AustinWeeklyNews_011525 by Wednesday Journal

Rep. Ford les new bill to regulate delta-8

The rst bill of this legislative session proposes delta-8 regulation, rather than banning most sales like the previous bill

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Last week, a bill died in the Illinois General Assembly that would have banned most sales of delta-8, an unregulated psychoactive material found in the cannabis plant. Delta-8 can be bought from the likes of smoke shops or gas stations by anyone, including minors.

While Gov. JB Pritzker approved the bill –sponsored by state Sen. Kimberly Lightford –Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson didn’t, saying delta-8 is a good source of revenue for the city, which has a budget deficit projected over $980 million for the 2025 fiscal y ear. The bill died this month, when it failed to receive three-fifths of the House votes.

Now, Rep. La Shawn Ford has filed the first bill in the Illinois House this legislative session, which began Jan. 8. His new bill is a departure

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Illinois saw about a 116% increase in homelessness based on a January 2024 Point-in-Time Count, a report of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness on a single night.

Illinois was one of 43 states, as well as the District of Columbia, to report increases in 2024. Many factors could account for the increase, including the national shortage of af fordable housing and wages that aren’t keeping pace with costs of living.

HOMELESSNESS

Spikes in Chicago

from page 1

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, started in 2007, revealed that Illinois’ unhoused population grew from 11,947 in 2023 to 25,832 in 2024. Most of that increase, about 91% according to Fox 32 Chicago, was in Chicago.

For Housing Forward, a nonprofit organization working to end homelessness in west suburban Cook County, that increase from 2023 to 2024 was about 18%, mirroring the national average That means nationally, more than 770,000 individuals were experiencing homelessness in January 2024, according to NPR

The January 2025 Point-inTime Count will be conducted in suburban Cook County on Jan. 29. Results likely won’t be available for several months.

“I think it’s going to increase again, unfortunately,” said Lynda Schueler, Housing Forward’s chief executive officer. “We’re seeing an increase in our unsheltered counts at our agency and similarly across the continuum.”

Point-in-Time Counts

households that are experiencing homelessness,” Schueler said, compared to white households.

What ’s causing this increase?

A significant shortage of af fordable housing units and wages that don’t keep pace with the cost of living are both key contributors to the rising homelessness in the United States, Schueler pointed out.

Nationally, Schueler said af fordable housing units are short by 7.5 million to 10 million units. In Illinois, there needs to be about 300,000 more of these units, she said.

And people are living paycheck to paycheck. Without competitive wages, it can be quite difficult to keep pace with the ever-g rowing cost of living.

Another reason for the increase could be

their monthly income toward rent and utilities and a local housing authority pays the remainder to the property owner. Income restrictions typically apply.

“Additional rental assistance dollars are needed because that’s going to be a much quicker response to trying to get somebody from an unhoused situation to a housed situation,” she said. “That’s the most expeditious route.”

Housing For ward ’s e orts

The nonprofit monitors data on the unhoused population on a re gular basis, Schueler said, analyzing trends monthly.

As of Jan. 9, 89 individuals were on Housing Forward’s waitlist for shelters.

The growing unhoused population and need for resources prompted Housing Forward to ask Oak Park for about $800,000 to help expand street outreach and expedite housing matches. board has not yet decided how or if to provide those funds, but they could help prevent bottlenecks

The counts are conducted from about 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on a single night in January. Small groups go out and attempt to count unsheltered individuals within a large service area, Schueler explained. There do tend to be “hot spots,” she said, such as train stations, emergency rooms or laundromats. Volunteers who conduct the counts give individuals they interact with a bag of basic necessities, Schueler said.

The counts are imperfect, however. Schueler explained it’s difficult to count every person who might be sleeping in a car or not in a cong re gated area, not to mention individuals who are couch surfing or lived in doubled-up situations. And the counts are only conducted on one of 365 days. That means the numbers reported and subsequent increases could be even bigger than anyone knows.

“As alarming as the 18.1% increase over the previous year’s count is, even more alarming is the continued disproportionate number of Black individuals and

attributed to the surge of migrants over the last two years, Schueler added. The increase can put additional pressure on homeless providers to house more individuals, leading to capacity issues in emergency bed systems.

Additionally, the loss of COVID-19 support funds has contributed to the continued increase in homelessness. During the pandemic, Schueler said, there was a significant infusion of funds keeping people in housing. But those resources aren’t there anymore.

To help diminish the increase in individuals experiencing homelessness, Schueler said increased production of affordable housing as well as increased housing density is needed. But such projects take time to get financed and zoned

Housing Choice Vouchers from local housing authorities are also key, Schueler said. This program, commonly known as Section 8, is a federal initiative in which a family or individual typically pays 30% of

At the property for merly known The Write Inn, where Housing rward temporarily shelters individuals and families experiencing homelessness through interim housing and medical respite, the average 100 days longer than it was in 2024, Schueler said. Now it’s upwards of 270 days, she said. sufficient resources to more rapidly resolve somebody’s situation,” she said. Their goal, Schueler said, is to rehouse people in 90 days.

“But when you don’t have those housing resources at the end, those are very difficult decisions,” she said. “We don’t want somebody returning back to the streets. That doesn’t resolve anything.”

And on the federal level, Schueler said she doesn’t know what could happen. Funding could be cut and less resources could mean another spike in homelessness. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s allies have said they want to move billions in federal homelessness funding from housing to treatment for drug addiction and mental illness, according to NPR

But those aren’t the only contributing factors to homelessness. Natural disasters, job struggles, domestic violence or loss of support systems are just a few other ways someone could come to experience homelessness

“The entire system needs to work better together,” Schueler said. “We need to have more housing resources.”

AU STIN WEEKLY news

Editor Erika Hobbs

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq

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HASEEB - ADOBE STOCK

Cook County saw a sharp decline in overdose deaths in 2024 amid outreach e orts

The Medical Examiner ’s

ce repor ted a 43% drop in opioid overdose deaths last year, the lowest level in nearly a decade

By MICHAEL LIPTROT Block Club Chicago

Cook County saw the fewest opioid overdose deaths in nearly a decade in 2024, according to preliminary data released by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Opioid overdose deaths fell more than 43% last year, according to the report, which also shows homicides and suicides on the decline. The 1,026 overdose deaths in Cook County are the lowest opioid death count in the county since 2015, and just over half the pandemic-era peak of 2,001 overdose deaths in 2022.

People dying from opioid overdoses in Cook County continue to be overwhelmingly male, with men accounting for 76% of overdose death cases in 2024, according to the report. African Americans make up the majority of overdose deaths at 53%, with whites and Latinos making up 31 and 14% of deaths, respectively. The age group most affected continues to be 50- to 59-yearolds, who made up 27% of last year’s cases, according to the report.

The youngest person to overdose in the county last year was a 1-year-old boy. The oldest was an 83-year-old man. Both were from Chicago, according to the report, which did not provide further details on the baby’s death.

Fentanyl was involved in 87% of overdose deaths last year, according to the report.

Drug-use prevention and har m-reduction advocates reco gnize this year’s decrease in opioid overdose deaths as progress forged by years of community outreach to educate the community on the opioid crisis.

“The stigma of the use of drugs is diminishing and more people are accepting that this is a disease that needs treatment,” said State Re p. La Shawn Ford, who in 2016 convened the West Side Heroin/Opi-

West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force outreach workers and substance-use treatment outreach specialists chat and repor t the results of their outreach e orts near North Pulaski Road and West Lake Street on June 4, 2024.

oid Task Force. “The fact that we’re able to g et that message out is very beneficial to the numbers.”

The task force works across Austin, East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and West Garfield Park and the broader West Side to increase the awareness of the effects of drug use, prevent overdose deaths and increase access to treatment for substance abuse.

A rise in overdose deaths during and after the pandemic on the West Side, where cases were largely concentrated, prompted the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force

and the city to launch a door-knocking campaign in the area last summer.

Task force members and volunteers are in the community re gularly, setting up on street corners and in community centers.

People who encounter task force street teams can sign up to receive an overdose reversal kit, be trained on how to use the overdose reversal agent Naloxone or be refer red to drug treatment programs such as a methadone or suboxone clinic. The group also provides fentanyl testing kits.

The task force said its outreach workers saw between 600 and 1,100 West Side residents

per month last year. During that time, an average of 696 people per month completed for ms to receive overdose treatment kits and an average of 210 people per month used Narcan on someone having an overdose, according to 2024 data provided by the task force.

“[We] felt a sense of accomplishment” seeing the medical examiner’s 2024 data showing the drop in overdose deaths, said task force Outreach Director Luther Syas. “We have flooded the area with Narcan and with information trying to save these people that are dying of overdoses.”

While Syas and Ford said they’re encour-

FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ/BLOCK C LU B CHIC AGO

Roger Sti , outreach specialist for the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force, at one of the group’s street outreach stands near one of the Chicago Transit Authority’s Green Line stops in Gar eld Park.

aged by the decrease in overdose deaths, they emphasized that Chicago’s Black men are still vulnerable and dying from opioid overdoses at alar ming rates.

“We still have a population of Black men 45 years old and above that’s still having more deaths than any group,” Syas said.

A recent Chicago Sun-Times investigation found that Black men born between 1951 and 1970 are dying of opioid overdoses at a higher rate than any other demographic group. In 2024, this group accounted for one-fourth of all opioid overdose deaths across Cook County, the Sun-Times found.

The investigation ranked Cook County as having the fourth highest rate of overdose deaths among Black men nationally. Black men die at around 10 times the Cook County average and almost 15 times the national average, according to the report

In late 2023, the Chicago Department of Public Health launched a pilot program installing vending machines that distribute Narcan in public spaces in high-overdose areas. The Uptown Library, Garfield Community Service Center, Harold Washington Library, Roseland Community Triage Center and the 95th Red Line station were among the locations.

“When [Narcan] became available to the public, it became more normalized for people to understand what harm reduction is and that opioids are everywhere,” said Sheila Haennicke, a Narcan trainer with the Village of Oak Park whose son died of an overdose on the CTA in 2021. “I think it’s doing better,

but any overdose is still one too many.”

Ford recently pushed to amend a house bill to launch an overdose prevention site pilot program in Chicago, he said, but the effort was struck down during the lame duck legislative session that ended Tuesday. The pilot program is being reintroduced as a different house bill during the new legislati session starting Wednesday, Ford said.

Homicides, suicides drop In Cook County

Beyond opioid overdose deaths, homicides and suicides are also down across Cook County, according to medical examiner’s office data.

Homicides fell by 9% in the county last year, with 773 homicides in 2024 compared to 850 in 2023. Gun-related homicides dropped by 8.9% and Chicago homicides fell by 9%, according to county data.

Chicago had the most homicides in Cook County, with 603 cases, followed by Cicero with 10, and Dolton, Harvey and Maywood with nine each, according to the data. Overall. county homicides decreased considerably from the 2021 peak of 1,094 cases, reflecting a 29% drop.

Suicide deaths across Cook County fell by nearly 15% in 2024, with 431 cases. Men continue to be most impacted by suicide, accounting for 80% of cases last year, the data shows. By race, whites accounted for 61% of suicide deaths last year, Blacks made up 17%, Latinos accounted for 16% and Asians 5%, according to the data.

FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ/BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

Chicago, Cook County awarded $670M in relief funding for ooding

HUD grants support recover y e or ts after the devastating storms and oods of the past 2 years

By MICHAEL LIPTROT Block Club Chicago

The city of Chicago will receive nearly half a billion dollars from the U.S. government to support recovery ef for ts from severe storms and floods of the past two years, including the record-breaking July 2023 floods.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Chicago $426 million in funding, Cook County received $244 million and suburban Cicero received $96 million through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program. The funding is part of $12 billion disbursed across the country for disaster relief, HUD announced Tuesday

The grants are “the only large federal funding source dedicated to assisting lowand moderate-income communities,” said Marion McFadden, HUD’s principal deputy assistant secretary for community planning and development. The announcement took place last Wednesday at Austin Town Hall.

“They are truly the difference-makers for people to be able to financially get back on their feet,” McFadden said.

Record-breaking summer storms hit Chicago in July 2023, with up to 9 inches of rain blanketing the West Side and western suburbs in 24 hours. Thousands of basements were reported flooded and nearly one in four Austin homes experienced severe flooding.

As communities recovered from the destruction, more than 63,000 Chicago residents applied for federal flood assistance, leading to $170 million in FEMA payouts, according to FEMA Chicago branch staf f. The total of $310 million in FEMA assistance in Cook County made the disaster

the largest emergency declaration in Illinois history.

Pleshette Spears’ home flooded in July 2023 and again in July 2024. Her son lived in her basement with his fiancé and daughter. Flood damage to the basement has left them displaced ever since, Spears said.

Adjusters estimated $50,000 in re pairs would be needed to rebuild her basement. After applying for FEMA flood assistance, Spears received $4,000 and, following an appeal, the award was adjusted to $8,000, she said. She applied through the Small Business Administration to g et a home loan to help cover the remaining $48,000 and was denied

“I’m hoping to g et some assistance. I ran out of resources,” said Spears, who was at last Wednesday’s press conference.

Spears attended the event with the West Side Long-Term Recovery Group, a volunteer-run group for med and led by community organizers to help neighbors clean up flood damage and apply for federal assistance. Sporting orange hoodies, the group stood among city, county and HUD officials in celebrating the announcement of the re lief funding.

“This helps us to be able to give people some compensation,” said Jacqueline Reed, founder and chairperson of the West Side Long-Term Recovery Group.

Reed said volunteers have cleaned out and performed mold remediation on 200 West Side homes, but the group need funds to continue that work for the nearly 2,000 homes she said experienced flood damage The group aims to clean out 1,600 homes by July 2025.

“I’m hoping that we will be able to hire people in the neighborhood and put people to work as a team to go out more than one or two blocks at a time,” Reed said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson praised the Biden-Harris administration for the grant funds and affirmed his administration’s commitment to combatting climate change

“Let us be clear, the tor rential rains were a symptom of climate chang e, which we know adversely affects our communi-

General contractor Anthony Jones shows Christopher Smith and Dennis Olive of the Chicago Department of Housing the work being done at the Austin residence of Mary and George Crump on Feb. 13, 2024, whose basement was ooded during the storms of 2023.

ties on the South and West Sides,” Johnson said.

HUD officials said the next steps include conducting a “needs assessment” among residents and training local officials on how to disburse the funds. At least one

community meeting will be held to get feedback from residents. More information about the relief funding can be found here. Neighbors are also encouraged to look out for more information and announcements on the city’s website.

MICHAEL LIPTROT/BLOCK C LU B CHIC AGO

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson accepts CDBG Disaster Recovery funds from HUD representatives.

COLIN BOYLE/BLOCK

inspiration to prevent violence on the West Side

Bishop Sa o’s

anti-violence

organization addresses root causes of the problem

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Bishop Dr. Reginald Saffo, a for mer resident of the Austin community, aims to reimagine anti-violence efforts on the West Side

In June, the founder of UFCI Bible Colle ge began offering the ARK program to provide Austin residents with education and information, rather than physical resources, with the intent to address the systemic root of violence on the West Side.

The program, based out of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church at 116 S. Central Ave., aims to engage and empower the Austin community through a moral and academic curricu-

lum that teaches principles from the Bible.

“ARK is conceptually based upon the notion that churches are a place of restoration, safety, empowerment,” Saffo said.

The concept, he added, “came about from having conversations and getting infor mation from the community through our outreach workers.”

The program’s name not only alludes to Noah’s Ark, “where God restored or replenished the earth,” Saf fo said, but also stands for Academically Restoring the Kingdom.

Through ARK, Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church hosts monthly community information meetings, where experts speak about topics that address the evaluated needs of residents in the immediate area. Such topics include housing, employment and parenting development.

The ARK entrepreneurial development program’s motto is “stop the violence, start

ANTI-VIOLENCE

Anger management

from page 7

a business” and it offers a free, five-week curriculum targeted toward local youth. Leaders of this program show young people how to monetize a talent or skill, and how to fund a business around it. ARK provides participants with seed money and helps advertise their businesses, plus hosts pop-ups or sponsors them in the community

Saf fo said since ARK’s inception, about 60 students have enrolled in either its entrepreneurial development program or Urban First Responders program. The latter is designed for organizations that want to be more engaged in the community, but might not have the knowledge. These participants take a free, five-week course to learn how to have more of an impact among residents.

One of the biggest topics in the UFR

DELTA-8

Regulating hemp

from page 1

progr am is understanding the ps ycholog y b ehind anger and those experiencing high-risk factors, Sa ffo said, “tryin g to g et to the root c auses of some of those emotional evils that lend to social evil s, ” li ke violenc e.

Although the UFR program recently started in Austin, a youth version has had a presence in Proviso schools for over 20 years. Saffo also helped organize the YUFR as chairman of the Proviso Township Ministerial Alliance Network to train students about “how to become sensitive to violent potentiality and be that kind of intervener in the school context,” Saffo said.

Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church is working to expand ARK programs through its Anti-Violence Ministries, partnering with three other churches in Austin to duplicate offerings at their facilities.

“We just try to be the additional spoke in the wheel that’s already established in the community,” Saf fo said. “There’s a lot of good resources, a lot of good information, but the information is not properly, or at least aggressively, disseminated.”

Last year, Fox 32 Chicago reported an increasing number of people, especially children, being hospitalized because of delta-8.

“We have to prioritize the safety of minors, but let’s make sure we pursue a collaborative process and do it the right way,” Ford said in a statement.

More “I’ll be there.”

Less “Where have you been?”

have you been?”

As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up. vaccines.gov More “I’ll be there.”

from the previous one, which aimed to ban delta-8, and proposes re gulating the drug’s sale by establishing a certain number of licensed places that can sell it.

As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up. vaccines.gov

“I would be contradicting my stance on the war on drugs if I called for a prohibition on delta-8 when I helped decriminalize delta-9 cannabis,” Ford told Austin Weekly News. “We made [delta-9 cannabis] legal because we felt that that prohibition was dangerous to certain demographics –Blacks and browns who were impacted.”

So, House Bill 1 – or the Prevention of Use of Hemp Cannabinoid Products Intended for Human Consumption by Ingestion or Inhalation by Persons Under 21 Years of Age Act – calls for creating guard rails so those who sell delta-8 must abide by state standards. If passed, the bill would shutter smoke shops where people buy delta-8, unless they start abiding by Illinois re gulations.

This isn’t the first time Ford has filed a bill to re gulate delta-8 or restrict it for those under 21 years old.

“For almost four-and-a-half years, I’ve seen the dangers of unregulated delta hemp products,” he said.

In House Bill 1, Ford calls for establishing a limited number of delta-8 shops in Illinois, just like there is for cannabis dispensaries.

“We can’t just have them popping up everywhere,” he said. “We need the same re gulations that way, so that we don’t oversaturate communities with this drug.”

The previous bill, which just died in the General Assembly, would have made it so anyone selling hemp products would be breaking the law, allowing only licensed dispensaries to sell delta-8 products. While this would re gulate delta-8, Ford said it would also create a monopoly among cannabis dispensaries.

“Democrats always talk about how we don’t want to go back,” he said. “This is a perfect example of passing a prohibition that [would] take us back and make the cannabis-like substance illegal. It just doesn’t make sense.”

Ford said there will be hearings about the bill before people from the cannabis industry, both proponents and opponents, come to the table to discuss a process for re gulating delta-8. The bill will then be voted on in the House and, if passed, the Senate and then by the governor.

•

Deadline to be included in the 2025-2026 lottery: March 16, 2025

The lottery is scheduled for March 18, 2025 at 9am at the school and is open to the public.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE OF CIM TRUST 2020-R5 Plaintiff, -v.LOUISE BROOKS, CITY OF CHICAGO, SMITH-ROTHCHILD FINANCIAL CO., UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2024 CH 02163 5315 WEST CRYSTAL STREET CHICAGO, IL 60651

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 6, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 11, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 5315 WEST CRYSTAL STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60651

Property Index No. 16-04-131-0170000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

WITH SECTION 15-1701(C)

OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC

One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088

E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com

Attorney File No. 23-16536IL Attorney Code. 61256

Case Number: 2024 CH 02163

TJSC#: 44-3012

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2024 CH 02163 I3258196

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION FINANCE OF AMERICA REVERSE LLC Plaintiff, -v.-

CARRIE MAE HEIDELBERG, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - FEDERAL HOUSING COMMISSIONER Defendants 2023 CH 10312

450 NORTH MONTICELLO AVENUE

CHICAGO, IL 60624

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 19, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 11, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 450 NORTH MONTICELLO AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60624

Property Index No. 16-11-132-0260000

The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The

balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527

630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-23-07868

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2023 CH 10312

TJSC#: 44-3374

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any

information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 2023 CH 10312 I3258738

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION MIDFIRST BANK

Plaintiff vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGATEES OF DONALD J. O’MALLEY JR., DECEASED; NANCY M. MCDONOUGH; KEVIN JOHN O’MALLEY; EDWARD MICHAEL O’MALLEY, SR.; UNKOWN HEIRS AND/ OR LEGATEES OF MARY PAT O’CONNOR, DECEASED; GERALD NORDGREN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR DONALD J. O’MALLEY, JR., DECEASED; MARINA TOWERS CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; PATRICIA ZUBER; TOM O’CONNOR; KEVIN O’CONNOR; DANIEL O’CONNOR; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGATEES OF MICHAEL O’MALLEY, DECEASED; STATE OF ILLINOIS; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS;; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS; Defendant 21 CH 5947 CALENDAR 62 NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on February 24, 2025, at the hour 11:00 a.m., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 17-09-410-014-1250. Commonly known as 300 North State Street, #3606, Chicago, IL 60654.

The real estate is: condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g) (1) and (g)(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act.. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, LOGS Legal Group, LLP, 2801 Lakeside Drive, Suite 207, Bannockburn, IL 60015. (847) 2911717. 21-095165 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3258908

NOTICE INVITATION TO BID TO METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT OF GREATER CHICAGO

Sealed proposals, endorsed as above, will be submitted back to the District via an electronic upload to the Bonfire Portal only, from the date of the Invitation to Bid, up to 11:00 A.M. (Chicago time), on the bid opening date, and will be opened publicly as described in the Invitation to Bid by the Director of Procurement and Materials Management or designee at 11:00 AM on the stated bid opening date below for:

CONTRACT 24-638-22 HVAC IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS

Estimated Cost Group A:

$18,443,000.00

Bid Deposit Group A: $737,000.00

Estimated Cost Group B: $701,325.00

Bid Deposit Group B: $28,000.00

Total: $19,144,325.00

Total: $765,000.00

The first Optional Pre-Bid WalkThrough will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time Zone at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant, 400 East 130th St, Chicago, Illinois 60628. The second Optional Pre-Bid WalkThrough will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time Zone at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, 6001 West Pershing Rd, Cicero, Illinois 60804.

Voluntary Technical Pre Bid Conference: Thursday, January 30, 2025, 10:30 am Central Time via ZOOM Link.

Bid Opening: February 25, 2025 Compliance with the District’s Affirmative Action Ordinance Revised Appendix D, Appendix V, Appendix C, Appendix K and the Multi Project Labor Agreement are required on this Contract.

********************************

The above is an abbreviated version of the Notice Invitation to Bid. A full version which includes a brief description of the project and/or service can be found on the District’s website, www.mwrd. org; the path is as follows: Doing Business > Procurement and Materials Management > Contract Announcements.

Specifications, proposal forms and/ or plans may be obtained from the Department of Procurement and Materials Management by downloading online from the District’s website at www.mwrd.org (Doing Business > Procurement & Materials Management > Contract Announcements). No fee is required for the Contract Documents. Any questions regarding the downloading of the Contract Document should be directed to the following email: contractdesk@mwrd.org or call 312 751 6643.

All Contracts for the Construction of Public Works are subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1-et.seq.), where it is stated in the Invitation to Bid Page.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals if deemed in the public’s best interest.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagoBy Darlene A. LoCascio Director of Procurement and Materials Management

Published in Austin Weekly News January 15, 2025

CANDLELIGHT CONCERTS

Candlelight Concer t Series to Illuminate Oak Park with a mesmerizing Coldplay tribute, fusing classical masterpieces and iconic pop hits

returns to Oak Park with Coldplay Tribute

By: Hector Cervantes Contributing Reporter

Fever’s enchanting Candlelight Concert series returns to the Arts Center of Oak Park from Jan. 11 to Feb. 26, featuring a Coldplay tribute performed by the Metropolis String Quartet.

The tentative program for the Coldplay tribute includes hits like “Clocks,” “Fix You,” “Paradise,” and “Yellow,” along with “Something Just Like This,” “My Universe,” and more.

Candlelight is a series of live concerts produced by Fever since 2019 to democratize the access to classical music. This innovative format offers a unique musical experience through a diverse selection of programs, catering to all tastes.

Performed by talented local musicians in iconic venues illuminated by thousands of candles, Candlelight creates an immersive and intimate atmosphere. The Candlelight brand is present in over 150 cities worldwide and has delighted millions of guests since its launch.

“Candlelight draws in a broad audience, including those who may have never considered attending a classical music concert. Audiences can connect with the masterpieces of composers like Vivaldi, Mozart and Chopin, while also enjoying fresh interpretations of popular hits from artists like Queen, ABBA, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran,” Fever spokesperson Amanda Boucault said.

not only a testament to Chicago’s rich artistic heritage but also offers an intimate and visually stunning setting that enhances the audience’s connection to the music,” Boucault said.

Boucalt explains that a crucial aspect of Candlelight’s charm lies in venue selection, which plays a central role in creating the intimate and enchanting atmosphere that defines the experience.

“When selecting venues for Candlelight, we consider several factors: the venue’s historical significance and what it represents for the city, its accessibility to ensure convenience for attendees, and technical aspects such as the acoustics and lighting quality. The venues are deliberately chosen to transcend traditional performance spaces, providing extraordinary settings that enhance the appeal of classical music,” Boucault said.

When engaging with the community to promote these events, Fever believes engaging with the community is a cornerstone of Candlelight’s success.

“Our approach is centered on adapting the global concept to resonate with local audiences. In each city, including Chicago, we work to understand local tastes by leveraging data analysis and community feedback. This insight helps us design events that pay tribute to locally acclaimed musicians, fostering a deeper connection with the audience,” Boucalt said.

Thousands of candles illuminate the space, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere that enhances the listening experience. This visually stunning setup has captivated and amazed millions of people worldwide, proving that the uniqueness of Candlelight lies in the ambiance it creates

When asked why was the Arts Center of Oak Park chosen as the venue for this specific concert, Boucault responded with because it exemplifies the perfect blend of cultural significance and architectural beauty that Candlelight seeks to highlight with its performances.

“This magnificent Neoclassical gem is

In order to balance Coldplay’s older and newer works to create a cohesive experience, Fever’s curation team regularly reviews feedback from attendees, local musicians and data analytics to update setlists, aligning with audience preferences and incorporating the latest artist releases

“Staying attuned to both audience expectations and the evolution of the artists’ music, we create dynamic and relevant programs that resonate across generations and keep each performance fresh and memorable,” Boucault said.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.feverup.com/m/185955.

Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau

Star t the year with humor and romance from the comfor t of your own home.

Dalal Or fali Vibe Assistant Editor

Illinois Libraries Present is bringing Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau to the Forest Park Public Library this January. The show will be streamed online, with Michelle Buteau delivering her signature relationship humor—perfectly timed as the new year begins and Valentine’s Day proaches.

statewide collaboration of 213 braries, coordinates bringing nationally acclaimed speakers, authors, journalists, chef novelists, and pe for audiences. These ev for nities, make highprofile cultural and educational experiences accessible.

communities may not otherwise have an opportunity to hear them speak.”

“This is the first time Forest Park is hosting Michelle Buteau, and it’s also a first for Illinois Libraries Present,” Lavin noted.

bring in fabulous, really outstanding speakers who are beyond the ken of what any individual library could do because of speaker fees and the desirability of the speakers. So, together, we have more power,” said Skye Lavin, manager of adult services at Forest Park Public Library. Lavin explained that participating libraries sign up for a season or annual subscription to ILP’s programming.

“It’s Forest Park Public Library’s fourth season with ILP, a collaboration that has been going on for four years,” Lavin added. “They are brilliant and really popular folks that have nationwide prestige, and our patrons, our

Buteau is an actress, producer, and the creator, writer, and star of Survival of the Thickest, a Netflix series inspired by her autobio graphical book of essays with the same title. The New Jersey-born comedian, whose parare of Caribbean descent, won the Critics’ Choice Best Comedy Special Welcome to BuAccording to the on the Public Michelle Buteau will Greta Johnsen, an interr and podcast for her 11-year tenure Nerdette podcast. Johnsen is also a contributor to podcasts such as Pop Culture Happy Hour and City Cast.

Keep an eye on ILP and Forest Park Public Library’s calendars for more events like this.

When you re gister for Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau, you’ll receive a Zoom link to attend the show. If you’re re gistered but unable to attend live, you’ll gain access to a recording of the event, available for 30 days, offering added flexibility. This event takes place Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. You can re gister at Forest Park Public Library’s Event Calendar or directly at bit.ly/ILP_MichelleButeau.

Michelle Butea u Provided

Dry January Done Right:

By DALAL ORFALI Vibe assistant editor

Dry January is a challenge to kick off the new year away from alcohol. The behaviorchanging trend has been around since 2012, and depending on how much you used to drink before, studies have shown improvement in overall health within these first four weeks of the year if you join the challenge.

Interested in joining but still want to hold a cool drink in your hand? Here is a collection of spots serving special hand-crafted mocktails.

BERWYN

Autre Monde Café

Their mocktail menu won’t let you miss out on the fun. Try Virgin Blood Orange Gimlet, N/A Gin and Tonic, and N/A Spritz.

■ 6727 W Roosevelt Rd., 708-775-8122

■ Visit www.autremondecafe.net

Fitzgerald’s

The old standby offers three spirit-free cocktails on its menu that include intriguing ingredients such as gochujang shrub and turmeric.

■ 6615 Roosevelt Rd., 708-788-2118

■ Visit www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com

BROADVIE W

The View Restaurant

There is something for everyone in this restaurant. Take It Easy and Bad Sisters are among their mocktail collection.

■ 1701 Roosevelt Rd., 708-540-8439

■ Visit theview1701.com

FOREST PARK

Shanahan’s

Shanahan’s has the most impressi of non-alcoholic beverages that fits all tastes including N/A wine, beer and mocktails, so make sure you try the Hurricane and Hot Toddy once you’re in.

■ 7353 Madison St., 708-366-0775

■ Visit shanahans.net

Rober t’s West Side

The live music venue and neighborhood bar is offering a spicy N/A mar Travels, a drink made of lemon juic

beer, hibiscus and grenadine juice. It also offers hot cocoa.

■ 7321 Madison St., 708-689-0486

■ Visit robertswestside.com

GARFIELD PARK , CHIC AG O

Gar eld Park Conser vator y O.k. we concede that you can’t drink here. But if you need something fun to do, the

LAGRANGE

Kama Bistro

Enjoy a traditional Mango Lassi, or go wild with the Golden Elixir made of fresh ginger and turmeric root and sweetened with agave and a hint of mint and lemon.

■ 9 LaGrange Rd., 708-352-3300

■ Visit www.kamabistro.com