Landmark 071923

D208 school board hires new RBTV head

Matthew Holdren has taught lm, broadcast for 15 years

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

RBTV has a new leader, and he’s very experienced and appears highly qualified. On July 11, the Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 approved the hiring of Matthew Holdren to re place Gary Prokes, who abruptly retired in June after leading RBTV for 37 years.

Holdren, 43, has taught at Homewood Flossmoor High School for the past 15 years. He has been an English teacher who also taught classes in film and broadcast news. Unlike Prokes, he is a certified teacher and also has industry-based certification. He holds two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees and See RBTV on pa ge 9

Public art mural program on tap in Brook eld Brook eld Beauti cation Commission to vet applications

By BOB UPHUES Editor

When the Brookfield Village Board adopted its Energize Ogden master plan for that commercial corridor last summer, one of the “toolkits” included to help officials implement the plan’s goals was murals.

“Throughout Ogden Avenue, there are unactivated and unembellished walls,” the plan states. “Murals provide a low-cost way to not only enhance these walls, but also embody them with history, storytelling, and placemaking that will help distinguish Ogden Avenue in Brookfield from other communities.”

The trouble is, Brookfield’s zoning code doesn’t allow such public art.

But that’s not expected to last much longer. On July 24, trustees are expected to approve a new Public Art Mural Program that would establish a for mal application and approval process to pave the way for more public art in Brookfield.

The new program is the result of more than two years of ef for ts by village planning staf f and the Brookfield Beautification Commission, an advisory group that has tackled public art projects, such as the dragonfly sculpture near the Prairie Avenue Metra stop, in in the past.

“I think it’s a good idea, especially, if we have businesses -- and these are mostly new businesses -- that are willing to put that investment into beautifying their building,” said Carla Close-Prosen, chairwoman of the Brookfield Beautification Commission.

“It’s not going to be cheap, either.”

The program, which will be folded into the village code, permits murals to be located in the Ogden Avenue, Grand/Prairie, Eight Corners and 31st Street commercial districts as well as the 47th Street industrial district.

It limits murals to one wall per building and one building per zoning lot and also limits them to secondary facades, not primary street facades, and can’t inter rupt architectural features, such as doors and windows.

Murals must cover at least 64 square feet, can’t extend more than 6 inches from the plane of the wall and must be sealed with anti-graffiti and a UV coating. In addition, the coatings have to be durable enough to hold up long term in the harsh weather.

They also can’t be lit at night by any type of artificial illumination.

“While the hope would be that the public art murals would be sort of a destination and attract interest outside of the village, there was also sensitivity to not having interested parties showing up late in the evening and gathering for photos,” Village Planner Kate Portillo told elected officials during a presentation of the program at the July 10 committee of the whole meeting.

The Brookfield Beautification Commission would initially vet mural applications and then, based on program standards, acce pt, deny or accept the application with conditions.

If they approve, the village board will grant final permission via resolution and after getting a signed maintenance ag ree-

ment from the artists and property owner.

Applications must include a color rendering of the proposed mural; infor mation about the artist, including samples of previous work; a maintenance plan; and a written description of the mural, a timeline, budget and funding source.

The program also includes specific approval standards that call for mural content to “inspire, educate or advocate for at least one aspect of the community vibrancy, diversity, traditions or family-friendly character of Brookfield.”

Murals can’t function as signage or advertisements for any business and can’t contain symbols, logos or slogans implying products or services.

While there was some question over how exactly those standards would be interpreted, Trustee Katie Kaluzny, the village board’s liaison to the Beautification Commission, said the artists themselves would provide that interpretation in the application.

“The biggest concern of the commission is interpreting the art, but one of the pieces of the application … is the narrative component that would have a discussion of what the art means, and so we wouldn’t have to interpret the art,” said Kaluzny. “They would also be describing it in the application.”

Brookfield resident Barbara Dahm told elected officials at the meeting that she strongly opposed allowing murals, saying, “Improve the buildings themselves and forget about these murals. In time, the paint is going to chip and it’s going to look like hell.”

Brook eld Zoo invites public to master plan town hall

The Chicago Zoological Society, which operates Brookfield Zoo, is in the midst of developing a new five-year strategic plan as the institution moves ever closer to the centennial of the zoo’s opening in 2034.

Some big improvements – like the construction of a new indoor/outdoor habitat for primates outside of Tropic World and an overhaul of the Seven Seas dolphin habitat -- are already in the pipeline.

On July 25 at 5:30 p.m., zoo officials will provide an opportunity for the public to

learn about the planning process and provide input at a town hall at Riverside-Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road in Riverside

Jennifer Baader, senior vice president of gover nment affairs at Brookfield Zoo, and Mary Ann Cronin, master planning consultant at Brookfield Zoo, will provide a short presentation about the master planning process, which will include updates on new exhibits that will be coming in the next two years.

Baader said the event will also feature an “open-mic style session for residents to share their thoughts on the future of Brookfield Zoo, including any recommendations for new animal exhibits, conservation projects and partnerships, local community engagement, and improvements to the guest experience.”

Anyone unable to attend in person but who would like to provide input on the master plan can email those comments to PlanYourZoo@CZS.org

— Bob Uphues

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BIG WEEK

Free outdoor concerts

Nor th Riverside Parks & Rec continues its summer concert series on July 20 with Billy Elton, celebrating the music of Billy Joel and Elton John, 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 21 at 7 p.m. Head to the bandshell in Kiwanis Park, Arden and Brook eld avenues, to catch the 1970s rock of Strung Out. Bring your coolers, blankets and chairs

Car shows galore!

If you’re a classic car bu , you can get your ll of Ford Fairlaines and ‘54 Chevys at three separate car show events in the villages in the coming days, and all are free for spectators to attend Riverside Garage hosts its next Cruise Night along East Burlington Street in downtown Riverside on July 20 from 6 to 9 p.m.

‘In the Heights’

Koko’s Film Club at North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to a free screening of “In the Heights,” a 2021 lm based on the Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical, on July 25 at 2 p.m.

The lm stars Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins and Leslie Grace about the dreams and aspirations of young people living in Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan.

And more

■ North Riverside Players invite actors to audition for their fall production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot ” at the North Riverside Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave. Auditions will be held July 24 and 25 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. No appointments necessary. You will be seen in order of arrival. Come ready to sing a selection from a musical comedy of your choice, dress to dance and be prepared for possible cold readings.

Also on July 20, from 7 to 9 p.m., North Riverside Parks & Rec hosts an Antique and Classic Car Show in the police station parking lot, 2359 Desplaines A

Finally, on July 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Brook eld Chamber of Commerce hosts its Classic Car and Bike Show along the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard, with fun, music food and more.

Pro bike race comes to Brook eld

Professional bike racing comes to Brook eld for the rst time on July 26 in the form of the Cycle Brook eld Criterium, one the 10 race events that make up the Intelligentsia Cup, taking place throughout the Chicago area.

The nearly mile-long zig-zag course is along and around Grand Boulevard from Lincoln Avenue to Brook eld Avenue. Spectator admission is free with parking along Brook eld Avenue, Broadway Avenue and the village hall parking lot.

The course area is closed to tra c between 10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Races begin at 11 a.m. and continue through the day, with the women’s pro race at 5:10 p.m. and the men’s pro race at 7 p.m. A Family Fun Ride (register at tinyurl.com/3tp4yvry) will be held at 6:25 p.m. For more, visit cyclebrook eld.com/criterium.

■ Aging Care Connections Congregate Meals presents “Elvis!” starring tribute artists Landan James on July 20 at 1:30 p.m. at Salerno’s Pizza, 9301 W. 63rd St. in Countr yside. Admission is free but reservations are required, limit 2. Call 708-6032269. Speak clearly and slowly

■ Loca Mocha, 8858 Burlington Ave. in Brook eld (inside the Metra station), welcomes back troubadour Mark Dvorak to the Maria’s Morning Co ee House Series on July 25 at 10 a.m. Free. Donations accepted, CDs and books available for purchase.

■ Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents is annual Members’ Exhibition and Kids Show through July 29. Gallery hours are ThursdaySaturday 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 MondayThursday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

■ The Riverside Chess Club invites players of all skills and ages to meet for casual games at the Riv-

erside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, on Mondays from 5 to 7 p.m. Open to anyone. For more info email TheRiversideChessClub@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/TheRiversideChessClub.

■ 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 ever y 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.

INTELLIGENTSIA CUP CHICAGO

BILLY ELTO N

PO LICE REPO RT S

Man eludes police after hitting grocery store 3 times in a week

A man wanted in connection with retail thefts on July 7 and July 10 at Amazon Fresh, 7201 24th St. in North Riverside, hit the store a third time on July 11 and led police on a high-speed, mid-afternoon chase down Harlem Avenue and then eastbound on I-290 before the offender was able to elude pursuing vehicles.

Police arrived at Amazon Fresh at about 3:30 p.m. after the latest report, with a witness saying the offender had gotten into a black SUV with a broken rear window Police located that vehicle at Harlem and Cermak and began following it

The driver accelerated away from police once past Roosevelt Road and then onto eastbound I-290 where he reportedly drove across all lanes and onto the shoulders, nearly striking other vehicles, as he attempted to elude police, who terminated the chase at Austin Boulevard. The man had reportedly stolen about $360 in merchandise from Amazon Fresh that day.

Auto thef t

A North Riverside man went to police to re port his car stolen after lending his white Nissan Rogue on July 10 to a friend, with instructions to return it on the morning of July 11. The friend had not shown up as of 11 a.m. on July 12 and now couldn’t be reached by phone.

Police told the man he needed to give the friend more time to get the car to him and the man ag reed to return the following week if he still hadn’t heard anything.

About 15 minutes later, the man called back to say his friend had reappeared, but without the Nissan, which the friend said had been stolen, along with her cellphone, from the parking lot at the Chicagoland Motel in Lyons. The man told police he was on his way to Lyons to make a stolen auto re port there.

DUI

■ Riverside police charged a 26-yearold Chicago man with driving under the influence of alcohol, aggravated speeding and possessing a concealed weapon while

under the influence after a police officer stopped him for alle gedly driving 90 mph while southbound on First Avenue from Waubansee Road on July 9 at about 2:15 a.m.

The officer re ported that the black Ford Mustang went through the red light at Ogden Avenue and continued down First Avenue to Archer Road where the police officer was able to affect a traffic stop and order the driver out of the vehicle.

The driver appeared to be intoxicated and re por tedly admitted to having drunk alcohol before getting behind the wheel. A breath test more than an hour later re por tedly revealed the driver’s bloodalcohol content to be .147, which is nearly twice the legal limit of .08.

Police also re ported recovering a loaded 9 mm handgun and a separate loaded ammunition magazine in the car’s center console.

He was also cited for driving on a suspended license, having no proof of insurance and running a red light.

■ A 22-year-old Chicago woman was charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and cited for several traffic violations after she reportedly lost control of her black Nissan while racing with another vehicle while eastbound on Bloomingbank Road, leaving the roadway and running over a stop sign and a left turn-only sign near the Riverside Swim Club on July 9 just before 7 p.m.

The woman re por tedly told police she had been at a friend’s bachelorette party and believed she was OK to drive. Her blood-alcohol content was .145, which is nearly twice the le gal limit of .08.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, July 9-17, 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

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

UNDERSTANDING FEDERAL TAX OBLIGATIONS

DURING CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY

Bankruptcy is a last resort for taxpayers to get out of debts. For individuals, the most common type of bankruptcy is Chapter 13. This section of the bankruptcy law allows individuals and small business owners in financial difficulty to repay their creditors. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is only available to wage earners, the self-employed and sole proprietor businesses.

Tax obligations while filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy:

• Taxpayers must file all required tax returns for tax periods ending within four years of their bankruptcy filing.

• During a bankruptcy case taxpayers should pay all current taxes as they come due. Failure to file returns and pay current taxes during a bankruptcy may result in a case being dismissed, converted to a liquidating bankruptcy chapter 7, or the chapter 13 plan may not be confirmed.

Other things to know:

If the IRS is listed as a creditor in their bankruptcy, the IRS will receive electronic notice about their case from the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. If one of the reasons a taxpayer is filing bankruptcy is overdue federal tax debts, they may need to increase their withholding or their estimated tax payments. The Tax Withholding Estimator can help people determine the proper withholding

People can receive tax refunds while in bankruptcy. However, refunds may be subject to delay or used to pay down their tax debts. Taxpayers can see if their refund has been delayed or offset against their tax debts by going to the Where’s My Refund tool or by contacting the Centralized Insolvency Operations Unit.

Brook eld trustees poised to vote on vape shop restrictions

The Brookfield Village Board on July 24 is expected to approve amending its zoning code in order to limit the number of standalone smoke/vape shops in commercial districts

The action follows in the wake of three such shops opening since 2021, including two just a couple of blocks from each other on Ogden Avenue. The code amendment recommended by the Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission last month would make it harder to open a smoke/vape shop in Brookfield than it would be to open a liquor store.

In a 5-0 vote, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that smoke/ vape shops be located at least 3,000 feet from each other and 1,000 feet away from any school or daycare facility. It also limits such shops to the 31st Street, Eight Corners and

Ogden Avenue business districts and the 47th Street industrial district.

To give a sense of how restrictive that is, Village Planner Kate Portillo told elected officials at a discussion of the code amendment at the village board’s July 10 committee of the whole meeting that Broadway Avenue is about 1,700 feet in length, but it is within the Eight Corners Business district, where two schools and a daycare center are located.

The 31st Street corridor is about 4,000 feet, while both Ogden Avenue and 47th Street are about 5,300 feet in length.

Smoke/vape shops would no longer be allowed in any of the Station Area zoning districts, such as the Grand Boulevard/ Prairie Avenue district, which has housed one smoke/vape shop for years and has been home to others in the past.

The existing code does not call out smoke/ vapes shop specifically, so they are classified as “non-durable goods,” a use allowed by right along 31st Street, Ogden Avenue, Eight Corners and in the village’s three Station Area business districts.

Existing smoke/vape shops would be able to operate as non-conforming uses. However, if they close or cease operations for at least six months, they would be subject to the amended code.

Trustee Edward Cote wondered if the new rules could be challenged as too restrictive, given that liquor stores, which also sell cigarettes and vape products, can be as close as 100 feet away from schools

Village Attorney Adam Durkin said the proposed restrictions would not be problematic from a legal standpoint.

“I don’t see anything prohibiting this kind

of [distance] restriction,” said Durkin. “Just because one store sells products as an ancillary business doesn’t mean another store who sells it as a primary business has some kind of right.”

While new smoke/vape shops cannot be located withing 1,000 feet of a daycare or school, the code leaves it up to a daycare or school if the owner wants to open in a location within 1,000 feet of such an existing shop.

However, if the smoke/vape shop closes and the school/daycare remains, any future shop would be subject to the restrictions outlined in the code.

Other than Cote’s question regarding a potential legal challenge, elected officials, including Cote, did not appear to have any objections to the proposed change in the code to restrict smoke/vape shops.

— Bob Uphues

Brook eld Farmers Market puts out full- court press for votes

If you’ve visited the Brookfield Far mers Market this summer, you no doubt have noticed that it has grown substantially. More than 40 vendors (out of a rotating lineup of around 75) can now be found in the parking lots wrapping around the south and west sides of the Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave., every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

And the farmers market’s new manager, Gina Sharenow, would like shoppers – on July 8 there were about 1,800 -- to let the American Far mland Trust know how much you like the changes and help maintain the market’s momentum in the future.

“We still have room in the front to add 15 to 20 more vendors,” Sharenow said. “It’s been nice to hear people in the community speak-

ing about how great the market is.”

Through Sept. 18, the American Far mland Trust, a nonprofit whose mission is “protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices and keeping farmers on the land,” is accepting online votes for the top farmers markets in the U.S. via their annual America’s Far mers Market Celebration.

“In many regions, farmers markets have been vital to keeping existing family farms in business, enabling new farms to get started and creating jobs and opportunity in these communities,” said John Piotti, American Far mland Trust president and CEO in a press release announcing the contest.

People can vote (only once) for their fa ite farmers market – the Riverside

Market, which is held every Wednesday from 2:30 to 7 p.m. in Centennial Park is also part of the contest -- by visiting the nonprofit’s website at farmland.org

Sharenow and her volunteers, however, are soliciting shoppers’ support directly at their table every Saturday and on their social media platfor ms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, where you can scan a QR code that will take you directly to the spot on the American Far mland Trust website where you can vote for Brookfield.

The trust will be handing out cash awards totaling $15,000 to the top vote-getters -- $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second, $1,500 for third, $750 for fourth and $250 for fifth.

As of July 18, Brookfield had 375 otes

er, the Collingswood Far mers Market in New Jersey, which had 1,659 votes

However, the top vote-getter in each state gets $100, and as of July 18, Brookfield was leading the field in Illinois, ahead of secondplace Open Air Farmers Market at Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake (256).

“The money would help with our efforts to keep on growing and give back to the community,” Sharenow said.

One of the things the Brookfield Far mers Market would like to create is a scholarship that can be given to high schoolers who volunteer for the farmers market. There is a Brookfield Far mers Market teen committee, said Sharenow, who get hands-on experience at the market.

— Bob Uphues

RBHS music parents keep up pressure to increase sta ng

Superintendent open to meeting to try to move the needle

By BOB SKOLNIK

Contributing Reporter

Music advocates at Riverside Brookfield High School are not giving up in their push to persuade the school board and school administrators to commit to three full-time music teachers.

Last week, for the third consecutive school board meeting, music parents, alumni and other supporters spoke up to plead their case Frustrated by the response of school board President Deanna Zalas, the parents saw a glimmer of hope the day after the July 11 meeting when Superintendent Kevin Skinkis called Lisa Janunas, the new head of the Music and Theater Sponsors Parent Group, to ask for a meeting.

“I’m happy that he reached out, because I feel like he hasn’t really addressed us during all of told the Landmark last w

teacher Kayley Smetana, who has been cut back to just one class, a 0.2 full-time-equivalent position, can provide more instruction.

“He liked that I presented some solutions, maybe some compromises, so hopefully we’ll talk about that,” Janunas said.

Janunas’ ideas included creating a lunchtime music lab, making a capella singing a class, offering a music refresher course for students who may have dropped music during the pandemic, offering a drama or introduction to theater class and creating a summer singing or theatre camp.

Janunas said Skinkis told her the school probably would not get to where music parents want them to be this year, but she held out hope for the future.

“Hopefully we’ll get some movement,” Janunas said.

Skinkis and Janunas have not met yet and

“I don’t want to be a pain in the ass, I just want to see things change,” Janunas said. “They have to listen when there’s this many people demanding changes.”

Last year Smetana had a 0.6 FTE position, teaching three classes. She was also paid to supervise some study halls. Smetana came to RBHS in 2021 and was a 0.9 FTE her first year

But a restructuring of RBHS’s department and division leadership model for the upcoming year has resulted in band director James Baum picking up one more class this year One other music class, AP Music Theory, only is offered every other year and will not be offered this year.

After meeting in closed session to discuss personnel on July 11, the school board did approve hiring Smetana to be the faculty sponsor of the A Capella Club, a group she created. This newly created stipend position will metana $930 next ed a $2,007 stipend Rachelle Kelly to direct the

Instruction Kylie Lindquist said that, as of now, it appears Smetana will return to RBHS She said that the school is committed to doing what it can, with fiscal limits, to keep her.

“The district is constantly monitoring numbers, seeing what our [class] sizes look like,” Lindquist said. “We don’t want this situation. You know, we don’t want the music parents and the music students to always have to feel like they’re fighting, but at the same time we have to be fiscally responsible, so we’re constantly monitoring and seeing what we can do.”

At the July 11 meeting, three RBHS music recent graduates told the school board and administration how important the RBHS music program has been to them.

Maddie Smith, who graduated from RBHS in 2017, majored in vocal performance at Illinois Wesleyan University. Now she is a partat a Catholic school and a terian church. that is because of

Brook eld engine now ghting res in the Caribbean

A er donation of pumper and equipment, re ghters visit Dominican Republic to train local responders

By BOB UPHUES Editor

An $800,000 grant from FEMA which the village of Brookfield parlayed into a new front-line “quint” fire engine, also turned out to be a boon for a fire department located in a city in the mountainous central portion of the Dominican Re public

Because the new quint combined the capabilities of Brookfield’s pumper engine and ladder truck, the village sought to dispose of the old vehicles. They sold the 20-yearold ladder truck to the Roberts Park Fire Protection District in Justice for that agency to use as a reserve vehicle.

It was going to be a little more difficult to sell the 1991 pumper engine, which was still in good working condition, but was considered obsolete by National Fire Protection Association standards.

“There’s a lot of good vehicles out there that are trying to be sold that can’t be sold,” said Brookfield Fire Chie f James Adams, who said the 1991 pumper was still a reliable vehicle and was used by the department to respond to incidents almost until the day it left the station for the last time in May.

“The NFPA is really wasteful, in my opinion, because we’re getting pump tests and ladder tests and we’re passing every year, so it’s a good, solid vehicle. It’s all certified, but we’re handcuffed by our own standards, which is hard to accept.”

Engine 412’s final destination was Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic, where it was immediately placed into front-line service. In addition to the engine, Adams reached out to other area departments and the company Air One, which supplies fire departments with self-contained breathing units, or air packs.

Air One donated nearly two dozen air packs along with an air compressor so they can be recharged when needed, a donation valued at $75,000, according to Adams. Brookfield also ended up sending a host of firefighting gear, from ventilation fans and spotlights to ladders, nozzles, face masks, coats, pants, flashlights and canisters of foam for use in fighting things like oil fires

The engine, whose transportation to the Dominican Republic was funded by donors in Jarabacoa, finally made its way through customs in mid-June. Then on June 29, three representatives from the Brookfield Fire Department – Adams, Capt. Brian Baldwin and Firefighter/Paramedic Wesley Proch – flew to the Dominican Republic’s capital, Santa Domingo, before driving another 4.5 hours to Jarabacoa to provide training to the 16 or so firefighters who make up the Jarabacoa Fire De partment.

Adams said he and the other Brookfield firefighters paid for their own travel, while donors in Jarabacoa paid for their lodging.

“I don’t know what I was expecting,” said Adams, “but whatever it was, it blew my expectations away.”

The trio of Brookfield firefighters were in Jarabacoa for two nights, squeezing in training on how to use the engine,

there did not have an air compressor, the handful of air packs they did have didn’t get used much. According to Adams, they had to drive 50 miles to get the air packs recharged.

Much of the fire department’s gear and vehicles are donated or funded by donations from local business owners, said Adams. The Jarabacoa’s Fire Department budget is about $4,000 a month, Adams said.

“They need way more than what we gave them,” Adams said.

The connection with Jarabacoa was made through Proch, who was hired in Brookfield in 2021. About a decade earlier he had worked on a construction project to build a restaurant in Jarabacoa – an initiative launched by his in-laws, who owned land there. Proch also later managed the restaurant for a time before changing gears at age 32 and getting his EMS certification before joining the fire service.

While he worked in Jarabacoa, he got to know other business owners and local of ficials. When he learned Brookfield would be disposing of the pumper, he let Adams know he might have a taker in Jarabacoa.

“I told the chief, if he actually wanted to donate the engine, I could work it out,” Proch said.

He ended up making the arrangements for the training trip and a local town councilor, Rafelina Diaz, solicited local

$10,000 cost of transporting the engine there.

“It was still an amazing deal, and they were so happy to get it,” Proch said.

The Jarabacoa firefighters don’t get the same kind of regular training Brookfield firefighters get, said Proch, so they were eager to find out as much as they could about the gear they’d just received

“They want real-world, situational training. I felt they were just so hungry to learn,” Proch said. “There were definitely moments of complete silence where everyone was zoned right in and hanging on every word.”

The Brookfield firefighters also visited a smaller municipal department on the northern outskirts of Jarabacoa. On June 30 they were feted at a ceremony thanking Brookfield for the donation of the fire engine and equipment, followed by a traditional meal at the home of the Jarabacoa fire chief, Miguel Castillo.

“It’s hard to describe the trip,” said Adams, who can get choked up recalling the experience. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. … There’s definitely a need for this. A lot of departments [here in the U.S.] could make a lot of difference, way more than they think.

“It really puts everything in perspective. We’re very fortunate to be where we’re at.”

Brook eld Fire Chief James Adams (standing, 5th from le ), Capt. Brian Baldwin (3rd from le ) and Fire ghter Wesley Proch (2nd from le ) stand for a photo in June with members of the Jarabacoa Fire Department in front of the engine Brook eld donated to the Dominican Republic town earlier this year.

RBTV

a doctorate in education.

“I like school,” Holdren told the Landmark in a telephone interview last week.

Holdren will be paid $110,380, more than the $94,301.25 that Prokes made last year. He will teach all the television classes at RBHS next year

A native of Chicago Heights, Holdren was interested in film and video from an early age. As an adolescent, he and friend would record themselves on VHS, reenacting “Saturday Night Live” skits. He earned his first bachelor’s degree in communication and media studies from Norther n Illinois University.

While starting his career in media and film, he began substitute teaching at Homewood-Flossmoor and discovered that he loved teaching, so he earned a second bachelor’s degree in English from Gover nors State University.

He also earned a master’s degree from NIU in communication and media studies where he specialized in documentary filmmaking as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration before getting his doctorate in education from NIU in 2011.

“I was able to marry those two loves of teaching and media production,” Holdren said. “I love teaching just as much as I love creating content.”

Holdren began the film program at Homewood-Flossmoor and is still an active cinematographer. In 2015, he co-founded and is

the CEO of a small wedding film company, Matthew Robert Creative Holdren said that he is excited to be taking over RBTV.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to take over a historic program like RBTV, so for me it’s an opportunity to take the next ste p in my career,” Holdren said.

He was picked from a field of 15 candidates, three of whom were interviewed. RBTV’s re putation drew interest from Holdren and other applicants.

“This isn’t just any old broadcasting job,” said Kylie Lindquist, the assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at RBHS. “RBTV is something that’s very well-known and that’s what enabled us to attract someone to want to come over.”

Lindquist was relieved that a candidate of Holdren’s experience and talent applied for the job.

“When I heard of Gary’s [retirement] I was terrified, because it was such a rare certification,” Lindquist said.

Homewood-Flossmoor has a strong broadcast program, with alumni including White Sox television broadcaster Jason Benetti, sports radio talk show host Lawrence Holmes and television newscaster Ben Bradley.

It has state-of-the-art studio and production facilities that cost between $3 and $4 million a decade ago.

“We had a lot of success at HF,” Holdren said. “We compete in the MMEA (Midwest Media Educators Association) and I’ve been able to teach a lot of students who have won a lot of first place trophies in things like documentaries, music videos, trailers and then we’ve also won quite a few for news programming as well.”

But Holdren, who also served for two years the chairman of the Fine Arts Department at Homewood-Flossmoor, did not lead the Homewood Flossmoor TV program, so he was attracted to the RBTV position.

“He was interested in making the move to take over a station,” Lindquist said.

Although Holdren did not teach Benetti, Bradley or Holmes, he did teach Jarad Higgins who went on to great fame as hip-hop artist Juice WRLD, who died of a drug overdose in 2019.

Holdren said that he is excited to succeed Prokes but will cut his own path.

“He’s definitely a legend, he will con-

Latest News

tinue to be a legend and will continue to be remembered and revered by me going forward,” Holdren said. “Everyone will know who he was and what he did for that program, but I plan on, hopefully, blazing my own trail there that in 15 or 20 years, when I leave, someone else can come in and speak as highly about me as everyone does about Gary.”

Holdren was interviewed by a team of administrators and department chairs.

“We kind of hit it of f right away,” Holdren said. “I think they kind of understood my vision of what media should look like at the high school level.”

Olmsted Society

7/29 9AM-Noon Landscape Workday, Bourbon Spring (NW steps in Swan Pond)

7/30 2-4 PM Walking Tour, North Division (north of the tracks)

8/19 9AM-Noon Landscape Workday, Akenside & Longcommon Triangle

Please stop by our table on 7/29 and 7/30 as we participate in the World Nature Conservation Weekend in Riverside. For details of all events, visit: www.riverside.il.us/644/World-Nature-Conservation-Weekend

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.

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

99% OF OUR CALEDONIA STAFF IS VACCINATED

Immediate availability in our Memory Care Assisted Living Small House

COURTESY OF MAT THEW HOLDREN

Matthew Holdren (le ) gives direction to a Homewood-Flossmoor student during a lm shoot at that school last year.

‘Once -in-a-lifetime opportunity’

Native garden walk returns to western suburbs

‘Birds, Bees & Butter

features Riverside and Berwyn gardens

By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

West Cook Wild Ones’ annual garden walk, “Birds, Bees & Butterflies: A Native Garden Walk” returns July 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. This year, for the first time, the featured gardens and gardeners hail from Riverside and Berwyn, Illinois.

The walk will feature 11 gardens, and homeowners and gardeners will be on hand to answer participants’ questions about plant names, favorite plants and other aspect of their native gardens

Laura Hartwell Berlin, who co-chairs the West Cook Wild Ones Garden Walk Committee with Adrian Ayres Fisher, says that in previous years, the walk has been focused on Oak year’s mo citing one

A few Berwyn have been featured in the past, b

Riverside is “all new” to the tour

“Members of the Wi community from Riverside came to us,” she said. “Riverside is a love nity. It meaningful to because she is the site steward Grove W Forest Preser

Berwyn and Ri

Fisher says that expanding the walk to other suburbs makes sense, given the growing membership of West Cook Wild Ones. There are more than 250 members throughout the western suburbs, and the membership spans as far north as Evanston and east into Chicago.

Fisher notes that interest in native gardening picked up during the pandemic when people had more time to focus on their gardens, but the growth has continued in recent years.

“It’s kind of remarkable,” she said. “This year, we sold the most plants ever at our na-

tive plant sale. People are becoming more interested in attracting native pollinators and birds.”

This year’s garden roster includes sunny prairie gardens, a spring ephemeral garden, a cutting garden, shade gardens, an edible garden and two rain gardens. Some gardeners have lovingly designed every square inch of their yards themselves. Others have hired top native garden designers.

In one garden owned by two artists, unusual objects play with the garden plants.

“There’s a lot of artistic flair that really shows off,” Berlin said.

In another garden, the owners lunch and dine everyday al fresco. Several gardeners have chosen and arranged plants for their lovely scents.

In Riverside, two traffic triangles are included in the walk. Known for its windarchitect rside has areas etween the streets. Local scout lants riangles featured on the walk.

ids are

” Berlin nspiring that they are about rside’s lawns and lush llustrate one with Fisher says ompelan be done

“People are very creative,” Fisher said. “It doesn’t really matter how big your yard is, you can make a difference.”

Fisher notes that West Cook Wild Ones has embraced Climate Ready Oak Park and the Global Campaign for Nature’s 30 x 30 initiative and explains, “Over 190 nations have embraced the global initiative to have 30% of land planted with native plantings.”

She notes that the simple for mula for letting 30% of local yards go native is tied to the principles of noted conservationist and ecologist Doug Tallamy, who counsels that converting lawns to native plants nationwide

gardens to a spr ing ephemeral garden, rain gardens and shade gardens. By including Riverside and Berwyn in 2023, the West Cook Wild Ones Garden Walk has both large and small spaces, ones incor porating varying proportions of native species.

could have a dramatic impact on the environment.

While some might be intimidated at the idea of converting a yard to native plantings, Fisher points out that focusing on a portion of your yard can make a big difference. Berlin agrees and notes that’s why the garden walk is so inspiring.

“There are varying degrees of native-ness. It’s a spectrum,” Berlin said. “There’s no right way to do it.”

This garden walk is $10 for West Cook Wild Ones members and $15 for non-members. Kids attend for free. Ticket holders will receive a tour map two days before the event. Visit westcook.wildones.org to register

Proceeds from the walk and the West Cook Wild Ones annual plant sale, which takes place every spring, are used to fund the organization’s grants, which allow Cook County nonprofits such as schools and churches to create their own native garden spaces

ies’

Eye on the future N

orth Riverside trustees passed the village ’s appropriations ordinance on July 17, two weeks before the state deadline, as has been their practice for as long as anyone can remember.

The fiscal year began May 1, so the first quarter has come and gone without the village deciding exactly what it would be budgeting to spend. The final version of the budget has still not yet been released to the general public on the village website. The original preliminary budget anticipated a $1.3 million deficit. After several budget workshops, that deficit had reportedly increased to about $1.5 million.

On July 10, a week before passing the appropriations ordinance, the board met in an administrative committee session to set legislative priorities for the fiscal year, ones that would have an impact on spending in 2023-24.

The three priorities they settled on were the most glaring – the need to complete a comprehensive plan for the village, overhauling the village’s zoning code and addressing the village’s police and fire pension obligations

Of the three, the two most straightforward ought to be completing a comprehensive plan, which will provide future boards with essential direction for future commercial and residential development in specific areas of the village – the central commercial core near Harlem Avenue, Cermak Road west of First Avenue, 26th Street and, yes, the National Guard Armory property. Overhauling the zoning code will be a key ingredient in making the direction in the comprehensive plan realistic to accomplish.

We are loath to predict the future, but we can already read a few tea leaves when it comes to coming to a consensus on how to guide future development in the commercial core area, particularly the Nor th Riverside Park Mall property.

It’s no secret that the mall’s owner wants to redevelop the west side of the property after acquiring the for mer Carson’s parking lot. They may also be interested in picking up the for mer Sears property, which is back on the market after being sold earlier this year

That’s going to take planning expertise the village simply doesn’t have right now. For a village with such an important commercial base in flux, it would seem that North Riverside is going to need an actual community development department, with fulltime staff dedicated to planning and economic development.

For more than a decade, the department has been staffed by a series of contractors brought in to address the need of the moment. North Riverside isn’t like other small towns of its population; it can’t be run like one

And that gets us to the $4 million annual pension obligation. The costs are real and they are permanent. They need a per manent solution.

Weathering the storm, whether here or there

Whether, or weather, no matter how you spell it, it affects all of us in some way. So last week I was on my trek between MacNeal Hospital and Cantata when the first weather fury hit.

I made it to my room on the fourth floor of the hospital and was watching the weather reports and listening to the sirens going off. Everything seemed to be going on as usual, but I was trying to prepare myself

My preparation was to get my rosary, crawl under the covers and move away from the windows. Luckily, the all-clear came. While at MacNeal there was also a fire alarm. However, it was on the fifth floor in the south building, so there was no need for my Plan B. During the huge rain, I said a few prayers for those who live in the area and for Dr. Mike, who had no problem but lost a few mature trees

So, I’m now back at Cantata where I will be for a while getting IVs and therapy. If you are looking for me, this is the place. As I have said, it is a good place to be, although I would like to get outside and enjoy some of the beautiful weather. So far, I’ve only been outside to be transported from MacNeal to Cantata; not much of an outing

LETTERS Do your part to help divert storm runo

Many in our communities experienced serious water issues during the recent heavy rains, and experts tell us that these heavy rain events will only continue in frequency and intensity. There are some things we can all do to reduce the amount and rate of water entering our streets, storm sewers, and homes. These include:

1. If you haven’t already done so, disconnect your downspouts from the storm sewers. These connections are ille gal in most places, yet a recent walk in Brookfield revealed many houses still connected this way, in plain sight.

2. Don’t blow grass clipping and leaves into the street, or stop your landscaping service from doing so. Leave

This time I hope to take advantage of some of the activities planned for each day. Or I would like to get to my next Grisham book, which was given to me by Louise Wimmer. It belonged to her late husband, Mike, also a Grisham aficionado.

I have been watching a lot of TV since it fits in my schedule, which isn’t too trying. I didn’t realize how many people needed windows or mattresses. Dog food is another item that you need to consider. Some of it looks as good as people’s food.

I would like to advise people not to ignore those little health signals that maybe something is wrong. You can’t enjoy it forever. Listen to your body. Unfortunately, during my time here at Cantata, there have been many who passed away that I didn’t get to pay my respects to, such as Jim Heilenbach, Marcia Olson and Barbara Newman. I know there are others I have also missed well.

I want to let you all know I miss seeing you all. I’d rather be buzzing around town doing whatever. I miss the farmers markets, especially the nice, juicy peaches Yum!

clippings and leaves down, where they will provide habitat and nutrition for your lawn and growing plants

The stuf f blown into the street washes down the curb when it rains and blocks the storm sewer grates, contributing to standing water and backups during heavy rain events. Also, pick up trash at your curb or on your parkway to prevent it from washing down to the stor m grates, too.

3. Consider installing a rain garden or other landscape feature with native plants that have deep roots. These can greatly slow or reduce the amount of water entering the storm sewer, eliminating areas of standing water in lawns and beautifying your property

Organizations like your local library or the Brookfield Native Plants Club can help connect you with resources for beneficial yard features to help with water management on your property.

The livability of our communities depends on all of us doing our part to help ease the burden on our infrastructure, creeks and rivers from these increasingly frequent heavy rain events

Suzanne Williams, Brookfield

JOANNE KOSE Y

Riverside’s cardiac kids win 12U baseball district

A er thrilling win, team knocked out in sub-state game

By BILL STONE

Contributing Reporter

Bryce Sherman and his Riverside Little League 12-Under all-star baseball teammates tried to quickly forget their sub-state championship game loss to Hinsdale Monday in Elgin.

They enjoyed a lifetime of memories getting there.

The great ride was climaxed by only the third District 9 championship by the Riverside Majors 12s over the last 66 years. The breathtaking, remarkable come-frombehind 12-11 seven-inning victory over Western Springs in the winner-take-all championship game was July 11 at Brookfield’s Kiwanis Park in front of an overflow crowd.

“I’ve never been in a game like that. I’ll remember that game for the rest of the life. I’ll be telling that to my kids, my grandchildren,” Sherman said.

Team members were Foster Bukowski, Shane Haefner, George Kirsch, Tommy Martin, Dean Mauban, Jack Rooney, Sherman, Mateo Sikora, Quinn Simmons, Gavin Sweetser, Brady Wahl and Henry Zalewski. The manager was Ryan Sherman with coaches Adam Haefner and Jon Kirsch.

NILSA SWEETSER

e Riverside Little League 12-Under Majors all-star baseball team won the District 9 title and reached the sub-state championship game. Team members are (front row, from le ) Shane Haefner, Bryce Sherman, George Kirsch, Henr y Zalewski, Brady Wahl, Foster Bukowski, Dean Mauban, (back row) coach Adam Haefner, Tommy Martin, Quinn Simmons, Jack Rooney, Mateo Sikora, manager Ryan Sherman, Gavin Sweetser and coach Jon Kirsch

Riverside lost the sub-state championship game 10-0 in five innings on July 17.

“We told them to keep their heads up. A very fun two weeks. We all had a blast. Definitely a positive experience,” Ryan Sherman said

Riverside was limited on July 17 to singles by Sweetser and Sherman in the first and second innings, respectively. Bukows-

ki was hit by a pitch to lead off the third. Simmons (first 2 innings) and Sweetser (3 innings) handled the pitching duties. Hinsdale pitcher Dylan Phelan struck out 12 in a complete-game ef fort.

A remarkable ef fort against another perennial power, Western Springs, earned the district title. After three victories, Riverside lost to Western Springs 7-1 earlier

July 11 to force a championship rematch in the double-elimination format

Riverside trailed 11-10 entering the bottom of the seventh. Kirsch reached on an er ror and scored to tie the game. Simmons delivered the game-winning, walk-of f single after Sweetser, who already hit two homers, and Sherman were intentionally walked to load the bases.

“It was the team that really helped me get into that,” Simmons said. “They intentionally walked Gavin. Anybody would have. … Bryce, the same thing. He probably would have hit a shot.

“It was 2 and 2 and then I just hit it. it felt great. And then I threw up my helmet and [Kirsch] caught it.”

Riverside was winning 7-4 entering the sixth and was one out from the title, but a premature celebration after an apparent game-ending strikeout was instead a dropped third strike and the game continued. Western Springs rallied and eventually hit a grand slam to take the lead 10-7.

In the bottom half, Sweetser led of f with a home run and Mauban hit a game-tying double but was left stranded on third with no outs.

When Riverside finally won, players and fans hesitated before unleashing some postgame pandemonium.

“The most ridiculous Little League game of all time. Literally, I’ve tried to tell the story 20 times. It’s one of those games where no team deserved to lose and people were saying there were over 300 fans,” Ryan Sherman said.

Brook eld 11U softball takes district crown

State tournament action begins this weekend

By BILL STONE

Contributing

Reporter

Pitcher Nena Melendez and her Brookfield Little League 11-Under all-star softball

teammates are doing their best to remain sharp for the upcoming state tournament.

“I know I’ve been practicing in my staircase non-stop,” Melendez said. “Like every time I see a sock, something round, I just

pitch because I really want to throw accurate.”

Brookfield finally returns to action July 22 on its home field after winning the District 9 championship back on July 6. Brook-

field swept North Riverside 15-0 in three innings in both games of the best-of-three championship series.

Team members are Ema Beattie, Lea Becker, Grace Campbell, Justina Costel-

Joyce J. Albrecht, 77 Brook eld homemake r

Joyce J. Albrecht (nee Schuppe), 77, of Brookfield and for merly of Lyons, died July 13, 2023 at home.

Ms. Albrecht was born Oct.1, 1945 in Melrose Park. She was a homemaker who enjoyed reading, sewing and baking.

She was the wife of Lawrence J. Albrecht; the mother of Ann Hausser, Laura Hausser, MaryBeth Hausser and Andrew Albrecht; the grandmother of Catrina, Aaron, Alexander and Rebecca; and the great-grandmother of Jacob, Ashley, Donovan and Mya.

In accordance with her wishes, Joyce donated her body to science for the advancement of medical research.

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Online condolences, memories and photographs may be shared at JohnsonNosek. com.

Patricia A. Alonzi, 85

Ow ned Alonzi’s Villa restaurant

Patricia A. Alonzi (nee Conte, formerly Horn), 85, of Lyons, died peacefully on July 16, 2023 at her daughter Tricia’s home in Homer Glen due to her ongoing medical conditions.

While raising a family, Pat’s dedication was not only to

lo, Nora Graham, Kallie Hickey, Vivien Kowynia, Melendez, Paige Olsen, Lyla Pigoni, Lula Smith, Josie Swanson and Yannis Villamil, Mike Melendez is the manager with coaches Dave Campbell and Ed Kowynia.

All but one of the players were part of Brookfield’s 2022 10U softball team that finished third at state. Many also are teammates with the Brookfield Nationals parttime travel team.

“I feel like the more experience you have, the more confidence you get. You just have to believe in yourselves,” said shortstop/

OBITUARIES

family but community. She was one of the first women police radio dispatchers and worked for the Lyons Police Department for 13 years. She was also a Lyons village trustee for 12 years.

In Brookfield, she was best known as owner of Alonzi’s Villa, which she operated at 8828 Brookfield Ave. with her husband, Michael, from 1989 to 2002

She was the wife of the late Michael L. Alonzi; the mother of Deborah Horn, Edwin (Michelle, nee Milka) Horn Jr., Patricia, nee Horn (William Sr.) Nixon; grandmother of William Nixon Jr.; Ashley Nixon, Allison Nixon, Christopher Nixon, Jessica Jarosz, Justin Jarosz, Jeffery (Ylse, nee Bear) Jarosz; the great grandmother of Nathen VanDeveer, Tabitha Nixon, Beckham Nixon-Simonis and Julia Jarosz ; the sister of MaryLynn (David) Spicer, Gina Feagler and the late Lawrence Conte; and the aunt and great aunt of many.

A chapel service will be held on Friday, July 21 at 11 a.m. at Queen of Heaven Cemetery Committal Chapel, 1400 S. Wolf Road, Hillside. Entombment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Christ the King Mausoleum.

Memorials appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michig an Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, 60601 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21741.

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 Patricia Alonzi family.

Dennis F. Mar tinek, 76 Corporate pilot

Dennis Frank Martinek, 76, of Riverside, died peacefully on June 27, 2023.

He was born in Chicago on July 14, 1946, to the late Frank and Blanche Martinek (née Various). He was the eldest brother to the late Glen and James Martinek.

Dennis’ first love was flying. After graduating from Morton West High School, Dennis joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. After proudly serving his country, he enrolled at Souther n Illinois University at Carbondale, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in air carrier operations.

A passionate aviator, Dennis was a corporate jet pilot and captain for many years; he would spend his leisure time in the air, often flying his own planes. Outside of flying, Dennis was a hands-on operator and entrepreneur, pursuing real estate and other endeavors.

Melding the two worlds of aviation and entrepreneurship, Dennis and his wife Susan co-founded their family business, Egress, which has been offering aerial scattering services for cremated remains for over 30 years.

Dennis will be remembered as a largerthan-life character who was quirky, undeniably charismatic, and whose bright blue eyes would light up any room. Alongside

his love for aviation, Dennis enjoyed grooving to good music, World War II history, riding motorcycles and playing pinochle.

Raising his family in Riverside, Dennis achieved every Berwyn-born Czech’s dream of moving across Harlem Avenue The family will greatly miss Dennis’ humor and lively spirit

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Susan (née Rogers), and his beloved daughter, Sara, his greatest accomplishment. Some of his happiest times were spent with his family in Door County, Wisconsin.

Join the family in celebrating Dennis’ life on Sunday, Aug. 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Brookfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, 8844 Ogden Ave., Brookfield

Joyce J. Albrecht, 77

Brook eld homemake r

Joyce J. Albrecht (nee Schuppe), 77, of Brookfield and for merly of Lyons, died July 13, 2023 at home

Ms. Albrecht was born Oct.1, 1945 in Melrose Park She was a homemaker who enjoyed reading, sewing and baking

She was the wife of Lawrence J. Albrecht; the mother of Ann Hausser, Laura Hausser, MaryBeth Hausser and Andrew Albrecht; the grandmother of Catrina, Aaron, Alexander and Rebecca; and the great-grandmother of Jacob, Ashley, Donovan and Mya.

In accordance with her wishes, Joyce donated her body to science for the advancement of medical research

Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Online condolences, memories and photographs may be shared at JohnsonNosek. com.

first baseman Pigoni.

“I feel like knowing all of the people around you have your back, it makes it a lot easier. Since everybody has had some experience with the all-star tournaments, it’s going to be really amazing if we do win.”

Melendez pitched both district games. She threw a no-hitter in the opener with seven strikeouts and two walks followed by a one-hitter with six strikeouts and five walks. In that game, Melendez overcame walking the bases loaded with no outs.

“I was terrified. I just had to calm down,” Melendez said. “We’ve been wanting to win

state since forever. It’s been a dream so if we win state, that’ll be the happiest thing ever. That would be crazy.”

In the first victory, Brookfield had 15 hits and broke through with a 12-run third inning. Pigoni (2 doubles), Kowynia (double), Hickey, Swanson and Beattie each had two hits and Melendez tripled.

Brookfield had 11 hits in the second victory with two doubles each from Pigoni and Melendez. Villamil had two hits and Becker and Hickey also doubled.

“It took them a while to adjust [to the pitching] but then they put the bat to the

ball,” Mike Melendez said. “At this point of the season, we’re just trying to have fun.”

Several players praised Kowynia’s vocal leadership at catcher. Second baseman/ pitcher Campbell again has been a Papa Smurf, supplying teammates with blue eyeblack designs, but more toned down than during last year’s state run.

“This [title] was a lot different because last year we had several district games over several days and this year it was just one day and it was quick,” Campbell said. “We’ve definitely all improved a lot.”

DENNIS F. MARTINEK

PATRICIA A. ALONZI

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

Experience or not.

Call for more information.

708-738-3848

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 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.

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN II

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.

Designer III (Chicago, IL) F/T - Plan & dsgn structures, such as commercial & ofc bldgs, & other structural property. Prep scale drawings or architectural dsgns, using computer-aided dsgn or other tools. Prep info regarding schematic dsgn, dsgn dvlpmt, structure specs, materials, color, eqpmt, estimated costs, or construction time.

Prep detailed drawings of architectural dsgns w/ computations & plans incl the corporate & urban dsgn practice.

Utilize technical skills in Autodesk Products (Revit & AutoCAD Architecture), Rhino, Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, & Enscape. Supervised by licensed architect. Master’s deg in Architecture (or foreign educational equiv) or closely rltd architectural field + 12 mos exp in job offd or as Architectural Associate or closely rltd reqd. Past 12 mos exp (full 12 mos) must incl exp working w/ architectural projects w/ a primary focus devoted to corporate, commercial architecture & urban dsgn practices; prep’g dsgn options w/ architectural computation; & working w/ Autodesk Products (Revit & AutoCAD Architecture), Rhino, Adobe Products (InDesign & Illustrator), & Enscape. Email resume to Perkins & Will, Inc., Attn: Laura Byrd, Talent Manager, Sr. Associate at: Laura.Byrd@perkinswill.com w/ ref#dsg3-ch

HELP WANTED

River Forest Public Schools

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

Senior Project Manager, Buffalo Grove, IL, Winfield Consulting specializes in the pharma industry, provid’g problem-oriented solutions & data services for the analysis & report’g of in-vivo & in-vitro studies, as well as phase I-III clinical trials & NDA submissions. JD: Plan/direct the OPNS of the COMP. Monitor the OVAL project MGT. Manage the projects for global OPNS/IMP. Define the project success criteria. DEV scheds to track projects. Min. Reqs: MA deg in BUS ADMIN, MGT / a rltd fld. Strong KNWL of project MGT, team MGT, risk MGT. Strong KNWL may be gained thru EDU coursework, TRNG, / exp. Sal: $92,000/Yr. Send resumes: Lily Tan, Winfield Consulting Corporation, 1130 W. Lake Cook Rd, Ste 202A, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089. Job ref: 1001.

COVID-19 EPIDEMIOLOGIST

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Covid-19 Epidemiologist in the Public Health Department. This is a One-Year, Full Time Temporary position as of date of hire. This position will serve as a subject matter expert on communicable diseases of public health concern, including COVID-19. This position will work on the surveillance and investigation of infectious diseases and other public health threats; rapid response to disease outbreaks including assisting the community’s emergency preparedness and response team. 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. This position is open until filled.

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

IT OFFICE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Office Coordinator in Information Technology. This position will perform a variety of responsible and complex administrative duties for the IT Department; provide information and assistance to Village staff regarding requests for service; and provide administrative support to the IT Director and the IT staff. 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. Open until filled.

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.

CROSSING GUARD

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.

GARAGE SALE

GARAGE SALE

1103 CIRCLE AVE FOREST PARK

SATURDAY, JULY 22,

9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Household tools, painters tools, books, kitchen items and misc. household items.

GARAGE SALE

MULTI-FAMILY GARAGE SALE

843 S. Grove, Oak Park

Saturday, July 22

8 AM – 2 PM

IF YOU WANT IT, WE HAVE IT

Kitchen items, household miscellaneous, garden items, art work, vintage & collectibles, antique linens, and

MARKETPLACE

CARS WANTED

WANTED TO BUY

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

CLASSICS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or Unrestored

Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars:

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

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

Domestic / Import Cars:

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

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

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Collector James • 630-201-8122 CLASSICS

AUTO SERVICES

Collector James

630-201-8122

HOME SERVICES

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

RESOLUTION NO. R - 2023-

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE LEVY OF ADDITIONAL TAX FOR LIBRARY PURPOSES IN THE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

WHEREAS, the Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Brookfield has requested the corporate authorities of the Village of Brookfield to levy an additional tax of 0.02% for certain library purposes, pursuant to Article 3 of the Illinois Local Library Act [75 ILCS 5/1-0.1 et seq. (2016)]; and

WHEREAS, this 0.02% additional tax shall be in addition to the annual levy of .35% allowed for the establishment and maintenance of the library.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, as follows:

Section 1: The corporate authorities of the Village of Brookfield herewith determine to levy an additional 0.02% tax for library purposes for the tax year commencing January 1, 2023.

Section 2: Such 0.02% additional tax shall be levied on the value of all taxable property in the Village of Brookfield, as equalized or assessed by the Department of Revenue, and shall be used for the purpose of sites and buildings, for the construction and equipment of buildings, for the rental of buildings required for library purposes, and for maintenance, repairs and alterations of library buildings and equipment.

Section 3: The levy of said additional 0.02% tax shall be effected by the adoption of an appropriate levy ordinance by the corporate authorities pursuant to statutory requirements, which ordinance shall be filed in the office of the Cook County Clerk.

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Section 4: The Village Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish a copy of this Resolution at least once in the Riverside/Brookfield Landmark, a newspaper with a general circulation in the Village of Brookfield, within fifteen (15) days after its adoption, and also the “Public Notice” attached hereto as “Exhibit A” hereof, shall be included with such publication or posting.

Section 5: If no petition is filed with the corporate authorities of the Village of Brookfield within thirty (30) days after publication of this resolution, requesting that the question of the adoption of this resolution be submitted to the electors of the Village of Brookfield, or if all petitions so filed are determined to be invalid and insufficient, the Village shall then be authorized to levy the tax. However, if a petition is filed with the corporate authorities within said thirty (30) day period, which petition is signed by electors of the Village of Brookfield equal in number to 10% of the total number of registered voters in the Village of Brookfield and which asks that the question of levying such a 0.02% tax be submitted to the electors of the Village, then the question shall be submitted at the next applicable election, or at any special election called in accordance with law. The Village Clerk shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one.

Section 6: This Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its adoption.

ADOPTED this 10th day of July 2023 pursuant to a roll call vote as follows:

AYES: TTE’s Cote, Gilhooley, Kaluzny, Ketchmark, and Narimatsu

NAYS:

ABSENT: TTE Hendricks None

ABSTENTION: None

APPROVED by me this 10th day of July 2023.

Michael J. Garvey, President of the Village of the Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois

ATTESTED and filed in my office, this 10th day of July 2023.

Brigid Weber, Clerk of the Village of Brookfield, Cook County, Illinois

“EXHIBIT A”

PUBLIC NOTICE

The public is hereby notified regarding the above “Resolution authorizing the levy of additional tax for library purposes in the Village of Brookfield, Illinois” determining to Levy for the tax year beginning January 1, 2023 an Additional Tax of up to 0.02 Percent of Equalized or Assessed Value of Taxable Property for Particular Building and Equipment Purposes in accordance with Article 3 of the Illinois Local Library Act [75 ILCS 5/10.1 et seq. (2016)] that:

1. The specific number of voters required to sign a petition requesting that the question of adoption of the Resolution be submitted to the electors of the Village is 1,373 voters.

2. The time in which the petition must be filed is from the date of publication of this Resolution until 30 days hereof, being the 18th day of August 2023.

3. The date of the prospective referendum, if one should be called pursuant to such petition, is the General Election, held Tuesday the 19th day of March 2024.

4. The Village Clerk shall provide a petition form to any individual requesting one.

Published in RB Landmark July 19, 2023

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 23-03 (Planned Development)

HEARING DATE: August 3, 2023

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

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

SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESS: 201 N. Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302

ZONING DISTRICT: I – Institutional Zoning District

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: PARCEL

4: LOTS 1 TO 25, INCLUSIVE AND THE VACATED ALLEYS LYING WITHIN AND THE SOUTH HALF OF VACATED ONTARIO STREET LYING NORTH OF LOTS 1 AND 25 ALL IN BLOCK 28 IN THE VILLAGE OF RIDGELAND, BEING SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF SECTION 7, THE NORTH WEST QUARTER AND THE WEST HALF OF THE WEST OF THE SOUTH WEST QUARTER OF SECTION

8, ALL IN TOWNSHIP NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THRID PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS AND PARCEL

5: THE EAST HALF OF VACATED EAST AVENUE FALLING WITHIN ONTARIO STREET AND THAT PART OF EAST AVENUE LYING WEST OF AND ADJOINING LOTS 17 TO 25, INCLUSIVE, IN BLOCK 28 AND LOTS 10 TO 18, INCLUSIVE, IN BLOCK 27 IN THE VILLAGE OF RIDGELAND, BEING SUBDIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF SECTION 7, THE NORTH WEST QUARTER AND THE WEST HALF OF THE WEST OF THE SOUTH WEST QUARTER OF SECTION

8, ALL IN TOWNSHIP NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS

P.I.N.: 16-07-221-008-0000

PROPERTY OWNER: Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, 201 N. Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302

REQUEST: The Petitioner is requesting Planned Development approval for a 4-story 170,935 square foot school addition with three (3) allowance requests for:

1) An increase in building height to sixty-two (62) feet, where the maximum height allowed is forty-five (45) feet (an extension of ten (10) feet above the existing building height) as stated in Article 6. Special Purpose Districts, 6.2 Institutional Zoning District, Table 6-2 Maximum Building Height, 2) A decrease in front yard setback to eight (8) feet – three (3) inches where fifteen (15) feet is required (an extension of an existing nonconforming setback along Scoville Avenue) as stated in Article 6. Special Purpose Districts, 6.2 Institutional Zoning District, Table 6-2 Minimum Front Yard Setback, and 3) An increase in illumination at the property line up to four and nine-tenths (4.9) footcandles where the maximum footcandle measured at the property line should be (1) footcandle as stated in Article 9. Site Development Standards, 9.2.B (1) Maximum Lighting Regulations.

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, August 17th, 2023 for Project: 23-3, 2023 Sidewalk Improvements Program - Rebid. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, this contract includes sidewalk angle-cutting, removal and replacement of public sidewalk, parkway and carrage walks, combination curb and gutter, driveways, and PCC basecourse; pavement adjacent to curbs, adjustment of drainage structures, buffalo boxes and all appurtenant work thereto. Sidewalk sequencing during the work and adherence to the completion date is of emphasis for this project as outlined in the plans and proposal forms. Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic

service starting on Thursday July 27th, at 4:00 p.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 8596947 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. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

This project is financed with local Village funds and federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and thus is subject to all federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Section 3, and Equal Opportunity requirements.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

PETITIONER: Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, 201 N. Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302

A copy of the application and each of the applicable documents are on the Village Website at www.oak-park.us and also on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during current business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, July 19, 2023