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Vol. 39, No. 3

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Also serving North Riverside

January 17, 2024

North Riverside’s firefighters, documented PAGE 3

@RBLandmark

Read between the wines at Riverside’s library PAGE 6

RBHS snags new athletic director from East Aurora Fil Torres, 43, will serve as assistant principal for athletics

Gaming Guru

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Riverside Brookfield High School has hired a new athletic director who will begin working next summer. On Jan. 9, the RBHS District 208 Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of Filberto “Fil” Torres who serves as the athletic director at East Aurora High School. Torres’s title will officially be assistant principal for athletics. He beat out 34 other applicants for the position. “We had multiple rounds of interviews and Fil rose to the top of being the best candidate

Meet the man beh behind hind the arcade STORY BY AMINA SERGAZINA, PAGE 7

FILE

T R O P PASS

Your

t o NE W S & C O M

See ATHLETIC DIRECTOR on page 5

MUNITY

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The Landmark, January 17, 2024

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The Landmark, January 17, 2024

Movie coming about North Riverside’s firefighter terminations

IN THIS ISSUE Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Fire Department, Inc., a documentary, is in the finishing stages By AMINA SERGAZINA Staff Reporter

An independent documentary called “Fire Department, Inc.” that follows the mayor’s disastrous attempt to privatize the North Riverside unionized fire department is underway. Both Caley Fox Shannon, producer, and Colin Hughes, director and producer, grew up in Riverside and have connections to the film industry. Hughes is a software developer at Light Iron, a post-production company, and Shannon has been working on short documentaries while earning her journalism degree at the University of Maryland. However, this is the first time both of them are producing a featurelength documentary. Hughes first heard about this issue in 2019 when he read an article in the Landmark. At that time, Shannon was working in L.A. for a documentary company. Both of them had to return to Riverside to be with their families during the pandemic. “Colin and I both found ourselves back in Riverside at our parents’ houses at the beginning of the pandemic with not a lot on our plates,” Shannon said. “At one point we had a beer outside at Mollie’s and he had caught me up on the whole story of what was going on with the North Riverside fire department, basically right in our backyard, and told me that he was interested in following the story and did I want to get in on it and become his partner on the film. It’s definitely a really intriguing story for people who care about labor and for people who live in a village like ours, where local politics really matter.” Hughes said they conducted sit-down interviews with over 15 people, including former Landmark editor Bob Uphues, Chris Kribales, a North Riverside firefighter, former trustee Bob Demopoulos, current mayor Joseph Mengoni, former mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. and others.

PROVIDED

Filming crew interviewing then mayoral candidate Joe Mengoni during the 2021 election. The story is this: After the 2008 financial crisis, the village’s financial problems deepened each year. By 2013, it owed a significant debt to the firefighters’ pension fund. The newly elected mayor then proposed to eliminate the pension plans by privatizing the fire department. However, the firefighters refused, and the mayor unlawfully terminated their contracts. This led to a five-year legal battle that could potentially change labor laws in Illinois and across the country. “It was important for us to tell this smaller, in some sense, story of how that’s happening in our backyard here in Chicago land,” Shannon said. “The reason that firefighters are particularly important to talk about is because firefighters can’t strike because they provide a life-or-death service to the community. Firefighters can’t just go on strike to draw attention to their contract needs or their labor struggle in a way that unions like Amazon and Starbucks can do that makes the news.” The documentary received some donations, but the majority of it is self-funded by Hughes and Shannon. The official budget is around $65,000, Hughes said. Besides Hughes and Shannon, the team consists of

two editors, two composers, and a director of photography. “We never put a goal [of donations] out because we knew we would never be able to hit it if we did,” Hughes said. “Fortunately, because we’ve been working on this for over four years, I was able to pick up overtime shifts at my day job and save money that way and living with my parents during the pandemic, boy that was you know and that was a great money-saving technique. It’s roughly four to one the self-fund to donations ratio.” Hughes said the film will be around 80 minutes long. Although there is no official release date in mind because of the small production team, the film is in its finishing stage and the last thing left is to raise money for their last big expense to get a clearance to use the footage from the CBS news, NBC news and private archives. Hughes and Shannon are submitting the documentary to various film festivals in hopes that a distributor will notice it and would like to pick it up. However, Hughes said that even if that does not work out, they plan to do the distribution themselves and host a viewing in Riverside in the future.

Editor Erika Hobbs Staff Reporters Amina Sergazina, Amaris Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner EMAIL jill@oakpark.com Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

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

HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-442-6739 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 E-MAIL erika@growingcommunitymedia.org ONLINE www.RBLandmark.com The Landmark is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $41 within Cook County and $51 outside the county. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 0019-585). Postmaster send address corrections to Landmark, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302. © 2024 Growing Community Media NFP.

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

BIG WEEK

January 17-24

Kids Club Play Dates

Minecraft Engineering: Snowman’s Paradise Saturday, Jan. 20,1 - 3 p.m., Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library Creepers, diamond pickaxes, and armor…oh my! If you love Minecraft, attend this engineering class to design your own snowman and participate in a snowball fight! Participants will build their snowmen on floating platforms to make their own Snowman’s Paradise. Bring your buddies and see who will be the last one standing in the snowball fight competition. This Youth Services Event is for children grades 1-5, and laptops will be provided. To register for the event, visit LSF Brookfield Library. 3541 Park Ave.

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 10 - 11 a.m. North Riverside Park Mall A new club has been made for children ages 4 weeks to 4 years old at the mall: Kids Club! North Riverside Mall has partnered up with The Children’s Center of Cicero/Berwyn to bring the children of the neighborhood monthly play dates. These playdates will take place in the Kids Play Area near Entrance #5 and will include storytime, development guidance, and crafts. The kids may get to be the ones playing but this is a great time for parents and other caregivers to connect with each other. Registration is required, so visit Play Date Wednesdays. 7501 Cermak Rd.

Mall Walker Fit Session CZS/BROOKFIELD ZOO

Penguin Feeding Adventure Saturday, Jan. 20, 3:15 - 3:45 p.m., The Living Coast

Who’s the penguin’s favorite aunt? Aunt-Arctica! After that corny joke, I am writing to tell you that you all have a chance to feed your favorite flippy friends at Brookfield Zoo this Saturday. Located in the Rocky Shores habitat inside the Living Coast, the penguins will be waiting for you and your friends or family to feed them. The Penguin Feeding Adventure will last for about 30 minutes, depending on the mood and appetites of these cute creatures. 3300 Golf Rd.

Blood Drive with Vitalant Tuesday, Jan. 16, 3 - 7 p.m., North Riverside Park Mall A blood drive will be occurring on the upper level of the mall near Forman Mills. Your donation of blood can help people in need and even save a life. Donations go towards burn victims, some surgery and transplant patients, and people battling cancer. It is a privilege to be healthy, so share your health with others in any way you can. Before your donation, make sure to eat healthy, stay hydrated, and prepare appropriately. Bring a valid state ID with you as well. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. To schedule your appointment, please call Vitalant at 877-258-4825 or visit Vitalant.org and use group code ORD0373E. 7501 Cermak Rd.

Chicagoland Record & CD Collectors Show Sunday, Jan 21, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Countryside Banquets & Conference Center The Record & CD Collectors Show is coming back to the Chicagoland area this Sunday. This show will include — you guessed it — records and CDs. However, they will also have LPs, 45s, posters, and other related items. There will be items representing all kinds of music, so there is nothing that will be left out. Classic rock, metal, jazz, soul, R&B, prog: This show has it all! Admission will be $3 per person and the show will begin at 9 a.m. However, if you want to increase your chances of getting amazing finds, you can pay $10 to be admitted from 7 to 9 a.m. You know what they say — the early bird gets the worm! 6200 Joliet Rd.

Friday, Jan. 19, 8:30 a.m. North Riverside Park Mall Attend a mall walker breakfast with Fitness Expert Andrea Metcalf on Friday. Andrea Metcalf is recognized as one of America’s Foremost Fitness Experts. A best-selling author, she is also a certified trainer and frequent contributor to NBC Chicago, the Today Show, Good Morning America, and more. Her tips and guidance influence you to live your best while feeling your best. Enjoy a relaxing morning with members of your community and start your year off fresh. This event is appropriate for all ages and abilities. Sign up online to reserve your spot or RSVP to Sebastian at schino@feil.com or call 708-442-7605. 7501 Cermak Rd.

Compiled by Grace Harty Contributing Reporter

CALENDAR EVENTS ■ 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.

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

coming to RBHS. “My initial reaction when I got the call was beyond grateful and excited to be named the next AD,” Torres said. “I know that RB has a long history and tradition, from page 1 kind of similar to my current school. I truly looking forward to meeting students, for the position,” said RBHS Superinten- parents, staff members, coaches, getting to dent Kevin Skinkis. “We had a large com- build those relationships that I’ve kind of mittee that conducted interviews that in- built over my time at East Aurora.” cluded teachers, coaches, student athletes, Torres grew up in Lisle and attended Nasome parents and Fil’s presentation of his perville North High School. He was a startcredentials rose to the top.” ing guard on a sectional championship basThe interview committee also included ketball team in 1998. After graduating from all of the school’s top administrators and Naperville North in 1999, Torres attended the school board member NicohUniversity of Arizona where he las Novak. was a walk-on basketball player Torres will begin work at RBHS for legendary coach Lute Olson. July 1 and his annual salary will He was the point guard for the be $128,500. This year, RBHS has scout team in practice and played co-interim athletic directors, in 24 games in his career, averagTom Domin and Dan Jones, who ing 0.7 points per game. are both retired athletic directors. “I only played when we were 35 Last summer, former athletic dipoints ahead,” Torres said. rector Brendan Curtin stepped After serving as an assistant down and returned to the classathletic director at East Auroroom as a PE teacher so that he ra, Torres said he decided that could spend more time watching sports administration was the his teenage children play sports perfect job for him. and also be an assistant football “One of those things where coach at Immaculate Conception you kind dip your toe in and you High School, where his son is a find out you like it and I don’t see football player. myself doing anything else beUnlike most previous permasides being an athletic director,” nent athletic director hires at Torres said. RBHS, Torres is an experienced East Aurora High School has athletic director, having been about 3,900 students. Torres said the athletic director at East Authat he is looking forward to rora for the past six years. He has working at a smaller high school. worked at East Aurora for the “That’s going to be a welcome past 12 years and before that, was adjustment on my end to be FIL TORRES the varsity basketball coach and able to get to know more people RBHS Athletic Director athletic director at Lincoln Park and to get to know students,” High School. Before moving into Torres said. administration at East Auroa, he When he begins work next was a PE and drivers education summer, Torres said that he teacher and lower-level basketball coach. wants to take things slow and observe how Torres is very familiar with the Upstate things work at RBHS. 8 Conference which RBHS is joining next “I’m not going to come in and change year as it expands to 14 teams. East Aurora things on Day One,” Torres said. “It’s defiis charter member of the Upstate 8 which nitely going to more of a learning process was formed in 1963 and currently supervises and get to know you for at least for the first boys basketball for the Upstate 8. couple months and see how things are run.” “I don’t think it hurt me that I have the relationships with the conference and I kind of know how the conference runs and everything,” Torres told the Landmark in a telephone interview. “I think that can only be a benefit to our students and our coaches because it’s obviously going to be a pretty big change from where they were at.” Torres said that he is excited about

Big changes

“My initial reaction when I got the call was beyond grateful and excited to be named the next AD.”

Read it online at www.rblandmark.com

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

YOUR

BEST

LIFE

with Lisa Capone

New Year. New Home. Moving to a senior living community is a major decision…one that should not be taken lightly but also one that should not be delayed. Procrastinating could mean missing out on a more comfortable, supported and socially engaging lifestyle. • Comfort. Packing up and moving is a physically and mentally demanding process. Making the transition to a senior living community while you’re healthy gives you the chance to settle in at your own pace and enjoy all the perks of your new residence. • Support. Senior living communities offer a range of services and amenities to support your physical, emotional and social needs. Delaying a move could result in you missing out on benefits and assistance that can enhance your overall quality of life. • Engagement. Social connections are crucial at any stage of life but they often diminish as we age and become more isolated. Senior living communities provide a built-in social network, allowing you to form friendships and deep connections that can contribute to your long-term happiness and well-being. When deciding if a senior living community is the right choice, remember you control your destiny…seize the opportunity to take the next step toward a fulfilling and enriching life.

Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-8182.

Independent Living•Assisted Living•Memory Support Short-Term Rehab•Long-Term Care•Home Care

‘Read Between the Wines’ comes to Riverside Library

The tickets go on sale Jan. 17 By AMINA SERGAZINA Staff Reporter

Wine enthusiasts, library supporters and other supporters are invited to sip and savor at the fifth annual “Reading Between the Wines” wine-tasting fundraiser at the Riverside Public Library on Saturday, March 2. The event, which runs from 6 to 9 p.m., will feature 14 tasting stations with wines from around the world, as well as canned cocktails, coffee and light snacks. The proceeds will be used to replace the carpeting in the library’s Great Room, a historic space with fireplaces that dates back to the library’s opening in 1929. “This year, Reading Between the Wines will have 14 diverse tasting stations and we will feature not one, but two special learning experiences,” said event chairperson and Riverside Library Trustee Christine Long. “Wine lovers will have the opportunity to experience sparkling wines paired with sushi, mediterranean wines with mezze [small plates], or both. It’s a great chance to do something unique while supporting our library.” According to library director Janice Foley, the library is 95 years old and they are raising money to recarpet the Great Room, which is one of the original parts of the building. She also added that the last time they recarpeted that area was in 2005. “It’s a perfect atmosphere to enjoy wine tasting and be hanging out with friends and supporting the library,” Foley said. “We have a wonderful community and we are supported so much, but it’s a nice way to socialize in a fun building.” The general admission tickets are $40 and will include the main event of wine tasting throughout the library. The general wine tasting throughout the entire library will include 50 different wines on both library levels. It is set up with stations with each of the distributors. Guests can go table to table throughout the library.

FILE

Read Between the Wines

{ROVIDED

Read Between the Lines 2023 glasses. Foley also said there is an opportunity to order their favorite wines through Riverside Foods. There also will be two tasting and learning sessions that cost an additional $30 each and require a general admission ticket. They will be held in the lower-level Community Room and are limited to 30 tickets per session. The first session, Sparkling & Sushi, will take place from 6:15 to 7 p.m. and will allow guests to discover sparkling wines, including sake, while enjoying small-bite sushi

pairings prepared by Chef Robin Choi of Stella’s Ballpark Streetfood. The second session, Mediterranean & Mezze, will be from 7:15 to 8 p.m. and will offer guests the chance to sample handcrafted Greek cocktails prepared by Skinos Spirits, paired with Village Batch small tasting plates. The General admission tickets of $40 are going on sale Jan. 17 and include a commemorative tasting glass and access to all 14 tasting stations. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the library, 1 Burling Road, Riverside. About 250 tickets will be sold. The event is sponsored by Riverside Foods, which partnered with the library to provide the wines and canned cocktails. Riverside’s own Sloan Coffee will also have a coffee station at the event. “[This event] gives people a good opportunity to, you know, see the library and what it does,” Foley said. The library staff also encourage residents to come to the event or stop by the library during regular hours to see “The Spot,” the recently completed section of the lower level where patrons can create using a variety of tools including a 3D printer, mold maker, Glowforge 3D laser printer, sewing machines and button makers.

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

Meet Doc Mack: A man behind biggest arcade in the U.S. From an introvert to a savior of the arcade industry By AMINA SERGAZINA Staff Reporter

Brookfield and the gaming world knows Doc Mack as a successful owner of Galloping Ghost, the largest arcade in U.S. However, before all this success, at the beginning of his journey Mack was an introverted kid who did not like being around people. He dropped out of high school in his freshman year, started homeschooling and began working in retail. “My family knew I didn’t like going to school,” Mack said. “I was always on the honor roll, but I didn’t like being around people. I was very introverted and not very social.” Despite his introversion, Mack always knew he wanted to work in the gaming industry. This path forced him to become more social and step out of his shell. Mack said he has been playing video games since he was four years old, and his first arcade was Asteroid, a 1979 space-themed multidirectional shooter arcade game. “We were going out on a family vacation and stopped at a restaurant that happened to have Asteroid, and I was hooked ever since,” Mack said. The idea to open an arcade came to Mack and his Galloping Ghost Production game developing team when they started to work on their arcade game, Dark Presence. The game is still in development, but they realized that when it does come out, they need to have a place to distribute it. However, arcades are dying. So, Mack, now a member of the International Video Game Hall of Fame, decided to open up an arcade himself. He bought 114 acres for just $5,000, rented out a space, and hoped for the best. Galloping Ghost arcade, located on Ogden Avenue, opened in 2010 and is the largest arcade in the U.S. He established a game developing company in 1994. “Nobody knew what it was gonna really do, but it was incredibly successful from day one,” Mack said. “We had a line a couple of blocks long on opening night, and it was profitable after only about eight months. It was a tremendous thing to see such support for an arcade to be opening up.” Having anxiety and being around many people was not easy for Mack at first, but he said that owning an arcade

FILE

Galloping Ghost founder Doc Mack. helped him to get out of his comfort zone. “I remember I used to have tremendous anxiety when the arcade opened. Interviewing on TV the night before, I literally was grinding my teeth so hard with anxiety I cracked a tooth in half,” Mack said. Now, Galloping Ghost arcades host live streams, helped more than 30 arcades to open around the world, and bring the community together. “Arcades, especially Galloping Ghost arcade, are very social and the atmosphere is so relaxed and friendly that all that [anxiety] is gone away,” Mack said. “We do streams, and I talk in front of audiences, it’s changed my

whole life.” Mack said that the biggest expense of the arcade business is maintenance, and in a year, they spend over $70,000 in repairs and maintenance. He also added that since many of these machines are old, it is hard to find professionals who can maintain them. Working in the gaming world turned an introverted teenager who just liked to play games into a game developer who saved arcades from dying. Now, Galloping Ghost arcade brings people together through generations and is home to many game prototypes that can have a longer life. “It’s made me who I am,” Mack said.

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

Riverside seeks residents’ feedback on strategic goals The survey is live now on village’s website By AMINA SERGAZINA Staff Reporter

The village of Riverside is asking residents to fill out a survey before finalizing its 2024 strategic goals. The survey aims to see if the village’s goals align with the residents’ vision. The 2024 strategic goals were first discussed at the Sept. 21 village board of trustees meeting. These goals are part of the annual budget in accordance with the standards set forth in the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Program. To meet the criteria by the GFOA, the village has to provide each village’s unit accomplishments and strategic goals for the budget year. Some of the important topics include the renovation of the youth center and how it can be used. The survey asks residents if they support the youth center renovation and if they would like it to be used for youth, wellness, social services, seniors, as an indoor gathering space or for partial commercial or hospitality use. An-

other question asks: Do you think we should continue beautification of the village?” The survey also asks residents questions such as whether the village should separate combined wastewater and stormwater sewers, repaint the historic Water Tower, improve the Harlem Avenue corridor and address flooding. The 36-question survey became public for Riverside residents Jan. 13. Trustee Megan Claucherty said she hopes to get a 30% response rate, which is standard in research surveys. “I would love to get a 30% response rate. That would be amazing,” Claucherty said. “Probably a little hard to achieve [because] people get survey fatigue. They don’t necessarily want to fill it out, but I do think that this is a great process and it’s really important feedback.” President Douglas Pollock acknowledged that the board of trustees is behind schedule, as the year already started. He said he aims to adopt the survey results no later than the first meeting in March. “We got started late on this. This is really something ideally would have been done during summer or fall of 2023,” Pollock said. “We hit the ground running in 2024, but this is where we’re at. So, let’s do all those efforts.” The survey is available through a link on Riverside’s website.

JAVIER GOVEA

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CHANGES COMING IN THE AMOUNT YOU CAN GIVE AWAY By Linda Sokol Francis. E.A.

DURING YOUR LIFE OR UPON YOUR DEATH BEFORE INCURRING GIFT OR ESTATE TAX: PART I

nder the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2017, the basic exclusion amount (the amount you can give away during your life or upon your death before incurring any gift, estate, or GST tax) is scheduled to decrease to $5 million (plus an inflation adjustment) beginning January 1, 2026. Since 2021, the basic exclusion amount has increased twice. In 2022, the basic exclusion amount increased from $11.7 million to $12.06 million. In 2024, the basic exclusion amount increased by $860,000 to $12.92 million. This means that in 2024, a married couple who has not made any prior taxable gifts has a combined $25.84 million of exemption to use. Even individuals who have used most or all of their exemption in prior years can still benefit from the additional $860,000 of exemption available this year.

Additionally, the gift tax annual exclusion (the amount you can give to an individual each year without the gift being subject to gift tax) increased for a second year in a row, from $15,000 in 2021, to $16,000 in 2022, and to $17,000 in 2024. This means that in 2024, a married couple electing to split their gifts can give $34,000 per donee (the person who receives the gift) without incurring any gift tax. In 2024, you are still within the window of opportunity to implement a wide range of viable and effective planning techniques to take advantage of the current federal exemptions before they decrease in 2026.

Linda Sokol Francis, E.A.

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January 17, 2024 9

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hat housing is key? The hat housing is key? The mission of the Oak Park mission of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center is Regional Housing Center is to promote and sustain residential to promote and sustain residential integration. The Oak Park Regional integration. The Oak Park Regional Housing Center was established Housing Center was established asasaaresponse responseto to the the Fair Fair Housing Housing

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experience for renters and owners experience for renters and owners alike. At Oak Park Regional Housing alike. At Oak Park Regional Housing Center, we look to 2024 to be a year Center, we look to 2024 to be a year of more, providing more support to of more, providing more support to renters and homeowners, bring the renters and homeowners, bring the community together more around community together more around racial healing transformations racial healing transformations and and to help people with more money to help people with more money management strategies. management strategies. If you would like more If you would like more information, to donate, information, to donate, or or volunteer, please visit: oprhc.org volunteer, please visit: oprhc.org remember, housing is key! AndAnd remember, housing is key!

January 17, 2024 11

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Erika Hobbs leads nonprofit newsroom at GCM

rika Hobbs is the editor at Growing Community Media. A veteran journalist with experience at major regional dailies, local publications and in digital newsrooms, she was hired last summer for what is a new position within GCM. Growing Community Media is the nonprofit newsroom which publishes the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, the Forest Park Review, Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forest, and Austin Weekly News. As part of the reorganization of GCM’s newsroom, Hobbs was hired as the newsroom’s leader to focus on a digital first effort across the nine communities covered by GCM while also keeping the print versions of each publication strong. Under her leadership, GCM has already become more reader focused through a series of listening sessions in

several of our neighborhoods, staff training on reader engagement through the Google News Initiative and an evolving strategy for our email newsletters. In a recent note to readers, Hobbs shared her vision for a newsroom where reporters are embedded in the neighborhoods they cover, digital and social media are more actively used to share reporting with readers and new ways of telling stories are created across platforms. Our evolution is a work in progress. But as Hobbs noted we will stay true to our mission of “connecting citizens through community journalism rooted deep in our neighborhoods, based in facts and reflective of voices not always heard.”

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The Landmark, January 17, 2024

Amerikas chef creates a new mezcal

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or a while now, chef/owner Armando Gonzalez of Amerikas in neighboring Oak Park has offered mezcal made in conjunction with Prolijo, an award-winning maker of the spirit; we’ve tried it, and we liked it: herbaceous, lightly smoky and silky. This coming spring, Gonzalez will again be working with Prolijo to launch a new mezcal, Oaxaco, a name derived from his home state of Oaxaca, the Mexican state best known for producing mezcal. Mezcal, though not as well-known as tequila, is gaining in popularity; in fact, it’s currently one of the fastest growing spirits in the United States. There are reasons for this popularity in the U.S. and elsewhere, but chief among those reasons, at least for me, is that mezcal offers more flavors. Mezcal and tequila are both made from the agave plant, but mezcal expresses flavors not available to tequila. That’s because by federal regulation, mezcal can be made from dozens of different agave plants, whereas tequila can technically be made only from Blue Weber agave, thus limiting tequila’s taste range. Oaxaco, Amerika’s new mezcal, will be a blend of espadín along with two other agave varieties, arroqueño and tepextate, which means that each bottle will deliver a whole lot of flavors you won’t find in tequila. Mezcal is also better suited to reflecting the many tastes of the terroir, the place where it grew. One of the reasons mezcal mirrors the land so well is that it takes a long time for agave plants to grow to maturity; with espadín, it can take up to eight years for the agave plant to mature. During all that time in the ground, the plant is absorbing the flavors of the Mexican countryside. In contrast, consider that scotch and bourbon — one mostly barley, the other mostly corn — leverages the flavors of plants that live and die within one single season. “Artisanal” is a buzzword, sometimes meaningless, but the Amerika’s mezcal is truly artisanal, produced using the traditional, handcrafted ways. Agave hearts are trimmed with a machete and cooked in huge outdoor pits to develop sugars

PHOTO BY DAVID HAMMOND

Prolijo Mezcal that will be converted to alcohol during fermentation. In larger commercial operations, the agave hearts may be put through something like a wood-chipper before going into the fermentation tanks. Amerikas’ mezcal, however, uses a traditional technique: agave hearts are crushed using a tahona, a large cement wheel pulled by a horse or burro. In a 2017 Chicago Tribune article, I explained that grinding agave, like grinding herbs, releases flavors in ways that just don’t happen when you chop them up; for the same reason, you “mull” ingredients for a cocktail: smashing them releases flavors that won’t be released if you simply cut them up. “I have mezcal in my blood,” chef Gonzalez told us. On your next trip to Amerikas, try to make sure you have some of their mezcal in your glass.

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

As online DMV services plagued by no-shows, secretary of state launches changes New program for in-person, online services launched in September By ANDREW ADAMS Capitol News Illinois

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias launched an online appointment system in September for Illinois drivers needing to come to a driver’s services facility, ostensibly to reduce wait times. The “Skip-The-Line” program introduced upgrades to the secretary of state’s website as well as a shift in policy, requiring appointments to be made for more than 40 of the state’s highest-traffic driver’s services locations. Walk-in services are now only available in lower-traffic locations, at the downtown Chicago office and at four “Seniors Only” facilities in Bridgeview, Calumet Park, Evanston and Westchester. But the system’s first few months have not gone as Giannoulias had planned. “The amount of no-shows has been devastating,” he said Thursday. Giannoulias, who has made modernization a key priority in his first year in office, said that since rolling out the online appointment system, there have been periods when people skipped “upwards of 40 percent” of appointments made. “If that number is 20 percent, it’s devastating,” he added.

CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS PHOTO BY ANDREW ADAMS

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announces changes for his “SkipThe-Line” program, an appointment-based system for driver services that he said Thursday was marred by no-shows. The issue was exacerbated by several factors, he said, including driving schools which booked multiple slots every day without necessarily needing them. On Thursday, Giannoulias announced a suite of reforms to his office’s “SkipThe-Line” program, including text message reminders sent to those with an appointment. He said it has already helped decrease skipped appointments since it launched last week. He also noted that his office is working

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with driving schools to allow them to offer driving tests to their students, similar to how driver’s education instructors in high schools can administer driving tests for their students. In addition to the text message reminders, Giannoulias announced his office launched a new appointment portal on its website this week, established a phone line to help those with difficulty accessing online services, and expanded eligibility for online license renewals to include those

aged 75 to 78 and people who had previously changed their address online. Giannoulias also launched four “Road Testing Centers” for behind-the-wheel tests in Addison, Lockport, Naperville and Chicago last year as part of the program. “I’m asking Illinoisans to start 2024 by making a New Year’s resolution: don’t come to the DMV,” Giannoulias said. “I’m serious. Don’t come unless you are 100 percent certain that you need to visit one of our facilities.” In-person visits are unnecessary for several common services, including license plate stickers and many driver’s license renewals. Driver’s license renewals are available online for those with clean driving records and without a moving violation. According to Giannoulias’ office, roughly 2.25 million Illinoisans will need to renew their license in 2024 and a little more than 1 million are eligible to renew online. Drivers eligible to renew online should receive a letter in the mail, although they can also check their eligibility on the secretary of state website at apps.ilsos.gov/dlexamcheck. 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.

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Burglars steal ATM A burglary was reported at Joe’s Saloon Jan. 9 after the ATM machine went missing, according to the Brookfield police department. The woman who discovered the crime had arrived for her cleaning shift when she noticed the ATM’s absence. She immediately contacted the police, who found no signs of forced entry upon their arrival. The owner was alerted by her security company about motion sensor activity earlier in the day. She remotely checked her surveillance cameras but saw nothing unusual and canceled the alarm. The owner and another employee had closed the bar the previous night, leaving through the east door around 1:50 a.m., and confirmed that all doors were locked and the alarm was set. Upon re-entry, the only item found missing was the ATM, which had been bolted next to the jukebox near the east entry door. A prying tool was found on the floor nearby. Surveillance footage revealed two individuals forcing entry into the south door on the east side of the building around 5:03 a.m. One individual was wearing all black with a hood over their head and face, while the other wore jeans, a Carhartt shirt, white Nike sneakers and a hood. The investigation is ongoing.

Hit and run on a school parking lot On Jan. 8, a woman reported that her vehicle was sideswiped by a black Dodge SUV in the school parking lot during dismissal time. She claimed the male driver and female

passenger looked at her but drove away without acknowledging the incident. The Brookfield officer observed a scratch on the driver’s side of the complainant’s vehicle, extending from the driver’s door to the rear quarter panel, and damage to the wheel well trim. The woman expressed a willingness to handle the matter privately without involving insurance. The officer identified the registered owner of the suspected vehicle and contacted him. The owner denied involvement in any accident, saying he neither heard nor felt a collision. He also added that upon inspection, he found no fresh damage on his vehicle. The officer inspected the vehicle and found several dents and scratches but no fresh damage or paint transfer. The owner reiterated his belief that he had not struck anyone and suggested that the complainant was merely angry at him for driving around the line of cars. He agreed to pay for any repairs if video evidence showed he did strike the complainant’s vehicle. The officer plans to contact the school staff on his next tour of duty to check for additional camera footage of the incident. The investigation is ongoing. These items were obtained from the Brookfield Police Department reports dated Jan. 7-15 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Amina Sergazina

Opinion I

n what is happy confirmation of the obvious, the entirety of Riverside has now been recognized as a national historic landmark. The welcome news came in December after the U.S. Department of the Interior granted the expanded status to the village. Recognition of the beauty and unique virtues of Riverside’s planned development began in 1970 after federal officials designated the village an historic landmark. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted with its winding streets, generous public spaces, close connection to the river and thoughtful zoning, Riverside is a gem among American suburbs. The effort to achieve this expanded status came with intention and hard work from local officials, including the landmark advisory commission and the preservation commission. Beyond the honor of such recognition, the expanded designation brings important protections for the village in terms of any federal projects and potential access to grants, tax credits and technical assistance. It is a gift to live in a community as intentional and lovely as Riverside.

Survey says

ow Riverside is actively seeking input from its residents as village government officials make their work plan for 2024. A survey is live on the village’s website and officials hope to hear from as many as 30% of residents. While acknowledging that the survey is somewhat behind schedule, the 36-question survey covers a wide range of issues the village is focusing on. Those include possible renovation of the youth center, improvement to the Harlem Avenue commercial corridor and chronic flooding concerns. Trustee Megan Claucherty acknowledged there can be fatigue with surveys, but said the input is valuable to elected officials. “I do think this is a great process and it’s really important feedback,” she says. We are always enthused when local officials actively solicit input from their constituents. And we hope the response is strong.

LETTERS

THE LANDMARK VIEW

Historic Riverside

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

A Christmas tale It was not an exaggeration to state that all I wanted for Christmas was my twk front teeth this year. A few days before Christmas, I was babysitting my two grandsons, ages 9 and 10. These boys are energetic, vigorous and love to play rough. At the end of the day, I had a black eye. That was not all. During one of our collisions, my two front teeth (a bridge) became loose and fell out overnight. It was Sunday, Dec. 24. I did not want to spend Christmas with others without my two front teeth!

My dentist had given me his private cell number in case of a dental emergency. This was an emergency to me. I texted him a picture of the problem at 9 a.m. He responded promptly and told me to meet him at his office at noon. He greeted me warmly and cemently, the bridge quickly and efficiently. As I left, he wished me a Merry Christmas. My dentist is Dr. Gerald Gardner of Brookfield. He is one of the best and nicest dentists I have ever visited. Thank you, Dr. Gerry

Tom Gochenour Riverside

OBITUARIES

Katie Hassberger, 35

Jeffry Branit, 67

High school counselor, educator

Mental health therapist

Katie Hassberger, 35, of Riverside, died on Jan. 14, 2024, surrounded by family, after a long illness. Born in Memphis, Tennessee to Sharon and John Wanner, she was raised in Wheaton, along with her sisters, Laura (Ed) Marciniak and Annie (Jacob) Faile, but she considered Riverside her home, where she lived with her husband and KATIE HASSBERGER daughter. Her greatest joy in life was being a mom to Ruby and she was proud of her career as a high school educator for 10 years. She taught English, and then later became a high school counselor after earning her master’s degree in school counseling from DePaul University. She loved her work as a counselor and found it very meaningful. In April 2022, she was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, fought bravely and was grateful for the support of family, friends, and neighbors. Visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 19 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside. Please gather at St. Mary Church, 126 Herrick Road on Saturday, Jan. 20 for Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. with interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

Jeffry Carl Branit, 67, of Brookfield, died on Jan. 9, 2024. Born on Oct. 3, 1956 in Chicago, he was a mental health therapist who enjoyed playing guitar, mind and body practices, health and wellness, reading, good food and traveling. Jeffry was the husband of Laura Lundy; the son of the late Joseph and late Lois Marie (nee JEFFRY BRANIT Schroeter) Branit; the brother of Bill (Debbie) Branit, Jim (Ting Ting) Branit, the late Thomas Branit; brother-in-law of Jennifer Lundy Sender; and the uncle of Hannah Branit, Alex Sender, Sarah Branit, Daniel Sender, Nicholas Sender and Jack Sender. Memorial visitation will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. at Johnson-Nosek Funeral Home, 3847 Prairie Ave., Brookfield. Memorial donations to ALS Association (www.als.org) or Team Gleason (www.teamgleason.org) would be appreciated. Online condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family at www.JohnsonNosek.com. See OBITUARIES on page 16

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

OBITUARIES continued from page 16

Jackie Saylors, 82 Created kindness rocks Jackie Saylors, 82, a member of the Brookfield community for over 60 years, has died. She leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness that will forever be etched in the hearts of JACKIE SAYLORS those who knew her. Her nurturing spirit and warmth created a home filled with love and laughter. A creative soul, she played guitar, painted, used pilfered rocks to create kindness rocks with inspiring messages during COVID and passing them out on one of her many

walks around the area. She enjoyed frequent outings with her Red Hat friends, time at Western Springs Bible Church, and trips to the gym. Jackie was the mother of Patti (Kes) and Steve (Lisa), and the nana of Kristina (Bryan) and Alex. She was the dog nana for Henry, Phoebe and Gracie. Her selfless nature shines through in her final act, as she made the decision to donate her body for research — a testament to her unwavering commitment to helping others. Rather than a traditional service, she wished for friends and family to gather, go out to dinner, and raise a drink in remembrance.

Bill Kernan, 85 Building inspector, car enthusiast William Kernan, 85, of Riverside died peacefully at home on Jan. 11, 2024. He enjoyed a long career at Sears Roebuck and found it impossible to retire so he worked as a small business owner and later as the building inspector for the villages of Riverside and then Brookfield. After re-

tiring again, he continued to work as a shuttle driver for several area car dealerships where he got to drive and meet new people every day. He lived in Riverside for 60 years and was a devoted member of St. Mary’s Church. He enjoyed helping to make floats for the Fourth of July parade, first with St. Mary’s and later with the Audubon Road Society, and loved helping with whatever was needed at the many car shows in downtown Riverside. He was an avid sports car enthusiast, a member of the Sports Car Club of America and the British Car Union, and a race car official at Road America. He could often be seen driving his black Sunbeam Alpine around town on a sunny day. Bill is survived by his wife, Paulette; his children, Mary, Susan, Joe, Maureen, Dan, Tom and John; and his grandchildren, Michael, Eloise, George, Meghan, Anthony, Hava, Emilia, and Julia. He was the brother of Anne, Jean, Mary Sue, Robert (Buzz) and Richard. A visitation will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home on Jan. 17 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Church on Jan. 18, followed by burial at Queen of Heaven Cemetery.

SHE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUTSHE I STILL SHE SNORES MORE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. SHE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL THAN I DO, BUT I STILL THAN I DO, BUT I STILL SHE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE LOVE MY HUMAN. —IMY BANDIT THAN DO,HUMAN. BUTITHAN ITHAN STILL LOVE I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. adoptedBUT 11-26-09 LOVE MY HUMAN. THAN I DO, STILL I DO, BUT I STILL — BANDIT — BANDIT MY HUMAN. LOVE adopted 11-26-09 LOVE MY HUMAN. — BANDIT LOVE MY HUMAN.LOVE adopted 11-26-09 MY— BANDIT HUMAN.

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Margaret Pachter, 88 Retail manager Margaret Pachter (nee Burke), 88, of Brookfield, formerly of Berwyn, was the mother of Susan Pachter and Mary (the late Christian) Cotie; grandmother of Sylvia Cotie, Alex Cotie, Jasmine HayMARGARET PACHTER les and Jenna Hayles; great-grandmother of Calum King; sister of Michael Burke and the late Ruth Ann (the late Skip) Church, Thomas (Shirley) Burke, Ellen Burke and Joseph Burke; sister in law of the late Dorothy (the late Henry) Bartsch; and the aunt and great aunt of many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 9:30 a.m. till the time of service, 11 a.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. Interment was private.

Sports

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

Michigan football’s national title has Nazareth flavor McCarthy, Morris contribute to victory with coach Racki in stands By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

University of Michigan junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy and sophomore wide receiver Tyler Morris connected many times during their two football seasons together at Nazareth Academy. And when the Wolverines won the national championship by beating Washington 34-13, Jan. 8, Nazareth coach Tim Racki was there to offer congratulations after a whirlwind trip to Houston to attend the game. “With [J.J. and I] knowing each other since we were 14, 15, it’s just amazing to see that we both made it to this point and that we were able to accomplish something like that,” Morris said. “I had heard a little bit that [Racki] might be able to make it or something like that, but as far as I knew I hadn’t heard anything that he was coming for sure.” Racki’s journey was just about as crazy as the Michigan march to its first national title since 1997 with a perfect 15-0 season. The day before, Racki was at Lambeau Field to see the Chicago Bears play the Green Bay Packers in the NFL regular-season finale. McCarthy’s father texted Racki about attending the national final. “He had a ticket. I just had to get there,” Racki said. He returned to the area at 12:30 a.m. Monday and took a 7 a.m. flight to Houston. For Racki, a Michigan native and lifelong Wolverines fan, having two former players in the lineup was an added treat. Racki sat in the first section near the Michigan parents and the end zone where the Wolver-

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAZARETH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH TIM RACKI

Nazareth coach Tim Racki with Tyler Morris at the hotel post-game celebration. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAZARETH HEAD FOOTBALL COACH TIM RACKI

University of Michigan junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy. ines entered the field. “It was incredible. It was just a dream. I was soaking in every moment,” Racki said. “I took some pictures. I was just trying to stay in the moment and focused and grateful for everything that was happening and felt so blessed. “J.J. and Tyler not only are great players but great kids and their parents get credit for that. I just feel very blessed.” McCarthy passed for 2,991 yards and 22 touchdowns this season with just four interceptions. He also rushed for 202 yards and three TDs. Morris was seventh among receivers with 13 catches for 197 yards and one TD. His first collegiate touchdown was a biggie,

helping Michigan in its epic 27-20 overtime victory over Alabama in the national semifinals, Jan. 1, at the Rose Bowl. The 38-yard connection in the second quarter gave Michigan its first lead at 137. Racki watched that one locally with his wife and friends. “I texted them both,” Racki said. “I saw that a few times [at Nazareth]. J.J. texted me after they got done celebrating. He said, ‘I bet coach is crying right now.’ [I said’ ‘I am – tears of joy.’” McCarthy and Morris played together for two seasons at Nazareth. In 2018, McCarthy passed for 201 yards and a TD in helping Nazareth defeat St. Charles North, 31-10, for the Class 7A state title. The 2019 team also reached the finals, losing to Mt. Carmel 37-13 for the 7A title. With no 2020 state playoffs or fall season because of COVID, McCarthy transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., and helped that team finish 8-0 with a No. 1

national ranking. Morris transferred to Plainfield East to graduate and enroll early at Michigan. After the championship victory, Racki met with Morris and his family for about 20 minutes at the hotel. Racki briefly saw McCarthy after the game from the field. “It was a mob scene and then he had to do 100 interviews. I only got to see him for 10 minutes. That’s how busy he was,” Racki said. Morris was excited that the Nazareth connection was a part of his reflections on the season. “It’s just hard to realize that everything that went into the season, all of the hard work, just the feeling of it being over and understanding we really accomplished everything we worked for,” Morris said. “This is definitely the most memorable thing I’ve been able to do. There’s not much I think that can beat winning a national championship.”

The Landmark, January 17, 2024

S P O R T S

RBHS swimmers fight off weather, make most of invite

Rosa, third-place Bulldogs show progress toward state berths By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Alex Jacobs and fellow senior Riverside Brookfield High School boys swimmers had a special feeling for their final home invite Saturday: complete gratitude the event wasn’t canceled by bad weather. “We were definitely worried, especially with school going to e-learning on Friday, but very fortunate that not all of the snow came,” Jacobs said. “We’re very happy that we got the meet in. Our first normal meet coming [from winter break]. It was great to see all of these new times.” The Bulldogs posted several season and even lifetime bests and finished third (193 points) of 11 teams at the 65th annual RB Invite behind St. Ignatius and Oak Park and River Forest. Heavy snow resulted in Friday’s diving being canceled and Saturday’s start time being moved from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Only one team didn’t come. “Everyone was really happy we got a chance to race. And it showed,” RBHS coach Mike Laurich said. “That’s one of the things we talked about, opportunities, and this was an op-

STEVE JOHNSTON

RB’s Andrew Rosa swims the 100 yard butterfly at the 65th Annual RiversideBrookfield Invite, Jan. 13, in Brookfield. portunity almost taken away because of the weather. They really took advantage of it and showed some great some swims.” For sectionals Feb. 17, the Bulldogs appear on pace to bring more than senior Drew Rosa back to state alone. RBHS had second-place finishes from Rosa in the 100 butterfly (season-best 52.50) and 100 breast stroke (59.58), senior Lucas Hedrich in the 100 backstroke (55.28) and the 200 medley relay (1:40.05) of Hedrich (back), Jacobs (breast), Rosa (fly) and senior Hayden Marrs (free). The 200 free relay of Hayden Marrs, se-

nior Cooper Marrs, Rosa and junior Aiden Pankros (1:30.49) and 400 free relay of Hayden Marrs, Cooper Marrs, Hedrich and senior Will Kallas (3:24.35) both were third. Rosa, a two-year state qualifier, already is on the verge of the state cuts in the 100 fly (51.98) and 100 breast (59.22) – his two 2023 state events. Rosa once again was second in both of his individual invite events, Saturday, but much faster than his 2023 times of 53.36 in the fly and 1:01.82 in the breast. “Obviously I would have wanted to win but it’s just a number. What really matters

is the time and the times weren’t bad,” Rosa said. “The medley was really good. Everyone did well. I think we’ll be able to keep going fast in that race, especially at sectionals, and I think we’ll be able to make state. I think we can even get the 200 free relay there.” Laurich said the Bulldogs are generally swimming as fast as they did at the end of last season. That has them chasing statequalifying standards in the 200 medley relay (1:36.87) and 200 free relay (1:27.40). “As a team, our goal is just to get our relays down to state this year,” Jacobs said. “Just keep pushing forward. We’ve been doing really well at practice with all of our sets.” Taking fourth were Cooper Marrs in the 200 individual medley (2:06.23) and 100 back (56.52) and Jacobs dropped two seconds for fourth in the 100 breast (1:04.69). Sophomore Jake Kocourek (500 free in season-best 5:13.85) and Hayden Marrs (50 free in 23.00) were fifth. Senior Kamil Ptak added two lifetime bests. He dropped two seconds in the 100 free (13th, 55.35) and seven for the 200 free (16th, 2:05.62). “I couldn’t have probably done it if I didn’t practice over the summer with [Laurich] and all of the rigorous training that he’s put me through,” Ptak said. “I was hoping for the best that I could do and from what came out today, I think I did that. It is my best meet. Hopefully there’s more to come.”

RBHS girls gymnasts’ back-to-back season highs Girls basketball wins twice; boys edged by Hillcrest By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

The Riverside Brookfield High School girls gymnastics team approached its annual home invitational Saturday with plenty of momentum. The Bulldogs posted another season-high score with 126.20 points, Saturday, finishing seventh at the Valley co-op Invitational at Neuqua Valley.

Three days earlier, RBHS had defeated visiting U-46 co-op 123.05 to 89.40 after never previously scoring higher than 118.10. At Neuqua, Kayla Janusz was eighth on vault (8.7), Paige Phelan tied for 10th on the uneven parallel bars (8.15), was 12th in allaround (32.90) and tied for 13th on floor exercise (8.6). Janusz (32.20), Reese Phelan (29.80) and Natalia Maruska (28.85) also competed as all-arounders. In the dual victory, the Bulldogs went 2-3 in all-around with Paige Phelan (31.55) and Janusz (31.25), balance beam with Janusz (8.15) and Tanya Hertogs (8.1) and floor with Paige Phelan (8.6) and Janusz (8.5). Reese Phelan was third on uneven bars (7.6).

Basketball The RBHS girls (9-12) moved to 4-1 in their last five games by beating Morton, 73-61 Jan. 10, and Timothy Christian, 70-48 Jan. 9. The 73 points was a season-high, one point more than in losing to Plainfield South Nov. 20. Niamh Larson (27 points) and Alyssa Morris (21 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) had huge offensive games, followed by Emily Organ (14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists), Mayan Covarrubias (7 points, 6 rebounds, 10 assists), Kelley Tyler (9 points), Abby Weinert (4 rebounds) and Amanda Buckley (3 rebounds). Against Timothy, Covarrubias had 26 points with five 3-pointers, 11 rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Organ (16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals), Morris (11 points, 6 rebounds) and Larson (10 points, 5 rebounds) also scored in double figures. Weinert had four points and four rebounds. The RBHS boys (15-3) lost to Hillcrest 6357 at the Martin Luther King Jr. The Dream Continues Suburban Classic Monday, snapping a four-game winning streak.

RBHS boys wrestling The Bulldogs improved its dual record to 14-4 by sweeping Palatine, Johnsburg and Marian Catholic at its home quad Jan. 6. RBHS also swept Argo and Hope Academy in a home triangular, Dec. 20.

The Landmark, January 17, 2024 19

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PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Robert Thomas Vishneski Case Number 20234006707. There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Robert Thomas Vishneski to the new name of: Robin Titania Vishneski The court date will be held: On January 30, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom at Zoom Access Code: 914 3462 0283 Password: 988648 To access Zoom by phone call 312626-6799 then enter the Access code and password listed above. Published in Wednesday Journal January 10, 17, 24, 2024

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION DOCKET NUMBER: PC 24-01 (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment - Zoning Ordinance Text and Map Amendments) HEARING DATE: February 1, 2024 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 - Council Chambers, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302 PETITIONER: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 REQUEST: The Petitioner, the Village of Oak Park, seeks a text amendment to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as follows: An amendment to Article 14

(“Zoning Approvals”), Section 14.1 (“Zoning Text and Map Amendment”), subsection B (“Initiation”) regarding property owner authorization for a Zoning Ordinance map or text amendment. A copy of the proposed text amendment is on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal, January 17, 2024

Request of Dana Louise McKinzie Case Number 2023 CONC 001444 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Dana Louize McKinzie tto the new name of: Dana Louise Allen.

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The court date will be held: On March 8, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.at in Courtroom # 12, Zoom link: https://circuitcourtofcookcounty. zoom.us/j/95894921843?pwd=S1RCcmlCZjFpRnVIQUpZU25lRzJFUT09 Meeting ID: 958 9492 1843 Passcode: 226532 Published in Wednesday Journal January 17, 24, 31, 2024

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The Landmark, January 17, 2024

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