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RIVERSIDE-BROOKFIELD Also serving North Riverside

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Vol. 36, No. 29

July 21, 2021

@riversidebrookfieldlandmark

‘The Chef’ celebrates 45 years in North Riverside PAGE 3

Riverside plans big water, sewer project

Ex-Brookfield police chief lands security job at RBHS PAGE 6

PADDLE ON

Calls for $11 million in bond issues, increase in bimonthly infrastructure fee

By BOB UPHUES Editor

With extreme rain events, and the basement flooding that comes with them, becoming more frequent, Riverside trustees are exploring raising its bimonthly water/sewer infrastructure fee incrementally over the next several years while issuing up to $11 million in bonds to fund a major water main replacement and storm sewer separation project to be competed over the next decade.

The plan also includes replacing all water meters in the village, a roughly $1 million project the village hopes to complete between 2021 and 2023.

The bond issue would not need voter approval via referendum since they would be alternate revenue bonds, funded through fees paid by Riverside water customers on their bimonthly bills.

Officials have laid out a plan where there would be two bond issues, one in 2025 for $5 million and one for $6 million in 2031, both See INFRASTRUCTURE on page 8

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Kayakers wave to those gathered on the Swinging Bridge over the Des Plaines River in Riverside on July 17 during the annual Scuff Gross Memorial Regatta, sponsored by the Riverside Township Lions Club. For more photos, visit online at RBLandmark.com

Riverside trustees continue fine-tuning rental registry Some believe proposed law too burdensome for landlords, village staff

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Three Riverside trustees pushed back last week on a proposed ordinance that

would create a registry for every rental property and unit in the village and require those properties, including 20 percent of individual units in apartment buildings, to be inspected by the building department

every three years.

Trustees Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga, Megan Claucherty and Alex Gallegos said the latSee REGISTRY on page 15

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The Landmark, July 21, 2021

Riverside still waiting on floodwall alignment, elevations No timetable from Army Corps, but positive response for latest design option

By BOB UPHUES Editor

A proposal to build an L-shaped flood wall in Riverside along Park Place from Woodside Road and then south along the east bank of the Des Plaines River to the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad bridge appears stuck in neutral, with village officials unsure when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will move it ahead.

Village Manager Jessica Frances informed elected officials that there was no firm timeline for when the Army Corps of Engineers will complete surveys to determine the exact location and height of the floodwall behind homes along West Avenue.

“I haven’t received a definitive date about the additional surveying,” Frances told trustees during an update on the project at the village board’s July 15 meeting.

“They’re backlogged on some of their projects, so that dictates when their surveyors

be complete before the Army Corps submits the proposed floodwall plan to the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office for review.

Any plan would also be reviewed by the National Park Service and get additional feedback from the Riverside Preservation Commission, to ensure any floodwall would not jeopardize the village’s National Historic Landmark designation.

Last December, when the village board gave the Army Corps of Engineers the goahead to commence the design phase of the floodwall, the alignment of the floodwall, especially as it pertained to West RENDERING Avenue, was to have been deGETTING CLOSER? After getting feedback from the Riverside Preservation Commission, the village’s entermined by spring 2021.

But, concerns over the look gineering firm provided another design option for the West Avenue floodwall, which suggests planted of the floodwall and the impact terraces to soften the look. it might have on the village’s national landmark designaare available.” height of the proposed floodwall when they tion prompted the village to enlist its engiHowever, Frances said that she wanted to complete the survey, so both residents and neering firm to provide design options that minimize disruption for West Avenue resi- officials have a clear picture of what they’re would serve as the basis for further input. dents and has asked the Army Corps to en- facing. sure they demonstrate both the location and That additional surveying work must See FLOODWALL on page 11

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

Chef Shangri-la and Dr. Fong celebrate 45 years Tiki cocktails, retro vibe, family legacy are at the heart of restaurant

By MELISSA ELSMO Food Editor

The Fong family has been serving Tiki drinks alongside an expansive menu of Chinese fusion creations in a quirky retro atmosphere since 1976. And now their restaurant, Chef Shangri-la, 7930 26th St., is looking back on 45 years in North Riverside.

“I can’t remember the exact date we opened in July, but I wore my prom dress to the grand opening,” said Dr. Lisa (Fong) Abrams, co-owner of Chef Shangri-la. “It was always my parents’ dream to open a restaurant and we are proud to carry on that legacy.”

Susie and Paul Fong ran a Cantonese restaurant in Chinatown prior to opening their festive establishment in North Riverside.

Chef Shangri-la means “chef’s paradise” and was created to be a utopia for Paul Fong, whose recipes have been at the center the restaurant’s offerings since opening.

He grounded the menu with his arsenal of Cantonese classics, added spicy dishes to please his customers and embraced island flair with dishes like Shrimp la Fong and Hawaiian pork spareribs.

“The kitchen used to be where the pond is now, and it was so small that we couldn’t even fit three waitresses in there,” said Abrams. “My parents expanded the building in the 1980s to include the large dining room and a new kitchen.”

In the early years, Abrams, her siblings and friends often served as entertainment at Chef Shangri-la. They would perform fan dances and dragon dances on Chinese New Year as firecrackers went off in the parking lot. The restaurant was only closed on Thanksgiving, yet the Fong family would gather among their customers on Christmas and other holidays.

“I had so many family gatherings in this restaurant,” said Abrams. “That is the way my mother wanted it. She wanted her children to come here and have good food together.”

When Irv Abrams picked up his now wife for their first date 33 years ago, he did not go to her house, but met her at Chef Shangrila. When he told Susie Fong he was there to see her daughter, Susie became agitated and responded by saying, “Lisa who?”

“My mother was so upset,” said Abrams.

“Irv isn’t Chinese and that didn’t sit well with her, but in time she grew to love him.”

In fact, when Susie Fong fell seriously ill in 2019, she approached her son-in-law to take over the restaurant she had built with

guarded secret, but Abrams is quick to share that she considers it a “safe” choice because of its lower alcohol content. A whimsical ceramic glass can be purchased to hold the rum-based umbrella drink prized for its citrus and peach flavor.

“I am always telling people the cocktail is named after my wife. I am married to Dr. Fong.” said Irv Abrams. “People are really happy they can buy it by the gallon to enjoy at home.”

They also hope to bring back Fong Fest, a music festival complete with Tiki drinks and Chinese appetizers, which was held in the restaurant’s MELISSA ELSMO parking lot for sevLEGACY: Irv and Lisa Abrams are committed to running Chef eral years before the Shangri-la in the way the founders, Paul and Susie Fong, would pandemic. They hope have wanted. the village will allow the festival to go forher husband, who died in 2012. Irv Abrams had been planning to retire from a career ward and aim to feature performances by with Walgreens and never anticipated he the array of celebrity impersonators who would enter a second career in restaurant bring artists like Tina Turner, Rod Stewart management, but he could not say no to his and Diana Ross to life in the dining room mother-in-law. She died in August 2019 just on the weekends, when reservations are a month after Irv took over Chef Shangri-la. strongly encouraged.

“When people see me at the restaurant, I Loyal customers have kept “The Chef” know they have a lot of questions about how I came to be in charge,” said Irv Abrams. going for 45 years. Abrams adores seeing “But this is still a family-owned business, longtime customers in the dining room and and we are doing things the way mom would takes special pride in knowing some regulars are three generations deep into their have wanted.”

That starts with making every guest “feel dedication to dining at Chef Shangri-La. like they are on vacation” and bringing “Many customers will tell me stories back some classic recipes that had fallen about how their parents had their first date away over the years. All dishes are cooked here and how they bring their own children using family recipes and Chef Shangri-la here now,” said Abrams. “Hearing those remains one of the few Tiki bars that also stories make me feel closer to my mother.” offers a full menu.

The Abramses hope to grow the Fong famNo meal is complete at Chef Shangri-la without Dr. Fong by your side. The recipe ily restaurant legacy by opening a second for the family namesake cocktail is a closely location in Glenview by the end of the year.

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IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Kosey Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Mark Moroney, Debbie Becker Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

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The Landmark, July 21, 2021

BIG WEEK July 21-28

Community campfire in Brookfield

Super hero movie in the park

Come over to Ehlert Park, Congress Park and Elm avenues in Brookfield, on Saturday, July 24 to enjoy the recreation department’s next free Movie in the Park.

This time come dressed as your favorite super hero and enjoy the 2019 Marvel Comics blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame” starring Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and more.

Come early (by 8:15 p.m.) and set out on a search through the park for all of the infinity stones. The movie starts at dusk.

Brookfield Parks and Rec invites you to a night of laidback fun at its next Community Campfire on Tuesday, July 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Harrison Park, in the 3200 block of Harrison Avenue.

Make S’mores, play music and meet new people.

Stop by early to see how to correctly and safely construct a small backyard campfire. All ages welcome, $6 per person.

Register at tinyurl.com/y6fw6za6.

Riverside Chess Club wants you

Anyone age 5 through adult are invited to be part of the Riverside Chess Club, which meets in person each Wednesday from July 21 through Aug. 25 at 6:45 p.m. in the Community Room of the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road.

Players of all levels welcome. Meetings led by Sean Hennessy include both games and training, if needed. Children under 7 require caregiver over 13. Registration is required. Visit riversidelibrary. libcal.com/calendar.

And more The Frederick Law Olmsted Society continues its series of guided walking tours of Riverside, highlighting the village’s design, history and architecture on Sunday, July 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. The tour will cover the area north of the railroad tracks. Tours are $20 per person ($15 seniors/Olmsted Society members) and depart at 2 p.m. from the Riverside Train Depot, 90 Bloomingbank Road. Email tours@olmstedsociety. com or visit olmstedsociety.org for more.

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., presents its annual RAC Members Show in the Freeark Gallery and “From Here to There: Young Adult and Teen Volunteers” in the FlexSpace Gallery through July 31. Admission is free. RAC is open Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Walk-ins welcome.

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MIKE ZABRIN’S FUNKTASTIC Photo by Maura Black

Get funky in Kiwanis Park

Brookfield Parks and Rec continues its 2021 outdoor summer concert series on Friday, July 23 at 7 p.m. with Mike Zabrin’s Funktastic.

With their roots in the funky Motown era, they incorporate flares of hip-hop, rock, jazz, pop, and soul music, incorporating seamless song transitions so you won’t want to stop dancing.

Concerts are at the band shell in Kiwanis Park, 8820 Brookfield Ave. Beer and wine will be available for purchase.

Biggest block party in North Riverside

North Riverside Parks and Rec invites the community to the Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave., to celebrate summer at their Block Party on Desplaines on Saturday, July 24 from 4 to 9 p.m.

Mason Rivers (4:30 p.m.) and Anthem (7 p.m.) will provide the music as you enjoy carnival games, face painting and henna and a balloon twister while feasting on food and cool libations.

Grab your family, friends and neighbors and don’t forget a chair.

The Riverside Farmers Market continues every Wednesday from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at Centennial Park, 10 Pine Ave., in downtown Riverside. Social distancing encouraged. Face coverings are required for those who are not vaccinated and no pets are allowed.

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The Brookfield Farmers Market continues every Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Brookfield Village Hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave. for locally sourced fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, baked goods and artisan ware. Live music and a picnic area. Social distancing is encouraged and face coverings are required for non-vaccinated guests.

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North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites adults can get a Wits Workout Grab and Go Bag with new puzzles to keep your mind sharp every week of the summer. There’s also the ■

Spice Club via Zoom on July 24 at 1:30 p.m. and Gamercize where you can socialize, play games, stay active and win prizes on July 26 at 11 a.m. at the library (weather permitting).

For kids, there’s ABCs & 123s in the Parks (location will be emailed no later than Sunday) on July 26 at 10:30 a.m.; Story Safari in the Great Outdoors in the library’s outdoor space or via Zoom on July 27 at 10:30 a.m.

Visit northriversidelibrary.org/events-new for more info.

Brookfield Public Library offers virtual classes and programs for patrons of all ages throughout the week. Most youth activities will be presented live on the library’s Facebook page at facebook.com/ BrookfieldPublicLibrary.

For adults, there’s Chair Yoga via Zoom on July 22 ■

FILE 2019

at 11 a.m.; MOBA Dopplehangers, an examination of paintings that, accidently or by design, resemble famous people, on July 26 at 7 p.m. via Zoom; and Public Benefits for Older Adults with Age Options via Zoom on July 28 at 11 a.m.

Call 708-485-6917, ext. 130 or visit brookfield. evanced.info/signup to register for programs.

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, invites kids to Friday Outdoor Storytime on July 23 at 10 a.m.; Ask an RB Student via Zoom about the general experience at the high school on July 26 at 7 p.m.; and Zoom Bingo on July 27 at 2 p.m. Pick up a card at the library or print one out at home.

Adults can join the folks from Riverside Community Garden for “Canning 201: The Canning Pantry and Jelly/Jams” via Zoom on July 22 at 7 p.m.

Visit riversidelibrary.libcal.com/calendar more info.

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The Landmark, July 21, 2021

P O L I C E

R E P O R T S

Brookfield woman’s identity stolen in Facebook scam

A 28-year-old Brookfield woman went to police on July 15, two days after someone impersonating a Facebook friend convinced her to provide personal information and currency for what turned out to be an online scam.

The victim told police she had received a message from what appeared to be a Facebook friend on July 13. The message described a grant program through the Department of Homeland Security and stated her “friend” could assist her with taking advantage of the program.

Believing the message was from her friend, the victim provided a photo of her ID card and wired $380 worth of Bitcoin from a convenience store in Oak Park.

On July 15, the victim began receiving messages from family members and friends that her Facebook account had been hacked and that they were receiving odd messages and posts from her. The victim was unable to provide police with any screenshots showing interactions with the scammer, since she had been locked out of her Facebook account.

Another catalytic converter theft A catalytic converter was sawn off the undercarriage of a vehicle in Brookfield sometime between noon on July 15 and 10 a.m. on July 16, the third time in as many weeks such a theft has occurred.

Brookfield police responded to the 9100 block of Grant Avenue after a resident called police to report the theft from the vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of the home. The victim didn’t hear anything overnight and only found out about the missing catalytic converter when he started his Toyota that morning.

According to the police report, the estimated cost to replace the catalytic converter was $2,200. The devices are attractive to thieves because they contain precious metals such as platinum and palladium that bring good scrap value.

Brookfield police reported similar catalytic converter thefts on June 29 in the 3400 block of Madison Avenue and on July 8 in the 3200 block of Sunnyside Avenue.

Tools stolen from truck A resident of the 2400 block of 2nd Avenue, North Riverside, called police on July 12 to report that sometime during the overnight hours someone entered his pickup truck, which he’d left unlocked on his driveway, and removed a bucket of tools and a bag of tools from the backseat. The vehicle’s glove box and center console were also open.

In all, about $600 in hand and power tools were stolen from the truck.

Motorcyclist injured in crash

A Berwyn man was taken by paramedics to Loyola University Medical Center for treatment of unspecified injuries after a 2011 Chevy Traverse driven by a Berwyn woman collided with his 2002 Honda CBR600 sport motorcycle, which was headed east on Cermak Road at Keystone Avenue on July 13 at about 9 a.m.

The woman was driving the Chevy Traverse west on Cermak Road and told police she didn’t see the motorcycle before turning left in front of the bike. The driver of the motorcycle said he attempted to brake when he saw the Chevy make the turn in front of him and skidded into the rear passenger side.

According to police, the woman’s driver’s license was suspended. She was cited for failure to yield and for driving on a suspended license.

DUI ■ North

Riverside police charged a 71-year-old Chicago woman with drunken driving and fleeing and eluding – albeit at speeds far under the posted speed limit – and other offenses after she allegedly drove for two miles before finally stopping for a squad car with emergency lights flashing, which had been following her on July 16 at about 12:35 a.m.

The officer first observed the 2021 Toyota Rav4, which appeared to have fresh driver’s side damage, heading north on First Avenue at 26th Street, driving without headlights and impeding traffic by driving at 20 mph in a 35 mph zone.

The Toyota continued north, at one point crossing over the center line into oncoming traffic, police said, until it reached I-290, when the officer finally curbed the vehicle.

■ Riverside police charged a 48-year-old Chicago man with drunken driving after an officer on patrol came across a vehicle stopped in the traffic lane, at an angle, in the 200 block of East Burlington Street on July 17 at about 1:20 a.m.

After approaching the vehicle, the officer observed the driver to be asleep behind the vehicle, which was running. The driver’s hand was on top of the gear shifter, which had been placed into park.

Unable to get the driver to wake up, the officer opened the car door and removed the key from the ignition. Police also reported observing empty beer cans in the vehicle.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, July 12-18 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.

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The Landmark, July 21, 2021

District 208 school board member resigns post Tom Jacobs, elected in 2019, has moved out of RBHS boundaries

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Tom Jacobs, a member of the RiversideBrookfield High School Board of Education, announced at the board’s July 13 meeting that he was resigning from the post because he has moved out of the district.

Jacobs, who said he was no longer a resident of the district as of July 1, addressed the school board for nearly nine minutes Tuesday evening in a farewell statement.

“It has been a true privilege to serve with all of you on the board of education,” Jacobs said. “It is an unbelievable learning experience that I will treasure forever.”

Jacobs was elected to the school board in 2019 running as a student advocate. Jacobs was largely responsible for the getting the school board to add student representatives to the school board and played the largest role in revamping the school’s mission statement.

In an interview after he finished speaking at the board meeting, Jacobs said that those two achievements were his biggest accomplishments in his time on the school board.

“I think the fact that now that there is an additional voice that represents the students, I think that is the biggest achievement and the mission statement is something I was very involved in,” Jacobs said.

Jacobs, a serious and thoughtful presence on the school board, was greatly respected by his fellow board members for his intelligence and thoughtful manner.

“I think he brought a lot to the board,”

ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer

MOVING ON: Tom Jacobs answers questions during a Riverside-Brookfield High School District 208 school board candidate forum in Riverside in March 2019. said board member Bill Durkin, who was also elected in 2019.

Jacobs is passionately concerned about the environment and pushed for students to get involved in public affairs. He was a calm presence last year, calling for unity when some board members lashed out at teachers during the pandemic for resisting a return to in-person learning as COVID-19 cases mounted last fall.

Jacobs said it was not easy switching from being an activist to serving as a board member.

“It’s clearly a big transition, it’s probably bigger than anything you could imagine

when you decide to run,” Jacobs said.

In his statement to the school board, Jacobs said empathy and courage are two of the important qualities for a board member.

He said it is important to consider all perspectives.

“Too frequently we jump to conclusions and we push for our opinions and we want to get our way, and that’s part of the game; that comes with the job,” Jacobs said.

The board has 60 days to choose a replacement to serve out the remaining two years of Jacobs’ term. A public notice about how to apply for the vacancy is on the District 208 website at rbhs208.net.

Applications should be addressed to school board President Deanna Zalas and must be received no later than 3 p.m. on July 26. Zalas said the board will interview applicants and then try to pick a replacement at its Aug. 10 board meeting. Whoever is chosen will need four votes to move forward.

Jacobs encouraged people to apply to fill his seat on the board. He said that he hoped the board would look for balance on the board. Since the school board already includes two teachers and another member who works in higher education, Jacobs said he thinks the new member should not be a professional educator.

“Ask yourself the question what other aspects that would truly and fully represent the diverse community that we represent might we want to see on the board,” Jacobs said.

One person who looks like he will apply to fill vacancy is former school board President Wes Smithing, who lost his bid for reelection in April, finishing last in a field of four candidates.

Smithing told the Landmark in a telephone interview Wednesday that he was seriously considering applying to fill the vacancy.

“I was the next largest vote getter, right,” Smithing said. “I mean, that’s democracy.

Why are you going to pick anybody else? I got more votes than anybody that you’re going to pick.”

Smithing would be a controversial pick.

He was a strong proponent in the last year for students attending classes in person.

The Riverside Brookfield Educational Association, the RBHS teachers’ union, strongly opposed his re-election and funded the 2021 campaigns of Lorena Gasca and Ryan VenHorst, who finished first and second in April.

Brookfield sees uptick in COVID-19 cases

Highest one-week total in village since early June

By BOB UPHUES Editor

After seeing essentially no new cases of COVID-19 in Brookfield for the past four weeks, numbers headed back up during the week that ended on the morning of July 20.

From June 8 through July 13, the village saw just four new cases. Since July 13, however, the Cook County Department of Public Health reported eight new cases of COVID-19 in Brookfield.

That’s most cases in one week in the village since the week ending on the morning of June 8. That bump in cases corresponds to an increase in the seven-day rolling posi-

tivity rate in Brookfield, which as of July 19 stood at 3.08 percent, according to the Northwestern School of Medicine’s online COVID-19 dashboard. The positivity rate in Brookfield in recent weeks had been at 1 percent or lower.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate in ZIP code 60546, which includes both Riverside and North Riverside remains below 1 percent.

As of July 19, according to the Northwestern online dashboard, the seven-day rolling positivity rate was 0.9 percent, up from 0.38 percent the week before.

Riverside and North Riverside each experienced one new case of COVID-19 for the week ending on the morning of July 20. It’s the first time since June 8 that all three villages in the Landmark’s coverage area reported at least one new case of COVID-19.

There have been no deaths attributed to

COVID-19 in any of the three villages for some time now. The most recent local fatality was reported in Brookfield on March 24.

The most recent North Riverside fatality was on Jan. 11, while no Riverside resident has died as a result of COVID-19 since Dec. 17, 2020, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s online database.

Health officials at all levels of government have been warning people in recent weeks to guard against the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant, which originated in India, but is now considered responsible for a recent spike in cases throughout the United States.

However, that does not seem to have increased the rate at which Illinoisans are being vaccinated against COVID-19. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the seven-day rolling average of vac-

cine doses administered in the state stood at 20,628. On June 26, that average stood at 44,391, and on May 20 it stood at 82,284.

More than 90 percent of Riverside residents eligible have received at least one dose of the vaccine as of July 19, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health, with 76.7 percent fully vaccinated.

In Brookfield, 54.9 percent were fully vaccinated and 66.2 percent had been given at least one dose. North Riverside residents continue to be the most vaccine-resistant of the three villages, with just 36 percent fully vaccinated and 43.1 percent having received one dose.

Statewide, 55.6 percent of Illinois residents age 12+ have been fully vaccinated, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, with 71.1 percent having received at least one dose.

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

Former Brookfield police chief hired at RBHS

Petrak joins security team at high school in August

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

When he was growing up in Riverside, Ed Petrak always wanted to attend Riverside-Brookfield High School. His parents, however, insisted that their two sons go to Catholic schools, so Petrak attended Quigley South High School.

But now, just after retiring as the chief of the Brookfield Police Department, Petrak will finally get to spend his days at RBHS. On July 14 the Riverside-Brookfield High School approved hiring Petrak to work building security for the upcoming school year.

“I’m finally going to be a part of RB, which is great,” Petrak said in a telephone interview after his hiring was made official.

Petrak retired as the Brookfield police chief on July 12 after serving as chief for a little more than two years, capping a 31-year career in the Brookfield Police Department.

But his retirement won’t last long. Exactly one month after leaving his job in Brookfield, Petrak will begin working at RBHS. Petrak, 54, a former youth officer, said working at RBHS was the perfect retirement job for him. He always enjoyed working with school kids. During his police career,

Petrak taught the DARE anti-drug program As the Brookfield police chief, and earlier in schools and started the Let’s Win pro- in his career, Petrak worked closely with gram at S.E. Gross Middle School.

RBHS officials on many issues.

“I worked as the school liaison officer for “I’m excited to be there; it seems a perfect more than two decades,” Petrak said. fit for me,” Petrak said. “The staff there has Petrak said working with always been friendly.” young people was his favorite Superintendent Kevin Skinpart of the job. He ought to feel kis said Petrak was an obvious comfortable in schools – both his choice as the school beefs up its parents were teachers, as are his security team this year, in part wife and son. to better enforce social distancPetrak will become the second ing. retired police chief to work at “Ed has worked closely with RBHS. Former North Riverside the high school over the years Police Chief Lane Niemann, the on various projects,” Skinkis school’s safety liaison officer, said. “He has also worked RB afwas hired at RBHS in 2018. Peter-school events when the high trak and Niemann know each school has had police coverage ED PETRAK other well, as their careers took from the village of Brookfield. parallel tracks.

Ed has a good relationship with “I’ve known Lane a long time,” Petrak the staff students and community. We are said. “We were both in the Juvenile Officer excited to have him be a part of the team.”

Association together. He taught DARE, I Petrak will be paid $16.50 an hour at taught DARE. Just a lot of similarities.”

RBHS, a far cry from the $138,737 he earned Unlike Niemann, Petrak won’t carry a as Brookfield police chief, but he also will be gun at RBHS. He will be just a regular se- getting his police pension. curity employee and likely will spend most Petrak said he views his role at RBHS as of his time directing traffic, monitoring the being a friendly face who makes students entrances and being a presence in the hall- and staff feel safe more than as a discipliways. narian.

Petrak is the third retired local police of“I don’t view security as being somebody ficer on the security staff, joining not only that kids are afraid of, or should be. It’s Niemann, but also Claude Cima, who was more I think you’re a resource, you’re there hired in 2007 after a 30-year career as a po- to help people,” Petrak said. “You’re there as a support system.” lice officer in Riverside.

RBHS moves to fill vacant choir teaching spot Position is just shy of full-time status, but both parties see good fit

A native for Frankfort, Smetana taught fifth-graders through seniors in high school in Riverton, leaving because she wanted to move back to the Chicago area.

“Just with the pandemic it really showed me that I wanted to be closer to family and closer to home,” Smetana told the LandBy BOB SKOLNIK mark.

Contributing Reporter Smetana was one of three finalists for the position who came to RBHS earlier this Moving quickly after Riverside-Brookmonth for final interviews and to teach a field High School choir teacher sample class to 11 students, who Aubrey Prince resigned last were impressed. month to take a job in Oregon, “I think she connected with the District 208 Board of Educathe students when she came in,” tion last week approved the hirsaid Madrigals singer Brooke ing of a new choir teacher last Craig, a rising senior who was week. part of the process.

The new teacher will be KaySmetana was as impressed ley Smetana, no relation to Aswith the students as they were sistant Superintendent Kristin with her.

Smetana.

“They sounded awesome and Smetana, 25, graduated from they picked up on the music the University of Illinois in 2017 very quickly,” Smetana said. and has spent the last four years Smetana said she knows it will KAYLEY SMETANA as a choir teacher in Riverton be difficult to replace Prince, Community School District 14, a who was very popular, and said unit school district in suburban Springfield. she can identify with the feelings many stu-

dents had when Prince resigned.

“I was in that same position just a handful of years ago, and I definitely do have some big shoes to fill replacing her,” Smetana said.

Smetana was hired to teach four classes -- three choir classes and a studio music production class – and will be classified as a 0.9 full-time-equivalent position.

As a result of Prince leaving, music teacher Matthew Loeb, who will teach both at RBHS and Riverside Elementary School District 96 next year, will pick up an additional RBHS class and become full time. Baum will replace Prince as the instructional coach for the fine arts and wellness departments.

Smetana said she hopes that she, Baum and Loeb can boost enrollment in music classes at RBHS enough to support three full-time positions. She met with Baum and Loeb on July 19 to get to know each other and plan for the upcoming school year.

“I’m hoping that the .9 won’t be for longer than a year or two, and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to grow the program and add more to bump me up to a 1.0. But even as .9, it was clear that this school is the right fit for me,” Smetana said.

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The Landmark, July 21, 2021

Riverside future water/sewer project plan The village of Riverside hopes to tackle an aggressive project to replace water mains and separate storm and waste water sewer systems over the next decade by issuing debt and raising its bimonthly infrastructure fee and water commodity fees over time.

Here is how the village tentatively plans to roll out the work:

FILE

INFRASTRUCTURE Concern over flooding from page 1 of which would retire 10 years from the date of issuance.

However, the existing $30 bimonthly water/sewer infrastructure fee paid by water customers that has helped fund past projects, like the First Division storm sewer separation, won’t be enough to pay the entire debt service for the work trustees would like to see completed over the next decade.

At their meeting on July 15, Riverside trustees voiced support for a more aggressive approach that would result in that $30 bimonthly infrastructure fee increasing over time, eventually to around $45 by 2031, when the second round of bonds are issued.

“I favor the incremental approach [to raising the infrastructure fee],” said Trustee Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga. “I definitely feel that if we’re going to address some of our residents’ concerns about their flooding that the prioritization of these projects is important.”

Along with increasing regular water and sewer fees on a regular basis to account for increases passed along to the village by their water supplier, the village of McCook, officials can include two other water main replacement projects and a major storm sewer separation project

along Longcommon Road, which were not included in an alternate plan that would have resulted in just the $5 million bond issue in 2025 and no increase in the infrastructure fee.

Part of the Longcommon Road storm sewer separation project would include the construction of a storm water detention vault that would temporarily store runoff and slowly release it into the sewer main to take pressure off the system during major rain events.

In a comprehensive study of the village’s sewer system in 2014, the plan called for that vault to be located under the Longcommon/Downing/Evelyn triangle. However, the village could opt to construct a larger vault, if trustees chose, under Big Ball Park, which would result in that park being taken offline for recreation programming for a year.

“I think the feedback I’ve gotten is ‘do something about the flooding,’” Trustee Edward Hannon said. “If they have to take Big Ball Park out for a year to create this vault to alleviate that problem on a permanent basis, I think a lot of people would understand why Little League got moved to a different field.”

A timeline provided to trustees at their July 15 meeting indicated that the largest phases of construction would come in 2025 and 2030, with smaller projects in 2023, 2026, 2028 and 2031.

The reason for waiting until 2025 to begin the first major project – a $5.8 million plan – is because the village would like to keep debt service levels roughly where they

2021-23 Water meter replacement

$350,000 per year

2023 Shenstone water main/resurface Shenstone sewer upsizing

$852,178 $288,750

2025 $5 million bond issuance Herbert water main/resurface Gage water main/resurface Olmsted water main/resurface Olmsted corridor sewer separation

$593,208 $1,265,510 $1,305,058 $2,515,590

2026 Herbert water main/resurface (cont’d) Gage water main/resurface (cont’d) Olmsted water main/resurface (cont’d)

$125,990 $283,029 $298,172

2028 W. Quincy water main/resurface W. Burlington water main/resurface

$320,166 $315,481

2030 $6 million bond issuance Longcommon sewer separation/vault Audubon water main/resurface Downing water main/resurface

$4,218,000 $736,894 $849,012

2031 Bartram water main/resurface

$1,012,629

are now, according to Finance Director Karin Johns.

Village President Joseph Ballerine also suggested the village work on drafting and passing an ordinance requiring downspouts to be disconnected from emptying into the combined sewer system and encouraging homeowners to initiate their own storm water detention projects, like replacing impervious surfaces with permeable ones and so on.

He suggested that perhaps the village could waive permit fees for such projects.

“I think we should be encouraging people to do that,” Ballerine said. “So that’s something we need to discuss at a later date.”

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

9

10

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

Olmsted Society Stewards of the land and Olmsted’s Plan

Explore Riverside!

North Division Walking Tour on Sunday,

July 25, 2-4 pm (details on website or write Help Beautify to tours@olmstedsociety.org) Riverside Public Parks Landscape Workday scheduled for Saturday, July 31, 9am-Noon, Scottswood Common (RSVP workdays@olmstedsociety.org)

Hunt for Seeds!

As part of the Olmsted 200 activities, volunteers are collecting seeds from native plants in different areas of Riverside. The next Seed Collection Event will be on Sunday, August 15, at Noon (see website to register and for more details) Visit olmstedsociety.org or facebook.com/RiversideFLOS for details

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

CHANGE COMING: The existing narrow asphalt path in Swan Pond Park (shown above) will be replaced with a 10-foot wide concrete path that will also address streambank erosion in certain areas.

Riverside awards contract for new Swan Pond path

Work should commence by mid-August, wrap up in fall

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Read Step 1. le . Recyc 2 p e t S

Construction on a new concrete walking path along the riverbank in Swan Pond Park in Riverside should begin in mid-August now that village trustees voted 5-0 on July 15 to award a $599,622 construction contract for that project and two other sidewalk replacement projects to A Lamp Concrete, which submitted the lowest of five bids for the job.

Of the contract’s total amount, the Swan Pond path accounts for $426,337 of the total and will result in a 10-foot wide, roughly 2,100-foot-long exposed aggregate concrete path that will follow the contour of an existing asphalt path, which was constructed in 2012 and has deteriorated badly in some sections due to erosion from floods.

Despite increasing the width of the path by as much as six feet in some areas, Public Works Director Dan Tabb said the village only needed to remove two trees to accommodate the new path. In some spots the path’s width will be reduced to avoid disturbing existing trees the village wished to save.

The scope of work also includes the installation of limestone ledge rock in three locations that have been particularly prone to erosion during flood events. In the northernmost location, where the river bends sharply east toward the library, the limestone ledges will be stair-stepped to provide a river access/egress point.

Over and above the construction cost for the path, Riverside also paid about $76,000 in engineering/design costs to Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd., which is overseeing construction as well, bringing the total cost of the Swan Pond Path project to $502,697.

Riverside is paying for the bulk of that total through a pair of grants, a $350,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and a $50,000 Invest in Cook grant from Cook County.

Tabb said the Swan Pond Path construction schedule is 30 working days, but that the pace of work will depend on weather conditions.

Swim club sidewalk project In order to obtain more competitive pricing for the Swan Pond Park path, Riverside rolled two other sidewalk projects into its bid packet.

The larger of the two is the village of Riverside’s regularly scheduled 2021 sidewalk replacement program, a $110,290 line item that will focus efforts on replacing about 8,300 square feet of deteriorated and dangerous sidewalk squares in various parts of the village’s Second Division, which is located south of the BNSF tracks east of downtown.

The construction contract with A Lampe Concrete also includes a $22,995 line item to construction a sidewalk along the north side of Bloomingbank Road in front of Riverside Swim Club from the village’s commuter parking lot to the swim club’s parking lot.

Riverside Swim Club is paying for the entire cost of construction that sidewalk, agreeing to do so as part of the conditions for the village approving the comprehensive renovation of the pools and clubhouse last September.

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

RBHS ended fiscal year with $1.2M surplus

Official had forecast a $1.6 M deficit, but pandemic aid closed gap

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Thanks to generous federal aid as result of pandemic relief, Riverside-Brookfield High School finished the 2020-21 fiscal year with an operating budget surplus of $1,203,864.

That’s far different than the $1.6 million operating deficit forecast when the budget was approved in September 2020.

RBHS received about $1.7 million in federal grants and aid during the fiscal year, which ended on June 30, as a result of pandemic relief packages. Much of that aid was approved after the budget had been adopted.

“Had those grants come out two months earlier we would have been able to include them in the budget,” Associate Superintendent Kristin Smetana said.

RBHS received $760,000 in federal money for foodservice reimbursement to provide lunches throughout the last school year, $500,000 in federal grants to fight COVID-19 and promote digital equity and $410,000 in additional reimbursements for special education expenses from the federal government.

Property tax revenue came in $146,000 over projections and the school collected $189,657 more than expected from the corporate personal property replacement tax.

The school also collected $101,000 more in student fees than was projected, with about

FLOODWALL Who pays? from page 2 The Riverside Preservation Commission and Landscape Advisory Commission provided that input in April, with the Preservation Commission submitting their feedback as a formal document in June.

The result of that feedback was a design option from the village’s engineering firm presented as a computer rendering to the village board July 15. It shows large boulders at the river’s edge giving way to landscaped terraces that stair-step up to a rusticated concrete floodwall.

“I’m glad to see that,” said Riverside Preservation Commission Chairman Charles Pipal, who said incorporating plant material and terracing were suggested by the commission. “I’m glad to see they were respon-

half of that coming from athletic pay-to-play fees.

RBHS also got a boost of $80,000 in state aid and earned $47,666 more in interest than had been projected. The district also received an $18,621 rebate for meeting all three wellness tiers in its health insurance program.

Expenses were slightly less than forecast, with the school spending only 98.2 percent of budgeted expenses. The district saved on lower utility costs during the time students were not in building last year as well as the unexpected retirement of two veteran teachers last summer.

When one-time expenses such as capital projects, life-safety improvements and debt service are included in the budget, the surplus for the 2020-21 fiscal year fell to $735,419 due to $772,164 being spent on life-safety upgrades.

The fiscal 2021-22 budget is not yet completed, but right now the district is forecasting a surplus of $355,204 for the upcoming year.

“I do think that the surplus will be slightly bigger when we’re all said and done,” Smetana said.

Last year Smetana forecast only a 97-percent collection rate for property tax revenue because of concerns about financial hardships some taxpayers would face as a result of the pandemic. For the upcoming year, Smetana is projecting a 99 percent property tax collection rate.

It is common for RBHS to overestimate expenditures and underestimate revenues in budgets, which typically makes the final results turn out better than projected.

sive.”

Trustee Edward Hannon said he would like to know how much maintenance is necessary to care for a terraced, plated floodwall after high water events, but generally said he supported the latest design option.

“I’m very happy with the collaboration and that [the] Preservation [Commission] was able to give us thoughts and positive suggestions,” Hannon said. “And, quite frankly, this picture is much more impressive than where we started.

What remains to be seen, however, is who will be responsible for paying for design elements such as planted terraces to soften the view of the wall. It’s possible the village of Riverside will be asked to shoulder the cost, which could be financially impossible.

The roughly $7.2 million floodwall project is being funded by the federal government and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, which means if the village wants extras, they’ll need to pay for them.

11

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The Landmark, July 21, 2021

PEOPLE

Foundation makes North Riverside child’s dream come true

N

orth Riverside resident Isaac Ramirez was recently granted a dream from the Sunshine Foundation, which answers dreams of children with lifelong chronic conditions such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, severe low-functioning autism and others. Isaac, who lives with the challenges of cerebral palsy and developmental delay.

The Sunshine Foundation made Isaac’s dream of an above ground swimming pool come true thanks to generous donors through the foundation’s Adopt a Dream program.

“Isaac is loving the swimming pool,” said Terri, Isaac’s grandmother/guardian in a press release. “He has gone in every day; it has to be warm!”

Sunshine Foundation, established in 1976, provides a Dream Come True for children who may be turned away from other wishgranting organizations that require a lifethreatening or critical diagnosis.

It answers dreams of children ages 3 through 18 who have severe or profound physical/developmental/intellectual challenges or trauma from physical/sexual abuse and whose families cannot fulfill their child’s requests due to the financial strain a child’s illness may cost.

On campus Suriano, of Riverside, was among the more than 1,000 students earning degrees from Bradley University in Peoria in May. Suriano graduated with a B.S. in interactive media game design and English creative writing. He was also named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list.

■ Among the more than 2,000 students earning degrees from Marquette University in Milwaukee in May were Brookfield residents Calista Lopez (bachelor’s in anthropology) and Brittany Schneider (bachelor’s in biochemistry and molecular biology); North Riverside resident Abby Favela (bachelor’s in social welfare and justice); and Riverside residents Maggie Lyons (bachelor’s in nursing), Colleen Mandell (J.D. in law), Lucy Roudebush (doctoral degree in physical therapy) and Theresa Wagner (bachelor’s in business economics).

■ Brookfield residents Jason Cruz (B.A. sociology), Samantha Hauser (B.S. medical laboratory sciences) and Asher Runyan-Randruut (B.S. finance) and North Riverside resident Angelo Esposito (B.S. ■ David

operations and information management) were among the more than 2,400 students receiving degrees from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb in June.

■ Derek Johnson, of Riverside, was awarded his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, computer networking systems and design and information security management with a minor in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Stout during the school’s commencement ceremony in May. ■ Sophia Bowie, of Brookfield, earned the distinction of faculty honors for the 2021 spring semester at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta for earning a perfect 4.0 grade-point average for the semester.

■ Brookfield resident Elizabeth Lemerand was named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list in the School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

■ Evan Jones, of Riverside, was named to the dean’s list for the second semester of the 2020-21 school year at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Students ranked in the top 20 percent of undergraduates are named to the dean’s list.

■ Hope Clark, of Riverside, was named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Wheaton College for earning a semester gradepoint average of at least 3.5 on a 4-point scale.

■ North Riverside residents Olivia Blood, Camila Davila, Alivia Ranieri and Nadia Ranieri and Riverside residents Robert Dunn, DiAngelo Gonzalez and Sylvia Harvin were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Augustana College in Rock Island for attaining a GPA of least 3.5 during the term.

■ Christopher Doherty, of Brookfield, was named to the 2021 spring semester honor roll at the University of WisconsinOshkosh for attaining a semester GPA of at least 3.3.

■ North Riverside residents Madeline Ackerman, Liliana Hermosillo and Gabrielle Mandel; Brookfield residents Brittany Whigam and Emily Hanna; and Riverside resident Abigail Salamanca were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Elmhurst College for attaining a semester GPA of at least 3.75.

■ Brookfield residents Mariah Dorsey, Daniel Lada, Kaitlin Lizik, Grace Roman and Leslie Toto and North Riverside resident Joshua Valentino were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Auro-

PROVIDED

COOL POOL: Isaac Ramirez cools off in the new above-ground swimming pool in his North Riverside backyard, courtesy of the Sunshine Foundation. ra University for earning a GPA of at least 3.6.

■ Jeremy Heer, of Brookfield, was named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Quincy University for achieving at semester GPA of at least 3.5.

■ Maddie Hanrahan, of Brookfield, and Rachel McCarthy, of Riverside, were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.

■ Riverside residents Jocelyn Navarro and Haley Hutchings were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Bradley University in Peoria for achieving semester GPA of at least 3.5.

■ Brookfield resident Faith Wyant and North Riverside resident Jaime Fernandez were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights for achieving a semester GPA of at least 3.8.

■ Autumn Rajcevich-Schwer, of Brookfield, and Alyssa Schwarz, of Riverside, were named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Carthage College in Kenosha for attaining a GPA of at least 3.5.

■ Brookfield resident Grace Knowski was named to the 2021 spring semester dean’s list at Millikin University in Decatur for earning a GPA of at least 3.5 for the term.

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

13

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GOOD CAUSE: North Riverside twins Brook and Jordan Garcia raised enough money through their lemonade stand in June to purchase 40 packs of crayons and coloring books for patients at Loyola Medical Center’s children’s cancer unit.

North Riverside twins raise funds to benefit children with cancer

Brook and Jordan Garcia, 5-year-old twins from North Riverside, braved the heavy rains of late June to raise money to buy crayons and coloring books for patients in the children’s cancer unit at Loyola University Medical Center.

It was the second year running that Brook and Jordan set up their lemonade stand, where they served up individual bottles of water along with the customer’s choice of flavor packet.

They were inspired to create the fundraiser in July 2020 after the death of their great uncle, Robert Sajdak, from cancer. Sajdak’s wife, Becky, organized her own fundraiser at

her late husband’s request to donate Warmies, stuffed animals that provide comfort to children undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Warmies matched any donations she received and she was able to donate several boxes of the stuffed animals to the hospital.

“My twins and myself wanted to do something equally as powerful as well and decided to do the lemonade stand,” said Jamie Mann, the twins’ mother, in an email.

The lemonade stand fundraiser, operating between storms on the weekend of June 2628, raised enough money to buy 40 boxes of crayons and 40 coloring books to donate, according to Mann.

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14

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

Opinion

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Need to up vaccine rates

B

etween June 8 and July 13 – a period of five weeks -- there were 10 total cases of COVID-19 reported between Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside.

Having endured a pandemic where more than 3,500 local residents have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 20 people have died, those kinds of low numbers were welcome.

But with the rate of vaccinations against COVID-19 trailing off far from the numbers needed to create herd immunity and a new highly contagious variant of the disease now accounting for a majority of new cases in the United States, according to a recent report by the Washington Post, freedom from the pandemic appears in doubt.

In the last week alone, there were 10 new combined cases reported in Brookfield, Riverside and North Riverside, the same number reported in total over the prior five weeks. Now, 10 is not a large number by itself, but with the COVID-19 delta variant now rampant in the country, it is more important than ever to become vaccinated against the disease.

And yet, fewer and fewer people are choosing to do so, despite vaccines being our only way to beat this pandemic and despite the fact that they come at no charge to those getting them and can be had as easily as walking into your local pharmacy and asking for one.

It staggers the imagination. There is a cure for a plague and yet there are so many people who still resist it. Future generations will look back and gape in disbelief.

Millions upon millions of people have chosen to get vaccinated and data suggests the vaccines are highly effective.

The Washington Post article noted that earlier this month the Center for Disease Control’s director, Rachel Walensky, stated during a news conference that data in recent months suggests 99.5 percent of deaths from COVID-19 have been people who were not vaccinated.

Make no mistake, if resistance to the vaccine continues as the delta variant spreads or mutates into other, more contagious strains, we will not exit this pandemic. If you like not having to wear masks, going to restaurants and sporting events, attending school in actual classrooms and visiting with friends and families then the choice is clear: You must get vaccinated.

Watch for motorcycles With another vehicle versus motorcycle crash in North Riverside last week, there have been at least five such crashes in the Landmark’s coverage area since spring, one of them fatal and others resulting in serious injuries.

While it’s incumbent on motorcyclists themselves to slow down and drive sensibly, it’s imperative that other motorists take their time and look and listen carefully for motorcycles before they turn or go through intersections.

Crashes involving motorcycles are rarely fender benders.

They often result in critical injuries and death. Please be careful out there.

KOSEY CORNER

Some days you find yourself in houby heaven

T

hey magically pop up in your lawn resembling something from a child’s fairy tale book.

You would expect to see little pixies, glitter dust flying around and a toad or two sitting beneath them. They resemble little umbrellas or a home for a gnome. Or it could be one of those UFOs we have been reading about of late.

However, it is none of those things, but rather gigantic mushrooms that appear on lawns. When one made its recent appearance (and quick disappearance) on our front lawn during our recent rainy, muggy weather, I decided investigate and learn about these gifts of nature.

Last week, I went to the Riverside, IL community page on Facebook to ask the question and received lots of replies -- lots of smart people out there.

Consensus is they usually appear where a tree had formerly been -- thank you grandson Max Duve, the forester in our family.

Cory Hojka gave a detailed lesson, explaining they are the result of cell expansion underground and pop up when conditions are right.

“Once they fully expand/mature, which can be fairly quick, they drop their spores, the gills of the mushroom disintegrate or dissolve, and whatever is left dries up. And of course, while this is happening,

bugs and critters may also come by for a snack too,” Hojka wrote.

One thing for sure -- they are not edible -- ask any true mushroom forager. Vera Wilt, Riverside Township Supervisor (and the first Berwyn-Cicero Houby Festival queen) told us her father and brother were true “houby hunters.”

The word “houby” in Czech means mushroom and the annual festival dating back to the 1960s in Berwyn and Cicero is a celebration of the Czech tradition of mushroom foraging.

Mary Stanga, of the former Riverside Restaurant (and don’t we all miss it), told of her husband gathering mushrooms at a certain time of the year and making mushroom soup.

Husband Joe felt the appearance of the large houby on our lawn was a tribute to his Czech heritage; now that is really stretching it. So what have we learned today? They appear from underground, no one is coming to steal them from your lawn, they are not edible, and they puff up with moisture. Also, I can confirm for the Kosey household all mushrooms will be served out of a can, glass jar or a little basket.

People ask where I get the ideas for my columns.

Well, sometimes they magically appear on my front lawn.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

Beating the virus should be the common goal Here we go again. As we start another school year, I am reading about various school board meetings in which the mask mandate is being debated. Parents talk about kids’ freedoms versus kids’ safety. The Illinois Education Association, the state teachers’ union, suggested following CDC guidelines. Since most parents are not doctors or disease experts, wouldn’t that be the best guideline?

Illinois has thousands of units of local government, including over 850 separate school districts. We have 50 states, each with its own conglomeration of counties and school districts. We have one CDC. With each locality making its own rules, no wonder people are confused and COVID cases are rising. We could beat this virus if only people would follow the one CDC’s advice Getting the vaccine is not a political issue. Wearing a mask does not make one less free. Both have been

proven effective at beating COVID. The crowd at a recent Conservative PAC convention cheered wildly when it was announced that President Joe Biden came up short of his 70 percent vaccination goal.

What a horrible moment in our nation’s history.

Was that announcement also followed by announcing the states that had their COVID numbers doubling and tripling in recent weeks? I doubt it. I am proud to live in a municipality in which over 90 percent of the residents have had at least one dose of the vaccine.

Wearing masks indoors and getting vaccinated is not a personal choice. It is about beating this disease.

Both should be mandatory in order for people to go into a business, school, restaurant or any public indoor place.

Kids are mandated to have all vaccinations before they attend school. Seat belts, driver’s licenses, speed limits, emissions tests, car insurance are all mandatory. How are the tools needed for beating COVID making us any less free? Ask people who are in the COVID ward of the local hospital and those who work there how free they feel?

Jan Goldberg Riverside

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

15

Two promotions at Growing Community Media Veterans step up in edit design and development

Javier Govea and Mary Ellen Nelligan, two longtime staff members at Growing Community Media, have accepted promotions to new roles at the nonprofit publisher.

Govea is now editorial design manager for the newsroom. In this role he will lead both print and digital editorial design for GCM’s four flags – Austin Weekly News, Forest Park Review, Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest.

Govea is now in his second run at GCM, having rejoined the newsroom one year ago.

He was an editorial designer with Wednesday Journal Inc. for several years previ-

REGISTRY Too broad from page 1 est draft of the proposed rental registry placed too much burden on rental property owners, who by and large maintain their buildings and provide their tenants safe places to live.

While trustees appeared to all agree that the registry idea was valuable as a way to compile essential emergency contact information, they wondered if the universal triennial inspection requirement was too broadly conceived.

Marsh-Ozga and Gallegos called the proposed law “overkill,” particularly considering owner-occupied rental properties where those owners may have a greater stake in ensuring careful maintenance or who may even have their buildings inspected regularly to catch issues before they become hazards.

“Maybe owner-occupation is an issue we can look at,” Marsh-Ozga said during a discussion of the rental registry at the village board’s July 15 meeting. “I don’t know what the best way is to draw the line right now, but my instinct is that we’re trying to do too much with this particular draft.”

Claucherty called the latest draft “over broad,” and worried that the cost for individual unit registration would simply be passed on to tenants. She asked whether the village’s staff had the capacity to manage such a detailed annual registry process as well as a regular schedule of building inspections.

She also agreed that perhaps the village might deal with smaller rental properties or owner-occupied rental properties differently than larger buildings in order “to tailor this more closely to our goals and to the risks that we’re trying to cure for.”

The idea of the rental registry came to the village board table in April, two months after the village sought a court-order to inspect residential units at the Tower Apartments in downtown Riverside following the failure of that building’s heating plant during a cold snap that left both residential and commercial

JAVIER GOVEA

MARY ELLEN NELLIGAN

ously. He has also worked as an editorial page designer for Pioneer Press/Chicago Tribune.

Nelligan takes on the newly created post of development manager for the nonprofit.

As Growing Community Media NFP enters its second full year, Nelligan will focus on growing membership donations, connecting with potential larger donors and working with foundations on grant opportunities.

Nelligan has worked in sales and sales administration at GCM for several years. She has been active in development efforts and this promotion will allow her to focus on that work.

GCM is currently looking to hire for a new position as Development and Sales Coordinator to assume some work previously

tenants without central heat for about a week.

Village inspectors were eventually able to access residential units via court order and observed a laundry list of safety violations, particularly a lack of working smoke alarms.

The building, which is owned by a real estate trust, has been flagged numerous times over the years for property maintenance violations.

Last year, the owner and the property management firm of the Tower Apartments agreed to pay $950,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a 70-year-old tenant who fell to his death in September 2018 when a wooden handrail gave way as he painted a rear stairwell.

While those cases have not been specifically mentioned as the motivation behind the village’s effort to create a rental registry, other landlords who have criticized the initiative have complained they are being singled out when the problem is limited to the owners of a few larger apartment buildings in the village.

Village President Joseph Ballerine suggested that the village beef up the fire department’s annual fire inspections of commercial and multifamily buildings by having a village property inspector tag along to make sure common areas comply with building codes.

“Where are our problems? And then when we know where our problems are, we can target the ordinance to address the problems that we have,” Ballerine said.

Trustee Edward Hannon urged the village to maintain unit inspections in the ordinance, saying that only inspecting common areas leaves too much out. He also was particularly concerned about making sure single-family homes being rented out are up to code.

“It only takes one fire where there’s not adequate egress,” Hannon said.

One possible compromise on the unit inspection issue is to allow property owners to self-certify that they have had their properties inspected and comply with village codes.

By certifying as part of the annual registration process that a property complies, owners would be guilty of violating the village code if officials later determined a property had not been inspected or made code compliant, according to Village Attorney Lance Malina.

done by Nelligan.

“Javier is a great editorial designer.

Creative, accurate, experienced,” said Bob Uphues, senior editor and editor of the Landmark. “Javi solves problems and is incredibly steady on deadlines.”

“Mary Ellen is so clear thinking, so organized, so thoughtful and passionate about the work we are doing,” said Dan Haley, publisher of Growing Community Media.

“This promotion is really recognition of the outstanding work she has done for us through the process of becoming a nonprofit and now growing that aspect of our work.”

OBITUARIES

Maria Delgado, 59 Brookfield resident Maria Delgado, age 59, of Brookfield and formerly of Cicero, died July 17, 2021.

Ms. Delgado was the mother of Gabriela (Ruben Raygoza) Rocha, Jose Francisco (Maria Torres) Rocha and Adriana (fiancé Adilene Prado) Rocha and MARIA DELGADO the grandmother of Jacklyne, Isabella, Ruben Benjamin, Isaiah and Alonzo.

Visitation is Friday, July 23 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 24 from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on July 24 at 10 a.m. at St. Barbara Church, 4008 Prairie Ave., Brookfield. Interment is at Queen Heaven Cemetery, Hillside.

Sean E. Martell, 61 Avid reader Sean Edward Martell, age 61, of Bensenville, died July 15, 2021.

Mr. Martell worked as a clerk for an airline company and was an avid reader of historical literature.

He was the brother of Michael (Debra) Martell, Janette (Ken) Korzec, Brian (Virginia) Martell and the late Kathleen Long; the uncle of Carla Martell, Colleen (Phil) VanWyngarden, Joseph (Casie) Martell, Emily Martell, Nathan (Louisia Raymond) Martell and Zachary Martell; and the great-uncle of Mia and Quinn DeSilva.

Services have been held. Interment

was private.

Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.

Express condolences online at HitzemanFuneral.com. Sympathy cards can be mailed to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st St., Brookfield, 60513, c/o the Sean Edward Martell family.

Dominick C. Ritacco, 62 Technical trainer Dominick Carl Ritacco, 62, of LaGrange Park, died July 11, 2021.

Mr. Ritacco was born Jan. 3, 1959 in Chicago and worked as a technical trainer for Canon USA. He was the husband of Diane (nee Mikulka), the father of Nickolas and Krystyna Ritacco; the son of Patricia (nee Kasputis) and the late Dominick DOMINICK C. Ritacco; the son-inRITACCO law of the late Miro and Viola (nee Janosko) Mikulka; the brother of Carl (Therese), Michael (Britta) and the late Anthony (Melinda); the brother-in-law of Daniel (Adrienne) Mikulka; the nephew of George Janosko; the uncle of Carl Jr., Kendra Schneider and Aley Holbrook; the great uncle of Sessily, Austin, Sofia, Mathis and Mason; cat lover of Felix, Twinkie and Bella.

Visitation is Tuesday, July 20 from 3 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, July 21 from 10 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11 a.m. at Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, 2447 Desplaines Ave., North Riverside.

Cremation is private.

Online condolences may be offered at KuratkoNosek.com.

16

Sports

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

Johnson looking to leave his mark on LTHS basketball

Lions’ senior leader was teams MVP in 2021

By LAUREN RECCHIA Contributing Reporter

Lyons Township High School boys basketball senior point guard Tavari Johnson has already shown that he is a team leader, and said he is ready to prove even more during his final season for the Lions.

Johnson, who was named the team’s Most Valuable Player last season, led the team in scoring averaging 16.6 points, four rebounds, 3.5 assists, and two steals per game in during a pandemic shortened season where the Lions sported

Tavari Johnson

an 11-6 record. Johnson was also named to the West Suburban Conference’s allconference team.

“My experience at LT so far has been great,” he said. “I really love the school and my teammates. It is the place I want to be and I’m going to try to build off the chemistry that we have and continue to motivate everyone to reach our goal.”

Johnson’s coach, Tom Sloan, praised the Lions’ team leader, both as a gifted athlete and for his team-centric approach.

“Tavari was a very important part of the team and one of the big reasons we had success,” said Lions head coach Tom Sloan. “He’s a very talented player, and the thing I’m always the most impressed with is his vision on the floor, his unselfishness and his passing ability.

“Now that [Johnson] is one of the seniors, he’s a very vocal leader,” Sloan said. “He can be very disruptive on the defensive end. He’s developed a really good chemistry with his teammates and they really enjoy playing together. He’s always doing everything he can to help his teammates be better and encourage them to play hard and aggressive.”

Johnson began playing basketball in third grade as his older brother and cousins showed him the game, and he has loved it ever since, looking for ways to improve his game and lead the way for the Lions.

“I love the environment and energy that basketball brings,” he said. “It’s a game of runs, and when your team starts to make that run and gain momentum it’s one of the best feelings. Something that motivates me as I keep playing is knowing that I could really play basketball at the next level and have the chance to be known as one of the best to come out of LT.” In addition to basketball, Johnson also enjoys playing

@RBLandmark

White Sox, Cubs headed in opposite directions

W

hen it comes to Chicago baseball, you are either a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan. Being centrally located in the near west suburbs, the Oak Park and River Forest communities have plenty of each.

So it stands to reason that this week’s Tate’s Take column will make some readers happy, and others not so much.

Here are my thoughts on our two baseball teams: I have to admit I wasn’t impressed when Tony La Russa was named White Sox manager after last season. While he’s in the Baseball Hall of Fame, he hadn’t managed since leading the St. Louis Cardinals to the World Series title in 2011.

Also, La Russa represents the oldschool generation. At 76 years old, I wondered how he would relate to today’s flashy Major League Baseball culture, particularly with a young, talented, and fun-loving team like the Sox. Well, the early results are in, and they’ve been very good. The Sox enter this week with the American League’s best winning percentage. This is especially impressive given all the serious injuries the team has had, especially in the lineup.

The starting rotation has been dominant, led by all-stars Lance Lynn and Carlos Rodon, who are first and third respectively in earned-run average in the AL. Dylan Cease, Lucas Giolito and Dallas Keuchel have been solid as well, and Liam Hendriks -- another all-star -- is a very strong closer in the bullpen.

The Sox offense started the season slowly but has gradually improved. Tim Anderson, who played in his first All-Star Game last week, is a spark at the top of the order. Jose Abreu, who was the AL’s Most Valuable Player last year, is heating up fast. Yoan Moncada has had a solid year, and a trio of rookies -- Jake Burger, Gavin Sheets and Andrew Vaughn -- have made substantial contributions to the lineup, which will become stronger once Yasmani Grandal, Eloy Jimenez, and Luis Robert all return from the injured list in the next few weeks.

Unfortunately, second baseman Nick Madrigal will not be back this season from his injury. It’s up to White Sox General Manager Rick Hahn to fill that hole -- as well as find more relief help -- before the July 30 trade deadline.

Hahn said before the season he’d be aggressive in adding to the roster if necessary; let’s see if he can deliver.

While I think the Sox should easily win the

AL Central, those holes at second base and in the bullpen need to be taken care of if they want to meet their stated goal of making it to the World Series.

It’s been a different story for the Cubs. As late as June 24, the Cubs led the National League’s Central Division. That evening in Los Angeles, pitchers Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel combined to no-hit the Dodgers in a 4-0 victory for the Cubs.

However, the Cubs dropped the final three games of that series and subsequently got swept in Milwaukee and Cincinnati as part of an 11game losing streak that effectively ended any hopes of making it to this year’s playoffs. They entered this week with a 46-47 record, nine games out of first in the NL Central.

Team president Jed Hoyer, who replaced Theo Epstein last offseason, was hoping to be a buyer and add to the roster in hopes of making a run. But the recent lengthy skid has altered the course, and Hoyer has become a seller.

Left fielder Joc Pederson became the first domino to fall when he was traded July 15 to the Atlanta Braves for a prospect. Moreover, three key players from the 2016 World Series championship team -- shortstop Javier Baez, third baseman Kris Bryant, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo -- are on the final year of their contracts, and I wouldn’t be surprised if any or all of them are on other teams after the deadline.

The Cubs’ issues are many, but to me, there are two that particularly stand out.

First, besides Kyle Hendricks, the starting pitching has been subpar to say the least (and I’m being nice when I say so). Davies is inconsistent, Jake Arrieta has completely fallen off the face of the earth and Adbert Alzolay is still learning how to be an effective MLB starter.

The other problem, which has been especially so since 2016, is the lineup’s approach at the plate. The Cubs don’t hit the fastball consistently, don’t make enough solid contact and strike out far too often. They swing for home runs all the time instead of being patient and focused on putting the ball in play.

It’s disappointing that the Cubs haven’t been able to build off their 2016 World Series success. Now it certainly feels like this is the end of a golden era for the franchise.

While Sox fans can make plans for October, a familiar refrain can be heard among Cub fans: Wait ‘til next year.

MELVIN TATE

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

17

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year RBLandmark.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@RBLANDMARK.COM PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request of bids for Geothermal HVAC system at Pleasant Home Mansion.

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request of bids for Building Demolition at 228-230 Madison St., Oak Park.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302

The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Pleasant Home Geothermal HVAC system install at 217 S. Home Ave. in Oak Park. The project consists of the full installation of all hvac equipment and necessary ductwork, electrical work, geothermal wells and components. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 11:00 a.m. (Central Daylight time) on Friday, August 13, 2021, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois.

The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Park District’s website as of 2:00 pm Thursday, July 22, 2021. A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for Thursday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m. (Central Daylight time) at 217 South Home Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors. Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Park District of Oak Park website at: http://www.pdop.org/bids-and-rfps/ For additional information, contact Chris Lindgren at chris.lindgren@ pdop.org or (708) 725 2050. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2021. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Building Demolition at 228-230 Madison St. in Oak Park. The project consists of the removal and disposal of the building, and of all appurtenances relating to electrical, plumbing including any plumbing underneath the building, fixtures, heating, cooling, boilers, water-heaters, and all other remaining related building appurtenances remaining in the building shall be removed. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 10:00 a.m.

(Central time) on Friday, August 13, 2021, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Park District’s website as of 5:00 pm Thursday, July 22, 2021.

A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for Wednesday, July 28 at 10:00 a.m. (Central Daylight time) at 228-230 Madison St., Oak Park, IL 60302. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors.

Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Park District’s website at: http://www.pdop.org/bids-and-rfps/ For additional information, contact Chris Lindgren at chris.lindgren@ pdop.org or (708) 725 2050. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2021. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE: APPLICATION FOR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT PERMIT DEVELOPMENT REVIEW BOARD, RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS Public notice is hereby given that on August 5, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room at the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois, the Village of River Forest Development Review Board (DRB) will hold a public hearing on the following matter:

Once the DRB concludes the public hearing, its members will make a recommendation to the Village Board of Trustees that a planned development permit be granted, with or without conditions, or that it be denied. The Village Board of Trustees has up to 60 days to begin consideration of the DRB’s recommendation.

Park District of Oak Park By: Chris Wollmuth, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal July 21, 2021

Park District of Oak Park By: Chris Wollmuth, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal July 21, 2021

Application # 22-005: The property owner wishes to convert an office space and a portion of adjacent office space into a studio apartment.

Address: 400 Ashland Avenue, which is located at the northeast corner of Ashland and Central Avenues. A legal description of the property/properties is provided later in this notice.

Applicant: 400 Ashland, LLC River Forest, IL Residents are welcome to review the application, to send correspondence, attend the public hearing, submit evidence, and provide testimony at the public hearing. For comments to be considered by the DRB and the Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. The public may attend the public hearing or submit written comments to Jon Pape no later than 12:00 Noon on the date of the public hearing at jpape@vrf.us or by mailing them to 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305. The public is asked to discuss whether or not the application meets the standards that the DRB must consider when reviewing the application. Those standards are available on the Village’s website at www.vrf.us/DevelopmentGuide.

A copy of the application is available to the public at Village Hall and on the Village’s website at http://www. vrf.us/DevelopmentGuide.

Elements of the application may be amended during the course of this process and interested persons are encouraged to stay apprised of the progress of the application by also viewing DRB meeting agendas and packets, which are also available at the Village Hall and online at www. vrf.us/meetings, and are published no less than 48 hours prior to any public meeting.

Starting a New Business?

Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in • Austin Weekly News • Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside/Brookfield Landmark

Call the Experts Before You Place Your Legal Ad!

Call Mary Ellen for details: 773/626-6332

Any questions regarding this application or the planned development process may be directed to: Jon Pape, Assistant to the Village Administrator, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois 60305, jpape@vrf.us, (708) 714-3563.

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: LOT 8 (EXCEPT THE NORTH 3 FEET) IN BLOCK 4 IN PART OF RIVER FOREST, BEING A SUBDIVISION OF SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, SURVEYED FOR SUBURBAN HOME MUTUAL ASSOCIATION ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED JUNE 23, 1890 AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 1291334, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Published in Wednesday Journal July 21, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21007299 on July 1, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of JOYFUL NOISE MUSIC STUDIO with the business located at: 256 WASHINGTON BLVD #2, OAK PARK, IL 60302, 411 PARK AVE #3, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: OLIVIA MULLINS 256 WASHINGTON BLVD #2, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal July 7, 14, and 21, 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice is hereby given to all persons concerned that on the 13th day of July 2021, the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of River Forest, Illinois, voted to amend its Rules and Regulations.

Printed copies of the Rules and Regulations, as amended, may be obtained from the Office of the Village Clerk, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois. The rules shall be operable as of July 25, 2021, or 10 days from the date of publication of this notice, whichever date is later.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE FOR HIS ASSET SECURITIZATION CORPORATION TRUST 2007OPT1, MORTGAGE PASSTHROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-OPT1; Plaintiff, vs.

CHARLES T. GRANT; JUANITA J. GRANT AKA JUANITA LACOURT; PRAIRIE PLACE AT 6436 ROOSEVELT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 14415 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-18-428-043-1019 & 16-18428-043-1064.

Commonly known as 6436 Roosevelt Road, Unit 311, Oak Park, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Law Clerk at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group, 33 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 3609455. W18-0641 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3171912

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Find Help Wanted & Marketplace listings on the next page!

Published in Wednesday Journal July 21, 2021



   

18

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

HELP WANTED

River Forest Public Schools District 90

District 90 is seeking qualified and experienced applicants for the following positions:

• Speech and Language Pathologist (Roosevelt Middle School)

• English Language Learners Teacher (Full-time at Roosevelt Middle School and Part-time FTE 0.50 at Lincoln Elementary School) • Grade 4 Teacher (Willard Elementary School) For detailed qualifications requirements and job duties, please visit our website at https://www.district90.org/about/ employment for our complete list of employment opportunities.

Interested candidates should complete the online application available at www.district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.

BAND SAW WELDER TECH, GENL LABORER OPENINGS Local sharpening service has two openings: Band Saw Welder Technician and General Laborer position. Apply at 1233 Circle Ave. Forest Park, IL 708-209-1636 VAN DRIVER Part-time/2-3 hrs per day, M-F, 2:15 pm start time. No weekends or holidays. Safety, reliability, punctuality are the gold standard. Cell phone and clean driving record required. Dependability is a must. Drive an easy, local 3-mile route. You’ll make 2-4 stops, pick up less than 10 children and drop them all off at the same place at the same time. Pleasant conditions and appreciation! $18-25/hour depending on experience. To schedule an interview, email seedMontessori@gmail.com or leave a message at (708) 613-5860 with contact information and best time to call.

MAINTENANCE Hiring one Maintenance position at private health club in Oak Park.

Hours will be variable between 20 and 32 per week and may include some night and/or weekend hours.

Adult applicant should be out of high school and able to work with common power tools, including snow blowers, lawn mowers, drills and sanders.

Applicant should be competent in painting, basic repairs and janitorial duties.

This job requires climbing ladders and some heavy lifting- please do not apply if you cannot do physical work.

Interested parties, please email your skills and contact information to: Lisa Tanzer at: LisaT@tenandfit.com

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER Must have own transportation.

For more information CALL 708-738-3848

CLASSROOM CLEANUP AND SUPPORT Afternoon Classroom Clean-Up and Support, Part-time/2-4 hrs per day, M-F, 2:15 pm start. No weekends or holidays. Spend late afternoons in our beautiful Oak Park classroom and be home in time for dinner. Kids will be learning all around as you work around them, dusting seashells, cleaning glue caps, putting out the trash. Oops, a spill to help with! Everyday is something new. One flight of stairs to the storage area, no heavy lifting or equipment. Seek reliable, flexible, and willing to train. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination required. Pleasant conditions and appreciation! $1519/hour plus bonuses. Interviews Thursday, July 22. To schedule, email seedMontessori@gmail.com or leave a message at (708) 613-5860 with your contact information and the best time to call.

TEACHER AND TEACHER AIDE MINI ME BUNCH seeks teacher and teacher aide to enhance and expand daycare serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. Teacher must have at least Associates’ degree in Early Childhood Education. Minimum 1 year experience preferred in each position. Must love children and be outgoing, patient, flexible. Contact 773-521-9499 CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Customer Service Representative II in the Development Customer Service Department – Parking Division. This position provides customer service to the public by providing a variety of responsible customer service and receptionist work including high volume telephone traffic; and to perform the more complex customer service duties including but not limited to service requests, permits, parking passes, block party permits, accounts payable processing and vehicle stickers. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications is July 27, 2021.

MARKETPLACE FLEA MARKET Maywood

WEST SUBURBAN CHURCH THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH 436 S. 13TH AVE, MAYWOOD LARGEST FLEA MARKET FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021, 12 PM - 7 PM SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021, 8 AM - 6 PM Great Deals on: • Household items • Tools • Music • Male and Female accessories • Snow blowers • Lawn mowers • Furniture • Much, much more!

PLUS: Food • Hourly raffle • Give-Aways For more information, please contact Obra Barrow at 224.315.2868

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 Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-334

Hire Local.

Place an ad on Wednesday Classified’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to RBLandmark/classified today!

Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information.

(708) 613-3342 maryellen@rblandmark.com

The Landmark, July 21, 2021

CLASSIFIED

19

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG R E N TA L S & R E A L E S TAT E

SUBURBAN RENTALS Apartment listings updated daily at:

SUBURBAN RENTALS

ROOMS FOR RENT

DOWNTOWN OAK PARK 1BR

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT

Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt.

312-212-1212

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION FOREST PARK HIGHLY VISIBLE OFFICE/STORE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE 1350 SF w/ AC & HIGHLY VISIBLE MADISON STREET EXPOSURE. 7607 Madison Street. Village parking lot next door. Bright, clean office. Great Madison Street exposure! Call Francis 708-3838574.

Small 1BR apartment in DTOP. Renovated and freshly painted. Harwood floors. Walking distance to El. No pets. $850/mo, utilities included.

708-657-4226

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service

RIVERSIDE 3 FLAT FSBO Three above grade 2BR apts. Unfinished basement w/ laundry & 1/2 BA. 4 car brick garage. Zoned for residential and office, if desired. Well maintained. $529,000

BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 708-446-1324

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com

CITY RENTALS AUSTIN RENAISSANCE APARTMENTS

A HUD subsidized affordable Apartment property announces the opening of its waiting list for both One and Two Bedroom Apartments! Resident rent is approximately 30% of gross household income, some restrictions apply. Our property is located on Washington Blvd in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Apartments offered with an occupancy of one to four persons. Properties feature modern kitchens, include appliances, and offer onsite maintenance. Austin Renaissance will accept requests for application packages by U.S. Mail postmarked no later than , September 15, 2021. Send or email a written request for an application package that includes your name, mailing address. Daytime telephone number, Email address, and the number of persons in your household to: Town Center Realty Group LLC, PO Box 64, Huntley IL 60142-0064 or Email requests to mrpaul.tcrg@gmail.com Application packages available by mail or email delivery only. No walk-ins accepted.

Town Center Realty Group LLC

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT THERAPY OFFICE OAK PARK Free wifi; flexible leasing, and offices nicely furnished right down to the Kleenex. Secure building & friendly colleagues, often giving referrals to other office mates. Shared Waiting room, Conference room & option to join Peer Supervision Group. Ideal for new practice or 2nd location.

708-383-0729

COMMERCIAL/RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT 2 SPACES FOR RENT IN SHOPPING CENTER: From 1,000 Sq. Ft.(END CAP) TO- 1,635 Sq. Ft. BOTH: Very good Condition. Recently Updated. *Heavy traffic area; Serious inquires ONLY. **Special Discounted Rates-Limited Time!

If Leave message, Include: Your Name, Phone Number and Type of Business.

TEXT or CALL: (708)828-6491

HOME SERVICES CEMENT

CEMENT

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

AIR CONDITIONING AIR CONDITIONING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Air Conditioning Automotive A/C Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers

FLOORS

LANDSCAPING

KLIS FLOORING INC.

BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining.

Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

HANDYMAN

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

773-637-0692

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

Mike’s Home Repair

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

Ask for John

Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

Public Notice: Your right to know • In print • Online • Available to you 24/7/365

PublicNoticeIllinois.com

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES:

OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST,FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance brucelawns.com

708-243-0571

NEIGHBORHOOD CLEAN UP

Evergreen trimming & more. Clean-ups.

Garden weed removal.

Storm Branch Tree Removal.

708-447-1762

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PETS While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References

524-1030

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

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The Landmark, July 21, 2021

W NE

G TIN S I L

G IN M CO

ON SO

G IN M CO

ON SO

G IN M CO

ON SO

W NE

E! IC R P

371 Nuttall Rd, Riverside $369,000

84 Riverside Rd, Riverside

841 Robinhood Ln, LaGrange Park $849,900

280 Burlington Rd, Riverside $335,000

312 Downing Rd, Riverside $909,900

555 Byrd Rd, Riverside $625,000

290 Lawton Rd, Riverside $985,000

9841 S Hoyne Ave, Chicago $549,000

7001 W 71st Pl, Burbank $249,000

152 E Burlington Rd, Riverside $364,900

AL NT E R

2037 W Iowa St, Chicago $390,000

337 Longcommon Rd, Chicago $975,000

2505 Keystone Ave, North Riverside $2,100/mo

AL NT E R

229 Park Ave #214, Clarendon Hills $2,950/mo

AL NT E R

300 Madison St,#433-1, Oak Park $1,625/mo

When it comes to selling and buying homes... experience, results and ties to the community make all the difference.

Curious about the current real estate market and the impact on your home’s value? Thinking about selling, but need to find your next home first? Can’t find your dream home in this competitive market? Contact one of our local market experts for a free, confidential consultation.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Visit us at www.atproperties.com/agents/Burlington to view all of our properties and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates on the local real estate market.