Landmark 053123

June 3 ce long-a

Brookfield will celebrate completion of a new fountain with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for June 3 join local officials as they the new monument, $800,000 to ma

“We are excited to complete this infrastructure project to honor our Brookfield veterans and provide area for and visitors of Brookfield,” said President Michael Gar lease. “These projects require a lot of and ef fo lage board, residents and staf

Local officials had hoped the fountain would be ready Day, but a delay caused er ror that added an errant the word “Veterans” on the main basin of the fountain took more than a month to fix.

Workers ended up cutting out the ’S from the concrete basin – the word “Veterans” appears twice on the fountain -- and filling in the holes with new concrete. Once that set, using a template, they sandblasted a new S in the correct position.

Public Works Director Carl Muell noted that the depressed area of the new S exposed the aggregate of the new concrete, unlike the smooth, finished concrete of the other letters. However, plans had always called for the letters to be painted black, like the “Village of Brookfield” on the new Brookfield Avenue bridge.

“We were told the paint will probably cover [the ag gregate] and it will look fin e,” Muell said. “If it looks good, we’re done. If not, we’ll try to smooth it out and repaint it.”

Asked who was footing the bill to correct the mistake, Village Manager Timothy Wiberg said the village was splitting the $7,000 cost with Hitchcock Design Group,

ought to be more impressive than more recent iterations, which have not exactly delivered a “wow” factor. Part of the problem has been that since the first fountain was built in 1973, it has had the unfortunate habit of being crashed into by impaired drivers failing to navigate the traffic circle

In order to prevent future destructive crashes into the fountain, the new design includes an interior barrier curb surrounding raised planter areas in addition to a perimeter barrier curb.

While the fountain looked rather unfinished coming out of the Memorial Day weekend, Muell said the flagpoles and landscaping would be installed this week. In addition, the words “Veterans Memorial Circle” inscribed on the main fountain basin will receive their black paint and six emblems re presenting the branches of the Armed Services – Ar my, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard -- will be affixed between the words.

The village will conduct a test run on the

It might not be noticeable during the ceremony, but the new fountain – which will feature a 10-foot center jet surrounded by five lower sprays -- will also be lit with color-changing LED lights.

The new fountain has been a long time coming. Its design was approved in August 2021, when the cost was estimated to be a little less than $500,000. Paying for part of the cost was a $250,000 grant from the state of Illinois.

By the time work started the following August, the projected cost had jumped to $650,000 due in large part to the construction of a new sewer junction chamber beneath the fountain to move a manhole and allow the fountain to be built in the center of the circle.

The cost went up by almost $200,000 more in early 2023 in order to upgrade the electrical service and line about 220 feet of sewer serving the fountain. The village’s portion of the expense is being paid for with Eight Corners TIF District funds.

Kamil

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

ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066

E-MAIL buphues@rblandmark.com

ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com

The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $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. © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP.

BOB UPHUES/Editor

With just four da ys before a planned ribbon-cutting ceremony, workers scramble to put the nishing touches on the new fountain at Veterans Memorial Circle in Brookeld on May 30.

May 31-June 7

BIG WEEK

Conversation with author Jesmyn Ward

Public libraries in Brook eld Riverside and Illinois Libraries Present invite you to join them for the virtual event “Navigate Your Stars: A Conversation with Jesmyn Ward” on June at 7 p.m.

Get ready to read

Nor th Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., and the Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., launch their kids’ Summer Reading programs in the coming week with special events.

The Brook eld Library reading program kicks o June 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. You can get an extra badge on your Summer Reading log by attending while enjoying an ice cream treat and watching the amazing “scary” magic of The Great Boodini.

Nor th Riverside Library is going all out with a Summer Reading Kicko Party on June 3 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., during which the library will be closed. There will be face painting, a bounce house, snow cones, popcorn, ra es and more. No registration required.

And more

Hailed as “the new Toni Morrison by the American Booksellers Association, Ward will discuss her life, her literary vision and her unique perspectives on love and loss. Tracie D. Hall, executive director of the American Library Association, will join her in conversation.

The event will be held via Zoom. Register to attend and obtain a link at riversidelibrary.org/events or brook eld evanced.info/signup.

Going native

The Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., invites you to join Holly Lewandowski and Dave Peterson for “Native Plants: How Can We Turn Habitat Losses into Gains” on June 3 at 3 p.m. in the library’s Meeting Room.

The Ber wyn couple established the I Love Native Plants nursery in 2019 and will discuss how we can all participate in ecological reclamation, remediation and restoration. Register to attend by calling 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or at brook eld evanced.info/signup.

■ The Frederick Law Olmsted Society invites you to its next Landscape Workday on June 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at Indian Gardens. Come for as long as you like. Supervised children welcome. Service hour credits available. Bring work gloves and a bottle of water. All other supplies and snacks will be supplied. Look for the public works dump truck.

■ Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., hosts “Introspective Dream Assembly,” paintings and mixed-media art by Ryan Burns and Ari Norris, and

“Re ection of a Community as It Is,” large-scale drawings by Jesse Howard, through June 24. Gallery hours are Thurs.-Sat. 1-5 p.m.

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

■ North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents Big and Little Storytime (children w/adult) on June 5 at 10:30 a.m., Safari ABCs (child

It ’s farmers market season!

Summer is here and that means the return of farmers markets in Brook eld and Riverside, o ering fresh fruit and vegetables; sustainably raised meats, sh and eggs; small batch prepared foods; artisan items and much more.

The Brook eld Farmers Market opens June 3 and returns every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Oct. 14 to the west parking lot of the Brook eld Village Hall, 8820 Brook eld Ave. Ian Leith provides the live entertainment for the season’s rst market. Visit brook eldfarmers.com for more information.

The Riverside Farmers Market kicks o its 2023 season on June 7 and returns ever y Wednesday from 2:30 to 7 p.m. through Oct. 4 in Centennial Park, 10 Pine Ave., under the water tower in downtown Riverside.

In addition to fresh and prepared food, there is a rotating weekly Artisan Tent, live music and activities for children. More at facebook.com/Riverside.Farmers.Mkt.

w/adult, every other week in Spanish) on June 7 at 10:30 a.m. and Bingo/Loteria (all ages) on June 7 at 4 p.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new

■ Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents The Ghost in the Machine: Arti cial Intelligence Image Generation 101 with Saverio Truglia on June 1 at 7 p.m., Chair Zumba on June 2 at 1:30 p.m., Legotastic Saturday on June 3 at 10:30 a.m., Chair Yoga (virtual) on June 5 at 11 a.m. and Cards & Co ee on June 6 at 10:30 a.m. and Storytime Stars (ages2-3 w/caregiver) on June 6 at 10:30

a.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit online at brook eld. evanced.info/signup to register for programs

■ Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, presents Mindful Chair Yoga on June 1 at 11 a.m., Boost Your Brain and Memory on June 1 at 6 p.m. and Crafting Connection on June 6 at 6:30 p.m. To register for programs, visit online at riversidelibrary. org/events

■ The Brook eld Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo the second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.

JESMYN WARD

RBHS music students, parents sound o on sta reduction

Two dozen people loud and clear about keeping 3 full-time teachers

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

Twenty-five people, both students and parents, made passionate and often emotional comments at the May 23 meeting of the Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 Board of Education, imploring the school board to change course and fund three fulltime music teacher positions next year.

An overflow crowd of approximately 50 people attended the meeting to urge the school board to keep choir teacher Kayley Smetana, who has been of fered a reduced part-time position teaching of just one class next year.

Kayley Smetana is not related to District 208 Assistant Superintendent Kristin Smetana.

The students and parents told the school board that RBHS needs three full-time music teachers, not the 2.2 full-time equivalent positions that the school board has proposed. The administration says the staffing level is in line with enrollment and that no music classes are being cut.

That explanation hasn’t satisfied music students and parents, who argue music en-

rollment has not rebounded from remote learning and mask-wearing during the pandemic.

“I want you to give us three full time

teachers even though the numbers don’t fully support it so we can build this program,” said parent Liz Buoscio. “But I want you to make sure Kayley Smetana is back,

because that woman is what has made the difference. It’s not just filling the seat. It’s her running the three choirs.”

RBHS music students and parents spoke passionately about the impact all three RBHS music teachers have had on the lives of students

“I fear that if we lose our third teacher it won’t only be taking away from the choir, who is so amazing, it will be taking from the entire music department,” said RBHS student Jane Tselepis choking up during her comments. “Our teachers are already stretched so far.”

Graduating senior Olivia Buoscio said Smetana and her other music teachers inspired her to study music education in colle ge with the goal of becoming a choir teacher herself

“Last year Ms. Smetana came to RB and breathed life into a program that everyone thought had died and over the past two years here she created a loving, caring, welcoming environment within the choir program that will not survive without her,” Buoscio said.

CMAP hosts open house on BNSF grade-separation study

Planning agency seeks public feedback on travel issues, needs

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Will there ever be a way to separate Burlington Northern-Santa Fe train and vehicular traffic in Riverside and/or Berwyn?

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning has been compiling data and feedback from local, state and federal agencies as well as from the public since 2019 as part of its “Planning and Environmental Linkages” study.

That ef fort has led to the publication in March of CMAP’s Draft Purpose and Need

re port, which details the train/vehicular traffic issues along the BNSF line from Delaplaine Road in Riverside to Ridgeland Avenue in Berwyn, which along with other study documents can be found at engage. cmap.illinois.gov/berwyn-riverside-crossings.

On the heels of that re port, CMAP will host a public meeting on June 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, to inform citizens of what they’ve learned so far and receive feedback from the public.

The open house will be conducted in English and Spanish, and among those who will be there to answer questions will be the study’s project manager, Tom Murtha of CMAP, project consultants and engineers, representatives from the Cook County Department of Transportation and

other agencies.

There won’t be any illustrations of possible grade-separation options – that’s still to come. The purpose of the meeting is to review with the public the needs for all modes of transportation through the study area, to lay out the project’s goals and get public input.

“The big issues are there, but we don’t know if we will come up with an alternative when weighing the cost and the effects of a project on the community,” Murtha told the Landmark in a phone interview last week. “People may look at this and say, ‘We don’t want this.’”

At the open house, the public will be able to see what the Draft Purpose and Need document lays out. The issues include not only extended gate closures which delay motorists, pedestrians and emergency ve-

hicles.

In addition to delays that make people late for work and other appointments, they also impact where people choose to do business or shop. They also create safety hazards for motorists and pedestrians

The June 7 open house is just one of several public meetings to come in the future as alternatives are developed and vetted, said Murtha.

“The whole idea here is to consider a wide variety of alternatives and look at each one … and then screen all of them –what’s the cost and impact on properties – and nar row it down more and more to alternatives that might work,” Murtha said.

Comments can also be submitted by email to Murtha at TMurtha@cmap.illinois.gov. Those received by July 10 will become part of the officials record.

BOB SKOLNIK

RBHS senior Veronica Hunt reads remarks from a prepared statement regarding music sta ng at the high school at the school board’s May 23 meeting.

See RBHS on pa ge 15

AMayryl Esic Abuda

Natalie Acosta

Grace A. Adams

Andrew Agne

Noah Aguirre

Eric Albarran

Marissa Alcaraz

Chloe Elizabeth Alexander

Waris Amjad Ali

Arius Alijosius

Sophia Alva rez

Jayda Amparan

Melissa H. Aranibar Guisbert

Adam Arreguin

BTaylor John Baird

Liepa Banenas

Finnley Barnes

Natalie Guadalupe Barragan

Trinity Barrueta

Lukas Kristofer Bell

Nabil Belmadani

Mariel Beltran

Daniel Benes

Ignace Bielobradek

Piper Blair

Maksym Blazhievskyi

Ti ani Wanjiru Boone

Cecelia Boswell

Rober t Brabec

Anna Charlotte Breit

Omar Bretado

Nina Angeline Bretz

Anna Bridges

Katherine L. Briolat

Abigail Briseno

Breanna Alexandra Brown

Peyton Brown

CLASS OF 2023

RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT, MAY 26, 2023

CAlexander Cabrera Ramos

Cairo S. Calleros

Paulina Carmona

Jasmine Carter-West

Colin James Cash

Beckham Castillo-Gonzalez

Charles Ewan Catania

Christopher Cavaliere

Claire Cervi

Ariana Lizett Cesar

Elli Ann Christiansen

Alyssa Cipriani

Mia Circelli

Sebastian A. Ciszewski

Emily Anne Clarkson

Rebecca Clark

Donovan A. Coen

Victoria Colella

Ava Conner ty

Kira Anne Conroy

Natalia Contrera s

Liam Coombes

Annabella Cornolo

Sophia Elaina Cozzone

Shaniyah Craddieth

Marisa Crancich

Carroll Daniel Creedon

Jacob Cruz

Luciano Curiel

Samantha Currire

DLayne Michael Dale

Colin Daniels

Riley Addison Daun

Katherine Del Angel

Leyna Marie Bai Ge Delmonico

Karl Jozef Demegillo

Dominic Diaz

Michael B. DiFiori

Thomas Dixon

Rex Dockendorf

William Domanowski

Daniel Domeier

Madyn Dron

Jackson Lyle Drumheller

Gwenivere Dudzik

Olivia Dvorak

EAndrea Eileen Eckhart

Xavier Z. Edwards

Samuel Egan

Ilah Elliott

Iyanuoluwa Samuel Elusoji

Paige Emmett

Devon Encher

FCaitlin Fallert

Hunter Ferguson

Owen Fingerhut

Aidan Isaac Finkle

Ella Louise Ford

Eli Fox

John Alexander Frieh

Jeremiah Thomas Froemel

Paige Fudacz

GThomas Charles Galbraith

Apollo G. Gama

Adriana Elena Garcia

Valerie Anayi Garcia

Amelia Patricia Gardiner

Emma M Garesche

Abril Garza Tinoco

Darby Ellen Gaughan

Zackar y Gaynor

Haley Gibbs

Daniel Hunter Gilhooley

Graham Harrison Gilsdorf

Devontae Givens

Olivia Glawe

Erick Gonzalez

Exavier J. Gonzalez

Giovanny Gonzalez II

Mia Gonzalez

Tyler J. Granderson

Claudia Mae Grusecki

Anthony Guerrero

Khamyra Gunn

Celeste Gutierrez

Sophia Elizabeth Gutierrez H

Scarlett Georgann Hall

Michael Halmon

Mark A. Hammond

Landon Harazin

Gwenyth Elizabeth Hardin

Kailee Elise Harper

Ava V. Hast

Ellary Hastings

Bridget Yseult Hayes

Christopher John Heer

Aidan Amador Hernandez

Class of 2023

Alina Hernandez

David Hernandez

Julius Hernandez

Angel Herrera Mendoza

Santiago Herrera

William W. Hertogs

Eleanor Hill

Ellie Grace Hlavaty

Samuel Alexander Hoadley

Delaney Hodgden

Sydney Lillian Holdman

Aidan Alexander Horn

Henry Hostrawser

Salma Hummos

Lara Whitmore Huns

Veronica Hunt

Colin Rober t Icard

Somyra Ivin

Hunter Iwaniec

Jaime Jacob Izaguirre

Kayla Izquierdo

Amaya Jackson

Joseph Jaime

Tyrike Jenkins

Jacob Johnsen

Cameron Matthew Joseph

Ari N. Juarez Mar tinez

Arriana Julius

Jocelyn Jurado

PHOTO S BY TODD A. BANNOR

Ella Proteau, president of the Stude nt Association Executive Board speaks at Riverside-Brook eld High School’s commencement exercises.

CLASS OF 2023

Luke Gerald Nelson

Charlotte Nesler

Gemma Nishimura

Spencer Zachary Noah

Lianna Gail Noel

Ryan Jerome Novak

Daniel Nungo

Jacob Paul O’Brien

Ryan Michael O’Donoghue

Hannah Rose O’Flaher ty

Margaret O’Kane

Allen John O’Keefe

Morgan Olivia O’Shaughnessy

Jonathan Obuchowski

Camila Olvera

Jazmin Orozco

Juan Or tiz

Stephanie Marie Ortiz

PBr yce Elizabeth Pacourek

Nathaniel Padilla

Kevin Eric Paitl

Grace Pankros

Lana Maria Papadatos

Darren Par

Jesse A. Parisi

Amanda Kate Jurczewski

Lauren Shea Justus

Quinn Kahle

Ana Kanatas

Marc A. Kaplan

Aidan Karabel

Sophie Klyber

Sophia Genevieve Koerner

Amanda Marie Kogut

Max Kowal

Giana I. Lapor te

Lucas Lauger

Camron Malik Leach

Aydan Le el

Sidney Le el

Lena Maria Lembcke

Noah Lenaghan

Jacob Leuck

Jocelyn A. Linares

Sarah Lindenberg

Luna Annmarie Lloyd

Emmalee Lopez

Olivia Lozada

Delilah Luna Del Castillo

Kristen Lynch

Riley Leigh Malcomson

Nicolas Maldonado

Nikola Malovic

Lucia Tereza Markotic

Ava S. Marrello

David C. Martinez

Julian Martinez

Leo Martin

Sebastian Martinez

William Martin

Ciaran Mathews

Hunter McClintock

Chancellor T. Ray eld

Sammi Toni Reeze

Ava M. Regan

Murphy Regan

Jennell Reid

Matthew John Repel

Amanda Reyes

Isael Reynoso

David J. Ricco

Sophia Richte r

Alejandro Samuel Rios

William Riseman

Javier Rivera

Liza Giselle Rivera

Joaliz M. Rodriguez

Abigail Roedel

Ethan Alexander Romero

Leo Roth

Bridget Marie Shereck

Karina Sida

Victoria Silva-Juarez

Brett Daniel Skalnik

Christopher Smith

Petar Sofeski

Abigail Sokol

Marco Antonio Soto

Moses Nehemiah Soto

Beatrice N. Spidale

Tess Stanard

Ghost Stille

Jack Stille

Ava Grace Storandt

Katelyn Eileen Stowe

James Suero

Simona So a Sulminas

Mariah Summers

VAlan Vallecillo

John Vantholen

Christian Varela

Aramis Vargas-Aguiar

Eric Antonio Vasquez

Alexander Vazquez

Mia Bella Vazquez

Phillip Michael Vazzana

Nataly Alyssa Vega

Elise Nicole Verdin

Omar T. Vidales

Jesus Villalobos

Margo Villanueva

Samantha Villarreal

Nayeli Villegas

Caitlin Vitek

Aja McKay

Emma Anderson McVicker

Diego Medellin

Augustus Mendoza

Alexandra Xochitl Mercado

Eduardo J. Meza

Rafael Meza

Joseph M. Midona

Anthony James Mikutis

Jana Milicevic

Marcus Moody

Adrian Guillermo Morales

Annabella S. Moreno

Julia Moreno

Izaia Alexander Morin

Andre Lamont Morris

Izabella A. Morrissey

Dante Moscosa

Kasper Moszczynski

Tania Muhammad

Raymond Vincent Mular

Reagan Grace Mulcrone

Samia Valeria Munguia Garcia

Daniel Mario Munoz

Leonardo Munoz

Sierra Murillo

Quintavius Murrell

Vincent Nasti

Ana Itzel Nava

Timothy Nekrashchuk

Charli Nelson

Joshua Nelson

Henry Vincent Pecis

Alejandro Peralta

Ariana Perez

Christian Perez

Diana Perez

Jaiden Pesko

Anna Picton

Clara Pizana

Stella Pizana

Emma Polich

Ella J. Proteau

RWilliam Michael Ralph

Josephine Clara Randall

Andrew Ransel

Samuel James Royer

Natalie Rubi

Leotie Rudolf

BradleWilliam Ruska

Robyn Ruvoli

SAngela Salguero

Gemma Cresencia Sambugaro

Ezekiel Del Mundo Samson

Enzo S anabria

Adrian Sanchez

Nathan Sanchez

Delilah Sandova l

Monique Sandoval

Christian J. Santoyo

Emmanuel Santos

Steven David Saucedo

Christina Savaglio

Jonah Evan Schexnayder

Grant E. Schira

Liam J. Schlesser

Brooke Lynn Schwarte

Paris Selenica

Maxwell Selewa

Adam Shadduck

Blaine Sharenow

Jessica Sharenow

Gracie Svoboda

Alexandra Svora

Anna Lauren Swade

Drew Christopher Swiatek

Sophie Jean Swicionis

Sam Szymczak

TBrianna Danielle Talach

Alexander Ludovic Terry

Samuel Tomas

Manuel Tovar

Keith Casey Towers

Kaili Tran

Nguyen Thai Bao Tran

Lily Anna Trekles

Jaelyn Turina

Brendon Turner

Marques Allyn Turner

Jake Anthony Tyler U

Ricardo Ulloa

Raymundo Urbina

Adam Uriostegui Jr.

Joshua Jerry-Michael Uzzardo

WMia Wagner

Clothilde Wasielewski Sadowski

Jaisean Watts

Mia Manjit Weisman

Ella Caroline Westel

Isabel White

Daniel Ray Williams IV

Lleyton Edward Willis

Makayla Helene Witz

Charlie Wolfer

Caroline Wood

Dylan Wood

Y

Luke Ben Yachnin

Annalisse Cristina Zamarripa

Anaso a Zaper

Emiliano Zavala

Charles Roland Zelinski III

Gabriel Ziecik

Teachers welcome graduating seniors at Riverside-Brook eld High School’s commencement excercises.

Brook eld, re ghters agree to new 3-year union contract

Pay raise of 3.5% in 2023, 3% in nal two years of the deal

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield trustees voted unanimously to approve a new three-year contract with union firefighters as part of the omnibus agenda at the village board’s May 22 meeting. The contract is retroactive to Jan. 1 and expires Dec. 31, 2025.

The contract was previously approved by members of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4828, which re presents the 21 union firefighter paramedics and lieutenants of the department. The department also employs a chief and three captains who are not part of the union.

The most significant update in the new contract is base-pay raises for union firefighters of 3.5% in the first year and 3% for the second and third years, reflecting an overall uptick in cost-of-living from previous years, where base-pay raises generally were below 3%.

However, the salary schedule includes annual step raises in addition to the basepay raises for union firefighters early in their careers, which boost annual salaries higher.

For example, a new firefighter starting Jan. 1, 2023 at a base salary of $71,040 will, due to the annual step raise, be paid $78,183 in 2024, an increase of 10%. In the final year of the deal, that firefighter will make $89,087, representing a 24% total increase.

The step raises are arranged so that union firefighters will ma their fifth year. The top salary and-file firefighter in 2025 is $111,087.

Lieutenants also rece their first two years son promoted to lieutenant on Jan. 1, 2023 makes $114,134. In the third year of the contract, that lieutenant will make $127,751, a total increase in salary of 12%.

According to the 2023 employee compensation list, 14 of the

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.

department’s union firefighters earn more than $100,000 in salary annually.

Other changes to the c tract were relatively minor T here’s no change in the amount of health insuranc premiums union employees must pay; it remains at 15%. T he village did ag ree, howev

rding union firefighters reimbursing the village for expenses if they leave the department within three years of being hired.

eviously, the firefighter leaving early was on the hook paying any paramedic or firefighter training. Moving forward anyone leaving before

JAMES ADAMS Brook eld re chief

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

Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways

Dance ensemble closes out 20t season with ‘Superbloom’

e Seldoms, founded by North Riversider Carrie Hanson, perform at Harris eater

By KELLY POLLOCK Contributing Reporter

On June 1, at 7:30 p.m., dance ensemble The Seldoms will close out their 20th season with a world premiere performance of “Superbloom” at the Harris Theater at 205 E. Randolph St. in Millennium Park in Chicago.

Founded in 2002, The Seldoms were conceived by North Riverside resident Carrie Hanson and two partners.

“We started doing work that was multidisciplinary in nature, but when my partners moved on, it quickly became a platform for my artistic and choreographic voice,” Hanson said.

Hanson grew up in Iowa where she first fell in love with dance.

“I started at a typical dance studio where we did ballet and jazz and tap,” she said. “I was very serious about it, but I didn’t get very good dance training until I went away to colle ge.”

She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in modern dance at Texas Christian University and her Master of Arts in dance at Trinity Laban in London. Hanson no w teaches at the Dance Center of Columbia Colle ge Chicago.

In 2008, under Hanson’s direction, The Seldoms started doing performances that are more issue-based.

“We start with a really clear subject matter and then I do a lot of research,” she said.

Hanson has worked with experts including climate scientists and presidential historians for her pieces.

“The research part of it is fascinating to me,” Hanson said. “We’re ultimately trying to make the performance a

platform for discussion and maybe get people to think a little differently.”

Hanson described the pieces as “dance theater” but said that “the dance is always central and has to be the most important delivery system” of the message they are communicating.

“If you strip away the costumes, the spoken wo the visuals, you are still getting something from the mo ment,” Hanson said.

For “Superbloom,” Hanson is collaborating with other artists. Jackie Kazarian is a painter who created stract landscape scenery: one is a desert and the other is a landscape in full bloom.

“It has a great deal of color in purples and yellows and oranges,” Hanson said. “It’s quite vivid.”

Liviu Pasare is a video artist who is using film footage of the dancers and overlaying it on Kazarian’s paintings.

“He then manipulates the dancers’ images to become more like flowers,” Hanson said.

Kazarian also created large fabric trains that are 35 feet long.

“We have a set of desert trains and a set of bloom trains,” said Hanson. “I wanted something to be happening on the floor. Wildflowers bloom across the desert floor and so I felt like that plane needed to be activated too.”

The dancers engage with the trains throughout the piece.

Live music by Finom, a music duo made up of Sima Cunningham and Macie Stewart, will accompany the dancers’ performance.

“They are guitarists and they are bringing in a percussionist. They are singing some songs, but the lyrics don’t come directly at you. The way they use their voices, the whole thing feels like a soundscape,” said Hanson.

While Hanson is the founding artistic director of The Seldoms, she credits the fi dancers who make up the ensemble with assisting her with the choreo

“Our process is super collaborative,” she said. “I come in with an idea or a prompt and they do a lot of movement generation. ”

While many of The Seldoms’ performances have an activist component, “Superbloom” is different, according to Hanson.

“Where previous works have been critiques, this one feels more like an invitation to experience and be grateful for the beauty in nature,” she said. “The tone of it is joyful and the visuals are vivid and vibrant.”

The performance will be followed by the Bloom Ball where an open bar and light food will be available, and guests can meet and mingle with the artists.

“It’s a chance to celebrate live performance, “said Hanson. “We are still in a moment where people are appreciating the opportunity to get out and be in a creative, lively space.”

Tickets for the one-night-only performance of Superbloom start at $20 and for the Bloom Ball at $40. For more information, visit theseldoms.org.

RBHS honors Top 10 graduating seniors for nal time

School moving to Latin honors system to

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

The May 26 graduation ceremony at Riverside-Brookfield High School was the last one, for the foreseeable future at least, in which the 10 graduating seniors with the highest grade-point averages were given medals and recognized.

In 2020, the District 208 school board voted 6 to 1 to eliminate class rank effective with the Class of 2023.

Next year RBHS will shift to a broader, more inclusive system for recognizing academic excellence at graduation. Students who finish high school with grade-point averages of 3.0 to 3.49 will be recognized as graduating cum laude (with honors). Students with GPAs of 3.5 to 3.9 will graduate magna cum laude (with high honors), and students who finish high school with GPAs of 4.0 and above will graduate summa cum laude (with highest honors).

This will likely mean that well over half the graduating class will graduate with some kind of honors.

The top 10 students in the Class of 2023 seem to have mixed feelings about getting rid of class rank at RBHS

“I think, obviousl anyone in the top 10

likes the recognition, I think that’s pa the reason why we worked really hard all four years, but I do understand that there’ maybe a level of toxicity behind it and that’ probably why they’re getting rid of Paulina Carmona, who finished se the class and next fall will be the first RBHS graduate to attend Yale University sinc 2008.

Bryce Pacourek, who finished fifth in the class, had a similar view, although she sai she understood the reasons behind doning the practice.

“I think it’s kind of a nice way for all of to be recognized for our academic achi ments and all the hard work we’v throughout these four years at RB, but I also totally understand why they’re getting rid of it, because I feel like it put a lot of sure on us,” Pacourek said.

Class rank at RBHS is determined a weighted grade-point average grades in honors and Advanced Placement classes are weighted more heavily than grades in re gular classes.

Every student in the top 10, which was ally a top a 11 this year because of a tie for 10th, received straight A’s throughout their four years at RBHS, as did some students not in the top 10. Class ank ultimately ame

is is the nal year Riverside-Brook eld High School w ill recognize the senior class’ top 10 graduates (above). Next year, the school is adopting the Latin honors system.

down to how many honors or Advanced Placement classes a student took.

Five members of the top 10 this year were dancers. That’s not necessarily a random coincidence because the only honors wellness class is Honors Repertory Dance, a class that can be taken multiple times. An A in Honors Repertory dance is worth more than an A in regular gym class that non-dancers would take.

“You can definitely plan out your schedule to get slight advantages,” Pacourek said.

Some highly ranked students take some classes, mostly gym, pass/fail because they realized that an A in a regular level class would only hurt their GPA.

“It is pretty cutthroat; it’s about who can kind of game the system,” said Sam Royer, who finished sixth in the class and who took PE pass/fail during his junior and senior years.

Royer said he doesn’t mind class rank is being eliminated at RBHS, saying it’s not a good thing or a bad thing

“It’s nice to be recognized for that hard work but if, at the end of the day, I would not have that title, I wouldn’t lose any sleep

at night,” Royer said. “I don’t think that in the long run it’s going to hurt anybody that there’s no more top 10 students, just because it can be so cutthroat and the students who work just as hard as any other students might not be in the top 10.”

Royer, who will study electrical engineering at the University of Illinois, was one of only two boys to make the top 10 at RBHS this year.

“I think we definitely have a lot of talented boys at RB too, but I think maybe girls are just a little more focused and driven during school while boys can maybe get a little more distracted,” said Pacourek, who received a scholarship to run cross country and track at the University of St. Thomas, which is located in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Natalia Contreras finished No. 1 in the class, although RBHS does not of ficially recognize a valedictorian.

The rest of the top 10, in order of class rank were Sophie Swicionis, Chole Alexander, Joshua Nelson, Pacourek, Royer, Carmona, Olivia Glawe, Eli Christiansen, and Lara Huns and Grace Pankros, who tied for 10th.

TODD A. BANNOR

Top 10 graduating senior Paulina Carmona addresses the Class of 2023 dur ing Riverside-Brook eld High School’s commencement exercises on May 26.

TODD A. BANNOR

College Choices

Elizabeth Anne Adler

Destiny Ambrosio

Congratulations to Fenwick High School Class of 2023

Amber Rae Cloud

Morgan Symonne Fisher Howard University

Filip Kisielewski Marquette University

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Emily May Androwich

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Robert Giovanni Anzaldi, III Triton College

Allison Arispe University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Christopher James Bajda Augustana College

Anthony William Balesteri University of Arizona

Maximilian Ballarin Marquette University

Ava Lily Baron

Nahla-Signe`Lynn Basile-Thomas Triton College

Charlotte McKnight Bateman College of the Holy Cross

Danielle Payton Friedman-Bernacchi Tulane University

Matthew Bock University of Dayton

Aiden Patrick Boyle Arizona State University

Cassidy O'Malley Brady Auburn University

Rylan Branch University of Illinois Chicago

Elisabeth Braun Pennsylvania State University

Ethan Joseph Briggs Creighton University

Cate Marguerite Browning DePaul University

Campbell Brusca University of Iowa

Catherine Buckley Marquette University

William Buckley Marquette University

Jack Buel Colorado State University

Sophia Angelina Buen Santos Northwestern University

Joseph Edward Burda Loyola University Chicago

Paul Alexander Butler Lewis University

Thomas Butler University of Kansas

Caroline Bzdula University of Tampa

Ella Cacciatore Saint Louis University

Jules Camarena Marquette University

Ella Olivia Carmignani University of Mississippi

Matthew Carmody University of Notre Dame

Mia Celio Aurora University

Meenah Chaiprasert Loyola University Chicago

Jacob Chi Boston College

William Chrastka University of Illinois Chicago

TO DATE...

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Antonio Coleman Concordia University - Chicago

Cameron Corvo University of Alabama

Taya M. Croswell University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Colin Crotty Indiana University

Isabella Evelyn Daley

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Timothy Daley University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Phineas J. Darrow University of Dayton

Griffin Davis Marquette University

Emily Sofia De La Paz Marquette University

Piper Dec DePaul University

William DeGroff Indiana University

Victoria Demidiak DePaul University

Lauren Lorraine Deneen Elmhurst University

Alessia Di Silvestro Suffolk University

Thomas Dietz Marquette University

Ava Francesca DiFranco Marquette University

Charles Norman DiFranco Marquette University

Sofia Giselle Dominguez Loyola University Chicago

Michael Domke University of Florida

Ella Doody Providence College

Tyler Dennis Draeger Miami University

James Dubanowich St. Ambrose University

Seamus Dunlap

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Joseph Durkin University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Patrick Durkin Northern Illinois University

Elizabeth Dvorak

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Erin East Miami University

Joep Engbers University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jaxon Entler Hawaii Pacific University

Francesco Filice Creighton University

Kelly Finn University of Tennessee

Brendan Finnegan Oakton Community College

Moira Finucane University of Iowa Vincent Fioravanti

605 Scholarships have been awarded to 204 members (76%) of the senior class from 155 different colleges/agencies. Monetary value of over 44.6 million dollars. Congratulations on your efforts, your achievements and the example you have given to our underclassmen.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

2022-2023

• 10 students recognized by the National Merit Program

- 2 Finalists

- 8 Commended

• 20 College Board Recognition Program Scholars

• 65 Illinois State Scholars (24% of class)

• 170 Presidential Scholars (63% of class)

• 5 Evans Scholars

• 1 appointment to the United States Naval Academy

ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS

2022-2023

• 27 Friars to Play Collegiate Athletics

• 10 NCAA Athletic Grant Awards

• 1 State Championship (Girls’ Tennis)

• 8 Regional, Sectional, Super Sectional Championships

• 35 All-Conference Athletes

• 4 All-State Athletes

• 4 Academic All-State Nominees

Sean Miles Fitzgerald University of Dayton

Thomas Fleming University of Minnesota-Duluth

Raina Ford Howard University

Jacqueline O'Connell Fox Marquette University

Alexa Fraghia University of Alabama

Maddux William Freund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Undecided

Fiona Ava Fuhry University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Jade Galvan Saint Louis University

Lucas Anthony Garcia Miami University

Serena Garza University of Alabama

Isabella Gaspero University of Iowa

Lorena Gonzalez

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Luis Carlos Gonzalez Jr. University of Wisconsin - Parkside

Natalia Ivette Gonzalez Saint Mary's College

Nathan Gonzalez

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Roberto Gonzalez Piñon University of Illinois Chicago

Catherine Goode University of Tampa

Jamon Joseph Graham

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Miles Grant University of Dayton

Caleb Groll Lindenwood University

Leah Marie Gurski Auburn University

Katlyn Halfpenny Texas Tech University

Mae Ashley Hamilton Miami University

Daniel Hardy Northern Arizona University

Natalia Harnisch Duke University

John Clayton Harrison Auburn University

Nora Havenaar Washington University in St Louis

Erin Hayes Providence College

Julian Henao Marquette University

Aaron Hernandez DePaul University

Allison Lynn Heyer Carnegie Mellon University

Sheridan Holliday Northwestern University

Eileen Homberger Marquette University

Mary Carroll Horrigan University of Dayton

Edward Hosty, Jr. Saint John's University

Alexander Richard Hrody Loyola University Chicago

Mark Thomas Hroma Baylor University

Holly Elizabeth Hudson Miami University

Quinn Hynes University of Notre Dame

Izabella Ibarra Lewis University

Mirko Jaksic University of Dayton

Samuel Jelaca Marquette University

Aaron Johnson University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Maggie Johnson University of Kentucky

Adelai Kaiser University of Iowa

Thomas Kala Marquette University

Nicholas William Karris Marquette University

Katherine Burke Keegan University of Tennessee

Charlotte Drum Klawitter University of Iowa

Callahan Roger Koch College of Charleston

Catherine Krema Saint Mary's College

Sophia Kruszewski Loyola University Chicago

Caroline Kucharczyk Indiana University

Samuel Kulisek Augustana College

Frank LaMantia Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Marco Lara University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Angelina Larrea Lawrence University

Anne Larson Georgetown University

Yarissa Lazaro DePauw University

Louis Lazzaro Triton College

Jake Leonardi Georgia Institute of Technology

James Leonardi New York University

Jonah Daniel Leone University of Dayton

Anastasia Lerma University

Benicio Valentino Linares

Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mary Link Miami University

Charles Aidan Liston

Justin Lopez Marquette University

Talia Madelene Lorenzo Aurora University

Olivia R. Magyla Northeastern Illinois University

Ian Martinello Elmhurst University

Ava Angelica Martinez Purdue University

Gabriela Teresa Masnica

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jake Materna Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Martin Mazur Saint Louis University

Ava Mazzocchi Marquette University

Anne McCarthy Purdue University

McKenzie Johanna McClear Santa Clara University

Lauren McClendon Northeastern University

John McDowell, II University of Arizona

Daniel McGarel Wake Forest University

Lillian McGarry University of Iowa

Finnegan McGee Clemson University

Thomas McGinnis

Kailyn McHugh

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Katelyn McHugh University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Annabel McKenna Colgate University

Pamela Alise Medina Aurora University

Emma Meehan Marquette University

Rameses Alexander Mendoza

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Vincent Meo St. Ambrose University

Sarah Merkle University of Tampa

Lukas Mikuzis University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

Andre Lamont Miller, Jr. Fort Hays State University

Nora Kate Miller

Melissa Modica

Dennis Steven

Martin Morrissey

Colleen Mulcahy

Artemio Murillo,

Mary Murphy

Madeline Murray

Mia Maria Nardello

Michael Nevers

Vincent Nguyen

Hava Nordquist

Caroline Norton

Michael A Novy

Julia Nowicki

Annie O'Brien

Luke Thomas

Alexander J Ochoa

Cristian Ochoa

Sean Patrick

Shannon O'Laughlin

Grace O'Malley

Matthew Timothy

Julia Verona

Margaret Pabst

Augustana College

Urbana-Champaign

Triton College Technology University of Dayton

Urbana-Champaign

Urbana-Champaign Technology University University University University University of Arizona University University of Iowa University

Urbana-Champaign

Urbana-Champaign

Massachusetts-Amherst University University University

Urbana-Champaign University

University of Tampa - Oshkosh University

Nora Kate Miller

Claire Papp Marquette University

Maria Isabel Romero Carthage College

Haley Sweatman St. Ambrose University

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Melissa Modica Creighton University

Dennis Steven Moore Marquette University

Martin Morrissey Marquette University

Colleen Mulcahy University of Iowa

Artemio Murillo, Jr. Triton College

Mary Murphy Indiana University

Madeline Murray Boston College

Mia Maria Nardello Loyola University Chicago

Michael Nevers Loyola University New Orleans

Vincent Nguyen Roosevelt University

Hava Nordquist Marquette University

Caroline Norton Vanderbilt University

Michael A Novy Jr. University of Mississippi

Julia Nowicki Miami University

Annie O'Brien Marquette University

Luke Thomas O’Brien University of Dayton

Alexander J Ochoa

Cristian Ochoa University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sean Patrick O’Connor University of Iowa

Shannon O'Laughlin Elon University

Grace O'Malley University of Virginia

Matthew Timothy Ortiz Indiana University

Julia Verona Overmyer Salve Regina University

Margaret Pabst Marquette University

Maeve Paris University of Tennessee

Emuni Wilma Desiray Domonique Pearson Xavier University of Louisiana

Ivanna Giselle Penate University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Angel Perez, Jr. Bradley University

Ariya Perez.

Adrian Perkowski Trade School

Francis Petruncio Lake Forest College

Kamil Pilecki Marquette University

Natalie Poleszak Southern Methodist University

Olivia Polston University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sean Pondelicek Milwaukee School of Engineering

Alec Posluszny George Washington University

Sophie Prangle Miami University

Alyssa Pucillo University of Dayton

Jesus Pulido University of Illinois Chicago

Baileigh Racky Niagara University

Mary Grace Raniere Miami University

Molly Eileen Reardon Marquette University

Alexander Recchia Gap Year

Arissa Reyna Marquette University

Kendall Richards Savannah College of Art & Design - SCAD

Grayden Brooks Rill

Anna Ringelstetter-Ennis University of Tennessee

Carter Robertson University of Dayton

Adrian Salgado Horst DePaul University

Caroline Sampson Marquette University

Dario Santoy Purdue University

Ava Marie Saunders University of Texas at Austin

Felicia June Saunders Santa Clara University

Grant Michael Schleiter University of Michigan

Hannah Schubkegel University of Denver

Nathan James Schultz University of Iowa

Nicholas Scudder United States Naval Academy

Michael Vincent Sennello

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

William Thomas Shannon Belmont University

Anne Showel University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Luke Showel University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mia Sierra Loyola Marymount University

Ava Siragusa University of Dayton

Liam Smith Marquette University

Stefan Solares University of Dayton

Angelina Squeo DePaul University

Gabriella Rose Sramek University of Denver

Donnie Lashaun Stanton University of Houston

Maya Angelina Stathas Carthage College

Conor Stetz Illinois Institute of Technology

Natalie Sur University of Notre Dame

Frank Svete Indiana University

Kaitlyn Sweeney Saint Mary's College

Gael Tafolla Miami University

Johnathan Teska Concordia University - Chicago

Amelia Timpone University of Miami

Katherine Trifilio Carroll University

Meghan Turgeon Texas Christian University

Mallory Elizabeth Turner University of Notre Dame

Reny Tzankova Loyola University Chicago

Maya Underwood University of Wisconsin - Madison

Jordan Vazquez Concordia University - Wisconsin

Gabriel Velasco, Jr. Northern Illinois University

Stella F. Vilchis Columbia College Chicago

Natalie Anne Vlcek Miami University

Katherine Anne Vogelsperger College of the Holy Cross

Molly Weber Wellesley College

Maeve Kathleen Welsh Santa Clara University

Brynne West Quinnipiac University

Elise Nicole Weyer Indiana University

Brendan Hart White University of Dayton

Brandon J. Williams Loyola University Chicago

Finnegan James Williams University of Illinois Chicago

Alec Wojcik University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Angelina Woods University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Yaileen Zermeno Loyola University Chicago

Dylan Charles Zorovich Virginia Tech

FREE LUNCHES

Runs through Aug. 18

from page 1

to 1 p.m. at the library to all kids under 18 until Aug. 18. Outside of age, there will be no eligibility requirements to participate in the program.

Students who receive free or reduced-cost breakfast or lunch through their school can experience hunger during summer break since school resources are not available. This new partnership seeks to alleviate this lack of access to healthy food by offering a supplemental resource at an accessible location.

For some time before this summer, the library had hoped to partner with an agency that helps establish free lunch programs like the depository. However, relocation to the newly constructed library building and additional renovations after the July 2021 grand opening further delayed plans

Now that the library staff has settled in and knows how to deliver services in the new facility, it was time to bring to fruition the free lunch initiative and serve as a community food resource, Library Director Kimberly Coughran said.

After reaching out to various food resources, the initial connection between the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the library was made by Lauren Bobysud, the library’s youth services manager, whom Coughran asked to monitor the lunch initiative

The depository responded, and library staf f members met with its personnel for an initial meeting about the program. Library managers will have an upcoming

training about the specifics of carrying out the lunch initiative, Coughran said.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, a nonprofit that receives some gover nment funding, has been working to end hunger in Chicago and Cook County since 1978. According to data from its website, one in four children in Cook County are at risk of hunger, which the nonprofit fights by organizing food banks and advocating for legislation that addresses hunger

Beyond partnering with organizations to supplement free lunch programs during the summer and feed families in Chicago and its suburbs throughout the year, the depository offers assistance in the SNAP/ Link and Medicaid benefit application processes

Once the partnership begins on June 5, the library will receive food deliveries from the depository in the mornings and refrigerate the lunches until distribution in the afternoon. The initiative will begin with 25 lunches, but the library can adjust that number based on demand, Coughran said.

The nutritious lunches will include a sandwich, fruit, and milk, and those participating in the program can choose to eat them in one of the meeting room spaces in the library or outside in the front plaza.

The library is thrilled to be able to meet potential need that may exist in the Brookfield community, Coughran said.

“We obviously are a resource for the community and look forward to being able to serve residents in this way, especially as some of the pandemic benefits that were available to families now have gone away,” Coughran said.

No lunches will be served on July 4 due to the holiday.

Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Librar y

PO LICE REPO RT S

License plate cameras lead police to arrest 8 over stolen cars

North Riverside police arrested eight people last week after license-plate reader cameras alerted officers to three stolen vehicles entering the grounds of the North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road.

■ On May 22, three people, including a 19-year-old woman from Plainfield, a 19-year-old man from Glenview and an 18-year-old man from Evanston, were charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass to a motor vehicle after arriving at the mall around 4:30 p.m. in a 2015 Toyota Rav-4 that had been re ported stolen out of Niles on May 17.

Police located the vehicle near the food court entrance and arrested the trio inside Pandora, a shop at the mall. The 18-yearold reportedly was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear in court on an unrelated possession of a stolen motor vehicle charge

■ North Riverside police charged a 17-year-old Elmwood Park girl with possession of a stolen motor vehicle, fleeing and eluding and having no valid driver’s license after officers blocked the stolen Hyundai Elantra she was driving in the parking lot of Chick-fil-A, 7201 Cermak Road on March 23 at about 7:20 p.m.

A license plate reader camera at the 25th Street entrance to North Riverside Park Mall alerted police that the stolen car had entered the mall parking lot. An officer

RBHS

Recurring debate

from page 5

The day before the school board meeting, Principal Hector Freytas and Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction

Kylie Lindquist met with choir students during the day and with about 50 music pa rents in the Music Sponsors group in the evening to explain the staffing decisions

Their explanations did not satisfy the students or parents who complained that they were only being officially notified of the staffing decisions at the end of the school year, months after the decisions were made. They complained that administrators sometimes gave evasive responses to questions.

spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it, but the driver sped of f northbound before turning onto eastbound Cermak Road and then into the Chick-fil-A parking lot.

■ On May 25 at about 4:25 p.m., police charged four people, two of them with felonies, after a license plater reader camera alerted them to a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee entering the mall property from Cermak Road.

Police located the Jeep near Entrance 4, observing the passenger side rear window broken out and covered with tape. Inside the mall, police located four people seen on surveillance video exiting the Jeep and announced they were under arrest. Three of the suspects took of f running, while the fourth was taken into custody.

The other three were taken into custody a short time later, and police recovered a key fob belonging to the Jeep

According to police, Robert Johnson, 19, of Chicago, had a loaded .40-caliber pistol tucked into his waistband at the time of his arrest. He was charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, criminal trespass to a motor vehicle and resisting arrest. Police charged Dionta Fields, 20, of Chicago, with possession of a stolen motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

In addition, police charged two 17-yearold boys, one with criminal trespass to a motor vehicle and one with criminal tres-

The battle over music staffing is not new at RBHS. Two years ago, students and parents complained when it looked as if music teacher Matthew Loeb would only be offered a part-time position. For one year, RBHS and Riverside Elementary District 96 worked out a job-sharing arrangement in which Loeb taught in both districts

Last year Smetana, who has less seniority than Loeb, was given a 0.6 FTE position but was given two study halls to supervise to get her up to a full-time position.

Students and parents said they are tired of the constant battle to retain music teachers and want the school board to commit to funding three full-time music teachers.

“Through all the times that I have gotten upset at what’s happens to my music teachers year after year I’m given the explanation that numbers aren’t large enough to employ three full-time music teachers,”

pass to a motor vehicle and resisting arrest.

Stolen check fraudulently cashed

Brookfield police say it’s likely they’ll be turning over a check fraud case to U.S. Postal Service investigators after a local man’s Social Security check totaling more than $8,000 was stolen and cashed by someone else.

A Colorado woman called police on May 22 to re port that someone had stolen her 76-year-old father’s Social Security check for $8,324, which had been mailed to his last known address in the 9300 block of Ogden Avenue in April. Her father had since moved to Colorado.

According to the police re port, someone cashed the check at a Chase Bank branch in Berwyn on April 24. Police have been working with Chase, so far without success, to try to obtain surveillance video of the transaction to try and identify the person who cashed the check.

Car stolen – then returned

A car re ported stolen overnight on May 21-22 in Brookfield mysteriously reappeared on the driveway from which it was taken – with a spare tire on one wheel –

said Veronica Hunt just three days before she graduated from RBHS. “So I am just a number and so are all the students sitting here today. Go ahead and take down all the posters in the school saying it is a safe space for us, and never announce on the PA system again that you care about us, because numbers don’t have emotions.”

Hunt was at the meeting administrators had with choir students. She felt she was spoken down to and not really listened to She added that the school should reinstate some kind of fine arts requirement for graduation and take other steps to of fer more music classes.

If Smetana does not return to RBHS, Loeb would probably take over two of the three choir classes and the school would try to hire a part-time teacher to teach one class

In a telephone interview with the Land-

about an hour after the vehicle was discovered missing.

A resident of the 4300 block of Forest Avenue called police at about 9:20 a.m. on May 22 to re port the car stolen from the driveway. There were no signs of forced entry, but police learned a license-plate reading camera had observed the car on Pershing Road in Stickney at about 9:30 a.m. A shor t time later, the car was observed by another camera near Plainfield Road and Custer Avenue.

By 10:30 a.m. the car was parked on the driveway again, but the victims said they had no idea who returned it. There was a spare tire, which had not been there before, on the rear driver’s side axle. The original tire, which had sidewall damage, was located in the rear of the vehicle.

Police provided the victims with a steering wheel lock for the vehicle to prevent a future theft.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Ri verside, North Ri verside and Brookfield police departments, May 2226, 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.

—

mark Hunt said that she thought it was important that RBHS have a female choir teacher, because about two-thirds of choir members are girls and Smetana has been an excellent role model.

Freytas did not respond to a request for comment but Lindquist emphasized that RBHS is not cutting any music classes

“We pursued and received board permission to run choir classes below the cap to continue to help the choirs bounce back after the pandemic,” Lindquist said in an email. “The FTE for the classes students requested has simply shifted. Every music class that typically runs is running next year.”

Hunt said music supporters at RBHS will not give up until they get three full-time music teachers.

“If you don’t make this change, we will be back, I promise,” Hunt said.

Compiled by Bob Uphues

THE L ANDMARK VIEW

A new icon?

The village of Brookfield has undergone a couple of very visible infrastructure projects in the past couple of years, both of which exceeded their initial budgets by a good bit and both of which were victim to unplanned glitches – some self-inflicted.

In the end, however, both of those projects – the Brookfield Avenue bridge over Salt Creek and the new fountain at Veterans (no apostrophe!) Memorial Circle – are bona fide improvements that the community will enjoy for decades to come.

The fountain, in particular, ought to be a substantial upgrade over previous versions crafted over the past half century at Eight Corners. For one thing, the new fountain is much more imposing and visible. A set of double curbs should be able to prevent any more vehicles from crashing into it and destroying it.

The display will also be something that can be enjoyed at all hours, since its LED lights will keep the spray visible at night and because the 10-foot-high center jet will be augmented by five smaller sprays surrounding it in a separate basin.

The design of the new fountain also makes it pretty clear that it is for admiring from afar. Benches opposite the fountain at either end of Broadway Avenue will allow for people to pause and take it in.

Moving the war memorials from the circle will also mean people really have no reason to dodge traf fic circling the roundabout to go and see them. T hose memorials have now been placed at Veterans Park at Grand and Sunnyside, a couple of blocks to the southeast.

That’s a much more appropriate, safer and more reflective space for those memorials. They’ll no doubt be seen by more people in that location.

Of course, if you really want to give the fountain an up-close inspection, you’ll always be able to do that at least once each year.

The circle is one of the best spots along Grand Boulevard to watch Brookfield’s Fourth of July parade, and if the wind is blowing in the right direction, you might even get the occasional cooling mist as a bonus.

While the fountain’s final price tag of more than $800,000 is a bit of an eye-popper, the village is funding it partially through a $250,000 state grant. The village portion of the expense will be funded through the Eight Corners TIF District.

One of the reasons TIF districts are created is to fund just such public infrastructure improvements, ones that can make the district more attractive to both businesses and their customers.

When the landscaping matures and the village works out any remaining bugs related to the fountain’s operation (may they be few) this should be exactly the kind of public improvement this district needed.

It’s certainly a unique monument and could be a village icon in the future.

KOSEY CORNER

From zzy ice cream sodas to buzzy edibles

Who would have thought the nice square building located at 2704 Harlem Ave. in Riverside would be a cannabis dispensary? Going back to when the building was constructed, cannabis was not even a word that was used. The word we used was “dope” and “marijuana” was also used, but that was a different time. The building was originally a Prince Castle ice cream store. It served hamburgers, too, but the ice cream was the best. It was not served in scoops, they were cube-shaped and served with a special scooper. They also serve “Top Hat” sodas and sundaes. Don’t know why they left but it was a sad day.

Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips restaurant next took over. Great fish and chips. Arthur Treacher was an English actor who most often played a British butler. His demeanor was very stif f. The restaurant served a good menu that seemed to do well. Once again I, and others, were disappointed when it was closed.

Probably the best use of the building was as a Sara Lee outlet store. “Nobody doesn’t like Sara

Lee,” right?

Everybody liked Sara Lee and the business proved it. It was busy. The parking lot was always crowded. There was a senior discount day once a week. Then to make it even better, Market Day, a fundraiser used by schools, joined forced with Sara Le e.

Everything was very good. I could go for some of those blueberry muffins now. Wonder what happened to those two businesses? They would do well if they came back.

But in 2023, that building will see its biggest change. It’ll be transformed into a cannabis dispensary later this summer or fall.

The village of Riverside will profit from the 3% local tax on all sales, in addition to the 1% state tax on all local retail sales and the 1% non-home rule sales tax. That should turn out to be a good chunk of revenue, and that building, which has been unsightly for the past several years, will get an upgrade.

So good luck to the two Joudeh brothers whose company is known as Star Buds IL. By the way, if you ever decide to serve Sara Lee cheesecake, I think you can buy one at Riverside Foods.

OBITUARIES

Norman Brabec, 92 Mechanical engineer

Norman Brabec, 92, of Riverside, died May 24, 2023. Mr. Brabec ser ved in the U.S. Ar my during World War II and was a retired mechanical engineer who worked in the printing industry. He was the son of the late Frank Brabec and Blanche Brabec (nee Stauber); the cousin of the late Milton (the late Mary) Cyprian, Albert (the late Emily) Trock, Jr. and Ronald (Karen) Trock; and a godfather, “uncle” and friend to many Services have been held. Inter ment was at St. Adalber t Cemetery in Niles. Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements. Express condolences online at HitzemanFuneral.com. Send sympathy cards to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Norman Brabec family.

JOANNE KOSE Y

NORMAN BRABEC

DiSessa leaps to all-state glory for LTHS in triple jump

Senior falls short of school record, but nishes fourth overall

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Lyons Township High School senior Will DiSessa reached the 2022 IHSA Class 3A state meet in triple jump, but he finished 22nd, beating only the two competitors who scratched all three attempts.

DiSessa found an answer to improvement.

“I was in the weight room basically every day of the week, took Sundays of f. And I did lifting with the swim team,” said DiSessa, also an LTHS diver.

In his return to state last weekend, DiSessa triple jumped a lifetime-best 13.94 meters/45 feet, 8.75 inches in Saturday’s finals to finish an all-state fourth – the highest finish in the event in prog ram history.

“I was seeded 17th [from sectionals] so coming out fourth is really amazing,” DiSessa said. “I was dead last [in 2022] to fourth. It’s a great jump, to be honest. It’s definitely something I wanted to see.”

T he 3,200-meter relay team of senior Michael Farrell, junior Nick Strayer and seniors John Meyers and Matt McGovern also gained top-nine, all-state honors by finishing fifth (7:51.25).

While the Lions’ 3,200 relay tradition continues, DiSessa sur passed seventhplace all-state finishes by T homas Sagg au (2017), the school record holder at 47-4.75, and Rick Smith (1974).

DiSessa’s lifetime best came on his first attempt in F riday’s preliminaries, which carry over to Saturday’s finals. His best jumps often come on first attempts.

“I have the energy and my ankles can only handle so much,” DiSessa said.

DiSessa may have gone further if not for qualifying in the maximum four events. He was 12th in the 100 (11.12), 19th in the 200 (22.38) and part of the 400 relay with juniors Dan Montesano and Adrian Linares and senior Jack Rempfer (17th, 42.87).

“I was hurting [Friday], both of my hamstrings, my knee,” DiSessa said. “The

r unning didn’t go my way but I went out there. It was fun, seeing all of the people, the atmosphere.”

T he 3,200 relay was all-state for the third time in the past four state meets

T he relay’s season-best 7:49.64 on May 26 was the second-fastest qualifying time

“It means so much. I never conceived I’d do anything like this and to be here, the best feeling in the world,” Ferrell said.

“Nothing compares to it, except handing the baton of f to Nick. That felt awesome.”

Ferrell, McGovern and Strayer were among several Lions who qualified for state last year but didn’t reach the event finals

“I remember walking up to the stadiu m and that was my dream,” McGovern said. “I worked hard, all of these boys did. Very hard to g et here. Our goal of g etting allstate, we got it and I’m happy with what happened.”

Meyers dropped six seconds from junior year to a 1:58 split to make this year’s lineup

“I wasn’t ever expecting to be in the lineup but I’m so happy that I’m here,” Meyers said. “I didn’t have it at the end [in the finals] but overall I’m happy that I had a great relay, great friends to do it with.”

Strayer was all-state in cross country

last November, but this achievement had special meaning.

“The team aspect of this is amazing,” Strayer said. “I’m just really proud I was able to help them out.”

Senior Nick Barcelona was 10th in the 300 intermediate hurdles (39.67), 04 from the nine-person finals

T he 1,600 relay (Rempfer, Ferrell, Strayer, McGovern in 3:23.65) was 12th. Other finishers were Rempfer (15th in 400, 50.40), Montesano (18th in 100, 11.23), Ferrell (20th in 800, 1:58.06), McGovern (24th in 800, 53.00), Strayer (24th in 1,600, 4:28.73) and junior Cillian Henning (35th in 3,200, 9:44.34).

Will DiSessa leapt a lifetime-best 13.9 meters/45 feet, 8.75 inches in the triple jump at the IHSA Class 3A track and eld state nals on May 27 to nish an all-state fourth, the highest nish in the event in program history.

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

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

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

Early miscues doom Bulldogs baseball in regional nal

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St. Rita scores 3 unearned runs to outpace RBHS 4-2

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

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For the second consecutive year, first-inning defensive miscues put the RiversideBrookfield High School baseball team in a hole it couldn’t climb out of in a state-tournament game against an opponent from the Chicago Catholic League.

“I was seeing his curveball well today,” Yachnin said. “He left one over the plate so I was able to poke it down the line for a double. That was the pitch I was looking for.”

Yachnin then stole third and scored the Bulldogs second run on a sacrifice fly when junior designated hitter Wesley Deason’s belted a fly ball to deep center to make the score 3-2. But the Bulldogs could only manage two more hits in the game.

St. Rita scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Novak (1 for 2) flied

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The Bulldogs’ season came to close May 27 with a 4-2 loss to St. Rita in the Class 4A St. Rita Re gional final. Junior Cooper Marrs was outstanding, pitching a one-hitter, but hitting four batters and the Bulldogs (21-11) committed four er rors, including two in the first inning.

“I thought we played hard, just made a couple er rors, that’s the game really,” said Bulldogs head coach Mark Ori.

Three of the St. Rita’s runs were unearned. St. Rita (26-11) scored twice in the first inning and never trailed. With one out in the first St. Rita shortstop Joey Smith smacked a hard short hopper past second baseman Rex Dockendorf. Smith advanced to second when Marrs hit a batter. Then both runners advanced on a wild pitch.

Smith scored the first run of the game when pulled-in third baseman Jaime Izaguir re fielded a grounder but threw high to the plate trying to nail Smith. The Mustangs’ second run came on a fielder’s choice when the Bulldogs couldn’t quite turn a double play.

St. Rita added scored another unearned run in the second inning to take a 3-0 lead, but the Bulldogs battled back to score two runs in the top of the third. Jacob Cruz reached on an er ror with one out and Cruz scampered home when center fielder Luke Yachnin jumped on a curveball by St. Rita Starter Louie Sisto and smacked a double down the left field line.

out deep to center to lead of f the seventh for the Bulldogs. After Dockendorf popped out to short, sophomore left fielder Jaden Despe doubled to right before Cruz struck out looking to end the game.

Marrs (4-5) went the distance allowing only one hit, striking out two, walking two and hitting four batters.

“Cooper pitched a great game,” Ori said.

The Bulldogs had their second consecutive 20-plus win season and finished third in the Metro Suburban Blue Division, just a game out of first place.

The game marked the end of the high school careers for senior starter Dockendorf, a three-year varsity starter, and twoyear starters Novak, Yachnin and Jake Tyler.

RBHS Pitcher Cooper Marrs in action at St. Rita dur ing the Bulldogs’ 4-2 loss on May 27.

Lions overwhelm Bulldogs to claim softball regional

LTHS pounds out 14 hits, scores ve unearned runs to advance

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Senior Makenna Kotor and her Lyons Township softball teammates are enjoying a great postseason ride.

And especially the hits

The Lions continued getting lots of them on May 27 in roaring to a second straight IHSA Class 4A regional title by defeating rival Riverside-Brookfield 15-3 in five innings for the RBHS Regional championship.

“Everybody was just on fire with bats and hitting the ball where they weren’t and able to move people around when needed,” Kotor said. “I think actually these have been some of the best games we’ve had hitting where everybody’s been on fire.”

LTHS (10-18), the No. 11 seed in the Marist Sectional, played No. 7 York in the sectional semifinals on May 30, after the Landmark print deadline. The winner meets No. 1 Marist or No. 5 Mother McAuley on June 2

at Marist for the sectional title.

The Lions collected 14 more hits against the No. 3 Bulldogs (19-9) after 17 hits in beating No. 6 Willowbrook 18-4 in five innings in the May 24 re gional semifinals

After a 1-9 start, LTHS has won five of its last six and avenged two regular-season losses in the playoffs

“Considering how the season started, I didn’t believe we’d actually make it this far as we have so winning regionals has been a great start,” Kotor said.

Kotor (2 for 4, 5 runs batted in, 2 runs), leadoff hitter Kaitlyn Filkins (4 for 4, 3 runs), Peyton O’Flaherty (3 for 4, 2 RBIs, 3 runs), Tess Meyer (2 for 3, RBI), and Lauren Schinker (3 for 4, 2 runs) combined for 14 hits

Ava Jacklin had a two-run double in the fifth and Lily Prendergast and Lucy Dreher scored twice. RB HS also committed four errors, contributing to five unearned runs.

Winning pitcher Lexi Jeffrey worked the

final three innings in relief of Lucy Lee. They combined on a five-hitter with no strikeouts and four walks.

LTHS lost at RBHS 11-9 on May 2 and at Willowbrook 11-1 on April 12. After RBHS tied the regional final game 3-3 in the second, the Lions scored once in the third and pulled away with six runs in the fourth and five in the fifth.

“They were going in for a revenge win for sure. We had a mentality of nothing to lose,” first-year LTHS coach Megan Pyles said.

The Lions had even more big hits against Willowbrook. Schinker (4 for 4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs), Meyer (3 for 5, 5 RBIs, triple, 2 runs), Filkins (3 for 5, triple, double, 5 RBIs, 3 runs), Kotor (2 for 5, double, 2 runs), O’Flaherty (3 runs), Prendergast (2 for 3, 2 runs), Jeffrey (2 RBIs) and Jacklin (2 runs) all contributed. Winning pitcher Lee worked the first four innings before Jeffrey relieved.

“A nice hitting day for me so far,” said

Schinker, the Lions’ No. 8 batter. “That was a great game. It’s just a fun environment when we’re all hitting pitches.”

The right fielder ended the game by throwing a runner out at the plate for the first time this season.

Meyer had a bases-loaded triple in the eight-run fourth. Filkins had a bases-loaded triple in the six-run fifth.

Filkins also is playing shortstop after coming from center field in a midseason position shift. Meyer (catcher) and O’Flaherty (second base) returned to their 2022 positions and Jacklin went to center field. The promotion of Lee to varsity also has bolstered the pitching staff.

“I think it’s just that we trust each other now in positions because we’ve been working at it, fixing our flaws,” said Filkins, who plays infield for her NWI Sox traveling team. “I feel like our pitchers, when they need to, can just throw it down the middle and trust our defense.”

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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.

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 talent-

MARKETPLACE

HOME SERVICES

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

SYSTEMS ANALYST

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Systems Analyst in the Information Technology Department. The ideal candidate will perform a variety of complex technical duties in design, application programming and development, PC configuration and support, testing and maintenance of the Village’s computer application systems and perform a variety of technical duties as required. Knowledge of a wide variety of computer programming languages and systems, such as, City View Permit, License & Inspection Suite, Laserfiche, ESRI ArcGIS, MS-SQL, Reporting Tools, Java and HTML is wanted. Interested and qualified applicants must complete

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The Forest Park Police Department is seeking Part-Time Parking Enforcement Officer(s); Shifts to be filled are 8:00pm – Midnight or Midnight – 6:00am. The position is a rotating schedule assigned by the Supervisor – 4 days on and 4 days off which includes weekends and some holidays. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check.

Qualifications include high school diploma (or equivalent), a valid driver’s license, knowledge of basic parking regulations, and good verbal and written skills.

Open until filled. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark. net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net

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PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

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 NOTICES 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

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: YY23010581 on May 17, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of ARCADIA FINANCIAL STRATEGIES with the business located at: 830-A NORTH BLVD, OAK PARK, IL 60301. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DAVID WALZ 1518 ELGIN AVE. FOREST PARK, IL 60130.

Published in Forest Park Review May 24, 31, June 7, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR WATER TOWER PAVING PROJECT

The Village of Forest Park is now accepting sealed bid proposals for the Water Tower Paving Project.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK

The proposed work is officially known as “Water Tower Paving Project” and further described as asphalt removal and installation of new asphalt surrounding the North Water Tower and South Water Tower as further described in the contract documents for the said work prepared by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL).

AVAILABILITY OF CONTRACT

DOCUMENTS

The Bidding Documents can be downloaded from QuestCDN via the Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd. (CBBEL) website http://cbbel. com/bidding-info/ or at www.questcdn.com under Login using QuestCDN #8526711 for a non-refundable charge of $50.00. A QuestCDN login will be required. Contact QuestCDN. com at 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com for assistance in membership registration and downloading this digital project information.

Contractors must purchase bid documents and be shown on the Bidder’s Planholder List in order to bid. Bids received from contractors who are not in the Bidder’s Planholder List will be rejected.

Notice is hereby given that the Village of Forest Park, Illinois, will receive and accept bids ONLY through QuestCDN.com via their electronic VirtuBidTM online bid service. A virtual bid opening will be held at the day and time of the bid closing.

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/89726731893?pwd=aXJQL1BBekgxcko2aUFBeWJKZllIQT09

Meeting ID: 897 2673 1893

Passcode: 388405

Contractors must purchase bid documents and be shown on the Bidder ’s Planholder List in order to bid. Bids received from contractors who are not in the Bidder’s Planholder List will be rejected.

BID SECURITY

All bid proposals must be accompanied by a bid bond payable to the Village of Forest Park for ten (10) percent of the amount of the bid as provided in the General Provisions. No proposals or bids will be considered unless accompanied by such bond.

Published in Forest Park Review May 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

SECTION I REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

NOTICE TO CONSULTING

FIRMS: The City of Berwyn (hereinafter “City”) is seeking Design and Construction Engineering Services for the project listed below. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) packet is available at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 6700 West 26th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402, or at https://www.berwyn-il.gov/government/bids-rfps#!/

Sealed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) will be received at the City Clerk’s Office, until the time and date specified below, for:

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES – DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING OGDEN AVENUE WATER MAIN, SEWER AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS

ADDRESS THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS TO: Attention of the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 6700 W. 26th Street, Berwyn IL 60402, on or before the submittal date specified below. The SOQ shall be sealed and clearly marked on the front “Statement of Qualifications for Engineering Services”. FAXED OR EMAILED SOQs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS IS DUE NO LATER THAN: 10:00 a.m. on June 16, 2023. Consulting Firms shall submit three (3) paper copies and one (1) electronic

EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

of their SOQ.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

The River Forest Park District has placed its 2023-2024 Combined Budget and Appropriation Ordinance on file for public inspection. Said Ordinance may be examined on the River Forest Park District website. A public hearing on said Ordinance will be held at 6:00pm on Monday, June 12, 2023, at the Depot, 401 Thatcher Avenue, River Forest, Illinois.

Michael J. Sletten, Secretary River Forest Park District

Published Wednesday Journal May 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois that bid proposals will be received for the following project:

2023 SIDEWALK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

This project includes the removal and replacement of approximately 6,500 square feet of sidewalk and other related work.

Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 in the office of the Village Manager in the Village Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. All sealed bids received will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 A.M. on the same day, Wednesday, June 14, 2023 at the Village Hall.

Electronic copies of bidding documents, consisting of the bid proposal and project specifications are available from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Co., 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Bidding documents can be requested by emailing info@ehancock.com. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

All bidders wishing to obtain bidding documents must be approved by the Village prior to obtaining bidding documents. All bidders must provide proof that they are prequalified with the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform at least 100% of the value of the work before being issued bidding documents. A non-refundable fee of Fifteen dollars ($15.00) will be required to obtain bidding documents. Proposals will only be accepted from bidders that have obtained bidding documents from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company.

All bid proposals offered must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s check or certified check in an amount not less than Five Percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. Checks shall be made payable to the Order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

Any bidder in doubt as to the true meaning of any part of the bidding

documents may request an interpretation thereof from the Village. The bidder requesting the interpretation shall be responsible for its prompt delivery. At the request of the bidder, or in the event that the Village deems the interpretation to be substantive, the interpretation will be made by written addendum issued by the Village.

In the event that a written addendum is issued, either as a result of a request for interpretation or the result of a change in the bidding documents issued by the Village, a copy of such addendum will be emailed to all prospective bidders. The Village will not assume responsibility for receipt of such addendum. In all cases it will be the bidders’ responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

The Contractor and Subcontractor shall comply with all regulations issued pursuant to Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130), and other applicable Federal Laws and regulations pertaining to labor standards.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the right to determine the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER

THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

Published in RB Landmark May 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

SECTION I REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

NOTICE TO CONSULTING

FIRMS: The City of Berwyn (hereinafter “City”) is seeking Design and Construction Engineering Services for the project listed below. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) packet is available at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 6700 West 26th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402, or at https://www.berwynil.gov/government/bids-rfps#!/

Sealed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) will be received at the City Clerk’s Office, until the time and date specified below, for:

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES – PHASE II AND PHASE III ENGINEERING

16TH STREET IMPROVEMENTS

ADDRESS THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS TO: Attention of the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 6700 W. 26th Street, Berwyn IL 60402, on or before the submittal date specified below. The SOQ shall be sealed and clearly marked on the front “Statement of Qualifications for Engineering Services”. FAXED OR EMAILED SOQs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS IS DUE NO LATER THAN: 10:00 a.m. on June 9, 2023. Consulting Firms shall submit three (3) paper copies and one (1) electronic copy in PDF format on a flash drive of their SOQ.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 31, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday June 15, 2023 for Project: 23-2, Resurfacing of Various Streets. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, this contract includes removal and replacement of curb and gutter, sidewalks and sidewalk ramps, and driveways; combined sewer repairs; drainage structure adjustments; pavement patching; full depth pavement removal; earth excavation; cold-milling of bituminous concrete; installation of hot-mix asphalt base, binder and surface courses; installation of HMA speed humps at various locations; installation of RRFB systems; pavement markings; parkway restoration; and all appurtenant work thereto.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic

service starting on Thursday June 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 8539392 for a non-refundable charge of $64.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. All prospective bidders must be pre-qualified in the HMA Paving category by the Illinois Department of Transportation. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

Bill McKenna Village Engineer

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREDDIE MAC SEASONED CREDIT RISK TRANSFER TRUST, SERIES 2019-3; Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF KAREN PEISS AKA KAREN P. PEISS AKA KAREN GARDINER KOLOZSY; EDWARD J. KOLOZSY AKA EDWARD KOLOZSY; MICHELLE P. PURCELL AKA MICHELLE PURCELL AKA MICHELLE PEISS; CHARLES H. PEISS AKA CHARLES PEISS; WILLIAM (BILL) BUTCHER AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR KAREN GARDINER KOLOZSY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 8974

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 Wednesday, July 5, 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. 15-34-124-065-0000 (new); 15-34-124-056 (underlying ). Commonly known as 9523 Monroe Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 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 The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 1396183819

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3221091

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NAVY FEDERAL CREDIT UNION; Plaintiff, vs. PATRICIA CRAWFORD; MARION-AT-MILLS CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 9108

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 27, 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. 16-07-309-045-1019.

Commonly known as 248 S. Marion St., Unit 206, 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 The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 7020-184095 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3220520

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

HMC Assets, LLC solely in its capacity as separate trustee of CAM XI Trust Plaintiff, vs. Elizabeth Meza aka Elizabeth A. Meza; Agustin Meza; Unknown Owners and Non-Record Claimants Defendants, 21 CH 2539 NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Foreclosure and Sale entered in

the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, June 27, 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. 16-18-135-009-0000.

Commonly known as 826 South Grove Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act.

Sale terms: 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 The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 1491189651

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3220513

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

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 2015-

1;

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

P.I.N. 16-07-314-024-1022.

Commonly known as 1150 Washington Boulevard, Apartment 1, 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 The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 6184190190

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3221092

Plaintiff, vs. MATTHEW O. MCMURRAY AKA MATTHEW MCMURRAY; SOUTH MALL COURT CLUB CONDOMINIUMS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS;

Defendants, 17 CH 11906

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 Wednesday, July 5, 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:

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

WE ALL HAVE MENTAL HEALTH

Whether you are struggling with a temporary challenge or if you are living with a chronic condition, your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

50%

More than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

GROWING CRISIS AMONG YOUTH

America’s youth mental health crisis has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness INCREASED

69% between 2009 and 2021 for U.S. high school students

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE

The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township (CMHB) and the River Forest Township Mental Health Committee invest in a continuum of mental health care that is responsive to our unique and evolving community needs. Together, we provided over $1.5M last year to help local organizations and schools offer prevention, early intervention, treatment, and quality-of-life services to Oak Park and River Forest residents. Our grants resulted in:

COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD OF OAK PARK TOWNSHIP

• Over 4,400 Oak Park residents accessing services

• Nearly 10,000 units of mental health treatment for Oak Park residents

• Over 200 educational presentations on mental health to Oak Park residents

• Over 1,000 Oak Park high school students trained in suicide prevention

In fiscal year 2023, CMHB provided over $1.4M in funding for mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services. To learn more about our work in this area, visit oakparktownship.org/CMHB.

RIVER FOREST TOWNSHIP MENTAL HEALTH COMMITTEE

• Over 18,000 hours of services provided to River Forest residents

• Over 70 hours of educational presentations on mental health to River Forest residents

• Over 250 River Forest high school students trained in suicide prevention

In fiscal year 2023, RFT provided over $170,000 in funding for mental health, substance use, and intellectual/developmental disability services. To learn more about our work in this area, visit www.riverforesttownship.org/mhservices.asp.