West Sub patient safety concerns increase
Employees sound alarms after midwives and family medicine doctors are told they can no longer deliver babies at the hospital
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Medical professionals at West Suburban Medical Center continue to decry worsening patient safety at the hospital after midwives and family medicine doctors were told Nov. 18 that they would no longer have birthing privile ges at the hospital.
They said they were told that the move is because of liability insurance issues, although they have been performing labor and delivery services there for more than 20 years.
And in a new turn, the week after the midwives and family medicine doctors’ last day on Dec. 6, West Suburban CEO Manoj Prasad said that they may return, although with changes to the contract. He said this had been an option all along.
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WEST SUB Patient safety still an issue
The midwives and family tors dispute that account.
T hey operate out of the P ty Wellness Center, which c West Suburban to provide services. Dur ing the past two decades, P have delivered most of the babies Suburban. Last year, midwiv medicine providers delivered babies at West Suburban and the Birth Center, according to a statement from PCC Community Wellness Center Medical professionals say that ing midwifery services is an bir th equity
“To us, it’s access, it’s birth equity, it leaving a disenfranchised community in the lurch,” Annette Payot, director of wifery for the PCC Community Wellness Center, previously told Grow nity Media, the parent company of Austin Weekly News and Wednesday Journal. In Chicago, the maternal mortality rate is nearly six times higher for Black women than white women. Of about 500 patients that midwives and family medicine doctors cared for, about 43% are Hispanic/ Latino, and 44% are Black, according to Dr. Kate Rowland of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians.
West Suburban resident doctors picketed in June for better patient safety and investment in their education. ose concer ns have not been allayed
request by the time of publication.
Midwives help reduce rates of cesarean sections, premature births and newborn morbidity, according to the American Colle ge of Nurse-Midwives, offering potentially lifesaving care for those whom the health care system often leaves behind, like people of color.
PCC providers said that Prasad originally told them that they would not be allowed birthing privileges to help these patients because the hospital’s liability insurers warned that if Prasad did not make a change, securing insurance in the future would be dif ficult.
Prasad said there was more to his message.
Last week, Prasad said he sent a letter to PCC midwives and family medicine providers saying they can deliver at the hospital under the supervision of an OB/GYN, but not with a PCC physician.
He added that he verbally explained this offer to Paul Luning, PCC’s chief medical officer and a family physician, on Nov. 18. Prasad added that Luning immediately declined the of fer.
Luning did not respond to an interview
But Luning earlier said that West Suburban violated the Illinois Licensing Act when it only gave 11 days’ notice, rather than the required 15 days. And the group of the dismissed midwives and doctors filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Public Health because of the short notice ahead of a major change in their jobs
But midwives and family medicine doctors said that delivering under the supervision of an OB/GYN was never part of the original offer.
Last week, West Suburban posted a photo on Instagram with a caption that appeared to provide a comment about the situation.
“Our offer to have PCC midwives work with our highly trained OB/GYNs to continue to provide care stands and we are hopeful they will accept.”
Dozens commented on the post, many saying that they were never told this was an option.
“That’s so strang e. Maybe you lost all of our addresses,” one Insta gram user wrote. “No one in our group received this of fer in writing.”
“Offers should come in the form of writing – specifically after the only writ-
ten documents provided to the midwives stated they had no delivery privileges,” another Instagram user said.
Liability insurance
In a Nov. 20 email, Prasad told GCM that he told PCC midwives they could no longer deliver babies because of information he received from the hospital’s professional liability insurers.
“I recommend eliminating baby deliveries by family practice physicians altogether and only allowing midwives to deliver if under the supervision of a qualified obstetrician gynecologist,” according to a document a West Suburban spokesperson sent to GCM. The name of the insurer was redacted
“Without implementation of my recommendation, I believe securing future professional liability insurance coverage. … will be severely limited, if possible at all.”
If West Suburban didn’t follow this advice, it would leave the hospital to self-insure liability claims in the future, according to the document.
In a statement, Carolyn Fitzpatrick, the hospital’s chief medical officer, said “in
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This is our nal Big Week. Don’t worry! We have more events coverage coming soon. For a sneak peak, and to submit events to be included in our new calendar, visit austinweeklynews.com/events
December 18-25
BIG WEEK
T-shirt design contest for alt_chicago
Online contest, applications open on Dec. 27
A t-shirt design contest with cash prizes for alt_chicago, a Chicago-based cultural non-pro t, opens at the end of the month. The non-pro t will award two $250 cash prizes to the best t-shirt design. Logos, text prompts and visual inspiration is supplied. Only one submission per person is permitted. The contest opens Dec. 27 and closes on Jan. 3. For more information visit: https://ow.ly/ESSK50UqRTU
Austin area food-related resources summary
2024 summary of free food resources
Find free food resources on the Austin Coming Together food-resources summar y. “Austin Coming Together” updates the online summary as resources change. The summary provides information on times, dates and locations of free food resources in the Austin area. Find the most recent yer and more information: https://ow.ly/H3X650UqRKU. Find more information on recipes, food education and community gardens at: https://ow.ly/Cgya50UqRNh
LoveThyNeighbor Toy Drive
Friday, Dec. 20, from 6 to 8 p.m., Located at Starbucks Co ee at 4924 W. North Ave.
A toy drive hosted by LoveThyNeighbor, a social support non-pro t, takes place this month. Toy donations are being accepted until Dec. 19. The toy-giveaway will take place on Dec. 20 at a Starbucks in the Austin area. The drive is accepting new, unwrapped toys. For more information call: 312-9856618. View the yer: https://ow.ly/ wW1M50UqRIe
Holiday Toy Drive hosted by the Vegan World Cafe
Saturday, Dec. 21, from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
Find free holiday gifts at a holiday toy drive hosted by the Vegan World Cafe Catering this month. Toy distribution will take place on Dec. 21, and attendees can also get a gift certi cate for a free meal from the catering business. The toy drive is accepting new toys until Dec. 20. To nd out more, call 872-802-8027. Visit https://veganworldcafe.com/. See the yer: https://ow.ly/SgHQ50UqROt. 1206 N. Central Ave.
Winter-break activities at the conser vatory
Multiple dates and times, Dec. 26 to 29, and Jan. 2 and 3
Located at the Gar eld Park Conser vatory
Get a break from the cold and visit the Gar eld Park Conser vator y during holiday vacation for family activities and programming. Special programming will include a nature play-area for all ages, and other activities throughout the conser vator y’s space. Find speci c times and dates at: https://ow.ly/ u4mE50UqRQa
BUILD Fitness Lab
Open on Mondays from 5 - 7 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., and 5 - 9 p.m., Wednesdays 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., and Fridays 5 - 9 p.m., Located at BUILD headquarters
The Broader Urban Involvement and Leadership Development, or BUILD, has a tness lab that is open to the Austin community at its campus in Austin. Attendees can use free weights, machines and treadmills at the space. The tness lab is open to all ages and everyone in the community. For more information, call: 773-227-2880. https://www.buildchicago.org/. 5100 W. Harrison St.
Compiled by S am Tucker
WEST SUB
Vocal critics from page 3
the past decade alone, West Suburban has paid out more than $126 million in claims against the OB/GYN department under PCC’s leadership.”
“This is not just a financial problem for the hospital,” Fitzpatrick added. “It means patients are not receiving the outcomes from West Suburban that we all believe they should.”
PCC providers could not be reached for comment by publication.
Medical professionals who have worked on the labor and delivery unit also pushed back, saying that the lack of midwives and family medicine doctors could be dangerous.
Births that two weeks ago were assisted by two attending physicians, a midwife and resident doctors are now administered by just an OB/GYN and resident doctors.
“Certainly, we didn’t feel overstaffed with our last model,” Payot previously told GCM. It is not yet clear whether the workload can be handled without PCC staf f.
There are still three PCC OB/GYNs delivering babies in labor and delivery, along with providers from OBHG, a national hospitalist group that Prasad hired in July. He said OBHG shares concer ns about of fering equitable labor and delivery services.
“This team is made up of predominantly African American women OBs who are especially committed to advancing the birth equity goals we all share,” Prasad said in his letter to PCC providers.
Patient safety concerns
This isn’t the first time that West Suburban employees have said that patient safety is at risk, since resident doctors organized a demonstration in May, picketed outside the hospital in June, and later wrote an open letter citing additional concerns. Following the changes in the labor and delivery unit, more medical professionals are coming forward with new complaints about how the hospital is run.
They say:
■ The neonatal unit has not had baby bracelets for over two months. The baby bracelets have alarms that go of f if the baby leaves the unit or the tag is removed by someone – not necessarily a random
person, but more likely an abusive partner or support person that those in labor bring with them to the hospital. In lieu of the bracelets, there’s a security officer on the floor at all times
■ One floor of the hospital’s overhead intercom system is broken, so staf f can’t hear when there’s an emergency.
■ For two weeks, the OB floor’s operating room was too hot.
■ The hospital’s lobby is closed on the weekends, so visitors enter by the ER, where they have access to the entire hospital, which staf f says is a security and infection- control concern.
■ Because an elevator is broken and has yet to be fixed, staf f cites a case of calling the fire department to carry patients up the stairs to dialysis.
Although some staf f members said they used to have an internal system to report patient safety concerns, they also said the hospital’s risk management employee was let go and replaced with a part-time employee. Prasad did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
Community demands answers
The community surrounding West Suburban – concerned about recent complaints, the future of the hospital and how this move affects birth equity on the West Side – are pushing for answers.
“We have to do everything we can to work together to ensure West Sub is operating in excellence and that our community has accessible options for mothers, such as midwifery delivery services, infant care, and prenatal and postpartum care,” said Emma Mitts, alderwoman of the 37th Ward, in a statement. “This is bigger than all of us. These two institutions are saving lives, and we need them. So, we must do everything we can to help them maintain their commitment to our communities.”
More than 1,500 people have signed a Change.org petition created by Oak Parker Melissa Chrusfield, which calls for the formation of a community oversight board to improve accountability and birth equity at West Suburban.
“We express our collective disapproval of the leadership of West Suburban Medical Center, whose poorly planned decision to remove delivery privileges [from] Family Medicine Physicians and Midwives has put pregnant people and their families at risk and has also obstructed our quest for birth equity and improved maternal health outcomes on the West Side.”
Kindness is always the best currency.
Joe English, 80 Writer, realtor, longtime Austin resident
Joseph Anthony English, 80, for merly of Chicago’s Austin Village neighborhood, died after a brief illness on the morning of Aug. 19, 2024, in the company of trusted friends and care givers at his vacation home in the Caribbean nation of the Dominican Republic Born on March 17, 1944, he received a B.A. (Cum Laude) from Colorado University and an M.A. from Rice University, which he attended on a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship. He went on to teach English for 16 years (Mr. English taught English!) at Triton College in r Grove. Having a lifelong interest in housing and social issues, in 1988 he founded Oak Park Real Estate Inc., committed to providing decent, safe, and af fordhousing and working tirelessly to do so. He owned managed apar tment buildings throughout the West Side of Chicago, Oak Park, and Chicago’s western suburbs, serving as a member of the Board of Directors for Austin Bank of Chicago for 13 years.
He was a 50-year resident of the Austin neighborhood, which he loved deeply. He was fond of saying, “The West Side is the Best Side!” and was instrumental in founding the annual Austin Village House Walk tour. A strong supporter and believer in the Learning Net, an independent neighborhood elementary school, he was an “out of the box thinker,” who would often
find a creative way to do things that others thought not possible, to the amazement of his associates! He loved traveling and surrounding himself with people. He was particularly attached to Jamaica, visiting there more than a hundred times throughout his life. A lifelong lover of language, he wrote often and profusely. His writings on housing issues have been published in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Reader newspapers. For a time, he was published re gularly in the Austin Weekly News under “Austin’s English.” An accomplished author, his late-in-life writing included the novel Somebody Else’s Troubles
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, George and Sophia; his sisters, Sally and Celia; and his life partner, Joe Towe. He is survived by his brother, George English; his sister, Annette (Edward) Salomon; his son, Aaron English; his daughter, Carmen English; and his nieces, Ashley Salomon and Claire Salomon.
A private celebration of his life was held in Sosua, Dominican Republic
Joe’s advice, kindness, and generosity will be remembered well and he will be much missed.
Questions may be directed to Joe’s longtime Business Par tner, Paul Godlewski of Town Center Realty Group LLC by email to mrpaul.tcrg@gmail.com.
FILLTHETRUCK
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By CHARLES THRUSH Block Club Chicago
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability is investigating a shooting Saturday that injured a 26-year-old man with at least one off-duty officer returning gunfire, according to authorities.
Around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, the 26-yearold man got out of a car in the 1000 block of South Mayfield Avenue in Austin. The car was occupied by four others, including two off-duty officers, police said.
Someone then pulled up in another car and fired shots at the 26-year-old, striking him, according to police. Two passengers in the parked car returned fire, including one of the off-duty officers, police said in a preliminary statement.
The four passengers, including both of the officers, took the 26-year-old to a local hospital, where he was initially listed in
serious condition, police said.
The man who was shot was later released from the hospital, according to ABC 7. The victim’s mother told the TV station that her other son, a concealed carry license holder, and the victim’s best friend — a police officer — returned fire after the 26-year-old was shot.
The off-duty officer who returned fire has been relieved of police powers as the shooting is investigated, police said. The victim’s mother told ABC7 the move was unjust as the officer was protecting her son.
Neither officer was injured in the shooting. No one is yet in custody and area detectives are investigating, according to officials.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability, the city’s police watchdog agency, is investigating the incident and encourages anyone with information on the shooting to call its office at 312-746-3609 or visit its website
Habilitative Systems celebrates 4th annual Race and Health Equity Awards
Several recipients have been involved on Chicago’s West Side throughout their careers
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Habilitative Systems Inc., which offers behavioral health and human services resources on the West Side, held its 4th annual Race and Health Equity Awards on Thursday at Malcolm X Colle ge.
The event honored 10 health care trailblazers involved in Chicago’s historically Black community-based organizations, many of who have made strides in their fields on the West Side.
“The Race and Health Equity Awards is a celebration of outstanding individuals who have contributed significantly to the fight against racial disparities in healthcare,” said Habilitative Systems President and CEO Donald Dew in a statement.
“They have led the charge to ensure that our healthcare systems have better quality access and more equity for Black and brown people.”
“HSI’s Awards Reception is a celebration of the organizations and individuals whose contributions to advancing race and health equity merit special reco gnition,” Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said in a statement.
The list of award recipients is below:
Carol Adams
Dr. Carol Adams is the founder and CEO of Urban Prescriptives Inc., consulting firm on Chicago’s South Side
When Adams moved to Chicago from Louisville, Kentucky, she settled on the West Side and started working with the Greater Lawndale Con-
servation Commission. She also taught Crane Jr. Colle ge’s first African American studies class, where many of her students were some of the Chicago Black Panther Party’s first members. The same students led the charge in renaming the university Malcom X Colle ge
While working at the Chicago Housing Authority, Adams helped launch the Henry Horner Homes on the Near West Side and the Midnight Basketball League at Rockwell Gardens, a for mer housing project in East Garfield Park.
Other positions Adams has held include director of African American studies at Loyola University, executive director of the House of Blues Foundation, and secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services
Brenetta Howell Barrett
Brenetta Howell
Barrett has worn many hats, from activist and organizer to newspaper editor and business consultant.
Barrett was born in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and, at 18, d to the West Side. There, she got a job on the assembly line at Curtiss Candy Company, ich created the Baby Ruth and Butterfinger candy bars, before attending nursing school in Kankakee.
But Barrett advocating for herself and other African Americans got her in trouble St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing. So after a year, she returned to Chicago’s West Side, started with the Lawndale Booster newspaper and later worked for
the Austin Voice, Chicago Daily Defender, and Westside Journal.
Barrett also worked on Harold Washington’s 1977 mayoral campaign, Congressman Gus Savage’s campaign, and 37th Ward Alderman Percy Giles’ campaign. Washington later appointed her commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Consumer Services.
In 1998, Barrett created Pathfinders Prevention Education Fund, a nonprofit that aims to prevent HIV and AIDS on the West Side. Today, she is president and CEO of the organization and participates in the West Side Heroin Opioid Task Force.
Danny Davis
Danny Davis has served as United States re presentative for the 7th District sinc 1997.During hi tenure, he has been a staunc advocate of health care equity on the West Side
In Davis’ fourteenth term, he sits on the influential Ways and Means Committee and is the ranking member on the Sub-Committee on Worker and Family Suppo Before becoming a Davis’ first public-facing job was executive director of the Greater Lawndale Conservation Commission, then of the Westside Health Planning Organization. He was also special assistant to the president of Mile Square Health Center in the Illinois Medical District.
becoming assistant dean of students, at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, Karanja became the Illinois Policy Council of the African American Family Commission’s executive committee co-chair and an executive committee member of the Child Welfare League of America.
Karanja also serves on the Illinois Governor’s Task Force on Human Services and has been active at the Woodstock Institute and the Grand Boulevard Federation on Chicago’s South Side.
Terry Mason
For over a decade, Dr. Terry Mason has served in chief agement
partment of Public Health and the Cook County Department of Public
ber of the Cook County Physicians Association and has served as the Midwest re gional chair Chicago’s National Black Leadership ve on Cancer.
Vijay Prabhakar
Dr. Vijay hakar is chairman of Global Strategic Alliance, a network of serving to create public-pri nerships to further sustainable development.
Mason has also taken his medical knowledge on the air as host of 20 years of Doctor in the House, a health-oriented talk show on WVON.
Claude Porter
In 1979, Davis was elected Alderman of the 29th Ward. He then became a Democratic Committeeman before stepping up as a U.S. re presentative
Sokoni Tacuma Karanja
Sokoni Karanja is the founder of ters for New Horizons based in Bronzeville, though it has 22 sites offe ing child and senior care, plus employment programs and training. After getting his doctorate, and
After starting his ministry career in Memphis, Tennessee, when he moved to Chicago, Bishop Dr. Claude Porter joined Greater ogressive M. B. Church in North Lawndale. In 1968, Porter created the Proviso-Leyden Council Community Action, Incorporated, a social services nonprofit serving low-income residents in en townships. rter founded and became pasChurch in Maywood. And after receiving his doctorate, a council of clergymen and Proviso Missionary Baptist Church members consecrated him as Bishop.
Prabhakar was previously health commissioner and director Wisconsin nebago Nation, a Native American tribe, and helped open the first Tribal Health Care Center and Tribal Day Care Center. Prabhakar founded the Wellness Chicago to provide health screenings and progr ams to seniors. He ve director of New Hope ommunity Service, which r uns medical low-income Chicago residents. ts led to Chicago Mayor Richard Daly reco gnizing Prabhakar as one of the top ten Chicago citizens pioneering health care ef for ts for low-income seniors in Chicago.
Prabhakar is also founding chair of Davis’ Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force.
Albert Sampson
Reverend Dr. Albert Sampson was ordained by Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta, Georgia in 1966. Nearly a decade later, he joined pastors involved at Fernwood United Methodist Church in the Chicago Southern district of the Northern Illinois Conference.
S ampson’s successes include bein g chosen by the Wi nston-Derrick Publishing C ompany to help c onsult on the O rigi nal A frican Heritage Bible and becoming the state’s NA AC P Religious Af fairs C hairman.
Tyronne Stoudemire
As senior vice president of Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion for Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Tyronne Stoudemire is also co-chair of Hyatt’s GDEI counsel. As such,
Stoudemire helps implement initiamentorams for women and people
Stoudemire has ved on the Metropolitan Council oard, as treasurommunity organization the Arthur M. Brazier Foundation, and as chairman of the board for he Black Ensemble Theater
And Stoudemire has been in the good favor of more than one Illinois gover nor Pat Quinn appointed him to the board of Illinois mapping commission, and Pritzker appointed Stoudemire to Chicago State University’s Working Group to Create an Equity Agenda for Black Colle ge Students in Illinois.
Annetta Wilson
Dr. Annetta Wilson is the founder and executive director of Sankofa Safe Child Initiative in Lawndale, which provides resources and skills to underserved families. The Safe Child Initiative came out of a town hall that Congressman Davis hosted in 1999. Davis also appointed Wilson as chair of his 7th Congressional District Child Welfare Task Force.
e Catholic Community of Oak Park invites you
to Make Room for Hope during the Advent and Christmas Seasons!
The Nativity of the Lord
Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24
3:30 pm Mass, Schola Choir | Ascension Church
3:30 pm Mass, Ascension Schola | Ascension Church
4:30 pm Mass, St. Edmund Choir | St. Edmund Church
4:30 pm Mass, St. Edmund Choir | St. Edmund Church
5:30 pm Mass, Choristers and String Ensemble | Ascension
3:00 pm Mass | St. Giles Church
3:00 pm Mass | St. Giles Church
5:00 pm Mass | St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church
5:00 pm Mass | St. Giles Church
5:00 pm Mass | St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church
5:30 pm Mass, Choristers and String Ensemble | Ascension Church
11:00 pm Mass, Ascension Choir | Ascension Church
Carols begin at 10:30 pm
11:00 pm Mass, Ascension Choir | Ascension Church
Carols begin at 10:30 pm
9:00 am Mass with organ, instruments | Ascension Church
7:30 pm Family Mass | St. Giles School Gym
5:00 pm Mass | St. Giles Church
Carols begin at 7:00 am
7:30 pm Family Mass | St. Giles School Gym
10:30 pm Mass | St. Giles Church | Carols begin at 54:44 pm
Carols begin at 7:00 am
Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25
10:30 pm Mass | St. Giles Church | Carols begin at 10:00 pm
Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25
9:00 am Mass with organ, instruments | Ascension Church
11:00 am Mass with organ, instruments | St. Edmund Church
11:00 am Mass with organ, instruments | St. Edmund Church
Tuesday, December 31
9:00 am Mass, Praise Choir | St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy
10:30 am Mass | St. Giles Church
9:00 am Mass, Praise Choir | St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy
Christmas Season
10:30 am Mass | St. Giles Church
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Sunday, December 29
Christmas Season
Regular Weekend Mass Schedule
The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Sunday, December 29 Regular Weekend Mass Schedule
5:00 pm Mass | St. Edmund Church
Wednesday, January 1
e Solemnity of Mary, e Holy Mother of God
Mass of anticipation hosted by the Catholic Community of Oak Park
Tuesday, December 31
5:00 pm Mass | St. Edmund Church
Mass of anticipation hosted by the Catholic Community of Oak Park
9:00 am Mass | Ascension Church
9:00 am Mass | St. Giles Church
Wednesday, January 1
Prayer in the Spirit of Taizé for World Day of Peace
7:30 pm | Ascension Church
9:00 am Mass | Ascension Church 9:00 am Mass | St. Giles Church
The Epiphany of the Lord, Sunday, January 5
Prayer in the Spirit of Taizé for World Day of Peace
Regular Weekend Mass Schedule
7:30 pm | Ascension Church
Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 12
e Epiphany of the Lord, Sunday, January 5 Regular Weekend Mass Schedule
Regular Weekend Mass Schedule
Baptism of the Lord, Sunday, January 12 Regular Weekend Mass Schedule
For additional information about parish and Catholic Community of Oak Park liturgies, including livestream schedules and links, please see one of our parish websites. ascensionoakpark.org stgilesparish.org
For additional information about parish and Catholic Community of Oak Park liturgies, including livestream schedules and links, please see one of our parish websites.
ascensionoakpark.org stgilesparish.org
Where to nd food and toy giveaways for Christmas
Food, toys and fun are available across the West Side
By DEBORAH BAYLISS Contributing Reporter
With so many families struggling to make ends meet, providing toys for Christmas may not be possible for them. Realizing that, community stakeholders are stepping up and hosting toy giveaways as a way to help ensure that every child has an opportunity to have toys and other items for Christmas
Sunrise Community Empowerment Church, 1454 S. Kolin, will hold its Annual Christmas Toy Giveaway from 11 a.m to 1 p.m., Dec. 21 while supplies last. Toys will be given to youth ages two to 14. You must re gister to attend: https://www.facebook.com/p/Sunrise-Community-Empowerment-100024476782191/.
The Chicago 15th Police District partnered with the Chicago West Bible Church and community members to purchase hundreds of toys and gifts to give away at its 5th Annual Chicago West Side Drive Thru event from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 21 at City of Refuge Chicago, 5916 W. Lake St. Registration is required. Email Stephanie Marquardt, executive director at smarquardt@cityofrefugechicago.org.
The Brothers of Upsilon Sigma Chapter and their Sorors of Tau Xi Zeta partnered for their Annual Toy & Coat Giveaway from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Dec. 22 at Larry Williams
State Farm Agency, 5932 W. Lake St. To register, email: toyandcoatusc.pbs@outlook.com. The child must be present.
The Chicago Transit Authority’s Allstate CTA Holiday Train and Bus now in its 33rd year of operation, will be operating throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods to deliver joy and the holiday spirit to riders, and also to deliver food baskets to various charitable agencies throughout the city
It started as an out-of-service Blue Line train in 1992 with a “Season’s Greetings from the CTA” sign placed on the front of it delivering food to various charities over the years.
As the train pulls into each station, Santa waves to riders from his sleigh on an open-air flatcar carrying his reindeer and decorated holiday trees.
Each car of the train is wrapped with holiday and seasonal images. Thousands of twinkling lights outline the shape of the train and windows, with even more lights running across the tops of the cars.
This year, the CTA is donating food boxes to more than a do z en locations, with each location receiving 25 boxes. Food boxes will be dropped of f next week at the various locations with distribution varying by location.
The locations in or closest to the Austin Weekly News coverage area:
■ Holsten Human Capital Development (Lawson) 1034 W. Montrose Ave.
■ Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation 2550 W. North Ave.
■ Hope Excel Reaching the World 4821 W. Chicago Ave.
■ Arthur Lockhart Resource Institute 4941 W. Chicago Ave.
■ Marillac St. Vincent Family Services 212 S. Francisco Ave.
■ Holsten Human Capital Development (Hillard) 54 Cermak Rd.
The holiday train will travel all eight rail lines through Dec. 22. The full schedules for the Allstate CTA Holiday Train & Bus are available on our website: https://www. transitchicago.com/holidayfleet.
For a hot meal on Christmas or any other day, the Pacific Garden Mission, the oldest rescue mission, at 1458 S. Canal St – with the help of donations – serves hot breakfast, lunch and dinner for free every day of the year for any hungry man, woman or child who walks through its doors. Contact them at 312-492-9410.
CTA Holiday Train
Illinois Classified Advertising Network AUCTION
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Essential Civics
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.-
DONNA LOUISE BERNARDONI, CHICAGO TITLE LAND TRUST COMPANY AS SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE TO THE NORTH STAR TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE
U/T/A DATED OCTOBER 16, 2008
A/K/A TRUST NO. 08-11369 Defendants 2024 CH 04243 2517 S SPRINGFIELD 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 September 20, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 6, 2025, 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 2517 S SPRINGFIELD AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60623
Property Index No. 16-26-120-0050000
The real estate is improved with a residence.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser
of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 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. 14-24-02651
Attorney ARDC No. 00468002
Attorney Code. 21762
Case Number: 2024 CH 04243
TJSC#: 44-2702
NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Case # 2024 CH 04243 I3256598
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE, FOR THE HOLDERS OF THE CIM TRUST 2021-R2, MORTGAGE-BACKED NOTES, SERIES 2021- R2
Plaintiff
vs. JOHN LYDON AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NADINE FLOYD, MALCOLM C FLOYD, CRANDALL R FLOYD JR, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF NADINE FLOYD, UNKNOWN OWNERS GENERALLY, AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS
Defendant
22 CH 6566
CALENDAR 59 NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on January 15, 2025, at the hour 11:00 A.M., Intercounty’s office, 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, IL 60602, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described mortgaged real estate: SITUATED IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, DESCRIBED AS: LOT 13 IN BLOCK 3 IN WILLIAM A. MERIGOLD`S RESUBDIVISION DIVISION OF THE NORTH 50 ACRES OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTH EAST QUARTER OF SECTION 22, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. P.I.N. 16-22-205-009. Commonly known as 1219 S. Kedvale Ave., Chicago, IL 60623. The real estate is: single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: At sale, the bidder must have 10% down by certified funds, balance within 24 hours, by certified funds. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. For information call Sales
Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Altman, Strautins & Kromm, LLC d/b/a Kluever Law Group, 200 North LaSalle Street, Suite 1880, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (312) 236-0077. SPS001425-22FC1 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3256818
14 Days. $32,000
A 2025 filled with trusted local news
In just the last week, our reporters have been hard at work on stories with deep meaning and impact on these communities we call home. Three stand out.
Reporting for Austin Weekly News and Wednesday Journal, Jessica Mordacq has continued her in-depth coverage of the challenges of new ownership at West Suburban Medical Center. This critical safety net institution needs the attention of an independent local newsroom and we are there to provide it.
Wednesday Journal has been focused on our coverage of the remembrance of Det. Allan Reddins, the Oak Park officer who died in the line of duty on the day after Thanksgiving. From breaking news to coverage of his wake and funeral, the Journal has been present. Reporters Luzane Draughon, Greg Voss and photographers Sam Tucker and Todd Bannor have reported for us – and for you.
Trent Brown, our Riverside-Brookfield Landmark reporter, unpacked the data on how residents voted in the November presidential election. What was the same as recent national elections and what shifted a bit? While the percentages of support for the Democratic and Republican candidates remained quite steady overall votes cast dropped notably from four years ago.
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