With newly appropriated state funds, the v illage can avoid touching $1.7M in built-up IRMA reser ves
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
After trustees held an initial discussion two weeks ago about Rive rside ’s 2025 budget in wh ic h they considered projects to fund next year, the village said it is no longer facing a budgeted capital projects fund deficit that could have led the boar d to authorize withdrawing reser ve funds from the I ntergove r nmental Risk Management Agenc y.
At the village board’s Sept. 19 meeting, Financ e Director Yvette Zav ala updated trustees on Rivers ide ’s proposed 2025 budget of projects within it s
Join Us & Celebrate Our 120 Years of Serving The Community!
When: Saturday, September 28, 2024 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. Where: Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513
Enjoy Complimentary Food & Beverages Raffle Prizes and so much more!
Thank you to our neighboring businesses for helping us celebrate! Beach Avenue BBQ Betty’s Flowers Daisy’s Treats & Bakery Fill My Jar Happier Now Café Krispies Mary’s Morning Mixup Mattone Restaurant & Bar Phillips Flowers The Elm Tischler Finer Foods
If you do not know who we are, please join us and get to know us.
Besides being a proud supporter of the community, we are your neighbor, a friend and we are here for your family when and if you need us. We would love to see you in a carefree and comfortable setting.
Please RSVP at www.hitzemanfuneral.com/120 so that we can plan accordingly for Food & Beverages by 9/26/2024. If you would prefer not to fill out an electronic form, please call us at 708 -485-2000.
Thank you for allowing us to assist your family!
The North Riverside Players are gearing up for ‘The Wedding Singer ’
Blast
from the past rom-com
musical based on the ’90s movie
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
W hether you’ re a f an of the Adam Sa ndler- and Drew Barrymore-led flick or just want to have some ’80s-inspired fun, keep an eye out for the North Riverside Players’ upcoming production of “The Wedding Singer.”
Coming to the stage at the North Riverside Village Commons from Oct. 4-6 and 11-13, “The Wedding Singer” — the 2006 Broadway musical based on the 1998 movie — is the North Riverside Player’s fall production, kicking of f the group’s annual show season, which will include a murder mystery fundraiser in February and another full show in the spring.
In a phrase, show producer and North Riverside Players Board President Al Meyer said the musical will be “a lot of fun.”
“I was watching rehearsals last night, and the cast is having a blast. The music is fun. We’ve got a great team: director, choreog rapher, music director,” he said in an interview Wednesday, Sept. 18. “There’s a lot of great dancing, a lot of movement, a lot of motion, and it’s funny.”
Meyer said the theater company’s board of directors selected “The Wedding Singer” to be this year’s fall musical due to a number of factors after other group members pitched it.
“We try to make sure that we’ve got a director in mind that would want to direct the show. We pay a very small stipend to the key staf f members, so this has to be about passion. The director really has to love the show, because [they’re] getting paid car fare, maybe,” he said. “We were looking for the show we want to do compared to what we did last season. We don’t want to necessarily compete with other theater groups, and there’s a lot of theater going on in the western suburbs, right? So, we’re trying to keep an eye on what they’re doing.”
He said the decision arrived in part due to a concurrent suggestion for the spring
production, which helped the group settle on two throughlines for the season.
“The It has evolved into sort of a theme, because the spring show is going to be ‘Steel Magnolias,’ which is also set in the ‘80s,” he said. “The directors for this sho ‘The Wedding Singer,’ our murder mystery in February and then our drama in the spring are all women directors … This season, it just turned out, it’s all about the ‘80s and it’s all about women directors.”
Meyer, who has been a member of the Players since the group got its start in 1991, said he’s been excited this year and in past years to see younger members join its ranks
“Some of us are getting a little bit older, but the good news for us is that we’ve got some young people that are really coming into their own here in our group,” he said. “This director, Jordyne [Flanagan], is a young woman who’s had a lot of experience being stage manager and assistant director. This is her first time as a solo director for us.”
Meyer said the choreographer and several cast members for “The Wedding Singer” are also relatively new to the Players. In comparison, he said, the fall production will be his 61st Players show in a row. He attributed the troupe’s ability to find and retain talent to its open auditions and policy of not pre-casting actors.
“We throw a net wide throughout Chicagoland. I mean, Chicagoland is a tremendous theater town,” he said. “You get all kinds of people from literally all over [the] Chicago metro. We’ve had people from far north, far west, far south. We’ve had people from Indiana work with for us over the years. They go wide. Every show brings in some new people.”
Serena Pomerantz, who will pl ay Holly in “The We dding Singer, ” is one such new recr uit. T he actress, who is the d aughter of the L andmark’s c ontributing e ditor Donna Greene, joined the group last year after auditioning for i ts f all production of “Spamalot. ”
“I didn’t know anybody involved in the production or anything, and it was j ust the nicest group of p eople, honestly, I’ve ever wo rked with. [They] we re also super driven to want to p ut on a g ood show, ”
she said. “So often with theater, it ’s ve ry tough to find p eople who take it seriously but are willing to laugh at themselves, and they c an have it be a g ood experienc e. S ometimes, it ’s either p eople who do n’t take it seriously at all or p eople who are j ust too intense.”
Pomerantz pointed to Meyer and other group leaders as a source of inspiration for the troupe.
“He is literally building the set himself and doing so much of the behind-thescenes work. It is full-on this group [where] people lead by example, and it motivates everybody to want to be even more awesome,” she said.
Meyer said his favo rite pa rt about wo rk ing as a producer for the Playe rs is g etting to see the c ulmination of hi s team’s hard wo rk once it ’s time to take the stage for real.
“People ask me, ‘Al, you’ve done sixtysome of these things in a row. Why do you do it?’ What I like about it is, I like taking — these are all amateurs, right? — I like taking amateurs that come together for eight, 10, 12 weeks, tackle a new show, and then … they do six shows, and you have this live perfor manc e, after these p eople have c ome to g ether and p ut this thing tog ether, and the q uality of the productions is really high for amateur theater,” he said. “That’s wh at I do it for. I attend all the performances. I want to see this thing start from scratch, all these talents c ome to g ether, and then you have these six live performances. Th at, to me, is wh at it’s all about: watching the show. ”
You can buy tickets to see “The We dding Singer” at nrpl ayers.com/tickets or by c alling the box of fice at 708-526-8084.
Design/Production
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe
Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
E-MAIL erika@growingcommunitymedia.org ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $45 within Cook County and $65 outside the county. Adver tising rates may be obtained by calling our o ce. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL
7th Annual Brook eld First Responders Upda te
Thursday, September 26, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Cantata Wye Valley
BIG WEEK
The Brook eld Aging Well Team invites you to their Brook eld First Responders Update for their seventh year in a row. Senior attendees will be provided with the latest information about avoiding scams and staying safe. If you are interested, you will be given the platform to ask your own questions and share your concerns After all, your safety is one of the neighborhood’s top priorities. Lunch will be provided at 11:30 a.m. and the presentation will begin at 12:15 p.m. 8700 W. 31st St.
Books & Brews: The Handmaid’s
Tale by Margaret At wood
September 25- Oc tober 2
Family Craft:
Wooden Halloween Lantern
Tuesday, Oc tober 1, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Riverside Public Library
Thursday, Sept. 26, 7 p.m., Joe’s Saloon Adults aged 21 and older are welcome to join Books & Brews, a Library book club which meets monthly at local establishments to discuss books, socialize, and enjoy a ne brew. This month, Books & Brews is meeting at Joe’s Saloon on 47th St. during Banned Books Week to discuss The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, one of the most frequently banned and challenged books in the country. Banned Books Week is an annual event that draws attention to the harms of censorship and highlights the value of free and open access to information. 9220 47th St.
The Radio Players are Back!
Friday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Riverside Township Hall
The Riverside Township Radio Players will begin their 26th season this Friday! The season begins with an episode of The Chase entitled “Cathy Sutter Meets James Carter” and The Bickersons “Pink Slip.” The performance is at 7:30 p.m. and is Free in the Auditorium at Riverside Township Hall. For more information go to riversidetownshipradioplayers.com or follow the group on X @radioplayers. If you would like more information about this, please contact Ellie Babka at 708442-8810 or email babka@att.net. 27 Riverside Rd
Take & Make: Mexican Mirrors
Friday, Sept. 27, 5 p.m.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a fun craft for all ages inspired by the folk-art designs on the decorative mirrors often sold in Mexican marketplaces.
Stop by the 2nd Floor of the Library to pick-up a free craft kit and watch the video tutorial on the LSF Brook eld Librar y’s Facebook page. 3541 Park Ave.
The League of Women Voters of the La Grange Area will sponsor a Get Out The Vote Postcard Party this Sunday. Join the LaGrange Area League of Women Voters in encouraging our neighbors to make a plan to vote by using the IllinoisVoterGuide.org website for nonpartisan election information. They’ll have postcards, pens, addresses and sample messages. Donations of 56¢-postcard stamps or money to buy stamps are appreciated but not necessary. Bring yourself and a friend – members and non-members are welcome! Drop in for 20 minutes or the whole
time and join like -minded people working to strengthen democracy! This event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, email us at league@lagrangearealw v.org. Visit our website at www.lagrangearealw v.org. 10 W. Cossitt Ave.
Work together at the Riverside Public Library to paint and decorate your own spooky lantern, cut on our Glowforge. Batter y operated tea light candles will be provided. Please register as the attending adult and then indicate the number of children you will be bringing. This project is best for an adult with one or two children. If your group has more than two children, another adult must attend and register separately. Limit two projects per family. Registration is required by calling 708-442-6366 or visiting http://www.riversidelibrary.org. This event will also repeat Oct. 15 for those who cannot make it this upcoming Tuesday. 1 Burling Rd.
The OK Classic
Saturday, Sept. 28, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Veterans Park
The OK Classic is a full-on, fun, and competitive co -ed, 14-inch softball tournament with a focus on inclusion. On the eld, we feature a 16-team softball tournament. O the eld, we feature a festival atmosphere with fun for everyone. All together in bene t of the Warriors at Opportunity Knocks. 7550 W. 26th St, North Riverside
Listing your event
■ If you would like your event to be featured here, please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published. We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights. Email calendar@wjinc.com.
Compiled by Grace Har ty
capital improvement plan. She told the board about new state funding Riverside staf f had been infor med of that mor ning, which, along with other changes to the budget, means the village has secured more than enough funds to complete every project officials now have planned in 2025.
First, Zavala walked the village board through Riverside’s three funds that are considered unassigned: its IRMA reserves, wor th $1.6 million at the end of last year; its operating reser ves, wor th $2.5 million then; and its general sur plus, wor th $2.2 million then.
According to the Gover nment Finance Officer Association, an org anization of public finance of ficers in the United States and Canada, “It is best practice to keep two months of reserves … at all times in all three buckets. The village keeps three months in this one bucket right here, ” Zavala said of Riverside ’s operating reserves fund
In the course of her update, Zavala emphasized that Rive rside is not facing a financial deficit in its capital projects fund.
“The village has suf ficient funds,” she said. “The pu rpose of the CIP discussion is to decide what we want to spend that money on this year and what is the best way to fund it through the budg eting and planning process.”
T hen, she presented trustees with a stripped back CIP for next year that only included the expenditures Riverside is on contract fo r, wor th about $732,000. With the capital project fund’s star ting balance this year of about $50,000, as well as about $630,000 in anticipated transfers from the general fund and the parks and recreation depar tment, Riverside would only need to transfer about $50,000 from its IRMA reserves, wor th about $1.7 million in total now.
However, a new windfall of state funds means Riverside won’ t have to touch that sum.
“The budget is just a plan. It ’s constantly evolving based on new information, new grants, new funding that comes to light. Just this mor ning, the village was notified that there is a
$150,000 grant oppor tunity for capital that was appropriated to the village of Riverside for next year,” Zavala said.
“Based on that information, there’s no need for a transfer from IRMA at all. Every project will be funded.”
Village Manager Jessica Frances later specified that the new funding came from the State of Illinois.
“Every year, they do an appropriation bill, but they only release certain grants, so we’re for tunate enough that the timing was that the $150,000 grant was released today Very timely for this discussion,” she said.
Village President Douglas Pollock clarified with Zavala that the projects the board had deferred at its Se pt. 5 meeting — about $210,000 spread across strategic planning, gateway signage, a new skid steer and a new fire vehicle — were still being defe rred
In fact, due to the extra funding, Riverside’s village board had the chance to add back impor tant projects to the 2025 CIP that were not contractually obligated. Those items included $25,000 wor th of reforestation work, $15,000 in spongy moth spray, $8,075 in new computers and $60,000 each for two sets of eight new radios — one set for the police de par tment and one for the fir e depar tment. Alto g ether, they ’re worth $168,075, but Riverside only had about $100,000 leftover for planning pu rposes
T he board quickly reached consensus on including the reforestation and spongy moth spray in the plan for next year to protect Riverside’s trees. The board also agreed to include the computer re placement in the plan due to its relatively small cost. With just about $60,000 left to account for, and faced with the choice of which department will get new radios, Pollock suggested the board not choose at all. Trustees agreed.
“We talked to [Public Safety] Chief [Matthew] Buckley before tonight’s meeting, and his suggestion — and I tend to ag ree — is that we budget that for $60,000 for sure, and let him decide how he wants to spend it between police and fire,” Pollock said. “If we have excess revenues, we’ ll come back, and we’ ll spend more on radios.”
At the meeting, Zavala emphasized the importance of completing Riverside’s budget planning process ahead of time and with an eye to the village’s future.
“I know looking at the CIP plan, the 10-year [plan], it can look daunting because there’s millions of dollars being
spent, but it’s because that’s a planning document. If there’s a large expenditure in five years, we need to start planning for it now. We don’ t know what those revenues are going to look [like] at that time,” she said. “It might look scary because it might look like we’re spending more than we can, but we’re not. Every year, the plan is re-evaluated to see what makes sense for that year.”
Issuing bonds to replace lead service lines
To prep are for Rive rside ’s first wave of lead water service line re p lacements next year, Zavala asked the village board to review the village ’s p lanned capital projects that will be paid for through its water and sewe r f und. To make sure every project gets d one, she asked the board to approve i ssuing $6 million in bonds with a 4% i nterest rate to be paid back over 20 year s, wh ich will help Rive rside fund the re p lacements alongside the $4 million no-interest, 30-year loan it is set to rece ive from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
“Both of these debt issuances go hand in hand in order to do the projects,” she said.
“The lead service line re placements will be done in conjunction and will put us in place to meet the state-mandated replacement due by 2027 [when] we have to issue our final plan.”
Trustee Jill Mateo asked the finance director to confirm next year’s lead line re placements will not have to be tied to street repairs since they’re on public property. Zavala said she was correct.
“The street re pairs, the re paving, will happen in 2026,” Zavala said. “In 2025, we’ll put the patch after completing the water sewer project, and in 2026, the overlay will happen.”
Frances emphasized that the village will only be able to resurface those streets come 2026 if Riverside voters pass a tax levy referendum in November that would allow it to earmark a permanent, cumulative fund for street re pairs.
“I f it is not [approved], then the community will have to live with patches until we accumulate enough resources to do the resurfacing, wh ich could take quite some time,” she said.
Wi th little further discussion, the village board directed staf f to draft the necessary ordinances to issue the b onds at the board’s next meeting on Oct. 3.
MISSING� Rain �Liquid Precipitation)
Description: Liquid falling from the sky, known to be wet and create puddles, and allow plants to grow.
Last seen of substance on August 27th. If found, contact the detectives (meteorologists).
As of this writing �Sept. 20�, we received 0.04 inches of rain this month. Larger storms, more intense heat and droughts, more volatility: all indicate we need to be prepared for continued anomalies. We desperately need rain and even the most seasoned landscapes are suffering. Plants are getting stressed, which weakens them and makes them more prone to disease and insect pressure. Whether trees, shrubs, perennials, or turf, all are struggling. So, what can you do?
1. If you water your turf, water deeply �45�60 minutes per area) twice a week to allow deep saturation of soils.
2. Provide supplemental irrigation to trees, shrubs, and perennials.
3. A fresh layer of mulch in beds will help the soil retain moisture and decrease evaporation, and retain some surface moisture.
4. Area-wide turf damage will likely result in spots, so repairing the turf this fall will be critical for a healthy, spring lawn. Even when moisture returns, there is a possibility that plants and turf will struggle. If you have concerns or need help revitalizing your landscape, we are one call away!
Scott McAdam Jr.
Brook eld approves village board chamber equipment upgrade
e plan includes new microphones and four TVs to replace projectors
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield’s village board meetings are about to get an upgrade.
Brookfield trustees have approved a contract wor th $44,750 with Pente gra Systems, a Naperville-based technolo gy solutions company, to re place audio and video equipment in Brookfield Village Hall’s board chamber.
The contract includes the replacement of the microphones used by trustees, commissioners and village staf f at village board and commission meetings.
“Staf f microphones are over 15-yearsold, and they can often either provide inconsistent quality or simply go out and need to be re paired,” Assistant Village Manager Stevie Ferrari said at the board’s meeting Monday.
Later, during the committee of the whole meeting, the microphone used by public commenters starting ringing out with a seemingly unprompted echo, a moment Village President Michael Garvey said underscored Brookfield’s need to replace the board room sound system.
The project also includes the installation of four, 75-inch televisions in the board room that will re place the current projection system. Now, there is one projector each on the left and right walls of the room that allows trustees and the audience to see presentations, though not always with the best view. Each projector will be re placed dais, and the other facing the audience so everyone in the room can see clearly
Aside from those big-ticket items, Ferrari said the upgrade will allow Brookfield to stream more meetings online and require less time and ef fort from staff.
brookfieldagingwell@gmail.com
THE BROOKFIELD AGING WELL TEAM… Invites you to the 7th Annual Brookfield First Responders Update with the Latest Information About Avoiding Scams and Safety For Seniors… as well as discussing your questions and concerns.
Thursday, September 26, 2024
11�30 a.m. to 1�30 p.m. Cantata Wye Valley 8700 W. 31st Ave., Brookfield
LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT 11�30 a.m.
PRESENTATION BEGINS AT 12�15 p.m.
Anti-Discrimination Statement
Aging Care Connections does not discriminate in admission to programs or treatment of employment in compliance with appropriate state and federal statutes. If you feel you have been discriminated against, call (708) 354-1323. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement
Aging Care Connections is committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, accessible, and supportive work environment that fosters a sense of belonging. We believe that individuals with a variety of lived experiences, backgrounds, and strengths who share a passion for helping older adults and those that support them, are essential to successfully serving our diverse communities.
“Our current video-streaming system requires staf f to put a man behind the curtain, if you will. [Management Analyst] Noah [Rife] is in the next room doing the filming connection for the village board and committee of the whole,” she said.
“‘Room’ is very generous. He’s in a closet,” Garvey interjected, inspiring laughter from other members of the board.
“This project will allow reconfiguring that so that staf f can manage and control the filming from inside of the board room itself, and that would allow staf f liaisons to additional commissions to provide filming of those commission meetings,” Ferrari added. “Right now, they are not [recorded], and that’s because there’s a constraint because of the configuration.”
She told trustees Brookfield had received three bids for the re placement after issuing a request for proposals with a price cap of $60,000. For the base work of replacing the mics, installing the TVs and moving the streaming setup, Pente gra came in with the lowest bid by nearly $7,000.
Ferrari said that the bidders were welcome to submit additional bids for a po-
that would be inte grated into Brookfield agenda management system. Pente gra came in with the highest additional bid of $42,700, meaning Brookfield would owe $87,450 in total, but even with lower additional bids, the other two companies came in around or ab ove the same total cost. Village staf f ultimately decided not to pursue the dais voting system, Ferrari said.
She said the project will be done by the end of the year, although the village will have to wait for the equipment to be delivered. She added that the upgrades cannot be installed until early voting for the 2024 election finishes, as the board room at Brookfield Village Hall will be an early voting location. Once work does start, though, it should take about two weeks, she said.
Garvey said he was excited by the upgrade allowing for a better use of staff time now that no one will have to stay in the “back closet” to monitor the video connection.
“But I think the new screens are what I’m most excited about, because right now we have these display screens, and they’re set up so both the board and the audience can see them, but it’s not ideal for either,” he said. “As we struggle to look sideways, and you struggle to look sideways, we’ll actually be able to have panels that will face you and panels that will face us, so you can see some of the audio-visual presentations that we do.”
High court: Smell of burned cannabis is not cause for warrantless vehicle search
e state supreme court rules unanimously in case stemming from 2020 tra c stop
By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois
Law enforcement officers in Illinois cannot rely on the smell of bur nt cannabis alone to justify searching a vehicle without a warrant, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on Thursd ay.
The decision was unanimous, though Justice Lisa Holder White did not take part in it. Writing for the court, Justice P. Scott Neville pointed to Illinois’ landmark 2019 law legalizing recreational cannabis, which decriminalized the possession ofthe drug up to 30 grams
“The laws on cannabis have changed in such a drastic way as to render the smell of bur nt cannabis, standing alone, insufficient to provide probable cause for a police officer to search a vehicle without a warrant,” Neville wrote in a 20-page opinion.
The case stems from September 2020, when Ryan Redmond was pulled over by an Illinois State Police trooper on Interstate 80 in Henry County, just east ofthe Quad Cities. Redmond’s license plate was allegedly not properly secured to his vehicle, and he was driving three miles above the speed limit, according to court records.
But during the interaction, the trooper allegedly smelled bur nt cannabis in Redmond’s vehicle and upon searching the vehicle, he found approximately a gram of cannabis in the car’s center console
Redmond was later charged with a misdemeanor for failure to transport cannabis in an odor-proof container
The court found that the trooper’s detection ofthe “burnt cannabis” odor in the vehicle “certainly established reasonable suspicion to investigate further,” but noted that the officer’s further investigation yielded nothing more, including no signs that Redmond’s driving was impaired. Therefore, Neville wrote, the officer’s reasonable suspicion should have never advanced to “probable cause to search.”
drug paraphernalia or evidence of cannabis use in the car on further investigation.
The trooper “also did not smell the odor of burnt cannabis on Redmond, which undercuts the reasonable beliefthat Redmond had recently smoked cannabis inside the vehicle while on an Illinois highway,” the opinion said.
The court heard Redmond’s case in January, alongside arguments in a related case focused on the section in Illinois law that requires cannabis be stored in a sealed, odorproof container if being transported in a car.
In that case, an Illinois State Police trooper pulled over a car for speeding in rural Whiteside County, also near the Quad Cities, and then arrested the passenger ofthe vehicle for unlawful possession of cannabis. According to court records, Vincent Molina’s December 2020 arrest came after the officer found a small box of rolled joints in a vehicle search predicated on the smell ofraw cannabis in the car, though Molina told the officer he had a medical cannabis card
Though the Supreme Court heard the cases in consolidated arguments earlier this year, the justices only ruled on Redmond’s case Thursday. The decision briefly mentioned the Molina case in a footnote saying the court was not addressing “the validity ofthe odorproof container requirement” in the Redmond decision.
Ahead of the joint oral arguments in January, national and state-level chapters ofthe American Civil Liberties Union and the Na-
“There is a decades-long pattern of police in this state using pretext like cannabis odor to disproportionately stop and search Black and Latino drivers,” the brief reads. Illinois’ stop and search policy “unfairly subjects (Black and Latino drivers) to at-will intrusions oftheir privacy and relegates them to second-class citizenry.”
The organizations argued the legalization of cannabis means its presence is not indicative of contraband or crime.
Last Thursday’s opinion also noted that other states agree, holding up a Kansas Supreme Court decision from earlier this year as an example. High courts in other states, including Minnesota, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ver mont have ruled similarly, though Wisconsin’s Supreme Court decided the opposite in a 2023 ruling
Other states have also passed laws prohibiting warrantless searches of vehicles based solely on the smell of cannabis. But a similar effort in Illinois stalled last year as the Redmond and Molina cases were pending. Dilpreet Raju contributed.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds ofnewspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
Triangle Park addition honors Dvork family’s 47 years on Audubon road
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Pedestrians in residential Riverside will soon have somewhere new to stop and rest their feet.
Riverside trustees approved an application Sept. 5 for a memorial bench to be installed at the triangle park at Audubon and Southcote roads. The bench will face east toward Southcote Road and will likely be installed in the spring based on how long it takes to get delivered, Public Works Director Dan Tabb said at the village board meeting.
According to documents from the board meeting agenda, for mer Riversider Nancy Dvorak applied for the bench to commemorate her family’s 47 years of residence on
Tabb said the bench will match the design of benches in Riverside’s central business district downtown. He told trustees the applicant and public works department have not yet finalized the wording for the bench’s plaque; however, the village’s park bench donation policy only permits plaques that read “in memory of” or “in reco gnition of” alongside a person’s name and dates of birth and death.
At Village President Doug Pollock’s request, Tabb gave trustees and the audience a quick rundown of the process to donate a bench in Riverside. Anyone interested in donating a bench should reach out to the public works department to fill out an application, Tabb said; then, he presents the application to the village’s preservation and landscape advisory commissions before it goes before the village board for final approval.
“We try to at least offer existing [undedicated] benches that are in disrepair for replacement,” Tabb said. “Normally, that’s not a popular option, because when people approach rk bench that they’re looking to
donate in memory of whatever it might be, they have a certain spot in town that means something to them. Most of those, for whatever reason — it might just be coincidence — don’t have an existing park bench that needs to be replaced.”
Tabb said each park bench takes around six to nine months to be installed from the submission of the initial application due to the time it takes to get the bench approved and spent waiting for it to arrive after ordering it from the manufacturer. He said the cost to donate a bench, which includes the price to make it and to install it, is about $3,000 to $3,500.
Before the board voted to approve the application, Trustee Elizabeth Kos took the opportunity to speak about her personal connection to the new bench.
“As somebody who spent almost as much
time at the Dvorak house as my own house growing up, this is where I used to meet my friend. When we’d go halfway between each other’s houses to meet, this is where the bench is going to be. I’m really excited about this bench and really happy that they’re doing this,” she said.
ost people probably only think about tax credits and deductions when they’re completing their tax return. However, a little early planning can make for a smoother filing process. By familiarizing themselves now, taxpayers can have a clear understanding of which credits and deductions make sense for them and the records needed to show their eligibility. Here are a few facts about credits and deductions that can help with yearround tax planning.
Deductions: Deductions can reduce the amount of a taxpayer’s income before they calculate the tax they owe. Most people take ·the standard deduction. The standard deduction is adjusted each year for inflation. The amount of the standard deduction depends on a taxpayer’s filing status, age, whether they’re blind, and whether the taxpayer is claimed as a dependent by someone else.
Some people are required to itemize their deductions, and some people may choose to do so
because it reduces their taxable income more than the standard deduction. As a general rule, if a taxpayer’s itemized deductions are larger than their standard deduction, they should itemize. Taxpayers can use the Interactive Tax Assistant to see what expenses they may be able to itemize.
Tax credits: Taxpayers can subtract tax credits from the total amount of tax they owe. Some tax credits, like the earned income tax credit, are even refundable, which means a taxpayer could get a refund even if they don’t owe any taxes. To claim a credit, taxpayers should keep records that show their eligibility for it. Properly claiming tax credits can reduce taxes owed and boost refunds.
Taxpayers can check now to see if they qualify to claim any credits next year on their tax return.
COURTESY
Triangle Park in Riverside
Riverside-Brook eld’s Eleanor Glennie returns a shot during her #1 doubles match with Eleanor Lenaghan against Glenbard East, Aug. 29, 2024 in Brook eld.
RBHS tennis seniors strive for a highlight season
LTHS seniors Graziano, Gibbs, Culin determined
to shine at state
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Seniors Eleanor Glennie, Eleanor Lenaghan and Harriet Juister have continued building upon their success through multiple varsity seasons with the Riverside Brookfield High School girls tennis program. Now team captains, they and the Bulldogs have even more reasons for enthusiasm, playing in a new conference.
“My goal is just kind ofimprove my skills and bring the team much closer together, really have that bond that we didn’t in past years,” Lenaghan said.
“I’m not going to [play tennis] in colle ge so this is my last year to have a team and learn a lot oftennis and just be able to be with people I love playing with the most.”
The Bulldogs dominated last year’s Met-
ro Suburban Conference for their first title since four straight from 2006-09. Juister and junior Soleil Kaciuba (No. 1 doubles) and Glennie and Lenaghan (No. 2 doubles) were MSC champions. Sophomore Paige Zavorski was second at No. 1 singles.
Now part ofthe Upstate Eight Conference, the Bulldogs currently are 6-0 in duals. Other than the 4-3 victory over Glenbard South, RBHS lost no more than one match in the other five
“I feel like everyone’s a lot more into tennis this year,” Glennie said. “Everyone wants to try more and I feel like everyone’s very motivated and encouraging. Since last year, we’ve become more ofa team together and we know how to help each other.”
Glennie and Lenaghan enter their fourth varsity seasons and Juister her third
Juniors Abigail Krue ger, Aleksa Alijosius and Abigail Weinert also are lineup returnees. Others to watch include sophomore Gabriella Graupera, junior Kennedy Holakovski and freshman Amanda Krueger.
STEVE JOHNSTON
State wraps up case in challenge to
e testimony rests on whether banned weapons are suited to military or civilian uses
By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois
A federal judge invoked images from the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis, Illinois, last Thursday at the end of a trial in a case challenging the constitutionality of the state’s ban on assault-style weapons and large-capacity magazines.
Judge Steven McGlynn, who has presided over the trial, called attention to the neighborhood just outside the courthouse, much of which was destroyed during a series of deadly attacks by a white mob against the city’s Black population.
“The official death toll was 39, but no one b eli eves that,” McGlynn said, noting that the true death toll was probably in the hundreds
“I wonder what would have happened,” he said in a possible indication of how he intends to rule. “I wonder what would have happened if they [the Black population] had had some of the weapons we’re talking about today.”
Illinois lawmakers passed the assault weapons ban, officially known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act, during a special lame duck session in January 2023. It came in response to numerous mass shootings across the country in which gunmen used AR-style weapons. Among those was a shooting the previous summer at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park that left seven people dead and dozens more injured or traumatized.
The trial in the Southern District of Illinois involved four cases, each with multiple plaintiffs who argued the law violates the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
Throughout four days of testimony, a central issue has been whether the weapons and equipment covered under the law are commonly used in American society for lawful purposes such as self-defense, and thus protected under the Second
Amendment, or military-grade that easily
of challenges to the assault we apons ban. In a 2-1 ruling in November 2023 that denied requests to block enforcement of the law wh i le challenges proceeded, the appellate c ourt said there is a “long tradition” of distinguishing b etween military and civilian we apons and that the state’s assault we apons b an “respects and relies on that tradition.”
That decision was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which said in July it would not hear the case until after the lower courts had conducted full trials.
The trial in the Southern District of Illinois began Monday with plaintiffs in the case presenting expert witnesses who argued the AR-style rifles and other weapons covered by the law are among the most popular firearms on the market in the United States and that they are suitable for self-defense and other purposes.
And they drew a sharp distinction between the semiautomatic we apons covered by Illinois law that can only fire one shot with each p ull of the t rigger, wh ich they said have no practical value in a mili tary setting, and f ully automatic we apons that can fire continuously for as long
to military purposes than fully automatic weapons, which they said are less accurate, waste ammunition, and are prone to overheating and jamming in combat situations.
Jason Dempsey, a retired Ar my colonel who now works as a senior fellow at the left-leaning Center for a New American Security, said that during his tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, he never used his service rifle in fully automatic mode, and neither did the soldiers serving under him.
During cross-examination, though, plaintiffs’ attorney Andrew Lothson pointed out that Dempsey himself owns an ARstyle rifle with many of the features that would make it illegal under the Illinois law. Dempsey re plied that he does not favor a total ban on such weapons but believes people who own them should be trained in how to use them safely.
Another key question in the trial, and one that attorneys in the case have said they will address in written briefs, is whether there is a historical tradition the type of weapons covered by the Illinois law that dates back to the founding of the Constitution.
But Kathryn Hunt Muse, of the Illinois attorney general’s office, argued there is no functional difference between the assault-style weapons covered under the law and the M4 or M16 service weapons commonly used in the U.S. military.
Attorneys in the case still have 30 days to submit written briefs and exhibits as well as their own proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law, which could form the basis of McGlynn’s final ruling.
McGlynn did not indicate when such a final ruling would be issued.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
That is a relatively new legal standard first articulated by the Supreme Court in it are “useful for self-defense” and are not militaristic in nature. He also said neither the U.S. military nor any foreign military uses the semiautomatic-only weapons banned under the Illinois law.
On the cover: Sones de Mexico
Ensemble, photo provided by Dominican Performing Arts
FALL EVENTS:
Fall Choir Festival:
October 10 • 7pm
Fall Band & Orchestra Concert: October 23 • 7pm
Orchestra Festival: November 20 • 7pm
Fall Play: Shakespeare in Love
November 14-16 • 7pm
November 17 • 2pm
Fall Performing Guide Arts
The Wedding Singer takes good, collars were up and the room. Based on the hit sparkling new score does say yes to the most
Riverside Brookfield High School
Proudly Presented by
Theater is located at
The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer’s sparkling new score does for the ‘80s what Hairspray did for the ‘60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!
Scheck Village Commons
2401 S DesPlaines Ave
The Wedding Singer takes us back to a time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room. Based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer's sparkling new score does for the '80s what Hairspray did for the '60s. Just say yes to the most romantic musical in twenty years!
North Riverside, IL 60546
Performances: October 4 at 7:30pm • October 5 at 7:30pm
October 6 at 2:30pm • October 11 at 7:30pm October 12 at 7:30pm • October 13 at 2:30pm
Proudly Presented by October 4 at 7:30pm
All events are in Riverside Brookfield High School’s Auditorium.
October 5 at 7:30pm
October 6 at 2:30pm
We reserve the right to release unpaid reservations 5 minutes before show time. We will hold tickets at box office unless self-addressed, stamped return envelope is included.
To order tickets by mail, detach at dotted stamped envelope with check or credit card
October 11 at 7:30pm
October 12 at 7:30pm
October 13 at 2:30pm
City, State, Zip
Dominican University Performing Arts Center: Where Creativity Soars and Passion Meets Purpose
Located in the heart of River Forest, the Dominican University Performing Arts Center (DUPAC) stands as a dynamic cultural hub where worldclass performances meet community engagement. Guided by Dominican University’s mission to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, DUPAC’s programming reflects this commitment in every performance, concert, and family-friendly event it presents.
Family-Friendly Programming for All
Ages – DUPAC takes pride in offering performances and events that appeal to audiences of all ages. The center curates a wide range of experiences, from captivating theater productions to lively musical concerts, designed to entertain, inspire, and educate. Families seeking an afternoon of fun or an evening of cultural enrichment will find a welcoming atmosphere at DUPAC, where the magic of live performance can be shared by all generations.
Affordable and Accessible – Access to the arts is a cornerstone of DUPAC’s mission. Affordable ticket prices, PayWhat-You-Can options, and free summer concerts, ensure families and individuals from all walks of life can experience the transformative power of the arts without financial strain.
Convenient Location and Free Parking
– DUPAC’s convenient location on the beautiful campus of Dominican University makes it easily accessible from both downtown Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Visitors appreciate the ease of attending events without the typical hassles associated with city venues. The added benefit of free parking ensures a stress-free experience from arrival to departure, making an evening or afternoon at DUPAC even more enjoyable.
Exciting
Programs That Inspire – Each season, DUPAC offers an exciting lineup of programs that not only entertain
but also reflect Dominican University’s mission of social justice and community building. From thought-provoking plays and concerts by renowned musicians to vibrant community events, the center is a place where creativity truly soars. The programs aim to engage audiences in meaningful ways, encouraging both reflection and celebration. Every event at DUPAC is designed to be more than just entertainment—it’s an opportunity to feed the soul and inspire positive change.
An Invitation to Experience DUPAC
– Whether for art lovers, families, or individuals seeking an affordable cultural experience, the Dominican University Performing Arts Center offers something for everyone. Here, creativity and purpose come together in ways that inspire and uplift, fostering a deeper connection to the community and to the world. Visitors are invited to experience DUPAC for themselves, where the combination of programming, affordable pricing, convenient location, and free parking creates an unmatched environment for the arts.
At DUPAC, where creativity soars and passion meets purpose, every performance is an opportunity to participate in something bigger—an experience that enriches both the mind and the spirit. For a list of upcoming programs and performances visit events. dom.edu.
Dominican University Performing Arts Center
7900 W. Division Street River Forest, IL 60305 (708) 488-5000 • boxoffice@dom.edu
MEET THE CANDIDATES
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Brookfield and Riverside are working together to improve the street that divides them.
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Each village’s board of trustees this month approved an intergover nmental agreement between the two municipalities for sidewalk, curb, gutter and street pavement replacement on Golf Road next year. Riverside approved the contract on Sept. 5 while Brookfield approved it four days later; each group of trustees voted on it as part of their respective consent or omnibus agenda, meaning neither board discussed it.
The street, just west and southwest of Riverside Brookfield High School, marks the longitudinal boundary between the two villages. Brookfield is responsible for the west half of the road while Riverside oversees the east half, necessitating an ag reement like the one they’ve signed to make any improvements.
According to agenda documents from the village board meetings, Brookfield is acting as the leader for the Golf Road renovation because the street is one of four the village hopes to improve as a collective project next year.
The work on Golf Road will stretch from Ridgewood Road to Parkview Avenue before continuing onto Woodside Avenue from Parkview Avenue to Brookfield Avenue. That street will also be improved from Woodside Avenue all the way to Prairie Avenue, where work will pick up on Grand Boulevard from the downtown intersection to the six-way stop with Grant and Sunnyside avenues
Brookfield has received grant funding for the project through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Surface
Transportation Program, which supports local infrastructure improvements across northeastern Illinois. Through the STP local fund program, administered by the West Central Municipal Conference, Brookfield was set to receive funding to complete the improvements in 2026. Now, the village will receive contingency funding — grants approved for other municipalities that ended up not using them — to get them done in 2025.
The grant funding will cover 80% of the cost of construction for the entire project, leaving Brookfield and Riverside to cover the rest. For Riverside’s east lane of Golf Road, Brookfield’s firm Hancock Engineering estimated a total price of $109,411, including construction engineering fees. Riverside will be on the hook to reimburse Brookfield for its 20% slice of $21,882.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Sept. 17, Brookfield Village Manager Tim Wiberg said the village expects to pay the same as Riverside for its half of the work on Golf Road
For all of its planned improvements, including the portion Riverside will reimburse, Brookfield expects to pay $1,015,660, Brookfield Finance Director Doug Cooper confirmed in an email to the Landmark. The village will receive $4,062,640 in grants to account for the project’s total cost of nearly $5.1 million.
“That’s why we are so heavily into [the STP] program, because it’s a great funding source,” Wiberg said. “We’re getting 80% paid for by non-village funds, so we’ll probably ke ep going back to that well.”
While Brookfield and Riverside have already joined forces, they will likely not see their efforts pay off until this time next year
In an email to Landmark, Brookfield Public Works Director Vincent Smith said the contracted date for construction to end is Sept. 19, 2025, though workers will have two more weeks to finish fixing punch list items. He said Brookfield and its engineer are optimistic about resurfacing the streets before the 2025-26 school year, but work might not finish before school star ts.
Police ticket drivers with suspended licenses
Riverside police ticketed a woman Sept. 18 after they saw her speeding.
Around 7:45 p.m., an officer on patrol was driving west on Herrick Road when they saw a car heading the opposite direction toward North Cowley Road. Using their car’s radar, the officer saw the woman was driving 40 mph in a 25-mph zone, so they pulled her over.
After the officer made contact with the driver, she provided an Illinois ID and said her car was uninsured. The officer ran the woman’s ID through the police database and found her Illinois driver’s license had been suspended.
The officer placed the woman in handcuffs in the back of their squad car and inventoried her vehicle. In the car, the officer found a bur nt Chore Boy scouring pad in the ashtray; according to the police report, that brand of scouring pads can be used to consume narcotics. The officer did not find any narcotics inside the car.
After police had the woman’s car towed, she was taken out of the squad car and released from handcuffs. The officer cited her for speeding, not showing proof of insurance and driving with a suspended license. An Oct. 4 court date was set and the woman was released after police gave her a ride to the corner of Shenstone Road and Harlem Avenue.
Man goes into White Castle during tra c stop
Riverside police arrested a man Sept. 19 after he sped and disobeyed police.
Around 5:30 a.m., an officer on patrol was stopped near the intersection of Harlem Avenue and Robinson Court when they observed a car driving 46 mph in a 30-mph zone “with heavy tinted front windows.” The officer activated their emergency lights and tried to pull the car over at Harlem Avenue and Ogden Avenue, but the car pulled into the parking lot of the White Castle, which is in Berwyn.
According to police, the driver exited his car and walked into the restaurant, disobeying the officer’s orders to remain in the vehicle. The officer called for another officer to come assist; once the second officer arrived on the scene, the first officer approached the vehicle and began speaking with the two passengers inside and smelled a fresh odor of bur nt cannabis. The officer asked how much cannabis was inside the car, but the
male passenger said he had just finished smoking it, causing the smell.
At the same time, the second officer made contact with the driver who had gone into White Castle. After learning his name, the officer ran the man’s information through the police database and learned his driver’s license had been suspended. Police handcuffed the man and placed him into the squad car before searching the vehicle and turning it over to the passengers after finding nothing.
Police took the man to WC3 booking room in North Riverside, where they cited him for speeding and driving on a suspended license
After setting a court date, police gave the man a copy of his citation and release form
Man caught driving on 13-year expired license
Brookfield police ticketed a 51-year-old Berwyn man Sept. 22 after an officer on patrol ran his car’s license plates and learned they were expired
Around 4 p.m., the officer was on patrol and driving west on 47th Street when their automatic license plate reader notified that the car in front of them had an expired re gistration due to the vehicle being uninsured. The officer activated their emergency lights and pulled the car over on the 4300 block of 47th Street.
After the officer made c ontact with the drive r, he said he was aware of his car’s suspended re gistration but that he had not c ontacted the DMV to resolve it. Th e officer asked the man for his drive r’s lic ense and proof of i nsuranc e, but the man c ould not provide either; he said he was in the process of sorting out an issue with his drive r’s license. He then told the officer his son had arrive d to le g ally pa rk his ca r, but the officer said they would need more info rm ation first. After learning the man’s name and date of birth, the officer r an his info rm ation and learned his drive r’s license had b een revo ke d in 2011 after a DUI
T he officer asked the man to exit his vehicle and p laced him in handcu ff s in the squad car to take him to be processed and cited. Before leaving, the officer spo ke with the man’s son, who provided a vali d drive r’s license. T he son said he would move his father ’s car to a le g al pa rk in g spot and pick up his father from police in his own vehicl e.
Police cited the man for driving an uni nsured and unreg i stered car without a license. A Nov. 12 c ourt date was set and the man was released.
These items were obtained from the Ri verside Police Department re ports dated Se pt. 18-19 and the Brookfield Police Department re ports dated Sept. 16-23; they re present a portion of the incidents to which police re-
sponded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest
Compiled by Trent Brown
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Pair honor ‘aging reimagined’ podcast with a milestone symposium
Catherine
Marienau of Oak Park and Gail Zelitzky of Chicago celebrate women over 70
By LEAH SCHROEDER Contributing Reporter
Catherine Marienau of Oak Park and Gail Zelitzky of Chicago first met when Marienau served as Zelitzky’s faculty mentor while she studied for her master’s de gree at DePaul University. T he two quickly bonded over their shared passion for women’s issues and went on to create a podcast to g ether, Women Over 70 - Aging Reimagined.
Now, 300 episodes later, the co-founders and co-hosts are celebrating the milestone with a symposium called Celebrating Who We Are as We Age, Oct. 19.
Since the podcast launched in 2019, Marienau and Zelitzky have interviewed a variety of female artists, authors, activists and academics from the ages of 70 to 110.
“We’re all about having women see that there’s a future between 70 and however long you live. Our mission is to shatter the myth that women become irrelevant as they age, and also to reframe the conversation around aging,” Zelitzky said. “We want our listeners to be inspired and become more creative and curious about what they can do to make their longevity be an exciting time of life, which it really is.”
serve as role models for other older females, as well as for the younger g eneration of women.
“We talk with women who are in all different locations, different stages of l ife, really, to hear their stories about paths they’ve taken, choices they’ve made during their l ife, but especially how they are living now in these later decade s, ” Marienau said. “We want to hear their stories about wh at they ’re involved in, wh at they care about, how they ’re c ontributing, and new things that they’re lear ning.”
“Our mission is to shatter the myth that women become irrelevant as they age, and also to reframe the conversation around aging.”
GAIL ZELITZKY Podcaster
Five years after launching, the podcast has been streamed in 120 countries and has over 400,000 downloads. To celebrate their success and the milestone of 300 episodes, the two women are holding their first symposium called “Celebrating Who We Are as We Age,” which will take place in LaGrange. The event will feature a packed schedule of exhibits, authors’ showcases, lectures and interactive workshops on topics including health, creativity and personal growth.
The podcast features interviews with older women about their life stories and experiences and aims to help women shift their perspective about life after 70. Marienau said that podcast hosts women who are involved in life and who can
T he event will also feature a virtual lecture by keynote speaker author and activist Ashton Applewhite, who was featured in podcast e pisode 250, titled “Ageism Harms Us and Obstructs Equity.” T he co-hosts said they see the symposium as an opportunity to unite a community of women with shared interests and strengthen bonds within the community.
“I’m just imagining the energy in the room when you get 100 or more women
who are embodying the theme celebrating who we are as we ag e,” Marienau said. “Every person will g et something meaningful out of it. I think it’ll be something that people will remember for a long, long time.”
After five successful years of podcasting, the two women said they don’t plan to slow down any time soon.
“I don’t think we’ll ever run out of interesting women to talk with,” Marienau said. They plan to continue featuring stories from older women, which they say are under re presented.
“One of our goals is to create a le gacy
for the women we interview. Our interest is in showcasing their stories. We want our listeners to hear them and say, ‘wow, we didn’t know aging could be so cool,’” Zelitzky said.
“If we can accomplish that, and people come away with a different way of thinking about aging, I think the entire world will be better for it.”
Tickets for the “Celebrating Who We Are as We Age,” symposium are available at an early bird rate with the code ebsymposium24. The event will be held at Plymouth Place, 315 N. LaGrange Rd. For more information, see WomenOver70.com.
Catherine Marienau & Gail Zelitzky
FO OD IS MED I CINE AT TR AILSID E
Ronnie Preston, American Indian Center Cultural and Education Programs director relates the legend of sweet event at atcher Woods Trailside Museum on Sept. 20. Participant (right) blesses sweet grass by sprinking tobacco.
PHOTO S BY TODD A. BANNOR
The Decade of Healthy Aging, a collaboration between the United Nations and World Health Organization, recently named Ashton Applewhite one of the Healthy Aging 50 — a group of leaders “transforming the world to be a better place in which to grow older.”
Opinion
THE LANDMARK VIEW
Good governing
This is the stuf f of local gover nance. Riverside’s village board is moving through its annual budget process with the guidance of its top staf f. Specifically, during September they have been reviewing 2025 spending for capital projects. Those projects are embedded in the multi-year capital improvement plan (CIP) schedule.
Early in the month it appeared cash would be tight to complete all of the planned projects. The board back-bur nered a handful of projects and considered an alter nate source of revenue to pay for others. That source was drawing down reserves that had been building untouched in the village’s risk management fund
A thoughtful response on prioritizing projects and an innovative idea on finding funding.
Fast forward two weeks to a follow-up meeting on CIP plans and the good news that, on the morning of the meeting, Riverside lear ned it had received a $150,000 state grant to be used for capital projects. That grant had been applied for in the nor mal course of the work of village staf f, but it was not a lock and the timing was uncertain.
T he outcome is that the board quickly ag reed to add back in a number of small but important projects it had previously put on hold. Those include $25,000 for reforestation, a critical issue in this tree-focused village; $15,000 to protect those trees from something called spong y moth; and $60,000 fo r new radios for public safety. That left a handful of other defe rred decisions still on hold for the moment.
In a sign of faith in its administration, Village President Doug Pollock told the board there had been a pre-meeting meeting with Matthew Buckley, head of both police and fire in town, to discuss the village providing just $60K of his $120K request for new radios for police and fire. The board was able to avoid choosing one department over the other when Buckley suggested approving the $60K and letting him sort out how it might best be spent between police and fire. The goal is still to find the matching $60K, but this is a good solution for now.
None of this is headline news. It is just good, steady governance. Which is what we’ve come to expect from Riverside’s leadership.
Benches with meaning
Riverside has a park bench memorial program allowing residents — encouraging residents — to fund the placement of a bench in a public space in town. Here’s an interesting insight from Dan Tabb, public works director, as the village board approved one such bench recently.
While the village has benches that are worn and need re placing, he said, seldom do those wanting to sponsor a bench choose to do that. Instead, he said, they want to place a new bench in a spot that has some emotional resonance for them and the person they are honoring.
Trustee Eliz abeth Kos reinforced that point when she said the Dvorak family chose a location near Audubon and Southcote roads because it was a midway meeting point for the family and friends.
That makes the meaning richer and more connecting.
OBITUARIES
Bob Evans Newspaper distribution specialist
Ro be rt “Bob” Evans, one of the nicest humans you kne w, of Brookfield , for merly of Rive rside, died p eacefull y, on Sept. 17, 2024. He wo rked as a newspaper distribution specialist.
He c onquered the o dds of a teenage mar riage with Pe gg y, a love story tha t lasted for 53 year s.
His children, Eric, Ryan, and A nna, learned l ife lessons from him that will stay with them fore ve r.
His sister, Linda (Tom), survive d gr ow ing up with her little “hell-raiser ” brother, built a l ife all her own, and raised his ne phew and niec e, Tomm y and Thera.
His in-l aw s, Vi ckie, Meaghan, and F letcher, we re welcomed i nto his f amily with open arms re ga rded him as a second father
He dedicated his r etirement to his 10 gr andchildren — Tyler, Matthew, Nora Mac, E lla, Quinni e, Reese, E loise, Millie Rose, Ig gy, and Olive r — and hosted the best pool pa rt ie s.
Hard- wo rk ing, curious, and g enerous, he love d his home, his ga rdens, and an honest day’s wo rk . He f ound happiness in wo rk ing and sharin g his p assion for it. His le ga cy lives on through the way he live d his l ife: ca r-
ing for other s, improving the lives of those around him, and being kind to everyone he met.
In lieu of fl owers or d onations, p lease honor Bob ’s memory by strivin g to make the wo rl d a b etter p lac e, j ust as he always did.
In ke e ping with his wishes, Bob ’s f amily will be hosting a c elebration of his l ife in early November at a local ve nu e. T hey look forward to ga therin g with friends and love d ones to honor his memory and share the stories of his remarkable life
Ar r angements we re handled by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st St., Brookfield , IL 60513. Info rm ation: 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.co m
If you wish to send a sympat hy card to the f amily, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513, c/o the Ro be rt Evans Family
Walter Repp, 92 Commercial pipe tter
Walter J. Re pp, 92, Ko r ean Wa r Ai r Fo rce veteran, of L aGrange Pa rk , fo rmerly of Brookfield and North Rivers ide, died on Sept. 14, 2024. He wo rked as a commercial pipefitter
Walter was the husband of the late Diane Re pp (nee Suich); the fa ther of Walter Re pp and David Re pp; and the brother of the late J ane (the late S ully) S ulliv an.
Vi sitation was held for Walter and a memorial visitation for Diane, wh o died during COVID in November 2020, on Sept. 19, f ollowe d by Mass at St. Alexine Chapel, 1515 W. Ogden Ave., LaGrange Pa rk , i nterment at A braham Lincoln National Cemeter y. Ar r angements we re handled by Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield , IL 60513. Info rm ation: 708-485-2000 or www.HitzmanFuneral.com. If yo u wish to send a sympat hy card to the f amily, send it to Hitzeman Funeral Home, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513, c/o the Walter J. Re pp F amily We will gladly forward it on.
Chance the Rapper buys lunch for West Side students
Raising Cane’s donated $100K to SocialWorks, a nonpro t that empowers local youth
By ATAVIA REED Block Club Chicago
Dozens of Michele Clark High School seniors gathered near their new state-of-the-art football field earlier this month for a special surprise: hot lunch from Raising Cane’s ser by Chance the Rapper.
The South Side rapper teamed up with Raising serve two-piece chicken finger combos from a food truck. In side the principal’s office, Chance shared another treat the intercom.
“There is no homework tonight,” Chance said. “This has already been signed off by Principal Anderson and now Principal Chance the Rapper.”
Raising Cane’s donated $100,000 to SocialWorks day to aid the nonprofit’s mission to empower young through the performing and literary arts, education civic engagement. Chance founded SocialWorks in 2016 with friends Justin Cunningham and Essence Smith.
Chance stopped by the chicken chain’s Wrigleyville shop 3700 N. Clark St., to accept the donation and serve customers before visiting the West Side school.
Michele Clark High School, 5101 W. Harrison St., is one of local schools the rapper supports through his nonprofit
“This $100,000 donation to SocialWorks will help Chance continue empowering Chicago youth and providing them with opportunities to thrive,” said Todd Graves, CEO of Raising Cane’s. “Chance and his team have made such a positive impact in the community, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the lives he continues to change through SocialWorks.”
Initiatives at SocialWorks like the New Chance: Arts & Literature Fund and the Kids of the Kingdom summer camp “have been a great connector and community builder,” Chance said in a brief interview.
SocialWorks partnered with Michele Clark in 2019 to launch My State of Mind, a program that prioritizes mental health wellness. The goal is to continue expanding on those existing programs, Chance said. Donations, both small and large, help make that possible.
“I think the fact that Raising Cane’s was able to see SocialWorks and say, ‘We want to collaborate and bring a platform
Chance the Rapper founded SocialWorks in 2016 with friends Justin Cunningham (le ) and Essence Smith (right).
to what you guys are doing,’ is dope,” Chance said. “It’s also them doing their part.”
Students at Michele Clark have been participating in Good Looking Out, a workshop that promotes mental health wellness and teaches students how to help each other, Principal Charles Anderson said. September is Suicide Awareness Month.
Chance’s food truck visit was “amazing” and will hopefully convey to students that there are people who care about them, Anderson said.
“I’m hoping they’ll see that they’re not alone,” Anderson said. “A lot of times, when people are experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis, they feel isolated
no one cares,” Anderson said. “I’m hoping the message ets across that people care and we’re here with you.”
he $100,000 donation from Raising Cane’s comes days afelease of the Grammy Award-winning rapper’s newest single, “3333.” The song, which he said was “recorded and dropped maybe a day later,” intimately reveals how the rapper sold 3,333 tickets at the Minnesota State Fair — a venue that can hold 14,000 people.
people lined up early in the morning to greet him outside the Wrigleyville restaurant was “a reminder of peole supporting me,” Chance said.
like when you do take those chances to live in your and be brave, good things come,” Chance said. “The that this [donation] is coming right after is a huge blessing to SocialWorks. I think it’s a reminder of the community e been building and what we’re building around It’s a testament to me, but also to Raising Cane’s as a patron and supporter of SocialWorks, and a huge signal that SocialWorks is doing great things.”
Earlier this year, Chance hosted a spring concert at the Ramova T heatre in Bridg eport to raise funds for his nonprofit Chance, Jennifer Hudson and Quincy Jones were among the investors and co-owners who gave the for mer movie house a $30 million makeover and transformed it into an 1,800-capacity concert hall and events space.
One of the South Side rapper’s dreams is to bring events other than concerts to the venue hall, he said.
“In terms of sound, house lighting [and] the overall feel and aesthetic of the theater, to me, it’s the best room to play for that size for 1,800 people,” Chance said. “I think it could be configured in a lot of different ways, from traditional concerts, all the way over to comedy or theatrical shows.”
ATAVIA REED/BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO t SocialWorks.
ATAVIA REED/BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO
Sports
Rocky Mountain running high fuels Bulldogs’ Norman, Kahle
Vaia shows progress in rst full-time cross country season
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
Riverside Brookfield High School seniors Brady Norman and Asa Kahle took their boys cross country training to a new heights this summer. They traveled to Boulder, Colorado, for the Tinman Elite team’s Hax Altitude Camp, July 7-11, to work with high-level professionals at an elevation of 5,430 feet.
“I followed the Tinman team. I always wanted to do a camp in Boulder and I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got to do this’ because it’s way more intimate than the Nike camps,” Norman said. “It’s only like 30 people with 11 professional athletes, so you’re getting plenty of one-on-one time. I was going on runs with Drew Hunter, Joey Berriatua and Sam Parsons. They all ran at the [Summer Olympics] trials so it was awesome.”
On Saturday, Norman enjoyed his personal-best time at Indian Gardens in taking second at the 64th RBHS Invite, Saturday (15:41.6 for 3.0 miles), beaten only by Morton junior Alex Rodriguez (15:28.3).
Kahle (7th, 16:26.3) and Nazareth junior Daniel Lewis of Brookfield (9th, 16:34.2) also was were top-10 medalists
“I know [Norman and Kahle] really enjoyed [Boulder]. They talked it up pretty big when they got back for summer camp with us,” RBHS coach Jack Brady said. “They’re real hard workers anyway. They just keep getting better.”
RBHS sophomore Aiden O’Brien (11th, 16:38.1), seniors Diego LopezMolina (14th, 16:56.4) and Hayden Haas (30th, 18:04.6), juniors Quinn Hendricks (38th, 18:55.3) Emmitt Olson (40th, 19:00.6) and Clay Dosek (41st, 19:06.1) and senior Abe Ray (43rd, 19:10.1) were top-45 finishers.
The Bulldogs (63 points) and Roadrunners (163) were third and sixth. Junior Tommy Bogdon, often the Bulldogs’ No. 3 finisher, was out of town.
“[O’Brien] probably had the best race of everybody. He [achieved an all-time personal best] on that course,
which actually takes some doing,” Brady said.
Norman, Kahle and Lopez-Molina, who was battling illness last week, were part of last year’s lineup that finished 21st at the Class 3A state meet.
Norman has overcome a joint injury in his back that hampered his summer training for about two weeks. In Boulder, another of his highlights was going 10 miles with Tinman’s Austin Miller on the famed Magnolia Road, which has an elevation gain between 1,480 and 1,700 feet.
“I don’t think five days can help that much, but being that altitude helps for sure,” Norman said.
RBHS girls cross country
RBHS junior Addie Vaia made her cross country debut at the 2023 RBHS Invite while splitting time playing sophomore girls volleyball. A more fit and experienced Vaia finished a team-best eighth Saturday (19:55.9 for 3.0 miles) for the fifth-place Bulldogs (126 points). Vaia was two places and 15 seconds better than 2023, which also earned a top-10 medal.
“[This invite] was definitely a different feeling. I was more confident and have been properly training since last track season,” she said. “Last year I would only run on my own, daily, as training, so my body was not acclimat ed to running at a faster speed. Also I felt a lot of pressure being in the va sity race when the only other race I’ve run was the Riverside 4th of July 5k in 2023.”
Senior Gianna Gelb (18th, 20:42.5), junior Valeria Martinez (23rd, 21:10.0), freshmen Elsie Clark (38th, 22:34.9), freshmen Anabel Olesiak (48th, 23:05.3) and Julia Daniels (49th, 23:05.5) and sophomore Elizabeth Moran (50th, 23:06.3) were top-50 finishers.
The RBHS Invite was Vaia’s only 2023 re gular-season meet. After sophomore volleyball ended, Vaia ran at re gionals and sectionals.
This season, she is running cross country full time, encouraged by her track debut last spring after playing
softball as a freshman.
“My ultimate goal is obviously state as a team and individually, and with the proper training I am getting and not splitting my time, I can see how far I can make it,” Vaia said. “And even this year with me devoting my time to only cross country, my volleyball coaches were supersupportive.”
Nazareth (67) and Fenwick (74) took first and second. Fenwick sophomore Juliana Gamboa of Riverside was second (18:13.6). Nazareth freshman Kathleen Hardy (18:43.1) and sophomore Sophia Towne (20:03.8) were third and 10th.
ERICA BENSON
Riverside Brook eld’s Asa Kahle competes in the Riverside Brook eld Cross Country meet held Saturday, Sept. 21.
ERICA BENSON
Riverside Brook eld’s Addie Vaia runs in the Riverside Brook eld Invite.
Lions roar in Homecoming win; Bulldogs bounce back at Elgin
By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter
While still the backup quarterback, Lyons Township High School Dom Pisciotti already was prepared to prove himself behind nowgraduated, two-year starter Ryan Jackson.
During the summer of 2023, Jackson was injured for an area 7-on-7 football showcase. Also a pitcher and first baseman, Pisciotti filled in by commuting daily between the event and his traveling baseball tournament in Iowa.
“He’s got a chip on his shoulder. He’s always had that since we were little,” said senior four-year starter Travis Stamm, Pisciotti’s football teammate since third grade. He’s never, ever given up and turned his back when things got hard. And when things get tough, he takes the responsibility. That’s important to have as your quarterback. You can’t teach that. He put his time in and he’s finally reaping the rewards for sure.”
Pisciotti was among the big contributors to the Lions’ satisfying 24-7 Homecoming victory over Glenbard West in Wester n Springs
The undefeated Lions (4-0, 2-0 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division) earned their first victory over the Hilltoppers (0-4, 0-2) since 2016.
“[This season] kind of gave me a chip on my shoulder, just to come out and prove something, show everyone what I’ve got, how I can succeed,” Pisciotti said. “It definitely pays dividends, the hard work, just know-
TENNIS
from page 9
Besides RBHS head coach Sam Weiss, the seniors praised volunteer assistant Syed Ahmad, who began by working with the boys team in the spring.
“Tennis is a journey. Overall we are taking steps in the right direction and improving long-term,” Weiss said. “The goal is to win conference. The key to success is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable on the court. We want our kids to take their game to the next level and instead of playing to their strengths, we want them to improve their weaknesses.”
At the 2023 Class 2A Hinsdale Central Sectional, Kaciuba and the doubles teams of Glennie and Lenaghan and Alijosius
ing we have actually something to prove this year. Especially our senior class, we want to be known as the best overall team -- leadership-wise, athletically, just everything.”
Pisciotti was 17-for-23 passing for 174 yards with a 2-yard TD pass to tight end Brady Rusk that gave the Lions a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
Stamm caught nine passes for 99 yards and finished off the victory with his first interception return for a TD, a 50-yarder with 59.3 seconds left.
“This win’s one of my favorites of all time. I’ve always watched (LTHS) lose to this team, so to be a special part of this win, I’ll never forget it,” he said.
“That [pick six] was really special. I got to run down to the end zone and go celebrate with my grandparents, my cousin [sitting behind the guard rail]. I’ll never forget that play for sure, but mainly this game is super-special for me. And for it to be a home game, that we could do it at LT, it couldn’t be any better.” LTHS only led 10-7 at halftime. After the Hilltoppers punted away their first possession of the third quarter, the Lions responded with a 67-yard TD drive that consumed 7:58. Danny Carroll (45 yards, 21 carries) scored on a 4-yard run.
“Our goal was to stop them and then go down and score. And a lot of that credit goes to our offensive line and [Pisciotti],” LTHS coach Jon Beutjer said.
“We put him in a position to be successful but he does such a nice job of just reading the
with graduated Danielle DiMonte lost in the round of 16. Kaciuba won her play-in singles match and Juister lost hers.
“Over the past three seasons, I’ve had a better season each time, so I’m really excited to play this year,” Juister said. “All of the seniors are the captains so it’s really fun to be in a leadership role now. That’s a new thing for senior year and I’m happy to do that with the Eleanors.”
LTHS girls tennis
Lyons Township seniors Ginny Gibbs, Mia Graziano and Ashley Culin are determined to take that final step to state, even while returning to one of the state’s toughest 2A sectionals.
Gibbs and Graziano have come one doubles victory from a top-four sectional finish and state berth the past two seasons. Culin also came one doubles victory from state in
defense. There were times they did some different things and he made the throw.”
Beutjer also praised defensive coordinator Bryan Bergman. Mack Long added another interception while tackle leaders included Lou Ratcliffe (9), Pat Cheney (8), Jack Grigus (7) and Long and JD Mahoney (6 each). Ayman Soltan, Long, Ratclif fe had tackles for loss
“I give it all to the coaches. The coaches set up a scheme for us and we did it well,” Cheney said.
Pisciotti hit Stamm for a key 46-yard catch to the Glenbard West 28 to set up AJ Vavrik’s 36-yard field goal that ended the first half Pisciotti especially was excited for Stamm’s pick six. That gave Stamm his first TD against Glenbard West — the only Silver Division team he’s never scored against.
A quarterback since third grade, Pisciotti remembers Stamm playing quarterback, too.
“We found out real quick Travis was just a lot better with the ball in his hands, making moves, getting in the end zone.” Pisciotti said. “My whole life, I think my job has been getting the ball out of my hands as fast as possible.”
RBHS football
Riverside Brookfield sophomore quarterback Giancarlo Garcia continues making progress in his first varsity season.
On Friday, Garcia rushed for three touchdowns and threw a 61-yard TD pass to Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus as the Bulldogs rolled to
2023 with graduated Maddie Rowen.
“It’s really motivating to make it to state this year. Hopefully we do,” said Graziano, a state badminton doubles qualifier. “I hope sectionals go well. It’s just a reinforcement to do well during the season so we have a good seeding.”
Other returning starters are sophomore Abby Sullivan, seniors Addy Pelling and Vivian Kittridge and juniors Rhia Nagale and Caroline Robb. Key newcomers include freshman Elisa Novey and juniors Erin Hanzlik and Nina Channell.
The Lions’ stronger overall lineup can surpass last year’s fourth-place finish in the tough West Suburban Conference Silver Division.
They’re 3-1 in Silver duals, edging York 4-3, Sept. 17, while losing 7-0 Thursday to Hinsdale Central, fifth at state last year. Oak Park and River Forest and Downers Grove North remain. One big change has been Graziano
a 30-14 victory at Elgin in the Upstate Eight Conference crossover.
The Bulldogs (2-2) were coming of f backto-back losses by a combined score of 65-23.
“Just getting back in the win column was something that was big,” RBHS coach Sam Styler said. “[Garcia has] definitely come a long way. He had a great g ame. He’s done a great job and he’s going to keep growing.”
T he Bulldogs opened a 23-0 lead in the second quarter with the TD pass after Garcia’s 3- and 12-yard TD r uns and a 27-yard field goal by John Bielobradek. RBHS moved ahead 30-6 on Garcia’s 15yard TD r un.
Garcia had 103 yards on 14 carries and was 6-for-11 passing for 111 yards. On the season, he has passed for 508 yards and three TDs and rushed for 285 yards with four TDs.
“I think just his confidence has grown, controlling the offense and confidence pulling the ball on some of those reads and where he’s putting the ball and throwing it,” Styler said.
Defensively, senior Caleb McCottry had two sacks and Warren Mason and Bielobradek had interceptions. Other contributors included Luke Ferguson (7 tackles, 5 solos, 1 for loss), Max Strong (8 tackles, 3 solos) and Oscar Aguir re and McCottry (3 solos each).
The Maroons (0-4) had 41- and 87-yard TD passes but were held to minus-6 rushing yards and 10 first downs
playing No. 1 doubles with Culin. Gibbs has been paired with Robb at No. 2 doubles.
“[Our lineup] just depends on how things fall,” Culin said before the season. “I’m supermotivated. It would be so cool to get to state We have a tough conference, but it’s a great opportunity and a good motivator to get as far as we can.”
Sullivan has returned to No. 1 singles with Novey at No. 2. At last year’s sectional, Sullivan and Pelling both lost to seeded players in the round of 16. The Lions play host to this year’s sectional. Returning opponents Hinsdale Central and York combined for two singles and three doubles state berths in 2023 with only two doubles players being seniors.
“I’m motivated to not only have a good chance personally and our No. 1 doubles spots, but everybody,” Gibbs said. “I’m really excited about what they’re going to do because we have very strong pl ayers this year.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE
FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.
Request of Robert Mulloy Thompson Case Number 2024CONC001473
There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Robert Mulloy Thompson to the new name of: Jack Mulloy Thompson
The court date will be held: On January 9, 2025 at 9am via Zoom. Meeting ID 92302509713
Password 709022 Court room 1707.
Published in RB Landmark
September 11, 18, 25, 2024
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: G24000482 on September 13, 2024 Under the Assumed Business Name of HARMONY TREE YOGA with the business located at: 1249 DEERFIELD PKWY, BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MEGAN BRANCATO 1249 DEERFIELD PKWY APT 303 BUFFALO GROVE, IL 60089, USA
Published in Wednesday Journal September 18, 25, October 2, 2024
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE
STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.
Request of Sarah Jennette Nieman Case Number 20244005683
There will be a court date on my
Request to change my name from: Sarah Jennette Nieman to the new name of: Sasha Jennette Nieman
The court date will be held: On November 12, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at 1311 Maybrook Dr, Maywood, Cook County, IL 60153 in Courtroom # 0112.
Published in Wednesday Journal September 25, October 2, 9, 2024
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed Proposals will be accepted for:
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Site Planning
The Village of River Forest is seeking a professional engineering firm (FIRM) to assist the Village with design engineering services for the installation of Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure necessary to delivery electrical power to Electric Vehicle charging stations at five Village-owned locations as reviewed in its 2023 Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Network Study. It is the goal of the VILLAGE to contract with a qualified FIRM that has substantial experience in this type of work.
The RFP is available for download starting Thursday, September 19, 2024, at: www.vrf.us/bids
Proposals must be submitted by Friday, October 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. to:
Village Hall –Public Works, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
Proposals will be considered based on the criteria set forth in the RFP.
No Proposal shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled deadline.
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these Proposals to waive technicalities and reject any or all Proposals.
Published in Wednesday Journal September 25, 2024
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.
e 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. is 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.
Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.
To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA
HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI
PUBLIC NOTICE
ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING
Request of bids for the Oak Park Maintenance Facility Solar PV Installation, 947 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park.
Owner: Park District of Oak Park
218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302
The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Maintenance Facility Solar PV Installation, 947 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park. The project consists of the design and install of a 25 kW solar photovoltaic array with structural design fees included. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 2:00pm (Central time) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Demand Star website as of 5:00 pm Friday, September 27, 2024. A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for October 8, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at 947 S. Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park, IL 60304. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors. Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Demand Star website at: https://www.demandstar.com/app/ buyers/bids/475739 For additional information, contact Nelson Acevedo at Nelson.Acevedo@pdop.org or (708) 725-2053. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2024. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.
Park District of Oak Park By: Sandy Lentz, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302
Published in Wednesday Journal September 25, 2024
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US Bank Trust National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Owner Trustee For VRMTG Asset Trust Plaintiff
Monday at 5 p.m.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST
vs. Anne S. Hiter; James C. Hiter; USAlliance Federal Credit Union d/b/a USAlliance Financial; TD Bank USA, N.A.; Unknown Owners and Non Record Claimants
Plaintiff, -v.-
Defendant 22 CH 3421
CALENDAR 60
NOTICE OF SALE
CHRISTOPHER J. HANSON, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Defendants 2022 CH 09656 1138 ERIE ST. OAK PARK, IL 60302
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on October 15, 2024, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-17-328-003-0000. Commonly known as 1154 South Lombard Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304. The real estate is: 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: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, The Wirbicki Law Group LLC, 33 West Monroe Street, Suite 1540, Chicago, Illinois 60603. (312) 360-9455. INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 22, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on October 24, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: THE WEST 37 FEET OF LOT 4 IN SCHULTZS SUBDIVISION IN THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF BLOCK 6 IN KETTLESTRINGS ADDITION TO HARLEM, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Commonly known as 1138 ERIE ST., OAK PARK, IL 60302
Property Index No. 16-07-106-0180000
The real estate is improved with a residence.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.
The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required
by The 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, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2022 CH 09656 I3252359
