Landmark 051023

Riverside moves to acquire Harlem Avenue building

Ownership of tax-delinquent commercial structure a bit murky

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The village of Riverside will move to acquire a tax-delinquent commercial building on Harlem Avenue through Cook County’s No Cash Bid Program after village trustees voted unanimously on May 4 to make that request this month.

The building in question is officially listed as 3250 Harlem Ave., but the one-story building comprises five storefronts, three of which are occupied by Comic Collector, Strive 4 Fitness and Psychic Readings with Sarah White.

According to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds, the owner of record is a corporation called Harlem Jam LLC, whose managers are Jeanne See

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D96 board members exit a transformed school district

Eight years on from instability at

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

Eight years ago when Shari Klyber and Lynda Murphy were first elected to the Riverside Elementary School District 96 school board, the district was coming to the end of a difficult year.

The superintendent, Bhavna S harma-Lewi s, was on her way out after only two years, forced out by a school board majority that had not hired her and didn’t really like her.

S harma-Lewi and the school board president didn’t get along and contentious school board meetings often ran late into the night, typically concluding with extensive closed session discussion.

Eight months before Klyber and Murphy were elected, two school board members who supported Sharma-Lewis abruptly quit the school board.

Last week, Klyber and Murphy left a very different school board and district after serving on the school board for two terms. These days, there is little drama and the board members actually seem to like each other.

The superintendent that Klyber and Murphy helped hire, Martha Ryan-Toye, is a strong leader who seems to be respected by all.

As they left the school board last week -neither chose to run for a third ter m -- Klyber and Murphy took note of how much things had changed.

“It just wasn’t a very professional and productive setting, and I’m just really grateful that eight years later that feels like light years ago,” Murphy said. “Eight years ago I was mad that my kids played in a parking lot, I was mad that there was no full-day kindergarten, I was mad that our

top, the waters are clam in Riverside

school board was making headlines for ridiculous things.”

In addition to hiring Ryan-Toye, the district began full-day kindergarten, built a major addition to Ames School and added minor additions to Blythe Park School and Hollywood School. Central School got a new multipurpose room and elevator as the district’s administrative headters moved of f campus to a building on Harlem Av-

And just last month, the village rside aped plans to separate parking and play areas at the Hauser Junior High School/Central School campus, which was especially important to Klyber and Murphy because their children attended Central.

“I am really proud of what we’ve done in eight years,” Murphy said.

In 2015, Klyber won the final school board seat up for election by just 24 votes. Although softspoken, the for mer high school science teacher had strong opinions and was not afraid to go her own way.

Klyber cast the only vote against returning to partial inperson instruction at the start of the 2020-21 school year and she also disagreed with the decision to end the COVID-19 mask requirement in 2022.

“Shari, you always brought the voice of the teachers to the meeting, so I definitely appreciated the perspective,” said outgoing school board President Dan Hunt, who finished last in the 2015 school board race but was elected to the school board two years later.

In recent years Klyber and Murphy cochaired the district’s education committee

and for med a strong working relationship with Director of Teaching and Learning Angela Dolezal, who Klyber had voted against hiring because she was concerned about a decline in test scores in Dolezal’s previous district in Oak Park.

Board member Stephanie Gunn said Klyber and Murphy were role models for her as she was thinking about running for the school board in 2021.

“Seeing you both as the only two women on the board … as women, as mothers, as professionals, really did motivate me,” Gunn said.

Klyber and Murphy have been replaced on the board by Salina Claps and Marlowe Djuric Kachlic who were sworn in on May 3. Claps and Djuric Kachlic, along with incumbent Wesley Murheid were unopposed in the April election, the third consecutive District 96 school board election without any competition.

Claps, 41, is an investment analyst while Djuric, 43, is a clinical professor of pharmacy at UIC. Kachlic will chair the school board’s education committee while Claps will co-chair the personnel committee.

Wesley Muirheid will take over as school board president as Hunt decided that four years as board president was enough.

“I was happy to hand it of f to somebody else,” Hunt said.

Muirheid, 41, was the only person nominated for board president and he was elected unanimously. Muirheid, a senior underwriting director at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, said he got a phone call from board member David Barsotti about a month ago, asking whether he was interested in being board president. That’s when he learned that Hunt was planning to relinquish the post.

“Apparently, the job sought me,” Muirheid said.

Editor Bob Uphues

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EMAIL jill@oakpark.com

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BOARD

OF DIREC TORS

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendor f Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

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the

SHARI KLYBER LYNDA MURPHY

“I am really proud of what we’ve done in eight years.”

LYNDA MURPHY Outgoing D96 board member

BIG WEEK May 10-17

College Athlete Rec ruiting 101

The Riverside-Brook eld High School Athletic Department invites RBHS parents and aspiring college athletes to a College Recruiting Presentation in the Little Theater of the high school, 160 Ridgewood Road in Riverside, on May 18 at 7:15 p.m.

Absolutely fabulous

Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., and Riverside Public Library invite you to join Illinois Libraries Present for a special virtual presentation “On Being Fabulous with Jonathan Van Ness and Kristi Yamaguchi” on May 17 at 7 p.m.

“Queer Eye” and “Getting Curious” star and ice skating superfan Jonathan Van Ness talks with his idol, Olympic gold medal-winning gure skater Kristi Yamaguchi about skating, style and more.

Get a link to the presentation through the Riverside Public Library website at riversidelibrary.org/events. LSF Brook eld Library o ers a link via brook eld.evanced. info/signup or you can watch a livestream in the Meeting Room at the library.

And more

■ The Frederick Law Olmsted Society invites you to its next Landscape Workday on May 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at Scottswood Common. Come for as long as you like. Supervised children welcome. Service hour credits available. Bring work gloves and a bottle of water. All other supplies and snacks will be supplied. Look for the public works dump truck.

■ Nazareth Academy, 1209 W. Ogden Ave. in LaGrange Park, hosts a Pops Choir Concert featuring the Concert Choir and Progressions on May 11 at 7 p.m. in the Alexine Chapel. Free.

■ Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St.,

Todd Kelly of Kelly College Consulting will discuss the recruiting process, levels of play, social media awareness, questions to ask when on campus, current climate and trends, academic eligibility, nancial aid, camps, showcases and more.

The one-hour presentation is free of charge.

Nor th Riverside wants your recipes

Nor th Riverside Parks & Recreation invites you to submit your favorite recipe for the special cookbook it’s compiling to help celebrate North Riverside’s 100th anniversary in 2024.

Send recipes and a photo, if you have one, to recreation@northriverside-il.org. Add a note about yourself, how long you’ve lived in North Riverside, something about the recipe, who in the family made the recipe rst, etc.

The deadline to submit is June 1. Call 708-442-5515 with questions

presents “Everything Fades,” featuring the paintings of Natalie Shugailo at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road in Riverside through June 30. The township hall is open Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit riversideartscenter.com for more.

■ North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents After School Art Escape (child with adult) on May 11 at 4 p.m., Lego Club (children 8-under w/adult) on May 12 at 4 p.m., Crafternoons: Tissue Paper Flowers on May 13 at 1:30 p.m.; Makerspace Fun (grades 6-12) on May 13 at 1:30 p.m., Morning Munchkin Stories with Ms. Karen on May 15 at 10:30 a.m., Safari ABCs (child

Vivian Maier: Life and Af terlife

Join author Pamela Bannos as she discusses her critically acclaimed book “Vivian Maier: A Photographer’s Life and Afterlife” on May 15 at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road.

Bannos contrasts the mythology of Maier, an American street photographer whose vast body of work was discovered in 2007, as a “nanny servant” who moonlighted as a photographer with the artist who suppor ted herself as a nanny.

Register to attend at riversidelibrary.org/events.

with adult) on May 17 at 10:30 a.m. and Tai Chi on May 17 at 2:30 p.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new

■ Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents Animals Everywhere Storytime (all ages with caregiver) on May 11 at 10:30 a.m., State Rep. Rashid Mobile O ce Hours on May 11 from 2 to 7 p.m., Maker Studio 101 on May 11 at 7 p.m., ESL Conversation Practice /Práctica de Conversación ESL on May 13 at 11 a.m., Grownup Geek Lab: GlowForge Wind Chimes on May 13 at 2:30 p.m., Pajama Party Storytime on May 15 at 10:30 a.m. and Chair Yoga (virtual) on May 15 at 11 a.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online at brook-

eld.evanced.info/signup to register for programs.

■ Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents Crafting at The Spot: Hanging Paper Flower Ball on May 11 at 7 p.m., Introduction to Vegetable Gardening at Riverside Community Garden (400 Nuttall Road) on May 11 at 6 p.m., Friday Outdoor Storytime on May 12 at 10 a.m., Mindfulness Together meditation on May 12 at 11 a.m. and Little Hands Activity Time (ages 1-4) on May 16 at 9:30 a.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrary.org/events

■ The Brook eld Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts its next bingo session on May 21. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.

JONATHAN VA N NESS AND KRISTI YAMAGUCHI

Riverside board votes to change legal counsel

Filippini Law Firm chosen to replace village’s longtime law

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Freshly sworn in just minutes before, the newly constituted Riverside Village Board made its first decision on May 4, voting unanimously to change its general legal counsel and the legal counsel that handles labor matters.

Out after 13 years in both those roles was the firm of Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, hired in 2010 during the administration of President Michael Gorman. The firm had assigned two attorneys for general government and zoning matters, including Riverside resident Michael Marrs and Berwyn resident Lance Malina. Anne Skrodzki had served as the labor counsel.

“We valued the work that both Lance and Michael did and their contributions,” Village Manager Jessica Frances said. “Whether the board brings them back on a special

counsel basis is potentially always an opportunity.”

Filippini Law Firm, based in Evanston, takes over as the village’s general legal counsel, while the Chicago-based firm Clark Hill PLC was hired as the village’s labor counsel. After interviewing two firms for the role of village prosecutor, Riverside decided to rehire attor ney Thomas Brescia for that job.

The small firm, which has four attorneys, specializes in municipal and land use law and counts Bannockburn, Grayslake, Volo, Long Grove and Crystal Lake among its municipal clients.

Attorney Robert E. Pickrell from Filippini Law Firm was seated at the board table at the Riverside Village Board’s meeting on May 4. According to the law firm’s website, Pickrell was an Evanston police officer before becoming a lawyer

That’s quite a change from Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, an 85-year-old firm that employs

30 attor neys and has represented, according to its website, “more local gover nments in Illinois than any other law firm,” including municipalities, school districts, fire protection districts.”

Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins was interviewed for both general and labor counsel, according to Frances. Filippini was interviewed only for general le gal counsel.

Marrs chalked up the move away from his firm to change being part of the business He said he learned of the changeable nature of municipal clients from one of the firm’s founders, Newell Jenkins, who also had been a Riverside resident who represented Riverside many years ago.

“While we are of course disappointed by the board’s decision to make a change, it has been an honor and a privilege for KTJ to represent the village of Riverside these past 13 years,” Marrs wrote in an email. “It has been an especially gratifying experience for

me given the fact that I live in town and have a vested interest in the village’s well-being. Lance, myself and the firm wish the village the best going forward.”

The new labor counsel, Clark Hill PLC, has been around since 1890. It’s an international firm with more than 700 attorneys with offices in 25 locations in the U.S. and one each in Ireland and Mexico

After issuing a request for proposals in January and receiving 15 submissions from interested law firms for one or more of the legal counsel roles, a committee of elected officials, including President Joseph Ballerine, trustees Edward Hannon and Doug Pollock and trustee-elect Jill Mateo, interviewed representatives from three firms for both general and labor counsel.

Those interviewing the prosecutor firms were Ballerine, Frances, Public Safety Director Matthew Buckley and Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe.

By Linda Sokol Francis.

SOME TAX SCAMS: PART I

The IRS warns taxpayers, tax professionals and financial institutions to beware of these scams:

Pandemic-related scams

The IRS reminds taxpayers that criminals still use the COVID-19 pandemic to steal people’s money and identity with phishing emails, social media posts, phone calls, and text messages. All these efforts can lead to sensitive personal information being stolen, and scammers using this to try filing a fraudulent tax return as well as harming victims in other ways. Some of the scams people should continue to be on the lookout for include Economic Impact Payment and tax refund scams, unemployment fraud leading to inaccurate taxpayer 1099-Gs, fake employment offers on social media, and fake charities that steal taxpayers’ money.

Offer

Offer in Compromise or OIC “mills,” make outlandish claims, usually in local advertising, about how they can settle a person’s tax debt for pennies on the dollar. Often, the reality is that taxpayers pay the OIC mill a fee to get the same deal they could have gotten on their own by working directly with the IRS. These “mills” are a problem all year long, but they tend to be more visible right after the filing season ends and taxpayers are trying to resolve their tax issues, perhaps after receiving a balance due notice in the mail.

Mother Nature & Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday and with spring’s early arrival in April it’s time to set roots with new plantings almost as beautiful as mom herself. Annual flowers and accents, as well as organic soils and amendments – the time is now.

Whether you are looking to add some color to your patio, front porch, or balcony, or create a sweeping mass of color in your landscape, you’ll be sure to find landscape-grade annuals that are bigger, better, and more beautiful. But let’s not forget about other great options such as flowering shrubs, specimen ornamentals, and a plethora of perennials and flowers. With the incorporation of plants like coneflower, hyssop, beebalm, and butterfly weed, you’ll also be gifting Mother Nature with plants that promote our pollinators. After all, the more we can help our pollinators, the more beautiful our world!

A very happy Mother’s Day, to all moms out there, including the one sustaining the world around us.

Our Garden Center hours for the spring are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. We look forward to seeing and serving you!

Equity committee at RBHS getting down to work

26-person leadership te to develop action pl in 2024

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The push to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at Riverside-Brookfield High School is moving into a higher gear. The school has established a 26-person District Equity Leadership Team (DELT) to lead the ef fort

The team is divided into what is called “five strands of systemic equity.” Equity was added as a component to the school district’s mission statement in April 2021. The strands are systems, teaching and learning, student voice, climate and culture, professional learning and family and community agency.

RBHS has been getting assistance and training in its equity push by consultant Dr. Ivette Dubiel of the firm Systemic Educational Equity. RBHS has paid the firm $16,000 since first engaging them in February 2021.

All the payments came from grant funding. Dubiel is providing systematic equity training to the RBHS staf f, which has been ongoing throughout the school year.

Some of the 26 members of the DELT appeared before the school board at its April 25 meeting to give a brief overview of its work so far. Most of the work will be done next year. The school will develop an equity action plan which is defined as “an accountability framework to identify, measure and sustain actions to advance equity.”

One important step is to define the term equity for RBHS. That goal is supposed to be completed by December 2023.

“We are very early in the process,” said Superintendent Kevin Skinkis.

The school is surveying students about the culture and climate at RBHS and this month will create a student equity leadership team.

www.mcadamlandscape.com

The student body at RBHS has become much more diverse in the last decade with a large increase in the number of Hispanic students. As of 2022 49.9% of RBHS students were white, 39.3% were Hispanic, 5.4% Black, 3.1% mixed race and 2% Asian.

The faculty remains overwhelmingly white, with 87.5% of teachers being white, according to the 2022 Illinois School Report Card. About 8% of certified staf f are Hispanic and about 2% are Black.

Although diversifying the staf f is a goal, Assistant Superintendent Kristin Smetana, who is a member of DELT, cautioned that faculty openings at RBHS are few and that it will take time to diversify the staf f, because there is typically not much turnover.

“We don’t have a lot of opportunity to do this,” said Smetana noting that the school hasn’t hired a new world languages teacher in nine years.

But the administration is taking steps to increase the diversity of new hires. It aims to create a recruitment video to encourage diverse candidates to apply and equity questions are asked of all applicants for teaching positions. The goal is to hire equity-minded staf f.

The goal of the teaching and learning

strand is “to intentionally embed equitydriven pedago gy in curriculum, resources, instructional approaches, use and consideration of assessments, and academic programming for the purpose of advancing equity among all students,” according to a report presented to the Board of Education last month.

Members of the district equity leadership team will visit Fenton High School, Vernon Hills High School and the Glenbard and Niles high schools to see how they address diversity and equity issues.

School board member Ryan VenHorst, a teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School, told the members of DELT they should expect exhausting but rewarding work ahead.

“You are about to embark on incredibly tough, incredibly rewarding work,” VenHorst said. “Expect a lot of push back, expect a lot of enthusiasm and expect a lot of non-progress to happen and keep your head down and keep going.”

BOB SKOLNIK

Several of the members of the new District Equity Leadership Team at RiversideBrook eld High School updated the school board on its work at their meeting April 25.

Scott McAdam Jr.

NO-CASH BID Building code concerns

from page 1

Anderson, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony McElligott. But the present ownership appears a bit murky

Harlem Jam LLC was involuntarily dissolved in April 2021, a month after the village of Riverside placed a lien on the property for non-payment of the water/sewer bill from July through October 2020 in the amount of $566.

McElligott is a for mer Riverside resident who sold his Gatesby Road home in July 2016, the same year he switched ownership of 3250 Harlem Ave. to Harlem Jam LLC. Beginning in 2017, according to Cook County Treasurer records, the Harlem Avenue property became tax delinquent.

Riverside Village Manager Jessica Frances told the Landmark that the village has had no luck finding McElligott and that the tenants themselves don’t know exactly who their landlord is at this time

“What we’re aware of currently is that they have no one to pay rent to and there are code-enforcement challenges on the property,” Frances said. “Part of this no-cash bid process is really to handle those issues, because right now the village is getting calls and there’s nothing we can do.”

Most recently, Frances said, the village had to respond to a significant water leak inside one of the vacant storefronts

“We had to go in and get that turned off,” Frances said. “There’s been graffiti on the building and there’s been a number of things that, unfortunately, is a challenge because it’s private property, so there’s limitations as to what the village can do.”

For more than a decade, McElligott operated AAA Bartending School out of the 3250 Harlem Ave. storefront, but that space has been vacant since about 2017, which is also

the year the property became tax-delinquent. Subsequently, someone purchased ing’s delinquent 2017 property taxes

Sarah White, who has leased the 3240 Har lem Ave. storefront for about a decade, sai the tax buyer was a New Jersey property development firm, but she has had little luc contacting them.

Rick Lukes, whose Comic Collector stor has called 3246 Harlem Ave. home for told the Landmark he hasn’t seen McElligott in years. Asked who he calls when there ar property maintenance issues, Lukes sai there is no one

“So far I haven’t had any issues, did, I would take care of them myself,” Luke said.

Shawn Groll, who has operated Stri ness at 3242 Harlem Ave. since 2018, says he too got a letter stating that delinquent prop erty taxes had been purchased, but in the dark about the ownership.

He said his boutique fitness gym will remain on Harlem Avenue for now, but he’s also preparing to eventually merge the Riverside operation into a new 7,100-square-foot location at 7905 Ogden Ave. in Lyons.

“We’ll still be in Riverside as long as we can,” Groll said. “Hopefully the town does do something for that area.”

The village has no specific plans for the future of the property, according to Frances

“Our focus is really to address the code enforcement issues and challenges, so there is actually someone who’s a point of contact when issues arise, because right now there isn’t,” she said.

As to the possibility of simply maintaining the building and leasing the storefronts, Frances said that was something a future village board would need to deter mine

“We’re not looking to get rid of businesses

Our primary focus is the code enforcement piece. What do we do if we actually are successful getting that parcel, that’d be another conversation to be had at that point,” Frances said. “We appreciate those who have created successful businesses in that area.”

Women now the majority on Riverside, Brook eld boards

For rst-time ever in both villages, women trustees outnumber men

By BOB UPHUES Editor

One of the first things a visitor to the council chambers in both Riverside and Brookfield notices is a wall covered with the photos of village presidents, from incorporation in the 19th century to the present.

Most are black-and-white portraits, framed and arranged in rows. All of those photos on display are of men.

“People comment on that,” said Jill Mateo, who was sworn into her first term in office as a village trustee in Riverside on May 4 after serving as the chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the past seven years. “It’s meaningful there are no women up there.”

Jennifer Hendricks, who was on Brookfield’s Planning and Zoning Commission for 13 years before being elected trustee in 2021, said she had a similar reaction in Brookfield.

“Whoa, that’s a lot of men,” said Hendricks when asked how that Wall of Guys comes across to women. “I guess it’s what I expected, and I guess we have work to do.”

No woman has been village president in either village, but within the past week both now have village boards which are majority female – for the first time in their centuryplus histories.

“This trend is building gender equality and our community is benefitting from it,” said Cristin Evans, who was sworn in to her second four-year term on the Riverside village board on May 4. “Women are natural problem-solvers and that translates into more responsive government. Women’s leadership and perspectives are essential to communities that thrive.”

It’s not just women taking on leadership roles as elected officials. In Riverside, Brookfield and North Riverside, woman hold some of the most important jobs in their munici-

palities

Jessica Frances, who has been Riverside village manager since 2014, was hired as the finance director in 2012. Her administrative team includes women in the roles of assistant manager in Ashley Monroe, finance director in Karin Johns and village planner in Anne Cyran.

Brookfield Assistant Village Manager Stevie Ferrari, appointed to that role late in 2022, was promoted to the No. 2 administrative spot after transforming the recreation department during a four-year stint as its director.

Like Riverside, the head of the Brookfield Community Development Department, Emily Egan, is a woman, as is the planner, Kate Portillo.

North Riverside’s administrator, Sue Scarpiniti, served as the village’s finance director for two decades before taking on the top village hall job in 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The village was also the first of the three to hire a woman, Deborah Garcia, as police chief.

Of course, women long have played prominent roles in those aspects of local governance, as members of volunteer advisory commissions, as elected school and library board members, leading local charities and school-related organizations

And there have been two and sometimes up to three women serving on local municipal boards, but never four – never a majority, until now. The timing isn’t a coincidence.

After the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States in 2016, women were often those stepping up to organize leftleaning grassroots political organizations, such as Indivisible. They threw themselves into campaigning for the 2018 midterms and tasted success

Evans, a member of Indivisible, and Megan Claucherty were among those stepping up to run and win elective office in Riverside in 2019.

“Decisions are being made at all levels of government on issues that disproportionately affect women, and those decisions are being made without enough women at the table,” Claucherty said. “This fundamental

imbalance is motivating women to run for office.”

In Brookfield, there’s been a tradition, at least within the PEP Party, which has held every seat on the village board since 2005 of women in the party recruiting female candidates

The late Cathy Edwards, for example, encouraged Nicole Gilhooley to run in 2013. Gilhooley would serve two full terms as trustee and then sat out for two years before being encouraged to run again in 2023 – this time with an all-female slate, which included Brookfield Parks and Recreation Board member Julie Narimatsu and Katie Kaluzny, who was first elected in 2019, recruited by Gilhooley

“She’s the one who pulled me in and cajoled me and talked me through it,” said Gilhooley of Edwards’ influence. “I don’t know if I could have done it at the beginning without her. She saw potential in me, and that meant a lot to me.”

Kaluzny was instrumental in recruiting both Hendricks and Narimatsu.

“We inspire each other,” said Hendricks “Women, I think, work actively to support each other and to raise each other up.”

Narimatsu, who has been a leader at her children’s school and joined the recreation board in 2020, was at first reluctant to run for trustee. Seeing people like Kaluzny and Hendricks at the board table “really tamped down my imposter syndrome a little bit.”

“I think women always feel that you have to be overqualified for the position you’re applying for,” said Narimatsu, a University of Michigan graduate with a law degree from Syracuse University who works as a program analyst in the Inspector General’s Office for the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency.

“It took a lot for me to get to this point,” Narimatsu said. “I just hope this group inspires people who might be reluctant leaders to come out of the woodwork and join commissions and run for of fice.”

But making sure women are represented as decision-makers in local government is a primary reason they decided to run for office at the municipal level.

During an interview in Brookfield on May 6, Hendricks pointed out a button she has had pinned to her jacket for the past couple of years. It’s a replica button from the suffragette era, when women – just a century ago, and more than century after the nation was founded – were still fighting for the right to vote

The pin states, simply, “Votes for Women.”

“It reminds me all the time that this is not a right that we’ve had forever,” Hendricks said.

Gilhooley said she hoped her daughters seeing her in a decision-making role in their community would serve as an example. Mateo wanted to make that same impression –on boys

“I think it’s great when the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts come sit in that there will be mostly women sitting there [at the board table],” Mateo said.

As for when one of the villages might see its first-ever female president, that is surely on the way.

“I sure hope it happens soon,” said Mateo, who said her husband, for mer Riverside Village President Ben Sells, encourages her to think about it on occasion. “But baby steps. I want to see how I am on the village board. Being on an advisory commission is one thing, making these decisions in another.”

BOB UPHUES/Editor

Jill Mateo is sworn into o ce as a Riverside trustee by President Joseph Ballerine at a May 4 village board meeting.

Zoning hearings on tap for new developments in North Riverside

Commission to consider applications for chicken restaurant, tire store

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The North Riverside Planning and Zoning Commission on May 18 will conduct a pair of public hearings and solicit public feedback on two proposed developments to be built on outlots of neighboring commercial properties.

The hearings will start at 6 p.m. in the council chamber of the North Riverside Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave.

The first of the hearings is a request to change the zoning of the property at 7451 Cermak Road from B1 Retail Business to a B2 General Business in order to allow construction of a new fast-food restaurant called Pollo Campero in the northeast corner of the parking lot in front of Hobby Lobby.

Pollo Campero is a Guatemala-based chain with an all-chicken menu of meals, sandwiches and empanadas with about 350 locations in Central America, North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Most of its 80 locations in the United States are in California, New York City/ Long Island and the Washington, D.C., metro area. It has two locations in Illinois, both in Chicago, in the River North and Albany Park neighborhoods.

In late 2022, the company announced it was embarking on an expansion of its business in the U.S., where it hopes to have 250 locations by 2026.

The existing zoning for the Hobby Lobby property does permit restaurants as a use. The B2 General Business District allows both retail and restaurant uses and re zoning that parcel also would result in

LTHS teacher reprimanded for derogatory language

it matching the zoning of the properties to the immediate east and south. According to Pollo Campero’s initial petition for a public hearing, which it submitted last December, the roughly 0.7acre outlot would include a 2,518-squarefoot building with indoor and outdoor seating, a drive-thru and a 30-space parking lot.

If approved, the restaurant would be on track to open sometime in 2024.

Second pitch for mall outlot

Also on May 18, officials from The Feil Organization, which owns the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, will pitch the village a second time to develop an outlot parcel in the mall’s east parking lot, south of Olive Garden.

In early 2020, the mall proposed constructing two buildings in that location, one for a fitness gym and another for general retail, but the COVID-19 pandemic put those plans on ice.

The mall is now proposing outlot construction of an 8,341-square-foot Discount Tire store south of Olive Garden, with a plan to develop a second, roughly 5,200-square-foot freestanding retail building south of that.

Plans submitted to the village by The Feil Organization in April also indicate they intend to build another roughly 4,775-square-foot retail building in what is now an overflow parking lot in the very northeast corner of the mall property, where Clover’s Garden Center leases space each summer.

Construction of the Discount Tire outlot is the only matter to be discussed at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, although the larger plan and storm water management may be a topic.

Plans on file with the mall’s application show they plan to create a new storm water detention area in the abandoned railroad right-of-way in the southeast corner of the mall property.

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

A veteran Lyons Township High School teacher received a written warning, approved by the LTHS District 204 Board of Education, after refer ring to a student of hers as a “hood rat.”

On April 17, the LTHS Board of Education voted 6 to 1 to send what is called a Notice to Remedy to English teacher Katherine Karubas. A Notice of Remedy is a severe written warning and notice to improve that states if the teacher fails to improve her behavior, she can be suspended without pay or terminated

School board member Michael Thomas cast the only vote against issuing the Notice

to Remedy. Thomas declined to comment when asked after the meeting why he had voted against the Notice to Remedy, which was approved without discussion.

The Notice to Remedy resolution only refers to “deficiencies in the conduct of a teacher.” The reasons behind the Notice to Remedy only became apparent after the Landmark and the LaGrange Patch submitted FOIA requests for copies of a memo LTHS Superintendent Brian Waterman sent to Karubas on April 11. Patch first published a story about the Notice to Remedy.

Waterman’s memo to Karubas stated that during a meeting with an assistant principal, Karubas referred to a student

See REPRIMAND on pa ge 10

Reportedly not the rst time the instructor has been agged for comments about students

Riverside Public Library unveils its new makerspace, The Spot

Dedicated area will be renovated later this year

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Back in 2017 when Riverside Public Library officials were finalizing plans to renovate the building’s lower level, setting aside a dedicated area for a makerspace was not part of the plan.

At the time, makerspaces were still a novel idea in the library world, and according to Library Director Janice Foley, creating such a space was not something she’d heard much interest in.

That’s changed.

Last month, Riverside Public Library unveiled its new makerspace, which it has dubbed “The Spot,” in what is the rear half of the expanded public meeting room that was part of the 2017 renovation design

“Libraries are not just books anymore,” said Jordan Bravo, coordinator for The Spot, who also works as a librarian in Information Services. He’s assisted by Children and Youth Services librarian Nikki Duran.

The devices in the space include 3-D printers, a Glowforge, a mold maker, a Cricut machine, an embroidery machine, a bookbinding machine, a button maker/graphic punch, desktop computers and lighting and greenscreen equipment for photo and video projects

“I based everything off of research I’ve done on other makerspaces, not just in this area but across the country, because I really wanted to see what people really were using,” Bravo said. “I just wanted space where people could come and be creative.”

Anyone wishing to use The Spot’s devices must make an appointment, which can be done at riversidelibrary.org/spot, where

there is also information about the devices available, user guides written by Bravo and how-to videos.

“I really want this space to be where people can come in with their ideas and execute them,” Bravo said. “I’ve made sure that if someone wanted to use [a device] they have everything they needed to come in here and just execute their dream design.”

Diane Silva, the library’s assistant director and information services manager who played a key role in creating the makerspace, said much of the software needed to create designs that are executed on makerspace devices is web-based and free

of charge. People can use their own computers to make their designs or use the ones in the makerspace.

“The beauty of all this technology is that it’s been around so long that you really don’t have to design from scratch,” Silva said. “There’s free stuf f all over the place for the Glowforge and 3D printer that you can download.”

The dedicated makerspace also gives the library a place to host classes. Silva said the makerspace has 10 laptop computers that can be used for those classes. This summer the library will offer, for example, a 3D printing minicamp for kids and

a Cricut minicamp for adults

“So, kids can take a three-week course and Jordan and Nikki will teach them how to use the 3D printer, how to use Tinkercad [3D modeling software] to design a maze that then they can build and print with the 3D printer,” Silva said.

Unlike some library makerspaces, The Spot as presently configured is a bit makeshift – having been assembled outside of the library’s 2017 plan. But that will change later this year.

Later this month or in early June, the Riverside Public Library will seek bids to renovate The Spot to give it a real sense of purpose and belonging. A moveable wall separating it from the main meeting room means the entire space can be enlarged for bigger events, but the intention is to keep it a dedicated space day to day.

Part of the carpeting will be removed and replaced with laminate flooring that’s easier to maintain, and new tabletop work surfaces will be installed, along with built-in storage for equipment and materials.

The makerspace renovation is part of a larger project that will include the creation of a private two-person study room inside what is now a storage space and the construction of a partial wall to screen the genealogy area from the corridor to the restrooms

Work is slated to start later this year, Foley said, and be completed in late 2023 or early 2024.

The improvements will be funded out of the nearly $250,000 remaining from a $1.5 million bond issue approved by voters in 2020 to renovate the lower level. Last November, the Riverside Village Board, through whom the bond had to be issued, voted to allow the library board to use the leftover funds for additional lower-level improvements

from page 9

assigned to her roster as a “hood rat.” This was apparently not the first time Karubas made derogatory comments about students “Concerns about your use of inappropriate and unprofessional language have been

shared with you on multiple occasions, after which you were given clear expectations and directives to improve your behavior,” Waterman wrote in his memo to Karubas. “These directives included refraining from using inappropriate and unprofessional language while performing your role as a staff member, refraining from using profanity as well as using racially or culturally insensitive language in any educational setting, interacting with students and staff in a professional

manner and building positive working relationships with students and staff members. This improvement has not occurred.”

Waterman instructed Karubas to contact and consult with the school’s Employee Assistance Program about her “poor decision making and unprofessional conduct.”

She was also ordered not to use profanity or any racially or culturally insensitive language in any educational setting and to interact with students and staff in a professional

manner.

Karubas was further told to model such behavior for students and to build positive and professional relationships with students and staff and to be honest in her interactions with supervisors and district administrators.

Karubas began teaching at LTHS in 2005 and has also served as a girls gymnastics coach. She is currently teaching senior level English classes. Karubas did not reply to an emailed request for comment.

REPRIMAND ‘Unprofessional language’

BOB UPHUES/Editor

Jordan Bravo (le ), who is coordinator of Riverside Public Library’s makerspace e Spot, and Child and Youth Services librar ian Nikki Duran, show o one of three 3D printers available to patrons.

Nor th Riverside o cer recognized for DUI enforcement

North Riverside Police Officer

Josh Czerak was reco gnized by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM), a nonprofit org anized by the victims of drunk driving crashes to combat driving under the influence, for having made 100 DUI ar rests during his career Czerak, an officer with the department since 2017, was presented with a certificate of achievement from AAIM Executive Director Rita Kreslin during a brief ceremony at the April 17 meeting of the North Riverside Village Board.

On campus

■ Brookfield resident Abagail Roussin was recently initiated into the Wester n Illinois University chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, an all-discipline collegiate honor society. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership. Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 “to reco gnize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher educatio n and to eng age the community of scholars in service to other s.”

■ Marlena Barrido , of Brookfield, was inducted into the Mortar Board National Honor Society during the annual Tappin g of the Mound ceremony at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa on April 7. Mortar Board is a national honor society for students based on leadershi p, scholarship and service and is considered one of the highest honors that can be granted to seniors.

Barrido was also inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society at the same ceremony.

■ In Februar y, Lyons Township High School students from WLTL and LTTV held their annual Rock-A-T hon fundraiser where during a 65-hour period they took to the airwaves to raise funds for their stations.

JOSH CZERAK

This year the students raised $27,283, the fifth-highest total ever and more than double last year’s fundraiser.

In addition, Brookfield resident Jake Gripp , a senior who is involved with WLTL, won the award for Most Creative Progr am at the 83rd Annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference in New York City. WLTL’s faculty advisor, Chris Thomas , won Faculty Advisor of the Year.

■ Brookfield resident Bazil Bednar , a senior at Lyons Township High School, was among the members of the school’s Business Professionals of America club receiving reco gnition during the BPA State Leadership Conference in Oak Brook.

Bednar rece ived honorable mention awards in the extemporaneous speech and human resource management competitions.

■ Brookfield residents Jocelyn Arellano (cosmetolo gy), Alexandra Griffin (nursing assistant training), Katlyn Nicol (cosmetolo gy) and Elizabeth OrahaRosa (professional cooking, baking and service) were among the Lyons Township High School students named to the Technolo gy Center of DuPage’s A-Team for the first semester of the 2022-23 academic year for outstanding achievement in their respective progr ams at the school.

Now

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

A safe & smart choice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One charged after ‘altercation’ that left LTHS student severely injured

School and police o cials release few details, say investigation is ongoing

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

An 18-year-old Lyons Township High School student from Brookfield was arrested last week and charged with battery following what officials have simply described as a “physical altercation” in which two peo-

ple were injured on the afternoon of May 1 outside at the North Campus

LaGrange police identified the student charged as James Hernandez Jr., who was arrested on May 5, four days after the attack. The arrest was announced by the LaGrange Police De par tment in a press release

The altercation also involved several juveniles, one of whom was re ported to be severely injured. LTHS officials said on May 8 that they had no updates on the student’s condition.

According to a statement posted on the LTHS website and sent to families and the press on May 5, the severely injured student “continues to receive medical treat-

ment.”

One other juvenile was injured in the altercation, although those injuries apparently were not severe. The school has released little information about the incident, leaving many students and parents frustrated

After a school board meeting on May 8, Principal Jen Tyrrell declined to answer questions

The severely injured student was taken to a hospital immediately following the altercation, which happened outside Exit 7 on the west side of LTHS’s North Campus.

There is re por tedly a video of the attack circulating among students. According to

two LTHS students who have seen the video, the attack is difficult to watch.

One student told the Landmark that you can see a lot of blood in the video, and another student told his mother that you can see someone repeatedly stomping on a student in the attack. The student who was severely injured was apparently targeted

“This was an isolated incident and does not pose a threat to the community,” the LaGrange Police Department said in their press release. “The LaGrange Police Department has worked closely with school administrators throughout its investigation and will continue to pursue leads as the case develops.”

More vehicle break-ins in Brook eld

Brookfield police responded to the 3800 block of Cleveland Avenue on the morning of May 4 after a resident called to report that someone had entered her unlocked vehicle, which was parked overnight on the street, and rummaged through the center console and glove box. Nothing appeared to be missing.

While investigating that incident, the responding officer noticed another vehicle with a door ajar parked on the street. The officer looked inside and saw the glove box and center console were open. The owner of that vehicle told police nothing of value appeared to be missing.

■ A Brookfield crossing guard called police on May 5 to report that while she was eating breakfast at a restaurant after working her morning shift at the Veterans Memorial Circle, someone entered her unlocked vehicle and removed her “Stop” sign

Man scammed out of $550

North Riverside police continue to investigate a May 2 incident where a local resident was scammed out of $550 by two men claiming they could repair scrapes and dents on his vehicle on the cheap.

The victim told police he encountered one of the offenders at the 7-Eleven at La-

Grange Road and 47th Street, where they briefly chatted before the victim drove home to North Riverside.

As he pulled up to his home, the victim saw a black Chevy Silverado pull into his driveway and the man from 7-Eleven exited and addressed him as if they’d been longtime friends.

The man said it could cost thousands to repair the dents and scratches from the victim’s vehicle but that he could do it for $700. Another man associated with the first arrived on scene and began rubbing a substance on the victim’s vehicle.

The victim told them he didn’t have $700 but could pay $500 and write a check for the rest. The men insisted on being paid in cash and of fered to take the victim to the bank to withdraw money.

The victim went with one of the men to the bank, withdrawing $550 and giving it to the offender who drove him back home.

At that time the man from 7-Eleven told the victim he needed to get his house tuck pointed and his driveway redone and suggested the victim take out a loan. The victim declined, the men left and the victim called police.

The white foamy substance one of the men had applied to the car, police said, appeared to be shaving cream.

DUI crash

Brookfield police charged an 18-year-old Brookfield man with driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of a crash and other offenses after he alle gedly drove a Ford van of f the roadway and into a tree and speed limit sign in the vicinity of the intersection of Harrison and Lincoln avenues on April 28 at about 1:15 a.m.

The driver reportedly ran away and made a phone call to his mother to pick him up. Police located him about four blocks from the crash scene at Garfield and Madison avenues.

The van had sustained heavy front-end damage and the driver’s door window was shattered. Police also reported observing a quarter-full bottle of vodka in the center console cup holder.

According to the police report, the driver’s blood-alcohol content was .19, which is more than twice the le gal limit of .08.

Street racing

■ A 29-year-old Chicago man was charged with aggravated speeding on May 4 at about 5:30 p.m. after a police officer reported observing a motorcycle and a black Infiniti traveling northbound on First Av-

enue from 25th Street in North Riverside at speeds between 81 and 85 mph in a 35-mph zone.

The officer was able to curb the Infiniti while the motorcycle accelerated and continued northbound. The driver of the Infiniti was arrested and charged and his vehicle was impounded.

■ North Riverside police charged a 56-year-old Cicero man with aggravated speeding early on May 7 after a police officer on patrol at 2:25 a.m. re ported observing two vehicles racing each other while eastbound on Cermak Road from Desplaines Avenue at 80 mph in a 35-mph zone.

The officer caught up with one of the vehicles, a white Kia, in the 7100 block of Cermak Road in Berwyn where he arrested the driver.

These items were obtained from police re ports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, April 28-May 7, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

THE L ANDMARK VIEW

Cannabis on the way

Both Brookfield and Riverside appear poised to welcome adult-use recreational cannabis dispensaries, probably later this year, and that will be a welcome source of sales tax revenue for villages always looking for a way to boost that revenue line item as they try to balance annual operating budgets.

In Brookfield, village trustees on May 8 got their first look at a proposal by The 1937 Group to bring a dispensary to the old Bambino’s property at 8863 Ogden Ave., and judging from the reception, it looks like that firm will have a special use permit to operate the dispensary after a vote by the village board on May 22.

Last month, the Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission gave a unanimous recommendation to approve the special use permit, and trustees didn’t indicate during a presentation at the village board’s May 8 committee of the whole meeting that they have any objections.

In Riverside, not much has been going on in public regarding the possibility of a cannabis dispensary opening at 2704 Harlem Ave. But village officials have confirmed that Star Buds IL has said it will soon submit a plan to build out the vacant building. In Riverside, cannabis dispensaries are allowed by right and require no additional zoning relief as long as the building plans conform to the code.

Those businesses, barring any unforeseen hurdles, ought to be up and running within the calendar year once the villages sign of f on the plans. You can expect those to become important destination businesses in those villages and a real boost for economic development.

Troubling silence

On May 1, two Lyons Township High School students were hurt – one of them severely, according to officials – in some sort of targeted attack outside the North Campus.

As far as we know, that student remains hospitalized and we’re hearing rumors of just how severely the student was hurt. There’s also apparently a video circulating, at least among students, which sounds very disturbing.

There’s been an arrest for battery, and our understanding is that police have identified suspects. At some point, hopefully sooner rather than later, school and police officials can clue in the public to exactly what took place on May 1. Is this something that could have been prevented? Where exactly did this take place? On school property or off?

Families are sending their kids to school every day with the faith that they’ll be safe from harm. The lack of information may be having the opposite effect officials are trying to produce.

KOSEY CORNER

The parade of royal life continues

Seventy years ago, a young girl sat mesmerized before the black-andwhite TV to view the coronation of another young girl, who became Queen Elizabeth of England, a title she would hold for seven decades.

The young Elizabeth assumed the title of Queen of England, following the untimely death of her father

Seeing a real-life fairytale was entrancing -- a beautiful young princess about to be queen, a car riage gilded in gold, a crown symbolizing years of history. Her heavy royal cape was placed upon her shoulders; she was now queen.

Going down the long aisle she would meet her eager countrymen. On a balcony with her family, mother, grandmother, sister and beloved husband, Phillip, she smiled broadly as she waved her queenly wave.

Below the balcony were her faithful guards and troops, she would hold in her heart a love of her countrymen for the next 70 years.

The year is 2023, the girl watching the coronation of Elizabeth’s oldest son, King Charles III, is now grown and does not need permission to stay home from school to watch it. If you hadn’t figured it out,

that girl was me. Only now, the TV is larger and in color.

I watched the event with the same fascination of many years ago, only I had lear ned much more about the monarchy and the new king. Already, Charles is in his early 70s, and one can be assured there will not be a 70-year wait. Next in line is Prince William, King Charles’ oldest son. William and his wife, Kate, are already displaying how they and their three children will bring a new dimension to the monarchy.

The colors were beautiful. The car riage was more than I imagined. The royal couple waved while conversing. I can only imagine what they were saying: “I do want to go to the bathroom!” “What do you think we’re having to eat?” “They messed my hair a little when they put that crown on.”

Did I enjoy it? Yes, I did. No apolo gies for enjoying the Royal Family and then a quick nap because it was Derby Day.

I always make a bet, even if it’s only on paper. I can honestly say I’m glad no money changed hands. My horse is still looking for the rest of the pack. So that was my day, and the parade of life continues.

LETTERS

Landmark o base on LT land sale

The question is no longer whether or not LT acted improperly, they in fact broke the law. The AG issued a binding opinion on the Jan. 23 meeting and there are still six more to rule on.

No one is suggesting LT sell at a reduced price. That is a blatantly false statement. And to suggest Willow Springs would be getting a bargain at the expense of LT further perpetuates this falsehood. At who’s expense would it be to allow industrial, which isn’t legally permissible. How about you write a story from that angle.

SB990 establishes the price at the fair market value for

current zoning, which is meant to define the land’s true worth.

For example, I can’t sell my house for industrial, a casino, strip joint or junkyard. Why? Because it is zoned residential. So, it gets appraised based on current zoning That has been the standard approach when selling real estate forever.

And for RB Landmark to claim the uproar is purely political (“Rules for thee, not for me,” The Landmark View, May 3) is shameful. It is obvious you are in the hip pocket of LT with these shallow arguments and accusations. All the surrounding communities and towns are against industrial and agree with the basic argument that the land’s worth should be based solely on an appraisal at current zoning. Simple.

LT has avoided requesting a zoning variance on purpose and planned to have a multibillion dollar global

JOANNE KOSE Y

Cathleen Buehring, 46

Elementary school teache r Cathleen

“Cathy” Buehring, 46, of Hinsdale and for merly of Riverside, died May 3, 2023.

Cathy earned her master’s de gree in education from Dominican University and taught elementary school for more than 20 years. Despite significant physical challenges throughout her life, Cathy always presented a bright smile and a sunny disposition.

She enjoyed comedians and was a “Golden Girls” superfan. Cathy was a caring person who loved everyone. Her family was the most important part of her life and she especially enjoyed spending time with her niece and nephews.

She was the daughter of Barbara (nee Boker) and the late Patrick; sister of Patrick M. (Sara) and Jen Buehring (Nancy Minasola); aunt of Jack, Connor and Margee Buehring; niece of Richard (Sandy)

Buehring, LaVerne “Dolly” (Jim) Marcello and the late Edward Boker, Arthur Jr. (the late Jean) Buehring, Mary Lou (the late Gus) Norde, Dorothy (the late Matt) Nobile, Joni (Jack) Izzo and Pe gg y O’Day; and a cousin of many Visitation is on Wednesday, May 10 from

LETTERS

industrial company slap little old Willow Springs around to get their way. LT’s own lawyer stated there are “obvious” ways to get around Willow Springs’ resistance to change zoning. So, for RB Landmark to suggest that just because Willow Springs holds tough against a zoning change, that there is then no way industrial could be built there is promoting a falsehood.

This is why there is a coordinated resistance against LT; not because there is an ef fort to buy the land, as you suggest, at a bargain price, but to prevent an industrial development.

This is a grassroots community organized pushback on what clearly does not belong next to a school, park, and three surrounding neighborhoods, some of which have been here for 70 years.

OBITUARIES

3 to 8 p.m. at Sullivan Funeral Home, 60 S. Grant St., Hinsdale. Friends and family will meet Thursday, May 11 at St. Mary Church/St. Paul VI Parish, 105 Herrick Rd., Riverside for visitation from 10 a.m. until time of funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment at Resur rection Cemetery in Justice to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriner Children’s Chicago, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, Illinois, 60707.

Joan M. Cambalik, 86 North Riverside

homemaker

Joan M. Cambalik (nee Michaels), 86 of North Riverside, died May 4, 2023. She was a homemaker.

Ms. Cambalik was the wife of the late Robert M. Cambalik; the mother of Lynn (the late Alan) Plica and David (Barbara) Cambalik; the grandmother of Nicole (Nicholas) Conteduca, Kellie (Ruben) Villarreal, Elizabeth (Marc) Besteman, Keri (Mark) Schaefer, Robert (Katie Lukas) Cambalik; the great-grandmother of Jax Villarreal, Harper Villarreal, Frankie Conteduca, Noah Villarreal, Adriana Conteduca, Siena Conteduca Lucas Schaefer

and Niko Villarreal; and the sister of Donald (Judy) Michaels and Kenneth (Sharon) Michaels.

Visitation is Tuesday, May 9 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, May 10 from 10:30 a.m. to time of service at 11a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. Interment is at Woodlawn Cemetery, Forest Park

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to a charity of your choice.

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

Thomas A. Ruf, 58 Maintenance worker

Thomas A. Ru 58, of North Riverside, died May 8, 2023 in Oak Park

Mr. Ruf was bo Oct. 16, 1964 in Chicago. He work maintenance in residential buildings and enjo sports, gardening, trivia and woodworking.

He was the of the late Marilyn (nee Ramp); the father of Nick Ruf, Melanie Ruf and Jack Ruf; the son of Anthony Ruf and the late Maria Ruf; and the brother of Liz (Bill) Rhind and Jennifer (Todd) Londo.

Visitation is Friday, May 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, 2447

Desplaines Ave., North Riverside. Cremation is private.

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

Margaret K. Taschner, 78

LaGrange Park homemake r

Margaret “Midge” Katherine Taschner (nee Steinbach), 78, of LaGrange Park, died May 6, 2023.

Midge was known by many for the help she of fered to all when she had worked for a local dentist, bank and hospital.

Ms. Taschner was the wife of Manfred “Murph” Taschner, the mother of Michele (John) Owen and Tracy (Jason) Klein, the andmother of Re gina Domer and the sister of Cathy (the late James) Smith. She was predeceased by seven sisters and one brother, and she was the aunt of many nieces and nephews.

Visitation is Friday, May 12 from 3 p.m. to time of service at 8 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield. Interment is private

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

Try interviewing people from Pleasantdale next time before reporting LT’s onesided argument that disrespects all the hardworking taxpayers of Pleasantdale. BTW, using words like “berserk” shows your readers your bias right of f the bat.

Fred Whiting Willow Springs

Local lawmakers need to suppor t SB1909

I am writing to express my deep concer n about the harm caused by anti-abortion centers (also known as crisis pregnancy centers) in Illinois and to urge my sup-

port for Senate Bill 1909, which would hold these centers accountable for their deception and harmful misinformation toward patients seeking abor tion care

Anti-abortion centers often masquerade as healthcare facilities, but in reality they are anti-abortion organizations that aim to deter people from accessing abor tion services. These centers use deceptive tactics such as providing false information about abor tion, exaggerating the risks associated with the procedure and even delaying patient appointments until it is too late to receive an abor tion in the state

These practices not only violate a pregnant person’s bodily autonomy to make infor med decisions about their own bodies, but it also puts their health and wellbeing at risk. SB1909 would require anti-abortion centers to disclose their true purpose and services of fered, as well as provide ac-

curate and unbiased information to their clients.

This legislation is essential to ensuring that everyone in our state and those traveling to Illinois for abortion care from states that have banned abor tion have access to honest and factual information about their re productive healthcare options

I urge House Re p. Abdelnasser Rashid (21st District) and House Re presentative Elizabeth Hernandez (2nd District) to support SB1909 and take a stand against the deceptive and harmful practices of antiabor tion centers if we want Illinois to remain a safe state for abortion access

Everyone deserves to be able to make infor med decisions about their bodies and their futures, and this legislation is a crucial step towards ensuring that right.

Eleanor Grano Ri verside

CATHLEEN BUEHRING

JOAN M. C AMBALIK

THOMAS A. RUF

MARGARET K. TASCHNER

LTHS badminton quali es entire squad to state meet

Lions exit sectionals with four top-4 nishes, including doubles title

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Lyons Township High School’s Elle Ownby is returning to the state badminton meet with plenty of company.

The lone returning 2022 qualifier is among six qualifiers – both doubles teams and singles players – after the Lions won their IHSA Sectional on May 4 for first sectional title since 2013 and only their fourth ever.

The IHSA state finals are May 12-13 at DeKalb High School.

“My whole team deserves it. It was just awesome that we can all go as a team and celebrate this win,” said Ownby, who also captured the sectional doubles title with senior Aggie Driscoll.

“The first time I played with her, she’s definitely a great match,” Ownby said. “I was just set on her. It’s the best feeling because, obviously, senior year I want to end on a good note. Junior year was great. Senior year is even better.”

Top-four sectional finishers advance to state. Senior Sofia Garcia and sophomore Mia Graziano were third in doubles and junior Julie Senffner and sophomore Audrey

LTHS

Shell were third and four th in singles.

It’s the first time all four LTHS entries have qualified for state since 2010.

Under coach Sue McLenahan, the Lions’ 2013 and third-place 2014 state teams advanced both singles players and one doubles team. Those lineups included threetime state singles champion Stephanie Lin, now an assistant coach.

“That’s the goal, to get as many to advance as possible. We are ecstatic that they’ll all get to be together there,” McLenahan said.

Ownby and Driscoll (20-11) won their three matches in two games, including 2117, 21-8 in the final.

They opened the season going 6-0 at the Hersey Tournament and never looked back. They both played at the 2022 sectional but with different senior partners. Driscoll came one victory from qualifying for state.

“We were so close to [qualifying in 2022], but going senior year and placing first overall on top of that is just really nice,” Driscoll said.

Garcia and Graziano (13-22) also are a

new doubles team. Garcia hoped to be part of the 2022 sectional lineup but was sidelined by a mid-season foot injury.

“State is kind of the ultimate goal as a yer so it’s rewarding,” Garcia said. “I’ve been part of the program ever since I was a young kid, playing LT badminton through summer camps, so just to be playing senior year [at state], this will be my last time.”

Graziano, the 2022 MVP for the sophomores, is among the team’s best smashers.

“It’s really rewarding because I just started last year. It’s a long way from last year,” Graziano said.

Senffner (16-16) and Shell (17-17) had an interesting third-place match against each other. Senffner won 21-14, 21-6.

“Honestly, it was more of a fun game. Serious, but we definitely had our funny moments,” said Senffner, the Lions’ No. 1 singles player. “For the entire year I was practicing, and my whole goal was to get to state so [qualifying] means a lot of determination.”

Shell lost in the sectional semifinals to Urbana junior Andrea Li, the defending state champion. This season’s No. 5 singles player was near the bottom of the freshman lineup in 2022.

“I worked really, really hard to make it here to be able to play on the sectional lineup. I’m very grateful,” Shell said. “We all worked really hard. We were very lucky but we all put in the work hoping that this happened.”

Seniors anchor RBHS water polo squad Bulldogs face Brother Rice in IHSA sectional quarter nals

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Senior Murphy Re gan had his most memorable goal for the RiversideBrookfield High School boys water polo team last season.

Besides celebrating Senior Night

on May 4 with Brad Ruska, Re gan had another goal he won’t soon forget. The defender converted a half-pool shot beautifully into the upper-left corner of the net to beat the buzzer that ended the third quarter.

“The farthest shot I’ve probably made. It really felt amazing shoot-

ing that,” Re gan said. “I didn’t really think to aim or anything because there was like two seconds left on the clock. I kind of just got up and shot it and it went to plan for me. It was pretty nice.”

The Bulldogs’ small roster gave another inspired effort but were edged by

BILL STONE

RBHS seniors Murphy Regan (le ) and Brad Ruska

BILL STONE

quali ed its entire lineup of two singles and two doubles teams for the state meet, including (from le ) Audrey Shell, Mia Graziano, So a Garcia, Elle Ownby, Julia Sen ner and Aggie Dr iscoll

Regan’s turn to be a lacrosse mentor at RBHS

Senior, Bulldogs’ top player set to continue playing in college

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Riverside-Brookfield High School senior Ava Re g an has had a great lacrosse mentor since first grade.

Older brother Aidan is a 2020 RBHS graduate currently playing NCAA Division III men’s lacrosse at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Re g an will play Division III women’s lacrosse at Chapman University in Orang e, Califo rnia.

“I owe a lot of success in lacrosse to my brother. Growing up, he’s always been my biggest supporter and has taught me virtually everything I know,” Re gan said. “When I was younger, I did try other sports, but lacrosse was just the one that stuck. Lacrosse is like a g etaway for everything going on around me. I love the f ast pace of the g ame and the friendships that I’ve made.”

T hese days, it’s Re g an being the mentor

T he Bulldogs have had a challenging 0-11 season but with a young roster of eight juniors, five sophomores and six freshmen.

On Senior Night on May 1 against Rosary, Re g an was the lone honoree. The Bulldogs lost 14-5.

Metea Valley 11-9.

Re gan, Ruska and junior Alex Jacobs each had two goals. Sophomore Avinesh Ponnappan and Rylan Bruno also scored. Sophomore goalie Martynas Bieliauskas had 13 saves.

RBHS (3-15) is the No. 5 seed in the Lyons Township Sectional. The Bulldogs play No. 4 Brother Rice in the quarterfinals on May 10.

Regan has played water polo all four seasons, the last three on varsity. Ruska has played three seasons, two on varsity.

“I really enjoy just working with this year’s group. We really get to know each other since it’s smaller,” Ruska said. “We don’t always have everyone at practice, but

“I feel our success is our able to have fun while playing record,” Re g an said. “The team has a lot throughout the season and I success for them in the f sistent hard work. For me personall season has been more about last year playing at the high school le

Re g an has 21 of the Bulld with two assists. Junior Mia Diaz (4 3 assists) and freshman Maggie goals, 3 assists) are the next leading scor ers. Re g an had a team-best 52 four assists in 2022 and 51 team-best 14 assists as a sophomor

T he Bulld ogs suf fered a huge loss w junior standout Maggie Durkin (2 suf fered a season-ending knee injury tw g ames into this season. Li kin has continued to be a guiding force as the Bulldogs’ co-captains. a co-captain in 2022.

“It’s been pretty difficult. On the field, Maggie and I have a great connection and she’s such a talented play “Maggie still being at home games serves as a motivator for me. She’s able to see things that I can’t while on the field so it’s beneficial that we are able to communicate to the team what needs to change or stay consistent.”

Re gan anticipates a picture-perfect opportunity at Chapman, which includes Geneva’s Olivia Holmes, her club teammate from True Lacrosse

Re gan has been accepted into Chapman’s

when we do, it’s high intensity and we all work together really well.”

The seniors truly are the veterans for a roster that also has only one junior in Jacobs. On May 4, the Bulldogs had their seven field players with just two subs.

“We’re not a quantity but a quality of players,” said RBHS coach Kevin Wolak. “[Regan and Ruska have] been leaders on the team, helping to teach the younger guys to kind of get them in our offense and help them progress a little bit quicker. In the game, they’re very good at communicating and being leaders in the water so they’ve helped out a lot.”

Ruska often plays in the hole position

Ava Regan (le ) has 21 of 33 goals scored by the RBHS girls lacrosse team this season. She’s the lone senior on the Bulldogs’ roster.

nationally ranked film school and will major in creative producing, which focuses on business aspects and content creation of the entertainment industry. Re gan hopes to pursue marketing for spor ts teams.

“It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Re gan responded. “I love the location of the school. There’s so much to do around, and it’s California so the weather is beautiful.”

in front of the goal and has a team-high 31 goals. Re gan has a team-high 12 assists.

Especially on May 4, Ruska found himself swarmed by numerous Mustangs.

“It was a little tougher in the middle, having two, three guys on me, but we got a bunch of outside shots, which I’m glad for,” Ruska said.

The seniors also are swimmers and used that opportunity to improve their conditioning, which has been improved by intense water polo practices to overcome the numbers game. Ruska finished his swim season with a personal-best by four seconds in the 100-yard backstroke.

“You just have to be in the water for basi-

cally all four quarters,” Re gan said. “Definitely the games that have a pool that’s half shallow and half deep help. Just because we don’t have a lot of subs, those are the games we have the most energy in.”

Last season, Re gan fondly remembers scoring a playof f goal against Lyons Township, which finished third in state.

Re gan will attend Dayton and study business, primarily finance. Ruska will attend St. Louis University and study aeronautical science with hopes of becoming a commercial or private pilot.

“Right now I’m probably at 30 hours. I’ll have my private [operator’s] license soon,” Ruska said.

CAT FRIENDLY

Brookfield neighborhood person needed for light housekeeping and probable future cat sitting

References a plus

Call 773-807-3402

SEASONAL FARMER’S MARKET ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmer’s Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmer’s Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

HIRING CLEANING TECHNICIANS FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN WESTCHESTER!

Awesome Cleaning & Janitorial Services is looking for experienced cleaning technicians that are energetic, hospitable, ready to work and AWESOME!

Pay starts at $20/hr

Must be available for weekends also.

Ready to work? Contact us by email at info@awesomecjs.com.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

LOCAL DELIVERY DRIVER

Full Time M-F

Must be able to lift 60 pounds. If interested call 708-209-1636 or email peg@berniesaw.com

Bernie’s Saw & Supply 1222 Circle Avenue Forest Park, Il. 60130

COLLECTIVE IMPACT MANAGER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Collective Impact Manager in the Village Manager’s Office. Under the general direction of the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, the Collective Impact Manager will be responsible for building and assessing racial equity impact needs and developing a strategic plan to support those needs. This includes driving the initiatives focused on the Racial Equity Action Plan through community assessments, community engagement, data functions, and overall internal and external functions. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at ht tps:/ /secure.entertimeonline. com/ta/6141780.careers?ApplyToJob=537117711 or visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

K Movers

Best prices in town! Dependable movers. Call 708-252-6354

MARKETPLACE

CARS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

Domestic / Import Cars:

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

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Collector James 630-201-8122

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the proposed Program Year (PY)

2020 Substantial Amendment to the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) Program Year (PY)

2020 Action Plan dated March 29, 2023, will no longer take place. The original proposal included additional funding allocations in the amount of $87,451 to be allocated for the following: 1) $78,166 for resurfacing, street lighting, and landscaping on Census Tract 8123.01 Block 2 and 2) $9,285 for alley improvements on Census Tract 8123 Block 1 and 8215.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 10, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208

TIMELY AND MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), Riverside Brookfield High School will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities, who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the district boundaries, will be served by District 208 during the 2023-24 school year

Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208.net Zoom invitation will be forwarded prior to the meeting.

Published in RB Landmark May 10, 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE River Forest School District 90

(Required by the Illinois State Board of Education)

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), the River Forest School District 90 will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. in the District 90 Administration Offices, 7776 Lake Street, River Forest, IL. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the District boundaries will be served by District 90 during the 2022-2023 school year. Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Debbie Lubeck, Director of Student Services, at lubeckd@district90.org for additional information.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 10, 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

HEARING DATE: May 31, 2023

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

CALENDAR NUMBER: 03-23-

DRC

APPLICANT: Christopher Bell

ADDRESS: 1128-1134 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL 60301

REQUEST: The Community Design Commission will hold a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Christopher Bell, on behalf of Comedy Plex, seeking variances from the following sections of the Oak Park Sign Code relative to increasing the size of a projecting sign, allowing a portion of a projecting sign to be used as an electric sign and allowing two (2) projecting signs without public street frontage for the establishment at the premises commonly known as 1128-1134 Lake Street, Lower Level, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-07-119-015-0000

(“Subject Property”).

1. Section 7-7-15 (B) (1) (a), requiring that the maximum area of a projecting sign located within the Downtown Sign

Overlay District shall not exceed 24 square feet; whereas the proposal features a 50 square foot projecting sign on the south elevation of the building; and

2. Section 7-7-15 (B) (2), requiring one (1) projecting sign per ground floor establishment with frontage on a public street; whereas the proposal features two projecting signs with no frontage on a public street, respectively; and

3. Section 7-7-16 (3), requiring that electronic display screens are permitted as wall or window signs only, whereas the proposed electronic sign is a projecting sign at the premises commonly known as 1128-1134 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 10, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of KARINA MONTOYA, Petitioner and EDER PACHECO, Respondent, Case No. 2023D003253.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before June 2, 2023, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

IRIS Y. MARTINEZ, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 3, 10, 17, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

LEGAL NOTICE

This is a revised public notice, hereby giving the details that the Village of Oak Park Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee (CDCAC) will be meeting for applicant presentations, a funding recommendations determination meeting and a public comment for the upcoming Program Year (PY) 2023 project proposals submitted to the Village for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) grant funds. PY 2023 will run from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. All meetings will be held at Village Hall—123 Madison— room 101 and are as follows: Presentations, 5:30 -9:00pm on April 18, April 20 and April 25; Meeting to determine funding recommendations, 6:00pm on May 9, 2023. There will be a public hearing May 30, 2023 at 6:00pm to receive public comment on proposed funding recommendations. All meetings are open to the public and reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons as needed. Meeting specifics are subject to change; please send a message to grants@ oak-park.us to confirm details.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 10, 2023

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

Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF YVONNE ARROYO, DECEASED, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, VICTORIAN SQUARE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, CHARLES BIBB, CLARENCE AKBAR BIBB, MARIE LESTER, DOROTHY JEAN BIBB SINGH , THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO YVONNE ARROYO, DECEASED

Defendants

2022 CH 08025 1135 SCHNEIDER AVENUE, UNIT 2B OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 11, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 1, 2023, 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 1135 SCHNEIDER AVENUE, UNIT 2B, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-06-316-0301004, 16-06-316-030-1017, AND 1606-316-030-1018

The real estate is improved with vacant land. The judgment amount was $269,229.40.

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 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 (driv-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

er’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 MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, ONE EAST WACKER, SUITE 1250, Chicago, IL, 60601 (312) 651-6700. Please refer to file number 22-026600.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORA-

TION

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.

MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC

ONE EAST WACKER, SUITE 1250 Chicago IL, 60601 312-651-6700

E-Mail: AMPS@manleydeas.com

Attorney File No. 22-026600

Attorney Code. 48928

Case Number: 2022 CH 08025

TJSC#: 43-1638

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2022 CH 08025

I3218771

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Plaintiff, -v.MELANIE MARTIN, 300 CHICAGO CONDOMINIUM, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF HAZEL J. ANTHONY, GERALD NORDGREN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HAZEL J. ANTHONY (DECEASED)

Defendants 2022 CH 04036 300 CHICAGO AVE 4N OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 13, 2023, 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 300 CHICAGO AVE 4N, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-05-321-0341007

The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse.

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 THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-22-03237

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2022 CH 04036

TJSC#: 43-1809

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2022 CH 04036

I3219832