Austin Weekly News 033121

FREE

■

Vol. 35 No. 13

■

March 31, 2021

■

New restaurant headed to Austin, austinweeklynews.com

■

Also serving Garfield Park

@AustinWeeklyChi

PAGE 4

@AustinWeeklyNews

S Li Sen. Lightford htf d ddefends f d Loretto CEO, PAGE 9

West Siders call for Loretto CEO’s ouster

Group helmed by Mary Gardner launches petition calling for removal of Loretto CEO George Miller over hospital’s vaccine scandal

By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago

A West Side group has launched a petition calling for the removal of Loretto Hospital’s president after it was discovered the Austin medical center improperly vaccinated ineligible people at Trump Tower, a suburban church, a luxury jewelry store and other spots.

One of the hospital’s leaders, Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed, stepped down last week amid the controversy. But Loretto President George Miller still sits at the helm of Loretto, though he took responsibility for the Trump Tower vaccinations and organized for people to be vaccinated at his south suburban church. More than 200 people got shots at the event, which happened in early February, when doses were hard to come by.

The hospital’s board said it had taken “appropriate actions of reprimand against Miller and Ahmed for their role in the mistakes of judgment” — but members of the board have refused to say how Miller has been disciplined.

Those actions are not enough to restore the community’s confidence in the safety-net hospital, said resident Mary Gardner. Her organization, Women of the 7th Congressional District, started a petition Wednesday demanding the board remove Miller from the hospital’s executive team. Twenty-four people have signed See LORETTO on page 9

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

HEALTH AND COMMUNITY: Austin resident Bylnda Jones, left, receives her first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Dominican University nursing student Alice Gecila on March 21, during a mass vaccination for Austin residents at Catalyst Circle Rock School in Austin.

Austin vaccination site offers shots, cultural exchange

Five Dominican University nursing students helped administer shots to West Siders at Catalyst Circle Rock on March 21

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

A mass vaccination site at Catalyst Circle Rock charter school, 116 N. Central Ave. in Austin, was a vehicle for cross-cultural exchange last week, when five nurs-

ing students from Dominican University in nearby River Forest volunteered to assist with providing shots to Chicago residents.

Since February, Chicago’s Protect Chicago Plus initiative has been working with local hospitals to set up pop-up clin-

ics in majority Black and majority Hispanic neighborhoods, where residents already face healthcare disparities and the number of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths has been higher See NURSES on page 8

Support local community journalism Support democracy. See page 12 Austin Weekly News | 2021 All democracy is local

2

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

Austin parks receive $610K in TIF funding for improvements

The pool at Clark Park and the Amundsen Park playground are poised for upgrades

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

The Chicago City Council voted on March 24 to authorize using a total of $610,000 in Tax Increment Financing district funding to pay for improvements in Clark Park, 4615 W. Jackson Blvd. and Amundsen Park, 6200 W. Bloomingdale Ave. Clark Park pool, which is popular with local families because it’s shallow enough for kids to play in, will get new water filters, and its pipes will be refurbished or replaced in order to stop leaks. The pool deck will be repaired and the pool grounds will get a new fence.

Amundsen Park playground will get ADA accessibility improvements, its soft surfaces will be replaced and some playground equipment will be replaced or upgraded.

The TIF funds will cover the full costs of both projects. The City Council’s Committee on Finance unanimously approved the payments

on March 22 and the full council approved it as part of a larger package of ordinances.

When a TIF is created, the amount that the Chicago Park District and other government bodies collect in property taxes is frozen. When the taxes go up, the extra money is instead deposited into a TIF fund for the ostensible purposes of supporting development that results in higher property values.

The higher values are supposed to make up for the lost tax revenue.

According to a 2020 case study by the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis, a think tank based in New York City, TIFs disproportionately benefit neighborhoods that are already well off.

The funding for the Clark Park pool renovations will come from the Midwest TIF, which collected around $17.3 million in revenue in 2019, the most recent year for which the data is available.

The funding for Amundsen Park playground renovations will come from Galewood/Armitage Industrial TIF, which collected $5.8 million in 2019.

The pool project will cost $500,000, with $425,000 going toward the pool repairs and improvements, and $75,000 paying for pool

grounds improveIMPROVEMENTS COMING: ments.

Th e shallow pool at Clark Park, Beth O’Reilly, the park district’s depwhich is poised for upgrades. uty budget director, told the finance O’Reilly said that the Amundsen Park imcommittee that the pool was a rarity within provements are part of a park district-wide the Chicago parks system. A few years ago, effort to update or replace playground equipshe said, the park district proposed replacing ment “that’s been vandalized or just sort of past the pool with “an interactive water feature,” its useful life.” They will cost $110,000, with but the community opposition was so fierce $100,000 paying for playground equipment and that district officials backed off the idea. $10,000 covering other improvements.

“It’s sort of a wading pool, but the comAld. Chris Taliaferro (29th), whose ward munity loves it,” O’Reilly said. “It needs a includes the park, described the proposed whole lot of love.” playground upgrades as just the latest in the Ald. Michael Scott (24th), who was the series of Amundsen Park improvements he park district area manager for a region that and his predecessor, Ald. Deborah Graham, includes the West Side before he became an have supported. alderman, said he is familiar with the pool In 2014, the park district got $2.85 million from his previous job. Because the park is from Galewood/Armitage TIF to improve located across the street from a small secand restore the park’s athletic turf field, tion of his ward that falls within Austin, he baseball field and running track. still hears about it from his constituents.

“This is a wonderful park and we’ve been “I know that a lot of folks in the commuimproving this park, not only the field nity love and use that park [and that] the house, but the outdoor playground,” Taliawork is very necessary,” Scott said. “[The ferro said. pool has] been in disrepair for, I would say, the last 15 years.”

CONTACT: igorst3@hotmail.com

See what all the buzz is about.

Sign up today for our Breaking News Emails AustinWeeklyNews.com

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

Silver Shovel dump site finalists announced

Cubs Baseball Academy doesn’t make the cut

By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago

Four projects have been shortlisted in the bid to turn the long-vacant Silver Shovel dump site into a mixed-use industrial facility with community perks.

But despite attracting considerable buzz, a proposal to turn the site into a state-of-theart youth baseball academy led by Pritzker Realty and Cubs Charities was not selected.

The Pritzker and Cubs project scored second-highest in the city’s evaluation of the six redevelopment plans, according to planning department records, but it was at the bottom of the list for residents who filled out a survey and submitted comments at community meetings.

Some residents were unconvinced the Pritzker and Cubs plan would create enough jobs and offer opportunities for Lawndale residents to build wealth, the evaluation said.

Four projects ultimately were shortlisted.

They are: ■ Solar-powered industrial, manufacturing and distribution buildings and an innovation center dedicated to supporting local businesses, proposed by Related Midwest and 548 Capital.

■ An industrial facility with affordable housing, a job training program and commercial space, proposed by McCaffery, A Safe Haven and KMA Development.

■ An industrial park with a business incubator, auto mechanic training program and athletic center, proposed by Matanky Realty, Safeway Construction, WBS Equities and North Lawndale Employment Network.

■ Warehouses, cold storage and a community center that would include athletic facilities, retail space, a café and artist studios, proposed by RK5 Development coalition.

The $173 million McCaffery plan is the most expensive of the proposals. Resident evaluations showed support for the plan, which would create up to 1,000 permanent jobs and 1,000 construction jobs, more than any other plan.

Community feedback also was supportive of the commercial, industrial and residential uses of the facility. The project would include extensive outdoor landscaping with a playground and amphitheater. Sixty units of affordable rental housing would be built.

The Lawndale Wealth Creation Engine would be an incubation and training community space at the site to help business owners grow, spearheaded by A Safe Haven and Bunker Labs.

The $90 million RK5 plan could generate

370 permanent jobs and 300 construction jobs. The project would include a multi-use community center that would house sports programs for the North Lawndale Athletic and Recreation Association, a café run by Momentum Coffee, an incubator, retail space for local businesses and co-working spaces for artists.

“Residents praised the proposal for its innovative design and for including multiple avenues for residents to utilize the center,” city planner Ethan Lassiter said.

The Matanky proposal would create up to 300 jobs at the industrial park.

Evaluations from residents praised the partnership with a trusted community organization, the North Lawndale Employment Network, which would ensure a local hiring pipeline for quality, middle-income jobs at the site.

An incubator at the facility would support local businesses, and the auto Mechanics Local 701 Union would be based at the site to provide mechanic training and access to union careers.

The Related Midwest/548 plan would create an estimated 500 jobs at the two industrial buildings.

In evaluations, residents said they supported the solar farm that would be installed on the roof, and the commitment by developers to prioritize minority-owned businesses at every level of the project.

A 10,000-square-foot innovation center that would be built at the facility was wellreceived by residents, Lassiter said. The center would partner with the North Lawndale Chamber of Commerce to maximize its impact on the business environment in the neighborhood Finalists will have two months to review city and resident evaluations and revise their plans to fill in any gaps in feasibility and community benefits, officials said.

The McCaffery plan and the RK5 plan are “more aspirational [and] were wellreviewed, but we need to work on feasibility,” Lassiter said. On the other hand, the

Matanky Realty and Related Midwest plans are highly feasible with minimal city incentives, but “maybe could better emphasize design quality or community benefits,” Lassiter said.

After the two months, the city will initiate a second round of evaluations for the finalists, which will incorporate more community engagement, Ald. Michael Scott (24th) said.

“We still have to be mindful of COVID. There may be an opportunity to do things on a larger scale or maybe do something outdoors where more people can be involved.

Maybe have a survey that can be done by hand,” Scott said.

Several residents asked city planners how much community feedback would be weighed into the final decision on which project will be developed. The current process has no breakdown for precisely how much community evaluations will weigh into the decision, which is ultimately the city’s to make, Lassiter said.

City Council would have to change request-for-proposal rules to define how community voices fit into the process, Lassiter said, but the city evaluations aim to reflect resident feedback.

“It is a larger legal change to have community feedback officially weigh in the process.

But our intention is to align that as much as possible, given the constraints,” Lassiter said.

Scott encouraged residents to stay involved in the process to determine what kinds of opportunities the redevelopment might bring to the neighborhood.

“We want to get this process right,” Scott said. “We probably won’t get another bite of the apple. We don’t want to put something in the ground that is not going to be transformative to the community.”

Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.

AUSTIN WEEKLY

news

Editor Michael Romain Senior Editor Bob Uphues Contributing Reporters Bonni McKeown, Igor Studenkov Reporting Partners Block Club, Austin Talks Columnist Arlene Jones Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designer Debbie Becker Sales & Marketing Representavies Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner ≈ Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich ≈ GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA Board of Directors Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson , Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer ≈ HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 773-626-6332 FAX 708-467-9066 CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com TWITTER @AustinWeeklyChi

CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

Block Club Chicago file photo

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED: The site of the old Silver Shovel dump, where construction companies – including city contractors – illegally dumped tons of hazardous waste in the ‘90s in the North Lawndale neighborhood on March 10, 2021.

Austin Weekly News is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. It is distributed free of charge at locations across Austin and Garfield Park. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Advertising rates are available by calling our office.

Printed entirely on recycled paper. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP.

3

4

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

New restaurant and event venue coming to Austin

The Bruce restaurant and event space will be opened

by Black entrepreneurs

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

Two Black-owned businesses, the Juan and Only Events and Batter & Berries breakfast cafe, are teaming up to launch The Bruce restaurant and event space, which will be located at 5924 W. Chicago Ave. The existing building would be turned into a sit-down restaurant and the vacant lot to the west of it will become an outdoor patio. The Bruce will function as a restaurant in mornings and mid-afternoons, and as event space in late afternoons and evenings.

The owners of the two businesses said they wanted to create something that would benefit existing residents and bring customers from both sides of Austin Boulevard to the Chicago Avenue corridor.

Because the property is within 125 feet of a residential area, the developers had to ap-

Craig Richardson. According to its website, the couple wanted to “add an eclectic world class restaurant to the vibrant Chicago brunch scene.” The cafe is located in Lincoln Park, at 2748 N. Lincoln Ave. According to Eater Chicago, in addition to the Austin partnership, the couple are planning to open a second location in south suburban Olympia Fields.

Juan Teague, who grew up in Austin, founded Juan and Only Events in 2009, organizing several community festivals and smaller events.

She told the zoning board that she wanted to open something that the Chicago Avenue corridor was missing, that would bring Chicagoans and Oak Parkers to Austin, and “and stop the Google Earth narrative that the REVITALIZED: This vacant office building at 5924 W. Chicago Ave. West Side is bad.”

Working with Uniin Austin may soon become home to the Bruce restaurant.

ply for a variation with the Chicago Zoning Board of Appeals. The board considered the request during its March 19 meeting. While some commissioners had questions about the particulars, they took no issue with the concept and unanimously approved the request.

Batter & Berries was founded in 2012 by Dr. Tanya Richardson and her husband,

versity of Chicago students and the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA), she looked at community needs and found that Austin didn’t have many sit-down restaurants and no full-service banquet facility with an on-site kitchen.

“We listened to residents, and they just wanted somewhere where they can eat, in the neighborhood, because they typically have to go to Oak Park for that,” Teague said.

She said that she reached out to Batter and Berries, because it was “great food, they also know my brand, from attending various events, and they have a diverse crowd.”

She said she named the business after her father, who passed away in 2016.

Adekunle Onayami, the project architect and a AAABNA member, said that the building, which used to be office space, has been vacant for 10 years and that corridor business owners welcome Teague’s plans.

“I know the business community is very interested in seeing this particular business situated here,” he said.

CONTACT: igorst3@hotmail.com

Austin masonry business buys city land for planned expansion

Vh Masonry Construction agreed to do environmental remediation on vacant lots at 5108 W. Lake and 5062 W. Lake St. before expanding

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

The Chicago City Council recently approved the sale of two city-owned lots in Austin. The Vh Masonry Construction company, located at 5124 W. Lake St., purchased the properties on the condition that the company remediate existing site contamination.

The vacant lots at 5108 W. Lake St. and 5062 W. Lake St. are located directly east of the company’s current building. According to city officials, the two lots in between the two city-owned lots are privately owned, and Vh Masonry plans to acquire them as well and use the entire parcel to expand its existing outdoor equipment storage.

According to historical records and the archived version of its website, Morris Wood & Sons woodworking equipment

manufacturer occupied the now-vacant land from 1906 to 1970.

Vh Masonry agreed to clean up the lots and the city agreed to use the money the company paid to buy the land to reimburse the company for the clean-up. Until the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is satisfied that the remediation is completed, the company won’t be able to use the land.

According to the company brochure, Morris Wood & Sons was founded by gunsmith Morris Wood in 1874. Originally based in the Loop, it moved to Austin, near what is now the Laramie/Lake Green Line ‘L’ station, because it needed room for a larger facility.

It moved to Morristown, Tenn. in order to build a bigger factory and better serve its clients in southern states, according to the brochure. The company went out of business in May 2014.

According to county property records, after Morris moved out, the lot at 5108 W. Lake St. went through several owners, two of whom bought it at a tax sale. The 5062 W. Lake St. lot had a lien for unpaid water bills against it on Dec. 6, 1991, and a demolition notice was issued against the property on Oct. 15, 1999, because it was “vacant and open and [was] a continuing hazard to the surrounding community.” The city

CLEAN UP: Vh Masonry’s existing yard (foreground) and the vacant lots it purchased (background).

IGOR STUDENKOV

acquired both lots in 2003 after they were auctioned off due to unpaid property taxes.

According to Department of Planning and Development Deputy Commissioner Peter Strazzabosco, the city and the company hasn’t closed on the sale as of March 25, and he didn’t have an estimate on when they might close. The department didn’t respond to questions about the nature of the contamination by deadline.

During the March 16 meeting of the city council’s Committee on Housing and Real Estate, Nelson Cheung, a DPD coordinating planner, explained that, once the remediation is complete, Vh Masonry will put up a fence 7 feet from the existing

sidewalk, plant trees in the 7-foot setback and pave the lot.

Ald. Daniel La Spada (1st) wondered whether the company would do anything to mitigate flooding. Cheung responded that, to the best of his knowledge, the lots aren’t big enough to require flood mitigation, but his department will revisit the issue once environmental remediation is complete.

La Spada said he still had concerns.

“I would love to be wrong, but I can imagine how it [would] increase stormwater on Lake Street, and on that bike lane [on the north side of the street],” he said.

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

5

Rep. Ford resigns from Loretto’s board

Ford said he’s resigning because he disagrees with how Loretto is handling the punishments for the executives

By KELLY BAUER Block Club Chicago

A state representative has resigned from Loretto Hospital’s board, saying he strongly disagrees with how two hospital executives were reprimanded after the board decided to keep the controversial leaders.

Loretto Hospital’s board of directors earlier this month stuck by CEO and President George Miller and Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed, who face controversy over the West Side hospital vaccinating ineligible people at Trump Tower, at a ritzy Gold Coast business and in the suburbs.

But Rep. LaShawn Ford, a member of the board and a representative for the area in the state Legislature, said on March 23 that he’s resigning because he disagrees with how Loretto is handling the punishments for the executives.

“I am very disappointed with the recent developments at The Loretto Hospital regarding its use of coronavirus vaccine entrusted to the hospital,” Ford said in a statement Tuesday morning. “Yesterday, I submitted my resignation to The Loretto Hospital’s Board Chairman Edward Hogan because I strongly disagreed with how the reprimand of the hospital leadership was handled.

“As the state representative for the hospital and as a resident in its service area, I will continue to fight for resources for The Loretto Hospital, a safety-net hospital in the Austin community.”

Ford previously backed the hospital’s leaders, saying mistakes were made but Loretto wouldn’t “throw anybody under the bus.”

On March 23, though, Ford told Block Club he is resigning from the hospital’s board because “it’s the right thing to do.”

“I’m gonna let the board work this out.

But I think there’s just a difference in how this should be handled,” he said. Later, he said, “I think … proper reprimands are necessary.”

Ford would not say what punishments, if any, the board did dole out to Miller and Ahmed, saying the board is working through a legal situation. He also would not say what punishments he did want to see the leaders face.

Ahmed has donated at least $12,000 to election efforts for Ford, a public database shows. Ford said that did not present a conflict of interest.

The board met on March 22 after

Block Club reported on how the hospital vaccinated ineligible people at a luxury Gold Coast watch and jewelry store where Loretto’s chief operating officer, Dr. Anosh Ahmed, is a high-spending customer.

Afterward, a Loretto spokeswoman said the board “has decided not to issue a statement.

They have developed a corrective action plan and stand by the statement that was issued on Friday.”

The board has kept secret what “reprimands” it provided to Miller and Ahmed. And when asked about Loretto’s “corrective action plan” on March 22, the hospital’s spokeswoman said she had no additional information.

The hospital’s board met on March 19.

Afterward, in a statement, members said they had taken “appropriate actions of reprimand against Miller and Ahmed for their role in the mistakes of judgment.”

State Sen. Kimberly Lightford, who is also a member of the board, has declined to comment on how Miller and Ahmed were punished.

The hospital and its leaders have faced heavy criticism from city officials, who said they lost the trust of the community they are meant to serve and let people they know cut the vaccine line instead of prioritizing residents of the West Side, which has been hit hard by the pandemic.

The city’s health department is investigating Loretto to determine if it’s been properly vaccinating people and reporting those vaccinations. The health department has cut off Loretto’s supply of vaccine doses until it’s confident the hospital is following city rules.

“I fear that we’re gonna hear more stories, which is why we pushed ‘pause’ on giving Loretto more doses,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Monday. “They’ve got work to do I think to rebuild trust in their own community. … We have already put plans together for other providers to kind of take up the work that Loretto was doing. But clearly they’ve got to have better systems in place, better controls.

“I don’t expect them to be coming back online anytime soon. … But it’s unfortunate that it’s come to this.”

The investigation started after Block Club reported on ineligible workers getting shots at Trump Tower, where multiple hospital leaders — including Ahmed — live. The criticism intensified after Block Club reported Ahmed had told people he vaccinated millionaire Eric Trump. He later claimed he was joking.

Ineligible Cook County judges were also offered shots at Loretto, according to a WBEZ report.

On March 19, Block Club reported shots were also administered to more than 200 members of the suburban church attended

by Miller, who is also longtime friends with the church’s leader.

And on March 22, Block Club reported that Loretto also vaccinated ineligible

people at a luxury Gold Coast jewelry and watch shop, Geneva Seal, where Ahmed is a frequent customer.

The city’s health department does not feel comfortable providing doses to Loretto given the controversies, its commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, told reporters Friday.

She said her “biggest concern” is the hospital was vaccinating people who aren’t eligible — but she is also concerned officials prioritizes vaccines for people “who were well-connected, really letting them jump the line.”

“It’s disappointing where providers that we are prioritizing are not choosing to really live by the mission [of] their organization, and I think it seems that was the case here,” Arwady said.

The Loretto Board of Directors is conducting an audit of all off-site vaccination events, and it will share its findings with the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Department of Public Health, the hospital’s spokeswoman said.

CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

“The” Friendship BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Dr. Reginald E. Bachus, Pastor 5200 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60644 773-378-6600 fbcchicago.org facebook.com/friendshipbcchicago JOIN US FOR ONLINE SERVICES • FACEBOOK @FriendshipBCChicago • YOUTUBE @The Friendship Baptist Church of Chicago

Sundays - 9:30 AM Sunday School • 11:00 AM Worship Service

Wednesdays - 6:00 PM Bible Study

Bring Home a Taste of Some of your Favorite Moments

RibFest Every Day! Mickey’s is the place!

Mickey’s Rib Special 1/2 Slab Dinner Full Slab Dinner B.B.Q. RIBS & CHICKEN BURGERS & HOT DOGS

$11.99

$17.99

includes fries or baked potato, coleslaw and garlic bread

525 N Harlem Ave, Oak Park (708) 848-3333 11am - 9pm Daily

3 Vienna Hot Dogs w/ Fries $ .49

8

Italian Beef Sandwich w/ Fries $ .49

8

Wednesday

Gyros Plate Dinner 1 lb meat, 2 pita breads, fries & 3 cups sauce $10.99

Every day Special!

Gyros with fries $7.99

1/4 Lb Double Cheeseburger

Big Mickey! $ .99

2

6

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

Want to quit using?

PCC Community Wellness Center offers Medication-Assisted Treatment

I

We also offer:      

Emotional support, counseling, and groups Psychiatric Medication Management Peer support Treatment during pregnancy Hepatitis C Treatment Access to ongoing care

Chemical Dependency Clinic

Inside PCC Walk-In Wellness Center at West Suburban Medical Center

(708) 406-3929

Chicago Jesuit Academy cjacademy.org

cjacademy.org (773) 638-6103 apply@cjacademy.org

t’s a damn shame I have to ask the question: How many deaths is it going to take before our trifling lawmakers do something serious about cracking down on all carjackers? It is a nationwide problem. And the ages keep getting younger and younger as those in their early teens are now trending — yes 13 is the youngest age to be involved in a carjacking that resulted in the death of the driver.

Not only are the carjackers young, they’re also female.

I am long past the handwringing and platitudes about these individuals being children. They have made some adult decisions and need to suffer adult consequences.

Blaming video games like Grand Theft Auto alone is one of the lamest things I’ve heard in ages. The video game was released in 1997. Admittedly many of these kids grew up playing/watching it their entire life. Yet there’s no holding accountable those who bought the game and allowed these kids to play it.

Teaching right from wrong is a parental responsibility. As such, we are failing to hold accountable the parents who are legally and morally responsible for these children until they turn 18. We give parents unearned income tax credits amounting to thousands of dollars just because they birthed the children. We give tax deductions because of children.

The latest stimulus bill involves money for children. In Chicago, every public school student is going to get a $425 a month Link card, whether they need it or not. Somewhere along the line, all that money being tossed about because of

children needs to have some accountability from the adults who in most cases are controlling it. I say most cases, because when those Link cards start arriving, it’s going to be interesting to see the news stories of dispute situations where the kid didn’t want to give up the card to the parent. Although many like to profess that those cards can only be used for food, in reality they could be traded for Michael Jordan gym shoes and True Religion jeans. All you need is a willing Link card holder and a willing seller.

We have had several deaths because of these carjackings.

And in each case, the person killed was not black. The killers? Young black kids. There’s a lot of silence about that, but this is reality. These children have the notion that they can go out and create this havoc and they will get their wrists slapped. Sadly, it’s true. They are being released back to the same environment that allowed them in the streets to begin with. They have no fear because they know there are no or few consequences.

If I had my way, we would institute a juvenile in-service program that would send those kids away for a minimum of four years. It would be a military-type environment away from family and friends, where they would for the first time in their lives be subjected to rules, regulations and mandatory education.

These children have to grow up, and we can’t lose them forever. But we also can’t continue to just give them a slap on the wrist. There is a real penalty to be paid because there was a real death involved.

ARLENE JONES

PCC accepts many health plans, including Medicaid and Medicare. We also offer a discount program for patients without insurance. No one is denied services, even if you cannot pay.

• Faith-based • No tuition/fees • All boys grades 3-8 •16 students per class

How many deaths is it going to take?

COMMUNITY AN EXCITING DIGITAL PORTAL DEDICATED TO EVERYTHING

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

7

Faith leaders working to open credit union on West Side The Leaders Network is spearheading effort to open new financial institution

By SHELBY E. HAWKINS AustinTalks

SEEKING OPPORTUNITY: The Leaders Network, a faith-based social justice organization, is looking to start a credit union to support West Side residents who can’t get traditional financial support.

A group of faith leaders have started a campaign to raise $300,000 by the end of the year in hopes of opening a credit union on the West Side.

Spearheaded by The Leaders Network, the effort is focused on providing West Side residents more economic opportunities. David Cherry, president of The Leaders Network, Provided said a credit union -owned and operated by Client: ComEd Bleed: Region: US the community – would offer another way to Campaign: ComEd IBD Reunion Print Ads Trim: 10.25 x 5.58” Language: English Agency Job #: B1241-022586-00 Live: Notes: None help people move out of poverty.

AD #/AD ID: QEXL1115000 “If a person can get support from a finan- Date Modified: March 19, 2021 10:39 AM Keyline Scale: 100% cial institution … then they’re able to open CR: Output at: Round: Page: grocery stores, dry cleaners and restau- ADobtain At a Leaders Network meeting earlier this Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church and loans from a bank. A credit union, he rants, and they can start putting people to said, is a great option for people who have month, Rabbi Max Weiss of Oak Park TemRev. Cy Fields of Landmark Baptist Church NOT TO BE USED FOR COLOR APPROVAL work in their business, which would help been denied opportunities in the past. And ple B’nai Abraham Zion said, “This is a way to promise to raise more than that. Rev. the entire West Side,” Cherry said.

CD: it G. Apfelbach ACD: A. Del Valle/C. CW: A. C. Capola BM/PC: E. help Schmidt AM: L. MitchellTimothy Hoekstra also pledged to raise to helpP:folks and have folks themselves. would offer residents an Kesman alternative toWalentin He said the lack of financial institutions payday lenders and subprime businesses.

I know we can make this happen.” funds for the effort. on the West Side means fewer options for Rev. Ira Acree of Greater St. John Bible There’s no exact location in mind yet.

You can donate at: https://leadersnetworkresidents.

Cherry said it could possibly be in a church, Church vowed to raise $5,000, prompting chicago.org/news/2021/3/8/leaders-netCherry noted that some residents in and office building or store front.

Rev. Marshall E. Hatch Sr. of New Mount work-credit-union-fundraising-campaign. around Austin may not have the credit to

WOMEN WHO MAKE HISTORY

Women only make up 28% of the STEM workforce. ComEd is changing that—with community STEM programs and education initiatives all meant to help more women find their passion for STEM. Because the best way to celebrate Women’s History Month is to help women make more of it.

Learn more about STEM programs available to students at ComEd.com/STEMeducation

8

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021 sites on March 21. The interviews held a few days ahead of time revealed a group that came from diverse backgrounds and got into nursing for personal reasons.

Mhaylee Jimenez grew up in Cicero and currently lives in Maywood. She said that the major reason why she decided to become a nursing student was because she grew up in a community where most people didn’t go to college and the only clinic in the area “[had] one nurse, one doctor and one dentist

NURSES

Lending a hand from page 1 than the city average. The sites are open to all community residents age 18 and up who register ahead of time.

The Circle Rock site, which launched on March 14, is operated by the Chicago-based Rush University System for Health. It will be open on Sundays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., until April 18.

The five nursing students said that they were grateful for the opportunity to help, especially after seeing first-hand how eager many residents were to get vaccinated.

Dr. Tamara Bland, the director of Dominican’s nursing program, explained that, during the final semester of their senior year, all nursing students are placed at different inpatient and outpatient sites in Chicago and the suburbs. It gives the students an opportunity to put everything they learned to practical use.

“They’re providing vaccinations and doing health education, while also unitizing their critical thinking skills, leadership and management skills,” Bland said. “It gives them an opportunity to unitize their [knowledge].”

As vaccine eligibility widened at the end of January, Dominican University President Donna Caroll reached out to Dr. David Ansell, Rush’s vice president for Community Health

and Equity, to see if they could do anything to help vaccinate residents in communities Protect Chicago Plus set out to help. The two institutions quickly agreed to have Dominican students volunteer at Rush University Health Center, 1620 W. Harrison St., and at the Circle Rock vaccination site.

“We were thrilled when we were notified that Austin was one of the [locations],” Bland said.

“We know from just watching those news and being practicing nurses, that it was one of the marginalized communities that were disproportionately impacted by COVID.” Students s t a r t e d working at the vaccination

seeing everyone who lived there.

“I saw how much they struggled to see all the patients and thought to myself, ‘One day, I’m going to be a medical professional and I will come back to help them out,’” Jimenez said.

Alice Gicela, who lives in Jefferson Park, said she got into nursing because of her experiences after she was diagnosed with cancer when she was nine years old.

“Being a nursing student right now is

Photos by ALEX ROGALES/Staff Photographer

HELPING OUT: Dominican nursing students lent their skills to help West Siders get vaccinated earlier this month at Catalyst Circle Rock.

incredibly difficult, because I wish I could be out on the frontlines to directly help patients,” she said.

Most of the Dominican nursing students already have hands-on experience with vaccinations. Jimenez works as a nursing assistant at Rush Oak Park hospital in Oak Park.

Gicela previously volunteered to vaccinate patients at North Lawndale’s Mt. Sinai hospital.

On March 21, the lines were short and the crowds were slow, but steady. Annie Mellett admitted that she was initially nervous to get the vaccination, but glad she ultimately decided to do so.

“It feels really good,” she said. “It was easy. It didn’t hurt.”

Shirlee Whitten said she tried signing up at several vaccination sites, including the United Center’s mass vaccination site and was impressed at how easy signing up was with Rush.

“When I called Rush, I got an answer and an appointment, so I’m grateful, very grateful,” she said. “I feel good [about getting the vaccine]. It’s better to have it than to not have it.”

Belinda Jones, who live-streamed her own vaccination on her phone, said that “it was easy, easier than I thought.”

CONTACT: igorst3@hotmail.com

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

9

Sen. Lightford defends Loretto CEO amid vaccination scandal

Lightford is vice chairman of board that will decide Loretto CEO George Miller’s fate

By KELLY BAUER AND COLIN BOYLE Block Club Chicago

Loretto Hospital’s embattled president got a defender Friday: the state senator whose political fund he has donated to — and who sits on the board that will decide his fate.

Loretto and its executives, including CEO and President George Miller, have come under intense criticism after it was discovered the Austin medical center improperly vaccinated ineligible people at Trump Tower, a suburban church, a luxury jewelry store and other spots.

One of the hospital’s leaders, Chief Operating Officer Dr. Anosh Ahmed, stepped down earlier this week amid the controversy. Miller still sits at the helm of Loretto, though he took responsibility for the Trump Tower vaccinations and organized for people to be vaccinated at his south suburban church. More than 200 people got shots at the event, which happened in early Febru-

LORETTO

Residents want CEO gone from page 1 the online petition as of Friday morning.

“I’m disappointed we have not heard Mr. Miller stepping aside,” said Gardner, a former candidate for alderman of the 29th Ward. “There is no way Mr. Miller can continue to lead Loretto Hospital. This is gross negligence of public trust. It is a disgrace.”

Gardner was “so insulted and so disappointed” by the lack of concrete action from the board, she said, since the improper vaccination events took desperately-needed vaccines out of the neighborhood when many residents are still struggling to access them.

“Those vaccines could have been administered throughout … Austin, Garfield, Lawndale. Our community could have been covered because we’re the ones specifically that are falling far behind in terms of getting vaccinated,” Gardner said.

Ahmed resigned on March 24 amid mounting controversy over the scandals.

Several of the unauthorized events hap-

ary, when doses were hard to come by.

State. Sen Kimberly Lightford is vice chairman of the Loretto Hospital Board of Trustees, which oversees Miller and other hospital executives. Miller has donated $2,500 to a political fund run

by Lightford, a public database shows.

Block Club Chicago file photo Lightford denied that dona- STILL SUPPORTING: Sen. Lightford and Loretto CEO George Miller, who the senator is defending followtion, despite the information ing the hospital’s vaccination controversy. being publicly available, and incorrectly said the Loretto in and all around the community so that we hospital’s actions were a “disgrace” and scandals deal with less than 200 vaccinacan continue to provide quality health care amounted to “gross negligence of public tions. More than 200 people were vaccinated trust.” to our Austin residents. at Miller’s church alone. Loretto officials Mayor Lori Lightfoot said there needs to “…

We’re still looking at what we need to also claimed it vaccinated 72 people at be an independent investigation at Loretto do to move forward, how we can continue to Trump Tower.

— which the hospital has not committed to.

The board has said it “reprimanded” Mill- maintain the Loretto Hospital as the largest State Rep. Marty Moylan, who represents er but has refused to say what punishment employer in the community. So there’s a lot northwest suburbs, has called for an indehe received. And on Friday, Lightford said at stake. Once COVID is over, we’re all back pendent investigation into the hospital’s to normalcy, it’s important that we continue the board has no plans to see him go. vaccinations, as well. “… Serving on the board for 21 years, as to provide quality care to the Austin comLightfoot said the hospital will need to I have, prior to COVID, Mr. Miller is one of munity. And we do not, at this time, see Mr. work to “rebuild trust in their own commuour best presidents that we’ve had,” Light- Miller as being a detriment to our efforts.” nity” in light of the scandals.

A West Side group has started a petition ford said at a news conference. “We’ve worked really hard to develop relationships calling for Miller’s removal, saying the CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

pened at places Ahmed was connected to — like Trump Tower, where he lives; the Geneva Seal jewelry store, where he’s been a frequent customer; and workers of Maple & Ash, a restaurant he frequents.

There were also the vaccination event at Miller’s suburban church. And WBEZ has reported on ineligible Cook County judges being offered shots at Loretto, as well as the hospital vaccinating ineligible members of a Greek church.

As a safety-net hospital, Loretto is critically important to residents of the West Side.

But without definitive action to separate the hospital from the actions of its leaders, Loretto’s reputation will suffer, which will harm patients, residents and employees, Gardner said. She started the petition to give ordinary Austin residents a platform to demand accountability so the hospital could restore its credibility, she said.

It would be unfortunate for the scandal to tarnish the reputation of Loretto Hospital and the major strides it has made in the quality of care and community outreach in recent years, said Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th).

“Although a lot of egregious mistakes were made with vaccinations, I just don’t want to lose sight of the good accomplish-

ments that they had at the hospital,” Taliaferro said.

The hospital played a key role in distributing personal protective equipment and vaccine testing on the West Side during the pandemic, Taliaferro said. Loretto has also strengthened its community partnerships in recent years, he said.

“I think that Loretto can rebuild, as they have in the past, and I look forward to that.

Most importantly, they need to make a decision as a board on whether they’re going to move forward under George Miller’s leadership,” Taliaferro said.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said there needs to be an independent investigation at Loretto — which the hospital has not committed to.

State Rep. Marty Moylan, who represents northwest suburbs, has called for an independent investigation into the hospital’s vaccinations, as well.

Lightfoot said the hospital will need to work to “rebuild trust in their own community” in light of the scandals.

The SEIU Healthcare Illinois union representing 190 employees at Loretto thinks hospital leaders alone should be held accountable for the controversy, and Ahmed’s resignation is a start to restoring trust, union President Greg Kelley said in a news re-

lease. The union has urged the city to start sending doses back to Loretto, as cutting off the hospital only hurts West Side residents, Kelley said.

“Our members at Loretto were daily witness to vaccination irregularities and were early voices in raising the alarm that vaccine doses were being improperly redirected away from the high-risk Austin community,” Kelley said in a statement. “… It is our fervent hope that the board will now take the additional steps needed to ensure that worker and community voices are heard both in redressing the impact of these misappropriated vaccine doses.”

The only way for Loretto to rebuild is for Miller to be removed so West side residents can have faith that their community hospital will prioritize the community, not those who have access and connections, Gardner said.

“It’s important that folks know that when I go in here, I get my medical needs met. I don’t have to be a friend of a friend, or related, none of that. I have to know … if I have a medical need, it will be met at Loretto Hospital,” Gardner said.

CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

10

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

deadline: 9:30 am Monday office hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday – Friday

CLASSIFIEDS TO PLACE AN AD

CALL: 773-626-6332 | FAX: 708-467-9066 | E-MAIL: classifieds@AustinWeeklyNews.com Place your ad online anytime at AUSTINWEEKLYNEWS.COM/CLASSIFIED

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

CUSTOMER SERVICE & EQUIPMENT SUPPORT PART TIME

EQUIPMENT OPERATOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Equipment Operator in the Public Works Department. This position will operate construction and maintenance equipment in a variety of street activities including loading, hauling, and related operations. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications April 6, 2021.

Manufacturer of commercial food service equipment in McCook seeks an experienced customer service professional with a mechanical, gas & electrical technical support background.

Please email resume to: marketing@keatingofchicago.com BUDGET & REVENUE ANALYST The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Budget and Revenue Analyst in the Police Department.

This position will Serve the public with professional administrative and analytical duties in the areas of budget preparation, purchasing, payroll, data analysis and process improvement. Provides, prepares and maintains records, and financial and statistical reports and analysis which assist in the Village’s ability to improve business processes and gain efficiencies through better use of technology. Budget duties include assisting in the development, analysis and application of performance measures with regard to Village services and resources; preparing, modifying, tracking and monitoring Village expenses and transfers; and conducting budget-related research and analysis. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park. us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications April 12, 2021.

To Be Given Away, Items for Sale and Lost & Found classified ads run free in Austin Weekly News!

Call 773/626-6332 to place your ad.

SUBURBAN RENTALS

LICENSED ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of duties including education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health environment.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than April 16, 2021.

SUBURBAN RENTALS STUDIO APARTMENTS BROADVIEW Studio apartments for rent. $600/mo and up, all utilities incl. $25 credit application fee.

9200 W. Cermak Broadview 708-715-7292 OAK PARK: ROOSEVELT/ OAK PARK AVE. CORRIDOR 2BR 4RMS close to blue line. On site laundry, parking, heat & water incl. $1200/ month 708-383-9223

SUBURBAN RENTALS

Apartment listings updated daily at:

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT FOREST PARK HIGHLY VISIBLE OFFICE/STORE AVAILABLE FOR LEASE 1350 SF w/ AC & HIGHLY VISIBLE MADISON STREET EXPOSURE. 7607 Madison Street. Village parking lot next door. Bright, clean office.

Great Madison Street exposure!

Call Francis 708-383-8574.

ANTIQUE HALL TREE Antique American Hall Tree, solid oak. Excellent condition. 29”w x 78”h x 11”d, with covered shelf and mirror. $159.00.

708-488-8755 FRUITWOOD FINISH SIDE TABLE Solid wood side table, fruitwood finish. 1 drawer and 1 bottom shelf.

15”d x 24”w x 24”h. $59.00 708-488-8755 MUSIC Music: piano scores, concertos, piano trios, flute music violin music.

Variety of composers. $3.00 each.

708-488-8755

CEMETERY PLOTS WOODLAWN CEMETERY LOT 1 lot for sale. Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.

CALL 727-688-7209

AUTOS FOR SALE 2008 FORD CROWN VIC INTERCEPTOR 62K MILES. $5500, 2013 FORD TAURUS INTERCEPTOR 140K MILES. $5500.

2005 HONDA CIVIC EX 5 SPD, 170K MILES. $3500.

1986 CAMARO Z28 5 SPD, 73K MILES. $4500.

Many new parts on all Call Pearson 773-540-7650

WANTED TO BUY

Selling your home by owner?

Make it stand out. Advertise here.

Call 708-613-3342 to place your ad.

CEMENT

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

ITEMS FOR SALE

.

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

MAGANA CEMENT

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead or plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

Starting a New Business?

Call the experts before you place your legal ad!

Publish your assumed name legal notice here.

Call Mary Ellen for details: 708/613-3342

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

• Electric • Heating • Air Conditioning

John Giatras Licensed, EPA Certified

Phone: 708-556-5540 Email: adinstubc@yahoo.com Reasonable Pricing!

Attention! Home improvement pros!

Reach the people making decisions– your target demographic.

Advertise your business in Austin Classified. Call 773/626-6332

HANDYMAN

PUBLIC NOTICES

HANDYMAN

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-637-0692 Ask for John

HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

LANDSCAPING BRUCE LAWN SERVICE Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance brucelawns.com

708-243-0571

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Vera Mae McKnight Case Number 2020 CONC 001128 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Vera Mae McKnight to the new name of: Vera Mae Sanders The court date will be held: On May 6, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. and will be heard via Zoom Video-conference. Please use the information below to access the hearing.

ZOOM MEETING ID: 986 9592 1385 ZOOM PASSWORD: 539505 CALL IN: 3126266799 Published in Austin Weekly News March 31, April 7, April 14, 2021

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff, -v.TERRANCE JONES, DEBRA JONES AS NEXT FRIEND OF T. J., A MINOR, DRMS, INC., UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF TERIE JONES, IF ANY, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, GERALD NORDGREN, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DECEASED MORTGAGOR, TERIE JONES Defendants 2019CH03632 601 NORTH RIDGEWAY 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 January 29, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 22, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 601 NORTH RIDGEWAY AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60624 Property Index No. 16-11-115-0160000 The real estate is improved with a single family home with no garage.

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, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mort-

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

(773) 626-6332 | FAX: (708) 467-9066 | E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@AUSTINWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know

CLASSIFIEDS

local employees... happy employees!

In print • Online • Available 24/7/365

AustinWeeklyNews.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

gagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. 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.

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) 236SALE 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. 20-04628IL_613786 Attorney ARDC No. 61256

Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 2019CH03632 TJSC#: 41-285 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 # 2019CH03632 I3165509

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, Alexander Potestivo, POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 263-0003.

Please refer to file number 312898.

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.

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago IL, 60606 312-263-0003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw. com Attorney File No. 312898 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 18 CH 10888 TJSC#: 41-405 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 # 18 CH 10888 I3166397

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION LENDINGHOME FUNDING CORPORATION Plaintiff, -v.412 LIVE, LLC, THERESA ANDERSON, CITY OF CHICAGO Defendants 18 CH 10888 3329 WEST FLOURNOY STREET 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 October 23, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 29, 2021, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 3329 WEST FLOURNOY STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60624 Property Index No. 16-14-406-0130000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $119,789.71.

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, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. 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

Hire Local.

Place an ad on AWN’s Local Online Job Board.

Go to AustinWeeklyNews.com/classified today!

Contact Mary Ellen Nelligan for more information.

(773) 626-6332 • maryellen@austinweeklynews.com

11

12

Austin Weekly News, March 31, 2021

Join our CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY. It’s not some abstract concept that someone else will act on.

ALL DEMOCRACY IS LOCAL.

A

ustin Weekly News is not owned by a distant conglomerate or hedge fund. It is owned by local 501(c)(3) Growing Community Media. Our ongoing reporting about West Side people and issues emerges from journalistic principals and practice that champion the civic engagement, civil discourse, a free press and the democratic process – on a local scale.

No matter where policies are created or developed, their affect is often felt most acutely where we live and work, in our homes, schools, houses of worship and businesses, on our streets, in our green spaces or in our daily interactions with each other. Vibrant local community journalism explains these policies from inception to implementation, convenes community discussions about them, and promotes meaningful participation in the democratic decisions that drive them.

Please make your donation to JOIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY. It’s not abstract. It’s support the CAMPAIGN FOR authentic. It’s independent. It’s local. DEMOCRACY today. Help us reach our goal of 2021 total donors by Please act on your belief in Election Day, April 6. democracy by supporting local independent news. Growing Community Media could not continue this vital work without its partners: our readers and champions, local and national donors and philanthropists who have invested in our vision of nonprofit local community journalism. We are 1750 strong and counting. And we ask you to join us.

Donate at www.austinweeklynews.com/donate

Campaign for Democracy Austin Weekly News | 2021 All democracy is local