Many of those trees could be cut down to make room for a city sidewalk project — initiated through a resident request — dividing neighbors into those who support the trees and those who support the sidewalk installation.

The city is considering a sidewalk to encourage more non-motorized transportation.

According to the city of Highland Park, a sidewalk project on University Avenue is now in the public engagement and evaluation phase, but no decisions have been made concerning a sidewalk in the area.

The next steps for the project include a further study, including an engineering survey and tree-impact report, to provide a comprehensive report and recommendation to the City Council, according to the city’s website. The report is expected to be available at the city’s Transportation Advisory Group meeting on June 19.

Developed in the 1920s by socialite Edith Rockefeller McCormick, the Highlands were envisioned to offer a forested oasis to the bustle of city life, according to an American Lifestyle magazine article written by Highlands resident Linda Stein in 2022. There are few sidewalks on the residential streets of the Highlands, which is home to a primary concrete path on Summit and Krenn avenues.

Feedback on sidewalks to the city from October 2023 revealed a relatively “even split” among affected residents — those who reside in the proposed area — according to a city report. Thirty affected residents supported the sidewalk installation, 33 were not in favor and 31 did not respond.

Mark and Marla Portman have lived on University Avenue in the Highlands of Highland Park for nearly 40 years. When the couple learned about the potential sidewalk seven years ago, they were opposed to it immediately.

“We are so upset about this for no other reason than we want to save the trees,” Marla Portman said.

The couple, who commissioned a forestry study for the potential sidewalk, believes tree destruction is inconsistent with the core principles of the city, which includes environmental sustainability, according to the its website.

Residents in favor of the sidewalks argue the pathway would provide greater safety and accessibility for neighbors and children.

Barbara Hurwitz, who has lived on University Avenue for 46 years, said the narrow width of the street provides no leeway for pedestrians if two cars are passing at the same time. Add more vehicle traffic and groups of bikers, Hurwitz said, and  the street becomes “increasingly unsafe.”

“When I first moved here a long time ago, I had little kids and the street was a much different,” she said. “It was much quieter. In the decades following, it has changed … dramatically, and it has become an extremely busy street.”

While Hurwitz said she loves the trees and natural beauty of University Avenue, she believes the sidewalks are of greater importance to the community.

“I don’t want to say I don’t have concerns about trees, because I’m totally into nature,” she said. “But when you stack it up against the safety, kids and adults, no it’s not an issue.”

Support for sidewalks flip-flops

In 2017, residents were first notified by the city that there was consideration of adding a sidewalk to either side of the street based on a resident initiative. At that time, the policy required a resident receive 75% support from others living on the affected streets, which included University Avenue, Hyacinth Place and Western Avenue. A city memo indicates the survey met the required threshold.

Two years later, the Portmans circulated a counter-petition, which showed 57% of residents opposed the installation – a significant decrease in support for the sidewalk, according to city documents.

After various city engineering plans, community surveys and feedback sessions, residents of University Avenue received a notice in January 2020 that the city was not going to pursue the proposed sidewalk installation due to a lack of support from residents. In the letter, the city said it would not consider a new request for sidewalks for at least three years.

Later in September 2020, a new guideline for local sidewalk installations was approved by the City Council, to reduce the required residential support from 75% to 51% of affected residents, establish a survey template for residents and detail city follow-up steps, among other changes.

Three years later, the city revisited the sidewalk plans, after receiving inquiries about potential sidewalks during the resurfacing of University Avenue, according to a city memo.

In October 2023, 112 affected residents received a letter requesting feedback concerning potential sidewalks on University Avenue and Old Trail Road. The letter proposed five feet of green space between the curb and a five-foot sidewalk.

The city noted in the letter that a lack of response may be interpreted as support for the new sidewalks.

The city’s rationale for revisiting the sidewalk proposal is because the plan aligns with the city’s MoveHP plan, which encourages non-motorized transportation through street and sidewalk improvements.

This spring, the Portmans – along with a couple of dozen neighbors on University Avenue – commissioned an arborist report to better understand the potential consequences to their street foliage. The group wanted to have an independent report to compare to the city’s forestry report and has not yet shared the report with the city’s council or staff, the Portmans said.

The tree preservation plan by SavATree Consulting Group, a certified arborist in Northbrook, concluded the proposed sidewalk installation would cause a significant negative impact on many mature trees.

The plan, shared with the News-Sun, indicates many of the impacted trees are considered heritage, key or protected trees by the city due to their size, species or other unique value. The plan also offers preservation strategies to limit destruction to trees and their root zones.

A couple of parents and teens spoke in favor of University Avenue sidewalks during public comment at a March council meeting. Many mentioned that it was difficult for children to bike safely or walk to school on the street.

Other residents disagreed with their neighbor’s characterization of the safety of University Avenue. During the March public comment, Larry Walters said he taught his three young children to bike on their neighborhood street and his senior-citizen mother, who lives with the family, has no problems walking on the grass or sidewalk.

chilles@chicagotribune.com

The position was made available by the resignation of Jeff Hoobler at the end of April. Hoobler, who was elected to the council in April 2023, resigned after it came to light that elected officials are ineligible to hold liquor licenses. Hoobler, as co-owner of Ravinia Brewing Company, held a liquor license that was most recently renewed in the winter of 2023.

According to Illinois municipal code, a mayor must appoint a resident to fill a gap on the city council within 60 days of the vacancy. Bruckman will serve on the council until a council member is elected during the April 2025 general municipal election.

“As we embark on this journey together, I am inspired by the spirit of positive progress that defines our community,” Bruckman said following her appointment. “Together, let us embrace the opportunities ahead, working collaboratively to enhance the quality of life for all those who call Highland Park home.”

Bruckman was selected from a group of 19 candidates, following interviews with the mayor and City Council, Rotering said during Monday’s meeting. She currently serves on the city’s Plan and Design Commission, to which she was appointed in November 2021.

“We are tremendously appreciative of your willingness to serve the community in this capacity,” the mayor said.

Councilmember Annette Lidawer, who was absent from the meeting, offered her support for Bruckman’s appointment as council liaison to the Planning and Design Commission, after witnessing the new councilmember’s work on the commission. Rotering read a statement from Lidawer during Monday’s meeting.

“I’ve witnessed Barisa’s thorough preparation and participation and one of the city’s most crucial commissions,” Lidawer said. “I believe the depth of her work experience will suit her candidacy and tenure well. I do observe that in losing Councilmember Hoobler, the city lost a champion for economic and business development. This is significant and I hope we continue to focus on economic development as a priority as a pillar.”

Lidawer was one of three council members who voted to amend Highland Park’s liquor code, which prohibits licenses from being issued to councilmembers and law enforcement, in order to keep Hoobler on the council. The amendment, however, failed due to a tie vote.

Bruckman began her career working for Barack Obama when the former president was just a senator-elect from Illinois. She continued to work for Obama when he was elected president in 2008.

The new councilmember also worked in the city of Chicago’s Treasurer’s Office. Bruckman, who grew up in Highland Park and moved back six years ago with her young family, also holds a master’s in public policy and public administration from Northwestern University.

Bruckman said she pursued the appointment because she wanted to add a younger voice to the City Council.

“Highland Park is an incredible suburb. We continue to do great work for young families who continue to move here, as well as to continue to make it vibrant and a place where people want to be,” Bruckman said.

chilles@chicagotribune.com

The updated complaint in the federal lawsuit between the non-profit music organization and the microbrewery accuses the brewing company founders of intending to, “trade and infringe on the Ravinia [Festival Association] name and trademark” from the start of their business plan.

Relying on newly produced business documents from Ravinia Brewing Company, the festival argues the documents reveal how the brewing company intended to “falsely imply” an association with the Ravinia Festival.

Ravinia Festival also filed a petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) last week requesting the cancellation of Ravinia Brewing Company’s registered trademark, on the grounds that the brewery knowingly made false statements in its application to register the Ravinia Brewing mark with the USTPO.

The petition alleges RBC signed the “no confusion declaration” on the USTPO application despite knowing the declaration was false. The clause states that, “no other persons … have the right to use the mark in commerce in the identical form or in such near resemblance as to be likely, when used on or in connection with the goods/services … of such other persons to cause confusion or mistake, or to deceive.”

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois also approved the festival’s request to add Ravinia Brewing IP, LLC as a defendant to the 11-count complaint first filed in October 2023, alleging the brewery violated a since-rescinded 2018 agreement to limit the use of their shared name.

According to the updated complaint filed on May 24, the music festival only recently learned of Ravinia Brewing IP (RBIP), a Delaware-based company that allegedly owns all intellectual property used by Ravinia Brewing Company (RBC) and licenses the intellectual property to the brewpub and “possibly others.”

The complaint states Ravinia Brewing IP is a “necessary party” in the lawsuit for Ravinia Festival to, “obtain complete relief.”

In a press release from the Ravinia Brewing Company, the brewpub calls for community support against the “unjust litigation.”

“The lesson taught to us by Ravinia Festival Association’s lawsuit is Ravinia Festival Association can strong arm a small business like Ravinia Brewing Company to close their doors by filing a lawsuit against a business whose families cannot afford to defend,” the press release said. “Anyone who has been financially bullied and under financial duress by someone with more money will know exactly how we feel.”

In the release, the brewing company asks: “Is there really anyone who believes that the Ravinia Festival Association, with its $60M in cash reserves and seemingly unlimited legal and PR resources, is damaged by RBC when you enjoy RBC beer and tacos?”

The founders of the brewing company plead in the news release for Ravinia Festival board members and community members to request the litigation end immediately.

Prior to taking legal action against the brewery, the festival made efforts to work privately with the brewery, Ravinia President and CEO Jeffrey Haydon said.

“The recent revelations expose a troubling pattern of behavior, including the brewery’s intentions from the outset to capitalize on Ravinia’s brand and its ambitions to operate nationally,” Haydon said in a statement. “The brewery’s disregard for our trademark rights and misrepresentations to Ravinia and the community left us no choice but to take further action to protect Ravinia’s trademark.”

According to the amended motion, four days after the non-profit festival organization asked the brewery to consent to the filing of the amended complaint, Ravinia Brewing IP filed a declaratory judgment action against Ravinia Festival in state court.

The motion filed on May 20 in the Circuit Court of Cook County seeks a declaration that the 2018 trademark agreement between the festival and the brewery remains enforceable. The brewery argued that the viability of the federal court case depends on whether or not the 2018 agreement is still in effect.

In February, the brewery answered the festival’s October complaint in a pair of counterclaims, alleging the festival committed fraud when obtaining a trademark.

The brewery contended the festival association’s 2011 trademark for exclusive rights to use the “Ravinia” name for “restaurant services; catering services; offering banquet facilities” was obtained fraudulently, noting the signed declaration that no one else was using the name for food and restaurants – despite the existence of local restaurants like the Ravinia Green Country Club and the former Ravinia BBQ and Grill.

New records discovered

Ravinia Festival’s amended federal complaint brings to light records from Ravinia Brewing Company, which the festival alleges shows the brewing company, “falsely implied (and continues to falsely imply) an association with Ravinia.”

“From all appearances, this false implication is intentional,” the amended complaint stated.

Ravinia

In 2016, a marketing firm hired by RBC asked the founders in a questionnaire if the company had a reason for its name. The questionnaire was attached as an exhibit in the amendment complaint.

The founders responded that the company was started in the Ravinia neighborhood, and also that the area is well-known across Chicago, “largely due to a large outdoor music series.”

“As a result of the 100 year old music festival (which hosts a combination of classical artists to some of the best artists in the country), there’s an immediate positive brand equity associated with the name ‘Ravinia’… feelings of summer, sunshine, live outdoor music, picnics, and indulgence are conjured up through the name ‘Ravinia,’” the founders wrote in their response.

When Ravinia Brewing Company Chicago was seeking a loan from the Small Business Administration in 2017, the brewing company made “plain their intentions to trade on Ravinia’s valuable name and trademark,” the festival’s complaint alleges.

In a business plan from 2017, attached to the complaint as an exhibit, the founders state: “‘Ravinia’ is a well-known brand in Chicago made famous by the ‘Ravinia Music Festival’ that has celebrated more than 100-years of bringing music and entertainment to the broader Chicagoland community.”

The business plan later states: “The Ravinia festival creates community by bringing a diverse mix of world renowned performers and influences to the Chicagoland area, making them accessible to all who have a passion for music. At Ravinia Brewing Company Chicago, we aspire to capture the essence of the festival in world class beer and food available to all our customers – creating our own sustaining community.”

chilles@chicagotribune.com

Monica Schroeder, who has worked as deputy superintendent since 2018, will begin the new role on July 1, 2026, as Lubelfeld indicated he will retire at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Over the next two years, Schroeder said she will work closely with Lubelfeld to ensure a, “smooth and seamless transition.”

“I am truly honored and excited to be appointed as the next superintendent of North Shore School District 112,” Schroeder said. “I am eager to collaborate with our dedicated staff, engaged families and vibrant community to ensure that every student has the resources and opportunities to thrive.”

Schroeder, who has “extensive experience in education” as both a teacher and administrator, will be the district’s first Latina superintendent, according to a press release from the Highland Park elementary school district.

Upon learning of Lubelfeld’s retirement plans, the Board of Education initiated the succession planning process. The board decided that a formal search for a new superintendent was unnecessary after an evaluation of Schroeder’s performance and formal and informal interviews, according to a spokesperson for the district.

The board opted not to consider any external candidates, according to district officials, making this an internal search process.

Board President Lisa Hirsh said the board is excited for this “new chapter” in the district, and that Schroeder’s appointment will be officially approved at the June 11 board meeting.

“Her outstanding contributions and evident leadership qualities have consistently been on display during her tenure here,” Hirsh said in her announcement letter to the school community. “We eagerly anticipate the positive impact her leadership will bring and the bright future ahead for our district.”

For nearly two decades, Schroeder has worked for District 112, serving as an associate principal, assistant superintendent and deputy superintendent, the press release said.

According to Hirsh, the board sought several critical qualities in the new superintendent, such as leadership expertise, exceptional communication skills, effective relations with unions and an understanding of educational practices.

Hirsh’s letter highlighted Schroeder’s involvement in district initiatives, including labor contract negotiations, supervision of construction projects and community engagement efforts, such as the successful 2022 referendum. Schroeder has also made substantial contributions to the district’s diversity and equity work, the release stated.

Schroeder earned her doctorate from Northern Illinois University in 2006. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from DePaul University, and a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from Northern Illinois.

In 2021, Schroeder received her Chief School Business Official endorsement from Northern Illinois. She also served as the president of the Illinois Association of School Personnel Administrators and is the president-elect of the American Association of School Administrators.

chilles@chicagotribune.com

As a “quiet alternative” to the city’s parade and festival, The Art Center Highland Park will offer an indoor art picnic for families and individuals seeking community during the somber anniversary.

Almost two years ago, seven people were killed and dozens more injured after a gunman opened fire at Highland Park’s annual Fourth of July Parade. The alleged gunman, Robert Crimo III, is being held in the Lake County jail as he awaits trial.

Community building and bringing people together has been a crux of The Art Center in recent years since the COVID-19 pandemic and the parade shooting, the executive director said.

“I thought it was a responsibility to offer people a quiet place where they did not have to be triggered,” Lynch said. “It’s part of our job to serve the community that way.”

In the aftermath of the 2022 mass shooting, Lynch said TAC installed a gallery at Lincoln Elementary School, where therapy sessions were being offered to the community. The non-profit art center also runs a monthly Art Night for anyone affected by the shooting.

“The arts have a way to achieve a therapeutic effect without actual therapy,” Lynch said.

On July 4, The Art Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The galleries offer plenty of space for those who want to spread a blanket and have an indoor picnic. Tables will also be set up with art supplies. There is no charge for the event, and registration is not necessary.

The Art Center is not connected with the city of Highland Park, but the city’s resiliency manager, Madeline Kati, said the art picnic is a “lovely option,” according to a TAC press release.

HP Strong

Highland Park recently announced final plans and a theme for this year’s Fourth of July Parade.

Lynch said he believes the city is doing the “right thing” when it comes to its plans for Independence Day.

“I know they’re doing it with great care and they’ve done their research,” he said. “They’ve done their homework.”

The city’s plans for the holiday — which include a remembrance ceremony, parade and community festival — are intended to, “balance the diverse needs of the community by providing space for remembrance and also familiar community traditions,” City Manager Ghida Neukirch said.

The parade theme is “Sweet Home Highland Park,” and will trek through downtown and uptown Highland Park on a new route.

The procession will end at Sunset Woods Park for the Fourth Fest celebration presented by the Park District of Highland Park. There will be food trucks, music and games at the park until the programming ends at 4:30 p.m.

chilles@chicagotribune.com

The two agreements between the county and municipal partners agency establish LakeComm, a consolidated 911 dispatch center, and the Joint Emergency Telephone System Board (JETSB) for local emergency authorities, bringing together dozens of local law enforcement and fire agencies at the $53.8 million Regional Operations and Communications (ROC) Facility now under construction in Libertyville.

The contracts were approved by the Lake County Board’s Law and Judicial (L&J) Committee Tuesday and the Finance and Administration Committee on Thursday. Approval of the agreements is the first step to form the new governing bodies.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will not be a part of the consolidation due to concerns over the contracts providing sufficient resources for the sheriff’s additional statutory responsibilities, Sheriff John Idleburg said during the L&J meeting.

The two IGAs will go before the full Lake County Board for approval in June. If approved, it’s anticipated the new LakeComm services will be operational by July 2025, County Administrator Patrice Sutton said at the Tuesday committee meeting.

“(This) represents a major achievement for Lake County as a government entity, as well as a regional leader,” Sutton said. “It is an initiative that directly impacts our residents, business owners and visitors, and has involved unprecedented cooperation and collaboration among multiple villages, cities and districts, among Lake County.”

For more than seven years, Lake County has been working towards a regional 911 consolidation in an effort to eliminate call transfers and improve response times, said Sutton, who has worked on consolidation efforts from both the municipal and county perspectives.

Regional consolidation has been influenced by Illinois law which directs a county with a population of at least 250,000 and more than one ETSB to consolidate so that no local 911 authority serves a population of less than 25,000 residents.

According to Sutton, the consolidation will provide emergency services for about 500,000 of the 700,000 residents in Lake County.

The second IGA initiates the process to establish a joint Emergency Telephone System Board (ETSB) from a number of local ETSBs. An ETSB receives 911 surcharge funds and is an oversight board responsible for managing the operational aspects of the 911 system. A new joint ETSB requires final approval from the Illinois 911 administrator.

“This has really been a long process because it is a true partnership,” Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, D-Lake Bluff, said. “Just through these actions today, and over the next couple of months, we will be decreasing by five units of government through this consolidation.”

The LakeComm IGA will also establish a long-term lease for dedicated space for the new agency in the ROC facility. The clause stipulates that the leased space cannot be occupied, transferred or sublet without the express written consent of both the lessor (Lake County) and the tenant (LakeComm).

Sutton said the consolidation provides benefits such as improved resource coordination, and the depth of staffing will better accommodate surges in call volume or multiple simultaneous major incidents.

Consolidating investments such as facilities, equipment and systems into fewer centers also results in more “cost-effective financial outcomes,” Sutton said.

Additional costs to the county for LakeComm will be determined in the near future, once the LakeComm Board is established, according to county officials.

Fiscal topics that have been broached with county committees since November 2023, but not presented for action, include: the county (or other members) providing shared services (fiduciary, payroll, contracting, et cetera) during the transition period, the county (or other members) providing a loan to LakeComm to be used for start-up/transition expenses and the long-term lease and rent schedule for the dedicated space in the ROC facility.

Sheriff still concerned

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reiterated concerns over the current agreements during the L&J meeting. Idleburg said the agreement does not address the sheriff’s statutory responsibilities, and is therefore preventing the sheriff’s office from joining the consolidation effort.

“I understand that this board has to make a decision which is in the best interest of the county, but also think it needs to understand that the top law enforcement officer for the county has some issues with this current IGA the way it is written,” Idleburg said. “Right now, the way it’s written, this is not in the best interest of this county, or the best interest of public safety for the county.”

Idleburg said that while he has “deep concerns” moving forward, he is willing to sit down with the county and partner agencies to figure out how to move forward.

Lake County Board member Carissa Casbon, D-Gurnee, made a motion at the L&J meeting to postpone the vote so county staff can work with the sheriff’s office to make the agreements contingent on the sheriff joining the ROC facility’s operations. The motion was eventually killed on the floor before a vote could be taken.

“My problems with the IGA are the following: It requires Lake County to extend itself too far financially and risk too much without any guarantee of the sheriff’s office ever being in the building, which is our own operations. This goes against the responsibility portion of our strategic plan,” Casbon said. “The economies of scale are not fully realized. Our unincorporated areas and contract areas covered by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office are not covered in this IGA.”

Casbon ultimately abstained from the L&J vote for the intergovernmental agreements due to concern over services for unincorporated residents, and because the board member still had outstanding questions about the consolidation.

Kildeer Chief Village Officer Michael Talbett also requested the L&J committee postpone its consideration of the IGAs during public comment, due to concerns over some of the bylaws that dictate withdrawal procedures. He made his remarks on behalf of Kildeer, Hawthorn Woods, Libertyville, Park City, Wauconda, Tower Lakes and Winthrop Harbor.

“These things are very important to us, because they give us pause in making a commitment right now, because we need a little bit more time to really study the impact of these things on our municipalities,” Talbett said. “The cumulative effect of them could be that our membership may not be sustainable.”

Any governmental entity in the county is eligible to join LakeComm, according to the IGA. Those that join after July 1 will need to be approved by a two-thirds vote of the LakeComm member board. However, the IGA states the Sheriff’s Office will be granted membership to LakeComm upon written request.

Founding members for LakeComm include Lake County, the Village of Antioch, the First Fire Protection District (FPD) of Antioch, Countryside FPD, Fox Lake FPD, Village of Gurnee, Greater Round Lake FPD, Lake Villa FPD, Village of Lake Zurich, Village of Mundelein, City of North Chicago, Village of Round Lake, Village of Round Lake Beach, Village of Round Lake Heights, Village of Round Lake Park, Village of Vernon Hills and Wauconda FPD.

Chief for the Greater Round Lake FPD Greg Formica and North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham Jr. spoke during public comment Tuesday offering support for moving the project forward, and said the consolidation would improve emergency services provided to residents.

“We worked really hard to come together to try and solve the problem … of reducing the call transfers for 911,” Formica said. “ We think that, in the end, it’s going to be a great facility, and it’s going to greatly improve the way that services are provided to the citizens of Lake County.”

chilles@chicagotribune.com

The households are at risk of losing their internet access or defaulting on bills they can no longer afford without the subsidy, according to Candace Browdy, executive director for Connect Lake County, a non-profit dedicated to digital and inclusion.

As the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ends this month, since Congress did not approve additional funding to sustain the low-cost internet service program past May 2024, the non-profit organization and Lake County are pivoting their broadband plans to accommodate for the subsidy loss.

Since its passing in December 2021, the ACP provided free or low-cost internet services to low-income residents with a $30 per month subsidy. More than 23 million people nationwide received support from ACP for internet services, according to the Federal Communications Commission.

Browdy said the subsidy helped connect local households without internet access, assisted those with low-speed internet upgrades to meet the household needs and helped people who had internet access via their cell phone get access in their home.

“What it comes down to for folks, no matter what bucket they fall in, is finding the money to continue with service,” she said. “So people are going to run into the problem of being disconnected in some form or fashion, or having delinquent bills.”

As the program sunsets, Browdy said the organization has shifted efforts from helping households enroll in ACP to notifying households of the imminent cut-off. The executive director said there is no local or state equivalent to the ACP subsidy offered by the Federal Communications Commission.

“We can educate people all we want, and we can give them access to all information. If you don’t have the money to pay for (an internet) plan, we can’t do anything about that,” she said.

Browdy said the ACP was never intended to be a long-term solution to improving internet access. Replicating the program would be “unsustainable,” she said, because the money needed to provide internet subsidies to qualifying households would be too large.

“There’s no funding vehicle,” Browdy said. “You couldn’t have enough money to fund it.”

Lake County is also working on developing solutions to improve high-speed internet connection countywide, with the adoption of the first-ever Broadband and Digital Equity Action Plan in December. The broadband plan outlines short-, medium- and long-term projects aimed at increasing internet access in the county.

Big-picture goals for the plan include to increase collaboration across internet accessibility organizations, remove barriers to access, improve device affordability, create opportunities for internet infrastructure installation and expand public internet access.

The broadband plan included provisions of support for ACP, so the county is evaluating the best use of those resources in light of the program ending, according to Keay Crandall, the digital equity manager for Lake County.

The lowest rates of internet adoption are concentrated in Lake County communities that face compounding socioeconomic challenges, according to the broadband plan. Areas in and near Waukegan, North Chicago and Zion have high levels of internet availability, but households face barriers to access.

“Every resident and business in Lake County should be able to access reliable, high-speed internet, which is essential for work, school, medical needs and keeping connected,” said Lake County Board member Jennifer Clark, D-Libertyville, who chairs the county’s committee on broadband.

Lake County has also compiled a list of potential internet options for residents to consider. The Affordable Internet Plans website provides alternative options for mobile and internet service, including a list of providers and information about each plan, including eligibility.

Improving access

When it comes to internet access, there are three primary pieces, according to Browdy. The first being access to affordable internet service plans, the second piece is ensuring households have a device such as a laptop or computer and the last part is providing digital-skills training.

“We really think it’s important that people need to understand rudimentary basic, essential skills before they just start using technology for their own safety,” she said.

At Connect Lake County, residents receive a device upon completion of the digital skills education program. Browdy said the organization trains people on the same device they will receive at the end of the workshop, so they are familiar with the exact device. Teaching about cybersecurity is embedded in all CLC digital education, she added.

Browdy said the organization has seen real benefits when running workshops with a group of people, such as the Lake County Housing Authority with which CLC often partners.

“They’re getting the same skill-building workshops; they’re getting the same devices. Well guess what happens? Someone on the third floor has the same device as the person on the fifth floor, and they start helping each other,” she said. “It’s really important for us to create ecosystems with similar devices so that residents can become more self-reliant.”

Browdy said senior citizens often feel “empowered” after learning how to navigate a digital device with CLC.

The non-profit is also exploring a potential pilot program to provide a Wi-Fi network to an entire apartment building, ideally low-income apartments like a housing authority building, Browdy said. The program would be fixed wireless internet, set up similar to a hotel where each unit has its own connection.

She said the organization is working with some internet service providers (ISPs) and potential funders to pilot the program.

At the county level, Crandall said a digital navigator program is underway after a request for proposals (RFP) went out earlier this month. Digital navigators will provide technical support services for residents.

“We’re both looking for organizations that do not yet have these (digital navigator) services available in their organization, and folks that do to some extent and would like to expand that capacity,” Crandall said.

Training for the digital navigators will also be open to organizations not selected through the RFP. Crandall said this will expand the opportunity for more organizations in the county to engage in digital equity work.

Additional upcoming county initiatives include deploying public Wi-Fi hotspots, developing device donation and distribution campaigns, coordinating digital skills programs and developing the Lake County Digital Equity Coalition. The projects currently adopted in the broadband plan will be funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, Crandall said.

One thing Browdy would like to see in countywide digital equity initiatives is funding for internet infrastructure, like inground fiber connection, in low-income communities.

“ISPs are willing to put fiber down because that either turns into internet subscriptions and the internet subscriptions over a period of time pay back the cost of fiber,” she said. “So, who’s going to get the fiber first? It’s not going to be Waukegan and North Chicago and Zion. It’s going to be the more-affluent communities. Our low-income communities are out of luck.”

Additional resources for residents with subsidized internet plans include a fact sheet in English and fact sheet in Spanish, developed by the Federal Communications Commission, which includes information about consumer protections and what steps consumers should take after the ACP ends.

chilles@chicagotribune.com

The community of Rondout, first formed around a railroad junction for the Milwaukee Road route – later the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1986. The railroad junction, the reason for the locality’s existence, became a notorious focal point of Lake County in 1924.

Late in the evening of June 12, 1924 – also the day former president George H.W. Bush was born – two bandits climbed into the engine tender of a railway post office train, forcing the engineer to stop the line near Rondout.

Four additional men were waiting there, where they rushed the train and forced the postal workers out of the car. The robbers took more than 50 pouches, containing nearly $3 million in cash and securities – the equivalent of more than $36 million in today’s dollars – according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Because the bandits were well-versed in the contents of the train and knew where, when and how to proceed without being caught, the Postal Inspection Service suspected the thieves had help from an inside source.

The investigation eventually pointed to William Fahy, a post office inspector. When the train was robbed on that summer evening in 1924, Fahy was the first inspector assigned to the job and examined each piece of evidence, according to investigators.

Eventually some of the other robbers pointed to Fahy as the “mastermind behind the attack,” the Postal Inspection Service said.

The Rondout train heist was the largest looted amount the United States had ever seen, and it still remains the largest, according to local historians, likely due to a number of security changes made to postal trains after the robbery.

Of the millions stolen from the Milwaukee Rail post office train, only about two-thirds was recovered during the investigation, and subsequent arrests and trials of the eight men involved in the heist, according to Bob Storozuk, curator of the Milwaukee Road Historical Association Museum.

Storozuk said many of the historical records on the robbery do not agree on the amount of stolen goods, or how much was recovered.

Ahead of a number of events planned in Lake County about the infamous crime, here is what is known, and still unknown about the largest U.S. train robbery:

Who were the train thieves?

According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, a known Chicago gangster, Dion (Dean) O’Banion, was the first to be questioned about the robbery. O’Banion pointed inspectors in the direction of an apartment in West Chicago, where a man wounded during the robbery was being cared for.

Inspectors found Willis (Willie) Newton, one of four brothers who made up the “Newton Boys” gang, at the apartment. James Murray, a well-known mob boss, visited Newton, as well as his brother Joe Newton, exposing their involvement to the inspectors. After the three were arrested, the rest of the gang quickly fell to law enforcement, the Inspection Service reported.

The gang members were later immortalized on the big screen in 1998 with the movie “The Newton Boys,” starring Matthew McConaughey, Skeet Ulrich and Ethan Hawke.

In March 1998, the Chicago Tribune wrote about the 20th-century crime drama. The movie, the Tribune reported, included interviews with the late Newton brothers, Willis and Joe, who were both “charmingly voluble old men both past 70.”

What remained suspicious to the investigators was the culprits’ lack of prior success in train robberies, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

“The Newton Boys and their accomplices were well-known bank robbers throughout the Midwest,” the Inspection Service stated. “Robbing a train of this magnitude was out of their realm of expertise.”

The convicted thieves with the longest sentences were sent to Leavenworth prison in Kansas, Storozuk said.

“The best part is the Milwaukee Road lent a car so that they were taken directly into the prison in this Milwaukee Road car,” Storozuk shared. “That was the last touch that the Milwaukee Road had with this robbery.”

How was William Fahy’s involvement uncovered?

While some records indicate the arrested robbers spilled the beans about Fahy’s involvement, Storozuk said the postal inspector also left a couple of clues for the inspection service.

One day before the train left Chicago, Fahy went to the train and asked the clerks a few questions about what was in the car and what type of protection the cars had, Storozuk said.

“(Fahy) asked a lot of questions that really didn’t make sense,” he said.

As the postal inspection service began to suspect Fahy’s involvement, Storozuk said they set a trap for Fahy, telling him that a certain train event was taking place. Fahy was caught either giving out the information or seeking more information, he said.

Fahy was found guilty of federal mail theft charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

“William J. Fahy is the only Postal Inspector convicted on federal mail theft charges,” stated the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “The Rondout Train Robbery is often overlooked in Postal Inspection Service history, due to the collusion of a former Inspector. While no organization is immune from corruption, all Postal Inspection Service employees today are held to rigorous standards of conduct.”

What made the Rondout robbery unique?

The train robbed in Rondout was heading to Minneapolis and was strictly a mail and express train, with no passenger cars.

Storozuk said this particular train was destined for the Federal Reserve offices in seven or eight cities, and was carrying a significant amount of valuables – more cash and securities than other postal trains or passenger trains with postal cars.

Out in the less-developed areas of the country at the time, smaller railroads dominated and often had mail and baggage cars on a passenger train, according to the curator. Those cars were probably robbed more than anything else, he said.

“There probably were a couple of other mail and express trains that might have been robbed, but nothing to the degree of the dollar amount that this one had,” Storozuk said.

Historical records vary on exactly how much was stolen and then recovered in the Rondout robbery. Storozuk said the agreed amount stolen was about $3 million, and about two-thirds of the loot was recovered later.

“They say that there’s a million dollars in negotiable securities that were never recovered,” he said. “I have probably five or six different records and reports of that robbery over the years, practically none of the details agree. They’re all close.”

One record said 40 mailbags were taken, while another said more than 60 were stolen, Storozuk said. The curator suspects the higher number is correct because a significant number of mailbags recovered were labeled with numbers past 40.

“This (train robbery) was unique for a number of reasons,” he said. “It was also the last mail train robbery in the United States.”

What changes were made after the Rondout Robbery?

Following the Rondout robbery, the Postal Service and government increased security on railway post office trains and cars.

Nicole Stocker, education manager at the Lake County Forest Preserve District’s Dunn Museum, said after the Rondout robbery there were protocol changes for train security, requiring additional protection for valuable items.

Heavier armor plating was also added to some of the cars to make it more difficult for break-ins, according to Storozuk. For the first time, all Postal Service inspectors and employees started to carry guns after the major robbery, he said.

“Those two things probably discouraged attacks on trains that had mail and express,” Storozuk said. “After that, there might have been some small ones, but this was the last major (robbery).”

Why should people care about the anniversary of such an event?

Storozuk and Stocker said anyone who is interested in history, trains or true crime is likely to also take interest in this notorious incident.

“I don’t think people always realize that where they live and work is an exciting historical area,” Stocker said. “History also occurred right where you live. It’s important to understand how your community has developed, and see how all of this has added to the world we’re in today.”

The site of the robbery was marked in 1981 with a plaque on the north side of Illinois Route 176, just east of Interstate 94. Today, a sportsman’s club is located near where the postal train was stopped a century ago.

Both noted the infamous robbery instigated significant changes to security on railway postal offices.

Stocker said the Dunn Museum tells the story of the Rondout robbery within the larger context of the Prohibition Era, and other historical events from the period.

“Being in this area between Chicago and Milwaukee, there’s a lot of events related to Prohibition that took place here, whether it was the Fox Lake massacre to the Rondout Train Robbery, to a lot of other illegal transportation and sale of alcohol and related activities,” Stocker said.

On June 15, the Lake County Forest Preserve District is hosting an in-person and remote event with the Dunn Museum called, “Examining the Rondout Train Robbery 100 years later.”

The Lake Bluff History Museum is hosting an event about the heist at North Shore Distilling on June 12 called, “Distilling History: The Great Rondout Train Robbery.”

chilles@chicagotribune.com

The 293 teachers who make up the union, which covers Libertyville and Vernon Hills high schools, overwhelmingly supported a resolution calling for the Board of Education to remove Herrmann immediately.

Union President Monica Caldicott spoke about the resolution during an address to the school board on May 20.

“As educators committed to positive change and growth in our award-winning district, our members know that effective leadership is critical to student success,” said Caldicott, who has been the library media specialist at Vernon Hills High for more than 20 years.

“During her nearly three-year tenure here, Dr. Denise Herrmann has repeatedly shown that she is incapable of leading our district at this important time,” Caldicott said.

Of the union members who voted, 99% voted for the resolution, she said.

The teachers’ union resolution alleges Herrmann has created a, “chaotic and hostile work environment, forcing multiple administrators to leave (the) District in the past year.”

Further allegations in the resolution include eliminating student supports, poor use of taxpayer funds, violating the union’s bargaining agreement, an inability to follow through on district goals and refusing to communicate and collaborate with teachers.

“As the district leader, our superintendent must put the needs of students above all else,” Caldicott said. “By not properly identifying and planning to support students and the teachers and staff who serve them, Dr. Herrmann has failed to fulfill her main responsibility. At the same time, she has created an environment of distrust and disrespect.”

At that meeting, Herrmann read a statement defending the decisions she has made as superintendent.

“I will stand by my unwavering values of integrity and equity,” she said. “I will not back down from doing what is best practice for student learning. Every decision I have made has been aligned with district policy, state law and is in the best interest of all students, but especially those whose voice has been traditionally marginalized.”

The board issued a statement in response to the union’s action, and said it is unable to provide additional comments since it is a personnel matter.

“The Board of Education hears the concerns voiced by our teachers union and will process them together as a Board,” the statement said.

The teachers’ resolution said Herrmann launched educational initiatives, but simultaneously eliminated some effective support for students. The resolution alleges the superintendent, “fail(ed) to create thoughtful and organized plans for new ones for the 2024-25 school year, therefore leaving students without a fully realized system.”

The superintendent also violated the union’s collective bargaining agreement by completing the sectioning of classes for 2024-25 school year without discussion with, or input from the union, the resolution stated.

Additionally, the resolution alleges Herrmann reneged on the imminent settlement of a 2022 union grievance, has not met her three “self-assigned” culture and climate goals and attempted to block the legal granting of professional tenure to 12 educators.

The resolution said the union has exhausted all avenues to communicate concerns with Herrmann through labor-management committee meetings, union messages, attendance at school board meetings and even directly at superintendent-union president meetings and several superintendent roundtables.

“As teachers, we feel responsible to our students, parents and taxpayers,” Caldicott added. “They deserve a superintendent who will make prudent financial decisions and build upon the outstanding legacy and student achievement in our district. Dr. Herrmann has proven she is not that leader.”

chilles@chicagotribune.com

The payment came after the Department of Labor moved to seize the contractor’s assets as part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) debt collection program, the release said.

According to the news release, the employer, Joshua Herion, “repeatedly expos(ed) employees to falls from elevations.” Falls are the leading cause of death and serious injuries in the construction industry, it said.

“Every year, too many construction workers fall victim to the leading cause of workplace fatalities in the industry because employers fail to provide or use fall protection,” said Bill Donovan, OSHA Chicago Region Administrator, in the release.

Since 2014, OSHA cited Herion and his company, ECS Roofing Professionals Inc., nine times for violations related to fall protections, the release stated.

In January 2024, a federal court ordered Herion to pay the outstanding penalties, attorney’s fees and interest for the violations, according to the news release.

“The Department of Labor took unprecedented action to force Joshua Herion and his company, ECS Roofing Professionals Inc., to respond to a federal court and pay more than $360,000 in penalties for putting his workers’ lives and well-being in danger repeatedly,” Christine Heri, Regional Solicitor of Labor in Chicago, said in the release.

Using the judgment by District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo, the department filed claims on Herion’s property in Illinois in March 2024, and then filed a motion to compel responses to its asset discovery on May 6 to get information on other collectible assets.

The notice prompted Herion to finally comply with the court order and make payment, the release stated. The department filed a notice of satisfaction of judgment with the Northern District of Illinois’ Eastern Division on May 20 to confirm Herion made the required payments.

“Herion exhausted his rightful appeals process and even after the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and the courts upheld the OSHA penalties, he refused to comply until his personal property was jeopardized,” Heri said in the release.

Attempts to reach Herion for comment were unsuccessful.

In March 2023, the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission affirmed OSHA citations issued to Herion and ECS Roofing Professionals Inc. for exposing employees to deadly fall hazards at job sites in Illinois and Wisconsin in October 2022, the release stated.

When Herion didn’t pay the debt from the commission’s decision in March, the department filed a debt collection action in the District Court in August, the release stated, resulting in the court issuing the default judgment in January.

“Federal regulations require employers to meet their legal obligation to protect workers on the job,” Donovan said. “OSHA will hold employers like Herion and ECS Roofing Professionals accountable when they callously ignore their responsibility for their employees’ safety.”

chilles@chicagotribune.com