‘Arthur’s Cookbook’ aims to celebrate employee who died last November
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield’s library is looking to celebrate the life of late circulation assistant Arthur Williams through one of the things he loved the most: sharing food.
The Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library is accepting recipe submissions online and in-person through the end ofthe year for ‘Arthur’s Cookbook: Food for the Soul’ in honor of Williams, 52, who suf fered a fatal heart attack while working at the library last November. The cookbook will be published in early 2025 to be added to the library’s physical and digital collection and sold at
Riverside-Brook eld’s Abigail Weinert (22) drives to the basket against Hinsdale South during the Brenda Whitesell Invitational, Nov. 21, in Darien. Both boys and girls are holding cour t. Stor ies on pages 17-18. See ARTHUR on page 3
STEVE JOHNSTON
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ARTHUR
Remembered
through
cookbook project
from page 1
the Brookfield Far mers Market next year.
Alex Tsolis, a youth services associate at the library, said she had the idea for the project while speaking with a coworker about how she wished she could put together a community cookbook.
“I was like, ‘I wish I had a cookbook [so] I can flip through recipes that [are] not something I can just Google, like a couple of recipes from people in the community,’” she said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, Arthur loved food. I wish he would be here for this,’ and [then] I was like, ‘Oh. “Arthur’s Cookbook” would be an incredible title’ … It just kind of sparked on a Tuesday night randomly at the desk. Within 30 seconds, we had the idea, and I was writing an email about it.”
Executive Director Kimberly Coughran said the cookbook was a fitting memorial for Williams, who was a beloved employee at the library.
“Arthur loved food, period. He loved to try people’s different recipes,” she said. “He talked about different dishes with members in the community, and they would oftentimes come in and bring him things to try.”
Coughran said the Friends + Foundation for the Brookfield Library, a nonprofit that supports the library financially, donated $3,000 to cover costs related to putting the cookbook together. Funds raised from the book’s sale at the far mers market will go back to the Friends + Foundation, she said.
Tsolis said the library started accepting recipes to remember Williams on Nov. 1 and has already received 36 from residents, but she has her sights on raising the bar even higher.
“This was bigger than I ever imagined it. I thought it was just going to be something super small, and Kim really fostered a space where I could make it this bigger community project,” she said. “I want over 100 [recipes] by the end of December. I’m thinking through the holidays, we can get there.”
She said the library plans to include every recipe or memory submitted by the community, barring any that are incoherent.
“Arthur was larger than life in his personality, and he brought so much light to [not only] the community but also the library, and I think it’s important that we all show up for him in the way that he showed up for us, so I really want to get as many recipes as possible and as many memories as possible,” Tsolis said. “Even if you don’t have a recipe, I would love for someone to submit just some memories, because we plan on having a memory section [in the book].”
Coughran said Williams’ passing last year left a mark on many of the library’s employees.
“It was a wake-up call for all of us about how precious life is, and we bring him up re gularly in conversation,” she said. “The entirety of our staf f, as well as all of our groups associated with the library, whether it’s our Friends + Foundation, our trustees [or] the different clubs such as the cookbook club, all had interactions with Arthur and all miss him ter ribly.”
While Tsolis said she worked with Williams for just four or five months before he died, he made a lasting impression on her even before she started with the library.
“I was here interviewing, and he asked me what I was here for. I was like, ‘Oh, I have an interview,’ and he was like, ‘Well, let me give you a tour’ … He was just incredibly kind and was willing to
Brook eld’s librar y is creating a cookbook in honor of Arthur Williams, a circulation assistant who died on the job last November.
step away from what he was doing and give me a tour,” she said. “When I was leaving, he made sure to say goodbye to me. He was like, ‘OK, I’ll see you on your first day,’ and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I got it yet.’ He was like, ‘No, you got it. You’ll be here. I’ll see you’ … As soon as I found out that I had gotten the position, I was so excited to come in and tell him, and that’s one of the memories that I cherish dearly. He was the first person to believe that I would be here, and I miss him every day for it.”
Tsolis said Williams’ impact on the Brookfield community was even greater.
“It’s bittersweet, right? It’s so sad but so happy because we’re still remembering him to this day, and it’s so sad to think about him because we miss him so dearly,” she said. “We still have patrons come in and say, ‘Oh, he used to have my hold ready for me. I didn’t even have to check it out. It would just be immediately at the front desk for me, and I was ready to go,’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah. That’s just who he was,’ and I saw that every day. I try my best to be a little like Arthur every single day.”
CO RRECTI ON
An article titled “12 Berwyn independent candidates face petition objections,” which ran in print Nov. 20, misstated the ward where Patricia Ostaszewski is running for alderman. She is running in Berwyn’s Fourth Ward. We apolo gize for the er ror.
Chair Eric Weinheimer Treasurer Nile Wendor f Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Audra Wilson
HOW TO REACH US
ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066
In partnership with local homeless service organization BEDS Plus, the Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library has developed two Homelessness Educational Kits as a learning resource for grades kindergarten through high school. In light of the current refugee crisis, these kits are a great resource for parents, educators, and service groups. Anyone interested in learning more about the Homelessness Educational Kits can do so by visiting the librar y’s website at www.lsfbrook eldlibrar y.org/homelessness-educational-kits, or by contacting the Library via phone, email, or in-person. 3541 Park 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.
Ar thur’s Cookbook: Food for the Soul Submissions
November & December in-person or online LSF Brook eld Library
The Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library invites The Landmark readers to honor the late Arthur Williams, beloved Circulation Associate, by contributing recipes to a commemorative cookbook. Ar thur shared many conversations and recipes with colleagues, Library members, and friends. In honor of him and his love for food, the Library is asking community members to share memories of Arthur and favorite recipes to be included in “Arthur ’s Cookbook: Food for the Soul,” which will be published and added to the librar y’s collection in early 2025 and sold at next year’s Brook eld Farmers Market. The library is also working on a digital copy to be made available via the SWAN catalog. Recipes and stories can be submitted by anyone in November and December in-person at the commemorative cookbook display on the main oor of the LSF Brook eld Library or online at www.lsfbrook eldlibrar y. org/arthurs-cookbook. 3541 Park Ave.
Munchkins in Motion Open Gym
Monday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Nor th Riverside Parks & Rec
Children, with the assistance of an adult, can work to develop large muscle motor skills like rolling, hopping, crawling and other ageappropriate fun at this open gym on Monday! Open Gym will include music, play equipment and exercise. Preferred ratio is one adult to two children maximum. 2401 S. Des Plaines Ave.
Snoopy ’s Thanksgiving
Wednesday, Nov. 27, 11 - 11:30 a.m. Riverside Library (Foley Community Room) Are you ready for Thanksgiving a day early?! How about a Snoopy-styled Thanksgiving? Join the Riverside Library in watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving while snacking on buttered toast, popcorn, jellybeans, and pretzels… Snoopy’s way! This event is a dream come true for Charlie Brown fans considering Snoopy is very “in” right now. Registration is required for this event for all ages so register on the library’s website. Hurry, Snoopy can only feed so many! 1 Burling Rd
Tiny Tots Storytime
Tuesday, December 3, 6 p.m.
LSF Brook eld Library
Move and groove in this fun- lled evening storytime class every Tuesday. Stor ytime classes promote early literacy skills and spark a lifelong love for reading through play and social learning. This class is recommended for children aged 5 and under. All children must be accompanied by a caregiver. Register for classes and events online at www.lsfbrook eldlibrar y. org, by phone at 708-485-6917, or in person at the librar y. 3541 Park Ave
ARTHUR WILLIAMS
Officials say Pace’s f unding hasn’t g row n w ith suburban development, so buses largely remain positioned to ser v e communities as they existed in 1983, when Pace was founded.
Pace asks riders for feedback as it reimagines its future
e suburban bus company is holding a series of open houses and asking locals to ll out an online survey
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Do you wish that a Pace bus stopped more frequently along the route you take to work? Or that there was another bus stop closer to your neighborhood?
Now’s the time to offer up your feedback, as Pace asks riders to be a part of reimagining its suburban bus service.
At a meeting earlier this month, Pace’s Board of Directors presented the next step of ReVision, an initiative launched last November to address how the company can evolve with suburban residents’ needs by tweaking where and how often buses run. Now, Pace is
circulating an online survey and organizing three open houses – one is on Dec. 2 at Howard Mohr Community Center in Forest Park – to see just what those needs are.
At the first open house, a Zoom meeting on Nov. 20, Pace ’s executive director Melinda Metzger discussed how local transportation needs changed following the Covid-19 pandemi c.
With pandemic-era federal money, Pace added more-frequent buses on routes with lots of riders, additional weekend service, and more service earlier in the day and later in the evening.
“The goal of the ReVision project is to continue to provide more services and to show what a transformational investment in suburban bus service can achieve, as well as to develop a plan to adjust service that better meets post-pandemic travel patterns based on available funding levels,” Metzger said.
Pace’s ReVision plan will not affect its partnership Dial-A-Ride services or ADA paratransit for people with disabilities.
See PACE on page 16
Riverside considers pushing community solar to residents
e programs guarantee savings but could add to confusion over green energy aggregation
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Riverside officials are thinking of promoting community solar power programs to village residents as a way to go even greener and save money on their electricity bills.
At the village board’s Nov. 21 meeting, trustees discussed the programs, which could grant residents credits on their electricity bills in exchange for subscriptions to a solar power farm somewhere, after extending Riverside’s 100% green energy aggregation program for another year in the spring. At the time, Trustee Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga named solar power as a potential alternative to green energy aggregation, so the board directed village staff to look into it
While the board appears to have concluded the village should promote community solar programs alongside its annual energy aggregation program, trustees agreed to discuss it again at a meeting in January, as two board members were absent at the meeting.
What is community solar?
As Village Clerk Ethan Sowl explained to trustees, community solar programs give consumers a chance to reap the benefits of solar power without installing solar panels on their homes.
“You subscribe to a portion of a community solar garden somewhere, and then you receive that benefit,” Sowl said. “You can see, without community solar, that someone would just get their normal electric bill from ComEd. With community solar, residents would get two electric bills every month.”
The regular electric bill would come separately from the community solar bill; that regular bill would contain credits from the solar program that grant you a discount while the solar bill, which accounts for the credits, comes with its own discount of about 10% to 20%, meaning residents are guaranteed to see savings on the overall price they pay for electricity.
Sowl explained the other differences between community solar and electric aggregation programs, namely that residents must opt into solar programs while opting out of
the village’s aggregation program and that contracts for aggregation are approved by the village board while residents must sign individual contracts to sign up for community solar.
“The village would not ever engage with a company to implement a community solar program; it would be more of an infor mational campaign,” he said.
He added that about 12% of Riverside households opted out of the electric aggregation program this year, which he said was comparable to other aggregation programs across Illinois.
Sowl said village staff recommended the village promote community solar without endorsing a specific program for residents; he also said staff advised against pushing community solar at the same time as the village maintains its energy aggregation program.
“This is possible. This can be done; however, staff is not recommending to do this, as it would be very confusing to residents,” he said. “We already frequently get contacted during the aggregation renewal period from residents on how the program works While we publish a great deal of information on it, we still experience a consistent lack of awareness on the program.”
Trustees’ thoughts
Marsh-Ozga said she saw the upsides of both for ms of green energy
“I hate to lose the ease of administration of an aggregation program, but I also see that the increase in costs over time in that program has impacted some residents,” she said. “I would be interested [in pursuing community solar], though, because community solar really offers the opportunity to go with a known, green, renewable form of energy that you’re subscribing to and achieve savings off the ComEd rate, not to mention our higher aggregated rate.”
The rate most Riversiders are paying for electricity this year is 8.09 cents per kilowatthour; the ComEd rate, as of Oct. 1, is 6.47 cents per kWh.
Marsh-Ozga lauded a chart that Sowl
Thursday is more than turkey and football anksgiving
for local leaders combines c
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
Family tradition – for many it’s wh makes Thanksgiving the premier holiday of the year. For the leaders of the Riverside and Brookfield area, tradition for this holiday is a whole lot more than turkey, pumpkin pie and Chicago Bears football.
Just ask Todd Gierman, principal of Ames Elementary School in Riverside, which celebrated its 100th anniversary a few weeks ago.
“My f amily’s most prominent T hanksgiving tradition is the making of homemade stuffing,” Gierman said. “From breaking apar t the eight loa of bread into little pieces, to the cutting up of the many stalks of celery, onions sticks of butter, dissolving the bouillon cubes, and all the other delicious in gr ents, it’s something we g et up bright and early on T hanksgiving morning as a f amily to cook to g ether.”
Makes you hungry just thinking about it. Then there is Dr. Michael Adkesson, president and CEO of the Brookfield Zoo. For him and his family, it’s not pumpkin pie, but another flavor
“Every year we bake several apple pies from my grandmother’s amazing recipe,” he said. “They take so much longer to make than to eat – but it’s great family time together.”
He added, “As a kid I remember peeling and cutting up apples with my mom to make pies. Over the past few years, I’ve taken over the pie-making responsibilities, so now I’m spending time with my kids the day before Thanksgiving doing the same thing.”
That’s a good point Adkesson makes. What do our local luminaries remember about their family traditions when growing up?
Tur ns out, what they do is almost exactly what they have done for decades, or longer
“The day before Thanksgiving, my sisters and I would help my mom prepare the turkey and stuffing for the big feast,” said Kevin Skinkis, superintendent of Riverside-Brookfield School District 208.
“As the years passed, I realized and grew to appreciate all the work my mom put into cooking for the family on Thanksgiving and how much joy she got out of it,” he said. “Today, seeing the grandkids around that table helping her, just like my sisters
and I did when we were young, reminds me how important family is, and that’s what I’m most thankful for this Thanksgiving.”
Hector Freytas, principal at RiversideBrookfield, enjoys cultural fusion at Thanksgiving, melding family connections to Puerto Rico and Ecuador.
The centerpiece of the dinner table is pavochon, and it takes a little describing, but by the time Freytas is done, your mouth will be watering.
“It’s a turkey that is marinated like a roasted pig,” he said. “Imagine eating a turkey that tastes like pork. It’s a party in your mouth.”
That’s not all. There is Puerto Rican rice, which is incorporated into the stuffing, and an Ecuadorian seafood salad, with shrimp, mussels and scallops.
But there’s more than food. His family does a lot of Latin dancing, for example, something Freytas remembers fondly from his childhood.
“I remember growing up, dancing with my mom and dancing with my grandmother, we’re dancing and eating and celebrating,” he recalled. “That moment, let’s be happy and grateful.”
Riverside village president Douglas Pollock hails Thanksgiving as his favorite holiday. Why?
“It’s like the Christmas holiday but with a lot less stress,” he said. “Undoubtedly,
our family’s most prominent and prized Thanksgiving tradition is simply that we come together in one place. It is even more important as our children are now spread across the country.”
His counterpart, Brookfield Village President Michael Garvey, concurs.
“Thanksgiving for the Garvey family has always been about gathering with family and friends,” he said. “My late mom and dad hosted, and it was just not family They always wanted to make sure everyone had a place to go. In recent years, my wife, who is a saint, has taken over the tradition and we host a large gathering.
“It may seem quite simple, but it is the perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving for us,” he said.
But you obviously can’t forg et football.
The Bears will be in Detroit to face the Lions on Thursday, but if they were at home, Brookfield Fire Chief Jim Adams would be in the upper level of Soldier Field as an NFL statistician.
“Whoever the Bears play at home, we’re responsible,” Adams said. “I’ve worked Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve.”
With the Bears on the road this Thanksgiving, he’ll be home with family, “telling stories we’ve told a million times.”
Inject Life into Your Landscape
As we approach Thanksgiving, holiday celebrations with family and friends just ahead, it’s time to ensure you add a little extra “magic” to your outdoors.
When everything else in your yard is dormant, adding holiday décor is a great way to inject life into your landscape.
Wreaths, garlands, holiday lights and other winter displays provide greatly needed splashes of color. When first impressions matter, decorating makes your home so much more inviting and aesthetically pleasing.
Winter displays are relatively simple to create, if you have the right eye for it. They’re also a great way to utilize your containers yearround. Whether a simple display of greens or something more extravagant with the inclusion of accents such as birch poles, sugar cones, winterberry, and other stems, our holiday experts are sure to create something stunning.
Through consultation with our team, containers are an excellent vehicle to reflect your personality—so we arrange them with your creativity in mind. From the entire McAdam Landscaping family to yours, we wish you a safe and joyful Holiday Season!
“So we pass our history on to our kids,” he said. “I always thought that was kind of cool.” 2001
Scott McAdam Jr.
Riverside permits alcohol sales starting at 8 a.m. daily
e change mirrors a move to allow dispensaries to open early also
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
While it’s not always the best idea to start drinking alcohol at 8 a.m., Riverside officials see no problem with residents buying it then.
At their Nov. 7 board meeting, village trustees approved an ordinance allowing alcohol to be sold in town star ting at 8 a.m. each day. Previously, businesses could sell liquor starting at 9 a.m. on weekdays and noon on the weekends; they will still have to stop selling alcohol at 11 p.m. each day.
The village board approved the ordinance as part of its consent agenda, meaning trustees did not discuss it individually. Village President Douglas Pollock explained the change was set in motion by Peter Boutsikakis, the owner of Riverside’s only grocery store, Riverside Foods at 48 E. Burlington St
“For as long as I’ve had Riverside Foods, there’s always been some restrictions in the
morning, in particular Sunday mornings,”
Boutsikakis said in a phone interview. “We always wanted to ask the village to get rid of that restriction in the past, but really, this year, when football started back up, I saw my customers Sunday mornings looking to get beer, wine and alcohol to host parties, and they were unable to do so. We were definitely missing out on sales, and we were definitely pushing some people out of town in the morning.”
Boutsikakis said another factor that pushed him to make the request was seeing Riverside move in March to allow cannabis dispensaries in town, namely Star Buds, to open at 8 a.m.
“It definitely was a thought for sure, and we mentioned that to President Pollock, but the main drive was to not prevent people Sunday morning from shopping for hosting parties at their house,” he said.
According to documents from the meeting, Riverside has not received any calls for
“When football started back up, I saw my customers Sunday mornings looking to get beer, w ine and alcohol to host parties, and they were unable to do so.”
PETER BOUTSIKAKIS Owner of Riverside Foods
police or reports of traffic concern related to Star Buds’ opening hour since making the change for dispensaries.
Boutsikakis said he’s already seen the effects of the change, mostly on Sundays.
“I can’t say [I’ve seen] a significant impact, especially since this just started, but
I’ve certainly seen at least a handful of customers take advantage,” he said.
The ordinance targets businesses that possess a Class A or Class A-1 liquor license, of which there are three in town, according to meeting documents: the Quik Mart by the Shell gas station near Longcommon Avenue and Harlem Avenue, the RMarts store by the ARCO gas station at 3346 S. Harlem Rd., and Riverside Foods. All three hold an A-1 license, which permits them to sell sealed liquor for off-site consumption.
Pollock said he made note of the item at the meeting due to the speed with which Riverside had processed the request.
“I brought that to the board. The board reacted. Staf f immediately processed the paperwork, and we’re here really quickly,” he said. “The reason I bring attention to this is [because] I want the business community and everyone to know that, if you have issues, concerns, or anything, all you need to do is let one of us know.”
Teen ticketed for hit-and-run after striking a car
Brookfield police ticketed a 17-year-old Broadview teen Nov. 18 after his car struck another vehicle in a hit-and-run.
According to police, a woman reported the incident around 3:35 p.m. after she walked into the Brookfield Police Department. She told police her car had just been struck by another car that did not stop. She said she followed the vehicle northwest onto Grand Avenue from Brookfield Avenue in order to take a picture of its license plates before turning around and reporting the incident.
Later, police connected the vehicle’s re gistration to a phone number, but upon calling and identifying themselves, the respondent hung up. After, the investigating officer had Broadview police respond to the address attached to the re gistration, where they found the car parked outside and made contact with someone, but they did not speak English.
Brookfield police called the phone number again and left a message before later getting a call back from the driver, who said
he did not think he had hit another car and only noticed the damage to his car when he got home. The teen went to the police department as requested and, after providing police with his driver’s license and proof of insurance, police issued him citations for failing to slow down to avoid the collision and failing to yield at the intersection with a Dec. 12 court date.
Speeding
Brookfield police cited a 22-year-old Cicero man Nov. 18 for speeding.
Around 1:45 a.m., an officer on patrol parked at the BP gas station, 8856 Ogden Ave., saw the man’s car heading west on Ogden Avenue at 47 mph in the 30-mph zone. The officer pulled the car over near the intersection with Park Avenue. The officer made contact with the driver, who only spoke Spanish. He told police he had never been issued a driver’s license, so the officer told him he would be ticketed and his vehicle would be towed.
The officer cited him for speeding and not having a license and issued him towing paperwork before sending him on his way.
Driving over village grass
Brookfield police ticketed a 61-year-old Glenview man Nov. 21 for damaging village proper ty
Around 2:55 p.m., an officer responded to the 8900 block of Burlington Avenue and made contact with the man, who explained he had been driving west in the alleyway south of Burlington before turning nor th onto the vacant grass lot at 8911 Burlington Ave. T he man said he mistook the area for a pa rking lot due to the snowf all. While he was driving over the grass, his car got stuck, but he called a private tow truck to remove his car. In the process of having the car towed, it disturbed the grass and left damage to the lot and the village-owned parkway.
T he officer issued the man a ticket for damaging village property and set a Dec.
16 court date
After clearing the scene, the officer spoke with the code department, who explained the vacant lot had recently been sold by the village, but the officer confirmed the citation did not need to be changed due to the damage to the village’s parkway grass. T he officer tried to call the owner of the grass lot to notify them of the damage but could not g et into contact with them.
These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department re ports dated Nov. 18-25; they re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port 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
Stay Healthy This Fall YOUR BEST LIFE with Lisa Capone
As temperatures dip and the air turns crisp, seniors need to take extra steps to stay healthy and comfortable through the colder months. Fall brings beautiful scenery but also an increase in flu and seasonal illnesses. Staying healthy during colder months is all about a proactive approach to wellness. Here are a few simple tips to help keep you feeling your best this season.
First, consider scheduling a flu vaccine. The flu can pose serious health risks, especially for seniors, and getting vaccinated reduces your chances of severe illness.
Staying active is also key. While outdoor walks might be brisk, indoor activities like stretching, gentle yoga, or using light hand weights are great ways to keep muscles strong and joints flexible. Even 15-20 minutes a day can boost energy and mood!
Finally, focus on seasonal foods that support immunity. Fall’s harvest —pumpkins, squash, and apples—are packed with vitamins that can help your body fend off seasonal bugs. Adding warm soups and stews with these ingredients provides both comfort and nutrition.
By taking these steps, you can enjoy the beauty of fall while staying well and thriving all season long!
Holiday Magic lights up Brook eld Zoo
24 ni ghts of fu n shou ld dr aw ab ou 200,000 vi sitors
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
It’s Thanksgiving once again, and that means Brookfield Zoo Chicago is ramping up for the holidays with the 43rd edition of Holiday Magic, the kickof f for a slew of events that will appeal to all ages coming weeks.
Holiday Magic, which officially began Friday, is the longest standing light festival in the Chicago area, though community members had an opportunity for a preview oflights throughout the park during both the Reindeer Run (Nov. 16) and over-21 Sip & Stroll (Nov. 21).
This is no ordinary holiday ev cording to Julianne Olivo, the zoo’s director of public relations. It’s a big dra
“This includes our local members as well as guests from around the country as they travel for holiday plans with loved ones,” Olivo said. “As people are coming in and out of town, it’s a short staycation.”
Holiday Magic, with presenting sponsors ComEd and Meijer, will run Thursdays through Sundays in December from 3 to 9 p.m. The zoo is also open during the daytime Mondays through Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Including November dates, that’s 24 total nights ofHoliday Magic, which should draw an estimated 200,000 visitors, and their economic impact.
New this year is the LED tree located just north ofthe carousel, along with illuminated displays like Candy Cane Lane and Sparkling Coast, which transforms the plaza outside ofthe Living Coast into an underwater experience, with wavy blue lights and iridescent aquatic animals aglow, like jellyfish, dolphins and turtles Of course, wreaths will adorn the zoo’s lion statues, which hopefully will be accentuated by a dusting ofsnow like that ofNov. 21. Country Financial is the Candy Cane Lane sponsor.
Holiday Magic has evolved plenty since the first edition in 1982, Olivo said.
“To picture the scale ofthe event’s growth,” she said, “we had 450 community
trees and 750,000 lights throughout the zoo in 2000. We’ve more than doubled that holiday spirit, proudly displaying more than 900 trees decorated by community groups and more than two million sparkling lights this year.”
Compare that to about a decade earlier, in 1989, when 60 trees were decorated by community representatives and 200,000 miniature white lights were strung in trees throughout the zoo.
This year, the zoo’s Discover Center will be a haven for family fun from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 7, with the return of the Holly Jolly Gingerbread Party. That event includes a special visit from Santa, a brunch and dessert buffet, hot cocoa bar, gingerbread decorating and visits with some of the zoo’s animal ambassadors. This fundraiser benefits education, scholarship and conservation initiatives supported by the Women’s Board ofBrookfield Zoo Chicago.
Speaking of jolly old Saint Nick, he’ll be shuttling down from the North Pole for Dinner with Santa at 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. December 13-15. While he won’t have time to visit the zoo’s six reindeer – Bunny, Josie, Lollipop, Clarice, Rita and Sagu –
he’ll be stationed in the Discovery Center, near the big cats.
That’s not all. The zoo is offering three Winter Play Days from 9:30-10:30 a.m. in December for children ages 1-3 accompanied by an adult. The play days include:
■ Natural Materials Day (Dec. 5), where kids can explore sensory bins, feel new textures and experience nature indoors.
■ Art Exploration (Dec. 12), where smocks will be provided so kids can make art out of both familiar and unusual materials
■ Winter and Arctic Animals (Dec. 19), which includes cold-weather-themed activities.
But wait, there’s more. Olivo said family gatherings can be enhanced in one of the many private event spaces at the zoo, which can accommodate up to 25 people. That way, family members can stroll the grounds, taking in everything Holiday Magic has to offer, and then return for food, drinks and commiseration.
“Warm up, g et some hot chocolate, some food and then go explore the zoo,” Ol ivo said.
Further information on Holiday Magic, including tickets and pricing, can be found at BrookfieldZoo.org/Events
BROOKFIELD ZO O CHIC AG O
Navy recruits to enjoy Thanksgiving meal at Joshua Harris Post
Home-cooked meals, football and more on the menu
By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter
The Joshua Harris VFW Post #2868 in Brookfield will again host United States military recruits for Thanksgiving.
“This year we’re hosting about 50 sailors from the [Great Lakes Navy Station],” said Shawn Ligeikis, a post member who served in the U.S. Navy from 1994 to 1998.
Ligeikis and another member will take a bus up to Great Lakes Thanksgiving morning to transport the recruits to the post. Once they arrive, the recruits will have breakfast and full access to the post, as well as telephones, Xboxes and laptops for social media engagements. Televisions will be tuned to football games. The big Thanksgiving meal (all home-cooled) will come later.
“They will be able to call home or whoever they want to call,” Ligeikis said. “A lot of post members and people in general donated phones and computers.”
U.S. Navy veteran Dave Kivi has been in charge of hosting the dinners since the early to mid 1980s.
ful to have a chance to talk with their moms or girlfriends, wife, husband,” Kivi added.
According to naval re gulations, relatives are not allowed to attend the dinner.
“Years ago, they were allowed to be taken to private homes but with the 911 incident and all the security stuf f, they don’t do that anymore,” he said.
Thanksgiving meal will be served at about 1 p.m. Recruits have to be back on base by 8 p.m. Not being back on time constitutes absence without leave
“As a veteran sailor, I remember what it’s like being away from home on the
DAVE KIVI U.S. Navy veteran
“As a veteran sailor, I remember what it’s li ke being aw ay from home on the holidays,” Kivi said. “Recruits ca n’ t go home and may not have a chance to c all home [whey they ’r e on b ase] so myself and the c ommander at the time and a c ouple of other members decided it would be a nice idea. ”
The recruits are grateful for the Thanksgiving meal and to experience a bit of civilian life, according to Kivi.
“They express to us that they are thank-
“All the food will be cooked at various homes, nothing is cooked here at the post,” Ligeikis said. “It’s a lot of homecooked meals that people volunteer to cook. We had a signup sheet at the post and people signed up for what they wanted to cook.”
Recruits will feast on about five or six turkeys, seven or eight hams, stuffing, potatoes, green bean casseroles and more. Dessert will also be served.
Members and nonmembers are allowed to interact with the recruits and have dinner with them.
“Some people come and stay for an hour and some people stay all day,” Ligeikis said.
Post #2868, on May 24, officially was re-dedicated as the Joshua Harris Brookfield Memorial Post #2868 in honor of the 21-year-old Brookfield resident who was killed in Afghanistan on Sept. 17, 2008.
Harris volunteered for the U.S. Ar my National Guard while he was still in high school. The Walther Lutheran High School graduate was in Afghanistan for just a few weeks when he and three other soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED).
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Bill to phase out sub-minimum wage for disabled workers clears General Assembly
If signed by Pritzker, measure would end federal minimum wage exemption in Illinois by 2030
By BEN SZALINSKI
Capitol News Illinois
A long-awaited bill to stop Illinois organizations from paying subminimum wage to workers with disabilities will soon head to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk after being approved by the Senate last Thursday.
The Senate took a bipartisan 43-11 vote to pass the legislation that supporters dub the “Dignity in Pay Act.”
“It is time to treat people with developmental disabilities the same and have them be paid what they’re worth, which is what we pay everybody else,” bill sponsor Sen. Cristina Castro, D-Elgin, told a Senate committee on Wednesday.
House Bill 793, if signed by the gover nor, would prohibit businesses and other residential facilities in Illinois from claiming an exemption allowing them to pay workers with disabilities less than minimum wage
The exemption is known as a 14(c) certificate, named after the section of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 permitting lower wages. Certificate holders are allowed to pay a “commensurate wage” based on the worker’s individual productivity in proportion to the wage and productivity of workers who do not have disabilities but are performing the same or a similar task.
Under the bill, Illinois has through 2029 to abolish the subminimum wage for workers with disabilities.
The bill was previously approved on a bipartisan 78-30 vote in the House in May following lengthy negotiations. It would create a transition grant program designed to provide financial support for organizations to continue employing people with disabilities while paying them at least the state minimum wage. It also establishes a task force to oversee the transition in the coming years.
Pritzker issued a statement on Thursday in support of the bill, which would make Illinois the 19th state to end 14(c) participation.
“The Dignity in Pay Act is an unprecedent-
ed, crucial leap forward to a future where all individuals, regardless of ability, can maximize their talents and contributions to our workforce—and earn a fair wage,” he said in the statement.
Erin Compton, who has an intellectual disability, told a Senate committee Wednesday she gets paid minimum wage to work as a greeter for the Chicago Cubs
“Some people say that having a job isn’ t me because I am not smart enough or good enough to work,” Compton said. “But I was given opportunities to work in the community.”
Illinois has 61 programs currently receiving a federal exemption, according to the U.S. Department of Labor — down from 112 in 2018, according to Ryan Croke, a first assistant deputy governor.
It was a controversial road to passage, however, with proponents facing opposition from some of the state’s largest operators of “sheltered work” programs, which employ people with disabilities to perform work for less than minimum wage, often doing work that is outsourced from other businesses. Those organizations, and people with family members participating in them, argued the bill will force those programs to end at places that can’t af ford to pay minimum wage for potentially lowproductivity work.
Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, said during a committee hearing Wednesday her brother, who has a disability, works for a business shredding paper. She voted against the bill.
“How in the world are they going to be able to pay minimum wage is my question? What happens if that shredding paper employment goes away?” she asked of the subminimum wage work.
Hugo Saltijeral from the Valley Sheltered Workshop in Batavia said the bill will push families to send their loved ones with disabilities to unaf fordable institutions that
NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR THE VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for the Village of Brookfield for 2024 will be held on December 9, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at the Village Hall Board Room in the Municipal Building of the Village of Brookfield, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513.
Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Brigid Weber, Village Clerk, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513, (708) 485-7344.
II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $12,822,359.
The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $13,457,710. This represents a 5.0% increase over the previous year.
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2023 were $2,769,638.
The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 are $2,777,723. This represents a .03% increase over the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes extended or abated for 2023 were $15,591,997. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $16,235,433. This represents a 4.1% increase over the previous year.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208
I. A public hearing to approve a proposed property tax levy increase for Riverside Brookfield Township High School District 208, Cook County, Illinois for 2024 will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. in Room 201 of the high school at 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Any person desiring to appear at the public hearing and present testimony to the taxing district may contact Dr. Kristin Smetana, Assistant Superintendent, Riverside Brookfield Township High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Illinois, telephone number 708-442-7500.
II. The corporate and special purpose property taxes extended for 2023 were $24,234,082. The proposed corporate and special purpose property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $25,433,669. This represents a 4.95% increase over the previous year.
III. The property taxes extended for debt service and public building commission leases for 2023 were $6,200,513. The estimated property taxes to be levied for debt service and public building commission leases for 2024 are $5,676,198. This represents an 8.46% decrease over the previous year.
IV. The total property taxes extended for 2023 were $30,434,595. The estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2024 are $31,109,867. This represents a 2.22% increase over the previous year.
All hearings shall be open to the public. The corporate authority of the taxing district must explain the reasons for the proposed levy and shall permit persons desiring to be heard an opportunity to present testimony within reasonable time limits as the authority determines.
MINIMUM WAGE
from page 13
can afford to pay people with disabilities at least minimum wage
“Fourteen-C programs are the most affordable and flexible options available to families,” Saltijeral said.
But Castro said Saltijeral’s argument reinforced why Illinois should end 14(c) exemptions after he explained how his organization pays disabled workers less than what the rate for the same job would be at the company they contract with.
“You’re saying its OK to pay these folks less. ‘I’ll take a cut to employ my people,’ versus, ‘hey, lets work with different agencies, let’s look at different state programs,’” Castro said in committee. “Partner with those programs because there’s a lot of different programs that could help you move from this model to be successful.”
Many state lawmakers said they shared concerns similar to those Saltijeral relayed. It’s one reason why the parties ag reed to create a task force to oversee the wind down of 14(c) exemptions and created a five-year runway.
“We have to somehow accommodate
those that aren’t going to be able to be at productivity levels to allow a business to contract with, say, a private provider like Valley house shelter to keep these workers employed,” Tracy said Thursday during floor debate.
Lawmakers who voted against the bill praised its intentions, but said their concerns run too dee p.
“I can’ t vote for a bill no matter how well intentioned it is that I know is going to send pink slips to people in my area,” Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said during floor debate.
Eighteen states and Chicago have ended exemptions with few ne gative effects on programs for people with disabilities, Croke said.
“In those jurisdictions, the sky did not fall, people with disabilities and the providers who serve them have new doors open to increased federal funding, they benefit from a focus on meaningful job training,” Croke said.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
Opinion
THE L ANDMARK VIEW
Alcohol, weed equit y
You could see this one coming. And rightly so.
After Riverside leaders expanded the hours that Star Buds can sell pot from its location on Harlem Avenue to opening at 8 a.m., seven days a week, the owner of Riverside Foods raised his hand and asked, and we’re paraphrasing, “Why are we not allowed to sell alcohol before 9 a.m. on weekdays and noon on the weekend?”
The logical response from village hall was, “No good reason we can think of. Let’s fix that.”
And so at its Nov. 7 board meeting, village trustees quickly changed the regulations on alcohol sales to allow earlier liquor sales. Douglas Pollock, village president, said the village moved quickly because it was a simple and clear choice. And he took the occasion to urge members of the business community to feel free to raise issues when they arise.
“I want the business community and everyone to know that, if you have issues, concer ns, or anything, all you need is to let one of us know,” Pollock told the Landmark.
For his part, Peter Boutsikakis, the longtime owner of Riverside Foods, said he is starting to see some positive impact, especially on Sunday mor nings when the store could not sell alcohol to shoppers before noon. As he noted, people still wanted beer for a football watching party but were leaving town to buy it
The change also positively impacts two gas station convenience stores along Harlem Avenue.
This is a small deal. But it is a positive reflection of a responsive local gover nment.
Ar thur Williams cooks
It isn’t often that an organization quite spontaneously chooses, a year later, to honor a colleague who has died. That is what is happening right now at Brookfield’s public library
Arthur Williams, a circulation assistant who was also the face of the library from his spot at the front desk, died of a heart attack while at work last year at this time. At 52, a still young man gone suddenly and unexpectedly. Everyone at the Linda Sokol Francis Public Library was stunned, as were the library’s patrons.
Now Alex Tsolis, a youth services associate at the library, has taken the nub of an idea, creating a community cookbook, and helped grow it into an ambitious tribute to Mr Williams. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, Arthur loved food. I wish he could be here for this,’” she said.
And that’s when Arthur’s Cookbook: Food for the Soul came to life. Kimberly Coughran, the library’s executive director, and another person who had a strong bond with Mr. Williams, signed off on the idea. The library’s Friends + Foundation offered $3,000 to get copies printed. Sales of the cookbook next summer at the farmers market will go back to the library foundation.
The goal is to collect 100 recipes by the end of December.
This is a loving and fitting tribute to a valued colleague who represented the library so well.
OBITUARIES
Nicholas Hoving, 86
Nicholas Drew Hoving, 86, of North Riverside, died on Nov. 18, 2024. Born on Sept. 25, 1938, he was a U.S. Ar my veteran. A member of the Holy Name Society, Sportsman’s Club, Moose International, Car Club and Indian Princesses, he was also a car enthusiast, enjoyed boating, fishing, and bowling, and was a Chicago Cub, Chicago Bear and Chicago Blackhawk fan. A man of faith, he was a patient, caring, strong and hard-working man, kind to everyone and ready to lend a hand at any time.
Nicholas was the husband of Shirley Ann Hoving (nee Castrogiovanni); the father of Kimberly (Jake) Minarcik and Karla (Dave) Doherty; the grandfather of Morgan Doherty, Jessica Driessens, Mallory (Austin) Burkhardt, and Nicholas Doherty; the greatgrandfather of Elijah Burkhardt and Noah Burkhardt; the step-g reat-g randfather of Amelia Burkhardt; brother of the late Marianne (late John) Benac and brother-in-law of Mary Lou and the late James Marchetti; the uncle of Michael (Stephanie) Marchetti, Lisa (Chuck) Anagnostopoulos, Laura (Terry) Hacker, the late Doug Vancura, and the late Joseph Vancura; and the great-uncle of
Michael Marchetti, Ethan Marchetti, Joseph Marchetti, Jacob Anagnostopoulos, Kai Anagnostopoulos, Cameron Hacker, Casey Hacker, Andrew Vancura and Jillian Vancura.
Visitation was held on Nov. 22 at KuratkoNosek Funeral Home, 2447 S. Desplaines Ave.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Nov. 23 at Mater Christi Church in North Riverside, with entombment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Christ the King Garden Mausoleum. Memorial contributions to Alzheimer’s Association or Parkinson’s Foundation would be appreciated. Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family at www.KuratkoNosek.com.
Patricia Heilenbach, 89
Riverside resident
Patricia Heilenbach (nee Karas), 89, of Riverside, died on Nov. 20, 2024. She was the wife of the late James W. Heilenbach; the mother of Timothy, T homas (Linda) and William (Danita) Heilenbach; grandma of Lynda, Kimberly (Ryan) Albright, Lisa (Tommy) West, James (Allison), Erica (fiancee Alexander Westerlund), John, Steven, Samuel (Alexandra) and Kathryn (fiancee Mark Serdar); and the great-grandmother of Mallory, Harrison, Rocco and Elliot.
Visitation was held on Nov. 26 at Ivins/ Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary Church.
In lieu of flowers donations to the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546 are appreciated.
To run an obituary
Please contact Erika Hobbs by e-mail: erika@growingcommunitymedia.org, before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.
PACE
A needed updated
from page 5
As Pace considers how to improve suburban bus service after the pandemic, the company has analyzed draft concepts that focus on increasing either ridership or coverage – a tradeof f between providing service where the highest number of people travel or to as many areas as possible.
“Pace’s big existential problem comes down, in large part, to the fact that it serves this hug e, huge area,” said Daniel Costantino, a principal associate at Jarrett Walker Associates, a Por tland, Oregon-based public transit design and planning firm that helped develop ReVision.
Pace is one of the largest bus services in North America, driving more than 3,677 square miles, or 15 times the size of Chicago.
SOLAR
Supporting green energy
from page 6
included in agenda documents that compared ag greg ation and community solar side-by-side.
“I think that if we made a careful investment in education and presented the progr ams side-by-side like this, we could continue with an ag greg ation prog ram and say, ‘If you’ re going to opt out, whether it be for financial reasons or you like to know where your [electricity] is coming from specificall here’s an option that
Costantino said that, because of Pace’s large coverage area, it’s most similar to transit companies that serve entire East Coast states. He added that CTtransit, Connecticut’s bus system, provides 50% more bus service per resident than Pace does to 274 municipalities across six counties
And while ridership is high in some counties, it drops in lower density suburbs further from Chicago, where buses are often infrequent and there are g eographical gaps in service.
“Outside of the older town centers that are mostly on the Metra line, it can be rather difficult to access transit,” Costantino said.
As Pace struggles to balance ridership and coverage, it also battles funding, as federal money given out during the pandemic is projected to run out by the end of next year.
Pace’s funding hasn’t grown with suburban development, officials said, and, as a result, largely remains positioned to serve
she said. “I don’ t like the idea of just opening it up to residents to go searching for the lowest-cost provider, because in many cases that’s powered by fossil fuels, and that defeats the whole purpose.”
Trustee Jill Mateo said she was glad the board was discussing its aggreg ation program, as when voters approved a referendum in 2012 to allow Riverside to ag gregate electricity, the rate was “almost half of what ComEd was.”
“The average household saved $400 a year It’s been a long time since we’ve had those savings,” she said.
Mateo asked if the 12% opt out rate reflected that more people were opting out this year; Sowl said he recalled about 8% to 12% of esidents had opted out of the previous ation contracts, which together
communities as they existed in 1983, when Pace was founded.
In 2026, re gional transit, including Pace, CTA and Metra, are expected to have a deficit over $730 million. Pace officials said service will likely be cut that year, if they don’t get enough money before then.
Because Pace is unsure exactly how much funding it will get next year Costantino proposed three ReVision plans for varying financial situations
■ The Pace Plus 10 Limited Investment concept shows a 10% increase in service, or if the Illinois legislature funded Pace just enough to get service back up to pre-Covid levels. This would include improving service frequency on certain corridors and more weekend service.
■ The Pace Plus 50 Ridership concept details what Pace would look like if service increased over 50%, requiring about $150 million a year in funding, and focused on generating high ridership. Pace would implement this through more frequent buses taking long, direct routes.
account for Riverside’s electricity from 2020 through 2024.
Village Manager Jessica Frances later added that according to Riverside’s aggregation consultant, communities are slowly seeing opt-out rates increase over time due to the rates now being at a premium compared to ComEd.
Trustee Cristin Evans said she supported Riverside pursuing both green energy programs despite the lack of clarity residents had over aggregation earlier this year. She said she favored aggregation over community solar.
■ The Pace Plus 50 Coverage concept expects the same level of funding, but highlights coverage, extending service every hour far into the suburbs, but only increasing frequency on select corridors.
Pace’s online survey asks suburban residents which concept they prefer. Feedback will contribute to the drafting of the concept, and the final plan will likely be solidified next fall and implemented in 2026.
“ReVision represents an important opportunity for the community to help build a future-focused transit system tha t works for everyone,” said Pace Chairman Rick Kwasneski in a statement. “This initiative will shape the next g eneration of transit service across the re gion, and I encourage all riders and stakeholders to participate in the online survey or attend an open house.”
The second open house is at Howard Mohr Community Center in Forest Park Dec. 2 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The third is at Homewood Village Hall Dec. 11 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Learn more at https://www.pacebus.com/revision.
we have other alter native sources of energy, so I think that option might be best.”
Frances said she recommended amending the village’s 2025 budget, assuming the board wanted to promote community solar next year, before committing to the program. “Our consultant for aggregation is only going to answer aggregation questions, and we’re going to have a problem … we do get a [large] volume of questions, just relative to the aggregation, and then you do an overlay of solar,” she said. “I don’t know if it would behoove us to recommend a particular solar group, simply for the fact that we don’t negotiate the contracts. If a resident gets into a bad agreement — and I’m not saying they would, but we have to look at it from a couple different angles — we don’t want a resident becoming upset with us because we advocated for a particular solar program.”
“I did see the pushback and feedback after the last opt-out period and did notice misinformation, confusion, fear, distrust, and I think that the way to address that is through better communication on the village’s part,” she said. “It may be really difficult to explain, but I just think we need to do better. I would like to do both. I understand that if we are going to move away from the aggregation program, it would be nice to do both, but if we’re not going to do both, then I would like to stay where we are, with the ag gregation program the way it is.”
Trustee Alex Gallegos also threw his support behind Riverside pursuing both options
“I thought we’d be a lot further in solar power than we are today ever since I had my Texas Instruments solar calculator back in 1980-something,” he joked. “I think we could probably do both as well. I do see people wanting to not be part of the aggregation, as
Village President Douglas Pollock said — based on the trustees’ thoughts and Frances’ recommendation — village staff should look into how Riverside would manage the extra volume of resident questions and how that management could impact the budget before bringing the discussion back to the board in the new year
“Hopefully, when they bring that back, we’ ll have a full board, because I’m hearing not full agreement, necessarily, on doing both, so I think it’ll be prudent to have a full board to weigh in, but also, we obviously need to answer the budget question,” he said.
Sports
Morris, Bulldogs’ aim is the same, with newer lineup
By BILL STONE
Contributing Reporter
Riverside Brookfield High School senior and returning starting guard Alyssa Morris enters her third varsity season with mostly with new teammates.
“I lost seven of my seniors [to graduation], the people I’ve grown the most chemistry with, but I’m also interested in learning how to play with our new players,” Morris said. “We’re just trying to become more of a team and I’m trying to get them to be more aggressive for that varsity level. What we have been doing has been going really well.”
Morris, juniors Abby Weinert and Arianna Hudson and seniors Tali Herrera, Isabella Perez and Abbey Tyler return for the Bulldogs, who finished 17-14 and won the Metro Suburban Conference, their first conference title since 2020. They lost to Kenwood 73-57 in the Class 4A RB Regional final after slashing an 18-point, second-quarter deficit to four.
Tournament, the Bulldogs (3-0) lost to Hinsdale South 58-30 in the Nov. 21 season opener, Oak Park and River Forest 52-31 Saturday, and St. Francis 57-30 Monday
The Bulldogs will be playing in the Up state Eight Conference this year.
“That’s the main goal, win conferenc and see how far we can go in the playoffs We were really g elling last year and I expect the same thing,” RBHS coach Jordan Mack said.
Morris was third on the Bulldogs last season in scoring (7. points per game) and rebound (4.7 per game) and second in assists (2.4 per game).
“She’s added a lot of different moves to her skill set. And she’s always been a grea defender, one on one,” Mack said. “She’ll be one of our top defenders and scorers and assists. She’s going to be looked on to do a lot for us.”
Riverside-Brook eld’s Claire Evans (20) makes a pass against Hinsdale South dur ing the Hinsdale South Brenda Whitesell Inv itational, Nov. 21, in Darien.
Newcomers are senior Gabriella Graupera, juniors Joselyn Hernandez, Kennedy Holakovsky, Maggie Porter, Giselle Rodgers, Maya Tennicott and Addie Vaia and freshman Claire Evans
At Hinsdale South’s Brenda Whitesell
Morris hopes to supplement better numbers with leadership as she plans to play colle giately.
“Even though we have new people, I don’t know their personalities, how they play, but I’m learning that and to help them and also make it better for them so we can all work together and use our best aspects to our best ability,” Morris said.
Weinert (8.0 ppg, 1.7 rpg) played in 26 games. Hudson (4.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and Herrera (1.3 ppg) played in 17 and 14.
Hudson is working back from an injury that limited her playing time last season. Sidelined last season by torn ACLs were Pere z, hurt against Trinity last Nov. 30, and Tyler, who served as team manager.
Mack said an impressive Evans has led the team in shooting drills. Another difference maker could be Graupera, an exchange student from Spain.
“We’ll surprise some people,” Mack said. “We’re going to hustle, play hard, bring energ y. We’re going to get up and down, play an exciting brand of basketball.”
Defense shines as Nazareth returns to state football nals
Colon interception, Kaminski fumble recovery among four turnovers
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
The first interception this season by junior Johnny Colon of Brookfield typified the defensive ef fort by the state-bound Nazareth Academy football team Saturday.
“It was super-exciting, one of the turning points in the game for sure,” Colon said.
“This group of kids is really special.
We’re not surprised we’re in the state championship but it’s been a roller coaster ride for us for sure.”
The Roadrunners will go after the pro-
gram’s sixth state championship and first three-peat after defeating rival St. Francis 40-21 in the Class 5A semifinals in LaGrange Park Nazareth (11-2), the two-time defending 5A champions, play Joliet Catholic Academy (10-3) at 10 a.m., Saturday, at Illinois
State University’s Hancock Stadium in Normal. It’s a rematch of the 2023 title game won by the Roadrunners 38-20 after trailing 20-10 at halftime.
Senior linebacker and fourth-year defen-
See FOOTBALL on page 18
STEVE JOHNSTON
ALY SSA MORRIS
Loftus, Mercer help Bulldogs make return to full-court ways
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Senior Danny Loftus and junior Cameron Mercer truly have big shoes to fil l for the Rive rside Brookfield High School boys b asketball team this season. Th e returning starting g uards will be ke y c omponents to a different for mula for the Bulld og s after the gr aduation of 7-foot, all-state center Stefan Cicic
“Defensive ly and of f ensive ly we ’ve b een big on the press but then of f ensive ly it ’s straight transition of f ense. It ’s not as easy as to j ust set up for S tefan to g et the b all. Now we ’ve got to push it ourselves,” Loftus said. “We’ve b een c onditioning a lot, a lot of transition of f ense, transition defense drills. I nstead of slowing it down, we want to speed it up, hit open threes and score in transition as well. ”
T he Bulld og s are hoping to reach 20 victories for the sixth straight season after finishing 26-5 and winning thei r final season in the Metro Suburban C onference. T hey lost to Simeon 52-42 in the
FOOTBALL
from page 17
sive starter Gabe Kaminski of Riverside and starting sophomore defensive end Chris Kasky of Brookfield also contributed in limiting St. Francis (10-3), which scored at least 27 points in eight victories.
“It’s an indescribable feeling [returning to state], but we’ve got one more. The job’s not done,” Kaminski said. “Everybody was really focused and once we got that 14-0 lead, the momentum really swung our way. It just took off from there.”
Just like last year, Nazareth defeated St Francis in the state semifinals after losing their regular-season meeting. On Oct. 25, the Spartans prevailed 39-36 in Wheaton on a 16yard touchdown pass with 4:05 to play.
“[That loss] made us super hungry. We were talking about it all week, that revenge is best served cold,” said Colon, refer ring to the blustery conditions. “We were communicating better than we did Week 9. We were all on the same page. It was just a great defensive game overall and then our offense does what our offense does.”
C lass 4A Hinsdale C entral Re gional final.
A lso back are seniors Vi nce Dockendorf and Mantas S leiny s, b oth ke y reserves at g uard and forward, respectively, p lus Br yc en Grove and N oah W zorek.
Junior n ewcomers are C olin Cimin o, Benjamin Biskupic, Walker Burns, Liam Enright, Joshua Arce, Patrick Galloway, Aaron Guzman, Maximilian Pere z and Blake Wilson.
Mercer earned 2024 All-MSC honors along with Cicic, now playing at Tulane, and fellow graduates Steven Brown and Mehki Austin. Cicic averaged 18.7 points and 10.4 rebound s.
“I anticipate us playing a lot more like we did in the 2021-22 season,” RBHS coach Mike Reingr uber said.
“[Cicic] took up a lot of space and very few people could guard him at this level. We’re going to be a lot more of the traditional RB, up and down, a lot more motion-based, lots more movement. A lot more five guys on the floor who will be able to pass, dribble and shoot pretty much at all times.”
Also special teams. After Nazareth made a goal-line stand at the 5-yard line to end the first half leading 20-7, St. Francis returned the opening second-half kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
That emotional surge was short lived. Nazareth junior Eddie McClain then returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards along the Roadrunners’ left sideline for a TD. Nazareth pulled ahead 40-14 with 10 minutes left.
“We got fired up and we just had to answer,” said McClain about his biggest play since a pick-six TD against Benet Oct. 18. “I fumbled earlier in the game so I was hungry for a response. Ben Lukes picked up two of their guys, opened up the sideline for me.”
Kaminski and Trenton Walker had fumble recoveries and Henry Sakalas also had an interception.
The Roadrunners have won all of their state championships under coach Tim Racki, beginning in 2014. They also won back-to-back titles in 2014-15.
“Incredibly proud for my seniors because this is the way they ought to go out,” Racki said.
“When you take the ball away from that of fense four times, you’ re doing something right. Our defensive coordinator
As a sophomore, Mercer showed breakout moments enroute to being third on the Bulldogs in scoring (12.8 points per g ame) behind a team-high 56 three-pointers, rebounding average (4.0 per g ame) and steals (39) along with a team-high 13 charges taken. He also distinguished himself as a strong perimeter defender.
Loftus was fifth in scoring (7.8 ppg), fourth in rebounding average (3.8 per g ame) and third with 45 assists
“They both need to take a step forward,” Reingr uber said. “Danny is just steady. He does everything well. He’s a great leader for us. Cam is a shooter and he really plays with a ton of energy. He’s just got great lateral quickness, great ag gressiveness, which makes him a really good onball defender.”
Sleinys averaged 1.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 22 g ames. Dockendorf averaged 1.7 points in 25 games with 10 threes. Reingr uber said Cimino, Biskupic, Enright, Grove and Burns also are among the early star ting and rotation mix.
“[Dockendorf] shoots the lights out and
Keith Lukes and his staf f remembered Week 9 and they didn’t sleep much this week so they deserve to celebrate. I was impressed all week with our focus and not surprised how we came out and had poise, the mindset it takes when you get into the semifinals.”
Nazareth zipped to a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions. On the next St. Francis drive, Kasky nearly added to the turnovers when he batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage. The drive ended with a missed 32-yard field goal.
“I’m kind of mad about that. I wanted a pick,” Kasky said. “I just need to prep myself for state, get the body ready, but I’m just happy and excited to go.”
Colon also was the holder for Frankie Nichols’ four successful extra points. Defensively, Colon started at his hybrid linebacker/cor nerback spot but soon was moved to safety, where he made his interception at the end of the third quar ter.
“On that play, I got moved down, I just read the quarterback’s eyes and went into the spot. It fell right into my hands,” Colon said.
Senior quarterback Logan Malachuk, like Kaminski a starter on the past two
Colin, Cam, I think there’s going to be a lot more outside play this year. A personal goal is I want to help a lot more of fensively,” Loftus said.
“Just always playing hard [is the key]. In the summer when we won g ames, it wasn’t strictly because we were shooting the lights out. We were playing hard and taking pride in defense because obviously we have a lot to make up for on of fense.”
T he Bulldogs’ season be g an Tuesday with their 21st annual Bill VanderMerkt T hanksgiving Classic, which ends Saturday.
T hey hope to end with their first regional title since 2022 after back-to-back defeats in the re gional final.
“We’ve got a progr am that’s used to winning and these guys are used to winning at every level,” Reingr uber said. “We want to win conference, a goal we strive for every year. We’ve f allen short of regional championships the past couple of years so that’s the next thing, and get back to sectionals. And you never know where it goes from there.”
state champions, improved to 3,083 passing yards and 42 TDs by going 21-for-30 for 318 yards with three TDs.
Jake Cestone had TD catches of 70 and 9 yards, giving him 1,176 yards and 15 TDs this season with at least one TD catch in all but one of the games he’s played. Charles Calhoun had TD runs of 1 and 3 yards and Walker had a 27–yard TD rece ption for the game’s first score.
“It’s a blessing and playing for those [past] seniors is a lot different than when you are a senior,” Malachuk said. “Our defense played lights out. This was probably the best defensive game I’ve seen them play I’m super glad to be suiting up in this Nazareth Academy uniform one more time.”
Kaminski leads the defense with 106 tackles (15 for loss) and five sacks, and Colon has 56 tackles.
Following his final home game, Kaminski reflected about playing at Valenta Stadium.
“This stadium is always going to hold a special place in my heart,” Kaminski said. “So many games and practices, so much blood, sweat and tears into this turf. It was great to go out on our terms. That’s a really good strong suit of ours. We know when it’s time to home in and time to work.”
VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application from the Village of Riverside to review and consider various changes to the standards for pervious, semi-pervious, and impervious surfaces, as set forth in the Riverside Zoning Ordinance.
Application No.: PZ 24-0010
Petitioner: Village of Riverside
Proposed Text Amendments: Various changes to the Village of Riverside Zoning Ordinance relative to pervious, semi-pervious, and impervious surfaces. The affected chapters include, but may not be limited to, Title 4, Chapter 13 (Land Disturbing Activities), Title 10, Chapter 7 (Site Development Standards), Title 10, Chapter 10 (Nonconformities), and Title 10, Chapter 11 (Definitions). Among the changes being considered include adding a purpose statement, adding and revising definitions, establishing standards for the measurement of impervious surfaces, establishing standards for semi-pervious surfaces, and requiring non-conforming properties to comply with impervious surface standards when they are redeveloped.
The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters. Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the matters being considered. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to the Village’s Community Development Department at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. the day of the public hearing.
The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Dated this 27th day of November, 2024.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Board of Library Trustees of the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, Cook County, Illinois, will determine a finance plan for acquisition of property commonly known as 9023 Lincoln Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois at its meeting to be held on December 18, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Library, 3541 Park Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. At the meeting, the public will be given an opportunity to be heard on the proposed property acquisition at an estimated cost of $265,000 and the proposed use of the Library’s Special Reserve Fund to pay for the Property.
Copies of the contract and appraisal are available for inspection at the Library, 3541 Park Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois.
Board of Library Trustees LSF Brookfield Library November 21, 2024
Published in RB Landmark November 27, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.
Request of Kalei Elisabeth Guedel Case Number 2024CONC001472
There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Kalei Elisabeth Guedel to the new name of: Kalei Sorenson Guedel.
The court date will be held:
On January 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. at Zoom ID: 95894921843 Password: 226532, Cook County, in Courtroom # 12.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 13, 20, and 27, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICE
For any person who was a Special Education Student at Oak Park & River Forest High School and graduated in 2016, 2017, 2018 or 2019, you will have 30 days to contact Susan Graves, at Oak Park & River Forest High School at 708.434.3061 to request your records. On Dec 01, the Special Education student records for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 will be destroyed.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 20, 27, 2024
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive electronic proposals at the Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025 for Project: 25-20, Oak Park Avenue Streetscape Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of installation and maintenance of detour, earth excavation, sewer main and sewer lateral replacement, catch basins, manholes, fire hydrants, valves, vaults, water mains, water laterals, lead water laterals, rain gardens, irrigation systems, curb and gutter, sidewalk removal and reinstallation, roadway milling and HMA overlay, pavement patching, decorative paver installations, tree and plant removal and installation, traffic signal removal and installation, streetlight removal and installation, pavement markings, decorative lighting, EV Chargers, Art
Installations, Fiber Optic Cable, specialty signage; and all appurtenant work thereto.
Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Monday, December 2, 2024 at 4:00 pm Plans and proposals can be found at https://www.oak-park. us/your-government/budgetpurchasing/requests-proposals or at www.questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 9420018 for a non-refundable charge of $64.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.
The work to be performed pursuant to this proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.
THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK
Bill McKenna Village Engineer
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
2025 Pavement Crack Sealing Project
The Work consists of the application of approximately 32,500 pounds of Fiber-Modified Crack Sealing to various asphalt public roadways.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at:
www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Friday, December 13, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest
400 Park Avenue
River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail .Publication must be promised. Thank you Jesus. Thank You St . Jude. R.R
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 27, 2024
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
2025 Street Patching Program
This project consists of the patching of approximately 4,000 square yards of existing, defective asphalt pavement at various locations throughout the Village, as designated by the Department of Public Works.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at:
www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Public Works Department, 2nd Floor
Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue
River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: HMA Paving
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
2025 Curb and Sidewalk Replacement Program (Various Locations)
This project consists of the installation of approximately 18,500 square feet of PCC sidewalk, 125 linear feet of PCC curb/gutter, 50 square yards of driveway apron, 40 square feet of detectable warnings and other work incidental thereto.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at:
www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: Concrete Construction
Published in Wednesday Journal November 27, 2024
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in Wednesday Journal November 27, 2024
to you
day,
Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson Planning & Zoning Commission
