Forest Park Review 031324

Forest Park’s Deidre Baumann pins her hopes on a 6th run for judge

Here’s why she thinks this race for a seat in the 7th Subcircuit will be di erent.

By KELLY GARCIA Injustice Watch

This story was produced by Injustice Watch, a nonprofit newsroom in Chicago that investigates issues of equity and justice in the Cook County court system. Sign up at https:// www.injusticewatch.org/ to get their weekly newslette r.

On a cold February day, Deidre Baumann walks down a quiet residential block in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side with a stack of campaign postcards in one hand and her leather purse filled with buttons in the other She greets each passerby with a friendly but nervous smile, reminding them to vote for her in the upcoming primary election. At the behest of one resident, she pins a button onto his jacket with her name and fresh new slogan printed across: The Voice For Equal Justice Baumann, 55, says she has door-knocked at least 100

See DEIDRE BAUMANN on pa ge 3

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DEIDRE BAUMANN

6th run for judge

from page 1

times over her more than a decade-long effort to become a Cook County judge.

She carefully guides me around the block, introducing me to residents who are conveniently home and, coincidentally, her supporters. To many in the area, Baumann is familiar. In recent years, the West Side has become the focus of her judicial campaigns and her pro bono legal work. One resident, Shirley Fields, tells me she’s supporting Baumann because of her work in the community.

“I know that she works for our community, I know that she doesn’t live far from me, I know that her best interests is for us, and I know she did some things with the situation with the burial sites—”

“Burr Oaks,” Baumann interjects, referring to the 2009 Burr Oak Cemetery scandal when investigators learned employees at the historically Black cemetery in the southwest suburbs were digging up graves and dumping the remains to resell the plots. A civil rights and personal injury attorney, Baumann filed one of several class action lawsuits representing the families of loved ones buried at the cemetery.

Another longtime Austin resident and supporter, 91-year-old Shirley Wilson, tells me Baumann showed up for residents when massive floods hit the West Side last summer. Baumann filed a Freedom of Information Act request with local and state agencies and pushed for answers about why neighborhoods such as any other part

“She was b things done

“That’s how I first met her

After spending almost half lars of her own money judicial races, her chances of Cook County Circuit ever. Last year, she mo thinking her give her a leg up in the 7th Subcircuit

But with an Cook County judge after being the vacancy last year and a Black man in a drawn to be majority Black, Baumann is ing headwinds she may not ha

Baumann tells me she’ll gi sought-after dream of she loses the March 19 primar in 14 years.

“It’s been a long journey,” Baumann says with a deep sigh. “But enough is enough.”

Baumann’s repeated efforts to get on the bench as a political outsider are not uncommon in Cook County. In fact, she represents a slew of judicial candidates who — often after failing to win the support of the Cook County Democratic Party — run multiple times just to get their name out there. Among the 61 circuit court candidates this year, eight have run at least twice before That includes her current opponent, now-Judge Owens J. Shelby, who ran for judge three times before he was appointed to the bench.

“Everybody has to run two or three times at best,” said judicial politics observer Jack Leyhane, who writes a blog about the topic and ran unsuccessfully for Cook County judge in 1994 and 1996. “If you’ re not the endorsed candidate of the Cook County Democratic Party, you have to build your brand with the electorate in some way, and one of the ways you can do that is by being on the ballot.”

But Baumann stands out for the number of times she’s run for judge and the exorbitant amount of money she’s spent over the years. She says it’s her “calling” to become a judge. She also admits after many unsuccessful attempts at becoming the party’s slated candidate, she feels pressure to prove candidates can win independently, without the party’s support.

“My family always said, ‘If you want to be a judge, you have to kiss the ring,’” Baumann says. “And I just thought no. With my qualifications, my experience, my work — I can do it, and I will do it.”

admitted to the bar in 1992. Her first job out of law school was as an intern in the Cook County Public Defender’s Office. A year later, she joined a small law firm where she primarily handled First Amendment cases. In 1996, she opened her own practice, where she litigates personal injury, civil rights, criminal defense, and employment discrimination cases

Throughout her time practicing in Cook County, Baumann says she witnessed clients being treated unfairly by judges who seemingly lacked empathy for her clients. So in 2010, she ran for judge in a countywide race — without a clue about what it took to run for office.

“I talked to a judge who was very supportive and encouraged me and made me feel like I could do this if I wanted to,” Baumann recalls. “But I was just learning the process at the time. I didn’t know anything about the candidate I was running against.”

Her opponents were Judge William H. Hooks, who was already a sitting judge and the Democratic Party’s slated candidate, and now-Judge William Burnett Raines, who would get elected to the bench in 2014. She placed second behind Hooks with 26% of the vote

Baumann ran again in 2012 with a much better understanding of the political landscape. To get the support of the Cook County Democratic Party, she learned she would have to present her credentials before the party’s slating committee and promise not to run against their slated candidate if she wasn’t endorsed. She spoke at endorsement panels, appeared on cable TV, and met with the party’s high-ranking officials. She recalls meeting then-powerful 14th Ward Chicago ho was convicted on federal

“I talked with him once or twice, and I rybody

BIG WEEK March 13-20

Popcorn Taste Testing Challenge

Friday, March 15, 4 - 5 p.m., Forest Park Public Library- YS Program Room

Come and try various popcorn avors. Be prepared for some unique ones. Designed for grades 3 through 7. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Af ter Hours Book Buzz: Romance

Grab & Go Origami Kit!

Thursday, March 14, 9 a.m.- 9 p.m., Forest Park Public Library

Do you like making origami? Swing by the YS D epartment and pick up an origami kit. Kits are limited, so please remember to register. Designed for grades 5 through 7. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Rami Atassi

Friday, March 15, 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., Robert ’s Westside

Rober t’s Westside presents Global Music Night featuring Rami Atassi’s Cosmic Dance Band and Piraguas y Piropos. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the music starting at 8 p.m. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park.

Mama Milestone Celebration Class

Sunday, March 17, 8 – 9 a.m., Let’s Play Work

This Mama Milestone Class is held to recognize, cheer and support the moms in the community and their accomplishments. 7228 Circle Ave., Forest Park.

Saturday, March 16, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., Forest Park Public Library

Join for the annual Book Buzz. This year ’s event is collectively devoting ourselves to the joys of the romance novel. There is an exciting panel of writers lined up, including Natalie Caňa, Nicole Falls, and Forest Park ’s own Maria Monroe. MC for the evening is Jen Prokop, co -host of the Fated Mates podcast. Love’s Sweet Arrow, an all-romance bookstore, will be selling books. Come for the (Hershey’s) kisses, stay for the positivity. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Listing your event in the calendar

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

week before your news needs to be in the newspaper

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

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Teen Take & Make: Paracord Bracelets

Wednesday, March 20, All Day, Forest Park Public Library - Young Adult Lounge Paracord bracelets are functional AND fashionable. Kits will be available in the Young Adult Lounge and are rst come, rst ser ved. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

The Mountainaires

Saturday, March 16, 2 – 4 p.m., Robert ’s Westside

Rober t’s Westside presents a free matinee concert with The Mountainaires, a country harmony trio hailing from Chicago, Illinois. Jon Williams leads with guitar and vocals, Kenneth Rainey accompanies mandolin and vocals, while Josh Piet handles bass. Doors open at 11 a.m., with the music kicking o at 2 p.m. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park.

Mohr Center ’s summer camps to be held at Grant-White

e summer camp is relocating because of the unstable water reservoir underneath the community center’s playground

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Howard Mohr Community Center will host this year’s summer camp at GrantWhite, the elementary school that closed at the start of the 2022 school year because of declines in enrollment.

The summer camp, which starts June 3, will relocate because participating children won’t have access to the community center’s playground, which was closed to them near the start of the year because the water reservoir underneath it is deteriorating

The million-gallon reservoir holds a major-

ity of the village’s potable water. Last year, the village hired contractor J.V. Henik to survey the severity of the reservoir, which is nearing the end of its estimated 75-year lifespan.

When J.V. Henik released its study around the start of the new year, they recommended “there [should] be no live load on the top slab henceforward until repairs are made.” The study also reported that reinforcement joints underneath the playground had rusted away, and parts of the sixinch concrete slab holding it up were worn through, showing the asphalt above it.

It was around then that the village started looking for alternative locations for the community center’s summer school so that participating kids had the opportunity to regularly play outside.

Village Administrator Rachell Entler said the village asked School District 91 about using one of its buildings, and they suggested Grant-White, which is used for some allschool programming.

Karen Dylewski, director of Howard Mohr Community Center, said she was in the loop regarding this relocation, since she attends bimonthly village council meetings, where con-

versations about the reservoir, and the lot above it, have been ongoing over the past few years.

“That’s our playground area, so the kids need that, in the summer especially,” Dylewski said.

During summer camps, when the community center hosts children ages five through 12 from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., access to an outside play area becomes increasingly important.

Although children attending the community center for before- and after-school care haven’t had access to the playground during the past couple of months — and likely won’t next school year either — Dylewski said this doesn’t affect programming as much because the children are only there for a few hours in the morning or afternoon, and much of their time is spent having a snack and doing homework.

Holding summer camp at Grant-White allows the community center access to a few classrooms, the gym and playground. Dylewski said that the community center has held summer camp, which they’ve offered since the early 1990s, at Grant-White in the past.

“We used to do it all the time ther

just a bigger setting and easier because there’s a lot going on here,” Dylewski said of the community center, though she wasn’t the director then and isn’t certain of the reason.

The future of Grant-White is still unclear By the fall, before- and after-school care will return to the community center while the village decides whether to rehab the Jackson Boulevard water reservoir or demolish it and build a new one.

E ntler said the village d oes not ye t have a timeline for when they will make this decision.

Renovating the reservoir would cost around $3 million and extend its life another 25 years. A new reservoir would likely take the form of two above-ground, million-gallon reservoirs, since, even with the 350,000-gallon Hannah Avenue reservoir, the village is around 700,000 gallons short of the EPA-recommended amount of stored water.

New reservoirs would last around 75 years but cost $10 million, and would take three years to construct. Suggested locations include the Altenheim and the CTA Blue Line

Do you have DIABETES?

If you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. is is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes a ects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.

e key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely

to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment.

Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. e shoes come in 30 di erent styles each for men and women. ese include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available.

Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.

ME Marketplace reopens 3 months after car crashes through store window

e co-op is once again selling homemade artisan goods and vintage items

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

ME Marketplace opened in 2020 as a retail co-op where a handful of artisan shops could share a space to sell their goods.

But in December, a drunk driver drove through the store’s front window one evening after it had closed, destroying the front of the building and thousands of dollars worth of merchandise.

After almost three months of closure — and the owner Shettima Webb’s indecision about whether she would open up shop again — ME Marketplace reopened March 9 during store hours with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon and light refreshments.

Webb lives in Forest Park and sells Afrocentric attire, like fabric wraps and head scarves, waist beads and earrings. She opened ME Marketplace as a space for other Chicagoland makers like her to be able to sell handmade artisan and vintage items at less of a cost to them.

“I wanted to give an opportunity to small businesses that were not able to afford their own brick-and-mortar store,” Webb said. That sentiment intensified during the pandemic, when ME Marketplace opened, as

sales plummeted and businesses shuttered — nearly 200,000 more business shuttered than average during the first year of the pandemic, according to the Federal Reserve System.

Sharing ME Marketplace allowed these businesses to divide the cost of rent, utilities and other overhead payments that they might not be able to afford by opening their own store. ME Marketplace also hosts events, such as painting parties or workshops where participants learn how to make candles or tutus Webb said the DIY component sets the store apart from many other retailers.

“I was very adamant about trying to help businesses learn how to have another income stream,” Webb said. “That’s one of the things that I feel like we learned during the pandemic. You can’t just be a one-trick pony.”

ME Marketplace opened with eight vendors. Webb now has 10 vendors and room for around another 10, since she said some left after the accident in mid-December

“The first thing that I thought about was, ‘Oh my God, all these people’s stuff is waterdamaged and all messed up,’” Webb said of her reaction to the driver hitting her store’s front window.

The daughter of Webb’s landlord started a Go Fund Me to raise around $3,000 to divide among the vendors to pay for their merchandise and account for sales they lost that Christmas when the store was closed

The cost of the landlord to fix the building’s window, floors and walls was around $75,000, Webb said, though she doesn’t know how much the building’s insurance covered. The building was renovated to have more shelv-

vendors and shoppers more space.

Following the ac cident, Webb didn know if she wanted to reopen. She wasn’t sur how many ME Marketplace vendors would choose to stay, and the dates to fix the buildin kept changing.

“I just got discour aged,” Webb said. “I was extremely hard be cause this is a passion and my dream, and then also this affects other business owners. It’s not just me.”

She ultimately decided to reopen. So March 1, Webb held a soft opening for ME Marketplace so that they could pick up business during the St. Patrick’s Day parade the following day.

A portion of the proceeds from the March 9 grand reopening will go to the Progress Center for Independent Living next door. Before the accident, Jonathan, a man who resides there, came into ME Marketplace to rave about how much he loved the store. The thought of him is partially what inspired Webb to reopen.

“You start to think, ‘Oh my goodness, I’m not going to be able to return,’” Webb said of her thought process after the accident. “He was one of the people that I thought about. And not only him, but other people that have come in and said they absolutely love the e,” along with other business owners on

Madison Street that have been encouraging and missing ME Marketplace.

Jonathan will read his poetry during the reopening, and another resident at the Process Living Center will display their art.

“We want to be able to not only just sell things, but also let the community know in Forest Park that we really support them,” Webb said. “I couldn’t leave if I wanted to I’ ll stay here as long as I can.”

Artisans or small businesses i nterested in joining ME Marketplace should stop in , We bb said. We bb is also looking for makers who want to teach classes or nonprofi ts who want to use the store for a f undraiser oppor tunity

ME Marketplace is located at 7451 Madison St

TODD BANNOR Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogov in, Mayor Rory Hoskins, Shettima Webb (center) and members of the communit y at M.E. Marketplace’s ribbon cutting

Check for nearly $6K stolen from the village

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

The Village of Forest Park reported March 7 that they had issued and mailed a check to Lyons Pinner Electric Company late last month for nearly $6,000. The village received a call from the Forest Park National Bank saying that the check attempted to be cashed, but wasn’t honored. It is unknown if the check was obtained in transit or from Lyons Pinner, and there was no financial loss to the village

Aggravated discharge of a rearm

On March 10, police were dispatched to the 200 block of Des Plaines Avenue for reports of shots fired. One woman witnessed three men arguing and said two of them shot at the third. She reported that one of the shooters fled in his car and the victim entered the stairwell of a nearby building where a second witness said he lives. Police talked to the

man who was shot at, though he didn’t wish to provide a statement or require medical assistance. Officers collected everyone’s information, though no one was charged.

Battery

On March 5, police responded to reports of a domestic disturbance in the 700 block of Des Plaines Avenue. While in the car, a man accused his girlfriend of cheating, stole her phone then exited the car. When police located and addressed him, he ignored them, then physically resisted their attempts to detain him. During the struggle, the man struck a police officer, and another officer tased him. He was arrested for aggravated battery to a peace officer

A man trespassed into a CTA employee break room March 6 in the 700 block of Des Plaines Avenue. Two security officers told him to leave the station and, while attempting to stop the man, he pushed them. When police located the man, they arrested him for battery.

DUI

■ Police responded March 8 to a hit and run accident on Des Plaines Avenue and Roosevelt Road, where a white Jeep Cherokee ran into a Pace bus. River Forest police pulled over the Jeep in Elmwood Park. The driver had slurred speech and red eyes, and officers smelled alcohol. Because it was raining and there was no dry place to conduct a field sobriety test, police took the woman to the Forest Park police department, where she failed the test and had a blood alcohol concentration of .156. She was processed under several charges and given a court date.

■ While on patrol March 10, police curbed a vehicle on the 500 block of Jackson Boulevard because it was registered to a man with a revoked license for driving under the influence. The man reportedly smelled strongly of alcohol, had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Police took him to the station, where he had a blood alcohol concentration of 159, and they read him his Miranda Rights.

Domestic dispute

Responding to a call for an argument in the 7300 block of Circle Avenue March 8, police made contact with an arguing couple. The man was trying to make his girlfriend leave his apartment. The woman, who officers observed smelled like alcohol, was yelling about how her boyfriend cheated on her and hit her in the eye while they were arguing. Police observed no marks on her face or the man’s hands. The woman was escorted out of the residence.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated March 5 through March 10 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

Hijinks abound when an eccentric medium unwittingly summons the ghost of a crime writer’s deceased ex-wife

Half-Day Preschool

2 year old

3 & 4 year old Pre-Kindergarten

New in 2024 Nature Preschool

AM or PM Classes

Extended Day & Lunch Options Available!

460 Lake Street Oak Park IL 708-848-5869

www.pilgrimschool.net

New Name, Same High-Quality Preschool Program!

Since 1966, Pilgrim Community Nursery School has been providing high-quality preschool programming for children in Oak Park and surrounding communities and is proud to be recognized by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) for our commitment to excellence. Known for over 55 years as Pilgrim Community Nursery School, we are excited to announce we are now named Pilgrim Community Preschool, providing the same high-quality early childhood education, just under a new name! Pilgrim offers a variety of half-day classroom choices for children 2 to 5 years of age including morning and afternoon classes, lunch and extended day options. In 2024, we are launching a Nature Preschool class, immersing children’s learning in urban nature within our Outdoor Classroom and neighborhood community. Whichever classroom a family chooses, children

at Pilgrim Community Preschool are guided by experienced and nurturing teachers with a deeply enriching playbased emergent curriculum approach to education. Our “Play With Purpose” philosophy invites children to explore, experiment, investigate and create through meaningful hands-on learning opportunities.

We understand that children learn best through doing! As we believe high-quality early childhood education should be accessible to all, Pilgrim Community Preschool is proud to offer scholarships and partners with Illinois Action for Children as CCAP provider, increasing financial aid options for families. Director Emily Norman is hosting a virtual open house on Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 6-6:45 PM. Email office@pilgrimschool.net to register for the event or to schedule a tour.

Dance For The Fun Of It!

Dance class has many benefits including being physically and mentally fit, gaining confidence, expanding your social circle and more all while having fun. Reap the benefits at DeMaira Dance Studios, Inc.

Dance class keeps both the body and the brain active which is vital for people of every age. Dance offers a way to improve strength and flexibility, plus improve posture and balance.

Dance students gain coordination and agility. Taking time to exercise, learn and participate in a hobby can also help to reduce stress levels.

and make friends with those who have similar interests. Dance friends will become life-long friends.

Dancing offers a creative outlet for people to express their personalities in a safe environment. Students at DeMaira have many performance opportunities. Several dance recitals and concerts are presented locally throughout the year.

DeMaira Dance Studios, Inc. offers classes in a variety of styles including ballet, hip hop, jazz, tap and more for ages three through adults. Participating in dance can help all ages increase self esteem and confidence through mastering new skills. Meet new people

O

Dance Studios, Inc. In Oak Park

Children move naturally. They move to achieve mobility, they move to express a thought or feeling, and they move because it is joyful and feels wonderful. When their movement becomes consciously structured and is performed with awareness for its own sake, it becomes dance.

708-386-1833 Classes for teens & adults too!

Dance is a fun way to open up new possibilities, keep healthy and enjoy yourself! Call to enroll today! 708-3861833

LMS/ International Mansion: every child has a gift to be shared

ur school can be best described as a ‘Homeschool in School’ style program. We have a full dynamic Spanish Immersion curriculum and are listed by MENSA as a recommended program for gifted students.

We are a small school with only 20 students total from Pre-K to 12th grade.

What sets us apart?- Fluency in Spanish Achieved within one year during Preschool years, or within two years during Elementary School years. The Spanish language is spoken throughout as the target immersion language. Academic classes are

Current subjects, but not limited to, are:

• Penmanship

• Reading/writing

all taught in English and/or Spanish and English. If weather permits, many of our academic classes are done outdoors.

- Student to teacher ratio: some classes are one on one, two to one, with a maximum of six students to one instructor.

- Daily schedule is customized and flexible.

- Professional and passionate instructors.

- Guest tutors with real life experience.

- No test to enter, no traditional testing.

throughout thought feels wonderful. When their Every child has a gift to be shared

- Students paired by interest, in mixed age setting.

- Weekly reports sent to parents.

also • Pre-K through 12th Grade. Private/Independent school since 1994. Listed by MENSA as a recommended program for gifted students. After School & Weekend Lessons • Private Music Lessons • Foreign Language Lessons • Academic Tutoring

• Math • Science • Logic/coding

• Geography/history

• Theater (improv, superhero stage combat, musical theatre)

• Martial arts

• Art (including painting, clay art, comic book art and more)

• Music (Rock band, intro to most instrument, harmony, chorus)

• Social emotional discussions/ Life skills/Cooking

• Spanish immersion spoken through out the day and taught in lesson format

• Russian immersion taught in lesson format

• Chinese immersion taught in lesson format

• Intro to Foreign languages (Hebrew, Italian, chinese, japanese, korean, etc.)

• Physical education: Archery/Ice Skating/ Soccer, and more

• Chess and board games

• Architectural design

Wiz Kids Camps to Ignite Minds and Energize Summers for grades 1-8 at Whitney Young High School

Registration is open now for a summer of learning, exploration and fun

Wiz Kids Camps, the premier summer camp renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and athletic development, is excited to announce its expansion to Whitney Young High School for the summer of 2024. From June 17 to August 16, Wiz Kids Camps will transform the iconic school campus into a hub of learning, exploration and fun for students from first through eighth grade.

“We are thrilled to bring Wiz Kids Camps to the vibrant community at Whitney Young High School. Our carefully crafted programs aim to provide a well-rounded and transformative summer experience for students in grades one to eight,” said Nathan Legardy, Executive Director at Wiz Kids Camps.

The camp has served families for 15 years at Homewood-Flossmoor High School where it will return again this summer along with the expansion to Whitney Young High School.

Wiz Kids Camps boasts a unique blend of Academic and Athletic Programming, taking place Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., plus field trips every Friday. The camp’s tailored gradespecific programs are strategically designed to combat summer learning loss, cultivate friendships and bolster social skills. Extended care is also available.

“As a working parent you always wonder, ‘Is my kid getting enough out of summer? Is this the kind of summer I want my kid to have?,’” said Renee Vasek, whose son is looking forward to his third year as a Wiz Kid. “They get everything out of Wiz Kids Camps.”

For first through fourth grade participants, certified instructors lead engaging math and reading enrichment sessions aligned with Illinois academic

standards, ensuring a sharp learning curve in a supportive and interactive environment. Meanwhile, fifth through eighth grade Wiz Kids benefit from daily academic sessions that go beyond the traditional curriculum, incorporating STEAM, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and debate to instigate curiosity and accelerate achievement.

Adding to the richness of the experience are diverse electives in fine arts, chess, coding, drama, and media production. These comprehensive enrichment programs unfold in unique maker space environments, equipped with the necessary assets to provide a transformative learning experience for all participants.

“As a parent I love that I can send him to a place where he is safe,” said Christina Moody whose son has attended Wiz Kids Camps for two summers. “It’s a place where I know he is cared for with people who have a vested interest in his future. And, it’s a full day of camp. I don’t know what’s more to love than that!”

Complementing the academic focus, Wiz Kids Camps places a strong emphasis on fitness and athleticism. Core activities, overseen by seasoned coaches, include basketball, baseball, volleyball, cheer, track, tennis, tumbling, karate, soccer and swimming, catering to all skill levels from novice to highperforming enthusiasts.

Each exciting camp week concludes with thrilling field trips to venues such as the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Raging Waves, Enchanted Castle, Challenger Learning Center and the Museum of Surgical Sciences, promising unique and educational experiences for our summer participants.

“Growing up through Wiz Kids, I’ve been able to express myself and not feel weird about it,” said former camper and now counselor Kayleigh. “Being in that environment, a healthy environment, is something that helps as a kid grows up. Coming into high school it’s a different experience than if I didn’t have Wiz Kids. I think it really benefited me, especially with the sports and clubs that I am in now.”

Parents are encouraged to secure a spot for their children, ensuring they embark on a summer filled with academic growth, athletic development and unforgettable adventures.

“It’s worth the investment to have your kids in a safe space where they are able to try a variety of activities,” said Erica Whittier whose son and daughter attend Wiz Kids Camps.

“Don’t think about it too long,” Moody added. “This is one of the best decisions you can make not only for your child but for yourself in feeling confident that they are going to be provided with educational enrichment opportunities in a program where people genuinely care.”

For more information and to register, please visit www.wizkidscamps.com or call 1-855-952-2677. Wiz Kids Camps is presented by the Wiz Kids Foundation in collaboration with Wiz Kids Sports Camps LLC.

A Wiz Kids camper slides into summer fun

Wiz Kids campers welcome new friends to join them as camp expands to Whitney Young High School this summer for grades 1-8.

TJoin the fun at the River Forest Community Center!

he River Forest Community Center provides an age-appropriate curriculum designed to encourage positive group interaction as well as foster individual growth.

Our teachers thrive on creating a safe and fun learning environment through play in which children are encouraged to explore and develop their cognitive, language, social intellectual and motor skills.

Early Childhood Programs:

• Munchkins & Playschool for Caregivers and Tots

• Preschool (Half-Day & Full-Day)

• Pre-Kindergarten (Half-Day & Full-Day)

• Before & After School Programs

• Summer Camps (Half-Day & Full-Day for children up to 8th grade)

Schools

Out

• Basketball Camps

General Recreation Programs

• Crafternoons

• Little Hoopers

• T-Ball

• Lil’Legacy Soccer

• Lil’Legacy Sports & Games

• Theater Programs

What you get for the money highs and lows for local houses

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

A recent analysis of the 2024 housing market by Forbes predicts that the spring market might not be free of the problems that hampered the 2023 market. Marked by high mortgage rates, rising home prices and recordlow housing stock, the 2023 market made it hard for new home buyers to get their feet in the door.

Current homeowners, who might want to move up to a bigger home or downsize later in life, were less likely to do so when buying a new home meant taking on a larger monthly payment with a higher interest rate.

A look at single family homes for sale now in the near west suburbs points to a small inventory of houses available headed into spring.

As of publication, there were 45 single family homes listed on the Multiple Listing Service in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park combined. This number does not include homes listed on the Private Listing Network, a tool real estate professionals are increasingly using to market homes among themselves without listing the homes to the public on the MLS.

In Oak Park, there were 29 single family homes on the MLS.

The highest priced home on the market is 1201 Woodbine. Built in 2012, the home boasts

or roughly $470 per square has six bedrooms, five full bathrooms and was built in a Prairie style meant to honor the legacy of Frank Lloyd W ble lot near Lindbergh Park, the home offers a heated pool and has a 2022 property tax bil of $40,661.

On the lower end of the price scale, 934 S. Austin is priced at $329,900. At 1,056 squar feet, that price is the equivalent of square foot. The home was and has three bedrooms and one bathroom. There are hardwood floors in the living area, a front porch, stainless steel a kitchen and a finished basement. had a $7,654 property tax bill in 2021.

In River Forest, there we homes listed on the MLS and no single-family home listings priced under $1 million.

At the high end of the scale, is 706 Monroe. The 1910-era home was entirely rebuilt in 2023 and is touted as being 97% new construction. At 4,000 square feet and priced at $1.89 million, the home costs roughly $473 per square foot. The home has white oak flooring, a new chef ’s kitchen and five full, new bathrooms, as well as five bedrooms. The home’s property tax bill in 2021 was $9,651, which may not reflect the value of the construction completed in 2023.

The lowest priced single-family home in River Forest is 1145 Thatcher. Built in 1929, the brick home has leaded glass windows

and two woodburning fireplaces. Priced at $1 million, or $324 per square foot, the home is about 3,085 square feet. There are five bedrooms, including two third-floor bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a finished basement and attached garage. Property taxes in 2022 were $22,215.

In Forest Park, there are 13 single-family homes on the market.

The highest priced is a newly built home at 838 Circle Avenue. Priced at $769,000 the home has four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms The home’s MLS entry does not include square footage. There are 9-foot-high ceilings

throughout and a new garage as well. Property taxes in 2021 were $611, which does not reflect the house, which was constructed after that date

The lowest priced home in Forest Park is 820 Elgin, which is listed for $224,900. Built in 1909, the home had been used as a twounit building, but the listing states the home must be de-converted and returned to singlefamily home status. At 1,628 square feet, it is priced at $138 per square foot and is listed as a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home. The house is being sold in as-is condition and has a 2022 property tax bill of $9,205.

REDFIN.COM

$769,000: 838 Circle Ave., Forest Park

$1.89 MILLION: 706 Monroe Ave., River Forest

REDFIN.COM

$2.19 MILLION: 1201 Woodbine Ave., Oak Park

Inari Sushi brings downtown innovation home

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Inari Sushi offers traditional dishes and surprising delights. The intimate restaurant, located at 7428 W. North Ave. on Elmwood Park’s famed Restaurant Row, is suited for both a quick lunch and a sophisticated night out.

Sara Kate opened the location with the idea that both tradition and innovation could exist side-by-side. Her sushi knife was honed through work and collaboration with many of the well-known downtown sushi destinations. Bringing that same dedication to quality was a goal when she opened Inari. Another was to make sushi, sashimi and all their related dishes more easily accessible than a trip downtown.

For more than a decade Inari has satisfied the sushi cravings of local diners.

Sushi craving? Inari satisfies

Sushi for lunch! Mid-day combos include a 5-piece sushi platter with a spicy tuna maki (roll); a sushi and sashimi combo with five pieces of sashimi, three pieces of sushi and a California maki; and an option to suit vegetarians.

As evening rolls around, drinks from the bar are 50% off from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. during Inari’s daily happy hour. Cocktails range from traditional to those tailored to the menu. A lychee martini comes chilled with a flavor that belies its Asian heritage. The lychee fruit is sweet with citrus and melon overtones mixed with a strawberry and pear essence.

There are specials throughout the week. Monday’s offer is half-priced bottles of wine and sake. On Tuesdays there are $6 martinis and $3 Inari sushi specials.

The restaurant features the freshest ingredients possible in their both traditional and innovative menu. Tonkotsu Ramen is a warm and hearty dish that is a meal itself. The Sushi Ume combo mirrors a lunch special with five pieces of sushi and a tuna

maki.

There is a full selection of sushi and sashimi by the piece. Maki options include the ever-popular Dragon roll that wraps up shrimp tempura, eel, cucumber, avocado, sweet soy sauce and sesame seeds. If diners want a dramatic presentation, there is the Flaming Dragon roll, which is a chef’s specialty that, yep, is set on fire at the table.

Angry Dragon maki gets spicy. As does the Butterfly, Diablo, Fiesta and Latin Bliss rolls.

Chef’s specials show that while sushi has a long tradition, it can be creative. The BLT roll surprises with a pop of salty tempura fried bacon, spring mix lettuce and ripe tomato, all topped with spicy mayo. The Man in Black maki gets serious with super white tuna, spicy mayo, cilantro, tempura crunch, all covered with nutty, rich, black tobiko caviar and sesame seeds.

Robusta maki is a statement: lobster, fried banana and red tobiko caviar are wrapped inside-out with crispy rice, then topped with micro greens and a spicy, hon-

ey mayo.

Inari also offers a selection of increasingly popular poke bowls. This Hawaiian dish respects the island’s deep ties to Japanese culture. Think of the bowls as deconstructed Maki. Cubes of fish are served over rice, accompanied with a variety of vegetables and toppings.

Other entrees include beef, chicken, shrimp, salmon and veggie teriyaki. Grilled chicken or garlic lobster tail are among the other options.

The desire to linger over dinner at Inari is helped by an exciting dessert menu. Green tea ice cream is a staple that is loved the world over – as is mochi – served in

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR A

mango or green tea flavors. But then, just like the main course menu, desserts get adventurous. Chocolate cookie dough is rolled up in rice paper, same as an eggroll, fried to golden perfection and served with a side of pureed strawberries. Banana Tempura is flash fried and served with side of green tea ice cream.

Sometimes the cozy comforts of eating at home are the best. Inari offers carry out and delivery with a standing coupon, viewable on their website, for a free salad and roll for all carry-out and delivery orders.

Sara Kate’s goal to put sushi in easy reach has succeeded in satisfying cravings day and night.

The Details

inarisushi.com

7428 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park

Hours:

Monday-Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Lychee cocktails at Inari Sushi.

RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR

Inari Sushi Ume combo.

Forest Park, Proviso libraries seek formal wear for prom pop-up shop

Free prom dresses, suits and accessories will be available April 6 in Maywood

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Local public libraries are collecting gently used and new prom attire to contribute to a free pop-up shop at the Maywood Public Library in April

The effort helps make prom clothes, plus accessories like ties, shoes, jewelry and purses, affordable for teenagers.

“Prom is such a big event for high schoolers,” said Martha Sullivan, the young adult services manager at the Forest Park Public Library. “Kids want to look nice, and a lot of for mal wear is kind of outlandishly priced. We wanted to make it accessible for people to look and feel special for this event.”

Nicola Covello, the young adult librarian at Hillside Public Library, volunteered at her high school’s annual prom pop-up when she lived in her small hometown three hours away from Hillside

“It was something that was needed in my small community,” Covello said about her hometown of 600 people. “A lot of people were working class, so it made a big difference.”

But prom pop-ups also help give clothes new life, keeping them out of landfills, or unused on a hanger

“Items weren’t sitting in everyone’s closets forever either,” Covello said. “It was a nice upcycling event when we didn’t have a lot of options for that.” She added, “We had one Goodwill about 30 minutes away, and rarely were you able to find for mal wear.”

“A lot of for mal wear, especially when you’re a teenager, only gets used once,” Sullivan said, but the prom pop-up aims to change that.

A few years before the pandemic, the Forest Park Public Library offered a prom popup shop, but that was before Sullivan, who started in her position last June. In an effort

to introduce herself to other local library staff, and discuss how to better serve School District 209, Sullivan organized a meeting with Proviso Township’s young adult librarians in January.

The idea for the prom pop-up came out of the meeting and is the first collaboration between Forest Park Public Library, Hillside Public Library, Maywood Library, Northlake Public Library District and Westchester Public Library.

Covello organized a similar event last year. But while a few people called the library asking what kind of donations they were looking for, no one brought any in, and the event was canceled

“We didn’t have interest gathered until after the event had passed,” Covello said. A few weeks later, some teachers reached out to Covello inquiring about the pop-up. Covello chalks this up to a lack of publicity and less traffic in the libraries post-pandemic.

The young adult librarians thought an event like this would be more successful if they could pool their efforts, separately collecting donations that would be offered at one location.

Those donating gently used prom attire can drop off clothes and accessories at library front desks. They will be brought to the Maywood Public Library, 121 South 5th Avenue, for a pop-up shop April 6 from 2 to 4 p.m.

All items will be free at the pop-up shop and organized by size and accessory type. Donations will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. While the pop-up targets high schoolers in District 209, any teenager who plans to attend prom is welcome

Covello said attendees will be able to try on attire either in the public restrooms or in a privately designated area to make sure what they pick out is comfortable and fits right. If there are clothes that aren’t taken home, the library that donated them will bring them back to distribute to those who couldn’t attend the event.

High schoolers who want to volunteer for the pop-up shop by creating flyers, collecting donations at their schools or helping during the event, should contact the young adult librarian at the closest participating public library.

DEIDRE BAUMANN

Moved to Forest Park

from page 3

wants to be a judge, but only the chosen ones become judge,” Baumann recalls.

She didn’t get slated but ran against the party’s candidate anyway, virtually ensuring she wouldn’t get the party’s endorsement in the future. She placed fourth in a seven-way race, losing to the slated candidate, now-Judge Pamela Leeming, with only 7% of the vote

Feeling defeated, she skipped the next election cycle. By 2016, she had assembled a team of campaign workers, including veteran political consultant Wallace “Gator” Bradley and Roman Morrow. She continued asking for the party’s endorsement, mostly “out of respect,” she says

That year, she lost again — but so did the party’s candidate. Now-Judge Susana Ortiz, a criminal defense attorney, defeated slated candidate Pat Heneghan, while Baumann came in third with just under 16% of the vote. Heneghan was selected as an associate judge finalist days after his loss. Baumann skipped the following election cycle.

During that time, big changes were underway within the Cook County Democratic Party. Old-school machine politics were waning, giving way to a new party chair — Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who vowed to “reject politics as usual” and increase diversity among the party’s slated candidates.

In 2020, Baumann, a Jewish woman who also identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, thought she finally had a chance to get slated. But after running three times against slated candidates, she still didn’t get the party’s endorsement.

She ran anyway, this time with significantly more money after securing a $1 million verdict for her client in an employment discrimination case against Chicago Public Schools. After spending less than $100,000 on her first three races combined, she spent more than $210,000 on the 2020 race, nearly all of it self-funded

Her bar ratings, however, were consistently a problem. That year, the Chicago Bar Association did not recommend her for judge, saying “significant concerns were raised about her professionalism, diligence, and organizational skills.”

She lost to the party’s slated candidate, now-Judge Maura McMahon Zeller. Her percentage of the vote, however, jumped to 32%. She decided to give it another shot in 2022,

when she ran against the party’s slated candidate, now-Judge Michael Weaver, and prosecutor Paul Joyce. Again, the Chicago Bar Association did not recommend her for judge because of concerns with her professionalism. The Illinois State Bar Association also found her not qualified, citing concerns about her “lack of punctuality and diligence at times.”

She placed second behind Weaver, again with 32% of the vote. After losing a fifth time in a countywide race, Baumann says her team decided to take a different approach for the 2024 primary elections.

Who’s able to best serve the community?

In 1992, the state Legislature divided Cook County into 15 judicial subcircuits, with the goal of increasing diversity on the bench by electing judges from different parts of Chicago and its suburbs. In 2022, the Legislature redrew the subcircuits for the first time and added five new judicial districts

In recent years, Baumann lived in the 9th Subcircuit, which includes Ro gers Park, Evanston, Skokie, and Wilmette — an area that’s historically been friendly to Jewish candidates.

“Everyone’s always said, ‘You should run in the 9th Subcircuit,’” Baumann said. “But when I was up there, I did not get the support of that community — of my community.”

So Baumann moved to Forest Park last year, thinking she had a better chance of winning a seat in the 7th Subcircuit, a majority-Black district encompassing a large swath of Chicago’s West Side and several wester n suburbs.

She also says she moved with the impression she had the suppo rt of local alder people — Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th Ward), Ald. Jason Ervin (28th Ward), and Ald. Emma Mitts (37th Ward).

“I don’t know where she got that from,” said Ervin, who is also the Democratic committeeperson for his ward. “I’ve never ever had an endorsement conversation about Deidre Baumann in the 7th Subcircuit. When she ran countywide, it was a different conversation. But the subcircuits were specifically designed for local representation.”

Taliaferro told me he wasn’t supporting Baumann this time around and wasn’t aware she had moved into the 7th Subcircuit. Mitts did not respond to requests for comment.

Her move to the 7th Subcircuit pitted her against Shelby, a for mer Cook County assistant state’s attorney who is also no stranger to judicial elections. Shelby, who was born and raised on the West Side, ran unsuccessfully in the 7th Subcircuit in 2014, 2020, and

2022, before the Illinois Supreme Court pointed him to a vacancy in 2023.

When the state Legislature redrew subcircuit boundaries for the 2024 election, Shelby’s home in Berwyn was drawn i 3rd Subcircuit. In August, he moved to Park to run in the 7th Subcir cuit again. “The 7th is where I was born, grew up, my to school in the 7th, I volunteer in the 7th, and pretty much my whole life has been in the 7th,” he told Injustice Watch. “It made sense to stay home.”

Facing a Black candidate in a predomi nantly Black subcircuit she only recentl moved into, Baumann has been forced front questions about her motivations why Black voters should vote for her

At a late February candidate forum hosted by the Chicago Westside Branch of NAACP, Baumann and Shelby sat side at the Columbus Park field house in facing a half-empty room.

The candidates remained cordial through the first half of the forum, answering questions about their qualifications and ability to rule impartially from the bench. But the debate grew tense when a member of the audience asked Baumann to explain why she told a radio talk show host two days earlier “Black people prefer a white judge.”

“I did not say anything to that effect,” Baumann replied. “What I said was that race was not the question here. It’s who’s best able to serve the community.”

Audio from the Feb. 26 segment of WVON’s “On the Case” show posted on Baumann’s Facebook page shows she said, “It’s critically important that our bench be diversified, but that doesn’t mean that because someone is Black they are better suited as a judge. I’ve heard stories that some criminal defendants — the last person they would want to go in front of is an African American male.”

Shelby jumped on the criticism, saying he had heard the radio interview, too. “I think it’s sad when candidates move from one community to another after running to try to find out where they think they can win,” he added.

Baumann a ccused S helby of using hi s p olitical c onnections to land a judicia l appointment.

“It upsets me to hear someone say that I got appointed because of political connections,” Shelby responded. “Clearly, that person isn’t from this community or don’t know this community because everyone in this community knows that 10 years ago, I didn’t have an endorsement to my name. I walked from Walgreens to Walgreens by myself, with my wife, getting signatures.”

The Cook County Democratic Party doesn’t make endorsements in subcircuit races, but

DEIDRE BAUMANN

Shelby has the backing of high-ranking party members, including Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough and U.S. Rep. Danny Davis

Since January, Shelby’s campaign has received more than $68,000 from the committee of Illinois House of Representatives Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

Baumann, for her part, has been endorsed by 27th Ward Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. and former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

“We try not to endorse people based on race, we try to endorse people based on substance,” Burnett told me. “She does a lot of pro bono work in the community.”

After the forum, Shelby shook hands and chatted with attendees. He looked comfortable and in his element, having spent years on the board of the NAACP West Side chapter. Baumann sat off to the side by herself, looking worried and distressed

“I certainly expected that those questions would be asked, given the tenor of this campaign,” Baumann tells me later, reflecting on the forum. “The idea that I cannot represent the community simply because of my race is hurtful given my commitment to the community over a long period of time.”

What do voters really think?

A couple of weeks after walking through the Austin neighborhood with Baumann, I decided to return, this time unaccompanied by any candidate or their supporters. Some residents tell me they’re unsure about which candidate to vote for and others aren’t aware an election is coming up

See DEIDRE BAUMANN on pa ge 20

LETTER

Stand together against idling trains

Last week I read your coverage of River Forest residents bothered by freight trains idling near their homes [WJ News, March 6].

My family lives in Forest Park along the Union Pacific tracks near Central Avenue and Lathrop. So we definitely empathize with what our neighbors in River Forest are saying — idling freight trains near homes is inhumane To stop this, we need solidarity in River Forest, Forest Park and also Oak Park, since idling has been an issue there in the past. So far, Union Pacific has been dismissive of our calls to move the idling. But I believe if we work together we can compel them to move the idling to a non-residential stretch of tracks

In 2015, Union Pacific designated the tracks about 300 feet from our home, and dozens of others, as its staging area for crew changes. That means locomotives idle there for hours each day while one crew gets off the train and another arrives to board it.

Since fall 2022, the idling has intensified. In 2023, about 450 trains idled here. So far in 2024 we’ve endured more than 240 hours of idling trains (88 trains total). The noise is disruptive, but we also worry about the health impacts of breathing diesel fumes, which we sometimes smell inside of our house

I am calling on our elected leaders to work together across municipal boundaries to solve this problem. If the villages of River Forest and Forest Park don’t coordinate on this issue, we’ll end up playing “hot potato” with idling trains, passing them back and forth based on whoever is complaining most loudly at the moment.

But we can’t give one neighborhood peace at the expense of another down the tracks. Our leaders need to stand up to Union Pacific as a united front so everyone along the tracks can live in peace.

Caitlin Hillyard Forest Park

Fifty-seven-year-old Al Ruffin, who has lived in the neighborhood since he was a kid, has one of Baumann’s signs in his front yard.

“I talked to her a couple weeks ago, and she seemed like a really nice lady,” he tells me, saying he met her at a community meeting at his church. “I think she’s well qualified. They were asking her questions at the meeting, and she held her ground real good.”

He says race isn’t a factor in his decision, and that he looks for candidates who are fair and honest. He also says he wasn’t aware Baumann has already run five times for Cook County judge unsuccessfully. “I wonder why that is,” he says. “Now I gotta do some digging and see what’s going on.”

Another longtime resident, 81-year-old Mary Dowling, says she knew about the upcoming primary election but wasn’t sure yet who she was going to vote for. The only white person I spoke with in Austin, Dowl-

ing says race is an important factor in her decision because of the young people in her community whose “whole life can be changed by a judge — I’ve seen it happen.”

She says she looks for judicial candidates with experience and positive bar association ratings.

“I’m going to download the recommendations,” Dowling says.

A couple of houses down, Shekinah Woodard tells me she didn’t know about the March primary or either of the judicial candidates. Like Ruf fin, she says a candidate’s skin color doesn’t matter much to her, but she prefers candidates who are originally from the area and can speak to the issues that matter most to her community

I also go back to Wilson, one of Baumann’s most passionate supporters, who had told me earlier about the floods last summer. She tells me she isn’t bothered by the fact that this is Baumann’s sixth time running for judge — in fact, it strengthened her support

“That’s what I like about her,” Wilson says. “She’s hanging in there.”

Senior reporter Maya Dukmasova contributed reporting. Injustice Watch is a Growing Community Media partner.

OUR VIEW

Shifting summer camp

The summer camp program sponsored by the Howard Mohr Community Center will continue this year. But it won’t be held at the community center owing to serious concerns about the safety of its outdoor playground. That playground sits atop a village water reservoir that has been found to be in severe disre pair.

The temporary solution is to move the popular all-day program for kids five through 12 over to Grant-White School. It is a good solution and possibly a precursor to a longer relationship between the District 91 public schools – which owns the largely shuttered school building – and the village government – which has not addressed the deteriorating conditions at its community center property.

The school board recently agreed it is ready, in the right circumstances, to lease the school, which it closed in 2022 because of declining enrollment. Discussions are underway between the schools, village hall and the park district about how the facility might be shared to meet growing needs for space for programs.

Meanwhile, village hall must grapple with its serious facility challenges. The million-gallon water reservoir is Forest Park’s largest water storage site and it has notable structural issues. That’s why the playg round atop the reservoir was closed of f at the star t of the year. But the issues are deeper and go to the viability of the reservoir itself. A consultants’ study found the reinforcement joints beneath the playg round have rusted away

Re pairing the reservoir will cost about $3 million and extend its useful life by 25 years. Building a new reservoir or adding water towers are other, and more expensive, longer-term solutions.

In a town with tight finances, these are daunting problems to face. And facing them in a moment with immediate structural challenges is not at all a good situation. It is an opportunity for the village to finally get a fair assessment of its multiple properties and to begin a long-term plan for maintenance and/or replacement.

Upcycling prom

Do you have a prom dress hanging in a closet? Well now is the moment to give it new life by donating it to a prom pop up event org anized by local libraries to make sure Proviso students are ready to shine this prom season.

The Forest Park library and its companion libraries in Maywood and Hillside are organizing an April 6 event in which prom-goers can choose dresses and hopefully shoes, jewelry and purses for the big night.

Is there anything lonelier than a five-year-old prom dress hanging at the end of the closet rack? Time to ste p up and share.

St. Patrick’s Day, the calendar’s dumbest holiday, is not just once ag ain upon us but has expanded to embarrass Madison Street for most of March. The parade this year blocked my street on March 2. March 2! That is more than two full weeks before the 17th. It’s as naked a revenue driver as Black Friday and April 15. Three full weekends of those who’ re 19 in body or spirit pretending to enjoy Guinness. There’s a favored green behind all this, and it’s not the shamrock kind.

ALAN BROUILETTE

I’m supposed to enjoy St. Patrick’s, I am told, as I have some Irish background. But I also have Portuguese and Spanish and French-Canadian, and yet I am not plied with malasadas and linguiça and poutine once a year, despite all of those being so vastly superior to corned beef as to defy comparison. Corned beef, for one, is unflavored pastrami. The highlight of a corned beef and cabbage dinner is that once you’ re done, you don’t have to do it again for a year. Irish food as practiced in my family consists of two things: boiled and starch. Cabbage, and potatoes, lukewarm. Soda bread (shudder).

The Irish, like the English, are suspicious of flavor. I get g astronomic hardship that represents something symbolic, as at a Seder, but cast as a voluntary day-to-day virtue?

There’s a reason you can’t get Irish Takeout from Grubhub. St. Patrick’s Day is to bars the bonanza that Valentine’s Day is to florists. If there’s a florist reading this, I wish to know if you hate February 14 with the same passion that my bartender friends hate March 17. I’m not sure what kind of ethnic pride shines brightest through the lens of screaming arguments between sobbing girls and shoving matches between guys wearing green Sox hats and hockey jerseys, but perhaps I don’t understand ethnic pride. I don’t understand workplace pride, school spirit, or patriotism, either. I’m with Groucho Marx: I don’t want to belong to any club that would have someone like me as a member. If I were to throw up on a public street to promote a cause, it would not be based on the birth location of a relative 150 years in the grave.

I also don’t get why those so alle gedly proud of their Irish heritage aren’t madder about the whole vibe sur rounding St. Patrick’s Day but not even I will be offering comparable ethic stereotypes in print. The internet does not consider context when there are pitchforks and torches to be brandished.

Further more, I don’t look good in green. Black I look good in. Lavender I look good in. White. Pink is a great color for me, too. I wear pink, people ask me if I just got back from vacation. Green, not so much. In green I look seasick.

I basically just don’t get why the Irish have the big day. Can we promote some more fun ethnicities for a couple years? Dial back St. Paddy’s to St. Swithin’s Day levels for a bit and give somebody else a turn. Drive the fun toward Cinco de Mayo or Ferragosto or Juneteenth. The food’s better, the music is better, the drinks are better, even the do ggone weather is better. I’ ll cheerfully march in a Juneteenth Parade and stay for the picnic afterward. The Bears can do a “Medio Camino a Cinco de Mayo” game on December 5. You can’t tell me “Chi-talian” isn’t a vast improvement on the etymological butchery that is “Chi-rish”.

Mardi Gras is an outstanding parade. So is Pride. Do we have those in Forest Park?

I’m down to throw some beads.

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Ed’s Way’s legend will never be forgotten

Ed’s Way is more than a grocery store. It’s a cornerstone of a community. It’s a meeting place for friends and neighbors. It’s a clearinghouse for announcements: apar tments and parking spaces to rent, lost pets and dogs to adopt, new businesses to visit, all with bits of paper to tear off listing their phone number.

It’s a hardware store, with household necessities for sale It’s an office supply store selling legal pads and envelopes. It’s a post office selling stamps, with a mailbox outside. It’s a store where kids could make purchases like they were grownups

aunovic, the store’s full-time utcher. John is the smiling face ehind the counter, who accommodates special requests from ustomers. He also cooks rotisserie chickens for quick meals.

Ed Nutley started the store 32 years ago. After working in the grocery business at A & P, he looked for his own store to buy. He bought the White Way store from Serafini Castellano ong-time customers were disgruntled and continued to write their checks to White Way, long after Ed took over.

“When the village wanted to honor me by renaming Beloit “Honorary Ed Nutley Way,” it made me happy,” he said. “The outpouring of love, appreciation and gratitude I received that day really lifted my spirits.”

The store’s many loyal customers are sad to see it go, but happy that Ed gets a longdeserved retirement.

“Mike and I would like to say thank you for always being there for us, the mayor, commissioners, the village, Community Center, Park District, Forest Park National Bank and St. Ber nardine’s – where I go to make everything right.”

It’s generous to charities, with collection boxes for the food pantry and other worthy organizations. It honored “Book It” winners and sponsored Little League teams. It displays their Soapbox car that raced down Circle Bridge. It’s a gathering place for selling chocolate bars and Girl Scout Cookies.

It’s been a location for filming TV shows and commercials. It’s a family business, where generations of the Nutley family worked. Ed’s daughter, Karen Hinz, has been the store’s longtime bookkeeper. Her daughter, Marissa Serio, wrote her starting date on the office wall: April 2, 1994.

It also hired family members, like John

Accepting personal checks made Ed’s Way special. Customers could write the check for more than the purchase amount and receive cash back. Families flocked to Ed’s Way at dinner time and pushed their full grocery carts home to unload. During blizzards, they loaded their sleds with groceries.

The store was well-stocked with Certified items, until Certified was replaced by Centrella. After Centrella went bankrupt, Ed’s Way evolved into a “convenience” store. Customers were running in for a gallon of milk or a lottery ticket.

T he store simply couldn’ t compete with giants like Jewel, Mariano’s and Walmar t. So, Ed and Mike made the painful decision to close. The village made sure Ed’s Way was not forgotten.

Charming

In 1971, the Park District of Forest Park hosted several programs, including “Charm School,” on Thursday from 6 to 7:30 a.m. Charm schools typically focused on etiquette and social graces. The programs encouraged young girls to combine the way they look, mo and speak to come together in their own unique pe sonality. Often, these programs highlighted exercise, diet, voice, modeling, skin care, fashion and manner

JILL WAGNER

October 27, 1971, Charm School was one of the programs o ered at the Park District of Forest P

Other programs at the time included wrestling, dancing, knitting, and arts and cra

“I loved what I was doing for the last 32 years here. I have made so many friends over the years. Ed’s Way was a first job for a lot of kids in town — they were happy to get their first paycheck! We still keep in contact with many of them to this day. It is so true that everyone has an Ed’s Way story, and it’s been great to hear them the last few weeks.”

But, soon, they’ll hit the lights for the last time.

“On my last night at Ed’s Way, after tur ning off the lights and locking the door for the last time, I’m going home, put on a Dean Martin record, open a Bud Light and have a toast for the good times we had.”

Because they were good. And like the King of Cool, we hope Ed doesn’t mind being a le gend.

Photo: Credit: Joe Sansone. Forest Park Review

PUBLIC NOTICES

CALENDAR NUMBER: 02-24-Z

HEARING DATE: April 3, 2024

TIME: 7:00 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 Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Slawek Lesny, seeking a variance from the following sections of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, to construct a third dwelling unit in the basement of an existing twofamily dwelling unit building at the premises commonly known as 1044 S. Grove Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-18-315-015-0000

(“Subject Property”), in the R-4 Single-Family Zoning District.

1. Section 4.3 (Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards) only allows singlefamily dwelling units. The existing property is improved with a two-family dwelling unit approved by variance in 1923, and a garage with an apartment above constructed in 1921. The proposal is to add another dwelling unit in the basement for a total of four dwelling units on the property (three units in the front building and one unit above the garage in the rear).

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700.

2. Section 15.2 (B) requires that a nonconforming use of a structure cannot be expanded, extended, enlarged, or increased in intensity. The proposal is to add an additional dwelling unit in the basement of the existing nonconforming two-unit building which increases the intensity of use by one dwelling unit.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer 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. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Plaintiff, -v.MELANIE MARTIN, 300 CHICAGO CONDOMINIUM, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF HAZEL J. ANTHONY, GERALD NORDGREN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR HAZEL J. ANTHONY (DECEASED)

Defendants

2022 CH 04036 300 CHICAGO AVE., 4N OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 10, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED

REAL ESTATE: UNIT 4-N TOGETHER WITH ITS UNDIVIDED PERCENTAGE INTEREST IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS IN 300 CHICAGO CONDOMINIUM AS DELINEATED AND DEFINED IN THE DECLARATION RECORDED AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 25110568, IN THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 5, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

dominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-22-03237

for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee Published in Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2024

Commonly known as 300 CHICAGO AVE., 4N, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-321-0341007

The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Con-

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2022 CH 04036 TJSC#: 44-527

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 # 2022 CH 04036 I3239636

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION MATRIX FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Plaintiff, -v.RONALD CAILLOUET, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF SUSAN L. CAILLOUET, DAMON RITENHOUSE, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUSAN L. CAILLOUET A/K/A SUSAN CAILLOUET (DECEASED) Defendants

22 CH 04542

31 LE MOYNE PKWY

shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORA-

TION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100

BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-22-09308

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 22 CH 04542

TJSC#: 44-491

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 # 22 CH 04542 I3239998