Landmark 051723

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Riveredge Hospital is here to help any member of your family.

This month, make your mental health a priority. We offer specialized inpatient and outpatient services for children, teens and adults.

Did you know?

The average delay between the onset of symptoms of a mental health issue and the start of treatment is 11 years.

- National Library of Medicine

Brook eld public works director to retire

A er much turnover at the top, Muell brought stability to department

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The village of Brookfield is on the hunt for a new director of public works for the first time in more than four years. Carl Muell, who was hired as public works director in February 2019, will retire June 1 after a 32-year career in the field

“Working here was a pleasure,” Muell told the Landmark in an interview last week. “Working with [Village Manager] Tim [Wiberg] and the board was great. They are the best people I’ve worked for in my career.”

Muell, 56, started his career as a laborer, working his way up through the ranks of the public works department in his boyhood home of Broadview for more than 16 years before moving on to the village of Lisle where he was streets superintendent.

Prior to his move to Brookfield, Muell served as public works superintendent in Westchester for six years.

“I started working in the ditches, snow plowing, tree trimming – I did it all,” said Muell.

He came to Brookfield after a period of relative turmoil in public works. When he was hired, Muell was the fourth director the department had seen in 22 months, and no department chief had lasted more than three years since 2006.

“When I got to Brookfield in October of 2018, there was no director,” said Wiberg. “And I would say that the place needed a director. And when we hired Carl, he definitely calmed the place down. … Carl really did a nice job of smoothing processes and provided some stable leadership.”

Muell was not an engineer, in contrast to his two immediate full-time predecessors, but his experience in operations was viewed as crucial to bringing some stability to the department and in getting buy-in from rank-andfile employees

“These guys know who I was and what I’d done,” Muell said. “They respected that and believed in what I was teaching them.”

One of the first things Muell changed was the way the department handled snow plowing, which had been handled by two large dump trucks that often had trouble getting down Brookfield’s narrow side streets when cars were parked on both sides of the street overnight.

Muell kept using the dump trucks for snow removal, but he also added two smaller one-ton trucks, with different plows, to the operation. That gave crews two trucks to use in each zone and guaranteed they could get down the streets.

“We were going to be able to get bare pavement one way or another,” Muell said.

Once streets were cleared, crews then concentrated efforts in the downtown and Eight Corners business districts

While residents likely will never be happy with the state of Brookfield’s gravel alleys, Muell updated equipment and instituted an

alley-grading schedule that ensured alleys were graded up to seven times a year

“We began grading alleys like street sweeping,” Muell said. “That really cut down on the service requests.”

Muell got other programs established for the forestry, streets and water divisions, updated work schedules and made sure the department had updated equipment.

“I was told the department needed to provide great service, not just good service, and I took that to heart and that’s what we provided,” Muell said. “Hopefully it will get even better after I leave.”

Muell said he’s planning to take a couple of months off and then probably seek opportunities in the private sector, perhaps in sales or as a consultant.

“I’m ready to start a new chapter,” Muell said.

Wiberg said Public Works Superintendent Rocco Barbanente, the department’s No. 2, will serve as acting public works director while the village conducts a search for a new director, which will be handled through the village manager’s office.

“I’m hoping to have somebody identified in the next couple months,” Wiberg said. “Hopefully, by July or August we’ ll have a new director named and beginning.”

Editor Bob Uphues

Sta Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales and Marketing Representatives

Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager

Mary Ellen Nelligan

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EMAIL jill@oakpark.com

Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projec ts Manager Susan Walker

BOARD OF DIREC TORS

Chair Judy Gre n

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

HOW TO REACH US

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The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $41 within Cook County and $51 outside the county. Adver tising rates may be obtained by calling our o ce. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302.

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BOB UPHUES/Editor

Carl Muell

“

When we hired Carl, he de nitely calmed the place down.”

TIMOTHY WIBERG

Brook eld village manager

BIG WEEK

May 17-24

Yard sale junkies unite!

Can’t get enough of garage and yard sales? Then May 20 is your lucky day.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. you can hop around Brook eld during the 2nd Annual Brook eld Community-Wide Yard Sale, which has nearly 300 participating households selling and/or giving away items

For more information on how to participate visit fb.me/e/2j5IAH1Tn. For a map of participating households visit bit.ly/ brook eldyardsale2023. The rain date is May 21.

Clothing Swap

North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., will host a Clothing Swap where you can exchange items you want for ones you do.

On May 20, those who donated clothes are invited to a VIP swap from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adults who did not donate are invited to look for items they’d like to take home during normal library hours May 22-27. For more, call 708-4470869 and ask for the reference desk.

Kayak rentals return

Kayak rentals return to Riverside on May 21 courtesy of Paddle On Out tters, which will be leading four trips – at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. – with single sit-on, sit-in and tandem kayaks available.

Park in the municipal lot at 65 E. Burlington St. to catch a shuttle to the Scout Cabin where trips on the Des Plaines River will begin. The takeout is at Stony Ford launch, where a shuttle will return you to the parking lot. Trips can take up to two hours. Rentals can be purchased at tickettailor.com/events/paddleonou tterscom/912397. Call 815762-4009 or email paddleon2018@gmail.com with questions.

708-442-5515 for more.

LSF Brook eld Library book sale

The Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Librar y, 3541 Park Ave., invites you to nd a bargain for your bookshelf at the Friends + Foundation Book Sale at the library on May 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit brook eldlibrary.info for more info.

And more

■ The Riverside Township Radio Players close out their 24th season on May 19 at 7:30 p.m. when they perform “The Barrio Case” from “Richard Diamond, Private Detective” and “The Election Committee” from the “Phil Harris Alice Faye Show” on the stage of the Riverside Township Hall auditorium, 27 Riverside Road in Riverside. Free.

■ Nor th Riverside Parks & Rec hosts a Kids Indoor Flea Market featuring clothing, toys, books and more on May 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave. Call

■ North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents After School Art Escape (child with adult) on May 18 at 4 p.m., Baby & Me (4-24 months w/adult) on May 19 at 10:30 a.m., Yarn Orbs (grades 6-12) on May 20 at 1:30 p.m., Morning Munchkin Stories with Ms. Karen on May 22 at 10:30 a.m., Silly Science (8-under) on May 22 at 4 p.m., a Koko’s Film Club screening of “Big Fish” on May 23 at 2 p.m. and Safari ABCs (child with adult) on May 24 at 10:30 a.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/ events-new

■ Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents Thursday Thrillers Book Club on May 18 at7 p.m., Yoga Storytime (ages 2-5 w/ caregiver) on May 19 at 1 p.m., a Concert on the Plaza featuring the folk duo Hungrytown on May 21 at 3 p.m., Chair Yoga (virtual) on May 22 at 11 a.m. and Chicago: Aviation’s Incubator with historian Michael Haupt on May 22 7 p.m. Call 708485-6917 or visit online at brook eld.evanced.info/ signup to register for programs.

■ Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents Chess Meet Up (grades K-8) on May 18 at 4 p.m., Introduction to Vegetable

Jesse Howard, “ e Soul of Urban Life,” charcoal and ac rylic paint on paper, 37x29 inches)

RAC unveils two new shows

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., will host opening receptions on May 20 from 3 to 6 p.m. for a pair of new exhibitions, which will run through June 24.

“Introspective Dream Assembly,” an exhibition of paintings and mixed-media art by Ryan Burns and Ari Norris, is in the Freeark Galler y, while “Re ection of a Community as It Is,” featuring large-scale drawings by Jesse Howard, is in the FlexSpace Gallery.

The receptions are free and open to the public Regular gallery hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

Gardening at the Riverside Community Garden (400 Nuttall Road) on May 18 at 6 p.m., Friday Outdoor Storytime on May 19 at 10 a.m., Knitting, Crochet and Needlework Group on May 22 at 7 p.m., Little Hands Ac tivity Time (ages 1-4) on May 23 at 9:30 a.m. and All in the Family Genealogy Group on May 23 at 7 p.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrar y.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

PO LICE REPO RT S

Berwyn man charged with Riverside car break-in

A 50-year-old Berwyn man faces a felony burglary charge after he alle gedly entered an unlocked vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in the 400 block of Blackhawk Road, Riverside, late on May 3.

According to Riverside police, a security camera at the residence captured video of Michael Goetz at about 11:50 p.m. walking past the front door of the home into the driveway, where he is seen pulling on a vehicle’s door handle.

Discovering that door is locked, police said, Goetz is then seen opening the door to another vehicle parked on the driveway, entering it and using a flashlight to look around. The car’s owner received an alert that someone was on the property and yelled at the person inside her v ehicle. That person, later identified as Goetz, then ran eastbound toward Harlem Avenue.

Police reported locating Goetz near Harlem and Ogden avenues, where they took him into custody. While the police report does not detail how Goetz was detained, it does state that paramedics had to be called to the scene and that Goetz was taken to MacNeal Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. He was later also charged with resisting arrest.

According to police, Goetz had suspicious items on his person, including several credit cards with other people’s names on them and two sets of keys.

LTHS ATTACK

Video of attack surfaces

from page 1

weeks ago that left victim severely injured.

The victim remained in the hospital receiving treatment, according to an email sent last week to LTHS families. The extent and type of the injuries have not been revealed, but an email sent to the press and LTHS families described his injuries as “significant.”

The juvenile arrested May 10 is the second person charged with the attack.

On May 5, LaGrange Police arrested an 18-year-old Brookfield man, who is an

As of May 15, Goetz was still being held at Cook County Jail awaiting separate hearing dates at the Maybrook courthouse, on May 25 and June 1.

Stolen car checks end in charges

■ North Riverside police charged Jerika Jackson, 28, of Harvey, with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, manufacture/delivery of MDMA and criminal trespass to a vehicle after officers converged on CVS, 7200 Cermak Road, on May 10 at about 10:15 a.m.

A license plate reader camera alerted police to a stolen Hyundai Sonata traveling northbound on Harlem Avenue from 25th Street and police located the vehicle in the parking lot of CVS.

Officers detained a passenger, a 29-yearold Chicago man, who was seated in the rear of the parked vehicle. He was charged with criminal trespass to a vehicle. Jackson, the driver, was taken into custody as she exited the store.

Inside her purse, which was behind the driver’s seat, police reported finding a loaded .40-caliber handgun and a plastic bag containing 26 pills, which field-tested positive for MDMA, or ecstasy.

■ David Robinson, 48, of Blue Island, was charged with felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle after he reportedly was

caught behind the wheel of a U-Haul van that had been reported stolen out of Chicago two days earlier.

A North Riverside police officer on patrol on May 8 at about 2:20 p.m. received an alert that the stolen van was traveling northbound on Harlem Avenue from 26th Street. The officer located the van waiting at a stoplight at Cer mak Road and followed it north to Roosevelt Road, where he initiated a traffic stop.

Robinson reportedly attempted to run from the scene but was apprehended by police after a short chase. Two other people inside the vehicle were released without being charged.

DUI rollover crash

Riverside police charged a 26-year-old Chicago woman with driving under the influence of alcohol after she alle gedly drove a Chevy truck northbound on Powell Avenue in Lyons through the stop sign at Ogden Avenue, and struck a westbound Toyota on May 3 at about 1:10 a.m.

The impact of the crash rolled the truck over onto its side. Neither the driver of the truck nor the two people inside the Toyota, an Uber driver and his passenger, were hurt. Both vehicles were inoperable after the crash.

The driver of the truck reportedly told police she had stopped at the stop sign, but

both the Uber driver and an independent witness contradicted that claim. She told police she was driving from a bar in Lyons to a friend’s house in Riverside when the crash occurred

According to police, the truck driver failed sobriety tests and a breath test revealed her blood-alcohol content to be 168, which is more than twice the le gal limit of .08.

Reckless driving

A 24-year-old Lyons woman called police on May 9 to re port that while she was driving westbound in the center lane on 47th Street, another vehicle recklessly cut in front of her, striking the front passenger side of her car.

The victim snapped a photo of the vehicle, a two-tone bronze and silver PT Cruiser, which the victim said she had observed driving recklessly on 47th Street the previous day.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Ri verside, North Ri verside and Brookfield police departments, May 3-14, 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

LTHS student, and charged him with misdemeanor battery. He posted bail and was released.

The juvenile arrested May 10, whose age and hometown were not revealed, faces more serious charges. He was charged with both attempted first-de gree murder and aggravated battery causing great bodily har m.

Other participants in the attack are apparently still being sought. Jack Knight, the village manager of LaGrange, declined to say whether the juvenile charged May 10 was an LTHS student or whether the juvenile remained in custody. However, the investigation into the incident is not finished.

“The investigation remains open and active at this time,” said a press release from

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

The attack occurred at approximately 4:10 p.m. on May 1 outside Exit 7 at LTHS’s North Campus and apparently occurred across Park Road from the school. A student who has seen a video of the incident said that at least one person was stomping on the head of the victim.

“The incident involved an altercation involving several juveniles and an adult, which resulted in the injury of two juveniles, one of whom was injured severely,” the press release stated.

Student hit by car seriously injured

Separately, another LTHS student was seriously injured on May 10 when he was hit by a car on Brainard Avenue as he was leaving North Campus. The student was hit east of the Vaughn Building.

“The student was seriously injured and transported to the hospital via ambulance,” wrote LTHS Principal Jen Tyrrell in an email sent to LTHS families and the press that night. “The La Grange Police Department is currently investigating.

“As more information becomes available, we will share that with our community. At this point, we are unable to share specific information.”

Therapy dogs could be in the cards in District 95

Curriculum director pitches school board on introducing animals into schools

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Therapy dogs have long been used in hospital settings to provide comfort and support for patients battling physical maladies and struggling with mental health. In recent years, the animals have been introduced into school settings, including at Hauser Junior High in Riverside and Park Junior High in LaGrange Park

Now officials in Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 are mulling whether there’s a role therapy dogs can play at Brook Park Elementary School and S.E. Gross Middle School.

Cathy Cannon, District 95’s director of teaching and learning, certainly thinks so

“The more research I do on this, the more momentum that it has gained in other school districts … there’s just so many benefits for how we can utilize this at Brook Park and at S.E. Gross,” Cannon said during a for mal presentation on the subject at the May 11 school board meeting.

Cannon said she has gotten more of a ground-level look at what teachers and building administrators are seeing while she fills in for Brook Park K-2 Principal Kelly King, who is on maternity leave

“Just thinking about post-COVID, we continue to deal with some challenges,” Cannon

said. “Some things have changed, we think about things have changed, student behaviors have changed, but at the end of the day we have to continue to move forward and think of different ways that we can make changes to support those types of things in our schools.”

Superintendent Mark Kuzniewski, who indicated that in the past he wasn’t so sold on the concept of therapy dogs in schools, said if the school board was interested, he would dedicate staff time to exploring it further.

Kuzniewski echoed Cannon’s reference to new challenges school faculty face in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think in our conversations when we’ve talked about this, what it keeps coming back to is a targeted group of students that have specific sets of needs as opposed [general visits] ,” Kuzniewski said. “I think our idea is to address some of these behaviors and unique needs that we are seeing that we’ve never seen before.”

While there’s still more study to be done in District 95 to identify exactly how therapy dogs would be introduced, school board members appeared to favor looking into the subject more as a way of addressing the specific issues Kuzniewski mentioned

“I think it’s a good idea, especially for kids who are really struggling and every intervention is not working,” said board member

Jessica Filbey. “You have to mix it up and try something new.”

Cannon said research she’s read demonstrates the importance of therapy dogs in addressing anxiety, serving as a communication bridge when communicating with a student has been a struggle and motivating students to attend school and practice skills in a classroom setting that they may normally resist, like reading aloud

Dogs can also provide emotional support, Cannon said.

“They now have these dogs that go into schools that also help with some of the stress that might be happening, not just with the students, but with teachers,” Cannon said.

The presence of therapy dogs can improve a school’s culture and climate, Cannon said, pointing to their use in Palos Heights School District 128, where for mer Riverside District 96 administrator Merryl Brownlow is now superintendent.

Brownlow told the Landmark that District 128 uses five to six therapy dogs that rotate in and out re gularly. The dogs are in the building typically twice a week in a designated space where kids in grades four through eight who opt to participate in the program are scheduled for 15-minute visits.

“When you bring the dogs in, it’s fascinating to witness how they automatically affect the climate and culture,” Brownlow

said. “We already had a positive culture, but this just enhanced it and brought so much joy to kids, teachers and families.”

Cannon said there are several companies that provide therapy dogs to schools, matching up needs of school districts with available animals, who along with their owners must be certified. According to Brownlow, District 128 uses a nonprofit company called Happy Tails Canine Therapy.

At the level District 95 would likely employ therapy dogs, their presence would come at no cost, Cannon said, since their owners need a certain number of training hours on an ongoing basis to remain certified.

School officials are hopeful that word District 95 is considering therapy dogs will end up drawing the attention of someone local whose dog is a certified therapy dog, much like the experience in Riverside District 96, where a therapy dog owner who was also the mother of a Hauser Junior High student of fered her services.

That dog comes to the school before school starts and at dismissal several times a week.

“I think you start small,” said Cannon, maybe introducing them into the school a couple of times a week or in small group sessions, “to see how students are reacting, how is this going? If things are going really well then you build on it.”

Pritzker re ects on 3 years of pandemic as disaster declarations end

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – In the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker recalls being handed a report from researchers at the University of Illinois.

The analysis was written by scientists and mathematicians who were trying to estimate how many deaths and hospitalizations would occur under different scenarios – one if the state took no action, another if it imposed only moderate mitigation measures and yet another if it imposed significant measures, such as a stay-at-home order.

“And without any mitigations, their pro-

jection was, just in the Chicago area alone, we would see 40,000 deaths in approximately four months,” Pritzker recalled in an interview last week.

He said he still keeps a copy of that report in his of fice.

On March 9, 2020, Pritzker issued his first statewide disaster declaration related to COVID-19, a declaration he would go on to renew every 30 days for more than three years.

In the following days, he would issue executive orders closing schools to in-person attendance, then closing bars and restaurants and, eventually, a general stay-athome order that would shutter all “nones-

sential” businesses for months to come

“We were advised by the Department of Homeland Security that there were certain kinds of businesses that should be deemed ‘essential,’ and the Department of Homeland Security had a list that they had put together for these sorts of emergencies,” Pritzker said. “And so that was what we used and what virtually every state used to determine what should stay open and how to keep people safe.”

Now, more than three years after he issued that first disaster declaration, the last of his pandemic-era executive orders have expired. Pritzker announced in January that Illinois’ disaster declaration would

end on May 11, the same day chosen by the Biden Administration to end the federal COVID disaster declaration that also dates back to early 2020.

From a practical standpoint, most people won’t notice the end of the disaster declaration because the state pandemic-related orders that most directly affected their daily lives – school closures, mask mandates, limits on public gatherings – have long since expired

But for some, it will mean the end of certain federally funded benefits.

“There are no restrictions,” Pritzker said. See COVID-19 on pa ge 8

e May 11 end of state, federal orders will a ect some federal bene ts

Activity fee for clubs, sports in D95 going up next year

Superintendent recommends hike from $60 to $95

By BOB UPHUES Editor

The fee families pay for their children to participate in extracurricular activities in Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95 is likely going up for the 2023-24 school year, but just how much remains to be seen.

District 95 Superintendent Mark Kuzniewski at the May 11 meeting of the school board recommended hiking the fee to $95 per student activity from the existing $60, an increase of 58%.

The fee is imposed equally no matter what the extracurricular activity is – whether a student is part of the Rubiks Cube Club or the S.E. Gross varsit basketball team – and it has not been raised since it was insti tuted in 2019 to recover pa the cost for having teachers supervise them.

There are dozens of clubs, some with just a handful of students, and the cost to the district to run them far exceeds activity fee revenue. For the 2022-23 school year, said Kuzniewski, the school district collected $92,535 in student activity fees, about 37% of the cost to run them. The expense for teachers supervising the programs was $249,468, plus another $10,000 in supplies in 2022-23, according to Kuzniewski

The district’s administration is in the process of negotiating a new teacher contract, said Kuzniewski, and the cost to supervise those pr ams is expected to

increase, although Kuzniewski declined to say how much he expected that to be, citing pending collective bargaining negotiations

School board President Katie Mulcrone suggested perhaps raising the activity fee to $75, but Kuzniewski pushed back on that, saying that revenue from a $75 activity fee would cover a smaller percentage of the overall budget to run activities than the $60 rate covered when the fee was instituted.

A $95 activity fee next year ould allow the school district ver the same percentage, uzniewski said, as the $60 fee ve years ago.

uzniewski said that while it was a big one-time hit, the school district had not raised the fee in five years and could opted to raise it incr ementally each year instead. He said that if the fee was increased to $95 for next year, he didn’t anticipate the school board having to revisit the fee soon.

“I think there are mechanisms in place where that $95 isn’t going to have to be discussed for a number of years, because I don’t believe the costs will escalate at the same rate they have in the past,” Kuzniewski said.

In response to board Vice President Jackie Jordan’s question about how much raising the activity fee from $60 to $95 might impact participation in extracurriculars, Kuzniewski said he felt the additional $35 per activity would not drive families away

D95 school board swears in new member, re-appoints o cers

Kristin Reingruber, one of three candidates elected to the Brookfield-LaGrange Park District 95 Board of Education in April, took her place at the board table after reading her oath of office at the beginning of the May 11 school board meeting.

The other four people elected last month, Katie Mulcrone, Elizabeth Loerop, Meaghan McAteer and Jackie Jordan, were incumbents.

Mulcrone was elected to her second full term on the school board after first winning election in 2019. This is Loerop’s first full four-year term on the District 95 school board, having been appointed in August 2021 to replace Kyle Wood, who resigned after moving out of the district.

Both McAteer and Jordan, who were

from activities.

“It’s a valid concern that people would not have access due to not being able to pay,” Kuzniewski said. “But I don’t really think that is a problem. It’s not that we don’t have people who struggle financially, but I don’t know that our families aren’t taking the opportunities to go into clubs due to $60

also elected in 2019 to fouryear terms, chose this year to run for a pair of two-year terms that were up for election.

The first is to finish out the remaining two years on Wood’s unexpired term. The other two-year term finishes out the unexpired term of Melissa Biskupic, who was appointed to the board in June 2021 after just two candidates ran for three open school board seats that spring. Biskupic declined to run to retain that seat for two more years.

Following Reingruber’s swearing in, school board members voted to re-elect Mulcrone as school board president, Jordan as board vice president and McAteer as board secretary.

— Bob Uphues

versus $95. … They don’t let money stand in the way of their children’s opportunities.”

Whatever the school board decides, Kuzniewski said, the amount of revenue generated by the student activity fee would not have a significant impact on the school district’s roughly $15 million operating budget.

MARK KUZNIEWSKI

KRISTIN REINGRUBER

Local high school boards welcome new members

Welch, Kelly praised as they make way for the newly elected

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

The school boards for Riverside-Brookfield High School and Lyons Township High School both said goodbye last week to one popular and highly respected member and each board swore in one new member.

Mike Welch left the RBHS board after being defeated by fellow incumbent Carolyn Lach in the April election. Alison Kelly left the LTHS school board after deciding not to run for a second ter m.

Welch served on the RBHS school board for nearly 10 years in two different stints. He was first elected to the school board in 2009 and was reelected in 2013. He served as school board president from 2015 until 2017 when he left the board.

In 2021 Welch came back to the RBHS school board when he was appointed to fill a vacancy. Mark Klaisner, executive director of the West 40 Intermediate Service Center, an arm of the state board of education, appointed Welch after the school board had deadlocked on choosing a replacement for Tom Jacobs, who had moved out of the district.

Welch, who has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting and works as IRS agent assigned to the United States Attorney’s Of-

COVID-19

from page 6

“Why was there a disaster declaration?

Because in order for us to receive the federal benefits that were being of fered to SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] recipients, who are the poorest people in our state, people who needed Medicaid, who are the poorest people in our state, you needed to match up your disaster declaration and executive orders with the federal gover nment’s executive orders and disaster declaration. So we did that.”

Pritzker said some people will receive less aid through SNAP and some Medicaid recipients could lose their eligibility, but he said those changes will not have a significant impact on the state budget.

fice, was lauded by his colleagues

“Your financial expertise and knowledge have been unparalleled,” said school board President Deanna Zalas.

Board member Laura Hruska praised Welch for what she described as his “acute” financial knowledge and said that other board members will have to up their game without him examining financial affairs

“You always asked the right questions at the right time,” Hruska said to Welch in his final moments on the school board.

In his final remarks from the board table, Welch noted that when he was first elected to the school board in 2009, RBHS was running a structural deficit and spending more money that it was taking in

“I’m leaving this school and this district in a better place,” Welch said.

Welch, a soft-spoken school board member who never sought to call attention to himself, was an indefatigable door to door campaigner in his first two campaigns for the school board, but this year he didn’t really campaign

Lach, a for mer Komarek District 94 board

The end of the disaster declaration also meant that as of May 11, testing and many of the treatments for COVID-19 will no longer be free, although Pritzker said they will be covered by insurance.

Looking back over the last three years, though, Pritzker reflected on what it was like during the initial weeks and months of the pandemic when scientists and public health officials all over the world were still trying to understand this novel virus

“We didn’t know much about COVID-19, or even how it was spread,” he said. “Remember early on, there was some belief that it could be spread on surfaces. And so people were wearing gloves to open their packages and things like that.

“So there wasn’t a lot of information. What we knew was that the most effective way to keep people safe in the early moments of this would be for people to keep some social distance.”

Over the course of the next several months, Pritzker held daily news confer-

member who was appointed last fall to succeed Ramona Towner, didn’t campaign much either in the low key-race for a two-year term. Lach benefited from a strong turnout in North Riverside which, unlike Riverside and Brookfield, had a contested municipal election.

However, Lach ran strongly throughout the district, receiving 55 percent of the vote in the Riverside portion of the district.

Welch will be replaced on the school board by Nicholas Novak, who ran for a four-year term. Novak is now one of three residents of North Riverside on the RBHS school board, the others being Lach and board Vice President Lorena Gasca.

Zalas was re-elected school board president by a 6-0 vote as Gasca missed the meeting Gasca will remain as board vice president.

New D204 school board president

Kelly, who will be replaced by on the LTHS school board by Tim Albores, was praised by her colleagues for her radiant smile and her enthusiasm for all things LTHS

“You’re a true inspiration,” said board

ences – usually accompanied by his public health director at the time, LaGrange resident Dr. Ngozi Ezike – to relay the most recent information, announce new mitigation orders and provide the latest statistics on infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths.

“Remember, communication to the public was vitally important when the federal gover nment was providing very little,” Pritzker said. “And so that’s the reason why I was at that podium every day, for months straight. It was because people needed to know what the latest information was.”

By summer 2020, the state be gan to gradually roll back many of the mitigation orders on a re gion-by-region basis and by the end of the year, the first vaccines became publicly available.

Throughout 2021, new variants of the virus would emerge, leading to temporary spikes in COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths. But as the vaccines became more widely distributed, the death and hospital-

member Julie Swinehart. “You always put students first.”

Kelly, who graduated from LTHS in 1984, thanked her colleagues.

“It’s been an absolute honor and an absolute privilege to serve the community for these last four years,” Kelly said.

The LTHS school board unanimously chose Dawn Aubert to replace Kari Dillon as school board president for the next two years. Dillon did not seek another term as school board president.

Aubert has been on the LTHS school board since being elected in 2021. She served on the LaGrange-Brookfield Elementary School District 102 Board of Education for eight years, from 2007 until 2015.

“We would like to just continue our work and progress on the strategic plan and continue making LT the best educational system for our students and our community,” Aubert said after being selected as school board president on May 8.

ization rates started falling steadily, and in 2022 Pritzker be gan phasing out many of mitigation orders that had been in place.

Pritzker maintains that as a result of those measures, Illinois avoided the direst predictions of the mathematicians and scientists at the University of Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as of April 30, the entire state of Illinois has seen 36,850 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, and another 5,155 “probable” disease-related deaths

“But if one were to look at how Illinois handled the pandemic – and this is kudos and gratitude to the people of Illinois –people did the right thing,” Pritzker said. “And the vast majority of people in Illinois understood what they needed to do. They heard what they needed to do from the experts, and they did it. And the result of that is, to the extent one can use the word ‘success’ here, the result is that we had real success here at keeping people safe and alive.”

Communication vitally important

TIM ALBORES

NICHOLAS NOVAK

Majority rules

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Public Meeting

Berwyn-Riverside BNSF Railway At -Grade Railroad Crossings Planning and Environmental Linkages Study

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) will hold a public meeting regarding the ongoing study of the BNSF Railway’s at -grade road-rail intersection crossings from Delaplaine Road in Riverside to Ridgeland Avenue in Berwyn, including Illinois Route 43 (Harlem Avenue). This meeting will be in an open house format, with a narrated presentation in English and Spanish. Purpose of the meeting:

• Review transportation needs for all modes of travel

• Discuss project goals

• Answer questions and receive public input

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Riverside Town Hall, 2nd Floor Auditorium 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546

We invite you to submit comments at this public meeting by email to TMurtha@cmap.illinois.gov or by mail to CMAP, Attn Tom Murtha, Project Manager, at 433 W Van Buren Street, Suite 450, Chicago, IL 60607. Comments received by July 10, 2023, will become part of the official record. This meeting will be accessible to people with disabilities. Anyone needing a special accommodation should contact Jill Kramer by phone at (773) 458-2835 or by email at jill.kramer@jacobs.com.

Judge levies additional nes against Riverside nuisance property owner

Homeowner socked with $6,600 penalty, ordered to submit safety plan

By BOB UPHUES Edito

A Cook County Circuit Court judge on May 9 did not Golba in contempt for re violating a Fe after he found Golba’s Millbridg Road home a sance.

days to for mulate a “safety plan” to ensure his order is complied with.

If the fines are not paid, Forte said, the village would enter a lien against the property.

At a Feb. 21 hearing, Lee had imposed fines of $1,850 but held them in abeyance to provide an incentive for Golba to comply with the “no visitors” order and attend

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But Judge Golba in no uncertain terms during the hearing, held via Zoom, that Golba stiffer penalties in the future if anyone other than Golba himself, a home healthcare professional or general contractor was found visiting, sta temporarily or living in in the home in the future.

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.

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Immediate availability in our Memory Care Assisted Living Small House

“You have Lee told Golba, 64, after about was having trouble accessing the via Zoom.

“Fines and penalties can increase if there are further violations of this order,” said Lee, who imposed a new fine totaling $6,600 at the May 9 hearing, ordering those fines to be paid immediately.

The amount of the new fine corresponds to the total the village has tallied in le gal fees since Feb. 21, when the judge entered his preliminary injunction against Golba and other defendants, said Carmen Forte, the attorney representing the village at the May 9 hearing.

Judge Lee also ag reed with Forte’s request to extend the one-year “no visitors” order by having it end on May 9, 2024, instead of Feb. 21, 2024, and he ordered Golba to meet with Riverside police within 14

provides for.

In response Judge Lee imposed additional fines and warned him that the defendants, including O’Brien, must be barred from his residence, Golba stated he would “guarantee” that would be the case.

William Bellavia, who also attended the hearing via Zoom, also promised to stay away from the home in the future, although he mentioned he still had possessions there and might need a police escort to retrieve them. Judge Lee, however, rejected Bellavia’s request to be dismissed as a defendant in the case, saying the village had to request that.

The next hearing date will be June 13 at 11:30 a.m.

ROBERT GOLBA

SCAN the QR Code for more info and to submit comments.

Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways

Scarpiniti reappointed North Riverside administrator

Pay raise comes with two-year contract extension

By BOB UPHUES

Editor North Riverside trustees

their re gular business meeting on May 15 voted unanimously to reappoint Sue Scarpiniti as village administrator and proved a new two-year contract that raises her annual salary to $196,250.

Scarpiniti’s contract expires May 5, 2025, which coincides with the end of Mayor Joseph Mengoni’s term of office.

“I think she’s done a fantastic job,” Mengoni said of Scarpiniti. “She has the finances down, the ins and outs. When I sit in on meetings with her, I think, ‘She’s got

her own.’ That’s what this village needs, somebody with strong leadership.”

Hired full time in 2001 as North Riverside’s finance director after working on a contract basis for two years, Scarpiniti was elevated to interim village administrator in early 2020 just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

She remained in that capacity until May 2021 after Mengoni was elected mayor that spring and he removed the interim tag. At that time, the village board voted to award Scarpiniti a twoyear contract and an annual salary of $185,000.

The new contract, apar t from the pay raise and new end date, contains language identical to the first one. In addition to the salary, the village will contribute $7,500 a year into a deferred compensation plan for Scarpiniti. She gets 26 vacation days and six paid days of f per year, and the village will provide her with a vehicle and $1,200 annually as a cellphone stipend.

Mengoni said that although village trustees are faced annually with potential hefty operating budget deficits, Scarpiniti manages the finances throughout in a way to keep the budget on track.

“This is my 11th budget,” said Mengoni, who served two terms as a trustee before being elected mayor. “Everyone gets so scared [of projected deficits] but we always do good. She holds the line when things need to be delayed, so it never scares me when we go into these discussions.”

Change in legal counsel on tap?

One matter that was originally on the village board’s May 15 agenda – but was pulled a short time after the agenda was first published on May 12 – was a change in the firm that serves as the village’s general legal counsel.

The resolution pulled from the agenda would have authorized the mayor to appoint the firm of Storino, Ramello & Durkin as North Riverside’s general counsel. The firm has been serving as the village’s

lead labor counsel since 2021.

Storino, Ramello & Durkin, which has served as legal counsel for the village of Brookfield since 2005, specializes in state and local government law and represents municipalities and townships, park districts and school districts.

While they haven’t represented North Riverside in a general legal capacity in more 20 years, Mengoni said the firm has long ties to the village

In May 2021 when Storino, Ramello & Durkin was appointed labor counsel, Mengoni appointed the firm of Peterson, Johnson, Murray as North Riverside’s general legal counsel.

Mengoni said he was thinking of keeping both fir ms on retainer but flip-flopping their duties.

“We’re in discussions about possibly changing,” Mengoni told the Landmark. “Our in-house counsel has great labor relations attorneys that I want to capitalize on, and our current labor counsel has a longstanding connection to the community.”

SUE SC ARPINITI

RPC’s food pantry plays vital role in feeding the community

What started as a simple mission serves about 100 people per day

By JACKIE PISANO Contributing Reporter

According to 2020 Census data, the median household income for Riverside is $120,336. In North Riverside, the number is a little less than half that of its neighbor, at $55,879.

Though both figures are well above Illinois’ poverty threshold of $27,479 for a family of four, LaGrange Park resident Lynda Nadkarni would be one of the first to tell you that there are certainly food-insecure families in what most would consider an affluent community.

Nadkarni, who serves as the minister of mission and outreach at Riverside Presbyterian Church, says that this year alone, nearly 80% of patrons to the church’s f pantry have identified themselves as residents of the 60546 ZIP code.

Since 2018, the 154-year-old church operated its Little Food Pantry — a 6-foottall, glass-front shelving unit located right outside the church’s office entrance where anyone in need can come and take whatev er food is available — 24 hours a day.

In the same vestibule, the church supplements nonperishable food items with fresh produce inside two small commercial-grade refrigerators.

Though Riverside, North Riverside and its neighboring communities aren’t often considered to be places where residents struggle to make ends meet, Nadkarni says that five years ago, the church reco gnized a growing need for those who had fallen on hard times, specifically re garding food insecurity.

“In 2018, our then pastor really got the church to think about how we could be very mission-focused and intentional,” Nadkarni said. “We picked hunger, and

this was one of the things we did about create this pantry. At the beginning, it was just donations from church people and was stocked a couple of times a week. Little little, demand has increased.”

Though the Riverside area is serviced larger food pantries, including one run Riverside Township, Riverside Presbyterian Church’s Little Food Pantry sees itself as a vital, supplemental resource for food.

“The setup is what makes us very unique,” Nadkarni said. “We don’t have any set hours, because it’s completely userchoice and because we don’t require people to re gister to use the pantry.”

From conversations with patrons, Nadkarni says many who are “house poor,” including renters who choose to live in the area for the public school systems and have little money left over at the end of the

uptick in use, specifically as inflation has led to higher grocery bills and increased gas prices, and from last month’s statewide cessation of special pandemic SNAP benefits.

With close to 100 daily users, the church stocks the pantry twice a day — once first thing in the morning and a second time around dinner time. A team of pantry volunteers schedules produce pickups and stockers, ensuring not one day goes by with empty shelves

Though the majority of clients come from Riverside and North Riverside, Nadkarni says patrons also come from Brookfield, LaGrange Park, Berwyn, Forest View, Lyons and Stickney. Most hear about the pantry by word-of-mouth, while others discover it by online postings from Nadkarni on community Facebook pages.

Each week, the church collects around $250 to purchase food. And, thanks to ongoing support twice a week from both Riverside Foods and Aldi in Lyons, a grant from Riverside Township and funds from other local groups including Eagle Scouts and Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity, what started as a church-supported mission has tur ned into a community-wide effort

Stephen Marcus, a lifelong member of the church and for mer Riverside resident who now resides in Lyons, is one of the pantry’s dedicated volunteers.

For him, the motivation to step forward

and help was simple

“There but for the grace of God go I,” he said. “I’ve been in need before. I’m not prescient. I don’t know whether I’ll be in this situation to need this pantry’s services in the future again. I may, but I just want to do this.”

In addition to stocking the pantry, Marcus also delivers food to neighbors in his apartment building who can’t make the trip themselves

“I believe in this mission, and I feel like the local need for the pantry is growing,” he added.

To Nadkarni, hearing the many stories of clients is what continually inspires her to serve the community in this way.

“During spring break, I was stocking the pantry, and there was a mom there with two children, who said, ‘I can’t thank you enough for this. We come here during breaks and in the summer because we don’t get a free lunch [at school].’

“That is one way in which the pantry is making a difference in a community that is seemingly well-to-do, and we want to make sure everyone knows they are welcome.”

Riverside Presbyterian Church, 116 Barrypoint Road, welcomes new clients and volunteers to its Little Food Pantry.

For more information on volunteer opportunities or food and financial partnership, email Nadkarni at missionandoutreach@rpcusa.org.

JACKIE PISANO

Riverside Presbyterian Church food pantry coordinator Lynda Nadkarni (le ) and volunteer Stephen Marcus pack a container with fresh produce and other items for those in need of food. About 80% of the food pantry’s clients come from the 60546 ZIP code.

JACKIE PISANO

e food pantry is able to stock per ishable food items in two small commercial-grade refrigerators.

Out with a whimper

May 11 came and went without much fanfare, but it was actually a significant date for the history books, in the U.S. at least.

That was the day the federal COVID-19 disaster declaration, instituted in March 2020, ended. Gov. J.B. Pritzker also ended the state of Illinois’ COVID emergency declaration that day.

Of course, COVID-19 remains with us To date, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the cumulative number of reported COVID-19 cases through May 7 had topped 4.1 million in the state.

The IDPH’s website puts the death tally at more than 36,000 people. While reported cases remain pretty low, COVID-19 has not disappeared. On May 7, according to IDPH, Illinois recorded more than 3,600 cases and seven fatalities

The end of the emergency means that we’ve concluded COVID-19 is endemic and that we’ ll all deal with it as we do with other endemic diseases.

Luckily, there are plenty of effective vaccines for preventing its spread, and for now the U.S. gover nment is distributing free COVID-19 vaccines to adults and children. At-home tests are not likely to be covered by insurance any longer, but treatments like Paxlovid remain free while supplies last, according to the Centers for Disease Control. After that, we’ ll be at the mercy of drug and insurance companies, which is cold comfort.

The COVID-19 pandemic could have been the catalyst for a host of positive changes in the ways healthcare is delivered in the U.S., but it’s looking like not much has changed at all. Healthcare, for the most part, in the U.S. remains incredibly expensive and tied to employment.

The Affordable Care Act was a good start and has helped many millions of people who otherwise would be without health insurance, but there’s been no move to expand those benefits or lower those costs

One thing we did witness during the pandemic was the enor mous power of the federal gover nment to make vital healthcare available to all. If only we had the collective political will to har ness that revelation and initiate real change that improves the physical and financial lives of people who are burdened with a health system that delivers less care for more money

Of course, those kinds of problems don’t actually face the people making those decisions. And there are too many people in this nation who seem to cling to the belief that suffering indicates moral failure and ought to be punished and not a symptom of a system with its priorities in the wrong order.

There are lessons to learn if only we would see them.

Opinion Living the sweet life in Riverside

In 1971 a young woman from Berwyn graduated from Morton West High School. Unsure what she wanted to do, she stayed home and helped her family for the next two years. Today we would call them “gap years.”

In 1973 she came to Riverside and applied for a job at Aunt Diana’s OldFashioned Fudge. She got the job, and this year Patty Miglore celebrates 50 years at the shop.

New to the village in the 1970s, the shop in Riverside was owned by Jerry Gits who grew up in Riverside. Miglore learned the art of making chocolate from Gits and over the years has brought her own special touch to the special sweet treats

KOSEY CORNER

Riverside’s Person of the Year for 2014 by the Riverside Township Lions Club.

Over 100 people filled the Riverside Golf Club to honor her and hear her friend Carol Kraus say some heartfelt and witty words about Riverside’s favorite business person. Over the years, Auntie Patty has shown her creative side with her chocolate designs for holidays. She also lends personal touches in chocolate for people throwing parties. Her holiday windows show only a small sampling of what is inside the store on its shelves. There are Santas in all sizes as well as chocolate houses, each individually decorated

As the years went on, Miglore assumed more responsibility in the shop as Gits moved to Indiana and passed away. Auntie Patty, as she is affectionately known, assumed even more of the day-to-day duties of running the shop.

High school students she employed now return to visit with families of their own. The prom pictures and other milestones can be evidenced on a board in the back of the store.

According to Miglore, her customers have been very supportive and that was proved when she was chosen

Jerome E. Gauthier, 87

Industrial spec ialist for U.S. Navy

Jerome E. Gauthier, 87, of Brookfield, died peacefully surrounded by his family on May 9, 2023. He was the loving son of Hector L. Gauthier and Lyda M. LaFlamme, and most grateful stepson of James P. McGurn.

Born in Bennington, Vermont, he attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church and School and was in the parish Boy Scout Troup 45, attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He spent two years at Saint Michael’s Colle ge in Winooki, Vermont, and Saint Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa, Canada,

It is with appreciation we salute Auntie Patty for 50 years of being what makes a good business. Stop by and wish her the best and she will greet you with a smile

Asked if she had anything special to say, she replied, “Where else can I show up in sweats, T-shirts, and gym shoes?”

No dress code! Thanks to Patty Miglore for taking that big step 50 years ago and coming to Riverside and Aunt Diana’s. You and your hard work have been appreciated. By the way, have you tried her popcorn? Can you imagine how many apples she has dipped over the years? A lot!

where he received his BA/BPh de gree from the University of Ottawa.

In his earlier years, he served as a counselor at the Boy Scout Green Mountain Council Summer Camp. He worked at Southern Vermont Apple Orchard, Old Bennington Weavers and Benmont Papers.

In later years, he continued his career as an industrial specialist for the U.S. Navy Material Inspection Service and the DlA Contract Administration Service. He retired as a staf f industrial specialist in 1991.

After his schooling, Jerry immediately joined the U.S. Marine Corps “for the discipline.” His

JOANNE KOSE Y

JEROME E. GAUTHIER

continued from page 14

b oot c amp trai ning was at Paris Island, South Carolina, and he was subsequently assigned as an intelligence assistant to the Headquarters Battalion, 8th Marine Re giment, 2nd Marine Division.

Jer ry was with his unit in 1957 when they landed in Lebanon on a peacekee ping mission and served as the unit’s French translator. His unit was awarded for their participation in that peace effort

Returning to the U.S., Jer ry was transferred to the Marine Air Training Command, Naval Air Station in Glenview. While there, he frequently visited the USO in Chicago, where he met his future wife, Sylvia V. Wuensch. After four years in the USMC, Jer ry was discharged as a lance corporal in 1961, receiving the Good Conduct Medal and the Marksmanship Award.

Jer ry and Sylvia were married on Se pt. 2, 1961 at Blessed Agnes Church in Chicago. They moved to Brookfield in 1964. For many years he was an active parishioner at St. Barbara Parish, where he served as a catechist, Eucharistic minister, minister

to the sick, and adoration coordinator

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia (nee Wuensch) Gauthier; his children, Deborah (John) Parisi, Catherine (Steven) Gauthier-Nelson and Jerome M. Gauthier; his grandchildren, Ryan Parisi, Julia (Austin) Williamson and Siena Nelson; and many ne phews and nieces.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Lorraine (Frederick) Young, Paul Gauthier, Jeanette (Francis) Paul and Doris Gauthier, who died two years before he was born

A funeral Mass was celebrated May 16 at St. Barbara Church followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Barbara Catholic Church

Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled ar rangements

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

Delores J. Kiss, 88

Active at St. Mary’s

Delores June Kiss (nee Mauch), 88, of Rive rside, died May 13, 2023.

Ms. Kiss was bo rn June 19, 1934 in Michig an Cit y, Indiana. S he was a member of the choir and praye r shawl group at St Mary C hurch. Sh e enjoyed ga rdening, crocheting, drawing po rt raits and home renovations.

S he was the d aughter of the late N ellie and Howard Mauch; the mother of David Kiss and T homas (Noelle) Kiss; the gr andmother of S hannon (Justin) Jo rdan, Christopher Kiss, Katrina Kiss and S helby Kiss; the great gr andmother of Joseph Jo rdan and Kyra Jo rdan; the sister of N ellie Brennan, Joan Mauch, N ancy Bowker, Lu cy Hayn e, the late Pe gg y L anizzani and the late Benjami n Mauch; and the aunt of many nieces and ne phew s.

Vi sitation is T hursd ay, May 25, from 2 to 8 p. m. at Ku ratko-Nosek Funeral Home, 2447 Desplaines Ave., North Riverside. A f uneral Mass will be c elebrated F riday, May 26 at 10 a.m. at Mater Christi C hurch, Nor th Rive rside.

I nterment is at 12:30 p. m. at Rivers ide C emeter y, Montgomer y. Family and friends are asked to meet at the c emeter y entrance by 12:15 p. m.

Memorial d onations to Little Brothers-Friends of the Poor, 355 N. A shland Ave., Chicago, 60607 would be appreciated .

Online c ondolences, p hotos and memo ries may be shared at Ku ratkoNosek. c om.

Phyllis E. Trout, 86 Bookkeeper

Phy llis E. Trout, 86, of Westmont and for merly of Downers Grove, E lmwood Pa rk , Chicago and Cicero, died May 11, 2023. S he wo rked as a b ookkeeper prio r to retirement.

Ms. Trout was the d ear friend and c ompanion of the late Ro be rt D. Pawelek (CPD), the sister of A nne Fantozzi, the aunt of Deborah (John) Randazzo, greataunt of Nicole Randazzo and a c ousi n

and friend to many. She was predeceased by her parents, the late Frank Sidlauskas and Mary Sidlauskas (nee Zoper).

Vi sitation is We d nesd ay, May 17 from 9:30 a.m. to time of service at 11 a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. I nterment is at Lithuanian National Cemetery, Justice Memorials appreciated to the Chicago Police Memorial Fund, 10343 S. Pulaski , Chicago, 60655 or the charity of your choice

Express c ondolences online at HitzemanFuneral.com. S end sympat hy card s to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Phyllis Trout family

Vladimir Vanek, 92

Active in local fraternal groups

Vladimir “Laddie” Vanek, 92, of L aGrange Pa rk , died May 14, 2023.

Mr. Vanek ser ve d in the U. S. Ar my during the Ko r ean Wa r and wo rked as an ind ustrial manage r in the manufacturing industr y.

He was a p ast b oard member and a dvo cated for several c ommunity organizations including b ut not limited to Rive rside Rotar y, L aGrange Pa rk /Brookfield Lions C lub, Pioneer s, Proviso Townshi p, Sokol, Senior Handy man Pr ogr am and many of their subsidiarie s.

Mr. Vanek was the husband of Lo rraine Vanek (nee Fo rt i no); the fa ther Valerie Schoenberg, Vi c toria ( Patrick) McManus and L eane (the late Ronald ) Jones; the gr andfather Gabriela Schoenberg, Ky lie McManus, Fiona McManus, Hilary Jones and Richard Jones; the brother of the late Miroslav (Camille) Vanek; and the uncle and gr eat uncle of man y.

Vi sitation is F riday, May 19, from 3 to 8 p. m. and Saturday, May 20 from 10:30 a.m. to time of service at 11 a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. I nterment is at Queen of Heaven Cemeter y, Hillside

S end sympat hy cards to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield , 60513, c/o the Vladimir Vanek family.

DELORES J. KISS

VLADIMIR VANEK

O’Malley leads the line for streaking LTHS soccer

Lions run away with league title, set sights on state tour ney

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Lyons Township High School senior Katie O’Malley remembers the adjustments during her first varsity girls soccer season in 2021. Now a veteran standout and Illinois State University recruit, O’Malley makes the difference in many ways for another talented LTHS lineup that regularly uses two sophomores and two freshmen.

“I played [varsity] as a sophomore and I was honestly scared to play with [older girls],” O’Malley said. “I try to be inclusive with everyone and keep everyone in line, too. Kind of a leader role, I guess, and make sure everyone knows they’re doing good and to keep working hard.”

O’Malley especially has been integral in sharing success this season with the Lions (18-1-1, 6-0), who captured their sixth straight West Suburban Silver title by beating Glen-

bard West 6-0 on May 9. They enter this week’s IHSA Class 3A state playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Reavis Sectional.

Besides leading the Lions with 14 goals, O’Malley also has served up an impressive team-high 18 assists -- a direct hand in 32 of the potent offense’s 65 goals this season.

“I think [assists] mainly come from my corner kicks because I’m the only one who takes the corner kicks,” O’Malley said. “Then I think just because I’m on the field a lot, it comes from servicing someone right before their goal.”

LTHS coach Bill Lanspeary has no official records, but he believes that O’Malley probably is among the Lions’ top five in singleseason assists

Of the Lions’ nine state-qualifying teams from 1997-2021 whose season stats are on IHSA.org, the highest assist total is Jenna Johnson’s 18 for the Lions’ 2000 quarterfinalists that played 28 games

“[O’Malley is] a dangerous playmaker and she’s finding that she can be dangerous giving it up to a teammate as well,” Lanspeary said.

On corner kicks, O’Malley often has found the strong head of Izzi Wirtz (5 goals), defender Caroline McKenna (3 goals) or Niamh Griffin (5 goals). There’s also sophomore forward Caroline Mortonson (7 goals, 12 assists) and freshman midfielder Carolina Capizzi (9 goals).

Against Glenbard West, Mortonson and O’Malley each scored twice and Mortonson

had two assists. Capizzi and Izzy Lebar also scored

Goals by Mortonson and Capizzi in the first 5:17 put LTHS in control early The Lions also posted their 15th shutout this season with just five goals allowed.

O’Malley quickly resolved any possible college recruiting pressure. Joining the Eclipse Soccer Club after her junior year, she was part of the roster for the ECNL Girls National Playoffs in Seattle last June and got significant playing time because of injuries.

That’s where newly hired Illinois State coach Marisa Kresge first spotted O’Malley. O’Malley verbally committed during the summer as part of Kresge’s first recruiting class “I liked how interested they were and how they were doing a rebuild,” O’Malley said. “It all just happened so fast. Especially for senior year, it was my last time to play [for LTHS] and it’s fun to do it knowing that I was committed.”

The Lions most likely will see No. 7-seeded Glenbard West again in the LT Regional final at 10 a.m. on May 20.

LT opens regional play on May 17 against No. 16 Argo. The sectional semifinal is at 4:30 p.m. May 23 at Reavis

RBHS win streak snapped, dashing league title hope

Junior Cooper Marrs and his RiversideBrookfield baseball teammates began Metro Suburban Conference Blue action this season by losing their first two games to Wheaton Academy

The Bulldogs nearly came all the way back to win the championship on May 9.

They took the early lead and were on their way to their 13th straight victory, but St. Francis rallied for the 10-2 victory in Wheaton in the winner-take-all finale

“For the first four innings, I thought we played really well and then the wheels sort of came off for the first time in a while,” said Marrs, the Bulldogs’ starting pitcher. “That’s only going to serve as experience that’ll help us further down the road in even higher-pres-

sure games.”

The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the first on Jake Tyler’s two-run single but then stranded five runners over the second and third innings.

St. Francis pulled ahead with a five-run third that included a run-scoring double, three run-scoring singles and a run-scoring error. They added four runs in the fourth.

Ryan Novak, who had two of the Bulldogs’ six hits, and Wes Deason doubled

“We came out ready to play We had a chance to kind of do some damage They kind of flipped the script on us and ran away with it,” RBHS coach Mark Ori said.

The Bulldogs had forced a first-place tie by winning 4-0 the previous day behind a com-

bined two-hit shutout by winning pitcher Wyatt Murphy (5 strikeouts in 6 innings) and Novak. RBHS and Wheaton Academy tied for second with the Warriors getting the tiebreaker based on their season sweep.

“We played great the day before [against St Francis], all aspects, and we came out with that same kind of fire and we weren’t able to limit the damage in the one inning,” Ori said. “We wanted to win conference but it’s [state] playoffs that really matters.”

The Bulldogs bounced back by beating Timothy Christian 12-3 on May 11 and Plainfield Central 8-5 on May 13.

Marrs had a huge game against Plainfield, going 5 for 5 with a first-pitch three-run homer in the ninth inning. Deason had two RBIs

and Marrs and Joey Garvey scored twice Carter Duda (4 innings) won in relief of starter Robert Drake.

Against Timothy Christian, RBHS pulled away with an eight-run sixth to pad a 4-3 lead Jacob Cruz was 3 for 4 with a double. Tyler and Jaden Deppe, who each had two hits, and Deason (3 RBIs) also doubled. Winning pitcher Kevin Cronin worked 4.1 innings.

The Bulldogs are the No. 6 seed in the IHSA Class 4A Mt. Carmel Sectional and open St Rita Regional play against No. 12 Morton at 4:30 p.m. on May 25. The re gional final is at 11 a.m. on May 27 against No. 3 St. Rita or No. 14 Curie with the winner advancing to the sectional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. on June 1.

– Bill Stone

BILL STONE

Katie O’Malley

LTHS boys earn 8th straight trip to water polo state nals

Lions dominate St. Rita 14-4 to take sectional crown

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Junior Luke Jackson and his Lyons Township High School boys water polo teammates never take returning to the state meet for granted.

“It’s always a privilege to go to state. That’s something we earn every year,” Jackson said. “We’re proud to go to state as many years as we can.”

On May 13, the Lions were determined to earn an eighth consecutive state quarterfinal berth. They wasted little time proving it.

LTHS defeated St. Rita 14-4 and now advance to the state quarterfinals on May 19 at 5:45 p.m. against Fremd at Stevenson High School in Vernon Hills

The Lions (19-10) took a 3-0 lead just 1:57 into the match and led 5-0 after the first period. Louis Grib scored twice and Sean Gripp, Brendan Whelton and Laine Tegan each scored once.

“Possession after possession, goals in the first three minutes. I was watching the film

and it did not feel in the water like it was that fast,” said Gripp. “It’s really an expectation, honestly, to make it to state. That’s what we’ve been working for the whole season, to get our sectional win.”

Whelton finished with four goals and Gripp and Tegan each had three

The Lions had previously beaten St. Rita 15-8 in April at LTHS, but their challenging schedule also resulted in several tough losses, three by one or two goals.

The lineup lost several key seniors from last year’s third-place state finisher and return just three starters in Gripp, Whelton and goalie Charlie Vlk. The Lions have earned top-three trophies the past four state tournaments, two seconds and two thirds.

“I think we’re playing our best right now and I’ve always told them that’s the goal. We want the difficult games throughout the season to prepare for where we want to be at the end of the season,” LTHS coach Doug Eichstaedt said.

LTHS girls fall in sectional nal

Another great season for the Lions (25-5) ended May 13 with a 13-11 loss to Mother McAuley in the LT Sectional final.

LTHS was the No. 2 seed after losing to the top-seeded Mighty Macs 9-7 in April but hadn’t lost since. The Lions were hoping for

their third straight state berth after finishing third in 2022.

The Lions played without sophomore standout Maya Mladjan, who suf fered a concussion in the final seconds of the victory over York on May 6.

“I felt like it was one of the better games we’ve played. We played really well, even though the result wasn’t what we wanted,” said senior Emilia Mladjan, Maya’s sister. “The whole team stepped up to fill in that spot she would usually have been, espe-

cially Evie [Reinisch]. Estelle [Wright] and Bella [Recker] don’t usually play center defense and they did really well to help fill that spot.”

Lauren Jablonski had four goals, three in the second period, and Mladjan had three Jablonski’s goal gave the Lions a 7-5 lead with 6:11 left in the third period but McAuley answered with five unanswered goals.

LTHS closed to 12-11 on Recker’s goal with 1:02 left. McAuley called a timeout and scored with 43 seconds to go

Pacourek heads back to state meet in 800 meters

Senior middle distance runner eyes breaking RBHS school record

By BILL STONE

Contributing

Reporter

Riverside-Brookfield High School senior Bryce Pacourek used another late push May 10 to qualify again for the IHSA Class 3A girls track and field state meet in the 800-meter run.

This time should be even better.

Pacourek finished second at the Sh epard Sectional in 2:22.81 – her second-fastest time ever to her 2:21.99.

At the 2022 sectional, Pacourek’s late kick qualified for state with second place in a then-personal-best 2:26.82. She was

19th at state in 2:27.02.

“At state last year, I was surprised that I qualified and just happy to be there. This year, I have a lot more confidence, so I know that I can push myself to stay with the pack of girls in the 2:18 range,” Pacourek said.

“I think it feels more special this year because I feel like I actually belong. Last year was a challenging season, so when I had one very good race that allowed me to qualify, I didn’t feel like I belonged. This year, I have been training

smart and putting in a lot of work, which has allowed me to have lots of good races, so I feel like I have earned it.”

Pacourek again was the lone state qualifier for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Gianna Gelb was fourth in the 1,600 (5:43.89).

Junior Maia Nelson (3,200 in 13:20.64) and the 3,200 relay (Gelb, senior Jojo Rodriguez, sophomore Jorie Eggers, Pacourek in 10:40.53) were fifth.

Senior Ava Connerty (100 high hurdles in 17.33) and junior Antonia O’Keefe (28.79

meters/94 feet-5 inches in discus) were sixth.

Like 2022, Pacourek ag ain was third du ring the final lap but took over second with about 175 meters left.

At state, Pacourek hopes to break 2:20 and possibly challenge the 2:18.0 school record

“I think there will be plenty of competition to help push me,” Pacourek said. “My experience from last year helped me realize that I need to get out faster and stay connected to the pack. I have been working on really pushing the last 200 meters, so I think that kick at the end will be extremely important at state.”

STEVE JOHNSTON

Lyons Township’s Brendan Whelton (le ) looks to shoot against St. Rita dur ing the IHSA Sectional championship game at Lyons Township High School on May 13 in Western Springs.

BRYCE PACOUREK

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.

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?ApplyTo-

Job=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.

IT Specialist for Key Tower LLC (Chicago, IL). Review diagnostics & assess the functionality & efficiency of sts. Implement security measures. Monitor security certs & company compliance of reqs. Offer tech support to company staff & troubleshoot comp problems. Install & update company soft & hardware as needed. Anticipate and reprt the cost of replacing or updating comp items. Design and implement new systems & solutions. Bachelor degree, Polish language + 2yrs exp req. by email: MILOSZ.NOWICKI@KEYTOWERLLC.COM

Project Manager sought by Crystal Equation Corp. (Chicago, IL). B.S in Business Admin., Project Mgmt. or closely related field plus 3 years of project mgmt. and strategic planning exp. Alternatively, will accept M.S in Business Admin., Project Mgmt. or closely related field plus 1 year of project mgmt. and strategic planning exp. CSM Certification. Work assignments may be in various unanticipated work locations in the US. Telecommuting permitted. Please apply Job #37334 by sending resume to apply@crystalequation.com

Software Development Engineer sought by Chowbus, Inc. in Chicago, IL to research, dsgn, & dvlp scalable, distributed s/ware systems that support core business. Reqs: Master’s Deg in Chem Engg, Comp Sci, or rltd field & 1 yr exp in job offd or in QA Engineer role. Must have course work or work exp/Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, React, Vue, Capybara, Engineering process control, Mathematical modeling & techniques, & System theory. Apply online at: https://www.chowbus.com/careers

Sr. IT Database Systems Analyst (Chicago, IL) Support data partners & d/base admin & integration efforts that utilize org’s ETL platforms & rltd source d/bases. Work in collaboration w/ other data analysts, dvlprs, & key business stakeholders, both internally & externally, to ensure data quality & introduce d/base innovations that support co.’s business operations in the insurance, claims, underwriting industries, etc. Perform data profiling & analysis on d/base systems & enterprise data warehouses. Use SQL or similar tools to query d/bases for testing & analysis using understating of data flows & relational architecture. Master’s in Data Analytics, Comp Sci, Comp & Industrial Engg, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Industrial Pharmacy & 4 yrs exp in job or 4 yrs as lead data processing & business analyst for claims processing w/in insurance industry. Mail resumes to: Starr Insurance Holdings, Inc. Attn: Maria Fernandez, 3353 Peachtree Rd, NE, Ste 1000, Atlanta, GA 30326

CASHIER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Cashier in the Finance Department. This position will perform all clerical tasks related to the cash receipt function. Collect, process, and deposit payments made to the Village received directly from customers, via mail, lockbox, or from other internal departments. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled, first review of applications will be on May 23, 2023.

The Oak Park Residence Corporation (OPRC) is looking to hire talented and experienced individuals for the following positions. OPRC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide competitive compensation and a generous benefits package.

JOB OPENINGS

SENIOR PROPERTY MANAGER, HOUSING PROGRAMS – Provides oversight in the management of three housing communities in Oak ParkMills Park Tower, The Oaks, and The Farrelly-Muriello Apartments.

ROSS PROGRAM SERVICE COORDINATOR (RPSC) – MILLS

PARK TOWER – Develops and coordinates service programs that promote self-sufficiency and independent living for Mills Park Tower residents.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/ PROGRAM SUPPORT – MILLS

PARK TOWER - Provides administrative and clerical support to Mills Park Tower Property Manager and Assistant Property Manager.

HCV PROGRAMS CASE MANAGER(S) – Provides case management to Oak Park Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher participants.

PROPERTY MANAGER, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL –Manages multiple market-rate buildings throughout Oak Park. In collaboration with leasing and maintenance teams, provides excellent customer services to residents.

For a complete job description for each of these positions and information about how to apply, please visit our website at https://oakparkrc.com/ about-us/work-for-oprc/ OR Send Cover letter and resume to bswaggerty@oakparkrc.com

GARAGE SALE

MARKETPLACE

PAINTING

WOODWORK

On-site refinishing of wood and fiberglass since 1977. Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty! References available. Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

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

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 NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, located at 201 N. Scoville will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation Meeting which will take place remotely via video/telephone conference on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 9:00am. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private/parochial schools and who are home schooled within the district for the 2023-24 school year. If you are the parent of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200, you are urged to attend. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact Kiara Colas at kcolas@oprfhs.org or call (708) 434-3706 to request the Zoom Link information.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: YY23010544 on May 9, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of NOTHING MATTERS with the business located at: 3938 N CALIFORNIA AVE APT 1E, CHICAGO, IL 60618. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CLAUDIA LICETH CRUZ 3938 N CALIFORNIA AVE APT 1E CHICAGO, IL 60618, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Nathan Christopher Gonzales Case Number 2023CONC000747

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Nathan Christopher Gonzales to the new name of: Nathan Ace Pietri

The court date will be held: On 08/10/2023 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ENTRY LEVEL APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

The Entry Level Appointment Committee of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois adopted Rules and Regulations for Fire Department entry level appointments on May 8, 2023. The Rules and Regulations may be obtained at the Human Resources Department, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Rules and Regulations shall take effect ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois adopted amendments to the Rules and Regulations for appointments to the Police Department on May 8, 2023. The amendments to the Rules and Regulations may be obtained at the Human Resources Department, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The amendments to the Rules and Regulations shall take effect ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 2301 (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment-Adaptive Reuse Permit)

HEARING DATE: June 1, 2023

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

LOCATION OF HEARING: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street (Room 201 - Council Chambers) Oak Park, IL 60302

PETITIONER: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

REQUEST: The Petitioner seeks text amendments to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as follows: (1) an amendment to Article 2 (“Definitions & Rules of Measurement”) by adding a definition of a “Teaching and Learning Center” and “Live Performance Venue – Limited”; (2) an amendment to Article 8 (“Uses”) by adding Teaching

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHAN-

CERY DIVISION

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC

Plaintiff, -v.-

and Learning Center and Live Performance Venue - Limited to the list of uses; and (3) an amendment to Article 14 (“Zoning Approvals”) by adding a new Section 14.10 (“Adaptive Reuse Permit”).

A copy of the proposed text amendment is on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 17, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER: 09-23-Z

HEARING DATE: June 7, 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

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Chetranda Grey, to operate a reception/ banquet facility pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 6435 North Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-06-206-008-0000 in the NA North Avenue Zoning District. A copy of the application and

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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 GIV-

EN 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.

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.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 17, 2023

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-

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 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.

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) 236-

SALE

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF14 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FF14 Plaintiff, -v.-

JUANITA J. LACOURT, CHARLES T. GRANT, WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.

Defendants 2020 CH 07380 817 S. SCOVILLE AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 16, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corpo-

ration, will at 10:30 AM on June 20, 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 817 S. SCOVILLE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-18-228-019-

000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $584,316.19.

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, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 20 8287.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-

SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710

E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com

Attorney File No. 20 8287

Attorney Code. 40342

Case Number: 2020 CH 07380 TJSC#: 43-1333

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 # 2020 CH 07380 I3219657

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

U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee of the SCIG Series III Trust; Plaintiff, vs. GAD IKEANUMBA AKA GAD C. IKEANUMBA; 1030-32 NORTH AUSTIN CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION AKA 1030 -32 N. AUSTIN CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION AND HENRY SILVERMAN LIVING TRUST U/A/D AUGUST 26, 1996;

Defendants, 11 CH 33740

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate:

P.I.N. 16-05-314-031-1001. Commonly known as 1032 N. Austin Blvd., Unit 1N, Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g) (4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection

For information call Ms. Mary E. Spitz at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Sottile & Barile, LLC, 7530 Lucerne Drive, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. (440) 5721512. ILF1810025