Some Forest Park water bills were never delivered
While the village investigates what went wrong, due date has been pushed back to Feb. 26
By JESSIC A MORDAC Q Staff Reporter
The Village of Forest Park sends out water bills to residents by printing the bills at Village Hall, then sending them to a mailing service that folds the bills and stuffs envelopes before delivering them to the post office.
But on Feb. 18, the village sent out an email that said many residents hadn’t received their latest water bills, which the village sent to the mailing service Jan. 30. Because of this, the billing due date has been extended from Feb. 21 to Feb. 26.
According to Village Administrator Rachell Entler, the mailing service took the water bills across their usual route – to the Fox Valley United States Postal Service location, which were then delivered to the Forest Park Post Office. But the village has recently rece ived a higher volume of calls than normal from residents saying they hadn’t gotten their bills mailed yet.
“The village has no way of knowing how many people have not received their water bills by mail,” Entler said.
See WATER BILLS on pa ge 4
Humongous U-Haul
Just what is that building going up at the corner of Harlem and Harrison in Forest Park? Right now, it is just a steel frame, captured against a winter sky by our photo grapher Todd Bannor.
By the time it is complete, likely this summer, the six-story, over 126,000-square-foot building will be the tallest in Forest Park. And what grand purpose will it serve? It will be a U-Haul personal storage facility
Mordacq
TODD BANNOR
Jessica
CATHOLIC COMMUNITIES OF OAK PARK AND NEIGHBORS
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St. Giles Parish
LEAN IN TO LENT 2025
The season of Lent begins this week - a time when, in the midst of the chaos of the world, we are called to stop and listen: to each other and to God. Rather than being driven from one crisis to the next, we are called to “Lean in” to Lent: to re-engage, re-connect, and embrace the foundations of our relationship with God.
ASH WEDNESDAY—WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5
Ascension and St. Edmund Parish
8:30 AM Parish Mass Ascension
10:00 AM Ascension School Mass Ascension
12:00 PM Word Service with Ashes St. Edmund
4:00 PM Word Service with Ashes Ascension
7:00 PM Parish Mass St. Edmund
St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy and St.Giles Parish
6:30 AM Mass St. Giles
8:30 AM Mass St. Giles
8:30 AM Mass
4:30 PM Prayer Service with Ashes St. Giles
5:30 PM Prayer Service with Ashes St. Catherine - St. Lucy
6:00—6:30 PM Ashes at North Portico St. Catherine - St. Lucy Circle Drive
7:00 PM Mass St. Giles
7:30 PM Family Mass Community Word service with Ashes 6:15 Soup supper begins St. Giles campus, McDonough Hall
LENTEN EVENINGS OF REFLECTION AND PRAYER
McDonough Hall, St. Giles Campus
Monday, March 10 7:00 PM Lean in to Listening: Dr. John Igwebuike
Tuesday, March 18 7:00 PM Lean in to Love: Maryanne Colter
Wednesday, March 26 5:30 PM Lean in to Discipleship: Fr. Bob. Hutmacher, ofm Soup Supper followed by discussion
Thursday, April 3 7:00 PM Lean in to Life: Kevin Cassidy
Friday, April 11 7:00 PM Lean in to the Cross: Stations of the Cross through the Eyes of Mary
ADDITIONAL LENTEN OFFERINGS
“Lean in” to some of the practices and events that will create space for you to connect with others, and with God: Stations of the Cross at a different church each week; reconciliation services; meditation; faith sharing; and other prayer and reflection groups, including Adoration.
For all the Lenten offerings and resources throughout the Catholic Communities of Oak Park, visit our website at tinyurl.com/OPLent25 or scan the QR code to the right.
Sammiejo Oswalt sets sights on park district board
She’s a registered nurse who announces the No Glove Nationals tournament and keeps the game stats every year
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
With municipal elections in April, in the coming weeks, the Review will profile candidates running for the Park District of Forest Park’s Board of Commissioners. The Review’s last issue focused on Tim Gillian, but this week’s is all about Oswalt. Next week, stay tuned for Maria “Betty” Alzamora’s profile.
Though Sammiejo Oswalt has considered running for the Park District of Forest Park Board of Commissioners for more than half her life, this is her first time throwing her hat in the ring.
Oswalt is a fourth-generation Forest Park resident. Her great grandfather owned a store on Roosevelt Road during the Great Depression. Her grandfather had a brick company on Circle Avenue, and her dad worked for the Forest Park Police department for 30 years, serving as chief for some of them.
Volunteer at Unity Temple!
was shift supervisor from ages 19 to 22.
And every year since 2006, Oswalt has worked the No Glove Nationals softball tournament, where she’s an announcer and keeps statistics.
Today, Oswalt is a nurse at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago – a position she’s learned a lot from that will help her on the park board, if she’s elected her first time running.
“The more chaotic things get, the more relaxed I am,” Oswalt said, adding that there’s nothing to do during turbulent times other than put your head down and persevere. “Being in nursing, you really have to be diplomatic in dealing with many delicate situations. And a lot of the time, you’ re dealing with people going through the most awful time of their life.”
“As a family, we all still love to be a part of the community and be involved,” Oswalt said.
Oswalt, 33, has had previous jobs at the Howard Mohr Community Center, and, as a teenager, at the park district.
“To be on this board, I’ ve wanted it since I was 15,” Oswalt said. Though she started attending or virtually watching park district board meetings last year, Oswalt was 15 when she started working summers at the park district’s concession stand and
Before she went to nursing school and after graduating from Triton Colle ge, Oswalt cared for her family at a time when her father was waiting for a liver transplant, her mom had a heart attack, and her andmother, who lived with them, was on hospice.
Oswalt then worked for MedEx, an ambulance company that transports patients to appointments, not in emergency situations.
In her medical experience and career, Oswalt has learned how to be empathetic, patient and have challenging conversations.
“When you disag ree with someone, it doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or a fight or an argument,” she said. “You can have a conversation about opposite opinions and not have it be a challenge,” Oswalt said.
“I’ve developed a mindset of no one person is one thing,” she added. “I love the diversity that everyone and everything can bring.”
If elected, Oswalt herself would bring more diversity to the park district board as someone who’s decades younger than most of the board.
Share your passion for architecture and lead tours for guests from around the world. Join us for training sessions and soon become a Unity Temple Volunteer Interpreter.
CLASS DATES:
Tuesday, March 11 – 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Tuesday, March 18 – 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM Unity Temple, 875 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL
Are you interested but unable to attend? Email volunteer@flwright.org with questions or concerns.
SAMMIE JO OSWALT
WATER BILLS
Undelivered
from page 1
A Fe b. 19 email from the village sai d it ’s still investi gating how the water bills we re d elaye d for more p eople than usual.
“Due to the number of c ustomer s affected by this i ssue, the village has extended the water bill d ue date to We d nesd ay, Fe b r uary 26th,” the emai l said. “We hope this will allow customers to pay their water bills on time
without incurring any late fees.”
To reduce the number of those who might be affected by something like this in the future, the village encourages residents to receive their water bills through email or sign up for paperless billing.
To pay their bill, residents can stop by Village Hall Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. or access the Springbrook Civic Pay portal to see water usage and payment history.
Those who aren’t sure how much they owe for their most-recent bill can check their balance online or call 708366-2323.
CO RRECTI ON
A story published in the Feb. 19 edition of the Review gave the wrong number of ordinances passed to implement the village’s new water meters. There were two ordinances passed. The ordinance that would allow Sensus USA to provide software to read the water meters and radio wave spectrum access was tabled because the village is waiting for a certificate that they requested from Sensus and will vote on the ordinance in a future meeting. We apologize for the error.
Enzo the dog (of our dreams)
Enzo, a beloved Italian Greyhound of 1114 Beloit Ave, passed away unexpectedly on the morning of Feb. 8, 2025. He was at home, surrounded by love
For seven years, Enzo brought joy, warmth, and laughter to everyone who knew him. He had an affectionate nature and a gentle spirit that made him impossible to forget. Whether basking in the sun, racing across open spaces, or curling up for a quiet moment, he lived each day with happiness and curiosity
Enzo never met a person he didn’t love His playful energy and unwavering sweetness made him a favorite among family, friends, and anyone lucky enough to cross his path. He was a constant source of comfort and companionship, always ready to share his love.
Though his time was too short, Enzo lived a life filled with care and devotion. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him, but his memory will always remain.
Forest Park Middle School Girls Basketball team wins conference championship
Panthers defeat Riverside’s Hauser to go 12-0 for the season
The Forest Park Middle School Varsity Girls Basketball is now Salt Creek Conference champion, their first championship since 2003.
In the final game of the season, the 12team defeated its second-place ri of Riverside, by a score of 28-18 victor
In a press release, School Principal yaka Watson praised the team’s exceptional performance and character, saying: “Our Panther scholars are champions on and of the court! Our girls basketball team hard, learned from and supported each other met academic expectations, as onstrated incredible teamwork and try. They exemplified ROAR: R ership, Achievement, and Readiness. Proud Panther Principal!”
According to the district press the championship game showcased thers’ resilience and teamwork and down like this:
Leading the charge on offense, Brooke liams put up 14 points. Haydin Dunigan ed 8 points, while Layla Ortiz made a crucia impact with 6 points, sinking timely threepointers to halt Hauser’s momentum. On the
defensive end, Ailey with a standout perfor bounds and recording 12 bloc
The victory was a true team ef Juliet Harrington, Williams making contributing with lective effort of the team exemplified thei commitment and the season.
“Coach Heath Mills, with the suppo
Follow us on Instagram!
Top stories, local government, features, events, dining, art, and sports right at your fingertips!
PROVIDED
UNDEFEATED: Brooke Williams, Isyss Williams, Layla Ortiz, Rowan Marello, Khloe Rodriguez, Wendria Fuller, Haydin Dunigan, Ailey Jones, Juliet Harrington, Henitah Wells
CRIME Woman shatters door with hammer
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Police responded to Walmart on Roosevelt Road on Feb. 17 just before 2 a.m. after an overnight employee called to report that a woman had shattered a glass door with a hammer before fleeing toward Roosevelt Road. Police made contact with the woman at the nearby 7-Eleven parking lot. She gave them a fake name and birthday, but after fingerprinting her, police found the woman had a warrant for her arrest out of Cook County. The woman told police that after she was evicted from her New York apartment in December, she came to the Chicagoland area and is homeless. The woman was charged with criminal damage to property, burglary, possession of burglary tools, obstructing identification, and her in-state war rant.
Aggravated DUI
Police were called to Pioneer Tap on Randolph on Feb. 16 for a disturbance. Upon arrival, Pioneer Tap’s security guard described a woman who was highly intoxicated and, when he attempted to escort her out, shattered the business’ front door. He said she then fled north on Des Plaines Avenue, according to the police report. When police found the woman and told her to stop where she was, she disre garded their requests and got into her car. Officers used their cars to block her path, then detained her. Police found two bottles of tequila in the woman’s car and discovered she has a revoked driver’s license. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, criminal damage to property, attempting to elude a police officer, having a suspended driver’s license, illegal transportation of alcohol, driving an uninsured car, and an aggravated DUI
box
of dog food was opened. She said she’d sign complaints if the offender was located.
Aggravated battery
On Feb. 15, police responded to the Forest Park Aldi on Harlem Avenue after the store manager reported a man who took several items without paying. Police found a suspect matching the description walking on Harlem Avenue. When police told him to drop the stolen items, totaling about $11, the man slapped an officer. The police performed an emergency takedown, according to the police report, while the man spit at officers and repeatedly attempted to resist ar rest. Police reported that, based on past encounters, the man has a history of severe mental illness and erratic behavior. They contacted a mental health crisis hotline, and social workers who spoke with the man determined he should be involuntarily committed, so he was taken to MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn for further evaluation. The man was charged with aggravated battery of a police officer and retail theft.
Criminal trespass to vehicle
Police arrived at a Hannah Avenue residence Feb. 15 after a woman said she forgot to lock her vehicle and woke up in the morning to a Ring notification on her phone. The Ring video shows a man jumping her fence, opening the passenger door of her car and
These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Feb. 14 through Feb. 17 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
L’Arche brunch to raise money for international locations
e organization provides housing and resources in Forest Park, Austin and Oak Park to those with intellectual disabilities
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
L’Arche Chicago is hosting i ts annual solidarity brunch March 8 to raise money for other L’Arche c ommunities around the wo rl d.
L’Arche, founded in 2000, provides over a do z en p eople experiencing i ntellectual disabilities with residential homes in Fo rest Pa rk , Chicago’s Austin neighbo rhood, and most recentl y, in Oak Pa rk
Wi th over 150 L’Arche c ommunities across 37 c ountrie s, many need the f und s for food, medicine and housing, and the Chicago branch aims to help them with that through the brunch.
“A nnually, we aim to raise as much sup -
po rt as we c an for these c ommunities that often struggle against the t ides of c onflict, c olonialism and unjust economies,” said Mic A ltena, L’Arche Chicago’s executive director and c ommunity leader, in a statement. “We’ re so gr ateful to our d onors who help bring L’Arche to l ife in some of the wo rl d’s most challengin g c ontexts.”
I nternational L’Arche locations that b enefit from the brunch’s proceeds often experience c rises that c omplicate the ability to serve those with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Fo r L’Arche communities in the Philippines, Ke nya, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Bethlehem and Ukraine, annual g ifts from other chapters are often thei r primary f unding source. C ompare that to L’Arche Chicago, wh ich rece ives gove r nment f unding and raises close to one-third of i ts annual budg et through f undraising.
This year ’s annual brunch will feature presentations from multipl e L’Arche Chicago pa rt icip ants and staf f who have visited i nternational L’Arche c ommunities
T hese include Paul Ku czynski, director of resid ential services; Jay De Man, house c oordinator; and Anders G., a core member, or pa rt icipant.
Brunch attendees will have food options from a f ull bu ff et and be able to pa rt icipate in a ra ffle and p uzzle
“Our c onnectedness as a movement extends to even the most fragile of c ontexts,” A ltena a dded, “where L’Arche c ommunities de p end on the g enerosity of others most of all. ”
T he L’Arche brunc h
will be on March 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p. m. at Rive rside Golf C lub, 2520 S. Des Plaines Ave. T he event c osts $75 for adults
and $10 for children, and tickets c an be purchased at https://larchechicago.org / event/2025-solidarity-brunch/
Fundraiser for L’Arche re novations
Later next month, L’Arche Chicago is co-hosting a fundraising event with friends and family of Laurence J. Msall, an involved Oak Parker who unexpectedly passed away in 2023. Msall was the longtime president of the Civic Federation, a nonpartisan group focused on government policy and finance.
On March 22, participants will help raise money for renovations at L’Arche Chicago’s Angel House in Chicago, where Msall’s sister Christianne lives. The house needs a back-door ramp, plus an expanded and rehabbed kitchen and first-floor bathroom.
Last year, over 250 participants raised more than $150,000 for L’Arche Chicago at an event to honor Msall.
This year at St. Ignatius Colle ge Prep, where Msall attended school, attendees will eat and drink, plus watch NCAA
tournament basketball games, play popa-shot basketball, participate in raffles and a silent auction – all while supporting L’Arche Chicago and Msall’s family
“Laurence was an amazingly caring and giving friend who we lost too soon,” said Matt Walsh, co-chair of the Laurence for L’Arche, in a statement.
“I speak for the entire committee when I say that we are proud to have known Laurence Msall, and excited to support L’Arche’s mission in honor of our great friend.”
“Laurence’s Le gacy of Caring – The Tradition Continues!” will take place at St. Ignatius Colle ge Prep, 1076 Roosevelt Road, on March 22 from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets star t at $50 and can be purchased at https://larchechicago.org/ event/laurences-le ga cy -of-caring-thetradition-continues/.
TINA HARLE
Attendees at the 2024 L’Arche Chicago solidarity brunch
JEREMY CHIA
Christianne Msall and Nate Sullivan, a live-in assistant, wear matching jackets at the L’Arche Chicago o ce.
Oak Park-based foundation expands reach, focuses on mental health
Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation awards $265,000 to 18 organizations in western Cook County
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Eighteen organizations on Chicago’s West Side and the near west suburbs have received grants from the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation – an organization that helps donors manage their philanthropic assets and give grants for local service programs
Earlier this month, the foundation announced the community organizations that got a portion of $265,000 in grant money
Though the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation gives out community grants annually, for the first time, this year’s chosen organizations all focus on behavioral and mental health for children and young adults
The foundation paused its community grants in 2023 in order to shift focus for its grantmaking strategy. While in previous years, community grants served education, housing and arts organizations, in the coming years, they’ll focus on mental and behavioral health organizations, specifically those that further workforce development.
The foundation chose to highlight mental health after getting feedback and data from practitioners, nonprofit leaders and community members.
“When you look at our geographic space, when you look at our demographics, our upbringing and so on, mental health plays such a vital role in how we move forward with our lives,” said Tony Martinez Jr., president and CEO of the foundation, in an interview with Growing Community Media, parent company of Wednesday Jour nal and Austin Weekly News.
Of this year’s grant recipients, about three-quarters of them address access to resources and treatment of mental health, half target workforce development, and one-third focus on safety and belonging.
Recipients applied for the grants, which they will use for either projects or general operations
“What we were looking at is organizations that had specific programs that they were working on or ideas and plans that they were working on,” Martinez said of the chosen groups’ trajectory for workforce development.
The following org anizations received a grant:
■ A Greater Good Foundation
■ And Rise Women, Inc. (aka &Rise)
■ Austin Coming To gether in Austin
■ BUILD Incorporated in Austin
■ Dominican University in River Forest
■ Family Service and Mental Health Center of Cicero
■ Front Porch Arts Center in Austin
■ Kinfolk CoLab in Oak Park
■ Maywood Fine Arts Association
■ New Moms, Inc. in Austin
■ Race Conscious Dialo gues in Oak Park
■ The Firehouse Dream Inc. in Maywood
■ The Kehrein Center for the Ar ts Foundation in Austin
■ The Nehemiah Community Project in Maywood
■ Thrive Counseling Center in Oak Pa rk
■ Youth Crossroads Inc. in Berwyn
■ Youth Educational Mentoring Basketball Association (YEMBA) in Oak Park
■ Youth Outreach Services, which has an office in Austin and Melrose Park
The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation was founded in 1959 and has historically served those two neighborhoods. But since 2020, the foundation is making a conscious effort to broaden its reach to the rest of wester n Cook County.
Around Covid-19, the foundation’s leaders noticed that organizations outside Chicago city limits were often overlooked for state-level funding opportunities. But, communities in and outside of Chicago access each other’s resources, and the whole region needed support –not just Chicago neighborhoods.
“Many of the folks who are across Austin or Roosevelt or Harlem, they come to our area to seek support from the nonprofits that are housed here, and vice versa. When it comes to need, people are going to go where they can receive services,” Martinez said. “It was a moment that we could expand our capacity and we knew that we had the potential to do more.”
The foundation is also working to change its relationships with community members it works with.
Moving forward, the community grants will include a multi-year process including meetings and shared decision making to improve advocacy opportunities and systemic change. The process will involve members of western Cook County, plus partners like mental health practitioners and policy makers.
“It’s more than just a grant award. It is a continuation of building a relationship, building the trust, building the network,” Martinez said. “Our goal in the coming year is to continue building on the networks to see what things we can invest in as an organization and also attract other resources.”
Part of this goal is to create a growing network that can increasingly fund local organizations.
“We received an unprecedented amount of proposals, demonstrating the significant need facing our community partners throughout the entire West Cook region, from Elmwood Park to Berwyn, and from Melrose Park to Austin,” Martinez said in a statement.
And while the most-recent $265,000 in community grants going to 18 organizations is higher than the average 15 groups who get a total $150,000 to $200,000, the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation received over $1 million in requests and over 50 nonprofit applications.
“If we were able to get more funding, we would have figured out ways to support them as well,” Martinez told GCM. The foundation will remain in contact with those who didn’t receive a grant this year and look to connect them with other philanthropic opportunities
Martinez added, “I’m hoping that this also inspires individual donors to understand that the need is tremendous.”
Running for park board
from page 3
“A younger perspective is just a different perspective, ” Oswalt said, adding that current and past board members have done great work. “It’s not necessarily even that I’d want to change anything but add a little bit of my flair.”
If elected to the park district board, Oswalt has a few priorities she’d like addressed. One is offering free health care screenings.
“The best way to g et ahead of medical issues is prevention,” Oswalt said. She also is looking for new, unique ideas to include in park district programming, like when it hosted a drivein movie at the Altenheim during Covid-19. She suggests adding rock climbing equipment or a zipline at the Altenheim, if possible.
Of the park district’s of ferings, Oswalt said her favorite is No Glove Nationals, an event that’s deeply intertwined with the community.
During the 2022 No Glove Nationals tournament, Oswalt said some words to honor Jose “Pepe” F lores, a police officer who died the year before and was a big part of the softball community in Forest Park. Oswalt did the same for Dave Novak, for mer park district director, after he unexpectedly died last year (Oswalt’s sister Jen, who teaches at Garfield Elementary School, is Dave Novak’s daughter-in-law).
Oswalt said at this year’s No Glove Nationals tournament, she’ll likely pay tribute to Kate Scotty, a park district employee and No Glove volunteer who died last month.
“I feel very honored to have that platform to speak for those people in a space that meant so much to them,” Oswalt said.
T hough their presence extends beyond No Glove Nationals
“I have some very emotional moments when I think, ‘Dave would’ve loved this,’” Oswalt said of her park board candidacy T he swearing-in date for the park board is Novak’s bir thday.
“He is just pe ppered throughout this entire experience,” Oswalt added. “At the end of the day, win or lose, it doesn’t dictate my standing in the park district or my association to No Gloves.”
Message from the Chamber
This Saturday is St. Patty’s in Forest Park
LAURIE KOKENES DIRECTOR
We’re not expecting half a million people like they are in Dublin, but attendance at our St Patrick’s Day Parade is just as impressive for a town of our size…and we’re celebrating 30 years next year!
We host the parade early in March (typically two weekends before St. Patrick’s Day weekend) for a couple of reasons: to help ensure we don’t compete with local or city parades for entrants or attendance, and to drive business to Forest Park before the ‘official’ St Patrick’s Day/St. Patrick’s Day weekend.
People often remark that the weather would be better if we moved the date up,
but that’s not how Chicago-area weather rolls. For example, we’ve had 70-degree weather on parade day, with temperatures in the 20’s the following Saturday Over the last 29 years, it ’s gone the other way of course, but Forest Park St Pat’s Parade Day parade-goers are in it for the long haul so we always have a great turnout. So, regardless of the weather, we hope to see you there!
As with any event we host, sponsors are key to making the parade happen. Their support allows us create an entertaining line-up that includes entries like Medinah Shriner ’s parade units who receive an honorarium for participating. Event sponsorship also supports the overall work of the Chamber
Huge thanks to this year’s main sponsors: Title Sponsors: Village of Forest Park, O’Sullivan’s Public House; Ironworkers
L Emanuel ‘Chris’ Sponsor: Riveredge Hospital. Sponsors: Mohr Oil, McDonald’s Forest Park, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Republic Services, Fatduck Tavern and Grill, Currie Motors, Burke Beverage, Grand Appliance, U3 Coffee, Progress Center for Independent Living and Our Planet Automotive. Shamrock Sponsors: Grace Lutheran Church, The Original Hooters, Chicago White Sox, The Giving
Robert’s Westside, Park District of Forest Park and Charlie’s Restaurant.
Thanks also to every single member of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce for their support. Together with the Village and other key organizations, we all work together to keep Forest Park strong. Happy parade day and happy St Patrick’s Day to all!
Parade day is Saturday! St. Patrick would be proud
Last
year Forest Park drew 8,000 Irish and sort-of
By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter
Forty years ago Forest Park sold itself to potential home buyers and business owners by saying that the village had “Big City Access.” In those four decades the table has turned a bit. Now the town between Harlem and the Desplaines River is a destination for people coming from the big city.
“Last year’s parade,” said Laurie Kokenes, director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce which sponsors the annual event, “drew 8,000 spectators to Madison Street.”
The attraction is 70 different groups marching including the following headliners: the Proviso Marching Band; the Band
Irish guests
of Brothers and Doonaree Pipe Bands (both of which are sponsored by Burke Beverage); Irish Dancers from the Bentley Academy and the Foy School; a float by the Chicago White Sox; the Stone Cold Killers Band; the Triton Troupers Circus and the Medinah Mini Choppers, Roaring 57s and Motor Cor p.
What makes it a hometown happening are groups re presenting 21 local businesses, and 17 schools, churches and nonprofits. April Baker Homes will be the Grand Marshall, a role she won by outbidding the competition at the Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting auction. Ironworkers Local 1, People for Emmanuel Chris Welch, Laborers Local One and O’Sullivan’s Public House each contributed $1,500 to become Pot of Gold Sponsors. Nonprofits kicked in $50 for a spot in the parade, Chamber business members $65, and political and nonmember $120.
First responders from the Forest Park Fire and Police Departments will have places of honor. The parade will step of f on Saturday at 1 pm. The parade route on Madison Street will begin at Van Buren on the west and end at Elgin. The quiet, siren-free zone will extend from Van Buren to Desplaines.
Mayor Rory Hoskins
Forest Park Review, February 26, 2025 17
OPINION
OUR VIEW
Things we like
We can all use some good news, something unexpected or something wonderfully familiar. Here are two uplifts from this week in Forest Park
How about those
Panthers!
The girls basketball team at Forest Park Middle School is the champion of the Salt Creek Conference. Typically you would become the champion when you win every game you play. And that is what the Panthers did as they cruised through their schedule piling up wins. In their final win of the season, the Panthers bested their second place rivals from Hauser Middle School in Riverside by the score of 28-18.
This is the first championship for the Forest Park team since 2003. Terriyaka Watson, who identified herself as the “Proud Panther Principal,” praised the team and its coaches for their hard work, mutual support, teamwork and chemistry. She might have also mentioned their academic prowess
Watson also thanks Heath Mills and Devon Park, the Panther coaches
Here then are the names of the champions: Brooke Williams, Isyss Williams, Layla Ortiz, Rowan Marello, Khloe Rodriguez, Wendria Fuller, Haydin Dunigan, Ailey Jones, Juliet Harrington and Henitah Wells.
St. Patrick’s Parade
steps
oIt is one of Forest Park’s signature events. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back. All praise to the Chamber of Commerce, which has, over the years, cultivated a slate of events which delight the locals while drawing thousands from across Chicago to our happy place.
And while we love the Casket Races and the Holiday Walk, it is the St. Pat’s parade that really revs us up Perhaps it is the harbinger of spring (the temperature on Saturday is predicted to be a balmy 40 degrees), the massive turnout of both marchers and fans along the route, or the slightly unruly enthusiasm that permeates the day.
So make your plans. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. It’s possible you can buy a beer somewhat earlier. Be there.
Forest Park’s blue collar DEI
DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) has been in the news a lot lately. President Trump sees DEI as a four-letter word and wants to eliminate it from the government’s vocabulary. What Trump abhors, we in Forest Park seem to value.
We are a DEI community We have a black mayor; our fire chief is a woman; for the last two years we’ve had a drag queen perfor mance right in the middle of our business district; and we have three nonprofits in town devoted to serving the disability community.
In 2014 my co-columnist, John Rice, wrote a piece in which he said, “When we moved here in 1980, I thought we had landed in a racial paradise. Blacks and whites, Latinos and Asians associated freely at school events and community gatherings. Skin color lost its stigma and I’ll be forever grateful our kids grew up in a color-blind community.”
So how did we as a village get to DEI?
HOLMES
Our proximity to Oak Park begs me to make comparisons, so here goes.
Oak Park got to DEI by adopting an intentional strategy to control the process of demographic change. Oak Park has always been proactive in that way.
Oak Parkers have a long history of trying to control their destiny, dating back to when it was incorporated in 1902. Originally it was a WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) lifestyle enclave which had a clear picture of what it wanted to be.
Oak Park Temple acquired the property where it is now located by means of a “straw purchase.” In the 1950s Oak Park remained a dry community until 1979.
In 1991 James Bundy wrote, “Temperance is the moral symbol of Oak Park’s commitment to an ideal of community life. … The temperance laws were Oak Park’s assurance that the population would remain homogeneous.”
My point is not to slam our neighbor to the east but to point out that a continuous thread in Oak Park’s history is the attempt by church and civic leaders to be actively intentional in the shaping of the village’s society and culture.
For example, Oak Park’s attaining of racial diversity did not happen by accident. It happened because Bobbie Raymond outlined an intentional roadmap regarding how to get from homogeneity to DEI.
Roberta “Bobbie” Raymond did not single-handedly transform Oak Park from a white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, conservative, Republican community into a model DEI village. What she did do was provide a plan that
became known as the Oak Park Strategy, which provided a road map for how the village could intentionally pursue diversity.
And here is where the contrast between the two neighboring communities is instructive. Although they both arrived at a DEI destination, they took different routes to get there.
John wrote, “Oak Park’s leaders resorted to racial steering and other quasi-constitutional practices to prevent re-segregation. It worked. Oak Park became a national model for achieving racial balance and har mony. Unlike Oak Park, Forest Park did not attempt to control integration. It seemed to occur naturally.”
For example, no one seemed to have a problem with Jewish cemeteries being founded in Forest Park way back in 1870. There was no grand plan to include or exclude the minority from “residing” in the mostly German community
For example, Forest Park voters elected Lorraine Popelka to be mayor in 1987 and Rory Hoskins to the same office 32 years later. It wasn’t an ideological thing or part of a strategy to move the village toward DEI. It wasn’t because we felt obligated to elect a woman or an African American. They just seemed to be better candidates. DEI was in the cultural atmosphere, if you will, and as it turned out it was not the enemy of meritocracy
You see the difference in temperaments?
Forest Park got to DEI by a different road than did its neighbor to the east, I think, more because the residents in town have been more pragmatic and in a strange way less idealistic. They were in the beginning working folk who had a no-nonsense approach to demographic change. “If you move into the house next door and are a good neighbor, I don’t care if you are green.”
I’d like to call it “blue collar DEI.”
And that sensibility was attractive to high profile, educated, white collar leaders like Art Jones who seemed at first glance to fit better in Oak Park than in this village with small-town charm. Dr. Jones, you might say, had a white collar head and a blue collar heart.
I have three graduate degrees, including a Doctor of Ministry, but I’d rather reside in the village with big city access and small-town charm. So do a lot of other people with my credentials. According to the Census Bureau, 49.8% of residents in Forest Park have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Nothing against Oak Park. In fact, I’m not sure Forest Park would be where it is today, if Oak Park had not been intentional in responding to demographic change.
Interim Executive Director Max Reinsdorf
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
Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Special Projects Manager Susan Walker
Senior Advisor Dan Haley
Board of Directors
Chair Eric Weinheimer
Treasurer Nile Wendorf
Deb Abrahamson, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Horacio Mendez, Charles Meyerson, Darnell Shields, Audra Wilson
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: $38 per year. $70 for two years, $93 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $58 per year.
Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2025 Growing Community Media NFP.
Mixing it up with a Scrabble savant
While John fights the flu, we’re running this golden oldie from 2021:
It may be a new year but, for most of us, staying home remains our daily routine. Confinement has caused board games to increase in popularity. Chess is enjoying a resurgence, but I’m focusing on another intellectually-stimulating game: Scrabble. That’s because I play monthly games against Forest Park’s Scrabble savant, Tom Legge.
Tom discovered Scrabble when he was 8 years old. He started out playing his mom, who let him win at first — until Tom began beating her fair and square. Tom continued his Scrabble career, playing frequently at Knox Colle ge. Then he joined Scrabble clubs and competed in tournaments, meeting a whole array of eccentrics and Mensa members. Not that all serious Scrabble players are dweebs. Barrett Jones, who played center for Alabama, was a top player.
Most of these Scrabble tournaments were held in Chicago, but Tom also traveled to Michigan and Massachusetts to compete. Competitive Scrabble is like competitive chess. There is a clock each player punches and they are allowed 22½ minutes to com-
lete a game. I’ve used up 22½ minutes to take one turn.
When he’s not playing, Tom has studied a slew of Scrabble ooks and competes at a high level against his computer. He’s not alone in his love for the ame. One-third of American homes have a Scrabble set. There are over 4,000 Scrabble clubs in 121 countries.
Tom later became a director of a Scrabble club on the North Side. He set up the boards and made rulings on disputes and challenges. In 2012, he moved to Forest Park. He played Scrabble at the library, but it didn’t give him the competitive fix he was seeking.
Tom and I happened to meet at Shanahan’s, which became our “friendly confines” for Scrabble games. Most nights, I was obliterated by Tom’s play. He once laid down four seven letter words, known as “bingos,” in one game. I’ve scored four bingos in my lifetime He scored over 600 points in a game I’m fortunate to get 300 points, but Tom swears I beat him twice one night. The secret to Tom’s success is his use of two-letter words. T here is a list of 107 such words that serious Scrabble players memorize. He’s also very skillful at using the four “S” letters and
two “blanks” to form plurals. Although he’s an admitted “word freak,” Tom sees Scrabble as primarily a mathematical game He targets the high-value squares while blocking his opponent from using them. Like the rest of us mere mortals, he arranges letters in his tray to form words, or to find prefixes and suffixes. He’s looking for comparatives and superlatives to extend words. He recently played “ferniest” against me for 70 points
Scrabble may be a cerebral game, but there’s an element of luck in drawing letters. The “big four” are Z, Q, J and X. Getting the Q used to be like getting stuck with the Queen of Spades in Hearts. That was before the discovery of “U-less” q words like qi, the “life force” in traditional Chinese medicine.
Sorry, if I’m getting too “inside baseball” about Scrabble. But to paraphrase a certain baseball player, “Scrabble has been very, very good to me.” A Scrabble victory at the library landed me a job as an ESL tutor for five years. That led to a three year full-time job teaching ESL students
I’m looking forward to the retur n of game nights at the library. Tom said he would be available to help form a competitive Scrabble club. The only question is, who wants to play a guy who once laid down “whodunit?”
Kentucky Derby winner worked in Forest Park
Isaac Lewis, a notable African American from Kentucky, a groomsman at the Harlem Race Track in 1900, was featured on a cigarette card in 1890.
Initially named the Harlem Jockey Club, the Harlem Race Track was located in the village of Harlem (now known as Forest Park) at Roosevelt and Hannah Street. The track operated from 1894 to 1904. In 1900, the village population was about 4,000 and practically all of the African Americans from Kentucky who lived in Proviso Township were employed at the Harlem Race Track. One of the most notable was Isaac Lewis, the jockey who rode the horse, Montrose, to win the 1887 Kentucky Derby. He was a groom at the Harlem Jockey Club according to the 1900 Census. Horse racing was banned in 1905 and the track was used for auto racing for a short time before becoming a golf course. In 1910 Isaac Lewis was managing a Turkish bath in Chicago.
The University of Kentucky Notable Kentucky African American Database sites the following Kentucky men who were listed on the U.S. Census in Proviso and employed with the track: Cooks: Marvin Blair, John McGorman [or McGowan], John Young;
Grooms: Albert Bell, Alis Calarneys, Hy Carrington, Casper
Stable
T.
Charles
Cash, M. Dudley, John Griffen, William Hanson, C. Jackson, Milt Kennedy, Isaac Lewis, J. Madison, William Mason, John C. Smith, John Stepp, W. Wells; Jockeys:
Knight;
Boys: E. Anderson, William Crow, George Green, Sam Kennedy, Steve Porter, S. Porter; Trainers: William Reid,
Gather.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND
SOCIETY, FSB, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLEY IN ITS CAPACITY AS OWNER
TRUSTEE FOR OCWEN LOAN ACQUISTION TRUST 2023-HB1
Plaintiff, -v.-
UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF RICKY WILSON, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF RICKY WILSON, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF RICKY WILSON, DECEASED, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF ALLIE MAE WILSON AKA ALLIE M. WILSON, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF ALLIE MAE WILSON AKA ALLIE M. WILSON, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF ALLIE MAE WILSON AKA ALLIE M. WILSON, DECEASED, BONNIE M. WILSON, JOHN LYDON, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF RICKY WILSON, DECEASED, WILLIAM P. BUTCHER, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ALLIE MAE WILSON AKA ALLIE M. WILSON, DECEASED Defendants
18 CH 07072
643 S. 19TH AVENUE MAYWOOD, IL 60153
NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 17, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 18, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 643 S. 19TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-10-322017-0000
The real estate is improved with a single family residence.
The judgment amount was $205,161.17.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.
The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.
The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required
RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
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 HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 601 E. William St., DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 422-1719. Please refer to file number 323264. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc. com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.
HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC
601 E. William St. DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719
Fax #: 217-422-1754
E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com
Attorney File No. 323264
Attorney Code. 40387
Case Number: 18 CH 07072
TJSC#: 44-3268
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 07072 I3260849
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC 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: M25000176 on February 4, 2025 Under the Assumed Business Name of GREEN ROCK INNOVATION with the business located at: 633 BELLEFORTE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: TERRENCE ROCHE 633 BELLEFORTE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302, USA
Published in Wednesday Journal February 12, 19, 26, 2025
27 RIVERSIDE ROAD
RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS 60546
In accordance with the Open Meetings Act, this is to advise you that the Riverside Township Mental Health Board will hold a Finance Committee meeting on February 26, 2025, to prepare and review the FY 2025 Budget at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois in room 2022, at the hour of 6:00 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact Board President, Adam Wilt, at awilt.rtmhb@gmail.com or call Adam at 708-804-4400.
Published in RBLandmark February 26, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS
Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:
The ZBA will consider an application for a major zoning variation submitted by Tyler Lamkey and Tina Lamkey, owners of the property at 633 William Street, who are proposing to relocate the existing accessory garage structure on the lot.
Section 4-8-5 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning variations to the Zoning Ordinance.
The applicant is requesting a major variation to Section 10-9-7 of the Zoning Ordinance.
Section 10-9-7 of the Zoning ordinance (10-8-7-A-2) requires “On the secondary street the front yard shall be a minimum of thirteen feet for a fifty foot wide lot,…”. The applicants are proposing to relocate the existing accessory garage structure so that it will have a setback for the Secondary Front Yard of 3’-6” from the north property line to the face of the building, and 2’-0” from the north property line to the face of the roof eave.
The legal description of the property at 633 William Street is as follows: LOT 36 IN THE SUBDIVISION OF BLOCK 12 OF QUICK’S SUBDIVISION OF THAT PART LYING NORTH OF LAKE STREET OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting packet, which includes a copy of this zoning variation application, will be available at www.vrf.us/meetings no less than 48 hours prior to the public hearing.
All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/zoningvariation
Sincerely,
Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals
Published in Wednesday Journal February 26, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC
The Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District #97 will receive sealed “Individual/ Small Group Transportation Bids” for District 97 schools located in Oak Park, IL, 60302, until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2025
At this time, sealed responses will be publicly opened and read at the meeting at 3:00 p.m.
Copies of specifications may be secured at the Oak Park Elementary School District #97 District Office, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, but only be picked up by emailing Michael Arensdorff (marensdorff@op97.org) to schedule a time. The cut-off date for receiving the scope of services is 4:00 pm, Monday, March 17, 2025.
Responses mailed or delivered shall be marked to the attention of:
Oak Park School District 97
Attn. Mr. Michael Arensdorff
260 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302
The front of the envelope should be clearly marked “Individual/Small Group Transportation Bid - District 97 Schools.” Additional information may be obtained by contacting Mr. Michael Arensdorff at (708) 5243015 or marensdorff@op97.org. Faxed or electronically submitted bids will not be accepted. Any faxed or electronically submitted bid will disqualify vendors.
Responses Due Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 3:00 P.M.
Only those responses complying with the provision and specification of the response will be considered. The Board of Education reserves the right to waive any informalities, qualifications, or irregularities and/or reject any or all responses when, in its opinion, such action will serve the best interest of the Board of Education of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.
Lonya Boose, Board Secretary
Published in Wednesday Journal February 26, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302
Monday through Friday, 7�30
a.m. to 3�00 p.m. local time until 3�00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21st, 2025 for the following:
Village of Oak Park
2025 Surface Hot Mix Asphalt Purchase Bid Number: 25�117
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358� 5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal February 26, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302
Monday through Friday, 7�30 a.m. to 3�00 p.m. local time until 3�00 p.m. on Friday, March 14, 2025 for the following:
Village of Oak Park
2025 Redi Mix Concrete Purchase Bid Number: 25�116
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358� 5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal February 26, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7�30 a.m. to 4�00 p.m. local time until 3�00 p.m. on Friday, March 14th, 2025 for the following: Village of Oak Park 2025 Traffic Sign Materials Bid Package Bid Number: 25 � 114 Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358� 5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal February 26, 2025
Riverside Arts Center hosts artist talk with JAY WOLKE
By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter
The Riverside Arts Center hosted a lively artist panel on Feb. 9 with photographer Jay Wolke, focusing on his solo exhibit “Building Place: Big Boat Little Pond” curated by Paul D’Amato and Laura Husar Garcia.
Wolke is a Chicago-based artist and educator, known for his photographic monographs, including “All Around the House” (1998) and “Along the Divide” (2004). Currently a Professor of Photography at Columbia College Chicago, Wolke previously served as chair of the Art and Design Department.
The panel provided insights into their experiences and expertise in curating Wolke’s solo exhibition, which showcases his large-format color photography exploring the intersection of nature, architecture and habitation. D’Amato and Garcia led the discussion.
Wolke said he found the discussion insightful, saying, “Whenever you see your own work filling a room or up on the walls, it’s a very different experience than if you’re just looking at it on a computer screen. So actually, when you see that print, which is really the man-
RIVERSIDE ARTS CENTER
Laura Husar Garcia, Paul D’Amato and Jay Wolke (center).
RIVERSIDE ARTS CENTER
Shelter, Hi Rises, Chicago, USA, 2022, Archival inkjet pr int by Jay Wolke.
made a big difference for me.”
Wolke’s photo exhibit invites deeper reflection, offering a thoughtful exploration of the relationship between humans and their environments through striking images like “Quarry Workshop,” “Carrara” and “Italy,” where the merging of industry, nature and history tells a compelling visual story.
Joanne Aono, exhibition director at the center, said, “The discussion was insightful, engaging and attended by a mix of colleagues of the three photographers and for mer students of Jay Wolke.” When asked about surprising or impactful insights from the artist talk, Aono said that audience members were curious about Wolke’s influences, highlighting his deep engagement with photography
“People asked about his influences and he could easily name them off and talk about each one. He also shared his joy for photography, explaining that it’s what he loves to do,” Aono said.
On the panel, Wolke mentioned wanting to create photographs that guide the viewer on how to interpret them, similar to how a sentence or essay requires a logical sequence of parts of speech and ideas to effectively communicate a message
“There is a particular grammar in photography, and obviously, there’s a lot of graphic material, especially color theory in my work. I’m very interested in how color, light and space work. Those are the three things in photography that really become the vocabulary, or the rhetoric, of the medium. That’s how I choose to approach it, and I guess that sort of explains a little bit,” Wolke said.
As the exhibition comes to a close, the Riverside Arts Center is looking ahead to future programming. Aono believes every exhibition is stellar, with Wolke’s being particularly special due to his unique character. Normally, they would show an artist in just one gallery, but Wolke’s work has had a broader impact.
“Jay’s work is being shown in both the Freeark Gallery and the FlexSpace. The funny thing is we could have used a third gallery because there were so many great photographs we could have included,” Aono said. “Paul and Laura had a difficult time choosing which pieces to feature in the exhibition. As for what’s next, we have a lineup of exhibitions planned throughout the year.”
OP artist to be showcased at West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo
Show runs from Feb. 21-23
By DALAL ORFALI Contributing Reporter
Douglas Nelson had a 33-year-long career in finance before deciding to reverse direction and become a full-time artist. It’s been a liberating but challenging experience. Nelson, a for mer Oak Park bank auditor, is among 40 other artists whose work will be shown at the West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo Feb. 21- 23. The show will take place at Plumbers Hall on Randolph Street in Chicago.
Nelson recently spoke of his artistic life from his Oak Park studio, where he was surrounded by vibrant colors and carefully measured geometry that captured his happy and energetic style
In his career of numbers and auditing, a pure coincidence introduced Nelson to the world of lithography.
“I audited a company in Chicago called Circle Galleries. They were the sole distributor of lithography,” said Nelson, describing that he got his first “impulse” through lithographs by Yakov Agam, an Israeli artist, known for his work with bright colors and geometry.
In 2016, he returned to Oak Park, a town he admired from his auditing days at First National Bank of Oak Park. The move happened after a rekindled connection with his college ex-girlfriend, now his partner.
Back in Oak Park, Nelson gradually transitioned into art. “I started to wind down my work hours and paint more, and I think in 2019, I did my first kind of real painting,” he said.
His breakthrough came unexpectedly in 2022, when a visit to his dentist’s office led to an opportunity. After casually showing his portfolio, the dentist’s wife – also the clinic’s artistic director –called him the next day, purchasing 18 prints to display in treatment rooms
But before art was able to sway him, work took him across the Atlantic. “I got to Germany, I was working 80 hours a week. I had four children and I didn’t have time to do anything, so I had a studio and I played around, it was just a hobby, it wasn’t serious,” he recalled
During his time in Germany, Nelson was introduced to the art of Sonia DeLaunay, a Ukrainian-born artists who worked in France in the early 1920s. Her abstract, avantgarde, faded – now with time – but colorful work is framed and put in visibly in his living room.
“Her art inspired me tremendously in a different way than [Agam’s] because in her case it was about color. Her and it was revolutionary for the time.” Nelson said.
Drawing from these influences, Nelson describes his own style as “minimalist, hard-edge… very clean lines, but minimalist, abstract.”
“That’s what started things rolling,” Nelson said.
Encouraged, Nelson applied to his first art fair in 2023. “I got into one, then I tried others, and I got accepted everywhere.” That year, he participated in 10 art fairs across Chicagoland, Milwaukee, Ann Arbor, Indianapolis, and Minnesota. By 2024, that number had grown to 15 fairs
Locally, he has exhibited at the Oak Park Art League and Elmhurst Art League, earning a second-place award at the latter. While he enjoys showcasing his work, managing logistics can be demanding. “It’s fun once you get there. I like interacting with people and selling, but traveling, setting up, and tearing down is a lot of physical work.” he said. ”
Now, Nelson is seeking a permanent gallery space in Oak Park, ideally a storefront with heavy foot traffic for greater exposure.
His latest opportunity at the West Loop Contemporary Fine Art Expo marks an exciting step forward. “I think there will be other galleries there, different people, and it’s a good chance for me to expand my renommé, you know, just get my name out there,” he said.
For those who frequent Oak Park Bank, you may have already seen his colorful paintings displayed in their storefront
It’s a local artist named Douglas Nelson, a man who escaped the world of finance to the liberating realm of fine arts
You can check more of Nelson’s art on his website at www.douglasnelsonstudios.com
DA LA L ORFALI
Douglas Nelson
Submit events and see full calendar at forestparkreview.com/events
Reading Between the Wines fundraiser returns to Riverside Public Librar y
Join the library March 1 for a fun night out while supporting updates to its historic building. Tickets are on sale now
By NIKKI ROBERTS Contributing Reporter
Attention wine lovers, library supporters and everyone else: The historic Riverside Public Library invites you to its 6th annual Reading Between the Wines (RBTW) fundraiser on Saturday, March 1 from 6-9 p.m.
Tickets costing $45 include 11 wine tasting stations, scrumptious charcuterie cups and a chance to mingle in the library after hours.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to try a large variety of interesting wines and specialty pairings, including a sold-out red wine and pasta sauce breakout tasting session.
The wine selection is facilitated by Peter Boutsikakis, co-owner and operator of Riverside Foods on 48 E Burlington St., River-
side. This year, some of the tasting stations include Love of Zinfandel, which will feature five expressions of Zinfandel, and an Oregon tasting station featuring wines from dif ferent regions of the state.
“I focus on variety and vendor relationships,” said Boutsikakis. “RBTW is a great opportunity to try two ounces of a wine that maybe you wouldn’t commit to at a restaurant or buy of f the shelf.”
RBTW is the library’s main revenue source outside its public funding, typically drawing around 300 guests and raising approximately $10,000 each year. This year, library director Jane Foley says she hopes to raise between $11,000 and $15,000 to support an update to the patron services area, which has not been updated since 1983.
“Right now, [the patron services area] is a hodgepodge of different desks and furni-
ture from over the past 95 years. We want to freshen it up and to give the staf f a better place to work,” said Foley. “We would never touch the front main desk because that has been in our building since the be ginning.”
The update will include new carpeting, new bookshelves for holds and the Library of Things, and new desks and storage space for the staf f. Past projects funded by RBTW include recarpeting the Great Room and a lower-level renovation.
Guests will be given order for ms if they wish to purchase bottles of any of the wines of fered at RBTW. These orders will be fulfilled the following week by Riverside Foods.
“We’re a medium-sized, independent grocery store and we’re constantly fighting against corporate chains and home delivery for groceries,” said Boutsikakis. “Being a part of community events is a big part of
our business. This is another opportunity for folks in the area to see that the value of shopping at Riverside Foods goes beyond the price on the shelf.”
The fundraiser will only offer light bites, Boutsikakis encourages guests to dine out at local restaurants before or after the event.
“Our hopes are that folks patronize the downtown businesses for dinner. [Riverside has] some great restaurants and nice bars and after an event, we typically see a little extra activity in downtown. I’m proud to play a part in that.”
General admission tickets are $45. Each ticket includes a branded wine glass and access to 11 tasting stations. Purchase tickets online, or pay with cash or check at the library. Tickets for the red wine breakout session are sold out.
Inside: Artist Jay Wolke
RIVERSIDE ARTS
Girl on Phone, Beach Shelter, Trieste, Italy, 2016, Archival inkjet pr int by Jay Wolke