Forest Park Review 061423

Council deadlocks on adding agpole over cost

Commissioners vote unanimously to adopt ag policy

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The Forest Park Village Council deadlocked on whether to install a second flagpole in front of the village hall after commissioners Maria Maxham and Ryan Nero expressed concerns about costs.

During the June 12 meeting, the council was supposed to vote on adopting an official flag display policy and approve the installation of a second flagpole in front of the village hall, 517 Desplaines Ave..

Mayor Rory Hoskins advocated for a second flagpole so the village would be able to display more flags without risking any of them touching the ground if they need to be lowered at half-mast.

The flag policy established that any flag other than United States, Cook County, village of Forest Park or

See FLAGPOLE on pa ge 19

Ryan Ja e (second from right) thanks the crowd for coming to the Standing With Ryan fundraiser.

Review wins General Excellence in Press Association awards

Garage Galleries special section wins an IPA advertising award

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The Forest Park Review was honored as the best small-circulation non-daily newspaper at the 2023 Illinois Press Association awards, held on June 8 in downstate Bloomington.

Nearly 100 daily and nondaily newspapers competed in 38 editorial cate gories. Members of the Iowa Press Association judged the more than 1,400 editorial entries for work done in 2022. The Review took the top spot in the General Excellence category for Division A, non-dailies with a print circulation of 1,000 and under.

“Wow, just WOW!!” read the judges’ comments. “Amazing writing, images, design and flow ... Amazing everything. Thank you for sharing and all the new

ideas.”

Wednesday Journal, the Review’s sister publication, won the General Excellence award in Division C, for largecirculation non-dailies. The Review and Journal are two of the five flags published by Growing Community Media, a nonprofit organization.

“It is gratifying to have two of our papers win the top award for our coverage We have a talented and hardworking group of reporters and being recognized by others who do the same work means a lot to us,” said Dan Haley, editor and publisher at the nonprofit newsroom.

The Review also did well in the advertising awards, earning first place in the Best Niche Section category, small-circulation newspapers division, for the 2022 Garage Galleries special section.

Melissa Elsmo won the fourth place Feature Writing - Personality Profile award in Division A for her Review article about Yum Thai’s move to 7330 Madison St

For mer Review editor Andy Viano and for mer Wednesday Journal education reporter F. Amanda Tugade shared

the spotlight, winning first place in the Best News Reporting Series for their coverage of the sexual harassment allegations against Fenwick High School teacher John Quinn. The articles ran in both the Review and Wednesday Journal, with Viano reporting on the initial allegations and Tugade following the story to the end. The judges described the coverage as “thoughtful and informative.”

Review Publisher Dan Haley, education reporter Amaris Rodriguez and reporter Igor Studenkov attended the awards. Studenkov accepted the awards plaque on behalf of the Review staff.

“It is an honor to be able to contribute to the Review’s long-running record of IPA wins,” Studenkov said. “At time when local news print and digital, faces many challenges, I’m glad I can do my pa to keep our readers in for med.”

Lower-paid department head gets higher salary increase

Most v illage department chiefs got 2% raises

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Village non-union employees who earned less then $100,000 during the last fiscal year are getting a 4% salary bump — while those earning more will see their salaries increase by 2%.

The village council voted unanimously on June 12 to approve the new salary ranges for most non-union employees. The ranges don’t necessarily represent the actual increases — they just set the floor and the ceiling for how each position gets paid. But this time around, the village made it clear from the get-go what the actual increases would be

Last fall, Village Administrator Moses Amidei provided the Review with the department heads’ actual salaries. Based on those numbers, Director of Public Health & Safety Steve Glinke was the only department head to get a 4% salary bump — everybody else got the 2% increase. Overall, the increase comes out to more than $2,000 per department head this fiscal year, and Glinke will get $3,692 extra.

The council approves an ordinance dictating salary ranges — and, in a few cases, actual salaries — every year. The increases took effect on May 1, the start of the village’s fiscal year

Under the new salary ranges, Fire Chief Phil Chiappetta and Police Chief Ken Gross, the highest-paid village department heads, will see their salaries go up from $143,095 to $145,957. Amidei’s salary will increase from $123,462 to $125,931.

The major g creases was to bring heads’ salaries more in line with their male counterparts — which led to some dramatic increases. This time, with the percentages the same, the increases are more even. Finance Director Letitia Olmsted’s salary will go up from $117,000 to $119,340. Village Clerk Vanessa Moritz, who also serves as Forest Park’s HR director, will see her salary increase from $102,000 to $104,040. Mohr Community Center Director Karen Dylewski’s salary will go from $100,000 to $102,000.

Director of Public Works Sal Stella’s salary will rise from $108,000 to $110,160. And Glinke, who became the lowest-paid director in 2022 after Dylewski’s salary was increased by 19.74%, will see his salary go from $92,297 to $95,988 this year.

The new salary ordinance also raised school crossing guards’ salaries from $17.57

to $18.30 per hour.

Rory Hoskins described this year’s increase as a “cost-of-living adjustment.”

Commissioner of Accounts & Finance Maria Maxham challenged that characterization.

“I’m going to vote to support it, but I do feel a little uncomfortable with the notion that this is a cost-of-living adjustment,” she said. “If the cost of living goes up at a cer tain rate for everybody, then the salary adjustment should also go up at an equal rate.”

Maxham added that she understood the reason for structuring the salary increases that way, saying that the village was “trying to bring up the five non-union employees, to make their salaries a little more equitable.”

Hoskins asked if Maxham wanted to amend the ordinance, but the commissioner said she would vote on it as it is.

“Just for the record, I’ve gone back and forth on it a lot,” she said.

AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ or Studenkov shows o the iew’s rst-place plaque from the Illinois Press Assoc iation.

June 14-21

BIG WEEK

Illinois Libraries Present:

Braiding Sweetgrass & the Honorable Harvest: A Conversation with Robin Wall Kimmerer

Wednesday, June 21, 7-8 p.m., virtually through Illinois Libraries Present Robin Wall Kimmerer is an acclaimed botanist, indigenous science professor, and author. For this event, she will discuss the interconnectedness of humans and nature, drawing on her own experiences. Register through the Forest Park Librar y at https:// bit.ly/ILP_RobinWallKimmerer.

Movie Night: First Man

Thursday, June 15, 6-8:30 p.m., Forest Park Public Library

This movie is a ctional account of Neil Armstrong’s moon landing. Rated PG-13. Snacks will be ser ved. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Mystery Discussion Group: ‘The Plot’

Saturday, June 17, 2-4 p.m., Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore

Tonight, the book under discussion is written by Jean Han Korelitz. You must buy the book at Centuries & Sleuths to participate. 7419 Madison St., Forest Park.

The Gingers

Juneteenth Fair

Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Forest Park Public Library Austin Room

We are pleased to have the opportunity to be the host location for this year ’s I Am Black Ar t’s celebration of Juneteenth. Black visual and performing artists will be showcased throughout the program as well as featuring local Black business owners as participating vendors. I Am Black Ar t’s intention is to educate community members about the holiday and bring neighborhoods together through ar t, music and celebration. Designed for families and kids of all ages. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Listing your event in the calendar

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

week before your news needs to be in the newspaper

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

■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Saturday, June 17, 7 p.m., FitzGerald’s Wanna rock your socks o to songs from the ‘70s to now? And would you like to see it coming from a band of redheads? The Gingers saw you coming. The advent of carrot-topped rock starts here. 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

The Redmonds

Wednesday, June 21, 7 p.m., Dominican University

This band will be playing classic rock and Americana as part of Dominican University’s Summer Sounds series. 7900 W. Division St., Oak Park.

Seniors Senior Prom

Friday, June 16, 6-8 p.m., Oak Park Arms

The Oak Park Arms Senior Living Community will hold their own version of a Senior Prom that is open to the public. A King and Queen will be crowned, and live big-band music will be provided by the Swing Set, playing music from the ‘40s to the ‘60s. RSVP required. 408 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Supporters show ‘Rhino strong’ spirit at fundraiser for car accident victim

Fire ghters praise Ryan Ja e’s strength, perseverance

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

When the Review asked graphic designer Ryan Jaffe how Forest Park firefighters have supported him since March, when he ended up in the hospital after a car hit him on his way to Doc Ryan’s bar on Madison Street, he struggled to find words. Words like “grateful,” he said, felt inadequate

“I try to make it to the fire department as much as possible,” he said. “Doing something like this for me and my family is amazing,”

“This” being the fundraiser the Forest Park Firefighters Local 2753 and the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce organized for Jaffe and his family on the afternoon of June 10 at Shanahan’s bar, 7353 Madison St. While he is well enough to be out of the hospital, Jaffe will have to learn to stand and walk all over again. The firefighters told the Review that they wanted not only to offer financial support but organize something that will show Jaffe how many people support him, which they hope will help sustain him through the rest of the recovery.

Jaffe, of Wheaton, described himself as a “pretty active guy” who works two jobs and values his family. On that March day, he went to Doc Ryan’s to meet up with friends. He remembered pulling into the nearby parking lot, getting out of the car and texting one of his friends to see where he was.

“I don’t remember anything after that,” he said.

According to firefighter Travis Myers, another car veered off Madison Street and hit Jaffe. Firefighter-paramedic Tim Ryan, who was in the ambulance that responded to the call, said that he did what he would do on any other call to keep the victim alive. But as he held Jaffe’s hand as the ambulance raced to the hospital, his five years of professional experience told him that odds weren’t in the other man’s favor.

Jaffe has gone through 10 surgeries, including a surgery to reattach his foot. Ryan told the Review that the fact he made it at all came down to Jaffe’s inner strength.

Water’s Vital Role in Landscape Health

As you may have noticed, spring hasn’t been so normal this year. Coming on the heels of the seconddriest May in Chicago weather history, June has continued the trend of almost non-existent rainfall, leading to an everworsening drought.

Given the lack of natural moisture, this is your reminder to water, water, water! As the landscape shows signs of drought stress, irrigating effectively will help you limit the negative impacts of this abnormally dry spring.

“We go to work every day and our only [goal] is to make sure we help every person we encounter to the best of our ability,” he said. “Ryan [Jaffe] is one of the strongest human beings I’ve ever known. He could not have recovered if he didn’t have that strength and the drive.”

About two weeks later, Jaffe’s aunt contacted the fire department to see if Ryan and Myers were interested in seeing her nephew Myers said that, while they don’t usually visit recovering victims in hospitals, this was a special case. He reflected that seeing him recover was a reminder of what happens when everything after the accident goes right.

As Ryan and Jaffe talked, they realized that they had something in common.

“Tim Ryan and I must have known each other when we were kids – we used to play baseball together,” Jaffe said.

During the June 10 fundraiser, many family members and friends came in wearing black “Rhino Strong” T-shirts. Jaffe said it was a reference to his nickname, something that his friends made when he was still in the hospital.

“They wanted me to be strong,” he said. “They weren’t sure I was going to make it.”

As the event wore on, people – many of whom sported the black T-shirts, kept on

coming. Mayor Rory Hoskins stopped by, welcoming him to Forest Park and saying that he was sorry that the accident happened in the village Commissioner Michelle MelinRogovin attended as well.

“I think this event speaks volumes about our fire department, and the way we were able to come together as the community,” Hoskins told the Review later during the event.

Jaffe’s family commissioned a wooden plaque with an American flag design that included a Forest Park Fire Department logo in the star field, a red stripe running down the middle and the inscription of an Abraham Lincoln quote “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a person can do is to save one.” Jaffe’s mother, Lisa Jaffe, presented it to Myers and Ryan at the fundraiser.

“It’s amazing, it’s a miracle,” she said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

Jaffe is currently using a wheelchair to get around, but when addressing the crowd, he asked his wife and his family members to help him stand. With them literally supporting him from both sides, he thanked everyone for their support

“I’m staying strong,” he said. “It’s just amazing to see everyone show up here. I’m staying strong.”

On the cusp of our 45th time around the sun helping customers navigate their summer landscapes, here are a few recommendations to keep yours healthy and happy:

For Turf: Water twice a week (every 3�4 days) for 45�60 minutes per area/ irrigation zone. This deep saturation promotes healthy turf growth.

For Perennials: Water once a week for 45 minutes per area.

For Trees: Place hose at the base of the tree on a very slow trickle for a couple hours once or twice a week to saturate the soils surrounding the tree’s roots.

For Seasonal Plantings: Water at least every other day. When the temps are above 80 degrees, with no rainfall, water annuals every day.

IGOR STUDENKOV

Mayor Rory Hoskins chats w ith Ryan Ja e during the June 10 fundraiser at Shanahan’s for the accident v ictim.

Scott McAdam Jr.

CRIME

Car sideswiped, tries to run over driver

A driver got dragged on the hood of a car and fell of f at full speed after he tried to confront a driver who sideswiped his vehicle.

On June 10, at 5:14 p.m., the victim and his partner were driving his black 2017 Toyota Corolla. As they turned west onto the 7300 block of Madison Street from Marengo Avenue, they tried to pass a car with its hazard lights on. As they passed, a white 2012 Ford Edge passed the Corolla, sideswiping it and hitting the mirror. The Edge stopped at the Madison Street/Burkhardt Court intersection, and the driver of the Edge got out of his car. The victim pulled up to him, and the driver got back into his vehicle. The victim got out of the Corolla and tried to stop him from leaving, placing his hands on the hood of the Edge.

The Edge tried to go around the victim. When the victim tried to get in front of the car, the other driver accelerated, with the victim still on the hood. The victim got thrown of f less than a minute later, and the Edge sped of f west on Madison Street.

When the police arrived, the victim was bleeding from his head, face and arms. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. The license plate reader captured the Edge’s license place. The village sent the re gistered owner a hit and run letter, asking him to come to the station by the morning of June 20.

Bicycle thefts

Forest Park saw four separate instances of bicycles being stolen from garages in different parts of the village

On June 5 at 11:28 a.m., a man living on Hannah Avenue went into his garage to get his bicycle, a chrome Retrospec Mantra, and discovered that it was missing. He said that, because he “doesn’t go into the garage that often,” he wasn’t sure how long it’s been missing.

On June 6, at around 9 a.m., a homeowner at Elgin Avenue checked the garage and noticed that her ex-husband’s bike, a black Giant-brand bicycle, was missing. She said that the bike was hanging from the garage rafters and locked with other bikes. The exhusband said that he didn’t take the bike, and none of the owner’s other bikes were taken.

On June 7 at 5:15 p.m., a woman living

on Dunlop Avenue came home from work and discovered that her garage door was opened, and that her husband’s bicycle, a grey Giant Roam 2 Disc Hybrid, was missing. Her own bike was still in the garage. The woman said that, while she closed the garage door that morning, she wasn’t sure

if it closed all the way. There were no signs of forced entry.

On June 8, a woman living on Circle Avenue discovered that her black Trax bike was missing from the garage when she arrived home on June 8. She said that the garage hasn’t been locked in the past week.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, June 5-10, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime.

Compiled by Igor Studenkov

Do you have DIABETES?

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

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

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

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

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

Broadview celebrates Black culture and freedom

Juneteenth Festival of Freedom will be hosted June 16-18

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

“Black history is part of American history,” said Broadview Mayor Katrina R. Thompson, as she talked about the importance of the upcoming Juneteenth Festival of Freedom celebration.

The celebration starts on Friday June 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with the Broadview Resident Meet and Greet, giving the feel of a traditional family reunion, said Thompson. On Saturday, June 17, the village will have its Festival of Freedom from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with headliner West End 40, a band with a diverse blend of R&B, jazz, gospel and more. West End 40 will be taking the stage at around 5 p.m.

And on Sunday, the village will celebrate the 50 years of hip-hop, which includes a firework show and a performance from Soul to the Bone.

“June is Black Music Month,” Thompson said. “I love hip-hop music but it is not just hip-hop music that is going to be played. It is going to be all the songs that have been played throughout for African Americans and that is exciting because now we get to hear the Motown, or blues, or jazz.”

Sunday will also host a morning worship outside, which Thompson said will be a lot of fun for participants.

“It brings joy to my heart that we can celebrate something through music,” Thompson said.

Celebration is really the theme of the event, as dads will be able to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday and enjoy a cigar and

whiskey tent at the event.

For Thompson, hosting the Juneteenth Festival is a way of acknowledging the Black culture and the contributions their history has on American history.

“It’s important that we educate and in-

Malcolm X. College celebrates Junete

Includes scholarship reception, panels, family enter tainment

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ and IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporters

Malcolm X. Colle ge, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., will hold a two-day Juneteenth celebration this weekend.

Now in its third year, the festival is organized by a group of Cook County commissioners, state and federal re presentatives and aldermen that mostly re present the South and West sides of Chicago, including Commissioner Dennis Deer (2nd), Alds. Monique Scott (24th) and Walter Burnett (27th) and Cong. Danny Davis (D-7).

On the evening of June 16, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson will speak at the Juneteenth Scholarship Reception at the 540 W. Madison St. building rooftop. The evening’s program includes a showcase of youth leadership in the arts with African dance, a drumline, soulful music, the annual “Divine 9 roll call,” and great food.

On June 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the colle ge will host panel discussions, a resource fair and a blood drive. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will give opening remarks, followed by panels on health equity, criminal justice reform, Black en-

form and bring awareness to the Black community,” Thompson said. “We have a culture too and we should honor that and respect that space.”

As a Black leader, T hompson said it was important to her to continue to carry on the conversations relating to things that impact the Black community, including their culture and support for one another.

“As we look at how we recycle our own dollars in the Black community, how we embrace with love and kindness, how we support each other, not just in local business but for each other,” T hompson said. “In gover nment, in our education system. We should be talking about these things.”

T hompson, who will be at the event, said she is looking forward to supporting the local vendors and small businesses which will be participating in the festivities

“Entrepreneurship and economic development is a big deal and how we get our homebased businesses or our small business to the next level, we should be highlighting that,” Thompson said. “I am excited for that.”

Celebrations for the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Festival will take place at Schroeder Park with free parking available on the west side of the Target Store in Broadview Village Square.

trepreneurship and investing. A family entertainment event will kick at 3 p.m. with performances Kells the Artist, Bobbi Ponder, Sean Black, D’Moment and others.

The events are free and open to the public, but pre-re gistration is encouraged.

For more information, visit www.JuneteenthIllinois.com

g. A ick off s by er, d

Broadv iew Mayor Katrina ompson, Broadview Clerk Kevin McGrier and village trustees look on as Broadv iew rst responders raise the Juneteenth ag above Broadv iew Village Hall in 2022.

National and local talent to perform at Juneteenth Village Fest

It Takes A Village and community par tners bring free celebration to Anna and Frederick Douglass Park

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter

On June 18, North Lawndale residents will see the local Anna and Frederick Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr., become a space to celebrate freedom culture, f amily and tradition. For its second year, T he Juneteenth Village Fest, org anized by It Takes A Village Family of Schools with support of several sponsors, brings performances, f amily-friendly fun and a celebration of culture for local residents.

“We want everybody to really think of this as a f amily reunion that we look forward to do in Douglass Park every single year,” said Nakisha Harris Hobbs, CEO of It Takes A Village Family of Schools

T he lineup of performers includes national and local talent who span g enres, from hip hop to gospel to R&B and drumming, so all f amily members can find something they’ ll enjoy.

“On the local talent side, I would really urge everybody to be there to see Bella Bahhs,” Harris Hobbs said. Bahhs is a local hip hop artist, activist and educator from the West Side of Chicago.

“She just really embodies the spirit and energy of this festival, in terms of us as Black people really appreciat-

ing our culture, lifting up our culture and also reco gnizing the responsibility that we have to always be acting in the best interest of our community,” she said.

All participating artists will bring amazing performances, including Angie Stone, Marsha Ambrosius, BJ T he Chicago Kid, Kindred Family Soul, DJ Wayne Williams, South Shore Drill Team, Jesse White Tumblers, DJ Marka Flava, Redd’s Angelz, A-List Dance Team, Darius Parker & Vee Armstrong, Soul Children, Spellbinder Magician, DJ Marco, Muntu Drummers & Dancers and Libations Kamau Rashid.

“Talib Kweli has been an underground hip hop artist for the last 25 to 30 years,” Harris Hobbs said. “He always makes music that is a reflection of the current condition and possibilities for Black people and communities of color.”

T he festival’s location is also a significant part of this celebration. Two years ago, Village Leadership Academy students, one of the schools in It Takes A Village Family of Schools, campaigned to change the name of the park from one honoring a slaveholding f amily to that of renowned abolitionists, Anna & Frederick Douglass.

“This Juneteenth Festival is really for us not only to pay homage to our history but also to pay homage to Village Leadership Academy who led the campaign to rename the Anna and Frederick Douglass Park,” Harris Hobbs said. Village Leadership Academy students will also have a perfor mance at the event.

T he festival includes several activities for children and youth, including a petting zoo, a carnival area, inflatables, a youth DJ, face painting, g ames and a magic show. Social

service providers will also be at the event to connect families to resources, empower residents through education and information and perform health screenings, among other activities. T he event’s sponsors include State Re p. La Shawn K. Ford (8 th), Ald. Monique Scott (24th), the Illinois Department of Commerce, Amazon and Riot Fest, among others.

“We’ re proud to be a part of a community-based team that really is organizing a festival in Douglass Park that is for the local residents of Douglass Park,” Harris Hobbs said, adding the festival was org anized to provide a highquality experience for community members.

Local vendors participated at last year’s Juneteenth Village Fest.

PROVIDED/IT TAKES A VILL AG E FAMILY OF SCHOOLS Hip-hop artist Talib Kweli w ill per form at Douglass Park on June 18.

Oak Park Juneteenth still a community event

Village’s involvement has not overtaken community organizers

By STACEY SHERIDAN Senior Reporter

For the past six years, Oak Park has had a Juneteenth celebration because of Anthony Clark and Juanta Griffin. The two remain committed to seeing Oak Park celebrate the event but this year is slightly different as the Village of Oak Park has taken a more direct role in helping to plan the parade and community cookout.

“We want the village to come in and take responsibility for it so that it can be sustainable,” Griffin told Wednesday Journal.

The important tradition of celebrating Juneteenth should be maintained annually but the responsibility of planning such a major event for the entire community can lead to burn out if left to only two primary organizers, according to Griffin. Clark declined to comment. Having municipal involvement increases access to resources, so the celebration can continue being free to

the community.

For the 2023 parade and cookout this Sunday, Griffin and Clark worked directly with Dr. Danielle Walker, the village’s diversity, equity and inclusion officer. The village is also having a flag raising ceremony Wednesday at village hall. Together, Griffin said, the three struck up a balance between community involvement and gover nment support.

“We wanted it to be an inclusive process where community members are involved in the planning and feel like there’s some ownership,” said Griffin. “We wanted to keep that.”

It was also important that no one felt left out of the process, particularly those community members that have volunteered their time to Juneteenth planning and celebrations over the years.

Inclusivity extends beyond the planning of Juneteenth. Griffin was adamant that the celebration is not just for Black Americans but for all people

“As a nation we celebrate freedom,” she

said. “This is for everyone.”

The parade steps off at 11 a.m., Saturday morning, from Longfellow Park near Jackson Boulevard and will march on through Ridgeland Avenue to Augusta Street. The community cookout begins at 5 p.m. in Taylor Park, 400 Division St

Oak Park Juneteenth celebration sponsors:

Good Heart Work Smart Foundation

The

One

Forest Park’s pione ering Juneteenth Pool Party marks 14th year

Hoskins happy village embraced it from the get-go

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

When then-village commissioner Rory Hoskins launched the Juneteenth Pool Party in 2009, many Forest Parkers and west suburbanites in general had no idea what Juneteenth even was – but he said it was embraced pretty early on.

“A lot of the old families in Forest Park that didn’t necessarily know this tradition were very accepting,” Hoskins, now the mayor, said.

He grew up in Galveston, Texas, where on June 19, 1865, Union ar my general Gordon Granger announced that all those who had been enslaved were now free. In a 2021 documentary released by the Forest Park

Juneteenth Committee, the mayor recalled, growing up, he didn’t think much about the holiday. But after he moved away from Texas and started raising a family of his own, Hoskins realized it was something he wanted to share with his children.

He decided to hold the party at the Forest Park Aquatic Center, 7501 Harrison St., because public pools were some of the last public spaces to be inte grated.

Hoskins recalled he got suppo rt from the Park District of Forest Park, Forest Park School District 91, Forest Park Bank officials and other elected officials, including fellow village commissioners. Cong. Danny Davis (D-7), who, having grown up in Arkansas, was familiar with the holiday, supported Hoskins bringing it to Forest Park.

“I think he was surprised to see it take root in Forest Park,” Hoskins said.

Since then, the pool party has become an annual tradition that only got inter rupted

in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the party took place on June 10 starting at 6:45 p.m. The party featured music and free hot dogs and chips.

Hoskins said he was proud the pool party was reco gnized as the longest-running Juneteenth celebration in the western suburbs. He reflected that it was something that he wanted everyone in Forest Park to

embrace and take part in.

“It appeals that the community really embraced this tradition, and I think it means something to kids in this community, and to the parents,” Hoskins said. “Kids from all backgrounds can take part in this tradition that may be new to the [west suburban] re gion, but an old tradition in the country. It’s very beautiful. Very special.”

YourPassion1st celebrated Juneteenth early this year. Last Saturday, the Oak Park-based nonprofit held its fourth annual “Let’s Grow To gether Holistic Wellness and Juneteenth Festival” in Melrose Park

The free festival was attended by Mayor Rory Hoskins of Forest Park, who took a turn in the dunk tank, as did Ana

Those who went to the festival were treated to music, performances, exercise classes and meditation and yo ga sessions, while kids exerted some energy in inflatable bounce houses

— Stacey Sheridan

Kids play in the pool dur ing the Forest Park Juneteenth Pool party at the Forest Park Aquatic Center in 2022.

Garcia Doyle, director of One Earth Film Festival. Oak Park Village President came to enjoy the festivities.

PHOTO S BY TODD A. BANNOR

Organizers Chuck Carter, Joshua Easter, Chris omas, Kathleen Brennan, Marjorie Adam Clark, Michelle Major, Caitlin Ry ndak, Cody Cotton, James Turner & Julius Spates at the Let’s Grow Together Holistic Wellness & Juneteenth Festival.

JUNETEENTH EVENT S

Here’s Growing Community Media most complete list of Juneteenth celebrations across the Greater West Side. If missed your event this year tell us at Park.com’s Pitch Us a Story feature.

AUSTIN

Front Porch Art Center celebration

The celebration will be held at Columbus Park. 500 S. Central Ave., on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This fun, family-friendly event will feature music, food, dancing and a Juneteenth Art Exhibit, along with family art-making activities.

Trunk par ty for college-bound seniors

Graduating, college-bound seniors only. Must bring college acceptance letter. Party will be held at 304 N. Parkside Ave. on J une 19, noon to 5 p.m.

BROADVIE W

3rd Annual Festival of Freedom

Broadview is holding its 3rd annual Juneteenth celebration all weekend at Schroeder Park, 2600 S. 13th Ave. It will kick o on the evening of June 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the raising of the Juneteenth ag, followed by a community meetand-greet. The main event will take place on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on June 18 from noon to 9 p.m. The festival will feature music, food and local vendors, as well as cultural exhibits chronicling Black history and struggles. The festivities will wrap up with a Sunday reworks show.

EAST GARFIELD PARK Music and Culture Celebration

Now in its fourth year, the annual Music and Culture Celebration will be held at 345 Ar t Galler y, 345 N. Kedzie Ave., on June 18 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The celebration will feature local music acts, performance by poet Poetry Soulchild, wine curated by P. Michelle, the Music in My Soul art exhibit and local vendors. $10 cover, all proceeds go to the ar t center.

OA K PARK

Juneteenth Father ’s Day Festival

Organized by Chicago’s Welcome to Fatherhood and Oak Park ’s King’s Kidz [sic] Academy, the par ty will take place in Oak Park at 847 Madison St. on June 17 from 11 a.m. It will feature food and drinks, games for kids and adults and vendor tables.

Juneteenth parade and cookout

tions, and businesses. Festivities star t on June 16 at Gar eld Park Gold Dome, 100 N. Central Park, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. for an invite- only Military Honors ceremony to honor veterans. Community members can nominate veterans to receive a special award. On June 17 and June 18, join cultural activities for families, workshops, live music and performances at Gar eld Park Music Cour t Circle from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a Father ’s Day Grill O to celebrate Father ’s Day.

FOREST PARK

Liberated: A Juneteenth Celebration

I Am Black Ar t organization will be at Forest Park Public Librar y’s Austin room, 7555 Jackson Blvd., on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature a writing circle, children’s books, arts and crafts, and re ec tion/open mic segment towards the end of the program. Oak Park ’s Chicago Chicken and Wa es will provide food, and there will be local vendors.

HILLSIDE

Juneteenth & Father ’s Day Festival

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch is holding his annual Juneteenth and Father ’s Day Festi-

MAY WOOD

Juneteenth celebration and honorary street designation

Join the honorary street designation ceremony in honor of the late Mrs. Nor thica Hillery Stone, former CEO of the nonpro t Operation Uplift, on June 17, at 1 p.m., followed by a family-friendly Juneteenth celebration. The ceremony is taking place at Operation Uplift, at the intersection of S. 5th Ave. and St. Charles Road. The annual Juneteenth celebration features food, music and activities for all ages.

NORTH LAWNDALE

Celebrate Juneteenth with UCAN

Held at UCAN campus, 3605 W. Filmore St., on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., this year ’s celebration will feature vendors from the Black Wall Street on Roosevelt summer market, as well as performers, games, and food.

Juneteenth Freedom Party

Organized by Light Up Lawndale and sponsored by the Chicago Histor y Museum, the par ty will take place on June 19 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Douglass Park. The family-friendly celebration will feature music, fun and activities.

oin the Village of Oak Park in celebrating Juneteenth with a ceremonial ag raising, parade and community ookout. Come to the courtyard of Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St., at 6 p.m., June 14, for the ag raising he celebration continues at 11 a.m., June 18 with the annual parade, which steps o from Longfellow Park near Jackson Boulevard and then on to Ridgeland Avenue to Augusta Street. Following the parade, stop by the cookout at 5 p.m. in Taylor Park, 400 Division St

RIVER FOREST Flag raising ceremony

River Forest marked Juneteenth with a ag raising ceremony on June 12. River Forest Public Librar y, 735 Lathrop Ave. Check out the Juneteenth traveling museum inside the librar y.

VIRTUAL

A Conversation on Health Equity with Dr. Ngozi Ezike

United Way of Chicago is holding a vir tual conversation with Dr. Ngozi Ezike on June 19 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Ezike is the rst Black woman president and CEO of Sinai Chicago hospital system and immediate past director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, where she helped the entire state navigate COVID-19. Ezike will re ect on her experiences and o er paths towards greater health equity for all Chicago neighborhoods. Visit https://liveunitedchicago. org/ to register for login information.

Compiled by Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez, Stacey Sheridan and Igor Studenkov

OPINION

Things we like

Here’s our early summer edition of good news around town. And a note that we’re always looking for positive and affirming stories to cover. Have an idea? Go to ForestParkReview.com and find the tab at the top called Pitch Us a Story. We’re listening.

Honoring Mr. K: Marian Kosciarz was a much-loved gym teacher in the Forest Park elementary schools. He died in January while on a diving trip in Florida. On the first of June the District 91 schools (staff and the PTO), with an assist from the park district, remembered Mr. K. An all school assembly at Field-Stevenson started the day.

Susan Bodgan, principal at Field-Stevenson, rightly noted that Forest Park is a small and close-knit village and that gathering to remember a prized member of the school district is important for Mr. K’s students and colleagues.

Centuries & Sleuths: Augie Aleksy and partner and wife Tracy are working to sell (and hopefully not close) their iconic independent Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore on Madison Street. Both the store — history and mystery focused — and Augie himself have been essential to Forest Park’s main street for nearly a quar ter century. The store has been a destination for book lovers and Augie and Tracy have been central to all ef for ts to further Forest Park as a business community.

Retirement is deserved but when their final days come at the end of 2023, they will be missed.

Bonding with Ryan Jaffe: The fire department and the Chamber joined up last week to host a fundraiser and a spirit-raiser for Ryan Jaffe. A quirky and wonderful story. Jaffe suf fered hor rendous injuries just of f Madison Street in March when he was struck by a car. The firefighters/paramedics ke pt him alive and got him to the hospital where he has since endured 10 surgeries and faces a long rehab.

Between his family’s appreciative outreach to the department and the generosity of firefighters, a genuine connection has been made which culminated in the event at Shanahan’s.

Our best to Mr. Jaffe and thanks to our firefighters.

Persevere: Two students at Proviso East received small but helpful colle ge scholarships this spring from Vau’ve Davis, herself an East grad. The theme in the success of Dulce Estrada and Ania Walker has been perseverance. Always good to see dedicated ef fort being recognized.

Remember Venture?: People get annoyed when we raise the possibility that a certain commercial space may be cursed. Happened years ago when we raised that point about the constant churn on a restaurant space on Lake Street in Oak Park. And it happens when we point out the constant turnover of the space at Madison and Desplaines where Panda Café is just the latest in a long line of dust-biters.

Those of us who remember the 24-hour Venture Restaurant which seemed to thrive at the intersection can only of fer best wishes on the speculation that another Chinese restaurant is lining up to take the space.

Let’s hear it for entrepreneurs.

Barking up the wrong trees

Being a public employee in the day job has given me a new pe spective on bureaucracy, and with that perspective has come a new kind of zen-tranquility approach to dealing with the kind of tiresome minutiae that our beloved municipalities often visit upon us.

Now that I have seen bureaucracy up close and personal, I know that bureaucracies exist to justify themselves. They’re self-sustaining, like those little closed-system globes Shar per Image used to sell that had shrimp and plants in them. I mean, if there weren’ t hundreds of rules to enforce, what would the people whose job it is to enforce rules do all day? Huh, smart guy? There are public jobs to protect. Somebody has to answer the phone when the seniors call and complain that the music in other people’s cars is too loud. Somebody has to make up parking rules so that the police department has something to give tickets for. What else will those folks do? There are only so many cats to remove from trees, and going to schools and telling kids not to take drugs is a ship that has sailed. Gotta have rules and for ms and policies; how else will you dictate other people’s behavior? What will the student council re ps and hall monitors do with their God-given talents for judgmental butting-in and demanding behavior changes from people who aren’t hurting anyone if there aren’t local rules to be made and enforced?

You see how easy it used to be to get upset. Not no more, though. Now I’m woke ’bout pissant municipality policies.

Case in point: I read the nicest story last year, I think in this very newspaper, about a middleschooler raising money to improve Forest Park’s dog park. I sent her a few bucks, both because dog parks are centers of true and genuine happiness and because, under the village’s watchful eye, our dog park was mostly notable for being a mud pit with a fence around it. It’s lovely now. I was even invited to the grand opening via handwritten invitation/thank-you note, which, wow. She did a great job. The village can’t let me renew my parking sticker online for reasons no one has been able to explain to me in a decade of asking, which spans three cars and four license plate changes, but a kid can fix the dog park and win both $50 and my heart inside a year.

So I went to re gister the do gster for the rest Park Do g Park. It took two forms, a visit to the vet, and a second, possibly fraudulent, dog license to get the job done. She’s licensed in Oak Park for reasons related to joint custody, and rather than go try to find her Oak Park dog license number I just re gistered her in rest Park too. This being Cook County, I believe she’s now also entitled to vote.

The people behind the window at village hall couldn’t have been nicer or more apologetically understanding about the number of hurdles we had to clear. I think it took less time to renovate the park than to sign up to use it because we had to keep finding ends-around to the rules they were required to enforce. The thing I always remember in cases like this is that, as it is with any other American corporation, so it is with local governments: The people required to implement and enforce the rules are never the people who made up the dumbass rules in the first place, so you are much better of f expressing empathy and ally-ship with the folks on the front line who have to keep apolo gizing and saying, “I’m sorry but that’s our policy” than getting shirty with them.

If I were to choose to get shirty with anyone here, it would be with the Forest Park Village Council and Commissioner Maria Maxham. (Ms. Maxham used to work for this paper, a disclosure that should accompany every single mention of her name that appears herein. Hi, Maria!)

It’s not that at Maria’s suggestion the council voted 4-1 in April to double the dog park fee, or that they doubled the fee because the park is nicer now. Twenty dollars is a perfectly reasonable fee for an annual dog park membership. What gets me is that I cannot imagine how grown adults, alle gedly in charge of real and important things, could not understand that doubling the dog park fee after a child raised the money and did the work to improve the place — work the village could have done any time in the last few years but chose not to — was a bad look. Again: A middle-schooler raised money to improve the park and the Village Council’s response was “Hey, woohoo, bump up the fee.”

Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang, the kid is sharper than you. Instead of riding her coattails and bumping up the fee, put her on the council and ask her how to help you with everything else.

Her spelling has us swelling with pride

Emme Whitebone is a stellar speller! Out of the 11 million spellers who competed nationwide, she was among the 231 who qualified for the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington D.C. The Bee showcased more than Emme’s spelling skills. She performed a skit with pronouncer Dr Jacques Bailly, did commentary with ESPN’s Paul Loeffler, and starred in a promotional video for next year’s Bee.

Emme, who is 13 years old and going into eighth grade at Forest Park Middle School, went to D.C. with her mom, Kyra Tyler, and her grandmother, Deborah Tyler. Two corporate sponsors, Pepper Construction and Wight & Company, paid for their travel and accommodations. They stayed at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland.

As soon as they arrived, they registered for the Bee and picked up a bag of swag. Emme didn’t know anyone there but quickly joined in group activities. Her team competed in a word challenge, solved puzzles scattered around the hotel and played bags

Most of the spellers were middle-schoolers, so Emme connected with students her own age. Two were from Chicago and one

was from Florida. Spellers strolled down the “Hall of Champions” where photos of previous winners are displayed

When competition began, mme was in the first block of 58 spellers. After spellers heard their word, they could ask for its part of speech, definition and to hear it in a sentence. Emme wasn’t nervous. As Kyra said, she is a “cool customer.” She asked for her word to be repeated six times. She wasn’t familiar with oxyacetylene and left out the second “y.” She wasn’t alone. Twenty-two of the 58 were eliminated on their first word

After the round was over, they visited the Washington Monument and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. She later watched the quarterfinals, semifinals and final round and did live commentary on the competition with Loeffler. Emme was poised and professional behind the anchor desk. She was already accustomed to being on TV, after interviews with WGN and NBC. Later, she had her photo taken with TV and movie actor, Yvette Nicole Brown.

Becoming an actor is one of Emme’s aspirations. She has been performing since the age of 6 and landed an agent when she was

A LOOK BACK IN TIME

9. She did a commercial for Brach’s Candy Hearts and has also displayed her range in local theater productions. She portrayed the evil Miss Trunchbull in Matilda and the sweet Marian the librarian in The Music Man. But she isn’t just content to be an actor. She is taking voice and dance lessons. Her current passion is tap dancing.

Emme doesn’t just make music with tap shoes, she has also played the cello since she was 4. She is a member of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, which performs in college auditoriums. She appreciates classical music, especially some of the French composers. That makes sense since Emme is using an app to learn French. She is also in the Art Club at FPMS and serves on the student council

Emme and Kyra believe the middle school is burdened by a re putation it doesn’t deserve and that this misperception about District 91 schools is harmful to our community. Kyra would know. She is the past president of the D91 school board and still serves as a board member. Emme received a solid education at our elementary schools and loves Forest Park.

“I love the community and the culture and all the shops,” she said.

Now that her six-day trip to D.C. is over, Emme does not plan to enter another spelling bee. And unless she goes into welding, she’ll never have to spell oxyacetylene.

Forest Park’s Juneteenth Celebration

This photo from 2012 showcases the talented people behind the third annual Juneteenth Pool Party hosted by the Park District of Forest Park. Texas, where Juneteenth originated in 1865, was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, and was celebrated annually as a weeklong celebration when current Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins was growing up in Galveston. Rory Hoskins brought the tradition to his Forest Park hometown and partnered with organizations and individuals in the area to create the signature event. The celebration at the pool in 2012 was a family-friendly pool party with grilled food, DJ Ryan Russ, and Yogo the Clown.

Jill Wagner

Sta Reporter Igor Studenkov, Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Senior Editor Bob Uphues

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

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

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

Big Week Editor James Porter

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales and Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck, Kamil Brady

Business & Development Manager

Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

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

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Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP.

HELP WANTED

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator in the Health Department/Village Manager’s Office. This position will coordinate disaster response, crisis management and medical countermeasure dispensing/ distribution activities for the Village of Oak Park, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials spills, biological releases) or disasters. This single class position is also responsible for the complex administrative duties required for state, federal and local response processes and grant management. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website https:// www.oak-park.us/your-government/ human-resources-department.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications will be June 19, 2023.

SYSTEMS ANALYST

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Systems Analyst in the Information Technology Department. The ideal candidate will perform a variety of complex technical duties in design, application programming and development, PC configuration and support, testing and maintenance of the Village’s computer application systems and perform a variety of technical duties as required. Knowledge of a wide variety of computer programming languages and systems, such as, City View Permit, License & Inspection Suite, Laserfiche, ESRI ArcGIS, MS-SQL, Reporting Tools, Java and HTML is wanted. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application by visiting the website https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. This position is open until filled.

Lead Software Engineer sought by Enova Financial Holdings LLC. in Chicago, IL. Telecommuting permitted. Apply at jobpostingtoday.com Ref# 74412.

Bookkeeper sought by Biz Inc in Chicago, IL to cmpt, clsfy, & rcrd fincl data to compl & keep fincl rcrds complt. Reqs BS in Accounting, Math, or rltd field & 1 yr exp in rltd ocptn. Mst hv perm auth to wrk in US. Snd rsm & cvr lttr to 5051 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60656.

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN II

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Engineering Technician II in the Public Works Department. The employee performs layout, draft and design drawings from field survey information and field notes for various engineering and planning projects including existing improvements, right-of-way and various utilities and performs a variety of field inspections. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

IT OFFICE COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Office Coordinator in Information Technology. This position will perform a variety of responsible and complex administrative duties for the IT Department; provide information and assistance to Village staff regarding requests for service; and provide administrative support to the IT Director and the IT staff. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. First review of applications will be June 21, 2023.

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

Call for more info. 708-738-3848

E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

NOVENAS

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

(NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL)

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to suc cor in my necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. C.C.

MARKETPLACE

GARAGE SALES

GARAGE SALE, OAK PARK

EVERYTHING MUST GO!

208-210 S. TAYLOR Ave. (use alley)

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

8 AM – 2 PM

Occasional Furniture, 4 Kitchen Chairs, Printer, new Hisense Freezer, Wood Pantry Shelf System (w. hrdware), Mini Travel CPAP used 1x, Rice Cooker, Toaster, Ice Cream Blender,Coffee Machine, Sm Paper Shredder, Baby Furnniture & Supplies – Crib, High Chair, Changing Table, Co-Sleeper,Kids Bikes, Helmets, Baseball Bats & Gloves, Exercise Gear, Conair Mini, Baby supplies & Furniture – Crib, High Chair, Changing Table, co-sleeper, etc, GARAGE SALE

WE ARE MOVING. EVERYTHING MUST GO!

827 Clinton Ave, Oak Park

Save the date: Friday, June 16th & Saturday, June 17th

9 AM – 5 PM

Garage sale items: furniture, house decors, dishes, pic frames, vases, Christmas decorations, girls clothes, girls shoes, women shoes, kids toys and more. Everything will be setting in our garage and whole backyard. They are all in good condition!

If you need to see items before garage sale dates, message me privately at 708.269.4433 or email at gomd1.yy.lucky7@gmail.com

708-386-7355

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS:

Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

CARS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored

HOME SERVICES FLOORS

KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 • www. klisflooring.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to

“An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010635 on May 31, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of LOUIS CO with the business located at:203 COSMAN RD, ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: PHILIP SCHUBITZ

Published in Wednesday Journal June 7, 14, 21

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23010646 on May 31, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of SISTERS OF LIGHT & LEGACY with the business located at: 6604 OLD PLANK BLVD., MATTESON, IL 60443. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MICHELLE WILLIAMS-SLATEN 6604 OLD PLANK BLVD. MATTESON, IL 60443

WOODWORK

Published in Wednesday Journal June 7, 14, 21, 2023

HELP WANTED RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY INTERIOR ALTERATIONS PROJ. NO. 20030A ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS 001113 - 1 JUNE 13, 2023

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

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PUBLIC NOTICES

the opinion of the Owner, to be in the best interest of the Riverside Public Library.

This Contract is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/1 et seq.).

QUALIFICATION: Each Bidder must satisfactorily complete the qualification process described in Section 004395 -General Requirements of the Project Manual, by providing the required Qualification Documents. The required Qualification Documents must be delivered along with the Bidder ’s sealed bid at the same place and time required for the bid. Contents of each Bidder’s Qualification Documents will be available for public review. The Qualification Documents will be reviewed by the Owner and Architect to determine the lowest responsible Bidder. Bidding documents are on file and are available on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Bid documents can be obtained electronically and reproduced at the contractor’s expense from the following: Cross Rhodes Reprographics, 30 Eisenhower Lane North, Lombard, IL 60148; Phone: 630-9634700

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 29, 2023 for the following:

Village of Oak Park

CDBG Water Service Replacement Program - 2023 Bid Number: 23-114

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

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

Check or a Bid Bond in the amount of Ten percent (10%) of the Base Bid, payable to the Village of Oak Park.

SECTION 001113 – ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for Maker Space Renovation at the Riverside Public Library will be received by the Riverside Public Library located at 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546 until 10:00 a.m. prevailing time on July 7th, 2023. Lump Sum bid proposals will be received for this project at the scheduled time of receipt of bids and will be publicly opened and read aloud at the above stated time and place.

Each bid must be accompanied by a Bid Guarantee in the form of a Bid Bond, Certified Check or Bank Draft in an amount equal to and not less than ten percent (10%) of the bid and made payable to the Board of Trustees, Riverside Public Library. No bid shall be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days after the bid opening date without the consent of the Owner. Checks or drafts of unsuccessful Bidders will be returned as soon as practical, after opening and checking the bids. Successful Bidder must provide a Performance Bond and a Labor and Material Payment Bond in the full amount of the Contract, acceptable to the Owner.

Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked as SEALED BID and addressed to: Janice Foley Library Director Riverside Public Library 1 Burling Road Riverside, IL 60546

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities in bidding, that are in

A pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., prevailing time, on June 22, 2023 at the Riverside Public Library located at 1 Burling Road, Riverside, IL 60546. Prospective bidders are encouraged to attend. After the pre-bid meeting, everyone is invited to visit the site, gather additional information, and ask further questions. Bidders not attending the pre-bid meeting can make a site visit on their own time during the library’s regular hours. Visitors are asked to sign in at the circulation desk. If the bidder requires access to a staff area, the bidder shall contact the Architect prior to the visit, to make arrangements for access.

Board of Trustees

Riverside Public Library

Riverside, Cook County, Illinois

END OF SECTION 001113

Published in RB Landmark June 14, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE

Request for Bid - 2WD, Regular Cab, Standard Bed Pickup Truck.

Sealed written bids for the River Forest Park District’s 2WD, Regular Cab, Standard Bed, Pickup Truck Purchase, shall be received until 10:00 a.m. local time, June 29, 2023, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Specifications are available at www. rfparks.com starting June 8.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 14, 2023

All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Certified Check, a Cashier’s

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

Published in Wednesday Journal, June 14, 2023

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors 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 Wednesday, July 5, 2023 for the following: Village of Oak Park SCADA Cabinet Replacement Project Number: 23-119

Interested contractors may obtain bid documents from the Village’s Senior Pumping Station Operator, Orlando Velasquez, at (708) 358-5700 or OVelasquez@Oak-Park.US. For questions, contact Orlando Velasquez during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal June 14, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

SUITE 1250, Chicago, IL, 60601 (312) 651-6700. Please refer to file number 19-030291. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

SALE

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

MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC

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

E-Mail: AMPS@manleydeas.com

Attorney File No. 19-030291

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

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

US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST;

Plaintiff,

vs. ALAN SIMKOWSKI; AUSTIN BANK OF CHICAGO; KELLY SIMKOWSKI; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS;

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on February 27, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at

AM on July 5, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 1820 SOUTH

3RD AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153

Property Index No. 15-14-305-022-

0000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $50,404.15.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

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

For information, contact MANLEY DEAS KOCHALSKI LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, ONE EAST WACKER,

Attorney Code. 48928

Case Number: 2022 CH 11588

TJSC#: 43-934

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2022 CH 11588

I3221473

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST;

Plaintiff, vs. UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF VINCENT DENARDO

AKA VINCENT J. DENARDO JR.;

413 SOUTH HOME AVENUE CONDOMINIUM INC.; JASON DENARDO; KAREN DOHERTY; SAM DENARDO; THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR VINCENT J. DENARDO

JR.; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS;

Defendants,

22 CH 9109

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate:

P.I.N. 16-07-323-047-1001.

Commonly known as 413 Home Ave, Unit 1A , Oak Park, IL 60302. The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g)

(4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 1446185825

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3221634

Defendants,

22 CH 10656

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate:

P.I.N. 16-08-106-001-0000.

Commonly known as 330 N. Ridgeland Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act.

Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 1496188556

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com

I3221639

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

FLAGPOLE Council deadlocks

from page 1

MIA-POW can’t be displayed without village council approval.

While the commissioners approved the new flag policy without much issue, Maxham expressed concern about the costs, while Nero questioned whether it was the best way to spend the money, given the financial pressures Forest Park is facing.

With Commissioner Jessica Voogd absent, the vote was split 2-2, and the motion was defeated. But her presence wouldn’t have changed the vote – Voogd told the Review that she had similar concerns and would have voted against it.

Forest Park Village Hall currently has a flagpole at the southeast corner of the parking lot. It usually flies the U.S, state and village flags, and it currently flies Juneteenth and Pride flags.

Under the newly adopted policy, which only applies to village-owned flagpoles, there are only five flags that the village can display without council permission -- the

three government flags that are up there now, the Cook County flag and the MIAPOW fla g. The policy specifically states that they can be displayed “as space allows.”

The policy sets the procedure for displaying “commemorative flags” -- which, as Hoskins clarified during the meeting, means any flag that doesn’t re present a government entity. He used Juneteenth and Pride flags as examples.

A request to fly such a flag must come from either the mayor or one of the commissioners at least 60 days in advance, and the flag can only be displayed for up to 31 calendar days.

During the June 12 meeting, Nero wondered why the village needed a flag policy at all. Hoskins responded that he wanted to make sure future councils have guidance on how to deal with “different suggestions” they may get.

He said that he wanted an extra flagpole because, “generally, the protocol is not to have five flags, it’s to have three.” He wanted to fly the county flag in addition to the current three government flags because the village is “a member of Cook County,” and he also wanted to have room to fly commemorative flags because it was important

for the village to reco gnize minority groups and make them feel like they’ re seen.

Hoskins said that he planned to bring the installation of a new flagpole to the council last year, but it got pulled from the agenda after commissioners expressed concerns about costs. But the flagpole was already ordered, and it has been stored at the Public Works building “for some months now.”

“We have the policy, but we also [need to] have the infrastructure - we can’t have five flags flying on one pole,” Hoskins said.

Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin said that she supported the idea because she wanted to have room to display the flags and because, as things stand, lowering the flags half-mast would bring some of them too close to the ground.

Maxham, who serves as the Commissioner of Accounts & Finance, asked about the cost of the installation, saying that she was under the impression that it was around $2,000. Public Works Director Sal Stella responded that it was true last year – but the costs have since gone up to around $3,000 due to the general increases in labor costs.

She also said that, while “there are valid reasons” for having a second flagpole, it couldn’t be called essential. And while Maxham said that there was value in doing

some things that are technically not essential – such as beautification – she wasn’t sure this was one of those instances.

“It’s hard, you know, when we’re cashstrapped and can’t fund our pensions,” she said.

Nero took a harder line, saying that, while “only $3,000 there, only $4,000” can quickly add up, and he noted that the village already spent money on Pride flag banners along Madison Street and painted a small section of the street in Pride colors, all without weighting the financial impact.

Hoskins said that while he was sympathetic to those concerns, he felt that the benefits of holding festivals and displaying banners reco gnizing minority groups was a worthy tradeof f. Melin-Ro govin ag reed saying that when it comes to attracting new residents, something perhaps not considered essential by a village official might be essential to a prospective resident.

“If we boil it all down, there’s only one flag that suffices, it’s the one right here,” Nero responded, pointing at the American flag behind the dais. “So, you only need one pole, one flag that re presents everybody in United Sates of America. Everything else is gilding a lily.”

Her expertise has been invaluable for Oak Park and she will be greatly missed.

Please join the community to celebrate Tammie and her years of dedicated public service during a reception at Village Hall on Wednesday, June 21 from 2 - 4 p.m.

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

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

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

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

A safe & smart choice.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

99% OF OUR CALEDONIA STAFF IS VACCINATED

LEVEL UP YOUR GAME YMCA ESPORTS

at Dominican University

The West Cook YMCA is launching a new program, ESPORTS. A collection of competitive sports played through a video game requiring the use of strategy, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills to achieve individual or team success. It’s bigger than ‘just gaming’. Esports allows youth to be engaged in a nontraditional sports program.

ESPORTS at the Y welcomes youth to be who they are, excel at what they love, and develop the social, strategic, and problem-solving skills necessary to grow into thriving adults all in a safe, moderated, and inclusive environment.

The West Cook YMCA wants you to Level up your game!

Multi-platform gaming including HP Omen Gaming Desktop and Nintendo Switch.

SEASON: June 26-August 4

> Play for 3 or 6 weeks

DIVISIONS:

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

4th-6th grades play 10:00 am-12:00 pm

7th-8th grade play 8:00 am-10:00 am

FEES:

> $180 for 3 weeks

> $360 for 8 weeks

ESPORTS AT THE Y PROMOTES

Teamwork Leadership Online Safety Individual Growth Equity Focus