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Vol. 36, No. 49

@riversidebrookfieldlandmark @riversidebrookfield_landmark

Also serving North Riverside

December 8, 2021

Komarek addition on schedule for spring completion PAGE 3

COVID cases on the rise as new variant appears

@RBLandmark

Riverside unveils draft of commercial zoning update PAGE 12

TOASTY

Brookfield records its highest weekly case total since April

By BOB UPHUES Editor

As federal, state and local health officials monitor the spread and impact of the new omicron variant of the novel coronavirus, case data recorded over the past week shows that both positivity rates and new cases are on the rise locally.

However, as vaccines continue to proliferate, inoculations appear to be limiting the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, with the daily number of patients requiring ICU beds and ventilators far below those needing such treatment a year ago.

As for the weekly number of new COVID-19 cases, Brookfield as of Dec. 6 recorded its largest number See COVID-19 on page 13

SHANEL ROMAIN/Contributor

Nora Ruemmler, 4, roasts a marshmallow for her S’more outside the Riverside Garage during the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Holiday Stroll on Dec. 3 in downtown Riverside. For more photos, visit online at RBLandmark.com.

D96 learns price for full-day kindergarten Decision on whether to shift to new model expected in February

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

It is estimated that that it would cost Riverside Elementary School District 96 less

than $450,000 a year to implement full-day kindergarten. District 96 is studying whether to switch from half-day to full-day kindergarten and expects to make a decision in February.

“Our goal is to bring it to a vote at the February board meeting,” said District 96 Superintendent Marta Ryan-Toye.

A 15-person committee has been studying full-day kindergarten and will deliver its re-

port to the school board at the school board’s Feb. 2, 2022 committee of the whole meeting.

At that meeting, school board members will See D96 on page 6

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

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

BOB UPHUES/Editor

The new addition to the west building at Komarek School in North Riverside is expected to be complete and ready for students and teachers by spring 2022, when work will shift to renovating the original classroom building west of 13th Avenue.

Komarek shooting for spring move to new building New west addition on track for March 2022 completion, says supt.

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Construction of a new addition to the west building at Komarek School in North Riverside remains on schedule, according to District 94 Superintendent Todd Fitzgerald, with an asbestos abatement project wrapping up over the Thanksgiving holiday in anticipation of tying in the new and old west buildings over winter break.

“I’m definitely spending a lot of time on construction-related matters,” said Fitzgerald, who was hired to lead the district in 2020 shortly after voters approved a $20.8 million bond referendum to fund a comprehensive overhaul of the Komarek campus.

The next major date on the calendar ought to come in March or April 2022, when the new west addition is complete and staff in the old west building move everything into the new building to pave way for a complete renovation of the old building.

“That’ll be really an exciting time for the community,” said Fitzgerald. “It will only be for the last six to eight weeks of school, but

the move will be really critical for timing, so the west building can be renovated and ready for the 2022-23 school year.”

Once the old west building is completely renovated, the west side of the Komarek campus will be where all classrooms for the K-8 district are located. Much of the building east of 13th Avenue, except for the existing superintendent’s office, board room and gymnasium, will be demolished.

A new gymnasium, made possible by a $1.5 million state grant, will be built on the east side of campus, effectively double the amount of space the district can devote to physical education classes, sports and other large activities.

Since construction broke ground in early June, all of the steel work for the new west addition has been completed and the concrete for the lower level, first and second floors has been poured.

The exterior walls have been erected and the roof is being installed, allowing a weather-tight site for winter construction inside.

Exterior brick on the new west addition should be going up soon, Fitzgerald said.

In addition to having new, contemporary learning spaces in the new west building, those teachers and students making the move from the old west building next spring will also benefit from a major upgrade in technology.

“It really is just going to move us into pro-

viding opportunities for teachers to have 21st-century technology at their fingertips,” Fitzgerald said.

Instead of sharing wireless access points, each classroom will have its own wireless access, improving internet connectivity.

Each classroom will also be equipped with a 75-inch flat panel screen to which teachers and students can project from their devices.

“The goal is to have all aspects of the technology infrastructure in by next spring,” Fitzgerald said.

The school district is also installing security upgrades in the form of a new building access control system, doing away with keys and punch pads in favor of one where employees can swipe IDs. The campus will also get a more robust security camera system, replacing the existing one which Fitzgerald described as “a bit outdated.” The district plans to install 67 cameras in total – 50 inside and 17 outside.

According to Fitzgerald, the interior cameras will be placed in common areas such as hallways, stairways and the cafeteria.

No cameras will be installed in classrooms.

While the majority of the new tech infrastructure will be in place in spring 2022, the security cameras system likely won’t be in place until the entire campus renovation is complete.

“The cameras will be one of the last things we do,” Fitzgerald said.

Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Digital Publishing & Technology Manager Briana Higgins Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

BIG WEEK December 8-15

Magic show, free movie at North Riverside Mall

North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, presents the Tricky Max Comedy Magic Show, an interactive family event featuring magic, puppetry and comedy on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 9 to 10 a.m. Face masks required. Special appearance

by Santa Claus.

The Classic Cinemas’ North Riverside Luxury 6 invites families to a free screening of “The Grinch” on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. Tickets are free but registration is required. Tickets must be picked up prior to the show. Seating is limited. First come, first served. The box office is open daily from noon to 8 p.m. Visit northriversideparkmall.com/ movie to register.

Liz Chilsen, “Messenger (Wildwing),” smoke-fired high-fired stoneware on found and altered wooden base.

Riverside Arts Center opens new shows Dec. 3

‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ radio play at LTHS

Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., welcomes visitors to enjoy new shows in the Freeark, FlexSpace and Sculpture Garden galleries, including “Messengers” featuring the art of Liz Chilsen and “Obstacles and Intimacies” by Stephanie Brooks. Both shows are part of the RAC Spotlight Exhibition series, which highlight artists who are part of the RAC community. The shows continue through Jan. 8.

The Lyons Township High School Theatre Board presents “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” by Joe Landry on Thursday, Dec. 10 and Friday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. All shows are in the North Campus Reber Center, 100 S. Brainard Ave., LaGrange.

Audiences will be taken back to Christmas Eve 1945 to a soundstage in Manhattan for a live radio broadcast of Capra’s iconic film. This adaptation tells the heartwarming story of George Bailey’s encounter with the Clarence, e, an angel attempting to finally get his wings, told as a classic 1940s live radio adio play.

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and senior citizens, and free with LTHS student ID. The theatre opens 30 minutes before the show starts.

And more Brookfield Zoo’s 40th Annual Holiday Magic festival of lights continues through the end of the year on the following dates: Dec. 8-12, 15-19 and 26-31 from 3 to 9 p.m. each day. Reserved-time admission (available in 20-minute increments) and parking tickets must be purchased online prior to arrival. Visit CZS.org/ OnlineTicketing.

Riverside Parks and Recreation invites kids to write letters to Santa and place them in a special mailbox that’s been located on the east side of the historic water tower, 10 Pine Ave. Letters received by Dec. 18 will get a note back from Santa.

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, 2447 Desplaines Ave. in North Riverside, invites you to send troops and local veterans a taste of home for the holidays by participating in their Christmas Stockings for Soldiers & Veterans drive through Dec. 17. Stop in at the funeral home Monday through Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and pick up a free stocking to take home, ■

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decorate and stuff with Christmas cheer. Bring the filled stocking back for delivery to troops abroad and veterans at home. Call 708-447-2500.

Visit Santa Claus in the lower level center court of North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 Cermak Road, through Christmas Eve on the following dates: Dec. 8-17 from noon to 7 p.m.; Dec. 18-23 from noon to 8 p.m.; and Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visits are free, photo packages available for purchase.

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North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to drop in and join the Classic Games Club on Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; There’s also Crafternoons: Gingerbread Terra Cotta via Zoom on Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m. and a Telephone Book Club discussion of “Mr. Dickens and his Carol”by Samantha Silva via conference call (800-747-5150, code 1453322) on Dec. 14 at 6:45 p.m.

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Kids ages 4-up can choose either in-person or Zoom attendance for Lapsit Storytime on Dec. 9 at 10:30 a.m.; After School Art Escape on Dec. 9 at 3:30 p.m.;

There’s also the show “Vessels,” which continues through Dec. 31 and features the art of Tulika Ladsariya, Melissa Zeigler Monroe and Shawn Vincent. All are ceramic artists exploring multiple meanings of the vessel form.

Gallery hours are Thursday-Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Visit riversideartscenter.com for more.

ABCs and 123s on Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m.; Every Child a Reader on Dec. 13 at 5 p.m.; Story Safari on Dec. 15 at 10:30 a.m.; and Silly Science, Crazy Construction & Stuff (in-person only) on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.

Register for programs at northriversidelibrary.org/ events-new.

Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., invites you to Chair Yoga via Zoom on Dec. 9 at 11 a.m.; a Holiday Card Workshop in the Maker Studio on Dec. 10 from 4-6 p.m.; and Genealogy Club: Giving the Gift of History in Meeting Room 1 on Dec. 14 at 4 p.m. Visit brookfield.evanced.info/signup to register for programs.

Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, will pass out RB Finals Brain Break Kits, treats high school students can pick up and take home Dec. 12-16 at the CYS desk.

For kids there’s Holiday Storytime in the Community Room on Dec. 10 at 9:30 and 11 a.m.; Friday Flix for teens on Dec. 10 at 3:30 p.m.; and After School DIY ■

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on Dec. 15 at 3:30 p.m. Registration required.

Visit riversidelibrary.libcal.com/calendar to register for programs.

Riverside Chess Club, open to anyone age 5 through adult, meets in person each Wednesday at 5 p.m. in Room 30 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road. Players of all levels welcome. Children under 7 require caregiver over 13. Email sean@riversidechessclub.org for more info.

Through March 25, 2022 the Lyons Township High School South Campus Fieldhouse indoor track, 4900 S. Willow Springs Road in Western Springs, will be open to the public from 6 to 7 a.m. on days LTHS is in session. There is no admission charge or fee to use the track. Please bring an ID and be prepared to sign in.

The Brookfield Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo the second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts. Next bingo night is Dec. 12.

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

P O L I C E

Explore Europe’s castles

The Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library invites you to join traveler and librarian Faye Levin-O’Leary for “Castles of Europe” via Zoom on Monday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

Levin-O’Leary explores of the castles that they not only visited but also worked and lived in.

Register to attend at brookfield. evanced.info/signup or by calling 708-485-6917, ext. 130.

Artist talks Lustrons at library presentation Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, in partnership with Riverside Arts Center, hosts an artist talk with Dirk Fletcher on his exhibition “Porcelain Utopia: Mid-Century Lustron Home in Illinois and Beyond,” featuring photos of some of the more than 350 Lustron homes Fletcher has photographed.

The talk is in the library’s Community Room on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. Register by visiting riversidelibrary.libcal.com/calendar.

Fletcher’s exhibition of photos is on display at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, through Dec. 31.

DIRK FLETCHER

Get your shopping done sans kids

Need to get your holiday shopping done but don’t want to drag along the kids? North Riverside Parks & Rec invites you to let them to the babysitting during Holiday Shop & Drop for kids 4-12 years old on Dec. 10 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Drop off your children for fun, games and pizza while you shop to your heart’s content. The fee is $20 per child. Call 708-442-5515 or visit facbook.com/NRRecreation for more info.

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R E P O R T S

Woman reports abduction attempt in Riverside

A 35-year-old woman flagged down a Riverside police officer on Dec. 4 just after 5 a.m. to report that someone had just attempted to force her into a vehicle in the 2700 block of Harlem Avenue.

The woman was not injured, but she told police that a man driving an older model blue pickup truck with some sort of scrap material in the rear bed had followed her as she walked north on the east side of Harlem Avenue from Ogden Avenue to the 2700 block.

The driver of the truck was described as an older white male with a very thin build, wearing a black jacket and black hoodie. When she reached Longcommon Road, the woman reportedly crossed to the west sidewalk.

The truck pulled into the Citgo gas station lot, the woman told police, and the driver exited and grabbed her by the hair, pulling her toward the alley. When the woman began yelling for help, the man returned to the truck and left the area, according to the police report.

The man reportedly took the woman’s purse and cellphone.

According to police, the woman was not fully cooperative, declining to give police her phone number so her phone could be pinged.

Security video from the gas station reportedly shows a blue Dodge pickup entering the gas station lot from the north, driving around the pumps and leaving southbound.

A few seconds later a camera in the alley captured video of a set of headlights heading southbound through the alley, with the shadow of a person walking or running away from the lights in the alley. The woman is seen entering and leaving the gas station minimart several times after that.

Initially, the woman told police she had gotten into an argument with her boyfriend in a vehicle, which was not described, near Harlem and Ogden, where she reportedly got out and began walking north.

‘Late for work’ A man charged with aggravated speeding during the early morning hours of Nov. 29 told the Riverside police officer who arrested him that he was driving so fast because he was “running late for work.”

The police officer was northbound on Harlem Avenue from the 4200 block when he clocked a red Ford Fusion traveling southbound at 90 mph in a 30 mph zone near Joliet Road just after 4 a.m.

Making a U-turn, the officer caught up with the Ford near the I-55 interchange and pulled the car over. According to police, the driver did not possess a valid license. He was cited for that offense as well as speeding 60 mph over the limit.

DUI

North Riverside police charged a 55-year-old Berwyn woman with driving under the influence of alcohol, several traffic offenses after an officer on patrol clocked her silver Kia traveling at 55 mph in a 35 mph zone while eastbound on Cermak Road from First Avenue on Dec. 5 about 12:05 a.m.

The Kia turned south on Desplaines Avenue, said police and accelerated to 49 mph, before braking past the stop bar and across the crosswalk at a red light at 26th Street. The driver told police she’d been drinking eggnog prior to getting behind the wheel. She reportedly failed field sobriety tests and then allegedly started walking toward her vehicle after an officer told her she would be arrested for DUI. The officer handcuffed the driver “after a brief struggle.” She refused to submit to a breath test.

In addition to DUI, the driver was cited for speeding, disobeying a red light and improper lane usage.

Catalytic converter thefts ■A

resident of the 9500 block of Henrietta Avenue, Brookfield, contacted police on the morning of Dec. 1 to report that during the overnight hours someone had sawn the catalytic converter from the undercarriage of his 2017 Mitsubishi hatchback.

■ North Riverside police responded to the 2300 block of Hainsworth Avenue after a resident called to report that the catalytic converter had been removed from his 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport during the overnight hours of Dec. 1-2.

Baby Jesus, lights stolen ■ Brookfield

police responded to the business Sweet Creations, 9101 Ogden Ave., after the owner called to report that sometime between 7 p.m. on Dec. 2 and 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 3 someone removed the Baby Jesus figure from a nativity scene in front of the business.

Police checked the area for video evidence with no success.

■ A resident of the 300 block of Desplaines Avenue, Riverside, contacted police on Nov. 30 to report that during the overnight hours someone had stolen a rope of Christmas lights that had been strung in the backyard of his residence, which is partially fenced.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield police departments, Nov. 29-Dec. 5, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

— Compiled by Bob Uphues

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

District 96 debt-free after paying off debt certificates Funds had been borrowed in 2011 to pay for school renovations

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Alone among area school districts, Riverside Elementary School District 96 is now completely debt-free.

On Nov. 1, the district made its final payment of a little more than $1.1 million to pay off the nearly $10 million it borrowed in 2011 in the form of debt certificates to fund renovations completed in 2012 and 2013 in the district’s five schools.

“We’re very appreciative of the strong fiscal management that this district has managed over time and it feels good to be debt free,” said Superintendent Martha RyanToye. “Of course, we continue to think about what are the future needs of the district.”

District 96 has been on a strong financial footing ever since voters approved an education fund referendum raising their tax rate in 2004. The district’s financial position is so strong that it didn’t borrow any money to pay just over $19.1 million over the past two years to build additions at Ames, Blythe Park and Hollywood schools and fund construction of a new multipurpose room,

elevator and sprinkler system at Central School.

District 96 has also spent nearly $1.3 million on real estate purchases over the last five years. The district purchased two homes adjacent to Ames School to make space for the addition and a new playground at Ames School.

It also paid $600,000 to buy an office building at 3340 S. Harlem Ave. to house the district offices, which used to be in the basement of Central School. The old district office space at Central School is now a new multipurpose room.

Few districts could spend more than $20 million for construction, renovation and land acquisition in a short period of time without borrowing money. But District 96 just spent down its ample reserves, essentially just writing checks from its account.

“I can’t name one school district that did that,” said District 96 school board member David Barsotti, who chairs the school board’s finance committee.

Other than last year, District 96 has been running annual operating surpluses of about $2 million a year for the last five years

according to Jim Fitton, the district’s director of finance and operations.

Even after spending approximately $20 million on construction and property acquisition in the last few years, District 96 still has reserves that most other school districts can only look upon with envy.

Fitton is projecting that the district will have $18.8 million in reserve at the end of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2022. That is 64 percent of the projected annual operating expenditures of a little more than $29.3 million in the current fiscal year.

District policy calls for maintaining cash reserves of at least 40 percent of annual operating expenditures. Generally, school districts are considered in good financial condition if they have reserves equal to 33 percent of their annual operating expenses.

Projections indicate that reserves will remain above 40 percent of annual operating expenditures until 2030.

Very few school districts are completely debt-free. Most districts routinely borrow for construction expenses. In 2020, Komarek School District 94 borrowed $20.8 million to pay for an addition and renovation at the

school.

Brookfield-LaGrange Park District 95, which recently completed major additions at both its schools, has a little more than $31.1 million in outstanding debt and pays $3.3 million annually to service that debt.

Riverside-Brookfield High School has just over $27.8 million in outstanding debt and pays just over $5.6 million annually in debt service. Lyons-Brookfield School District 103 is carrying approximately $7.1 million in debt.

Being debt-free means all the revenue that District 96 collects can go to fund current operations or add to reserves.

District 96 officials are not ruling out borrowing money in the future to fund capital projects, perhaps for outdoor work on the Central-Hauser campus and work to revamp the auditorium at Blythe Park School into a large learning space.

“Debt is primarily used for long-term capital projects,” Barsotti said. “It’s something that we should consider, or at the very least explore going forward, because that is what the purpose of debt is. It’s not used for operations.”

the future.

District 96 is the only elementary school district the Landmark covers that does not offer full-day kindergarten. Brookfield-LaGrange Park District 95 switched to full-day kindergarten in 2019.

“I think it’s a little too early to tell if there are any significant educational advantages,” District 95 superintendent Mark Kuzniewski.

Whether full-day kindergarten delivers long lasting educational advantages is one thing that the District 96 full-day kindergarten action team is studying.

“They will probably present a recommendation around the educational value,” RyanToye said. “So, we’re going to really assess

three areas: the educational value, the finance and facilities and then the community interest.”

If District 96 does move to full-day kindergarten, it would likely still offer families a half-day option. District 95 initially offered that option when it switched to full day kindergarten, but no family chose it.

“Nobody took advantage of it so we don’t offer it per se,” said Kuzniewski, adding that if a family wanted to send their child to kindergarten for half a day that could be accommodated.

A number of parents have been pushing District 96 to offer full-day kindergarten saying the half-day program makes arranging child care difficult, especially for families where both parents work outside the home.

District 96 is sending out a survey to families this month asking for their opinions about kindergarten.

Board members made clear that while they would like to hear from the community, the survey is not a plebiscite. They say that they will make their decision based on the all information that the district gathers.

“What we’re trying to do here is a pulse check on the community,” said board member Lynda Murphy. “It’s just a piece of the puzzle, one little bit of information for the board.”

Board member Shari Klyber agreed.

“We’re just asking them about their lives and what’s important to them,” Klyber said.

District 96 currently has enough classroom space to accommodate full-day kindergarten.

“We can put full-day kindergarten in our current footprint,” Barsotti said. “There might be some modifications that we would have to make.”

D96

Gathering information from page 1 ask questions and discuss the issue. The school board is expected to vote on whether to switch to full-day kindergarten at their Feb. 16 regular business meeting.

Elected officials were presented with an estimated cost for full-day kindergarten at the school board’s committee of the whole meeting on Dec. 2. Moving to full-day kindergarten would necessitate hiring four new kindergarten teachers as well as one more art, music and PE teacher. It would also require hiring four new mid-day assistants and purchasing furniture.

Assuming that all the new teachers were first-year teachers with no experience, Director of Finance and Business Operations Jim Fitton estimated that the total cost of moving to full day kindergarten would be $434,385 next year. Because the cost of the furniture is a one-time expense, the annual cost would decrease to $407,096 in 2023-24 and rise to $444,381 by fiscal year 2027.

Ryan-Toye said if the district moves to full-day kindergarten it would not necessarily hire teachers with no experience.

“It’s our goal to, of course, balance the budget, but it’s not to say we’ll only hire brand-new teachers into those positions,” Ryan-Toye said.

Ryan-Toye said some elementary school teachers in the district have expressed interest in teaching kindergarten if the district

moves to a full-day model. If that happened those teachers could be replaced by more junior teachers.

School board member David Barsotti, who chairs the school board’s finance committee, said that the district has been running substantial annual operating surpluses in recent years and thus can easily afford to offer full-day kindergarten.

“We’ve put in well over $2 million [annually] for the last five years, so we could have easily have absorbed the cost to implement this,” Barsotti said.

But board member Joel Marhoul warned of financial projections which show that those surpluses are expected to decline in

The Landmark, December 8, 2021

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Pandemic squelched elementary school learning Big drops on 2021 standardized tests compared to 2019 in English and math

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Hybrid and remote learning last year proved not to be nearly as effective as normal learning – not only at local schools but across the state -- according to test scores released last week for the state-mandated 2021 Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR).

In Riverside Elementary School District 96, 53.7 percent of students taking the test met or exceeded state standards in English Language Arts in 2021 compared to the 73.1 percent who did so in 2019, the last time elementary and junior high school students were tested.

The IAR, given annually to third- through eighth-graders, was not given in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Scores on the math portion of the test also declined and were generally lower than ELA scores. In District 96, 47.5 percent of students who took the IAR in spring 2021 met or exceeded standards compared to 58.4 percent who met the grade in 2019.

Area administrators say that the decline in test scores is not surprising since instructional time was reduced during the pandemic.

“We knew that across the board our percentages were probably going to drop,” said District 96 Director of Teaching and Learning Angela Dolezal. “Most districts regressed in scores.”

Statewide 16.6 percent fewer students

met state-level standards in ELA in 2021 compared to 2019 and 17.8 percent fewer students met state standards in math.

District 96 superintendent Martha RyanToye said the test results were about in line with expectations.

“It is not as meaningful as it was in past years,” Ryan-Toye said of the test results.

“We have a clear understanding that there was less growth for students during the time of the pandemic. Our goal is to acknowledge where kids are now, meet them where they are and help them move forward.”

Dolezal said teachers have had to adjust the curriculum to accommodate gaps in students learning. For example, this year’s fourth-graders are having to learn, or review, multiplication concepts and skills they normally would have mastered in third grade.

“We have adjusted our instructional practices and adjusted our scopes and sequences to accommodate for some of the instructional pieces that students might have missed because of shortened instructional time,” Dolezal said.

Dolezal said that it will take time for students to recover from the lost learning during the pandemic.

“We do see this as our new baseline,” Dolezal said. “We know that we’re not going to cover the gap that we’ve see from prepandemic to now … but we will continue to work on student growth because we want to make sure as educators our students are

FILE

Students in Christina Duve’s fourth-grade class go over an assignment on April 19 at Ames Elementary School in Riverside.

constantly growing and that they’re not staying stagnant.”

Central School was the highest-performing elementary school in District 96 with 62 percent of students meeting state standards in ELA and 55 percent making the grade in math. At Blythe Park School 65 percent of students met or exceeded state standards in ELA, but only 47 percent did so in math.

At Ames School 57 percent of students made the grade in ELA while 54 percent did so math. Hollywood School was the lowestperforming school in District 96, with 49 percent meeting or exceeding state standards in ELA and 41 percent doing so in math.

At L.J. Hauser Junior High School, 50 percent of test takers made the grade in ELA and 49 percent did so in math.

Scores were also down in other districts, including Brookfield-LaGrange Park School District 95.

At Brook Park Elementary School, 36 percent of students met or exceeded state standards in ELA and just 25 percent did so in math in 2021. Two years ago, the last time the assessments were given, 56 percent of Brook Park students met or exceeded state standards in ELA and 37 percent did so in math.

At S.E. Gross Middle School, meanwhile, 43 percent of students met or exceeded state standards in ELA in 2021 compared to 67 percent who did so in 2019. In math only 27 percent of Gross School test takers made the grade last year compared to 41 percent on 2019.

Gross performed better than Hauser on one measure, the percentage of eighthgraders passing algebra. Forty-eight percent of Gross School eighth-graders met state standards in algebra compared to 31 percent of Hauser eighth-graders.

Scores also fell sharply at Komarek School District 94 in North Riverside. Only 29 percent of Komarek students met the grade in ELA in 2021 compared to 48 percent who did so in 2019. In math 24 percent of Komarek students met or exceeded state standards compared to the 30 percent in 2019.

At Congress Park School in southwest Brookfield, which is part of LaGrangeBrookfield District 102, scores stayed fairly constant. In fact, math scores slightly increased at Congress Park as 31 percent of Congress Park students met or exceeded state standards in 2021 compared to 30 percent who did so in 2019.

In ELA there was a slight drop as 37 percent of Congress Park School students made the grade in ELA in 2021 compared to the 40 percent who did so in 2019.

The lowest-performing district in the area was Lyons-Brookfield School District 103, which had almost no in-person instruction during the 2020-21 school year. At Lincoln School in southeast Brookfield just

11 percent of students met state standards in ELA in 2021, with none exceeding state standards. In 2019, 20 percent of Lincoln met the state standards in ELA and 1 percent exceeded state standards.

In math, only 6 percent of Lincoln School students met state standards in 2021. In 2019, 16 percent of Lincoln students met the math standards and 1 percent exceeded them.

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

Brookfield Village Board meetings will livestream in January Archived videos will link segments directly to board agenda items

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Brookfield will begin livestreaming and archiving video of village board meetings in January, making good on a promise made in November 2020 when officials rolled out new agenda management software.

Assistant Village Manager George Issakoo confirmed that Brookfield on Jan. 10, 2022 will begin livestreaming its village board meetings on the village website brookfieldil. gov and on YouTube. The meetings also will be archived so residents can watch them at their convenience.

“It was definitely a village board priority to have increased transparency,” said Issakoo, who added that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and limits on the number of people who could attend meetings in person amplified the need for broadcasting meetings.

The iCompass agenda management software was chosen, said Issakoo, because it has a video streaming tie-in. The streaming software, called Boxcast, allows not only livestreaming meetings as they happen, but when archived the videos will be indexed by agenda item, allowing viewers to watch

discussion of items they are specifically inFor now village board meetings are the terested in instead of hunting for them or only meetings that will be recorded and arwatching the whole video. chived on video.

Last month two video cameras were in“The biggest issue is the staff time and stalled on the walls of the village council manpower it takes,” said Issakoo. chamber. They are both high-definition Because village board meetings are atcameras with full pan-tilttended by the entire manzoom capability, said Issakoo, agement team, including Isallowing cameras to focus on sakoo and Angell, streaming individual speakers or wider those meetings is easy from shots of the room where a staffing point of view. trustees and staff sit.

Other meetings typically Issakoo and Management have one or two staff, often Analyst Kathryn Angell are who need to participate acbeing trained to operate the tively, which makes it more camera system. They did difficult to stream those sestheir first rough run-though, sions.

GEORGE ISSAKOO which was not televised to “It’s a big step forward,” Brookfield assistant village manager the public, at the Brookfield Issakoo said of getting the Village Board’s meeting on streaming platform up and Nov. 22. A more formal test running for village board will take place during the meetings. “After it’s up we’ll upcoming Dec. 13 meeting assess how difficult it is to before going live in January. expand it further.”

“There are a lot of technical things we Issakoo said plans are also in the works have to learn,” said Issakoo. “We’re look- to televise meetings on the cable access ing to capture the meeting and make sure channel Comcast has allotted to Brookit’s clear. It’ll be a huge improvement and field, where a slideshow now runs. It’s uncertain whether that viewing option will increase transparency.”

“It’s a big step forward. After it’s up we’ll assess how difficult it is to expand it further.”

be available in January, but it will be an option in the future.

Televising village board meetings was an explicit goal set out by the village manager’s office in Brookfield’s 2021 budget. The village board earmarked $50,000 for the implementation of the system, but Issakoo said the project has come in far under that amount.

Purchase and installation was less than $10,000, said Issakoo, and it will cost $4,500 annually for the streaming platform.

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

GET READY FOR TAXES: STEPS TO TAKE NOW TO MAKE TAX FILING EASIER IN 2022 - PART II

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axpayers with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) should ensure it hasn’t expired before filing a tax return in 2022. For example, ITINs not used on a federal tax return at least once in the last three years will expire on Dec. 31, 2021. If the ITIN has expired, IRS recommends tax payers submit Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, now to renew an ITIN. Taxpayers who fail to renew ITINs before filing a tax return next year could face a delayed refund and may be ineligible for certain tax credits.

Time is running out to use the Tax Withholding Estimator, a tool on IRS.gov designed to help determine the right amount of tax to have withheld from

paychecks. Taxpayers can use the Tax Withholding Estimator to help determine if adjustments to withholding are necessary. Withholding changes can be made by submitting a new Form W-4 to the taxpayer’s employer.

Taxpayers receiving substantial amounts of non-wage income like self-employment income, investment income,taxable Social Security benefits and in some instances, pension and annuity income, should make quarterly estimated tax payments. The last payment fof 2021 is due on Jan. 15, 2022. Payment options cay be found at IRS. gov/payments.

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Angie still stays connected with Gabi, who helps her navigate this new challenging phase. Gabi also keeps in touch with Angie’s family at home, helping them adapt to their daughter being away. Too many firstgeneration college students are pulled back

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

11

Merry Christmas!

ON SALE!

BOB UPHUES/Editor

8520 Brookfield Ave., Brookfield

Pet supply retailer eyes Brookfield Ave. storefront

Urban Mutt planning to move Berwyn operation west

By BOB UPHUES Editor

Urban Mutt, a pet supply store with locations in LaGrange and Berwyn, announced on Nov. 27 via Facebook that it would be closing its Berwyn store and opening a retail outlet in Brookfield in early 2022.

While the social media posting did not specify the location, a corporation called C Squared Investments LLC, whose managers are listed on the Illinois Secretary of State’s website as Chad Lopez and Cynthia Gaspar, Urban Mutt’s owners, purchased the commercial storefront at 8520 Brookfield Ave. in late September for $237,500.

“The Urban Mutt-Berwyn will be relocating to a new home in Brookfield in early 2022,” the business announced on Facebook. “While this may make some of you sad, we will be able to offer you a bigger selection of items and will continue to offer delivery through Cornershop [an online retail app]. The new store will only be a few minutes away from our current location so we hope to continue seeing all of you there. More details with be forthcoming so please stay tuned!”

Messages left for the business owners by the Landmark at both the Berwyn and LaGrange locations were not returned.

While no building permit or business license applications were on file with the village last week, Brookfield Village Planner Emily Egan confirmed that she had been in touch with Gaspar and that Urban Mutt intended to submit those applications soon.

The building at 8520 Brookfield Ave. is zoned SA-2 Neighborhood Mixed-Use, part of the village’s Station Area Zoning Code adopted in 2017 to guide redevelopment of commercial and residential districts near the village’s three train stations. The building is within steps of Metra’s Zoo Stop at Hollywood Avenue.

The SA-2 Neighborhood Mixed-Use subdistrict is a low-scale transitional district that applies largely to corner lots outside the downtown and encourages pedestrian-friendly retail and service uses on the ground floor of buildings.

The building at 8520 Brookfield Ave. is a one-story “corner store” type structure most recently used as an office.

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

Proposed Riverside zoning changes reflect transit-oriented focus Draft code encourages higher density downtown, along Harlem near train stations

By BOB UPHUES Editor

A preliminary draft of a grant-funded major rewrite of the Riverside Zoning Code that largely has flown under the radar since it began in the summer 2020 suggests the village seeks higher density development in its downtown and Harlem Avenue commercial districts and also wants to make those areas more pedestrian- and bike-friendly.

While the draft language likely will be tweaked as it winds its way through the Riverside Planning and Zoning Commission and is reviewed by the village board early next year, some of the changes to the commercial zoning code, in particular, have a particular transit-oriented flavor.

Todd Vanadilok, principal planner for Egret and Ox Planning, the consultant hired by the village to lead the rewrite, presented the latest draft of the code to elected officials at the Dec. 2 village board meeting.

Vanadilok has been working with a steering committee consisting of Village Trustee Doug Pollock, Riverside Planning and Zoning Commission members Jill Mateo (the commission’s chair) and Jennifer Henaghan and resident Jeff Cermak, who is a commer-

cial real estate investment consultant. Assistant Village Manager Ashley Monroe is village hall’s liaison to the committee.

“This is an ongoing process,” said Pollock at the Dec. 2 village board meeting. “The committee has thrown out these ideas for consideration, some of which I have some concerns about. But I think they’re worth discussing and worth hearing from our Planning and Zoning Commission and eventually the village board. None of these are determined, necessarily.”

The code amendments will be finalized during the first three months of 2022, with final adoption slated for May. The steering committee has met five times since August 2020, most recently in October and the draft changes to the code also incorporate feedback the committee received from an online survey conducted in October 2020. That has been the only active public outreach during the process, which was delayed for about six months earlier this year due to staffing turnover in the village’s Community Development Department.

Vanadilok told officials on Dec. 2 that the draft amendments were in response to two primary objectives – promoting walkability and transit-oriented development in the

downtown business district and to prepare Riverside’s portion of the Harlem Avenue corridor for the arrival of Pace Pulse, a suburban rapid-transit bus network, which is in development at this time.

The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) provided the village with one of its Community Planning Grants to fund the zoning update, hence its transit-oriented emphasis.

New Harlem Ave. TOD district Perhaps the most significant suggested change to the code is the creation of a B1TOD zoning subdistrict, which stretches along Harlem Avenue from Addison Road to Lawton Road. That stretch right now is zoned B1-Commercial which limits building heights to 35 feet and three stories by right, up to five stories as a special use.

In the proposed B1-TOD district buildings can be a maximum of 60 feet and no more than five stories by right. In the B1-C subdistrict, which would include the commercial properties at the corner of Harlem and Ogden and between 26th Street and Longcommon Road, building heights of 48 feet/four stories would be allowed by right. Buildings

of 60 feet/five stories would be allowed as a special use.

Buildings up to 48 feet would also be allowed by right in the B1-TC district, which extends west along East Burlington Street from Harlem Avenue to Delaplaine Road.

In the B2 District, which includes downtown Riverside, the proposed code calls for buildings of 48 feet/four stories by right and up to 60 feet/five stories for planned unit developments.

In both the B1 and B2 districts, the proposed code creates new minimum building heights of two stories.

Proposed changes for bike, vehicle parking Other changes have been proposed for bicycle and vehicle requirements for new developments in commercial zoning districts.

In order to make the business districts more bicycle friendly and encourage the use of public transportation, the draft code proposes new non-residential developments provide one bicycle parking space for every 10 vehicle spaces.

See ZONING on page 13

The Landmark, December 8, 2021

ZONING

Parking tweaks from page 12 The draft also proposes that for new multifamily residential developments a minimum of one bicycle parking space is provided for every 1.5 dwelling units for residents

COVID19

Positivity rates up from page 1 in a seven-day period since April 20. During the previous week, Brookfield recorded 48 new cases, equaling the highest weekly total the village recorded during the spring surge.

In Riverside and North Riverside, which added 16 and 14 new cases, respectively for the week ending Dec. 6, numbers were similar to a increases those two villages experienced in mid-September.

Those case increases are reflected in recent positivity rates locally. On Dec. 3 the seven-day rolling positivity rate in the 60546 ZIP code was 2.33 percent, which is up from a month ago when the positivity rate hovered below 1 percent.

In Brookfield as of Dec. 3 the seven-day rolling positivity rate was 4.51 percent. Exactly

13

and one bicycle parking space per 10 vehicle parking spaces for visitors.

The code also specifies how large the bicycle spaces must be and where they should be located.

According to the draft code, the village would reduce the number of vehicle parking spaces for new multifamily residential developments in transit-oriented districts both downtown and along Harlem Avenue.

In the B1-TOD subdistrict and in the B1-

TC subdistrict, the proposed code calls for one parking space per dwelling unit except for assisted living facilities, where the development would have to include 0.5 spaces per unit. Right now, the B1-TC code requires two parking spaces for each multifamily, townhome and mixed-use dwelling unit.

For non-residential developments of 3,000 square feet or less, no parking spaces would be required. For developments above 3,000 square feet, a developer would have to pro-

vide one space per 400 square feet above that threshold.

In the downtown B-2 commercial district, new developments would have to provide one parking space for every two-bedroom (or fewer) unit in a new development. The code presently calls for 1.5 parking spaces per two-bedroom unit.

The entire draft amendment to the zoning code can be found online at riversidezoning. com/project-documents.

one month ago, the rate was 2.05 percent.

The delta variant of the novel coronavirus still appears to be the main driver of new infections, according to the Cook County Department of Public Health. Genomic sequencing tests performed in Cook County on samples during the past two weeks indicated the delta variant accounted for 99.4 percent of those cases.

The new omicron variant was not detected in any of the samples, though health officials believe that variant is present.

“It’s almost inevitable that it has arrived here,” said Dr. Rachel Rubin, co-lead and senior medical officer for the Cook County Department of Public Health in a Q&A about the omicron variant last week. “While this variant seems to be more contagious, we also have a better chance to contain it because we were aware of it early, with only a few hundred cases to date.”

Tests are being conducted to determine how existing vaccines protect against the new variant.

“It’s wise to be concerned and cautious, but there is no reason to panic,” Rubin said.

“There will be no lockdowns or anything of the sort, at least for now. The current remediations and recommendations should stay in place for the time being, and we urge everyone to follow them. It is especially important to stay masked and maintain physical distancing indoors unless only with your household.”

None of the three villages reported any new fatalities as a result of novel coronavirus infection in the week-long period ending Dec. 6.

That’s one of the differences the area has seen from a year ago, when communities were experiencing dramatic increases not only in new cases, but the severity of those cases.

Between Nov. 1, 2020 and Dec. 20, 2020, there were seven deaths in Brookfield and one death in Riverside as a result of COVID-19.

There has been one death from COVID-19 in Brookfield and none in Riverside and North Riverside since Nov. 1, 2021.

Riverside did have one fatality in Octo-

ber, but that person was the only Riverside resident to die from COVID-19 so far in 2021.

North Riverside has not recorded a death from COVID-19 since Jan. 11.

Vaccine rates also continue to climb. On Dec. 6 the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that 66.1 percent of Illinois residents age 5 and older were fully vaccinated, with 74.1 percent having received at least one dose.

Closer to home, 68.4 percent of Riverside residents were reported fully vaccinated with 87.9 having had at least one dose. In Brookfield those numbers were 62.9/80.2 and in North Riverside they were 61.2/76.5.

Statewide the impact of vaccines is being felt in hospital intensive care units. On Dec. 5, 2021 the Illinois Department of Public Health reported that COVID-19 patients accounted for 579 beds in the state’s ICUs, compared to 1,103 on Dec. 5, 2020.

Also on Dec. 5, 2021, 256 COVID-19 patients were on ventilators compared to exactly one year earlier, when there were 643.

14

The Landmark, December 8, 2021

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Testing times

U

nder the best circumstances, the Landmark and the rest of the newspapers in the Growing Community Media group have never strongly advocated looking at annual state-mandated standardized assessments as the best way to determine the success of schools, teachers, students or a school system as a whole.

In Illinois the perpetual rejiggering of the standardized tests effectively makes comparables across years impossible. There is most certainly racial bias/insensitivity built into the tests. And we don’t put credence in the argument, “It’s a snapshot of a moment worth capturing.” Heaven knows the moment captured in the COVID-induced remote learning environment of last spring is going to be aberration piled on aberration.

However, this is not to say the tests don’t serve a useful purpose and can serve as one of many tools public school administrators and parents have to judge how children are being served and how education is being delivered.

There are some long-term trends that remain a concern, such as the low achievement, regardless of how assessments have evolved through the years, in Lyons-Brookfield School District 103. To have no students at Lincoln School in Brookfield exceeding state standards in English and math is as alarming as knowing that just 11 percent of those students met state standards in English and just 6 percent met them in math.

It’s not an anomaly. Prior to the pandemic, in 2019, the number of students meeting state standards in either subject was nothing to write home about. In English the figure was 20 percent. In math, it was 16.

But clearly the lack of in-classroom learning during the 2020-21 school year (the kids in District 103 didn’t make it back into classrooms until the spring) had a major impact. That children would be welcomed back into classrooms this year was welcome news this summer, and all of us need to do our part to make sure it stays that way.

As we reported today, the number of new cases of COVID-19 is back on the rise – not as high as the fall of 2020 due to vaccines available now to all school-age children, but still worth keeping an eye on.

While there appears to be little stomach for another classroom shutdown, some school administrators are getting skittish. Over the weekend, for example, administrators at Oak Park and River Forest High School unexpectedly announced they were suspending all extracurricular activities due to a spike in new cases.

That decision resulted in howls of protest from the community and was quickly walked back two days later.

But don’t simply assume we’re out of the COVID woods yet. Getting vaccinated and boosted, keeping students and staff masked in classroom settings and maintaining vigilance can help prevent spread of COVID-19 and prevent reverting to shutdowns that absolutely no one wants to experience again.

Keeping our public schools in regular operation and following their COVID-mitigation efforts should be a priority if we want to avoid the kind of learning losses that 2020 test scores pretty clearly indicated were a reality.

Opinion KOSEY CORNER

Local ‘superheroes’ collecting toys for hospitalized kids

“H

ere I come to save the day!”

Sounds like Mighty Mouse but it isn’t. Saving the day are a group of local residents who want to bring holiday smiles and toys to children who will be spending Christmas in the hospital.

Known as the Tri-County Heroes United they are Batman (Brian Kuratko), Superman (Alex Gallegos), Wonder Woman (Stephanie Wilson-Muniz), Captain America (Jeff Malas), Spiderman (Jason Andrew) and Santa Claus (David Hull).

The group was PROVIDED formed after Brian Kuratko learned of Local superheroes collecting toys for children hospitalized over the work that the Tri the holidays are (from left) Jason Andrew, Brian Kuratko, David County Police AsHill, Rebecca Lenninger, Alex Gallegos, Stephanie Wilson-Muniz sociation was doing to and Jeff Malas. help children. It was then Kuratko and Galarrangements to visit the patients. They all agree it is legos decided to found their own a great feeling when they are able to visit patients who little group of heroes, who have light up when a superhero enters the room and brings now been in the superhero business for four years. them a present. It brightens up the day for the patient Last year due to COVID-19, the superheroes were and the superheroes. not able to “save the day” so they are eager to get to You can never have enough superheroes, so they are work this year though still on a limited basis. They always looking to enlarge their group and increase their will begin collecting toys at P.J. Klem’s restaurant, 8000 efforts to brighten a child’s day. Currently, Christmas is Ogden Ave. in Lyons, until Dec. 14. New, unwrapped the only time they visit hospitals, but there are plans to toys are requested for children of all ages. According to have an Easter visit, so there is an opening for an Easter Gallegos, “The more toys we have the more children we Bunny. can make happy.”

You, too, can be a superhero by bringing a toy to P.J. The superheroes are contacting area hospitals to make Klem’s in Lyons to help make the season bright.

JOANNE KOSEY

LETTERS

In failing to control guns, we fail our children To the children of this nation, I say to you that I’m deeply sorry that, as a nation, we are more concerned about gun rights than your safety, your peace of mind, your future. You deserve better from us and from our country’s leaders who are supposed to protect your lives, your hopes and your dreams. We have failed you over and over again, every time there’s been a mass shooting.

On Nov. 30, the grandniece of my friend was witness to the school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan.

It was an ordinary day until she heard the shots, went

into hiding and texted her mom as she waited in terror.

It seemed an eternity before she was reunited with her dad. She had also been at lunch with the 14-year-old girl who was killed that afternoon.

In time there will be some healing but the scars will last a lifetime. And, until we have the courage to pass responsible gun legislation I, along with Moms Demand Action and Everytown, will continue to work tirelessly for the safety of others, especially our children.

We will continue to focus our efforts on ending gun violence. For now, I dream and hope of the day when we will love our children as much as our guns.

Kathleen Sherman, CSJ Sisters of St. Joseph LaGrange Park

Sports

@RBLandmark

The Landmark, December 8, 2021

15

RBHS boys cruise to win over rival Lyons Township 16-2 run to end first half keys victory for strong-starting Bulldogs

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

With his team trailing Lyons Township High School by seven points with about five minutes left in the second quarter, Riverside Brookfield High School boys basketball coach Mike Reingruber went to his bench looking for a spark.

He called upon junior Arius Alijosius, a transfer from Stagg, and sophomore Will Gonzalez. Alijosius quickly hit consecutive three pointers to spark a 16-2 run to close out the first half as host RBHS went on to defeat LTHS 69-59 on Dec. 4.

“The two threes that he hit really gave us a little momentum,” Reingruber said. “It gave us energy.”

The Bulldogs (5-1) also turned up the intensity on defense, holding the Lions scoreless for the final 3:31 of the second quarter and the first 2:09 of the third quarter. During that time the Bulldogs outscored the Lions 14-0.

J.P. Hanley, who led the Bulldogs with 21 points, put an exclamation point on the big rivalry win when he hit a step-back three-point-

er at the third quarter buzzer to put the Bulldogs up 55-40 heading into the fourth quarter.

“We ran a play, but LT scouts, they already knew the play so I had to go off, take a step back and hit a big shot,” Hanley said, adding that he has hit about three step back threepointers in his life.

The basket sent the Bulldogs student cheering section into a frenzy and Hanley had to point his finger and tell them to stay in the bleachers as they were about to rush the court to mob him.

“I’ve been told by my mom, like countless times, how you can get technicals by that so I had to make sure they didn’t come on [the floor] as much as I wanted them to,” Hanley said.

The Bulldogs expanded their lead to 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Lions finished the game with a 10-0 run to make the score more respectable.

Gonzalez added 11 points for the Bulldogs while Alijosius and Joevonn McCottry added nine points apiece.

The LTHS game is always a big one for the Bulldogs because the schools are so close and some of the players know each other. The

Bulldogs enjoy competing against the bigger school close by.

“To us it’s pretty huge; it means a lot,” Hanley said.

LTHS (3-2) started well, using a 6-0 run over the final 2:15 of the first quarter to take a 1913 lead after the first quarter. Carter Reid, a 6-foot 4-inch junior, scored on an offensive rebound to open the second quarter to open up an eight-point lead for the Lions before Alijosius’ three-pointers sparked the Bulldogs.

Akron-bound guard Tavari Johnson scored eight points for the Lions in the first quarter but just seven points during the rest of the game. Johnson led the Lions with 15 points in the game and was hounded by either McCottry or Cory Baker throughout the game.

“We mixed up coverages on him, changed things up on ball screens and tried to do everything we could to get him out of his comfort zone,” Reingruber said.

The Lions were held to just six points in the second quarter.

“We took some quick shots,” said LTHS coach Tom Sloan. “I think we had four pos-

sessions in a row in the second quarter where we took quick three-point shots and missed, and I think that’s when it went from we had a lead to trailing. That’s on me. We need to do a better job of executing offensively and that’s something we’re going to have to work on.”

Sloan, who grew up in Riverside and went to Fenwick High School, was asked whether he thought the game meant more to RBHS, which has had a lot of success against the Lions in recent years. LTHS’ biggest rival is Hinsdale Central.

“It might be [bigger for RB], they definitely play like it’s really important,” Sloan said. “I know that it means a lot to them. I can’t really say if it’s bigger for one than the other, but I do know that every year that we play them RB plays like it’s really an important game. But they play like that all the time. They’re a really good team.”

Both teams played their conference openers on Dec. 3. RBHS defeated Immaculate Conception 78-55 while LTHS lost to Glenbard West, the top-ranked team in the Chicago metro area, 71-34.

Freshman debuts in style for RBHS gymnasts Christiansen racks up three scores of 9 or better at Hilltopper Invite

Christiansen also was 13th in the allaround (33.75) and tied for 13th on vault (8.95). Senior Nora Ford tied for 15th on floor (8.85).

The invite was a significant score jump from the 123.60 total the Bulldogs tallied on Dec. 2 during their dual meet victory at HinBy BILL STONE sdale South.

Contributing Reporter Christiansen won floor (9.3) and vault (9.0) en route to a firstRiverside-Brookfield High place 33.90 all-around total.

School freshman Lia Christiansen “There’s been a lot of ups and has quickly made the transition to downs but I’ve scored pretty well high school girls gymnastics. and the team’s so fun,” ChrisOn Dec. 4, she received already tiansen said. “My [Yurchenko her third score in the 9s in helptuck] vault has gotten really ing the Bulldogs score a seasongood and I’ve been landing them. high 127.65 points to finish 10th I like floor the best.” at Glenbard West’s Hilltopper Ford was third on vault (7.9), Invitational.

Sarah Lindenberg tied for fourth LIA CHRISTIANSEN “There’s a lot of good girls that on vault (7.7) and was fifth on are getting 9s so it’s really cool beam (7.0) and Leah Kowalski to see how close I am to them,” said Chris- tied for fourth (8.6) on floor. tiansen after her 9.0 on floor exercise earned At the season-opening Hornet Invitation11th place in a powerful 12-team field. “We al on Nov. 24 at Hinsdale South, RBHS was did really well today. I’m proud of it. I think sixth (122.95). a lot more people stuck (balance) beam and Christiansen and Ford earned individual medals with top-10 finishes. didn’t fall off so we did pretty good there.”

Christiansen tied for fifth on vault (8.85), was seventh on floor (8.65) and tied for seventh in all-around (31.65).

Ford was 10th on beam (8.2) and Annabel Krueger tied for 14th (7.75).

Holmes lands three top 10 finishes at Hinsdale South Junior Annmarie Holmes made her high school gymnastics debut in 2019 at Hinsdale South’s Hornet Invitational.

She left this season’s opening invite on Nov. 24 with a more accomplished feeling – and three top-10 individual medals.

“That made me really excited, especially since last time I was at the Hornet Invite freshman year, I didn’t place on anything,” Holmes said. “It showed my improvement and made me more confident.”

The Lions finished fifth (127.55) and continued progressing on Dec. 1 despite losing at Oak Park-River Forest 134.40 to 129.10 in the West Suburban Conference Silver dual opener.

At Hinsdale South, Holmes was eighth on beam (8.3) and tied for ninth on floor (8.45)

in taking sixth in all-around (32.30). Freshman Emmy Bertucci and sophomore Emily Tucker also earned medals.

An individual sectional qualifier as a freshman, Holmes said switching gymnastics clubs to Action has helped her increase the difficulty of her routines this past year.

“It’s really helped me gain more skills and now I feel a lot more confident in my routines,” Holmes said. “I think overall, all of the events, I’ve gained more confidence.

Each meet I want to improve and add more skills.”

Bertucci made an impressive high school debut by finishing second on the uneven parallel bars (8.55). Tucker was eighth on floor (8.5) and 10th on uneven bars (7.85).

Calli Avants and Tiana Bojic had teamhigh 8.6s on vault to tie for 15th.

At OPRF, Bertucci tied for first on beam (8.4). Holmes, Emma Cassidy and Gabi Sanchez tied for fifth with 7.9s.

On uneven bars, Tucker was third (8.0) and Bertucci and Calleigh McPartlin tied for fourth (7.9). Tucker also tied for third on floor (8.4) and Natalie Aubert was fifth (8.05).

Bertucci (31.50) and Holmes (31.45) finished fourth and fifth in all-around.

16

S P O R T S

The Landmark, December 8, 2021

Nolan looks to bag state diving title in 2022 Senior athlete placed second at most recent IHSA state meet

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Even without last year’s IHSA postseason, senior diver Harrison Nolan should become the first Riverside-Brookfield High School boys swimming and diving athlete to earn three top-five individual finishes at the state meet.

The 2020 state runner-up could become the Bulldogs’ first diving state champion and only second titlist along with John Scheda in the 50-yard freestyle in 1964.

“He’s special. He really is that good,” said first-year RBHS coach Mike Laurich of Nolan. “He’s a once-in-a-while generation kind of diver.”

Nolan won the diving competition and sophomores Drew Rosa and Cooper Marrs each won two swimming events in the Dec. 6 dual meet at Homewood-Flossmoor.

Laurich, the school’s girls swimming coach the past seven seasons, is coaching boys for the first time since being head coach at Hinsdale Central in the 1999-2000 season after nine as an assistant.

The abbreviated 2020-21 season ended March 13 with RBHS finishing third at the Independents Conference Meet behind champion Oswego co-op and Plainfield co-op.

At the 2020 state meet, Nolan (522.95 points) was second as the only top-seven sophomore or freshman after taking fifth in 2019 (480.25). Based on 2021 conference meet results, Nolan had the state’s second-highest point total.

Had there been a 2021 state meet, Rosa (200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke) also would have qualified.

Marrs, primarily a distance freestyler, is coming off his first all-state honors in cross country.

Seniors Andrew Kallas (sprint freestyle) and Luke Harder (500 free) and sophomores Hayden Marrs (sprint freestyle, butterfly) and Lucas Hedrich (back, IM) also return. Varsity newcomers include freshmen Nick Marrero (IM, breast) and Aiden Pankros (free, fly).

“It’s a pretty good group of freshmen and sophomores,” Laurich said. “If we do the work right and get a little lucky at sectionals, hopefully we’ll get a couple of people [to state] and a relay or two.”

Lyons Township returns strong squad With a large group of seniors and three 2020 state meet competitors, including relay state champion Jack Wanless, the Lions have high expectations.

The abbreviated 2020-21 season ended with the West Suburban Conference Silver Division Meet. The Lions were third behind champion Oak Park-River Forest and Hinsdale Central.

“We have a lot of returners, which is great for this season,” LTHS coach Erin Rodriguez said.

“The younger guys will learn from the older guys because they’ve been there, which we didn’t get last year

[without an IHSA postseason].”

Wanless joined three seniors at the 2020 state meet to win the 200 free relay (1:22.70), the team’s first state title in that event, and was part of the fourth-place 400 free relay (3:06.91).

Seniors Aiden Foley (32nd in 100 breast, 59.81) and Alec Paras (36th in diving, 177.95) qualified individually for 2020 state and senior A.J. Vitek and Foley were part of the 200 medley relay (14th, 1:35.49). Paras joined the program as a sophomore.

Senior Colin Bade (backstroke, individual medley) and junior Quinn Collins (back, IM, relays) also return from the 2020 sectional lineup.

Varsity newcomers include senior Graeme Gantt, a sprint and middle-distance freestyler, and Alex Jackson (sprint freestyle and breast stroke) and junior Garrett Walls (fly and IM).

The Lions lost their season-opening home dual on Dec. 3 to Glenbrook North 101-85. Foley won the 100 breast, Collins won the 200 IM while Bade and Collins finished 1-2 in the 100 back. LTHS swept all three relays.

On Dec. 4, the Lions finished fourth in the Gold Division of Stevenson’s Patriot Relays (174 points), one point behind third-place Cary-Grove. Taking second were Collins, Foley, Walls and Wanless in the varsity 400 medley relay and Jackson, sophomore Jack Dillon and Foley in the 350 breast relay (50-200-200).

OBITUARIES

Bernard J. Miotek, 82

L. James Paul, 90

Truck driver was U.S Marine veteran

Building contractor served on village, D96 boards

Bernard J. Miotek, 82, of Brookfield, died Nov. 30, 2021.

Mr. Miotek was born Dec. 2, 1938 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He worked as a truck driver whose hobbies included trains and old cars.

He was the husband of the late Shirley Ann (nee Danek); the father of William (Valerie) BERNARD J. MIOTEK Miotek and Cynthia Miotek; the brother of Sandra Jo (late James) Birch, the late Judith (late Craig) Miotek-Redmond; and the brother-in-law of Elaine Danek.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 4 at St. Louise de Marillac Church, LaGrange Park, followed by interment at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Stickney.

Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.

Online condolences may be offered at KuratkoNosek.com.

L. James “Jim” Paul, 90, of Riverside, died peacefully on Dec. 5, 2021.

Mr. Paul was born and raised in Riverside and was predeceased by his parents, Louis and Ruth Pavlicek, and his sister, Ruth (Charles) L. JAMES PAUL Carroll. He attended Riverside grammar schools and graduated from Culver Military Academy. He married the love of his life, Phyllis Baltis Paul, in 1952.

With a B.S. in chemistry, Jim graduated from Northwestern University in 1953 and was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Upon his college graduation, Mr. Paul served as a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force at the end of the Korean War and was stationed in Madera, California.

Once his service was completed, Mr. Paul enjoyed a career with his father-in-law as general manager of Baltis Built Homes from 1956 to 1986. He continued his general contracting business when he established

James Paul & Associates Inc. More recently, he partnered with his sons in their commercial real estate development business.

In 2008, Jim lost his beloved wife, Phyllis, to ALS after celebrating 56 years of marriage.

Mr. Paul was civic-minded and, with Phyllis’ support, he was involved in his community. He served on the Riverside School District 96 Board of Education and was also helped lead a successful Riverside-Brookfield High School referendum.

He served on the board of directors and as president of the Riverside Little League then became a district administrator in the State of Illinois.

While he served as a trustee for the village of Riverside, Mr. Paul also served on the Police and Fire Commission. Among his many Riverside Village Board accomplishments, Mr. Paul was responsible for bringing Lake Michigan water to the village of Riverside.

He belonged to the Riverside Golf Club and was a member of its board of directors then club president. He and Phyllis shared fond memories of wintering at the Deerfield Manor Club in Deerfield Beach, Florida, for which Jim served on its board of directors.

Mr. Paul is survived by his six children: Deborah Stewart, Susan (Michael) Woerner, James (Ginger) Paul, William (Susan) Paul, Regina (Douglas) Fiala and Thomas (Dana) Paul.

He was blessed with 19 grandchildren: Kathryn (Andrew) Whitlatch, Daniel Kostelny, Carolyn M. Kostelny, Thomas Kostelny, Ashley (Frank) Parker, Morgan (Jamie) Jones. Rebecca Woerner, Tyler Paul, Heather Paul (Shaun Obarski), William (Jenny) Paul, Brett (Jeni) Paul, Zachary Paul, Trevor Paul, Anne (Ian) Dabrowski, Douglas Fiala Jr., Matthew (Jesse) Fiala, Lisa (Brad) Fiala, Maxwell Paul, Henry Paul, and 16 greatgrandchildren: Thomas, Daphne, Peter, Abraham, Marigold, Sam, Ellie, Brooks, Edith, Camryn, Henryk, Jake, Valerie, Andrew, Tripp, Madelyn.

His nieces and nephews include Sharon (Bill) Eklund, Kathy Herban, Robert (Diane) Hutchison, Amy (Jim) Flynn, Timothy (Cindy) Hutchison Denise (Kim) Roekamp, Fred (Jackie) Lindstrom III, Lisa Lindstrom and Walter Lindstrom.

In lieu of flowers, Mr. Paul’s family appreciates donations to Catholic Charities at donations@catholiccharities.net or Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, P.O. Box 7154, Carol Stream, 60197-7154 Visitation is Thursday, Dec. 9 at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Western Springs, from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by the Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside Arrangements by Brian Powell funeral directors of Hinsdale.

The Landmark, December 8, 2021

Growing Community Media

17

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

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

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.

Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES: Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Essential duties and responsibilities 1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture.

2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays.

3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers.

4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management.

5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software.

6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system.

7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review.

8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning.

9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs.

10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,



software and other forms of systems and data.

11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training.

12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling.

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties 1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures.

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems.

5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations.

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis.

Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android.

Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology.

Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down.

Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to: Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following: - Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time - Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance - Working in and around computer equipped vehicles Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance.

Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.

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

Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager in the Health Department.

This position manages the Oak Park Farmer’s Market including the vendors that sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This is a part-time seasonal position with work from January-mid November and work required on Saturday’s from May through October. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking to hire a School Psychologist for a part-time position for grades PreK-4th starting in December 2021. To qualify, candidates must have a valid Illinois Professional Education License with endorsement in School Psychology (PreK-4). A Master’s Degree is preferred as well as 5 years of successful educational experience in both general and special education; and at least five years of successful experience in evaluating students, collaborating, and problem-solving with school and District teams. The right candidate will facilitate MTSS meetings, including individual and grade-level planning meetings.

Integrate D90 practices around equity and inclusivity into daily work and relationships with students, families and colleagues.

Duties include: Completing appropriate psychoeducational assessments for children who have or are suspected of having a disability. Identifying and assessing the learning, development, and adjustment characteristics and needs of individuals and groups, as well as, the environmental factors that affect learning and adjustment. Using assessment data about the student and his/ her environment(s) in developing appropriate interventions and programs. Responding to parent and teacher requests for evaluations in accordance with Illinois law and maintaining compliance in accordance with Illinois special education law.

Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90.org



Fun, Clean, Picture Frame Assembly JOB Tired or bored of clicking away on a keyboard working at home? Manufacturing Keep your hands and mind busy with a fun, safe, clean assembly job. You’d have your own large assembly zone, at least 15-20 feet away from others, so we’re really safe here. Top rated firm Alpina Manufacturing LLC founded in 1992, Oak Park resident owner. Beautiful campus in Galewood, near Mars candy, 3 blocks north of Oak Park. We build and sell display framing systems to customers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Verizon, Circle K gas stations, Hospitals. Full time, Part time, Flex hours for working parents or students. We train, no travel, work in Galewood. Open to any backgrounds. Excellent pay, friendly caring management. Stop in anytime between 7am and 4pm M-F ask for Izzy to apply and check us out. Alpina Manufacturing 6460 W Cortland St Chicago IL 60707 PART-TIME COMMUNICATIONS, MARKETING, AND EVENTS SPECIALIST The Village of Riverside (pop. 9,298) is just 9 miles from downtown Chicago and is a National Historic Landmark Community designed by visionary landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. The Village is seeking applicants for a part-time Communications, Marketing, and Events Specialist. The position reports to the Village Manager and is responsible for planning, designing, and creating Village Social Media posts, management of the Village website and promoting special events. The Communications, Marketing, and Events Specialist will coordinate with various departments and commissions to provide updates and promote various services, events, and sponsorship opportunities.

Starting a New Business?

Riverside is looking for an individual with knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations and communication who can translate that information into a public administration context.

The successful individual will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, enjoys making creative and engaging content, and be comfortable using computers including utilizing graphic design and internet communication programs and applications.

Minimum requirements: • Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, or closely related field • Minimum three years’ experience in communications, public relations, journalism or closely related field.

Hourly Pay range: $30.49 to $55.20 per hour with expected starting rate $35+/- per hour (approximately 1015 hours per week).

Application review starts Tuesday December 15, 2021. Apply Today!

Send cover letter, resume, application and three work related references by e-mail to Ian Splitt at isplitt@ riverside.il.us.

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

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KLIS FLOORING INC.

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

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

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

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

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

LANDSCAPING BRUCE LAWN SERVICE Fall Yard Clean-Up Slit Seeding Bush Trimming Fall Leaf Clean-Up Senior Discount Snow Removal

brucelawns.com

708-243-0571

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/ Plaster Repair Low Cost 708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

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

WOODWORK Terry's

Woodwork Restoration On-site refinishing of wood

and fiberglass since 1977.

Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty!

References available.

Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

773-637-0692

RENTALS & REAL ESTATE SUBURBAN RENTALS CICERO 3724 S 53RD CT

A beautiful 2 flat in South Cicero off 35th st. Features include 3 bedrooms, central air, garage parking.

Modern appliances include dishwasher. Utilities separate. $1,700 per month plus security. Lease with option to buy possible.

708-383-8223 or 773-676-6805

HUGE CICERO APT

Huge 3.5 RMS 1 BDRM apt. Heat, water, cooking gas, etc included.

Full appliances. 2nd floor. Plenty of street parking available. Terrific location. No pets. $795/month. 1 mo. security deposit. Credit check. 1 year lease. Avail Dec or Jan. Broker 708-284-2500

BERWYN DELUXE 5 RMS

Deluxe 5 RMS, 2 BDRMS apt. Close to bus, train, hospital, park, stores.

Includes heat, water, all appliances, laundry facility, parking. Just painted, new blinds. No pets. No smoking. $1200/mo. Sec. dep. 1 mo.

Credit Check. Available Dec or Jan. BROKER 708-347-2500

Ask for John

Email: 7444franklin@gmail.com for details & photos.

ROOMS FOR RENT

Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave.

Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt.

312-212-1212

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT A 1,635 SQ. FT. RETAIL SPACE FOR LEASE (END CAP)

Recently Updated/remodeled.

Heavy traffic area. **Discounted Rate-Limited Time!

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

TEXT or CALL: (708)828-6491

RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

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

CITY RENTALS AUSTIN RENAISSANCE APARTMENTS

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

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

Town Center Realty Group LLC

Reach the people making the decisions.

Place an ad in GCM Classified!

Call 773/626-6332

Illinois Classified Advertising Network WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit www.RefrigerantFinders.com

The Landmark, December 8, 2021

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21008160 on November 12, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of JNO ENTERPRISES with the business located at: 136 S. CUYLER AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: JONATHAN L. DARNALL 136 S. CUYLER AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA. Published in Wednesday Journal November 24, December 1, 8 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21008171 on November 12, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of HALL’S HANDYMAN SERVICE with the business located at: 409 S. 7TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CLYDE HALL 409 S. 7TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153, USA

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

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Chela de Jesus Piedra Gonzalez, Petitioner and Nelson Alejandro Armijos Gonzaga, Respondent, Case No. 2021D010060.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before December 29, 2021, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 24, December 1, 8 2021

Published in Wednesday Journal December 1, 8, 15 2021

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission December 23, at 7:00 PM NOTICE is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Brookfield on Thursday, December 23, 2021, at 7:00 PM in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois to consider a request for a zoning variation of required on- site parking for 9110 Broadway Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/or written comments. Please check the following webpage before the meeting for more information: https://brookfieldil.gov/community-developmentdepartment/planning/brookfield-development-projects Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the meeting to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kendra Kuehlem, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 and at kkuehlem@brookfieldil.gov.

The application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Public hearings may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations in order to participate in any meeting may contact the Village of Brookfield at (708) 4857344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (south) entrance of Village Hall.

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RB Landmark December 8, 2021

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of BABY GRAULAU 2021CONC001674.

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: BABY GRAULAU to the new name of: RICARDO LONGORIA The court date will be held: On February 2, 2022 at 10:30am at via Zoom: Meeting ID: 923 0250 9713 Password: 709022 Cook County in Courtroom # Cal. 6/ 1707 Published in Wednesday Journal December 8, 15, 22, 2021

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal-opportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER Plaintiff, vs.

ELENA F. MARROQUIN A/K/A ELENA FIGUEROA INDIVIDUALLY AND AS GUARDIAN FOR CHRISTIAN MARROQUIN AND NICHOLAS MARROQUIN, JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., MARIELENA SANTANA INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ESTATE OF RICCARDO A. MARROQUIN A/K/A RICCARDO MARROQUIN, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants, 17 CH 954 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-07-420-011.

Commonly known as 425 S. EAST AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 17-00157 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3181888

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MERRILL LYNCH MORTGAGE INVESTORS, INC., MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, MANA SERIES 2007-OAR4 Plaintiff, -v.ELLEN C. SCHNACK, RANDALL C. SCHNACK Defendants 19 CH 14891 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 4, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 5, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 030R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 626 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-319-0080000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $417,344.71.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no

representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm..

Please refer to file number 19092500.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 19-092500 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 19 CH 14891 TJSC#: 41-2041 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 19 CH 14891 I3182691

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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Let the sun shine in...

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

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The Landmark, December 8, 2021

W NE

G TIN LIS ITS W N NE 7 U

G TIN LIS

W NE

G TIN LIS

166 Northgate Rd, Riverside $399,900

7312 W Ogden Ave, Riverside $1,799,000

2904 Racine Ave #3, Chicago $450,000

84 Riverside Rd, Riverside $2,100,000

231 S Maple Ave #C, Oak Park $240,000

3137 Kenilworth Ave, Berwyn $320,000

324 Blackhawk Rd, Riverside $599,000

2916 S Harlem Ave, Riverside $549,000

9841 S Hoyne Ave, Chicago $510,000

16W307 95th Pl, Burr Ridge $895,000 AL CI R E MM CO

873 N Larabee St, #701, Chicago $405,000

3125 Madison Ave, Brookfield $322,900

302 River Oaks Dr, Calumet City $350,000

530 Byrd Rd, Riverside $475,000

7722 Madison St, River Forest $18/sq ft

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