react to attack on Donald Trump
Will attempted assassination impact next month’s convention, where Mayor Hoskins is a delegate?
By ERIKA HOBBS Editor
JESSICA MORDACQ Contributing Reporter
As info rm ation c ontinues to c ome from investi gators over the assassination attempt of for mer Presid ent Donald Trump, the GOP’s c andidate for the 2024 presidential election, I llinois lawmakers and p oliticians are we ighing in on Saturday’s shooting
“Violence is never an acce ptable way to influence public policy, and political violence is not something to take lightly or to joke about,” Rory Hoskins, Mayor of Forest Park and a dele gate at Chicago’s Democratic National Convention in August, told the Review.
Gunfire also killed a 50-year- old Pennsylvania man and wounded two other s.
“I think that all of Fo rest Pa rk was reli eved to learn that the for mer president wasn’t seriously See REACTION on page 14
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Water main replacement to hit Ferdinand Avenue
e project has been moved up because of complication in updating other village streets
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
At a July 8 village council meeting, commissioners and Mayor Rory Hoskins voted to approve the advertising of bids for the Ferdinand Avenue water main replacement and resurfacing project.
The water main would be replaced near Wilcox Street and Ferdinand Avenue and cost an estimated $848,000, which would come out of the village’s water funds and Village Improvement Program funds.
Ferdinand Avenue’s water main replacement was expected to be replaced within the next year or two, according to Village Administrator Rachell Entler.
When the village experienced complications for work on Elgin Avenue from Jackson Boulevard to Madison Street, they de-
cided to shift focus to Ferdinand Avenue.
“An additional main would need to be installed at Harlem and Adams that would significantly increase the cost of the project,” Entler said. “Therefore, it was decided to move on to the next water main replacement project, while the issues on Elgin would be perfor med later on a separate contract.”
The construction on Ferdinand Avenue’s water main comes following years of flooding in that area.
In 2014, the village submitted a grant for water main and storm sewer improvements in the 400 block of Ferdinand Avenue
The Review previously reported that the area of Ferdinand Avenue near this water main replacement is deteriorating. Additionally, the water main is undersized and nearing the end of its life.
Entler said the village council is hopeful that construction on the Ferdinand Avenue water main will begin by September and finish by November this year
Village Clerk Vanessa Belmonte and Village Engineer, Christopher B. Burke Engineering will advertise the bids for the Ferdinand Avenue water main re placement and resurfacing.
Village to renew contract with Chicago Transit Authority
e agreement for special transit police services allows Forest Park o cers to patrol CTA platforms
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The village is looking into continuing its contract with the Chicago Transit Authority for special transit police detail services after a unanimous vote at a July 8 council meeting to approve an intergover nmental agreement.
The potential contract renewal comes after commissioners approved the original contract at a 2016 village council meeting. That intergover nmental agreement details that the Forest Park Police Department will pa-
trol CTA platfor ms on off hours and will be reimbursed by the CTA with no more than $95,000 a year
“The Forest Park police provide security for the Blue Line and Green Line terminal property within Forest Park boundaries,” said Village Administrator Rachell Entler.
The contract from 2016 was drawn up
because, though CTA operates the Ltrain through Forest Park, the safety of CTA passengers, employees and property is a matter of public concer n.
The intergover nmental agreement, signed November 2016, had a term of three years. When it expired in 2019, the agreement re-
mained in effect, pending the execution of a new agreement. Either the CTA or the village can terminate the agreement within 90 days of written notice.
Entler said the new contract is being reviewed by attorneys and will be approved by the village council at a future meeting
JESSICA MOR DACQ
e village's water mains carry potable water from one of two pump stations. e pump station on Jackson Boulevard is pictured here.
BIG WEEK
July 17-24
Patrick Gemkow at Bobby’s Ea stside
July 18, 6-8 p.m., Rober t’s Westside Join us at Bobby’s Eastside for a performance by Patrick . A Chicagolandbased singer/guitarist o ering a blend of classic melodies,
Ghost Hunting 101
Sunday, July 21, 3-4 p.m., Forest Park Public Library West Suburban Paranormal Investigations joins us to go over the ins and outs of ghost hunting. They’ll bring along the tools of the trade, explain
No Glove Nationals Tournament
July 24 - 28, Park District of Forest Park
The teams are set, the rst-round matchups are drawn, and the 2024 Park District of Forest Park No Glove Nationals 16” Softball Tournament is almost here. It draws fans and folks from all over to enjoy this family-friendly tournament. www.facebook.com/ NoGloveNationals, 7501 Harrison St., Forest Park
Use various objects to make your own I Spy bottle. Designed for ages 8 to 10. Register at https://tinyurl. rest
The Mountainaires are a country harmony trio from Chicago, Illinois. Jon Williams plays the guitar and sings. Kenneth Rainey plays the mandolin and sings. Josh Piet plays bass. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/ efcxct2s, 7321 Madison St., Forest Park
Listing
July 20, 10-3 p.m., Roos Recreation den Walk. Explore y.
org. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of the event. Guidebooks are picked up the day of at Roos Recreation Center. 7329 Harrison St., Forest Park
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 ■ Email details to calendar@wjinc.com
Compiled by Brooke Duncan
Another green alley on the way
e village’s latest will likely be installed in the 800 block of omas Avenue and Beloit Avenue
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
At its July 8 meeting, Forest Park’s village council authorized the execution of a proposal for the village’s next green alley in the 800 block of Thomas Avenue and Beloit Avenue.
The green alley will likely be the sixth in the village and is a part of a multi-year long process to reduce flooding in alleyways and their surrounding areas.
“With the way that the alleys are not pitched properly to drain, you’ll often get water that sits after a heavy storm,” Village Administrator Rachell Entler previously told the Review.
So, a contractor will remove the asphalt from the alley 800 block of Thomas Avenue
and Beloit Avenue before pouring a base layer of concrete. Workers will then re-pitch the alley so that, after a big rain, water runs toward permeable pavers in the middle of the alley. This will allow water to seep into the ground beneath the pavers, rather than collecting in puddles
“The benefits are that you’re conserving water. You’re allowing more water to infiltrate into the ground and waterways, which is a good thing for the environment,” Sal Stella, director of public works, previously told the Review.
To renovate the alley in the 800 block of Thomas and Beloit, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, the village’s usual engineering firm, will charge $50,350. Its work will include taking a topographic survey of the alley and performing field reconnaissance to see if any surrounding structures need to be adjusted or reconstructed, including nearby curbs and sidewalks.
The firm will then prepare detailed engineering plans, specifications and estimated costs. They will develop a permit application to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District ahead of sewer construction. Burke En-
gineering will also be a part of the bid review and recommendation process
A portion of the construction costs will likely come from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s Green Infrastructure Partnership Program, as it has for past green alley projects
“It’s a good thing for MWRD because you’re getting less water going into their system to get treated,” Stella previously told the Review.
If the village receives funds from the MWRD, only then will the project be considered a “green alley.” If not, they will redo the alley another way.
“Design would change, as it is almost double to construct a green alley than a regular, non-green alley,” Entler said.
If the village receives funding, Forest Park’s sixth green alleyway will likely resemble those that came before it, which were the alleys that saw the worst flooding in the village.
The village began construction on its fourth and fifth green alleys last month in the 800 and 900 blocks of Marengo Avenue and Circle Avenue.
LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST
Sensational Summer Savings
e Elgin-Marengo alley between Lexington Street and Har vard Street
In 2019, the village redid the Elgin-Marengo alley between Lexington and Harvard. Before that, the 500 block Thomas-Beloit and 100 block of Harlem-Elgin both saw green alleys installed.
Stella said that nearly 90% of Forest Park’s alleyways have been redone, though they have mostly been on the village’s north side About half of the south-side alleys must be reconstructed, he said. Many of those will be redone with concrete, rather than becoming a green alley with permeable pavers
“We can’t do every alley green,” Entler previously told the Review. “But we do try to get green alleys interspersed throughout the village as we get grant funding to do so.”
JESSICA MOR DACQ
Step into the 7th annual garden walk
e self-guided tour of local yards takes place July 20
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The Historical Society of Forest Park is hosting its 7th annual garden walk July 20. Ticket holders will receive a guidebook to lead them through some of Forest Park’s backyards and open spaces
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., locals can enjoy a
variety of the village’s summer foliage, from colorful flowers to lush lawns.
The day of the walk, pick up a guidebook at the Roos Recreation Center, 7329 Harrison St., for a map of seven participating sites full of verdant grass and trees, and decorative lawn or naments
In past years, the self-guided garden walk has served as a source of inspiration for residents.
“You’re going to see something that you can take and make it work in your yard,” Forest Park homeowner Ramona Ramos-Sullivan previously told the Review. “You’re going to see how people grow vegetables in our area, how some people incorporate natives. I know a couple of people have had ponds.”
From the garden of Linda Anderson, 1010 Troost, Forest Park in 2022
Those who want to see such landscaping on the garden walk can buy $15 tickets in advance or $20 tickets on July 20. Proceeds will
go to the Historical Society of Forest Park for preservation, collection and maintenance of the village’s history.
Buy tickets at https://www.forestparkhistory.org/
Pat Murray, Oak Park, during the Forest Park garden walk in 2021
FBI investigates $4.9M-wire fraud at PMSA
e investigation is still ongoing
By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter
The FBI is investigating how two separate wire transfer payments were made from a Proviso High School District 209’s bank account in two separate cyberattacks that totaled more than $4.9 million.
Alexander Aschoff, interim superintendent for the district, said the district learned about the cyberattack June 21, more two months after the first attack on April 4, 2024.
According to Aschoff, the district was advised by Gilbane Building Company that two payments were not received.
It was determined that two separate wire transfers, one on April 4 for $949,062.42 and on June 14 for $3,993,114.61, were not received by the company but were sent to a third-party account.
“Upon discovering the attack, our administrative team began taking immediate steps to seek assistance to recover these funds,” Aschof f said.
The Proviso Township Treasurer’s Office, the FBI, and the banks involved in the wire transfer were notified, along with the district’s insurance provider.
“Our teams continue to work cooperatively with these entities to recover the funds and bring accountability to the persons responsible for the cyberattack,” Aschoff said.
The Proviso Township Treasurer’s Office could not be reached for comment.
According to Aschoff, the initial review determined that a singular account was breached and there is “no evidence” that additional accounts have been compromised.
The district also filed a police report June 24 with the Forest Park Police Department to document the loss, according to Aschoff.
According to the police re port, Proviso Math and Science Academy is listed as one of the involved entities.
It was re ported that a “false internet account” was created called Gilbane Building Company, which does have a business relationship with PMSA. The construction management company has been overseeing facility upg rades at D209 schools and has also awarded paid summer internships to D209 students in the past.
The Proviso Township Treasurer’s Office informed the district that as of July 3, they have been able to recover and reimburse $3,062,637.75, leaving $1,879,539.28 unaccounted for.
“We continue to work with the actively investigating agencies and our insurance carrier with respect to this matter and are confident at this time that we will recover
all of the funds,” Aschof f said.
To ensure another attack does not take place, Aschof f said the district worked with other various entities to improve their security to “protect its technological systems” as well as make changes to protocols re garding wire transfers.
“The district has already p ut i nto p lace n umerous different security measures to protect i ts technological systems and c hanges to the protocols fo r our b usiness office in effectuating wire transfer s, ” said Aschof f. “We will c ontinue to review our protocols and seek a dditional solutions moving forward to ensure that another a ttack such as thi s d oes not occu r. ”
The Chicago Field Division of the FBI is leading the ongoing investigation.
Kids: Get Out! It’s Good for You
As a child, I was immersed in nature. Now, as a father of two, I want my children to have and appreciate the same experience. We can all positively impact a child’s first five years of crucial development by looking no further than the outdoors, which provide many physical and mental health benefits. Whether they play with dirt, interact with bugs and insects, or “ground” themselves by walking barefoot, children’s connection to nature will continue to deepen. Here are some easy ways to help them immerse and engage:
- Create a Vegetable Garden: a great way to connect them to their food and understand how to nurture, grow, and harvest what they eat.
- Visit or create Pollinator Gardens: they will be able to see the diversity of plants and pollinators, while also becoming educated on this crucially symbiotic relationship.
- Take Field Trips: visit parks, nature preserves, or botanic gardens— many are only a short drive away! Every time my children point out a bug, ask to see baby birds in a nest, or want to go outside barefoot, I’m constantly reminded of nature’s vital importance. Nurturing their connection to our surroundings will help grow their appreciation of nature and understanding of the importance of why it’s worth protecting.
JAVIER GOVEA
PMSA Prov iso Math and Science Academy
Scott McAdam Jr.
James McMurtr y headlines 2024 Food Aid
Lydia Loveless, Frankie Lloyd
and others also will perform next month at Robert’s Westside 2-day fundraiser to ght food insecurity
By EJ HAAS Contributing Reporter
Food A id, a two-day musical f estival is back for a third year and at a new location but the c ause remains the same: to fight food i nsecurity in areas where it is often invisible
The new location is Robert’s Westside in Forest Park. This year, the Aug. 23 fundraiser will be headlined by singersongwriter “Choctaw Bingo” singer James McMurtry and Lydia Loveless.
Donnie Biggins, the owner of Robert’s Westside, and the event promotor, said he is excited to bring his fundraiser to his own venue for the first time, as it is a cause he said he is passionate about.
“During the pandemic, there were a lot of organizations that I wanted to help support and, like, be active with,” Biggins said. “I found myself kind of overwhelmed with all the different causes and things that we … wanted to suppor t, my wife Anna and I. And so I just decided that I would concentrate on food insecurity.”
It was a way, he said, to make a direct impact on his community.
Biggins noted that extreme hunger is often not visible and thus far more widespread than many people realize. “It’s not [a problem exclusive to] low-income housing. It’s affecting middle-class, and a lot of, people,” he said, adding that it has been made worse by inflation.
“It’s harder to pay for everything and it’s harder to provide for your family,” he said. Food Aid was first held at the School of Rock in Oak Park and Austin’s Kehrein Center for the Arts. The following year it was hosted by Exit Strategy Brewing Company and Scoville Park.
A nthony Clark, a local activist wh o helps maintain the Unity Fridges tha t of fer 24/7 access to food around Chicagoland, teamed up with Biggins to organize the first festival and his nonprofit is still a beneficiary.
Cook County’s Beyond Hunger, A House in Austin, Austin Eats Initiative, Best of Proviso Township and Westchester Food Pantry also will receive proceeds from the event.
“We hope to build of f last year’s suc-
cess, which exceeded all expectations,” said WBEZ senior event producer, Eddie Medrano. “We plan to expand and ma real-world impact in even more neighbo hoods.” News radio station WBEZ is a sponsor of the show.
In past years, Food Aid has generated thousands of dollars – $11,000 in 2023 –six agencies serving the gr tan area.
The music festival has a solid history of attracting top-line acts. Previous performers at Food Aid have included Kara Jack son and the O’Mys, Chicago-based soul singer Mary Lane, Fleetwood Mac tribute band Second Hand News, Biggins’
The Shams, and Cheryl Tomblin. Tomblin will perfor m again this year.
Other performers this year include Nikki Morgan, Frankie Lloyd and Anne Har
This year’s headliner, McMurtr he was influenced by the lyrics of Kristofferson and John Prin embraces his songwriter title as an opportunity to tell stories with “straight-up rock and roll.”
“I was about nine years old when ‘Me & Bobby McGee came out,” he said. “Until that time, I wanted to be Johnny Cash, but I didn’t know where his songs came from ... they just fell out of the air.”
His said his dreams changed after he got to see Kristofferson perform. “He and his band seemed to be having such a great time up there,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to write songs so I can do that.’”
McMurtry’s most recent album, “The Horses and the Hounds,” was released in 2021. Since then, he has been touring while recording more music.
Chicago, he said, has remained what he calls a “g reat market” and a re gular stop on tours.
“It’s always been good to us,” he said. “Great music scene.”
Biggins said he hopes that in future years, he will have a for mal arrangement with the village of Forest Park to more effectively raise funds and awareness.
“The village of Forest Park does an incredible job of working with small businesses and giving us access to be able to
be successful,” he said, citing a desire to keep Food Aid in the village. “I would like to grow this event into an outdoor music festival and [continue] to let it grow kind of organically.”
Biggins said Robert’s also continues to host Soup and Bread West, a monthly community fundraiser with proceeds that go to organizations that try to end food insecurity. Soup and Bread West falls on the second Tuesday of each month, and a $10 donation fee is requested at the door. Guests can bring soup and bread for what Biggins calls a “crock-pot event” with funds donated to nonprofit and mutual aid causes.
To attend Food Aid:
Robert’s Westside is located at 7321 Madison St. James McMurtry perfor ms at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 23. Tickets start at $55. Lydia Loveless perfor ms at 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 24. Tickets prices star t at $30. Purchase tickets at: https:// foodaidfestival.com/
James McMurtry
Lifeguard games test skills
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Bike safety carnival heads to Forest Park
It’s the rst in decades
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The village held a bike safety carnival in Constitution Court Saturday morning from 9 to 11 a.m.
The event served as a resource for locals to learn about bike safety and to develop a culture around awareness of bike riders.
“The goal is to create bike safety and to start that conversation about how we can create bike infrastructure in Forest Park,” said Michelle Melin-Rogovin, commissioner of streets and public improvements, during a July 8 village council meeting
Attendees partook in a bike decorating station, full of spoke straws, mini license plates, pipe cleaners and stickers. Free helmets were provided for the first 50 attendees
The event was co-hosted by Play it Again Sports, which offered bike safety checks, and Ride Illinois, a nonprofit advocating for bikers. Children who participated in bike safety
checks, along with the winners of the bike decorating contest, received prizes.
Kribi Coffee provided coffee, and the Kiwanis Club of Forest Park brought free lemonade. There was also shaved ice from the Cool Treats Truck, which is owned by Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures and serves shaved ice, plus frozen bananas and cheesecake. The Junction Diner and Brown Cow respectively gave away 50 certificates for free kids’ meals and ice cream scoops.
Melin-Rogovin said that, although the village used to host bike safety events like this through Cub Scouts and the Kiwanis Club of Forest Park, it’s been decades since the last one
“We haven’t had an event like this in a long time,” she said.
Melin-Rogovin decided to bring the event back after she heard from residents, while campaigning for commissioner and since being elected, about making local streets safer
“People really wanted to talk about how to make streets safer for everyone,” Melin-Rogovin said. “Traffic and safety is not just about cars, it’s about all modes of transportation.”
“The first step is bringing our community together to celebrate bikes and bike safety and start to create interest and awareness,” she added.
From there, the conversation may turn to how to create more infrastructure for biker around town.
“There’s a lot of our communities around us that have pretty good bike infrastructur but Forest Park doesn’t,” said Scott Whitebone, chair of Forest Park’s Environmental Control Commission, during the organization’s presentation to the village council at a July 8 meeting.
“We have paths that are considered bike lanes, but [they’re] not designed with the idea that it connects with the community around us,” Melin-Rogovin said.
In recent years, there have been pushes to add biking infrastructure in town.
In 2020, Forest Park received a grant to cover a portion of construction on a bike path along Van Buren Street. But land negotiations between the neighboring Altenheim and the village delayed the project. And last year, the village received a grant for install-
ing bike racks at CTA stations
Perhaps after the bike safety carnival, there will be more of a push for improvements on biking infrastructure, but not without engaging the community first.
“I think that’s the magic of creating events like this,” Melin-Rogovin said, “is that it brings a lot of people together to start talking about what our village should look like in the future.”
TODD BANNOR
Volunteer Sharon Kaminecki instructs a rider.
New shaved-ice food truck will be cooling o the western suburbs
Oak Park and Forest park w ill be able to indulge in the sweet treats
By SAM TUCKER Contributing Reporter
What be g an as a second-hand plumber’s truck and a need to make use of extra ice and free time, Cool Truck Treats, a shaved-ice food truck, is now a new West side business
Cool Truck Treats, by way of Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, is a mobile food-truck with a menu full of frozen treats and shaved-ice delights. The truck mainly operates in the Oak Park and Forest Park area, bringing its cool treats to block parties, community events, and private festivities.
Max Barajas, the owner of Cool Truck
Treats, began the business from a want to make use of extra supplies at Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, one of the largest ice sculpture operations in the Midwest. He also is the owner of Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures. Barajas wanted to take advantage of the summer lull for his ice sculpture business, as well as an extra delivery truck, and his back ground in culinary arts.
“So, I have this truck and I have pretty much an endless supply of ice, and what I decided to do was just open up a shaved ice company,” Barajas said.
The truck has shaved ice in both the Hawaiian style, which includes sweetened condensed milk, and New Orleans style, which has multiple syrup flavors in one cone. Other frozen treats suited for the summer heat include chocolate-dipped bananas and chocolate-covered cheesecake bars. All of the chocolate is supplied by their business partner, Fill My Jar, a Brookfield-based chocolatier.
Since getting his LLC at the end of June,
Barajas has set up the truck around town and is getting the word out. He said his schedule is filling up with events in the Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest areas.
On Sundays, Barajas will be at Scoville Park during “Concerts in the Park,” a summer-long progr am of live music events in Oak Park. He expects to operate the truck until mid-October, but said it is weather-dependent.
After buying the truck earlier this year, Barajas said he was worried it was not going to be used until the busy winter season of the ice-sculpture business.
In April, Barajas said, the current Cool eats food truck was a rusty second-hand plumbers truck. Since then, he has gutted the interior and placed in coolstation and a serving window, the outside of the truck a fresh, igloo-themed paint job. After the summer er, he’ll convert it back to a de-
of a passion project of what I was going to do with my time, and I ended up creating a whole other business out of
Truck Treat’s shaved ice comes from the Nadeau Ice Sculptures Forest Park. At the “ice house,” large tubs are filled with purified water, then they are slowly frozen to create a clear, crystal-like block of ice. The ice blocks can weigh hundreds of pounds, and are carved and shaved into unique sculptures. Some are created with photos and flower petals suspended in the ice.
Over their 44 years of ice sculpting, Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures has created works for large Chicago-based organizations, including the Chicago Bears, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The excess ice blocks from the sculpture carving process are what Barajas uses to serve high-quality shaved ice, which has an almost snowflake-like appearance. Comparing it to kosher salt, Barajas said the flatter surface of the shaved ice soaks up flavored syrups better than crushed ice.
Laurie Kokenes, executive director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce and Development, said operating the food truck in the community is a great addition to Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures.
“Cool Truck Treats is a perfect, portable extension of Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures. It’s great to see local businesses grow their customer base and drive customers to their brick-and-mortar business by participating in local events,” Kokenes said.
With bookings filling his schedule, Barajas is now not so worried about the food truck sitting in their workshop’s parking lot all summer long.
“I love food, and I wanted to offer something different for my town. Forest Park has amazing ice cream, as do a lot of the surrounding areas … I happen to not enjoy ice cream as much as shaved ice, so I wanted to open something with a different style,” Barajas said.
Find out more information about booking and where the truck is setting up shop on the business’s Facebook page.
SAM TUCKER
Freshly shaved ice lls a cup, ready for the 11 di erent avors of sy rup Cool Truck Treats o ers.
SAM TUCKER
Max Barajas, ow ner of Cool Truck Treats and Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures, in his food truck.
American Legion’s door shattered again amid its closure
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
Police were dispatched July 8 to 500 Circle Avenue for a re port of criminal damage to Forest Park’s American Legion. As American Legion Post 414 prepares for closure, members are clearing out the building for future buyers, according to the police re port. While someone was in the process of removing items from the building, he noticed the glass pane in the front door was shattered, officials said. This is not the first time something like this has happened, as earlier this year, the American Legion’s front door was shattered with a BB gun. There was no sign of entry and no items stolen, according to the police report. The estimated cost of re pair is $700.
Burglary
■ A woman who lives in the 1000 block of Des Plaines Avenue called police July 8 to re port a residential burglary. She told police that she left her house around 5 a.m. and, when she returned just after noon, she put her key in the door and it opened immediately, though she was sure she locked it. Her home was ransacked. Stolen items included a TV, laptop, virtual reality set, Maltese puppy, shoes and jewelry, estimated at a total of over $15,000.
■ Police were dispatched July 10 to the 500 block of Ferdinand Avenue for a report of a garage burglary. A woman who said she uses her landlord’s garage to store her vehicle told police that she was out of town June 19 through 27, and the burglary happened over that period. When she returned, she noticed that the convertible cover for the top of her car was cut, and her landlord’s bike was missing. She said the garage was left open, but no other items were taken. She doesn’t wish to sign complaints if the offender is found.
■ Police responded to the 800 block of Dunlop Avenue July 10 when a man called to say an unknown subject was inside his
parked car. When officers arrived, the subject fled after ransacking the car and stealing over $14 in loose change. Police surveyed the area and identified the offender, who said he was looking for a cigarette in the man’s car. He also had a warrant for his arrest out of DuPage County and was arrested for that charge, as well as burglary from a motor vehicle.
Robbery
On July 11, police were dispatched to 1300 Des Plaines Avenue for a robbery at Walmart. Staf f re ported they noticed a man placing merchandise in Walmart bags inside the store. When loss prevention staf f addressed him about it, the man tried to leave the store. When the employee followed him into the parking lot and attempted to stop him, the man began wrestling with the employee. The man came back inside the store, where he threatened employees and was handcuffed before police said they arrested him.
Patrons in bar after hours
While police were on patrol July 13, they noticed patrons at 101 Circle Avenue past hours. About a dozen patrons sat at Beacon Pub drinking at 1:10 a.m., 10 minutes past the bar’s closure, and the door was locked, according to the police re port. When the bartender let police in, officers issued her a local ordinance citation.
These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department reports dated July 8 through July 13 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.
REAC TION
National shocker
from page 1
harmed,” Hoskins said, “but we g rieve the death of the firefighter killed at the r ally. He was exercising his right to freed om of assembly, and now his d aughter have lost their dad. ”
Across the re gion, other leaders de nounced the violenc e.
“I want to make it clear that p olitica violence is neve r a cce ptable. I wish fo rmer President Trump a sw ift recove ry In our d emocra cy, differences should be settled through dialo g ue and mutual respect, not through acts of violenc e, Toni Preckwinkle, president of the C ook C ounty Board of Commissioner s, said in a statement.
OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY SHEALAH CRAIGHEAD
O cial portrait of President Donald J.
ost on X, said “political violence is never acce ptable.”
“ I’m ke e ping the for mer president, the stander who was tragically killed, and all who we re injured or whose safety was threatened in my thoughts,” he said.
And I llinois Re publican C hai rp erson lect Kathy Salvi on X said: “The Re publicans of I llinois are united and stand with President Trump We express our ull suppo rt for President Trump and his f amily We appreciate the prompt response by law enforcement and the Secret Service. ”
Other area leaders did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
Mitts of the 37th Wa rd
It is also not yet clear whether or how Saturday’s attempted assassination will af fect polls in November.
T he Democratic Pa rt y of I llinois issued a statement late Saturday.
“We are shocke d and saddened by the events at the r ally in PA. Political violence has no p lace in our society. We pray for the safety of all attendees and c ond emn violence in the strongest terms T hank you to the first responders and Secret Service for their sw ift response.”
Democratic S enator Dick Durbin, in a
Trump, Friday, October 6, 2017.
It is not yet clear how Saturday’s event, wh ich comes amid de ep divisions among the nation’s p olitical pa rt ie s, will affect Au g ust’s Democratic National Co nvention in Chicag o, authorities said. Th e re gion’s d ele gates include State Re p. LaShawn Fo rd, Fo rest Pa rk Mayo r Ro ry Hoskins and Chicago Alde rp erson E mma
T he FBI is investi gating an attempted assassination on Trump Saturday at a p olitical r ally in Pennsylvania. He app eared to be shot in the ear and was deter mined to be otherwise in good health.
T he suspect, T homas Matthew Crooks, 20, of Butler, Pennsylvania was shot and killed by law enforcement agents, authorities said. T hey said he fired an AR15-style semiautomatic rifle, purchased by his father.
Senate President Don Harmon remains steadfast on Biden’s candidac y
‘Joe Biden is our nominee, and I am going to do whatever is required to beat Donald Trump,’ he says
By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter
The president of the Illinois Senate said he’s backing the nation’s leader as the beleaguered Joe Biden continues his bid for his second term in office.
“This is a time of great tumult and uncertainty as to the fate of our democracy,” said Don Harmon, Illinois’ senate president and re presentative of the 39th district.
“We are all particularly unsettled by what’s happening at the top of the ticket right now. My view is really quite simple: Joe Biden is our nominee, and I am going to do whatever is required to beat Donald Trump,” Harmon added. “I think that’s probably the mindset of most of our dele gation in Congress.”
doubt. The Biden-Harris administration has a tremendous record of achievement.”
Lynch cited Biden’s increased investment in working families through the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. She also said the administration created 11 million jobs and relieved 40 million people of their student debt.
“The Biden-Harris administration enacted the most significant federal gun violence prevention measure in nearly 30 years,” Lynch added.
“We are on the right side of history in the Democratic Party,” Lynch said. “We are on the right side of the issues: Increasing access to the ballot for all voters, standing up for re productive freedom for women, climate action, and again, gun violence prevention.”
His remarks came at the July 13 meeting for the Democratic Party of Oak Park.
Re presentative La Shawn Ford also has publicly said that he backs Biden.
“I would trust Biden’s inner circle and Biden’s judgment as to whether or not he should keep going,” Ford told The Atlantic. “He will do what’s best for the nation. If that means he’s going to step down and allow his VP to step up, then we shall see.”
Attendees at the July 13 meeting rallied around the president.
“We are and will be and have to be unified going forward in all ways,” said Eileen Lynch, committeewoman for the Democratic Party of Oak Park. “We are marching on to victory in November, without a
Lynch closed the Democratic Party of Oak Park’s meeting by asking for volunteers to help with phone banks, out-of-state canvassing and sending out 60,000 postcards, mostly to swing states, by packaging them in the Burr Ridge office or picking them up and mailing them after buying postage
T he meeting took p lac e the morning of the assassination attempt on for mer president Donald Trump.
Though the shooting hadn’t happened yet, Harmon later commented on the assassination attempt.
“There’s no place in America for this kind of violence,” Harmon told Growing Community Media, parent company of Forest Park Review. “I wish the for mer president a swift recovery, and my sympathy goes out to those injured and the family and friends of the person killed in this senseless tragedy.”
It remains unclear how the assassination attempt will affect the presidential election in November or the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month.
DON HARMON President of Illinois Senate
OPINION
OUR VIEW
D209’s cyber theft
It is common these days to hear about major institutions being victimized by cyberattacks to steal both money and client data or to hold those entities hostage as they demand massive ransom payments. Recently there has been reporting of the attack on Lurie’s Children’s Hospital in Chicago which saw many of its inter nal systems shut down by hackers. Took weeks for this vital caregiver to recuperate And car dealers nationwide suffered as an industry-leading software provider based in the Chicago area was infiltrated and effectively taken down for weeks
But it is very close to home to learn that Proviso Township High Schools District 209 was hacked by sophisticated operators who diverted two very large ACH payments intended to pay the firm doing major construction work at the district’s campuses. Th payments totaled $4.9 million.
For reasons that will have to be fully reviewed, the district was not made aware of the thefts until late in June, more than two months after the initial payment was diverted. Since then, it seems, D209’s leadership has done a responsible job of work with an array of investigative entities, its insurance broker, and the Proviso Townshi Treasurer’s Office to recoup its losses, find the perpetrators, and substantially tighten its financial tech systems to prevent any repeat offenses.
Alexander Aschoff, the district’s interim superintendent, reports that better than $3 million has been recovered and returned to district coffers.
Fair war ning to all other public bodies that taxpayer-funded cash reserves are at ris and active investments must be made to protect those assets
Things we like
This is the final chapter in my meanderings. It’s time to make space for a new voice here at the Review. Perhaps you might try out as our next columnist.
Nearly a decade ago, when Bob Sullivan highlighted decades of Forest Park history and Jackie Schultz scrambled into the of fice to give her Talk of the Town, our editor at the time, Jean Lotus, asked me if I could submit a column to the Review. She was looking for a monthly contributor and after being denied by a few other people, she asked me.
WAGNER
This weekend will bring the 7th Annual Garden Walk in Forest Park. A fundraising and community-building project of the Historical Society of Forest Park, the self-guided walk will feature seven gardens across the village. Whether it is relaxation, inspiration, or a healthy dose of nosy neighborliness, the walk is a reflection of how natural spaces can be created and nurtured in our urban suburb.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 day of. Find those ducats at forestparkhistory.org.
As it musters the funding, Forest Park’s village gover nment continues to invest in g reen alleys. Earlier this month, the village council set in motion plans for the sixth green alley in town. First comes the engineering work, requests for partial funding from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, a bid process and then construction.
The latest climate-friendly, flood-busting alley will be on the 800 block between Thomas and Beloit avenues. The village has prioritized the alleys with the historically worst flooding issues while actively dropping these investments across the entire town. This is an important effort and the village gets the credit
I figured I could do it for maybe three months and now, a hundred columns later … and nearly a decade of third-week-of-themonth opinions … I am ready to pass this torch me no rules, just write something every month. I wn parameters:
1. Must be about or related to Forest Park , no matter the topic, no matter how angry I am ys use alliteration.
While this column has always had a Forest Park touch, the been broken a few times.
Right now the tornado siren, in what sounds like Berwyn, has ended and the one possibly in North Riverside is sounding. It feels like a fitting end to this monthly column, and reminds me of the time I wrote as my basement filled with flood water. very close to my house and has not sounded yet. I like to imagine that Rory Hoskins himself braves the weather to crank the alarm. I have no idea who or how the alarm system decision tree works, and would appreciate knowing. If you know the answer, maybe you can write about it here next month.
Over the years I’ve reminisced about just doing your job, snow plows, my do g’s death, a conspiracy theory about spray bottles, the Pledge of Allegiance, casket races, disdain for mor ning glories and love of joe pye weed. So the bar is not very high. If you are thinking maybe you have an opinion column in you the third week of the month, just give it a whirl.
Forest Parkers are mostly lovely and kind, and they will tell you how much they love your column or tell you to really let loose or be more direct. There might be one sticky one who says they hate you on a survey but someone else might say they tucked your column in their wallet or that you made them laugh or cry.
I have asked a few brilliant people in town whom I would delight in reading, even just one time as a guest, but have struck out. So I am asking here, and ste pping back to make space for a new voice to g race these pages.
If you are available this Saturday, come to the Garden Walk. My garden is one of the stops and I am so excited and nervous to have people come to see it. I promise to only share my opinion about my garden and only if you ask, but I would appreciate hearing your opinion.
Perhaps you might have an opinion about a few other things and will be willing to share it here, the third week of August.
Editor Erika Hobbs
Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq Amaris E. Rodriguez
Digital Manager Stacy Coleman
Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan
Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Li a
Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice
Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead
Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea
Designers Susan McKelvey, Vanessa Garza
Sales and Marketing Representatives
Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe
Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan
Circulation Manager Jill Wagner
Publisher Dan Haley
Special Projec ts Manager Susan Walker
Board of Directors
Chair Judy Gre n
Treasurer Nile Wendorf
Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer
HOW TO REACH US
ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066
EMAIL forestpark@wjinc.com
CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com
ONLINE ForestParkReview.com
Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Forest Park Review,141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS No 0205-160)
In-county subscriptions: $38 per year. $70 for two years, $93 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $58 per year.
Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media
Ukuleles for everyone, no strings attached
Ajoyful sound is coming from the Frater nal Order of Eagles Hall, 446 Hannah Ave., every Thursday evening. It’s the instruments and voices of the Free Range Ukulele Society of Oak Park (FRUSOP). From 7 to 9 p.m., dozens of ukulele players jam together to create musical bliss.
It’s a very diverse group strumming together in unison while they sing along. It’s also a very democratic group. There were four leaders standing in front to direct the group. But later a new group of leaders took their place. Ukuleles were available for those who needed one, or you could just sing along The ukulele group got its start at the Eastgate Café in Oak Park. Their first session was on Oct. 10, 2013. The owners, Patrick and Olya Dailey, welcomed them every Thursday evening. When the pandemic hit, the players moved their session to the café’s outdoor seating
aused Eastgate Café to close he group was looking for a new space to practice when a member brought up his connection to the Forest Park Eagles.
Their Eagles contact was Jack Eilrich, who was thrilled to have the group use the hall. He didn’t even ask them for a fee. The group held their first session on Oct. 21, 2021 and held a collection to pay the Eagles at least $50 to cover their utilities, etc. McIntosh’s partner, Alvin McGovern, even joined the fraternal organization. When he paid his dues, they gave him a key to the hall.
McGovern and McIntosh are longtime teachers at the Old Town School of Folk Music. McGovern teaches guitar and plays it during the sessions. The group also has Bill Steed on bass and Mike Blake accompanies on the Xaphoon.
are easy for the group to follow. She also sets up her laptop for the Zoom players.
McIntosh always has a good time at the ukulele sessions. “It’s like a two-hour vacation.” The sessions are also a weekly highlight for the other players. Lisa Golladay likes that players don’t have to be great. “I’m not a musician but I know how to be loud.” When everyone is strumming together, it’s like a “free-for-all that comes together.” Playing the ukulele has a “Zen quality” for Golladay. “I lose track of time when I’m playing.”
The strumming pauses for a break at 8 p.m. Refreshments are served and a fabulous door prize is awarded — usually chickenthemed items. The hall is ador ned with signs that say “Slow - Chickens at Play” and the group’s mascot is a rubber chicken.
So far, Forest Park has been a good fit for the group. The hall is spacious and well lit. It has heating and air conditioning when needed.
They finally had to hold their sessions on Zoom. Organizer Chris McIntosh was proud that they convened for 93 Zoom sessions. The pandemic was also one of the factors that
McIntosh teaches guitar, banjo and ukulele. The pair provides the “infrastructure” the group needs to keep jamming. Besides collecting donations for the Eagles, McIntosh compiles the song books and decides what the group will play. She has created over 100 song books for the group to play on a rotating basis. Some books are for beginners and
When
“It’s welcoming and fun, with no pressure,” McIntosh says. “The point is to participate, not be perfect.”
I would encourage other Forest Parkers to give the ukulele sessions a try. The only problem I have with the organization is they have “Oak Park” in their title
Then again, one of the songs they play is called “Ukulele Players on Hannah Street.”
tornados touched down
Atornado swep t through Melrose Pa rk , Bellwood and Maywood on Palm S und ay, March 28, 1920. T he storm’s path d estroyed at least 37 homes and at least 10 p eople died. Tele gr aph and tele p hone lines we re down, the water supply c rippled , greenhouses d estroyed, schools d amaged, and Sacred Hear t C hurch was hit so hard the “huge iron church b ell … was thrown one hundred f eet.” T he Fo rest Pa rk Fire Depa rt -
ment sent i ts Wi nston C hassis on i ts first emergency c all to the scene, where firemen re ported the water supply was so badly d amaged they c ould not p ut out the house fires. I mmediately, local Fo rest Pa rkers be g an c ollecting f und s and resources to aid their neighbors in nearby villa g es and within days had p ledges and gatherings totaling $10,000 in a id and relief
Jill Wagner
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION
NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876
THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION
CITIZENS BANK, N.A. F/K/A RBS
CITIZENS, N.A.
Plaintiff, -v.-
CLOVER L. MATTHEWS
Defendants 2023 CH 10280 119 47TH AVENUE
BELLWOOD, IL 60104
NOTICE OF SALE
PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIV-
EN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 17, 2024, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 A.M. on August 14, 2024, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:
LOT 29 IN BLOCK 25 IN HULBERT’S ST. CHARLES ROAD SUBDIVISION, BEING A SUBDIVISION IN THE NORTH HALF OF SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Commonly known as 119 47TH AVENUE, BELLWOOD, IL 60104 Property Index No. 15-08-213-0070000
The real estate is improved with a residence.
Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.
Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.
If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.
You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030
One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE
You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.
CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100
BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300
E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com
Attorney File No. 14-23-07801
Attorney ARDC No. 00468002
Attorney Code. 21762
Case Number: 2023 CH 10280
TJSC#: 44-1074
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 # 2023 CH 10280 I3248183
PUBLIC NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive bids from qualified consultants through Monday, August 5, 2024 for the following:
Integrated Streetscape Branding and Design For Chicago Ave., in Honor of Dr. Percy L. Julian Bid Number: 24-717
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark. us/bid. For questions, please email Brandon Crawford, Deputy Director Development Services at bcrawford@oakpark.us
Published in Wednesday Journal July 17, 2023
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
CALENDAR NUMBER: 013-24-Z
HEARING DATE: August 7, 2024
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302
APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) will conduct a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, Adam Fotos, seeking a variance from Section 9.3 (N) (2)(c) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance requiring that if a lot abuts a public alley that provides adequate access to a street, a detached garage must be constructed so that access is from the public alley, to construct a garage with access from the corner side yard (Fillmore Street) and not the alley at the premises commonly known as 1150 S Cuyler Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-17-325-001-0000.
A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate inperson in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses by submitting a cross-examination form or by emailing Zoning@oak-park. us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing.
The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
Published in Wednesday Journal July 17, 2023
DOCKET NUMBER: PC 2405/06 (Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment and Special Use Application – Community Service Center)
HEARING DATE: August 1, 2024
TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the agenda permits
LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 - Council Chambers, Village of Oak Park, 123 Madison Street Oak Park, Illinois 60302
PETITIONER: Housing Forward, 1851 South 9th Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153
PROPERTY ADDRESS: 38 North Austin Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 1 to 13 both inclusive, the North 9 feet of Lot 16 (except alley), Lots 17 to 22 both inclusive, the North 21 feet of Lot 54, the vacated 16 foot East and West alley lying South of and adjoining Lots 1 to 14 both inclusive, and the vacated North 21 feet of the North and South alley lying between Lot 15 and Lot 54, all in Block 4 in the Subdivision of that part of the East 1/4 of the Southwest 1/4 of Section 8, Township 39 North, Range 13 East of the Third Principal Meridian lying South of the Chicago Harlem and Batavia Railway, in Cook County, Illinois.
P.I.N.s: 16-08-323-026
REQUEST: The Petitioner, Housing Forward, seeks a text amendment to the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance as follows: An amendment to
Article 2 (“Definitions & Rules of Measurement”), Section 2.3 (“Definitions”), by adding a definition for “Community Service Center” as follows: “An emergency overnight residence for individuals who are unhoused on a short-term basis. Said individuals may reside at a community service center on an overnight-only basis. A community service center may offer: meals for its residents prepared on-site, food products stored on-site to be provided to residents, office space for not-for-profit housing-related agencies, not-for-profit public outreach agencies and counseling and medical and mental health services”, amending Article 8 (“Uses”) to add “Community Service Center” as a special use in the I-Institutional District, and amending Section 8.4 (“Principal Use Standards”), by adding a new section “X. Community Service Center” with the following standards: ”1.) Overnight hours for the residential portion of a community service center are limited to 7:00 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., 365 days-a-year. 2.) The maximum capacity of individuals housed within the residential portion of a center is the lesser of 45 individuals or as determined by the Village’s current residential building codes. 3.) Counseling and medical services may be offered for overnight residents, school students and families of school students. 4.) Community Service Centers
must meet all federal, state or local requirements regarding health, safety and building code requirements and 5.) All applicants are required to submit a statement of the exact nature of the community service center, the qualifications of the agency or agencies that will operate within and the center, including the number and types of personnel who will be employed. No special use permit application will be accepted by the Village until the required statement is filed with the Village.” The Applicant is also requesting a Special Use permit to allow a Community Service Center at the above referenced property addresses. The Plan Commission may also consider any related and additional relief that may be discovered during the review of these dockets.
A copy of the proposed text amendment and special use application is on file and available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Plan Commission may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION Oak Park, Illinois 60302
Public Information Meeting Notice Scheduled by Village of Riverside East Avenue Improvements
The Village of Riverside will hold a Public Information Meeting concerning the proposed streetscape improvements of East Avenue from Pine Avenue to Forest Avenue. The Public Information Meeting will be held at Riverside Parks and Recreation Community Center, 43 E Quincy St, Riverside, IL 60546 on August 6, 2024, at 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All interested persons are invited to attend. Persons with disabilities planning to attend should contact the person listed below by August 1st. The contact may be by telephone, in writing, by fax or by telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY).
To allow for all potential federal and state funding sources, the public information meeting is being held in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s public involvement policy.
All persons interested in the project are invited to attend the meeting to express their views and comments on the project. The meeting will also serve to involve and obtain the views of the public for purposes of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. Information will be available on known historic resources that may be affected by the proposed project and the historic resources protection process. IDOT requests comments from the public on effects to historic resources to assist in consultation with the Illinois State Historic Preservation Officer.
The meeting will be conducted on an informal basis. Representatives of the Village of Riverside will be available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Representatives will answer individual questions and record comments offered by those in attendance. Verbatim comments will not be recorded. The Village of Riverside representatives will provide information about the proposed improvements and anticipated schedule. Preliminary reports, engineering drawings, maps, and aerial photography, will be available for review and inspection at Riverside Parks and Recreation Community Center.
For more information, contact Ashley Monroe, Assistant Village Manager, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546, amonroe@riverside.il.us, 708-447-1241.
