e owners so -launched with open mic nights while they renovate their century-old building
By JACK HELBIG Contributing Reporter
Emily Ramire z and her husband Chase Maness are painstakingly renovating the building, which was erected between 1913 and 1915 (records vary) for the past few years. First, they renovated the upstairs apartments
TODD BANNOR
1,600 students take classes the summer, up 60% from the year before
By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
Summer school enrollment at Proviso High School Township District 209 is continuing to climb.
This summer, D209 has 1,600 students enrolled in summer school district wide, with approximately 750 students at Proviso West.
Proviso Math and Science Academy students take summer school at their home school.
Summer school started Monday, June 17 with free registration up to May 31. After May 31, registration was $100.
“It [enrollment] is higher than years past,” said Interim Supt. Alex Aschoff. “I will say this, the numbers are taken with a grain of salt.”
Aschoff said that last year, the district had just over 1,000 students enrolled
The enrollment numbers can “ebb and flow” depending on student needs, said Aschoff.
According to Aschoff, there are about 300 students who are enrolled in summer school for original credit and/or enrichment, meaning they did not have to take summer school, but chose to.
This is possible because the district is increasing their original credit offerings and enrichment activities.
“Some students are on track with their credit earnings and are seeking original credit courses to essentially get a head in their credit work,” Aschoff said.
During the superintendent report for the June board meeting, board member Arbdella Patterson raised concern over the number of enrolled students, including those enrolled for Edgenuity, which is a credit recovery online option designed for students who did not successfully earn credit in the traditional classroom setting.
“I am real concerned because the president of the teachers union stood there and said it was best to have teachers stand before students and it looks like we are offering a bit of Edgenuity,” Patterson said. “I am confused. I thought we needed teachers and that is one of the reasons why we kinda went back to all of the teachers.”
Patterson did not respond to requests for comment. Credit recovery is of fered for English, math, science, and social studies.
Data showed that for session 1 of summer school there were 506 students at East and 485 students at West enrolled in Edgenuity. For session 2 of summer school, there were 355 students at East and 327 students at West enrolled at the time of the June 11 meeting
“The number is high, I will say that,” Aschoff said. But why has enrollment in summer school increased for students who need to ear n back those credits? There can be various factors, said Aschoff. One is the doing away with the 50% rule, which goes back to its adoption in 2020.
The policy itself was the notion that with grades, thinking on a percent scale of 0 to 100, it was a policy that no student could earn any less than a 50%.
“That means that if a student didn’t do the work, their grade would be a 50%,” said Aschoff. “There was no zero.”
According to Aschoff, the Proviso board of education adopted the 50% grading policy in December 2020, but later rescinded the policy in August 2023.
“I think we are seeing some of the effects of that decision,” Aschoff said, adding it may be a slight factor in why summer school numbers have gone up
Chronic absenteeism has also played a part in the need for summer school.
According to the 2023 Illinois Report Card, Proviso D209 scored a 66.4% in chronic absenteeism, meaning that is the percentage of students who missed 10% or more of school days per year with or without a valid excuse
“We certainly do have to look at that,” Aschoff said. “We do closely monitor our attendance from a district standpoint.”
The Illinois state average for chronic absenteeism is 28.3%.
Aschoff said the district implemented a guide for attendance offices and building administrators to help support the drive to better attendance.
The first step is better communication, Aschoff said, adding that personal calls versus robocalls from the district can help improve that communication with parents.
Then comes “wrap around services,” he added.
“Working to put in place items to help provide more of those social emotional services and support structures to get
at the ‘why’ students are not attending,” Aschoff said. “Those are going to be important things to put in place.”
With the recent reintroduction of deans, Aschoff said he believes that will help bring back those structures, allowing assistant principals to free up a lot of their time to get to that ‘why.’
Aschoff said the curriculum and assessment committee, for med of teachers, met to engage and plan around the core areas of curriculum and assessment to help maximize instruction during the school year
“Leaning on these opportunities because we don’t have department chair division heads,” Aschoff said. “We are trying to work within the boundaries that we have to ultimately support our students as best we can.”
“You’ve seen our test scores, we are struggling as a district with our performance with math and English, which is why we need to do everything we can during the school year, trying to put things in place that will help support our instruction and instruction goals for our district,” Ashcoff said.
Credit recovery opportunities are also available during the school year, he added, saying that counselors meet with students throughout the year to talk about graduation requirements.
If students fail to meet the credits to move up to the next grade level, they will not be promoted to the next grade level.
“Ultimately, the goal is to graduate on time,” Aschoff said. “If students aren’t taking advantage of this it is really about having those conversations to work with the parent and work with the student.”
Monday, July 1, All Day, Park District of Forest Park
Explore “We Move Together ” by Anne McGuire and Kelly Fritsch on the grounds of the Park District of Forest Park throughout July. This Storywalk is in honor of Disability Pride, inviting families and individuals of all ages to enjoy the book while strolling through The Park.7501 Harrison St., Forest Park
Friday, June 28, 6:30-11 p.m.,
Robert’s Westside
Rober t’s Westside presents an evening with The Menards and special guest Naomi Ashley Band. Purchase tickets at https:// tinyurl.com/2v84pjf4, 7321 Madison St., Forest Park.
Saturday, June 29, 3 - 5 p.m., Forest Park Public Library - The Grove
Join an interactive outdoor science extravaganza with special guest science pro and magician Steve Belliveau. Discover mysteries of science with fun experiments and activities designed for kids of all ages and their families. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the library. For accessibility needs, please contact us at ys@fppl.org or call 708-689-6126. Register at https:// tinyurl.com/yzz3kjct, 7824 Madison St. adjacent to The Altenheim, Forest Park
Thursday, June 27, 6 - 8 p.m., Table and Lain Summer is here which means it’s Tiki Season. In this cocktail class you will learn how to create and build 3 di erent tiki cocktails while preparing 2 for yourself to sip on. Within the 2 hour class, you will learn how to make syrups, garnishes, and balance avors inside the world of Tiki cocktails. Snacks will also be provided to eat while shaking up some delicious cocktails. https://www.tablelain.com, 7322 Madison St., Forest Park
Wednesday, July 3,12-2 p.m., Forest Park Public Library
The Forest Park Public Library’s Austin Room hosts a special community gathering for older adults (55+). This week, enjoy a gentle workshop exploring Hula Chants with June Tanoue. Dress comfortably and engage in enriching conversation and activities. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ ynph38fr, 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park
Sunday, June 30, 4 - 6 p.m., Du y’s Tavern
Join fellow readers for a serene and communal experience of silent reading in the intimate open-air cour tyard at Du y ’s Tavern. Discover new books and enjoy a peaceful atmosphere. Space is limited, so reserve your spot now. Register at https://tinyurl. com/4ne9fpc7, 7513 Madison St., Forest Park
Thursday, June 27, 7 - 8:30 p.m., Forest Park Public Library - Community Room
A sociable creative circle for knitters, crochet enthusiasts, macrame and embroidery makers, or quilters, led by Karen Wiebe. Beginners and experienced crafters welcome. Register at https:// tinyurl.com/yadxtbt2, 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park
July 2, 6:15 p.m., Robert’s Westside Rober t’s Westside Tuesday Night Open Jam is hosted by Pocket Candy. Sign-up sheet available at 6 p.m. Enjoy $5 Pint Night with all drafts. Doors open at 3 p.m., performances start at 6:30 p.m. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park
‘Next Stop:Forest Park,’ aims to keep the village’s name at the forefront
By KATHERINE FRAZER Contributing Reporter
Forest Park’s new marketing campaign aims to welcome new faces to the community and support those who call the village home.
Named “Next Stop: Forest Park,” this endeavor from the Chamber of Commerce and Development highlights Forest Park’s sense of community and character for all to see As a nod to what visitors might see and hear when approaching Forest Park on public transportation, “Next Stop: Forest Park,” highlights all the area has to offer and encourages visitors and tourism.
Laurie Kokenes, the executive director of
Forest Park’s Chamber of Commerce and Development, said this new marketing campaign is part of the Chamber’s comprehensive plan to promote the village
“We just felt it was critically important to have a comprehensive campaign that just continually promotes all the great things about Forest Park,” Kokenes said.
The Chamber, which promotes local business and the community through social media and booklets for residents, hopes that the combined marketing efforts will continue to position Forest Park as a place for all people and all businesses to thrive.
“It’s really about promoting Forest Park’s unique character and strong sense of community, raising awareness of all there is to do in Forest Park, and showcasing our unique events,” Kokenes said.
Brainstorming for a new marketing plan started in 2016 when the Chamber of Commerce and Development presented a plan to the village and requested funding for im-
provements on Madison Street. With the council’s approval, $20,000 was used to create a shopping and dining guide, bring new light post banners, and promote holiday events on the street.
In addition to showcasing the events in Forest Park, like RibFest, Garage Galleries, and the Holiday Walk, the Chamber wanted to highlight just how great the downtown area is.
Highlighting the shopping, dining, and overall character of the area was a high priority.
“We always hear about how walkable our downtown is, so we want to showcase our downtown business district and walkability there,” Kokenes said. “We just wanted to keep Forest Park’s name at the forefront and continue to drive traffic.”
In 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic wound down, Chamber members noted the need for continued promotion of Forest Park Asking for $40,000 per year for three years, the village approved the request to invest in funds for marketing and final approval
took place in late 2023.
The most recent round of funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA These funds from the federal gover nment are designed to aid communities in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Following COVID, it really became more critical to beef up advertising and just remind people that we have a lot of great small businesses here, and how important it is to promote them,” Kokenes said.
For Kokenes, the community’s reception to the new plan reflects the worthwhile efforts put into creating this new campaign. She said that reactions to the new marketing plan have been overwhelmingly positive.
“We’ve gotten so many compliments on the direction of the design and how it sort of speaks and can be used in so many different ways,” Kokenes said. “The overall message is, with so much to see and do in Forest Park, one stop is never enough.”
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
T he Cook County Clerk’s Office is holding a back-to-school event July 20 in which parents can g et a copy of their child’s bir th certificate for school re gistration. Birth ce rt ificates are required for children to re gister for school. T he Saturday event is largely for wo rk ing f amilies, wh o are li ke ly unable to visit the C lerk’s Office of Vi tal Re cords during the re g ular 9-to-5 wo rk day.
“We are pleased to be offering these extended hours to accommodate f amilies with busy schedules,” said Clerk Cedric Giles in a statement.
Giles became clerk after his predecessor Karen Yarborough passed in April.
On July 20, those looking for a copy of their child’s birth certificate can visit the Clerk’s Office of Vital Records in Chicago,
Markham, Maywood or Skokie.
In order to obtain a copy of a child’s birth ce rt ificat e, the child must be bo rn in C ook C ounty and the adult must be the child’s parent or le g al g uardian. Adults need a valid p hoto ID and $15 for the birth ce rt ificate copy, p lus $4 for each additional copy.
“Whether your child is starting kindergarten, or your teenager is entering high school, having their birth certificate on-hand is essential for enrollment and a smooth start to the school year,” Giles said in a statement.
T hose unable to attend back-to-school certificate day can request a copy of a child’s birth certificate online, by phone or mail, or at a local cu rrency exchange.
T he Clerk’s Office of Vital Records is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 20 at the following locations:
■ 118 N. C lark St., Room 120, Chicago, IL 60602
■ 1311 Maybrook Square (Whitcomb Building), Room 104, Maywood, IL 60153
■ 16501 S. Kedzie, Room 238, Markham, IL 60428
■ 5600 W. Old Orchard Road, Room 149, Skokie, IL 60077
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The CTA has withdrawn its proposal to install an LED billboard in the parking lot of the Blue Line’s Forest Park stop.
CTA officials confirmed the withdrawal, but of fered no other details to the Review.
In April, the CTA applied for a conditional use application with the village’s department of public health and safety to put a billboard at the Forest Park L stop. Because 711 Des Plaines Ave. is in an industrial district, the village needed to pass a conditional use permit for the billboard.
But at a planning and zoning commission meeting May 20, board members voted against recommending that the village council approve the billboard’s conditional use permit.
“I think it’s going to stick out like a proverbial sore thumb as you drive up and down Des Plaines,” Kevin Hibbits, a planning and zoning commission board member said of the billboard at the May 20 meeting.
Outfront Media, the billboard company, did not respond to request for comment.
Withdrawing the billboard’s conditional use application is likely a result of the commission’s vote against recommending to the village council that they approve the conditional use permit. The planning and zoning commission vote was largely a result of resident pushback.
Most board members who voted to not recommend the permit said it would violate the second point of the village’s criteria for a conditional use permit: “That the conditional use will not be injurious to the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity for the purposes already permitted, nor substantially di-
minish and impair property values within the neighborhood.”
“I don’t see anything that shows me that it will not impair values and reduce the enjoyment of other property nearby,” said commission board member Kerri McBride during the May 20 meeting.
“We are witnessing the injury and lack of enjoyment right here, with all these people speaking their concerns,” said Scott Whitebone, a planning and zoning commission board member
Those who have spoken during public comment at the planning and zoning commission meetings and village council meetings since April 15 have expressed concerns about the billboard being too bright, tall and distracting.
“If this request is approved, I and all the other condo owners with eastern exposures will be exposed to a giant, flashing video board all day and all night,” said Gene Armstrong, who lives in the Residences at the Grove on Van Buren Street said at a commission meeting. “This is a gross disruption to our right to the quiet enjoyment of our property.”
“It’s ugly, it’s an eyesore, it’s going to be glaring into our windows and our neighbors’ windows,” Bridgett Rummel of Lathrop Avenue told the Review in the past. “For something that big and intrusive, it doesn’t bring any revenue to our town.”
After the announcement that the billboard’s conditional use application was withdrawn, one resident said she felt relieved
“I think the amount of opposition was critical, but also having it be heard by the zoning commissioners, and then the council, was key,” said Bernadette McLain of Lathrop Avenue. “I’m just happy that they arrived at the right decision.”
Don’t miss this sale: June 28, 29, 30 � 10 am - 4 pm 547 Marengo Ave, Forest Park
Many quality items at reasonable prices. Kitchen
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
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.
from page 1
(where Ramire z and her husband now live) and then they set their sights on the storefront downstairs.
That space is set to become the BABS Comedy Club and is still very much a work in progress.
Yet Ramire z is happy enough with how the renovation has progressed that she began last week hosting an open mic on Thursday nights.
“I’m not sure what to expect tonight,” Ramirez emailed me the afternoon before her first open mic, “I’m calling the mic “Comedy Under Construction” for reasons that are abundantly clear to anybody walking into the space. lol.”
Ramirez gave me a tour of the space in early June. “You would be coming through this door,” she says, pointing to the entrance. “This bree zeway would be closed in by these vintage double doors. And then that’s where ticketing would happen.” She points to an empty space against the wall.
Two steps forward, and we are standing in an open room, high ceilings and an exposed wood floor. There is no stage yet, and no rows of chairs facing the space where the tage will be. Above us is a ceiling of stamped tin covered in thick white paint.
“So, we’ve been painstakingly taking that down so that we can access the plumbing,” Ramirez says, pointing to a place where the tin has been peeled away. Most of plumbing, she said, is still the original cast iron.
“My husband and I just did this framing and plumbing over the weekend.”
The restoration of the building at 7316 Madison has been the largest undertaking they have done so far. Ramire z clearly relishes the challenge.
“My husband and I have been homeowners of old 100-plus-year-old homes for 20 years. So this will be our third building in the same age group that we’ve restored. And my husband is an engineer. He really enjoys restoration. I love restoration.”
an amazing trial by fire, and we absolutely loved the process.”
The profits from the sale of that building helped finance Maness’ return to colle ge. The next early 19th century house they renovated was in Berwyn, where they relocated in 2016 because both wanted to live in the Chicago area. Even as the two were working on the house in Berwyn, Ramirez was looking for a place that could be turned into a club.
“We like to go on long walks at night,” Ramirez said, “and one night we ended up on Madison, and I was like, what a great little chunk of town. It’s just got a great feel to it.”
It was on one of those walks through Forest Park that Ramire z and Maness spotted their cur rent building.
building September 15, 2023, and started work on renovating immediately. ***
Ramirez didn’t always want to be a comedy club owner. When Ramirez was three, growing up in Houston, Texas, she wanted to be a ballerina after she saw one on the Mister Rogers Neighborhood television show. While lots of girls at three want to be ballerinas, Ramirez actually became one.
Ramirez danced professionally for 10 years, working first for a ballet company in Columbus, Ohio (BalletMet) and then for a company in Charlotte, North Carolina (then called North Carolina Dance Theater, now Charlotte Ballet.)
named Charlie and a Pomeranian female named Sophie].”
Ramirez and her husband had already purchased their home in Berwyn when the national tour of Phantom ended. Instead of joining a different touring show, Ramirez found jobs in local productions – she appeared in Drury Lane Oakbrook’s production of Evita – and began working her way into the local comedy scene, taking classes at Second City and I/O.
Ramire z and Maness renovated thei r first house in 2008, “a 1915 Dutch c olonial in C olumbus, Ohi o. ” T he house was “technically unlivable” when they firs t move d in
“We didn’t have electricity. We didn’t have plumbing. We basically camped in it. Luckily, we were in our early 20s. But it was
“I liked this space. The vibe of the building felt really good to me. And it’s a prime location. It’s really easily walkable to both the green and the blue lines of the CTA. And I love, love the demo graphic here in Forest Park; it’s like a really nice mix, you know, racially, socioeconomically. That diversity is a really important part of comedy doing well.”
Ramirez and her husband closed on the
“My 9 to 5 job was as a professional ballerina. A lot of people would be like, what was your real job? I’m like, that is my real job.”
Ramirez’s career as a dancer was cut shor t when, at 29, she fractured her ACL. So, she started performing in musicals, first in regional shows, and then, later in a national tour of The Phantom of the Opera.
It was while touring that Ramire z realized she did not like life on the road. “I hated being away from my husband, and my dogs [a long-haired male chihuahua
She wrote, directed, and appeared in various local comedy shows. She also joined the house improv team, The Comedy Shrine Players, at a comedy club in Aurora, the Comedy Shrine. When the club abruptly closed in June, 2022, the victim flagging post-Covid audiences, Ramirez found herself “with all of these friends of mine who I loved playing with. I felt just heartbroken that they didn’t have this home to perform in anymore. And I was like, well, you know, I’m going to, I’m going to make that home.”
Hence BABS Comedy Club
BABS is short for Bad A** B******, because, according to its website, that’s how Ramirez’s closest friends lovingly refer to her Ramirez said she thinks the comedy club will be finished and fully open in late Sep-
By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter
Photos by TODD BANNOR
Revelers who attended German Fest in the Altenheim Grove last Friday and Saturday got their first taste of what Germans refer to as “gemütlichkeit.”
“Gemütlichkeit,” or warmth, good cheer and friendliness, describes the village’s fest as hundreds of people sat at tables in a huge, open-air tent and lifted 20-ounce steins of German style beer, while singing with a live polka band named Paloma and eating platefuls of bratwurst, sauerkraut, large war m pretzels and a dessert called “bienenstich,” or bee-sting cake,
For those with deep roots in German culture, it’s a nostalgic trip back to where their hearts still reside. The two-day virtual excursion into Bavaria is hosted jointly every year by the Harlem Maenner und Damen Chor and the Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress, or D.A.N.K West.
German Fest is less a fundraiser — with admission $2 — and more an occasion for German Americans to celebrate their culture and share it with those of other ethnic backgrounds.
Many of the German Americans pouring beer, serving brats and taking tickets were born in Europe after World War II, and are part of a generation we would call the Baby Boomers. All of them interviewed by the Review have lived in the Chicago area for decades, but nevertheless think of Germany as their “heimat,” their home
Hilda Lorenz said she was born outside Berlin and was brought here by her parents when she was two. Peter Herde g said he grew up in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Many were born here. The parents of Andrew Pfaff Cross, for example, emigrated from Stuttgart. Alfred Mueller’s father came from Leipzig and his mother from a German enclave in Ukraine
All four said they found homes away from home in “vereine,” or clubs, where they could speak German and be comfortable with people who share the same culture.
For Herdeg, it was the Harlem Manner
und Damen Chor singing verein, a group of which he is now president.
Pfaff Cross joined the Rheinischer Verein, a Mardi Gras club, and is also a member along with Lorenz of the Egerlander Folk Dance Group. Mueller said he has been a member of D.A.N.K. West for years.
Fred Leinweber is 20 years younger than the German Americans interviewed and did not speak German at home. It was while learning the language in high school, college, and during trips to Germany, he said, that he fell in love with German culture — so much so, that he is now the President of D.A.N.K. West.
Instead of saying that his home is in Germany, he describes his identity this way: “I am an American and I’m proud of my German heritage.”
He said he is proud of the many contribu-
tions Germans – 41 million of them, according to the 2020 census— have made to American culture like architecture, a strong work ethic, food and of course beer. At one time, German was the language used in worship in three Lutheran churches and the Baptist church in Forest Park The cornerstone of St. Paul Thai Lutheran Church reads, “Evangelische Luteranische Kirche, 1899.
In 2014 Peter Herdeg, the current president of the Mannerchor, worked with the village and D.A.N.K. to resurrect the festival, which had been dormant for years, and host it in the Altenheim Grove. Because the months of September and October are full of Oktoberfest events in the Chicago area, it was decided to have a festival in the spring.
All proceeds from admissions and the sale of food will go to the two hosting nonprofits.
Le : A barmaid in traditional dress holds a big stein of beerSchlager
Forest Park celebrated love, diversity and equality over the weekend in its annual Pride celebrations at Constitution Court. Revelers were treated to an evening of live music, drag performances, food, drinks, and so much more. Pride Fest was co-hosted by the Village of Forest Park, OPALGA+, Play It Again Sports and Robert’s Westside.
State Re p. and Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch held his 3rd annual Juneteenth Festival, a celebration of Emancipation Day. Festivities included live local performances, a bounce house and delectable food and drink. It was free and open to the public.
Le : Prov iso West Drum Corp per forms Below: Former Secretar y of State Jesse White
‘Naysayers will say that the year has been terrible,’ but David Ocampo says show him the proof
By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
David Ocampo knew there was a lot of work to be done when he chose to r un for a seat on the Proviso High School Township Board of Education. In fact, it was part of what his slate focused on.
“It’s multifaceted, but essentially it ’s for the children, and not only my children,” Ocampo in a March 2023 i nterview. “The cu rrent situation at the high school is aby smal – there is no nice way to say it. It needs to be a viable option not j ust for my children but the c ommunity ’s children. ”
But after a year on the board, Ocampo said there is a lot more work to do
“I f eel li ke there have b een some wins.” Ocampo said. “The nays ayer s will say that the year has b een terrible. My counter to that would be ‘show your proof.’ People will stand up on the b oar d and make c laims with no substance to back it up, b ut p eople will buy it. Th at is the problem.”
But the year, and those wins, have been overshadowed by the district’s search for a new superintendent after James L. Henderson resigned last August.
It was a search fraught with controversy.
According to Ocampo, the board was close to appointing a new superintendent from among three final candidates when the search was paused amid some board and community members’ opposition.
“It has gone terribly, not because of the leadership, but because of people’s indifference,” Ocampo said, echoing for mer board president Amanda Grant. She has publicly said that certain board members did not fully participate in the search and that politics had come into play.
“It’s no surprise that Proviso is entrenched in politics, it’s no surprise. We can just be direct there,” Ocampo said. “As Amanda said, there was a lot of political pressure. It’s unfortunate that the strings … there were certain individuals that were being pushed by the powers at bay.”
C hoosing a superintendent by the star t
of the new school year “logically” is looking good for the district, he said.
“I don’ t see any person willing to it all,” Ocampo said. “The goal is yes, g et in someone by the start of the school year. T he likelihood of Let’s be honest.”
He explained that as the b oard was t rying to navig ate the search and other members tempted to talk with those who had o bjections, but they we re always successful.
“I do not have a strong enough wo rd,” Ocamp said. “There we re b oar members that didn their homewo rk . T we re b oard members tha did not c ome prep T here we re b oard members who did not show up at all. What d oes that tell you about the process? This is 90% of our is to select and maintain a superintendent. W hen yo u do n’ t show up, wh at are you telling me? ”
re not treated equally. Patterson said
during an April board meeting. “We need search over. We paid these people $30,000 what we got.”
She was not able to be for additional
ommunity members also expressed the importance of a superinreflected the s population.
Pavone has that admin background and knows what to do when,” Ocampo said.
However, he said, there is front r unner: Krish Mohip, from the Chicagoland area.
According to Ocampo, from the best of his knowledge, Mohip had expressed that he would still accept a position, but Ocampo said he does not believe that opportunity “would be afforded to him.”
Mohip, currently the chief education officer for the Illinois State Board of Education, could not be reached for comment.
process? is is 90% of our work is to select and maintain a superintendent. When you don’t show up, what are you telling me?”
DAVID OC A MPO
Part of what slowed down the search was a call for a “re-do” from fellow board member Arbdella Patterson, who claimed
“The district need s ho will d eal ompassion for our amilies, teachf,” said Vi lMaywood Mayo r George Booker April b oard meeting. Booker a dde d that D209 needed a superho re presented the population of Provis o. Ocampo said searching a candidate of color was a critical part of the process. According to the 2023 Illinois Re port Card, 60.7% of the student population is Hispanic. T hose students have been the largest demo graphic in the district for the past six years.
But while there was a Latino candidate in the pool, Ocampo said they simply did not make the cut.
“Making it the only c riteria is a mistake, ” Ocampo said.
If no superintendent is selected, he a dded, the p lan is to c ontinue as is with the two current interim superintendents, A lexander Aschof f and Lu ke Pavone
“Mr. Aschof f has that institutional knowledge, that district knowledge, and
T he next election for the District 209 school b oard will be in April 2025. It will be a ke y election cycle as f our of seve n seats will be open. Patterson, Grant, Ro d ney A lexander and S amuel Valtierre z all hold seats that will be on the ballot. It is unclear wh ich of the f our migh t r un for r eelection. But with a majorit y of seats on the b allot it c ould lead to a powe r shift .
Ocampo said that any new b oard should be aligned about the district’s g oals, something the cu rrent b oard hasn’t discussed .
“We went through a b oard r etreat once b ut it was not productive, it ended up being almost Je r ry Springer li ke,” Ocampo said.
Despite the differences, Ocampo said he believes the current board could work well tog ether.
“All things are possible,” he said.
For the upcoming school year, Ocampo said his key concerns are security, discipline and working alongside f amilies to set an academic standard for students
He said the district may need to dismantle some practices currently in place.
“It is tactics. I would like to establish a security task force and understand at a high level what are the key concerns,” he said.
To begin that, the board has approved hiring deans again in an attempt to free assistant principals’ time.
Ocampo also said they need to improve communication with parents and guardians to address academic and chronic absenteeism concer ns.
In all, Ocampo said that ending the year with a new contract with higher pay for teachers was a highlight often overlooked. T he increase could attract high-quality instructors to the district, he said.
Congratulations to the Forest Park Review and Growing Community Media for its reco gnition by the Illinois Press Association. The Review and GCM’s protection of our community’s right to know about our local government, both in its administration and use of public funds, is a hallmark of the existential role that all journalism plays in our democracy.
To have a community-supported or -owned local newspaper is a true blessing, which is why we subscribe and hope all community members will subscribe to the Forest Park Review as its best defense against anti-democratic forces — especially as independent local and national newspapers and media dwindle. Who or what owns a newspaper or media outlet should not make a difference as to how it handles its role under the First Amendment. Yet today it does
The Review and GCM have the obligation to re port news about local and national events that threaten the existence of our democracy. The truth must be placed in full context, never presenting alternative misinformation to give a pho-
ny bipartisan veneer, which only creates confusion and cynicism.
Organized extremists by and through their media outlets have run roughshod over the truth since the 2020 presidential election, refusing to accept defeat by claiming that the election was rigged. Despite losing dozens of court cases, these misinformed people have still not accepted reality.
Rather, their media outlets and politicians continue to thwart ef for ts to successfully govern this county to the detriment of this community and the world. Exhibit A is their attack on undocumented persons by calling them a threat to our country, while FBI statistics prove that the undocumented persons are not responsible for increases in crime, which is also, actually, decreasing. Yet the ongoing glaring national attention by the media props up this fear.
Only a healthy two-pa rt y system, free of co rr uption, enables us to speak truth to powe r. N ot j ust to survive, bu t to flourish.
Kathleen Horne
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
On June 20, police were dispatched to the 7400 block of Washington Street for a report of a car following a girl estimated to be about 15 years old. The woman who called the police told them that she was driving when she saw a man in a maroon Hyundai Sonata start talking to a girl who was walking. Although the witness couldn’t make out the conversation, she said the girl looked scared. She asked the girl if she was okay, and the girl told her she didn’t know the man, but he asked her to get in his car, according to the police report The woman offered her a ride, police said, but the girl continued walking home and the man drove away
Police were dispatched to Elgin Avenue June 18 for a suspicious person with a brick standing outside an apartment building. When a resident came home, the man was standing there. When the resident asked him to leave, the man approached him with the brick and threatened to hit him with it The man went to his car to call the police. Because the man refused to leave the property, police placed him in custody before discovering he had two serviceable warrants out of Cook County.
On June 19, a woman walked into Dunkin’ Donuts and grabbed a 16-ounce Prairie Farm milk from the refrigerator and attempted to walk out without paying, according to a police report. When an employee confronted her, the woman pushed the employee and left with the milk, police said. The employee said they would file complaints if the woman was found.
Also on June 19, a young man came in to buy a bag of chips, according to a police report. A verbal argument broke out between the man and employees, a witness told police. Then the man reached across the counter and took about $150 from the cash register at Subway, according to a police report
When police heard that the Melrose Park Police Department was in pursuit of a car for an attempted armed robbery June 19, they helped in response efforts. The car’s driver committed an aggravated assault with a handgun toward a Melrose Park officer at the beginning of the pursuit, according to the police report. The pursuit ended when the car got stuck in the 1200 block of South 18th Avenue in Maywood, officials said in the report. The Melrose Park Police Department took the offender into custody.
On June 20, police were conducting compliance checks for the Illinois Tobacco Compliance Enforcement Program. They sent a 17-year-old youth agent into Jimmys Tobacco on Harlem Avenue, where he asked to buy Swisher Sweets Ligarillos, according to the police report The clerk rang up the teenager and didn’t ask for his photo ID. The woman was given a local ordinance citation for unlawfully selling tobacco to someone under the age of 21.
Police were dispatched to Pioneer Tap June 21 for a noise complaint. According to the police report, when they arrived minutes after 1 a.m., police found six people sitting at the bar, which closes at 1 a.m. When police ask ed the bartender for her name in order to give Pioneer Tap a local ordinance citation, she provided a fake name, officials said. She later provided her correct name, but was given a citation for obstructing identification, according to the police re port. Pioneer Tap was issued a citation for people occupying the premises after prohibited hours, police said in a report
These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated June 18 through June 21 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.
We are not sure of the combination of forces at work here, but good job Forest Park in convincing, forcing, cajoling the CTA to withdraw its plan to plant a noxious electronic billboard on property it owns, which would tower at close range over homes in the village
Certainly the CTA is scrambling for all sources of revenue. Having its Blue Line ter minus adjacent to the jam-packed Eisenhower Expressway made it a lucrative spot to lease to a billboard company. The transit agency was seeking village approval to spot the LED billboard in the CTA-owned parking lot on the property.
The CTA’s “conditional use application” came before Forest Park’s Planning and Zoning Commission in May. Neighbors, frustrated and concerned, turned out to protest what appeared to be an all-but-certain approval of the billboard. But the volunteer commissioners were moved by neighbors and their legitimate complaints that the roar of the highway and the 24-hour activity at the CTA ter minus were already an imposition on their residential neighborhood. Homeowners, of course, signed on to buy a house right there knowing about the cars and the trains. They did not expect the indignity of having the Lerner and Rowe injury attorneys flashing down at them from what was initially proposed as a 100-foot-plus billboard.
The commission recommended strongly to the village council that the zoning variance be denied. The council never had to make a final decision as the CTA and Outfront Media wisely withdrew their application.
This is a good and a reasonable outcome. Good for the neighbors. Good for the village officials who stood up for their neighbors.
Elected officials who talk candidly to local reporters should always be lauded. It’s part of the job of an elected official to speak to their constituents through the local press. This week we offer thanks to David Ocampo, a board member on the District 209 Proviso Township High School board.
He spoke honestly and broadly to our Amaris Rodriguez about a wide range of issues impacting this high school district. He didn’t spill executive session secrets. He offered credit to his board colleagues for specific accomplishments over the past year. And he expressed hope for further progress
However, he did address the increasing likelihood that D209 will soon begin a second consecutive school year without a permanent superintendent. No one else at the district has spoken plainly about how a professional, year-long search went fully off the rails and brought this troubled district still lower.
As has been the case forever at D209, it was infighting on this fractured board which, at the final moment, crashed a process that had produced three more-than-credible finalists.
We are nine months out from the next D209 school board election. Slates and campaigns should be taking form before 2024 closes. Voters will need to pay attention and choose new board members who are focused on students and who check their egos at the school door
Last month, 61 eighth-graders graduated from the Forest Park Middle School. Will they be prepared for high school, for college, for life? If not, who is to blame?
My daughter graduated from Forest Park Middle School 30 years ago and later on in life she told me that her transition from middle school to high school was harder than her transition from high school to college. In other words, her time in District 91 did not adequately prepare her for the next level.
Who is to blame?
I asked that question to Rodney Alexander, who is a member and past president of the District 209 high school board, which includes Proviso East, Forest Park’s high school.
Rodney is very familiar with being blamed because the performance of Proviso East students on achievement tests is quite poor and many folks blame the board for that record
Last year U.S. News & World Report ranked the school, just across the river from Forest Park, 477 out of 673 high schools in Illinois (#13,242 out of 17,655 nationally) based on students’ “performance on state-required tests, graduation rate and how well they prepare students for college.”
Who is to blame?
Rodney told me to look further upstream, to the feeder elementary schools, for the answer.
“What we inherit at Proviso East,” Rodney explained, “is that 60% of our freshmen come to us reading below the ninth grade level and not proficient in math.”
The statistics for our feeder schools in D91 are less than hoped for.
According to the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR), last year 19.4% of Forest Park’s D91 students did not meet the IAR readiness assessment, 24.2% were partially ready, 21.3% approached readiness expectations, and 33% met or exceeded that level.
My daughter was not well prepared for high school by her eight years in D91, and last year our elementary school district, was ranked 544 out of 823 school districts in Illinois.
Who is to blame?
Alexander contends that the feeder schools deserve the penultimate blame but added that we should look even further upstream from the feeder schools to the homes from which the students come for the ultimate answer to the question.
D91 Superintendent Elizabeth Alvarez agreed with Alexander, saying, “Parents and caregivers play a huge role in how well our children do in school.” Here are a few reasons why:
Home Environment: A supportive home where parents and caregivers provide books, a quiet place to study, and a
routine helps children do better in school.
Expectations: When parents and caregivers expect their children to do well and encourage them, it boosts their motivation and performance.
Involvement: Parents and caregivers who are involved in their children’s education tend to have children who perform better Whose fault is it? Alexander’s answer begins with, “Parents. I’m the first teacher. Before I send my child to anyone I have to teach some things. My job is to teach them how to behave and how to work. Children learn what they see or don’ t see. The temptation is to point to systems to relieve me of my responsibility.”
And maybe it’s possible to go even further upstream than the family. I moved to Forest Park in 1982 and every D91 superintendent I’ve talked to has ag reed that there is a correlation between the socio-economic status of families and their children’s academic achievement.
In a piece posted on the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), David Berliner declares, “The problems of achievement among America’s poor are much more likely to be located outside the school than in it, including health care, food insecurity, pollution, family violence, neighborhood environment and poverty. According to Alexander those factors may explain poor achievement, but they can never be used as excuses. The school board, he contends, has to meet students where they are and take them further
That’s why Dr. Alvarez focused on improvement rather than comparisons. For example, “In 2023 the district’s highest rate of improvement in proficiency was in English language arts, where their score increased by 3.9%, going from 29.2% in 2022 to 33.1% in 2023.
What frustrates Alexander is when the system in general and the teachers in particular don’t put as much effort into education as do their students
Proviso East teachers, he said, had as big an absentee rate last year as the students, and three of the present board members received $20,000 in contributions for their campaigns from the teachers union, with whom they will negotiate contracts
Who’s to blame is an important question but the more important question is how are we — you and I — going to respond to the situation?
There is a new book by Eddie Glaude titled, We are the Leaders We Have Been Looking For. It’s easier to blame than take personal responsibility for repairing what needs fixing
This column is an attempt at diagnosis. Let’s join in working to mitigate, if not cure the problem.
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
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Sales and Marketing Representatives
Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe
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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
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John is preoccupied this week watching his three grandchildren while their mother, Nicole is preoccupied giving birth to her fourth. So he thought this would be an appropriate substitute from his archiv e. It first ran on Sept. 29, 2014:
After launching my second daughter onto the Sea of Matrimony, I feel qualified to give advice on how to be “Father of the Bride.” The process starts long before the wedding, when she’s a little girl.
If your daughter is a tomboy, be proud she’s unafraid to mix it up with the neighborhood kids. But don’t give her a haircut that’s so short, she’s mistaken for a boy. You can offset soccer and softball, by allowing her to enjoy gentler pursuits like tap dance and jazz.
Besides sports and dance, let her explore other activities. This might mean buying her a musical instrument, a sewing machine and a pottery wheel. Don’t be discouraged if they collect dust. She should get a chance to try things she’s not good
at. When she shows a flair for photo graphy, hang one of her works on the wall. If she tells you her heel hurts, believe her! Even if x-rays and exams are ne gative. After the piece of glass finally pops out, never doubt her word again. If her middle-school teacher tells her she has pizzazz, look it up in the dictionary. When you find it means “irresistible charm” have a sign made with the word and the definition.
Take her and her best friend to their first concert. Introduce her to her favorite dessert. Make sure she listens to plenty of Van Morrison. If she asks about f amily history, tell her tales about your crazy aunts and uncles. Take her to a reading of Irish short stories. Invite her to a French musical. Show her some old black-and-white movies.
When she feels guilty about exploring the internet instead of doing her homework, tell her it’s not worth goofing of f if she’s not going to enjoy it. As her beauty grows, walk a few steps behind her in public places. Set your eyes on “laser” and
glare at anyone who tries to stare. Play golf together, just to admire her graceful swing. Give her the rides and spending money she needs. Listen to stories about the antics of her and her high school friends without judgment.
After you drop her of f for her first day of colle ge, don’t be afraid to pull over and cry. Encourage her in the good jobs she finds and trust her judgment when she quits the bad ones. Hope she finds the love of her life. Someone who provides, protects and puts her first.
Make sure he comes from a classy family which also embraces her. Give your wedding guests a taste of Forest Park with candy from La Maison de Bonbon. Hire a rocking band. Hope the groom’s family has an uncle who can tear it up on guitar and a grandpa who still hits the dance floor in his 90s.
During the band’s last song, form a circle around the couple, with both families locking arms.
Your Father of the Bride job may be over but the special bond the two of you have for med will last forever.
John just emailed us the following update: “Nicole had a boy. Luke. Mom and baby are doing well.”
The Forest Paint Co. - Jordan’s Paints proudly showcased their products at their new location, 7250 Franklin St. (corner of Elgin Avenue and Franklin Street) in 1961. The paint production plant also sold paint at this location and was active in the community, sponsoring Little League and participating in sidewalk sales. In 1992 when the building went on the market, it was considered as a new home for the Forest Park Public Library before finally being converted into 16 condominiums.
Jill Wagner
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: G24000214 on June 11, 2024
Under the Assumed Business Name of KEVIN M SHORT PUBLISHING & CONSULTING with the business located at: 1919 MAIN ST #6, MELROSE PARK, IL 60160. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: KEVIN MICHAEL SHORT 1919 MAIN ST #6, MELROSE PARK, IL 60160, USA.
Published in Forest Park Review June 19, 26, July 3, 2024
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: 1-800-6699777.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday 15 July 2024 at 7:00 on in the Council Chambers of Village Hall, 517 Des Plaines Ave, Forest Park Il. the Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider a request for conditional use approval to open an adult cannabis dispensary at the following described property:
CIRCLE PLAZA II LEGAL DESCRIPTION LOTS 1,2,3,4 AND 5 IN BLOCK 1 IN RAILROD ADDITION TO HARLEM
25 South Harlem Ave. Forest Park Il. 60305
The applicant is Ed Warpinski of TC Applico LLC dba BLOC DISPENSARY. The property is owned by Bern Real Estate Circle Plaza II LLC. Further information can be obtained by calling the Department of Public Health and Safety at 708-615-6284
Marsha East, Chair
Published in Forest Park Review June 26, 2024
NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
2024 Fenwick Priory Watermain Loop Installation Project – Design Engineering Services
This project includes design engineering services of a watermain loop project at Fenwick Priory.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Friday, June 21, 2024 at: www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in Wednesday Journal June 26, 2024
