is the result of changes and im provements to local zoning and economic development policies that have helped keep the community fun and affordable fo everyone. The village ’s increased focus on sustainability and open space has led to improved parks and healthier living for all residents.
What nearby communities do you compare Brookfield to? Lyons? Stickney? Riverside? LaGrange? LaGrange Park? Why?
I think Brookfield has a great balance of affordable homes and plenty of things to do with fun local businesses, parks, and community events. An engaged, diverse base of
esidents helps encourage the village to try new things and better ttract new residents, businesses, and visitors. There are lots of ys for residents to get involved and volunteer their time to imove the community. This sweet spot of affordability and opportunity stands out among surrounding communities
What is the biggest challenge facing Brookfield?
Inflation has made life much more expensive for families in Br ookfield and across the country. Housing costs and property taxes are a significant part of that. I think Brookfield needs to find ways to remain affordable and accessible to all types of families while raising the revenue needed to provide quality public services, upgrade critical infrastructure and parks, and invest in other local needs.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level?
Federal grants and loans have been critical to the village’s recent success and, if elected, I’ll work to continue to increase federal support so we can reduce the financial burden on residents. I’ll also work to protect local residents and families who may be vulnerable based on their health, income, immigration status, gender, or sexual orientation.
WEB EXTRA
See more local elec tion coverage at rblandmark.com/2025-local-elections
Political experience
Village President and Trustee, Riverside Board of Trustees
Community experience
I have been Village President since October, 2023. Previously I was a Village Trustee from 2013 to 2023. Previous to my time on the Village Board, I also served on the Village’s Plan Commission and Ad Hoc Long Term Finance Committee. I was also a member of the Riverside Little League Board.
How will you balance Riverside’s history and Olmstedian design with future development? How do you balance development with conserving tax dollars?
It is essential that all Village officials understand Riverside’s history and the values of the Olmsted Plan. As a dedicated student of Riverside’s history and Olmsted’s planning principles, I remain committed to honoring this legacy. I will continue to use that knowledge to ensure that all decisions regarding new development and infrastructure improvements align with these foundational ideals. Development has the potential to in-
RIVERSIDE VILL AG E PRESIDENT (1 C ANDIDAT E FOR 1 OPEN SEAT)
crease tax revenues as well as to demand Village services tha incur expenses. This is the c culation needed to analyze the impact on Village tax dollars and revenues. Of course, fiscal analysis is only one of many factors consider when reviewing new de velopment and is not always the most important consideration.
How do you perceive Rive side is changing? What is the village board’s role in creating change, preserving history, or ing those two things?
DOUGLAS POLLOCK
Riverside has seen a significant turno in population over the last fi or so years with a younger demographic moving into our Village. Riverside has also seen a significant investment in infrastructure (e.g. downtown streetscapes, water and sewer utilities, and street maintenance). Both of these changes have positively impacted our Village. The Village Board has a responsibility to understand and respond to change while also pursuing opportunities that ben-
efit our community. One of our llage’s greatest success stories er the past 150 years is its ability to adapt to an ever-evolving environment while preserving and enhancing its historical legacy as an Olmsted Village
Should the village seek to lop more transit-oriented lopment, or is such development reaching a saturation point?
When opportunities arise, rside should continue to pursue transit oriented development consistent with the adopted amendments to the Zoning Code and consistent with existing development in Riverside. While the market will tell us if new transit oriented development is viable, it would seem most likely to occur in the Harlem/Burlington area as there is already new development in the pipeline for downtown Riverside.
What is the biggest challenge facing Riverside?
Riverside’s biggest challenge continues to be finding long term solutions for funding Village services. The 2024 approval of the street referendum is an example of the innovative approach needed to provide such long term financing. The referendum provided significant, long term funding for street maintenance without increase anyone’s property tax bill.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level?
Each iteration of the Village Board over the course of the last 12+ years has been committed to the values of equal treatment under the law, sustainability, inclusiveness, and preservation. Any federal government mandate that impacts us locally will continue to be considered with these values as the basis for decision making. There is no federal mandate that will stop us from continuing to be a Village that welcomes all and uses our people, our history, and our environment to inform and inspire.
VILL AG E OF RIVERSIDE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (3 C ANDIDATES FOR 3 OPEN SEATS )
Political experience
Village Trustee since 2021. Chair, CrossCommunity Climate Collaborative (C4). CoChair, Ad-Hoc Sesquicentennial Committee
Community experience
Village of Riverside Preservation Commission; Visit Oak Park; Olmsted Society of Riverside; Riverside Arts Weekend; Central School PTO.
How will you balance Riverside’s history and Olmstedian design with future development? How do you balance development with conserving tax dollars?
Though it’s the prototype for the moder n suburb, Riverside is unique. As stewards of this national landmark, we can’t sacrifice that which is character-defining. However, we can still be strategic about development by targeting commercial areas in need of improvement and promoting applicable Federal, State, and County incentives to encourage private investment.
How do you perceive Rive side is changing? What is th village board’s role in creatin change, preserving history, or blending those two things?
There’s greater energy her with an uptick in young families and new business. There’s also more awareness about climat change. People want to know the things they love about Riverside won’t change and the cost of keeping them won’t become prohibitive. The Board is facilitating a Climate Action Plan to help us meet emission reduction goals and prepare for change, all in a way that does not disproportionately burden the vulnerable. It is ambitious in scope, with great flexibility and opportunity for stakeholder involvement. Today, Olmsted’s design for Riverside is mostly intact, and it is our greatest asset. Our Sesquicentennial is an opportunity to highlight the importance of community engagement in
rside, not just from a historical perspective, but today, and for our future as well.
hould the village seek to lop more transit-oriented lopment, or is such develpment reaching a saturation point?
here are not many commercial multi-family properties on the et right now, so encouraging transit-oriented development, particularly along Harlem and Ogden, makes sense. Prioritizing walking and cycling access to public transportation in the design phase will help any new higher-density properties attract tenants and customers, increasing Riverside’s economic vitality.
What is the biggest challenge facing Riverside?
Maintaining Riverside’s infrastructure and municipal services with our limited commer-
cial tax base has been an ongoing challenge. The Village receives only a small portion of every property tax bill, and our staff does an excellent job budgeting, planning, and seeking grant funding in an effort to meet most of our community needs. It is critical that we address Riverside’s dated and inadequate public safety and community facilities. I hope all residents will participate in upcoming planning discussions and support this vital capital improvement project.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level?
The sweeping executive orders issued since the inauguration have far-reaching consequences, both intended and unintended. Though the Village Board has no ability to unfreeze federal funding for grants we’ve been awarded, we do have the ability and indeed the responsibility to encourage civic engagement at the local level. I would like all residents to feel welcome and part of our community
ABERDEEN MARSH-OZGA
VILL AG E OF RIVERSIDE BOARD OF TRUSTEES (3 C ANDIDATES FOR 3 OPEN SEATS )
Community experience
I have been a member of the Ames PTA and the am a member of the Riverside Juniors. I grew up in Riverside and work in the community too
How will you balance Riverside’s history and Olmstedian design with future development? How do you balance development with conserving tax dollars?
This is always a tough thing to balance. However, we are elected to make
My decisions will be based on the infor mation I have and can gather on each particular issue.It’s important that a small, vocal minority does not have too much sway, but this also needs to be balanced with making sure that the majority have the best interests of Riverside and our residents in mind. It’s not about what I want, rather it’s about making sure that people feel heard and we are doing what we feel is right for Riverside. When we tax dollars, we have to make sure that we are doing what is right in the moment as well as planning for the future. This may mean spending more money in the short term to plan for future needs.
How do you perceive Riverside is changing? What is the village board’s role in creating change, preserving history, or blending those two things?
Riverside is becoming a younger community with more families and children. Oftentimes, this bumps up against the desire to preserve the historical nature of the town. Younger families are looking for more amenities and conveniences and this means change. We have to make sure that these changes are in keeping with the historical nature of Riverside while still providing the moder n resources that families need today
Should the village seek to develop more transit-oriented development, or is such development reaching a saturation point?*
I think bike transit can be developed more in town with great benefit to the community
What is the biggest challenge facing Riverside?
The biggest challenge we face right now is the deplorable conditions in which our first responders work. They do not have adequate space for sleeping, showering, and eating on duty and the actual workspaces are falling apar t and unacceptable. We have to address the needs of the people that keep this town safe.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level? We will respond to each thing as it come up
Political experience
I have never held elected office, but I ha tensive experience in public service and p I spent over 20 years in government, retirin as a police administrator, where I work policy, contracts, and government relations I’ve also volunteered on numerous campaign gaining insight into the electoral process. hold a master’s in public policy from Northwestern and a Ph.D. in organizational b ior, focusing on leadership in the public sector These experiences equip me to serve effect ly as trustee, ensuring responsible governanc that strengthens our community.
Community experience
My community involvement has focused ment and service. I’ve lived in Riverside for eight years and worked to strengthen local institutions. I served 10+ years on the PAV YMCA Board and as board president helped eliminate debt so it could better serve families. As a father of two, I’ve been active in the Ames School PTA, leading the Artist in Residence program. I served as president of the Riverside Art Center promoting our arts corridor and also a key organizer of the local DaddyDaughter Dance which fosters family bonds while raising funds for community initiatives.
expectations. As trustee, my role is to balance our historical identity with thoughtful growth. hange, when needed, should be intentional, incremental, and strategic to ensure broad accepe. I will facilitate discussions that consider all perspectives, ensuring any adjustments are measured and not drastic. By championing small improvements, we can move forward le preserving what makes Riverside special.
Should the village seek to develop more transit-oriented development, or is such lopment reaching a saturation point? verside should remain open to opportunities associated with transit-oriented development while ensuring any potential projects align with our village’s character and needs. Exploring economic benefits, such as increased property values and business growth, is essential while maintaining our historic integrity. Planning, community input, and strategic investment will ensure any TOD initiatives enhance walkability, improve accessibility, and support local businesses without compromising what makes Riverside unique.
How will you balance Riverside’s history and Olmstedian design with future development? How do you balance development with conserving tax dollars? Riverside’s historic design makes it unique, and future development must respect that. I believe that growth should complement our community, not disrupt it. Thoughtful zoning, adaptive reuse, and communitydriven planning should preserve our village while allowing for progress. I also believe that development should be fiscally responsible. We need to look into more smar t investments, strategic par tnerships, and projects that will grow our tax base without overburdening our residents to ensure Riverside remains both historic and sustainable.
How do you perceive Riverside is changing? What is the village board’s role in creating change, preserving history, or blending those two things?
Riverside is evolving as new families arrive, drawn by our schools, strong sense of community, and unique charm. Preserving that character is vital, but I also recognize that longtime and newer residents may have different
What is the biggest challenge facing Riverside? Riverside benefits from the hard work of its many committees, governing bodies, and community groups, all committed to improving our village. While these groups share similar goals, better communication and coordination could make these ef for ts even more effective. As trustee, I will stay connected and check in with these groups on a re gular basis to stay infor med. By keeping a pulse on these ef forts, I hope to help build on the great work already being done to keep Riverside a strong, connected community.
As a member of the village board, how will you respond to Trump-administration policies at the local level?
As a trustee, my focus will remain on local issues that directly impact residents. Our village is well-managed by professional staf f, and my role is to support policies that ensure efficient operations, fiscal responsibility, and community well-being. While national policies can affect local government, such as funding or re gulations, I will address them pragmatically and work with stakeholders to find solutions. Federal and state level debates that don’t impact Riverside should not distract us, but I will advocate for our community when necessary while keeping the focus local.
ELIZABETH KO S
JOSEPH FITZGERALD
LINDA SOKOL FRANCIS BROOKFIELD LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (8 C ANDIDATES FOR 4 OPEN SEATS )
Political experience
None. Though I have worked/volunteered for various organizations and associations and I am currently an executive board member for the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Community experience
My wife and I moved our family Brookfield in 2015 when our two children were toddlers. We bought a home in the Hollywood community of Brookfield and have been there since. It was important to us to find a home in the community that we would raise them up in for their whole lives because we wanted them to feel part of a community and to feel known, seen and welcomed in that community. And we feel Brookfield has provided that to us and more, for which we’re very grateful. We’re grateful for the Far mer’s Market over by the Village Hall that grows bigger every year. We’re grateful for the concert series at Kiwanis Park during the summer and into fall. We eagerly wait for the 4th of July parade, Monsters on Main Street, and the annual Holiday Celebration event in December.
high school. I think these kits are a very cree and educational resource for parents, as ell as teachers, and other interested groups.
How would you respond to a growing ook ban movement?
As a parent of two young children, I certainly understand the position of parents that might be concerned about books containing aphic violence, sexual content, or explicit language, which parents or educators may feel are unsuitable for younger readers. I also sympathize with concerns about preventing misinformation and reducing exposure to hate speech and harmful stereotypes. But I am also very concerned about reducing access to diversity in literature, to both children and adults alike. I think it’s very important for people in a community to have access to information and literature on topics like race, gender, sexuality, and history, and from different perspectives. I would be a stronger proponent of agreed upon guidelines through community feedback than outright bans
What is the biggest challenge facing the library?
Political experience
I have volunteered with local, cong nal and presidential campaigns, wo everything from press to canvassing. my first time running for an elected
Community experience
Co-founder of Go Green Brookfield; long time volunteer at Meet the Creek (fish tank displays); and I am a member of the Brookfield Native Plants Group.
How do you view the library’s a “third space” in Brookfield? What can it do better in that regard?
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Brookfield? What can it do better in that regard?
I think that the most successful third spaces are open, inviting, and make one feel engaged and relaxed. Places that have a vibe or style that draw people in, make them feel welcome, interested and at ease, in a variety of ways The provide opportunities for people to be engaged, whether that be in opportunities to communicate or socialize with others, or whether that just be in being able tor read or work in something in a space in the company of others. I think the Brookfield library made enormous gains in being able to increase what they had to offer in all of these ways with construction of the new library in 2021. The challenge now is to both refine the social engagement opportunities that are successful and continue to come up with new ones that appeal to more people.
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
I love the LSF Brookfield Library’s partnership with the local homeless service organization, BEDS Plus. In light of the current, but ongoing, migrant crisis, the library developed two “Homelessness Educational Kits” as a learning resource for grades kindergarten through
With specifically the LSF Brookfield Library, probably something I am not even aware of. But I think that some of the biggest and consistent challenges facing the Brookfield library are the same ones facing every library. (1) Finding and maintaining adequate funding that maintains programs and initiatives that the community values and enjoy while remaining open and respectful to tax payer concer ns and feedback. (2) Keeping up with the digital age of media by offering more than just books. (3) Encouraging the community’s use of the library by finding ways to remind or inform them of the library’s relevance as a “third space”, a place for collaborative events and community interests
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
The first step with any budget is to prioritize needs over wants. One of the great things about having a library board is you have a group of people giving different perspectives and insight about what needs to happen to maintain the quality and experience of our library while respecting a limited budget. A group is better about coming with multiple solutions to issues with development and expansion. And I think the group should be receptive to the concerns and feedback of taxpayers and transparent about desired goals and objectives for the library and community
Libraries play an irreplaceable role in American communities, and Brookfield’s library has done a remarkable job becoming a welcoming third space, serving as a hub of learning and community connection. And it does all of this without requiring that you enter a credit card number for a monthly subscription charge! Our library’s offerings are extensive – from early learning story times to events on financial planning, to meet-the-author events. Our library serves everyone from new parents, people stretching their budgets, to book club devotees. As a library trustee, I’ll work with library leadership to ensure programs continue catering to our growing and diverse population and that we engage Brookfielders from The Circle to Hollywood and all the way to 47th Street.
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
The library is an essential resource for my family. Now teens, my children have spent countless hours there studying, playing games, and learning how to edit podcasts. I’ve donated to the seed library (which is amazing) and attended several of the more than 1,000 events held there annually. I recently presented there at native plants group event. In 2024, nearly a quarter-million items were checked out of the library, but it is so much more. As a trustee I’ll work to ensure the library serves the whole community. Whether you’re a young person thinking about college or a new parent with small children; whether you’re midcareer and retirement planning, or have retired and are looking to get involved, the library can offer a lifetime of learning and connection.
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
Illinois Public Act 103-0100 is very clear in disallowing book bans at public libraries in Illinois. It is important that libraries remain impartial sources of information as cornerstones of our society. In an age of raised rhetoric and breakdowns in civil discourse, it is essential that library staf f receive ongoing resources, training, and tools – including board support – to ensure library patrons understand both the law and the library’s commitment to serving all members of our community
TRISTAN GUNN DAVID JAKUBIAK
LINDA SOKOL FRANCIS BROOKFIELD LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (8 C ANDIDATES FOR 4 OPEN SEATS )
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Brookfield? What can it do better in that regard?
Suburbs like Brookfield prioritize privacy over community so many of us barely know our neighbors. I moved here 12 year ago with my wife and infant child, drawn by affordability, good schools, and safety. But we didn know anyone. It’s taken years of PTO meetings and Scout events to build connections. Third places matter because they bring us together. Neighborhood pubs and athletic clubs once filled this role, but few communal spaces remain. The library stands out because it welcomes everyone—no purchase required. Beyond books, it’s a place to meet, talk, learn, and connect. If we structure programs to foster conversation and use the space—whether to read, work, or gather—we start putting names to faces. The library helps us stop being strangers. We just need to use it.
ideas helps children think ritically and engage with the world. Book bans often target marginalized voices, reinforcing fear over understanding. an idea can’t withstand a hallenge, it wasn’t solid. The ibrary upholds intellectual freedom through its materials selection policy, available online. Concerns should be met with transparency and a commitment to the community. Collection decisions follow policies that support diverse perspectives, not personal beliefs.
What is the biggest challenge facing the library?
How does the library ance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
The Maker Studio is my favorite library service. I love making things, and 3D printing is fascinating—but keeping a printer running is a job in itself. Owning one is like having a British sports car: you have to love tinkering with it. The library handles that, charging only for materials at cost. And 3D printing is just the start. The Maker Studio also has a Carvey, a Glowforge laser cutter, and a large-format printer—great tools for creators. My family has deep ties to the library. My child won the 2018 Summer Reading Challenge (K-5), and we’ve always been frequent patrons. I also use the notary services and keep meaning to borrow video games—though I never seem to find the time. The library isn’t just for reading. It’s a place to make, explore, and try something new.
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
Books introduce ideas, challenge perspectives, and foster understanding. A free society ensures access to knowledge so people can explore viewpoints and make infor med decisions. The library serves everyone. Not every book is for every person, but families decide for themselves. Exposure to diverse
The library offers incredible resources, but many people don’t realize what’s available. Raising awareness—through outreach, partnerships, and direct engagement—is key to ensuring more people take advantage of what’s here. With programs for all ages, the library offers opportunities to learn, connect, and explore. Kids can even read to dogs, or film lovers can engage in the Film Serie s. But if people don’t know what’s offered, they won’t use it. Another challenge is reaching those who support the library but don’t visit Many believe in its mission without engaging. The question is how to turn support into participation. That means better social media, stronger school partnerships, and direct outreach. A library thrives when people use it. The challenge is making that happen.
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
The library carefully plans for both growth and fiscal responsibility, ensuring it meets community needs while keeping costs predictable for taxpayers. There’s a misconception that financial reserves mean the library is overfunded. In reality, Illinois law allows libraries to set aside unspent funds for future projects and emergencies. This ensures upkeep, technology upgrades, and expanded services without sudden tax hikes. That’s not wasteful; it’s responsible planning. At the same time, the library must prove its value by ensuring tax dollars support well-used programs and smart investments. That means clear communication about how funds are allocated and a commitment to making every dollar count.
The Board has a vested interest in conserving tax dollars: we Brookfield taxes, too! In 2023, 5% of our property taxes supported the library, compared to 60% our schools. A primary Board responsibility is to maximize library services within this relatively tight funding. As a current Trustee, I can attest that every financial decision is made with thoughtful consideration of the library’s and community’s current and future needs. We prioritize long-term financial health when considering major expenses and investments. We review the library’s finances monthly and scrutinize proposed budgets. I encourage residents to visit the library’s website to understand the financials, including FY25 budget details and past audits, and bring questions to the monthly meetings.
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
Silent Reading with Babysitting is phenomenal. Once a month the library stays open into the evening on a Friday. A youth librarian in the basement keeps kids occupied with a craft, snacks and a movie. Parents head upstairs to read or chat for a few hour s. After a hectic week, it’s become my family’s favorite segue into the weekend. My kids also take advantage of a lot of the youth programming - Zumba and yoga classes. My wife and I use the study rooms when we’re working from home and need a kid free space to focus. I’m also a big fan of Title Wave, our book bike. Youth librarians bring crafts and story hour to locations throughout town. You can check out and return books at the Far mers’ Market in the summer. This year, Title Wave will be making appearances at block parties.
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
I am pro-book. Full stop. I will always oppose any outside ef fort to limit the books Brookfielders have access to through our library. I want the library to facilitate putting books into people’s hands. Our library board does have control over the material that is purchased for the library and a say in how that material is displayed. I think our staf f does an excellent job of curating dis-
plays of books. The books that a library chooses to put on display reflect community values, and I like that our library often features displays that showcase cultures or topics I may not be familiar with. Libraries are a place to expand your world.
What is the biggest challenge facing the library?
Our library is well run and appropriately funded. We have fantastic staf f who are dedicated to the library and our community. The Friends & Foundation non-profit that supports the library is a thriving asset. While the library facilities are popular and well used, they’re right-sized based on current demand. If we need more space down the line, the new building was built to allow for an additional 9,000 square feet to be easily added onto the west side of the building. Bluntly, the library is in a good position and should continue to be an asset for Brookfield moving forward.
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
My share of the property taxes used to fund the library was $355.88 last year. I am confident it is being well spent. I have looked into the library’s finances. The library is run prudently and has a very healthy balance sheet.The library follows a 90% budgetary model, holding ten percent of what it collects in reserve. By statute, these funds can only be used to pay down debt (not a concern with our library) or for capital improvements. The only capital improvements on the radar is the purchase of the lot next door. The negotiated price is less than 10% of our capital budget. While the lot is intended for additional parking, construction will not be imminent. No project the library is currently considering will raise your taxes or impact the library’s operations budget.
ALAN MILLER
K ARL OLSON
LINDA SOKOL FRANCIS BROOKFIELD LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (8 C
Political experience
This is my first time running for office. I was appointed to the Library Board in April 2024 and have greatly enjoyed the experience. My appointment ends in April 2025, and I hope to be elected to continue serving.
Community experience
Since 2015, my family has invested time, energy, and resources into Brookfield’s vibrant community life. We volunteer for our schools, the library, the food bank, and our natural spaces. We donate to local organizations that help Brookfield thrive. We prioritize local businesses and delight in supporting local artists. More broadly, I currently serve as a Gover nor-appointed Commissioner and elected Chair for the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. I am also an official Observer for the binational Great Lakes Commission and a Nominating Committee member for the Cook County Forest Preserves’ Conservation Policy Council. Community service is a central value for me and I would be honored to continue serving Brookfield as a Library Trustee
attend programs, from pigeon rescue to a Little Women tea party and movie viewing. I discovered an unknown family member via the library’s ancestry.com service, and used the high-res scanner to digitize our precious paper prints of ancestors. I have also relied on the library for notary services and newspaper access. And we are not alone! In 2024, the library welcomed almost 124k visitors and offered over 1.2k classes and events. Almost 250k items were checked out, and onsite computers were used over 13k times. Check out the 2024 Annual Report online for more data on how our community benefits from the library!
What is the bigg est challenge facing the library?
ANDIDATES FOR 4 OPEN SEATS )
Political experience
This is my first attempt public elected office.
Community experience
I moved to Brookfield in 2023 and am excited to get involved In the past, I’ve served on professional boards and a range of service committees at work.
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Brookfield? What can it do better in that re gard?
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Brookfield? What can it do better in that regard?
The US Surgeon General recently warned of a “loneliness and isolation epidemic” and stressed “the healing effects of social connection and community.” Our library is a social anchor: in 2024 alone, the library of fered 1.2k events/classes; meeting rooms were reserved 1.5k times. I appreciate the increase in inclusive programming that spans varied interests, abilities, generations, and languages. I also appreciate outdoor programs that relieve indoor crowding and get people outside. The library has been creative with enhancing other third spaces too, like staffing a Far mers Market booth and joining Cycle Brookfield’s social rides. I applaud the library’s commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and outreach and I encourage continued creativity in nur turing our community connections!
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
My family loves the library! Our favorite initiative or service would be “all of them!” We check out piles of books and games monthly. We regularly use study and gaming rooms. We
Meeting growing community needs with relatively limited funds is the perennial challenge. Expanding collections, upgrading technology, maintaining our space, and offering meaningful programs all take resources and creativity, as does ensuring ever broader access, including for those facing barriers such as transportation, digital literacy, and language Additionally, as social and political polarization continues, libraries must maintain strong connections across all parts of the community to ensure that we all feel the their benefits rather than seek to diminish or undermine them. As libraries evolve, securing sustainable funding, adapting to changing needs, and maintaining strong community trust and support is key.
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
Libraries nationwide have become a popular target for inflammatory politics. Banning books is a tactic to sow discord and restrict intellectual freedom and learning. The impact is vast: nationally, over 4k titles were challenged in 2023, an increase of 92% over 2022.
During September’s Banned Books Week, I volunteered to distribute banned books at the Brookfield Metra station, including titles like Elie Wiesel’s Night, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and Orwell’s 1984. Many commuters were surprised by the wide reach of bans, including classics and American “g reats.” Thankfully, Illinois law prohibits libraries from banning books and censoring materials based on political or personal opinion, a law I support and for which I am grateful.
When my family moved to Brookfield in 2023, the library was the first place outside of home/work/school where myself, my wife, and my daughter could meet neighbors, learn, play, relax, and get infor mation about the community. Personally, I was immediately attracted to the Maker Space, where Alan helped demonstrate how libraries generally and Brookfield Library in particular must adapt to the needs and interests of the community. I know lots of remote workers who regularly use the library and I really value that there is a social and supervised ‘third space’ for youth to gather to play video and role playing games
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
Over the last year, I’ve personally become a huge fan of Maker Space and the presence of the Title Wave library bike at the Far mer’s Market and monthly Brookfield Cycle Slow Rides, but what really stands out to me is the care and dedication of the library staff. As a parent of an 11 year old avid reader and emerging writer of children’s scary stories and sci-fi/horror, I am enor mously grateful for the team of children’s librarians who have taken the time to get to know my daughter, patiently listen to her interests and stories, provide abundant recommendations and inspiration. Their work inspires me and I want to do anything I’m able to support them serve our community
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
My first encounter with the Brookfield Public Library was during their annual Banned Book week, when I was working
in a local cafe and one of the ibrarians came in informing ustomers about the banned ook issue and handing out free copies of titles that had been banned in various laces. I strongly support first Amendment freedom of speech and oppose attempts to ensor and control American citizens through the banning of books, especially in educational settings. I believe the Brookfield Library’s participation in the national Banned Book Week event encourages infor med consumers of information, critical consciousness, and respectful awareness of differences in experience, ideology, and opinion.
What is the biggest challenge facing the library?
One of the biggest challenges facing Brookfield and other public libraries relates to large scale social changes to information technologies and increasingly polarized political discourse. Personally, I’m concerned about youth media literacy and the need to enhance critical analysis of political content disseminated via Tiktok or podcasts or generated by AI. I believe Brookfield Library has an excellent opportunity to support youth to be engaged, thoughtful citizens
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
By examining the Library’s public records and meeting with library staff and current Trustees, I’m very impressed by their high level of fiscal responsibility and planning, where revenue from local taxes are carefully spent and saved to fund capital projects. I appreciate the current staff and Board of Trustees’ financially conservative and methodical approach to growth and expansion, which includes building and maintaining long-term relationships with the Library’s neighbors and the Village.
WEB EXTRA
See more local elec tion coverage at rblandmark.com/2025-local-elections
MICHELLE PARKER
PHIL WEGLARZ
LINDA SOKOL FRANCIS BROOKFIELD LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (8 C ANDIDATES FOR 4 OPEN SEATS )
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Brookfield? What can it do better in that regard?
Libraries are one of the remaining spaces that are open and welcoming to all, without an expectation that patrons will have to purchase anything to make use of the space. The Library offers wonderful study and meeting spaces, as well as excellent programming and access to technology With the move to the new, larger building, I would love to see us ensure adequate staffing to continue providing this quality, friendly service and engaging programming.
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
Political experience
I have canvassed and made phone calls for candidates I have supported
Community experi ence
Girl Scout leader and asst leader. Active past with Riverside Community Caucus.
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Riverside? What can it do better in that regard?
My favorite library service is the great digital platforms, like Libby and Hoopla that the Library offers. I try to pop in whenever I’m talking a walk in the neighborhood, but having the ability to check out books, movies, and music anytime and anywhere is such a huge help for me and my current schedule
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
NATALIE DEJONGHE
As a public librarian and for mer high school English teacher, I am very familiar with book ban movements. I think everyone deserves the right to access the books and information they need and want. Book bans try to take that
right away from people of all ages These bans claim to be about protecting people, but all they’re really doing is trying to control what others have access to. If you don’t like something, don’t read it. But don’t tell others they can’t read it
What is the biggest challenge facing the library?
I think one of the biggest challenges facing many public libraries right now is the ever increasing cost of digital resources. As a public librarian, I am constantly reviewing our budgets as we see more patrons using these services and more and more vendors and publishers drastically increasing their costs. It’s important that
we have the content our patrons want while also making sure we’re getting the most out of our budget. It’s a balancing act to be sure.
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
The most important aspect of ensuring funds are spent wisely and responsibly, is to have a solid, well-trained, well-supported staff. A strong staff will be able to listen and respond to the needs and wants of the community when it comes to programming presented, items available for checkout, technology needs, etc. This responsiveness will help ensure that collections and budgets are being adjusted to meet these needs instead of remaining stagnant and unchanging.
RIVERSIDE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES (3 C ANDIDATES FOR 3 OPEN SEATS )
I view the library as a safe and welcoming space for all who need a space to work, study, research or compete projects. It’s also a great space for families with young children to gather and meet one another. Our library has given my family a great sense of community. I know that students who need to go to the library after school would benefit from having programs that start right after school. Students from neighborhood schools often walk to the library to work on homework, meet friends or wait for their parents
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
I love that anyone can check out needed tools and items such as a sew-
ing machine, a metal detector, etc. Over time, our amily has made use of the children’s programs and classes great deal. My youngest child was just there with his friend and checked out games to play together there. We’ve also reserved space at the library for Girl Scout meetings
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
I do not believe in book bans of any kind. Historically, book bans have fallen on the wrong side of history. I believe people should have access to information they seek and need.
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
RPL has fundraising events throughout the year. We enjoy the Harvest Bingo and Reading Between the Wines events. They also promote the Friends of the Library program to help raise funds. From what I have seen, our library has made excellent and responsible improvements within the limitations of the space they have. The board has worked hard to keep up with modern needs within the building.
Community experience
I was an active member of Rivers ide Junior Woman’s C harity from 2006-2014, serving as Secretary and various c ommittee chairs. I was also a member of C entral E lementary’s PTO b oard from 2014-2020. I ser ve d as Co-president, Secretary, Treasurer, Pa rl i amentarian and c ommittee chairs
How do you view the library’s role as a “third space” in Riverside? What can it do better in that re gard?
I think the library proves itself as an incredibly important third space in Riverside. Our library serves as a community gathering space offering different progr ams among all ag e groups. It also serv es as a safe space for fostering inclusivity and helping the underserved in our community. In addition to the traditional library services, our library has tax preparation services, space for yo ga classes, its Library of Things, crafts using its 3D printer, author zoom calls and seminars on everything from Medicare to interesting things to do in our state! Calling this space a library doesn’t seem to do it justice sometimes
What is your favorite library initiative or service? How do you make use of the library?
Curb side pick-up and the ability to request books from other libraries are my favorite services and the ones I use most.
How would you respond to a growing book ban movement?
I do not believe in banning books Book banning comes with significant consequences, and it can be challenging to determine where to draw the line once the process starts. Restricting access to books sets a precedent on the road to broader censorship. But I do think that we should continue to listen to our community when concerns are raised about books in our library.
What is the biggest challenge facing the library?
The biggest challenge facing our library is what every library in our country is facing, a rise in book banning and censorship. Other challenges are how to stay relevant in a world relying more on digital media and less on books and how to better help the underserved populations in our community.
How does the library balance development and expansion with conserving tax dollars?
I believe the library does a great job of maximizing their budget to bring new and diverse books and tools to the library for the community at large to use. But the reality is that libraries face increasing demands for diverse and sometimes costly offerings. Different sized libraries have different sized budgets, so staf f must work with the board to maximize value while maintaining fiduciary responsibilities to taxpayers.
Two candidates in contested races for the April 1 election did not turn in the Landmark’s questionnaires by our print deadline. Missing from this section then are Priscilla Grote, a candidate for the Brookfield library board and Mick ey Novak a candidate for the library board in Ri verside.
TRACY BOHRER
AMY BILOW
Events
Submit events and see full calendar at rblandmark.com/events
Drunk driver with revoked license charged with felony DUI
Riverside police arrested a man for driving drunk March 5 after noticing his license plates didn’t match his car.
Around 11 p.m., an officer on patrol on Harlem Avenue near Ogden Avenue noticed a green Jeep, but, after running the license plate number through the police database, the officer learned the plates were re gistered to a red Ford, so they pulled the car over into the White Castle parking lot near the intersection.
released with a March 14 court date.
Drunk driver caught blowing stop sign
Riverside police arrested a drunk driver March 2.
After the car came to a stop, the officer saw the driver get out and walk slowly toward the trunk while staggering. The officer ordered the man to stop and turn around with his hands out of his pockets before handcuffing him, police said. The officer patted the man down with his consent before asking him about the car. The man said he had bought the car from a friend who he thought had placed “legit” license plates on the car. While speaking with the man, the officer noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath and that his eyes were bloodshot. When asked if he had drunk alcohol before driving, the man said he had several hours before.
Around 2:22 p.m., police witnessed a car heading west on Forest Avenue drive through the stop sign at Kimbark Road before turning north into the alleyway before Lincoln Avenue, so they pulled the car over.
As the officers spoke with the drive r, they smelled alcohol on his breath and noticed his eyes we re red and glassy W hen asked, the man was able to provide his drive r’s license but said he did not have proof of insuranc e. Th e man told police he was coming from his home but also heading to his home; the officers noted that his speech was slur red, police said.
The officers asked the man to take field sobriety tests, and the man ag reed. He showed multiple signs of impairment, including rapid eye movement, struggling to balance, failing to listen to instructions and finishing tests early. The man also took a preliminary breath test, which showed blood alcohol content of .253.
The officer ran the man’s information and found his driver’s license had been revoked due to a previous DUI, so they explained the man would remain in custody. T he man ag reed to take field sobriety tests at the lockup in Berwyn. After p lacing him in the squad ca r, the officer searched the man’s car and found an open Modelo b eer c an in the p assenger seat. T he license plates we re c onfiscated before the car was towe d.
At the central lockup, the officer conducted sobriety tests, during which the man swayed while balancing and was unable to properly count. The man also ag reed to take a breath test, which showed .134 blood alcohol content.
After processing the man and reviewing his criminal history, the officer learned he had had multiple past convictions for driving with a revoked license and had never been issued a valid license. He also had more than three previous DUI convictions. Police contacted the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for approval of felony charges for aggravated DUI due to the man’s history, which were approved. The man was booked on his charges and later
After placing the man in handcuffs, police searched the man’s car, where they found one empty Sutter Home wine cooler in the man’s bag and three more unopened bottles, all within reach of the driver. Police took the man to the Berwyn police station, where he was processed and charged for driving under the influence of alcohol.
These items were obtained from the Ri verside Police Department re ports dated March 2-5 and the Brookfield Police Department reports dated March 3-10; they re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Compiled by Trent Brown
LETTERS
Campaign funds and living wage
I think campaign funds should be taxed @ 25% to be used exclusively to bolster Social Security, Medicare, mental health, Medicaid and social programs that are being constantly short-changed on a re gular basis. Local campaign funds should be used to supplement local needs.
Every pleasure and service common citizens indulge in is taxed. I think politicians should share the pain. Campaign funds would boost the tax base and eliminate the scare tactics I have been hearing about since 1951 about Social Security in my first national election. Has anyone done the math that taxes from campaign funds would generate? Taxing all money used for campaigns could address the issue of “dark” money. It would solve the shortage in the S.S. Trust Fund that Congress has been using as a petty cash fund, money that is deducted from our earnings. If we have no guarantee of S.S., this seems to be taxes
under another name.
Minimum wage should be re placed with living wage. In my opinion, it should be mandatory that salaries are adequate to survive. If an employer claims he can’t af ford a living wage, he shouldn’t be allowed to make money of f the backs of poor people who have no alternative.
Elon Musk proclaimed S.S. to be a Ponzi scheme. The real Ponzi scheme is minimum wage, which makes the employer richer and the employee poorer. Minimum wage is corporate welfare, which culminated in conglomerates that are controlling our economy, and eliminating S.S. has been — and still is — their goal.
I did not watch Trump’s address to Congress. Why watch an immoral, unethical, lawless, chronic liar who bullies everyone?
Jeanette Simec
It can happen here
This past November, 49% of American voters engaged in cognitive dissonance and voted for Donald J. Trump as POTUS. These voters believed a man who illegally hired hundreds of undocumented Polish immigrants would fix our immigration system. They believed a man who admitted to misusing charitable funds intended for veterans and who filed for bankruptcy six times would “fix” the economy. They believed a man who is a convicted felon, was found guilty of sexual abuse, and would not be allowed to coach a Brookfield Little League team because he would fail the background check would be “tough on crime.” Astonishingly, a significant number of these voters also seem to believe that the number of Trump flags displayed correlates to one’s love of country — thus confusing cultish jingoism with patriotism.
Since Trump’s inauguration, his “law and order” agenda has included the following: attempting to illegally repeal the 14th Amendment, illegally firing
multiple inspectors general, pardoning nearly 1,600 ter rorists, including those who were found guilty of attacking law enforcement with chairs, chemical spray, metal poles, and stun guns, illegally ordering the Justice Department not to enforce a TikTok ban, illegally freezing foreign aid, firing multiple prosecutors involved in the various cases against him, attempting to engage in an apparent quid-pro-quo with the mayor of New York City, and allowing Elon Musk to illegally access the Treasury payment system and Americans’ Social Security information.
Ninety years ago, a dystopian novel by Sinclair Lewis warned U.S. citizens of the potential for a U.S.style fascist president. The title of that book was, It Can’t Happen Here. Unless vast swaths of Americans reco gnize the clear and present danger to our liberal democracy, it can happen here.
Shawn Lewis Brookfield
A light for democracy
On Tuesday evening, March 4, the League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area asked its members and supporters to place a candle in their window, a Light for Our Democracy This request was a vigil to encourage members and others to reflect on what democracy means. This action expressed the hope for the health of our democracy, the future of our nation, and the well-being of all its people.
■ The right to vote is the most powerful tool we have to shape our future.
■ Democra cy is a story of hop e. It ’s the b elief that ordinary p eople c an c ome to g ether to create
extraordinary change.
■ Our strength lies in our diversity as we are a nation of many backg rounds, beliefs and experiences.
■ W hen we stand in solidarit y, we send a po we rf ul message
■ Together, we can push back against authoritarianism and build a democracy that works for everyone
■ Democracy is not just a system of government, it’s the power of the people. It begins with us, our voices, and our votes.
Michele Niccolai President LWV of the La Grange Area
Charlene Sypien, 79
Brook eld resident
Charlene M. Sypien, nee Boyer, 79, of Brookfield, died on March 5, 2025. Born on Dec. 30, 1945 in Chicago, she was a homemaker. Charlene was the wife of the late LeRoy A. Sypien; the daughter of the late Raymond and the late Helen (nee Smid) Boyer; the mother of Michael Sypien, David (Shelly) Sypien and the late Christine (late Joe) Baskerville; the grandmother of Matthew, Nicholas, Joey, Alex, Nicoletta, Bryan and the late Anne; the sister of Sharon (late Bob) LaShure, Stephen Boyer, Holly (Mark) Schaefer, the late Raymond Boyer and the late Agnes Boyer; and the aunt of many.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8:30 p.m. on March 12 at Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, 2447 S. Desplaines Ave., North Riverside. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. on March 13 at St. Mary Church, with interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. Memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.
Elizabeth Musick, 87
Mission worker, music teacher
Elizabeth Musick (née Silverthorn), 87, died on Dec. 20, 2024, in Brookfield. A native Texan and graduate of the University of Texas Austin, she spent the last 17 years as an active retiree in Riverside, following 35 years as a mission co-worker for the Presbyterian Church in Brazil, where she learned Portuguese and used her beautiful voice, musical training, and teaching gifts to full advantage.
She began her career as a public school music teacher in the Washington D.C., area while her husband Frank served in the Air Force, returning to Austin to teach when Frank enrolled in seminary there. After his ordination, the couple worked in various regions of Brazil until 2003. Upon the death of her husband, she retired first to Austin, then to Riverside in 2007, to be closer to immediate family
Everywhere she lived she became involved in church-related activities, the local library, and the music scene. Most recently she served at Riverside Presbyterian Church in multiple music and leadership roles. A voracious reader, who was “born curious,” she regularly participated in book discussions at the Riverside Public Library
A member of the Alpha Phi International Women’s Fraternity and the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, she is remembered for her faith, kindness, generosity, musicianship, and especially her willingness to get involved
Elizabeth is survived by a sister, Alice Ann Hand; a daughter, Alice McLean (James); her sons, Stanley Musick (Ducilene) and Stephen Musick (Nataliia); her grandchildren, Alexis and Lily Musick, Laura and Rachel McLean, and Louis and Anna Musick; her sister-in-law; her goddaughter, Kari Osborn; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, including her namesake, Elizabeth Hand
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m., March 15, at Riverside Presbyterian Church, 116 Barrypoint Road, Riverside
Memorials may be made to the music programs of Riverside Presbyterian Church, 116 Barrypoint Road, Riverside, IL 60546, or the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546, or The Nature Conservancy, Attn: Treasury, 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203 USA, or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements were handled by Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside.
MICHAEL MEAGHER
Well remember
from page 1
Michael died tragically in fatal shooting in Wisconsin. He was 8 old and a second grader at Brook ementary School in LaGrange Pa he lived with his family in Brookfield Michael is survive d by his mother, ther Jesse C haniewski, gr andfather liam Meagher, gr andmother Christine Meagher, older sisters Marissa, 26, and Madeline Meagher, 13, and Marissa’ young children Symphony and Cuono
In a Fe b. 26 i nterview with the mark, Melissa, Christine and Meagher recalled the impact Michael had on those around him. Melissa Meag her said Michael will be missed b est friends Jaxon and E lliot and friends AJ, Axel, Greyson, Margo, and Vi nny.
“He met Jaxon two years a sudden. [His f amily] must ha move d in, and they hit it of f she said. “He met him through another friend who brought him block and i ntroduced them. He was li ‘That was it. We we re j ust b He was in our ya rd always for summer, and then he was so excited Mi ke ’s first day at Brook Pa rk
“He c omes over still, and I told him, ‘You and Michael r eally had such a special friendship. Not everybody has friendships like that,’” she added. “They would do anything for each other. Jaxon said recently, ‘I’d fight the strongest man in the world if I had to to protect Michael.’”
Melissa Meagher said her son was a funny, silly boy who would spread joy wher-
“He had a fantastic sense of humor and an awesome laugh, and he brightened up many days with his smile,” Melissa Meagher said. She said his favorite music artists Imagine Dragons and Juice WRLD,
and he liked to dance — especially moves like the griddy and even twerking.
be saf ” she dded. “When C uono was , he was so excited to have a nephbecause there’s so man y emales. He promised him when he held ould protect him and teac h him sports, so I’m going to do that fo r
favorite holidays were Christmas and Halloween, and he was alforward to celebrating his Ehlert Park, where he This year, Melissa and plan to celebrate Michael’s with to remember him together. Melissa, , said Michael was looking to starting art classes at school beed other assignments eping a weekly jour nal. he said the Brookfield c ommunity elt Michael’s loss and has b een wo rkemember him by t ying blue ribons around trees in town. T hanks to a undraiser p osted by a f amily friend, the Meaghers rece ived nearly Michael’s f uneral services. Melissa said strangers have left her notes amily ’s front porch to ommemorate Michael, but two women, Mary Sorensen and Garet Czernek, took for us for 30 days, and ve us dinner, or they ood from out and d elive red it ry day, and we ’re so apit,” she said. “When you’ re g rieving li ke that, you do n’ t even think of food, but there’s something about them d elive ring it, and how much they all love d us and we re showing us support , that, actually, you feel li ke eating something.”
Melissa Meagher said she and her daughters have taken things “one day at a time” and supported each other through their shared grief since Michael died.
“It’s unbearable,” she said. “You wouldn’t believe the amount of pain. I can’t explain it in words. A part of me died, too, that day. I’ll never be the same without him.”
“We did a TikTok video for Christmas, and my daughters and I all followed the TikTok video, and then at the end, of course, little goofy. ‘Boom, boom.’ He twerked just a little bit instead of whatever it was, but it just made our family, because it was totally him and totally us,” she said.
Melissa Meagher said b oth of her d aughters had a special b ond with Mic hael. He and his b est friends often pl ayed make b eli eve or video g ames with his m iddle sister, Madeline, wh il e his older sister, Marissa, c alled him her “Gemini p al” — d espite an 18-year ag e ga p, their birthd ay s are j ust one week apar t on the calendar, Melissa said.
“Michael was a young uncle, but he adored his niece and nephew. He would run across a park to save Symphony from d anger or hold her in the p ool so she’d
“It’s like your heart aches forever,” Christine Meagher added.
But the Meaghers are choosing to remember Michael as the bright, bubbly boy everyone knew him to be.
“I would be sitting in the ya rd, and k ids would c ome walking up or ridin g up on their bicycles, and they’d go … ‘Is Michael here?’ I didn’t even know wh o these k ids we re,” Wi lliam Meagher said. “It was c onstant. Eve ry day, and it was always somebody new. In his eight year s of l ife, he touched more hearts and more p eople than I did in my 73 year s. Honest to God, he just touched so many people.”
TRENT BROWN
Melissa Meagher with images of Michael, which were show n at his wake.
Sports
Megall’s next softball home will be Northern Kentucky
Fourth-year RBHS third baseman already three times all-conference
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Senior Ellie Megall had the opportunity to play — and even start — for the Riverside Brookfield High School varsity softball team as a freshman. The question was would Megall be willing to become the third baseman, a completely new position for her.
“I typically played shortstop and outfield before high school,” Megall said. “[Then RBHS head coach Doug Schultz] asked if I ever played third. I said I haven’t but I was willing to try. I was able to make varsity my freshman year and I’ve played there ever since.”
These days, Megall looks like she was meant to play the position. She’s about to begin her fourth varsity season as the Bulldogs’ veteran, who has been named all-conference three times
She recently signed to play NCAA Division I softball for Northern Kentucky University (Highland Heights).
“She’s a super-hard worker. She asks a lot of questions and you can tell she puts the time in by how good she is,” said firstyear RBHS head coach Emma Jarrell, the for mer assistant coach who now has Schultz as her assistant this season. “She leads by example and others follow her lead. She is vocal but still quiet. She’s vocal on the field. She is very smart in the classroom but also on the softball field.”
Me g all seamlessly made the transition to softball as a seventh-grader after playing traveling baseball. In similar f ashion, she quickly embraced and then enjoyed her role at third base, now also her primary position with her Orland Park Sparks traveling team, along with playing the outfield cor ners.
“One of the things I like most about [third base] is it’s so close to the batter. I really don’t have that much time to think,” Megall said. “At shortstop, you have such a long time before the ball gets to you and I would think too long and mess up. At third base, the ball is
Riverside Brook eld senior so ball player Ellie Megall is a three-time all-conference third baseman who will play at Northern Kentucky
team,” Megall said. “Once being in their shoes, I want to be a leader for them and help them in any way I can to be comfortable and ready to play once the season starts.”
She had an exciting fall season with the Sparks, not only continuing to play well, but one particularly solid mid-October tournament in O’Fallon and the St. Louis greater area helped her connect with
you very much. I think I’ll talk to my parents and I’ll need a week max,’ and asked if I could call them back,” Megall said. “It was 30 minutes max that I would accept their offer.”
Gerak was a standout player at Northwestern and DeKalb and had been an NKU assistant the past two seasons. Assistant coaches are Lexie Blair and Maddie Lacer.
“The part I really like is the whole coaching
staff is female. [All three] have a good background and have been in our shoes before. It’s something to be able to play for a female coach again,” Megall said.
Upon signing, she noted that her mother was among the most influential people in her life. When Megall committed to Oakland, that school also had a female head coach, but she resigned last fall for a job outside of softball. She was replaced by a male coach.
Others were influential in the NKU connection. Jill Harvey, Megall’s Sparks coach with Joe Tholl, knows Gerak well. Sparks teammate Brooke Keltner from Lockport is a freshman on the Norse, and two other current Sparks went on recruiting trips.
“I was able to g et a g ood wo rd in, if there was any hope they’d be interested,” Me g all said.
She hoped to play Division I softball even as young as eighth grade on her first traveling team, the Chicago Cheetahs. That was followed by the Beverly Bandits before joining the Sparks.
In high school, Megall immediately impacted the Bulldogs. She had a 388 batting average freshman year with 20 runs batted in, 18 runs scored and nine doubles. She’s followed that with two .400-plus seasons in 2023 (.415, 31 RBIs, 19 runs, 7 doubles) and last season (.418, 28 RBIs, 27 runs, six doubles).
During freshman year against Marist, Megall followed a home run by Levine, the program’s career leader with 35, with a memorable homer herself.
“It was hard hitting after [Levine] because she always hit a lot of home runs,” Megall said. “That was probably one of the best moments — or beating Downers Grove South as a freshman and winning regionals.”
T he opener is March 18 at Addison Trail. Whatever numbers Me g all delivers this season, her contributions will go well beyond statistics.
“We have a lot of young kids on the team and she’ll kind of take them under her wing because she’s used to being on varsity as a freshman and playing a spot she isn’t used to,” Jarrell said.
“She’s one of the best third basemen we’ve ever had. That’ll encourage kids to try new things and see you can be really good at something you’re uncomfortable with.”
BILL STONE
LTHS girls water polo seeks bigger state trophy this time
ird at state in 2024, powerful Lions hope to challenge for state title
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
An inexperienced Lyons Township High School girls water polo team improved last season all the way to another third-place trophy at the state meet.
What that now seasoned group would like to experience this season is the program’s second trip to the state championship match since their one state title in 2010.
“The athletes have come with a strong sense of determination to build on last
year’s success,” LTHS coach Megan Jacobs responded.
“We have more girls than ever wo rk in g hard in the off-season to impr ove thei r skills and the younger pl ayers are really stepping up, knowing they ’re pa rt of a team that’s proven it c an c omp ete at a high level. We have a long way to go to g et back to the level we we re playing at the end of last season, but I am c onfident we will get ther e. ”
S eniors Maya Mladjan and Delaney Ju dkins and j unior
Bella Re cker, whom all rece ived 2024 all-state honor s, are r eturning starters along with j uniors Bebe Wright and Ave ry Wa tanabe.
Maddie Wi eczorkiewicz leads newcomers along with j uniors Katie Coyne, Abbey Danaher and B ridget S molen and sophomores Eileen Cavaliere, C laire C ollins and Eve Muscat o.
L ast season, the Lions we re 27-6 after a 9-3 start and equaled their second-highest state finish of 2022. T hey beat Naperville Nor th 12- 7 for third in state after losing to c hampion St evenson in the semifinals. LT HS had lost to Naperville North 9-8 in the re g ular season.
Mladjan will play at the University of Michig an. Goalie Judkins will play at McKendree in downstate Lebanon.
Other varsity retur nees are senior Sa rsha O’Sullivan and j uniors Rose Frank and g oalie Caroline Ro bb. Freshman
Mladjan led the 2024 Lions with 122 goals and 52 ejections drawn and also had 40 assists and 68 steals. Mladjan was named first-team all-state after being second-team all-state in 2023 and third-team allstate in 2022. The Brookfield resident, who already has amassed 310 goals and 147 assists, will join older sister and for mer all-stater Emilia on the Michigan roster.
Judkins and Recker were second-team all-state. Judkins (285 saves, 626 save per-
centage, 17 assists) emerged as one of the area’s top goalies Recker had a teamhigh 113 assists and was second in goals (85) along with 39 assists. Wright (30 goals, 22 assists, 73 steals) and Watanabe (15 goals, 23 assists, 26 steals) also were among top contributors.
“ Our biggest strengths are our speed and senior leadershi p. We hope to capitalize on that (speed) with more c ounterattacks,” Jacobs responded.
“Staying healthy and focused will be ke y. Wi th only losing three senior s, c ontinuity is a big advantage for us. Maintaining strong team chemistr y, kee pin g our i ntensity up and staying mentally tough in high-pressure situations will be c ritical. Our younger pl ayers will need to ke ep ga ining experience wh i le the veterans continue leading by example.”
Numbers and spirits up for RB boys water polo
Ponnappan, Bieliauskas lead larger group under new coach Laurich
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
During this past Riverside Brookfield High School boys swimming season, senior Avi Ponnappan volunteered to swim breaststroke for the first time
“I had neve r given it much thought in the p ast because the spots we re filled , but this year no one was sw i mming it, so I thought I would give it a shot. It went pretty well and I exceeded my g oals and expectations.”
Ponnappan plans to bring that same effort and enthusiasm to an experienced and growing RBHS boys water polo team, which has seven returnees. Under new head coach Mike Laurich, the Bulldogs
have 19 players in the program, enough to also compete on the lower levels. The Bulldogs will play an independent schedule with no Upstate Eight Conference for boys water polo.
“The last seve r al year s, we ’ve almost struggled having a [varsity] team,” L aurich said. “The guys who have pl ayed the last c ouple of year s, they’ve b een doing a gr eat job mentoring the new k ids, watching them in practic e. T here’s a lot of talk b etween the k ids. It almost makes it li ke another c oach in the water. T hey ’r e ve ry vo c al and they ’r e excited to be here. ”
Ponnappan and seniors Martynas Bieliauskas, Jack Adams and Julio Aranda, juniors Jake Kocourek and Henry Manning and sophomore Victor DiForti return from last year’s varsity roster. Junior Zachary Kowalski and sophomores Marcello George, Cristian Gonzalez, Emerson Lacey, Jacob Photiades and Zachary Soucie are program returnees.
“The team chemistry will be unmatched and create the perfect environment for suc-
cess. Many of our players have known and played with each other for a long time,” Ponna ppan said. “Our main g oal thi s season is to have fun, wh i le also impr oving our skills and winning g ames. We are in a rebuilding stage, so our mai n focus is passing on our kno wledge to the underclassmen so they c an be even b etter when they get older.”
L ast season, the Bulld og s we re 3-19 and lost to St. Rita 18-9 in the Lyons Township Sectional q uarterfinals. While they gr aduated two-time all-sectional honoree and leading scorer A lex Jacobs, Ponnapp an (37 g oals, 12 assists) and Bieliauskas (13 g oals, 7 assists) we re the Bulld og s’ other d ouble-digit scorers. Bieliauskas also made 86 saves as the primary g oali e along with Adams.
“Avi and Marty are li ke the cornerstones of the whole gr oup,” L auric h said. “[Bieliauskas is] such a g ood m idd le if I c an find someone else [ to spli t g oalie time] we c an use him a little bit more on of f ense.”
Usually a driver, Ponnappan now will have to move to the more offensive point position, especially when Bieliauskas pl ay s goali e.
“This is a little different because I will have to run and set up the offense more,” Ponnappan said. “Alex had a key role in both our offense and defense so a lot of that responsibility will fall onto me this year.”
This marks the first time longtime RBHS boys and girls head swimming coach Laurich is coaching water polo. Assistant coach Tatum Bruno, also an assistant coach in swimming, is a for mer RBHS girls water polo all-stater who played at Wittenberg University.
“It’s different [than swimming]. You’ re definitely working on skills and teamwork but I’m also smart enough to bring in Tatum [as assistant],” Laurich said. “We’ll try to g et a couple more wins, be competition in the g ames we’re playing. T he guys that have been here four years, they’re doing a great job of trying to build the program up.”
MAYA ML ADJAN
DELANE Y JUDKINS
BELLA RECKER
PUBLIC NOTICES
OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.
Request of Gabriella Rae Nolan Case Number 20254000800
There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Gabriella Rae Nolan to the new name of: Gabriella Rae Rodriguez
The court date will be held: On April 8, 2025] at 11:00 AM at Maywood Courthouse, 1500 Maybrook Drive, Maywood, Cook County, IL in Courtroom # 0111.
Published in RB Landmark March 12, 19, 26, 2025
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: M25000278 on March 4, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of JENNY KELLY ART with the business located at: 941 BONNIE BRAE PLACE, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JENNIFER KELLY 941 BONNIE BRAE PLACE, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305, USA.
Published in Wednesday Journal March 12, 19, 26, 2025
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.
The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.
This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.
Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.
To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777
GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
PUBLIC NOTICES REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
Request for Qualifications for Design Build Firm, Design Build-2025 Potable Water Concrete Reservoir Maintenance Inspection and Rehabilitation
This project includes the Design Build of a Potable Water Concrete Reservoir Maintenance Inspection and Rehabilitation other associated work.
There will be a MANDATORY prebid site visit at 7525 Berkshire Street, River Forest, IL on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 10:00 am.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Monday, March 10, 2025 at: www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Friday, April 4, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in Wednesday Journal March 12, 2025
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FIRST SAVINGS BANK Plaintiff, -v.-
DDI HOLDINGS LLC, AN ILLINOIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; TANPHI WELLNESS INC., AN ILLINOIS CORPORATION; SPINOX1 INC., AN ILLINOIS CORPORATION; DONALD OLIPHANT; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendants
2023 CH 03962 6201 - 6209 WEST NORTH AVE OAK PARK, IL 60302
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Order of Default, Default Judgment, Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, and Appointing Selling Officer entered in the above cause on February 22, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 28, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:
Commonly known as 6201 - 6209 WEST NORTH AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302
Property Index No. 16-05-102032-0000
The real estate is one-story commercial building. The judgment amount was $2,667,110.06.
THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
For information, contact Paulina Garga-Chmiel, DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 10 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2300, CHICAGO, IL, 60606 (312) 876-1700. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.
Paulina Garga-Chmiel DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC 10 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 2300 CHICAGO IL, 60606 312-876-1700
E-Mail: pgarga@dykema.com Attorney Code. 42297 Case Number: 2023 CH 03962 TJSC#: 45-479 I3261453
county’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-10-319-012-0000. Commonly known as 602 S. 21st Ave., Maywood, IL 60153. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Suite 120, Naperville, IL 60563. (630) 453-6960. 1496-197806
INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3261492
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g) (4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).IF YOU ARE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ROSIE L. SIMPSON; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ER NEST ROGER BRYANT; DENISE LASHONE COLLINS; ERSKINE LA TRELL RICKS; KENOSHA DEANNA RICKS; DENOTA C. RICKS AKA DE ONTE C. RICKS; REGGIE L. RICKS AKA REGGIE RICKS; ROSIE RICKS AKA ROSE RICKS; ANDREA LY NETTE COLLINS; AMIR MOHAB BAT AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ROSIE L. SIMPSON; ERNEST R. RICKS; FIFTH THIRD BANK, N.A. S/I/I FIFTH THIRD BANK; RAYMOND E. RICKS; LATASHA D. RICKS; EARNESTINE RICKS; KENTON K. RICKS; RAQKOWN D. RICKS; DEMARCUS M. COLLINS; SHANNON RICKS; CORNELIUS RICKS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendant 24 CH 393
CALENDAR 62
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on April 8, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m.,
CAN I GET ACCESS TO THE BEST CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME?”
Where you go for your cancer care is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. Now, feel confident in that decision while staying right here in the western suburbs. As a national leader in whole-person care, AdventHealth offers connections to the renowned cancer care experts at UChicagoMedicine. Find a dedicated partner for your individual cancer journey just down the road.
To learn more, go to ChicagolandCancerCare.com.