Forest Park Review 011123

In re-election bid, Nero urges infrastructure, commercial investment

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Commissioner Ryan Nero said he decided to run for a second term for a simple reason -- the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the council’s agenda, but now that the pandemic has receded, he believes he and the other commissioners will finally get a chance to work at their full potential.

“If we get four more years together -- it’s exciting to see how much more can be done in terms of improving village of Forest Park infrastructure and bringing businesses to town without the distractions we had over the last few years with the pandemic,” he said.

Nero said he would prioritize supporting businesses

See NERO on pa ge 8

Circuit Cour t rules

against Tap Room

RATIFIED: Forest Park Fire ghters Association Union Local 2753 looks pleased a er the village council unanimously appr voed a new contract.

New firefighter contract brings paramedics in-house

Change comes in response to sta ng issues with private contractor

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Forest Park will be bringing paramedic services back in house after 34 years of contracting them out to a third-

party vendor.

This is a major change in the new contact between the village and the Forest Park Fire Fighters Association

Incumbent proud of progress amid pandemic, believes council can do more now

IGOR STUDENKOV/Sta

Oak Park Friends School Open House

Park district opens door to role in Altenheim proper ty

Need time to complete pocket park improvements rst

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

In a reverse of a long-stated position, the Park District of Forest Park Monday told the Altenheim Advisory Committee that it may have an interest in improving and/ or operating a portion of the village-owned site. However, Jackie Iovinelli, the park’s executive director, told the committee the park district must complete work on improving the pocket parks it now operates for the village before it could consider an Altenheim role. The district is also working on planning and funding for a new indoor facility on property it purchased last year on Harrison Street.

The Altenheim Advisory Committee, the village-created group charged with creating a development plan for the property, invited Iovinelli to speak during its Jan. 9 meeting. The committee reached out to the park district in early December, and the Park District Board of Commissioners discussed the matter in closed session during a Dec. 15 meeting.

Iovinelli said the park district is simply too busy with improving the pocket parks it leases from the village, as well as developing a new indoor facility at 7400-7412 Harrison St. But the park district would be interested in revisiting the matter down the line, when it has less on its plate. Iovinelli said having more green space would benefit the village, and her organization is always looking for more opportunities to better serve Forest Park.

If the park district does follow through, Iovinelli said it would want to lease the land, the way it currently leases four pocket parks from the village. And she cautioned that the park district would need to add employees and buy new maintenance equipment to undertake a role at the Altenheim

Over the years, many residents advocated using at least a portion of the Altenheim site as a public space. The Altenheim Committee hasn’t entirely ruled it out. But the proposals led to questions of who would manage it. Public Health & Safety Director Steve Glinke, who is one of the committee’s

non-voting members, previously indicated that Forest Park wasn’t interested in managing parks after leasing out most of its pocket parks, and that the park district wasn’t interested in that, either.

During the Dec. 5, 2022, meeting, com mittee chair Marty Tellalian suggested that it made sense to reach out to the park district directly to discuss the issue, arguing that it made no sense not to try to involve them in some way.

“We have a park district, I feel like everybody feels like a portion [of the site] is going to end up a park, and I think our park distinct, we need to identify what they’re willing to do,” he said.

Iovinelli said that leasing the pocket parks increased the amount of open space it manages by 25%, but its workforce and funding remained the same.

Under terms of the long-term lease, the park district is responsible for managing and improving the pocket parks. Iovinelli said the district would want the same arrangement with the Altenheim land. She said one taxing body already spent taxpayer funds to acquire the land, and spending taxpayer money on the property “a second time” made no sense to them.

As it stands, she said, the park district

isn’t ready to take the Altenheim property.

“We have a lot on our plate,” Iovinelli said. “We would like to be invited to the table, but, right now, we want to finish what we started. We’d love to come back to the table once we get what we started done. To take on that piece of property right now, that would take a bit of planning on our part.”

Tellalian wondered whether the park district was pivoting toward indoor space, or perhaps being steered in that direction by grant requirements. Iovinelli responded that it wasn’t the case, pointing to their work with the pocket parks.

Committee member Geoff Smith asked if there was state and private funding the park district would be able to use to improve the Altenheim property. Iovinelli responded that it would be “an absolutely great location” for the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) state grant, where park districts and municipalities can get up to $600,000 to cover half of the costs of open space and park improvements.

Soul sailing

IGOR STUDENKOV/Sta

Park District of Oak Park Executive Director Jackie Iov inelli addresses the Altenheim Committee, Jan. 9.

SHANEL ROMAIN

Members of Move Me Soul dance company of Chicago per form at the annual Communit y Kwanzaa Celebration at the Oak Park librar y on Dec. 29.

Januar y 11-18

BIG WEEK

Get Grilled: Grilled Cheese & Trivia

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 4-5 p.m., Forest Park Public Librar y What goes better together than a trivia contest and a hot grilled cheese sandwich? Students from grades 8-12 can enjoy the best of both orlds at this event. 7555 Jackson Blvd., ark.

Film Screening: ‘Sonic The Hedgehog 2’

Sunday, Jan. 15, 2-4 pm, Forest Park Public Librar y This is the ac tion-packed sequel to (what else?) Sonic The Hedgehog. Rated PG. For ages 8 and up The movie will be shown with captioning for accessibility purposes. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Bird and Bagel Walk

Saturday, Jan. 14, 8:30 a.m., Trailside Museum of Natural History We’ll obser ve bird feeder ac tion inside while noshing on bagels and co ee, then head out for a walk. Ages 13 & up. 738 Thatcher Ave., River Forest

Listing your event in the calendar

Forest Park Review welcomes notices about events that Forest Park community groups and businesses are planning. We’ll work to get the word out if you let us know what’s happening by noon Wednesday a week before your news

needs to be in the newspaper.

■ Send details to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 60302

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

The Histor y O f Carole King

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2-3 p.m., vir tually through Oak Park Public Librar y Carole King has the distinction of being elec ted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. The rst was as a songwriter (with Gerr y Go n), penning such rock standards as “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow,” “One Fine Day,” “Up On The Roof ” and “Loco-Motion.” The second time was as a performer, who helped usher in the singer-songwriter movement of the early ‘70s, with her million-selling album Tapestr y Register now at //oppl.org/calendar.

True Crime Club: ‘Rewind’

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m., LSF Brookfield Librar y Join the librar y’s new True Crime Club for a screening of the award-winning biographical documentar y Rewind, followed be a shor t Q&A. Register to attend at 708-485-6917 x 130 or online at www.brook eldlibrar y.info. 3541 Park Ave., Brook eld.

Abandonment Issues

Monday, Jan. 16, 1:15-2:15 p.m.,

Nineteenth Centur y Charitable Association Jerr y Olejniczak ’s book Abandoned Chicagoland deals with fac tories, warehouses and empty homes in the Chicago area that still stand, uninhabited The author will present a special slide show featuring these places, along with stories, histor y and other relevant commentary. The event is free, although a suggested donation of $15 is appreciated. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Chicago Rock Ensemble: Rock En Español!

Saturday, Jan. 14, 8:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s

Five female -fronted bands who play Spanishlanguage rock take the stage: Fantasma Negra, Obscuridad Eterna, VDA, Bachelor ’s Grove, and the Hell Catz. $10 - $60, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Ber w yn.

Court overrules state liquor board on initial Tap Room decision

Hoskins says Tap Room, liquor commission didn’t appeal

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The Cook County Circuit Court ruled that Mayor Rory Hoskins’ original decision to revoke Forest Park Tap Room’s liquor license back on Aug. 16, 2021 was justified, overruling the Illinois Liquor Control Commission’s ruling that his decision lacked sufficient legal grounds.

The latest legal development is something of a moot point. Since the liquor commission ordered the liquor license reinstated, Hoskins declined to renew the Tap Room’s liquor license after a monthslong hearing process. But during the Jan. 9 village council meeting, the mayor, who

also serves as the village liquor commission, framed the circuit court ruling as a vindication of the village’s original legal process.

The Review was unable to obtain a copy of the ruling by deadline. Hoskins said the circuit court originally ruled in the village’s favor on Dec. 9, and that Jan. 9 was the last day either the Tap Room or the liquor commission could file an appeal. He said that, according to the village attorney, neither side did by the end of the business day.

Brothers Hansel and Lance Law, who coowned the Berwyn Tap Room bar, opened the Forest Park Tap Room on Oct. 23, 2020 inside the former Healy’s Westside space at 7321 Madison St. It faced multiple complaints about loud music, fights and violating COVID-19 mitigation limits in place at the time. Hoskins suspended the license three times and revoked it after finding that the bar had remained open after hours.

Forest Park Police Sgt. Daniel Pater en-

tered the bar two minutes after midnight on July 31 and testified that he saw eight to 10 people in the bar, at least four of whom did not work there.

Four people were seated at a table eating food when Pater arrived, and a few employees were wiping down the bar. The state commission ruled that merely being in the bar after its closing time was not a violation of the bar’s A1 liquor license, which, at the time, required it to close at midnight.

When the liquor license came up for renewal on April 30, 2022, Hoskins denied the license due to previous issues, as well as the Law brothers allegedly lying to village officials in their original liquor license application about Berwyn Tap Room’s record and Hansel Law’s 2019 arrest for domestic battery. The Law brothers appealed and, after three months and over 12 hours of public hearings, Hoskins upheld the rul-

ing against the Forest Park Tap Room.

William Rivera, Berwyn Tap Room’s third co-owner who is currently suing the Law brothers for perjury and financial fraud, said he hadn’t heard anything about the Circuit Court decision.

“I find the biggest winner in all this is the Law brothers’ lawyer,” he mused.

Hoskins said the circuit court’s decision validates Forest Park’s process for handling liquor license violations.

“There have been questions about whether our regulations were up to snuff and sufficiently strong,” he said, adding that, between the ruling and Tap Room’s and liquor commissions’ decisions not to appeal, “I think we were well-justified in our ruling.”

Progress Center sets fund drive for Biondi Fellowship

Aimed at promoting radical thought and action

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

The Progress Center for Independent Living (PCIL) announced Jan. 9 that the nonprofit will begin a fundraising effort for what they are calling the Larry Biondi Fellowship for Radical Thought and Action.

The goal is to raise $20,000. Biondi worked for the Progress Center for 28 years and died in 2021.

Three recipients in the “class of 202324” are to share whatever money is raised and will be chosen on the basis of how well their proposed projects fit the objectives of the fellowship.

“The projects,” said Gary Arnold, program director, “are intended to benefit the [disability] community by supporting innovative projects led by diversely talented individuals. The intent is for the interns to be disabled, but we also wouldn’t close the door on a non-disabled person who had good ideas for projects and is experienced.”

“Funds raised,” Arnold added, “would deepen the impact and expand the capacity of the partnership between (the Progress Center) and Chicago ADAPT.”

ADAPT, according to its Facebook page, is “a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom.”

Heel

pain is one of the most common conditions I treat" says Dr. Linda Lambert of the River Forest Foot Clinic. If you wake up having di culty putting your feet on the oor, Dr. Lambert can help.

Heel pain or plantar fascitis is caused when the foot attens out with weight bearing. Sometimes a heel spur forms where the plantar fascia

attaches to the heel bone. A heel spur can be diagnosed with an in o ce x-ray.

ere are many ways to treat heel pain without doing surgery. Rest, ice, anti-in ammatory medication, supportive shoes and stretches help in most cases. Custom made orthotic devices or cortisone injections may also be needed.

The fellowship honors the legacy of Larry Biondi who worked for the Progress Center for 28 years. He died in June 2021 and was a fearless disability-rights advocate. “His lifetime of work” stated the nonprofit’s website, “advanced some of the movement’s most crucial efforts and victories, including passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, accessibility on public transit in Chicago, community integration through closure of state institutions, and equitable healthcare for the disabled and non-disabled.

An anonymous donor created a $5,000 match. To make a donation use the link https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_ button_id=ZSJLY5PZ5AKBJ

For more information click on progresscil.org/2022/12/30/the-larry-biondi-fellowship-for-radical-thought-action-2/

CRIME

2023 kicks o with a shooting

The new year started off with a bang in Forest Park as someone fired at a passing car, shattering its sunroof.

The victim was driving down the 200 block of Harlem Avenue on Jan. 1 when someone fired at his grey 2013 Hyundai Sedan at 12:21 a.m. The bullet shattered the sunroof glass. The glass shards left a small cut on the right side of the victim’s face –but otherwise, he wasn’t injured.

The victim pulled over at the first safe location and called the police. He declined medical treatment, and he was unable to provide the responding officers with any additional information.

D unkin Donuts armed robber y

Three teenagers robbed the Dunkin Donuts location at 7660 Madison St. in broad daylight, threatening to shoot two teen employees if they didn’t open the cash register.

The incident took place on Jan. 4 at 4:25 p.m. According to victims accounts and the surveillance footage, the suspects waited inside a grey, four-door Nissan until the store had no customers and walked in. Two of the suspects jumped behind the counter and put what the victims believed were guns behind their backs and ordered them to open the cash register. The female employee opened the register. All three suspects grabbed as much money as they could carry and ran out the store, driving west on Madison Street.

While the suspects wore masks, they didn’t wear gloves, and the police were able to recover fingerprints.

Residential burglaries

Two units in a condominium building on the 7200 block of Adams Street were burglarized on the afternoon of Jan. 6.

Police initially got a call about the burglary of one unit. The owner’s parents returned to the unit after visiting the victim in the hospital and discovered the inside door frame was damaged, and the entire unit was ransacked. The burglar stole two rings and a wedding band collectively worth $5,500. The parents said the victim collected antique items, but they weren’t sure how much those items were worth.

Residents of other nearby units said they didn’t hear anything suspicious. But the resident of a unit across the hall discovered

that his unit was burglarized as well. The victim, who has a valid Firearm Owners Identification Card and a Concealed Carry License, discovered that his gun, an M&P9 Shield E2 (9mm) Smith & Wesson, was stolen from his nightstand. His PlayStation 4 gaming console was missing as well.

The victim from the second unit also discovered that two packages that were left in the building lobby were stolen. A member of the building condominium board discovered them under the staircase. Both boxes were opened. The contents of one package, a sweater, were left next to the box, but the contents of the second package, a red Nike jacket, was stolen.

The same condo board member discovered that the basement laundry room window, which is normally kept closed, was left open.

Hit and run

A man was reportedly hit by a car after getting shot at with “a bean bag” round while walking on Madison Street on Jan. 4 at around 1 a.m.

The victim said he was walking along the edge of Concordia Cemetery when someone shot him with a “bean bag” round in the neck. He ran for safety, but as he got into Spotless Carwash, 7802 Madison St., a car struck him. The victim said the force of the impact sent him flying into a windshield. He said the vehicle was gold and had four doors but couldn’t give a make and model.

The victim said that he walked to Oak Park Hospital for treatment. The driver allegedly showed up at the ER. The victim said she paid him $25 so he wouldn’t press charges, but the victim said he was going to do what was “legally right.”

The victim said he didn’t call the police right away because he didn’t have a cellphone, but he went to the police station after he was discharged.

These items were obtained from police re ports filed by the Forest Park Police Department Jan. 1-7. and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Igor Studenkov

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

A safe & smart choice.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more important.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult. Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

ASSISTED

NERO

More investment needed

from page 1

coming to major corridors, and not just to the Madison Street corridor, though he demurred on what kind of incentives the village should offer. He also wanted to see the village continue to work infrastructure

The Village of Forest Park has six candidates – three of them incumbents – running for four commissioner seats. Nero needs to be one of the top four vote-getters to keep his seat.

He said his major priority would be to get funding for infrastructure projects and other village needs. Nero said he would continue to support the village going out for state and federal grants, and “looking into new forms of revenue.” Since Forest Park is a non-Home Rule municipality, it’s limited as to how much it can tax and what sort of taxes it can levy.

Nero said that, in spite of the pandemic, he believed Forest Park did a good job of bringing businesses on its side of Harlem Avenue and along Madison Street – something that he would like to see continue. He also wanted to see more investment in the Roosevelt Road corridor.

One major development opportunity in that corridor is the Reserve base at 7402 Roosevelt was closed last June. Nero said the village got to do an envianalysis of the site, he wouldn’t Forest Park buying the property. that he wouldn’t want to see remaining vacant too long, because “leaving it vacant would eyesore.” Ideally, Nero said,

he would like to see a commercial use such as a car dealership.

While Nero said he supported providing incentives to businesses, he said he didn’t have anything specific in mind. And he believed that the village and the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce have gotten a lot better at using social media to promote Forest Park – something that he would like to see continue.

The Cultural Park Ad Hoc Commission was one of several attempts the village made to decide the future of the historic Altenheim property which it owns. During his original campaign, Nero said he supported the proposal to build a park on the south portion of the property and selling the north portion of the property to a private developer. He told the Review that he still supports having some green space, but he also wanted to have something that would bring in tax revenue.

Ultimately, Nero said he wanted to hear what the current Altenheim Committee comes up with.

“I’m really excited to hear more on their findings, on the outreach to the community, and the suggestions and ideas they’ve had and the feedback they received,” he said. “I’m not the urban planning expert, and I’m certainly interested in hearing thoughts and ideas and what they heard from our customers, which is our residents.”

Fellow incumbent and former Review

editor Maria Maxham said changing the commission form of government would be a major priority. Nero said he would be willing to explore that.

“If there’s an opportunity to improve the efficiency of the way we do business in Forest Park and open up new avenues to [allow for] new sources of revenue, I would definitely be interested in moving in that direction,” he said.

When it comes to another perennial issue – the state of Forest Park schools, particularly the Proviso Township High School District 209 – Nero echoed several other candidates when he said he was mindful of the fact that school districts are separate taxing bodies and wanted to tread carefully. He said he would like to see some kind of a mechanism where the school and village officials could meet regularly and discuss what Forest Park can do to support the schools.

Nero said that, as someone who has lived in Forest Park for two decades, raised a child here and regularly patronizes Forest Park businesses, he has a “personal, selfish interest” in seeing the village do well.

“It’s basically -- it’s either you play the game, coach the game or get out of the game,” he said. “If you complain about a current situation and you have the opportunity to improve a current situation, you should be that catalyst, be that person to make that change. That what I’m trying to live by.”

In-house paramedics

from page 1

Union Local 2753, which village commissioners unanimously approved on Jan. 9. While the change will represent around $100,000 increase over the next 10 years, Village Administrator Moses Amidei told the Review that it would relieve staffing shortages that became increasingly common in the past few years.

In addition, he said, the increase would be less than what the village’s current contractor, Metro Paramedic Services, was proposing.

The village’s contract with Metro expires in March. As part of the new union contract, Forest Park agreed to hire three firefighter/paramedics by May 1, and then one firefighter/paramedic a year until April 30, 2026.

Forest Park will be using a “Silver Span-

ner” program, hiring union firefighter/ paramedics from other fire departments, to supplement the workforce until the staffing is at full strength.

Under the current contract with Metro, Forest Park provides the ambulance, but the company hires the paramedics to staff them. The contract called for six paramedics – two per 8-hour shift.

But in recent years, Amidei said, Metro had trouble providing the necessary staff, forcing the union firefighters, most of whom are already trained as either paramedics or emergency medical technicians, to work overtime to pick up the slack. This came as the volume of ambulance calls has been increasing.

Amidei described it as an industry-wide issue that has been exacerbated by the fact that many paramedics who work for private companies end up joining fire departments, where they can get better wages and benefits.

He said the village paid Metro $470,000 a year, and the ambulance company proposed a $200,000 a year increase to account

for the rising labor costs.

The new union contract is retroactive to May 1, 2022 and will expire on April 30, 2026. In addition to hiring more firefighter/ paramedics in coming years, the contract allows Forest Park to bring in firefighters from other departments through the Silver Spanner program. Amidei said he was confident that it would be able to fill the staffing needs while reducing overtime.

While village would save money at first because new firefighters would be paid less, overall, bringing paramedics in-house would represent a $100,000 increase over the next 10 years compared to the current Metro contract.

But he said that the new arrangement will benefit the village on the long run because it will bring more stability in terms of staffing and reduce the burden on the firefighters.

“There will be financial impact over the long period,” Amidei said. “However, where the market is, in terms of labor and sustainability, and not stressing out and overburdening our personal, who have al-

ready seen increasing call of service, [it’s not sustainable]. Every year, we break our own records.”

Commissioner Joe Byrnes said that he was happy with the contract, saying that he was grateful for firefighters who filled in while Metro was short-staffed.

“I really appreciate the job that you’ve done, and now you’re getting six additional people, and they’re going to be part of you, they’re not going to be a paramedic contact company,” he said.

A group of firefighters attended the Jan. 9 meeting. They described the contract as a culmination of a long struggle that’s been ongoing since Forest Park privatized paramedic services in 1989. Local 2753 Secretary Tim Ryan told the Review that the contact will not only ensure that paramedics have union benefits, but that union staff will be more invested in the community and are in it for a long haul.

“It’s a huge win for the department, and it was a pleasure to work with the village,” he said. “We couldn’t be happier with the contract.”

RYA N NERO

OPINION

The parks and Altenheim

Finally. The Park District of Forest Park and an official body created by village government, the Altenheim Advisory Committee, are discussing an active role for the parks in crafting the future use of the villageowned property at the Altenheim Yes, this is the most obvious conversation in the world. Yes, we have been pushing this idea for 20 years. At this point, though, whatever forces of logic, of nature, of collaboration have finally made this connection, we are grateful.

We hear, and fully respect, the admonition from the park district’s Jacki Iovinelli that it currently has projects stacked up that will need the full attention of its limited staff to complete. That work includes the continued remaking of the village-owned pocket parks which is coming to fruition now. The solid work the parks have been doing in rethinking and investing in these small neighborhood parks, ignored for decades under village management, only makes the case stronger for collaboration at Altenheim

The park district also needs to plan, and find funding for, construction of its new indoor facility on property it acquired last year adjacent to the main park on Harrison Street.

Finishing these projects makes all the sense in the world.

But 20 years after wisely acquiring the acreage at Altenheim to preserve this green jewel, and following two decades of dithering over its future, we are prepared to wait a while to get the park district’s insights and expertise on how this new public space can be best utilized and operated.

That said, as long as members of this committee are standing strong for absolutely preserving considerable open space at the Altenheim, then its work on how the rest of the site might be developed can go readily forward.

Great to see this park district, ambitious and thoughtful, lift its vision beyond just The Park on Harrison. All of Forest Park needs access to open space, recreation and gathering places.

Finally, there is a path.

Tap Room vindication

Act in haste. Repent in leisure.

A downright biblical admonition. We believe Forest Park has learned this lesson as it finally has its actions in aggressively shutting down the Forest Park Tap Room affirmed by a Cook County Circuit Court. The long battle to shutter this renegade Madison Street bar took the village and its mayor/liquor commissioner on a long, bitter ride through hearings here and in Springfield. Now the court has overruled a state liquor control board ruling that the village overreached.

The lesson is that Forest Park needs fewer straight-up bars on Madison Street. And that gifting a liquor license needs a municipal vetting process that begins with active skepticism toward the applicant. If you want the privilege of a liquor license in Forest Park, a squeaky clean reputation is the requirement. The Tap Room did not have that and should never have received its license.

Too much drama and reputational damage to our village and its downtown resulted.

Blah about da Bears but hating the Pack with a passion

Iused to pay a lot of attention to the NFL. I had fan gear and season tickets for Bears home games. I built weeks around smoking meat Sundays when the Bears were on the road. I was there both times the Bears won a game to send them to the Super Bowl. I played in multiple fantasy leagues. I had an hour-long meeting once a week during fantasy season with a similarly underemployed friend. I knew the point spreads and had … views on them. (This was many years before anyone bragged in ads of being “the official sportsbook of the Chicago Bears,” a brag that still boggles my mind to hear.)

Bear. I used to be much tighter with that team. I believed all the stuff about sticking with the team through fair and foul. Only a person of low character would give up on a team just because they’re not very good. You gotta stand by your guys. Fans are part of the team. Loyalty matters and we’re all in this together. That’s what family is all about.

ALAN BROUILET TE

I followed the off-season news, had thoughts on the draft, and celebrated the opening of training camp. Eventually, though, the league got around to accepting that brains were something one maybe oughta look out for and made reasonable and righteous rule changes in the name of safety. Wanna be clear: I’m for them. Brains are important. I do not wish to watch football through my fingers, and I now wince at big hits where I might once have roared.

I would hope none of the kids I love plays football. I cannot cheer for defensive plays without feeling as if I should disclaim my intentions to the fans around me. (“When I said ‘Knock His Head Off!’ it was all in fun, of course. I wouldn’t want to see *anyone* take a hard hit to the head. I’m not a psychopath. DEE-FENSE! DEE-FENSE!”)

These welcome and overdue rule changes have, however, largely rendered the game unwatchable for me. I have no interest. I liked football as a game of thunderous power and superhuman feats. As a game of complex movement and precision timing — basketball on grass — it’s just not nearly as compelling.

Or maybe it’s the ongoing incompetent apathetic rancidity of the Bears. I can, right now, with confidence, name one

You ever notice nobody says stuff like that about restaurants in decline? “This place was so great 40 years ago. We keep coming here to eat every week hoping they turn it around. I know we got food poisoning a bunch of times, but then they come out with a new menu item and we know that’s the one that’s gonna bring this joint back to culinary greatness. We can’t give up on ’em now; they’ve been here for us as long as we can remember. They take our money and provide a substandard dining experience, and we keep paying and hope they’ll turn it around — despite abundant evidence indicating that they’re not capable of anything better than this — because that’s what family is all about.”

So I don’t pay much attention to the NFL anymore.

Except when something terrible happens to Green Bay. Anytime the Packers choke away a playoff game or Aaron Rodgers smarmily reveals that he is both smug and dumb — two things that occur with pleasing regularity — it is time to pour a snifter of something nice and settle in for a few quality hours reading packers.com. Including the comments. Maybe especially the comments.

And I didn’t even watch the game they lost (To Detroit, lol). The purity of my hatred is such that last Sunday when Google showed me some stories Google thought would interest me, they nailed it most cleanly with “Lions Comeback Costs Pack Playoffs”. Darn right that interests me, Google, and may this flame burn forever.

A long and tasty history

Iread an article by an Oxford professor on the history of food, which has great significance for Forest Park foodies. So what did the professor identify as the first big breakthrough in food? No, it wasn’t pizza. It was the invention of cooking.

Cooking didn’t just make food tastier, it completely changed society. Prior to fire-cooked meals, hunters consumed whatever they killed right on the spot. They were loners, like the guys you see sitting in a diner reading a newspaper. But when the hunters started carrying the carcasses home to be roasted over the communal fire, we had what you’d call the family dinner, complete with bad table manners.

The next revolution in eating was the development of agriculture. Farming was much tougher and riskier than hunting — which made the historian wonder why humans took it up in the first place. The work was backbreaking and, if the crop failed, the farmer starved.

The professor explained the rise of agriculture with the “beer theory.” He reasoned that people didn’t mind sweating in the fields all day, if they could sit around at night and drink beer. To support his thesis, he noted

that 40% of the ancient Sumerian wheat harvest went straight to alcohol production. The beer theory also goes a long way toward explaining Forest Park.

People weren’t satisfied, though, with just having warm meals. They wanted flavor, too. They traveled great distances and fought wars just so they could spice up their dishes. They pretended they were on a “Mission from God” during these spice wars by calling them “Crusades.”

Aside from war, no one revolutionized food more than Christopher Columbus. When Columbus sailed the ocean blue, the place that had potatoes was called Peru. Back then there were no tomatoes in Italy, no rice in America and no cheesy potatoes in France.

The “Columbian exchange” completely changed cuisine. Transplantation of the potato led to a population explosion in Northern Europe, particularly Ireland. The failure of that crop ultimately led to a lot of Irish people living in Forest Park.

I just finished reading a depressing book titled, Paddy’s Lament, about the great famine in Ireland. It wasn’t a potato famine as much as a “policy famine.” The policies of the British government caused the Irish

peasants to become completely dependent on the potato.

When the crop failed, Ireland still had plenty of meat and grains but these were shipped to England rather than being used to feed the starving population. This is why half my family ended up leaving Ireland and settling in Chicago. The other half was doing too well in Ireland and had their property confiscated for being “rebels.” But I digest.

Now, we’re in the fast-food revolution, though the popularity of takeout peaked about 2,000 years ago in Rome. Most Roman citizens picked up dinner from street vendors but couldn’t heat up the leftovers in a microwave.

The invention of the microwave was a regrettable development, the professor believes, because it allows family members to eat solitary meals at odd times. It threatens to send us back to the pre-social days, when the hunter wouldn’t share his supper.

Because food isn’t just for nourishment. Dining is a social custom that brings us together. It bridges the gap between different cultures. These cultures have given Forest Park a rich and varied menu: Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Thai and Parky’s.

Finally, the professor advises us to relax and enjoy meals with our families. That’s sound advice because eating dinner together makes for a tight-knit family. Plus, the diner I like only serves breakfast and lunch.

January thawed

Experiencing one of the warmest winters in Chicago history (ranked 13th) in January 2002, local children headed for the Park District of Forest Park playground in the unusual 50-degree break from the cold. The equipment at The Park featured a tire swing, swing sets, tube slide, open slide, and noodle climber among the many options at the playground.

Jill Wagner

Park district playground filled with children enjoying the warm January weather. Published Jan. 30, 2002

Frank Pinc, Historical les of Forest Park

REVIEW

Repor ter Igor Studenkov

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Michael Romain

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Contributing Repor ters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Li a

Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice

Big Week Editor James Porter

Staff Photographers Shanel Romain

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey

S ales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Donor Relations Manager/Food Editor Melissa Elsmo

S ales & Digital Development Manager Stacy Coleman

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Board of Directors

Chair Judy Gre n Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US

ADDRESS

141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066

EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com

CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com

ONLINE ForestParkReview.com

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160)

In- county subscriptions: $34 per year $55 for two years, $69 for three years Out- of-county subscriptions: $42 per year.

Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP

A L OOK BA CK IN TIME

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.

Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION

To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES:

Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential duties and responsibilities

1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture.

2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays.

3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers.

4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management.

5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software.

6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system.

7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review.

8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning.

9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs.

10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,

software and other forms of systems and data.

11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training.

12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling.

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties

1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures.

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems.

5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations.

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis.

Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android.

Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology.

Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down.

Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to:

Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following:

- Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time

- Operating assigned equipment

- Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance

- Working in and around computer equipped vehicles

Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:

- Making observations

- Communicating with others

- Reading and writing

- Operating assigned equipment and vehicles

Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance. Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines

Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND

Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver

License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Administrative Assistant in the Public Health Department. This position provides a variety of responsible administrative and analytical functions; records and monitors department budget and fiscal requirements of grant-funded programs; oversight of Accounts Payable process; prepares reports and serves as a resource for computerized office applications. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/ jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

FINANCE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Finance Coordinator. The ideal candidate will perform a wide variety of responsible and complex administrative, secretarial and clerical duties for the Finance department; and will provide information and assistance to the public regarding department to which assigned. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVISOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Community Health Advisor. The professional in this position is responsible for a variety of tasks including; promoting a safe health care environment; including health education, outreach and promotion which includes disseminating information, making referrals, and counseling as well as managing caseloads, and performing a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. First review of applications December 19, 2022.

Shipping Manager

Circle K, Hospitals, CTA Apply in person M-F 8am to 4pm • Alpina • 6460 W Cortland St Chicago, IL 60707 www.fastchangeframes.com

FULL-TIME POLICE RECORDS CLERK FOREST PARK, IL

The Forest Park Police Department, seeks a Full-Time Civilian Information Management Records Clerk reporting to the Lieutenant of the Criminal Investigations Division. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check. Qualifications include excellent organizational skills, computer skills, the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, good knowledge of English language, and adherence to all police department policies and procedures. Responsibilities and duties include subpoena fulfilment, evidence room duties, data entries, general office functions, report creation, and other duties as needed our assigned. Open until filled. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark. net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE II

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Customer Service Representative II in the Development Customer Services Department. This position provides customer service to the public by providing a variety of responsible and difficult customer service and receptionist work including high volume telephone traffic; and to perform the more difficult and complex customer service duties depending on the department including but not limited to service requests, permits, parking passes, block party permits, accounts payable processing and vehicle stickers. This position is crosstrained with the other Customer Service Representative IIs in the Village.

Applicants are encouraged to apply online at https://secure.entertimeonline.com/ta/6141780.careers?ApplyToJob=537079168 or visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications January 20, 2023.

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Sealed separate bids will be received by the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (the “Board”) for the following project:

OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 SD97 - SUMMER 2023 LIFE SAFETY WORK OAK PARK, IL 60302

BID GROUP 2 – ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, PLUMBING and GENERAL TRADES

Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m. CST on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Administrative offices, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, and will be read at 2:15 p.m. CST on that date. Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked:

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

Attention: Bulley & Andrews Project: SD97 - SUMMER 2023 LIFE SAFETY WORK – Bid Package 2

Bid Opening will be held at 2:15pm CST within the board room:

Scope of work for Bid Group 1 generally includes: Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing & General Trades

All bids must be submitted in accordance with the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project. Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid amount shall be submitted with the bid. Should a bid bond be submitted, the bond shall be payable to the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. All documents and information required by the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project shall be submitted with the bid. Incomplete, late or non-conforming bids may not be accepted.

No bids shall be withdrawn, cancelled or modified after the time for opening of bids without the Board’s consent for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled time of bid opening.

The Bidding Documents for the project (which include the bidding instructions for the project and other related documents) will be available Tuesday January 3rd, 2023 and are available for viewing/download online without cost or purchase on the Bulley & Andrews, LLC One Drive, located at the following link. No username or password is required.

https://tinyurl.com/ysfudxfr

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities, and to make an award that in the Board’s sole opinion is in the best interest of the District.

The site will be available for visits by appointment to be coordinated with Bulley & Andrews, LLC. Interested parties may inspect the existing conditions. Schedule an appointment with Michael Damato of Bulley & Andrews in advance if you wish to visit the sites.

All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all

Contractors working on public works. If during the time period of work, the prevailing wage rates change, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount. All bidders must comply with the Illinois Statutory requirements regarding labor, including Equal Employment Opportunity Laws.

For additional information on the project, contact Michael Damato of Bulley & Andrews, LLC at mdamato@bulley.com or 847-602-9512.

Dated: 1/3/23

Michael Damato Bulley & Andrews, LLC

Published in Wednesday Journal January 11, 18, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

reproduction.

Bids will be accepted at the Village of Brookfield, 8820 Brookfield Ave, Brookfield Illinois 60513, during regular office hours. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the Contractor’s name and address, and “Jaycee-Ehlert Park Court Improvements,” on the face of the envelope. Bids must be received no later than 10:00 AM on January 31, 2023. Bids will be opened at the Village of Brookfield at 10:01 AM on January 31, 2023. All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Bid Bond, Certified Check, or Cashier’s Check in the amount of 10% of the Base Bid, payable to the Village of Brookfield.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Bid Release 14 includes bid package 01A Final Cleaning Work –Proviso East, 01B Final Cleaning Work – Proviso West, 02P Asbestos Abatement Work – Proviso East and 02Q Asbestos Abatement Work – Proviso West.

1. The bid documents will be distributed to bidders on or about Tuesday, January 10, 2023

2. An in-person Pre-Bid Meeting and Site Walk-through will be held on Monday, January 16, 2023 at follows:

-Pre-Bid Meeting: Proviso East Social Room – 9:00AM

-Proviso East Walk-Through–9:45AM – 10:45 AM

-Proviso West Walk-Through–11:00AM – 12:00AM

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Attention Christensen S A, you are the last indicated owner or lienholder on file with Illinois Secretary Of State. Our records show, your 1999, BMW, 528I with the following VIN WBADM5335XBY16156 was towed to our facility. The current amount due & owing is $2000.00. If payment is not received within 30 days, Nobs Towing Inc. will intend to enforce a mechanic’s lien pursuant to Chapter 770 ILCS 50/3. Sale of the aforementioned vehicle will take place at 1510 Hannah Ave, Forest Park, IL, 60130 on 2/17/2023.

Published in Forest Park Review January 11, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Forest Park School District 91 STEAM Lab Renovations- Field-Stevenson Intermediate & Forest Park Middle School

SECTION 001100 - ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

PROJECT: STEAM Lab Renovations - Field-Stevenson Intermediate & Forest Park Middle School 925 Beloit Ave, Forest Park Forest Park, IL 60130 Project Number: 220240

ARCHITECT: Wight & Company 2500 North Frontage Road Darien, IL 60561

to waive informalities to any bid when such is deemed by the Owner to be in the Owner’s own best interests.

This advertisement is issued in the name of Forest Park School District 91.

END OF SECTION 001100

Published in Forest Park Review January 11, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

SECTION I REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

(RFQ)

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS: The City of Berwyn (hereinafter City) is seeking Design and Construction Engineering Services for the project listed. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) packet is available at the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 6700 West 26th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402, or at https://www.berwyn-il.gov/government/bids-rfps#!/

Sealed Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) will be received at the City Clerk’s Office, until the time and date specified below, for:

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES – DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING CERMAK ROAD WATER MAIN, SEWER AND ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS

ADDRESS THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS TO: Attention of the City Clerk’s Office, City Hall, 6700 West 26th Street, Berwyn, IL 60402, on or before the submittal date specified below. The SOQ shall be sealed and clearly marked on the front “Statement of Qualifications for Engineering Services”. FAXED OR EMAILED SOQs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

THE STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS IS DUE NO LATER THAN: 10:00 a.m., on February 3, 2023. Proposers shall submit three (3) paper copies and one (1) electronic copy of their SOQ in PDF format on a flash drive.

Published in Wednesday Journal January 11, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice

Jaycee-Ehlert Park Court Improvements

The Village of Brookfield does hereby invite sealed bids for Jaycee-Ehlert Park Court Improvements. Work will include site preparation, construction fencing, temporary soil erosion and sediment control measures, site removals and clearing, earthwork, excavation, and grading; cast-in-place concrete, tennis and pickleball court outfit, basketball posts (alternate), tennis court fencing & gates (10-ft. ht.), sport court asphalt paving & color-coating, concrete paving, and turf seed restoration.

Project manuals, including bid form and specifications, and construction documents are available after 10:00 AM on January 17, 2023 from Accurate Reprographics, www.hitchcockplanroom.com, 2368

Corporate Lane, Suite 100, Naperville, Illinois 60563, phone (630) 4284433 for the non-refundable cost of

The Village of Brookfield reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, parts of any and all proposals, or to waive technical errors or omissions in submitted proposals. No submitted bid may be withdrawn until a period of sixty (60) days after the bid opening date, without written consent of the Village of Brookfield. The Village of Brookfield encourages minority business firms to submit bids on this project and the successful contract bidder to utilize minority businesses as sub-contractors for supplies, equipment, services, and construction.

Questions should be directed in writing to:

Stevie Ferrari, Village of Brookfield at sferrari@brookfieldil.gov; or Doug Fair, Hitchcock Design Group at dfair@hitchcockdesigngroup.com

Abby Mies, Hitchcock Design Group at amies@hitchcockdesigngroup. com

END OF SECTION 000020

Published in RB Landmark January 11, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC

3. The last day for bidders’ questions is Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 5:00PM

4. The proposals will be due on Thursday February 2, 2023, at 10:00AM via www.ibidpro.com .

To bid this project, bidders should prequalify with Gilbane Building Company via Compass at https:// compass-app.com/auth/register. The bid proposals are to be completed online at www.ibidpro.com .

Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid is required from all bidders. Guarantee Bonds in the form of a Performance Bond and Labor and Material Payment Bond in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the bid will be required from the awarded Bidder.

Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Education of Riverside School District 96 in Riverside, Illinois will receive sealed bids for:

Hollywood Masonry Repair Project

Copies of the Bid Documents including plans and specifications will be available starting January 9, 2023. Bidders can download electronic Drawings and Specifications from the BHFX Plan Room, www.bhfxplanroom.com. Printed sets may be ordered and paid for by the contractor.

OWNER: Forest Park School District 91 424 Des Plaines Avenue Forest Park, IL 60130

Sealed bids will be RECEIVED IN DUPLICATE by the Owner at the place, and until the date and time, stated below and there publicly opened and read:

PLACE: Forest Park School District 91– District Office 424 Des Plaines Avenue Forest Park, IL 60130

DATE: Wednesday, January 25, 2023 TIME: 3:00 PM

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y22009998 on December 28, 2022. Under the Assumed Business Name of BEYOND THE NUMBERS with the business located at: 855 N PARKSIDE AVE APT 1R, CHICAGO, IL. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: DANAE ROSARIO 855 N PARKSIDE AVE APT 1R, CHICAGO, IL

Published in Wednesday Journal January 11, 18, 25, 2023

NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010023 on January 9, 2023.

Under the Assumed Business Name of DANIELMOKMAD SP with the business located at: 1024 WASHINGTON BLVD, APT 302, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DANIEL MOKRAUER-MADDEN 1024 WASHINGTON BLVD, APT 302, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal January 11, 18, 25, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

ADVERTISEMENT FOR NOTIFICATION OF BID FOR

PROVISO SCHOOL DISTRICT 209

Gilbane Building Company, Construction Manager, for and acting on behalf of The Board of Education of Proviso Township High School District 209, is receiving lump sum proposals from interested contractors for the Proviso School District Capital Improvements Project. This release includes the following:

The final cleaning of the construction spaces following construction and prior to the beginning of school, this pertains to both Proviso East and Proviso West High Schools. Additionally, the abatement of asbestos containing flooring, mastic, ceiling, adhesives, lab countertops, pipe insulation, etc. at both Proviso East and Proviso West High Schools.

The work will be done in accordance with the Contract Documents. “FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS INVITATION TO BID MAY RESULT IN THE DISQUALIFICATION OF THE BIDDER”. This contract calls for the construction of a “public work,” within the meaning of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/.01 et seq. (“the Act”).

The Act requires contractors and subcontractors to pay laborers, workers and mechanics performing services on public works projects no less than the “prevailing rate of wages” (hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits) in the county where the work is performed. For information regarding current prevailing wage rates, please refer to the Illinois Department of Labor’s website at: https://www2.illinois.gov/idol/Laws-Rules/CONMED/ Pages/Rates.aspx . All contractors and subcontractors rendering services under this contract must comply with all requirements of the Act, including but not limited to, all wage, notice and record keeping duties.

The Proviso Township High School District 209 and Gilbane Building Company reserve the right to reject any or all bids. All information submitted as part of this process shall be considered public information under the State Freedom of Information Act unless specifically disclosed on the applicable information by the Bidder. Challenges to such exemptions shall be defended solely by the Bidder.

Published in Forest Park Review January 11, 2023

All bids offered must be accompanied by bid security in the form of certified check or bid bond made payable to the Owner in the amount of not less than ten percent (10%) of the amount of the aggregate of the bid as a guarantee that if the bid is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. The successful bidder for the project is required to furnish Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the bid amount, with sureties to be approved by the Owner, and in the form required by the Bidding Documents.

The successful bidder is required to pay the general prevailing wage for work under this Contract as ascertained by the Illinois Department of Labor, and shall submit certified payroll records, in compliance with the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) and the requirements of the Bidding Documents.

A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on January 11, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Hollywood Elementary, 3423 Hollywood Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513. Bidders must allow sufficient time to register at the building prior to being permitted to proceed to the meeting location.

Bids will be received until 1:00 PM, January 27, 2023, at the District office at 3440 S. Harlem Ave, Riverside, IL 60546. A public bid opening will take place afterwards at 1:00 PM, January 27, 2023 at the District office at 3440 S. Harlem Ave, Riverside, IL 60546.

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all bids or any part thereof.

Published in RB Landmark January 11, 2023

Any proposal received after the time and date stated above will be returned to the Bidder unopened. The competency and responsibility of the Bidders will be considered in making awards. One proposal will be received for the following categories of work:

GENERAL WORK including demolition, architectural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work to renovate an existing Staff lounge, computer lab, and home ed classroom into two STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) lab at Field-Stevenson Intermediate School and Forest Park Middle School.

Bid security in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check, or bid bond made payable to Forest Park School District 91, in an amount equal to 10 percent of the base bid is required.

Plans and specifications are available on the BuildingConnected website (www.buildingconnected.com). All addenda and bidding related correspondence will be distributed on this website. The drawings and specifications for the project can be viewed/downloaded at no cost in the public plan room section of the website. To arrange access to the website, prospective bidders should send requests to John Paul, Wight & Company, at jpaul@wightco.com.

All questions regarding the project should be directed to John Paul, Wight & Company, at jpaul@wightco. com.

Questions must be received in writing, or via email (jpaul@wightco. com), until 12:00 p.m. Thursday, January 19th, 2023.

An optional pre-bid meeting will be held at Forest Park Middle School on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at 1:30 PM. The meeting will be followed by a tour of the facilities. This will be the only opportunity to access the building prior to bid.

The Owner reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, and

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023 for Project: 23-7, Alley Lighting Improvements. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of: removing and disposing of approximately 1050 existing mercury vapor alley lighting assemblies; replacing old lighting assemblies with new alley light assemblies including new LED fixtures, mast arms, wiring, photocells, and connections to the existing ComEd electrical service; and all appurtenant work thereto in alleys throughout the Village of Oak Park.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday January 12th, at 4:00 p.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park. us/your-government/budgetpurchasing/requests-proposals or at www.questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 8360536 for a non-refundable charge of $62.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna

Village Engineer

11, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday February 2, 2023 for Project: 23-13, The Community Restroom Project. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements will require the following construction: furnishing and installing a prefabricated Portland Loo bathroom; installing sewer and water services and plumbing, installing electrical conduits, wiring, and modifications to existing electrical cabinets; removals of existing pavements and curbs and gutters; installing concrete curbs and pavements including electrical heating systems; removing and resetting brick pavers; installing bluestone pavers; installing HMA pavement patches; installing landscaping; and all appurtenant work thereto. The work will take place at Parking Lot 10 at the northeast corner of Marion St. & North Blvd. in the Village of Oak Park.

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

e Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

is newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday January 12th, at 4:00 p.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park.us/yourgovernment/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 8366627 for a non-refundable charge of $62.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

This project is financed with federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and thus is subject to all federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including Davis-Bacon and Related Acts, Section 3, and Equal Opportunity requirements.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION SELENE FINANCE LP Plaintiff, -v.LARSENIA HORTON, NEIL SMITH, ASSURANCE RESTORATION & CONSTRUTION, INC., PRAIRIE HOUSES OWNERS ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 18 CH 12736

14 DIVISION STREET, # 14 OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 16, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 9, 2023, 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 14 DIVISION STREET, # 14, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-127-0480000

The real estate is improved with a brown brick, three story townhouse, attached one car 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 mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residen-

tial 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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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. 20-04687IL_613739 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 18 CH 12736 TJSC#: 42-1079

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 12736 I3208765

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.-

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND/OR LEGATEES OF LAURA RIZZARDINI, DECEASED, DANIEL ROBERT RIZZARDINI, JOHN LOUIS RIZZARDINI, JOAN R. RINELLA, DAMON RITTENHOUSE, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR LAURA RIZZARDINI, DECEASED, OAK PARK PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, ALPINE CAPITAL INVESTMENTS LLC, STATE OF ILLINOIS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS Defendants

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

20 CH 2480

420 SOUTH HOME AVENUE UNIT 107N

OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on October 26, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 16, 2023, 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 420 SOUTH HOME AVENUE UNIT 107N, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-07-324-0331007

The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $63,816.46.

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 by

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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 The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 20-093376.

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. LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717

E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 20-093376 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 20 CH 2480 TJSC#: 42-4228

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 # 20 CH 2480 I3210947

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer