Forest Park Review 061224

state cut the grocery tax –how does that a ect Forest Park?

e village could lose $400,000 each year or pass its own grocery tax

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Now that Gov. JB Pritzker’s $53.1 billion budget for 2025 has eliminated the state grocery store tax, Forest Park stands to lose about $400,000.

Revenue from the 1% state grocery tax was distributed to local municipalities. The cut takes effect Jan. 1, 2026.

“To some towns, a few hundred thousand dollars isn’t significant, but to us it’s a lot,” said Maria Maxham, the village’s commissioner of accounts and finance. “It’s a large sum of money.”

However, villages, cities and towns have options to

municipalities in passing a resolution

Use this QR code to sign the petition for Oak Park to join over 171 U.S.

This Father’s Day we are honorIng every father killed in Palestine and Israel.

Use this QR code to sign the petition for Oak Park to join over 171 U.S. municipalities in passing a resolution supporting a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the provision of full and unconditional humanItarIan aid to Gaza. Not one more father killed; not one more child orphaned.

This Father’s Day we are honorIng every father killed in Palestine and Israel. Paid for

This Father’s Day we are honorIng every father killed in Palestine and Israel.

Father’s Day we are honorIng every father killed in Palestine and Israel.

Use this QR code to sign the petition for Oak Park to join over 171 U.S. municipalities in passing a resolution supporting a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the provision of full and unconditional humanItarIan aid to Gaza.

this QR code to sign the petition for Oak Park to join over 171 U.S. municipalities in passing a resolution supporting a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the provision and unconditional humanItarIan aid

This Father’s Day we are honorIng every father killed in Palestine and Israel.

Not one more father killed; not one more child orphaned.

Use this QR code to sign the petition for Oak Park to join over 171 U.S. municipalities in passing a resolution supporting a permanent ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the provision of full and unconditional humanItarIan aid

Cub Scouts raise ag for Juneteenth at Forest Park Village Hall

A crowd gathered to celebrate the day that remaining enslaved people were freed

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Local officials, organizations and residents met in the Village Hall parking lot to watch as Cub Scout Pack 109 hoisted up a flag in honor of Juneteenth.

“Juneteenth is a reminder of the journey towards justice and the resilience of those who endured slavery and fought for their liberation,” said Theresa Robinson, founder of the George Washington Carver: Center for the Advancement of Science Education. She’s also an associate professor at Elmhurst University and was the gathering’s keynote speaker June 4.

United States President Joe Biden signed a bill in 2021 making June 19 a federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, enforcing the freedom of about a quarter-million enslaved people in

the state. Juneteenth is also known as an independence day, or “Freedom Day,” for African Americans.

“On June 19, we reflect on the institution of slavery as it existed in the United States, and we celebrate the end of slavery in the United States,” said Mayor Rory Hoskins, who grew up in Galveston, during the opening remarks before the flag raising.

“It is through acknowledging and learning from our history that we can appreciate the progress we have made and reco gnize the work that still lies within,” Robinson added. “By valuing and preserving this history, we affirm the dignity and worth of every individual and acknowledge that our diverse experiences enrich our collective identity.”

The ag and what it represents

Although red, green and black are the colors of the pan-African flag, the Juneteenth flag was created in 1997 and is red, white and blue. It’s a descendant of the American flag, according to CNN, because slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.

“It’s critical that we share all of our shared struggles and our shared triumphs, not just as Black Americans or

white Americans, but as Americans. Because all history is our history, said Tara Stamp Cook County’s board commissioner of the 1st District.

The Juneteenth fl also boasts a bursting white star in the middle, which represents the Lone Star State of Texas, where the first Juneteenth took plac

“As the Juneteenth flag is raised, we c identify its symbolism and attempt to respond to the harm of racism, anti-Blackness, and open a conversation about American pride, resilience, and the hope of a new beginning,” said Jill Wagner, a board member of the Historical Society of Forest Park and manager of circulation and reader engagement the Review.

“In reco gnizing Juneteenth, we not only honor the end of slavery, but also celebrate the enduring contributions of African Americans to our nation’s fabric,” Robinson said. “These contributions are woven into every aspect of our society, from culture and art to science and politics.”

FLYING FREEDOM’S FLAG: Cub scouts from Pack 109 hoist the Juneteenth ag at village hall, accompanied by dr ummers (below le ).

Juneteenth Collaborative — a Black-led grassroots group of Forest Park, River Forest and Oak Park residents who help to educate, and celebrate with, their neighbors.

Juneteenth was first celebrated in Forest Park in 2009. That year, Hoskins — who was Village Commissioner at the time and the first African American to be elected into the village’s public office — and other residents founded the Annual Forest Park Juneteenth Pool Celebration. The sixteenth celebration will take place at the Park District’s Aquatic Center June 15.

The June 4 flag raising was put on by village officials, the Forest Park Public Library, the Historical Society of Forest Park, the Park District of Forest Park, Riveredge Hospital, and West Communities

Together, members of those organizations and residents watched as Cub Scouts raised the flag up the pole.

“Let it be a beacon of hope and a call to action. Let it remind us that history is not just a record of the past, but living, breathing, that we are all a part of. Let it inspire us to continue to fight for justice, equality, and truth in our daily lives, in our schools, workplaces, and communities,” Robinson said of the Juneteenth flag. “By honoring the le gacy of Juneteenth, we honor the strength and spirit of those who came before us to pave a way for a brighter, more equitable future for all.”

JESSICA MORDACQ

LEGO Secret Codes and Puzzle Box

Friday, June 14, 4 – 5 p.m., Forest Park Public Library - Youth Ser vices Room

Join us to build LEGO puzzle boxes and create your own secret code to solve. D esigned for ages 8 to 10. Register at https://tinyurl.com/cyr9dd84. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Sound Bath

Sunday, June 16, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m., Forest Park Public Library - Austin Room

Join facilitator Mehtab Kirtan for a sound experience. Relax and let the vibrations of the didgeridoo, singing bowls, drums, and voice interact with your body on a cellular level. Designed for adults and older adults. Additional considerations: Dress comfortably; bring a yoga mat, blanket, and/or pillow; eat only lightly prior to meditation. Register at https://tinyurl. com/26ehxhdf. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Transgender 101: Support for Youth and Families

Thursday, June 13, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m., Forest Park Public Library - Austin Room

BIG WEEK

June 12-19

Heartless Bastards

Friday, June 14, 6:30 p.m., Rober t’s Westside D oors open at 6:30 p.m., music star ts at 8:00 p.m. 21+ (Under 21 Allo we d

w/ Pa re nt / Guardian) General Admission: $35 + Ser vice Fees and Reser ve d Sea ting: $45 + Ser vice Fees . Pur chase tick ets at https://tinyurl .com/29fuf5m v

Paper Airplane Contest

Design a paper airplane and see whose can go the farthest. Ages 8 to 10. Register at https://tinyurl. com/2adsw6st. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

The Mountainaires

June 15, 2 p.m., Rober t’s Westside Doors open at 11:00 a.m., and the music begins at 2 p.m.

event is 21+, but those under 21 are allowed with a parent or guardian. Bring cash to tip the band The Mountainaires are a country harmony trio from Chicago, featuring Jon Williams on guitar and vocals, Kenneth Rainey on mandolin and vocals, and Josh Piet on bass Free admittance. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park

Detective In Training Kit

Thursday, June 13, All Da Forest Park Public Librar

Join Transgender consultant and advocate Nikk Cochran Selik for a workshop supporting transgender kids, teens, and their families. Bring your questions to this judgment-free space. Suitable for families, young adults, and adults. Register at https://tinyurl. com/52fxd9x v. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Pick up your own detective in training kit. are limited, so please remember to register. Designed for grades 5th to 7th, ages 11 to 13. Register at https://tinyurl ymbjn8ey. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Compiled by Brooke Duncan

Growing Community Media takes home Illinois Press Association awards

e nonpro t took home 19 rst-place plaques across its four newspapers

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

Growing Community Media won big at the 2024 Illinois Press Association convention this week.

At the annual convention in Bloomington, held June 6, the nonprofit — which is the parent company of Wednesday Journal of Oak Park & River Forest, Austin Weekly News, the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and the Forest Park Review — took home 19 first-place awards and 35 total awards across editorial and advertising categories.

The first-place awards are as follows:

■ Best one-time special section — Wednesday Journal

■ Best website, nondaily — Wednesday Journal

■ Editorial page, nondaily — Wednesday Journal

■ Original column, Division C — Wednesday Journal — “Someone who cared” by Harriet Hausman

■ Informational graphic, Division C — Wednesday Jour nal — Andy Mead

See IPA AWARDS on page 16

Growing Community Media, the nonpro t parent company of Forest Park

and

newspapers, scored numerous rst-place awards at the 2024 Illinois Press Association convention on June 6.

Sponsored Content

American Heart Association works with local churches to implement Cardiac Emergency Response Plans

By Elizabeth Short

Every year, 436,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest. The first 10 minutes after a cardiac arrest are key. Performing CPR can double or triple an individual’s chances of survival, yet only 40% of individuals who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital receive the help they need.

This year, the American Heart Association (AHA) of Chicago received a grant from the Westlake Health Foundation to implement its Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) in the Proviso Township area. The association is working directly with three local faith-based organizations: the Second Baptist Church in Maywood, the Quinn Center of St. Eulalia, and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oak Park. Seventy percent of cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital. Ninety percent of these emergencies become

Good Shepherd joins two Maywood churches in training

fatal. In these cases, bystander CPR is crucial for survival.

“That’s why it’s so critical for those in our families, those in our communities, to know what to do,” said Jocelyn Vega, director of community impact at the American Heart Association. “I personally think everyone should be able to survive a cardiac arrest. The power is in our hands with CPR.”

The CERP goes beyond basic CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training and allows a community to develop a specific, detailed, and unique emergency response plan of action in the case of cardiac arrest. According to the American Heart Association, a CERP can increase sudden cardiac arrest survival rates by 50% or more.

Vega works to build partnerships with communities, create a team and an emergency response plan, and run drills

to prepare organizations for potential emergencies.

“We’re having these really big, what is usually a very emotional situation, broken down as a team very proactively,” said Vega.

Similar to a fire drill or active shooter plan, CERPs take an organizational approach to cardiac arrest. “As organizations, as places of faith, we have the power, we have the people, and we can take this opportunity of taking a stance and really educating our community in this skill,” said Vega.

Vega works with organizations to ensure that the community is fully prepared not only to effectively respond to cardiac emergencies, but also to process and heal after potential trauma. Community members consider different scenarios and create specific emergency response plans. As cardiac arrest becomes fatal in just 10 minutes,

it is critical to have an emergency plan in place. “We don’t want to wait to experience the loss of someone dying at our center or at our church to be like, ‘Oh wow, these are things we should have done,’” she said.

If you witness somebody go into cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and begin giving chest compressions. You do not have to be certified to give CPR. Administer an AED if it is available. Learn more by visiting the American Heart Association website or by attending a training.

The American Heart Association of Chicago hopes to work with more organizations to create Cardiac Emergency Response Plans. If you are interested in working with Vega, email her at Jocelyn.Vega@heart.org.

Ben Stumpe

Review

three other

League of Women Voters gears up for election season

Combating disinformation and voter suppression are among the priorities for November

By MICHAEL BANIEWICZ  Contributing Reporter

Preparation for the 2024 presidential election is underway on the local level for the League of Women Voters of Oak ParkRiver Forest.

The league is actively curating a panel of experts for its Fall 2024 Kickof f event, which will discuss the fight against spreading misinfor mation and disinformation.

Jane Hastings, president of the Oak Park-River Forest League of Women Voters, said that the event is open to the public and will highlight the significance of the proliferation of misinformation and dis-

information and its impact on democratic processes.

“Starting to get involved in fighting some of the disinformation and misinformation, I think, is a huge step for our organization,”

Hastings said. “It’s satisfying to work with allies on promoting the fundamentals of democracy.”

The League of Women Voters of Illinois for med the Mis/Disinformation Task Force in January 2024 with the objective of educating the public on the topic. The task force has been providing support to the Oak Park-River Forest league as they prepare for the Fall Kickof f event, Hastings said.

In addition, the league has organized meetings in the past, such as candidate forums, which includes individuals running for local political offices, school boards, village boards, library boards, and more. The forums are organized by the league, which is a non-partisan organization, and allow for candidates to introduce the messages of their platform and answer questions from attendees.

& FRESHLOCAL NEWS

“[The candidate forums] were about not necessarily persuading anybody to change their minds, but to see each other as valid humans with good points and will hear you and acknowledge you,”

Hastings said. “Political discourse is really healthy for democracy.”

The league serves the three neighborhoods of Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park. Improving the accessibility for residents to become engaged with local politics and having their voice heard in these candidate forums is very important to the league.

Tina Birnbaum, co-vice president of the league, said that the candidate forums are recorded on Zoom so residents can access the recordings at their convenience. Throughout one year, the viewership increased dramatically for these recordings, which was approximately 3,500 online visitors.

The recordings allow for people to be introduced to the personalities of the candidates and hear their platforms in an authentic way, Birnbaum said.

“It’s one thing to read it,” Birnbaum said. “It’s another thing to see and hear the actual candidate talking about that issue.”

The candidate forums are one of the various initiatives organized by the league that ties back to one of the main objectives of the organization, which is voter education.

“Part of the commitment to the women’s vote was making sure they had good, nonpartisan, factual information to make their decisions,” Hastings said. “That is very much a historical tenant of the league.”

The national League of Women Voters was founded as a successor to the National American Women Suf frage Association in Chicago in 1920. Under the leadership of suffragist Carrie Chapman Catt, it was for med by the leading suffragists that secured the right to vote for women in the United States.

Four years after the 19th Amendment was ratified, the Oak Park-River Forest League of Women Voters was established. Since then, the league has helped residents overcome any restrictions or barriers to voting.

“We really try to encourage people to vote,” Birnbaum said. “We’re all about getting people involved in government. That’s a huge issue for us…the league is about advocating for empowering voters and defending our democracy and lately there’s been a lot to do in those two areas.”

The Oak Park-River Forest League of Women Voters collaborated with leagues across the state of Illinois to produce the Illinois Voter Guide, which provides residents with information on where, how and when they can vote for public of ficials.

The league also hopes to serve as an example for other states in the country that do not make voting education resources accessible, Birnbaum said.

“[Illinois] does well in letting people vote, but we’re a part of the national league and there’s other states where it’s very difficult for people to vote,” Birnbaum said. “Polling places have been eliminated, barriers to voting have been erected.”

When Hastings considered the motivations for the league’s ef forts, her answer was clear and simple.

“Everybody’s vote should count,” Hastings said.

Village updates code for business and license regulations

New language matches code to current village practices

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

With a village code which has been largely unexamined since it was crafted in the 1960s, Forest Park’s village council approved new language related to building contractors and construction issues which now sync the code with current village hall practices.

At a village council meeting June 10, four commissioners and Mayor Rory Hoskins voted unanimously to pass the ordinance that amended the Code of the Village of Forest Park Along with general modified language — since the code likely hasn’t been changed since it was written in the 1960s, according to Steve Glinke, director of public health and safety — the updated code reflects increased fees for construction licenses.

“Along the way, they cleaned up some language in the ordinance to match what the processes were in the building department,” Entler said of other updates to the code to modernize it.

Title 3, Chapter 5, Article D of the municipal code lists types of building contractors who can construct, alter or wreck buildings with a license from the village

To this list, officials added “contractor of excavating/paving” and “contractor for roofing.” They also removed “contractor of plastering and lathing,” “contractor of painting and decorating,” and “contractor of tile, marble and mosaic.”

Glinke said the village hasn’t required permits for contractors doing plastering work in about 30 years. And other amendments also reflect routine village practices, rather than what’s written in the code.

For example, another amendment is that building contractors should apply license with the village, rather than the commissioner of public property, Jessica Voogd. But Glinke has always handled the permitting process.

“We kind of had an antiquated system for charging for permit fees,” said Village Administrator Rachell Entler.

That system involved separate $25 perjob license fees and a $100 annual fee for contractors. But many contractors added on per-job license fees over time, reaching an annual license fee and creating extra work for staf f who keep track of record s.

Entler said the village’s consultant compared individual and annual license fees to other municipalities’, and that Forest Park’s were lower than many others. So the village raised the individual job license fee and, in the future, will likely raise the annual fee too.

License approvals are also no longer the responsibility of the commissioner of public property, instead falling to Glinke, according to the updated code, can now approve a license without first giving ommendation to the village council. But Glinke has never given recommendations to the village council in the past, instead approving licenses himself.

Fee changes and amendments to reflect the way the village facilitates permitting are only the start of Forest Park’s code edits.

“It’s something that we probably should do more often,” Entler said. “This is one of the places to start.”

RACHELL ENTLER Village administrator

GROCERY TAX

Cut could hurt co ers

from page 1

cover lost funds. They won’t, for example, have to cut costs or raise property taxes to account for lost revenue. However, villages, cities and towns have options to cover lost funds. They won’t, for example, have to cut costs or raise property taxes to account for lost revenue. According to the state, municipalities can create their own grocery tax.

Village Administrator Rachell Entler said that both non-home rule municipalities and those with home rule authority, or municipalities with more than 25,000 residents, will be able to establish a local grocery tax without putting a referendum on the ballot. Forest Park, she said, would be able to create up to a 2% tax on groceries without a local vote.

Maxham, however, said she still isn’t in favor of getting rid of the state tax.

“It’s still not great that this has been eliminated because it’s going to put the burden on the municipalities,” Maxham said. She added that she expects Forest Park to implement its own local tax, especially with the arrival of a new grocery store in town.

“We were really excited about Aldi because it’s a great store, but also because

it would be another source of revenue for us,” Maxham said. So when Pritzker proposed eliminating the grocery tax in February, village officials were disappointed, Maxham added.

Pritzker’s announcement was especially relevant as Forest Park finalizes next year’s budget this summer. The village is ending the 2024 fiscal year with an $11 million deficit, and its expenditures have exceeded revenues for over a decade.

So it was a relief when the state declared municipalities could issue a local tax.

“It looks like it’s not going to be as bad or as difficult as we originally had anticipated,” Maxham said.

Still, that doesn’t mean she supports the tax removal, Maxham added.

Illinois was one of 13 states that taxed grocery sales. Pritzker proposed eliminating the grocery tax to save families money. Dropping the 1% tax saves Illinois shoppers $1 for every $100 of groceries.

“I don’t think there’s any benefit to getting rid of it,” Maxham said. “It’s obviously going to save people who grocery shop, which is everybody, money,” but the amount, she added, is fairly insignificant.

“It tends to have a smaller impact on a person buying $100 worth of groceries than it does on a municipality as a whole, that’s losing out on a significant chunk of money that they use for all kinds of different things,” Maxham said.

sunday, june 16

FATHER’S DAY

brunch buffet

8:30am - 2pm

last stocking of buffet at 1:30pm

adults 47 (includes bottomless coffee, iced or hot) children aged eight to sixteen 24 kids seven & under are free dinner 3 - 8pm

Dutchess Cannabis Company to replace MedMen dispensary

It’s not yet clear when the Oak Park location will reopen for business

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Dutchess Cannabis Company will be taking over the MedMen cannabis dispensary located at 1142 Lake St., which said it was temporarily closed in early April

MedMen struggled financially, closing many locations across the country. The company eventually ceased operations and filed for bankruptc y proceedings in Canada, according to Forbes, with $411 million in liabilities. MedMen subsidiaries in the United States will have operations dissolved or sold, according to Forbes.

The MedMen location in Oak Park began selling recreational marijuana in January 2020, af-

ter Illinois became the 11th state to legalize it. In March 2020, the company received a cease and desist notice for failing to maintain social distancing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MedMen was the only business in Oak Park that collected a local cannabis tax, Erik Jacobsen, the village’s communications manager, told Wednesday Journal. Now, that revenue will hopefully be maintained as Dutchess Cannabis Company takes over.

Dutchess Cannabis Company will operate the Oak Park MedMen location as it works to finalize the purchase and acquire appropriate licenses, according to the village manager’s report. The company is undergoing licensing operation inspections, the report states, and will need to acquire an Oak Park business license and certificate of occupancy.

Representatives from Dutchess Cannabis Company said they are also working to purchase a MedMen location in Mount Prospect, according to the re port.

Proviso District 209 celebrates graduates

ree graduation ceremonies were held on Saturday

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The Proviso Township High School District 209 had three big reasons to celebrate as its communities gathered for graduations on Saturday, June 8, at the University of Illinois-Chicago Credit Union 1 Pavilion.

The district began the day honoring the 2024 graduating class from Proviso West High School, followed by Proviso East High School, before ending the day with Proviso Math and Science Academy’s graduation ceremony.

Proviso East graduates were welcomed by Principal Rodney Hull and heard from their fellow student and valedictorian Kennedi AnnMarie Waters.

Samuel Valtier re z, board of education president, addressed the graduates, both in English and Spanish.

“This is not just about the diplomas you will receive but about the journey that brought you to this point and limitless possibilities that lie ahead,” Valtier re z said, adding that everyone’s journey is different.

our journey,” Jackson said. “Proviso West has been an intricate tapestry of lessons both inside and outside the classroom woven together by the threads of our shared experiences.”

Chris Welch, Illinois’ house speaker and Proviso resident, was the keynote speaker.

“Today is finally here,” Welch said. “Eighteen years’ worth of work, ef fort and life experience. You are here, you made it.”

Next is here, he said.

“After today, things will never be the same,” Welch said. “For all the years you

wished, you’re going to wake up tomorrow as adults and you are going to say, next is here.”

Welch encouraged students to follow their passion and know their “why.”

Proviso Math and Science Academy family and friends were welcomed by Cristin Chiganos, interim principal.

“Whatever your next chapter may be, you need to find a balance that will make you happy, make you feel alive and need to cultivate it to shape it and make it your

“Never, ever compare yourself to anyone. Your time for success will come,” he said. “You are unique, you are smart, and you are powerful.”

Illinois State Majority Leader Senator Kimberly A. Lightford served as the keynote speaker.

“Today marks a significant milestone, a celebration of your relentless ef fort, persistence, and commitment,” said Lightford, a 1986 Proviso East graduate. Lightford challenged the students to take risks, be flexible, and always have a backup plan.

“You never know what life will throw at you,” Lightford said. “You must be ready to face any obstacles that come your way and graduates you already have practice with that…it is indeed possible to achieve success irrespective of your background.”

Sabrina Jackson, Proviso West’s senior class president, welcomed West’s family and friends and delivered a reflection.

“As we stand on the threshold of the future it is with a sense of pride and accomplishment that we gather together to honor

path, stay the course, see the commitment through just like you did these past four years at PMSA.”

Rev. Dr. Lawrence D. Pere z was the keynote speaker.

“Graduates of PMSA you all have the spirit of the Pathfinder,” Pere z said. “The Pathfinder spirit is a spirit of exploration, courage, and relentless pursuit of the unknown. It is what has driven pioneers, innovators and trailblazers throughout history, and it is what will guide you as you embark on your journey beyond these ”

about embracing the unknown, Persaid, calling for students to persevere, voice matters, and to be curious and open minded while having integrity.

HAPPY DAY:

Principal Rodney Hull presents Valedictorian Kennedi AnnMarie Waters with her diploma (far le ) and hugs a graduate (below) at Prov iso East High School’s Commencement Ceremony at Credit Union 1 Arena, UIC on June 8. Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (le ) was the keynote speaker.

Todd Bannor

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*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) accurate as of May 22, 2024 and is subject to change. A minimumof$10,000is requiredtoopentheaccountandtoobtainthestatedAPY.Feesmay reduceearningsontheaccount.Apenaltymaybeimposedforearlywithdrawal.Offerisfor newmoneyonly.

*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) is accurate as of May 31, 2024 and is subject to change. A minimum of $10,000 is required to open the account and to obtain the stated APY. Fees may reduce earnings on the account. Penalties apply for early withdrawal. Balances that drop below the account opening minimum will not earn interest. O er is for new money only.

Gym bag, gun, wallets stolen from parked cars

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

On June 4, a man reported that he parked his car on Troost Avenue around 9 p.m. on June 3. But when he returned to his vehicle just before 8 a.m. the following day, his gym bag was missing, an estimated loss of $350 according to the police report. The man told police that he thought he left his car unlocked and would sign complaints if police could locate the offender.

Between similar overnight hours on the same day, a man on Des Plaines Avenue told police that someone ransacked his unlocked vehicle and stole a loaded Glock 19 gun. Police said they are looking at area surveillance video, and the man said he would sign complaints if they found the offender.

On June 5, a woman staying at an Airbnb in the 800 block of Dunlap Avenue reported that between about 8 p.m. June 4 and 10 a.m. the following morning, her car was unlocked and ransacked. The woman told police she locked the car the night before, but someone stole a backpack, laptop, Apple Air Pods and her wallet. Police are checking cameras in the surrounding area.

On June 6, a woman reported that, the afternoon before, she parked her car at the Exxon gas station at Roosevelt Road and Des Plaines Avenue. She told police that two younger people helped get her walker from the back seat of her car before she went into 7-Eleven. When she came out of the store five minutes later, she said her wallet, which she left on the driver’s seat, was missing, according to the police report. She told police that, though the vehicle was locked, the driver’s window was down.

Backyard theft

Police were dispatched to a residence on Jackson Boulevard June 4, where a man reported that a Weber gas grill and its propane tank were stolen from the back walkway to his home. The grill’s estimated value is $700. An offender has not been identified, though the man said he would sign complaints if they are.

Residential burglary

A woman living on Dunlop Avenue reported a break in at her home. She told police she locked the door before leaving for the overnight shift at work and, when she returned the afternoon of June 4, noticed her birth certificate and social security card missing from an envelope underneath her TV stand. She also said a coin purse with $25 was missing from behind her bedroom door, according to the police report Police said they noticed no forcible entry.

Order of protection violation

Police were dispatched to West Lathrop Avenue for reports of a domestic dispute June 5. A woman called police and said her ex-boyfriend, also her child’s father, took their three-month-old without her permission. She also has an order of protection against him. Later, the woman told police that the two were at her father’s house on West Lathrop Avenue to help him move out. They agreed the man would watch the child while the woman helped her father move The woman placed the baby in the car while she brought in a few more items to the house, while the man took the child from the car and left. Upon arriving at the address, police found a man changing his daughter’s diaper in the living room. An officer took the baby and returned it to her mother, who was standing outside, according to the police report. The man was arrested on one count of violating an order of protection and one count of criminal trespassing

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated June 3 through June 6 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.

to 7 pm, Friday, June 14 and 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday, June 15

• Tour the future Art Resource Center in progress

• Join free parent/child design workshops and Twilight Tours

• Win a $150 Trust membership - a drawing held every hour

Summer Lovers Have a Blast in Elmwood Park

Road trip vibes at the Circle

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

If summer weather makes you want to hit the road for adventure, fun and good food then a road trip to Elmwood Park has got you covered. All season long, the Elmwood Park Village Circle – Conti parkway – just off Grand Avenue and 76th Avenue will be rocking, rolling, and feeding you like family.

Friday, June 14 – Circle car show & Hello Weekend

Kick off the season with the Circle car show. As the theme from Happy Days says, “The weekend comes, my cycle hums, ready to race to you.” What’s your fantasy vehicle for this romantic ride? You can either bring yours to show off or just come take in the

sights of these rolling works of art. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the Circle will be full of cars, trucks, motorcycles, supercars, exotics and club cars. The whole family can go ga-ga over this gearhead heaven.

Come for the wheels but stay for the music. The Elmwood Park concert season kicks off that night as well. From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. enjoy the music of Hello Weekend. The band promises “non-stop, high energy” covering artists such as Lady Gaga, Guns N’ Roses, Bruno Mars and The Beach Boys.

Thursday, June 20 – 7th Heaven

The summer sounds continue with 7th Heaven. These Midwest stars have opened for Bon Jovi, Kid Rock and Styx, among others. They’ve been around the world, playing in the UK, Ireland, The Netherlands, Panama and Mexico. In fact, they say they’ve played so many shows that they feel they can honestly say, “We’ve seen a million faces and rocked them all!”

From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. the band, known for its famous “30 Songs in 30 Minutes” medley of songs from the 70’s and 80’s, will mix originals with the best of the best.

Thursday, July 11 – Too Hype Crew

This concert will get your feet moving and rump shaking with the hip hop party experience of Too Hype Crew. This tasteful tribute to the party anthems of the 80s, 90s and early 00s features a seven-piece band. And no hip hop tribute would be complete without “Fly Girl” dancers.

A point of pride for Too Hype Crew is that all the music is performed live, no backing tracks supplementing what they’ve got going on stage. This ain’t no DJ. Check them out starting at 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 25

– The Boy Band Night

Get ready to feel weak in the knees as The Boy Band Night reprises the music of heartthrobs like Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, NKOTB, One Direction, Jonas Brothers and more. These top-tier musicians play all their own music with note-for-note accuracy. And what would a boy band be without choreography? The Boy Band Night studied the music videos, practiced the footwork and are ready to top you off with nostalgia, starting at 7 p.m.

Friday, August 23 - D.A.R.E. car show & American English

The party gets big to celebrate the end of summer and back-to-school. The Elmwood Park Police Department hosts its annual D.A.R.E. Car Show from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Proceeds go to the department’s D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse and Resistance Education) program. Bring your own car to show off. Registration begins at 5 p.m. The fee is $10 per car. If you don’t have your own pride and joy to show off, come take in the sights and sounds of pure gasoline greatness. Support the Blue and what it can do for the community.

SPONSORED

Once you’ve gotten an eyeful of cars, move your ears over to the stage for a concert from American English. These locals are a complete Beatles tribute. So complete that they actually performed with Sir Paul McCartney. The sounds, the costumes, the attitude of the original group shines through, letting you sing along with all the hits and deep cuts. Whether you lose your mind screaming is up to you.

If you go

More information at Elmwoodpark.org

IPA AWARDS

19 rst-place plaques

from page 5

■ General excellence, Division A — Forest Park Review

■ News reporting, series, Division A — Forest Park Review — D209 election coverage by Amaris E. Rodriguez

■ Feature writing, Division A — Forest Park Review — “Proviso West teacher champions trade school as a path for stu-

dents” by Amaris E. Rodriguez

■ Special sections, Division A — Forest Park Review — Forest Park Community Guide 2023

■ Local editorial, Division A — Forest Park Review — “Petty politics on council” by Dan Haley

■ General advertising excellence, Division G — Forest Park Review

■ Newspaper design, nondaily — Riverside-Brookfield Landmark — Javier Govea, Andy Mead

■ News reporting, single story, Division B — Riverside-Brookfield Landmark — “Brookfield True Value closing its doors”

by Amina Sergazina

■ Obituary tribute, Division B — Riverside-Brookfield Landmark — “JoAnne Kosey personified community involvement” by Bob Uphues

■ Feature writing, Division B — Riverside-Brookfield Landmark — “Hard work, some play pay of f for Riverside ballerina in starring role” by Erika Hobbs

■ Informational graphic, Division B — Riverside-Brookfield Landmark — Javier Govea

In addition to first-place awards, Growing Community Media’s newspapers also placed in the general excellence catego-

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

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

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

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

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

ries based on circulation. The Forest Park Review came in second place for the best small, nondaily newspaper in Illinois. The Riverside-Brookfield Landmark also placed second for the best medium, nondaily paper. Wednesday Journal placed fourth for the best large, nondaily paper.

For news reporting series in Division C, Austin Weekly News placed second for a series on the West Side’s opioid crisis by Francia Garcia-Hernandez. In the same category, Wednesday Journal placed third for Erika Hobbs’s series on migrants in Oak Park who are seeking asylum.

For feature writing in Division A, the Forest Park Review placed fourth for “Anastosios Doulas, Kyriacos Philippou, Elias Politis” by Tom Holmes. The Forest Park Review also placed first in that category

For spot news photos in Division A, the Forest Park Review placed second for a photo shot by Todd Bannor for a story titled, “Sunday flooding brings Ike to a halt.” For the same category in Division C, Wednesday Journal placed third for a photo shot by Amaris E. Rodrigue z for her story titled “‘This is not a new issue to OPRF,’ students say during Friday walkout.”

For newspaper design, nondaily, Wednesday Jour nal placed third for designs by Javier Govea and Susan McKelvey.

For special sections in Division A, the Forest Park Review placed third for No Glove Nationals 2023. The Forest Park Review also placed first in this category.

For special sections in Division B, the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark placed second for the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark Answer Book 2023.

For special sections in Division C, Austin Weekly News placed second for At Home on the Greater West Side. Wednesday Journal placed third for the Wednesday Journal Answer Book 2023/24.

For nondaily websites, the RiversideBrookfield Landmark placed second.

Juneteenth 2024

JUNETEENTH 2024

For Rep. Danny Davis, Juneteenth is ‘a holiday of movement’

The U.S. congressman won’t rest that day despite his years of work pushing for national recognition of Juneteenth

By MICHAEL BANIEWICZ Contributing Reporter

While U.S. Cong ressman Danny Davis was growing up in the small town of Parkdale in Arkansas, Juneteenth was an annual celebration for him and his f amily. He was told that day was his “real Four th of July.”

He and his f amily would spend pa rt of the day sharing a large meal, and after they fini shed, he would spend time reading outside

Now, Davis said, Juneteenth is a time for people in the United States to reflect on the history surrounding the federal holiday. There are some parallels between the post-Civil War, reconstruction era and the current times, Davis said.

Obama, who was then a senator, duced legislation in 2005. And Davis and cosponsors tried ag ain in 2008.

In 2021, he spoke from the House during the vote

“Madam Speaker,” he said, “I rise in strong support of the recognition of J teenth as a national holiday to celebrate the ending of the most horrific period and the most horrific policy and practices this Na tion has ever known: slavery. I heard one of my colleagues suggest a moment that perhaps the cost of Juneteenth is not known. I guarantee you, Madam Speaker, that whatever the cost, it will not come close to the cost of slavery.”

Rep. Danny Davis with elected o cials from Chicago and the west suburbs area greet well-wishers along the route during the inaugural West Villages Juneteenth Parade in 2022, which passed through Oak Park, River Forest and Maywood.

“So, celebrating Juneteenth as a national holiday is simply an idea whose time has come.”

“Juneteenth” he added, “is the reco gnition that darkness can come to light and that there is a celebration as my fore fathers and - mothers struggled to endure the hor ror they experienced. So, c elebrating Juneteenth as a national holiday is simply an idea whose time has come.”

U.S. CONGRESSMAN DANNY DAVIS

“The progress, the policies…getting rid of martial law which protected Blacks in the South…getting rid of all that, seems to me to be what some are trying to do right now,” Davis said. “That some of the protections of affirmative action. Some of the protections of laws to protect rights of individuals.”

Long before President Joe Biden signed a bill in 2021 that made Juneteenth the 11th American federal holiday — and the first since 1983, when Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created — Davis, along with others, had been pushing for national recognition of Juneteenth. He and Barack

To day, Davis said, for progress to be mad e, one has to understand their history and how they got here.

“If you don’ t know where you come from, you won’ t understand to know how you got to where you are,” Davis said. “Then you don’ t have a good prognosis for where you ought to be going. Individuals look to what has been done and how people managed to do it. It was blood, sweat and tears, it was hard work. It was serious ef fort, but if those ef for ts don’ t continue then you don’ t go any fur ther.”

T he holiday also highlights that there is still work to be done for equality and equity, Davis said.

“There is a possibility that all men and women can in fact experience equality and equal expectations, equal justice,” Davis said. “We’ve come a long way, but

Rep. Danny Davis has worked with countless others for recognition of a Juneteenth holiday.

we’re not there yet.”

While Juneteenth is federal holiday, it is not a day of f the job for Davis.

“We will have a chance to experienc e

a holiday, but for me it will be a holiday of wo rk . A holiday of movement. And I hope lots of other p eople will be doin g the same thing.”

avery r. young teaches ‘folks to become better painters with language

Chicago’s poet laureate hosts monthly workshops for the public in Austin

By HOPE BAKER Contributing Reporter

Chicago’s poet laureate avery r. young brings poetry to his back

Kind of. T he Austin monthly poetry workshop soul workshops, at the Austin Branch library in Chicago.

“With chi-soul workshops, we really want to concentrate on narratives that are centered in Chicago and really shed light on all that happens in Chicago, not just what people see on the news,” young said. “Poetry is a great vehicle for shedding light on the things that everyday Chicagoans get to see and experience.”

Selected as Chicago’s first-ever poet Laureate in April 2023, young is an award-winning poet, educator, composer, performer and producer whose work spans the g enres of music, performance, visual arts and literature. His work has been featured in several exhibitions and theatre festivals including the Chicago Hip Hop T heatre Fest, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the American Jazz Museum. With more than two decades of experience in the teaching artist field, young has led progr ams within schools, community-based organizations,

and other learning en

When young was named the city laureate, he was commissioning of ate public progr year ter m.

“Writing poetry is painting with language,” young said. der to be good at and workshops help with the craft of ing. I want to teach folks to become better painters with language

etry and literature.

“I spent days upon days upon days at that library,” young said. “I tell folks all the time that the library is an airport. You can go anywhere in the world. Every book is an airplane. That’s what I love about the library. And it’s free.”

His love of poetry began in third grade when he first read the anthology

“I Am the Darker Brother,” a collection of poems by Langston Hughes, Mari Evans, Gwendolyn Brooks, Robert Hayden and others.

Young said that since he “had a mouth” as a kid, poetry also became a helpful tool for expressing his emotions.

“I realized that when I wrote a poem people didn’t see me as flippant,” he said.

“When I said what I wanted to say in the context of metaphors or rhyme scheme or haiku, I didn’t get in trouble. In fact, I got praise for expressing myself in that form.”

Although he has written since elementary school, it wasn’t until his early twenties that young decided to seriously pursue poetry.

“I was able to do that through the open mic scene and through performance poetry,” he said. “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine one day becoming a poet laureate of any city, let alone Chicago.”

Young said the sights, smells, sounds and people of Austin undeniably shaped who he is as a poet today

“I want to teach folks to become better painters with language.”

avery

r. young Chicago Poet Laureate

“A writer is constantly ear hustling and a writer is also constantly taking mental photographs,” he said. “I don’t think I would be the writer that I am had I not been incubated in the Austin community.”

When asked about how Juneteenth can be honored through poetry, young said “when I think about Juneteenth, I immediately go to emancipation and liberation

and the celebration of such liberty – and that’s what a poem can be. It’s a celebration of our liberties. It can be a way that we honor what it means to be a liberated soul. To be armed with your voice is liberty and it’s everything that Juneteenth is about. ” young’s workshops are designed for adult writers of all skill levels to build poems and poetry manuscripts centered on tales of Chicago. The two-hour sessions will include time to edit, workshop and present poetic works in a personal setting.

Re gistration for chi-soul workshops is required and participants must be at least 18 years old. Workshops will take place from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. on June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 1, Oct. 6 and Nov. 3. Re gister at chipublib.org/chi-soul. T hey are held at the Austin Branch Library, 5615 W. Race Ave.

SARA JANZ

avery r. young, Chicago Poet Laureate dur ing a per formance at the Logan Center for the Arts on April 27, 2023.

CHIC AG O PUBLIC LIBRARY

avery r. young

Happy Juneteenth, I celebrate with you!

Since 1972, The Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC), an organization regarded as a leader for fair housing rights, expansion of housing options, and economic opportunity, has been providing services to residents of the Village of Oak Park and the surrounding West Cook

County communities including Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. For many years, OPRHC spent much time creating the residential integration you see in the Village of Oak Park today. This work, intentional in nature, allowed people of all races to learn about fair housing and their opportunities to live

where they choose to live. Fast forward to a new century, as we celebrate 53 years of service to the community, we are beginning to pivot our work to strengthen community ties and residential relationships while continuing to help people with their housing needs. We are still here… for you!

Main Office:

1041 South Boulevard

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-848-7150

info@oprhc.org

City of Chicago Office:

West Cook Homeownership Center 5934 W. Lake St. Chicago, IL 60644

773-887-5187

info@westcookhomeownership.org

Athena Williams, Executive Director

Austin United Alliance is a property development initiative of The Oak Park Regional Housing Center (OPRHC). As The Oak Park Regional Housing Center begins to pivot to work to increase housing inventory, we will continue to assist residents with their housing needs. Over the past 17 years as a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, we’ve assisted thousands of BIPOC families on their homeownership journey providing counseling on credit-debt management, financial empowerment services, and home and rental maintenance for healthy, sustainable, and stable housing on the Greater West Side.

Fall

The Laramie State Bank Redevelopment Project, 5200-5226 W. Chicago Ave.

As we develop more housing, we will continue to keep the community updated about the Austin United Alliance Laramie State Bank Project and others. For more information, call: 708-848-7150 or send an inquiry to: info@oprhc.org. www.oprhc.org

Emancipation Ball heads into its 3rd year

Moor’s Brewing Company’s gala celebrates Juneteenth

By HECTOR CERVANTES Contributing Reporter

In a blend of entrepreneurship and community engagement, Moor’s Brewing is gearing up to mark its third anniversary with the Emancipation Ball.

This milestone celebration not only honors the brewery’s success but also serves as a platfo rm for promoting Black excellence and empowerment in Chicago. In June 2021, Moor’s Brewing, owned by members of the Black community, was founded by co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Damon Patton and Chief Financial officer Jamhal Johnson, marking both an anniversary celebration and Juneteenth observance.

Moor’s Brewing also launched the Care Moor Foundation for Civic Engagement. This foundation aims at promoting civic involvement through fundraising ef for ts and scholarship provisions.

Johnson said this celebration is designed for this sole purpose of emphasizing Black excellence through the achievement of another year in business.

“We aim to showcase our business alongside other Black-owned beers, wines, and spirits and collaborate with and highlight Black chefs, food curators, as well as dessert providers, utilizing Black-owned bakeries for our desserts and coffee bars,” Johnson said. “By showcasing these outstanding companies and their impactful work, we emphasize and celebrate Black excellence.”

The funds raised from the celebration will go toward supporting the Lafayette Gatling Sr. Scholarship Fund and the Marcus J. Bradshaw Foundation. The MJBF will be granting the MJBF Care Moor scholarship to recipients selected by the Moor’s Brewing team in July. Moor’s Brewing also supports the AROSE Foundation and the Lotus Globe.

“We are awarding scholarships to entrep reneurs for students who are entering their freshman year of c olle ge,” Johnson said.

The Emancipation Ball will have nine food stations across the venue, enhancing

the culinary experience for attendees.

Attendees can enjoy an open bar featuring a curated selection of premium drinks.

The selection at the open bar will include Alexandra James Whisky, Bull Young Bourbon, Disbəlēf Tequila, Love Corkscrew Wine, Michael Lavell Wine, Duo Vodka, and spirits from NG Distillery.

Moor’s Brewing is also celebrating its three-year anniversary with the release of its flagship beer called Moor’s Kölsch that will be released on Juneteenth.

DJ Envy from The Breakfast Club will be providing music and a local DJ named DJ Sean Mac will perform.

“We’re also in the final stages of securing another celebrity DJ. The event will be in a gala style,” Johnson said.

Johnson also plans to collaborate with local artists to enhance the ambiance and visual appeal of the event space.

Johnson said that in the previous year,

the event showcased an art installation imbued with the vibrant essence of Hispanic and African-American cultures

“We partnered with a prominent ar t collector from Englewood, collaborating closely with Hispanic muralists to bring these themes to life. Furthermore, the event featured the live artistic talents of Dana Topp Hope, who created a painting on-site, later purchased by one of the attendees,” Johnson said.

Johnson said that they will collaborate with a nearby t-shirt printing business.

General Admission tickets are priced at $100. For those seeking an elevated experience, the Single VIP ticket, granting exclusive benefits, is available at $115.

The VIP Admission for groups of four, providing a collective VIP experience, can be purchased for $440. Johnson said that the VIP package provides unique privile ges such as reserved seating, a perk not

available with general admission.

“The event will have three stations specifically allocated for VIP guests,” Johnson said. “While chefs will exclusively cater to the VIP section, most food vendors will be accessible to general admission ticket holders. VIP attendees will enjoy full access to all areas, including a riverfront patio where they will receive gift bags and complimentary swag items such as t-shirts.”

“As we look to the future of The Emancipation Ball, our aspirations center around three key pillars of our company: culture, community, and commerce.”

The Emancipation Ball will be held from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday, June 18, at Rockwell on the River, 3057 N. Rockwell St. For more information and to purchase a ticket, visit the event’s web page. https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/the-emancipationb all-2024-chicagos-premiere-juneteenthevent-tickets-803921690417

Emancipation Ball in 2023.

The history of Juneteenth

A refresher on the origins of this federal holiday

By LORET TA A. RAGSDELL Contributing Reporter

On June 17, 2021, U.S. President Joseph Biden, signed into law the Bill establishing June 19 as Juneteenth National Independence Day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

The Bill was sponsored by D-Mass. Senator Edward Markey and 60 cosponsors. The Bill, unanimously approved by the Senate, faced opposition from 14 House Representatives, many of whom represented states that had been part of the 19th Century slave-holding Confederacy.

The celebration of Juneteenth originated in 1865 after enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were infor med by a Union general that the Civil War had ended and they had been freed in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

“Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixtythree, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above

mentioned … I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.”

T he actual abolishment of slavery occurred on January 31, 1865, after Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It was ratified Dec. 6, 1865.

However, news of the Civil War’s ending traveled slowly from the North to the South. In addition, some slave owners did not share the news with the slaves in hopes of holding on to their slaves. As a result, military officers had to travel to Union states and inform them of Lincoln’s Proclamation.

On June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and delivered General Order No. 3:

“The people of Texas are infor med that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between for mer masters and slaves, and connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages.”

As a result of this proclamation, more than 250,000 slaves were freed in Texas

Throughout Texas, great celebrations emerged. The enslaved people celebrated their newfound freedom with great merriment, including elaborate cookouts, dancing, singing, and religious services. One of the highlights of many gatherings was the symbolic ritual of removing their tattered and torn garments they had worn as slaves and throwing them in the river.

Over the years, as Galveston celebrations became more elaborate, Juneteenth celebrations spread throughout other Union States and became known as African Americans Independence Day. For more than 150 years, there was no for mal acknowledgement of slavery, one of America’s most horrific human stains, and its abolishment.

The road to Juneteenth’s acceptance and destination as an American Federal Holiday has been a long and untiring one for Opal Lee. Lee, born in Marshall, Texas, in 1924, a retired educator, has been an activist for African-American rights since her early teens. Lee, as told through her books, television appearances, and public interviews, has witnessed many atrocities of slavery, racism, and prejudice.

At age 12, after her f amily move to Fo rt Wo r th, Texas, i nto a predominately wh it e neighborhood, her f amily home was bur ned to the ground by an angry wh it e mob. T he fire took p lace on June 19, 1939. T he date and i ts significance propelled

L ee to wo rk diligently to bring about a for mal reco gnition of the emancipation of African Americans from slave ry.

“The fact that it happened on the 19th day of June has spurred me to make people understand that Juneteenth is not just a festival,” Lee has said.

L ee’s civil rights activism and wo rk has ga i ned her national reco gnition. Sh e is reverently c alled the “Grandmother of Juneteenth. ”

At age 89, L ee started her symbolic 2.5mile walks from her Fo rt Wo r th Texas home to the U. S. Capitol in suppo rt of her g oal. In 2017, L ee launched an initiative to gather online signatures in suppo rt of making Juneteenth a national holiday. Her g oal was to gather 100,000 signatures; howeve r, the net g oal was more than 1.6 million.

By 1979, every U.S. state and the District of Columbia for mally reco gnized the holiday in some way. It is also celebrated by the Mascogos, descendants of Black Seminoles who escaped slavery in 1852 and settled in Coahuila, Mexico

Joining members of Cong ress and Vice President Kamala Harris, Lee, then 96, was present on June 17, 2021, when Biden signed the Bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

After distributing the pens used to sign the bill to those around him, Biden said, “I hope this is the beginning of a chang e in the way we deal with one another.”

AUSTIN HISTORY CENTER, AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Juneteenth Emancipation Day Celebration, June 19, 1900, Texas

JUNETEENTH 2024

Annual Juneteenth celebrations to kick o in Chicago, suburbs

Marking what many perceive as the true date of emancipation in the United States, the holiday is a celebration of unity and Black culture

By ALEX GOLDSTEIN Contributing Reporter

As Juneteenth approaches, so too does a month of educational, commemorative and entertainment opportunities across the country. Here’s Growing Community Media’s most complete list of ways to celebrate the holiday across the Chicago area.

FOREST PARK

Juneteenth Fair — Forest Park

Public Library and Liberated Ar t Movement

Saturday, June 8

Forest Park Public Librar y, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. This celebration highlights Black artists, authors, creators and small business owners. The event will include refreshments and book giveaways

Fifteenth Annual Juneteenth Family Pool Celebration

Saturday, June 15

Park District of Forest Park Aquatic Center, 6:45 p.m. to 10 p.m.

AUSTIN/WEST SIDE

1865 Fest

June 14-16

Gar eld Park ’s Music Court Drive

Day one of this three-day experience features Juneteenth military honors, highlighting Black veterans and active service members and including a Juneteenth ag-raising ceremony. Day two, the “cultural experience,” features family activities centered around Juneteenth history, with educational workshops, live music and free food The nal day of celebration honors Father’s Day on June 16

with a grill-o and house music event.

The annual event is put together by the 1865 Coalition, a collaboration of community organizations, residents enforcement, educational institutions, elected o cials local businesses and churches on Chicago’s West Side

Far South CDC

Juneteenth Festival

Saturday, June 15

11420 S. Halsted St., noon to 4 p.m.

The Far South Community Development Corporation will be hosting an afternoon of celebration including live music, food from Black-owned restaurants, a resource vendor fair and a small business marketplace.

Juneteenth Wellness 5K Walk/Run

Saturday, June 15

Starting at the Gar eld Park football eld at 8 a.m.

Proceeds from this fourth annual 5K will go to Peace Runners 773 as well as Fresh Supply, a not-for-pro t organization with the goal of providing resources and safe spaces to underprivileged youth in the Austin area.

Front Porch Ar ts Center Annual

Juneteenth Celebration

Saturday, June 17

Columbus Park, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This family-friendly event will feature music, food and dancing. There will also be a Juneteenth art exhibit curated by the Front Porch Ar ts Center and family artmaking activities.

Teamwork Englewood

Juneteenth Celebration and Resource Fair

Tuesday, June 18

Multiple locations, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Part one of this fair, hosted by Teamwork Englewood, will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 63rd Street and Halsted

Avenue. It will feature a job fair, legal clinic, ra es, food and a live DJ.

Part two will transition to 63rd Street and Justine Street for a celebration from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with line dancing, card games, a bounce house and a “foot working session” in store.

The Black Au ra

June 29, 6:30 p.m. – Jun 30, 11:00 p.m.  5628 W. Washington Blvd. Kehrein Center For The Arts

The Black Aura: A Weekend of Liberation and the Ar ts is a response to the city›s need to dev elop a greater sense of identity and clarity around the values associated with Juneteenth. Scheduled to take place June 28-29, the weekend between Juneteenth and Independence Day, this artistic experience leverages the ar ts to illuminate the tensions in African American histories and struggles, and the resiliency that has emerged.  It promises a broad array of experiences, including performances, documentaries and workshops. The weekend

will highlight the aura of “Blackness” and re ect the resilience and humanity of Black people in the arts. The end is designed to feature local artists, intentionally building upon and strengthening our collective sense of community in Austin and beyond.

CHIC AG O

Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of The 1619 Project

Chicago Public Librar y, Thursday, June 20, 6 – 7 p.m.

Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.

In honor of Juneteenth, Chicago Public Library welcomes Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning creator of The 1619 Project and a sta writer at The New York Times Magazine. Hannah-Jones will be in conversation about her work on The 1619 Project with Chicago journalist Natalie Moore.

How to Attend in person: D oors to the Auditorium open at 5:30 p.m., and seating is rst come, rst served (350 capacity). Books are available for purchase, courtesy of Semicolon, and the author will autograph books at the conclusion of the program.

How to attend vir tually: This event will also take place live on CPL’s YouTube channel and CPL’s Facebook page. You’ll be able to ask questions during the event as well. Can’t make it to the live stream? The video will be archived on YouTube to watch later.

OA K PARK

Juneteenth Flag-Raising Ceremony

Wednesday, June 12

Oak Park Village Hall cour tyard, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Coordinated by Oak Park ’s Juneteenth Committee of community leaders and sponsored by the village’s O ce of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, o cials at Village Hall will raise the Juneteenth ag to kick o a week of celebration. The ceremony will be followed by speakers, refreshments and more.

PROVIDED

Nikole Hannah-Jones

JUNETEENTH 2024

Juneteenth Community Cookout

Saturday, June 15

Oak Park Village Hall south lawn, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This family-friendly event, coordinated by the J uneteenth Committee, will include music, food, resource tables and a vendor market featuring local B lack-owned businesses.

Juneteenth Oratory Competition

June 16, 18 and 19, Various locations

Students of all grade levels are invited to craft original, persuasive speeches on the signi cance of the Juneteenth holiday and importance of its celebration. Winning students will receive a cash prize and be invited as featured speakers at a community luncheon. The event was designed by Asé Productions, which partnered with the Suburban Unity Alliance and Ra re Conscious Dialogues.

RIVER FOREST

Juneteenth Family Barbecue and Keynote Address at Dominican University

Thursday, June 13

Barbecue 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the quad, keynote 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Springer Suites

A keynote address by Danielle Walker, Ph.D., will follow a family barbecue at Dominican University. She’ll discuss the lessons learned from Juneteenth and how Americans can use them to work towards an objective of racial justice. Walker is the chief diversity, equity and inclusion o cer for the Village of Oak Park.

MAY WOOD

“Let ’s Grow Together” Holistic Wellness Festival and Juneteenth

Celebration

Saturday, June 8

Proviso East High School, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This festival will feature tness events including a 3K walk/run, food provided by various local Black-owned restaurants, live DJ showcases and “Best of Proviso”

competitions including tug-of-war and a football distance throw Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins and Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman will be in a dunk tank for par ticipants to indulge

The event is hosted by A Greater Good Foundation, which o ers social-emotional learning curriculums, restorative practices and other opportunities and programs for connection among youths in the Chicago area.

WESTCHESTER

Juneteenth Freedom Walk and Flag-Raising Ceremony

Wednesday, June 19

Lineup at Broadview Missionary Baptist Church at 9:45 a.m., ag-raising ceremony at Westchester Village Hall from 10:45 a.m. to noon

Community members can register to participate in this freedom walk, which will proceed to village hall for a ag-raising ceremony. Afterward, a Juneteenth Traveling Museum, book display from Westchester Public Library and complimentary refreshments will ser ve as enter tainment and educational opportunities to celebrate the holiday.

Juneteenth Community Celebration

Saturday, June 22

Gladstone Park, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This celebration is the other half of the Village of Westchester’s two days of festivities. Food trucks, live music, line dancing lessons and a vendor market will round out the holiday, complete with a performance from Grammy award-winning Pastor Darius Brooks.

HILLSIDE

Speaker Chris Welch’s Juneteenth Festival

Wednesday, June 19

Memorial Park Distric t, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Emanuel “Chris” Welch, 7th distric t state representativ e and speaker of the house, is hosting this free even t. It will feature food, games, v endors , ar tists , enter tainers and more.

Cicad-amazing art!

santiago govea

Beyond Hunger’s Challenge — good food and good works

Healthy Chef Challenge held May 30 to raise funds

By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter

Three local chefs brought out their knife rolls and created 175,000 meals.

To be clear, they didn’t cook that much food, but their participation in Beyond Hunger’s 4th annual Healthy Chef Challenge May 30 raised enough money for the organization to provide that many meals to local community members in need.

The chefs were provided with a basket of foods, challenging them to use the same ing redients typically provided to the food pantry’s program participants. This year the ingredient list included diced tomatoes, diced potatoes, cream of chicken soup and PAN cornmeal. Plus, each chef could choose a protein from salmon, chicken or ground turkey. Beyond Hunger did not say what each chef prepared.

“What I love most about the Healthy Chef Challenge is that is pays homage to the talented cooks who make incredible meals every day with food from Beyond Hunger,” said Michele Zurakowski, CEO of Beyond Hunger. “We are so grateful to them for showing us the way with their creativity.”

Contestant chefs Sammy DiMichael, owner of Flock and Forage of Chicago; Rafat Alzein, executive chef at the University Club of Chicago; and Nathan Cheatham, Oak Park native and personal chef, had 45 minutes to meet the challenge.

The Healthy Chef Challenge not only funds the food pantry, but also nutrition education activities.

“Our nutrition education program has grown and evolved over time to respond to the needs of our community,” said Bri Kellogg, a dietitian and benefits services program manager. “Our passion is to identify the barriers our program

participants face to nutrition security and address those challenges in a community setting. We build our progr ming around trust and relationships; the Health Ambassador program builds on existing relationships in our communities and uses the talent of community members to break down bar riers to good health for all.

“All my life I have always enjoyed helping others,” said Thomesina, one ambassador. Her last name was not given. “It’s in my nature to help people with their need thrilled and honored to be included in the ing invigorated to share with my community.”

Event attendees could peer thr Goose Island Barrel House to watch the chefs But only a few would dine on the could buy a raffle tick

That lucky winner was Grace Bieneman.

Judges for the event nalist and previous James Beard tee member; Dion Dawson, and Darien Marion-Burton, executi Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce – all of a passion for community-based ef

After tasting and pondering, chef Nathan Cheatham’s creation was judged the winner. Cheatham much fun and I know all of I’m happy to have been a pa

A silent auction and paddle raise boosted the fundraising totals. Some guests also opted House and tasted a flight of

With the final tally of the 20% more than their goal.

“Exceeding our goals means reach. We deeply appreciate the community shows to each other,” said of development for Bey

“What I love most about the Healthy Chef Challenge is that is pays homage to the talented cooks who make incredible meals every day with food from Beyond Hunger,”

MICHELE ZURAKO WSKI CEO of Beyond Hunger.

Romelle Weidler, 88

Block Mom and choir member

Romelle Lucille Louise Weidler (née Faber), 88, died on June 2, 2024, in Forest Park. Born on Oct 12, 1935, in Mendota, to Harry and Lillie Pauline (Yost) Faber, she attended Luther Institute and took secretarial classes as she did not plan to attend colle ge. After graduating, she was employed by the Illinois Bell Telephone company for a number of years.

She met Ronald Weidler at a dart ball tournament that their parents had made her go to, and they were later married on June 2, 1956. In their 46 years of mar riage, they were blessed with five children and a multitude of grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Ronald died in April of 2003 at the age of 70. Romelle died on what would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. She was taken care of by her sons Christopher and Jason since Ronald’s death, especially these last few months. She was a member of St John Evangelical Lutheran Church for many years and

sang in the church choir. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting blankets, stockings, and other things for her family, friends, and church families. She was also known as the “Block Mom” to many of the neighborhood kids.

Romelle is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Duane, her husband Ronald, and her son-in-law Daniel O’Sullivan. She is survived by her son, Dennis (Ruth); daughters Karen (Daniel) and Barbara (Rick); and sons, Christopher and Jason; 15 grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held on June 9 at Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home, 7319 W. Madison St., Forest Park, followed by a service on June 10 at St. John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave., Forest Park, with interment at Concordia Cemetery In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Forest Park.

Help Wanted - Crossing Guard

The Forest Park Police Department is seeking qualified individuals for the position of Crossing Guard. This position requires flexible hours during days when schools are in session. A background investigation and drug screening will be conducted prior to consideration for the position. Applications available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue or on-line at www.forestpark.net and should be returned to Vanessa Belmonte, HR Director, at Village Hall. For additional information, contact Dora Murphy at 708-615-6223 or write dmurphy@forestpark.net.

Applications accepted until position is filled. EOE.

Hourly Rate of Pay $18.30

Regular hours 7:30 am to 8:30 am, 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm;

Occasional half days 7:30 am to 8:30 am and 11:00 am to 12:30 PM

Help Wanted - Bus Driver

The Village of Forest Park has immediate opening for a responsible fulltime PACE Bus Driver to transport senior citizens, disabled residents and school children. Must have a valid Illinois Driver’s License, and a good driving record. In addition, must be physically fit and submit to criminal background check, annual physical exam and drug and alcohol testing.

M-F Days Starting salary $36,687 with excellent benefits. The position is a non-exempt, AFSCME union position.

Apply in person at Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park. 708-771-7737.

OPINION

OUR VIEW

Writing code for 2024

There are towns that become a bit obsessed with their village codes. Endless tinkering, expensive rewrites, all linked to ever-evolving goals and policies.

And then there is Forest Park. The village has a code book. Trouble is, it has had basically the same code book for decades. Steve Glinke, director of public health and safety at village hall, says portions of the code have not been reviewed since they were carved on tablets in the 1960s. Doesn’t mean that Forest Park has been hidebound in enforcing those codes. Systems have evolved as technology has arrived, as the world changed in how it built and repaired structures. And so practices at village hall have shifted. Those shifts just haven’t been documented and preserved in the building code That is happily starting to change. This week the village council unanimously approved a series of updates to the code as it relates to permits and licensing around building issues. Fees have shifted, consolidated and been increased in cost. What practically requires a permit is now in sync with what the village actually enforces.

Rachell Entler, the village administrator, is driving this change along with her department heads. It will be a process. It isn’t glamorous. But it is the stuf f of solid local governance and we are glad to see it.

Juneteenth’s hope

Forest Park has been a leader in marking and celebrating Juneteenth for 15 years. It was in 2009 that Rory Hoskins, then a village commissioner, raised this little known holiday to its rightful status, recognizing those who had endured slavery in America and placing value on the resilience and courage reflected in the fight to end the institution of slavery and confront the deep racism that permeates our society.

Hoskins, a native of Galveston, Texas, where Juneteenth was born, has continued the annual Forest Park tradition of gathering at the pool for a day of both fun and reverence. Since 2009 the Juneteenth movement has also grown as more people have become aware of its history. And as that has happened, Forest Park’s leadership with neighboring communities has also expanded. In a special section in all of our Growing Community Media publications today we have worked to gather all the aspects of Juneteenth in our communities.

Back in 2009 there was earned optimism that America was making continued progress in facing up to our sordid racial history and taking steady steps toward repair. Barack Obama was our president, and while that certainly did not make this a “post-racial society” it made us a more racially-aware society. In that moment it would have been difficult to predict the backlash to all for ms of diversity that, as a country, we seemed to genuinely be gravitating toward. A decade and a half later we are now facing down a torrent of anger and fear rooted in racism coming from a stunning minority of our fellow Americans.

That makes this election year the most important in our lifetimes. And it makes having this community gather around the Juneteenth flag-raising so poignant and powerful.

Cicadapocalypse was overrated

Iam disappointed in the cicadas. I had hoped for something biblical. Grade B creature feature kind of thing. Clouds of them blotting out the sun as they pass overhead. A sound so loud people were hospitalized with migraines and confusion. Denuded trees, crop failures, a lot of ineffectual posturing about the War on Cicadas.

I don’t know if the pandemic has spoiled me for entertaining disasters, but the great confluence of 13- and 17year cicadas has been underwhelming to say the least. A little noise and a lot of dead bugs. I experience a steady stream of disappointment at seeing the little guys flying around slowly because I keep getting briefly delighted that I’ve spotted a hummingbird and then realize it’s just another disoriented cicada.

best tacos I’ve ever eaten was the DIY chapuline appetizer at a restaurant in Houston: freshly made blue corn tortillas, a thin guacamole, and a bowl of deep fried crickets. I heard you can buy a bottle of Malört with a cicada preserved in it in the manner of a tequila worm, but Malört is so unpleasant I suspect the marinated cicada might improve the stuf f. Surely there is an adventurous restaurateur in the vicinity who has at least considered trying to turn cicadas into a publicity bonanza.

The pets, of course, are delighted. Every so often we get one in the house, which is a great deal of excitement for the cats, who view them as possibly the best cat toy I have ever managed to provide. One of the dogs has little to no interest at all in cicadas, and the other one has probably consumed a bushel of them by this point. I do not know the nutritional value or digestive impact of cicadas on most creatures, but they do not seem to bother the big puppy. (She does try to entice them to play with her before she eats them, which is charming but does betray a youthful misunderstanding as to the un-exuberant nature of bugs.)

I have been surprised there has not been more oppor tunity to eat them myself. I recognize it would be more a novelty than a gastronomic treat, although in fairness I should note that one of the five

I had also expected more dramatic sound. I vaguely remember a mid-’80s appearance of cicadas being audible through closed windows. Now it’s just sort of a pleasant droning sound that reminds me of living near the expressway. It has a nice summer soundtrack feel to it, but I don’t think Spotify is going to be launching a Sounds of Cicadas playlist to great acclaim anytime soon.

I should probably at least examine what I wanted to have happen before bemoaning it though. Did I want crop failures? Piles of dead bugs that you had to remove with rakes and leaf blowers? To have to power wash the windshield just to get rid of the bug guts? Yes and yes and yes, really. It’s nice to have a change of pace sometimes, and the plague of cicadas could have eaten every plant in northern Illinois and I would still have enjoyed it more than I expect to enjoy the November election. You find your entertainment where you can.

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

When I covered the first day of Kinder ga r ten at Betsy Ross School in 2011, I had no idea it would still be relevant in 2024. The teacher was Ms. Jane Mortensen. The student was Curtis Horras. The class project was cutting out a “cookie” from brown construction paper.

These kids are all right

When Curtis recently graduated from high school, his Kindergarten cookie was on prominent display. The party’s theme was written on the cookie cake: “You’re one smart cookie, Curtis.” He is a smart cookie indeed. Curtis just graduated from Dowling Catholic H.S. with straight A’s. He will soon be attending Western Illinois University on an athletic scholarship. Curtis and his family were our acrossthe-street neighbors on Beloit Avenue for 10 years. We became friends with Jared and Nicole Horras and watched their five kids grow. Curtis was a reporter’s dream. When he wasn’t getting into newsworthy predicaments, he was excelling at soccer for the FPYSA

His first adventure involved playing Frisbee at The Park. The disc landed on the baseball diamond. When Curtis walked to retrieve it, he sank in the “quicksand” of

the infield. The 8-year-old had to be rescued by park employees wearing firemen boots. Curtis was yanked from the mud and got a thrill of a ride home on a golf cart. His next adventure involved a rope swing his parents rigged in the backyard. The swing wasn’t high enough to satisfy a daredevil like Curtis. He was tying it to a higher branch when he fell and got his right leg caught in the rope. Curtis was hanging upside down when his younger sister notified Nicole.

She tried without success to free Curtis. Then she sheepishly called the Forest Park Fire Department. “This is really silly but my son’s stuck in a tree.” The fire truck arrived and four firemen used their ladder to free him.

Curtis’ adventures were becoming a weekly feature in the “Review.” Not to be outdone, his sister, Samantha Apraham, became a Review reporter. The 12-year-old teamed with her contemporary, Keegan Brown, to cover Little League and FPYSA games.

In 2013, they covered a season of baseball and soccer games. Sam supplied the game facts, while Keegan took the photos. They were paid and their stories appeared on the newspaper’s back page. They were also

A LOOK BACK IN TIME

guest speakers at my colle ge French class. They each gave PowerPoint presentations about the products they were promoting. In response, I received an email from my boss in Paris. He had heard about Sam and Keegan’s class presentation. He declared there wasn’t a 12-year-old in France with the confidence to pull of f such a performance. Meanwhile, Nicole also proved to be newsworthy.

She was the driving force behind a block party on Beloit. It was in 2017 and was only the third block party in the last 30 years. It helped that then-commissioner, Rory Hoskins, lived on the neighboring block and made it a celebration for the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Beloit.

The Horras family were our neighbors for 10 years. In January 2020, they moved to West Des Moines, Iowa. Nicole kept her remote job working for an Oak Park firm. Jared works for a nonprofit called Meals from the Heartland, which supplies 240 million meals around the world.

It was a good move for the family but they still miss Forest Park. Sam, 21, has done mission work overseas and is now a stay-at-home mom for her daughter, Harper. Curtis, 18, is 6-feet-1, 165 pounds with breakaway speed.

Ms. Mortensen should be proud of how one of her “smart cookies” has thrived.

Schlichting and Golderman Grocery Store

This grocery store and butcher shop, circa 1910, was located at 7638 Madison St., present day location of Pet Emporium. Henry Schlichting, not in photo, was the owner of the meat department. In the photo are Walter Huppenbaur, a butcher; Lillian Golderman, owner of the grocery section; and Emilie Samuel, grocery clerk. On the counter is a sanitary scale advertising cleanliness and Lux soap is one of the items near the re gister. The floor has sawdust to absorb any liquids or blood that would spill on the floor, as well as any mud or manure that would be tracked in by the customers.

Jill Wagner

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER: 12-24-Z

HEARING DATE: July 10, 2024

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

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

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Journey’s Community Center, Inc, pursuant to Article 8 (“Uses”), Section 8.3 (“Use Restrictions”), Table 8-1 (“Use Matrix”) and Article 5 (“Commercial Districts”), Section 5.4 (“RR District Dimensional and Design Standards”), Subsection K (“Uses”), Table 5-12 (“RR District Use Restrictions by Building Type”) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance to offer onsite outpatient psychotherapy services and small group mental health workshops, classified as medical/dental clinic uses, at the property located at 6632 Roosevelt Rd., Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-

18-424-037-0000 (“Subject Property”) in the RR Roosevelt Road Form-Based District.

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

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, June 12, 2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

CALENDAR NUMBER: 11-24-Z

HEARING DATE: July 10, 2024

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

LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60304

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Claire and Anuj Gangopadhyaya, seeking variance requests for:

1) An increase in the maximum building coverage to 42%, where the maximum building coverage allowed is 40% of the lot per Section 4.3 (Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, and 2)

An increase in the maximum impervious surface area of the lot to 75%, where the maximum impervious surface area allowed is 65% per Section 4.3 (Table 4-1: Residential Districts Dimensional Standards) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance to permit an enclosed porch addition to an individually owned townhome, located at the

premises commonly known as 741 N. Marion Street, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-06-307-049-0000 (“Subject Property”), in the R-5 TwoFamily Zoning District. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@ oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, June 12, 2024

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline: Monday at 5 p.m.

NOTICE

LEGAL

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed proposals from qualified consultants at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, 2024 for the following: Village of Oak Park Drinking Water Reservoir Inspections Project Number: 24-113

Proposal documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 12, 2024

Advertisement of Bidding Request for Bids for the Park District of Oak Park “947 RidgelandRoofing Replacement”.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302

The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the “947 Ridgeland – Roofing Replacement” located at 947 S. Ridgeland Ave. Oak Park Il. 60304. The project generally consists of removal of the existing roofing membrane, repairs to sub framing and sheeting and new roofing material. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 10:00 am (Central Daylight time), on Friday, June 28th , 2024 at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Demand Star bidding website as of 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for Friday, June 14th at 10:00 am (Central Daylight time) at 947 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors. Copies of the bidding specifications are available on June 12th at 5pm via the Demand Star website at: On the DemandStar website at https://www.demandstar.com/app/ buyers/bids/462626

For additional information, contact (Nelson Acevedo at Nelson.Acevedo@pdop.org or (708) 725 2053) or Chris Lindgren at chris.lindgren@ pdop.org or 708-725-2050) . Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2024. The Park District of Oak Park encourages DBE, minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

Park District of Oak Park

By: Sandy Lentz, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal June 12, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD

Notice of Public Hearing Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission June 27, 2024 at 7:00 PM

NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, June 27th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for a final planned development application for a property located at 8845 Burlington Ave, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PINs 15-34-433-001-0000; 15-34-433-002-0000; 15-34-433003-0000) by Three Green Vegetables represented by Elizabeth Diaz for a proposed 12-unit, 3-story new construction residential condominium building with enclosed parking.

Legal Description: Lots 17, 18, and 19 in Block 29 in the Subdivision of Blocks 27, 29 to 34 Inclusive, in Grossdale, a Subdivision in Section 34, Township 39 North, Range 12 east of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois.

The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments.

The proposed final planned development application may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Kate Portillo, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513 or at kportillo@brookfieldil.gov. Please reference PZC Case 24-12. Oral or written public testimony may be given during the public hearing.

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodation to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall.

By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.

Published in RBLandmark June 12, 2024

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 GIVEN 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. 16-06-305-0200000

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 Con-

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-20-03979 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

Friends – We can hardly contain our excitement about this one, and want to share the news with you!

Thursday at the Illinois Press Association awards ceremony, Growing Community Media walked away with 35 awards – 19 for first place – and 10 for our coverage right here in Forest Park Review!

That’s right! That includes a first-place award for Amaris E. Rodriguez’s continuing coverage over the tensions on the Proviso Township High School District 209 Board of Education, as well as another first-place win for John Rice’s touching tribute to Talk of the Town columnist and Matriarch of Forest Park Jackie Schulz.

Remember last year’s flooding that brought I-290 to a halt? Photographer Todd Bannor’s photos of it spoke louder than words – and judges thought so, too.

Now for the big news: the Review ranked tops among its peers. We won the coveted first place for general excellence!

These awards spotlight the value our reader-supported newsroom brings to Forest Park: factbased reporting, rigorous journalism and news you can use, reported and shared by our dedicated team of journalists, editors and designers from within our neighborhoods.

We celebrate these awards together with you, our readers, whose support made this vital work possible!

And we ask your continued support, to build on this strong foundation. No amount is too small – $5, $15, $25. Each dollar goes a long way.

Jackie Schulz, Columnist

Amaris Rodriguez, Reporter