Landmark 100924 by Wednesday Journal

Pastor Brandon Siwula moved back near his hometown to lead a new congregation

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Two years after Cornerstone C ommunity C hurch ’s f ounding p astor r etired, the non-denominational c hurch has finished i ts search for a new she p herd to lead its cong re ga tion.

P astor Brandon Siwula was i nstalled Sept. 8 as the c hurch ’s new daily leader. Siwula, 31, gr ew up in Broadview and has move d back to the area after more than a decade living in other states and wo rk ing in youth mini str y. Siwula, or P astor Brandon, as the c ong re ga tion knows him, said the move back home f elt li ke God ’s path for him to continue wo rk ing in his faith.

PHOTOS BY TODD BANNOR, PAGE 6

TODD BANNOR

Riverside includes community gym in public safety remodel

Trustees ag reed to plan for the gym in response to resident feedback on parks and rec programming

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Riversiders who wish there was available gym space in town may want to keep their eye on the horizon.

Village trustees directed Williams Architects, the firm overseeing the village’s project to build new public safety offices, to include a community gymnasium in the plan in response to feedback from a survey of residents on parks and recreation programming

At their Oct. 3 meeting, trustees heard an update on the project from Andrew Dogan, a managing principal at Williams, in the wake of their decision to build a new structure for the police and fire departments rather than renovating or adding to the existing space connected to Riverside Township Hall.

His presentation came after one from BerryDunn, a consulting firm that oversaw a survey of residents and found some Riversiders wished they had access to an indoor recreation center like a gymnasium.

Dogan first walked the board through a plan for the project that would see the entire structure built up over time to accommodate Riverside’s current $20 million budgetary cap for the work

“Knowing that finance is a concern, we looked at a potential three-phase approach to go from what may be more attainable in the near term to address public safety needs, to a mid-term solution that incorporates more community space, like that large meeting room and a fitness center, to a larger solution that someday incorporates that gym,” he said.

Like Dogan said, the first phase would focus on getting the public safety departments up and running through items like basement and outdoor parking and support spaces on the first and second floors, like the firetruck bay.

The second phase would see the underground parking expanded alongside storage and evidence rooms in the basement. The

is model shows what a completed three-phase approach to the public safety and community space rebuild could look like when all is said and done .

first floor would be expanded with administrative spaces, including a lobby, and the second floor would gain more spaces specifically for police. New in this phase would be a third floor on the roof, which would include extra police space and community rooms like a kitchen and fitness center

“The third phase of this would be, let’s see how we can add a gym to this complex,” Dogan said. “In this concept, the parking that was previously outdoor [at the basement level] now becomes covered underneath the gym. As we go up the next few levels, not much changes here, except that we have the gym with the running track on that main level,” though it would be as tall as the second story.

He said the new building would sit closer or further from Riverside Road in different places to break up the facade and make sure “it doesn’t become overwhelming” alongside the existing village hall building.

“It is a very dense arrangement in terms of maximizing the site, but it does — other than concerns about parking — it does technically work,” Dogan said.

In terms of financing, Dogan said Williams did the work of projecting costs out over time for all three phases to give the board an idea of what it all might cost, though due to unknowns about inflation and construction cost

jill@oakpark.com

escalation, he provided each cost as a range of possible prices.

In total, the first phase would cost about $14.2 million to $15.6 million, Dogan said. Adding on the second phase would bring the total price to about $34.4 million to $37.4 million, and the third phase would bring the total to about $46.8 million to $50.7 million.

In response to a question from Trustee Megan Claucherty, Dogan said the project could take more than two years to complete at minimum, even if Riverside did not have to spread the cost out over time due to budgeting constraints.

After Dogan’s presentation, the trustees discussed potential issues with the plan, like a lack of parking. Village President Doug Pollock raised concerns about frequent gym usage increasing the volume of cars downtown, which could take up what parking is available nearby, though trustees didn’t view it as a problem due to the walkable and transit-oriented nature of the village.

The board also discussed the possibility of pursuing a gymnasium space elsewhere in town, though Pollock noted that would likely require Riverside to acquire residential land and repurpose it after demolishing houses.

141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL erika@growingcommunitymedia.org ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $45 within Cook County and $65 outside the county. Adver tising rates may be obtained by calling our o ce. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2024 Growing Community Media NFP.

COURTESY OF WILLIAMS ARCHITEC TS

BIG WEEK

Oc tober 9-16

The Basics of Paranormal Investigation

Monday, Oc t. 14, 7 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library

Learn everything there is to know about ghost hunting in this thrilling presentation by Quantum Paranormal Investigators, who have a combined 30 years of experience. Learn more about well-known haunted locations in the Chicago-area, how to conduct a paranormal investigation, and the Quantum team’s real-life encounters with the supernatural. 3541 Park Ave.

Silent Reading Night with Babysitting

Friday, Oct. 11, 6:15 – 8 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library

Need a break? Stop by the library after-hours for a night of reading in quiet camaraderie. Child supervision will be provided for children aged 6 and older in Meeting Room 1. Kids will enjoy popcorn and watch a movie while adults read and relax upstairs with tea and cookies. This event is part of Brook eld Reads 2024, a library initiative that focuses on reading and self-care activities as a means of nding peace and fostering community. Learn more at www lsfbrook eldlibrary.org/brook eldreads. 3541 Park Ave.

Mobile Museums of Tolerance – Combat Hate: A Digital Media Literacy Workshop

Sunday, Oct. 13 to Wednesday, Oct. 16 – Library, from open to 6 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library

The Mobile Museums of Tolerance return to Brook eld with another engaging exhibit. The MMOT are traveling education centers that use immersive technology and interactive lessons to bring a message of tolerance to schools and communities nation-wide. This year ’s theme —Combat Hate: A Digital Media Literacy Workshop—encourages participants to think critically about online hate and o ers strategies for creating a positive digital footprint. Stop by the library parking lot to see this free exhibit from opening hours to 6 p.m. each day. 3541 Park Ave

Candy Corn Fun

Monday, Oct. 14, 2 - 3 p.m., Riverside Public Library

Registration required by calling the library or visiting www.riversidelibrary.org. Where does the Candy Man keep his candy corn? The Candy Man can! There’s no school this Monday so come to the Riverside Public Library for a sweet, sweet treat. For children Grades 1-3, they can participate in candy corn crafts, taste tests, and other tasty surprises. 1 Burling Rd.

Early Histor y of Proviso and Surrounding Areas with Patricia Reaves

Tuesday, Oct. 15, 7 p.m., Riverside Library

This presentation by Patricia Reaves is a journey through the early settlement of the Township of Proviso and its surrounding areas -- including parts of Riverside. As members of the Save the Prairie Society researched how to properly restore and interpret an 1850s Lutheran German school and teacher’s quarters, they accumulated a lot of knowledge about 19th Century settlement in and around Wolf Rd. Prairie. This presentation relates the history of some familiar areas in your immediate neighborhood, and the stories of those people who frequented the places where you live today! The Frederick Law Olmsted Society - Riverside is co-sponsoring this program. 2400 Des Plaines Ave

Listing your event

■ If you would like your event to be featured here, please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published. We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights. Email calendar@wjinc.com.

Compiled by Grace Har ty

PATRICIA REAVES

Capitol Briefs: Federal agency opposes new state law; Pritzker to lead trade mission to Japan

Lawsuit seeks to block state law that would limit debit and credit card fees

By HANNAH MEISEL & ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois

The Biden administration is asking a federal judge to halt Illinois’ first-in-the-nation law curtailing credit card “interchange fees” before it goes into ef fect next summer

When fully implemented in July 2025, the law will curtail banks’ ability to charge those fees on the tax and tip portion of debit and credit card transactions.

After a coalition of financial institutions sued over the law in federal court this summer, federal officials this week sided with the banks. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency – an independent bureau within the U.S. Department of Treasury – wrote in a legal brief that Illinois’ law is both “bad policy” and in conflict with federal law.

T he filing, published We d nesd ay, frames i nterchange f ees as a “core f eature of an i ntricately d esigned nationw ide pay ments system. ”

“The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act is an ill-conceived, highly unusual, and largely unworkable state law that threatens to fragment and disrupt this efficient and effective system,” the brief said. “Although the IFPA’s requirements are vague and ambiguous in many respects, this much is clear: the IFPA prevents or significantly interferes with federally authorized banking powers that are fundamental to safe and sound banking and disrupts core functionalities that drive the Nation’s economy.”

The law, which Gov. JB Pritzker and Democrats in the General Assembly approved as part of the state’s budget process earlier this year, was a concession to the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. Retailers had been opposed to the gover nor’s proposed cap on a tax deduction historically granted

to them for collecting the state sales tax.

IRMA leaders defended the law last week, while Pritzker on Thursday said the Biden administration’s filing was “not something that I’m deeply concer ned about.”

“When things get brought to court, you never know how they’ll turn out,” he said at an unrelated event. “I think this one is one that can be defended well and we’ll end up with the law we have on the books being affirmed.”

Pritzker ’s Japan trade mission

Pritzker is also set to join state legislative and business leaders on a trade mission to Japan next week to explore clean energy, manufacturing, life sciences, quantum, and other “key growth industries,” according to the governor’s office.

Members of the dele gation will meet with their counterparts in Tokyo to discuss strengthening economic ties between the state and the island nation.

The dele gation represents what the governor’s office calls “Team Illinois” – a group of government and business officials that work to secure business and economic development partnerships. While it started informally, it’s now a key element of the Pritzker administration’s five-year plan for attracting businesses to the state.

In total, about four do z en lawmaker s, economic development officials, academics and businesspeople will join the gover nor on the trip. Among them are House Speaker E manuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hills ide, and S enate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Pa rk

Christy George, the CEO of Intersect Illinois, is also joining the dele gation. Intersect Illinois is the private economic development organization started by then-Gov. Bruce Rauner that has since become a gobetween for businesses looking to relocate to Illinois and state government. It works on marketing and site selection in partnership with the state’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

George stepped into the role in mid-

See NEWS BRIEFS on pa ge 7

e Pilgrim Virgin for Peace

The world-famous International Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Fatima is visiting the area in early October as part of the Fatima Tour for Peace, drawing pilgrims and worshipers from around the region to St. Paul VI Parish in nearby Riverside Sculpted by Jose Thedim, aka “the Michelangelo of Portugal,” the statue has been traveling internationally since 1947. On Oct. 13, 1947, in the presence of 200,000 pilgrims at Fatima — a shrine where many Catholics believe the Blessed Mother ppeared and where healings

Tour our 10-acre campus today! (708) 387- 1030

have reportedly occurred — the statue was blessed by the Bishop of Leiria-Fatima and commissioned to serve as “The Pilgrim Virgin.” She was then flown to the United States, where she was crowned in Ottawa, Canada, and began a two-year tour of Canada and the U.S. T he statue has since traveled to more than 100 countries, carrying what Catholics believe are Fatima’s blessings and urgent message of peace to people worldwide.

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PHOTO S BY TODD BANNOR

Mobile Museum of Tolerance returns to Brookﬁeld’s library

Learn about ghting online hate at the free exhibit from Oct. 13 to16

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Brookfielders will soon have the c hance to view a free exhibit about how to use their c ritical thinking skills to decode and reject hateful messages online.

T he Mobile Museum of Tolerance will c ome to the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield L ibrary Oct. 13 to 16. Fr om the library’s opening hour — 11 a.m. on S undays and 10 a.m. otherwise — through 6 p. m ., the educational wo rkshop, “Combat Hate,” will be av ailable in the pa rking lot for p eople of all ages to pa rt icipate and learn to investi ga te harmful or d angerous media, stand up against hatred online and wo rk on str at eg i es fo r spreading more p ositivity across thei r social media presenc e.

Pa rt icipants will use the museum’s 32seat b us as a “self-contained c lassroom” to explore i mmersive technolo gy and create dialo g ue facilitated by a licensed state educator in an age-appropriate manner. While the wo rkshop is open to all, the museum’s we bsite suggests thi s year ’s exhibit is best for children in se venth gr ade and up

“A t a time when hateful speech and images are on the rise nationally, this is a unique o pportunity for students and c ommunity members to learn about the

NEWS BRIEFS

from page 5

Se p tember after wo rk ing as the executive director of the Democratic National Co nvention’s 2024 Host C ommittee. P rior to that, George wo rked in P ritzker ’s administration as an assistant de p uty gove r nor and as the executive director of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Tolerance

and discrimination in recent histor y and online

r eal- wo rl d c onsequences of online hate,” said C ourtney M cInerney, the l ibrary’s c ommunity eng agement c oordinator, in a written statement.

According to i ts we bsit e, the Mobil e Museum of Tolerance is the first free, tr aveling education c enter in the United States. L aunched in I llinoi s, the museum is b ased on the L os Angeles-based Museum of Toleranc e. Both museums are initiatives r un by the Simon Wi esenthal C enter, a g lobal Jewish human rights

Others heading to Japan include re pr esentatives of PsiQuantum and TCCI , b oth of wh ich have rece ived multimillion-dollar tax incentives from D CEO since last summer. T he heads of the state’s major utilities, re presentative s from the Unive rsity of I llinois and Unive rsity of Chicag o, and heads of seve ra l b usiness-related lobbying organizations are also set to join the dele ga tion.

The Pritzker administration has led similar trade missions to the United Kingdom and Canada in recent years. The governor’s first

activism organization that focuses on “confront[ing]” anti-Semitism and hate with offices across the c ountry and wo rl d.

Aside from online hate, the museum also offers wo rkshops on the A merican civil rights movement, the Holocaust and l ife of A nne Frank and the “p ower of ordinary p eople” as framed by the Holoc aust. A new wo rkshop this year focuses on media literacy and helping students differentiate b etween facts, o pinions and propag anda they may find online

trade mission, in 2019, was also in Japan. Since then, Illinois exports to Japan have increased 31.7% while imports from Japan have f allen 22.4%, according to the gover nor’s of fice.

Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state gover nment covera ge to hund reds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.

Experiencing Caregiver Burnout? YOUR BEST LIFE with Lisa Capone

Caregiver burnout is a growing concern, especially for those caring for aging loved ones. The demands of caregiving, while rewarding, can become overwhelming and lead to physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion.It’s essential to recognize the signs early and consider options to prevent exhaustion and ensure quality care for all involved.

• Look Out for Signs. Common signs include chronic fatigue, irritability, feelings of helplessness, and a decline in personal health. Caregivers may also experience sleep disturbances, anxiety, and withdrawal from social activities.

• Strategies to Reset: It’s important for caregivers to seek support and practice self-care. Senior living communities and respite care services offer relief by providing professional care for their loved ones, allowing caregivers time to rest and recharge. Taking a break doesn’t mean giving up on caregiving; rather, it ensures caregivers remain healthy and strong enough to continue caring for their loved ones in the long term.

Recognizing the signs of burnout and seeking help is crucial for caregivers and their families.

Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-1030.

PROVIDED BY THE LINDA SOKOL FRANCIS BROOKFIELD LIBRARY

e Mobile Museum of

teaches students and people of all ages about hatred

today.

CORNERSTONE

New leader from page 1

Meet Pastor Brandon

Siwula said his relationship with the church began when he started attending Westchester Bible Church in Westchester at the age of 14. A few years later, he began studying computer science at Pensacola Christian Colle ge in Pensacola, Florida.

“I found out within about a month that I was not called to be a computer science major, so I switched my major to sports management. I think I wanted to maybe be a coach or just something with kids and youth,” he said in an interview with the Landmark. “It was really towards the end of my freshman year of colle ge that God really got a hold of my heart and showed me that I had been living for myself, and I needed to be living for Him.”

Once he switched paths, the pastor returned to Westchester Bible Church over the summer and of fered to help however he could. One of the leaders suggested he could help out with the church’s youth group; from there, a vocation was born.

“By the end of the summer, essentially, I was leading the youth gr oup at the c hurch; the guy that was r unning it told me, ‘I do n’ t r eally know how to pr ep are a message.’ I said, ‘I know how to pr ep ar e a message,’ and wh at that r eally meant is I took a speech c lass at a Christian c olle ge,” he said. “I started preaching and teaching to the k ids, and I j ust f ell in love with that. ”

While Siwula continued to study in Florida, he returned home each summer to intern at the church, which turned into a full-time job once he graduated. After more than five years there, he said, he felt it was time for a switch; in 2020, after losing out on several opportunities, Siwula and his family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. The pastor didn’t have a job secured, but he began pursuing his master’s de gree at Shepherds Theological Seminary.

After a year and a half, the Siwulas moved again when Pastor Brandon found and landed a role as a next generation pastor in Clarkston, Michigan, where he oversaw “all of Christian education from birth through college” while finishing his de gree online.

While he enjoyed his post and his family liked the area, Siwula said he felt it was time to move again after two and a half years.

that was saying — it was the Lord telling me, ‘It’s time to move on. You’ve been doing youth for 12 years,’” he said.

In his search for a new job, Siwula said he stumbled across Cornerstone in Brookfield, not even 10 minutes away from his hometown; Siwula had sought a position at the church three years before, but it didn’t work out because of his impending move to North Carolina.

While he knew he had good reasons to stay in Clarkston, Siwula said, he felt called to at least apply for the church’s open pastor position to see what could happen.

“Over the [application and interview] process, God just showed me clearly that this was the direction that I needed to go,” he said.

Choosing a new pastor

Phil Kolar, an elder at Cornerstone, said the church has been searching on and of f for a new full-time pastor since 2022, when the church’s previous pastor — who helped found Cornerstone in 2005 and oversaw its merger with Brookfield Baptist Church in 2006 — retired.

“We were looking for a pastor for a while,” he said. “Without going into details, we had a pastor that we did have One thing led to another, but he lasted six

back to square one.”

When Kolar and other church board members saw Siwula’s application, they remembered him.

“This was the same guy that was given to us about a couple years earlier. He was the first one on our list, but as he said, he was on his way to North Carolina and Michigan, so he said no,” Kolar said. “As he came around the second time, we said, you know what? This seems to be God’s way of bringing it back full-circle to the person that we originally wanted.”

As Siwula progressed through the hiring process and continued to seem like a good fit, Kolar said the church realized “we needed to offer him the job.”

“The whole process took about two years from Pastor Gary to Pastor Brand on. We we re looking for a young p astor that c ould relate. He’s g ot his back ground in youth, wh ich we want to g et goin g again, so it was a perfect, God-centered fit for us and for him,” he said. “God doesn’t make mistakes.”

Kolar said Cornerstone also wanted a pastor like Siwula who “we knew would teach the Bible expositorily, would go through a book of the Bible verse by verse and not pick out subjects.”

Terry Young, a deacon at Cor nerstone, said

than it did for a pastor that fit its needs.

“There has been a shortage of pastors, younger pastors, and other churches in the area have struggled,” he said. One local church took four years to find a new pastor, he added.

“We were anticipating a longer search. We didn’t want to have a longer search, but then it just came together. Ten months after we started talking to Pastor Brandon, we’ve got a pastor,” he said. “Every step of the way, we just felt like the Lord’s hand was working here, and here we are.”

All three men ag reed Siwula’s first month with the church went well.

“I would say, so far, so good. I mean, the cong re gation has been very welcoming. I haven’t gotten the impression that someone’s giving me the side eye,” the pastor said. “Everyone’s been welcoming.”

“From the church’s standpoint, the people received him, welcomed him warmly. It’s hard on a church when the only pastor that you knew for many years now steps down,” Kolar said. “We had an interim pastor, the same one, two different times. He did a great time, but the church needs a full-time shepherd, a fulltime pastor, and that really solidifies a church … [Cornerstone] was ready, willing, and was more than happy when Pastor Brandon came, because now we have a shepherd.”

TRENT BROWN

Cornerstone Community Church in Brook eld, pictured here, installed Pastor Brandon Siwula on Sept. 8.

A PL UM OF A MARKET

PROVIDED BY JILL WAGNER

Hundreds of shoppers stroll through Brookfield’s award-winning farmer’s market as the days of summer wane. It’s not too late to stop by. The farmer’s market is open one last Saturday for the season, Oct. 12, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

North Riverside Players Proudly Presents

order or single transaction on either Fri, Oct. 11 or Sat, Oct. 12

An unhappy game of romantic follow-the-leader explodes into murder one weekend at The Hollow, home of Sir Henry and Lucy Angkatell. Dr. Cristow, the Harley Street lothario, is at the center of the trouble when, assembled in one place, we ﬁnd his dull but devoted wife, Gerda, his mistress and prominent sculptor, Henrietta, and his former lover and Hollywood ﬁlm star, Veronica. Also visiting are Edward and Midge, whose romantic assertions are likewise thrown into the mix. As the list of romantic associations grows, so does the list of potential suspects when someone is shot dead. Nearly everyone has a motive, but only one of them did the deed, in this classic Agatha Christie mystery.

26, 27, 28 May 3, 4, 5

Riverside is hosting a town hall for its tax levy referendum

If voters oppose

the

measure,

street

repairs will take 50% longer than planned, o cials say

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

If you live in Riverside, village staff are hosting a town hall next week to talk about a local referendum question that will be included on your ballot this election season.

GOOD RECORD KEEPING YEAR-ROUND HELPS TAXPAYERS AVOID TAX TIME FRUSTRATION: PART I

ading through a pile of statements, receipts and other financial documents when it’s time to prepare a tax return can be frustrating for people who haven’t managed their records. By knowing what they need to keep and how long to keep it, people can develop a good record keeping system year-round and make filing their return easier. Good record keeping can also help taxpayers understand their situation when they receive letters or notices from the IRS. Good records help:

• Identify sources of income. Taxpayers may receive money or property from a variety of sources. The records can identify the sources of income and help separate business from nonbusiness income and taxable from nontaxable income.

• Keep track of expenses. Taxpayers can use records to identify expenses for which they can claim a deduction. This will help determine whether to itemize deductions at filing. It may also help them discover potentially overlooked deductions or credits.

• Prepare tax returns. Good records help taxpayers file their tax return quickly and accurately. Throughout the year, they should add tax records to their files as they receive them to make preparing a tax return easier.

• Support items reported on tax returns. Wellorganized records make it easier to prepare a tax return and help provide answers if the return is selected for examination or if the taxpayer receives an IRS notice.

In general, taxpayers should keep records for three years from the date they filed the tax return. Taxpayers should develop a system that keeps all their important information together. They can use a software program for electronic record keeping. They could also store paper documents in labeled folders.

On Tuesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m., at the Quincy Community Center, 43 E. Quincy St., Riverside will host the town hall to inform residents about the purpose of the referendum and field questions from residents about how its passage or failure could affect them, the village and its streets

The referendum, which village staff and the board of trustees have discussed at meetings since June, would allow Riverside to collect a higher tax levy this year at the same time that the village pays off outstanding debt, should it pass. While residents’ property taxes will stay the same as last year, the higher one-time levy will allow the village to permanently set funds aside to improve its streets and bridges

The expiring debt that the levy would replace is for the same purpose of repairing Riverside’s streets. In an interview with the Landmark Monday, Village President Douglas Pollock said Riverside had taken out 10year bonds in 2004 and 2014 in order to repair the village’s roads.

“At least for the past 20 years, the village has paid for street maintenance, street resurfacing, etc., through three sources: motor fuel tax, home rule sales tax and bonds,” he said. “Bonds are, what, about 25% of that mix?”

Because municipal bonds operate similarly to loans, Riverside has had to pay interest and other fees on both sets of 10-year bonds it took out rather than putting that money directly into improving its streets.

“We have a one-time opportunity to take that same amount that people are paying in their taxes and transfer it to a street tax levy,” Pollock said. “Rather than borrowing money, we would just have that.”

In the same interview, Village Manager

Jessica Frances said Riverside would collect about $260,000 each year going forward from property taxes that it would earmark for street improvements. Without the extra costs of the bonds, Pollock said Riverside could have redone “about three-quarters of a mile of a street” per 10-year set — for some areas of town, that’s an entire street or even more, he said.

If the referendum passes, Pollock said, Riverside could potentially improve its level of street repair and maintenance due to not having to pay back interest. But if Riverside voters oppose the referendum, Frances and Pollock said the consequences could be disastrous for the state of its roads, especially down the line.

“Right now, we have a good foundation for capital planning, anticipating that the referendum request is successful. If it’s not, then our 10-year plan that was presented to the board now becomes a 15-year plan because the resources aren’t there,” Frances said. “That means, if someone’s street is slated to be done now in 20 years, then it’s going to look more like 30 years, depending on resource availability.”

Outside of discovering a new source of funding specifically to repair streets, Frances said, Riverside will never be able to catch up to its original projections without the referendum passing.

“We’ll look at other opportunities for funding if the referendum fails. The board has some options, but none of them are as good as this option in terms of how much money we get, how it impacts tax payers,” Pollock said. “The village board believes this is the most efficient way to address it, but it will be up to the voters.”

Clarifying the question

Pollock acknowledged that the state-mandated wording of the referendum question may trip up voters. Under Illinois law, a municipality may not raise its property tax levy by more than the Consumer Price Index’s inflation rate for the year, unless that number goes above 5%. Voters must give approval before the levy is raised over the 5% cap.

The referendum will ask voters to let River-

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

Screenings can detect cancer at an early stage and provide a greater chance for treatment success. And if you are faced with a diagnosis, where you receive your care is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.

As a national leader in whole-person care, AdventHealth in the western suburbs offers connections to the renowned cancer care experts at UChicagoMedicine. Find a dedicated partner for your individual cancer journey just down the road.

To schedule a cancer screening go to ChicagolandCancerCare.com.

Riverside reduces business parking at Lot

A

er monitoring usage, the village is opening more spots to commuters

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Following a sur ve y of near by b usinesses and c lose monitoring, Rive rside is taking steps to more efficiently d esignate pa rk ing spots at Pa rk ing L ot 8 of f E ast Quincy Street.

Trustees on T hursday approved an ordinance amending Riverside’s village code to reduce the number of business parking spots in the lot to six and make business parking permits renew annually rather than quar terly as of the new year. The village board approved the measure as part of the consent agenda alongside other routine items after ag reeing to put it up for a vote last month.

They did so after hearing an update

about the utilization of the parking lot from Finance Director Yvette Zavala at their Sept. 5 meeting.

“We [sent] a second survey to the surrounding businesses and received an overwhelming positive response to the business parking trial. Everyone was in favor of keeping it,” she told trustees, refer ring to the parking lot’s split between commuter, business and bank parking.

Since the trial run began in May 2022, 20 spots have been dedicated to commuter parking, 12 have been reserved for employees of nearby businesses, and five have been saved for customers of First American Bank, located at 15 Riverside Rd.

Due to low use, Zavala said village staf f recommended halving the number of business parking spots and marking the rest for commuters, who heavily use the lot to access transit into Chicago.

“Using the data from the last [survey], about half the spaces were being utilized at any given time: in the mor ning, at lunch and in the evening,” she said.

Hitzeman Funeral Home’s

making the wh than q uarterly in order to a ccommodat e business owner s.

In response to a question from Trustee Cristin Evans, Zavala elaborated on the results of the second survey.

“The results were, ‘We like this program.’ They said, during even the busy

Artist cited for gra ti on public sidewalks in Brook eld

Brookfield police cited a Chicago man Sept. 26 for spraying graffiti throughout town on Sept. 14.

Police first became aware of the gr affit i on Sept. 16 after an officer on patrol saw the stenciled wo rds “Black Lives Matter/ Black Music Matters” on the 3700 block of Grand Boulevard. An officer located and identified similar gr affiti later that day on public s idewalks near the p ost offic e on Prairie Avenue, Sebatian’s A le House, Pub 78, Brookfield Breakfast, Gosia’s Coffe e, the Brookfield Avenue bridge and the S alt Creek pedestrian bridg e. T hey also located gr affiti on the private property of Fill My Jar, but the owner signed a form refusing to prosecute.

Using village c ameras, p olice obser ve d a man carrying a satchel and holdin g stencils starting around 3 a.m. on Sept . 14. Over the c ourse of about two hour s, the man was c aught on c amera walking to and from the areas where gr affiti was f ound; in some i nstances, p olice saw the man spraying the gr af fiti on camera.

On Sept. 17, Brookfield p olice perfor m a reve r se image search and f ound the same stenciled gr affiti d esigns on a Chicago artist’s we bsit e. Police also f ound images of the gr affiti in Brookfield on the we bsit e. After finding the man’s contact info rm ation, p olice looked up hi s p hone n umber and f ound it b elonged to someone with a similar name; they also f ound the artist’s I nsta gr am a ccount with pictures of the gr affiti in Brookfield. Police obtained an image of the man, who fit the physical d escription of the subject captured on camera.

Police later c onducted a p hoto gr aphic lineup with images of the man and five others; an employee at I rish Times, wh o was seen on c amera telling the man to leave before he c ould s pray gr affiti, ident ified the man as the person he had seen.

After multiple a ttempts to r each the man, p olice i ssued him seven citations for the gr affiti on Sept. 26 after making c ontact with him at his Chicago r esid enc e. An Oct. 21 court date was set.

Drunk driver arrested for sleeping at the wheel

Riverside police arrested a man Oct. 2

for driving drunk after a resident called to complain about a car stopped in an intersection with a sleeping driver.

Around 11:30 p. m ., officers r esponded to the i ntersection of Blackhawk and S outh Delaplaine r oad s, where the ca r was re ported to be stopped. After arriving, officers saw the man’s car facing east on Blackhawk Road, though it was stopped at the stop sign, with the drive r asleep at the wheel and slumped over. An officer opened the drive r’s d oor and announced themselves, waking the drive r, who slur red his wo rds during co nversation. After the man wo ke, the officer asked him to step out of his ca r, wh ic h he did “slo wly” wh i le staggering to ke ep his b alanc e, p olice said. T he officer noted the man had glassy eyes.

After stepping out of the ca r, the man said he did not r ealize he was asleep in his car and that he was c oming from Paisans Pizzeria. W hen asked, the man provided his drive r’s license, wh ich the officer f ound c ame back c lear from the p olice database alongside the car’s re gistration. T he officer asked the man if he had drunk alcohol at the r estaurant, bu t the man said he had not; he a dded tha t he f alls asleep easily after wo rk ing b ut, when asked, said he had not wo rked that day. T he officer also saw the man p lac e a breath mint in his mouth before asking him to take field sobriety testing, to wh ich he ag r eed

During the tests, the officer obser ve d seve r al indicators that the man was impaired, including using his arms to b alance and failing to f ollow i nstructions

T he officer of fered the man a preliminary breath test, b ut he declined and said it would not show b lood alcohol c ontent under 08, the le g al limit, if he took it

T he officer d etermined the man was drunk and p laced him under ar r est before transporting him to be b ooked and processed. At the p olice station, the man refused a second c hemical breath test and invo ke d his right to silence after asking for a lawyer. Police c harged the See POLICE REPORTS on pa ge 16

NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR THE VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE

I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for the Village of Riverside for 2024 will be held on October 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 4 of Township Hall located at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546.

Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Yvette Zavala, Village Treasurer, at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546, phone number 708-447-2700.

II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $7,159,083. The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be to be levied for 2024 are $7,820,000. This represents a 9.23% increase over the previous year.

III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2023 were $799,955. The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 are $500,500. This represents a 37.43% decrease over the previous year.

IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $7,987,592.

The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $8,320,500. This represents a 4.17% increase over the previous year.

Ethan Sowl Village Clerk

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE

Citizen Canine gives senior dogs a second chance at life

Best friends opened the rescue during the pandemic

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

During the COVID-19 p andemi c, two women who have been best friends sinc e c olle ge used the lockdown to launc h their dream: opening a r escue for senior do gs a reality.

More than four years later, Citizen Canine is still going strong. The La Grange Park-based nonprofit is dedicated to giving older dogs a happy and loving life during their final years. Since 2020, Karina Reyes of La Grange Park and Miriam GardnerRyan of Indianapolis, the women behind the operation, have adopted out more than 100 senior dogs.

Although it is based in the western suburbs, Citizen Canines’ rescue ef for ts extend across the Chicagoland area and throughout the Midwest.

So far, the oldest dog they have rescued was a 20-year-old named Rudy

“We thought it would be very hard to find someone to foster him, but an incredible woman came along and took him in,” Reyes said.

The woman fostered Rudy for two years and then adopted him. He lived until the age of 23. In general, Citizen Canine considers a dog to be a senior once they are seven years old.

Even though the organization does not have a physical location, they are technically based out of Reyes’ home in La Grange Park.

“We do all the business out of here and my garage is the space where we store supplies,” Reyes said.

As a foster-based rescue organization, Citizen C anine de p ends on foster f amilies to ke ep their operation r unning. After being rescued, the senior dogs are taken to Naperville Animal Hospital for medical care and a physical. After that, the dogs head directly to a foster home where they live wh i le waiting to be adopted. To care for the dogs, foster f amilies are given a monthly stipend

“We cover all of our fosters’ expenses,” Reyes said. “Our foster folks don’t have to pay for anything.”

Eight families throughout the Chicagoland area now serve as fosters for Citizen Canine Reyes said all the families are pretty local, since Naperville Animal Hospital is where the dogs need to be taken for medical appointments. This is because Citizen Canine has a partnership with the hospital that allows them to get the dogs care for a lower fee.

“I cannot say enough good things about Naperville Animal Hospital,” Reyes said.

According to Reyes, most of the senior dogs that end up at Citizen Canine are surrendered by owners who are no longer able to care for them. Others come from animal control facilities and humane societies.

“One of the nice things that we’ve been able to do through just growing is develop a network of other rescue organizations that we work with,” Reyes said.

One unique aspect of Citizen Canine is that they do not separate a pair of bonded dogs when they are surrendered together.

“We’re committed to keeping them together,” Reyes said.

In terms of funding, Reyes said 99%

comes from donations and occasionally they get a small grant.

“There are so many dogs in need and our ability to reach and help dogs is entirely dependent on donations,” she said.

Cindy Brunger, a La Grange Park resident who has volunteered with Citizen Canine since it was first established, said she has always had a soft spot for older dogs. During her time as a volunteer, Brunger has fostered five dogs.

“The very first one I got, Finn, looked so awful when we got her,” Brunger said. “She was just barely hanging on but man, did that girl clean up well. She was the cutest little thing and eventually got adopted. As far as I know, she’s still living happily with a woman out in Oakbrook.”

Brunger said other aspects of servin g as a volunteer include taking dogs to the vet and doing home visits with p otential foster families

A nother La Grange Pa rk r esident, Chris Joyc e, started volunteering with Citizen C anine last f all after r etirin g from her job as a teacher.

Joyc e’s first task after joining Citizen C anine was driving a 10-year- old Chihuahua named Brownie to his new home in Milwaukee

In addition to transporting dogs, she also sends out a spreadsheet to all the volunteers each week that lists what needs to get done.

“Then everybody signs up for what they can do,” she said.

Joyce said Citizen Canine helps both senior dogs and the people who have to surrender them.

“A lot of times they have had the do g for many year s. T hey have love d this do g and j ust c annot take care of it anymore, for wh atever r eason,” she said. “S o, fo r them to know that the dog is going i nto a wonderful f oster and will be well care d for is gr eat. This whole thing is so p ositive and wonderful. ”

Donations c an be made via: Paypal, Venmo ( CitizenCanineRescue- Re yes), Zelle at 312-919-6038, or by c heck to 502 Dove r Ave, La Grange Pa rk , IL 60526. Fo r more info rm ation, visit https://www. citizencaninerescue.org /

PROVIDED

Citizen Canine Rescue’s Co-Founders Karina Reyes (le ) and Miriam Gardner-Ryan (right)

Opinion

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Street repair referendum

Both the village government of Riverside and the local newspaper that covers the community are a bit hamstrung when it comes to speaking up about the tax levy referendum, which will be on ballots this fall.

The village board and staff crafted the referendum that changes up funding mechanisms to pay for street and sewer repairs in town going forward. They chose to put it on the ballot. But by law, elected and appointed leaders are limited in what they say. Their purpose under law is to provide “education” to voters on the measure. They are not to actively advocate for the referendum.

Likewise, The Landmark, now part of the nonprofit Growing Community Media organization, is now prohibited by IRS regs from endorsing candidates for office or taking positions on ballot measures So we won’t.

We will, however, point to a letter to the editor in today’s paper from Mike Maher, a local. He sincerely asks if there is a legitimate reason to oppose the referendum. He hasn’t heard of a compelling argument and wants to make sure he isn’t missing it. We’d note that the Landmark has not found any organized opposition to report on, and there have been no letters to the editor expressly opposing the measure.

In an interview this week, Village President Doug Pollock and Village Manager Jessica Frances make the educational case for how the village will be able to stretch its limited street repair budget by ending the practice of selling bonds at interest to pay for upgrades to the streets and instead replacing the annual principal and interest payments to bondholders with a slightly higher property tax levy. There will be, they promise, no increase in the overall dollars Riverside property taxpayers will be required to pay.

We’d urge residents to attend a town hall next week sponsored by the village. It will also be an opportunity to review the state-mandated wording of the referendum which, as often happens in these cases, is confusing. There is some education necessary for sure.

Bus full of truth

As we move through the final month of a national election pocked with both misinformation and active hate speech, it is a good time for the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library to welcome the innovative Mobile Museum of Tolerance.

Between Oct. 13 and 16, the bus will roll up with a mission of educating tweens, teens and adults about the rise of hate speech both in America and across the world. There will also be a focus on how to discern legitimate information from the active propaganda and misinformation now polluting our online world.

This is a valuable service from the Simon Wiesenthal Center and welcomed by our public library

LETTERS

Riverside tax levy referendum question

Does anyone object to the looming (Riverside) 2024 tax levy referendum proposal that will be on the November ballot? Riverside’s “official” explanation describes a reallocation of street re pair/maintenance funding that will reduce interest costs but not increase taxes. On the surface that appears reasonable — but age has

OBITUARIES

Pat Zdarsky, 98

Ow ned A.M. Par ts Serv ice Inc.

Anna M. “Pat” Zdarsky (nee Raleigh), 98, a 74-year resident of North Riverside, died on Oct. 1, 2024.

Pat and her husband George were for mer co-owners of A.M. Parts Service Inc. in Lyons (19561997). She was a 60-year member and past president of the Mater Christi “Taber nacle” Guild, Guild Woman of the Year, recipient of the Christifideles Award and proud member of the North Riverside Sportsman’s Club. She was a true fan of the Chicago Cubs — one of her happiest days was watching the seventh game of the 2016 World Series on TV with loved ones. She was in her element, providing her signature baked hams over the years. She tirelessly hosted many good-time parties, especially her Christmas parties for family, extended family, friends, neighbors and A.M. Parts’ customers. She dedicated a lot of her free time to simple kindnesses, helping family and friends. Her annual Halloween parties will be remembered by many neighbors, friends and family, who grew up in her driveway enjoying hot chocolate, whipped cream, apple cider, donut holes, pastries, candy, photos, and much more, providing Pat the energy and spark to run it again each year

Pat was the wife of the late George R. Zdarsky for 65 years; the mother of Michael (Ann) Zdarsky, Patti Jo (Alan) Meyer, George (Renée) Zdarsky, and Brian (Diane) Zdarsky; the grandmother of Maggie (Dan) Potempa, Patrick Meyer, Alison Zdarsky, Katie Meyer, Amanda (Tommy) Wiznerowicz, Billy (Katie) Meyer, Kelsie (s.o. Ken Mantel) Zdarsky, Emylee (fiancé Steven Rhoads) Zdarsky and Joseph Zdarsky; great-grandmother of Georgia, Malone and Sullivan Potempa, Thomas, Wyatt and Charlee Wiznerowicz, and Baby Meyer to be; sister of Pat (the late Dalton Lee) Brown, Dennis Raleigh, the late Rosemary Raleigh, the late Betty (late John) Hamilton, the

made me wary. Is someone who opposes the proposal willing to explain his/her disag reement? I am not looking to start a debate. I am trying to understand if there is another side — and why. Mike Maher Ri verside

late Joan (late Virgil Hamer, late Eldon Sinram) Hamer, the late George (Gloria) Raleigh and the late John (Linda) Raleigh; daughter of the late George and the late Marie Raleigh (nee Fenelon); and the sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, neighbor and friend to many.

Visitation was held at Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road, Westchester on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7 from 3 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Oct. 8 at Mater Christi Church, 2401 S. 10th Ave., North Riverside, followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, we will donate your contributions to her charities.

Arrangements were handled by the Original Kuratko Family - Brian D. Kuratko, funeral director

Susan Pederson, 77

Homemaker

Susan Jane Pederson (nee Hernandez), 77, of Plainfield, for merly of Brookfield, died on Oct. 6, 2024 in Plainfield. Born on Oct. 3, 1947 in Oak Park, she was a homemaker who enjoyed needlepoint, sewing and her family

S usan was the w ife of Dean Pe derson; mother of the late Dean (Maria) Pe derson and the late Dennis Pe derson; gr andmother of Brandon (Briana), Cristina, David (Lena), Denny and Dean Pe derson; sister of Debbie Matozzi, N ancy LaFrancis, Art Hernand ez , Bob Hernand ez , John Hernand ez , Carol Hernand ez , Vi cki Suddreth, Marge Murray and the late Frank Hernand ez , Tom Hernand ez , Bette Mersereau, Mary Franson, L oui s Hernand ez and Lucille Stewart; and aunt and great-aunt to many.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, from 10 a.m. until time of funeral Mass, 11 a.m. at St. Barbara Church, 4000 Prairie Ave., Brookfield. Arrangements were handled by JohnsonNosek Funeral Home, Brookfield. Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family at www.JohnsonNosek.com.

& FRESHLOCAL

POLICE REPORTS

from page 13

man for driving under the influence of alcohol, pa rk ing improperly on a r oadway and driving an uninsured vehicl e before setting a Nov. 15 c ourt date and r eleasing him after driving him to hi s r esidenc e.

These items were obtained from the River-

GYM

from page 3

Elizabeth Kos advocated for including the gym anyway.

“Having come from the parks and recreation board, I know how incredibly difficult it is to find gym space to do anything around here. I know that from working in a school, too; gym space is absolutely at a premium around here,” Kos said. “I know we had some frustrations on the parks and rec board with not being able to offer things because we sim-

REFERENDUM

side raise its levy by up to 9.3% this year

“The 9.3% that’s listed in the referendum is a maximum that includes the CPI modification, up to 5%, plus the 4.3%. That’s the levy,” Pollock said. He said the extra levy collected beyond the CIP rate, which is 3.4% this year, is worth the same amount residents were paying toward the expiring bond debt.

Pollock acknowledged that residents’ property taxes will go down this year if the referendum fails — at the expense of Riverside’s streets. Aside from that short-term gain, Pollock, who later clarified he was speaking for himself rather than on Riverside’s behalf as an elected official, said he had only heard one solid argument against the referendum: by voting for bonds every decade, residents can hold the village board accountable and decide whether Riverside should spend its money on street improvements

side Police Department reports dated Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 and the Brookfield Police Department reports dated Sept. 26 to Oct. 7; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest

Compiled by Trent Brown

ply could not get gym space to offer it.”

Claucherty said the board ought to look at other spaces for the gym or community spaces, though the rest of the board agreed it would be a futile effort.

“We have exhausted every possibility of existing land that is immediately available,” Pollock said. “When you start talking about acquiring land, that gets a little difficult to have that conversation because you’re affecting people’s lives.”

Ultimately, the board agreed to have Williams continue with its plan for the project, including the community gym.

going to lose that game,” he said.

In terms of keeping an eye on the village board, Pollock said, “that accountability, I believe, is [already] there, especially in a small town like Riverside.”

“Let’s say the referendum gets approved At any point, any group of residents in this village can put forward a referendum to overturn that. They can run for the village board and get elected, and they can abate that tax if they want,” he said. “Everyone on the board is a resident, just like everybody else. We’re imposing this on ourselves.”

Frances pointed to an internal map tracking Riverside’s street improvements since 2004, as well as the village’s consistent grantseeking efforts, as “the epitome of accountability of what we do with village resources.”

“But in this case, where it’s an ongoing maintenance item — it’s not a building, where you spend the money and then your cost to maintain plummets. It’s like borrowing money to pay to your ComEd bill. You’re

“Every time we have an opportunity where we can seek those resources to get those streets resurfaced, we do, and we really try to maximize the dollar when we’re doing improvements and minimize the disruption,” she said. “Every time we’re touching a street, we’re not just touching what’s on top. We’re addressing any issues. If water mains are undersized, or if we need sewers for increased capacity, we’re looking at addressing all those different things, and we’re taking a really thoughtful approach.”

Sports

Bulldogs persevere, earn key win over Glenbard South

Lions to visit Downers Grove North in showdown of undefeated powers

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Junior John Bielobradek provided his big spark for the Riverside Brookfield High School football team, Friday, early in the second quar ter.

Instead of rolling right and punting, Bielobradek kept the ball and went down the sideline 23 yards for a first down to the 35 yard line. He later kicked his first of two field goals.

“It was not supposed to be a fake punt. I saw an opening so I took it,” Bielobradek said. “[It] helped the momentum. Everybody was g etting hyped on the sidelines. It was just a great feeling overall. I really did think that play was a momentum-changer for the team, but that’s not all that happened.”

The big plays kept coming by the Bulldogs against perennial playoff team Glenbard South. RB took the lead in the third quarter and defied the odds for an emotional 26-21 Upstate Eight Conference home victory on Senior Night. It was quite a statement for RBHS (3-3, 1-2 in UEC East Division) in their debut season. The Raiders (4-2, 3-1) were last year’s tri-champions in a one-division UEC and appear to be on pace for their 13th straight playof f appearance. The Bulldogs also were coming of f a 21-14 loss at Fenton, which lost to Glenbard South 49-6 on Sept. 20.

“This is actually so huge for us. Everyone was doubting us,” Bielobradek said. “We had nothing to lose. We gave it to them for four quarters straight, never gave up.”

“No one, no one thought we were going to win,” said junior safety Warren Mason. “You go into school and everyone’s like, ‘How’s the game going to be this week?’ We knew we had nothing to lose. And we won.”

Quarterback Giancarlo Garcia was 15 for 23 passing for 283 yards with two TDs passes to Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus, who had nine catches for 198 yards. Jayden Karas had a 17-yard TD run, and Bielobradek kicked field goals of 25 and 26 yards.

Luke Ferguson and John Evans had key second-half interceptions. The Raiders marched from their 14 to the Bulldogs’ 28 in the final minute before Evans broke up a second-down pass inside the 5.

The game ended with a penalized incomplete pass from the 33 thrown beyond the line of scrimmage

“Huge plays when we needed it. Huge stops on defense. You can’t say great enough things about both sides,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said. “It was great. Foot on the gas pedal the entire time. They didn’t blink once. I told our guys we need to work on finishing this week and playing for each other and they did just that.”

Oak Park and River Forest’s Jake Karnick (25) tries to br ing down Lyons Township’s Danny Carroll (7) during a West Suburban Conference game Fr iday, Oct. 4 in Western Springs.

The Bulldogs also gained momentum toward at least five victories and hopes of their fifth straight playoff berth. UEC East games remain against winless Elmwood Park, West Chicago (4-2, 2-1) and first-place Glenbard East (5-1, 3-0).

“Like I told linebacker Max Strong before the game, ‘I play for you. You play for me. We play for each other. That’s how we win this game,’” Mrozik-DeJesus said. “If that’s not what we demonstrated, I don’ t know what that was.”

Teamwork combined for perhaps the game’s biggest play. The Raiders led 13-9 out of halftime and had the ball to start the second half.

On third-and-8, the Bulldogs’ Myron O’Bea deflected a screen pass and a diving Ferguson interce pted at the 24.

Karas scored three plays later around left end for a 1613 lead

“Myron getting up over that screen, hitting the ball up, I owe all of the credit to him. I just got under it,” Ferguson said. “It was definitely a huge turnover and I’m happy I

was there to get it.”

Mrozik-DeJesus’ second TD rece ption truly was uplifting, an 18-yard catch of Garcia’s perfectly thrown ball. He leapt and caught it just over the head of the defender.

“That’s what we like to call a ‘head top’ and it felt great. It was my first one,” Mrozik-DeJesus said. “My teammates were loving it. I think it was a momentum-shifter.”

On the first play from scrimmage, Garcia threw a quick out pass to Mrozik-DeJesus, who went down the left sidelines 44 yards to the 7. Then they connected on a 13-yard pass for a 6-0 lead.

“It just felt great to prove everyone wrong,” Garcia said. “Coming out hot with the offense, and then the defense bailing us out in certain situations, it’s a great team win,” Tackle leaders were Strong (16 total, 6 solos), Oscar Aguir re (11, 4 solo) and Mason (9, 3 solos). Strong and Mason

See FOOTBALL on page 18

STEVE JOHNSTON

Palm quali es for state in boys golf; LTHS just misses as team

Bulldogs advance to team sectionals for rst time since 2015

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Senior Anderson Palm seemed destined to be a varsity standout for the Lyons Township High School boys golf team, even as a freshman. The results of an MRI for his left wrist ended that initial season after it barely started.

“Before the second day of tryouts, I found out it was broken,” Palm said.

It’s no wonder that as Palm has emerged as one of the area’s top boys golfers, he’s done so with lessons learned from practicing patience.

“I think just staying patient is big, within a round but also through the course of a season,” Palm said. “With golf you’ll go through stretches where you feel everything doesn’t go your way and then all of it can change at once and you can be playing really good. All I had to do is keep working on getting it.”

The long postseason wait for Palm ended Monday. He qualified for his first Class 3A state meet via the Glenbrook North Sectional at Heritage Oaks. Palm’s 3-over-par 73 tied for ninth overall, and was among the top 10 golfers not from the three qualifying teams to advance individually.

The 3A state meet is Oct. 18-19 at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.

“I was pretty nervous coming into today mainly because I’ve never made it down-

FOOTBALL

from page 17

had tackles for loss.

Glenbard South closed to 23-21 with 10:15 left after Evans intercepted at the 12 in the third quarter. Bielobradek’s 26-yard field goal came with 7:01 left after a 59-yard drive fueled by a 48-yard pass to Karas.

“This is a great win. Everything about it is just so great,” said senior co-captain and starting center Isaac Olivares.

“It’s something to really remember Even the last seconds, I didn’t want to look at the field. It was so intense. Everything was just ecstatic.”

state individually or with the team,” Palm said.

“I knew for sure that I was good enough to go. It was just a matter if the putts went my way, the golf gods, as [LTHS coach Brian Kopecky] would say, were in my favor. I’m glad that things went my way but it could have been better.”

Once again, the Lions came agonizingly close to advancing as a team from arguably the state’s strongest sectional.

They finished fourth (301), four strokes behind Glenbrook South (297), the third and final advancing team. Had the teams tied for third, the Lions would have advanced based on the fifth-score tiebreaker

Rive rside Brookfield (322) was 12th in i ts first sectional team appearance sinc e 2015, the season before Jim Festle became head coach.

LTHS juniors Finley Tyrrell and Garrett Pohl and sophomore Charlie Forrest (76s) were two shots from the individual state cutof f score, followed by sophomore Ben Hare (78) and senior Tommy Niemiec (92).

Seeking their first state team berth since 2021, the Lions played two practice rounds at Heritage Oaks. Last season, their 303 was three strokes from the last qualifying team at sectionals. Tyrrell advanced to state individually.

“It is what it is when you come here at this sectional. You have to play exceptionally well. We played good but a couple of

LTHS football

Lyons Township High School senior football player Mack Long found the end zone three different ways Friday. His receiving and two defensive touchdowns were part of another big offensive effort in the undefeated Lions’ 49-14 Blackout victory over Oak Park and River Forest in Western Springs. Next for the Lions (5-0, 3-0 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division), ranked No. 8 in 8A last week, is Friday’s showdown at Downers Grove North (5-0, 3-0), last year’s Class 7A state runners-up, ranked No. 3 in 7A.

“We’re really excited. We’ve been thinking about this game all year,” Long said. “We knew the conference championship would kind of come down to it. We’re going to go out

shots here and there. We’re good enough to be competing with these really good schools but we just need to get over the socalled hump,” Kopecky said.

“There’s no answer to it. We played well but needed to play a little bit better. It’s not that they didn’t try or didn’t prepare. It’s been an awesome season. It’s been a fun ride.”

Palm hopes to challenge for a top-10 allstate finish. His biggest highlight remains helping the Lions defeat Hinsdale Central in a dual for the first time since 2012 (146149 Sept. 16) en route to the West Suburban Silver title.

“Beating Hinsdale. And winning conference. That outdoes this, but this is a close second,” Palm said. “I’m really excited [about state], but obviously disappointed we couldn’t get the team.”

Junior Connor Dominick’s 78 led RBHS, followed by seniors Brady McCallum and Josh Udelson (80s) and Michael Oppe gard (84) and juniors Gavin Sharenow and Ronnie Murray (90).

Both teams advanced with top-three regional finishes Oct. 2. The Bulldogs also were coming of f winning the Upstate Eight Conference in their debut season after capturing the final Metro Suburban Conference crown in 2023 – the program’s first conference championships.

“It’s cool to see the improvements. Throughout the years, each year we’ve gotten better,” Udelson said. “I think espe-

cially when we’re looking at scores and we see our names at the top, it helps you want to play better.”

For Udelson and McCallum, they shared the season highlight of making their first eagles, each at St. Andrews in West Chicago but in different events.

“It’s exciting. We’ve been playing a lot better the last two years. We’re playing good golf,” McCallum said. “With all of the practices we’ve been doing, we’ve been improving a lot. The more we play, the better we get.”

LTHS (299) won the Elk Grove Re gional at Fox Run by 14 strokes over York, the Lions’ fifth re gional title in the past six seasons. Palm (73) was second, four strokes behind York’s Will Huber. Forrest (74) tied for third, Pohl (75) was fifth, Tyrrell (77) tied for eighth and Niemiec (78) tied for 10th. Hare shot 81.

At the Maine South Re gional at Wilmette Golf Club, the Bulldogs (311) were third, nine strokes ahead of fourth-place Maine South. Dominick (77) tied for eighth and McCallum, Udelson and Sharenow (78s) tied for 10th, followed by Oppe gard (81) and Murray (85).

“This was our deepest team ever so [now] it’s really up to the freshmen, sophomores and other returning juniors to kind of step up their game,” Festle said. “It’s the 40some weeks between seasons where you get better.”

there and do our best.”

Mack now has four TDs. His first was also unique, a 69-yard return at Hinsdale Central of a field-goal attempt blocked by Pat Cheney. He first scored on Friday’s opening drive, taking a third-down bubble pass from quarterback Dom Pisciotti and turning it into a 62-yard TD play down the left sideline.

Long said, “Taking a screen, a bubble all the way to the house was really nice.”

Defensively, he scored the final two TDs on consecutive possessions by the Huskies (1-4, 1-2) in the third quarter.

Mack picked up an errant lateral pass pressured by Shane Harris and returned the fumble 20 yards for a TD. On the next series, Mack had a 42-yard pick-six interception, joining

senior Travis Stamm’s pick-six TD retur n against Glenbard West.

“The quarterback was kind of throwing it up all game. I was just waiting for my time to make a play,” Mack said. “[The fumble] was actually a backwards pass. I didn’t hear the whistle. If they don’t blow the whistle, we practice picking it up.”

Danny Carroll (135 yards on 14 carries) used a 24-yard TD run in the second quarter to break a 14-14 tie. Then came a 52-yard TD pass to Stamm from Pisciotti (10-of-15 passing, 209 yards) for a 28-14 halftime lead and a 12-yard TD run by Cheney in the third quarter.

Tackle leaders were Lou Ratcliffe (9), Jack Grigus and Cheney (7 each), JD Mahoney (6) and Harris (5).

LEGAL NOTICE

Request of Sarah Jennette Nieman Case Number 20244005683

There

The court date will be held: On November 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2024 for the following:

Village of Oak Park Stone & Sand Materials Bid Number: 25-102

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified vendors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1, 2024 for the following:

Village of Oak Park Water and Sewer Repair Parts and Materials - 2025 Bid Number: 25-100

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/ bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal October 9, 2024

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

in Wednesday Journal October 9, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18th, 2024 for the following:

Village of Oak Park Viaduct Conduit Repair Project Requests for Prices Bid Number: 24-131

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal October 9, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

CONCERNING RIVERSIDE

BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208

PROPOSED eLEARNING PLAN

CONCERNING RIVERSIDE

BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208

PROPOSED eLEARNING PLAN

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that Township High School District Number 208, Cook County, Illinois, will hold a public hearing regarding the District’s proposed eLearning Program on the 22nd day of October 2024, at 7:00 o’clock P.M.

The hearing will be held in Room 201 in the Riverside Brookfield High School Building, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Illinois.

The purpose of said hearing will be to receive public comment on the proposed eLearning Program which, if approved, will permit students’ instruction to be received electronically while students are not physicallypresent in lieu of the District’s scheduled emergency days. This program is allowed under Public Act 101-0012. If approved, the eLearning Program will be implemented for a three-year term.

By order of the President of the Board of Education of Township High School District Number 208, Cook County, Illinois.

Mary Ann Nardi

Secretary, Board of Education, Township High School District Number 208, Cook County, Illinois

in RB Landmark October 9, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff,

Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a

identification issued by a

CHRISTOPHER J. HANSON, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

agency (driver’s

into

Defendants 2022 CH 09656 138 ERIE ST OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 22, 2024, an agent for Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on October 24, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: THE WEST 37 FEET OF LOT 4 IN SCHULTZS SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF BLOCK 6 IN KETTLESTRINGS ADDITION TO HARLEM, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Commonly known as 1138 ERIE ST., OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-07-106-0180000

The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The

etc.) in

and the

in Cook County and the

for

held at

venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-22-04152 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2022 CH 09656 TJSC#: 44-2028

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2022 CH 09656 I3252359