A Burr Ridge man has been charged with first-degree murder accused of attacking his mother with a small sledgehammer is being detained in the DuPage County jail pretrial He made his first appearance in court Sunday followed by a detention hearing Monday afternoon According to a prosecutor’s petition for detention police were called to a home in Burr Ridge around 6:28 p.m bleeding from wounds to her head and vomiting blood She underwent surgery at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove but died Sunday Hospital workers told police it was “the worst skull fracture” they had ever seen Police believe Rodriguez attacked Virna Rodriguez with a small sledgehammer The daughter told police that she heard her mother scream and started going downstairs to investigate She said she then locked herself in a bathroom Rodriguez’s father told police that Rodriguez has schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and argues with relatives when they ask him to clean up after himself Police said they had been called to the house “numerous” times for reports of verbal and physical domestic abuse between Rodriguez and his relatives 2025 at 2:20 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The old TCF Bank building at 800 Burr Ridge Parkway has been vacant for years is poised to move its offices to Burr Ridge The 19-store chain is looking to set up shop in the old TCF Bank building at 800 Burr Ridge Parkway This was information that Mayor Gary Grasso and Village Administrator Evan Walter gave to Patch in response to an inquiry after Monday's Village Board meeting Patch left messages for comment Tuesday with the grocery store company Other tenants are also expected to move into the five-story building The chain's current headquarters are at 4343 S Pete's Market opened its first store on Chicago's South Side in the 1970s It is now planning locations in Tinley Park The 13.5-acre TCF site has been vacant for the better part of a decade According to real estate websites the 86,000-square-foot building was constructed in 1997 Over the years, the village has received proposals for condos and apartment complexes on the site In 2020, Mayor Grasso warned the village may declare a "moratorium" on the TCF site He said the purpose was to get the owner's attention and "red-flag it to get it developed." In 2022, the village said a developer wanted 400 to 500 apartments on the property. At one point, Grasso said most of the proposals for the site were for apartments. The densities were "unbelievable" and the configurations were "unacceptable," he said Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 12:05 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Ken Curelo president of the Oak Creek Club's homeowners association asks Burr Ridge officials on Monday for permission to store a second piece of snow removal equipment outside IL – Burr Ridge officials on Monday rejected a gated neighborhood's request for an exception to the local code asked to be allowed to store a second piece of snow removal equipment outside It got approval for the first one five years ago The landscaper handles the plowing and told the subdivision's homeowners association that he needed a second piece of equipment for bigger snowstorms The landscaper started parking the second piece of equipment outdoors in the subdivision but the village said the association needed permission said the neighborhood is made up mostly of retirees They need snow removed quickly because of doctor appointments Trustee Guy Franzese disagreed with making an exception given that people in other areas need medical services as well could bring a second piece of equipment into the neighborhood by trailer when needed "That's the reality of living in a gated community," Franzese said "(The association) is asking for forgiveness instead of permission." Mayor Gary Grasso said he did not think the subdivision showed a hardship that met the threshold for an exception "Your landscaper put you in the position of asking for forgiveness for him," the mayor said Grasso also said having snow removal equipment outdoors is an "attractive nuisance" for children The Village Board voted 4-0 to deny the subdivision's request apparently had technical issues when it came time to vote Curelo told the board that his group paid the landscaper $30,000 under a yearly contract to plow the subdivision The association pays another $8,000 for salting in lesser storms who lived in the 9100 block of South Madison Street in Burr Ridge faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated domestic battery Patch filed a public records request with Burr Ridge for all police reports for the Madison house in the last three years None of the reports included any kind of domestic battery or other violence But the police were called about other matters during that time It wasn't clear which people in the home were involved a man brought home a woman he met at Q Bar in Darien the woman said she would only have sex if she was paid for it The man called the police about the incident the next day He suspected the woman stole his phone charger police were called when a father and son argued over the son's failure to clean his room The son agreed to return to his room for the night and then go back and continue living with his grandmother A female graduate had people over for a graduation party 2025 at 7:07 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Attorney Bob Minetz (left) and Nick Patera of Teska Associates speak during a 2022 meeting on behalf of the proposed Cottages of Drew subdivision in Burr Ridge the proposed Cottages of Drew subdivision on the southwest corner of Drew Avenue and 79th Street in Burr Ridge remains unbuilt has asked for a one-year extension to the agreement for the eight-lot neighborhood the extra year would give Jarper time to sell the property to Alliance International Group The Village Board is set to take up the issue Monday the staff-prepared proposal is only for six months is to ensure the new owner makes timely efforts to pay outstanding fees submit the necessary letter of credit and start the project the board approved the zoning and engineering for the project the village has not been shy about rejecting requests from the developer In December 2019, Jarper asked the village to waive $118,000 in fees because concerns over wetlands would prevent the village from widening 79th and Drew and adding sidewalks on those streets But village trustees said all previous subdivisions the developer asked for changes to the plan trustees expressed frustration that the developer had yet to start the project four years after zoning approval Trustee Guy Franzese said he saw "a lot of monotony" in the new proposal which conflicts with the village's anti-monotony standards for housing developments And he said the garages appeared to be displayed more prominently than the houses "They look like garages with attached homes," he said Franzese further contended the new plan made the project too dense The board voted 3-2 to reject the revised plan 2025 at 3:01 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bridge Industrial is looking to build seven commercial buildings on the old 110-acre CNH Industrial site at 6900 Veterans Boulevard IL – The developer proposing a major commercial development in Burr Ridge did not want to set a date yet for its public hearing But Burr Ridge decided to set one for June 16 Village Administrator Evan Walter said the commission scheduled a hearing so that residents could rely on a specific date for participation rather than an "unknown" one Patch left a message for comment with the developer The development is planned for the old CNH Industrial site at 6900 Veterans Boulevard Bridge has said its proposed seven commercial buildings would not be a trucking hub or a big box store would make investments to improve traffic flow reduce noise pollution and bring millions in taxpayer savings Neighbors have expressed concern about the impact of trucks on the site After the Jan. 20 meeting, the Plan Commission said it wanted to find out more about the effects of the development on air quality the village said it has restricted comments on posts to all parties with the page existing as one-way communication Most public entities still allow comments on their Facebook pages Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso and Village Administrator Evan Walter did not respond to a request for comment last week this week defended the decision to disable the comments function he said a public body must determine whether the page is a "public forum" or a "government communication." A page without comments is considered a government communication "Federal courts have recognized that public entities can create websites in which private viewers cannot post comments or express opinions," Durkin said "The Village has utilized its Facebook page as a 'government communication,' and does not invite or allow public comment on its Facebook page." The attorney's statement appears to contradict Burr Ridge's social media policy The policy states that the village's social media provides a "two-way means by which to interact with residents local business owners and people who work in the village." 2025 at 11:26 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Matt Gazdziak an engineer leading the study on Wolf Road speaks to the Burr Ridge Village Board on Monday about improvements to Wolf Road Indian Head Park is taking the lead in the study for a 2.3-mile section of the two-lane road Officials in Indian Head Park prefer expanding the road to three lanes At Monday's Burr Ridge Village Board meeting trustees backed Indian Head Park's chosen option Trustee Guy Franzese noted that Indian Head Park stood with Burr Ridge Willowbrook and other towns five years ago for the closure of the Sterigenics plant which was alleged to have caused cancer-causing pollution He also said the neighboring village joined the local movement to oppose Lyons Township High School's effort to sell its Willow Springs land to an industrial developer. The school board had kept its plan secret for months the overwhelming majority of public comments have come from Indian Head Park A reason for that is homes are closer to Wolf Road in Indian Head Park said Strand Associates engineer Matt Gazdziak so there was a little less interest," Gazdziak told the Village Board Cook County paid for the study on Wolf upgrades and has indicated it aims to cover costs for the long-term project Mayor Gary Grasso expressed doubt that Cook County would come through "I wouldn't want to spend a whole lot of time on something without any indication from Cook County that there's a high likelihood that it's going to get funded," he said But he said Burr Ridge would be a "good neighbor and weigh in." In January, Patch wrote about a Burr Ridge resident whose wife was killed while bicycling on Wolf Road The resident supports improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists 2025 at 4:57 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Burr Ridge is considering its options for Village Hall a four-decade-old building that officials say has problems IL – Burr Ridge is looking at its choices for Village Hall a building that officials say needs a lot of work Officials plan to discuss a couple of options at Monday's Village Board meeting. A presentation was made available online Thursday One of the options is to build on an undeveloped outlot near Starbucks at the Village Center shopping complex The current 15,000-square-foot Village Hall at 7660 S but the village constructed a new building for the police in 2010 a number that the village doesn't expect to increase The boardroom has a capacity for 35 people a study showed that Village Hall was outmoded The village said it spends $125,000 a year maintaining Village Hall To extend the building's life for 30 years it would cost the village $6 million in upgrades a new two-story building would be 13,000 square feet with storage and utilities in the basement It would handle 22 employees and include a boardroom with a capacity for 75 people For years, officials have talked about issues with Village Hall. A few months ago, the mayor said a frog invasion helped make the case for a new building 2025 at 7:06 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Burr Ridge Deputy Police Chief David Allen speaks to the Village Board on Monday about issues with children on electric bicycles and other vehicles IL – Burr Ridge trustees on Monday strengthened local rules on electric scooters and "motorized play vehicles." The new regulations take effect immediately would still be allowed on public roads and banned on sidewalks and pathways electric scooters and motorized play vehicles such as go-karts and single-wheel boards would be prohibited on public roads all violations would be addressed through the village's administrative court Fines would range from $100 to $750 per day per violation But village officials said the rules would be mainly enforced through education and "community engagement," rather than citations That's particularly the case because many of the violators are smaller children Several residents spoke in favor of stricter regulations "The kids I see going up and down 79th Street are junior high boys," resident George Daker said the kids are gone (by the time police arrive)." Burr Ridge resident George Daker on Monday calls for tougher regulations for children on electric bicycles and other such vehicles Deputy Police Chief David Allen said his department's position was safety He said residents have called about children's unsafe behavior with the vehicles in question Many of the calls are from the Village Center shopping complex where police can't enforce the regulations because it's private property but that's not something we would do most of the time," Allen said officials presented a preliminary proposal allowing e-bikes e-scooters and similar vehicles on village sidewalks and pathways at a maximum of 10 mph At the time, trustees pushed stricter regulations calling for an outright prohibition on sidewalks and pathways trustees unanimously approved the new rules But Burr Ridge refuses to release them in any form The village has shown it is serious about keeping the feedback secret It fired an employee who posted the comments to its website last year And it recently declined Patch's public records request for them the village said it promised residents that it would keep their responses "confidential." would amount to an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy." That's an exception under the state's Freedom of Information Act John Kraft of the downstate Edgar County Watchdogs said it doesn't matter what the village promised to survey respondents requires the release of such comments and overrides any pledges to the contrary He said the village can legally black out the names of survey respondents and any personal references to private citizens and businesses Patch asked the village to reconsider its decision In November, officials spoke about the survey results at a Village Board meeting The survey indicated that 99 percent of respondents rated their community positively while 98 percent had an overall feeling of safety 95 percent of respondents have strong confidence in village government Even the lowest percentages of satisfaction were still high – 92 percent for stormwater maintenance and 90 percent for pathway maintenance Patch obtained information about the fired employee through a public records request Village Administrator Evan Walter sent a termination letter to the employee who published the 280 comments on the village website Walter referred to a notice of reprimand against the employee a year earlier Walter alleged the employee disclosed "confidential" survey and personnel information to third parties He also said the employee contacted a member of the finance department to inquire about the salary of an employee with whom she was romantically involved the Village is in no way disciplining you solely for engaging in a romantic relationship or living with a fellow employee; this discipline is related to the inquiry of salary information not your own but of a household member's," Walter said This week, Chicago-based Bridge Industrial said it launched a website for the development and sent out postcards to residents with the link to the site the company said it has prioritized engaging with nearby residents on the project "To ensure transparency and provide comprehensive information we have developed a dedicated website outlining our project’s vision details and answers to common questions," Curt Pascoe misconceptions and highlight the positive impact this development will bring to Burr Ridge and all its residents." Bridge plans to develop the site of the now-closed CNH Industrial plant at 6900 Veterans Boulevard The Plan Commission set its first public hearing on the project for Jan called "Invest in Burr Ridge," said the project would be "recapturing economic opportunity from the vacant CNH industrial property promoting environmental sustainability and returning significant tax dollars to local schools along with a list of broader community benefits." Bridge said the seven commercial buildings would not be a trucking hub or a big box store Bridge said it would pay for a Veterans Boulevard extension and make $5 million in improvements to ease traffic flow and lessen disruptions The firm said 20 acres of the 110-acre site would be for new open space and walking trails. Also, Bridge said it would contribute to the construction of a new public works building for the village would save Burr Ridge taxpayers $12 million in construction costs in addition to the land donation most members of the village's advisory CNH committee said the project would hurt surrounding neighborhoods Some said housing would be a better choice Committee members noted the development has been described as light industrial They said the plan is for around-the-clock truck traffic Village Administrator Evan Walter said Burr Ridge was not involved with Bridge's website or the mailers "The Village did not provide any proprietary data or the like to Bridge to assist them in this endeavor," Walter said in an email and/or representations made on the Invest in Burr Ridge website are those made by Bridge Industrial and were not authored nor endorsed by the Village." Walter said the village would mail a notice to residents next week about the Jan The document would be on the village's letterhead and the notice would be posted on the village's website 2025 at 10:56 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Patti's Sunrise Café is part of the County Line Square shopping center in Burr Ridge The eatery wants outdoor dining permanently a restaurant in the County Line Square shopping center got permission for a year to offer outdoor dining Patti's Sunrise Café wants the right to have it permanently the Burr Ridge Plan Commission is set to review the request the restaurant has featured two outdoor dining areas containing 50 seats the Village Board delayed a vote on an ordinance allowing outdoor dining for a year at Patti's Sunrise Café It did so after Mayor Gary Grasso said the shopping center had roof leaks Grasso wanted the village's staff to ask whether the restaurant's owner which is owned by other Garber family members According to a later village memo, Michael Garber's attorney said his client did not have an ownership interest in the larger County Line Square property. After that, the village approved outdoor dining for a year Village officials have expressed unhappiness with how the shopping center's owners are running things The mayor said he feeds the birds every morning and that a couple of deer like the food But he said Thursday he changed his mind after a resident "politely" informed him that it was against state law to feed deer I will not continue," Grasso said in an email to Patch In 2002, Illinois enacted a ban on feeding deer as part of its effort to limit the spread of chronic wasting disease in the state's wild deer herd with some exceptions such as bird and squirrel feeders close to homes Setting out feed or a salt block that attracts deer could speed up the spread of chronic wasting disease according to the state Department of Natural Resources 2025 at 8:16 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bridge Industrial is looking to build seven commercial buildings on the old 110-acre CNH Industrial site at 6900 Veterans Boulevard IL – Burr Ridge is seeking more information about a proposed industrial development on a 110-acre site in town the Burr Ridge Plan Commission held its first meeting on the plan for seven buildings on the old CNH Industrial site at 6900 Veterans Boulevard On Friday, Janine Farrell, the village's community development director, wrote to the developer about a long list of areas where she said Burr Ridge needs more information The village wants to know the "anticipated full utilization" of the docks "It is recommended to reduce the number of loading docks," Farrell said Farrell also said the commission wants to know the effects of the development on air quality The village also asked Bridge to identify potential tenants It requested the company provide a list of comparable developments so the commission and staff can visit them Bridge should also include information on the tenants in the other developments the truck traffic generated and the closeness to uses such as residential The next meeting on the development is set for March 17 Bridge has said the seven commercial buildings would not be a trucking hub or a big box store The firm also said 20 acres of the 110-acre site would be for new open space and walking trails Additionally, Bridge said it would contribute to the construction of a new public works building for the village 2025 at 7:41 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Mayor Gary Grasso told his colleagues Monday about seeing 10 deer in his backyard the other night IL – Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso took a moment at Monday's Village Board meeting to show one of the reasons he likes living in the village Grasso displayed a photo of a herd of deer in his backyard Grasso lives in the neighborhood east of Ruth Lake Country Club He marveled at how many deer there are in town saying he did not grow up in a Burr Ridge-type town growing up "I just think it's just one of the great things about living in Burr Ridge where we have enough land and open space 20 miles from downtown Chicago," Grasso said perhaps finding it at a sporting goods store that serves hunters I get that people like to do that," the mayor said Darien also reported break-ins at two restaurants The Burr Ridge businesses were Falco's Pizza 104 Burr Ridge Parkway; Vince's Flower Shop 110 Burr Ridge Parkway; and the Are We Live lounge Suspects tried to enter La Cabanita restaurant Burr Ridge police said three suspects were possibly involved The break-ins were believed to have occurred between 1 a.m Unknown amounts of cash were stolen from Great American Bagel local police were notified about a broken window at Rosati's Pizza officers discovered a break-in at Al Chile Mexican Grill Grand Opening Celebration Comes with Fun and Great Prizes for Guests 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thorntons is proud to announce the opening of its newest Chicagoland store— and its 95th location in the state of Illinois The company now operates a total of 75 stores in the Chicagoland area This new 4,400 square foot facility is set on 1.8 acres and features a number of amenities to serve on-the-go Guests including: Thorntons invites the community to be part of our grand opening celebration on October 4 from 3:00 p.m Guests who enter the new store will receive a Thorntons gift card which they can immediately scan at the register to determine the value1 One lucky Guest will win a $1,000 gift card During the Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 3:00 p.m. Thorntons leadership will present Northern Illinois Food Bank with a $2,500 donation This contribution is in honor of the new store opening and is part of Thorntons' ongoing commitment to help feed the hungry in all of the communities where it operates which is located at 2600 James Thornton Way Must be at least 16 years old to receive prize Promotion will continue while supplies last There will only be 1 $1,000 Thorntons gift card MEDIA CONTACT Pierce FeltnerCorporate Communications[email protected]Media Hotline: 844.945.3321 Thorntons is proud to announce the opening of its newest Chicagoland store— and its 95th location in the state of Illinois Thorntons is proud to announce the opening of its newest Chicagoland store— and its 94th location in the state of Illinois Food & Beverages Retail Corporate Expansion Do not sell or share my personal information: 2025 at 11:39 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Burr Ridge plans to crack down on the practice of contractors doing work without permits IL – Burr Ridge experienced at least a couple of instances last year in which contractors were alleged to have done work without permits Officials aim to crack down on the practice Village Administrator Evan Walter said officials planned to start a contractor registration program "This will require contractors to register with us they won't be able to work in the village," Walter said "That'll also hold them accountable to residents and make sure that work gets done quickly and more by the book for (residents') benefit." Last summer, a family alleged that their contractor did not get a permit for a fence But Mayor Gary Grasso later said the village learned the contractor advised them to get one The village ordered the family to take down part of the fence In another case last year, a resident who is also a contractor continued a construction project at his house without a permit, despite a stop work order from the village a shopping center and two religious assembly buildings are planned for Route 83 southwest of Burr Ridge Two Hindu religious buildings are already on the site for Chinmaya Mission Chicago They are a retreat and an instructional center called Badri – A School of Vedantic Studies DuPage County is considering zoning for the project then the development must pass the County Board with a three-fourths vote the village's Plan Commission plans to review the project a 14,000-square-foot shopping center and two religious buildings covering 55,000 square feet 2025 at 6:22 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Burr Ridge officials are looking to build Village Hall in this parking lot at the private Village Center shopping complex Some have expressed concern this would worsen parking at the Village Center The parking lot was mostly full early Monday afternoon IL – Burr Ridge's idea to build a new Village Hall at the private Village Center shopping complex is no sure thing At a Village Board meeting, Mayor Gary Grasso said the village won't build a new Village Hall unless the board is satisfied it can be done in a fiscally sound manner "There will be full public hearings before any commitment to a Village Hall is made," he said officials revealed their preferred site for building a new Village Hall It would be on an undeveloped outlot near Starbucks at Village Center the process with the Village Center experienced a "hiccup" because of an issue with the center's lender "We have to get some more definition," he said the village said the estimated cost of a new 13,000-square-foot Grasso said the village received messages from residents opposed to a $10.5 million building But he said the town is now figuring it could cost about $8.5 million "We're going to still investigate some things," he said For years, officials have talked about issues with the 40-year-old Village Hall. Last fall, the mayor said a frog invasion helped make the case for a new building The proposed building would be smaller than the current one but the village constructed a new building next door for the police in 2010 The village is looking to sell the current Village Hall to Pleasantdale School District 107 which wants to renovate the structure for an early childhood education center 2025 at 12:03 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Brookhaven Marketplace A committee is reviewing the request Wednesday IL – A Burr Ridge grocery store is requesting $400,000 from a special tax district to help pay for a renovation is the largest tenant in the County Line Square shopping center It has been there for two decades and owned in part by John Manos The store is planning a $1.8 million project "The planned renovations represent a significant reinvestment in the property enhancing its value and attracting more customers to the area," the store's lawyer The $400,000 would come from a 4-year-old 1 percent sales tax in the business district The tax money was intended to benefit the district itself with such things as buildings demolition of buildings and renovations of existing ones the business district tax doesn't apply to most of the store's items the village receives 1 percent of the sale of almost all of Brookhaven's goods Olguin said the store would support a village decision to enact a 1 percent grocery tax to replace the lost income This is something the village can do under state law The Garber family owns County Line Square and agrees to the project, according to a Burr Ridge memo The village said it has no indication the landlord is helping pay for the project Brookhaven is seeking a long-term lease extension the Burr Ridge Economic Development Committee plans to consider Brookhaven Marketplace's request But one member questioned why the village let the existing building deteriorate The mayor countered that such a suggestion was an "affront." Village Administrator Evan Walter said the existing 40-year-old building needs $6 million in work had $4.8 million in its accounts to help pay for it Walter pushed spending up to $10.5 million for a new Village Hall near the Starbucks at the Village Center shopping complex He said the Village Center offered free land "I'm excited about getting free land on a developed site That's not something that comes along too often," he said What makes the new building seem more possible, Walter said, is the $2 million that the village received from the state last year – it "fell out of the sky," as the mayor put it The money went to the village because a company with a Burr Ridge address hadn't paid sales taxes locally The village also hopes to use money from a 1 percent sales tax in the business district that consists of the Village Center the village imposed the tax to benefit the district itself with buildings Some of Burr Ridge's water department income could also go toward the project because the department would use the building Trustees generally seemed supportive of the new Village Hall But Trustee Russell Smith was an exception He said a homeowner would be doing a bad job if he did not keep up his property But he said that's what the village had done with Village Hall He wondered whether the village would fail to properly maintain a new Village Hall "I would think our residents would have a big issue with that," Smith said "Big issue with what?" Mayor Gary Grasso asked "The way we manage our buildings," Smith responded Grasso said the city has prioritized other projects such as fixing water mains "We may have Band-Aided (Village Hall) day to day and I take a little affront because what you're saying is that past mayors .. somehow allowed this building to deteriorate and didn't take care of the other problems Smith said the village needed to give more specific numbers on what it would take to fix the building "I think we need to kind of scratch below the surface," he said Trustee Guy Franzese said he appreciated Smith's comments about the cost estimates saying it placed other items as priorities such as water mains and roadwork "That's a palace that's gold-plated everything," he said Grasso said the number was higher than what the village thinks it would cost He said it was best to start out high and then come down but I don't think it's a very hard decision," he said He added that future boards should commit to maintain the building The board made no decisions at the meeting 2025 at 11:30 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Bridge Industrial is looking to build seven commercial buildings on the old 110-acre CNH Industrial site at 6900 Veterans Boulevard IL – The developer planning an industrial complex on a 110-acre site in Burr Ridge is seeking a delay in the second public hearing The village's Plan Commission had set a hearing for Monday on the project sought to postpone it to a yet-to-be-determined date The first and only hearing was held on Jan The firm says it plans 20 acres of the 110-acre site to be for new open space and walking trails But village officials did not utter a word about it during an open Village Board meeting It was during a discussion about the village's alcohol and drug policy for employees Trustee Russell Smith suggested the board strengthen its rules by calling for the termination of employees who violate the policy He referred to the "unfortunate incident" last year "I just think we can't leave loose ends in these documents if we have issues with employees that are abusing our drug and alcohol policy," he said Mayor Gary Grasso said he understood Smith's point but wasn't sure whether the village could legally make a termination automatic but there might be extenuating circumstances," the mayor said Smith said the reference to "work days" in the alcohol and drug policy may be considered an escape hatch for last year's arrest That was when the deputy police chief was out of state and off the clock during FBI training Grasso said he did not believe there was a loophole He was on village business when it happened," the mayor said On April 15, then-Deputy Chief Ryan Husarik, who was later demoted to sergeant was arrested on a drunken-driving charge in suburban Washington where he was attending the FBI National Academy Virginia state police reported his blood-alcohol level at 2½ times the legal limit in Virginia was driving a police car when he was arrested Last June, Patch broke the news of Husarik's arrest. The village later hired a "crisis" public relations firm to contain the fallout Upon request, Burr Ridge released the Virginia police report to Patch, but decided to keep the arrest video secret. Virginia authorities have also chosen to keep the footage under wraps the breakfast restaurant at 595 Village Center Drive shut its doors after 2½ years "This is a moment we have been waiting for for over a year," ower Taki Kastanis said at the time The chain started in Chicago's South Loop in 2006 Six other locations are in Chicago and one is in the suburbs The chain includes six out-of-state restaurants – four in the Dallas area and two in Indianapolis Yolk plans to open a restaurant in Boynton Beach 2025 at 2:11 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Pleasantdale School District 107 has expressed interest in buying Burr Ridge Village Hall for all-day kindergarten Mayor Gary Grasso said at a Village Board meeting IL – Pleasantdale School District 107 is considering buying Burr Ridge Village Hall for an all-day kindergarten the district has been looking for a place for what has been described as an early childhood education center Most of the Village Board appears to favor building a new Village Hall next to Starbucks at the Village Center shopping complex The 40-year-old Village Hall has been appraised at $1 million The village said the building needs millions of dollars in improvements Mayor Gary Grasso revealed Pleasantdale is interested in the building particularly because it is next to the police station "We think we can sell it for a price that is well over the appraised value because of the added value of the building being where it is and especially in proximity to the police department," the mayor said He said Pleasantdale indicated it would be able to refurbish the building for its purposes did not return an emailed message for comment Thursday morning In November, Lyons Township High School officials said Pleasantdale expressed interest in a part of the high school's Willow Springs land next to the district's elementary school said during a meeting that Pleasantdale wants six acres of the high school's land "to build a new facility expand traffic patterns and ensure enough green and playground space." they feel six acres is sufficient to accommodate those needs," Grech said "They noted those six acres could be purchased donated or a combination of both if or when we get to that point." Palzet did not return a message for comment 2025 at 11:26 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Burr Ridge Administrator Evan Walter said Thursday the village was proceeding with a drainage project no matter what happens to federal money that was promised for it IL – Burr Ridge this week endured a common situation among towns – uncertainty over the status of a federal grant Earlier this week, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for a federal funding freeze, sparking confusion about what it affected. He rescinded the order Wednesday At issue in Burr Ridge is a $785,000 grant that the village expects for the Elm Street culvert project which promises to solve flooding in that area a resident emailed Village Administrator Evan Walter about the status of the federal money Walter said the village assumed the money had been temporarily suspended "(G)iven that the answer to almost every question from every sector on every type of project regarding funding availability at this time is 'we don't know,' we will be working with our federal representatives to obtain better information on this matter," he said Walter said the village was proceeding normally with the project "The Village is fully committed to this project has no plan or consideration to alter its timing or scope and would determine an alternative funding method if grant monies became unavailable thanks to our enviable financial position," Walter said He said the village appreciated the bipartisan money approved for the project with the help of U.S Walter said he looked forward to the Village Board hosting an event later this year to mark the project's completion The flooding near Elm Elementary is the result of floodwater going to the deteriorating Elm Street culvert from several towns The project is expected to cost $1 million In October, the village explained to the public why the project 2025 at 6:18 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Brian Stachacz Lyons Township High School's director of business services told the board in closed session in 2022 that he expected "real pushback" from Burr Ridge over selling the school's land to an industrial buyer (Lyons Township High School/via video)BURR RIDGE IL – Burr Ridge became a subject during Lyons Township High School's secret discussions in 2022 about selling land to an industrial developer "One of the areas where we're going to get real pushback is Burr Ridge," Brian Stachacz told the board during a May 2022 closed meeting During several closed sessions, officials predicted Willow Springs would object to industrial uses on the high school's wooded land at 79th Street and Willow Springs Road Such uses are banned in the area in question which is next to houses and an elementary school Stachacz agreed about Willow Springs' likely opposition But he also said neighboring Burr Ridge would be affected He said truck traffic for a warehouse-type development would get off at Interstate 55 The trucks would then go on Burr Ridge's section of County Line Road "I think Burr Ridge is going to jump on that," Stachacz said In February 2023, the Burr Ridge Village Board joined other towns in adopting a resolution opposing industrial uses The village declared that such uses would have a "deleterious effect" on Edgewood Valley Country Club, which is next to the high school's land and was annexed to the village a year earlier Burr Ridge also stated it opposed any attempt to de-annex the high school's property from Willow Springs. That same fear was expressed by officials in area towns said that if Willow Springs did not approve industrial zoning the school had "other remedies." He did not indicate what those remedies were and school board members did not inquire – at least publicly then-board member Julie Swinehart asked Dalianis about the allegation of de-annexation I'm surprised they're mentioning that," Dalianis said "It's a Herculean task for removing (the property) without the acquiescences of both public bodies." the board would not answer the public's questions about the property members sat stone-faced as residents criticized the planned land sale to an industrial buyer Nearly all the board's discussions were behind closed doors That secrecy violated the state Open Meetings Act, the attorney general ruled. The law allows the board to discuss setting the price of real estate in closed session. But Dalianis interpreted that exception to mean the board could talk about anything remotely connected to the sale. The board later ousted his firm the board released the latest batch of closed-session recordings at the attorney general's request At several school board meetings in 2023, Burr Ridge Trustee Guy Franzese spoke out against the board's plan. After members changed their approach later in 2023, Franzese again addressed the board honest community engagement will go a long way to regain the trust that this board lost with this community," said Franzese After the uproar from residents and officials, the board pulled the plug on the effort in March 2023 The board is still looking to sell the land, but not to an industrial developer. It has held discussions in public Recordings of the closed sessions are available on the "Neighbors of Pleasantdale" YouTube page 2024 at 5:07 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Art B Studio opened recently at 302 Burr Ridge Parkway in County Line Square camps and parties for all ages and includes a small retail section with books and art supplies IL – An art studio recently opened in Burr Ridge where people can "experiment with art and nurture imagination curiosity and self-expression," according to a news release a part of the County Line Square shopping center The business offers a free baby story time called Baby Book Bees a Willowbrook resident for more than a decade "I really wanted to open a studio in our community for people to be creative," Lawrence said in the news release I couldn’t find what I wanted for my children and decided to do something about it.” She is also a leader for her two daughters' Girl Scout troops and serves on the board of the Gower Foundation Lawrence worked at Indian Prairie Public Library in Darien For more information about Student B Art, visit its website BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge's former deputy police chief can rest easy: It's likely the video of his drunken-driving arrest in Virginia will never see the light of day Despite numerous attempts since last spring was arrested on a drunken driving charge in suburban Washington In response to a public records request earlier this year, Burr Ridge released the Virginia police report, which it obtained through an internal investigation. But it declined to divulge the video Patch then asked Virginia state police for the video a Patch reporter in Virginia filed the same request for the video residency makes a difference under Virginia's public records law The state police quickly denied the Virginia reporter The agency said the video was part of a closed criminal investigative file and that it is exempt from the records law unless the requester meets a few exceptions The state police said they used their discretion to deny the request and that its decision applied to any documents in the case Virginia's records law is more restrictive than the one in Illinois executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government said the law does not bar the state police from releasing the video But she said the agency has the discretion to withhold it "The only way to pry it loose after repeated denials that are unfortunately allowed under existing law is to challenge the denial in court (this is how all .. as is the case in most states)," Rhyne said in an email Wednesday the video may have shown whether Husarik used his status as a police officer to attempt to convince Virginia authorities to let him go Burr Ridge's records show that the village received the footage of Husarik's arrest the village cited an exemption under the state's open records law for documents relating to a public body's adjudication of an employee's discipline that video would likely have been subject to the state's records law He was later demoted to sergeant 2025 at 8:35 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Oscar Rodriguez who lives in the 9100 block of South Madison Street in Burr Ridge was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated domestic battery (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)BURR RIDGE IL – A Burr Ridge man killed his mother late last week and a mini sledgehammer is believed to be the weapon Burr Ridge police were called to the house on Madison Street vomiting blood and suffering a major wound to the left side of her head according to a news release from DuPage County prosecutors Another person was in the home at the time of the attack the witness saw Virna Rodriguez sitting at the table bleeding Oscar Rodriguez chased the witness upstairs but Oscar Rodriguez broke through the door The woman then locked herself in a bathroom Oscar Rodriguez briefly banged on the door before fleeing State police arrested him a few hours later without any problems Officers said they found the mini sledgehammer in the snow in bushes along the front sidewalk It had what was believed to be blood on it Oscar Rodriguez was ordered jailed until his trial was charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm (DuPage County State's Attorney's Office)Franshun Jordan was charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm IL – Two more men were arrested in the last few days for their roles in a mass shooting during a Juneteenth celebration in 2023 near Burr Ridge Police said the shooting left one man dead and 22 injured In October 2023, Anthony Mothershed, 19, of Aurora, was arrested in the shooting DuPage County sheriff's deputies were alerted about gunshots during the celebration at a shopping center at Route 83 and Honeysuckle Rose Lane It is in an unincorporated area across the highway from Burr Ridge Authorities said 31-year-old Reginald Meadows of Willowbrook had been shot and killed Turner and Jordan were standing outside Legacy Beauty Supply chased another person and shot at the person but also into the dense crowd Jordan ran into an alcove near the front of Legacy Beauty Supply and then emerged from the alcove He ran toward the parking lot and shot at people leaving on foot and in cars Both men were reported to have fled separately Deputies apprehended Turner on Tuesday and Jordan over the weekend Both men were charged with two counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm Turner was also charged with one count of aggravated unlawful possession of a firearm Mothershed faces one count of aggravated discharge of a firearm in the direction of another person and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon Turner and Jordan were ordered to stay jailed until their trial Mothershed remains in the DuPage County Jail IL – A proposal for a commercial development in Burr Ridge drew opposition Wednesday from a village committee reviewing it Members said the plan to build seven industrial buildings on the old CNH Industrial property would hurt surrounding neighborhoods Officials said representatives of the developer the 110-acre site at 6900 Veterans Boulevard has been the site of International Harvester quiet research and assembly facility to where all industrial uses would be permitted," committee member Steve Patterson said Member Colleen McCormack suggested the site would be better for multifamily housing She said Burr Ridge does not need more single-family houses Member Ingrid Tepler objected to the proposed truck traffic "One of the biggest red flags from Bridge is the 24-7 trucking which is what is required to make their business model feasible," she said Another member, former Burr Ridge Trustee Bob Grela said he was neither a supporter nor opponent of the proposal But he said he wanted to provide "counterpoints" to the committee speaks on Wednesday against a proposed industrial development as fellow member Bob Grela looks on Grela said he has been familiar with Bridge for the last three decades of his professional life He said the site is near two major expressways which he called a "major plus" for logistics Grela also said he was "shocked" the village approved the Fieldstone and Fieldstone Club subdivisions years ago because they are next to CNH he said he figured residents in those neighborhoods would eventually get a "horrible surprise" at what could be allowed on the site Patterson responded by saying Bridge's proposed development doesn't meet the village's code "They have to get a massive zoning change," he said asked the members whether anything in the proposal would make it acceptable Most members said the plan would have to be heavily amended Grela said the plan would be "workable with amendments." But he countered those who suggested housing for the site saying developers would be "hard-pressed" to get a return on their investment for such a use traditionally resists multifamily housing and requires big lots for houses said she has lived in the neighborhood all her life Grela responded that the village must review proposals from any property owner an attorney with an office near the CNH property "This facility doesn't make sense," he said "It will terribly impact all of us – the noise A Plan Commission hearing on the proposal was originally set for Nov the same day as the presidential inauguration The commission is expected to make a recommendation on the development to the Village Board Bridge had initially considered a Costco for the site. But it pulled that from the plan after neighbors' opposition International Harvester's decision to build a research center nearby prompted residents to vote for incorporation in 1956 as the village of Harvester The name changed to Burr Ridge six years later Burr Ridge's Harvester Park was named in honor of the company whose office is near the old CNH Industrial site says Wednesday a proposal for seven commercial buildings "doesn't make sense." (David Giuliani/Patch) Bridge Industrial is looking to build seven commercial buildings on the old 110-acre CNH Industrial site IL – Burr Ridge Village Administrator Evan Walter is seeing his pay rise to $210,000 The Village Board voted unanimously last week for the increase Mayor Gary Grasso said the village intended to "lock down" Walter's salary for four years starting in May "We increased his compensation for his excellent performance and results," the mayor said Walter has served as village administrator since November 2020 Many municipal managers get salaries over $200,000 Walter makes more than the manager in neighboring Western Springs 2025 at 2:30 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Burr Ridge Police Department is budgeted to employ 28 sworn officers IL – The Burr Ridge Police Department is authorized to have 28 sworn officers village trustees asked whether that was enough which is known as a busy area for law enforcement Burr Ridge has one officer for about every 400 residents The department is looking to fill the 28th position As for whether Burr Ridge has the right number of officers Police Chief Marc Loftus referred the question to his supervisor Walter said the village always could use more officers But he warned it might not be the right time for more officers because the village is losing two sources of income which the state has given to towns but is eliminating as of January but Burr Ridge trustees have not indicated they will The other source of income is rent from Nanophase Technologies a longtime tenant in a village-owned building but I'd like to add revenue to help us be sustainable," Walter said Walter said the public works department also could use more staff even though the police tend to "steal the show" during budget presentations the village has 13 frontline public works employees They must deal with many more road miles and mains than their counterparts in denser towns such as Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills "It creates challenges for both police and public works because of how spread out the beats and the sectors are in our town," Walter said "So we just said it would be nice to add more police I think we should at least also consider adding to public works again for the same reason." He said his administration department laid off two part-time employees recently with the long-term goal of freeing up money for the frontline departments of police and public works "We were willing to take the loss first for efficiency's sake," he said Mayor Gary Grasso posted a statement to the village's website about the nine-minute video Last Wednesday, the man filmed Sgt. Ryan Husarik and Officer Timothy Lesniak in the parking lot at the County Line Square shopping center. Last April, then-Deputy Chief Husarik was arrested on a drunken driving charge in Virginia while he was in a squad car. He was later demoted the YouTuber got in the way of Husarik's squad car and the man repeatedly accused them of being drunk Husarik called Deputy Chief Kristopher Garcia to inform him of the incident Husarik administered a breath test as Garcia watched on showed Husarik had no alcohol in his system he has posted more than 150 videos of police officers in the Chicago suburbs Grasso said the man made an unwarranted 911 call to demand more officers stating he had waited for police for two hours The man further said he feared for his life but the mayor said that assertion had no basis other than to fabricate a 911 incident The mayor said Lesniak and Husarik professionally de-escalated the situation and that they and the man went their separate ways Grasso called the man's allegations "patently manufactured and factually false." "This was a staged set-up that will not be tolerated," he said self-proclaimed 'First Amendment auditor,' whose channel's sole purpose is to be confrontational and attempt to place local governments in compromising situations." Grasso noted the man's questions to Husarik and his request for the spelling of the sergeant's name it was clear that the man would have accused whoever was on duty of misconduct then accurately informed the man he was making an improper 911 call with no existing emergency "The filming party demanded to be arrested in another staged attempt to likely claim his civil rights had been violated," the mayor said the officers could not be baited to do so." He said the village would defend its officers against false accusations "I have asked counsel to vigorously investigate legal action against the filming party for these actions," Grasso said Bridge Industrial also plans open space in the northern portion of the site at 6900 Veterans Boulevard That part is near houses in the Fieldstone subdivision Also in the plan is the building of a village public works facility on the southern part of the site Last year, Bridge Industrial considered including a Costco in the development, but dropped that idea a few months ago in the face of neighbors' opposition the developer submitted a proposal that included a mix of townhomes on the 110-acre site But Bridge decided against including the homes The developer said it did so to increase open space provide community amenities and reduce traffic Bridge said it would plant more than 1,300 trees the majority of which would be on the edges of the development "The proposed plan is also a significant improvement over existing conditions The proposed buildings are 400 feet further south from the Fieldstone subdivision compared to the northern wall of the existing CNH facility," Bridge said in its application the developer said a traffic light was needed at Plainfield Road and High Grove Boulevard CNH wanted to sell the property because it was consolidating its operations 2024 at 4:11 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Houses in the 15W300 Block of 87th Street and the 8600 block of Johnston Road were burglarized late Saturday night IL – A couple of people attempted to burglarize two houses in Burr Ridge late Saturday night They are believed to be connected to burglaries in other suburbs, including possibly a home invasion in Bolingbrook a man and a boy first targeted a house in the 15W300 Block of 87th Street They then tried to break into a house shortly before midnight in the 8600 block of Johnston Road Oak Brook police found the suspects' car and took them to the Burr Ridge police station while the adult was taken to the Lemont station where he was charged with residential burglary The cases in Burr Ridge remain an active and ongoing investigation Police Chief Marc Loftus said in an email to Patch 2024 at 3:25 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Burr Ridge's incumbent politicians are seeking re-election April 1 IL – The Burr Ridge officials whose terms are up next year are seeking re-election they have no opposition in the April 1 election Clerk Susan Schaus and trustees Guy Franzese Anita Mital and Russell Smith filed their paperwork Tuesday Challengers have until next Monday to do so. But their petitions would be expected to face scrutiny – a process where local politicians are known to play hardball The terms for the other three trustees – Al Paveza, Tony Schiappa and Joe Snyder – end in 2027. They all ran unopposed in the 2023 election In the 2021 election, Grasso and his allies defeated his lone dissenter on the board, Zach Mottl, whom the board reprimanded repeatedly The local political establishment rallied around incumbents Mital and Franzese and newcomer Smith Mottl and Grasso have been at odds since the two faced each other in the 2019 mayor's election 2024 at 4:31 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Burr Ridge Police Department's newest deputy chief is Kristopher Garcia IL – Kristopher Garcia has been named as a deputy chief in the Burr Ridge Police Department was ceremonially sworn in as deputy chief at Monday's Village Board meeting He started as a patrol officer and later served as a firearms instructor Garcia received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Lewis University he will oversee the department's support services contributing to the department's ongoing safety and efficiency Garcia is filling the position left vacant after former Deputy Chief Ryan Husarik was demoted to sergeant following a DUI arrest while was he driving a police car in Virginia The police department has seen changes in its upper ranks this year In August, the Village Board approved Deputy Chief Marc Loftus as the new chief, replacing longtime Chief John Madden, who retired Shortly after, another department veteran, David Allen, was appointed to fill Loftus' deputy chief position 2025 at 12:29 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Saia LTL Freight is south of the Chestnut Hills townhome subdivision in Burr Ridge Neighbors are upset with the trucking hub's new lights IL – Neighbors of a trucking hub in Burr Ridge are upset with the noise and lights put up in December They brought up their concerns at Monday's Village Board meeting The neighbors are in the Chestnut Hills townhome subdivision They are north of the Saia LTL Freight hub The residents said the lights violated a years-old agreement when the village annexed the industrial property They also said the problem likely happened because personnel had changed at the local site Chestnut Hills resident John Summers spoke of the "rather idyllic view" of the wetlands between Saia and the subdivision "Then the lights of Wrigley Field appeared and have changed the view in the evenings," he said He urged the village to speak with Georgia-based Saia "Remind them that there was an agreement in place." and it really doesn't reduce the sound at all," Ryan said Village Administrator Evan Walter said Saia has been responsive to the village about the lights "The lights are going to get fixed in the next few weeks I just can't give you an exact date," he said He said the village would work more with neighbors on the light issue 2024 at 6:47 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}State Rep defeated Democrat Suzanne Akhras in the race for the 82nd House seat defeated her Democratic opponent in a landslide Tuesday La Ha received 60 percent of the vote to Democrat Suzanne Akhras' 40 percent The 82nd House district includes Burr Ridge Donations from Republican Party groups powered La Ha's campaign, which won the fundraising race. Akhras' contributions were mostly from individuals. Major Democratic organizations did not give to Akhras' campaign In late September, the House Republican Organization hinted in a news release that Akhras, a Muslim, appeared fine with terrorism This was after Akhras' campaign said it received multiple reports that a survey was being circulated telling residents she belonged to Islamic terrorist groups Islamophobic and xenophobic," Akhras said in an interview at the time "You're seeing these types of attacks on the national level." In mid-October, nine town leaders in the 82nd District endorsed La Ha They were village presidents Tom Cauley of Hinsdale and Melissa Neddermeyer of Willow Springs and mayors Gary Grasso of Burr Ridge Christina Neitzke-Troike of Homer Glen and John Egofske of Lemont Days before last Christmas, area Republican leaders picked La Ha to fill the seat left vacant by the resignation of Egofske Egofske himself was appointed after Republican Jim Durkin of Western Springs resigned following the November 2022 election America and the former press secretary for the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus 2024 at 2:01 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}This is a rendering of the Burr Ridge Village Center's "Entertainment District," which is an open-air buildout (Courtesy of Burr Ridge Village Center)BURR RIDGE which is often seen as Burr Ridge's version of downtown is launching what it calls an "Entertainment District." The business said it invested $2 million in an open-air buildout the district features a pedestrian-friendly outdoor area by Hampton Social The new space includes an archway entrance we are proud to present a place where every visit is an opportunity for enjoyment and discovery and we invite everyone to be a part of this exciting new chapter," Ramzi Hassan president of Village Center owner Edwards Realty The district is set to be unveiled Thursday