Forest Park Review 051723

Village council bids Joe Byrnes farewell after two terms

Former commissioner will continue volunteering in village

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Joe Byrnes got a heartfelt send of f from the Forest Park Village Council both during its April 24 meeting, the last full-fledged meeting with him as a village commissioner, and the May 8 meeting, which marked the changing of the guard as elected and reelected commissioners got sworn in.

While Byrnes spent the last eight years as a village commissioner, his public service in Forest Park goes back much further. He joined the Forest Park Police Department in 1974, working his way up to Deputy Chief before retiring in 1999. He went on to serve as a Park District of Forest Park commissioner from 2001 to 2007. Byrnes decided not to run for reelection to the village council in 2023, telling the Review in November

See JOE BYRNES on pa ge 12

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Riveredge Hospital is here to help any member of your family.

This month, make your mental health a priority. We offer specialized inpatient and outpatient services for children, teens and adults.

Did you know?

The average delay between the onset of symptoms of a mental health issue and the start of treatment is 11 years.

- National Library of Medicine

D91 student to compete in National Spelling Bee

Emme Whitebone proves how important local opportuni

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

It could be taken as a sign that after Forest Park District 91 held its first ever district wide spelling bee competition a local student has made it to the big leagues, the famous Scripps National Spelling Bee, proving how a local opportunity can lead to a oncein-a-lifetime moment.

Emme Whitebone, a seventh grader at Forest Park Middle School, 925 Beloit, will be competing in Washington D.C., hoping to beat out students from across the country and take home the prestigious Scripps Cup, which saw its first competition in 1925. This year’s competition is on May 31 and June 1.

Whitebone,13, is an example to the D91 community on how students should have opportunities beyond the classroom to challenge themselves and see how far they can go, said Supt. Dr. Elizabeth Alvare z, emphasizing that as a district, they never want to limit their students.

“I want to continue having these types of competitions to give them opportunities, not only with spelling bee’s but other types, so children can actually compete and be challenged in that way and make sure that we support them,” said Alvare z. “The same way we do for spor ts, we should do it for academics.”

To express district support, Alvare z met with Whitebone once a week to help her practice and get ready for the big competition, going over vocab cards and spelling words out of the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary.

“She is doing really well, she doesn’t need me,” said Alvarez laughing. “She has taught me a couple of words that I didn’t know about.”

Whitebone’s mother Kyra Tyler, a Forest Parker and current board member on D91’s board of edu-

cation, said having Alvare z be a hands-on pa Whitebone’s prep for the spelling bee is a hug ment of the district’s support throughout the whole experience.

“It makes me incredibly happy that some additional support,” Tyler said, who had previously served as board president for D91’s board of education.“This is the ultimate ‘it takes a village we were really happy to take Dr. Alvare offer to help.”

The 13-year-old was not expecting to be headed to the big leagues, as she came in second in her classroom spelling bee. However, after the first-place winner did not want to continue participating, Whitebone moved forward to the next round, the school-wide spelling bee, and continued advancing, eventually placing first in the re gional spelling be

“I am kind of nervous, kind of excited,” Whitebone said, adding she is trying not to get her hopes up.

While she may be spending more time spelling these days, Whitebone is a lover of musical theater, a passion she discovered after participating in a summer camp, and has done various youth theater productions with Ovation Academy for the Arts, 1010 Madison St, Oak Park, including her ite role of “Marian Paroo,” in the “The Music Man.” Whitebone is also an avid cello player, an instrument she picked up at four years old.

Whitebone also shared she was asked to speak during the opening ceremony of the event.

“We are really lucky, my husband and I,” Tyler said. “She makes us proud in every way, shape and form. Whether it is school or the arts or the way she is kind and a good friend. This is just, we never envisioned this, but we are really happy to support her.”

The two-night event will air on ION on May 31 and June 1 at 7 p.m.

AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

Supt. Elizabeth Alvarez and Emme Whitebone meet once a week to prepare for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, where Whitebone w ill be competing on national television.

BIG WEEK

Pretty Period Fa shion Show fea turing The Curve Queens

y 20, 7:30 - 9 p.m., Howard Mohr Community Center

Dress in your glamorous black threads, come out, and watch these fabulous plus size women rock the runway! Get ready for a night of fashion and fun.

(You must wear all black .prettyperiodmovement.com. 7640 Jackson

Author Visit with Reese Eschmann ‘Etta Invincible’

Friday, May 19, 4 - 5 p.m., Forest Park Public Library Austin Room

We are honored to present Chicago author Reese Eschmann, author of the popular middle grade fantasy-adventure Etta Invincible, as well as Home for Meow. Early registrants will have the chance to win copies of Etta Invincible. Kids of all ages and their families are welcome. www.fppl.org/events. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Reading Awake Book Group

Wednesday, May 24, 7 - 8:15 p.m., Forest Park Public Library Community Room

We are excited to host Marcelo Hernandez Castillo at our book group meeting. His sensitive, eye- opening memoir, Children of the Land, is about about growing up undocumented in the United States. It was an NPR Book of the Year. Pick up your copy at the librar y today or access the audiobook through Hoopla. For more information, please contact Skye at slavin@ fppl.org or register to participate in this program. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Mystery Discussion Group Meeting

Saturday, May 20, 2 - 4 p.m., Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore

Tonight’s book under discussion: Spencer Quinn’s The Sound & The Furr y. 7419 Madison St., Forest Park.

Sympnony Spring Concert

Sunday, May 21, 4 p.m., Concordia University

Violinist Bea Sjostrom, a sophomore at Oak Park and River Forest High School, will play the

Science Fun at the Grove

Saturday, May 20, 2 - 4 p.m., Forest Park Picnic Grove

Explore di erent interac tive stations outdoors, including an astonishing array of bubble stations from Absolute Science featuring bubble wands from around the world and supersized bubbles! The Museum of Science and Industry will also be hosting stations on optical illusions. Please be sure to register to get noti cations on a change of venue. Designed for ages 10 and under and their families. In the case of rain, we will meet at the librar y. Register: www.fppl.org/events. Across from the Altenheim at 7824 Madison St., Forest Park.

Schumann with the Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest. Music director: Jay Friedman.

$27, 7400 Augusta St

Listing your event

Forest Park about events that businesses are planning. get the word out if happening by your news needs to be in the newspaper

■ Send details to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Pa

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Space Weekend

Friday, May 19; Saturday, May 20; Sunday, May 21, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Wonder Works Children’s Museum

This weekend, you can blast o into the lunar stratosphere with this special event devoted to outer space. The museum will be open as usual, with the space exhibit included in the regular price of admission. $13, 6445 W. Nor th Ave., Oak Park.

T w re

Cook County Clerk ’s initial recount con rms D209 results

Discovery recount completed, Kelly could still le suit

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

In an effort to retain her seat on the board of education for the Proviso Township High School District 209, Theresa Kelly filed a discovery recount request with the Cook County Clerk’s Office, which was conducted on Wednesday, May 10.

According to the Cook County Clerk’s Office Kelly submitted the request for a discovery recount on May 1. The Cook County Clerk’s Office said no “results” stem from the recount.

“Our official certification done April 25 does not change,” said the clerk’s office. “It is simply a chance for a losing candidate to review the ballots with the hope they might ‘discover’ errors that could potentially

change the results.”

The certified election results confirmed Kelly had lost her seat on the board to newcomer Jennifer Barbahen by 12 votes during the April 4 elections. Kelly did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

According to the clerk’s office, 18 precincts in Proviso Township were recounted, costing $180, for which Kelly was financially responsible.

Chicago based lawyer Michael Kasper represented Kelly. He served as the for mer general counsel for for mer Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, currently pending a corruption trial. Kasper and his office were not able to be reached for comment.

Under state law, Kelly was within her right to request the discovery recount as her vote total fell within the 95% range of Barbahen’s 4,811 votes

Barbahen said she was made aware of the

filing before she, along with the rest of the Proviso 209 United slate was sworn in on May 4. She and a group of supporters attended the recount on Wednesday, held at the Cook County election facility in Cicero.

“We had about 18 volunteers that came with us to help be ‘watchers’ for the recount,” Barbahen said. “We had a lot of community support and volunteers with us today.”

“The board of election said there was nothing really that happened at the end,” said Barbahen. “We went, we observed, and it did finish so we did conclude this afternoon.”

What happens next, well, that would be up to Kelly, said Barbahen.

According to the county clerk’s office, if Kelly believes they observed enough errors, she can file a court case to contest the election, which would go before a judge to allow them to proceed in court.

While waiting word of any additional steps

Proviso East alum believes in Maywood

Alum looks beyond traditional post-high school education needs

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Determined to give back to the Proviso East community, Vau’ve Davis, a graduate of the high school herself, created a scholarship looking beyond the need for tuition assistance and offering awarded seniors financial assistance while they pursue opportunities after high school.

“One thing that was important for me is that they were not constrained to ‘oh this just has to be for books,’ “ said Davis. “I understand, especially if you have a single parent, sometimes it could just be those little things and you don’t want to miss the opportunity to receive it [the scholarship] and they still might need the day to day.”

Davis created The Proviso East Class of 2003 Scholarship Fund a little over five years ago, to aid graduating seniors with a mon-

etary gift they are allowed to use at their discretion, giving those students who are not pursuing a traditional college education the opportunity to receive assistance as well.

Students applying for the scholarship can submit a business plan mapping out their entrepreneurial jour ney for consideration.

It was important for Davis to widen the scope of what the scholarship could be used for as many students, especially those from low-income communities, face a broader set of hurdles than just tuition, as she did herself.

“As a product of a single parent, there were a lot of struggles and there wasn’t a lot of financial support so receiving scholarships was incredibly important in that whole journey,” said Davis. “Even though I was accepted in various universities, you still have your hurdles of getting there.”

The logistics, as Davis said, sometimes go unseen. From travel costs, to clothes, to additional supplies, a college student faces financial challenges in various ways

“You might need everyday things beyond your books, room, and board,” Davis said, adding she recalls spending her high school lunch breaks applying for scholar-

ships and wanted to help future students not quite as many challenges “That was in the my mind, that I wanted to create that for students coming after me because knew how hard it is, having to go through the process.”

Davis went on to the University of I in Urbana-Champaign and graduated with a de psychology with a minor in African American studie working in the nonprofit sector for over 15 years.

“It has been a passion of mine working with organizations that are led by missions and helping at-risk populations,” Davis said.

Kelly might take to contest the election, Barbahen said she will continue to serve Proviso Township high schools until further news, if any, is announced

“Karen Yarbrough [Cook County Clerk] and the Cook County elections division, they went through and certified the ballots and so I trust that the election board knows what they are doing and is doing it with accuracy and with transparency and accountability,” said Barbahen. “I trust the system.”

The Proviso 209 Together slate will not let the discovery recount slow them down as they gear up for their first full meeting of the board of education on Tuesday May 16, It will be held at Proviso Math and Science Academy, 8601 Roosevelt Rd., Forest Park, at 7 p.m.

“The business of the district has to continue, and it will continue with David (Ocampo), Sandra (Hixson) , and I,” Barbahen said. “We are excited to get in there. We are excited to do the work and we are ready. That doesn’t stop and that doesn’t get sidetracked because there was a discovery recount. We are ready to go.”

Vau’ve Dav is, a Prov iso East graduate, class of 2003, founded e Prov iso East Class of 2003 Scholarship Fund, which is in its h year of awarding scholarships to Prov iso East seniors.

While the need for a college education has been ingrained in the minds of students through societal pressures, Davis said students should be encouraged to pursue other avenues as well.

“College is honestly not for everyone,” Davis said. “It doesn’t sound good that college

THERESA KELLY

Lathrop House scratched at the end of April

Owner is focusi on Sc tch ts in

By IGOR STUDENKOV

Lathrop House Café, the latest in a series of restaurants to the house at 26 Lathrop of April 30.

Owner Patrick to calls seeking comment a post on the café stated that he wanted to other, more successful, restaurants — est Park’s Scratch Kitchen and Lounge (SKL), 7505 Madison St., and Oak Scratch on Lake O’Brien’s sister owns the building, so anything that happens to the space going forward hands.

While the house was built as a residential home, it is zoned as B-1 Neighborhood Shopping District, which limits residential units to the second floor or higher and allows commercial uses, including restaurant uses, on the first floor.

It also happened to be the house where O’Brien started his career as a restaurateur. He and his sister, Bridget Pettinger, bought it in 1995 to take advantage of the zoning. They built a commercial kitchen

Park Art District’s District Kitchen and Tap in April 2021, and he closed SKL for 10 months in 2022.

the things O’Brien intended to focus on going forward.

enced at our café.”

ALUM Scholarships awarded

from page 5

Davis, who grew up in Forest Park, said the Proviso community and students in the

In April, O’Brien moved SKL from its original location at 7445 Madison St. to the for mer Slainte Irish Pub, which came with a full-fledged kitchen and a second-floor event space.

The statement on Lathrop House’s Facebook page indicated that this was one of

“Our business model has shifted, and we will focus on the development and growth of our flagship concept [Scratch Kitchen],” it stated. “Going strong in Oak Park, and our newly opened Public House in Forest Park has hit the ground running. Please stop by and continue to enjoy the same level of food and service as you’ve experi-

Proviso Township High School District 209 have faced challenging times but continue to persevere despite the often-negative perception of the district.

Despite witnessing gang activity and losing friends to gun violence while attending Proviso East, Davis continues to advocate for the Maywood community, where her home church is based, saying that the tightknit community has a special place in her heart.

“Maywood is still very vibrant,” Davis said. “It is still thriving and there are still some very excellent students in spite of the reputation and some of the things they

may see and there are a lot of people that are committed to student success.”

Despite recent controversies pertaining to the board of education, Supt. James Henderson, and the 2022 teacher strike, Davis said positive news is still coming out of the district and the Maywood community

“They are really resilient, in spite of the things they are dealing with, community wise and personally, they are doing excellent work,” Davis said. “I feel that there is a lot of potential…There are students and people that are doing great things. “

Davis hopes to draw support from the Proviso community for future scholar-

ships, so they can continue to help local students pursue their post high school goals, additionally encouraging Proviso East students to apply for future scholarships. More information can be found online at provisoeastscholarshipfund.com.

In order to aid the scholarship’s success, Davis has extended the donations to everyone, not just alum from the 2003 class.

According to Cook County records, Pettinger still owns the building. The zoning gives her some latitude about what happens next. Aside from restaurant uses, B-1 zoning allows most retail uses, bakeries (only so long as the goods are sold on site), hair salons, dry cleaners and laundry services. It can’t be used as a hotel or anything that is allowed in industrial districts. isn’t for everybody but that is a reality. My generation was raised on ‘go to school, go to college and you’ll figure it out late,’ but there are other viable options where you don’t have to spend so much of your life figuring out ‘oh this isn’t for me’.”

This year’s recipients have already been chosen and will be presented with a check for $500 during Proviso East’s Baccalaureate ceremony on June 7 at 6 p.m. The ceremony will be held at Proviso East, 807 S. 1st Avenue, Maywood

A network for good, not for pro t

Volunteer legal group gives lawyers a good name

By JESSICA MACKINNON

Contributing Reporter

Lawyers are not always portrayed as particularly altruistic in movies and television, but Oak Park-based Pro Bono Network is defying that often misguided stereotype by connecting attorneys interested in volunteering their legal expertise with individuals who need assistance the most — and can af ford the least.

Pro Bono Network (PBN) was founded in 2011 by a small group of local attorneys who were taking career breaks to be stayat-home moms. Gathered around the kitchen table of Oak Park attorney Donna Peel, the women were interested in using their legal expertise to give back to their community but didn’t know how to go about doing it. PBN was launched to create an infrastructure to support attorneys who want to donate their services to help vulnerable clients, including low-income seniors, survivors of domestic violence, the disabled, veterans and children.

The need for pro bono attor neys is great. According to a 2022 re port by the Legal Services Corporation, low-income Americans do not get legal assistance for 92% of their non-criminal legal problems, a statistic driven by growing income and racial disparities in our country.

“Pro Bono Network provides the training, malpractice insurance, project management and subject matter experts that allows us to leverage the untapped resources of volunteer attorneys. It’s really a win/ win situation — for the attorneys as well as the clients,” said Linda Rio, PBN executive director.

Since 2011, PBN has worked with 20 partner agencies, including Legal Aid Chicago, Prairie State Legal Services, Sarah’s Inn, and Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, on cases involving domestic violence, divorce, immigration and the expungement of criminal record s.

“We partner with overstretched legal aid agencies to identify service gaps and then we develop projects to help close those gaps in legal re presentation,” said Rio, a for mer

attorney with the Chicago Bar Association and Foundation.

In 12 short years, PBN has swelled to 450 attorneys, providing more than 29,000 volunteer hours and serving more than 5,000 clients. Their work re presents almost $7.5 million in free legal services. The organization’s volunteers now include retired attorneys and those working part-time as well as those, like the founders, who are on career breaks to raise families. There is no minimum commitment for the participating attorneys, so they can work around other responsibilities.

River Forest resident Marisa Green was drawn to PBN’s mission as well as its flexibility. She left DLA Piper, one of the largest law firms in the world, where she worked on commercial litigation and medical malpractice, when she had her second child.

“It became increasingly difficult to manage a busy trial schedule with family responsibilities. You can’t tell a client that you can’t make a court date because you’ve got to pick up a kid,” Green said.

She stayed home with her children for several years and was active in the PTOs at Roosevelt Middle School and Willard Elementary. Once her children were in high school, she was looking for ways to use her legal background to help others when she heard about PBN. She eventually became project manager for PBN’s Senior Legal Clinic.

The clinic, which partners with the Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL), provides assistance on a range of legal issues, including drafting advanced health-care directives, property powers of attorney, simple wills and other end-of-life documents.

Judy Smith recently took over from Green as project manager for the clinic. A for mer corporate attorney specializing in finance, security fraud, and mergers and acquisitions, Smith’s work with the clinic motivated her to get a master’s de gree in gerontology from Concordia University.

“I witnessed my dad struggle as he got older and I saw firsthand the big disconnect between the resources that are avail-

able for seniors and their knowledge of them, especially in a crisis situation. It’s important to advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves. The seniors are so deeply appreciative of our assistance,” Smith said.

Patti Marino has been involved with PBN since 2012. A retired teacher and lawyer, Marino has spent much of her life advocating for at-risk children and their mothers. She served for many years as a teacher at youth residential facilities operated by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). As an attorney, she also re presented incarcerated mothers needing help maintaining contact with their children. She also has served as a hearing officer for the Illinois State Board of Education and a mediator for the nonprofit Center for Conflict Resolution.

“It’s a rare occasion when someone can make a living doing what they love. Helping kids has been my passion. And by helping their mothers, I felt that I was helping kids,” said Marino, a proud grandmother of eight.

One of Marino’s favorite projects is Lawyers in the Classroom, which brings attorneys into underserved schools to teach students about the U.S. Constitution, the American legal system and careers in law.

Marino has been discussing with students at St. Catherine-St. Lucy (SCSL) School such issues as the First Amendment, hate speech, the Fourth Amendment, and search and seizure cases, as well as how jurists are selected for specific trials.

“The Pro Bono Network attorneys are very well prepared and enthusiastic and engaged with kids. The kids pick up on that and it makes them enthusiastic too. The lawyers see how bright our kids are and they challenge them,” said Mike Kennedy, a seventh-grade social studies and language ar ts teacher at SCSL

“The first time I visited the class,” Marino said, “the kids all told me they wanted to be lawyers and make a lot of money because that’s what they saw on TV. I told them that the lawyers who make a lot of money work more than 80 hours a week. It’s important that they know the reality of the legal profession — the good and the bad — and that it’s very different from what they see on TV.”

PBN is primarily supported by individual donations. Its annual fundraiser will be held on June 1 at Katherine Le gge Memorial Lodge in Hinsdale, with music provided by the Oak Park-based band, “The Island of Misfit Toys.” For more information, visit pro-bono-network.org.

SARA JANZ

Patti Marino, Judi Smith, and Marisa Green are among the 450 attorneys who provide pro bono legal assistance to those in need .

A beaut-i-ful street sign on Ferdinand

By JILL WAGNER Contributing Reporter

Growing up on the 900 block of Ferdinand, Mary Ann Geraci was a fixture, living in the same house nearly her entire life. So when a citizen brought a request to name the block in her honor after she died in January, Mayor Hoskins moved the resolution forward.

On Saturday, May 13, the day that would have been Mary Ann’s 90th birthday, friends, family, old neighbors and current village officials — Mayor Hoskins and commissioners Maxham, Melin-Rogovin and Voogd — gathered to unveil the new street sign at the corner of Ferdinand and Harvard in her honor

“Mary Ann’s father paved the streets of Forest Park,” Hoskins shared, “and Mary Ann spent a lifetime here — a familiar face, especially at the pool.”

When Italian immigrants Sam (Salvadore) and Francis (Alfonsa) Terrana moved their family — Tom, Tonie, Joe, Little Rose, Mike, Beatrice, Frances, Rose, Mary Ann

and Antoinette — to the 900 block of Ferdinand from 1018 Lathrop Ave. in the 1930s, Mary Ann was a small child, and the second youngest of 10. The two-bedroom, one-bath house had an attic split between the boys and the girls. As the Terrana siblings left the house to start their own families, only sisters Tonie and Mary Ann remained with their parents. So when Mary Ann married Larry, instead of moving away, Mary Ann’s mom, Francis, asked them to stay in the Ferdinand house.

“Auntie Tonie was a second mother to all the siblings,” Cathy Mustari, niece and daughter of Beatrice, recalled. “Every holiday, every celebration, anytime someone had a problem, they came back to the house on Ferdinand where Tonie and Mary Ann lived. Auntie Mary Ann was a gem, the sweetest, kindest person.” It was Mary Ann who would draw pictures at the

kitchen table with Cathy and spark her career in art.

It was just her nature to be kind and generous. “She was a joy to talk to,” ne phew Michal (son of Mike) explained. “She had all sorts of stories and was always willing to help out.”

“She looked like my mom,” Geno, son of Rose said, “and would say, ‘That is so beaut-iful,’ and now I say it, the same way.”

Donna, wife of Geno, added that “now the grandkids are saying ‘life is beaut-iful’!”

Her love extended beyond the Terrana family and when the Callahans moved in next door in the 1960s, they didn’t know they moved next to a wonderful family. Their son Mike was drawn to Mary Ann as a young boy and become a lifelong friend and sur ro gate son to Mary Ann. “He would come around looking for her Italian cooking, especially her mostaccioli,” recalled

Gino.

Mike Callahan ag rees, but added it was her “generous soul,” that helped.

Mary Ann was one of the Centennial Court of Honor ladies in 1956, worked at the torpedo factory, was a Tupperware salesperson, and was a staple in the Senior Club at the Community Center (with her sister Tonie) and a fixture at the Forest Park pool.

“She had her own chair that she would sit in at the splash pad,” remarked several people, including Shannon Wood, who was lucky to meet Mary Ann. “She was just lovely, always happy and willing to chat.”

Bestowing this honor on Mary Ann and her family just seemed like the right thing to do. “In an age when monuments are under attack, naming a street and reco gnizing the Italian American heritage that built our town, and the kindness of Mary Ann, is just a small act our village could do,” said Mayor Hoskins.

Now we can all enjoy this beaut-i-ful sign as we pass Harvard and Ferdinand, for generations.

Forest Park Garden Club, village talk adding greener y Community Clean-Up scheduled for May 27

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The Forest Park Garden Club is in talks with the village about taking over the responsibility for planning and maintaining some plantings at some intersections and along major streets.

The discussions are still at the early stages, with the garden club expected to consider some potential sites at an upcoming May 21 meeting. Public Works Director Sal Stella told the Review that the club and the village already ag reed on the northwest, southwest and northeast corners of Circle Avenue and Harvard Street. The village is also open to the group taking over areas like the gateway sign at Harlem Avenue and the garden wall on the north side of Madison Street, at the village-owned parking lot at the nor thwest corner of Madison

Street and Circle Avenue.

While the Park District of Forest Park has taken over responsibility for maintaining and improving four village-owned pocket parks under a symbolic $1 a year lease, the village still maintains the remaining two pocket parks – the Veterans Park, 631 Circle Ave., and the dog park, 632 Circle Ave. It is also responsible for maintaining trees and other plants on the village property.

While the Forest Park Recreation Board’s mission shifted towards organizing community events since the park district took over most pocket parks, it still advises the village on issues affecting the property it does control.

Board member Meghan Hunt has been keeping the board up to date on the efforts. During its May 11 meeting, she said the garden club is considering putting in native plants or other plants that would do well in Forest Park’s climate. She said she took photos of some potential available spots, and that she would be presenting them at the club meeting.

Forest Park Communit y Clean-Up Scheduled for May 27

Forest Park’s annual spring community clean-up is set for May 27 at 9 a.m. – and the Recreation Board was so confident that the bad luck that plagued the event last year won’t return that they didn’t initially set a date.

The annual event was initially delayed twice due to bad weather. While the board planned to meet in May to set another delay, the lack of a quorum during that meeting and the June meeting forced them to postpone the discussion until July. With all the delays, the board decided to shift the clean-up to Sept. 11, 2022, but the prediction of the rainy weather meant that the clean-up got pushed back to the fall rain date, Sept. 24, 2022.

Since last summer, Mayor Rory Hoskins gradually filled the vacancies on the board, making it easier for the board to achieve a quorum.

This time around, board chair Amy Binns-Calvey admitted that they haven’t even considered the rain date until the Review asked about it during the May 11 meeting. After a brief discussion, the board ag reed to set June 6 as a tentative date.

For now, the board hopes that the cleanup will go of f without a hitch this year. As it has in the past, it will start at the Roos Recreation Center, 7329 Harrison St., and spread out to one of four zones. While the village will be providing gloves and other equipment, participants are encouraged to bring their own. They have the option of reconvening at Roos at around noon for snacks

The Rec Board encourages residents who don’t take part in the clean-up to use the occasion to clean their yards.

MARY ANN GERACI

Majority rules

This Spring help make our newsroom bloom

Growing Community Media is a nonprofit newsroom with five flags – digital and print – across neighborhoods and villages from the West Side to Proviso Township. If you value independent community journalism, the stories we tell, the connections we foster then join in with a donation to our WE CONNECT Spring campaign.

It’s simple.

Make a one-time donation – every dollar helps. Or sign on as a monthly donor at an amount that works for you. Online at GrowingCommunityMedia.org/donate (or use that QR code!)

Or good old-fashioned mail using the envelope inserted into today’s paper.

Sagan Linda Rooney Kyra Pych

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Restore local government tax revenue fund

As the 2023 Spring Legislative Session draws to a close, legislators have the opportunity to make a big difference in communities throughout the state. With the state’s finances continuing to remain stable, now is the time for the state to restore the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF) to its promised level.

LGDF was established to give 10% of the state’s total income tax revenue to Illinois municipalities to pay for services like mandated pension benefits, critical infrastructure re pairs, public safety and other important programs. LGDF revenues have been routinely cut in recent years as policy makers cited the state’s budget woes. Our leaders have said that our state is no longer on the edge of the financial abyss, and it is now time to do right by our communities and reverse these cuts.

Currently, local governments receive just 6.16% of individual income tax collections and 6.845% of corporate income tax collections. This lack of funding comes at a time when the state continues to impose unfunded mandates on municipalities, adding to existing budget pressures. By not keeping the promise of 10%, we lose out on much-needed revenue to help keep fees and property taxes down as we strive to provide the best services possible for our community.

In River Forest, the village has lost over $8 million in LGDF revenue since the cuts

were put in place in 2011. This money could have been spent on improving alleys, addressing lead service lines, or providing our first responders with the best equipment.

In Broadview, the village has lost over $5.7 million in LGDF revenue since cuts were made in 2011. This funding would have gone to support capital projects, assist with unfunded mandates and improve equipment necessary for our public safety teams.

The village of Oak Park has lost $40 million since 2011, due to LGDF cuts. This funding would have assisted with expanding alley improvements and other capital projects, supporting sustainability, and furthering an economic development plan inclusive of all our business districts, and af fordable housing goals

Lawmakers must make increasing LGDF funding a priority as they finalize the budget. Our community and many others across Illinois are relying on their support

Catherine Adduci

River Forest Village President President of Illinois Municipal League

Katrina Thompson Broadview Mayor

President of West Central Municipal Conference

Vicki Scaman

Oak Park Villa ge President

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more important.

Choosing a community you can trust has never been more difficult.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

Our community has an impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis and we will stop at nothing to make sure it continues.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

We would be honored for your family to be part of ours.

JOE BYRNES A fond farewell

from page 1

2022 that he was frustrated with the village gover nment and was ready to move on.

During the May 8 meeting, the village council presented Byrnes with a resolution honoring his decades of service. Village commissioners and Mayor Rory Hoskins praised Byr nes for his collegiality, hard work and volunteerism. Byrnes previously emphasized that he would keep volunteering, and the elected officials said they were looking forward to his continued service to the community

The May 8 resolution credited Byrnes with helping secure state and federal funding for several projects, specifically mentioning the demolition of the abandoned buildings on the village-owned portion of the historic Altenheim property, rebuilding sections of Roosevelt Road and Madison Street, and buying street cameras and license plate reader It lauded him for help ing steer the village through the CO p secure personal protecti village employ sites and being “instrumental in the village within its fiscal means, encour aging conser

mitigation restrictions

The resolution also touched on his servic in the U.S. Air Force from 1965 to 1973, his time on the police force and his work on the park board.

“He was instrumental in rebuilding the soccer field, adding a spray park to the Aquatic Center and renovating the baseball fields,” it stated.

Finally, the resolution touted his volunteering at various Chamber of Commerce, park district and St. Bernardine school and church events.

“The mayor and village council, for its members and all the residents of the Village of Forest Park, extend to Commissioner Byr nes sincere gratitude for his professional, dedicated and productive service to the Village of Forest Park and congratulates him upon his departure from public office and wish Joe and his wife Sandy and their children; Tom and Heather many years of health and happiness,” it states. “The Village of Forest Park appreciates his contributions to the community.”

During the April 24 meeting, Byr nes thanked the voters who elected him. He

I think we’re going to do well

bass in his voice. I kind of caught on to the trick, so thank you for the trick, and some of the other tricks, Commissioner Byr nes.”

Commissioner Ryan Nero, who first took office in 2019, described Byrnes as a mentor and a friend.

“Thank you, Joe, for your years of leadership, and your guidance, and your friendship,” he said. “I know I speak for everyone when I say — thank you for your service, sir.”

Commissioner Jessica Voogd, who was first elected the same year as Nero, echoed his sentiment.

“Ryan said it best — we really appreciate your guidance and friendship, and you will be missed,” she said.

While Nero is usually the commissioner who makes the motion to adjourn the council meetings, for the April 24 meeting, he deferred to Byr nes

On May 8, the old council convened long enough to approve the past meeting minutes and the bills before ending the meeting to clear the way for the swearing-in – with Byrnes, once again, making the motion.

The department heads invited Byrnes to sit at their table, and he took the seat usually occupied by Health & Safety Director Steve Glinke.

Maria Maxham, who was appointed to succeed him as the Commissioner of Accounts & Finance said later in the meeting, “Just. … thank you for everything you’ve done. I know you’ll continue to be an important part of Forest Park, as you have always been.”

Michelle [Melin-Rogovin] is going to be active on it, and

IGOR STUDENKOV

Joe By rnes and his family and Mayor Hoskins pose with a copy of the hono rary resolution.

IGOR STUDENKOV

Outgoing commissioner By rnes, his wife Sandy and his son and daughter, Tom and Heather, pose for one last photo with the v illage council.

Arsonist tries to burn three cars parked in alley

An unidentified arsonist tried to set fire to three cars parked in an alley parking lot on the 1400 block of Harlem Avenue on May 7 at around 11 p.m.

The victims woke up on the morning of May 8 to discover that their cars – a red 2014 Mazda SUV, a black 2010 MercedesBenz 300 and a grey 2005 Mercury Marquis – had fire damage on their hood s. All three cars were parked on the cement parking pad facing the alley.

The “Ring” doorbell camera at a nearby apar tment building captured the suspect walking from the opened garage door of the standalone garage on the other side of the alley, on the 1400 block of Elgin Avenue, and throwing “burning material” at the Mercedes.

Police officers interviewed the residents of the house the garage was attached to. One of the owners said that her husband was walking a dog at the time of the incident. The husband said the garage door had been open all night. Both denied any knowledge of the incident.

The victims all said they didn’t have any issues with anyone, indicating any of their neighbors.

Burglary of business

A burglar stole several bottles of alcohol from the USA Beverage Company liquor store, 7200 Madison St., on the early morning of May 12, but he found that there was no cash to steal.

Security footage showed a grey Dodge Durango traveling east on Madison Street with its lights of f. At 4:24 a.m., the car parked in front of the store, and a man got out and looked at the store window. The car then circled around, going south on Harlem Avenue and west on Adams Street before returning to the liquor store five minutes later.

The footage then showed the burglar getting out of the car, breaking the front window with “an unknown blunt instrument.” The burglar than loaded liquor bottles from the shelf next to the window He is seen going in and out five times before getting into the car on the passenger side.

As the car drove of f, River Forest Police Department officers on a routine patrol spotted the Durango heading south on Harlem Avenue with its lights of f. The car pu rsued, and the burglar’s car raced toward Eisenhower Expressway. Ignoring the traffic lights, it got onto the expressway. The car was last seen heading east toward Austin Boulevard.

The owner of USA Beverage said he doesn’t keep cash in the store overnight. At the time of the re port, he wasn’t sure how many bottles of alcohol were stolen.

Identity theft

A man positing as an Xfinity Internet fraud prevention officer tricked his victim into granting him access to his phone and computer – but the victim became suspicious when the scammer asked him to buy Whole Foods gift cards.

On May 11, the victim got a call from a number with “Xfinity Security” caller ID. The scammer claimed the victim’s account was compromised and someone stole $1,200 from the victim. The scammer then asked the victim to give him access to his computer by providing his IP address. He also had the victim download the AnyDesk remote desktop access application and an administrative control plugin to his phone and his home computer.

On May 12, the scammer called the victim again, asking him to go to Whole Foods and get a pair of $500 gift cards. victim got to the store, he became suspicious.

The victim told police that he’ll cancel all his credit cards. His credit union infor med him of an authorized $160 charge.

These items were obtained from police re ports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, May 8-14, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Igor Studenkov

Pritzker re ects on 3 years of pandemic as disaster declarations end e May 11 end of state, federal orders will a ect some federal bene ts

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – In the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker recalls being handed a re port from researchers at the University of Illinois.

The analysis was written by scientists and mathematicians who were trying to estimate how many deaths and hospitalizations would occur under different scenarios – one if the state took no action, another if it imposed only moderate mitigation measures and yet another if it imposed significant measures, such as a stayat-home order.

“And without any mitigations, their projection was, just in the Chicago area alone, we would see 40,000 deaths in approximately four months,” Pritzker recalled in an interview last week.

He said he still keeps a copy of that report in his office.

On March 9, 2020, Pritzker issued his first statewide disaster declaration related to COVID-19, a declaration he would go on to renew every 30 days for more than three years.

In the following days, he would issue executive orders closing schools to in-person attendance, then closing bars and restaurants and, eventually, a general stay-athome order that would shutter all “nonessential” businesses for months to come.

“We were advised by the Department of Homeland Security that there were certain kinds of businesses that should be deemed ‘essential,’ and the Department of Homeland Security had a list that they had put together for these sorts of emergencies,” Pritzker said. “And so that was what we used and what virtually every state used to determine what should stay open and how to keep people safe.”

Now, more than three years after he issued that first disaster declaration, the last of his pandemic-era executive orders have expired. Pritzker announced in January that Illinois’ disaster declaration would end on May 11, the same day chosen by the Biden Administration to end the federal COVID disaster declaration that

also dates back to early 2020.

From a practical standpoint, most people won’t notice the end of the disaster declaration because the state pandemicrelated orders that most directly affected their daily lives – school closures, mask mandates, limits on public gatherings –have long since expired.

But for some, it will mean the end of certain federally funded benefits.

“There are no restrictions,” Pritzker said. “Why was there a disaster declaration? Because in order for us to receive the federal benefits that were being offered to SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] recipients, who are the poorest people in our state, people who needed Medicaid, who are the poorest people in our state, you needed to match up your disaster declaration and executive orders with the federal government’s executive orders and disaster declaration. So we did that.”

Pritzker said some people will receive less aid through SNAP and some Medicaid recipients could lose their eligibility, but he said those changes will not have a significant impact on the state budget.

The end of the disaster declaration also meant that as of May 11, testing and many of the treatments for COVID-19 will no longer be free, although Pritzker said they will be covered by insurance.

Looking back over the last three years, though, Pritzker reflected on what it was like during the initial weeks and months of the pandemic when scientists and public health officials all over the world were still trying to understand this novel virus.

“We didn’t know much about COVID-19, or even how it was spread,” he said. “Remember early on, there was some belief that it could be spread on surfaces. And so people were wearing gloves to open their packages and things like that.

“So there wasn’t a lot of information. What we knew was that the most effective way to keep people safe in the early moments of this would be for people to keep some social distance.”

Over the course of the next several

months, Pritzker held daily news conferences – usually accompanied by his public health director at the time, LaGrange resident Dr. Ngozi Ezike – to relay the most recent information, announce new mitigation orders and provide the latest statistics on infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths.

“Remember, communication to the public was vitally important when the federal government was providing very little,” Pritzker said. “And so that’s the reason why I was at that podium every day, for months straight. It was because people needed to know what the latest infor mation was.”

By summer 2020, the state began to gradually roll back many of the mitigation orders on a re gion-by-region basis and by the end of the year, the first vaccines became publicly available.

Throughout 2021, new variants of the virus would emerge, leading to temporary spikes in COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths. But as the vaccines became more widely distributed, the death and hospitalization rates started falling steadily, and in 2022 Pritzker began phasing out many of mitigation orders that had been in place.

Pritzker maintains that as a result of those measures, Illinois avoided the direst predictions of the mathematicians and scientists at the University of Illinois. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, as of April 30, the entire state of Illinois has seen 36,850 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, and another 5,155 “probable” disease-related deaths.

“But if one were to look at how Illinois handled the pandemic – and this is kudos and gratitude to the people of Illinois –people did the right thing,” Pritzker said. “And the vast majority of people in Illinois understood what they needed to do. They heard what they needed to do from the experts, and they did it. And the result of that is, to the extent one can use the word ‘success’ here, the result is that we had real success here at keeping people safe and alive.”

OUR VIEW

OPINION Out with a whimper

A Mini farewell

May 11 came and went without much fanfare, but it was actually a significant date for the history books, in the U.S. at least.

That was the day the federal COVID-19 disaster declaration, instituted in March 2020, ended. Gov. J.B. Pritzker also ended the state of Illinois’ COVID emergency declaration that day.

Of course, COVID-19 remains with us. To date, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the cumulative number of re ported COVID-19 cases through May 7 had topped 4.1 million in the state.

The IDPH’s website puts the death tally at more than 36,000 people. While re ported cases remain pretty low, COVID-19 has not disappeared. On May 7, according to IDPH, Illinois recorded more than 3,600 cases and seven fatalities

The end of the emergency means that we’ve concluded COVID-19 is endemic and that we’ll all deal with it as we do with other endemic diseases.

Luckily, there are plenty of effective vaccines for preventing its spread, and for now the U.S. government is distributing free COVID-19 vaccines to adults and children. At-home tests are not likely to be covered by insurance any longer, but treatments like Paxlovid remain free while supplies last, according to the Centers for Disease Control. After that, we’ll be at the mercy of drug and insurance companies, which is cold comfort

The COVID-19 pandemic could have been the catalyst for a host of positive changes in the ways healthcare is delivered in the U.S., but it’s looking like not much has changed at all. Healthcare, for the most part, in the U.S. remains incredibly expensive and tied to employment.

The Af fordable Care Act was a good star t and has helped many millions of people who otherwise would be without health insurance, but there’s been no move to expand those benefits or lower those costs.

One thing we did witness during the pandemic was the enormous power of the federal government to make vital healthcare available to all. If only we had the collective political will to har ness that revelation and initiate real change that improves the physical and financial lives of people who are burdened with a health system that delivers less care for more money.

Of course, those kinds of problems don’t actually face the people making those decisions. And there are too many people in this nation who seem to cling to the belief that suffering indicates moral failure and ought to be punished and not a symptom of a system with its priorities in the wrong order.

There are lessons to learn if only we would see them.

When Claudia was in the parking lot at Pro Math & Science Academy (PMSA) in 2016, she saw a pit bull shive bushes. She welcomed the pup into her arms and took her home. With a household of dogs already, she took the lost girl to the Animal Care League, but first invited Ned to meet her.

It didn’t take much effort to convince the kids that we needed to have dog — I, on the other hand, needed a push. We adopted Mini, whose nam chosen by Logan, is ironic as she was neither small in stature nor in spirit, and would become our household’s best friend and protector.

She ate the crown molding, tore the curtains and was ruthless on the leash. She ran out of our yard the second night had her and was found by a neighbor and returned to the Animal Care League where we pic up for the second time, and she ne left again.

WAGNER

the two to bark and fiercely love one another from a distance, which only a strong

She takes up as much space as she can, and has taken a huge space in t. She delights in stepping on seedlings, scratching climbing clematis until they uproot, sitting on freshly planted flowing plants and while do, knowingly, lovingly, es waiting for my She predicts my path and stops to block me, and delights in the moment of attention. If I am talking to someone, she will sit on my feet or the person I am talking to, to assure eryone that she is present too.

She will sit with Henry and Logan, too, watching their every move, will demand to be walked, will bark until someone wakes up or gives a scratch to demand a scrap of food.

Mini is my shadow. She walks with me to eve room, lays next to me — or on me, giving me her full 75 pounds of innocent joy and love. She has big, brown, innocent eyes, that follow my every move, no matter what I am doing, waiting for my retur n glance. She is always there, near me, my companion.

Her friends, the squirrels, dart in and out of our yard, to their delight, as Mini chases them with her lively bounding attack. The robins are allowed to find worms and the finches are safe as they flutter in and out of the yard. She ke eps striking out on befriending visiting skunks, which always ends with a sulking, defeated trip to the tub, but she will not give up. In the morning, she lurches to Pe pper who is trying to break the window when Mini passes, and when we see Chala on the horizon, we know to create space for

She always makes sure she is the center of attention, the boss. Mini will sit outside of any random neighbor’s car, hoping they will suddenly her a ride. Once a car door is opened, she leaps in, and refuses to leave, demanding a trip to stick her head out the window to catch air in her mouth. When her old, frail cousin Camille moved in, she opened her heart and made space for her, although she always ke pt score to ensure she was still the star of the house. She delighted in Camille’s strict diet of grain-free food and lear ned to wait for us to be distracted before she could scoop defenseless Camille’s food.

Her fierce, yet tender nature has been a blessing in my life, and saying farewell (which is imminent) is the price for so many hard-ear ned heartfelt memories. She will always be pushing my hear t, forcing her way in, in no miniature way, as she always has.

Sta Reporter Igor Studenkov, Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Li a

Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice

Big Week Editor James Porter

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales and Marketing Representatives

Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager

Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Even the Kennedy magic doesn’t always work

Iwas a longtime political junkie but I’ve steered clear of politics for the past seven years. I don’t watch political shows on TV and stopped listening to political shows on radio. However, it’s difficult to escape politics in Forest Park Especially when Chris Kennedy was campaigning here for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2018.

I’m from a generation that idolized the Kennedys. So it was a thrill when Kennedy marched in our St. Patrick’s Day Parade, glad-handing voters along Madison Street. He also went door-to-door in my neighborhood. Kennedy even climbed my front stairs to shake my hand. He looked and sounded like a classic Kennedy.

I wasn’t aware of Kennedy’s strong ties to Illinois. He is president of Merchandise Mart Properties and chairman of the Greater Chicago Food Depository. He holds positions with the University of Illinois and Dominican University. This was his first run for elective office but he lost the primary to J.B. Pritzker.

I thought that was the end of my involvement with the Kennedys, until I received an email from a staffer for the political campaign of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. She attached

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: $34 per year. $55 for two years, $69 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $42 per year.

a column I wrote in 2018. It was a eel-good piece about a close-knit amily operating a restaurant in Forest Park. She asked me to connect her with this family because Kennedy wanted to nterview them for a speech he was delivering on April 19, 2023.

I was flattered that a Kennedy was asking for my help. I was ompletely ignorant of Robert’s track record or his current politics. I just knew I had to connect the family with his campaign I first visited the for mer site of the restaurant. The new owners denied having any information about the previous owners.

Then I went to village hall and filled out a written request for information on the restaurateurs. It turned out their contact information was out-of-date and their phone number was disconnected. Finally, I sent them a message on their Facebook page. They responded enthusiastically at first. But when I told them a politician named Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wanted to interview them, they stopped responding.

Despite their reluctance, I was still determined to locate the family. That’s when I lear ned of some controversial statements by RFK Jr. He claimed that childhood vaccines cause autism. He was very much against the

LOOK BACK IN TIME

COVID vaccine and critical of lockdowns to control the spread of COVID. I finally understood why Kennedy wanted to interview the family

Their restaurant had been thriving prior to the pandemic. But when Gov. Pritzker ordered a statewide lockdown in March 2020, many restaurants like theirs scrambled to survive. When the restaurant finally went out of business, it tore their hearts out.

I assume Kennedy wanted to showcase the family as victims of Pritzker’s pandemic policies. He could blame the lockdown for causing this family-owned restaurant to close. That’s when I stopped my efforts to find the family

RFK Jr. also embraces some liberal causes He is an environmentalist who campaigned for Al Gore. He is in favor of phasing out fossil fuels. He says he’s an advocate for “safe” vaccines and had all six of his kids vaccinated

At the same time, he promotes bizarre conspiracy theories. This has made him popular with some conservative Democrats and right-wing Republicans. His family, though, is disgusted when he claims Sirhan Sirhan did not assassinate his father.

My encounters with the Kennedys shows the political divide in our country runs deep It also demonstrates that when it comes to divisive national politics, even the Review is not immune.

Tavern keepers listen as local pastor speaks

From the Aug. 11, 1949 Forest Park Review, page 11: Rev. C.B. Nordland, pastor of Forest Park Baptist Church, made an impromptu speech before a meeting of local tavern keepers recently, which was called by Mayor Vernon Reich for the purpose of clarifying the closing hours of Forest Park taverns.

Jill Wagner

CAT FRIENDLY

Brookfield neighborhood person needed for light housekeeping and probable future cat sitting

References a plus

Call 773-807-3402

SEASONAL FARMER’S MARKET ASSISTANT

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmer’s Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmer’s Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

HIRING CLEANING TECHNICIANS FOR OPPORTUNITIES IN WESTCHESTER!

Awesome Cleaning & Janitorial Services is looking for experienced cleaning technicians that are energetic, hospitable, ready to work and AWESOME!

Pay starts at $20/hr

Must be available for weekends also.

Ready to work? Contact us by email at info@awesomecjs.com.

LOCAL DELIVERY DRIVER

Full Time M-F

Must be able to lift 60 pounds.

If interested call 708-209-1636 or email peg@berniesaw.com

Bernie’s Saw & Supply 1222 Circle Avenue Forest Park, Il. 60130

COLLECTIVE IMPACT MANAGER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Collective Impact Manager in the Village Manager’s Office. Under the general direction of the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, the Collective Impact Manager will be responsible for building and assessing racial equity impact needs and developing a strategic plan to support those needs. This includes driving the initiatives focused on the Racial Equity Action Plan through community assessments, community engagement, data functions, and overall internal and external functions. Applicants are encouraged to apply online at ht tps:/ /secure.entertimeonline. com/ta/6141780.careers?ApplyTo-

Job=537117711 or visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

IT Specialist for Key Tower LLC (Chicago, IL). Review diagnostics & assess the functionality & efficiency of sts. Implement security measures. Monitor security certs & company compliance of reqs. Offer tech support to company staff & troubleshoot comp problems. Install & update company soft & hardware as needed. Anticipate and reprt the cost of replacing or updating comp items. Design and implement new systems & solutions. Bachelor degree, Polish language + 2yrs exp req. by email: MILOSZ.NOWICKI@KEYTOWERLLC.COM

Project Manager sought by Crystal Equation Corp. (Chicago, IL). B.S in Business Admin., Project Mgmt. or closely related field plus 3 years of project mgmt. and strategic planning exp. Alternatively, will accept M.S in Business Admin., Project Mgmt. or closely related field plus 1 year of project mgmt. and strategic planning exp. CSM Certification. Work assignments may be in various unanticipated work locations in the US. Telecommuting permitted. Please apply Job #37334 by sending resume to apply@crystalequation.com

Software Development Engineer sought by Chowbus, Inc. in Chicago, IL to research, dsgn, & dvlp scalable, distributed s/ware systems that support core business. Reqs: Master’s Deg in Chem Engg, Comp Sci, or rltd field & 1 yr exp in job offd or in QA Engineer role. Must have course work or work exp/Ruby, Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, React, Vue, Capybara, Engineering process control, Mathematical modeling & techniques, & System theory. Apply online at: https://www.chowbus.com/careers

Sr. IT Database Systems Analyst (Chicago, IL) Support data partners & d/base admin & integration efforts that utilize org’s ETL platforms & rltd source d/bases. Work in collaboration w/ other data analysts, dvlprs, & key business stakeholders, both internally & externally, to ensure data quality & introduce d/base innovations that support co.’s business operations in the insurance, claims, underwriting industries, etc. Perform data profiling & analysis on d/base systems & enterprise data warehouses. Use SQL or similar tools to query d/bases for testing & analysis using understating of data flows & relational architecture. Master’s in Data Analytics, Comp Sci, Comp & Industrial Engg, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or Industrial Pharmacy & 4 yrs exp in job or 4 yrs as lead data processing & business analyst for claims processing w/in insurance industry. Mail resumes to: Starr Insurance Holdings, Inc. Attn: Maria Fernandez, 3353 Peachtree Rd, NE, Ste 1000, Atlanta, GA 30326

CASHIER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Cashier in the Finance Department. This position will perform all clerical tasks related to the cash receipt function. Collect, process, and deposit payments made to the Village received directly from customers, via mail, lockbox, or from other internal departments. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled, first review of applications will be on May 23, 2023.

The Oak Park Residence Corporation (OPRC) is looking to hire talented and experienced individuals for the following positions. OPRC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We provide competitive compensation and a generous benefits package.

JOB OPENINGS

SENIOR PROPERTY MANAGER, HOUSING PROGRAMS – Provides oversight in the management of three housing communities in Oak ParkMills Park Tower, The Oaks, and The Farrelly-Muriello Apartments.

ROSS PROGRAM SERVICE COORDINATOR (RPSC) – MILLS

PARK TOWER – Develops and coordinates service programs that promote self-sufficiency and independent living for Mills Park Tower residents.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT/ PROGRAM SUPPORT – MILLS

PARK TOWER - Provides administrative and clerical support to Mills Park Tower Property Manager and Assistant Property Manager.

HCV PROGRAMS CASE MANAGER(S) – Provides case management to Oak Park Housing Authority Housing Choice Voucher participants.

PROPERTY MANAGER, MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL –Manages multiple market-rate buildings throughout Oak Park. In collaboration with leasing and maintenance teams, provides excellent customer services to residents.

For a complete job description for each of these positions and information about how to apply, please visit our website at https://oakparkrc.com/ about-us/work-for-oprc/ OR Send Cover letter and resume to bswaggerty@oakparkrc.com

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MARKETPLACE

PAINTING

WOODWORK

On-site refinishing of wood and fiberglass since 1977. Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty! References available. Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

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TOWNSHIP

HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT 208 TIMELY AND MEANINGFUL CONSULTATION FOR PARENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF PRIVATE AND HOME SCHOOLED CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), Riverside Brookfield High School will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Riverside Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside, Il 60546 The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities, who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the district boundaries, will be served by District 208 during the 2023-24 school year

Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Kevin Baldus, Director of Special Education, at baldusk@rbhs208.net Zoom invitation will be forwarded prior to the meeting.

Published in RB Landmark May 10, 17, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss

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

In re the marriage of KARINA MONTOYA, Petitioner and EDER PACHECO, Respondent, Case No. 2023D003253.

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 June 2, 2023, 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.

IRIS Y. MARTINEZ, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 3, 10, 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE River Forest School District 90 (Required by the Illinois State Board of Education)

In accordance with the requirements of Section 612(a) (10) of the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act of 2004 (“IDEA 2004”), the River Forest School District 90 will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. in the District 90 Administration Offices, 7776 Lake Street, River Forest, IL. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss how students with disabilities who attend private schools or are homeschooled within the District boundaries will be served by District 90 during the 2022-2023 school year. Parents and private school administrators who would like to attend should contact Debbie Lubeck, Director of Student Services, at lubeckd@district90.org for additional information.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 10, 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, located at 201 N. Scoville will conduct a Timely and Meaningful Consultation Meeting which will take place remotely via video/telephone conference on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 9:00am. 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/parochial schools and who are home schooled within the district for the 2023-24 school year. If you are the parent of a homeschooled student who has been or may be identified with a disability and you reside within the boundaries of Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200, you are urged to attend. If you would like to join the meeting, please contact Kiara Colas at kcolas@oprfhs.org or call (708) 434-3706 to request the Zoom Link information.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: YY23010544 on May 9, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of NOTHING MATTERS with the business located at: 3938 N CALIFORNIA AVE APT 1E, CHICAGO, IL 60618. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CLAUDIA LICETH CRUZ 3938 N CALIFORNIA AVE APT 1E CHICAGO, IL 60618, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY.

Request of Nathan Christopher Gonzales Case Number 2023CONC000747

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Nathan Christopher Gonzales to the new name of: Nathan Ace Pietri

The court date will be held: On 08/10/2023 at 9:30 a.m. via Zoom.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 24, 31, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ENTRY LEVEL APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

The Entry Level Appointment Committee of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois adopted Rules and Regulations for Fire Department entry level appointments on May 8, 2023. The Rules and Regulations may be obtained at the Human Resources Department, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Rules and Regulations shall take effect ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois adopted amendments to the Rules and Regulations for appointments to the Police Department on May 8, 2023. The amendments to the Rules and Regulations may be obtained at the Human Resources Department, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 during the regular business hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The amendments to the Rules and Regulations shall take effect ten (10) days from the date of publication of this notice.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 17, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 2301 (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment-Adaptive Reuse Permit)

HEARING DATE: June 1, 2023

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits.

LOCATION OF HEARING: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street (Room 201 - Council Chambers) Oak Park, IL 60302

PETITIONER: Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

REQUEST: The Petitioner seeks text amendments to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as follows: (1) an amendment to Article 2 (“Definitions & Rules of Measurement”) by adding a definition of a “Teaching and Learning Center” and “Live Performance Venue – Limited”; (2) an amendment to Article 8 (“Uses”) by adding Teaching

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHAN-

CERY DIVISION

NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC

Plaintiff, -v.-

and Learning Center and Live Performance Venue - Limited to the list of uses; and (3) an amendment to Article 14 (“Zoning Approvals”) by adding a new Section 14.10 (“Adaptive Reuse Permit”).

A copy of the proposed text amendment is on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 17, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER: 09-23-Z

HEARING DATE: June 7, 2023

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 a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Chetranda Grey, to operate a reception/ banquet facility pursuant to Section 8.3 (“Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 6435 North Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-06-206-008-0000 in the NA North Avenue Zoning District. A copy of the application and

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF YVONNE ARROYO, DECEASED, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, VICTORIAN SQUARE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, CHARLES

BIBB, CLARENCE AKBAR BIBB, MARIE LESTER, DOROTHY JEAN BIBB SINGH , THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO YVONNE ARROYO, DECEASED

Defendants

2022 CH 08025

1135 SCHNEIDER AVENUE, UNIT 2B OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-

EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 11, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 1, 2023, 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:

Commonly known as 1135 SCHNEIDER AVENUE, UNIT 2B, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-06-316-0301004, 16-06-316-030-1017, AND 1606-316-030-1018

The real estate is improved with vacant land.

The judgment amount was

$269,229.40.

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.

Published in Wednesday Journal, May 17, 2023

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driv-

er’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, ONE EAST WACKER, SUITE 1250, Chicago, IL, 60601 (312) 651-6700. Please refer to file number 22-026600.

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.

MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC

ONE EAST WACKER, SUITE 1250 Chicago IL, 60601 312-651-6700

E-Mail: AMPS@manleydeas.com

Attorney File No. 22-026600

Attorney Code. 48928

Case Number: 2022 CH 08025

TJSC#: 43-1638

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 08025

I3218771

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 June 13, 2023, 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:

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C.

Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 7949876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

SALE

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

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

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2022 CH 04036

TJSC#: 43-1809

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 I3219832

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDERS OF THE FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2006-FF14 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-FF14 Plaintiff, -v.-

JUANITA J. LACOURT, CHARLES T. GRANT, WELLS FARGO BANK N.A.

Defendants 2020 CH 07380 817 S. SCOVILLE AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on March 16, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corpo-

ration, will at 10:30 AM on June 20, 2023, 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:

Commonly known as 817 S. SCOVILLE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-18-228-019-

000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $584,316.19.

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC

Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650, Chicago, IL, 60602 (312) 541-9710. Please refer to file number 20 8287.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-

SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. JOHNSON, BLUMBERG & ASSOCIATES, LLC 30 N. LASALLE STREET, SUITE 3650 Chicago IL, 60602 312-541-9710

E-Mail: ilpleadings@johnsonblumberg.com

Attorney File No. 20 8287

Attorney Code. 40342

Case Number: 2020 CH 07380 TJSC#: 43-1333

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 # 2020 CH 07380 I3219657

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as Trustee of the SCIG Series III Trust; Plaintiff, vs. GAD IKEANUMBA AKA GAD C. IKEANUMBA; 1030-32 NORTH AUSTIN CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION AKA 1030 -32 N. AUSTIN CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION AND HENRY SILVERMAN LIVING TRUST U/A/D AUGUST 26, 1996;

Defendants, 11 CH 33740

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 Tuesday, June 13, 2023 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. 16-05-314-031-1001. Commonly known as 1032 N. Austin Blvd., Unit 1N, Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g) (4) of Section 9 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 information call Ms. Mary E. Spitz at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Sottile & Barile, LLC, 7530 Lucerne Drive, Middleburg Heights, Ohio 44130. (440) 5721512. ILF1810025

NEAR IT ALL!

123 Frank Lloyd Wright Ln, Oak Park

Stylish 3BR/2BA townhouse with WB stove, private patio, ample storage and attached garage. Amazing value!......................................................$349,000

Sara Faust | 708-772-7910 sara.faust@cbexchange.com

UNDER CONTRACT!

529 Forest Ave, River Forest 3BR, 1.1 BA River Forest Gem! Thoughtfully updated with special attention towards the details. Multiple offers received.

Laurie Shapiro | 708-203-3614 Laurie.shapiro@cbrealty.com

COMING SOON!

205 S Humphrey, Oak Park

Contact listing agent to see this diamond-in-the-rough on a large lot on a great block, perfect for an investor to build on the wonderful bones & create a sought-after home for discerning buyers.

Deborah Wess 708-212-1122 deborahsellsoakpark4u@gmail.com

UNDER CONTRACT!

1037 Dunlop Ave, Forest Park

This didn’t last long! Charming 3 bedroom, 1.1 bath bungalow with beautiful hardwood floors and lovely character throughout. Fenced yard and above-ground pool.

Shea Kiessling | 708-710-5952 shea@cbexchange.com

JUST LISTED!

1003 Beloit Ave, Forest Park

2 Flat 4 Bed 2 bath, Spacious, clean units in this two flat near shopping, parks, and schools. 2nd floor has been very nicely updated. The building has wonderful rear decks. 2-car garage and 2 parking pad spaces ....................................$499,000

Stephanie Eiger | 708-557-0779 Stephanie.eiger@cbexchange.com

Sara Faust 708-772-7910 sara.faust@cbexchange.com

SOLD! OVER LIST!

414 Clinton Pl, #502, River Forest 1 Bed 1 Bath, Large, updated unit with ample storage, a balcony, and parking all in a very convenient location.

Stephanie Eiger | 708.557.0779 stephanie.eiger@cbexchange.com

Kristin Logerquist | 708.522.9221 kristin.logerquist@cbexchange.com

................$187,500

UNDER CONTRACT!

814 S Taylor, Oak Park

Ready to move in…3BD, 3.5BA was completely remodeled in 2016 w/updated backyard 2021. Separate living & dining room, primary en-suite & stylish kitchen w/granite countertops and SS appliances.

Sandi Graves 708-752-6540 sgraves@cbexchange.com

FOR SALE!

1020 Harlem, Unit 3F, River Forest

3 Bed 2 Bath, Single family space and amenities with the convenience of a condo, complete with in-unit laundry, 2 garage spaces, and an extra large balcony ........$ 427,000 Bonnie Routen | 708-544-8440 andrea.bonnie@cbexchange.com

FOR SALE!

1032 S Taylor Ave, Oak Park

Terrific 3+ BR, 3 BA home across from Barrie Park. You will be amazed at the amount of space! Hardwood floors, 2nd floor primary suite, tons of storage! ...............$370,000 Lisa Grimes I 708-205-9518 lisa.grimes@cbrealty.com