Yuletide cheer
‘It’s basically my second home, ’ she says of the library. ‘ is is my family. ’
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
When Riverside Public Library Executive Director Janice Foley was told she was named the Riverside Township Lions Club’s Person of the Year for 2024, she cried.
“I was so blown aw ay,” she told the Landmark. “When I got the call, I was just totally overwhelmed with emotion. It really meant and means the wo rl d to me that I was selected.”
Foley, who was recognized Se pt. 25 at a celebratory dinner, first started working at the Riverside Public Library in April 1994, more than 30 years ago, in the library’s children and youth services section. Having been born and raised
PHOTO BY T0DD BANNOR
TODD BANNOR
Santa Claus made an appearance at Brook eld’s Christmas Tree
YEAR
‘Magical’
place from page 1
on the Southwest Side of Chicago, Foley came to Riverside after a brief stint away from the city with her young family
“We went to Indiana — Richmond , Indiana — for four year s, and I hated it. I hated eve rything about it. It was a small town, 70 miles east of Indianapoli s, 40 miles west of Day ton. That ’s the only thing that you could say about it,” she said. “I remember waking up in January of 1994, and I turned to [former] husband, and I said, ‘I do n’ t care whether you come with me or not. I’m taking the kids back to Chicago.’”
After working as an adult services librarian in Richmond, Foley said she was inspired to shift departments by her own children, who were 5- and 8-years-old at the time.
“I applied for the job, and I got an interview, and my interview was actually April 1, 1994, on April Fool’s Day,” she said. “I walked up to the building, because I had never seen it before, and I looked up, and — I’m Catholic by association — I said, ‘God, I want this job,’ and I hadn’t even interviewed.”
Five years later, the library director position became vacant, so Foley took a chance and put herself up for consideration. Now, with 25 years in the position, the rest is history.
Foley said multiple factors have kept her working at the library all this time
“The community. My fellow staff. It’s just a really nice place to work,” she said. “I’ve gotten involved with the Chamber [of Commerce]. I’ve gotten involved with the farmers market and Friends of the Library… It’s basically my second home
“This is my family,” she added. “The only more important people are my immediate family.”
She said she only once considered leaving the library to work elsewhere, “but there was never a need because all of my professional things were being fulfilled here. My personal things were being fulfilled here. My kids basically grew up [here].”
While Foley has no specific plans to retire, she said she’s considering doing so within the next few years.
“I don’t want to stay around and be obsolete. There will be a time for fresh leadership,” she said. “I think if I felt that I wasn’t changing with the times or doing things, I would have left earlier, or I would leave, but I
BY
e Riverside Township Lions Club recognized Janice Foley, executive director of the Riverside Public Library, as Person of the Year at a dinner event Sept. 25.
still ha
that it’ll be, OK, now I can relax and hopefully enjoy what I’ve worked hard for.”
Foley named the library’s lower-level remodel in 2020 as the accomplishment she was most proud of in her quarter century as its director.
“I have to say that I dreamt about it when I worked downstairs. Like, ‘This place needs to be updated,’” she said. “It was a long, long journey, but probably about 10 or 12 years ago, the boards started realizing that, hey, yeah, this could be a thing. When we had our referendum back in 2020, it was the Tuesday after the Monday everyone shut down for COVID, and we passed it with 70% of the vote. That was like, ‘Yes! People understand, and they love us.’”
When asked to name her favorite thing about Riverside, Foley’s immediate answer was, “The library!” But when she thought about it further, she gave another response
“The excitement of the people who live for the impor tant things in life,” she said. “They really support, and they love,
it doesn’t have that same feel as Riverside It’s kind of a hidden little island, almost, and from the minute I came, it was like, ‘This is great.’ I mean, it’s magical. I know that sounds we ird, but it is, to me.” Re f lecting on her decade-spanning career at the library, Foley started to tear up with emotion.
“The years have flown quickly, and it has been very fulfilling. It’s such a part of me that it will be we ird when it ’s not a pa rt of me, because it ’s li ke it ’s always been there. I was a wo rk ing mom, and my k ids knew that wo rk was important, and the fact that they always supported me, and they suppo rt me now, even. In fact, they did my introduction at the dinner,” she said. “Family is ve ry important to me, and Rive rside became my family ve ry quickly. Once you’ re my f amily, I’m right behind you, and I’m always there for you. And I think that that’s wh at ’s happened with the library.”
CO RRECTI ON
An article titled “New photo exhibit at Riverside Arts Center calls for more than cursory looks” that was published Dec. 18 re ported the incorrect name of marble mentioned in a work of art. It is Carrara. We apolo gize for the er ror.
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Which Landmark stories caught your eye this year?
e 10 articles you read the most online in 2024
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
While every Landmark story is special in its own right, not all of them are created equal. This year, there were 10 stories that resonated the most with our online audiences Whether you read our work to stay infor med on your local government, to keep up with high school sports or to see the best pictures from events, we appreciate you for choosing the Landmark.
In terms of changes, the biggest this year is, well, me. I started as the Landmark’s fulltime staff reporter at the end of January, so I make a few appearances on this list. I’ve had a great year getting to know Brookfield and Riverside, and I’m excited to head into my second year covering them for the Landmark. Now, for the second year in a row, let’s look at the stories that really piqued your curiosity
10. For mer superintendent sues D103 for discrimination by Bob Skolnik (3,946 views)
Carol Baker, for merly principal of George Washington Middle School and superintendent and assistant superintendent for Lyons School District 103, sued the district for sex and age discrimination. In 2022, her assistant superintendent position was eliminated, and she was offered a lower salary to remain principal of the middle school; she declined the offer and retired.
9. Brookfield Zoo Chicago announces star-studded concert lineup by Trent
Brown (4,107 views)
T he zoo announced T he Fray, Barenaked Ladies and Gin Blossoms as the headliners of three one-night Roaring Nights concerts in June and July. Tickets, which were made available in April, cost $45 to $55 to see one show or $90 for all three
8. Movie coming about North Riverside’s firefighter terminations by Amina Sergazina (4,221 views)
Caley Fox Shannon and Colin Hughes, who both grew up in Riverside, produced and directed an independent documentary, “Fire Department, Inc.,” about for mer North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr.’s failed attempt to privatize the village’s fire department.
7. Nellie Brennan, noted Riverside resident, struck, killed by train by Trent Brown (4,590 views)
Riversider Nellie Brennan died Aug. 22 when an Amtrak train struck her at the Cowley Road railroad crossing. Brennan, 93, was reco gnized in 2010 for 55 years of volunteer service with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago. In 2020, she celebrated her 50th year working as an election judge in Riverside.
“If you feel like helping people … no matter what, do it anyway,” she told the Landmark in 2010. “If each one of us helps just one person in need or in crisis, wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place?”
6. 2 shot at North Riverside Mall, authorities say by Erika Hobbs (4,973 views)
Two men were hospitalized in stable condition July 3 after a single gunshot injured both of them. North Riverside Mayor Joseph Mengoni said the shot was fired by one
of four people, two women and the two men, during a “physical altercation” between them. The mall reopened the next day.
5. George Washington Middle School principal resigns by Bob Skolnik (5,170 views)
For mer Principal Joshua Dakins submitted his resignation in February before finishing out the school year. Dakins was the fourth consecutive principal to leave the post after two years, following Carol Baker, Dan Jones and Cristopher Cybulski. After the school district accepted his resignation in March, Dakins told the Landmark he was leaving due to the lack of support he felt from Superintendent Kristopher Rivera.
4. Brookfield fire destroys house by T rent Brown (7,259 views)
Homeowners Tim and S helly Field , who owns Do gg y -A-GoGo in Rive rside, we re unharmed when their home on the 9000 b lock of S heridan Avenue c aught fire J an. 31, b ut six of the f amily ’s eigh t do gs died in the blaz e. A GoFundMe fundraiser org anized by their friend K rista Lapiana later raised more than $22,000 for the Fields.
3. Brookfield Zoo gets new name, announces expansion as it turns 90 by Trent Brown (9,661 views)
The for mer Brookfield Zoo announced March 1 it was adding “Chicago” to the end of its name in honor of its 90th anniversary over the summer alongside its Next Century Plan, a $500 million project to “reshape” the zoo and its visitor experience through 2040. The new name, emphasizing the zoo’s proximity to the city, also came with a new logo and motto: “Connect. Care. Conserve.”
2. D103’s English Langua ge Services director live s in Texas by Bo b Skolnik (11,546 views)
The Landmark learned Guadalupe Vander Ploeg, a high-ranking administrator overseeing D103’s English language services, lived in El Paso, Texas, and travelled to work inperson for a week once per month. The Landmark later obtained expense re ports showing the district paid Vander Ploeg’s monthly airfare on top of her regular salary.
1. M eet Doc Mack: A m an behin d bigg e st a rcade in the U. S. by Amina Serg azina (22,189 views)
Doc Mack owns Galloping Ghost at 9415 Ogden Ave. in Brookfield, which boasts an inventory of more than 1,000 arcade game machines. The Landmark profiled Mack, an introvert who dropped out of high school, and his journey to becoming the owner of the world’s largest arcade as the arcade industry has started to die
“Nobody knew what it was gonna really do, but it was incredibly successful from day one,” he said. “We had a line a couple of blocks long on opening night, and it was profitable after only about eight months. It was a tremendous thing to see such support for an arcade to be opening up.”
Thank you for taking the time to read the Landmark this year! Every time you viewed a story, you showed us how important our coverage of Riverside and Brookfield is. And worry not — while we’re taking a brief break for the holidays, we’re already looking ahead to how we can bring you the best local news in 2025.
W hether you’ re offering f eedback, story ideas or j ust warm wishes for the ne w year, you c an always r each me at trent@ rblandmark .co m
Brook eld wins $600K grant to improve Creekside Park
e work will not include abutments for a bridge over Salt Creek as discussed in August
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield has learned it will receive $600,000 to redevelop Creekside Park of f of Burlington and Grove avenues.
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced the award Dec. 16 as part of more than $55.2 million in grant funding being given to local park projects across the state. Brookfield applied for and won the money from the state’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program, which funds land acquisition and development projects for public park space.
The improvements, which village trust-
ees discussed in August, include a new playg round with poured-in-place rubber surfacing, a game tables, a single-stall public restroom and native plantings with signage, according to a Dec. 17 press release from the village.
Parks and Recreation Director Luke Gundersen said he expected Brookfield will receive the funding by March or April of next year. In August, officials discussed a preliminary timeline, which says construction should start around March 2026 and end around October 2026.
According to IDNR, OSLAD grants can fund up to half of the costs for a project in most communities. Those the state considers “distressed” — financially or physically — can receive up to 90% of the costs for a project. The village received the maximum amount possible for a development project through OSLAD.
Because Brookfield is not considered distressed, it will have to pay $600,000 of its own money toward the improvements to match the OSLAD funding. In August,
Gundersen estimated Brookfield would owe about $770,000 for its piece of the pie, which included installing abutments at Creekside Park for a future bridge over Salt Creek.
Now, despite being awarded the grant, Gundersen said Brookfield will not be able to install the abutments as part of the first phase of the project like the village board had directed over the summer.
“IDNR had reached out to us, the ones who are the grant administrator. They did not want [to award] a grant that wasn’t fully open to the public,” Gundersen told the Landmark. “You put in bridge abutments, that technically wouldn’t be open to the public and ready to go.”
Gundersen said the OSLAD grant requires the awarded organization to complete its project and open it within two years of receiving the funding, which the village could not commit to. Officials have said Brookfield’s plan to span Salt Creek is dependent on receiving future grant funding, as the bridge alone will cost about $1 million.
Gundersen said Brookfield has applied for more funding for the bridge abutments and additional park improvements through the Illinois Transpor tation Enhancement Progr am. According to the Act ive Transpo rt ation A llianc e, I TEP will provide $140 million in state and federal f undin g for pedestrian, biking and trail projects across I llinois for 2024, though gr ant awards are not expected to be announced until the spring of 2025.
He said Brookfield officials have not yet discussed whether the village will apply for more OSLAD funding next year for the bridge as they wait to hear back about potential ITEP funding.
The wooded area across the creek from Creekside Park now appears to be called Creekside Woods, according to the village’s press release. Of ficials had referred to it in past discussions as South Kiwanis Park, a reference to its location directly south of Kiwanis Park past the BSNF railroad. Gundersen said both names refer to the same parcel of land.
Brook eld Zoo aims to help monarch butter ies
Local residents can play a role in preserving the winged wonders
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
It might sound unfortunate that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed last week to add the monarch butterfly to Endangered Species Act protection.
The good news is there are things that Riverside and Brookfield residents can do that will help mitigate the monarch’s challenges, according to Andre Copeland, Brookfield Zoo’s manager of interpretive programs
“There are some definite threats,” Copeland said, noting changes in climate and breeding play a big role. “Lack of milkweed is one of the biggest problems.”
Like bees, monarch butterflies are pollinators, pollinating many of the U.S. food crops. The issue, Copeland said, is that 2024 saw a 59% drop in monarch butterfly population.
But to get a sense of what that means, you have to understand the full picture, which starts in Mexico, primarily the states of Mexico and Michoacan.
“The travels of the monarch butterflies are amazing,” Copeland said, noting that it takes more than one generation to make its way to Riverside and Brookfield. When the monarchs cross the border into the U.S. in March, April and May, they give birth to the first generation.
“We generally start to see that first generation of adults in late May or June,” he said, adding that adult generations live about 28 days. After crossing the border, the monarchs will advance across Arizona and Oklahoma through the middle part of the country, where milkweed is prevalent, including Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. By late summer, you’ll see the stragglers of the third generation. Why is milkweed so important? That’s where mother monarchs lay their eggs. Problem is, common milkweed is an aggressive grower and reaches up to eight feet tall. Often, they are eliminated by herbicides that contain glyphosates and neonicotinoids But when you eliminate those, yo u eliminate a breeding gr ound for a ke y f ood pollinator
“When people think about pollinators, people think about bees,” Copeland said. “Monarchs tend to move and have larger home ranges than bees do. They can help pollinate in ways bees can’t.”
With the help of the zoo, local residents can take practical steps to help monarchs. For example, they can approach their housing authorities to let them know that there are different types of milkweed that can be planted, like rose, or swamp, milkweed that doesn’t grow as tall and aggressive as common milkweed.
“Companion planting or other for ms of organic gardening will help in this situation,” he said. “A lot of times, if you really know your plants, there are certain things you can plant, like mint or peppermint, which keeps rodents away and certain species of ants.”
Brookfield Zoo is doing its part to mitigate this problem. It participates in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ SAFE North American Monarch Program, which helps identify survival threats, support recovery and offer community members opportunities to learn more about at-risk species.
There’s more. The zoo’s Next Century Plan has monarchs in mind with aims for a new, permanent butterfly house as part of its Wildlife Discovery Zone. It will feature a lush, indoor experience with year-round opportunities for guests to learn about the lifecycle and migration of important pollinators.
But the biggest event will occur May 3 when the zoo will host its annual Par tnership for Pollinators Celebration. In conjunction with the Illinois Monarch Project, residents can learn from experts on the challenges impacting monarch populations and practical steps the public can take to support their recovery. More information is available at brookfieldzoo.org.
Finally, it’s Butterflies! Habitat is a seasonal exhibit that offers a home to hundreds of butterflies native to America, including monarchs. If you enter through the zoo’s north gate and head toward Roosevelt Fountain, the exhibit is on the right side. In addition to viewing the butterflies, residents can learn about plant species that attract butterflies and what to plant in their own backyard.
The idea is community involvement for the greater good
“People can be part of something bigger and make a big difference,” Copeland said.
Nearly 300 new Illinois laws take effect in 2025
ey include digital driver’s licenses, salary transparency and health insurance changes
By BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois
Time to study up, I llinoi s. W hen the c lock hits m idnight on New Year ’s Day, 293 new state laws will take ef fect .
T hose include some of the definin g bills of the 2024 legislative session and others that will c hange how p eople ge t ID s, ev aluate job p ostings and even c anc el gy m memberships.
In addition to the laws taking effect on J an. 1, the state’s minimum wage will rise to $15 to complete a ramp up initiated during Gov. JB P ritzker ’s first month in office in 2019.
Digital driver’s licenses
T he secretary of state c an begin creating a process to i ssue digital drive r’s licenses and state I Ds beginning in the new year after P ritzker signed House Bill 4592. Residents will still be required to rece ive a physical ID and agencies or private entities will not be required to acce pt digital IDs in place of physical ID s. Providing a p hone to p olice to show a digital ID also d oesn’t give p olice c onsent to search a person’s cell phone
Salary transparency
Employers with 15 or more employees must include info rm ation about benefits and the salary r ange on job p osting s, according to House Bill 3129. T he law will also a pply to b usinesses h iring for remote wo rk positions in Illinoi s.
“When emplo ye rs aren’t transparent about pay, g ender and racial wage ga ps w iden, c osting women and p eople of c olor v aluable c ompensation,” Lt Gov. Juliana Stratton said in a news release. “Illinois’ new Pay Transparency law is a r esounding win for the wo rking p eople who c all our state home.”
‘Junk’ health insurance
S hort-term, limited duration health i nsurance p lans will be i lle g al in I llinoi s beginning J an. 1. T he p lans, often c alled “junk i nsurance” by c ritic s, do not meet the minimum standards of the federa l Af fordable Care Act .
T he b an outlined in House Bill 2499 was pa rt of P ritzker ’s health i nsuranc e overhaul that lawmakers p assed in the s pring. It was aimed at reducing ba rriers to care for patients and making health care more af fordable by expanding cove rage requirements for i nsurance companies.
S hort-term i nsurance p lans are t ypic ally for p eople who have a lapse in health insurance co ve rage such as w hen they lose or c hange jobs, b ut they ar e different from C OBRA b enefit s, wh ic h most emplo ye rs are required to offe r under federal law. Supporters of the bill argued the p lans are decept ive and stick consumers with huge out-of-poc ke t c osts, b ut others said the p lans provide c onsumers with an af fordable option to fill a ga p in cove rage.
Caregiver discrimination
House Bill 2161 adds f amily responsibilities to the list of categories protected from discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. T he new law prevents employers from taking adverse action against employees because of their responsibilities as a care giver for a family member, which could cause them to miss work
Bill sponsor Re p. Wi ll Guzzardi, D-Chicago, told a House c ommittee in April that pr eg nant women are a g ood examp le of who the bill is d esigned to help He said pr eg nant women should n’ t be p assed up for a promotion or face other c onsequences at wo rk in anticipation that they will be taking time of f to care for their ba by. Guzzardi stressed the bil l d oes not protect employees who fail to meet job perfor mance requirements.
AI regulations
New laws gove rn ing ar t ificial i ntellig ence take effect J an. 1. It will be i lle ga l
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THE LANDMARK VIEW
A Child’s Christmas in Brook eld
OWith apologies to Dylan Thomas:
ne Christmas was so much like the other in that snow-filled suburb. I reach into the snow bank of memory and pull out a gingerbread man. We carved their shapes on a flour-dusted table. After they were baked, we covered them with frosting and sprinkles We hung them with string from the tree. Edible ornaments we could grab any time for a snack.
In that gingerbread world, we decorated the fresh-cut spruce. The strings of lights were tangled into a Gordian knot and if just one bulb was out, the whole string didn’t work. After we found enough lights that worked, we wound them around the tree. Then we hung tinsel and delicate glass or naments. The glorious tree was ready for presents. There were the practical presents: blankets, hats and mittens. Scratchy wool sweaters we had to wear for Christmas pictures. There were also a few impractical presents: board games, electric football and jigsaw puzzles. My mother feared the puzzles because my dad would get so obsessed, he’d stop going to work
JOHN RICE
When he did go to the office, he brought large quantities of booze to give out to lawyers, insurance adjusters, and the other clients who made presents possible. We prayed for money to come in but not many payments were processed during that season of office parties.
Our family always had its own Christmas party because there were so many of us, we were never invited anywhere.
Cleaning and decorating the house for Christmas was exciting in those flax soap days. Polishing the silver candlesticks and cleaning the glass of our hurricane lamps. Setting out the redpatterned China that we used for every holiday. The best part was the aroma from two ovens, as we baked a turkey in each.
Not that we were inside much to enjoy it. Playing outside was mandatory. Snow would fill our boots and soak our mittens. When we couldn’t stand it anymore, we shivered our way into the house Feeling the warmth return to our fingers and toes almost made the suffering worth it. To warm our insides, there was marshmallow-melting cocoa. As we thawed, we not only thought of the presents we’d get but also of the presents we had made in school. Homely creations of paper, sparkles and glue. We prayed our parents would be pleased.
At the Christmas dinner, there were no aunts, uncles or grandparents. They had their own parties. We gorged on turkey, mountains of mashed potatoes and rolls hot from the oven.
On Christmas morning, there was a frenzy, as we ripped open packages. We didn’t take turns, or even acknowledge the gift-giver. We just ripped. The younger ones were convinced that all of these gifts were from Santa and no blasphemer could shake their faith. After the frenzy subsided, we painfully posed for pictures, in our scratchy sweaters. Then we had the Christmas bonfire, burning the packaging and wrapping in the backyard.
We slept deeply that night, knowing we had new toys to play with in the morning. We’d wake up early to find my father, unshaven, his hair sticking up, fitting another piece into the puzzle. It was a letdown, after the holiday excitement.
But the tree stayed up for a few days, and the decorations hadn’t yet returned to their attic prison. Among these, were a set of figures. Crowned men on camels, a rough wooden stable with a cow, a young couple watching over their tiny baby
They were fun to play with and must have had something to do with Christmas.
John Rice grew up in Brookfield and Oak Park and now lives in Forest Park, where he writes a weekly column for the Forest Park Review, a Growing Community Media publication.
LETTERS
As probably one of the few people who has a Riverside flag proudly on display in their home (albeit in the basement), I was somewhat shocked to learn that the board has decided to cashier our “not so old” glory.
There’s a genesis story behind the current flag that neither the board nor the Sesquicentennial Committee seems to have researched. And you know what they say about history ignored.
In early 2004, Dr. Bob Novak approached the village board about Riverside being a 130-year-old historically significant community, but that lacked an official fla g. President Wiaduck tasked me with chairing an ad hoc committee to design a flag In addition to myself, Dr. Novak, Trustee Cindy Gustafson, Historical Commission Chair Suzanne Bartholomew, and resident ar tist Randy Kaden for med the committee
Artistic design by committee is a slow, frustrating process. We attempted to solicit ideas from the community, but didn’t really get much of a response. Having no experience or blueprint, we researched flags in the abstract, and then applied our newfound insight to the task at hand.
What symbols re present the essence of our village? The river? Greenery? The water tower? Gaslights? Township Hall? Winding streets? How much was enough or too much? Luckily the colors more or less dictated themselves (we didn’t have official “branding” to contend with). Randy gamely submitted perhaps 20 drafts to the committee out of a total 50-some attempts. After 18 months (1% of the sesquicentennial), an almost finished product was presented to the board. Our goal was to inspire, educate and express pride. I’ll readily concede that perhaps we tried to do too much, but the currently favo red d esign d oesn’t, in my o pinion, do enough. “Sunrise” or “harvest moon”? Neither screams “only in Rive rside.” Stylize the symbols if yo u must, b ut make them unique to our Rive rside
The board can consider “longevity” and “classic design,” as we did, but in reality, another board in the near future will decide that the flag isn’t working for them – and chuck it without much thought or sentiment. And so it goes. Good luck! Kevin F. Smith Ri verside
A NOTE TO OUR READ ERS
Gr ow ing C ommunity Media wishes all of you happy holidays this season. We, too, will be celebrating with our families, and our offices will be c losed through J an. 2. Please note there will be no print e dition J an 1. We will r eturn to our re g ular publishing schedule a week later, on J an. 8. Breaking news will be published on our we bsites. We look forward to seeing you in the new year !
Regulators OK statewide electric grid upgrades, rate increases
e decision comes a er the state rejected utilities’ original grid plans last year
By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois
Illinois utilities are set to invest more than a billion dollars into upgrading the state’s electric distribution grid, resulting in higher rates for customers around the state
The Illinois Commerce Commission on Thursday approved scaled-back plans submitted by Commonwealth Edison and Ameren Illinois, the electric utilities for northern and southern Illinois, respectively
The plans outline the next three years of infrastructure upgrades, laying out how the companies will roll out new technologies to meet the state’s clean energy goals and maintain existing infrastructure.
Regulators approved $1.5 billion in spending for ComEd, a 25% reduction from their original plan. They also approved $333 million in spending at Ameren, a 75% reduction. Ameren also had some additional spending approved earlier this year due to a procedural
LAWS
Changes ahead
from page 9
to g enerate child po rn og raphy using AI, a ccording to House Bill 4623. Suppor ter s of the bill, including the I llinois A ttor-
appeal of a previous ICC decision.
The ComEd plan includes an average increase in residential bills of about $22 per year each year between 2024 and 2027, when the company is expected to file a new grid plan.
Ameren has not released a final cost estimate for its 1.2 million customers, but officials at the company say Thursday’s decision will increase bills by less than a dollar per month.
These increases are on top of those approved in 2023 as part of separate multi-year “rate plans.” Both the grid plans and new ratemaking process are part of the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, landmark climate legislation that set Illinois’ goal of decarbonizing the electric grid by 2045.
But the companies initially struggled to meet that act’s requirements. ComEd and Ameren filed grid plans in early 2023 with the goal of having them approved at the end of that year.
But in a rare and surprising move, commissioners at the ICC rejected those plans on a split vote. At the time, they said the companies didn’t meet legal requirements to prove that their plans were “cost effective” for customers and directed the two utilities to refile updated versions.
Over the past nine months, regulators, state
more difficult to distinguish b etween r eal and AI-generated images T hey sai d u pdating I llinois’ child po rn og raphy laws was a necessary to step allow law enforcement to identify and prosecute child po rn og raphy cases
House bill 4875 also a dds new protections to prohibit using AI to recreate a person’s vo ic e, image or likeness fo r c ommercial pu rp oses without the pe ronsent. Re cording artists c an seek
officials, consumer advocates and environmental groups have litigated and debated the revised plans, and the commission approved modified versions Thursday.
Re presentatives of both companies said they’re still reviewing the decisions but indicated they were happy to have more certainty for the next few years of infrastructure spending.
“Our primary focus remains our commitment to providing safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to our customers and communities,” ComEd spokesperson John Schoen said in a statement.
Ameren officials said their plans to install upgrades and replace aging infrastructure will be good for customers in the long run, even if it comes with upfront costs
“It is a ‘pay now or pay more later’ proposition,” Matt Tomc, who manages Ameren’s regulatory policy, told Capitol News Illinois.
The upgrades laid out in the two plans are notable because many of them are aimed at making electric distribution easier as the state moves toward relying on more renewable energy sources. This includes new methods of managing distributed energy generation – like rooftop and community solar projects.
The plans also include more traditional
d amages for violations of the law.
Hearing aids: I nsurance providers must cove r medically prescribed hearing a ids for all p eople under House Bill 2443. Cove rage was previously only required for those under 18.
Gym memberships: House Bill 4911 requires gyms and fitness centers to accept multiple ways for people to cancel their membership. Physical fitness locations also must now allow customers to cancel their
spending on “poles and wires” – the distribution infrastructure that brings electricity to homes and businesses. Tomc noted this maintenance work has also changed due to an increased focus on the grid’s “resilience” in the face of severe weather events around the state
Some state officials are beginning to worry about the long-term prospects for Illinois’ clean energy goals – particularly the future for clean energy generation and long-range transmission. But these grid plans, which focus on the local distribution network, were hailed by several advocates and regulators as a win for the state’s clean energy policy.
The regulatory cases, which function like court proceedings, had several groups submit testimony and arguments that ICC commissioners weighed in their final decision. These groups included consumer advocates, environmental groups, the state and businesses that have an interest in energy policy
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
membership by email or online. Customers will also be allowed to submit written notice for canceling their membership by mail.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit , nonpartisan news service that distributes state go ve r nment co ve ra ge to hund re ds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Ro b ert R. McCo rmick Foundation.
Bulldogs, Lions make return to York’s Jack Tosh Classic Sports
RBHS rides momentum of two more wins, Lo us’ 44-point game
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Rive rside Brookfield High School senior boys b asketball pl ayer Vi nce Dockendor f beg an seeing more playing time as a r eser ve last season durin g Yo rk ’s annual Jack Tosh Holiday C lassi c. Wi th the Bulld og s again among the 32 teams fo r the 50th Tosh C lassi c, Dockendorf is now a star ter “ I’m super-excited. I kn ow we go there every year, but it ’s one of the b est, if not the b est moments in the entire season, ” Dockendor f said. “The atmosphere is j ust amazing with all of the p eople there and all of the teams. It ’s one of the b est, if not the b est, tournament in the state.”
Fe nw ick’s Jake Thies (22) defends Riv erside-Bro ok field’s Vincent Dockendor f (11) as he dribble up cour t dur ing the Bill Vande Me rkt Boys Basketball Tour nament Fr iday, Nov. 29, in Riv erside .
T he Bulld og s (7-4) and Lyons Township (4-5) begin action T hursd ay and will pl ay at least f our g ames. In the b ottom half of the bracket, the Bulld og s open against Christ the King at noon and the Lions pl ay St. Laurence at 5 p. m.
Both teams have built upon Tosh perfor mances the past couple of years. Last season, the Bulldogs beat the Lions 71-56 in the third round and tied for ninth with a 3-1 overall record, losing only 53-51 on a buzzer-beater to Palatine, which finished fourth in Class 4A. LT was 2-2 and tied for 13th.
T he Bulld og s have won f our of thei r last five g ames and are 5-0 in the Upstate Eight C onference E ast Division after defeating Streamwood 69-49, F riday, and E lmwood Pa rk 77-56, Dec. 17.
T he Lions have won three of their last four and earned their first West Suburban
Conference Silver Division victory F riday, 54-34, over Glenbard West in La Grang e.
RBHS senior Danny Loftus and j unior
C am Merce r, the Bulld og s’ two r eturning starting g uards, c ontinue to lead the way. Loftus bur ned E lmwood Pa rk for a career-high 44 points on 18-fo r- 24 shooting from the field with one three
Mercer had 26 points F riday with four of the Bulldogs’ 10 threes for their best collective outside shooting g ame as a team. Dockendorf had 16 points with 4 threes
“It’s r eally f un [ this season] because now I have a bigger r ole,” Dockendor f said. “There’s a lot more pressure, bu t that’s wh at I love about b asketball. I ge t to pl ay and we have such a g ood schedule. S ome of them we ’ve wanted to win.
But that’s just part of playing basketball, and we’ ll g et better as the season goes on.”
C olin Cimino and Br yc en Gr ove also hit threes against Streamwood, and Mantas S leinys a dded a co nventional threepoint pl ay. Loftus (12 points, 5 rebound s, 5 assists), Mercer (3 assists, 3 steals) and Dockendor f (4 assists) c ontributed to the strong passing .
T he Bulld og s made one free thr ow over their first five p ossessions b ut then scored 36 points on their next 17 to p ull ahead 37-19 in the second quar ter.
“I thought our ball movement today was as good as it’s been all season. That led to wide open looks from the perimeter,”
RBHS coach Mike Reingr uber said.
“We had a good combination of inside-
outside play. I was real happy offensively.”
Dockendorf, a key contributor to the outside attack, was pleased about going 4-for-4 on his threes.
“For the team it ’s b een a bit iffy (at times). My main thing is j ust g et g ood shots and the b etter shots you g et, the higher the percentage,” he said.
“I just think we moved the ball well, especially when they went to zone. Passing through that leads to open threes because guys have to scramble [defensively].”
Other contributors against Elmwood Park included Mercer (14 points with 2 threes, 4 rebounds, 3 steals) and Dockendorf (8 points with 2 threes, 4 assists) and Cimino (7 rebounds) and Sleinys (5 points).
LT HS seniors Ian Polonowski (17 points, 5 rebounds), Bob by Vespa (15 points, 4 assists) and j unior Owen Ca rr oll (12 points, 5 rebounds) r eached d ouble figures F riday for the Lions (1- 2 in Sil ve r). Marshaun Russell (4 points, 4 rebounds), Dann y J aniszewski (6 rebounds) and Josh Gutier re z (6 assists) also c ontributed .
Like last season, the Lions have predominantly a senior lineup with little pervious varsity experience. Only Polonowski played significant minutes as a junior.
“We’ re still figuring a lot of stuf f out right now, ” LT HS coach Tom Sloan said.
“My motto in life, in general, is a John Wooden q uote, ‘ Get 1 percent b etter eve ry day.’ I f eel li ke eve ry practic e, ever y g ame, we ’r e getting a little bit better We pl ay g ood teams, so it might not look li ke it when we ’r e pl ay ing, b ut if we j ust chip aw ay and g et a little bit b etter eve ry day over the c ourse of the season, we ca n make some really big improvements.”
The Lions lost to Oak Lawn 55-37, Saturday, at Sandburg’s Shot Clock Shootout. Vespa (11 points, 4 rebounds), Russell (10 points, 6 rebounds), Janiszewski (7 points) and Polonowski (5 rebounds) led LTHS.
STEVE JOHNSTON
In ux of freshmen nd their way for RBHS gymnastics
Lions win, but Bulldogs post a season high, capturing Oswego Freshman
Invite
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
The large group of freshmen on the Riverside Brookfield High School girls gymnastics team already know each other well.
Cora Rosenfeld and Aaliyah Noel have trained and competed together for five years with the RB age group program.
“I’ve liked just competing and seeing how different it is from club gymnastics. It’s a whole different competition,” Noel said. “We’re all already friends so I thought it was so much better than if we didn’t know each other. It would be awkward, but since we all know each other, we kind of get each other and know what to do.”
The Bulldogs also know improvement. On Friday, they scored a season-high 122.70 points at the Lyons Township triangular to beat Morton (118.50) and finish behind the Lions (133.65).
While senior all-arounders Emmy Bertucci, Dahlia Highland and Ava Hepokoski swept the five events for the Lions (3-0), the Bulldogs (2-2) made another jump after breaking into the 120s with a fourth-place 120.60 at the Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational, Dec. 14.
The RBHS lineup Friday was sophomore Paige Phelan and junior Natalia Maruska –both varsity returnees – Rosenfeld, Noel and fellow freshmen Ana Bacik, and twins Elly and Sophie Dickerson.
“Most of us did club together, but it’s really different because you compete against everyone in the state, so you see different girls,” Rosenfeld said. “It makes the team better because you have friends and teammates. I think we’re doing good considering the fact that our entire varsity is almost all freshmen.”
A sectional qualifier as a freshman, Phelan was third in all-around (33.25), vault (8.5), balance beam (8.55) and floor exercise (8.5) and fourth on the uneven parallel bars (7.7). Rosenfeld (30.00) also competed as an all-arounder.
“They’ve been doing good. They’ve been coming together as a team,” RBHS coach Karyn Domzalski said. “It’s very freshmanheavy, so it’s been fun to see them learn from the few upperclassmen we have, which is really Paige and Natalia.”
Rosenfeld said the Bulldogs gained experi-
Bejarano combines wrestling, sing ing talents for Bulldogs
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
As Riverside Brookfield High School junior wrestler Estefany Bejarano continues her education on the mats, she’s already pretty polished with a microphone. Bejarano is probably the state’s best girls wrestler – when it comes to singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The RBHS choir and A Cappella Club member has gladly performed the national anthem since freshman year at most home meets — and some away, including last year’s Shepard Sectional.
“I just do this for fun because I love singing,” Bejarano said. “I’m a really extroverted person. I just really love singing.”
ence quickly, competing at the varsity-only Hinsdale South Invite, Nov. 27, where they scored 116.05. LTHS scored a season-high 138.10.
On Dec. 5, Phelan won uneven bars (9.55) when the Bulldogs lost at Hinsdale South 127.40 to 118.10. The Bulldogs then won their Upstate Eight Conference dual opener at Glenbard South, 117.45 to 95.60 on Dec. 11. Phelan won all-around (31.45) and vault (8.4).
When the freshmen got their chance on a more even level, Dec. 7, they won the six-team Oswego Freshman Invite with 115.05 points
“Winning just boosted our confidence more,” Noel said. “I think it was both surprising and exciting. We don’t usually win because there’s so many other [varsity] girls that are so much better.”
Rosenfeld was second in all-around (30.55), floor (8.2) and uneven bars (7.05) and fourth on beam (6.9). Noel, Avery Strobel and Elly Dickerson also were all-arounders. Bacik, fourth on uneven bars (7.0), and Sophie Dickerson worked multiple events.
“We finally got a relief from seeing all the varsity people and getting beat all of the time,” Rosenfeld said. “It was just good reassurance for our team that as we get older and we get to senior and junior year, we’ll be built up and start to look more toward their scores.”
Pitch (and pin) perfect
Bejarano has been with school choirs since sixth grade after graduating from the usual singing forums of the car and shower. The alto competes for the Bulldogs at 155 pounds. As a freshman, she joined the new girls wrestling program with no previous experience.
“I haven’t done [wrestling] for a really long time. I feel like I’m a natural for both,” she said.
“For my choir, I’m in an ensemble with many different people. It’s kind of like wrestling because you’re part of a team but you’re alone. For singing, it’s your ensemble but you’re kind of alone because you need to sing the right pitches. If you don’t sing correctly, then the whole ensemble fails. If you don’t score well for your [wrestling] team, then your whole team fails. I feel like there’s a lot of connection there.”
Her loves intersected in sophomore year after Bejarano joined the A Cappella Club, sponsored by choir director Kayley Smetana. The end of A Cappella’s weekly Tuesday practice
Bertucci won Friday’s all-around (34.70), floor (9.05) and beam (9.1); Highland won vault (9.0); and Hepokoski won the uneven bars (8.7). Taking second were Highland in allaround (34.35), floor (8.6), beam (8.7); Bertucci (8.55 on uneven bars); and Hepokoski (8.65 on vault). Sophomore all-arounder Brynn Krantz sat out with a toe injury.
The Lions (132.64) were fourth at Hinsdale Central’s Estoque Invitational, Dec. 14. Hepokoski (9.3 on uneven bars) and Bertucci (9.05 on beam) were third, and Krantz was fourth on vault (9.025) and sixth in all-around (34.22).
Hepokoski had never previously scored in the 9s on uneven bars
“I’ve definitely been working really hard during practice. I just hit everything in the routine,” she said at the invite. “I’m honestly proud of myself because the meet wasn’t going as well as I hoped for, but I was able to pull it out for the last event. I told myself whatever happened before, bars is its own thing, and I really wanted to do well for my team.”
The Lions won their West Suburban Conference Silver Division dual opener over Oak Park and River Forest, 134.30 to 125.90 on Dec. 11 with event titles from Hepokoski (34.50 in all-around), Bertucci (8.75 on floor), Highland (9.1 on vault) and Krantz (8.45 on uneven bars).
overlapped the start of wrestling practice by 30 minutes
Bejarano and RBHS wrestling coach Nick Curby agreed to a deal.
“If I was willing to miss practice for 30 minutes, I’d have to sing the national anthem every time we have a [home] dual meet,” she said.
And Bejarano gladly takes that act on the road. RBHS girls wrestling coach Dan Verr lets her talents be known if a dual, or even the regional, needs a live performance.
“Oh man, she is good,” Verr said. “Sometimes they just have a bad recording. [I tell them], ‘I’ve got a wrestler that can belt out the national anthem.’ I always ask her, ‘Are you willing?’ and she’s not shy. That’s for sure.”
Bejarano says she sings the national anthem at a “pretty medium pace” while slowing and speeding certain parts as she learned in choir.
“I feel like I don’t put that much of a twist. I put my little bit of flare,” she said. “I have experience singing it as a performance, so I know how to do it, singing the words correctly, accu-
rate pitches and when not to breathe. [Smetana] taught us when not to breathe. I accidently did that last time. But it still sounded great.” As a wrestler, she improved from 8-15 as a freshman to 18-6 last year with 155 invitational titles at Conant and Waukegan, her personal favorite.
“Freshman year I didn’t place [at Waukegan]. The exact same day a year later, I got a gold medal, so I think that’s a pretty good accomplishment.”
She hopes to sing another solo at the RBHS talent show, “Lovesick,” by Laufey. Verr is hopeful she can hit the high note several times more this wrestling season. She was 0-2 at last year’s regional.
“[My goal is] to get more medals, place first in more tournaments, and get stronger. I feel like I’m losing a bit of muscle right now,” Bejarano said.
“She’s like hot and cold,” Verr said. “When she’s hot and on, oh my gosh, she can be unstoppable.”
Essential Civics
Happy Holidays!
3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025 for the following: Village of Oak Park Generator Maintenance and Repair Services Project Number: 25-109 Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.
NOVENAS
PRAYER TO ST. JUDE May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved & preserved throughout the world now & forever. Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude worker of miracles, pray for us. St. Jude helper of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day for 9 days. By the 8th day your prayer will be answered. It has never been known to fail. Publication must be promised. Thank you Jesus. Thank You St. Jude. DK
