AustinWeeklyNews_022625 by Wednesday Journal

Oak Park-based foundation expands reach, focuses on mental health

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation awards $265,000 to 18 organizations in western Cook County

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Eighteen organizations on Chicago’s West Side and the near west suburbs have received grants from the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation – an organization that helps donors manage their philanthropic assets and give grants for local service programs.

Earlier this month, the foundation announced the community organizations that got a portion of $265,000 in grant money.

Though the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation gives out community grants annually, for the first time, this year’s chosen organizations all focus on behavioral and mental health for children and young adults.

T he foundation paused its community grants in 2023 in order to shift focus for its grantmaking strateg y. While in previous years, community grants served education, housing and arts organizations, in the coming years, they’ll focus on mental and behavioral

By MICHAEL LIPTROT | Block Club Chicago

Chicagoans are no strangers to West Side pride, particularly in Austin.

From current residents Mayor Brandon Johnson and for mer Gov. Pat Quinn to actor Robert Townsend and comedian Hannibal Buress, some of the city’s notable figures have roots in the West Side neighborhood.

COLIN BOYLE/BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

Austin communi ty

L’Arche brunch to raise money for interna

The organization provides housing and resources in Forest Park, Austin and Oak Park to those with intellectual disabilities

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

L’Arche Chicago is hosting its annual solidarity brunch March 8 to raise money for other L’Arche communities around the world.

L’Arche, founded in 2000, provides over a dozen people experiencing intellectual disabilities with residential homes in Forest Park, Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, and most recently, in Oak Park.

With over 150 L’Arche communities across 37 countries, many need the funds for food, medicine and housing, and the Chicago branch aims to help them with that through the brunch.

“Annually, we aim to raise as much support as we can for these communities that often struggle against the tides of conflict, colonialism and unjust economies,” said Mic Altena, L’Arche Chicago’s executive director and community leader, in a statement. “We’re so grateful to our donors who help bring L’Arche to life in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.”

International L’Arche locations that benefit from the brunch’s proceeds often expe-

Attendees at the 2024 L’Arche Chicago solidarity brunch.

rience crises that complicate the ability to serve those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

For L’Arche communities in the Philippines, Kenya, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Bethlehem and Ukraine, annual gifts from other chapters are often their primary funding source. Compare that to L’Arche Chicago, which receives government funding and raises close to one-third of its annual budget through fundraising.

This year’s annual brunch will feature presentations from multiple L’Arche Chicago participants and staf f who have visited international L’Arche communities. These include Paul Kuczynski, director of residential services; Jay De Man, house co-

ordinator; and Anders G., a core member, or participant.

Brunch attendees will have food options from a full buffet and be able to participate in a raffle and puzzle.

“Our connectedness as a movement extends to even the most fragile of contexts,” Altena added, “where L’Arche communities depend on the generosity of others most of all.”

T he L’Arche brunch will be on March 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p. m. at Rive rside Golf C lub, 2520 S. Des Plaines Ave. T he event c osts $75 for adults and $10 for children, and tickets c an be purchased at https:// larchechicago.org/e v ent/2025-solidarity-brunch/ .

Fundraiser for L’Arche renovations

Later next month, L’Arche Chicago is cohosting a fundraising event with friends and family of Laurence J. Msall, an involved Oak Parker who unexpectedly passed away in 2023. Msall was the longtime president of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan group focused on government policy and finance.

On March 22, participants will help raise money for renovations at L’Arche Chicago’s Angel House in Chicago, where Msall’s sister Christianne lives. The house needs a back-door ramp, plus an expanded and rehabbed kitchen and first-floor bathroom.

Last year, over 250 participants raised more than $150,000 for L’Arche Chicago at an event to honor Msall.

This year at St. Ignatius Colle ge Prep, where Msall attended school, attendees will eat and drink, plus watch NCAA tournament basketball games, play pop-a-shot basketball, participate in raffles and a silent auction – all while supporting L’Arche Chicago and Msall’s family

“Laurence was an amazingly caring and giving friend who we lost too soon,” said Matt Walsh, co-chair of the Laurence for

L’Arche, in a statement. “I speak for the entire committee when I say that we are proud to have known Laurence Msall, and excited to support L’Arche’s mission in honor of our great friend.”

“Laurence’s Le ga cy of Caring – Th e Tradition C ontinues!” will take p lac e at St. Ignatius C olle ge Prep, 1076 Roosevelt Road, on March 22 from 5:30 to 10:30 p. m. Tickets start at $50 and ca n be purchased at https://larchechicago. org/e v ent/laurences-le ga cy -of-caringthe-tradition-continues/.

AU STIN WEEKLY news

Interim Executive Direc tor Max Reinsdorf

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq

Assistant Editor, Ar ts & Enter tainment Dalal Or fali

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Reporting Partners Block Club Chicago

Columnists Aisha Oliver

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation

Special

Wilson

708-467-9066

CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com

NEIGHBORHOOD PROJEC T

Community survey project

from page 1

A new study by the University of Chicago takes a close look at where Chicago residents consider their neighborhood boundaries and shows there’s more to the West Side, and in particular Austin, than what’s on the map.

The Chicago Neighborhood Project, led by the Urbanism Lab at the University of Chicago, set out last year to survey Chicagoans on what they define as their neighbo rhood and its borders.

From November 2023 to April 2024, the project collected more than 5,500 responses identifying more than 100 unique neighborhoods. Block Club published the initial results and map at the be ginning of December.

The city of Chicago doesn’t actually have officially recognized neighborhoods, though there is a seldom-used neighborhood map passed by the City Council in 1993. Instead, the city has 77 “community areas,” originally mapped out in the 1920s by two University of Chicago sociologists, with Austin being the westernmost community area in central Chicago, just east of suburban Oak Park.

On the new, resident-drawn Chicago Neighborhood Project map, Austin generally matches up with the city’s map of the community area, but it’s subdivided into Austin, North Austin and Galewood, with the latter expanding north into Belmont Cragin by a few blocks.

The gray areas of the map are unlabeled due to a lack of respondents ag reeing on a name for those areas, researchers said.

Austin and its many neighborhoods

Austin began in 1865 as a 470-acre township of Cicero named Austinville, according to WTTW. It was created by Oak Park developer Henry Austin before being annexed into Chicago.

Historically a neighborhood of immigrants, Austin would see thousands of middle-class African American families move there in the 1950s and 60s to avoid restrictive housing covenants.

T he city currently defines the borders of the community area of Austin as North Austin Boulevard on the west; West Roosevelt Road on the south; and the eastern and northern borders following the Belt Railway, the largest intermediate switching terminal railroad in the U.S., headquartered in Bedford Pa rk.

e CTA Green Line tracks cross Laramie Avenue and Lake St reet in Austin.

consider it a distinct area.

T he West Side neighborhoods of Austin, Garfield Pa rk and North Lawndale, as defined on the residentdrawn Chicago Neighborhood Project map from the Unive rsity of Chicago’s U rbanism Lab. Credit: Provided/Urbanism Lab

Over the years, Austin began to see divisions within the community along socioeconomic lines as North Austin and South Austin distinguished themselves as sub-communities, according to Darnell Shields, executive director of the nonprofit Austin Coming To gether.

“There’s no real defined border between the two,” said Shields. “A lot of people associate the division between North and South [Austin] through the Green Line because of the physical barrier it creates.”

An Austin Weekly News partner

On the Chicago Neighborhood Project map, Austin and North Austin blend together from roughly West Lake Street up to West North Avenue. There are areas of the map beyond this that respondents consider North Austin as south as West End Avenue and as north as West Wabansia Avenue.

South Austin is not reco gnized as a neighborhood on this new resident-drawn map — though many residents do

Shields said there’s a mindset among neighbors of living on the right “side of the tracks”: North of the Green Line tracks is considered North Austin and viewed as more af fluent, and South Austin south of the track is viewed as more impoverished.

Shields experienced this division himself, growing up in South Austin in the early 1970s and moving with his family to North Austin in the 1980s, he said.

The division may have predated Black people moving to the area in the 1950s, developing out of real estate speculation of one side being better resourced than the other, Shields said.

Shields said South Austin not being reco gnized on the Chicago Neighborhood Project map is likely due to the ne gative connotation that the area has acquired.

“These physical distinctions within the community really create a lot of psychological references for people here, especially when you start to look at the other things that you can associate with that [area] like proper ty value, income, rate of violent crime and things li ke that,” he said.

Former Gov. Quinn moved to Galewood, which he and most West Side neighbors consider pa rt of Austin, in 1983 from Oak Park. He views North Avenue as the boundary of Galewood, separating the community from Austin, and said when he first arrived, the area was known as “the Galewood section of Austin.”

While the city’s community areas map doesn’t acknowledge it, the Chicago Neighborhood Project does, placing it as a neighborhood with a southern boundary of North Avenue and extending past the Belt Railway tracks into Montclare and Belmont Cragin.

Over the years, Quinn said he has seen the disparities between South Austin, North Austin and Galewood and has worked to invest in South Austin. In 2005, Quinn passed utility reform legislation in partnership with the South Austin Coalition to provide relief for low-income and elderly homeowners with high utility bills by stabilizing payments through a “percentage of income plan.”

Today, Quinn believes it is best for the residents of Austin to unite under one identity and erase divisions within the neighborhood – however they define where the neighborhood’s boundaries fall.

“I don’ t like the word boundary. I think we have to put hands across neighborhoods and work to g ether. Everybody banding to g ether is the strongest way to build,” Quinn said. “We don’ t want to have divisions that end up with one part of the neighborhood g etting less than it deserves.”

COLIN BOYLE/BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

On Sunday as my wife and I were driving home from church, a police officer was blocking my street and preventing me from going home. As I pulled up, he got out of his car and asked us did we live on the block. We said yes and he asked us to pull out our ID to prove it I thought about it and said, “I am a homeowner on this block and live at …” He got out of the way and we drove home

I saw police cars in my alley, neighbors’ alley, and down the street, so I wondered what was going on. Mind you, last week there was an ICE raid on our block and some Venezuelans living in a home on the block were packed into a van, so I wondered if more of that was happening

When I went to the alley to throw out the trash, my neighbor told me there was a shootout between police and a young guy on 18th & Ridgeway. He said about 40 shots rang out earlier in the morning and a young black man was killed. No officers were injured in the shootout.

A few minutes later, police officers rang my doorbell asking to see our Ring camera footage We can see the footage on our

Who do the police work for?

phone, but we had nothing of consequence to show them. My neighbors tell me that the police were on the 18th & Ridgeway block for hours and my pastor told me that he cleaned up the blood from the shooting in the alley behind his home

This was a tragedy.

RICHARD TOWNSELL One View

What I have noticed is that whenever there is a shootout, like the one that happened a few blocks from where I live, or when a police officer is harmed/threatened in any way, the level of response goes to Defcon 10. I’ve seen the wrong peoples’ doors broken down in search of suspects in our neighborhood, helicopters flying overhead, streets blocked off and all kinds of really amped-up responses when something happens to police officers. The argument that is often brought up is the fact that they put their lives on the line every day. What I have never seen is a similar response to tragedies that happen to regular citizens who also put their lives on the line every day. Explosions happen every day in our neighborhood that sound like dynamite sticks going off even though fire-

works are supposed to be illegal in Chicago.

The homicide clearance rate for regular citizens is among the worst in the nation, but when cops are harmed, people are in cuffs within 48 hours. According to the Civic Federation’s report for 2024, overtime has exceeded the city’s police budget 78% of the time over the past decade

My reason for writing this piece is not to be critical of the fine men and women who serve and protect. This is not a call to “defund the police” or any other gaslighting move that is made when anyone is critical of the job that is being done by the police I have some simple questions that I am sure lots of people in neighborhoods like ours want to ask:

Who do they work for? Do they work for the taxpayers of the city or their own interests? Are they accountable to the taxpayers or just their union?

A group of homeowners in North Lawndale have been trying to get a meeting with our new district commander, Lazaro Altimaro, for many weeks now about issues

that are serious problems for us. The police always talk about community policing and needing help from folks in the community because they can’t do it all.

We are trying to help, but our help comes with accountability. We had a meeting with some officers about our problems and they blew us of f — did not call or did not show up. They wanted to reschedule at a time that was inconvenient for many of our homeowners and so we declined

We decided to try to get a meeting with the new commander in the 10th district. The commander has been unavailable for whatever reason or only wants to meet in the morning when most of our people are at work. He only appears to want to meet with a few people and always at his office, not where the citizens want to meet.

Our homeowners are frustrated that their tax dollars are not being respected. We could not imagine something like this happening in Oak Park or Wilmette. The people who pay taxes there are clear about who works for who.

Dr. Richard Townsell is a member of the North Lawndale Home Owner’s Association.

LUNCH & COMMUNITY

Kehrein Center for the Arts | 5628 Washington Boulevard February 14, March 14 | 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

VIVA LA VIDA

National Museum of Mexican Art | 1852 W. 19th Street February 27, March 27 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.

WALKING & WELLNESS CLUB

Salvation Army Freedom Center | 825 N. Christiana Avenue Fridays | 8:30–10:00 a.m.

to join for our free programs.

FOUNDATION GRANTS

Reaching into Austin

from page 1

health organizations, specifically those that further workforce development.

The foundation chose to highlight mental health after getting feedback and data from practitioners, nonprofit leaders and community members.

“When you look at our geographic space, when you look at our demographics, our upbringing and so on, mental health plays such a vital role in how we move forward with our lives,” said Tony Martinez Jr., president and CEO of the foundation, in an interview with Growing Community Media, parent company of Wednesday Journal and Austin Weekly News

Of this year’s grant recipients, about threequarters of them address access to resources and treatment of mental health, half target workforce development, and one-third focus on safety and belonging.

Recipients applied for the grants, which they will use for either projects or general operations.

“What we were looking at is organizations that had specific programs that they were working on or ideas and plans that they were working on,” Martinez said of the chosen groups’ trajectory for workforce development.

The following organizations received a grant:

■ A Greater Good Foundation

■ And Rise Women, Inc. (aka &Rise)

■ Austin Coming To gether in Austin

■ BUILD Incorporated in Austin

■ Dominican University in River Forest

■ Family Service and Mental Health Center of Cicero

■ Front Porch Arts Center in Austin

■ Kinfolk CoLab in Oak Park

■ Maywood Fine Arts Association

■ New Moms, Inc. in Austin

■ Race Conscious Dialogues in Oak Park

■ The Firehouse Dream Inc. in Maywood

■ The Kehrein Center for the Arts Foundation in Austin

■ The Nehemiah Community Project in Maywood

■ Thrive Counseling Center in Oak Park

■ Youth Crossroads Inc. in Berwyn

■ Youth Educational Mentoring Basketball Association (YEMBA) in Oak Park

■ Youth Outreach Services, which has an office in Austin and Melrose Park

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation was founded in 1959 and has historically served those two neighborhoods. But since 2020, the foundation is making a conscious ef fort to broaden its reach to the rest of western Cook County.

Around Covid-19, the foundation’s leaders noticed that organizations outside Chicago city limits were often overlooked for state-level funding opportunities. But, communities in and outside of Chicago access each other’s resources, and the whole re gion needed support – not just Chicago neighborhoods.

“Many of the folks who are across Austin or Roosevelt or Harlem, they come to our area to seek support from the nonprofits that are housed here, and vice versa. When it comes to need, people are going to go where they can receive services,” Martinez said. “It was a moment that we could expand our capacity and we knew that we had the potential to do more.”

a continuation of building a relationship, building the trust, building the network,” Martinez said. “Our goal in the coming year is to continue building on the networks to what things we can invest in as an oranization and also attract other resources.”

Part of this goal is to create a growing network that can increasingly fund local organizations.

“We received an unprecedented amount of proposals, demonstrating the significant need facing our community partners throughout the entire West Cook re gion, from Elmwood Park to Berwyn, and from Melrose Park to Austin,” Martinez said in a statement.

“It was a moment that we could expand our capacity and we knew that we had the potential to do more.”

TONY MARTINEZ President and CEO of The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

More “I’ll be there.”

Less “Where have you been?”

More “I’ll be there.” Less “Where 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

vaccines.gov

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

The foundation is also working to change its relationships with community members it works with.

Moving forward, the community grants will include a multi-year process including meetings and shared decision making to improve advocacy opportunities and systemic change. The process will involve members of western Cook County, plus partners like mental health practitioners and policy makers.

“It’s more than just a grant award. It is

And while the most-recent $265,000 in community grants going to 18 organizations is higher than the average 15 groups who get a total $150,000 to $200,000, the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation received over $1 million in requests and over 50 nonprofit applications.

“If we were able to get more funding, we would have figured out ways to support them as well,” Martinez told GCM. T he foundation will remain in contact with those who didn’t receive a grant this year and look to connect them with other philanthropic oppor tunities

Martinez added, “I’m hoping that this also inspires individual donors to understand that the need is tremendous.”

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

WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE OF CIM 2021-R5

Plaintiff, -v.-

SEARCY CARTER, AS INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ELNORA CARTER, SEARCY CARTER, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ELNORA CARTER, TORREESE CARTER, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2022 CH 11095 5047 ‘’C’’ W. JACKSON CHICAGO, IL 60644 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 26, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on March 27, 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:

PARCEL 1: A PART OF THE FOLLOWING TRACT OF LAND DESCRIBED AS: LOT 12 (EXCEPT THE EAST 32 FEET THEREOF) AND ALL OF LOT 13 IN BLOCK 11 IN COMMUNITY RESUBDIVISION OF CERTAIN LOTS AND PART OF LOTS IN THE SCHOOL TRUSTEES’ SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTH PART OF SECTION 6, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT RECORDED APRIL 22, 1946 AS DOCUMENT 13774213, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, SAID PART BEING DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF LOT 13; THENCE SOUTH A DISTANCE OF 61.45 FEET TO A POINT IN THE WEST LINE OF SAID TRACT FOR A PLACE OF BEGINNING; THENCE SOUTH ALONG SAID WEST LINE A DISTANCE OF 17.58 FEET TO A POINT IN THE WEST LINE OF SAID TRACT; THENCE EAST AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAID WEST LINE OF SAID TRACT A DISTANCE OF 50.00 FEET TO THE EAST LINE OF SAID TRACT; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE A DISTANCE OF 17.58

FEET TO A POINT IN SAID EAST LINE; THENCE WEST AT RIGHT

ANGLES TO SAID EAST LINE OF SAID TRACT A DISTANCE OF 50.00 FEET TO THE PLACE OF BEGINNING.

PARCEL 2: THE WEST 12.50 FEET OF THE EAST 37.50 FEET OF THE SOUTH 27.18 FEET OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED TRACT OF LAND: LOT 12 (EXCEPT THE EAST 32 FEET THEREOF) AND ALL OF LOT 13 IN BLOCK 11 IN COMMUNITY RESUBDIVISION OF CERTAIN LOTS AND PART OF LOTS IN THE SCHOOL TRUSTEES’ SUBDIVISION OF THE NORTH PART OF SECTION 6, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, ACCORDING TO THE

PLAT RECORDED APRIL 22, 1946 AS DOCUMENT 13774213, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. PARCEL 3: EASEMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF PARCELS 1 AND 2 FOR INGRESS AND EGRESS AS SET FORTH IN THE DECLARATION OF EASEMENTS RECORDED MARCH 24, 1972 AS DOCUMENT 21845538 AND AS GRANTED BY DEED IN TRUST MADE BY CHRISTINA KLAJA TO CHICAGO TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE UNDER TRUST NUMBER 58367, DATED FEBRUARY 1, 1972 AND RECORDED MARCH 24, 1972 AS DOCUMENT 21845544, ALL IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Commonly known as 5047 ‘’C’’ W. JACKSON, CHICAGO, IL 60644

Property Index No. 16-16-213-1200000

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 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.

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) 236SALE

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. 14-22-04713

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2022 CH 11095

TJSC#: 45-465

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 # 2022 CH 11095 I3261236

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION GREEN STREET FUNDING TRUST II, A DELAWARE STATUTORY TRUST Plaintiff,

-v.-

1154 N. KEDZIE 202 LLC, AN ILLINOIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, LUIS CASTRO, AN INDIVIDUAL, DIVISION AND KEDZIE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC., AN ILLINOIS NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN OR NON-RECORD PARTIES DUE TO UNRECORDED LEASES OR PROPERTY MANAGERS

Defendants 2024 CH 00064 1154 NORTH KEDZIE AVENUE, UNIT 202 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 December 20, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 10, 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 1154 NORTH KEDZIE AVENUE, UNIT 202, CHICAGO, IL 60651

Property Index No. 16-02-411-0271009

The real estate is improved with a condominium unit.

The judgment amount was $287,765.00. 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(g1).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, contact JOHN A. ZIEGLER, STONE, POGRUND & KOREY Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 8 S. MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 333, CHICAGO, IL, 60603 (312) 7823636 x126. 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.

JOHN A. ZIEGLER

STONE, POGRUND & KOREY

8 S. MICHIGAN AVENUE, SUITE 333 CHICAGO IL, 60603

312 782-3636 Ext 126

E-Mail: johnziegler@spklaw.com Attorney Code. 90803

Case Number: 2024 CH 00064

TJSC#: 45-235

I3260688

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

U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee of the Bungalow Series IV Trust Plaintiff vs. Cheryl Brown; Irving P. Brown; City of Chicago; Unknown Owners and Non Record Claimants; Defendant 22 CH 8585 CALENDAR 56 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 March 31, 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. 16-05-209-010-0000. Commonly known as 1429 N. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60651. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 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, Sottile & Barile, LLC, 7530 Lucerne Drive, Suite 210, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. (440) 5721511. ILF2203038 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3261033

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING

Riverside Arts Center hosts artist talk with JAY WOLKE

By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter

The Riverside Arts Center hosted a lively artist panel on Feb. 9 with photographer Jay Wolke, focusing on his solo exhibit “Building Place: Big Boat Little Pond” curated by Paul D’Amato and Laura Husar Garcia.

Wolke is a Chicago-based artist and educator, known for his photographic monographs, including “All Around the House” (1998) and “Along the Divide” (2004). Currently a Professor of Photography at Columbia College Chicago, Wolke previously served as chair of the Art and Design Department.

The panel provided insights into their experiences and expertise in curating Wolke’s solo exhibition, which showcases his large-format color photography exploring the intersection of nature, architecture and habitation. D’Amato and Garcia led the discussion.

Wolke said he found the discussion insightful, saying, “Whenever you see your own work filling a room or up on the walls, it’s a very different experience than if you’re just looking at it on a computer screen. So actually, when you see that print, which is really the man-

RIVERSIDE ARTS CENTER

Laura Husar Garcia, Paul D’Amato and Jay Wolke (center).

RIVERSIDE ARTS CENTER

Shelter, Hi Rises, Chicago, USA, 2022, Archival inkjet pr int by Jay Wolke.

made a big difference for me.”

Wolke’s photo exhibit invites deeper reflection, offering a thoughtful exploration of the relationship between humans and their environments through striking images like “Quarry Workshop,” “Carrara” and “Italy,” where the merging of industry, nature and history tells a compelling visual story.

Joanne Aono, exhibition director at the center, said, “The discussion was insightful, engaging and attended by a mix of colleagues of the three photographers and for mer students of Jay Wolke.” When asked about surprising or impactful insights from the artist talk, Aono said that audience members were curious about Wolke’s influences, highlighting his deep engagement with photography

“People asked about his influences and he could easily name them off and talk about each one. He also shared his joy for photography, explaining that it’s what he loves to do,” Aono said.

On the panel, Wolke mentioned wanting to create photographs that guide the viewer on how to interpret them, similar to how a sentence or essay requires a logical sequence of parts of speech and ideas to effectively communicate a message

“There is a particular grammar in photography, and obviously, there’s a lot of graphic material, especially color theory in my work. I’m very interested in how color, light and space work. Those are the three things in photography that really become the vocabulary, or the rhetoric, of the medium. That’s how I choose to approach it, and I guess that sort of explains a little bit,” Wolke said.

As the exhibition comes to a close, the Riverside Arts Center is looking ahead to future programming. Aono believes every exhibition is stellar, with Wolke’s being particularly special due to his unique character. Normally, they would show an artist in just one gallery, but Wolke’s work has had a broader impact.

“Jay’s work is being shown in both the Freeark Gallery and the FlexSpace. The funny thing is we could have used a third gallery because there were so many great photographs we could have included,” Aono said. “Paul and Laura had a difficult time choosing which pieces to feature in the exhibition. As for what’s next, we have a lineup of exhibitions planned throughout the year.”

OP artist to be showcased at West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo

Show runs from Feb. 21-23

By DALAL ORFALI Contributing Reporter

Douglas Nelson had a 33-year-long career in finance before deciding to reverse direction and become a full-time artist. It’s been a liberating but challenging experience. Nelson, a for mer Oak Park bank auditor, is among 40 other artists whose work will be shown at the West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo Feb. 21- 23. The show will take place at Plumbers Hall on Randolph Street in Chicago.

Nelson recently spoke of his artistic life from his Oak Park studio, where he was surrounded by vibrant colors and carefully measured geometry that captured his happy and energetic style

In his career of numbers and auditing, a pure coincidence introduced Nelson to the world of lithography.

“I audited a company in Chicago called Circle Galleries. They were the sole distributor of lithography,” said Nelson, describing that he got his first “impulse” through lithographs by Yakov Agam, an Israeli artist, known for his work with bright colors and geometry.

In 2016, he returned to Oak Park, a town he admired from his auditing days at First National Bank of Oak Park. The move happened after a rekindled connection with his college ex-girlfriend, now his partner.

Back in Oak Park, Nelson gradually transitioned into art. “I started to wind down my work hours and paint more, and I think in 2019, I did my first kind of real painting,” he said.

His breakthrough came unexpectedly in 2022, when a visit to his dentist’s office led to an opportunity. After casually showing his portfolio, the dentist’s wife – also the clinic’s artistic director –called him the next day, purchasing 18 prints to display in treatment rooms

But before art was able to sway him, work took him across the Atlantic. “I got to Germany, I was working 80 hours a week. I had four children and I didn’t have time to do anything, so I had a studio and I played around, it was just a hobby, it wasn’t serious,” he recalled

During his time in Germany, Nelson was introduced to the art of Sonia DeLaunay, a Ukrainian-born artists who worked in France in the early 1920s. Her abstract, avantgarde, faded – now with time – but colorful work is framed and put in visibly in his living room.

“Her art inspired me tremendously in a different way than [Agam’s] because in her case it was about color. Her and it was revolutionary for the time.” Nelson said.

Drawing from these influences, Nelson describes his own style as “minimalist, hard-edge… very clean lines, but minimalist, abstract.”

“That’s what started things rolling,” Nelson said.

Encouraged, Nelson applied to his first art fair in 2023. “I got into one, then I tried others, and I got accepted everywhere.” That year, he participated in 10 art fairs across Chicagoland, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor, Indianapolis, and Minnesota. By 2024, that number had grown to 15 fairs

Locally, he has exhibited at the Oak Park Art League and Elmhurst Art League, earning a second-place award at the latter. While he enjoys showcasing his work, managing logistics can be demanding. “It’s fun once you get there. I like interacting with people and selling, but traveling, setting up, and tearing down is a lot of physical work.” he said. ”

Now, Nelson is seeking a permanent gallery space in Oak Park, ideally a storefront with heavy foot traffic for greater exposure.

His latest opportunity at the West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo marks an exciting step forward. “I think there will be other galleries there, different people, and it’s a good chance for me to expand my renommé, you know, just get my name out there,” he said.

For those who frequent Oak Park Bank, you may have already seen his colorful paintings displayed in their storefront

It’s a local artist named Douglas Nelson, a man who escaped the world of finance to the liberating realm of fine arts

You can check more of Nelson’s art on his website at www.douglasnelsonstudios.com

DA LA L ORFALI

Douglas Nelson

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Reading Between the Wines fundraiser returns to Riverside Public Librar y

Join the library March 1 for a fun night out while supporting updates to its historic building. Tickets are on sale now

By NIKKI ROBERTS Contributing Reporter

Attention wine lovers, library supporters and everyone else: The historic Riverside Public Library invites you to its 6th annual Reading Between the Wines (RBTW) fundraiser on Saturday, March 1 from 6-9 p.m.

Tickets costing $45 include 11 wine tasting stations, scrumptious charcuterie cups and a chance to mingle in the library after hours.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to try a large variety of interesting wines and specialty pairings, including a sold-out red wine and pasta sauce breakout tasting session.

The wine selection is facilitated by Peter Boutsikakis, co-owner and operator of Riverside Foods on 48 E Burlington St., River-

side. This year, some of the tasting stations include Love of Zinfandel, which will feature five expressions of Zinfandel, and an Oregon tasting station featuring wines from different regions of the state.

“I focus on variety and vendor relationships,” said Boutsikakis. “RBTW is a great opportunity to try two ounces of a wine that maybe you wouldn’t commit to at a restaurant or buy of f the shelf.”

RBTW is the library’s main revenue source outside its public funding, typically drawing around 300 guests and raising approximately $10,000 each year. This year, library director Jane Foley says she hopes to raise between $11,000 and $15,000 to support an update to the patron services area, which has not been updated since 1983.

“Right now, [the patron services area] is a hodgepodge of different desks and furni-

ture from over the past 95 years. We want to freshen it up and to give the staff a better place to work,” said Foley. “We would never touch the front main desk because that has been in our building since the be ginning.”

The update will include new carpeting, new bookshelves for holds and the Library of Things, and new desks and storage space for the staff. Past projects funded by RBTW include recarpeting the Great Room and a lower-level renovation.

Guests will be given order for ms if they wish to purchase bottles of any of the wines offered at RBTW. These orders will be fulfilled the following week by Riverside Foods.

“We’re a medium-sized, independent grocery store and we’re constantly fighting against corporate chains and home delivery for groceries,” said Boutsikakis. “Being a part of community events is a big part of

our business. This is another opportunity for folks in the area to see that the value of shopping at Riverside Foods goes beyond the price on the shelf.”

The fundraiser will only offer light bites, Boutsikakis encourages guests to dine out at local restaurants before or after the event.

“Our hopes are that folks patronize the downtown businesses for dinner. [Riverside has] some great restaurants and nice bars and after an event, we typically see a little extra activity in downtown. I’m proud to play a part in that.”

General admission tickets are $45. Each ticket includes a branded wine glass and access to 11 tasting stations. Purchase tickets online, or pay with cash or check at the library. Tickets for the red wine breakout session are sold out.