Riverside-Brookfield Landmark

Repairs are underway at the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library to correct an issue present since the building’s opening: a “black substance” has been dripping from the building’s exterior since shortly after it was completed five years ago. “When I came over here, and I saw [the construction], I thought ‘what the heck is going on now,’” Brookfield resident Eileen Dow-Sarocco said.

Dear Reader, When our publications joined NEWSWELL earlier this year, we talked about building a stronger, more sustainable future for local journalism. Today, I’m excited to share one of the first major signs of that future taking shape. NEWSWELL Chicago has received a transformative three-year grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that will allow us to expand our newsroom with three additional full-time reporters and an editor – greatly expanding our reporting corps.

Following the Independence Day parade and 5k two weekends ago and Riverside Arts Weekend in June, there are still plenty of things to do in the area this summer. Free concerts, the Family Camp Out, and the annual Antique & Classic Car Show are a few of the events coming to Riverside and North Riverside this season. Thursdays: Through the end of July, North Riverside is hosting Summer Concerts in the Park at the Village Commons,  2401 S.

Skip to content Are you interested in receiving the physical copy of our newspaper each week? Check out this link to become a subscriber. Sign up for our free newsletter to get latest news and updates on Riverside and Brookfield. Processing… Success! You're on the list. Whoops! There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Please reload the page and try again.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Owen Murphy’s introduction to Major League Baseball was a quick one. After the 2022 Riverside Brookfield High School graduate was called up for the first time Monday, he made his debut that night in the 10th inning of the Braves’ 7-6 loss to the visiting New York Mets. Wearing No. 73, the right-handed Murphy took the loss after entering with the game tied 5-5. Murphy got the first two outs with the ghost runner advancing to third base and then hit a batter.

Overview: Brookfield Majors softball third; Intermediate baseball loses title series During their regular season, several Brookfield Little League Majors 12-and-under all-star players were known as the Comeback Kids. In District 9 all-star tournament play, Monday, Brookfield stayed true to that nickname. Brookfield nearly rallied from a late three-run deficit but lost to LaGrange Park 7-5 at Ehlert Park to finish third in the six-team, double-elimination bracket with a 2-2 overall record.

Lyons Township High School senior Bella Recker entered her senior girls water polo season with high expectations. She more than fulfilled them with her best season statistics-wise and was named first team all-state for the second year in a row. LTHS seniors Bebe Wright and Avery Watanabe were named third-team all-state. “I was very happy to get first team all-state again,” Recker said.

Senior Xavier Mrozik-DeJesus made quite an impact on the Riverside Brookfield High School boys lacrosse program upon transferring as a sophomore from Fenwick. Mrozik-DeJesus took another big step in his final season. He earned second-team all-state honors after being honorable mention all-state in 2025 and all-sectional as a sophomore and all-conference with Fenwick.

Every year around the end of June, people from near and far gather in Riverside to participate in the annual Riverside regatta, a kayaking trip along the portion of the Des Plaines River that borders the village. This year’s regatta on Saturday, June 28 — the 10th iteration since the event began — drew about 20 participants, according to Alex Gallegos, a founding member of the event through the Riverside Township Lions Club, of which he has formerly been the president.

After Brookfield’s village board voted unanimously in June to approve a special use permit for a cannabis dispensary at 9500 Ogden Ave., officials working on the project are looking forward to seeing it progress. “It was such a relief. [I was] happy,” said Tanya Griffin, the CEO of cannabis consulting firm Water + Trees, of her reaction at the June 22 meeting.