Barett Steenrod, communit y planner for the National Park Ser vice’s Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program, points out features in South Kiwanis Park, where he’ ll help a Brook eld task force come up with a plan to make the park a recreation and educational resource.
Riverside is about to have a four th structure placed on the National Re gister of Historic Place after the members of the Illinois Historic Sites Advisory Council voted unanimously in favor of acce pting the applicatio n for the Benda House at 211 Southcote Road on June 30.
The National Park Service is expected to for mally adopt that finding in the next month or so, said Michelangelo Sabatino, who owns the home with Serge Ambrose The couple spent four years restoring the International
By BOB UPHUES Editor
Cook County Sherif f’s Police say they’re still investig ating a fatal crash involving a car and a motorcycle on July 4 around 3:55 p.m. just north of Brookfield’s northern border on 17th Avenue.
Andrew Garcia, 29, of North Riverside, was killed after his Ducati motorcycle collided with a 2010 Hyundai Elantra driven by a 67-year-old Forest Park woman, who was attempting to turn left onto northbound 17th Avenue from eastbound 26th Street.
The motorcycle had been southbound on 17th Avenue, and Garcia re por tedly swerved into the northbound lane of traffic to try to avoid the turning vehicle. The driver of the Hyundai re por tedly told police that she did not see any other vehicles before attempting the left turn and that the motorcycle “came out of nowhere.”
Brookfield police were the first emergency personnel to arrive at the scene and found Garcia, who was wearing a helmet, lying about 50 feet from where the crash occur red, surrounded by a group of people attempting to administer CPR.
Paramedics transported Garcia to Loyola University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 4:38 p.m. An official cause of death is “pending,” according to the Cook County Medical Examiner. Because the crash occur red just north of 26th Street, Brookfield police turned the scene over to Cook County Sheriff’s Police, which has jurisdiction in that section of 17th Avenue
In response to an inquiry from the Landmark, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the fatal crash but released no other details or whether it had issued any citations to or charges against the other driver, saying only that “Sherif f’s Police are investigating.”
Police closed 17th Avenue to traffic between 23rd Street and 26th Place until about 8:20 p.m. as investigators processed the scene. Cook County called in its crash reconstruction unit to lead the investigation.
An online fundraiser to assist Garcia’s family with funeral expenses can be found at gofundme.com/f/ andrew-garcias-funeral-expenses.
In June 2021, Gus Noble, president of the nonprofit Chicago Scots, which operates Caledonia Senior Living in North Riverside, received word that Queen Elizabeth II of England had named him an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – or OBE – “for service to Scottish culture in the United States of America.” His investiture was delayed at first by the COVID-19 pandemic. And although Noble had opportunities in 2022 to officially receive the honor at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, he delayed the event until July 2023, when the ceremony was planned to take place in the Great Gallery at the Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh.
That way his father, Robert Noble – whose Member of the British Empire title was conferred in person in London by Prince Charles in 2002 and whose health had been failing in recent years – could attend.
“My proudest day was watching my dad get the MBE,” said Gus, who attended that investiture, conferred for Robert Noble’s service to Scottish agriculture through education and mobilizing public safety measures during the hoof-and-mouth crisis in 2001.
Gus Noble’s investiture date was set for July 5, and on June 10 he spoke to his father from Chicago via FaceTime, anticipating the event. However, Robert Noble died on June 11.
“It came as a shock that he passed when he did,” Noble said during a phone interview July 10 from London. “But I think it was his way of saying, ‘Why don’t you take your, Bobby, so he can watch his father.’ I just took a different Robert Noble with me.”
When the day came for the investiture, Noble assumed it would not be presided over by King Charles III, since that very day the king and Queen Camilla would be busy with the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication, marking their coronation, at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
So, he was stunned when he walked into the Great Gallery at Holyrood House and there stood King Charles III, from whom Noble received his OBE and with whom he had a brief chat. When Noble mentioned his family, including his wife, Aisha; his son Bobby; and his mother, Joan, King Charles gave them a nod as well.
“It was quite surreal,” Noble said. “I felt like I was watching someone else get the award.”
He was doubly honored when he was asked by the minister of St Giles Cathedral, the Rev. Calum MacLeod, to be present at the National Service that afternoon as the representative for the Scottish diaspora overseas
Noble, 53, knew McLeod from Chicago, where McLeod for 17 years was associate pastor at 4th Presbyterian Church and a member of the Chicago SCOTS board.
“It was a huge honor,” Noble said. “I assumed there would be others [representing overseas Scots], but he said, ‘No, you’re it.’ … It was a moment and honor I’ll never forget. I’m Gus from Chicago who plays in a honky tonk band. It was an I’m-not-worthy moment.”
The next few days were a mixture of joy and sorrow, with the fam-
Editor Bob Uphues
Sta Reporters Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez
Digital Manager Stacy Coleman
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designer Susan McKelvey
Sales and Marketing Representatives
rc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls, Kamil Brady
Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
EMAIL jill@oakpark.com
Publisher Dan Haley
Special Projec ts Manager Susan Walker
PROVIDED
Caledonia Senior Living’s president, Gus Noble (second from right), celebrates his investiture as an o cer in the Order of the British Empire on July 5 in Edin burgh, Scotland, along with (from le ) his son Bobby, his mother Joan and his wife Aisha.
ily celebrating the life of Robert Noble on July 7 and a public funeral service attended by hundreds on July 9, which would have been his 81st birthday
“It’s just been a real rollercoaster of mixed emotions,” Noble said. Noble has been president of Chicago Scots and Caledonia Senior Living, the oldest registered charity in Illinois, since 2004. It was his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped the institution stay virtually disease free and resulted in 100% of residents and 99% of staf f being vaccinated, that played a large role in him being awarded an OBE.
“If that’s the case, then it was something the people who live and work at Caledonia accomplished,” Noble said. “Without them, I’d never have been able to do the things I was recognized for.”
BOARD OF DIREC TORS
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Brook eld Parks & Recreation invites you to bring your coolers, have a picnic and enjoy an evening under the stars at their next Outdoor Movie Night on July 15 at Ehlert Park, Elm and Congress Park avenues in Brook eld.
Activities start at 7 p.m., with the 2022 animated lm “DC League of Super-Pets” starring the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Kate McKinnon, starting at dusk.
The True Crime Club at the Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., will welcome two special agents from the FBI’s Evidence Response Team on July 12 at 7 p.m. in the lower-level meeting rooms.
ERTs are deployed to complex crime scenes and catastrophic world events to recover evidence. The special agents from the Chicago Field O ce will discuss evidence collection procedures at a crime scene and answer questions.
Within 4 Days
Nor th Riverside Parks & Rec continues its summer concert series on July 13 with iconic hits from the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s by Generations from 7 to 9 p.m. in Commons Park, 2401 Desplaines Ave. Bring your own chairs and blankets, but no outside food/drink is allowed. Concessions available for purchase. Concerts held indoors in case of inclement weather.
Brook eld continues its summer concert series on July 14 at 7 p.m. Head to the bandshell in Kiwanis Park, Arden and Brook eld avenues, to catch rock/pop sounds of Within 4 Days. Bring your coolers, blankets and chairs.
■ Riverside native Joseph Baar Topinka will be signing copies of his book for young adults, “Just Judy: Citizen and Leader of Illinois,” about his mother, the late Judy Baar Topinka, on July 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 Madison St. in Forest Park.
■ Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents is annual Members’ Exhibition and Kids Show through July 29. Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. There’s also “Summer, Joy and Harmony,” featuring paintings by Joe Fournier at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, through Sept. 29. Viewing hours are Monday-Thursday from
9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
■ The Riverside Farmers Market operates each Wednesday through Oct. 4 from 2:30 to 7 p.m. in Centennial Park, at Forest Avenue and Longcommon Road. The Brook eld Farmers Market returns every Saturday through Oct. 14 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of the Brook eld Village Hall, 8820 Brook eld Ave
■ North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., presents Art Adventures (age 2+ w/adult) on July 13 at 2 p.m., Big and Little Storytime (children w/adult) on July 17 at 10:30 a.m., Kids Kitchen (ages 8-12) on July 18 at 4 p.m., Safari ABCs (child w/adult, every other week in Spanish) on July 19 at 10:30 a.m., Tai Chi on July 19 at 2:30
Tickets are still available for Concerts for Conser vation, which kick o at Brook eld Zoo, 8400 31st St. in Brook eld, on July 14 with Soul Asylum and special guests The Verve Pipe. The music continues July 15 with Macy Gray.
Guests are welcome to bring their own picnics (no outside alcohol), but food and beverages will be available for purchase. You can begin to reser ve spots on the East Mall at 6 p.m. Per formances begin at 7 p.m. Each night concludes with a 30-minute light show and dance party
For ticket info visit CZS.org/ConcertsforConser vation.
p.m. and DIY Zines (grades 6-12) on July 19 at 5 p.m. Register for programs online at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new.
■ Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., presents Fairytale Storytime (all ages w/caregiver) on July 13 at 10:30 a.m., Representative Rashid: Mobile O ce Hours on July 13 from 2-7 p.m., End of Life Options (Including Medical Aid in Dying) on July 14 at 10:30 a.m., a Movies with Marty screening of the 1956 classic “Storm Center,” starring Bette Davis on July 15 at 1 p.m., Chair Yoga (virtual) on July 17 at 11 a.m., Skywatchers of Ancient North America via Zoom on July 17 at 7 p.m., Storytime Stars (ages 2-3 w/caregiver) on July 18 at 10:30 a.m. and Teen
Craft: Paint Your Own Birdhouse on July 19 at 3 p.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 July 13 at 11 a.m., Smartphone Photography 101 with Molly Page on July 13 at 7 p.m., Friday Outside Storytime on July 14 at 10 a.m., Family Playtime on July 15 at 10 a.m. and an Outdoor Bubble Party on July 17 at 11:30 a.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.
Brookfield police continue to investigate what appears to have been a well-planned burglary of a 47th Street plumbing business over night on July 6-7.
The owner called police at about 8:05 a.m. on July 7 after arriving at work to find that the rear chain link fence to the property had been cut from top to bottom to allow entry to the property and a broken window allowed access to the warehouse and offices
According to the police report, an “extensive amount” of plumbing equipment was missing, including a directional boring device, jack hammers, scoping cameras and other items. The offenders also forced entry or attempted to force entry into three work vans parked on the property, stealing items from at least one of them.
Evidence at the scene led police to suspect two trucks were used to carry out the burglary, since there were two sets of tire tracks in the grass area where the trucks apparently backed up to the cut fence.
■ A resident of Brookfield who lives on DuBois Boulevard called police on July 8 to report that someone had entered his unlocked garage sometime after July 6 and removed several power tools valued at about $900. Police redacted information on where exactly along DuBois Boulevard the burglary took place.
■ North Riverside police responded to North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, on July 4 at 5:20 p.m. after mall security alerted them to a black Range Rover with a broken front passenger window.
As police were processing the scene, the vehicle’s owner arrived and said the only thing missing was a makeup bag containing about $500 worth of makeup. The bag had been left on the front passenger seat.
Security video showed a white Toyota Camry pull up near the Range Rover in the upper level parking deck near Entrance 4. A man is seen getting out of the Toyota and breaking the Range Rover’s window before reaching in and grabbing the makeup bag. The Camry is then seen leaving the mall property onto 26th Street.
A Riverside man called police on the morning of July 4 to re port that someone had entered his Hyundai Accent, which was parked in the village lot on Pine Avenue and possibly left unlocked, and apparently attempted to steal it.
Police re ported that there were no signs of forced entry but that the steering column had been peeled. No items were missing from the car, police said.
A North Riverside resident went to police on July 8 to report that someone had stolen and altered a check she’d placed in a local mailbox, cashing it in an unknown person’s name.
The victim told police he placed the check for $2,200 and made out to the IRS on June 12 in the mailbox at 26th Street and Westover Avenue. On July 5, he checked recent bank transactions and noticed the $2,200 check had been cashed, but that the “IRS” was scratched off and replaced with someone’s name. Police continue to investigate.
Riverside police issued five citations to a 32-year-old Elgin woman who dr
from the scene after her 2021 Dodge collided with a 1994 Nissan while both were southbound on First Avenue near 31st Street on July 2 at about 8:15 p.m.
The impact of the crash sent the Nissan skidding across the northbound lanes of traffic and into the curb where it came to rest. The driver was unhurt but the Nissan sustained heavy passenger side damage and was rendered inoperable, police said.
Security camera video allowed police to identify the 2021 Ford and contacted the owner, who was the driver’s husband. The driver re por tedly told police the pavement was wet and slippery and that when the two vehicles collided she panicked and left the area.
An 18-year-old Riverside man was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the car he was in left the roadway and crashed into landscaping bricks in front of a home at the corner of Olmsted and South Delaplaine roads and then crashed into a fire hydrant before traveling across the street and crashing into a speed limit sign and a tree outside Harrington Park on July 3 at about 1:30 a.m.
A witness told police that he saw someone run away from the crash through yards. Police learned the owner of the vehicle resided elsewhere in Riverside and went there to make contact with the owner.
While attempting to do that, police observed the 18-year-old, who had blood on his left hand and an injured knee, trying to enter the residence. He re por tedly told police he was the driver and sole occupant
was cited for the crash, did not appear to be impaired. Paramedics took him to the hospital for further evaluation.
Brookfield police were called to Kago Inc., 9000 31st St., on the afternoon of July 5 after the owner called to re port several items stolen from the property.
Among the items missing were two pallets of concrete blocks, 26 railroad ties and one large BNSF-branded wrench.
Riverside police charged a 32-year-old Chicago man with driving under the influence of alcohol after an officer re ported observing him driving erratically while southbound on Harlem Avenue on July 5 just before 6 a.m.
The driver, who told police he was on his way to work after drinking the night before, re por tedly still appeared to be intoxicated and a breath test performed at the police station more than an hour after the traffic stop indicated the driver’s bloodalcohol content to be .195, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08.
In addition to DUI, the driver was cited for three traf fic violations.
These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, June 29-July 9, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.
— Compiled by Bob Uphues
Six RBTV students received Crystal Pillar nominations for TV projects they produced in their media arts classes at Riverside-Brookfield High School during the 2022-23 academic year.
The Crystal Pillar nominations were presented by the National Academy of TV Arts & Sciences at the high school video awards held in Naperville in May. The nominees were seniors Sam Egan and Jake O’Brien for their sports talk show “CrossOver Sports” and Egan, O’Brien and junior Matt Morgan for Live Event Sport Coverage, “Bulldog Basketball.”
Junior Makayla Angshed was nominated in News Package category for “Dusty Groove” and in Music Video for “Busy.” Sophomore Liam Hickey was nominated for his talk show “The Fantasy Rundown.”
Winning Crystal Pillars were Egan and O’Brien in Sports Talk Show for “CrossOver Sports” and Egan, O’Brien and Morgan in Live Event Sport Coverage.
RBTV students won additional awards at
The Riverside Village Board of on June 15 recognized the many years of service of Diane Ceragioli, a longtime member of the Riverside Historical Commission who has retired after serving in that capacity 18 years.
Ceragioli joined the commission in 2005, unteering to staff the historical museum on Saturday mornings and organized for the restoration of both the east and well houses in Centennial Park, house archival materials and exhibit
She also assisted in the purchase hibit case for the Riverside Public where artifacts from the museum’s are displayed on a rotating basis.
Trustee Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga, a member of the Riverside Preservation mission, presented Ceragioli with a ce cate of appreciation and plaque.
“It been a pleasure,” Ceragioli said. “I’ve enjoyed it so much and it’s such a wonderful village.”
the same festival from the Midwest Media Educators Association. RBTV students first place in High School News Program “RBTV News.”
The news program was a collaborati effort between two production classes and featured senior Delilah Luna del Castillo and Angshed as anchors. Egan and O’Brie took second place in Sports Talk Show “CrossOver Sports,” Angshed came in for her “11 Miles” Movie Trailer, and Hick received fifth place for his talk show “Backtalk” with WGN-TV’s Micah Materre.
■ Brookfield resident Avery E. Bowen graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. degree in consumer economics/public policy with a minor in media from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May.
Bowen was also a Chancellor Scholar and recipient of the Bronze Tablet Award, reco gnizing the top 3% of students in the graduating class. She was also selected as
a member of the Class of 2023’s Senior 100 Honorary, which reco gnizes 100 seniors based on academic achievement and campus involvement.
■ Among those awarded degrees in May from the University of Iowa were Riverside residents Gabrielle Nolan (Bachelor of Business Administration in finance), Lizbeth Casillas (B.A. in psychology), Sara LaMantia (B.S. in human physiology) and Veronica Cariveau (Bachelor of Business in marketing) and Brooklyne Raygoza (B.A. in health studies) and Katelyn Malikowski (B.A. in elementary education).
eau also were named to pring semester dean’s
Also making the University of Iowa re Brookfield resident Angelrside residents Annalisa t and Rebecca Merside resident Gianna
receiving de grees from rsity in Oxford, Ohio, this residents Cathy MaHannah Pecis and
4-point scale
PROVIDED
Brookfield resident Clayton Stewart made the dean’s list for maintaining a GPA of at least 3.2.
■ Maxwell Didio, of Brookfield, was named to the 2023 spring semester dean’s list at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. The audio production major ear ned a semester GPA of at least 3.5.
■ Among those named to the 2023 spring semester dean’s list for attaining a semester GPA of at least 3.75 at Elmhurst University were North Riverside residents Adam Bojovic and Evelyn Diaz; Brookfield residents Madison Darcy, Elizabeth Hamilton, Ruby Kennett and Alexis OropezzaBaker; and Riverside resident Abigail Salamanca.
■ Christian Gatsos, of Brookfield, was named to the 2023 spring semester dean’s list at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. A neuroscience major, Gatsos earned a semester GPA of at least 3.5.
BOB UPHUES
Diane Ceragioli (r ight) accepts a certi cate of appreciation from Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga on June 15.
Milwaukee School of Engineering has named three local students on its 2023 spring quarter dean’s list. Riverside residents Anthony Perry (computer science) and Luka Malovic (software engineering) achieved High Honors for maintaining grade-point averages of at least 3.7 on a
■ Among those named to the 2023 spring semester dean’s list at the University of Alabama for achieving GPAs of at least 3.5 were Brookfield residents Ryan Kudia and Kyle Paeth; North Riverside resident Isabel Anaya; and Riverside residents Lauren Dvorak, Catherine Glawe and Quinn Van Nice
■ Leah Kowalski, of Brookfield, named to the 2023 spring semester president’s list at Ohio University’s in Athens for attaining a semester GPA of 4.0 with in minimum of 12 credit hours.
Contributing
At a special meeting Township High School District 204 Boar of Education board Grange Park resident Elvia Na vacancy created when signed from the school cause she was moving to Boston.
Nava was chosen from a field of cants, 14 of whom intervie tion. One applicant, Nader Hamdan, withdrew his application conducted interviews on June 26.
Three of the applicants, David Herndon, Tim Vlcek and Justin fully for the school tion.
Nava is the second Hispanic member of the school board, joining fellow LaGrange
tion, a ompany that specializes in viation, defense and infrastructure.
ee in industrial engirsity of Illinois in 1999 and an MBA from National Louis UniParsons, Nava works on onnected with the capital improveiation Adminisup in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the Southwest Side of 11 children, nine Her parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico. Nava was ut spent part of in Mexico. Nava speaks fluent Spanish, her first language and the lanher childhood home. at I grew up with ry important to keep ommunicate with Landmark in a hone interview after her appointment. rking class backound will be an asset to the school board.
lue-collar, low-income, presented community and surpassed insurmountable barriers to succeed in life to pursue a higher education in
the sciences and engineering at a Big Ten university,” Nava wrote in her application to the school board. “While the makeup at LT is not exactly like mine, unfortunately, the majority of the Latino population families at LTHS are still of lower income. It is important for these students and families to see minorities in leadership roles at their community.”
Nava is the mother of two sons, one of whom will be a freshman at LTHS this fall. She was a founding member of the LaGrange School District 102 Committee for Equity and Minority Achievement. She has been part of District 102’s Parent Advisory Committee and was also part of the District 102 Delegate Assembly, which endorsed school board candidates, in 2016 and 2018. She also served as the After School Programs Committee chair of the Ogden School Parent Teacher Committee Nava has long been interested in education. Six of her sisters have worked in schools, five in Chicago Public Schools. For a time, Nava worked as a substitute teacher for the UNO charter school network in Chicago.
ElviaNava
recites the oath of o ce while being sworn in as the newest member of the Lyons Tow nship High School District 204 Board of Education on July 5.
Will South Kiwanis Park, that isolated 15-acre woodland hemmed in by the east bank of Salt Creek, Arden Avenue and the BNSF Railroad in the South Hollywood section of Brookfield, ever be more than just that?
The federal gover nment, for one, is willing to give it a go.
In late June, the village of Brookfield announced that it had been awarded a technical assistance grant from the National Park Service to develop a plan to restore the woodland and design a walking trail system to make it a sustainable recreation area.
“I think there’s a really good chance that this is going to be a really loved park once it’s implemented, and we’ve figured out what all is appropriate and where it ought to go in a way that will last for years,” said Barett Steenrod, a community planner for the National Park Service’s Riverside, Trails and Assistance Program, who has been assigned to the Brookfield
project.
While the project is just getting off the ground, Brookfield residents will soon be able to find out more about the process and provide input to a task force, led by for mer Brookfield Conservation Commission member Megha Patel.
In the next month or so, Patel said, the group will have a table at the Brookfield Farmers Market to introduce the project and the park itself to residents. They’re also putting together a questionnaire to get input on what kind of amenities people might like to see in the park, which will remain a wooded wet-
lands area.
Patel left her post on the Conservation Commission to lead the task force, because she felt it needed the full attention of a specific group of people to get something accomplished
“If we really want to drive this forward, this is something we shouldn’t just dabble in,” Patel said.
In addition to the outreach at the farmers market, the Conservation Commission’s annual Meet the Creek event will be another way to spread the word about the planning effort and gain public input.
The Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District on July 10 warned area residents to expect an influx of mosquitos this week, following recent rains and warm weather that have provided excellent conditions for their proliferation, and to take action at home to limit their numbers.
This week, there will be a “major hatch of the Aedes vexan floodwater mosquito,” the agency stated. That particular species does not spread disease, according to the agency, but “it is an extremely aggressive biter” that is “migratory in nature, with a flight range of well over 10 miles.”
While the mosquitos may be more a nuisance than a threat, there have been adult mosquito samples in the area that have tested positive for West Nile Virus.
“While this is not unusual for this time of year, it does indicate that WNV amplification is increasing and residents need to use precautionary measures,” the agency stated
According to the Centers for Disease Control there have been no human cases of West Nile Virus reported in Illinois in 2023 and just 17 nationwide, with the most -- seven –reported so far in Arizona.
Residents are encouraged to inspect and repair any damaged window screens to prevent mosquitos from entering their homes and to seal any openings around window air conditioners and clothes dryer vents
Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants -- loose-fitting and light-colored are best, according to the agency – is encouraged along with shoes and socks when outside, particularly at dusk.
The agency also encouraged residents to eliminate any possible mosquito breeding grounds around their properties, throwing away trash that can hold water, cleaning gut-
ters and mopping up standing water on flat roofs, turning over buckets and wheel barrows, screening rain barrels, maintaining swimming pools, changing the water in bird baths and wading pools at least once a week, and disposing of used tires without rims.
The Desplaines Valley Mosquito Abatement District encompasses 77-square miles of suburban Chicago in the Des Plaines River and Salt Creek valley. It comprises 31 municipalities within Riverside, Proviso, Lyons, Oak Park and River Forest townships.
— Bob UphuesBrook eld Conservation Commission volunteers have spent several years clearing out buckthorn in the north end of South Kiwanis Park, revealing the oak savanna it obscured for decades.
There will also be at least two community meetings, Patel said, one focused on reaching out to South Hollywood neighbors and one for the greater Brookfield community
“I feel like this is something that can actually change the landscape of Brookfield in general,” Patel said.
Some neighbors have been wary of making what has been a quiet woodland a recreation attraction. Two residents, Marie Duffek and Sonya Galuski, appeared at a village board meeting in April, voicing opposition to such a change after it was announced the village had applied for assistance from the National Park Service.
Others, like Rich Godlewski, support of the effort.
“I’m not worried about the traffic. I think it’ll probably be mostly residents, locals,” he said. “To me, there’s so much potential to make this community accessible. It’s really unique, I think.”
The National Park Service assistance grant isn’t a monetary award. Rather it promises 12 months of expertise and collaboration in the form of Steenrod, who is based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has met virtually with the task force twice already.
Steenrod was on the ground in South Kiwanis Park for the first time on July 6, joining members of the task force, which includes village management, planning and forestry staff; members of the Brookfield Conservation Commission; volunteers and at least one South Hollywood neighbor.
As luck would have it, Steenrod got an up-close look at how the woodland acts as a
floodplain after heavy rains the night before. The marshy area closer to Salt Creek was inundated and the bare earth path that winds along the perimeter of the park was saturated.
But South Kiwanis Park was also lush with vegetation and alive with wildlife and work the Conservation Commission and volunteer Larry Pulice have done in recent years to clear invasive buckthorn revealed the park’s potential.
“My observation so far is that there’s a lot of great work that’s been done in terms of making the site visible,” Steenrod said.
In terms of creating a trail system in a floodplain, Steenrod said it posed some problems to be solved, but that it also presented opportunities
“Obviously, hydric soils, soils that develop in a saturated state, can make certain infrastructure challenging,” he said. “There may be a mosquito component to this place and that’s something to try to manage for.
“Putting thoughtfully designed trails or other appropriate infrastructure in a floodplain might not be a bad thing. … The flipside is that you’re investing in more maintenance or it could be disruptive depending on how bad the flood is, but it’s really hard to damage a floodplain environment because of their very nature. It kind of cuts both ways.”
The existing trail winds from a clearing on Arden Avenue through the north end of the woodland and then atop a man-made berm along the river to higher ground on the south end. At that location, where part of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Deep
Tunnel sewer runs underground, there’s evidence of other man-made structures, including a brick access path.
“There’s a lot of history to this site that’s maybe not entirely clear,” Steenrod said.
The existing path may inform how Steenrod and the local South Kiwanis task force weigh trail design options
“I think the trail that’s here is a product of opportunity, either work people are doing or where it’s easy to go to,” Steenrod said. “Ideally, when you would lay out a trail system, you figure out where your constraints are, you figure out where your opportunities are and you try connect the points or avoid the points in a way that the trail will not erode over time.”
Ideally the trail would meander through the woodland, revealing interesting vistas The way flood water flows through the park will also influence where trails will be located. Whatever trail is designed, it won’t be a paved surface or one that’s easily washed away.
“We’re talking a natural surface trail, [where] obviously there’s nothing shielding the soil from falling away, so you have to design the trail to essentially catch water and shed it in a way that doesn’t cause the water to kind of pile up and run strongly downhill
and scour,” Steenrod said.
Exactly what the final product will look like or how long it will take is hard to say. While the technical assistance grant is for 12 months, it can be extended if Brookfield can demonstrate that they’re making progress.
Patel indicated they’re also thinking fairly big. Because the site is so isolated, connectivity is a key part of planning. Is there a way to connect South Kiwanis Park via a bridge to Creekside Park on the west bank of Salt Creek, just steps from the Prairie Avenue Metra station? How might you connect Kiwanis Park north of the tracks with its sibling park to the south?
“We like the aspect of having this site accessible not only from Arden Avenue, but accessible to the rest of the village of Brookfield,” Patel said. “It would make it more accessible to everybody else in the village of Brookfield and not so isolated.”
Of course, the planning process is just that. Finding the funding to hire firms to do the engineering, design improvements and build them will be a separate challenge. It may take years before a plan becomes reality
“Our goal is to be a good planning partner and to help them develop a world-class facility with the best consulting advice the park service has to offer,” Steenrod said.
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.
Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.
Choosing a community you can trust has never been more important.
Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.
Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.
Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.
Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.
We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.
We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.
We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.
99% OF OUR CALEDONIA STAFF IS VACCINATED
Immediate availability in our Memory Care Assisted Living Small House
By BOB UPHUES Editor
A week before voting to approve North Riverside’s appropriations ordinance for the 2023-24 fiscal year, village trustees agreed to restart a languishing strategic planning effort, which will include a comprehensive rewrite of the village zoning code, and to explore ways to sustainably raise revenue to cover police and fire pension obligations.
Those were the legislative priorities communicated to village management staff during a special meeting of the village board’s administrative committee on July 10. Staff will begin the process of preparing requests for proposals for the strategic planning/zoning rewrite immediately after passage of the appropriations ordinance on July 17.
Discussions on how best to approach the issue of finding a sustainable revenue stream for pension obligations will play out over the course of al meetings in the oming months
“The our basi
told trustees at the committee meeting. “The crux of that comes from the large costs we have with police and fire pension costs, as those costs amount to approximately $4 million out of the village’s operating fund.”
The village doesn’t not have a revenue stream to cover those costs. While red-light camera violation revenues have been used in recent years to fund some of that cost, that revenue comes to about $1.5 million annually and is in jeopardy of disappearing.
Scarpiniti told trustees that the Illinois Department of Transportation is likely to seek bids for the reconstruction of the Harlem Avenue/Cermak Road intersection this fall, with construction starting next spring.
If that timetable holds, red-light cameras will be removed from that intersection for at least several months, if not longer, eliminating that revenue stream.
“When that revenue dries up, we are going to be out of balance by that amount of our ension osts on an annual basi ” Scarpiniti
cludes hiring at least two police officers and a deputy fire chief. When the village shifted away from contract paramedics last year in favor of a department of full-time union firefighter/paramedics, the village hired six new firefighters.
Except for the deputy fire chief, all of those union police and fire positions come with long-term pension obligations.
Mayor Joseph Mengoni indicated there was time for trustees to be educated on options for funding pensions, but Scarpiniti cautioned that such considerations could not be put off indefinitely.
“It kind of goes beyond education, because you have a very tight time frame in which you’re going to need to start making decisions,” Scarpiniti said. “It’s not just about educating you on different tools, because, unfortunately, a lot of the suggestions or available tools that are available to the village board are not very popular things.”
One unpopular tool that’s been raised previously is going to a property tax levy to specificall olice and fire uestion on the ballot takes time
As important, if not more so, than solving the pension question is getting a strategic planning effort and zoning rewrite back on track.
The village had hired consultant Robert Kallien to spearhead that effort back in 2019. While he made some progress by streamlining the planning approval process by combining the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, revising the code regarding planned developments and overhauling the sign code, the COVID-19 pandemic and some resistance by elected officials stymied progress
On June 10, the village board gave Scarpiniti the green light to restart the process entirely, to seek proposals from planning firms to lead a new strategic plan process and, separately, to seek a consultant to help North Riverside rewrite its outdated zoning code, which Village Attorney Peter Pacione termed “horrendous.”
“You need a omprehensi lan and you our zoning ry outdated and it doesn’t a
If you talk to residents who live close to 17th Avenue/ Maple Avenue in North Riverside, Brookfield or LaGrange Park they’ll tell you that stretch of roadway between 23rd Street and 31st Street can be a very dangerous one indeed.
It’s tough to get data about crashes because multiple agencies have jurisdiction there and perhaps the most dangerous stretch is the part of 17th Avenue that cuts through the forest preserves and includes a bridge over Salt Creek that pedestrians and bicyclists cross as they traverse the Salt Creek Trail on either side.
Last week, in the wake of the death of 29-year-old North Riverside resident Andrew Garcia, who was killed after his motorcycle collided with a car near 26th Street, the Landmark asked for crash data from the Cook County Sherif f’s Police. As of our print deadline on July 11, we hadn’t received it.
But over the years, the Landmark has heard from concerned residents, particularly as it relates to safety near the bridge where the roadway nar rows to one lane in each direction, about crashes or close encounters they’ve witnessed.
In the case of close calls, those incidents typically wouldn’t even be re por ted to any agency, so it’s tough to quantify anything. But that stretch of roadway, even though it’s relatively lightly traf ficked compared to LaGrange Road or First Avenue, has been demonstrably dangerous.
Vehicles, unimpeded by signals or stop signs between 31st Street and 23rd Street, can really build up some speed, which requires those crossing the street at the Salt Creek bridge to really have their wits about them because motorists do little to slow down as they approach the crossing.
We also recall that, prior to the July 4 tragedy, a man suspected of drunk driving drove of f of Maple Avenue and into the side of a house in Brookfield in 2019. On top of that, the intersection of Maple Avenue and 31st Street seems to be a magnet for crashes.
At the very least, we’re wondering whether the three municipalities along that stretch of 17th Avenue/Maple Avenue and Cook County could convene a committee to look at combined data, identify the real problem points, and find ways to address them, either through more visible signage near the bridge, flashing speed-limit boards, or other types of traffic control.
There has to be a way to make that roadway safer for everyone, but it’s going to take a bit of collaborative thinking to get it accomplished.
Ican’t believe I missed Riverside’s July 4 celebration due to health concerns. It is probably the only, or one of the few, that I have ever missed. While in high school, my best friend, Jean Kelly, and I would roll up our pajama legs, put on our trench coats, get some coffee, sit in one of the parks along Longcommon and cheer on the red, white and blue There were lots of costume parades for children with prizes given. Bicycles were decorated trying to emphasize the theme of the parade. In those days, there was a theme and neutral judges to make the winning decision. All the activities were held at Big Ball Park. There was no food served, which was too bad, because some cool drinks would have been welcome
Back then, the July 4 parade was run by the Riverside Jaycees, a young men’s group that no longer exists. The games were run by the Riverside Junior Woman’s Charity, which is still very active.
At some point the events were taken over by the Riverside Department of Parks and Recreation and the parade route reversed. The reversal proved to be a good idea and allowed for more room in a cooler environment.
In your editorial “Hoping for the best” (The Landmark View, June 28), you seem to address only the cost of the additional firefighters and police officers, which are definitely needed in North Riverside.
Crime is on the rise and our firefighters are now doing double duty as paramedics, which has cut a chunk of our spending that was going to an outside agency. But you do not address the excessive salaries of the administrative staf f as well as perks they receive.
The more room I refer to means vendors had more access, and it proved to be a hit. Who remembers the potato pancakes, which were hand cut by the ladies of one of the churches? The ladies really worked hard, and people didn’t mind standing in line. They were the best!
Still available are the hotdogs and bratwursts from one of the local churches Nothing like a char-grilled brat with sauerkraut. This, of course, would have to go with a fresh-squeezed lemonade from the Boy Scouts. Bet many a boy had a sore arm the next day.
Things went on quite well for the celebration, with a few changes here and there. Then around 2010 there came the threat of no Fourth of July for Riverside due to lack of funds. Well, that didn’t sit well with yours truly, who declared there would be a Fourth of July in Riverside. Then I got a whisper from Joe Ballerine, saying that if I were serious, he could help. Danny Jisa and Andy Daun were already in the works to save the Fourth. I asked Ben Sells and Rey Navarro to join, and so the Friends of the Fourth was born and continues to thrive through the generosity of the people of Riverside
Significant raises were approved even though the administration knew the financial constraints the village is in. The manager-to-employee ratio is way out of whack. Instead of asking for tax increases, the village needs to show fiscal responsibility by addressing salaries, excess staff and overhead.
Susan Simons North Ri verside
Thank you for your recent editorial entitled “Hitting home” in the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark on July 5. The constant stream of news about mass
See LETTERS on pa ge 12
E leanor Byrne (nee Engle), 88, of Brookfield and for merly of Omaha, Nebraska, died June 29, 2023. Ms. By rn e wo rked as a mental health therapist.
S he was the w ife of the late Joseph C. Byrne; the mother of Carey (Ernest Newmann) Byrne and the late Eric Byrne; the gr andmother of Andrew Newmann and Sarah Newmann; the sister of the late James (Sharon) Thurman Engle; the aunt of Debra Jo Engl e, Ke r rin (David) Holsteen and Kathryn Engle; and a c ousin of many.
Services in Omaha are p ending. I nterment is p ending at Ever green Memoria l Pa rk Cemetery in Omaha.
Memorials are appreciated to Omaha
C entral High School Foundation in Memo ry of E leanor Byrne; 1111 N. 13th St., Suite 318, Omaha, Nebraska, 68102.
Express c ondolences online at HitzemanFuneral.com. S end sympat hy card s to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the E leanor By rn e f amily
Robert “Bobby” Dominic Damico, 58, died July 1, 2023 at his home in Riverside. Bobby proudly served his country as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy as an intelligence specialist/ combat operations in Naval Special War-
continued from page 11
shootings should make every American upset.
The idea that military-style weapons are legal because one party feels it is against the 2nd Amendment to ban them is beyond re prehensible. An angry crazy person with a handgun or knife could not commit the car nage that we now see daily on the news.
Re publicans in Congress refuse to endorse an assault weapons ban. They still get elected. Gun shop owners in Illinois have sued to disallow the ban that cur-
fare Task Unit Central.
He was a distinguished service member, having earned many commendations, including the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2006) for meritorious service as intelligence for Naval Special Warfare Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sailor of the Quarter SEAL TEAM 7 3rd Quarter 2006 and Congressional Nomination to the United States Naval Academy. He was a patriot through and through.
Bobby also proudly served the citizens of the State of Illinois as a sworn law enforcement officer with the Hillside Police Department, having earned the rank of lieutenant. During his tenure at Hillside, Bobby earned many commendations and distinctions. He was most proud of the many years he worked in undercover drug enforcement with the Northeastern Metropolitan Enforcement Group (NEMEG).
He was the husband of Lisa (nee Ilich); the son of Nancy (late Raymond) Stockholm (nee Vankovsky) and the late Robert L. Damico; the son-in-law of Tom and Pallue Ilich; the brother-in-law of Suzana (Blake) Smith and Brian (Tammy) Ilich; the uncle of Caleb Smith and “Princie” and niece Serena Ilich; the ne phew of late Carol and Earl Savage (Linda/Sharon), Judy and late Chuck Vankovsky (Chuck/Christopher) and Teri Thara and Tom (Luke/ Elizabeth).
A funeral Mass was celebrated July 10 at St. Mary Church in Riverside, followed by military honors and interment at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood. Donations in his name to the Wounded Warriors Project at woundedwarriorproject.org/donate are appreciated.
Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, riverside, handled arrangements.
Bert C. Metz, 94, a longtime resident of LaGrange Park, died July 4, 2023.
Mr. Metz was born in Brookfield to the late Loretta and Bert Metz and he was the brother of late sisters June, Mary and Jackie
He served in U.S. Ar my Intelligence at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., from 1950 to 1952, and then returned home to what became a long, productive career as a systems analyst and methods specialist with Western Electric.
Well-known in his community, he volunteered his time for many years with the Village Caucus and Little League Baseball. Selfless, kind and wise, Bert touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed
Mr. Metz was the father of Gary, Steven and Linda; the grandfather of Ryan, Lea, Michelle and Michael; and an uncle and cousin to many. He was preceded in death by Gladys, his beloved wife of 50 years, and their son, Brian.
Private services have been held. Woodlawn Funeral Home, Forest Park, handled arrangements.
Barbara C. Newman (nee Coyle), 85 of Rive rside died p eacefully at home on
Ju ly 1, 2023.
Barbara was bo rn Oct. 5, 1937 in Gar y, Indiana, to Frances (Frank) and L ouise Coyle. S he attended S tenbrook Hall in Duluth, Minnesota, and Rosary C olle ge (now Dominican Unive rsity) in Rive r Fo rest. S he then attended two years at the DePaul Unive rsity Colle ge of Law.
S he was the assistant co rp orate secretary of Pullman Co rp oration and then managed the Pullman In c. Foundatio n and the co rp orate stock option p lans. Barbara then spent seve r al years as a real estate agent in Rive rside, followe d by managing the law office of David C. Newman.
Barbara had varied i nterests, including her love of tr avel, opera, animals, reading, p uzzles and playing bridge with her friend s. S he was the p ast president and active member of the Fo r tnightly C lub of Rive rside and the P. E. O. Chapter in Rive rside
Barbara was the w ife of David C. Newman for 41 year s. S he was preceded in death by her first husband, George Lahnum. S he is survive d by her husband , David C. Newman; her stepdaughter, Jennifer ( Patrick) White; her uncle and many cousins.
Memorial visitation is on S und ay, Ju ly 16, from 2 to 6 p. m. at I vins-Mor avecek Funeral Home 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. St. Mary C hurch, 126 Herrick Road , Rive rside on Ju ly 17 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of fl owers it is Barbara ’s req uest that a d onation be made to PAWS , West Suburban Humane Society and St Paul VI Church in Rive rside
rently passed in Illinois. One such owner claimed that over 50% of his business was selling these weapons. Others point to a Supreme Court case out of New York state last year that had to do with a concealed weapon law. It had nothing to do with assault weapons.
People must vote for re presentatives who will do the right thing on the gun issue. Re publicans love to lower taxes and cut spending. These ideas are appealing to some voters. But neither issue will matter if these weapons continue to kill innocent people.
Jan Goldberg Ri versideThree persons are each given an umbrella of the same size, make, and model. This is equality. It begins to rain. The first person opens up their umbrella but it is too small to cover them completely and they get wet. The second person opens up their umbrella but the wind blows it inside out and they get wet. The third person opens up their umbrella and they stay dry. The other two persons shout: “Hey! You don’t need that umbrella all for yourself!”
So, they take the umbrella from the dry person and use it to protect themselves, leaving little room underneath for the dry person who is now getting wet. This is equity Moral of the story: “From each according to their ability, to each according to their need.”
Epilogue: Wait a second! That’s what Karl Marx wrote in his 1875 treatise “Critique of the Gotha Programme” in which he explained the transitionary period from capitalism to communism. It’s time to turn the tide on this dark “transitionary period” our nation has entered before it’s too late.
John Brokopp Brookfieldfrom page 1
Style home, designed and built in 1938-39 by architect Winston Elting for Francis Benda and Sylvia Valha.
On June 30, during a virtual meeting of the Illinois Historic Site Advisory Council, Sabatino and Ambrose presented their application personally.
“For us it was kind of special,” said Sabatino of the experience. “Most clients have the people they hired make the presentation. In this case we were both the [contractor] and the client.
Sabatino is director of the Ph.D. prog ram in architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology, while Ambrose is an architect/engineer
The Benda House will join two Frank Lloyd Wright homes – the multi-building Coonley Estate, comprising 290 and 300 Scottswood Road, 281 Bloomingbank Road and 336 Coonley Road and the F.F. Tomek House at 150 Nuttall Road – and the mixeduse Arcade Building at 1 Riverside Road, designed around 1871 by Frederick Withers for the Riverside Improvement Company, which developed the village
Both the Coonley Estate and Tomek House are also National Historic Landmarks, a separate designation given to places that “tell stories that are important to the history of the entire nation – not just local communities or states,” according to the National Park Service’s website.
The entire village of Riverside is also a National Historic Landmark for its landscape design by Frederick Law Olmsted
Sabatino’s experience researching and restoring his home also led to another project, an exhibition of photographs spotlighting about 30 Riverside homes built in the moder n era, from the 1930s to the present.
He has been working with another River-
from page 7
“Education is a hot topic of discussion within my family always, and I enjoy the varying de grees of points of views and differences alike,” Nava wrote in her applica-
side resident, Kim Freeark, on the effort and has enlisted photographer Will Quam and graphic designer Dan Streeting to shoot the photos for the exhibit and design the catalog.
The exhibition is titled “Outside the Box: Modern and Contemporary Houses in Riverside” and will be on display in the FlexSpace gallery at the Riverside Arts Center from Sept. 10 through Oct. 21.
Asked if the exhibition was an outgrowth of his own journey restoring the Benda House, Sabatino said, “One hundred percent. The issue is everyone in Riverside is very proud of the homes from the 19th century up to the Prairie School. Everyone is justly proud of the Prairie School legacy but
tion. “I am also keen on reading about education topics in curriculum, policymaking, and social emotional intelligence in my spare time.”
In a press release, school board President Dawn Aubert thanked all of those who had applied to fill the board vacancy.
“We are grateful to have had so many qualified individuals who responded with
are not quite sure what to do with the moder n stuff.”
The title of the exhibition gets at the crux of the challenge.
“Outside the box implies that the box is no good. The general public has tended to see ‘the box’ as inhibiting creativity,” Sabatino said. “Modern architects see the cube as something progressive and experimental.”
Sabatino said he also hopes the attention he’s giving to modern residential buildings in Riverside will raise awareness of their owners and “raise the bar” when it comes to stewardship of those homes.
“Our job is to empower them,” Sabatino said.
willingness to serve, and we are excited to welcome Elvia Nava to the District 204 Board of Education.,” Aubert was quoted as saying in the press release. “Elvia’s strong commitment and passion for our students, community, and public education is clearly evident, and we look forward to the experiences, talents and perspectives she will bring to the board table.”
Quam, a Riverside resident who may be better known through his Instagram handle “Brick of Chicago,” said he’s photographed most of the homes to be featured in the exhibit, with one of his favorites being the 1986 postmodern design on Herrick Road just east of Longcommon Road.
“We’re good at reco gnizing great architecture once it’s old, but we’re bad at celebrating buildings when they are 10, 20, even 50 years old,” Quam said. “Riverside has great historic buildings With the really new ones, we don’t see that future.
“We need the ability to recognize and celebrate buildings before they are in danger of being demolished.”
In her application, Nava said that her engineering background and experience in construction would be helpful as LTHS moves to upgrade its facilities.
“Having someone with an engineering construction background is good to be able to contribute to the team in making careful assessments on facility improvements at LTHS,” Nava wrote.
PHOTO BY WILL QUAM e Benda House at 211 Southcote Road will join the Coonley Estate and Tomek House, both designed by Fr ank Lloyd Wright, and the Arcade Building, the v illage’s rst commercial structure, on the National Register of Historic Places.RENTALS
Experience or not.
Call for more information.
708-738-3848
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 a Village of Oak Park application by visiting the website https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. This position is open until filled.
The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Engineering Technician II in the Public Works Department. The employee performs layout, draft and design drawings from field survey information and field notes for various engineering and planning projects including existing improvements, right-of-way and various utilities and performs a variety of field inspections. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.
Senior Engineer – Wireless sought by DISH Wireless LLC in Chicago, IL. Perform RF dsgn activities rltd to bldg the 1st standalone 5G broadband; Optimize the end-to-end RF dsgn, propagation modeling & prediction for deployment of Macro Cell deployment; Determine eqpmt & power configurations; Work w/ eNB/ RAN & UE teams on RF solutions incl modifications to RF link budgets; Perform site candidate evaluation & selection as well as site walks; Work w/ RF Mgmt to establish dsgn criteria, link budget & traffic analysis for n/work dsgn & update existing performance parameters for ongoing improvements. Req’s: Bach deg (or foreign equiv) in Comp Sci, Electrical Engg, or a closely rltd field + 4 yrs of relevant LTE RF Dsgn exp in job offd or as RF Engineer. Also reqs 3 yrs exp w/using the following (which may have been gained concurrently): Dsgn & optimization of 5G/LTE Wireless N/work; Providing RF support of site dvlpmt & zoning reqmts; Analysis of system performance & n/ work parameters for optimization of KPIs; Creation & validation of various LTE dsgn & optimization eqpmt & s/ ware. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check, which may incl a drug test. Benefits
River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking a School Social Worker
Qualifications:
a) Valid State of Illinois Professional Educator License
b) Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) preferred
c) At least three years of successful School Social Work experience preferred.
Job Duties: The School Social Worker provides needs-based behavioral and social-emotional services to the students, parents, and faculty/staff of a school. The role includes, but is not limited to, individual and group counseling with students; direct and indirect consultation with students and teachers; assessment, behavior planning and
info available at careers.dish.com. Rate of pay: $120,000.00. Apply at careers.dish.com. Ref: 2023-78450. May also apply by emailing resume with (Ref: 2023-78450) to tasharedservices@dish.com.
Senior Business Analyst - Industrie Reply, Chicago, IL. DUTIES: Understand & document business processes & workflows regarding current & future s/ware solutions. Surface business users’ reqmts, interview key stakeholders, document findings & present results. Assist business users, project mgrs, & IT leadership in optimizing scope, benefits, & proposed project risks; manage expectations. Define use cases to articulate new functional s/ware needs & applic users’ roles. Analyze change request impact. Support traceability; assist defining test plans, strategies & creating test cases. Assist in rollout definition, training, & user support plans. Create &/or review manuals, procedures, & rltd user documentation; ensure documentation is targeted to appropriate audience. Present concepts concisely & focused. Assist in setup & configuration of web applic solutions. Assist dvlpmt teams to ensure functional coverage of solutions per customers’ needs. Act as Scrum Master, set up, conduct & moderate Scrum Ceremonies. Support setting up, maintaining, & improving Scrum process. Manage & train junior resources. REQMTS: Master’s deg in IT, engg, or MBA. 5-yrs in business analysis. 3-yrs w/ dsgn in CRM. Strong understanding of data modeling. Target oriented, strong understanding of complex situations. Ability to effectively communicate w/ business & technical teams. SCRUM
Master, Oracle CRM and Salesforce
ADM Cert. SALARY OR WAGE
RANGE: $110,500/yr + benefit plan. Send letter of interest & resume to: Saidabanu Pathan, 71 S Wacker Dr, Ste 3090, Chicago, IL 60606, Imm. industriereply@reply.com
intervention implementation and monitoring; and universal screening/ prevention of behavioral & socialemotional concerns. The School Social Worker hired for this position will assist teachers in development and implementation of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MtSS) social/emotional interventions, and may provide some school-wide SEL programming and parent outreach.
Interested candidates, please complete an online application at https://www.district90.org/about/ employment
PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.
The Forest Park Police Department is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Crossing Guard. This position requires flexible hours during days when schools are in session. A background investigation and drug screening will be conducted prior to consideration for the position. Applications available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue or on-line at www.forestpark.net and should be returned to Vanessa Moritz, HR Director, at Village Hall. For additional information, contact Dora Murphy at 708-615-6223 or write dmurphy@ forestpark.net.
Applications accepted until position is filled. EOE.
COMPUTER NETWORK SPECIALIST (LINCOLNWOOD, IL) Provide technical direct support & backup n/ work data; install, configure, & troubleshoot n/work s/ware, desktop systems, workstations, printers, & servers; analyze & report computer n/work security breaches; configure & evaluate WAN or LAN & use diagnostic testing s/ware & eqpmt; perform routine maintenance or std repairs; stay current w/ system info, changes, & updates. Bach Deg in Comp Sci, Info System Engg, or Comp Engg & 24 mos of F/T exp in the job or s/ware dvlpr reqd. M-F, 40 hrs/wk. Send resumes (by mail only) to Vasik H. Anarwala, Anar Logistics, LLC, 6755 N Monticello Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712.
STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR OAK PARK & FOREST PARK
Best Selection & Service
MARKETPLACE
MOVING SALE
22 East Ave., Apt. 203 Riverside Saturday, July 15 10 AM – 4 PM
CASH ONLY!
LARGE ITEMS MUST BE REMOVED BY JULY 19
Items include: Dining room table w/4 chairs ($800), 2 Stickley leather tavern chairs ($225 obo), small Frigidaire less than 1 year old ($175), 1 blue bird painting ($25) and more large items.
WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.
FERRET LOST
A ferret named Nero was last seen on July 10 at midnight between Madison & Washington. Nero’s very friendly, brown, with a white face, black stripe across his eyes (like a burglar’s mask), and about 15 inches long.
AWARD AVAILABLE IF FOUND. If found call David 872-273-8452.
708-386-7355
CARS WANTED
CLASSICS WANTED
CLASSICS WANTED
Restored or Unrestored
Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles
Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars:
Domestic / Import Cars:
Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars
$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.
Collector James • 630-201-8122
Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars
$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.
CLASSICS WANTED
Restored or Unrestored
Collector James 630-201-8122
TOWING
Cars & Vintage Motorcycles
630-201-8122
PUBLIC NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICE
STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss
Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.
In re the marriage of Aisha T. Oliver, Petitioner and Terrell Hollins, Respondent, Case No. 2021D002298.
The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.
Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before May 24, 2023, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.
IRIS Y MARTINEZ, Clerk.
Published in Wednesday Journal June 28, July 5, July 12, 2023
LEGAL NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE
STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK
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PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice of Annual Budget
Public Notice of Annual Budget
Notice is hereby given by the Board of Education of Riverside School District No. 96 in the Cook County, State of Illinois, that a budget for said school district for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, will be on file and available for public inspection by appointment Monday through Friday from 9 am to 3 pm starting the 17th day of July 2023, at the district’s administrative offices on 3340 South Harlem Avenue in Riverside Illinois. To schedule an appointment please email fittonj@district96.org.
Notice is further given that a public hearing on said budget will be held at 7:00 o’clock p.m. on the 16th day of August 2023 followed immediately by the scheduled regular board meeting.
Board of Education
Riverside School District No. 96 Cook County, Illinois
By: Wesley Muirhead, Board SecretaryPublished in RB Landmark July 12, 2023
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CALENDAR NUMBER: 11-23-Z
HEARING DATE: August 2, 2023
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by Lill Mar LLC, Applicant, to allow a live/work dwelling unit pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 641 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-18-202-003-0000, in the MS Madison Street Zoning District.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the ZBA to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal July 12, 2023
I, VANESSA MORITZ, CLERK OF THE VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK, DO HEREBY STATE, that on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 6:45 PM at the Forest Park Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, a public hearing will be held to consider the proposed adoption of the Appropriation Ordinance for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the Village of Forest Park. At the public hearing, all interested persons may provide comments concerning the appropriation of the sums of money the Village of Forest Park deems necessary to defray all its necessary expenses and liabilities. The appropriation document will be available for public inspection no later than July 14, 2023, in the Village Clerk’s Office at the Village of Forest Park, 517 DesPlaines Ave., Forest Park, Illinois.
Dated this 12th day of July, 2023
Vanessa Moritz Clerk, Village of Forest Park
Published in Forest Park Review July 12, 2023
PUBLIC NOTICE
Village of Oak Park 2023 Annual Action Plan
Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park Program Year (PY) 2023 Draft Annual Action Plan is available for public review and comment, the Plan can be reviewed during business hours Monday-Friday, effective July 12, to August 12, 2023, from the Oak Park Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street; and on the Village HousingGrants webpage https://www. oak-park.us/village-services/ housing-programs/communitydevelopment-shelter-grants and at the Public Library, Main Branch, 834 Lake Street. Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed. This Action Plan was previously subject to a public notice and related public hearing and comment period, as published on June 21, 2023. The Village has revised the proposed PY2023 Action Plan as of July 12, 2023, and is therefore advising its citizens of a new public hearing and comment period as prescribed herein in this public notice.
The original draft Action Plan included allocations in the amount
of $500,000 to be allocated for the Oak Park Fire Department Rehabilitation which will no longer take place.
Comprising year 4 of the Village PY 2020-24 Consolidated Plan for Housing & Community Development (Con Plan), the Draft PY 2023 Action Plan contains goals and objectives for implementing the Village’s 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, as well as a description of proposed projects to be undertaken in PY 2023 as part of the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for the period October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024. The Village received $1,539,187 in CDBG funding, along with other program funds to utilize for the Plan.
Any comments concerning the Draft PY 2023 Action Plan can be submitted in writing to Vanessa Matheny, Grants Supervisor, at grants@oak-park.us, or in person at the Draft Action Plan Public Hearing to be held at Village Hall Room 101 from 3:30-5:00 p.m. on July 24, 2023 at 123 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302.
Published in Wednesday Journal, July 12, 2023
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MERRILL LYNCH MORTGAGE INVESTORS, INC., MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, MANA SERIES 2007-OAR4
Plaintiff, -v.-
ELLEN C. SCHNACK, RANDALL C. SCHNACK
Defendants
19 CH 14891 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 4, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 31, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:
Commonly known as 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302
Property Index No. 16-05-319-008-
0000
The real estate is improved with a single family residence.
The judgment amount was $417,344.71.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.
The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).
If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
For information, contact The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 2911717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 19-092500.
THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-
SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717
E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com
Attorney File No. 19-092500
Attorney Code. 42168
Case Number: 19 CH 14891
TJSC#: 43-2421
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Case # 19 CH 14891
I3223066
