Park district bought the property, which has been a staple in the community for decades
By JESSIC A MORDACQ Staff Reporter
If you usually visit H&R Auto for routine maintenance on your car, be sure to stop in before this summer, when the re pair shop will likely close its doors.
After 30 years at 805 Hannah Avenue, H&R Auto Owner Larry Moskos sold the property to the Park District of Forest Park.
There are no immediate plans for the space, which may become an extension of the park district’s neighboring green space or be developed to create more indoor space.
The park district entered a contract to buy 805 Hannah Ave. from Moskos last May. In December 2024, they closed on the property. The sale’s contract allows H&R Auto to stay open for up to a year, leasing the space until Moskos closes up shop, likely in June.
Before then, Moskos will clean out the H&R Auto building, full of tools and spare parts.
“I want to do it methodically,” Moskos said about his winding down process.
As Moskos g ears up to leave his business behind, he’s
See H&R AUTO on pa ge 5
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Proviso West boys basketball among top teams for 1st time in nearly 4 decades
ey won 3rd place at the 63rd annual Holiday Tournament
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
In the final days of December, Proviso West’s boys varsity b asketball team pl ayed in the 63rd Proviso West Holiday Tournament. T hey p laced third, an achievement that the school hasn’t acc omplished since 1986.
The tournament took place in late December at Proviso West High School’s gym. It included 28 basketball games played by
16 teams, many of whom are top-ranking in Illinois and Northwest Indiana.
Placing among such teams proved to be a success for Proviso West, one that has been years in the making.
“We have been diligently working on rebuilding the Boys Basketball program, and the progress we’ve made is truly remarkable,” Lamont Bryant, head coach of the Proviso West boys varsity basketball team, said in a statement.
Several attendees gathered to watch the team’s success at the tournament, including District 209 Superintendent Krish Mohip, school board members, staf f, students, and even Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
“I am incredibly excited for what lies ahead for our team and deeply grateful for the unwavering support from our com-
munity, families, and supporters,” Bryant said. “Together, we are building something extraordinary. Here’s to continued growth and success in the new year.” PROVIDED e Prov iso West varsity boys basketball team.
More “I’ll be there.”
More “I’ll be there.”
Less “Where have you been?”
Less “Where have you been?”
Facing the challenge of Forest Park zoning
about engaging the public in the future of Forest Park’s zoning
As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up.
More “I’ll be there.”
As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up. vaccines.gov
More “I’ll be there.”
vaccines.gov
Less “Where have you been?”
Less “Where have you been?”
As you get older, your
from
As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up.
of serious
As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up.
vaccines.gov
and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up. vaccines.gov
vaccines.gov
More “I’ll be there.”
Less “Where have you been?”
Bob Cox is creating a free, week-long course to foster discussion among locals about the village’s zoning
As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep showing up. vaccines.gov
More “I’ll be there.”
Less “Where have you been?”
As you get older, your risk of serious illness from flu, COVID-19, and RSV is higher. Vaccines bring your risks down, so you can keep
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Ever wonder how Forest Park’s residential zoning districts were created or what local development might look like in 5 years?
Forest Parker Bob Cox is creating a free, week-long online course to discuss these topics and more through the Forest Park Zoning Challenge.
“This particular challenge is going to give you the tools to find out for yourself” about local zoning, Cox said.
Such a course feels especially relevant at a time when Forest Park staff is working to rewrite portions of the village’s zoning code –and has received backlash from a handful of residents who say staff isn’t being transparent about the process
The e-learning course covers village planning, community development, and local zoning. The lesson plan reflects the curriculum for an AP high school class on civics, government and urban planning. And though it’s Forest Park-focused, much of the content can be applied to other municipalities
After Cox finishes drafting the syllabus, anyone with access to a computer will be able to register for the week-long course. He’s inviting local high school students, residents, homeowners, village council members and village staf f to register online in a few weeks for the first course’s start in February.
Over one week, participants will read two articles, answer a series of questions individually, then discuss them in a Zoom meeting with others. Cox said he hopes to have discussion sessions once a week – one at 6 p.m. and one at 8 p.m.
Cox said he wants as many people as possible to participate in the week-long course before drafting an analysis of his findings in March. He will submit this to village staff and is hopeful the zoning challenge will spark questions from the village council
Cox added that, if the zoning challenge goes well, it could be reproduced or the subject of a future public meeting at Village Hall. He aims for the course to serve as a place for discussion, an aspect that’s often missing at village council meetings, where commissioners aren’t allowed to respond to residents who make public comments
“I think it’s a really good gateway,” Cox said of the zoning challenge, “if it’s perceived well.”
Shaping the zoning challenge
Along with Cox, who has a bachelor’s degree in urban planning and public affairs, the zoning challenge has been developed by Andrew Cox, an IT and e-learning consultant and Bob’s son; Sharon Anderson Cox, Bob’s wife who’s in commercial real estate; Jesse Treviño, Cox’s neighbor who does residential real estate; Joseph Ponsetto, an attorney who specializes in municipal law; and graphic designer Lloyd Smedbron.
Cox has long had the idea to start a course like this that organizes public engagement around local zoning.
Over the last 20 years or so, Cox has gone to the village council, mayor and village administrator to pitch ideas of how to educate the public about local zoning. Though he said these discussions were well-received, the main barriers to a course like this are the village’s available resources.
If the village were to create something like the zoning challenge, it would “take a lot of time, a lot of people and some money,” Cox said.
If the village hired a consulting firm to spearhead a similar public engagement effort, it would likely be a multi-week process where panels would come in to meet with community members about their questions and thoughts, Cox said. And while they’d come away with a comprehensive analysis on public engagement and opinion, it could cost several hundred thousand dollars, he added.
Now that Cox, 70, is retired, he has time to move the needle forward for an idea that’s been stirring inside him for decades.
“You have to create a movement to change anything,” Cox said.
H&R AUTO Park district expands
reflecting on the successes of his 30-yearlong career at H&R Auto, most of which include making connections with locals.
“I’m going to miss the customers that I built a lot of relationships with over the years,” Moskos said.
He added that there’s at least 100 of his customers who have turned into good friends, that he “could call up and say, ‘let’s do dinner tonight.’”
Moskos said he’ll also miss his two employees, as well as those at Forest Park’s other local car re pair shops, Forest Automotive and Action Transmission & Automotive.
While Moskos doesn’t know what he’ll do next, he said it won’t be retirement or involve cars.
“I li ke wo rk ing,” he said. He a dded that he’ll li ke ly spend more time with f amily and friend s, p lus riding his five motorcycles
H&R history
Moskos grew up in Oak Park, where he attended St. Bernardine’s. Before getting into car re pair, Moskos sold Snap-on tools for 18 years across the western suburbs.
In 1987, Eddie Vince started what would become H&R Auto with one tow truck and three employees. Eight years later, Moskos joined him and, together, they bought the building at 805 Hannah Avenue and fixed it up as an auto re pair shop.
Although H&R Auto now only does car re pairs, towing services once made up half of its business. Moskos said the company stopped towing services around 2018 to ease the workload for him and his employees. Around that time, they towed about 1,000 cars a year, Moskos estimated.
Today, Moskos said he and his two employees re pair about five cars a day.
Pe rhaps the biggest reason that Moskos’ small staf f has such a large wo rkload is because of a national shor tage of auto technicians – wh ich Moskos said is the biggest barrier for new auto re pair shops to open.
According to the United States Bureau of
“There’s a lot of attrition in this business,” Moskos said.
Expanding the park district
March 2022, the pa rk district b ought the land to the west of H&R Towing , here the Pines Restaurant, Oak L eaf ounge and Fo rest Pa rk Fo reign Car Repair once sat.
were obviously interested in the whole block,” the park district’s executive director Jackie Iovinelli told the Review in about the length of Harrison Street, from Thomas Avenue to Hannah Avenue.
Although Moskos wasn’t quite ready to sell then, he said he’s now ready to step back from H&R Auto.
When the park district bought the land next to H&R Auto, its intention was to construct a new building there. But after the park district demolished the existing buildings, officials planted grass so the space look like a construction site while they waited for funding to start construction. They decided to leave the lot green. s soon as we started putting in the we were like, ‘This is beautiful.’ We’ve had nothing but positive feedback from residents,” Iovinelli said. “The number-one request in the community has always been ‘open space.’”
Preserving this area was also one of the reasons the park district decided to expand the Roos Recreation Center, rather than building a facility on top of the open space. But even with a Roos expansion, the park district requires more room for its day camp, which entertains kids after school and in the summer.
“We need indoor space, that’s the ultimate goal,” Iovinelli said, adding that the park district intends to keep the existing green space as-is.
Iovinelli said she’s not sure if the H&R Auto property will serve as more green space or if the park district will construct a new building there.
“The board continues to focus on fiscally responsible ways for additional indoor space while continuing to provide open space for recreation, health and wellness,” Iovinelli said earlier this month.
Moskos said that he can envision his property becoming an extension of the park district’s open space next door.
“Everyone loves green space,” he said. “You’ve got more dogs walking down there than people can imagine.”
Whatever comes next, the park district is patiently waiting for Moskos to say goodbye to H&R Auto, its customers and the peers he works with every day.
“We’ re not in any hurry,” Iovinelli said. “We want to be a good neighbor.”
JESSICA MOR DACQ
e green space that the Park District of Forest Park owns next door to H&R Auto.
JESSICA MOR DACQ
CRIME Property owner’s son accused of barricading building’s doors
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
On Jan. 7, a resident at a Dunlop Avenue building called police to report the property owner’s son. The man told police that the son randomly barricades the front and back door of the building, keeping residents from getting out. He said the man also keeps a dog in the laundry room. According to the police report, the Dunlop building is on the village’s nuisance property list, and the building department has been contacted about possible unsafe living conditions there. No one has been charged.
In-state warrant
Criminal trespassing
On Jan. 10, police arrived in the 300 block of Circle Avenue to help the Cook County Sheriff’s Office with an eviction. When police arrived, deputies were informing a woman on the property that because she’d been evicted, she was trespassing. Officers for med a line to block the woman from the property, and she repeatedly tried to push past them, according to the police report. Then, the landlord told officers he would sign complaints against the woman for criminal trespassing. Police said that after the woman pulled away from handcuffs, they took her into custody. She was charged with trespassing and resisting an officer
Missing person
■ On Jan. 5, police responded to the 7300 block of Madison Street after a man called and said his mother was in danger there. When police responded to the address, the building and surrounding area appeared empty, until the man pulled up in his car. Police ran his name in their system and found he had a serviceable warrant out of Cook County. The man was talking to his mother on the phone, and when he handed it over to police, his mother told them she was home and OK. Police arrested the man on his warrant.
■ Police responded to Dunkin’ Donuts Jan. 11 to remove a person from the premises. Police said they recognized the offender, who was walking away from the store, from prior interactions. On checking his name in their system, they discovered he had a serviceable warrant out of Cook County for retail theft, according to the police report. Police said they found the suspect on Harlem and Lake, where they gave him several orders to stop as he fled. He was arrested on two cases of resisting an officer, possession of drug equipment and a controlled substance, and an instate warrant.
Fire
On Jan. 7, police responded to Washington Street for a fire inside an apartment. They located the source and evacuated the tenant. She told police that she extinguished a burning incense stick before putting it in a fake plant and falling asleep, according to the police report Fifteen minutes later, she woke up, was unable to put out the fire and called 911.
A man came into the police department Jan. 10 to report his daughter missing after no one had heard from her in 12 days. He said he and his daughter’s stepmother last saw her at Lake and Harlem in River Forest, where they gave her food and winter clothing. His daughter is an unhoused person, according to the police report
Disorderly conduct
Police were dispatched to the CTA Blue Line stop in Forest Park on Jan. 13 for a fight on the south side of the mezzanine area between three subjects. An officer stopped a fleeing subject, who said he was jumped and slammed on his head. He had injuries on his face and head, according to the police report, and was taken to Rush Oak Park Hospital. A bus driver told police the man threw an axe behind a gate before fleeing. Bystanders told police it was a one-on-one fight and that they saw no weapons. The other two suspects left the area before police could talk to them. About two hours later, police were called again to the scene, where all three suspects were in a verbal argument. No one was arrested These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Jan. 5 - 13 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
Wright Plus 2025: Annual housewalk returns to South Oak Park
By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter
Oak Park’s famous housewalk, Wright Plus, returns Saturday, May 17. The walk, which showcases homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries, is returning to south Oak Park for the first time since 1997.
“We’ re very excited to showcase these homes that a lot of our typical guests haven’t had the chance to see,” said Christine Trevino, digital communications manager with the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.
Trevino also said that the entrance to the Unity Temple will be included as part of the walk.
“This is a great way for guests to start their day before heading out to see the houses,” she said.
Unity Temple hours will be limited to Saturday mor ning
This year’s walk includes three homes designed by Wright. The Harry and Louisa Goodrich House was designed in 1896. Wright remodeled the house in 1908. The current owners have completed a painstaking restoration of the home, which gar nered them a village Historic Preservation Award in 2015.
The William E. and Winifred Martin House was designed by Wright in 1903 for the president of the Martin
and Martin Stove Polish Company. Wright later designed a home for William’s brother Darwin Martin and the headquarters for his new company, the Larkin Company, in Buffalo, NY.
Appearing for the first time on Wright Plus is the George and Lucy Smith II House, designed by W 1898. The Shingle-style home , which Wednesday featured in August (https://ow.ly/iV8x50UCfaw) has cently been restored
Trevino said she thinks there will be a lot of interest in the Shingle style house.
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a Wright home that’s never been on the walk before,” she said. “There’s huge interest in seeing the house, and the owners have an incredible job with it.”
Also new to Wright Plus is the Samford S. and Grace Vaughn House. It is next door to the George Smith II house and was designed by E. E. Roberts in 1898.
Trevino said that the Vaughn house also was renovated.
“It’s very interesting to have two homes with recent rations right next to each other. It’s really fun to see the pair and see what it’s like to renovate historic homes like these
See WRIGHT PLUS PREVIEW on pa ge 8
FRANK LLOY D WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD
William E. and Winifred Martin House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1903)
Harr y C. and Louisa Goodrich House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1896)
FRANK LLOY D WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD
George W. and Lucy Smith I House (1894)
WRIGHT PLUS PREVIE W
Hot
tickets from page 7
Two other homes are also new to Wright Plus. The E.E. and Ina Andrews House was designed by Charles E. White Jr. in 1905 in a style influenced by the Prairie style.
The John and Anna Shapcott/ John and Margaret Coumbe House was designed by E.E. Roberts in 1905, and legend has it that John and Anna Shapcott gifted the home to their daughter Margaret when she married John Coumbe.
The walk is rounded out with two more homes: the Vernon W. and Mary Skif f House designed by Nimmons & Fellows in 1909 and the George W. and Lucy Smith I House, built in 1894.
Trevino pointed out that the George Smith I House was
Wright Plus, there are many new methods available for researchers and their sources, like the Oak Park and rest History Museum.
“There’s always something new to discover about these homes,” she said, adding that Wright Plus researchers always ask the homeowners if there is something particular that they’d like to know about their home’s history.
Every year, guests travel from other states and other countries to attend Wright Plus, and Trevino said that a lot of visitors are local, too. For locals who might have glimpsed renovations and restorations while driving or local homes, Wright Plus can be the perfect time to see inside an architecturally-significant home.
“Were you curious about what was going on inside? Now’s the time.” she said.
Ticket and packages
Tickets for Wright Plus are available now at: https:// flwright.org/wright-plus.
General tickets are $130 or $95 for trust members. A limited number of Fast Pass tickets are available for $600 or $565 for Trust members. Fast pass ticket holders are given priority access to houses the day of the walk. For those looking for a fuller experience, there are two packages available. Ultimate Saturday tickets for $1,375 or $1,225 for trust members let ticket holders enjoy an entire day. Ultimate Saturday ticketholders receive fast-pass entry to the homes on the walk, a lunch at the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park and a dinner in an architecturally-significant home catered by an acclaimed chef Ultimate Plus Weekend packages are available for $2,675 or $2,525 for trust members. These packages include all of the perks of the Ultimate Saturday tickets, a Friday excursion to tour the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed F.B. Henderson House in Elmhurst and the Walter Burley Griffin-designed William H. Emery House, as well as a private tour of the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. The package also includes hotel accommodations and breakfast on Sunday following the walk.
Want to get involved?
The Trust relies on hundreds of volunteers to make the Wright Plus weekend run smoothly. If you’d like to get involved, Trevino said that there are many volunteer opportunities. A survey gauging interest will be sent out in March, and those who are interested can sign up at the Wright Plus volunteer page: https://flwright.org/support/volunteer-opportunities
George W. and Lucy Smith II House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1898)
E.E. and Ina Andrews House (Charles E. White Jr., 1905)
OPINION
OUR VIEW
Hard to argue with green space
In what has been a well-orchestrated and respectful process, the Park District of Forest Park now owns the entirety of the block of Harrison Street, from Thomas to Hannah avenues. At the end of 2024, the parks closed on the purchase of a segment of the block where H&R Auto has long operated.
From the time the parks bought the old Pines Restaurant/Oak Leaf Lounge property, it has been clear the goal was to purchase the full block. The district was patient in waiting for Larry Moskos, owner of H&R, to be ready to sell. The property went under contract last May, closed in December and H&R will wind down its business likely by this June
The park’s plan for the block had been to build a new structure there to house its growing indoor programs. Originally, that plan included a partnership with the West Suburban Special Recreation Association, which is also looking for new space. But the park district had yet to raise the money needed for construction of a new building, so it took the interim step of planting grass and placing some benches on the site
Lo and behold, many people really liked the new open, green space. The parks say they are open to keeping it green for now.
The need for indoor program space remains, however, and the park district, board and administration, need to craft a thoughtful plan that accomplishes that goal. Seemingly off the table for now is the use of the Grant-White School building on Randolph, which had seemed like a viable alternative.
The unhoused’s future
As we are now less than a week from a second Trump administration, the arrival of the annual Point-in-Time-Count of unsheltered individuals in suburban Cook County is especially relevant. Federal support of housing initiatives for the unhoused has been strong during the Biden administration. There have also been considerable federal funds available through COVID relief efforts. Locally, the last of that money is about to be spent.
Housing support is one of those critical intersections where federal support and local solutions meet. If federal support withers under a Trump administration, the ability to bring innovative and lasting solutions to those in need will suffer greatly.
In our area, the leading provider of housing solutions across the continuum, from an over night shelter to varieties of lasting support, is Housing Forward. Lynda Schueler, executive director, believes the increase in the unhoused in our communities is greater than the over night count from last January captured in the wider Cook area. She pegs an increase of 18%, year over year, for Housing Forward’s service area, higher than the 12.5% increase reflected in the full suburban Cook region. That 18% would align with the reported increase in the unhoused nationally.
We are fortunate to have an organization as resourceful as Housing Forward doing this work for our communities, and the effort benefits from community leaders who actively support their work. Challenging days ahead
Reality bites
To my mind, most people are surprisingly confident their experience of existence is the one true way, and it’s important to them that you ag ree. Mostly I don’t get along great with either of those attitudes, so I’m not here to pick fights about the nature of reality today. I don’t believe there’s much reason to try and deduce the realness of one’s chosen reality anyway, when you could be spending time enjoying it instead. But I have to update something, so first please allow me to remind you where I’m coming from.
you would even get many thoughtful nods.
None of this is real.
It’s eerily plausible, isn’t it? After Trump was elected and the Cubs won the World Series, I declared that it was no longer reasonable to ignore the possibility that we are characters in an entertainment product.
Imagine a crisp autumn day on Madison Street. Sunny but cool, light-jacket weather. People are strolling. Not lounging outside with coffee or cake — it’s too cold for that — but ambling along agreeably, maybe a few errands on foot, maybe walking the dog. If you were to go up to one of those people on the street, someone you did not know and who did not know you, and you were to say to them this:
“This isn’t real. None of it. Think about it. You can tell, can’t you? None of this is real” In that moment, here in 2025, no rational person could fairly dismiss you out of hand as a crackpot. How amazing is that? You could walk around with a sandwich board that says “THE END IS NIGH,” like a cartoon crazy, and people passing by would have to consider what you were suggesting. I posit
CO RRECTI ON ALAN BROUILETTE
I need to update that view. I was thinking today that the evening news, in my head, be gins today with Tom Brokaw saying something like, “January 13, 2025: Los Angeles is on fire.” I thought of that and I realized that not only are we living in a simulation, but I can tell you what kind of simulation we live in:
We are the dystopian future in a 1980s movie.
Think about the ’80s aesthetic. Think about a movie for those folks, set in the future. Think about the headlines you’d see in the background to set the tone:
“No End in Sight for Los Angeles Wildfires”
“County Budget Still Reeling, Post-Pandemic”
“More States Leg alize Pot, Sports Betting”
“Op-Ed: Can The President Pardon Himself?”
“Detroit Lions Favored in Super Bowl 59” We’re an entertainment product. I’m right. You see why I’m gonna need more than one reality
Correction: An article titled, “Forest Park’s Susan Rohde tells grand-slam stories,” which appeared in print Jan. 8 ga ve the incorrect date for the next Tellers Night because of incorrect information supplied to the Re view. The January Tellers Night took place Jan. 14, and the next one will be held Feb. 11. We apologize for the erro r.
Forest Park Review, Januar y 15, 2025
Editor Erika Hobbs
Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq
Digital Manager Stacy Coleman
Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan
Assistant Editor, Ar ts & Enter tainment Dalal Or fali
Contributing Editor Donna Greene
Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Li a
Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe
Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls
Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Publisher Dan Haley
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
Board of Directors
Chair Eric Weinheimer
Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon Audra Wilson
HOW TO REACH US
ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066
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: $38 per year. $70 for two years, $93 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $58 per year.
When I was growing up, I liked nothing more than playing board games
My favorite was Risk: The Game of Global Domination. What kid doesn’t want to conquer the world? It was a great feeling to vanquish your opponents and emerge as “king of the world.” The problem comes when U.S. foreign policy be gins to resemble Risk.
In the board game, you must conquer a country every tur n, with the goal of controlling an entire continent. After you conquer a continent, your opponents will do their best to break it up. The easiest continent to conquer and hold is Australia. It’s my favorite stronghold because it is easy to defend South America is also easy to defend. North America and Europe are more problematic and Asia is almost impossible to hold. Players are constantly at war over the countries that are keys to a continent.
For example, Greenland is considered part of North America, even though it’s owned by a European country. It is very common for Greenland to attack its neighbor, Iceland, to gain access to Europe. There is constant
Risky business
onflict between these two territories.
The same is true at the other end of North America, where Kamchatka is next door to Alaska. This kind of proximity leads to onflict. Some of the real-world trouble spots are also battlegrounds in Risk. For example, Middle East, with its strategic adjacency to Africa is always changing hands. Ukraine is another trouble spot. It comprises the western border of Europe and is prone to being attacked. Central America, which includes Panama, is the gateway to North America and is ripe for invasion. There are also areas of conflict that bear no resemblance to the real world. Brazil and North Africa are constantly at war Risk does not allow players to conquer bodies of water. So we can’t own a piece of the ocean or claim various seas. That is why it seems unreal that we’re talking about renaming bodies of water. Even Risk is not that ruthless.
Not that I take any of the outlandish proposals seriously. Greenland may only have a population of 55,000 but Denmark is not going to abandon it to North America. There is also no way Panama will give back the canal
A LOOK BACK IN TIME
Local oor hockey fame
In February 1975, the Park District of Forest Park celebrated the end of the indoor floor hockey league. Championship teams and leaders were featured in the Review, including this photo of the second-place team, sponsored by the Forest Park Economist. Front row: (left to right) Paul Raush, Ron Riske, Brian Cote, Mike Steele. Back row: Coach Dave Novak, Charles Valentino, Ken Green, Pat Cimaglia, Daryl Dozier and Coach Mark Conway. Jill Wagner
we dug through their country.
To avoid this nonsense, I have joined many Americans in completely tuning out politics I first did this in 2016, when it turned out the political experts didn’t know what they were talking about. I immediately switched from political radio to classical music and haven’t switched back.
Now I’ve taken it a step further and no longer read the news on my phone. I also avoid the TV news. My only news sources are the Sun-Times and the Forest Park Review. This head-in-the-sand approach has brought me serenity.
It has also given me more time for healthy activities, like reading, listening to music and working out at the health club. I try to avoid discussing politics but my kids are still tuned in to the news We don’t agree on much but we can joke about our opposing viewpoints We’re not going to allow politics to divide our family
I don’t know how many of you are also living in blissful ignorance. For me, it’s necessary for keeping my sanity. I don’t usually even write about our national politics, but when our foreign policy resembles a game of Risk, I feel compelled to speak out.
I will continue to ignore politics until there is an international crisis that can’t be ignored. “We interrupt our broadcast: North Africa has just declared war on Brazil!”
STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss
Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.
In re the Marriage of: Vivian Monroe Moore, Petitioner and Harold Lewis Moore, Respondent, Case No. 2024D008815
The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Harold Lewis Moore, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Vivian Monroe Moore, for Dissolution of Marriage and that said suit is now pending.
Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before February 12, 2025, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.
MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, Clerk
of the Circuit Court, Cook County, Illinois
Published in Wednesday Journal January 15, 22, and 29, 2025
Public Notice
Oak Park Housing Authority Request for Proposals: NSPIRE Inspections and Rent Reasonableness Determinations
The Housing Authority of the Village of Oak Park (OPHA) is requesting qualified, licensed, and insured entities to submit proposals for conducting National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE) Inspections and Rent Reasonableness Determinations for its Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Interested parties may download the RFP document at https://oakparkha.org/about-opha/rfps-rfqs/ beginning Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
The terms of this notice are subject to the terms set forth in the RFP Hardcopy proposals must be received at 21 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302 no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, March 14, 2025. Electronic submissions will not be accepted.
Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to LaTaunda Cobb at (708) 386-9322 Ext. 135 or via email at lcobb@oakparkrc. com no later than 5:00 PM on Friday, March 7, 2025.
The OPHA reserves the right to postpone, cancel, or reject any or all proposals, waive any informality, and terminate the RFP process if deemed in the best interests of OPHA.
Published in Wednesday Journal January 15, 2025
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Villages of River Forest and Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for: 2025 Permeable Paver Maintenance
This project consists of 24,250 SF of permeable paver restorative maintenance and 5 sy of permeable paver removal and replacement to restore the stormwater conveyance and filtering capability of the pavement cross-section.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Thursday, January 16, 2025 at: www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals, without the consent of the ruling body from each participating Village, for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
The Village reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in Wednesday Journal January 15, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CHANGE OF REGULAR MEETING DATES
VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK SAFETY AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that beginning on FEBRUARY 19, 2025, the regular meeting of the Safety and Traffic Commission of the Village of Forest Park will be the Third Wednesday of each month.
January 7, 2025
Vanessa Belmonte
Village Clerk
Village of Forest Park Cook County, Illinois
Published in Forest Park Review January 15, 2025
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Plaintiff vs. Janice D. Wordlaw; The United States of America Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Defendant 19 CH 8575 CALENDAR 61 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 February 18, 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: Lot 2, in N.D. Construction Company’s resubdivision of Lot 24 to 31 Both inclusive in Block 8 in Hulbert’s St. Charles Road Subdivision, Being a subdivision in the Northeast 1/4 of Section 8, Township 39 North, Range 12, East of the Third Principal Meridian According to the plat of said resubdivision recorded April 18, 1952 as Document 15321587 in Cook County, Illinois. P.I.N. 15-08-224-037-0000. Commonly known as 228 Granville Ave., Bellwood, IL 60104. 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, Manley Deas Kochalski LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Suite 1250, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 19025146
Candlelight Concer t Series to Illuminate Oak Park with a mesmerizing Coldplay tribute, fusing classical masterpieces and iconic pop hits
returns to Oak Park with Coldplay Tribute
By: Hector Cervantes Contributing Reporter
Fever’s enchanting Candlelight Concert series returns to the Arts Center of Oak Park from Jan. 11 to Feb. 26, featuring a Coldplay tribute performed by the Metropolis String Quartet.
The tentative program for the Coldplay tribute includes hits like “Clocks,” “Fix You,” “Paradise,” and “Yellow,” along with “Something Just Like This,” “My Universe,” and more.
Candlelight is a series of live concerts produced by Fever since 2019 to democratize the access to classical music. This innovative format offers a unique musical experience through a diverse selection of programs, catering to all tastes.
Performed by talented local musicians in iconic venues illuminated by thousands of candles, Candlelight creates an immersive and intimate atmosphere. The Candlelight brand is present in over 150 cities worldwide and has delighted millions of guests since its launch.
“Candlelight draws in a broad audience, including those who may have never considered attending a classical music concert. Audiences can connect with the masterpieces of composers like Vivaldi, Mozart and Chopin, while also enjoying fresh interpretations of popular hits from artists like Queen, ABBA, Coldplay, and Ed Sheeran,” Fever spokesperson Amanda Boucault said.
not only a testament to Chicago’s rich artistic heritage but also offers an intimate and visually stunning setting that enhances the audience’s connection to the music,” Boucault said.
Boucalt explains that a crucial aspect of Candlelight’s charm lies in venue selection, which plays a central role in creating the intimate and enchanting atmosphere that defines the experience.
“When selecting venues for Candlelight, we consider several factors: the venue’s historical significance and what it represents for the city, its accessibility to ensure convenience for attendees, and technical aspects such as the acoustics and lighting quality. The venues are deliberately chosen to transcend traditional performance spaces, providing extraordinary settings that enhance the appeal of classical music,” Boucault said.
When engaging with the community to promote these events, Fever believes engaging with the community is a cornerstone of Candlelight’s success.
“Our approach is centered on adapting the global concept to resonate with local audiences. In each city, including Chicago, we work to understand local tastes by leveraging data analysis and community feedback. This insight helps us design events that pay tribute to locally acclaimed musicians, fostering a deeper connection with the audience,” Boucalt said.
Thousands of candles illuminate the space, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere that enhances the listening experience. This visually stunning setup has captivated and amazed millions of people worldwide, proving that the uniqueness of Candlelight lies in the ambiance it creates When asked why was the Arts Center of Oak Park chosen as the venue for this specific concert, Boucault responded with because it exemplifies the perfect blend of cultural significance and architectural beauty that Candlelight seeks to highlight with its performances.
“This magnificent Neoclassical gem is
In order to balance Coldplay’s older and newer works to create a cohesive experience, Fever’s curation team regularly reviews feedback from attendees, local musicians and data analytics to update setlists, aligning with audience preferences and incorporating the latest artist releases
“Staying attuned to both audience expectations and the evolution of the artists’ music, we create dynamic and relevant programs that resonate across generations and keep each performance fresh and memorable,” Boucault said.
For more information and to purchase tickets click here.
Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau
Star t the year with humor and romance from the comfor t of your own home.
By Dalal Or fali Vibe Assistant Editor
Illinois Libraries Present is bringing Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau to the Forest Park Public Library this January. The show will be streamed online, with Michelle Buteau delivering her signature relationship humor—perfectly timed as the new year begins and Valentine’s Day proaches.
statewide collaboration of 213 braries, coordinates bringing nationally acclaimed speakers, authors, journalists, chef novelists, and pe for audiences. These ev for nities, make highprofile cultural and educational experiences accessible.
communities may not otherwise have an opportunity to hear them speak.”
“This is the first time Forest Park is hosting Michelle Buteau, and it’s also a first for Illinois Libraries Present,” Lavin noted.
bring in fabulous, really outstanding speakers who are beyond the ken of what any individual library could do because of speaker fees and the desirability of the speakers. So, together, we have more power,” said Skye Lavin, manager of adult services at Forest Park Public Library. Lavin explained that participating libraries sign up for a season or annual subscription to ILP’s programming.
“It’s Forest Park Public Library’s fourth season with ILP, a collaboration that has been going on for four years,” Lavin added. “They are brilliant and really popular folks that have nationwide prestige, and our patrons, our
Buteau is an actress, producer, and the creator, writer, and star of Survival of the Thickest, a Netflix series inspired by her autobio graphical book of essays with the same title. The New Jersey-born comedian, whose parare of Caribbean descent, won the Critics’ Choice Best Comedy Special Welcome to BuAccording to the on the Public Michelle Buteau will Greta Johnsen, an interr and podcast for her 11-year tenure Nerdette podcast. Johnsen is also a contributor to podcasts such as Pop Culture Happy Hour and City Cast.
Keep an eye on ILP and Forest Park Public Library’s calendars for more events like this.
When you re gister for Love and Laughs with Michelle Buteau, you’ll receive a Zoom link to attend the show. If you’ re re gistered but unable to attend live, you’ll gain access to a recording of the event, available for 30 days, offering added flexibility. This event takes place Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. You can re gister at Forest Park Public Library’s Event Calendar or directly at bit.ly/ILP_MichelleButeau.
Michelle Butea u Provided
Dry January Done Right:
By DALAL ORFALI Vibe assistant editor
Dry January is a challenge to kick off the new year away from alcohol. The behaviorchanging trend has been around since 2012, and depending on how much you used to drink before, studies have shown improvement in overall health within these first four weeks of the year if you join the challenge.
Interested in joining but still want to hold a cool drink in your hand? Here is a collection of spots serving special hand-crafted mocktails.
BERWYN
Autre Monde Café
Their mocktail menu won’t let you miss out on the fun. Try Virgin Blood Orange Gimlet, N/A Gin and Tonic, and N/A Spritz.
■ 6727 W Roosevelt Rd., 708-775-8122
■ Visit www.autremondecafe.net
Fitzgerald’s
The old standby offers three spirit-free cocktails on its menu that include intriguing ingredients such as gochujang shrub and turmeric.
■ 6615 Roosevelt Rd., 708-788-2118
■ Visit www.fitzgeraldsnightclub.com
BROADVIE W
The View Restaurant
There is something for everyone in this restaurant. Take It Easy and Bad Sisters are among their mocktail collection.
■ 1701 Roosevelt Rd., 708-540-8439
■ Visit theview1701.com
FOREST PARK
Shanahan’s
Shanahan’s has the most impressi of non-alcoholic beverages that fits all tastes including N/A wine, beer and mocktails, so make sure you try the Hurricane and Hot Toddy once you’re in.
■ 7353 Madison St., 708-366-0775
■ Visit shanahans.net
Rober t’s West Side
The live music venue and neighborhood bar is offering a spicy N/A mar Travels, a drink made of lemon juic
beer, hibiscus and grenadine juice. It also offers hot cocoa.
■ 7321 Madison St., 708-689-0486
■ Visit robertswestside.com
GARFIELD PARK , CHIC AG O
Gar eld Park Conser vator y O.k. we concede that you can’t drink here. But if you need something fun to do, the
LAGRANGE
Kama Bistro
Enjoy a traditional Mango Lassi, or go wild with the Golden Elixir made of fresh ginger and turmeric root and sweetened with agave and a hint of mint and lemon.
■ 9 LaGrange Rd., 708-352-3300
■ Visit www.kamabistro.com
K PARK
estaurant offers delicious mocktail creations with a Latin flair that our Dry January exciting. Ave., 708-358-9800 adelsol.com
rs in Oak Park are no strangers to this bright spot on Lake Street. Coueat selection of hand-craft-
Park Ave., 708-894-2253 sit www.ordercourageous.com
