Austin Weekly News 082124 by Wednesday Journal

e DNC lends arts, laughs and politicians to the West Side

Here’s how you can get involved

By JESSICA MORDACQ Contributing Reporter ERIKA HOBBS Editor in chief

An estimated 50,000 people descended on Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention on Monday.

Reporter Jessica Mordacq is among them, reporting on the scene for the West Side.

Austin Weekly News goes to the printer on Monday, so we can’t bring you the latest in print.

We can do that online, so for the next two days, follow us at https://ow.ly/ PaY950T1uqk for real-time updates about what the DNC means for you. Check back after, too, because our reporting won’t end there.

In the meantime, take a look at what you may have missed and learn how to keep up with the DNC during the next few days.

See DNC COVERAGE on pa ge 12

Kick of f

Chicago Winds ow ner Angelique Smith, second from le , brings women’s football to the West Side

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BIG WEEK August 21-28

Film Screening: Cadillac Records

The 2024 Food Aid Music Festival

Friday, August 23, 6:30 - 11 p.m., Rober t’s Westside

The festival that aims to combat food insecurity is back with headliner James McMurtr y. The annual event this year will bene t A House in Austin, the Austin Eats Initiative, and others. Tickets start at $55. https://ow.ly/ tHlJ50SZhqY. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

t & Play at Harambee Community Garden

turday, August 24, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Front Porch Arts Center

AU STIN WEEKLY news

Editor Erika Hobbs

Sta Reporters Jessica Mordacq Amaris E. Rodriguez

Special projects reporter Delaney Nelson

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Reporting Partners Block Club, Austin Talks

Columnists Arlene Jones

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Sales & Marketing Representatives

Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Saturday, August 24, 2 - 4 p.m. Chicago Public Librar y, Austin Branch

Join in for a screening of the lm Cadillac Records. The story of sex, violence, race and rock and roll in 1950s Chicago, and the exciting but turbulent lives of some of America musical legends, including Muddy Waters, Leonard Chess, Little Etta James and Chuck Berr y. 5724 W

Back-to-School Fitness Fun Fest

Saturday, August 24, 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Loretto Hospital

Immerse yourself in creativity at Art & Play, a weekly outdoor summer arts workshop set in the greenery of Harambee Community den’s Nature Curiosity and Exploration Center. Participants of all ages will discover the joy of artistic expression as they paint, draw, and create in the beauty of nature. Harambee Community Garden, 440 N. Waller Ave

Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, ields, Sheila Solomon, einheimer

At the 14th Annual Back-to-School Fitness Fun Fest, hosted by Loretto Hospital families can address their health needs through free onsite immunizations alongside a festive block party while enjoying a day of fun- lled activities. The event promotes physical tness and social engagement through energetic line dance contests, thrilling rock climbing, and in atables. Nutritional stations and exercise sessions underscore the importance of wellness, complemented by per formances from the Jessie White Tumblers and appearances by a surprise celebrity guest. The event is also sponsored by Democratic elec ted o cials across the city. 6th Floor Auditorium, 645 S. Central Ave

Galewoodstock

Saturday, August 24, 12 - 9 p.m., Sayre Language Academy

Hosted by Galewood Neighbors. Enjoy activities, food, live music, and more. 1850 N. Newland Ave.

US ., Oak Park, IL 60302 FAX 708-467-9066

CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com .AustinWeeklyNews.com

Galewoodstock music festival is back with more fun for the West Side

Free, family-friendly event returns for 4th year with live music, food, crafts and more

By SAM TUCKER Contributing Reporter

Galewoodstock is back for its fourth year, bringing music, food and family-fun to the West Side.

The free music festival takes place on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 12 to 9 p.m. It will be held both in the field and on the street at 1850 N. Newland Ave., adjacent to the Sayre Language Academy.

It’s all about having fun, said Beth Ranucci, the Galewoodstock Committee lead and vice chairperson of Galewood Neighbors Inc.

“I think it’s important that we, as people and a community, take time for fun,” she said. “We’re brought up on the grind – going to work, going to school, coming home. You know, taking care of business. I think it’s a way for people to relax and enjoy each other in a different format, and also get exposure to different things and people.”

She said that this year’s festival has been expanded from past years. New offerings include a cornhole tournament, a larger kids’ area and painting activities for both kids and young adults. Before the event, a parade will move throughout the Galewood neighborhood starting at 11 a.m.

Kids activities will r un from 12 to 6 p.m., and include face painting, arts and crafts, g ames and inflatables T he event is partnering with F rick Kids Art, Wonder Works, and Toast to Paint for these artistic festivities.

From 4 to 5:30 p.m., Toast to Paint will host a painting session for youth ages 13 to 18. Sign up is necessary since space is limited; the session costs $10 for supplies.

Live music puts the “stock” in Galewoodstock, and this year’s lineup includes six music performers from a mix of rock, blues and Latin jazz genres.

Every year, the festival books one band with Galewood roots. This year it will be Test Patter n, a six-member classic rock cover-band that frequently plays at Gallery Cabaret and Montrose Saloon.

John Cates, a vocalist and guitar player for Test Patter n and a Galewood resident for about 27 years, said this will be the first Galewoodstock he’s been to as a performer.

“It’s been kind of fun to tell some of my neighbors who aren’t aware that I play in a band, ‘I hope you’re going this year, be-

cause I’m going to be one of the bands playing,’” he said. “I can start to explain some of the noise that’s been coming out of my basement for so many years.”

The event also will show of f a variety of food offerings. A beer tent from FitzGerald’s Night Club, a Berwyn bar and live music venue, will offer adult beverages. Multiple food vendors including A&M Italian Ice, Baby Gold Barbecue and Fatso Hard Kitchen will be serving up at the event too.

Steve Green, chairperson for Galewood Neighbors Inc., said the festival is also a way to showcase some Galewood pride.

“We’re very proud of this event because it puts a spotlight on our neighborhood,” he said. “Galewood is kind of an unknown little-gem of a neighborhood in Chicago, and we love it. We want people to come on over and see what we ’re all about.”

Cates hopes Galewoodstock will become a trademark of the neighborhood, which could bring more positive attention to the lesser-known community, he said.

“As somebody who lives here, what they’re doing is obviously getting bigger every year. This is such a great neighbo rhood. I always say it’s like Chicago’s best kept secret,” Cates said.

Find more information about the event and parade route on their website here. Sign up for the sip-and-paint here.

TODD BANNOR

Bucket toss game at the St. Giles School te nt at Galewoodstock last ye ar.

TODD BANNOR

e band Edward Carpio y Su Ensemble Latino play ing at Galewoodstock last ye ar

TODD BANNOR

Face painting at Galewoodstock last ye ar.

What to know for Food Aid 2024

The two- day music festival addresses food insecurity in Chicago

By MICHAEL BANIEWICZ Contributing Reporter

Food A id, a two-day musical c elebration, kicks of f Au g. 23 in Fo rest Pa rk , an event d esigned to raise f unds and help ease hunger and food i nsecurity in the Westside c ommunities and neighboring suburbs

The festival, in its third year, is hosted by Robert’s Westside, 7321 Madison St., with its partner WBEZ.

The Food Aid festival allows members of the community to enjoy live entertainment together while also supporting an important cause, said Donnie Biggins, owner of Robert’s Westside.

The organizations that receive proceeds for this event include Unity Fridges (SUA), Beyond Hunger, A House in Austin, Austin Eats Initiative, Best of Proviso Township and Westchester Food Pantry.

Biggins said that he has scheduled a variety of musical artists, many of whom he already had a professional relationship with, to showcase new genres of music.

“We’re always excited to host fantastic musical artists and I like to think that there’s intention in booking an eclectic mix of music for this event,” Biggins said. “I want everybody to discover new things.”

T he d oors open at 6:30 p. m. for the f estival and the music starts at 7 p. m. Th e event is 21 and up, but attendees under the age of 21 are allowe d entrance with a guardian.

The first day of the festival is headlined by James McMurtry, who is an American rock and folk/rock singer-songwriter and guitarist based out of Austin, Texas. McMurtry recently released “The Horses and the Hounds,” which was his first fulllength studio album in seven years under the Americana genre.

Also performing the first night will be Chicago-based contemporary Blues musician Anne Harris. There will also be DJ set by Stoned at the Jukebox.

Day two of the festival is headlined by Lydia Loveless, an American alternative country singer-songwriter, whose latest album, “Nothing’s Gonna Stand in My Way Again,” was released in 2023. Additional music talent in the 2024 lineup includes Nikki Morgan, High Desire, Frankie Lloyd, Chris Green Quartet, Cheryl Tomblin and North Grove.

In addition to the live entertainment, attendees will be able to get food and win raffle items. General admission tickets are $55, while a reserved table plus general admission costs $65 per seat, which are sold in groups of four to six.

“I want people to experience different styles of music with each other,” Biggins said. “This event is about bringing community together…and doing our part. I want to encourage people to take a risk… to show up whether they know the name or not.”

Lynette Kelly, co-executive director of A House in Austin, said she is excited to see growth in one of the programs at A House in Austin because of the support from the festival. The program is called My Fresh Table, which provides a fourweek cooking course to eight families each session.

“We are happy to have more suppo rt for the My Fresh Table progr am, j ust to c ontinue elevating the progr am,” Kelly said. “When it c omes to health and diet, we find that a parent was once child, so wh at ends up happening, they b asically prep are the same meals tha they grew up eating, and a lot of times in our c ommunity those meals are not ve ry healthy. ”

My Fresh Table, which is in its third year, empowers families to make healthier choices through helping participants learn about nutrition labels, budgeting and meal preparation. Participants in the program are also supplied with groceries for two meals per class and a personalized

binder.

“Something I’m really proud of is the ve getables, the produce,” Kelly said. “Constantly throwing them in the majority of the meals just so people can get comfortable putting ve getables in whatever you’re preparing.”

Austin Harvest now has a permanent year-round location

Student-launched initiative is ‘more than just putting a grocer y store in a food deser t’

By HOPE BAKER

Contributing Reporter

Austin Harvest officially has a new home, a move that will allow the previously seasonal business to serve as a year-round food resource for Austin, a neighborhood that is widely recognized as a food desert.

T he new address is 423 N. Laramie Av The youth-led produce market, which has operated as a pop-up market since 2020, ebrated the grand opening of its brick-and mortar location during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Aug. 13.

The new 2,200-square-foot space is equipped with state-of-the-art refrigeration units and a community patio. The market is run by CPS students who are affiliated with By the Hand Club for Kids, an afterschool program in Austin.

The idea for Austin Harvest was conceive in 2020 by students who wanted to give Austi residents access to fresh and affordable produce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a temporary project, the teens established Austin Harvest with the i ntent of bringing hope and healing to thei neighbors during a time of unrest. Th market, opened in Au g ust 2020, was sup p osed to last for j ust 12 weeks. Howev d emand persisted .

“We had no idea that it would tur into something so hug e,” said Rodney Williams, director of entrepreneurshi and economic development for By the Hand Club. “We didn’t foresee this being a consistent market, but the community wouldn’ t let us close.”

The market remained open until midDecember 2020, when it became undeniable that they needed to shut down for the season due to weather.

“That’s when we knew we needed a yearround facility,” Williams said.

In June 2021 Austin Harvest, with support from Sam Acho, a for mer Chicago Bear, and Athletes for Justice, participated in a WSCR-AM radiothon hosted by talk host Danny Parkins. The Score radio event generated more than $650,000 in donations to help build a permanent home for the market. Organizers secured additional capital through city grants to bring the project budget closer to $1,000,000. Construction on the permanent facility, which is the site of a for mer liquor store, began in May 2022.

e market ser ved as a pop-up since 2020.

“This is more than just putting a grocery store in a food desert,” Williams said.

“We’re actually changing the narrative of the community by giving the kids an opportunity to thrive, to dream bigger, to do more. They’ve taken this project and made it their own.”

Since its inception, Austin Harvest has evolved into a fixture in the neighborhood that continues to fulfill a significant need. It also serves as a community gathering space, and a supportive and immersive entrepreneurship experience for students from By the Hand Club.

“The community has embraced us on a scale that I can’t even articulate,” Williams said. “Four years later, we can see how sig-

nificant of an impact it has made on not only the community but also on every kid that is able to go through this program.”

According to Williams, Austin Harvest has a partnership with Jewel-Osco that allows them to provide both produce and flowers to Austin residents at affordable prices. All revenue generated is invested back into its operations and student stipends.

The staf f consists of 14 high school students and two colle ge students who have returned to the project to work as supervisors. That group of students is responsible for all aspects of operations including planning, staffing, interacting with customers and ordering inventory.

One of those students is Laquinton Woo-

ten, a high school senior. Wooten has been with By the Hand Club since the fourth grade and has worked at Austin Harvest for three years.

“I’m excited because we don’t have to close anymore,” Wooten said. “Now with this building, we can be open year-round for the community.”

Wooten said he has been interested in pursuing entrepreneurship for years – even before he joined Austin Harvest.

“Austin Harvest took my goals and just really enhanced them and put knowledge toward them,” he said.

Another high school senior who is happy about the market’s new space is Alanna Choice, who has been with By the Hand

PROVIDED BY THE HAND CLUB

Train cargo the causes delays near Oak Park

The incident took place Thursday afternoon

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

A train cargo theft that occurred Thursday

elays near

According to a Metra UP-W post on X, to operate due to police activity and another had to accom-

e Chicago Winds is bringing women’s football to the West Side

Owner Angelique Smith shares her love of football and the city

By ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter

in the boardroom. It’s something that I’m very proud of, and I hope it inspires other women to get into ownership.”

Smith grew up mainly in the western suburbs of Bellwood, and spent a lot of her youth on the West Side of Chicago, spending her summers in Austin and training at Tri-Star Gymnastics in Forest Park.

“What I love the most about the West Side is the community. Neighbors helping each other out. The block parties. The neighborhood kids. We did everything together from sunup to sundown,” Smith said.

Angelique Smith doesn’t separate work and play. It’s evident in her office, which is a large, corporate conference room directly attached to her personal living room. And it’s also evident in her career, being a professional football player and now the owner of the Chicago Winds, the city’s newest women’s football team.

This ownership makes Smith the first Black woman to hold a majority ownership stake in a professional sports franchise in Chic ago.

“I was not trying to set that bar, but I am very happy to be able to,” Smith said. “Representation matters. Black women are not just players. We can be coaches. We can be

It was there that she found her love for sports, learning new games from local kids and playing basketball in the alleys.

This led her to football, which she didn’t take seriously at first.

“Football for me has been more of a playground thing. I would play outside with the guys growing up and would be the best player out there. I’ve asked several times to try out for the Pop Warner football team for our neighborhood and I was always told ‘no’,” Smith said, because there was no

girls team she could try out for.

Smith said this stung, especially as a diehard Bears fan.

“It was my favorite sport that I could not play,” she said.

When Smith moved to California for colle ge, she saw a flier advertising try-outs for a women’s football team, the Southern California Breakers.

I will not be back.’ And, now it’s year 13 of living in Chicago,” Smith said.

She went on to play for the Chicago Force, a women’s tackle football team in Chicago. There she continued to thrive, winning a number of titles including Defensive Lineman of the Year and Game Day MVP.

“My rookie season, we

put the player in her to rest and start training to be an owner.

“You have to retrain your mind and your body to operate like a normal person, it’s tough,” she said.

The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic allowed Smith time to start thinking about owning her own team, allowing her to take that leap and start the Chicago Winds in 2023.

has, it deserves a women’s football team.”

The team is looking forward to connecting with the West Side community: Smith spending much of her childhood there, the Winds’ current office is in East Garfield Park, and one of its practice locations is in Columbus park in Austin.

“I think it was just God’s timing, and he’s like, ‘Okay, enough dreaming. Let’s put this thing in motion,’”

Smith said. “All those years of me being a player and witnessing different things like treatment between player and coaches, treatment between ownership and the team, and being a student of the g ame, I was able to bring it all to g ether.”

Smith said she always

“It’ll give the West Side something to cheer for. It would bring everyone together. And I think that’s beautiful. Why not do things on this side of the city?” Smith said. They will do this by partnering with local businesses and hosting events in the community.

Another community that has been supporting the team is the Chicago women’s sports community, with teams like the Chicago Red Stars and the Chicago Sky offering advice and services.

“They’re so excited for the team to get here, and the Red Stars and Sky are also available to me if I have any questions or concerns,” she said “They also gave me the reassurance that each of those teams also started very small. The Chicago Sky playets to

My block held its annual block club party this past Saturday. I’ve lived on my block for 35 years now. Over those years, the block has held up against the test of decline. I feel one of the biggest problems within the Austin community is that the individual homes do not maintain the level of street appeal that attracted people here to begin with.

As a group, block clubs can help establish/maintain the kind of environment that is conducive to a positive block.

Block clubs build communi ty

I can still recall attending my first block club meeting. One of the items on the agenda was getting light poles installed in the front yards for every house. Having just spent all the money I had buying the house, that was not something I wanted to hear. We never did it as a block. But I ended up doing it years later.

I eventually got to know about my new neigh -

bors — they were school teachers, of fice workers, factory workers and retired folks. Our commonality: we are people who had purchased our homes looking for a better, permanent life.

Fast forward to the present, and over 30% of my block has lived here for 30-plus years. That shows a lot of commitment to the home, the block and the neighborhood And it hasn’t always been easy We’ve had to battle people who moved in with the goal of making the block the same kind of hot mess that they left.

Block clubs are important for a community. As the current president of my block club said, it’s not about being a nosy neighbor; it is about being neighborly. It’s about kee ping an eye out so that negative things are kept away from our block. It’s about living tog ether because that is what we do . If you don’t have a block club, get one started. If you do have a block club, get involved in it.

Lawmakers, community leaders convene for Racial Equity Summit

Journey for Justice Alliance aims to secure suppor t for anti-racist legislation

By MICHAEL BANIEWICZ Contributing Reporter

T he Journey for Justice Alliance gathered elected officials, community leaders and educators Sunday for the 2024 National Racial Equity Summit at Insight Hospital and Medical Center on the Near South Side

T he summit, held ahead of the Democratic National Convention, aims to build support for urban policy reform that is guided by the alliance’s Equity or Else quality-oflife campaign. The quality-of-life campaign is the organization’s platform that focuses on shaping legislation to address basic needs for people living in poverty and in marginalized communities.

For years, the Journey for Justice Alliance has advocated for anti-racist legislation in various urban locations with the support of their nationwide network of grassroots community organizations

T hese ef for ts are seen on both the national and loc al level, including holdin g listening sessions, town halls and news c onferences in Washington D. C. Jit u Brown, national director for the Journey for Justice

new deal for racial justice.”

The 2024 Racial Equity Summit included two days of events, which be g an on Sunday with a luncheon for Black mayors and grassroots leaders. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cohosted the luncheon alongside U.S. Re p. Jamaal Bowman, DN.Y.; U.S. Re p. Summer Lee, D-Pa.; National Education Association President Becky Pringle; American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingar ten; and Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates

After the luncheon, the Journey for Justice Alliance hosted a visit to sustainable community schools through the Education Justice Study Tour. Among the invited guests for the summit was Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey; Evansville, Indiana Mayor Stephanie Terry; Fort Wayne, Indiana Mayor Sharon Tucker; and Illinois Rep. Kam Buckner.

“An idea is to pass a resolution at the federal level and then build a working group to turn that resolution into a new deal for racial justice.”

JITU BROWN National director for the Journey for Justice Alliance

A lliance who also lives on the West Side, said that the ef for ts have led to lawmakers suppo rt ing the group ’s initiative s.

“As we built some significant grassroots support around this, people in Congress… said they would champion our resolution,” Brown said. “An idea is to pass a resolution at the federal level and then build a working group to turn that resolution into a

Through the Equity or Else quality-of-life campaign, the summit connected mayors with community org anizers to learn about how to localize initiatives that address nine main areas listed in the platfo rm

T he alliance is focused on policy that improves education, creates af fordable housing, community safety, economic mobility, environmental justice, food production, healthcare, immigrant rights, and youth issues

Brown said the lack of resources and investment in marginalized communities is not due to a difference in work ethic between neighborhoods, but because legislators have strategically placed investment into white neighborhoods.

One of the education-related recommendations that the group is advocating for includes a demand for Vice President Harris and Governor Walz to make the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Re-

lief (ESSER) funds, a financial resource to support elementary and secondary schools during emergencies, a standard in the federal budget.

“We can’t go back to underfunding public education,” Brown said. “How can you claim that children are important when education is dramatically underfunded.”

An initiative that relates to challenges faced by people in Chicago’s West Side includes the privatization of public schools. Although the practice has been around for years, privatization schemes were usually restricted to students from lowincome households and in low performing schools. Based on recent legislation, nearly all students, re gardless of economic status, may benefit from public funds to attend private schools.

According to a re po rt from EdChoice, a nonprofit that records school choice p olicies, and Georgetown Unive rsity’s FutureEd, 14 states have seen legislation that a dvo cates for “school choice” progr ams in 2023.

“School choice is an illusion,” Brown said. “First, school choice was born out of a response to Brown V. Board…and if I don’t have a choice of a great neighborhood

school down the street from my house, then there is no choice…the fight in America has always been about equity.”

Equity in public schools doesn’t stop at the funding for marginalized students, Brown said. Many Black students, especially in Chicago’s West Side, do not have a teacher that looks like them and that is ne gatively impacting their oppor tunity for success, Brown said.

Research on the subject has shown a positive impact that Black teachers can have on Black students in the classroom for both behavior and academic performance. T he lack of re presentation shows in data where fewer than 4% of CPS teachers are Black men, while the district has 36% total Black students

Wi th Chicago taking the nation’s attention for the D NC, one of the main o bjectives for the alliance is to secure more a dvo ca cy for the group ’s ef for ts among a large audienc e. T he b est way to do that is through the residents in the c ommunities most impacted by systemic racism, Brown said.

“People in our communities know what we need,” Brown said. “The issue is the political will to do it.”

JOURNE Y FOR JUSTICE ALLIANCE/FACEBOOK

e Jour ney for Justice Alliance convened in Chicago ahead of the Democratic National Convention

DNC COVERAGE

For the West Side

from page 1

Who are the Austin-area delegates?

Dele gates represent voters and are the ones who officially nominate the Democratic presidential nominee. They include:

■ Danny Davis, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 7th District

■ La Shawn Ford, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 8th District

■ Don Harmon, state senator representing Illinois’ 39th District and president of the Illinois Senate

■ Camile Lily, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 78th District

■ Emma Mitts, alderman of the 37th Ward

We profiled them and explained the important roles they play at the DNC. You can find that here: https://ow.ly/b21G50T1uuW

We also spoke with Minyon Moore, a former South Sider and chair of the DNC.

“We are trying to blaze a trail that has never been blazed before,” Moore said presidential candidate Kamala Harris. “It’ a mind shift for everybody that can look her and say, ‘She can be a commander in chief.’ I know she can be one. But we constantly prove that to America.”

ground

Mordacq caught up with Victor and Yipp, who live in Oak Park and are assisting visitors in g etting from Chicago way International Airport to their hotels

T hey have emailed a few para about their experience, which they sa has been filled with both excitement and disappointment.

“Most likely, we’ll never step into the United Center, much less mingle with the dele gates and big-wigs attending the Democratic National Convention next week,” Victor Yipp said in an email.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Yipps supposed to be at Midway from 3 to 8 But their day grew discouraging.

“Saturday was a bit frustrating, but pe haps understandable for such a large and complex undertaking such as the DNC,” Victor Yipp said. “Due to overbooking of volunteers and some miscommunication, when we arrived at Midway, we were told there was no work for us.”

So, the couple were sent to O’Hare Inter-

national Airport instead, where they received a quick training and were assigned to take an attendee to their Chicago hotel. But after roaming through baggage claim with a name sign, the couple couldn’t find the attendee.

“Turns out the airline employee who took them from the plane to the baggage claim was told by the guest to take them to the taxi stand,” Yipp said. “So, we missed them altogether.”

Are you volunteering? Were you a DNC vendor? We’d love to hear from you. Message Jessica Mordacq at jessica@austinweeklynews.com.

What ’s left?

Plenty.

According to DNC officials, each day was assigned a theme. Today, it’s “A Fight for Our Freedoms,” and Thursday is “For Our Future.”

Caucus meetings, or meetings of specific groups such as the Black or Hispanic caucuses, run nearly all day Wednesday. Main programming starts at 6 p.m.

You can livestream most of those meetings: https://demconvention. c om/schedule/?e v ent_d ay =3& ev ent_ type=main-programming

Arts and laughs

The Daily Sh ow is taping live in Chicago this week. Key Democratic politicians are slated to be interviewed on the show, but so is Chance the Rapper. Expect to see him Wednesday night.

Heart + Craft on Lake aims to connect DNC visitors to the West Side with its free, daylong, nonpartian festival hosted by SkyART. It’s a project designed to help delegates visit the West Side. There will live entertainment, an unveiling of a mural by artist Jake Troyi and SkyART youth, a free community meal, creative workshops and more at 3450 W. Lake St. It runs tod ay from 12 to 7 p.m.

Can’t get enough?

Here’s how you can follow the DNC online.

■ Watch caucuses on the DNC’s YouTube page

■ Watch speeches at DemConvention. com

And don’t forget to message jessica@ austinweeklynews.com for any news tips you might have or to share your personal experience with the DNC.

JESSICA MOR DACQ Caucus meetings run most of the day on Wednesday.

JESSICA MOR DACQ

Reporter Jessica Mordacq is on the ground at the DNC to help you understand what it means for the West Side

Lazarus Apartments restoration helps address a ordable housing needs

Improvements at 48-unit development in Nor

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

The restoration of Lazarus Apartments, a 48-unit af fordable rental housing development in the North Lawndale neighborhood, is officially completed and ready to take applicants.

The unveiling of the newly renovated one- two- and three-bedroom apar tments was celebrated during a ribbon-cutting on Aug. 16. Developed by the Lawndale Christian Development Corp. Lazarus Apartments helps address the af for dable housing crisis in Chicago.

Presently, most of the units, ranging in rent from $700 to $1,100 depending on size, remain available. Those seeking more information can email LCDC at propertymanagement@lcdc.net, visit their website, https://www.lcdc.net or call their office at 773-762-8889 and ask to speak with one of their property managers

The ribbon-cutting ceremony provided an opportunity for people who are interested in living there to walk around and check out the new renovations.

“People remember what it looked like when it was beautiful in the ‘90s so I’m glad it’s back,” said Richard Townsell, executive director of LCDC.

The project was supported by the City of Chicago, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, Chase Bank, the Steans Family Foundation and the Pritzker Foundation. The completion of the major renovations reflects a collaborative ef fort to provide safe and af fordable housing for individuals and families in the community amidst soaring rental prices.

T he development is c omposed of two buildings that are kitty-corner from each other: a 33-unit building at 1859 S. Pulaski Road and a 15-unit building at 1900 S. Harding Ave.

According to Townsell, the Lazarus Apartments were originally renovated in 1996, but the development was in bad shape after 27 years of use.

“It was just in horrible disrepair and not being well-managed, so we basically decided to start from scratch, rebuild the

buildings and renovate it all over again,” Townsell said.

Townsell, said construction began in 2021. One building was financed by the City of Chicago and the other was financed by the Illinois Housing Development Authority, he said.

As a result of supply chain delays during the COVID-19 pandemic and some other factors, the project took longer than Townsell had anticipated. However, he’s happy they took their time and paid attention to details

“Rushing through stuf f doesn’t help when you’re doing a rehab of a building,” he said. “In the end, we don’t want it to go back into disrepair again.”

Townsell said that although the buildings are older, the renovations put a modern twist on them, prioritizing both functionality and looks.

“Affordable housing should not be a dirty word. It’s about creating beautiful,

safe and desirable homes for all,” he said.

“At Lazarus Apartments, we aim to demonstrate that af fordable housing can be both af fordable and exceptional. We envision a future where every resident has enough left over from their rent to save for homeownership.”

T he units have hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and f aucets with matte black finish. T hey are energy-efficient and well-insulated, and there’s inbuilding laundry

“We want it to look good,” Townsell said. “We have exposed brick walls and we’re not going to have just basic brown cabinets. There’s going to be color choices.”

One particularly unique feature that was unveiled during the ribbon-cutting ceremony is an art installation on the exterior of the 33- unit building at 1859 S Pulaski Road. The installation, which will be completed by fall 2024, honors the rich history

of Black music in Chicago.

“Our goal is to represent all the genres of Black music in the courtyard as public art as opposed to having blank panels there,” Townsell said.

The weatherproof mosaic will eventually consist of 26 panels ranging from 32 to 70 inches, featuring vibrant depictions of artists such as Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Sam, and Otis Rush, along with musical elements and instruments. The project will be led by Alexie Young of ART WEST, Jovonna Jackson and Haman Cross of Freedom House and artist Nailah Golden.

Whittney Smith, deputy director and counsel for LCDC, said Lazarus Apartments is not just a development; it’s a symbol of renewal and resilience.

“We are proud to showcase how innovative housing solutions can revitalize communities and foster a sense of belonging and opportunity,” she said.

CREDIT: BROWN FARMER MEDIA

Lazarus Apartments aims to show a ordable housing can be both a ordable and exceptional

Prairie School kindergart turned-home hits the market

William

Drummond of Austin was the original architect

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

In the early 1900’s the near-west suburbs of a hotbed of architectural innovation. Young Wright was designing homes in and around his Home and Studio in Oak Park and his studio nur tured the talents of many prominent architects and designer

One of Wright’s grandest designs, the House in Riverside, sparked more Prairie Style in the suburbs. Built between 1908 and 1912, the estate is just one of three multi-building complexes

Avery Coonley’s wife Queene Ferry Coonley was a proponent of early childhood education, and she had Wright design a playhouse for her young daughter on the grounds of their estate. That playhouse later became a functioning school. After bringing early childhood education to Riverside, Coonley set her sights on other locales.

In 1911, she hired Prairie School architect, William Drummond to design another schoolhouse at 3601 Forest Avenue in Brookfield. Drummond, who grew up on Central Avenue in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, worked for Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright. He later had his own architecture practice and built his family home in River Forest.

In Brookfield, the T-shaped school building Drummond designed included a large, central playroom, a small balcony on the west side of the main room and a brick fireplace on the east wall flanked by doors leading to a terrace overlooking a yard and Salt Creek.

The private kindergarten operated of f and on until 1929 when Coonley donated the building to District 95.

The building served as a recreation center until the 1940s but was condemned. Residents joined forces to maintain the building. In 1949, it was sold at auction to a Mr. and Mrs. O.J. Nichol from Oak Park, who paid $6,900 for the building and tur ned it into a private residence.

The house recently hit the market for $675,000 and realtor Jim Ongena of @properties Christies International said that his clients put in a lot of elbow grease to maintain the historic property and bring back much of its his-

e T-shaped school building featured a large central play room, shown in this photo.

torical essence while also making it into a family home.

Ongena’s clients bought the house out of foreclosure, and their love of architecture led them to undertake a meticulous restoration of the home. Over time, it had been converted to a four-bedroom home with a small galley kitchen and bedrooms carved out of the central room.

Armed with Drummond’s floor plans, the couple restored the grand central room, and relocated the kitchen, creating an open kitchen at the base of the balcony.

Ongena said that they paid attention to every detail, rep-

riginal esign of the concrete floor with gold inlay was pulled from historic photos of the space.

Every window that they could save, they did, including the original windows on the front of the home.

“What they could save, they did, and what they had to match, they did,” Ongena said.

Throughout the restoration, they relied on historically appropriate materials from soapstone counters to light fixtures to paint colors, as well as the oak, pine and walnut woods used throughout the home.

“This was their passion,” Ongena pointed out. “They didn’t gut rehab this because they wanted to save as much as possible, but they did so much to this house.”

For their ef forts, the couple was rewarded with the Kristin Visser Historical Preservation Award that is given every other year to honor the renovation of a Frank Lloyd Wright or Prairie School Building.

Previous owners had added a basement garage, which the current owners use as storage. The house sits on a double lot and has access to a kayak pull-in on Salt Creek. After all of their work, Ongena said his clients’ family has outgrown the home, but they are ready to pass it on to the next caretaker.

While the home has many of the benefits of a traditional ranch house, including an open floor plan and first-floor bedrooms and bathrooms, Ongena said that the home’s history makes it unique in the best way.

“It’s super cool to show and super cool to be here.”

VILL AG E OF BROOKFIELD

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

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF2 ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff, -v.-

FRANKIE C. JENKINS, STATE OF ILLINOIS, CHICAGO TITLE AND TRUST COMPANY

Defendants 2019 CH 09458 24 S. CENTRAL AVE. 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 June 11, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 13, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 24 S. CENTRAL AVE., CHICAGO, IL 60644 Property Index No. 16-17-205-0320000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $274,354.67.

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, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 18 6423. 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. JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710

E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com

Attorney File No. 18 6423

Attorney Code. 40342

Case Number: 2019 CH 09458 TJSC#: 44-1618

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 # 2019 CH 09458 I3249100

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

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF CWABS INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-3

Plaintiff,

-v.-

NAVETTA D. ABDULLATEEF, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2024 CH 00168 1524 S KOSTNER AVE CHICAGO, IL 60623

NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 14, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 10, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 1524 S KOSTNER AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60623

Property Index No. 16-22-117-0250000

The real estate is improved with a multi-family residence.

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

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION NEIGHBORHOOD LENDING SERVICES, INC Plaintiff, -v.MARQUETTA D. WILLIAMS

OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

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

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

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

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-24-00113

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2024 CH 00168

TJSC#: 44-1317

Case # 2024 CH 00168 I3249785

Defendants 2023 CH 01452 1246 N MASSASOIT 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 June 7, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on September 10, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1246 N MASSASOIT, CHICAGO, IL 60651

Property Index No. 16-05-228-0190000 The real estate is improved with a residence.

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 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)

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

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

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-23-00763

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2023 CH 01452 TJSC#: 44-1769

Case # 2023 CH 01452 I3249839

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Biánca Nicole Hrobowski Case Number 2024 CONC001307

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Biánca Nicole Hrobowski to the new name of: Biánca Nicole Arriega.

The court date will be held: On October 17, 2024 at 11am at Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, Cook County, Illinois 60602 in Courtroom # 1706 and on Zoom at Zoom ID: 97032500245 Passcode: 895226

Published in Austin Weekly News August 21, 28, 2024

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

Sealed proposals, endorsed as above, will be submitted back to the District via an electronic upload to the Bonfire Portal only, from the date of the Invitation to Bid, up to 11:00 A.M. (Chicago time), on the bid opening date, and will be opened publicly as described in the Invitation to Bid by the Director of Procurement and Materials Management or designee at 11:00 AM on the stated bid opening date below for: CONTRACT 24-601-21 MECHANICAL PROCESS IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS Estimated Cost Group A: $7,380,000.00 Bid Deposit Group A: $295,200.00

Cost Group B:$633,100.00

$665,000.00

Mandatory Technical PreBid Conference: Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 10:00 am Chicago Time via ZOOM Link.

Compliance with the District’s Affirmative Action Ordinance Revised Appendix D, Appendix V and the MultiProject Labor Agreement are required on this Contract.

Bid Opening: October 1, 2024 *************************************

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

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

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

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

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago By Darlene A. LoCascio Director of Procurement and Materials Management Chicago, Illinois August 21, 2024

Published