Forest Park Review 052924

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

ERICA BENSON

Proviso board votes to bring deans back to schools

5 deans will be split among the district’s 3 schools

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The Proviso High School Township District 209 Board of Education voted to bring deans back to schools.

The item was approved 5-1. Board member Rodney Alexander voted against it. Board member Arbdellla Patterson was absent.

The recommendation, presented by interim superintendent Alex Aschof f, comes as a way to help school administrators handle behavioral and disciplinary issues

“Our Building Administrative Teams are spending a large portion of their time handling student disciplinary issues,” Aschoff said. “This impacts the amount of time administrators can dedicate to necessary core instructional needs throughout the day.”

According to the presentation, Proviso campuses reported 2,742 incidents throughout the 2023-23 school year

Aschoff asked for five deans to be split between the three schools: two for Proviso East, two for Proviso West, and one for Proviso Math and Science Academy. According to interim superintendent Luke Pavone, D209 in the past had eight deans: four at East, four at West, and none at PMSA.

“We need support at our buildings for discipline,” Aschoff said. “I have my building administrators here and they will tell you that a large percentage of principals’ days are solely focused doing discipline and we know that their support is absolutely crucially needed for instruction. But because of the disciplinary aspect, that time is being spent there.”

Board member Rodney Alexander said he disagreed because he believes that adding the dean position back to the roster is a decision for the new superintendent, and because deans did not address disciplinary issues in the past. Proviso has been searching for a superintendent since 2023.

“There is a reason why we removed the deans and there is data that supports that,” Alexander said. “When we had dean in the buildings, the fights were just as much as we have now.”

The board had already agreed on not making those types of changes, Alexander said.

New Board President Samuel Valtier re z agreed.

“To me it is important. At least give us until September – we are continuing the superintendent search,” Valtierre z said.

Others said the decision could not wait.

S andra Hixson, b oard vice president, said the a ddition of d eans was something that had to be d one “as soon as possibl e. ”

“We have heard all of last school year that our schools need deans,” board Secretary Jennifer Barbahen said. “They need discipline support. Our principals have been be gging. Our teachers have been be gging. Everyone. Parents. Security has been be gging for deans.”

Waiting for a superintendent is not an option, she said.

“We need to do something now because our students matter even if we don’t have a permanent superintendent,” Barbahen said. “This is the way that we can do that. Now. And it is in our budget.”

Proviso East Principal Rodney Hull said that waiting for a superintendent would mean that this “wouldn’t get of f the ground” in time for the new school year.

“If there is going to be a change, it needs to be made,” Hull said. “Because we [principals] are being evaluated of f of what Aschoff just presented. We are held accountable… we are being asked to do a thousand things but we are also being asked to raise scores. We cannot be in two places at the same time.”

Approving the addition of deans is a way to “move the needle for academics,” Barbahen said.

Proviso West Principal Elizabeth Mar tine z said the number of support staf f at the high school who help with behavioral issues has dwindled from seven to two.

“It is physically impossible for anybody to do to the level of integ rity that we need it to be,” Martine z said. “We want to focus on instruction ... we are all instructional leaders, but when we are doing behaviors and discipline, which is the majority of our time, we are unable to focus on teaching and learning. When kids aren’t engaged with teaching and lear ning, that is when the behaviors increase.”

Pavone acknowledged that the district can review data be-

fore moving forward with the hiring process, which he said would need to start around June to ensure good candidates

“The longer we wait, we aren’t getting premium candidates,” Pavone said.

“We probably want people to start bringing in some restorative practices into our district. I am not sure if they did that when they had things prior, but there are different programs now that we can try to go of f of,” Pavone said.

The five approved positions will be posted by Jun 15.

Each position will cost the district $80,000 to $110,000 per dean depending on experience. Aschoff told the board that the district can af ford the positions

Aschoff also said that initial reviews suggested the district needed 10 deans: four at East, four at West, and two at PMSA, but they cannot recommend that number now because of cost.

“I can say that we can af ford those five,” Aschoff said.

Alexander asked Aschoff and the team to later demonstrate how the deans would be used in schools

Valtier re z agreed.

“A year from now, six months from now, if we say thi s is now wo rk ing, it failed, the next time you bring us something you need to bring it as the b oard requests,” Valtier re z said.

The next board meeting will be held on June 11 at Proviso Math and Science Academy

AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ

e Prov iso High School Township District 209 Board of Education

Game Night

Friday, May 31, 5 - 7 p.m., Let’s Play Work Indoor Playground

Join us for a fun- lled Game Night to celebrate the last day of school. We will have games there but feel free to bring your own. This is a Bring Your Own Dinner event, so either bring it to the space with you or you can have something delivered. As always open play will be there so if the kiddos don’t want to play a game they can play in the play area. Sign up: https://w ww.facebook. com/events/1555795248322175 7228 Circle Ave., Forest Park

Terrapin Flyer: A Tribute to Grateful Dead

Thursday, May 30, 6:30 p.m., Robert’s Westside

Join us for Terrapin Flyer performing two full sets in tribute to the Grateful Dead. General Admission: $15 + service fees, Reserved Seating: $20 + service fees. GA tickets do not include reserved seating. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/2mh7zdcn. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Pop-Up Stor ytime at Popelka Park

Friday, May 31, 11 - 11:30 a.m. Forest Park Public Library

Meet us at the newly renovated Popelka Park for fresh air and fun stories. Designed for ages 5 and younger. Drop-ins welcome; registration encouraged for updates on changes. Register for this event at https://tinyurl. com/26hkbp8b. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

BIG WEEK

May 29-June 5

Pride Kite Kits

Saturday, June 1, All Day, Forest Park Public Library

Fly your Pride with our kite kits. Decorate your kite and return it by June 17 to display it in the library and enter a drawing for a gift card to Escape Fac tor. T winner will be drawn on July 5. Please include your name on your kite. Register for this event at https://tinyurl.com/tctbjveu. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

We want to hear from you

The Forest Park Review is looking to invigorate its coverage of arts, food and enter tainment. We want to hear from you! Please take this short sur vey to help us learn what you want when you’re looking for things to do. Please submit your answers by May 26. https://forms.gle/yss7eCACoXW49jqNA

The Hidden Gifts of Visual Thinkers with Dr. Temple Grandin

Tuesday, June 4,

bit.ly/ILP_TempleGrandin.

R&B On Madison: Together Me’Lange

Wednesday, June 5, 6:30 p.m., Rober t’s Westside

Join us for Together Me’Lange at Rober t’s Westside. General Admission: FREE with RSVP or $10 at the door. Reserved Seating + GA: $40 - $150 (Sold in groups of 4 - 6, General Admission included). Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/3kdmt5ps. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Midday Meditation

Thursday, June 4, 12-12:30 p.m., Virtual

This is a welcoming group of meditators, old and brand new. The session starts with Kundalini breath practices that o er powerful practices to shift your state of mind and make meditation more accessible. Register for this event at https://tinyurl. com/2e2x53um.

MEMORIAL DAY

Bygone era?

from page 1

VFWs, longtime national touchstones, are navig ating how to thrive as their memberships shift.

Although more than 12,000 American Legion posts and nearly 6,000 worldwide locations of the Veterans of Foreign Wars still exist, membership in these service organizations is dropping as veterans grow older or die

With roots tracing back to the SpanishAmerican war, VFW reported a decline of one million members between 1992 and 2019. Joe Bartley, state adjutant-quartermaster for the State of Illinois VFW, said there are 35,045 VFW members across 260 posts in Illinois. And though the largest post has more than 600 members, yearly membership has increased only twice in Illinois since 2015.

The American Legion, chartered in 1919, has lost more than 700,000 members in the last decade, according to Fox News

And in Forest Park, American Legion Post 414 soon may contribute to that number. The post is c losing and will host its last honor guard service on Memorial Day.

Mike Thompson, who helps manage Post 414, said low member participation and the cost of maintaining the property have led to the Forest Park American Le gion’s closure.

“It’s an older building, it needs a lot of repairs constantly and we don’t have the revenue stream to pay for it,” Thompson said.

While it’s the end of an era for Forest Park veterans, other American Legions and VFWs said they are nevertheless focused on growing membership and staying involved in the community. The future, representatives said, is with younger members, who they recruit at events for veterans and by continuing ef for ts to get to know those who fought in recent wars.

“Every post does what they’re doing a little differently,” Bartley said. “The posts that are able to get the younger veterans in, where they’re most successful is where they’re building their post programs around family.”

Caring for veterans and the community

Service organizations for veterans, like American Legions and VFWs, are ingrained in their communities.

“A lot of people don’t know what the American Legion does,” said Balvina Ranney, an auxiliary officer and historian at

American Legion Post 96 in Cicero, which she said opened about 100 years ago. “We do things to assist veterans, their families and also be part of the community.”

Post 96, for example, supports little league baseball teams and football teams, of fers rehabilitation services for veterans and participates in honor guards, funeral services and parades.

“We look after our vets as primary, and then our community is secondary,” said Gregory Walker, commander of American Legion Post 838 in Maywood, which he said has existed for about 50 years. “But we serve a big purpose in the community.”

These community offerings include a coat drive in October, hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for veterans and a toy giveaway around Christmas time. During the back-toschool season, Post 838 holds a drive to fill as many as 200 backpacks with school supplies. At least twice a year, they host a free all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast.

Post 838 also helps sponsor high school juniors to go to Boys State, which involves teaching participants about their responsibilities, gover nment and the military.

“We are teaching them how to become good whatever you want to be,” Walker said of Boys State. “It’s something to get them focused on the next chapter in their lives.”

Post 96 helps sponsor Girls Stat e, where high school j uniors learn about the political process, gove r nment structure and the path to becoming a state re presentative or senator

Money for these services often comes from veterans and community members. Walker said Post 838 makes 90% of its revenue from “the canteen,” or its bar.

And while membership to American Legions and VFWs might be decreasing, affecting the number of members who visit canteens, Bartley said many VFW posts are focusing more on fundraising ef for ts — especially since dinners and raffles are often held in the same building as the canteen.

Changing demographics

Around the time of World War II, the American Legion in Cicero had over 400 members, Ranney said. Membership is now fewer than 100 people

As veterans of World War II and the Korean War die, an increasing number of veterans at Cicero’s Post 96 served in Vietnam, or are children of those who did, Ranney said. She estimated that about 75% of Post 96’s members are in their 40s, 50s or 60s.

“Our unit is not a very young unit. We’re very grateful that we have senior members guiding us,” Ranney said.

But as members of veterans service organizations age, many become less involved

“Some of these people are at the point in their time when they just want to sit back in the recliner and enjoy life,” Bartley said.

In 2008, the North Riverside VFW — with about 600 members from absorbing former posts in Cicero, Lyons, Melrose Park and Westchester — merged into Berwyn’s, which had nearly 400 members at the time

“They’ve got a lot of members, but no one wanted to run for office or do the work required to keep the post open,” Jack Meshek, the Illinois VFW’s District 4 commander, previously told the Landmark about the North Riverside VFW.

“Membership is dropping to a point where they can’t even fill the of fices in their post,” Bartley said of VFWs that merge with other VFWs. “That’s why it’s so important to get the young people in there.”

At 57, Walker said he’s the second youngest member of Maywood’s American Le gion.

“So, we constantly are recruiting to get younger members,” Walker said. He said he often talks and plays cards with younger veterans associated with the Veterans Affairs Chicago office.

But younger veterans aren’t the only newer cohort for these service org anizations.

“One of the fastest growing demographics for VFW membership is the female veteran,” Bartley said.

As more women join the armed forces, service organizations have shifted to ad-

dress their needs. For example, Bartley said the Illinois VFW is lobbying for the VA to offer more progr ams for women and female doctors.

And hope isn’t lost for the younger or female veterans who were a part of Forest Park’s American Le gion.

After learning about Post 414’s closure, Walker said he would visit to encourage its members to join another location, since he doesn’t see an organization taking over Post 414’s role in the community.

“The closest thing I could probably say would possibly be the park district,” Walker said. “But it wouldn’t cater to the veterans.”

While several organizations support veterans, many are based in Chicago and lack suburban locations, like Chicago Veterans, The Mission Continues and The Wounded War rior Project. While the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County provides social services and emergency financial assistance to veterans, organizations like this often don’t highlight community events to the same extent that American Legions and VFWs do

“We’re here to serve the community and to show that what makes a community is being part of it, helping and being there for each other and for good people that are doing good causes,” Ranney said.

“It’s a matter of what the members are interested in, what the community is interested in, and finding something that works together,” Bartley said.

Forest Park’s American Legion Post 414 hosted its last honor guard ser vice on Memorial Day.

Centuries & Sleuths wraps its nal chapter

e bookstore closes this summer and

remaining

books will be donated to the Oak Park Public Library

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

A year after announcing his retirement, Centuries & Sleuths’ owner August “Augie” Aleksy held a sale for the bookstore’s best customers May 18 and 19 before closing this summer.

Nearly 30 people showed up that weekend, contributing to Centuries & Sleuths’ best weekly sales since last Christmas Eve. They helped clear out inventory for Aleksy to sell the bookstore’s building at 7419 Madison St., which is on the market as Aleksy closes in on his retirement.

“I love selling books. I love meeting with people. But I’m really not crazy about the paperwork, paying the bills, handling taxes,”

Aleksy said. He knew about the behind-thescenes work when he opened Centuries & Sleuths in 1990, but now he’s 75.

“I’m too old to be messing with that stuff, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

Aleksy announced last May that he planned to retire at the end of 2023 after more than 30 years of business. He was looking for someone to purchase both the building and his books and had offers from two parties that fell through.

“It was too much for them to handle,” Aleksy said. “If you own a bookstore, it’s a business, and you’ll be lucky if you read what you want to read with your breakfast in the mor ning.”

Aleksy added that the ability to order books online may have contributed to his inability to find someone to take over the bookstore.

“I think that’s what scares would-be-merchants away too, because they know the onslaught of Amazon.”

Because, to his disappointment, Aleksy hasn’t been able to find someone to buy both the books and the building, he offered most of his remaining collection to the Oak Park

Public Library — with the exception of books he sells on consignment, paying authors only after he sells them. Those books Aleksy will likely ship back to the authors.

‘The best 34 years of my life’

Aleksy left his banking job in 1989 to open Centuries & Sleuths. After researching what people checked out at the Oak Park Public Library and sending out a survey, Aleksy found that history and mystery books were the most-popular genres locally, he previously told the Review. So Centuries & Sleuths, as its name suggests, mainly sells history and mystery books

“From almost day one, couples have come in and they said, ‘This is great. I love mysteries, and my husband likes history,’ or vice versa,” Aleksy said.

The first Centuries & Sleuths location was at 743 Garfield St. in Oak Park. In 2000, the bookstore moved to its current location, where Aleksy and his wife, Tracy, own the building.

Since opening, Centuries & Sleuths has regularly hosted events and signings with au-

Parky’s construction nearly complete

e hot dog spot has new walls and touch-ups

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

During one night last October, a car crashed into Parky’s Hot Dogs. The restaurant closed for three-and-a-half months before reopening in February while the building was undergoing construction.

After nearly five months, construction is expected to wrap up in June.

The car crashed into the side of the building that faces Harlem Avenue and impacted the inside wall of the building where the ordering window is. The interior wall was completed before the building reopened in February. At the end of April, construction started on the exterior wall.

By early June, F lores said countertops will be installed around the inside’s interior, though they won’t have barstools like they once did. And Parky’s will get new benches out front, along with patched-up

pavement around the building and hanging lights outside

While Flores said construction since February hasn’t affected business much, closing for more than three months did, especially because it was right before the busy holiday season. Flores estimated Parky’s lost a “couple hundred thousand dollars” in sales while closed before February.

“My employees got paid, the bills all got paid,” Flores said, leading to Parky’s spending more than it was getting in. Flores had to pay $7,000 for the construction of the interior wall, which has since been reimbursed by its insurance company. She’s paying out-of-pocket for the construction of the exterior wall too, while insurance is in process of covering it

Flores said there are no plans on recouping those costs

“There’s not much you can do,” Flores said. “It has just been a major headache,” she added. “I’m happy this is the end.”

Reopening a Forest Park institution

The end of construction marks a new era for Parky’s, which is one of the oldest eateries in Forest Park The hot dog spot opened

thors, plus discussion groups for locals.

“I’ve had many people tell me, ‘It’s more of a community center [than a bookstore] without the support of gover nment funds, but with the activities, the ideas.’”

And though it will be the end of an era when Centuries & Sleuths likely closes shop this summer, Aleksy said he’s looking forward to retirement. He said he plans to take a cruise to Germany with his wife to visit the historical landmarks of Martin Luther, whom he’s read a lot about as a devout Catholic.

He also said he’d like to write his own book, a drama set in pre-World War I Europe. He added that he’s talked to playwrights, local authors and those whose books he sells to get ideas and develop the story.

“I’ve got all the research done. Now all I have to do is write it,” Aleksy said. And though that’s an exciting prospect, he’ll miss the re gular exchange of knowledge at Centuries & Sleuths

“It was, at least to-date, the best 34 years of my life. It was wonderful, the people, the personalities,” Aleksy said.

in 1946 in Berwyn before its current, and now only, location followed a year later Flores’ mother has worked at Parky’s since the ‘80s and bought the restaurant in 1995 from its founder, Eugene Arist. In 2009, Flores bought out her mother, who died about three years ago.

Although Flores said she wanted to install an aluminum overhang over the patio during construction, she said the construction company and Historical Society of Forest Park advised her against it, in case she wanted to aim for landmark status when Parky’s turns 100 in about two decades.

“They advised [us] to keep it as original as possible,” Flores said.

As Parky’s construction wraps, Flores said local clients have played a large role in getting the restaurant open again.

“I got very scared. We were gone for threeand-a-half months. What if people found something else, better prices, better food? And none of that happened,” Flores said.

“We opened up, and everybody was craving a Parky’s madly. I’ve never seen business like that in a very long time, since the ‘90s.”

And though business c ooled down in

A worker paints the new wall’s w indows to give the orange frames a fresh coat of paint.

the following month or so, F lores said she anticipates another r ush once c onstruction is completed

“I expect it to pick back up once we get everything going again,” she said. She plans to have a get-together to celebrate construction’s completion in another month, with music and balloons.

“I like to be considered everybody’s family,” Flores said, so there will be “a party on the patio, just to welcome everybody back and welcome them in.”

JESSICA MOR DACQ

Your support and new grants combining to make Growing Community Media stronger

Dear Growing Community Media friends,

We’re at the halfway point of our Spring Fund Drive. And we’re halfway to our $130,000 goal. With your help right now we’ll make this goal and maybe beat it by a bit.

The deadline is June 30. That’s the end of our fiscal year. Don’t you love it when nonprofits talk about their fiscal years! But it is an important date to us and reaching this goal will set us up for a new year focused on our ambitious plans to grow local news across Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review, Riverside Brookfield Landmark and the Austin Weekly News.

Big news to share about the Austin Weekly, our West Side paper for the past 38 years. We have just received a major grant which will allow us to hire a Managing Editor for the Austin Weekly. The funding comes from Press Forward, a new national philanthropy, which is fully focused on saving local news across America. And that includes our West Side neighborhoods of Austin, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale.

Coming soon a bigger, better Austin Weekly News with more stories, more connection, more voices.

What does this mean to you if you live in Forest Park or Brookfield or Oak Park? It means that the nonprofit newsroom we created four years ago is gaining momentum, that our new model for making local news strong is gaining traction. We’ve had success in starting to convince our readers they need to become members and supporters of this effort. Thousands of you have done just that.

Now our good work and bold, ambitious plans to grow are winning support from local and national foundations. So far this year we’ve earned grants from the Chicago Community Trust, the Google News Initiative, and now, Press Forward.

So, we come to you with enthusiasm asking you to play your part in keeping local news vital in your hometown. We need you now more than ever to make our audacious plan work.

Every dollar counts.

Jump in. Join in. Become a part of this moment.

With gratitude and excitement.

Dan Haley Erika Hobbs Publisher Editor

Memorial Day 2024

The American Legion Post 414 held its final Memorial Day ceremony Monday on the front lawn of the Park District of Forest Park at 7501 W. Harrison St. “For any veteran, [Memorial Day] is important because it honors people who lost their lives in combat,” Michael Thompson, facilities manager at the post told Forest Park Review. “It’s very simple.” Dozens of residents attended to remember the fallen who served in the country’s military.

People including (le to right) Forest Park police o cer Dan

and Danny Miller.

Michael ompson of Forest Park honors one of his former soldiers in his remarks.

Clockw ise from top: American Legion Post 414 Lt. Colonel Dr. Neil Mercia.

Forest Park residents including (le to right) Joanne and Cli Leber, Sandy

By rnes, and Barbara Crawford.

Miller, Esthela Gonzalez

PHOTO S BY ERIC A BENSON

No more Ed’s Way

e grocery store’s building was torn down to construct 10-unit townhomes

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

The building where the beloved neighborhood grocery store Ed’s Way once stood is no more. After the rubble is removed, a 10unit townhome will go up at 946 Beloit Ave.

T he May 17 demolition marks the end of an era for a community staple of more than 30 years. In Februar y, Forest Park showed its appreciation for the local business by giving Beloit Ave. the honorary street name of Ed Nutley Way after Ed’s Way’s owner.

PHOTO S BY TODD BANNOR

Cicada coloring cont est

For kids and the kids at hear t

Grab your colored pencils and crayons! This cicada has been waiting 17 years to be this colorful! Snap a pic of your nal work of art to Editor Erika Hobbs at erika@growingcommunitymedia.org to be featured next week in the paper and online. JPEGs and PDFs accepted. We’d also love to see you! You can drop o your cicada art at 141. S. Oak Park Ave.

Artwork by:

CRIME Semi-truck hits tra c light, damages China Dragon 2

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

On May 25, police responded to an accident on the 7600 block of Madison St. involving a semi-truck. According to the police re port, the truck crashed into a traffic light, which fell through the window of China Dragon 2. The driver told police he had no knowledge of hitting the light, and police said they noticed no damage to his semi-truck.

Home invasion

Police were dispatched to a residence on Randolph Street May 24 for a burglary. The man who lived there was sleeping in a chair in his living room when he woke up to a man standing over him, whom he told police entered through an open window. According to the police re port, the man yelled at the intruder, who ran out the front door. The man didn’t re port anything missing from his home, and the offender has not been identified or charged.

Telephone harassment

the police re port The driver was arrested for motor vehicle theft, a suspended or revoked license and an in-state warrant. The passenger was charged with criminal trespassing to a vehicle and was released from the police department under the NonDiscretionary Pretrial Release Conditions, according to the police re port

On May 25, a man who lives on Roosevelt Road received threatening texts from his son’s ex-girlfriend, who has been arrested for domestic battery, officials said. The exgirlfriend accused his son of pushing her down the stairs, killing their 7-week fetus, according to the police re port. Police advised the man to block the numbers that the woman is texting him from. The man and his son said they are in the process of getting an order of protection against the woman.

Car theft

While on patrol May 27, police conducted a re gistration check on a vehicle and confirmed that it was stolen in Rockford in April. Police pulled over the car on Harlem Ave. The driver told police he bought the car on Facebook Marketplace, but deleted his Facebook messages since, according to

Also on May 27, police responded to the 1100 block of Harlem Ave. for a motor vehicle theft. The owner of the car said his landlord provided him with surveillance footage of two offenders stealing the car May 26. One offender struck the rear passenger window and both climbed through it before driving away in the car, according to the police re port. The Chicago Police Department located and towed the car.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated May 24 through May 27 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

OUR VIEW

Our new way to make news

It has been a remarkable, exciting week for those of us at Growing Community Media. Over the past four years, dating to our remaking as a nonprofit newsroom, we’ve been reinventing the model for authentic, local news.

We don’t want to repeat for you the travails which have put local news across America at risk. Instead, we’re focusing on the future.

We started with the simple truth that people still want to know and understand what goes on in the town they choose for home. They want an independent newsroom with local roots doing the reporting.

We’re building the plane as we’re flying it, and with our trusty craft in midair, we’ve been pitching parts out the door, adding people and products, listening better to readers about what they want to know, building new streams of revenue to pay for it all and crafting a pretty unique hybrid. Advertising. Reader memberships. Philanthropy. Print. Digital. Social. Email. And with COVID ending, mixing in a few events

This week, two key strands of the new revenue model are happily overlapping.

GCM and its Austin Weekly News have just earned a twoyear grant from Press Forward, a new national philanthropy, which we’ ll use to hire a managing editor for our West Side paper. We’ve proudly published the Austin Weekly for 38 years. But our re porting has always been constrained by a limited pool of ad dollars. Now as a nonprofit, we are finding new revenue streams to pay for more news coverage, more pages, more community connection.

A couple of sidenotes: For the first time we will form a community-inclusive hiring committee to be central to choosing the managing editor. And as soon as we are able to find funding, we will open a West Side Public Newsroom. This will be a storefront in Austin where our staff can work from, interviews can take place, small groups of neighbors can convene to talk about issues and our coverage We’ll also welcome reporters from other news outlets reporting on the West Side to share the space. We are grateful to Press Forward that GCM and 12 other independent Chicago newsrooms were in the first cohort of grants from this ambitious local news effort.

At the same time, we’re midway through our annual Spring Fund Drive. I am certain, with your help, that we will raise the last $75,000 of our goal. This is the money that goes into the newsroom to pay reporters, editors, designers, and a digital manager to tell stories across our four publications

If you are a member of GCM, then please renew. If you are reading our news for free, then snap out of it. Our costs are real. Our reporters provide value. This is our invitation to really join this enterprise, to be part of this powerful community. Last thing — on Saturday, GCM made the donuts at the Oak Park Far mers Market for the first time. Thanks for coming Hope you liked them. Thanks to our staff and the volunteers who made this work. It is another way to support local news

OPINION

Chamber of Commerce humilde

Ichose the headline above to describe the 2024 annual meeting of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, held on May 8, for several reasons

It’s a take-off on the name of the new craft brewery, Casa Humilde, moving into the space at 7700 Madison St., most recently occupied by another craft brewery, Exit Strategy. The two brothers who own the new business, Javier and Jose Lopez chose the name Casa Humilde, i.e. Humble House, because although they strive to brew first class Mexican beers, the atmosphere the brothers hope to create will have a “mi casa es tu casa” vibe.

Jose explained, “We want it to be a space as if you were coming into our home.”

HOLMES

Humilde also captures one aspect of the Chamber event. For one thing, it’s held in a barn, the huge building McAdam Landscaping uses to house some of its equipment. None of the over 160 Chamber members, their family and friends, and Forest Park residents in attendance was wearing a suit and tie.

I’ve been part of the Chamber for at least 30 years, and that infor mal sensibility is part of what makes the Chamber, and the village, special.

They know how to have fun and not take themselves too seriously. Anthony Crawford, who manages O’Sullivan’s, worked with Nadeau’s to create an ice luge, and Crawford came up with two different cocktails to serve through the luge and has a great time doing it

Laurie Kokenes, the Chamber’s executive director, took the opportunity provided by an interview with the Review, to brag about her town. “There’s just something about Forest Park — that sense of community per meates every cor ner, and we love seeing it on a large scale at the annual meeting.”

Business owners provided items for the silent auction that were fun and also promoted their businesses Laurie Jackson, new owner of Todd and Holland Tea Merchants, donated a Tea Party Gift Basket with five kinds of tea, plus scone mix. Not to be outdone, Jacques Shalo, owner of Kribi Coffee, provided bags of Mount Oku coffee. Pedro Pedroza donated “candy suitcases” from Ferrara Candy Company, and Erich Krumrei, from Play It Again Sports, enabled the highest bidder to be trendy and fashionable with a Pickle Ball set and a PIAS hat.

And food! Each participating restaurant — Twisted Cookie, Caffe DeLuca, La Maison de Bonbon, Piacere Mio, Starship, Scratch Public House, Yum Thai, Chubby’s Hot Chicken, O’Sullivan Public House, Living Fresh Market, Jimmy’s Place — provided small por-

tions like sliders or cookies, but when you add them up, as they say, the sum was greater than the parts.

A total of perhaps 10 minutes was devoted to annual meeting business. As Kokenes explained, it’s less meeting and more of “a chance for local biz and orgs to come together to connect and enjoy time with their peers.”

During the three decades I’ve been associated with the Chamber, I’ve also been impressed by the savvy and creative business acumen exhibited by our local entrepreneurs.

If I were to design a Chamber polo shirt, I would make it with blue and white stripes. White stripes for the colle geeducated owners who have been around the block enough times to make decisions for their businesses and for events in the village like the Casket Races and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Wine Walk, which are not only creative but also smart from a business point of view.

The blue stripes represent the unpretentious way the Chamber members go about their business. I mean, an annual meeting in a barn! Everyone has ego, of course, but the members I hang around with understand what Ignatius High School used to say about itself in its promo ads — we begin with “I” and end with “us.”

A rising tide lifts all boats, if the boats are sea-worthy The Chamber board is composed of really sharp business people who also have humilde, the humility to locate in a community that understands how to combine competition with cooperation.

For example, I doubt if the McAdams family got any business directly from putting in the many worker hours needed to host the event every year. It’s hard to mathematically measure the social capital that Scott and Rob create by making their space available, but I respect them as business owners who have good hearts and good business heads.

Same with Mike Mohr, owner of Mohr Oil Company. He’s not a retailer, and he’s not located on Madison Street or Roosevelt Road, but he donates generous amounts to so many events and causes in town, which don’t directly benefit him.

Chamber members g et it. Putting for th their best, benefits not only the owner’s individual business but the whole community. A rising tide lifts all seaworthy boat s.

It’s part of our identity, isn’t it? Village humilde. Check out Tom’s blog at https://tomholmes10.substack.com.

Editor Erika Hobbs

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq Amaris E. Rodriguez

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

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

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

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza

Sales and Marketing Representatives

Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projec ts Manager Susan Walker

Board of Directors

Chair Judy Gre n

Treasurer Nile Wendorf

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

HOW TO REACH US

ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066

EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com

CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com

ONLINE ForestParkReview.com

Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160)

In-county subscriptions: $38 per year. $70 for two years, $93 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $58 per year.

Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media

Mike Thompson, a Vietnam era veteran, talks of how “devastating it is for longtime members” when American Legion Post 414 shuts down this summer. VFW and American Legion posts are closing all over the country. The principal reason is declining membership.

“The post is down to 25 members,” said Joe Byr nes, who received a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. “We tried membership drives, but that didn’t work. The 25 members that are left will be transferring to other posts.”

The end of a century

It isn’t just the lack of members; the Post building at 500 Circle is in urgent need of repairs. It’s over a century old and is in need of a new roof and new plumbing. It didn’t help when someone recently shattered the front door with a BB gun.

It was costing the Post $700 to $800 a month to keep the doors open. Only five members showed up for a recent meeting where they voted to sell the building and donate the proceeds to a veterans charity.

“We’re going to keep the charter until summer,” Thompson said. “We’ll have a blowout party to thank all who supported it.” They plan to donate the panels bearing

Veterans Park, 1999

June 16, 1999, Forest Park Review: The tot lot at Circle Avenue and Lehmer Street was renamed Veterans Park in 1999. Veterans from VFW Post #7181 held a dedication and raised the flag on the new flag pole at the park.

the names of WWI and WWII eterans to the Historical Society of Forest Park

The post’s historic photos will also be available for scanning hompson is hoping these can be displayed at village hall or at District 91 schools. Ironworkers Local 1 might also take some of the memorabilia. They have een helping veterans start careers with their “Helmets to Hardhats” program.

“It’s not end of an era,” Thompson said. “It’s the end of a century.” The American Legion was started in 1919 by Colonel Robert McCormick. Since then, veterans’ groups were instrumental in the founding of the Veterans Administration and the passing of the GI Bill.

American Legion Post 414 used to be a vibrant organization with hundreds of members. They held huge parades in Forest Park. This older generation was made up of patriotic joiners. The younger veterans are patriots but they haven’t been joiners.

Fifteen years ago, Thompson replaced Neil Scarpelli as caretaker of the post. Thompson carried on finding bookings for the hall. The number of bookings decreased and the ones they held were not always profitable

They hosted plays put on by Forest Park

Theatre but did not charge them for using the space. They also hosted political events and served as campaign headquarters. “We were giving away more than we were taking in,” Thompson said.

Some American Legion posts are surviving on revenue from video gaming. Others are hosting Queen of Hearts raffles. Some are open seven days a week serving alcohol. Thompson did not believe video gaming, or becoming a bar, would be well-received in Forest Park

When the post’s building is sold, the land will be zoned R1 for residential use. Thompson will be relieved, but he will continue to serve on the board of Fisher House, where families can stay, while their relatives are treated at Hines Hospital.

Still, he finds the closing of the post to be very disturbing. He’s concerned that “many of our holidays have lost their meaning.” Forest Park sustained the meaning of Memorial Day with a moving ceremony this past Monday at The Park

For the first time, Thompson spoke at the ceremony. He talked about a soldier he knew, Ar my Staff Sergeant Todd Ryan, who volunteered to train Iraqi troops. The father of two was killed on Nov. 9, 2004.

Ryan had just promised his mother, Renee, “Mom I have one more mission and I’ll be home.”

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

MORTGAGE ASSESTS MANAGEMENT, LLC F/K/A REVERSE MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS, INC Plaintiff, -v.-

ANDREW C. CRAWFORD, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Defendants

2021 CH 05362

827 N. GROVE AVE 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 March 22, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 24, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 827 N. GROVE AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-06-305-020-

0000

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

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption. 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 SEC-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

TION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527

630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-20-03979

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2021 CH 05362 TJSC#: 44-840

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 # 2021 CH 05362 I3244734

PUBLIC NOTICES

Notice – Public Hearing on June 25th for FY2025 Budget

OAK PARK TOWNSHIP

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to legal voters, residents of the Township of Oak Park, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, that Public Hearings on the Tentative Town Fund, General Assistance Fund, and Community Mental Health Fund Budgets for Fiscal Year 2025, will be held at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at the Oak Park Township Administration building, 105 S. Oak Park Ave., in the Township of Oak Park.

To request a copy of the Tentative Budgets named above for review, call Township Hall at 708-3838005 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. A digital version of the Tentative Budgets is available at www.oakparktownship.org. Oral and written comments concerning these proposed annual budgets are welcome.

All interested citizens, groups, senior citizens, and organizations representing the interests of senior citizens are encouraged to attend.

Oak Park Township does not discriminate on the basis of handicapped status in the admission or access to, or employment in its programs or activities. Those needing special accommodations are asked to provide 48 hours’ notice.

Given under my hand in the Town of Oak Park, County of Cook, State of Illinois, the 21th day of May 2024.

DaToya Burtin-Cox Oak Park Township Clerk

Published in Wednesday Journal May 29, 2024

The Village of Oak Park 123 Madison St. Oak Park, Illinois 60302 (708) 358-5416

On or after June 12, 2024 the Village of Oak Park will submit a request to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title 1 of the of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (PL93383), to undertake the following project:

Tier 1 Broad Review Project/ Program Title: PY 2023 through 2027 Water Lines

Purpose: CDBG eligible homeowners will receive private-side lead water-line replacements as an ongoing effort to get rid of all Village of Oak Park lead water lines.

Location: The project will take place at several addresses throughout Oak Park.

Project/Program Description: The improvements shall include installing a new continuous one-inch Type K copper water service line on the owner side of the water service from the curb stop/B-box into the house to the water meter. Work shall include a new meter setting including full-port ball valves before and after the meter with a boiler drain valve after the meter. A new water meter is optional to the homeowner and if selected, will be delivered to the jobsite. New meter connectors will be furnished, if necessary, by the Village.

Tier 2 site specific reviews will be completed for those laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review for each address under this program when addresses become known.

Level of Environmental Review

Citation: Acquisition, repair, improvement, reconstruction, or rehabilitation of public facilities

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS FOR TIERED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS

and improvements (other than buildings) when the facilities and improvements are in place and will be retained in the same use without change in size or capacity of more than 20 percent (e.g., replacement of water or sewer lines, reconstruction of curbs and sidewalks, repaving of streets): 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(1).

Tier 2 Site Specific Review: The site-specific reviews will cover the following laws and authorities not addressed in the Tier 1 broad review: Contamination and Toxic Substances; Endangered Species; Historic Preservation; Wetlands Protection; Environmental Justice.

Mitigation Measures/Conditions/ Permits (if any): Contamination and Toxic Substances: The Responsible Entity (RE) will assess all addresses for Contamination and Toxic Substances and provide an assessment for each. In doing so, the RE will use data from the following resources to ensure to noted hazardous materials, contamination, toxic chemicals and gases, and radioactive substances, where a hazard could affect the health and safety of occupants or conflict with the intended utilization of the sites: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory and Toxic Substances Control Act Facilities, Illinois EPA Agency Facility Inventory and Information Search System and Landfills, Illinois State Fire Marshall Underground Storage Tanks and National EPA Assist; Endangered Species: each site will be assessed by the RE to establish if any suitable habitats will be affected; Historic Preservation: the Village of Oak Park has a Programmatic Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office that covers work being done in this project. However, on an annual basis throughout the duration of this project, the RE will contact all Tribal Historic Preservation

Offices that have an interest in ground disturbances occurring in Cook County; Wetlands Protection: the RE will review all properties and evaluate if the land is on or adjacent to land that is designated as Wetlands and provide an assessment for each. All zones will be mapped using the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Wetlands Mapper and proper zone boundaries will be identified; Environmental Justice: pending approval and no findings of Contamination and Toxic Substances, Suitable Habitats, THPO concerns, or Wetlands, all sites will comply with Environmental Justice [Executive Order 12898].

Estimated 5-year Project Cost: $500,000

The activity/activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR Part 58.35(a)(1). An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 and may be examined or copied weekdays 9:00 A.M to 5:00 P.M. or at https://www.hudexchange.info/ programs/environmental-review/ environmental-review-records/.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Village of Oak Park office of Development Customer Service. All comments received by June 12, 2024 will be considered by the Village of Oak Park prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The Village of Oak Park certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that Ahmad M. Zayyad, Certifying

Officer, in their capacity as Deputy Village Manager/ Interim Neighborhood Services Director, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the Village of Oak Park Public Works Department to use HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and the Village of Oak Park’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the Village of Oak Park; (b) the Village of Oak Park has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58; (c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be submitted to HUD’s online mailbox at CPDRROFCHI@hud. gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager, Certifying Officer

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive bids from qualified mechanical contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Mon thru Fri, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm local time until 10:00 am on Fri, July 12, 2024 for the following: Village of Oak Park Public Works Center HVAC Repairs Proposal Number: 24-126

Issuance Date: 5/29/24

There will be a mandatory pre-bid meeting at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL on Wed, June 5, 2024 at 11:00 am. Bid documents may be obtained from the Village website at http:// www.oak-park.us/bid. For questions please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 29, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Mon thru Fri, 7:30 am to 4:00 pm local time until 10:00 am on Fri, July 12, 2024 for the following: Village of Oak Park Public Works Center Exterior Façade Repairs Proposal Number: 24-127

Illinois Classified Advertising Network

DOGS PETS LIVESTOCK

When veterinary care is unavailable or unaffordable, ask for Happy Jack ® animal healthcare products for cats, dogs, & horses. At Tractor Supply (www.happyjackinc.com).

Issuance Date: 5/29/24

There will be a mandatory prebid meeting at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL on Wed, June 5, 2024 at 10:00 am. Bid documents may be obtained from the Village website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700.

Published in Wednesday Journal May 29, 2024