DOWNERS GROVE - Larry Silverman didn’t know a registered sex offender had moved into a home on his block until he received a notice from the Downers Grove Police Department.
Silverman, the father of two young children, was troubled.
“This guy was some kind of child molester,” he said. “I was really concerned. I went ballistic on it.”
To make matters worse, the sex offender's home was located near a school bus stop, Silverman said.
"Apparently, there's nothing we can do," Silverman said of bus stop's proximity to the offender's house. "We just stay away."
Silverman has ask questions contacted a variety of people to express his concerns.
He called the police, Downers Grove officials, representatives from Downers Grove Grade School District 58 and a nearby parochial school.
Downers Grove resident Basia Cosentino received the email Silverman sent to members of the community notifying them of the sex offender.
She, in turn, passed the information along to her network of friends and neighbors.
"There was a lot of feedback," said Costentino, the mother of two children.
Silverman and Cosentino decided to take some additional steps to inform the community. The result is a community meeting featuring Downers Grove Police Detective Rob Bylls.
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. Paul United Church of Christ, 5739 Dunham Road, Downers Grove.
Bylls will discuss the laws related to registered sex offenders followed by a question-and-answer session, Silverman said.
"Pass the word," Silverman said. "I just feel like what else can we do."