Forest Park Review 040324

Village holds special meeting to discuss future budgets

e new process outlines big-picture solutions and aims to cover a longer span of time than just the upcoming scal year

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Every year, Forest Park’s village commissioners and department directors gather at Village Hall in July. They bring itemized lists of their budget goals for the fiscal year, which starts May 1, to go through line-by-line before submitting them to Finance Director Letitia Olmsted.

“When I was given the oppor tunity to become village administrator, I decided that I was going to change that process,” said Village Administrator Rachell Entler, who was previously a commissioner, in a meeting March 26 about Forest Park’s budget.

This year, the village staf f is trying something different. At that meeting, Mayor Rory Hoskins, commissioners See

The Pile Bookstore now open

Just south of Forest Park in Ber wyn,

e Pile is ‘already starting to be a third space for a lot of people,’ according to its

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Rebecca Lewis opened The Pile Bookstore, 7117 Roosevelt Road, Feb. 2. Though technically in Berwyn, The Pile is just across Roosevelt Road from Forest Park.

“We’ve had a lot of people walking over because we’re so close to it,” Lewis said of Forest Park residents.

Lewis was previously an office manager at a dental office and, after helping run another business, wanted to open her own. Plus, she realized that Berwyn didn’t have a bookstore, and South Forest Park didn’t either. Lewis wanted to fix that, and even more so after attending a book swap in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Chicago, where participants talked about books and recommended them to one another.

“That’s what a bookstore should be, somewhere that you can meet and gather

owner

and talk about these things,” Lewis said.

This is why Lewis opened a coffee shop inside the bookstore. There, guests can buy drip coffee and cold brew from Kribi Coffee while they browse the store. The coffee shop also sells pastries from Turano Baking Company and, on Sundays, from Insanely Awesome Bakery, a pop-up based in Berwyn.

The Pile has already hosted a handful of events. It’s open Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a book club from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The first Saturday of the month is a book club about banned books. The second is for books that were turned into movies, and the third Saturday of the month is a book club for high schoolers, where they choose what to read.

On April 13, the Forest Park Theatre is

doing a reading of Jane Eyre at The Pile. The day after, The Pile will host a live recording for the podcast Get Lit. To celebrate Earth Day, on April 21, The Pile will offer family-friendly craft making with recycled materials, along with a story time from local author-illustrator team James Boland and Richard Flatley (The Pile also has a local author section) who have written about how climate change affects sea turtles and polar bears.

“I really want it to be that kind of space

where everybody can come together for something specific, but also fun,” Lewis said. “I want it to be something for everyone.”

Lewis said the first few weeks of business were the best for the bookstore, and it’s remained steady since.

“People were really excited. They all came out for our opening,” Lewis said. “I’m seeing new faces all the time, being introduced to new people all the time.”

She added, “it’s already starting to be a third space for a lot of people.”

2,300 lead pipes in Forest Park need to be replaced and work is under way

Lead can leach into drinking water, making it toxic for humans, especially children

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Underneath Forest Park, miles of service lines carry potable water from Chicago’s water main to the village’s homes and businesses. But many of these aging pipes are made out of lead, a toxic metal that can be harmful to humans, especially children, if it is ingested in drinking water

Although cities like Chicago often add phosphates to the water, coating the pipes to prevent lead from leaching into the wa-

ter, in the past few years, officials have ramped up ef for ts to replace them.

Last year, the Biden Administration required the replacement of all the country’s lead pipes within the next decade. And in 2021, Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill requiring Illinois to replace lead service lines. Federal EPA data shows that Illinois has the secondhighest number of lead pipes in the nation — more than 686,000 of them — and it’s the third state in the country, following Michigan and New Jersey, to have such a law.

At the Forest Park council meeting March 25, four commissioners and Mayor Rory Hoskins voted to accept bids for this year’s lead service replacement project, an ongoing ef fort in the village. All five also voted to approve the execution of the village’s application for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s lead service line inventory grant.

It’s a similar grant to the one the village got last year, when the IEPA awarded Forest Park a $2.35 million forgivable loan to continue the replacement of its lead service lines in 2024.

Forest Park started replacing its lead service lines with copper ones nearly a decade ago, when Sal Stella, now the village’s director of public works, was working in the water department. Yearly, the department would replace lead pipes with copper ones, up to a property’s parkway, leaving the ones that go up to homes

But the village gave homeowners incentives of free water meters and waived permitting fees to replace the parts of the service lines that are a part of their property. As the water department replaced service lines two blocks at a time, Stella estimated that over 50 homes in every two blocks participated in the incentives.

The IEPA grant received last year, along

with the 2021 bill, required the village to also replace the portion of service lines connecting to homes and businesses, rather than the pipes from the water mains

The grant will also fund Christopher Burke Engineering to analyze the village’s service lines and determine how many lead pipes the village still has to replace. Since Gov. Pritzker signed the bill in 2021, villages and cities must report to the IEPA the number of lead sources in their community

There’s roughly 2,300 service lines that still need to be replaced. According to the village lead line inventory, Forest Park has 3,399 water lines, 1,100 of which are lead and 1,438 that are partial lead lines. But for nearly a decade, Forest Park has worked toward updating them.

Stella said, “Forest Park has always been proactive in helping the community upgrade to copper.”

ZACK BAKEWELL

e Pile Bookstore

BIG WEEK April 3-10

The Heav y Sounds: A Tribute to Al Green

April 6, 8-10:30 p.m., Robert’s Westside

Family Trivia NightDisney Edition

Friday, April 5, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Administration Building

When you quiz upon a star, your dreams come true. Join us on Friday, April 5 for a Family Trivia Night featuring all things Disney, hosted by our friends at the Chicago Trivia Guys. Gather your family and friends (teams up to 6), bring your favorite snacks and drinks, and test your Disney knowledge against friends and neighbors. Learn more at https://bit.ly/DisneyTrivia2024.

■ Send

Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 60302

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Pop-Up Prom Shop

Saturday, April 6, 2 - 4 p.m., Forest Park Public Library and Maywood Public Library

Chair Yoga

Al Green was one of the most de nitive hit-makers of the ‘70s, rede ning the sounds of romantic “baby-making music” with a creamy falsetto backed by a funky Memphis falsetto. The Heav y Sounds will present an entire evening of songs from the catalog of this famed singer (and reverend!), featuring the vocals of Renaldo Domino, Gerald McLendon, Gina Bloom and Christopher Brian Neal. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Thursday, April 4, 12 - 12:30p.m., Forest Park Public Library – Austin Room

Join this 30-minute Chair Yoga class with DuShaun Branch that will be accessible and open to all bodies. Chair Yoga is a great introduction to Yoga and allows students to use an ever yday prop, the chair 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Phil Angiotti ’s Legendary Long Players Perform ‘Something Else’

Sunday, April 7, 6:30-10:30 p.m., Robert’s Westside

Something Else by The Kinks is considered one of the most legendary rock albums ever released and cemented the Kinks’ reputation as one of the central bands of the 1960s British Invasion. Phil Angiotti and the band will perform the entire album live, from the beginning of Side One to the runout grooves of Side Two. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Find the per fec t prom dress for free. Shop our Prom PopUp at the Maywood Public Library and complete your look with styling tips and tricks. 121 S. 5th Ave., Maywood.

Teen Take & Make: Beeswax Candles

Wednesday, April 10, All Day, Forest Park Public Library - Young Adult Lounge

Everything you need to make a sustainable beeswax candle. Kits will be available in the Young Adult Lounge and are rst come, rst ser ved. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Mini-Yoga Retreat

Monday, April 8, 6:30 - 8:30p.m., Forest Park Public Library - Austin Room

This two -hour workshop with Kella Murphy will a rm and nurture your body, mind, and spirit. Participants will explore gentle yoga movements and breathing exercises. Guided meditations, a rming journal prompts and supported discussion will round out the retreat. Participants will also leave with ideas on how to retreat at home. Join the waitlist for this event at https:// tinyurl.com/4xfzpy7w. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Make your own wind chime

Tuesday, April 9, 4-5 p.m., Forest Park Public Library – YS Program Room

Make your own soothing wind chime. Designed for ages 8 to 10. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

BUDGET

Tight nances

from page 1

tors met for the first of two get-togethers before turning in their official budgets. These two new meetings are more of a collaborative process and big-picture discussion about the budget before zeroing in on specific numbers.

“I remember feeling, after the last budget meeting last year, that stuf f came up that was really relevant,” said Maria Maxham, the village’s commissioner of accounts and finance, in an interview before the meeting “I wished we had more time to discuss it before it was of ficially implemented.”

“Just because it’s in the budg et doesn’t mean we have money to spend it,” Entler said. “If the funds don’ t come in to balance the revenue side, it’s hard to spend the money.”

Forest Park, like many small villages, has had chronic budget challenges. In the last few years, there has been increased budget scrutiny to consider how to cut costs and raise revenues.

In addition to continuing that conversation, this year’s first budget meeting is also the start to a long-term ef fort. Whereas past budget meetings have focused on finances for the upcoming fiscal year, these budget meetings plan for the next three-tofive years.

“I don’ t think that we can have a serious conversation about the future of the village without seeing the bigger picture of what we’re going to need and how we

start to take a look at how to fund that,” Entler said.

“We want to look a few years in the future and also look at this not just as budg eting, but sort of as strategic planning,” Maxham said. “I’m hoping, if it’s not within a year, within the next few years, to g et to a point where we’re being financially proactive rather than reactive to things that come up.”

Expenses and revenues

The largest village expense, Maxham said, is employee wages. Maxham suspects village salaries are lower than those in surrounding municipalities.

“I know that ours are low, ” Maxham said of wage s, wh i le p ensions are quit e c ostly. Operational costs are also a significant expense, followe d by capital infrastructure debt .

“For the last however many years, we’ve always been told we have no money,” Entler said. She cites a variety of reasons, like recessions and the pandemic, but wants to find a way to increase revenues to offset village expenses

In the 2023 fiscal year, nearly 35% of the village’s revenue came from intergovernmental revenues. Around 31% came from property taxes, and about 5% from other taxes. Charges for services, like water and waste pickup, contributed over 21% of the village’s revenue.

Brainstorming new resources and revenue streams

Village departments can buy anything they want up to $500. From there, Entler has to sign of f on costs up to $20,000. Items more expensive than that require a vote from the village council.

At this year’s first budget meeting Tuesday, Entler brought sticky notes and asked those present to write down three bigger ticket items they wanted for their department or the village

“It probably won’t happen in fiscal year ‘25,” she warned, but the practice helped staf f to brainstorm what they needed down the line.

The list included:

■ The Jackson Boulevard water reservoir

■ A new fire engine and ladder truck

■ A second ambulance since, according to Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta, Forest Park gets about 300 mutual aid ambulances into town a year, or around $650,000 in ambulance bill-

ing the village isn’t able to capture

■ A consultant for the Altenheim property, which Entler said costs around $120,000

■ Playg rounds, like re placing the one at the Howard Mohr Community Center, that would cost over $200,000

■ Water meter upgrades for $4.5 million

■ A new forestry truck and bucket truck for the public works department

■ Police squad car re placements

■ Police body cameras, which have a five-year warranty, will need to be replaced by 2027

Entler also asked the meeting’s attendees to list three ways the village could bring in more revenue.

Among the suggestions were:

■ Increasing business license fees, which haven’t been hiked since 2007 and are $25 for a home business and $100 for something like an electrical contractor

■ Selling the parking lot at Circle Avenue and Roosevelt Road, which is often empty

■ Establishing an eating tax at restaurants and fast food places. “It’s one way to not necessarily tax the residents of Forest Park, but those who are coming to enjoy meals here,” Entler said.

■ Increasing parking meter rates

■ Installing a temporary water bill operations fee to help cover the cost of upgrading infrastructure like water mains

and service lines

■ Requiring permits for street parking

■ Exploring home rule, which municipalities of over 25,000 residents have automatically. Those at or under that number need to pass it with a referendum, which would allow Forest Park to impose additional local taxes and fees. This could include establishing a local real estate transfer tax or sales tax, or taxing Airbnbs and car rentals.

■ Reinstating video gaming, which the village council approved in 2016 and was overturned with a referendum in 2018 by a small margin, just 192 votes. Ryan Nero, commissioner of health and public safety, and Maxham both showed interest in exploring whether the referendum could be overturned to provide local revenue. Berwyn, Maxham said, makes nearly $1 million a year from video gaming.

The next budget meeting is April 22. At that gathering, village staf f will start prioritizing costs and revenue streams. The meeting after that, they will approve itemized lists of each department’s budget.

“I think what goes into a budget reflects what we say we care about,” Maxham said. “This is probably the most important thing that we can do as a village.”

FILE

e playground behind the Howard Mohr Community Center.

FILE

Forest Park ambulance #408

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The Collaboration for Early Childhood kicks of f its Week of the Young Child Saturday with multiple events throughout the Oak Park community this upcoming week.

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration, sponsored by the National Association for Education of Young Children, the world’s largest early childhood education association.

Michelle Howell, family eng agement partnership coordinator for the Collaboration for Early Childhood in Oak Park, said their services are focused on children and families with children ages prenatal to 5 years old.

To help families celebrate their young children, Howell said the organization planned themed days and reached out to their local partners to see if anyone wanted to participate and host the events.

The kickof f event April 6 will be held at the Berwyn Public Library on South Harlem Avenue. from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. with a Bilingual Adventures with Abuela Storytime and Crafts. The event will feature children’s author Virginia Martinez, who will read her books “Adventures with Abuela: Let’s go to the Shedd Aquarium.”

On Monday, April 8, Music Monday will be held with three events hosted at locations around the community, including a 9 a.m. Music Together You and Yours Free Demo Class at Unity Church of Oak Park on Euclid. Bilingual storytime also will be held at Forest Park Public Library, and an Animal Moves Dance Party will be held at Let’s Play Work on Circle Avenue in Forest Park

Other events include:

■ Tuesday, April 9: Tasty Tuesday

■ Wednesday, April 10: Work To gether Wednesday

■ Thursday, April 11: Artsy Thursday

■ Friday, April 12: Family Friday

Tracy Patton, program manager for Easterseals Partnering with Parents, a parent support program for prenatal to 5-year-olds, said they have partnered with Early Childhood for their Artsy Thursday celebration.

“We will read a story that talks about

color mixing and talk a little bit about the importance of art experiences in early childhood and that not everything has to be something,” Patton said. “So, process art versus product art. We have all walked into a classroom and the bulletin board is filled with 20 identical projects with children’s names on them. You are doing art wrong if they all look alike.”

Kids will be able to paint and take their art home, Patton said.

The event will be free but re gistration is required as space is limited.

“If they can sit on a parent’s lap and put their hands in paint, they can paint,” Patton added.

According to Howell, all of the events are either free or are being of fered by their partners through discounted rates.

Additional partners for the celebration include Wonder Works Children’s Museum, FIT4MOM Oak Pa rk and River Forest, West Suburban Special Recreation Association, Forest Park Public Library, Let’s Play Work, Tracy’s Plate, the Oak Park Public Library and more

“We just want to make sure our families know there is no wrong door … they also have a connection to anyone that we are connected to,” Howell said.

More information and re gistration for the events can be found online.

Man pushes clerk after attempting to steal Arizona tea

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Police were called to the 7200 block of Washington Street March 25 in connection with a dispute between a man and a store clerk. The customer yelled at the clerk after he told him to pay for the bottle of Arizona tea that the man was concealing by the door The clerk said the man then walked behind the register, pushed him in the chest and attempted to take more items before leaving with the stolen Arizona bottle. When police addressed the man, he denied making physical contact and appeared paranoid, police said. He was arrested for one count of retail theft and battery.

Fire

On the night of April 1, a fire broke out at Epyk Luxury on 7446 Madison Street. Oak

Park, River Forest, North Riverside and Cicero fire departments assisted the Forest Park Fire Department in fighting the fire. No other details were immediately available.

Suspicious circumstances

On March 27, police were dispatched to a residence on Des Plaines Avenue because a woman believed a maintenance person was entering her apar tment without her consent. T he day before, when she returned home from work, her toilet seat was up and the bathroom door was closed, which she said was not how she left it. And March 27, she got home from work to find the bathroom light on and the door partially closed. She didn’t re port any items dama ged or stolen, although, in January, she filed a police re port for a theft she believes happened as a result of maintenance’s unauthorized access to her

Randy Zerfoss, 67

House painter/decorator, Way Back Inn volunteer

Randolph “Randy”

Brian Zerfoss, 67, of Forest Park, died peaceully at home on Jan. 13, 2024, surrounded by the love of his children and stepson. Born on une 24, 1956, he had a giant heart with which he loved his family and friends deeply and pasothing brought him greater joy than hanging out with his kids and grandkids, even better if it was at a White Sox game. His sparkling eyes, crooked smile, wild laugh, and wickedly intelligent and unparalleled sense of humor will be remembered. He had the remarkable ability to deliver lines from goofy movies at the perfect moment. He made friends, whether at work, where his clients frequently became his friends, in the grocery store checkout line, or in the hospital when he was nearing the end of his life He jumped right in to help anyone who needed

apar tment. She said she intends to move out of the unit.

Motor vehicle theft

While on patrol March 28, police received reports of a stolen vehicle traveling west on I-290. When the 2020 Kia Sportage exited at Harlem Avenue, police pulled it over on the exit ramp. Two men were in the car wearing black facemasks and police placed both in custody. The driver was 18 years old and didn’t have a valid Illinois driver’s license. His passenger was his 13-year-old cousin, who was arrested in December for aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Police recovered a handgun, bag of cannabis and two cups of suspected alcohol from the car. The driver was arrested, and his cousin was transported to the juvenile detention center at 1100 S. Hamilton Avenue

OB ITUARIES

it. For years he was involved with Way Back Inn, a local addiction recovery program, eventually as a volunteer board member. He helped countless people in their recoveries.

He grew up and lived most of his life in Oak Park, graduating from OPRF High School and attending Southern Illinois University. A talented house painter and decorator, he ran his own business for. He always admired Oak Park’s architecture, especially its “Painted Ladies,” which he excelled at making beautiful again.

Randy leaves behind his children, Andrew Guy and Amy Mira from his marriage to Janet; his grandchildren, Lucas and Scarlett; his siblings, David (Jennifer), Gary (Linda), Scott and Amy; his stepson, Lee, from his marriage to Marijo; his grandson’s mother, Natasha; his cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces/nephews; and many devoted friends, especially his lifelong best friend Bill. He was pre-deceased by his parents Guy and Mary Barbara (nee Gale) Zerfoss and his sisters, Cindy, Carol and Gaye.

Family and friends will celebrate Randy’s life on April 20 at 4 p.m. For details, contact friends or family or email RBZsCelebrationofLife@gmail. com. Bring your favorite memories of Randy, your love for the White Sox and your best goofy movie lines

Fraudulent check

Police were dispatched to Waldheim Cemetery March 28 for reports of a fraudulent check. On March 26, Fifth Third Bank called the cemetery to notify them that one of their employees attempted to cash a check for $8,227.12, but the check was fraudulent. The cemetery had previously not done business with the person who wrote them the check, and there is no loss of funds to the cemetery.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated March 25 through March 28 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

Dave Novak, 72

Longtime park district direc tor

David A. Novak, 72, of Forest Park, died suddenly on March 12, 2024. Born on May 15, 1951, he was the longtime director of the Park District of Forest Park.

“Take time for fun.” For more detailed information re garding his remarkable life and amazing spirit, please see the articles in the Forest Park Review by re porter Jessica Mordacq and contributor Rich Dalton at www.forestparkreview.com.

Dave was the husband of Carolann (nee Kopycinski) Novak; the father of Daniel (Samantha) Novak and Nicholas (Jennifer) Novak; son of the late John and Catherine (nee Joyc e) Novak; grandfather of Nicholas Jr., Matthew,

Storey, Nolan, Katie and Cooper Novak; brother of Thomas (Diane) Novak and the late Joyc e and the late Johnny Novak; and the uncle of Joy (Amber) Novak. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Everyone is invited to Conboy-Westchester Funeral Home, 10501 W. Cermak Road (2 blocks west of Mannheim) in Westchester on Thursday, April 4 from 3 until 8 p.m., and on Friday, April 5, at St. Bernardine Church, 7246 Harrison St. in Forest Park for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment will be private. All services will conclude after the Mass.

A celebration of his life will follow immediately afterward at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison St., with food, drinks and dancing. The family encourages everyone to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in Dave’s memory would be appreciated to the West Suburban Special Recreation Association at www.wssra.net. Arrangements are being handled by Brian D. Kuratko and Matthew P. Conboy, funeral directors.

Art Jones, Forest Park’s quiet leader, dies at 81

Jones served as school superintendent and, later, as a banker

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Art Jones, a for mer Forest Park resident whose service to his community has been felt across the village and over decades, died March 30. He was 81.

Jones was a committed educator in Forest Park and other suburban communities. He was named superintendent of Forest Park’s District 91 elementary schools while he was still in his 20s. He later served as school superintendent in Glen Ellyn and in Lake Forest, where he led the district after a major test-score scandal.

After leaving his work in education, Jones went on to become Forest Park Bank’s executive vice president of business development and community relations. He stayed in that role until 2006, when he retired and moved to

South Carolina with his wife, Sally.

During his time in Forest Park, Jones was also a key player in the redevelopment of Madison Street in the early 2000s. In the mid1990s, Jones co-founded Windmills LLC, with other businesspeople in town. The corporation bought up several vacant or underused retail properties along Madison Street and held onto them until the right merchant for each space came along

Jones was also a member of the Main Street Redevelopment Association, which partnered heavily with the village and Forest Park Chamber of Commerce to revitalize the village’s downtown before it merged with the chamber in 2008.

The chamber’s executive director, Laurie Kokenes, described Jones — whom she had known since she started working in Forest Park in 1975 — as one of Main Street’s “founding fathers.”

“He was just admired and respected by a wide range of people,” she said. “He was very much dedicated to this community in all ways.”

Tim Gillian, a for mer Forest Park village administrator and council member, called

Jones “a driving force” behind the improvements that “made Madison Street a great shopping destination.”

“I was fortunate enough to spend many hours in meetings with the engineers and Art … just being around him and learning from him,” said Gillian, who was also Jones’ next-door neighbor when Jones lived in Forest Park. “He was just a wonderful, intelligent, caring individual who loved putting his mark on the things that he touched.”

While most people knew Jones as calm, professional and “a real gentleman,” Kokenes said few people saw his funny personality beneath the steady presence. She recalled a time when for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual auction event, Jones and longtime Forest Parker Bob Senechalle offered to do the highest bidder’s lawn work

“They came to our house, came to my house — I bid on the prize, and I won the prize,” Kokenes said. “His wife and everyone’s wives came, and we sat in my yard and watched them trim our hedges and pull weeds. It was just a lot of fun.”

een his professional exterior and his Kokenes put

that Art Jones brought,” Gillian said.

“I just don’t think there’ll ever be another Art Jones. He’s just one of a kind, and it was an honor and a pleasure to work with him,” Kokenes said. “He was a treasure.”

Funeral services are being arranged by his family and will be included in next week’s Review.

Spring 2024

SENIOR

living

FOR OVER A CENTURY, Cantata has been helping seniors live their best lives

ABrookfield community fixture for more than 100 years, the not-for-profit Cantata campus offers a range of living options set within the quiet privacy of a scenic 10-acre forested preserve, yet remains readily accessible to the greater Chicago area.

“With Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Support, Skilled Rehab and Long-Term Care, we are here to help our residents navigate the progression of their entire life journey, whatever it looks like and whatever they need,” said Cantata’s resident services director Lesya Shoorgot.

Residents can choose where to enter the Cantata system with the ability to transition between levels of care as their health and preferences evolve. The Independent Living apartments provide residents with a sense of freedom and opportunities for socialization with friends and neighbors.

“It’s a great environment to start your retirement in,” Shoorgot said. “Caregiving support is available for an additional fee at the Independent Living level. Later, if your care requirements start to change, our Assisted Living approach is unique in that you can still maximize your independence in your own apartment with assistance available only as much as you need it.”

Assisted Living residents can choose from private one or two-bedroom apartment options and remain free to set their own daily schedules and leave the campus at will.

“When you do need help with bathing, dressing or medications, we’re there at the touch of a button,” Shoorgot said. “There’s no caregiver in the room with you all day long. Our residents are able to maintain their privacy but still have immediate access to additional care whenever they want it.”

Between Independent Living and Assisted Living, Cantata manages 150 apartments on the property with changing availability and serves meals in restaurant-style dining rooms.

“All of our food is made fresh in-house daily — soups and starters, two entrees and a dessert,” Shoorgot said.

“Many of our residents love the fact that they don’t have to worry about cleaning up or doing the dishes after they eat!”

A variety of life-enrichment programs — including games, movie screenings, craft activities, music, shopping trips, restaurant visits and religious services — create

a full, well-rounded experience for Cantata residents.

“Our most popular activity is an instructor-led exercise class each morning after breakfast,” Shoorgot said. “Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library leads a book club here, and we have RBHS students visit to do activities with our residents as well. It’s always fun to see the different generations coming together and having a good time.”

A dedicated staff of employees who truly care about the residents they serve are one of the reasons for Cantata’s longevity. Some have been with the organization for as long as 25 years.

“We have a real passion for the work we do, our residents and their families,” Shoorgot said. “We’ve been around long enough to become experts in the industry. The aging process isn’t onesize-fits-all; it’s unique and different for each person. We’re here to help every step of the way.”

For more information, visit www. cantata.org or call us 708-387-1030!

Scan here to visit our Cantata website

For two decades, Belmont Village has provided best in class hospitality and support for thousands of seniors in Chicago and in great cities across the U.S. Our assisted living and memory care programs set the standard of excellence. University collaborations with UCLA and Vanderbilt have helped us champion unmatched cognitive health and wellness programs with positive, evidence-based results for residents. With exquisite spaces and superb hospitality, at Belmont Village you’ll experience senior living in a class all its own.

THE CARE MOM RECEIVES AT BELMONT VILLAGE IS IN A CLASS ALL ITS OWN.

THE CARE MOM RECEIVES AT BELMONT

THE CARE MOM RECEIVES AT BELMONT VILLAGE IS IN A CLASS ALL ITS OWN.

For two decades, Belmont Village has provided best in class hospitality and support for thousands of seniors in Chicago and in great cities across the U.S. Our assisted living and memory care programs set the standard of excellence. University collaborations with UCLA and Vanderbilt have helped us champion unmatched cognitive health and wellness programs with positive, evidence-based results for residents. With exquisite spaces and superb hospitality, at Belmont Village you’ll experience senior living in a class all its own.

For two decades, Belmont Village has provided best in class hospitality and support for thousands of seniors in Chicago and in great cities across the U.S. Our assisted living and memory care programs set the standard of excellence. University collaborations with UCLA and Vanderbilt have helped us champion unmatched cognitive health and wellness programs with positive, evidence-based results for residents. With exquisite spaces and superb hospitality, at Belmont Village you’ll experience senior living in a class all its own.

THE CARE MOM RECEIVES AT BELMONT VILLAGE IS IN A CLASS ALL ITS OWN.

For two decades, Belmont Village has provided best in class hospitality and support for thousands of seniors in Chicago and in great cities across the U.S. Our assisted living and memory care programs set the standard of excellence. University collaborations with UCLA and Vanderbilt have helped us champion unmatched cognitive health and wellness programs with positive, evidence-based results for residents. With exquisite spaces and superb hospitality, at Belmont Village you’ll experience senior living in a class all its own.

For two decades, Belmont Village has provided best in class hospitality and support for thousands of seniors in Chicago and in great cities across the U.S. Our assisted living and memory care programs set the standard of excellence. University collaborations with UCLA and Vanderbilt have helped us champion unmatched cognitive health and wellness programs with positive, evidence-based results for residents. With exquisite spaces and superb hospitality, at Belmont Village you’ll experience senior living in a class all its own.

Premier Programs for Hospitality, Health & Wellness

To learn more, visit BELMONTVILLAGE.COM/OAKPARK

To learn more, visit BELMONTVILLAGE.COM/OAKPARK Call 708-848-7200 to schedule a personal tour today.

Medication management with licensed nurse on-site 24/7

To learn more, visit BELMONTVILLAGE.COM/OAKPARK

Call 708-848-7200 to schedule a personal tour today.

Premier Programs for Hospitality, Health & Wellness

Diabetes Center of Excellence

Premier Programs for Hospitality, Health & Wellness

Call 708-848-7200 to schedule a personal tour today.

Circle of Friends® award-winning memory care

Premier Programs for Hospitality, Health & Wellness

Medication management with licensed nurse on-site 24/7

Diabetes Center of Excellence

Dedicated Alzheimer's Care

Medication management with licensed nurse on-site 24/7

Circle of Friends® award-winning memory care

Diabetes Center of Excellence

Medication management with licensed nurse on-site 24/7

Mind Body Awareness (MBA) Wellness program

Premier Programs for Hospitality, Health & Wellness

Diabetes Center of Excellence

Dedicated Alzheimer's Care

Physical therapy, rehabilitation and fitness

Circle of Friends® award-winning memory care

Circle of Friends® award-winning memory care

Mind Body Awareness (MBA) Wellness program

Dedicated Alzheimer's Care

Medication management with licensed nurse on-site 24/7

Dedicated Alzheimer's Care

Nationally-recognized, highly trained staff

Physical therapy, rehabilitation and fitness

Diabetes Center of Excellence

Mind Body Awareness (MBA) Wellness program

Mind Body Awareness (MBA) Wellness program

Nationally-recognized, highly trained staff

Physical therapy, rehabilitation and fitness

Circle of Friends® award-winning memory care

Physical therapy, rehabilitation and fitness

Dedicated Alzheimer's Care

Nationally-recognized, highly trained staff

Nationally-recognized, highly trained staff

Mind Body Awareness (MBA) Wellness program

Physical therapy, rehabilitation and fitness

Women, Embrace Your Health Today!

We invite you to participate in our Healthy Legacy Program, our FREE 6-week workshop designed for AfricanAmerican and Hispanic/Latina women age 50+ who want to learn to eat right, manage weight, and learn how to better improve and maintain their health.

Join us for fun exercise, nutrition counseling, and health education in a supportive environment together!

HEALTHY LEGACY PROGRAM

• Meet twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks

• Practice goal setting and problem solving

• Discuss healthy habits and create a personal weekly health plan

• Learn about nutrition, healthy eating, and practice meal planning

• Exercise weekly for improved strength and flexibility

• Meet with other women in supportive discussion groups

• Be celebrated at the end with a graduation and surprises!

Sign up today for this FREE Workshop!

Tuesdays & Thursdays, May 7-June 13!

Workshop is held 1:30-3:30pm at Oak Park Township, 130 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois.

To register, please call Mary Anne Ojeda at Oak Park Township at (708) 383-8060.

When Parents Say ‘No’ to Home Care Because of Cost Worries

By Tia Harrison, Home Instead® Oak Park, IL

Most aging adults want to remain in their homes as they age. Those of us in the home care industry have heard this time and again, and it’s an opinion confirmed by research.

According to a study commissioned by Home Instead, Inc., for the Home Instead® network, 86 percent of seniors want to live at home for as long as possible. But many older adults need help to achieve that goal.

In fact, as individuals age, some form of care is often necessary to remain at home. There generally are two types of home care:

• Home health care provided by licensed medical professionals for which the individual has received an order or prescription from a healthcare provider.

• In-home care such as personal care, homemaker or companionship services provided by professional caregivers.

Cost can be a concern for many aging adults. Perhaps you have these apprehensions yourself or your aging parents have expressed this worry. But home care can help older adults stay independent and home longer, and cost doesn’t need to be a roadblock.

Not only could home care allow your parents to remain at home, services are designed to be flexible and geared to their needs. For example, Home Instead provides at-home care and companionship support for aging adults from four hours a day to 24-7 support. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support.

Because home care services, both home health and in-home care, are often only required for a few days a week, the savings to aging adults can be significant. A Home Instead, Inc. study indicates approximately 20 percent of the Home Instead network’s clients employ Care Professionals for an average of 12 hours per week. Depending on the level of care needed, home care has the potential to save thousands of dollars a month compared to other options.

For more information, check out the Home Care Funding Solutions Guide

For more information about Home Instead, contact Tia Harrison, Franchise Owner, at 708-524-9814 or go to www.homeinstead.com/421

OPINION

Two Dads show us how to talk

If we are not concerned about the future of American democracy — the survival of this democracy — in this most perverse of election years, then we are not paying the attention we need to.

One path back to American optimism and realism is finding ways to talk to each other, to stop the debilitating and dehumanizing ways we have come to communicate about our shared civic life.

Growing Community Media is bringing two men to River Forest next week in a return of our Conversations series. Two Dads Defending Democracy is a model of how two people with strongly divergent political views, which they often shared in sniping fashion on cable news and insults via social media, took their conversation offline.

FR OM THE PUBLIS HER HOLMES

Joe Walsh, once a flamethrowing Tea Party congressman from the far west suburbs, and Fred Guttenberg, a gun safety advocate whose daughter was murdered in the Parkland High School mass shooting, actually started talking. What they discovered was common ground on protecting our fragile democracy this year. And as the talk tur ned into a genuine friendship, they also found ways they can see progress even on an issue like gun safety where they had profound differences I’m inviting you to join us, April 9, at Dominican University in River Forest for a moderated conversation between Guttenberg and Walsh. The price of admission is $15. That’s a discount for our readers. Here’s the link: bit.ly/GCMTwoDads. The discount code is FF15.

A month ago, I took a random phone call from an unknown number. Turns out it was Shane from Tennessee. It did not start well. He was, inexplicably to me, very upset about a candidate for the 1st District seat on the county board. She was a radical leftist, he said, and Chicago was being overrun by migrants and “what the hell is going on up there?!”

I anticipated the call would end quickly with mutual shouting and a complete reinforcement of our powerfully held views. Instead, Shane listened while I said the candidate was a little left of me but an entirely reasonable woman with deep community roots. And he listened when I told him that all of our reporting on the West Side and in Oak Park about migrants made clear these people mostly wanted work so they could support themselves, that they came thousands of dangerous miles for the same reasons all immigrants come to America.

And I listened while he told me his family story of hard work and limited opportunity, his success as a recruiter in technology, and that he is part Native American and how proud he is of that heritage.

Thirty minutes later we closed the conversation sharing stories about our daughters and wishing each other well.

I’ve never had a conversation like that before. I expect I’m not alone.

Our divisions are profound. But finding ways to talk to each other is vital. I hope you’ll be there on Tuesday when the Two Dads show us how it’s done.

Dan Haley Publisher Growing Community Media

‘Are you OK, Rev?”

Feeling the sadness

This was the second time in a month that Alice greeted him with something close to affection. Recovering from the shock quickly, Pastor Walter Mitty answered the ill-tempered server, “Why do you ask, Alice?”

“Well, you look like you’ve just lost your best friend.”

“Hmmm, I’m not sure, Alice, but thanks for asking.”

“Pastor, are you OK?” asked Ryan Becker as Mitty sat down at the big round table in a back corner of the Main Café in Poplar Park

“Ryan, you’re the second person to ask me that in the last 30 seconds. Do I look down or something?” The seven men at the table all nodded.

Mitty searched his interior for an explanation for what he wasn’t even aware of

“I guess … well I think that it’s partly the service last night. The Good Friday service always makes me feel sad.”

“Really?” said Asch. “I thought I was the only one affected by Good Friday that way.”

“Me too,” Eric Anderson nodded his head in agreement.

“It’s not exactly guilt,” Asch shared. “I think sadness is the right word.”

“The story isn’t a tragedy,” Eric Anderson began searching for words. “I mean three days later Jesus rose from the dead, so there definitely is a happy ending.”

Pastor Walt always felt gratified when his decision to become vulnerable brought out the same in others. After all, that’s a big part of what the Men’s Fellowship was about.

The men sat in silence pondering what had just been said. It was Dominique who broke the silence. “You all know in Florida some of the MAGAs say they don’t want slavery taught in the schools, because they don’t want their kids to feel guilty.”

The Black executive let his words sink in. “Well, guilt is sometimes the right emotional response if you’ve done something wrong, but slavery — at least the chattel kind — ended 161 years ago if I’m doing my math correctly.”

“So,” said Asch, getting into Dominique’s reasoning, “what you are saying is really that the goal of teaching Black history is not to make anyone feel guilty, right? Like, if MAGAs choose to respond to the story of slavery by feeling guilty, that says more about them than it does about promoters of Black history.”

“You know,” said Mitty joining in, “the Church has sometimes been guilty of weaponizing guilt, but we all seem to have reacted to yesterday’s service by feeling sad. That’s more like empathy than guilt, isn’t it?

And Asch added, “You know what’s kind of funny? Feeling sad doesn’t make me feel sad. You know what I mean?”

Pastor Mitty smiled and said, “I know exactly what you mean. There’s a certain sweetness to this kind of sadness. It puts me in a place I want to be in.”

“I just had a thought,” said Eric Anderson. “I react to guilt by feeling like I have to do something, but I respond to sadness or empathy by feeling like I want to do something.”

It was one of those times when the so-called sheep were feeding the so-called shepherd.

On the way home from the Men’s Fellowship breakfast, Mitty stopped in to say hello to Zaphne at the Retro. He liked the young entrepreneur and besides, she was easy on the eyes.

“How you doing, Zaphne?”

“Oh, hi Rev. I can be honest with you. Not so good.”

“Oh, what’s wrong?” Now it was Pastor Mitty’s tur n to ask someone if they were OK

Zaphne paused. “Well, it might be other things, too, but what keeps coming to mind is the thought of Trump getting elected in November.”

The pastor of Poplar Park Community Church waited for Zaphne to finish her thought.

“I’m really scared, Rev. At times I feel real panic.”

The Easter service went well. Everybody said so, and Pastor Mitty went home feeling more joyful than he did the day before

On the drive up to Manitowoc for a late Easter dinner with Susan and his two nephews he noticed that he was feeling some lingering sadness along with the joy, like the walnuts his mother used to mix in the cookie dough along with the chocolate chips.

It was while he was passing Cedarburg that he remembered what Eric Anderson had said. “The Holy Week narrative is not a tragedy. A death is followed by a new life.”

When he passed the exit to Port Washington he thought, “The Holy Week story is not just about what happened two millennia ago, but it’s kind of a story we can relate to. Like we all experience deaths or losses in our lives and it’s how we respond to the losses that gives us meaning.”

As he drove by Sheboygan on I-43 he wished Zaphne had been with his people that morning in church

We’ll always have Paris … and Amsterdam

We just returned from Amsterdam and Paris

After landing in Amsterdam, we took the train to Amsterdam Centraal Station. The Dutch are very big on repeating vowels. Don’t even get me started on how they use “oo”.

Amsterdam was founded in 1735. In polite conversation, it is referred to as “Amsterdarn.” There are no accommodations for people with disabilities. Just steep narrow stairs everywhere.

Bookstores are thriving in the Netherlands. So are newspapers, as there is government support of independent jour nalism. We even saw Dutch people reading real books on the train.

When we came to the Netherlands, we saw the faces of my wife’s family and the faces of Dutch families from our church. My wife was in denial, though, and won’t admit she’s Dutch.

Everyone in Amsterdam rides a bike and no one wears a helmet. If a bicyclist rings their bell because you’re in their way, it’s called “road rage.”

The Dutch are a hearty people who dine outdoors regardless of cold temperatures and rain. The crowd sitting outside the can-

nabis cafes is especially hearty

The Netherlands is the fifth happiest country in the world, ased on GDP, social support and life expectancy. The U.S. has dropped to 23rd place, although our 60 and over crowd is still in the top 10.

The Dutch are the tallest eople in the world, with men averaging 6 feet 4 and women averaging 6 feet. This was part of a nationwide conspiracy to make me feel short. Our 6-foot son Mark was in on it.

Mark was our tour guide on the trip. He used his phone to lead us through the streets, while also booking hotels and restaurants. Like many Boomer couples, we need someone who can use a phone

We took a canal boat tour of the city. The boat was well-stocked with wine and beer and passengers were required to take a sip as we passed under each bridge. Amsterdam has more than 1,200 bridges but whooze counting.

Our guide showed us a houseboat that was once home to an obscure Dutch band called Golden Earing. She didn’t think we had heard of these one-hit-wonders until a passenger started playing “Radar Love” on her phone.

The food is so fresh and healthy in Am-

sterdam. Even when I purposely ordered an unhealthy breakfast of bacon and waffles, it was topped by fresh fruit.

My sister-in-law, Micheline, welcomed us to Paris and had us buy ride tickets for taking trains and buses. We did not find the Parisians to be rude. One even gave up his bus seat to me — one of the rare perks for having gray hair.

We later enjoyed a four-hour dinner with Micheline and her family at one of Paris’ famed restaurants We walked all over Paris with her, 7 miles in one day.

We climbed the Eiffel Tower. We also took a boat tour of the Seine, we passed NotreDame Cathedral which is undergoing a massive reconstruction. Forest Park’s Andrzej Dajnowksi is helping with the rebuilding.

Like the Dutch, the French support newspapers and bookshops. There are over 3,500 independent bookshops in France.

We met one of my for mer students in a bar near Notre-Dame. It had been 10 years since I had seen Elodie but she still remembered her first day of class.

The boat tour continued but we were distracted by two young women in front of us. They had stylish hair, their make-up was expertly applied, and they wore fashionable outfits. When they stood up, they blocked our view of the monuments

How do you say, “Down in front!” in French?

Job’s Daughters and the Honor Queen

Bethel No. 6 of the International Order of Job’s Daughters was a Masonic youth organization that ran out of the Masonic Lodge, located at 7507-9 Madison St. In 1954 Alta Jean Leinweber was elected Forest Park Honored Queen. The Wisconsin Bethel No. 6 visited the local chapter for this grand occasion and it was a spectacular event. Her Honor Queen doll is still a treasured possession in her home. The Masonic Temple became the Eagles Hall and had a neon sign that lit up Ferdinand with the letters F.O.E.

Jill Wagner

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

CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com

ONLINE ForestParkReview.com

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160) In-county subscriptions: $38 per year. $70 for two years, $93 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $58 per year.

Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2024 Growing Community Media NFP.

Photo: is photo features the newly elected o cers of Job’s Daughters, who were installed during an impressive ceremony at Eagles Hall on June 8, 1954.

Oak Park home sells for $975,000

The following property transfers were re ported by the Cook County Clerk from December 2023. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

Co Tr Trust Number 58532 58532

536 Clarence Ave $550,000 Baxendale Daniel J Rasmussen William W

525 S Scoville Ave $545,000 Hjalmarson Melissa Bodyne Eric Kevin

1034 Wenonah Ave $540,000 Mains Donna M Wessel Daniel Doyle

150 N Cuyler Ave $535,000 Rezek Thomas A Tr Cunningham Phillip Scott

536 S Scoville Ave $525,000 Javor Daniel Harris Virginia M

740 S Humphrey Ave $518,000 Daddario Oliver Cesena Andrew

435 Home Ave $505,000 Benson Timothy D Freeman Timothy

1115 N Taylor Ave $245,000 Jeter Mary Gp Artec Inc

716 N Ridgeland Ave $242,000 Stratton Carol L Tr Picchiotti Robert

717 Washington Blvd $240,000 Gamino Joseph B Ozog Megan

408 S Lombard Ave $205,000 Friel Juliette Strong Thelma

228 N Oak Park Ave $195,000 Riccio Nora Blaisdell Samuel Gilbert

845 Pleasant St $190,000 Smith Pamela Horan Feliz Inigo

1139 S Highland Ave $180,000 Gamzo ip Llc 1139 Highland Llc

916 N Humphrey Ave $180,000 Citizens Bk Na Revolution R E Grp Llc

729 N Cuyler Ave $175,500 Stratton Carol L Tr Picchiotti Robert

301 W Chicago Ave $175,000 Gonzalez Alan Smith Felicia

727 S Maple Ave $152,000 Groesch Alexander J Anthony Dominique

214 S Oak Park Ave $150,000 Vigsnes Richard A Ward Melvin

221 N Marion St $145,000 Reif Robert W Gutierrez Del no

425 Wesley Ave $143,000 Holt James Crespo Maria I

1008 Washington Blvd $143,000 Leinberger Thomas Quinn Adam Patrick

644 Lake St $137,000 Kwec Ewa D Better Home Investments Bhi

1205

169 N Grove Ave $300,000 Mazelis Eric Avalos Eliseo Daniel Jacome

720 Home Ave $299,000 Ohalloran Real Prop Llc Melinda W Degucz Trust

1137 S East Ave $295,000 Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 123024 Thurmond John

1018 S Ridgeland Ave $279,000 Honeybadgers Holdings Llc Thompson Leo

147 N Ridgeland Ave $255,000 Osborne Karen L Tr Sennello Joseph Anthony

111 S Scoville Ave $245,000 Heilig Donna J Bastianoni Raigan

408 S Lombard Ave $158,000 Karim Olivia Reyes Marco Antonio Jr 1136 Ontario St $169,000 Berg Jeremy S Tr Dixon Sandra

222 W Washington Blvd $173,000 Baudino Todd Busey Bk Tr

1101 S Lombard Ave $182,000 Smieszkal Peter Itza Investments Llc

433 S Lombard Ave $184,000 Sadler Carl Buford Vanessa

1033 Ontario St $190,000 Thompson Candace L Salah Lynn Z

1025 Randolph St $200,000 Doherty Karen Tr Dhirenkumar Patel

332 Wesley Ave $250,000 Breyer Noah Breyer Richard

140 N Ridgeland Ave $274,000 Fanning Jamarcus L Snyder Samyntha

1156 S Cuyler Ave $316,000 Butts James W Brenneman-Fullwood Laura

830 Woodbine Ave $325,000 Kroll Gregory Tr Muszynski Jerzy

53 Chicago Ave $329,000 Tvc Fundg Iv Reo Llc 53 Chicago Llc

934 S Grove Ave $345,000 Hutson Charles A Whisler Gunnar

1201 N Marion St $355,000 Wambach William L Tr 1201 N Marion Llc

1120 N Lombard Ave $370,000 Jimenez Manuel Fang Eileen

641 S Taylor Ave $380,000 Ondrla Joseph T Charette Connor

631 Forest Ave $400,000 Kowalczyk Andrew W Drew Candice

1008 N Taylor Ave $410,000 Thompson Domenica M Matherly Katie

713 S Maple Ave $450,000 Williams Bryan L Smith Michael

1140 S Maple Ave $450,000 Ostrovsky Neal Cessna Duncan

739 N Cuyler Ave $475,000 Dmitruk Svetlana Rojas Hope M

1123 Wenonah Ave $485,000 Howder Elizabeth Tr 151505 Sunga Lee

833 Carpenter Ave $502,500 Pych Daniel J Trevino Ryan

1327 N Harlem Ave $520,000 Andrews Mary A Tr John Sunaina

506 Forest Ave $520,000 Freeman Wade A Kadlec Liying Tr

1141 S Highland Ave $540,000 J&D Const 55 Llc Barclay Edward A Trust

1214 N Oak Park Ave $542,000 Washlow Joshua P Bidlake Alexandra

159 N Humphrey Ave $590,500 Mathews Dane K Cassella Brian

4 Division St $6,000 Niemi Katherine Mckinney Lachia

137 S Humphrey Ave $635,000 Ware Franklin C Johnson Patricia

917 N Marion St $835,000 Langenmayr David Joseph Poulos Thomas

266 Lake St $875,000 260-266 W Lake Llc Mmhg 260 Lake Llc

747 Thatcher Ave $650,000 Carroll Nicholas Joseph Goedert Robert

1503 Monroe Ave $830,000 Jd Nesting Llc Valente Michael

1520 Park Ave $830,000 Skelton Justin T Vanopstall Matthew

207 Franklin Ave $865,000 Willert Luke Peacock Nicholas

539 Edgewood Pl $935,000 Reynolds Mark Thompson Towendy

7231

315

315

1533

1419

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

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

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2024 for Project: 24-1, Sewer and Water Improvements. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the improvements consist of water main replacement, fire hydrants, valves, water service replacements, sewer replacement, HMA surface removal and patching, HMA pavement, PCC pavement, curb & gutter removal and replacement, PCC sidewalk removal and replacement, pavement markings, lawn restoration, and other miscellaneous items of work.

Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www. oak-park.us/your-government/budget-purchasing/ requests-proposals or at www. questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 9032080 for a non-refundable charge of $64.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

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

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK

Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal April 3, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 for the following: Village of Oak Park CDBG Water Service Replacement Program - 2024 Bid Number: 24-121

Bid forms may be obtained from the Village of Oak Park website, http://www.oak-park. us/bid. Bid documents may be viewed at the Public Works Customer Service Center at 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Information is also available from the contact person, Water and Sewer Project Manager, James Eggen, jeggen@oakpark.us .

All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Certified Check, a Cashier’s Check or a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid, payable to the Village of Oak Park. The successful bidder will be required to post performance security and to provide a certificate of insurance as set forth in the bid package. This contract shall be subject to the provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS130/1 et seq.) to the extent required by law. This is a Federallyfunded project, funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and is thus subject to all applicable Federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including DavisBacon and Related Acts. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. For more information call the Public Works Service Center at 708.358.5700.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 3, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS)

COUNTY OF COOK )ss

Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Jose Antonio Ibarra, Petitioner and Francisca Fernandez, Respondent, Case No. 2024D001717.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before April 26, 2024, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 27,

of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y24011638 on March 28, 2024 Un-

der the Assumed Business Name of KIND COOPERATIVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES with the business located at:_1037 SOUTH HUMPHREY AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MEGAN H JACKSON 1037 SOUTH HUMPHREY AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60304, USA.

Published in Wednesday Journal April 3, 10, 17, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

All residents of Riverside Public School District 96 serving Riverside, parts of North Riverside, parts of Lyons, and the Hollywood section of Brookfield, whose children attend parochial schools, or are homeschooled, are invited to receive timely and meaningful consultation on the child find process for children suspected to have a disability. Information regarding Special Education evaluation and available services will be provided. The meeting will occur on Monday, April 22, 2024 from 10:00 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. at the Riverside District Office located at 3340 S. Harlem Avenue, Riverside, IL 60546. Please R.S.V.P. to Linda Roberto via email at robertol@district96.org.

Published in RB Landmark April 3, 10, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING on Thursday, April 25, 2024 at 9:00 AM, a virtual meeting will be conducted by Proviso Township High School (PTHS) District 209. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the district’s plans for providing special education services to students with disabilities who attend private schools and students homeschooled within the district for the 2024-2025 school year. As a parent of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and who resides within the boundaries of PTHS District 209, you are urged to attend. This meeting is in compliance with the Illinois State Board of Education regulations. Please email rfleming@pths209.org to obtain the Microsoft TEAMS invitation to attend the meeting. For questions, please contact Ms. Ramonda Fleming, District Coordinator at (708) 4974650.

Published in Forest Park Review April 3, 10, 17, 24, 2024

described real

UNIT 227-3 TOGETHER WITH ITS UNDIVIDED PERCENTAGE INTEREST IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS IN THE TREMONT CONDOMINIUM, AS DELINEATED AND DEFINED IN THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM RECORDED AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 0021260423, IN THE EAST 1/2 OF SECTION 7 AND THE NORTHWEST 1/4 AND THE WEST 1/2 OF THE WEST 1/2 OF THE SOUTHWEST 1/4 OF SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Commonly known as 227 W. CHICAGO #3, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-102-0211009

The real estate is improved with a residence.

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

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. 14-22-09619

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2023 CH 00031

TJSC#: 44-611

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that

DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION MIDFIRST BANK Plaintiff, vs. Unknown Heirs and/or Legatees of Yolanda Daniels, Deceased; Derrick Rockett; Julie Fox as Special Representative for Yolanda Daniels Deceased; United States of America; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS; UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS Defendants, 22 CH 146 NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, April 29, 2024 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-12-406-027-0000.

Commonly known as 7536 Franklin Street, Forest Park, IL 60130.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For

Case

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