Forest Park Review 022824

Kick o St. Patrick’s Day in Forest Park’s parade

Join in the shenanigans Saturday, March 2

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Get out your “Kiss Me I’m Irish” buttons out because Forest Park is kicking of f St. Patty’s Day in style.

The village is expecting about 8,000 to 10,000 people to pack the sidewalks along Madison Street to watch more than 70 floats, marchers, bands and others go by, according to Laurie Kokenes, executive director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce.

One of the star attractions is always the Proviso East High School marching band. Other crowd pleasers include the Medinah parade units, Police and Fire Bagpipers, a stilt Walker, clowns, pets, Irish dancers and, of course, fire engines with their sirens wailing.

New this year will be the Hamburglar and Grimace sponsored by the McDonalds at Desplaines and Madison, and the Chicago White Sox Southpaw which, according to the Sox website, is “a 6’4” fuzzy green dude who weighs 621 baseballs.”

Kids love those entries and will bring shopping bags along with them to fill with candy and swag that will be handed out as the parade goes by

Venezuelan family builds new life in Forest Park

With Oak Park’s eviction deadline looming, their story highlights the needs and struggles of the crisis

By KATRINA PHAM Borderless - A Growing Community Media partner

A dim light shines through the frost-tinged dining room windows of the Marquez family’s home in suburban Forest Park Inside, the bustle of voices envelops the room as the full house prepares to eat their dinner of pepitos — a popular Venezuelan street food

After moving in a week earlier, the Marquezes, who arrived in Chicago from Venezuela last fall, gathered in the sparsely furnished dining room. Jose Marquez, his wife Milagros, their three daughters, and Milagros’ sister and nephews found space to enjoy their home-cooked meal — sitting on windowsills, an inflatable mattress and neon children’s chairs.

While barriers to navigating their new life in the United States loom over their heads, the home offers the family hope

arriving in Chicago.

But resettlement is an uphill challenge, especially amid imminent shelter evictions

More than 34,000 migrants have been bused or flown into Chicago from Texas and other Southern border states since August 2022. Volunteers have stepped up in Oak Park and Chicago as city officials have struggled to house the influx of migrants. Some community members have opened their own homes, fundraised for rental assistance and donated furniture and other necessities to help migrants move out of shelters.

T he home offers privacy and the ability to stay rooted in their culture by cooking meals like Venezuelan pepitos or empanadas.

“Some of us sit down here to eat, some go to a room to eat,” Barraez said. “But the thing is tha t we’re always talking, and we’re always together.”

Housing barriers for migrants: ‘Everything is di cult’

Despite the immense need for af fordable, long-term housing for migrants, Chicago and Oak Park recently introduced restrictions on shelter stays. Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city would not open any new shelters. Meanwhile, Oak Park officials will close its two shelters by the end of February.

in the face of much uncertainty

“When I walked in, I was so surprised,” said Meison Barraez, Jose Marquez’s 24-year-old nephew. “I wasn’t expecting something so beautiful.”

With the help of volunteers in suburban Oak Park, the Marquez family moved into a four-bedroom rental home in midJanuary after living in shelters since October. The support is part of a grassroots movement growing throughout the city and state to help find long-term housing for migrant families

For the Marquezes, their new home re presents the first step at building a life in the U.S. and putting life in shelters behind them.

“We didn’t have good food at the hotel,” Milagros said in Spanish, reflecting on their time at the Oak Park hotelturned-shelter. “The girls didn’t eat it. It was a struggle for us to eat it.”

“At least the girls are happy because they feel at home,” she said of their current living situation.

These decisions will force migrants — almost none of whom can work legally — to find alternative housing quickly without funds to pay for it. The median rent in Chicago for a two-bedroom apartment in January was just more than $1,600, according to Apartment List. A family would need a monthly income of $3,700 to af ford that priced apartment, according to Zillow’s Rent Affordability Calculator See VENEZUELAN

S AMANTHA FRIEND CABRER A

e extended Marquez family, from le , Josemith Marquez, 7, Milagros Marquez, 45, Jose Marquez, 39, Amisaday Marquez, 12 and Meison Barraez, 24, pose for a portrait in the dining room of their new home in Forest Park.

S AMANTHA FRIEND CABRER A

Empanadas Venezolanas or Venezuelan empanadas are a staple in the Marquez household, prepared many times throughout the day for a meal or a snack

February 28-March 6

BIG WEEK

28th Annual Forest Park St. Pa trick ’s Day Parade

Saturday, March 2, 1 p.m., Forest Park

Join us for a fun- lled day downtown at the best St. Patrick ’s Day Parade in the western suburbs! 65+ entries include bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local business entries, Medinah Shriner parade units, police and re departments and much more. The parade kicks o at 1 p.m. from Madison and Van Buren and travels east on Madison to Elgin. Grab your friends and join us … or put together a group and be part of the lineup. https://www.exploreforestpark.com/event/ st-patricks-day-parade-2/

One on One Tech Consultations

Thursday, Feb.29, 11 – 11:30 a.m., Forest Park Public Library

Librar y cardholders can book a 30-minute inperson or virtual appointment. Examples of topics: downloading eBooks or audiobooks to a device, using email, setting up a social media account, moving pictures from your phone to your laptop, changing settings on a new device, and more. Please only register for one appointment at a time at fppl.org. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sign Making

Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m. - 12 p.m., Forest Park Public Library - YS Program Room Come and help create signs for the St. Patrick ’s Day Parade. Right after the program, you are welcome to join us to walk in the St. Patrick ’s Day Parade. Designed for grades 3-7. Register at fppl.org. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

St. Patrick’s Parade Day

Saturday, March 2, 11 a.m.– 10:30 p.m., Rober t’s Westside

Robert’s Westside celebrates St Patrick’s Parade Day with free admission starting at 11 a.m. The lineup features Far Too Close from 2 to 3 p.m., followed by the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band from 3 to 4 p.m.. The Bentley Academy of Irish Dance performs at 5 p.m., and Terry White & The Loaded Dice at 7:30 and The Avondale Ramblers close the night from 9 – 10:30 p.m., promising an energetic celebration of Irish culture and music. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Updates to the College Planning Process

Monday, March 4, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Forest Park Public Library

Heidi King from College Inside Track joins us to explain how these changes may impact your family and new strategies you should consider giving your student the best oppor tunity to be admitted and maximize scholarships and nancial aid. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Brain Spor tz Trivia

Tuesday, March 5, 8 p.m., Fatduck Tavern and Grill Join us every Tuesday night (when the patio is tented) for interactive trivia. Grab a team and test your knowledge. Topics are not sports related. Checkout facebook. com/brainspor tz to nd out the categories. 7218 Madison St., Forest Park.

March Trivia Tuesday

Tuesday, March 5, 7 – 10 p.m., Kribi Co ee - Forest Park

No speci c theme this month, just old fashioned general trivia and, as always, your chance to win big with your team. So, grab a friend or two (or ride solo) and a ticket at www.facebook.com/ kribico ee. 7324 Madison St., Forest Park.

Stroller Strides Workout with Fit4Moms

Friday, March 1, 10:15 - 11 a.m., Forest Park Public Library - Austin Room Moms will get moving with strength, cardio, and core training while kids enjoy listening to their favorite stories, playing games, and singing songs. Perfect for moms 6-week postpartum (with doctor clearance) and beyond. Special storytime for more learning and bonding to follow. Please register at the FIT4MOM webpage: https:// t4mom-oakpark.pike13. com/e/225073566 OR email oakpark@ t4mom. com with your rst and last name to register. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

In December 2022, the Illinois Department of Human Services implemented an Emergency Rental Assistance Program for asylum seekers. The program initially provided migrants up to six months of rental assistance if they could secure a lease. As of Jan. 29, about 4,700 people moved out of the city’s shelters with assistance from the state program, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Caseworkers at the city’s shelters were tasked with informing migrants of the rental assistance program to connect them with housing. Still, with a shortage of caseworkers and about 15,000 migrants in shelters, some families have fallen through the cracks

“It wasn’t until just [late January] that there’s now [resettlement case management] support in every single one of [Chicago’s] shelters,” said Beatriz Ponce De León, Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights, during Chicago’s immigration committee meeting at the end of January. “Our shelters grew at a pace that was too fast for the outmigration support…to keep up with.”

For those who have secured emergency rental assistance, it is unclear how many of these families were able to stay in their apartments after state funding ran out.

Without the help of local volunteers, migrants face the impossible task of starting a life in the city as federal backlogs delay work permits for new arrivals

“E ve rything is difficult,” Barra ez said. “Getting a jo b, g etting a house. Ever y single thing is difficult because you’ re an i mmi gr ant. ”

Informal mutual aid groups help migrants nd homes

Chicagoans have used Facebook groups such as Chi Welcome and Refugee Community Connection to provide new arrivals with housing options, resources and support throughout the city. Many have opened their homes to temporarily house migrants, while others offer donations of necessities such as towels, clothing and winter supplies.

When they first arrived, the Marquez es stayed at Chicago’s District 15 police station, a short distance from Oak Park’s town hall center. Oak Park volunteers stepped in to help the Marquez es and other f amilies move out of the police station

and into an Oak Pa rk shelter

“Oak Park and areas like Forest Park…are really nice places to live,” Jose Marquez said. “It’s very calm here, and there are a lot of opportunities to live in a dignified way.”

In recent weeks, the Marquezes’ living room has slowly come to life with the help of volunteers who donated a couch, cabinets, dining room chairs and a television for the house. Oak Park resident and teacher Mika Yamamoto is among several volunteers helping support migrants like the Marquezes. She loaned furniture to the Marquezes from a family home.

In addition to those supporting the Marquez family, a small group of Oak Park volunteers recently launched the Oak Park Community Migrant Resettlement Mission,an infor mal task force and mutual aid ef fort to help migrants resettle in the United States and find long-term housing solutions outside shelters.

Maya Puentes is part of the group of nine core members and dozens of other volunteers from the village They’ve helped with food distribution, gathering donations and fundraising to support migrants

Puentes, a grandchild of Mexican immigrants, was determined to use her skills as a realtor to help people find housing as roughly 140 migrants arrived at Oak Park shelters.

“Until you are really in your own space and feel like you can call something home, you don’t feel settled,” Puentes said. “So, how can you truly start to get out of survival mode?”

Oak Park volunteer Betty Alzamora, a firstgeneration Venezuelan immigrant, believes legal services, housing, and mutual aid support to migrants are essential to giving immigrants a fighting chance to get their lives started in the U.S.

“As volunteers, as organizers and as activists, the intent here has always been trying to help people find dignified shelter and gain access to services that are legitimate asks for anybody who is coming seeking asylum in this country,” Alzamora said.

The Oak Park Migrant Resettlement Mission, similar to the volunteers that helped the Marquez family, is trying to help resettle other migrants from Oak Park shelters. They aim to fundraise for up to a year’s rent for each family they help resettle. But it can be challenging to find affordable housing in Chicago and surrounding areas, Puentes said.

Volunteers have high hopes of getting families into more permanent housing

Oak Park volunteers have high expectations for their mutual aid resettlement efforts. They aim to resettle roughly 140 mi-

grants before the village of Oak Park closes its two shelters at the end of February.

However, the grassroots effort is limited

So far, the volunteers have resettled four families and located housing for three others preparing to move into their new homes

The Oak Park Migrant Resettlement Mission is continuing to find more potential housing options for migrants

“It seems overwhelming, and it is a lot,” Puentes said. “But I have to believe that it’s possible. I won’t let myself believe anything else at this point.”

Alzamora and Puentes emphasized that community ef for ts and collaboration are vital to move forward. They hope to collaborate with other suburbs to continue working toward finding solutions to the current housing crisis

Any step forward, even a little one, can make a world of difference, Puentes added.

“Poco a poco, little by little,” Puentes said. “I’m just going to take what’s in front of me and do the best that I can with that.”

While volunteers work to raise rental funds for other families, the Marquezes are trying to get their work permits. Without them, they will likely be unable to pay rent in the new home long-term. One month’s rent in the house is $3,300, and that doesn’t include costs like utilities and furniture. For now, volunteers helped the Marquezes pay for the home’s deposit and the first month of rent.

The Marquez family has been grateful for the support they’ve received from volunteers, like Yamamoto, who helped them furnish and pay for their house. But they worry about the short time they have before they have to start paying rent, especially because they still need federal work permits to establish a stable income.

“A month to find stability? That is impossible,” Milagros said. “When you are an immigrant, much more if you have no family, you have no one here, it is even more impossible.”

Months of federal backlogs and barriers to applying for Temporary Protected Status and asylum have made it difficult for the Marquezes and thousands of other migrant families to secure work permits and deportation protections

The family wants to apply for asylum and is looking for an immigration lawyer to help them. But for now, the house is a start.

“In this house, there is a lot of talent,” Jose Marquez said. “But we just need to have the opportunity to work.”

This story is re published from Borderless as part of a partnership with Growing Community Media.

Kokenes said that the Chamber of Commerce holds the parade two weeks before the actual St, Paddy’s Day, because folks like the bagpipe bands all tend to be booked up on the actual date commemorating the Irish saint, and “to drive business to Forest Park before the official St. Patrick’s Day weekend.”

we host,” she said, “sponsors are key to making the parade happen. A huge thanks to this year’s Title Sponsors: Village of Forest Park, O’Sullivan’s Public House; Ironworkers Local 1, Rework Office Furniture and Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch and Liuna Local One.”

She listed more than 20 other businesses, organizations and individuals who are supporting the event in one way or another.

Other organizations support the parade with time and talent. Sal Stella, the Director of Forest Park’s Department of Public works, for example, said, “public works is

In that re gard, the bars along Madison Street will have a good day.

Heidi Vance, co-owner of Team Blonde, a boutique and spa, said that what she is hoping for is exposure. She said she will make sure that her windows have attractive displays so that as bar hoppers pass by her store, they will make mental notes to return.

Kokenes said that although the Chamber of Commerce orchestrates the parade, the event is successful because many supporters pitch in time, talent and money.

“As with any event

all-hands-on-deck for the event – 14 fulltime guys and me.”

Chief of Police Ken Gross said a security plan is in place. T he fire department is also prepared.

“The Forest Park Police De partment,” he said, “does have concerns about a number of potential problems that we could encounter on parade day and are prepared to face them all efficiently and effectively.”

The parade will step of f at 1 pm March 2 from the corner of Madison and Van Buren and about eight tenths of a mile later will finish where Elgin crosses Madison. The parade lasts for about two hours.

“Together with the village and other key organizations, we all work together to keep Forest Park strong,” Kokenes said.

e Prov iso East High School Marching Band walking up Washing ton Boulevard during the 2022 parade.

Celebrate the ne arts in Forest Park this spring

Check out what’s on deck

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

You might not believe that spring is right around the corner, but one thing you can count on is that a fine arts “superbloom” is. What’s more, the abundance of graphic art, film, music and the spoken word will be accessible to the whole community whether they participate as performers or audience.

GRAPHIC ARTS, SCULTURE, CRAFTS

BRUSHES ON THE BRIDGE— May 18

(Rain date May 25). A joint ef fort of the Arts Alliance and the Village of Forest Park, Brushes on the Bridge is an event in which residents will repaint the murals on the Circle Avenue Bridge.

The $40 entry fee includes Brushes on the Bridge kit, which includes seven latex paint colors and paint brushes to be used to paint a 10-inch-by 2.2-foot section on the bridge.

GARAGE GALLERIES—August 24, noon-6 p.m. Now in its 8th year, Garage Galleries is a neighborhood art walk, drawing artists and patrons from Forest Parks and Chicagoland. As many as 90 artists from varied media are expected to participate in local hosts’ garages. Art is accessible in both display and price.

ART STOPS AT THE WINE WALK—

April 20, noon-5 p.m. This is the second time that the Chamber’s Wine Walk will feature art stops. These stops showcase local talents and expand the shopping opportunities at the wine walk.

MAKERS MARKET—April 27, 1-4 p.m. at Robert’s Westside. Makers Market builds on the extraordinary success of Garage Galleries by bringing the artists additional opportunities in this market.

SPOKEN WORD

PLAYS BY WOMEN, READERS THEATER—All performances will take place at the Forest Park American Legion Hall,

at 500 Circle Ave. beginning at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. General admission is $20, while AAFP members will pay $15. Tickets will be available at the door or online.

■ March 7 & 10 - Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, adapted by Polly Teale

■ May 2 & 5– Malapert Love by Siah Berlatsky

TELLERS NIGHT—Stories are told onstage at Tellers’ Night every second Tuesday of the month at Rober’s Westside, 7321 Madison St. beginning at 6:30 p.m. Drinks and snacks are available at a cash bar. Tickets are $15 and $10 for AAFP members.

MUSIC

STOOP SESSIONS—The audience sets up lawn chairs and enjoys a concert by local musicians and vocalists performed on a front porch. Musicians and locations TBD.

■ June 11 (Rain date June 13)

■ June 25 (Rain date June 27)

■ July 9 (Rain date July 11)

■ July 23 (Rain date July 25)

■ August 6 (Rain date August 8)

FILM

48 HOUR FILM CHALLENGE—April 14. The Challenge is that re gistered teams are given 48 hours to write, perform, film, and edit a 5–10 minute-video that must include a line of dialogue and a prop assigned to all the teams.

The re gistration for teams will be at the AAFP website, http://www.forestparkarts. org by March 1 and due by April 1.

FILM FESTIVAL—April 20. The Second Annual Film Festival is a “red carpet” event held one week later, April 20, 7 p.m. in St. Bernardine Fearon Hall. Tickets will be available on the website and at the door, $25 for nonmembers, $20 AAFP. Submitted films will be viewed by the audience and judged for the People’s Choice Award.

Two Proviso students die in car accident

e community is mourning the loss of teens Evelyn Martinez and Rose Hernandez

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The Proviso Township High School District 209 community is mourning the loss of two students who died in a car crash the night before Valentine’s Day.

According to two public GoFundMe campaigns, Evelyn Martinez, 18, and Rose Hernandez, also 18, passed away following the fatal crash on Feb. 13.

The accident occurred Tuesday, Feb. 13 on the 3600 block of Mannheim Road in Franklin Park, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner website.

According to Fox 32 Chicago, the crash occurred a little after 7 p.m. when a car with the two teenagers heading northbound on Mannheim Road drove into oncoming traffic and struck another vehicle.

Both cars caught fire and bystanders attempted to help the passengers.

The Franklin Park Police Department was not able to be reached for comment and a for mal request for more information has been submitted.

On Feb. 14, the Proviso school district released a statement informing the D209 community about the loss of the two students

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the unfortunate news of the passing of two Proviso students in a tragic accident that occurred on February 13,” officials said in the statement. “Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the families and loved ones of those students as they navigate through this incredibly difficult time.”

Kristine Vendenbroek, director of public and community relations for D209, said that no other information would be provided at this time

In the statement, D209 officials said they will be offering support to students and staf f through g rief counseling and additional resources to help “cope with the

Friends and family paid tribute to Evely n Martinez and Rose Hernandez at the site of the crash

impact of this tragedy.”

A tribute was organized for the girls at the crash site Feb. 16. Family and friends came to pay their respects to the two teenagers, leaving behind dozens of lit candles, flowers, pink balloons, and their favorite snacks, including Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, bags of Hot Cheetos and Skittles

Pictures of the girls smiling were also displayed and rosaries hung in the wind

A GoFundMe organized by Stacy Ramirez is hoping to raise $25,000 to help the Martinez-Reyes family

“Evelyn was a kind-hearted human being,” read the GoFundMe. “Always filling a room with laughter and showing kindness to those she loved. She had a whole life ahead of her full of goals and dreams that were unfortunately cut short.”

As of Feb. 21, through 278 donations, $16,868 have been raised.

Ramirez said the Martinez-Reyes family declined to comment at this time.

A GoFundMe for Rose has also been set up with hopes of “giving her a proper farewell.”

“She was only 18 with so many dreams and goals to still accomplish,” read the GoFundMe. “Rose leaves behind a lot of family and friends that loved her so very much.”

The GoFundMe for Rose has raised over $15,000 of their $20,000 goal.

Rose’s family was not able to be reached for comment.

No funeral details have been released for either girl.

AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

Local nonpro ts o er rapid housing help for victims of domestic violence

e goal of the new program is to get them in safe, stable homes quickly

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Two local nonprofit powerhouses have partnered to create a program that will house families fleeing domestic violence in the wester n Cook County suburbs for two years.

The collaboration is designed to help victims of domestic violence move quickly into safe, stable housing

Housing Forward in Maywood and Sarah’s Inn of Forest Park began planning the program, called Safe Bridge Housing about five years ago, and in October, they received a $1 million-a-year grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It covers temporary housing for 28 households, plus counseling and case management services for up to two years.

“Our ability to support families is often limited because much of our long-term supportive housing requires that the head of household have a disabling condition,” said Patricia Stokes, senior director of supportive housing at Housing Forward, which provides housing to unhoused individuals.

As more and more families came to Housing Forward for services, Stokes said, “there was a need for more capacity to support those families as they transition from the trauma that they were experiencing to a more stable living environment.”

“Finding safe affordable housing for both our populations of clients is a challenge in West Cook County, in particular for victims of domestic violence, where maybe they have some additional unique challenges,” said Carol Gall, executive director at Sarah’s Inn, an agency that offers counseling and advocacy services to those experiencing domestic violence.

Sarah’s Inn receives referrals from Cook County’s coordinated entry system, a process that assesses those experiencing homeless-

ness in the suburbs and refers them to housing assistance programs. Even before Safe Bridge Housing, Sarah’s Inn has been a referral site for the coordinated entry system for about three years.

Through Safe Bridge, Sarah’s Inn contracts Housing Forward to provide case management services and resources, such as connecting families to social security benefits and DCFS, plus providing 28 units of transitional housing or rapid rehousing.

“Transitional housing offers a more immediate response to families because we have units that have a master lease that are ready to receive families if there is an emergency,” Stokes said. Families in Housing Forward’s nine transitional housing units don’t have to pay utilities or rent. The other 19 units are for rapid rehousing.

“If they stabilize and are able to take on more responsibility, they can move to rapid rehousing,” Stokes said.

In those cases, families that are a part of the Safe Bridge Housing program are responsible for utilities and contribute 30% of their income toward rent. These families also have the opportunity to take over the lease.

“The idea is that these individuals are growing roots and stabilizing their families and their children

After two year a support network and are and they don’

To manage the inf ing Forward has housing for the incoming case managers new case managers

“There may be some clients w potentially seeing some of our other staf well, such as child and family counselor Gall said.

“We hope that this project will be suc cessful in quickly moving surv instability to a saf Stokes said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violenc Sarah’s Inn crisis line at 708-386-4225 or visit https://the-netw for anonymous, confidential online chat in Spanish and English.

D209 appoints 2 interim superintendents amid Karvelas’ leave

e internal hires will share the role while Karvelas is on leave

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The Proviso D209 Board of Education approved to appoint two interim superintendents to replace Bessie Karvelas, who is on approved temporary leave

Alexander Aschoff, who was serving as the district coordinator for data and assessment, and Luke Pavone, who was serving as deputy superintendent of operations, were appointed as co-acting interim superintendents during the absence of Bessie Karvelas

The motion passed during a special board meeting held Wednesday night at PMSA.

Board member Sandra Hixson abstained from the vote.

Board members David Ocampo, Samuel Valtier re z, and Rodney Alexander voted

in favor, as did Amanda Grant, the board’s board president.

Board members Jenny Barbahen and Arbdella Patterson were not in attendance.

Aschof f, who has been with the district since 2004, said he is devoted to the Proviso community.

“I am honored,” Aschoff said. “Proviso has been my family away from my family. It is my first job I gained coming out of college at Illinois State. It is an incredible honor to be in this position because my sole purpose as an educator is to help this community.”

Aschoff came to Proviso as a science teacher at Proviso East and has since served in various positions within the district, including science department chair in 2017.

In 2019, Aschoff became the science district coordinator and has been serving as the coordinator of data assessment for the district since 2021.

Aschoff went back to school to receive his superintendent certificate and is attending Concordia University for a doctorate of education degree

Aschoff is also the co-author of “Teaching

in a Competency-Based Secondary School,” a book that he authored alongside Robert J. Marzano and Ashley Avila.

His partner in this new adventure, Pavone, said he was also honored to have been selected as co-interim superintendent.

While Pavone is new with the district — he started in 2023 — he has a long history as an educator

Pavone has served in positions such as building administrator and deputy superintendent.

From 2016 through 2020, Pavone was the assistant principal at Beverly Hills High School and the executive director for human resources for the Beverly Hills Unified School District.

For the last three years before coming to Proviso, Pavone was the assistant superintendent in the Elmhurst school district.

“All of my experiences have led me up to this point,” Pavone said. “I didn’t know this opportunity was going to happen but I think everything is working out the way it is. I really like Proviso Township. There are a lot of great things happening in this district.”

Pavone said he is looking forward to continuing to work together with Aschoff.

“We are just happy to be able to provide the necessary guidance to get all three of our buildings to that end of the school year,” Pavone said.

While both educators said they would consider a role of superintendent before retiring from their education careers, right now the focus is the needs of D209.

“What we can do in that time is work with our teachers and help out students,” said Aschoff. “Work with the community, work with the parents on what can be done in the time that Mr. Pavone and I are in the position. One of my best friends always says ‘we’ ll see,’ so we’ ll see.”

As D209 continues its search for a permanent superintendent, they have continued to invite the community to be a part of those conversations. A community forum was held on Wednesday at Proviso East’s auditorium and a virtual community forum was held on Thursday night through Google meets, with a link available on the district’s website.

CRIME Domestic battery and trouble

■ A man said his wife hit him in the face Feb. 16 at their home on Hannah Avenue during a discussion of a possible separation. Police have record of a previous domestic incident between the couple. The man signed a complaint refusal form against his wife and was provided with an informational sheet on domestic violence. Police made a report to DCFS, because the couple’s newborn son was present during the incident.

■ A woman from the 7700 block of Yuba Avenue came into the police department Feb. 16 to file a report against her brother, who called her the week before saying he was arrested and that his dog was in an abandoned building in Chicago. The woman went to get the dog and took it to an animal shelter. When the brother was released from jail and unable to get his dog back from the shelter, he sent her threatening messages over Facebook. She was told to get an order of protection against her brother if his behavior worsens

■ Police arrived at a residence on Des Plaines Avenue Feb.18 to address a report of domestic battery. The victim, let into the residence by a roommate, caught a man he’d had a relationship with last year with a man who had broken up with the him just hours before. A verbal and physical altercation followed, and the victim had a ripped shirt, bloody face, and said he was stabbed in his left hand by one of the men. The two men were each charged with a count of domestic battery and given a date to appear in court.

House re, no one injured

A house fire broke out on the rear porch of a residence in the 500 block of Circle Avenue Monday morning. Although an upstairs window at the front of the house was shattered, the homeowner said she didn’t know the extent of the fire or smoke damage. No one was injured.

Residential burglary

Police responded to a burglary on Adams Street Feb. 18. The victim left the residence in the evening and, when he returned a few hours later, found the kitchen and bedroom windows open, which he doesn’t believe were locked. His handheld gaming computer was missing, along with a sword, totaling more than $500.

Criminal damage to property

■ A woman came into the police station Feb. 20 to report that the day before, she’d parked her 2012 Kia in the 1100 block of Hannah Avenue and when she returned, her left

rear passenger window was shattered. Nothing in her car had been stolen.

■ A woman reported that she parked her 2013 Hyundai on Marengo Avenue Feb. 20 and returned to a damaged rear passenger window. None of her items were missing from the vehicle, and the offender has not been identified.

Violation of order of protection

A woman at Ferdinand Avenue reported Feb. 21 a violation of a court order against her ex-boyfriend for ongoing domestic issues. Last May, she issued an order of protection against her ex, which is valid through May 2025. Her ex-boyfriend was arrested by the River Forest Police Department Feb. 7 and was held in Cook County Department of Corrections through Feb. 20. He called the woman Feb. 18 and twice Feb. 20. Police contacted DuPage County Jail and put the woman’s cell number on a block list, which would prevent the man from calling her on his personal jail account, but not another prisoner’s. He has now been released from jail and a watch has been placed on the woman’s residence.

Suspicious circumstances

■ A woman living on Roosevelt Road reported Feb. 22 that the day before, a subject wearing all black and a ski mask followed her 10-year-old son into the building. She contacted her property management company for footage from their video cameras

■ Police responded to the 1300 block of Des Plaines Avenue Feb. 21 after receiving a call from a Walmart employee. He reported seeing a man and a woman pulling on car door handles in the Walmart parking lot. Police addressed the suspects and discovered they had four laptops that they denied ownership of. Because the suspects weren’t observed entering any vehicles, they were released and on the scene. Police confiscated the laptops and said they would return them if the suspects could provide receipts.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated Feb. 16 through Feb. 22 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. Compiled by Jessica Mordacq, staff reporter

What to know about the 2024 primary races in Cook County

Suburban

By LUZANE DRAUGHON, TRENT BROWN and ERIKA HOBBS Staff Reporters and Editor

Key races across Cook County will be decided by voters in the upcoming 2024 primary and general election.

In the highly contested run for incumbent Danny K. Davis’ seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, many eyes will be on Kina Collins as she tries for a third time to take the seat. Others will be wondering about Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who has been under fire for alleged ethics violations

Earlier this year, Kim Foxx announced she would not seek reelection as the Cook County State’s Attorney. A few candidates are running to fill the seat, affecting many pressing criminal justice issues in Cook County

Here’s what to know about the upcoming primary elections, the candidates and how to vote.

Who is running?

FEDERAL

U.S. House of Representatives, 4th District 2-year terms

• Jesús “Chuy

García has held the House of Re presentatives seat since 2019.

García serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as well as several Congressional caucuses, in cluding the Congressional Equity Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional La bor Caucus, the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, and the New Americans Caucus. He also serves as the vice chair at large for the Congressional Progressive Caucus and as a founding member of the Future of Transportation Caucus. Before being elected to Congress, García served as a Chicago Alderman from 1986-1993, an Illinois State Senator from 1993-1999 (of which he was the first Mexican-American

Cook County can begin traditional early voting on March 4

member) and a Cook County Commissioner from 2010-2018. Last year and in 2015, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Chicago. Throughout his political career, García has been known as a progressive

• Raymond Lopez

as the abuse of power. The city settled with the ex-employees. Conyears-Ervin has denied the alle gations. However, an Office of Inspector General investigation found this was a case of retaliation and the Chicago Board of Ethics ratified the findings Nov. 13. She can contest the results.

• Kina Collins

The Chicago alderman from the 15th Ward announced his run for the House seat last October. Lopez, who was elected to the Chicago City Council in 2015, is a selfdescribed “commonsense Democrat” who aims to “govern from the middle.” In 2012, Lopez ran unopposed to be the Democratic Committeeman for the 15th Ward, his first time being elected, making him the first openly gay Latino to hold office in Illinois. The year before, he ran unsuccessfully for his current aldermanic position. He also ran for mayor of Chicago in 2022 but dropped out before the 2023 election. Lopez has been known as a critic of for mer Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her tenure and has a reputation for being tough on crime.

U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District 2-year terms

• Melissa Conyears-Er vin

The Chicago easurer and state re presentati officially announced she was running earlier this year. Sh Davis, is running amid alle gations of unethical conduct. In Springfield, according to her bio graphy, she passed bills to provide more funding for af fordable childcare and new, more equitable funding for Chicago Public Schools. In a 2020 letter, Tif fany Harper, Conyears-Ervin’s for mer chief of staf f, and Ashley Evans, another city treasurer employee, said they were fired in retaliation after they questioned what they described

• Danny K.

Davis, the 82-yearold Democratic in cumbent, has been in this seat for nearly three decades, totaling 14 terms in the posi tion. However, his seat isn’t safe this year in a highly contested primary. He announced last June that he would yet again. He is a for mer educator, community org anizer and civil rights He is known for his and criminal justice reform. According to The Intercept, he is facing scrutiny in connection with using Congressional funds to buy campaign advertising. He has denied the alle gations.

• Kouri Marshall

This is Marshall’s first run for office. He worked on for mer U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelecfor mer First District Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin Illinois Gov.

B. Pritzker. He now serves as a director of state and local public policy for the Chamess, a trade organization for ompanies. Marshall told Austin Weekly News last year that he respected Davis’ decades of service but added that his campaign was about the future.

• Nikhil Bhatia

Bhatia, an Indian American, is a math teacher in Grand Crossing and an elected Local School Council member at Galileo Scholastic Academy

Collins is challenging incumbent Davis for the third time. In 2022, she was within 6 percentage points of winning in the priaccording to WBEZ. In 2017, med the Chicago Neighborhood Alliance to empower activists to end gun violence in Chicago. According to her campaign, she coauthored the Illinois Council on Women and Girls Act and served as the inaugural chairoman of a council that stemmed from that . During the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election, Collins helped form a coalition of organizations called Brand New Council, ich aimed to elect progressive candidates color to the city’s council.

• Chad Koppie

Koppie is the sole Re publican candidate in the heavily Democratic district.

STAT E

State Representative, 8th District

La Shawn K. Ford is running unopposed.

State Representative, 78th District

Camille Lilly, assistant majority leader, is running unopposed.

C OOK COUNT Y

State’s Attorney 4-year term

• Clayton Harris III

Harris is a public policy professor and for mer prosecutor, and is the Democratic Party’s pick to replace Kim Foxx.

• Eileen O’Neill Burke

Burke is also running as a Democrat and is leading Harris in fundraising.

Why do these races matter?

Not only is voting a right for most American citizens over 18, but it’s also a civic duty Why is that?

In local elections, turnout is often lower, according to Campus Election Engagement Project. This means individual votes can make a bigger difference. Understanding the roles of local executive, legislative and legal positions can help influence choices that affect Cook County

U.S. Representatives, like Davis, introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The U.S. House of Representatives can collectively impeach federal officers and even elect the President if there were an Electoral College tie.

State Representatives, alongside state senators, form the legislative branch of Illinois. They work with the gover nor to create laws and establish a budget. State Representatives can pass bills on public policy, affect state spending, raise or lower taxes and override gubernatorial vetoes.

Illinois Supreme Court justices serve on the state’s highest court and hear appeals of lower court cases. The court has authority over all courts in the state

The Cook County State’s Attorney can seek convictions for many pressing criminal justice issues in the areas, including shootings and murders. Cook County is one of the largest counties in the area, meaning the

• Bob Fioretti

Former Chicago Ald. Fioretti ran for state’s attorney as a Democrat in 2020, but is running unopposed in the Re publican primary this time around.

• Andrew Charles Kopinski Kopinski, an attorney, is running as a Libertarian.

Clerk of the Circuit Court 4-year term

• Iris Mar tinez

Incumbent Martinez was the first Latina in the state Senate to become assistant majority leader. She won the last election without the Democratic Party’s backing.

• Mariyana Spyropoulos

Spyropoulos, an attorney and for mer commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Recla-

state’s attorney’s decisions have a big impact on Illinois’ prison population, according to WBEZ.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court oversees case files and documents for the largest court system in Illinois. The clerk attends court sessions and preserves court records.

The Cook County Commissioner 1st District covers the West Side of Chicago and western suburbs. Commissioners make sure citizen concerns are met, requirements are fulfilled on the federal and state level and that operations run smoothly, according to Cook County Gover nment.

Where to vote

Limited early voting began Feb. 21. Traditional early voting begins March 4 in suburban Cook County. This may not be an exhaustive list of polling places; to find your polling place, visit https://ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx. Or visit FPR: https://ow.ly/a01650QIixg ** indicates an early voting location.

Forest Park:

■ Grant-White School, 147 Circle Ave.

■ Garfield School, 543 Hannah Ave.

■ Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Blvd.

■ Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison St.

mation District of Greater Chicago, has received many endorsements, including from the Cook County Democratic Party.

• Lupe Aguirre

Aguir re is running as a Re publican despite several unsuccessful campaigns for county offices in the past.

• Michael Murphy Murphy is running as a Libertarian.

Board of Review Commissioner, 3rd District 4-year term

• Larry Rogers Jr.

Ro gers assumed office in 2004 and his current term ends Dec. 2, 2024.

• Larecia Tucker

■ Betsy Ross School, 1315 Marengo Ave.

■ Field Stevenson School, 925 Beloit Ave.

Oak Park:

■ Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St.**

■ Village Hall is only open for early voting, not on March 19.

■ Hatch Elementary School, 1000 Ridgeland Ave.

■ Whittier Elementary School, 715 N. Harvey Ave.

■ J L Hedges Administration Center, 218 Madison St.

■ Oak Park Public Library - Maze Branch, 845 Gunderson Ave.

■ Abrahan Lincoln Elementary School, 1111 S. Grove Ave.

■ Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School, 508 N. Kenilworth Ave.

■ St. Giles Religious Education, 1101 Columbian Ave.

■ The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, 178 Forest Ave.

■ Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St.

■ Oak Park and River Forest High School, 201 N. Scoville Ave.

■ Washington Irving School, 1125 S. Cuyler Ave.

■ William Beye Elementary School, 230 N. Cuyler Ave.

■ West Central Church, 1154 Wisconsin Ave.

Commissioner, 1st District Unexpired 2-year terms

• Tara Stamps

Stamps, a community activist and Chicago Teachers Union member, was selected to take Brandon Johnson’s seat after he was elected mayor in 2023. The district spans the city and the suburbs, including Austin, Oak Park, Forest Park, Maywood and Bellwood. Stamps is a for mer teacher and now serves as an administrator of new teacher development for the CTU.

• Zerlina A. Smith-Members

Smith-Member s, of Austin, is a c ommunity activist and victim services c oordinator for To g ether Chicag o, a non-profit agency that helps victims of c rime and p eople in need who live in the Garfield Pa rk and Austin c ommunities. SmithMembers also ser ve d as the I llinois re -

■ Longfellow Elementary School, 715 Highland Ave.

■ Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St.

■ Horace Mann Elementary School, 921 N. Kenilworth Ave.

■ Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.

■ Oak Park Township, 105 S. Oak Park Ave.

■ Dole Learning Center, 255 Augusta St.

■ Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland

Austin:

■ Sayre Elementary Language Academy, 1850 North Newland Ave.

■ Rutherford Sayre Fieldhouse, 6871 West Belden Ave.

■ Galewood Community United Church of Christ, 1776 North Narragansett Ave.

■ Hamlett-Isom CME Church, 5446 West Division St.

■ Sankofa Cultural Arts and Business Center, 5820 West Chicago Ave.

■ Heritage Inter national Christian Church, 5312 West North Ave.

Voters can also find their polling location or submit a ballot by mail on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website at https:// www.cookcount yc le rk il.gov/elections / your-voter-information.

Re porter Jessica Mordacq contributed to this article.

gional director for Jill S tein in the 2016 presidential campaign

• James Humay

Humay is running as a Libertarian.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioners

6-year terms

• Marcelino Garcia

• Daniel Pogorzelski

• Kari Steele

• Sharon Waller

• Claire Connelly

• Richard Dale

• Brendan Ehlers

• George Blakemore

• Toneal Jackson

Forest Park Bank Makes it Possible.

Forest Park Bank. A Community Bank for over 80 years.

Message from the Chamber

This Saturday is St. Patty’s in Forest Park

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 if the current forecast holds, this could be the largest crowd yet.

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 27 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, no matter 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 Local 1, Rework Office Furniture and Speaker Emaunel ‘Chris’ Welch and Liuna Local One. Advertising Sponsors: Advanced Orthodontic Specialists, Parkway Dispensary, Mohr Oil, McDonald’s Forest Park, Shanahan’s, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Republic Services, Fatduck Tavern and Grill, Riveredge Hospital, Currie Motors and Burke Beverage. Shamrock

Sponsors: Scratch Public House, Robert’s Westside, Original Hooters, Chicago White Sox, Dot Doc, Dog Den Chicago, Our Planet Automotive, Friends for Owen J. Shelby, Grace Lutheran School, and Mid-America Carpenters Region Council. Leprechaun Sponsor: Citizens for Judge Debjani Desai.

I also want to thank 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 one and all.

LAURIE KOKENES DIRECTOR

Sundays

ForestPark

An hour long small group Bible study

Wednesday

Bible study & prayer 7:00 pm

An hour of prayer & small group Bible study

We LOVE our community, so we are praying for everyone in our community. God cares and he answers prayers. Please let us know how we can pray for you and your family! Either scan the QR code, call, or email us at prayer@forestparkbaptist.com.

Already, it’s St. Pat’s

Early re ports are that Saturday will be sunny and in the 60s. For those of us who have marched through sleet, downpours and snow in Forest Park’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, this sounds like a weird and unnatural weather gift.

We’ll take it — despite worries our grandchildren will pay for this climate cataclysm on future St. Pat’s days.

OK, enough reality. Forest Park is anticipating crowds along Madison Street which could reach close to 10,000 people. This parade is endless fun and one our village’s premier opportunities to show off to visitors looking for an excuse to celebrate two weeks ahead of the actual St. Parick’s Day.

The Review will be among the 70 or so organizations marching this Saturday. We’re hoping to be lined up close enough to hear the Proviso East Marching Band

See you on the street.

Arts blossom

While we are previewing Saturday’s parade, let’s also point out the story in today’s Review that spells out the full range of arts and culture events coming right up during Forest Park’s spring season.

We come back to this subject regularly Forest Park has blossomed into an arts mecca in a decidedly idiosyncratic way. We’re not talking about symphonies and a Bogart film festival. Forest Park’s lineup is homegrown, participatory and fun.

In May there is the repainting of the Circle Avenue bridge. Art with a glass or two of wine during the April Wine Walk. Readers Theater featuring plays by women in March and May at the American Legion Hall. Stoop Sessions — five in all — starting in June. Bring your lawn chair. The Arts Alliance is bringing back its 48 Hour Film Challenge. Participants have to make the short films before the rest of us gather to watch them.

New to the scene is Robert’s Westside, the Madison Street venue, clearly open to hosting all manner of arts exploration, including a Makers Market in April and a (Story) Tellers Night every second Tuesday.

Be there.

A

new niche in housing

When two essential nonprofits join together to solve a problem, well, things happen. Housing Forward, Maywood based, and Sarah’s Inn, headquartered in Forest Park, have won federal funding to create a transitional housing program for families fleeing domestic violence.

Providing those families with stable, mid-term housing is vital to holding families close, to offering a base of operations where traumatized people can regroup and step toward a future of safety and love

OPINION

Primary season and Ash Wednesday

If Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer, then this year we could say Ash Wednesday was the unofficial start of the presidential primary season. As I drove home from the Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 14, the irony of the coincidence struck me

Along with a small congregation of about 20 others, I said, “we confess … that we have sinned by our fault, by our own fault, by our own most grievous fault, in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.”

The irony for me is that Ash Wednesday and Lent, along with Yom Kippur (Oct. 11-12) and Ramadan (March 10-April 9) are times set aside by each tradition for self-examination, and the presidential primary season is a time when candidates instead examine, judge and blame their opponents. It’s the other guy who is always to blame

In my 30 years as a parish pastor, I was fortunate to spend time with the 12-step community. Whenever a family member would enter a recovery program, the family members would be urged to go to Al-Anon meetings because the assumption is that the world is not composed of good guys and bad guys but that we are all part of systems We are all interconnected

Where there are alcoholics, there are usually enablers. Where there are lying MAGAs who spread fake news, look for pretentious, self-righteous progressive elites who also contribute to the dysfunctional system.

Years ago, I sat in on a family counseling session in which the adolescent girl in the family was labeled as “the troublemaker.” The wise old counselor had the father do the standard exercise in which he would repeat what his daughter was saying till he got it right.

When the exercise ended, the counselor said to the father, “You got the words exactly right, but did you hear the music?”

If we listen to the songs MAGAs are singing, the words seem irrational, infantile and delusional, but if we listen to the music of the songs they sing, we might realize that there are some heartfelt emotions being expressed that we miss if we focus only on the lyrics.

If we are part of one big systemic family, are we willing to listen to the music and explore underneath the words to lear n what is really causing pain to our fellow citizens?

It’s so easy to indict the for mer president on a lot

more than 91 counts of ethical felonies Compared to him, we are guilty of at most a few moral misdemeanors.

The religious tradition I’m rooted in urges, “Take the log out of your own eye before you attempt to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”

What I hear over and over in campaign speech soundtracks is, “I may have a speck in my eye but it’s my opponent who has the log, and it’s self-evident that my opponent is not only misguided but a dangerous enemy.”

What I’m contending is that we progressives in this area tend to be educated — 52.4% having college degrees — which equips us to be good with words, which enables us to rationalize, to explain away any guilt or responsibility for anything We are so good with words that we are able to convince ourselves we see reality with 20/20 vision.

“A frantic stream of words flows from us in an attempt to straighten others out,” wrote Richard Foster, “to see things our way.”

But on Ash Wednesday I found myself unable to squirm out of the ethical bind I was in. As I read the long litany of sins, I found several that had my name attached to them — not loving our neighbors as ourselves, false judgments, uncharitable thoughts toward others, prejudice, our contempt for those who differ from us politically, unfaithfulness, pride, envy, hypocrisy, and self-indulgent appetites and ways

I think the Ash Wednesday litany clarifies what Michelle Obama meant when she said, “When they go low, we go high.”

When she said, we go high, she was holding herself to a higher ethical standard than a lowest moral common denominator which claims, “I’m a good person. I don’t rob or kill. I pay my taxes and I vote.”

Ash Wednesday is about acknowledging the existence of logs in our own eyes even if we can’t see them, beginning to search for them, assuming that they are there even when our ideological lens can’t focus in that way.

When Biden debates Trump, which I assume is the way it will play out, I’d love to hear President Biden confess, “You know, I screwed up regarding our withdrawal from Afghanistan.”

I’m sure Donald Trump would mock his statement as a sign of weakness, but I would say a quiet “amen” because it would be a sign that Lunchbox Joe was in the process of taking the log out his own eye.

Editor Erika Hobbs

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq

Amaris Rodriguez

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, 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

Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales and Marketing Representatives

Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe

Business & Development Manager

Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projec ts Manager Susan Walker

Board of Directors

Chair Judy Gre n

Treasurer Nile Wendorf

Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

HOW TO REACH US

ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066

EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com

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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.

© 2024 Growing Community Media NFP.

Bond between the Irish and Native Americans

The Great Famine of 1847 in Ireland was worldwide news. Many nations came to the aid of the starving country. Among them was the Choctaw Nation. They heard about the dire situation facing the Irish and could not stand by without helping. This tribe of Native Americans pooled $170 for Irish relief

This modest gift would be worth around $5,000 in today’s dollars and it directly impacted the survival of many in Ireland. The kindness and generosity of the Choctaws has never been forgotten in Ireland Since then, the relationship between the two nations has only deepened

to reservations in Arkansas

The Choctaw were still reeling from this devastation when they answered Ireland’s cry for help That simple act of kindness has cemented the bond between Ireland and the Choctaw Nation, which continues to this day.

In 2020, the Irish honored that sacred bond by raising money for the Native American tribes that were hit hardest by the pandemic. They raised $7,865,930 to help supply clean water, food and health supplies to people in the Navajo Nation and Hopi Reservation.

eyes. “I knew what being Choctaw meant to me, but I didn’t know a lot about what it meant to be Irish.” Studying at University College Cork has helped her bridge the gap between these two identities

The Irish and Native Americans have long felt a kinship. They both came from tribal societies that valued communal living, storytelling and music-making

Our area, though, also experienced the forced removal of Native Americans. In 1833, the Treaty of Chicago removed Native Americans to a reservation in Kansas. Many of the local Irish settlers followed them.

At the time they made their gift, the Choctaws had already suffered their own catastrophe — 60,000 of them had been forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in the Deep South. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 sent them on a death march that came to be called “The Trail of Tears.”

First their homes were bur ned down. Then they were chained to gether and forced to walk with just the clothes on their backs. They died of exposure, disease and starvation. One-third of the tribe members perished during the long jour ney

In March 2018, the Irish Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, visited the Choctaw Nation. He announced a new scholarship program for tribe members to study in Ireland. To date, over $2.5 million in scholarships have been awarded to 500 Choctaw students. Their tuition and expenses are paid for by the Republic of Ireland

The scholarship program was initiated to provide a big “Yakoke” (thank you) to the Choctaws for their generosity and humanitarianism during the Great Famine. One recipient is of mixed Choctaw-Irish heritage. One of her great-grandmothers had married an Irish settler

Studying in Ireland has helped open her

A LOOK BACK IN TIME

The history of Native Americans is filled with many sad memories. But when I heard the story of the generosity of the Choctaw Nation, I was reminded of the “Parable of the Widow Who Gave All She Had.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything, all she had to live on.”

The Irish response to the Choctaw gift once again shows that Ireland is the most generous country in the world. In 2020, Ireland ranked first in making the most donations per capita, ahead of the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Yet another reason to celebrate being Irish at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Saturday!

Who Gar eld School is named for

This 1923 class photo included the 50 pupils from 6A and 6B grades and their teacher, Miss Evelyn Mohr outside the original Garfield School. The school’s namesake, James A. Garfield is framed in the photo. Garfield was the 20th President of the United States, a great orator, preacher, lawyer, and Civil War general, served in the U.S. House of Re presentatives and was initially politically known as a Radical Re publican (i.e. slavery abolitionist). These Protestant refor mers were heavily influenced by religious ideals and saw the Civil War as God’s punishment for the evils of slavery. His public support of allowing African Americans to vote is reflected in his speech at Ravenna, Ohio in 1865, “Let us not commit ourselves to the senseless and absurd dogma that the color of the skin shall be the basis of suf frage.” President James A. Garfield was inaugurated on March 4, 1881, but was assassinated Sept. 19, 1881, just over six months after taking office.

Jill Wagner

bidding documents. A non-refundable fee of Thirty dollars ($30.00) will be required to obtain bidding documents. Proposals will only be accepted from bidders that have obtained bidding documents from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company

LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park is seeking proposals from qualified vendors for a FOIA Public Record Management System. The full RFP document can be obtained from the Village website www.oak-park. us. Proposals must be received by 4 PM March 22, 2024.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 28, 2024

The Village of Oak Park -- Office of the Village Engineer -- will receive proposals until 4:00 pm. on Friday, March 15, 2024 for RainReady Program Design, Management, Outreach, and Implementation Services. Proposals should be emailed to azielinski@oakpark.us. In general, The Village of Oak Park, Illinois (the Village) is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit qualifications from interested firms to provide program design, management, outreach, and implementation services for RainReady, a residential green infrastructure cost share program. These services will be procured in accordance with the Village’s policy on Qualifications Based Selection (QBS).

The full RFQ can be found at: https://www.oak-park.us/ your-government/budget-purchasing/requests-proposals Questions should be emailed to azielinski@oak-park.us.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal February 28, 2024

HEARING DATE: March 14, 2024

TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302

APPLICATION: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing on an application for a Certificate of Economic Hardship filed by the Applicant, Mark Risch, to demolish the residence at 125 S. Lombard Ave., Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-08-302-015-0000, which is located in the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date. The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Economic Hardship within 15 days following completion of the public hearing.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 28, 2024

Park District

Forest Park 7501 Harrison Street Forest Park, Illinois 60130

Remembrance Park

The Park District of Forest Park does hereby invite sealed bids for Remembrance Park. Work will include removals, earthwork operations, concrete curbs and paving, site furnishings, splash pad equipment, playground equipment, play surfacing, utilities, fencing, sod, planting, and subdrainage.

Project manuals, including bid form and specifications, and construction documents are available after 10:00

A.M. on February 28, 2024, from Accurate Reprographics 2368 Corporate Lane, Suite 100, Naperville, Illinois 60563, 630.428.4433 www hitchcockplanroom.com. Bidding documents are available to download and print at the non-refundable cost of reproduction.

Bids will be accepted at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130 during regular office hours. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the Contractor’s name and address, and “Bid for Remembrance Park,” on the face of the envelope. Bids must be received no later than March 13, 2024, 10:00 AM. Bids will be opened on March 13, 2024, 10:00 AM at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130. All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Base Bid, payable to the Park District of Forest Park.

The successful bidder, as determined by the Park District of Forest Park, shall be required to pay, and to agree to pay no less than the Prevailing Rate of Wages, pursuant to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) for the locality of the Park District of Forest Park (Cook County), to each laborer worker, or mechanic needed or used to complete the work as detailed in the contract to be let. The successful contractor, and all

subcontractors shall be required to submit, to the Park District of Forest Park, certified payrolls no later than the tenth day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding month.

The Park District of Forest Park reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, parts of any and all proposals, or to waive technical errors or omissions in submitted proposals. No submitted bid may be withdrawn until a period of ninety (90) days after the bid opening date, without written consent of the Park District of Forest Park. The Park District of Forest Park encourages minority business firms to submit bids on this project and the successful contract bidder to utilize minority businesses as sub-contractors for supplies, equipment, services, and construction.

Questions should be directed to Bridget Deatrick or Eric Hornig, Hitchcock Design Group (630) 961-1787, bdeatrick@hitchcockdesigngroup.com, or ehornig@hitchccockdesigngroup. com

Published in Forest Park Review, February 28, 2024

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois that bid proposals will be received for the following project:

2024 STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

This project will include the replacement of concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveway aprons, and drainage structures, pavement widening, replacement of certain sections of combined sewers, milling and resurfacing certain pavements, landscaping disturbed areas, and performing other related work.

Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, the 13th day of March, 2024, in the office of the Village Manager in the Village Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. All sealed bids received will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 A.M. on the same day, Wednesday, the 13th day of March, 2024, at the Village Hall.

Electronic copies of bidding documents, consisting of the bid proposal, project specifications, and project plans are available from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Co., 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Bidding documents can be requested by emailing info@ehancock.com. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday, the 6th day of March, 2024.

All bidders wishing to obtain bidding documents must be approved by the Village prior to obtaining bidding documents. All bidders must provide proof that they are prequalified with the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform at least 40% of the value of the work before being issued

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

All bid proposals offered must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s check or certified check in an amount not less than Five Percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. Checks shall be made payable to the Order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

Any bidder in doubt as to the true meaning of any part of the bidding documents may request an interpretation thereof from the Village. The bidder requesting the interpretation shall be responsible for its prompt delivery At the request of the bidder, or in the event that the Village deems the interpretation to be substantive, the interpretation will be made by written addendum issued by the Village.

In the event that a written addendum is issued, either as a result of a request for interpretation or the result of a change in the bidding documents issued by the Village, a copy of such addendum will be emailed to all prospective bidders. The Village will not assume responsibility for receipt of such addendum. In all cases it will be the bidders’ responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

The Contractor and Subcontractor shall comply with all regulations issued pursuant to Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130), and other applicable Federal Laws and regulations pertaining to labor standards.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the rights to determine the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER

THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

Published in RB Landmark,

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

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

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA