ForestParkReview_100423

Grant-White could get new life as youth center under village proposal

e shuttered intermediate building could serve children 12 and older

By EREZ BEN-AKIVA Contributing Reporter

Editor’s note: An update from the Oct. 3 meeting can be found at https://www.forestparkre view.com/.

District 91’s Grant-White Intermediate School building could become a youth center by expanding children’s programming from the Mohr Community Center, under a proposal by village of ficials.

It comes as both sides debate what to do with unused or aging facilities. The district closed Grant-White in 2022 under its restructuring program. The Mohr Community Center needs extensive re pairs.

Mayor Rory Hoskins presented the proposal at the school board’s September meeting.

He explained that Mohr hosts before-school and afterschool programs, and senior services in addition

See GRANT-WHITE on pa ge 10

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Longtime employee buys Golden Steer restaurant

plete the deal by early October and intends to keep the current employees, drawing upon over two decades of experience in running the steakhouse.

“It’s home, basically,” she reflected.

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

When the Review asked Elba Caragher why she’s buying the Golden Steer steakhouse, there was one thing she wanted to make clear up front.

“Nothing is changing,” she said. “Everything will stay the same. Nothing is broken.”

Caragher was just as straight in answering the question.

“I’ve been working there for 23 years,” she said. “For 23 years, it’s been my family. I didn’t want to lose that.”

Last spring, rumors circulated that Golden Steer was closing for good. At the time, owner Kiriakos “Charlie” A. Tzouras told the Review that he and his cousin, Gus Tzouras, wanted to retire but didn’t want Golden Steer to close if they could help it. Caragher said that the sale was contingent on several legal steps, including getting the liquor license The village council approved the license transfer at their Sept. 26 meeting.

Caragher said she is buying the restaurant and the building. She hopes to com-

After the meeting concluded, interim lage Administrator Rachell Entler told Cara gher the village wanted to see her succeed and invited her to contact the village if she is facing any legal hurdles

The building at 7635 Roosevelt Road has long, colorful history tied to multiple lies. It originally opened in 1934 as the West Side Bar. Abraham Lincoln Hopkins the son of an Irish immigrant, opened it with his brother-in-law, Thomas Hodge. The ba closed after Hopkins passed away in 1945, but his descendants still gather at the Golden Steer for family reunions and events

In the 1950s, the building was home to the Pink Clock Bar, which is currently best remembered as mobster Sam Giancana’s hideaway.

The current steakhouse incarnation owes its existence to J ohn Vlahos, a Greek immigrant who worked his way up in the food industry after coming to the U.S. in 1955 at the age of 16. He opened Golden Steer because he wanted to own his own business. In 1979, Vlahos sold the restaurant to his brother, Taki Vlahos, who operated the restaurant until 1997.

Then Tzouras and his cousin, Kiriakos P. Tzouras, bought the business. Like Vlahos

before them, they were Greek immigrants who worked their way up through the Chicago-area restaurants

In over five decades, Golden Steer hasn’t significantly tinkered with the for mula, preserving much of the interior and maintaining a similar American classic dinner menu, which includes a wide variety of sandwiches, soups and steak and chicken meals, as well as “Taki’s specialties,” the previous owner’s favorite dishes. It also sports a “vegetarian de-

light pasta meal with broccoli, mushrooms, fresh garlic, parmesan cheese, and olive oil.”

The Steer hosted a number of famous diners over the years, including actress Elizabeth Taylor, Chicago Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita, and for mer Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson. It has also been one of the go-to hangouts for local politicians. Most recently, mayoral candidate Doss held his 2023 election party there.

Reiger Park renovations greenlighted after 3-month wait

e park’s improvements are expected to be complete in October

By EREZ BEN-AKIVA Contributing Reporter

The wait for a permit that had stalled improvements planned at Reiger Park for months has ended, after the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago issued that final go-ahead park district officials needed to proceed.

The renovations at Reiger Park include washrooms, so sanitary and stormwater

lines underneath the park will have to be tapped into, plans that the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District needed to approve beforehand. The project was unable to continue until that permit was received by the Park District of Forest Park.

“This is awesome news,” said Park District Executive Director Jackie Iovinelli. “I’m like overwhelmed right now because I’m so excited that — again, something we’ve been waiting on for three months — is here.”

Before the permit was issued Sept. 28, Iovinelli said the delay was a “major holdup.” The renovations were expected to be completed in mid-to-late October.

“If I could go out there and dig the holes myself, I would,” Iovinelli said. “But I can’t. They won’t let me. MWRD won’t let me.”

In an email, Allison Fore, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District’s public and intergover nmental affairs officer, said the MWRD received a permit application for Reiger Park May 10. The MWRD administers the Watershed Management Ordinance as part of its authority for Cook County stormwater management, according to Fore.

“The purpose of the WMO is to establish uniform, minimum and comprehensive countywide stor mwater management regulations throughout Cook County,” Fore said.

The timeline for the renovations at Reiger Park was originally based solely on the delivery of product, like a pavilion structure and playground equipment. For recent improvements at Popelka Park, equipment took about six months to arrive, hence the estimated

timeline of the Reiger Park project, which was approved by the Park District of Forest Park Board of Commissioners in April.

“We’re supposed to be close,” Iovinelli said. “We should have been about a month out from being finished, so we are significantly behind right now, and the weather in Chicago can creep up on us really quick. We can’t do anything in the park until we do everything underneath first, and that requires some decent weather to be able to work in.”

With the permit now issued, Iovinelli said the project’s contractor “may be able to come out of the gate hard.”

“Everything’s waiting,” Iovinelli said. “We’ve been waiting, and so we’re ready to go

Promises to make no changes, maintain formula that’s ‘not broken’

GOOGLE MAPS

Golden Steer has been the go-to hang out for stars and politicians.

Oc tober 4-11

BIG WEEK

Oktober-West Beer Festival

Saturday, Oc t. 7, 1-7 p.m., Exit Strategy Brewing Company

Outdoor patio fest featuring several varieties of beer. 7700 Madison Street, Forest Park.

The Harvest

Saturday, Oc t. 7, 12-3 p.m., Forest Park Public Library

The Harvest, a time of joy and community cultivated through the arts. Ar tist performances , poetry readings and art ac tivations will take place throughout the celebrations. Light refreshments will be ser ved. 7555 Jackson Boulevard, Forest Park.

Sun and Moon Crafternoon

Monday, Oc t. 9, 4 - 5 p.m., Forest Park Public Library YS Program Room

October is a month of eclipses. In honor of this week´s solar eclipse, and Oc t. 28´s partial lunar eclipse, we will have craft stations with sun and moon crafts. Designed for kids ages 7 and under.

7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Eclipse Kit

Saturday, Oc t. 7, 9 - 11 a.m., Forest Park Public Library

On Oct. 14, an annular solar eclipse will cross Nor th, Central and South America. The eclipse will be visible for millions of people in the Western Hemisphere. G et ready to view the eclipse with the FPPL’s Eclipse Kit. The kit includes eclipse glasses, a resource guide and some fun items. One per person, while supplies last. Registration required. All ages. Kit pick up begins Oc t. 7. Kits will be placed on hold by last name on the Holds Shelf on the main level. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Listing your event

Proviso Ea st Instrument Drive

All school days, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Proviso East High School

Proviso East is collecting utes, clarinets, alto saxophones, tenor saxophones, trumpets, melophones, trombones, baritones and tubas for the expanding band program. Instruments can be dropped o direc tly at the school. 807 S. 1st Ave., Maywood.

Teller ’s Night

Tuesday, Oc t. 10, 7 p.m., Exit Strategy Brewing Company

The Forest Park Alliance hosts Teller ’s Night. $15, $10 for FPAA members. 7700 Madison Street, Forest Park.

Morry Sochat & the Special 20s

Thursday, Oc t. 5, 8 p.m., FitzGerald’s

The Special 20s are one of the better traditional blues bands in Chicago, combining shu e with swing. For this show, they will be joined by tap dancers Star Dixon and William Wims, as well as classically-trained ballet dancer Jayme Braverman. $15 - $120, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

Oak Park-River Forest Gangster Tour

Sunday, Oc t. 8, 2 p.m., FitzGerald’s Special guided tour focusing on organized crime hangouts. Led by historian John Binder. $40, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berw yn.

Pins and Needles

Thursday, Oc t. 12, 6 - 7:30 p.m., Forest Park Public Library Community Room

Beginning or experienced knitters, crochet enthusiasts, macrame and embroidery makers, or quilters: come join us in this sociable creative circle led by Karen Wiebe.Tea will be ser ved. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Cannabis dispensar y coming to Doc Ryan’s building

e 1937 Group, a Black-owned company, operates downstate and plans to also open in Brook eld in December

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The 1937 Group, a Chicago-based cannabis grower and seller, has purchased the for mer Doc Ryan’s bar with plans to open what would be Forest Park’s second cannabis dispensary.

Real estate broker David King told the Review that the sale went through Sept. 26. The announcement comes six months after another cannabis dispensary company, the Olympia Fields-based Euphoria LLC, tried to buy the building, only to pull out of the deal in late March

The 1937 Group operates a dispensary in downstate Tilton, near Danville, and its planned dispensary in Brookfield is slated to open in December. Sonia Antolec, the company’s chief legal counsel, told the Review that they thought the “vibrant” and “diverse” Madison Street corridor would be a good location. She said that they aren’t concerned about the Bloc, another dispensary coming to Harlem and Circle, because they felt that Forest Park’s northeast corner is far enough that the two dispensaries won’t be directly competing. In fact, they said, they hope that cannabis users would patronize both locations

The 1937 Group is a Black-owned company that takes its name from the federal Marijuana Act of 1937 that outlawed can-

nabis in the United States. Its enforcement often targeted minority communities. CEO Ambrose Jackson is a for mer healthcare administrator. The company plans to open 10 dispensaries — the maximum allowed for one entity under state law. It also operates a cannabis manufacturing facility in Broadview, which sells products to other dispensaries throughout Illinois.

Under the zoning changes approved in February, cannabis dispensaries are allowed by right on Madison Street, so 1937 Group doesn’t need village approval. The number of dispensaries is capped at one

“We are hoping to bring the dispensary to the Forest Park area that will change the mindset and the landscape of cannabis, and the cannabis customer experience,” Antolec said. “Madison Street strip is very vibrant, it’s diverse and has a great traffic flow not just for Forest Park but the neighboring communities as well. The Doc Ryan’s building is a great location and offers great parking options for customers.”

The bar is located next to the Constitution Court’s village-owned parking lot, and another village-owned parking lot is located at the 400 block of Beloit Avenue. Pace bus Route 318 passes in front of the building.

Illinois requires all dispensaries to put in extensive security measures, including installing surveillance cameras inside and outside the building that work around the clock and stream the footage to the local police department. The cannabis and the cash must be stored in secured vaults Antolec said that they hired a professional security firm, and that they always work with local police departments “to make sure that we’re keeping customer and employer safety at the forefront.”

She said that the 1937 Group intends to hire 20-25 employees, and they want to try to hire as many of them from Forest Park as they can.

“We know that, being a cannabis operator, we have opportunities to hire from the community where we’re operating — that is our first priority and goal,” Antolec said. “We also use hiring to eliminate some of the barriers that people of color face when they try to get into the cannabis industry.”

She said that they still need to do interior renovations of the building. Antolec did not have a firm timetable for when it would open, saying only that they hope to open as soon as possible.

“We’re not concerned [about the competition from the Bloc], because Harlem and Madison [corridors] have so much traffic and so much population density around them individual,” Antolec said. “We hope that people who try the one will try the other.”

King told the Review that, as Forest Parker and a broker, he saw this as another step toward shedding Madison Street’s image as nothing but late-night bars

“Our town is growing up,” he said. “The days of the Big Bar staying open to 3 a.m. are gone. Doc Ryan’s was the last big bar in town. The transition from the Big Bar to alternative uses is one that I believe will continue, and I’m very excited to be part of that trend.”

IGOR STUDENKOV Former Doc Ryan’s building.

CRIME

Woman claims crash threw her into driver ’s seat

Police were able to recover a stolen red 2020 Kia Sportage, but not before the 23-year-old Chicago woman who was driving the car crashed it into a curb.

T he victim saw thieves drive his vehicle away on Sept. 2 around 12:36 a.m. A patrol car spotted the south on Elgin Avenue, a one-way northbound street, then turning east on Washington Boule on Harlem Avenue

As the police gave chase, the car hit the curb at the Shell gas station near the Harlem Roosevelt Road intersection. They saw the woman, who was wearing a ski mask, get out of the dri the nearby alley, while a man, who wore black clothing, got out of the passenger’s side seat and ran into the parking lot of the nearby McDonald’s location.

The officers chased the driver, eventually catching her at the 1200 block of Maple Avenue. The passenger ran into the getaway car, a black 2020 Hyundai SUV. While the officers gave chase, they eventually lost the Hyundai, which was last seen in Oak Park, driving east on Jackson Boulevard.

When questioned by the police, the woman claimed that the man was the driver, and that he picked her up from one of the Blue Line CTA stations. She claimed that the steering column was already damaged when she got in. The woman also claimed that she was in the rear dri of the crash threw her into the dri

The woman was charged with one count of motor vehicle theft and one count of fleeing the police officer.

Retail theft

Forest Park police officers intercepted a shoplifter as she drove away from the Walmart store, though they ended up charging her only for a suspended driver’s license.

The store’s security camera footage showed that, on Sept. 23 at 4:54 p.m., a 34-year-old Chicago woman took an HP laptop, place it in a bag and leave the store without paying. She got into a rental black Hyundai Tucson and drove of f with a passenger.

The police officers spotted the Hyundai on the 7500 block of Jackson Boulevard and curbed it at the nearby 600 block of Thomas Avenue. They spotted the laptop matching the stolen laptop’s descriptions lying on the floor of the passenger side

seat. The woman and her passenger denied stealing the laptop, but gave conflicting stories about how it ended up in the car. Walmart didn’t press charges for stealing the laptop. During the traffic stop, the officers discovered that the woman’s driver’s license was suspended and cited her for driving on a suspended license. Since the passenger did have a valid driver’s license, the er to him.

Stolen rideshare vehicle

A woman who is behind on payments for a red 2023 Hyundai Kona thought that her car was being towed away — only to discover it was stolen.

The victim has been leasing the car from the Lyft rideshare platform. On Sept. 20, around 10:40 p.m., the victim’s mother heard what she thought was a tow truck. At first, the victim assumed Lyft towed the Hyundai, but after she reached out to the rideshare company, they told her they didn’t tow the car.

The victim reached out to several local towing companies, but none of them had the car. The police didn’t have any towing companies re port repossession.

The Hyundai has been fla gged as stolen.

Burglary

rks nights came home on Sept. 23 at 8:07 a.m. to enue apartment robbed.

The victim said that when he left home around 11:47 p.m., he locked the door. When he arrived home from work, he found that his PlayStation 5 gaming console, two PlayStation controllers, an HDMI cord, two charging cords and a personal debit card were missing.

The victim said his front door was still locked when he returned home, but his balcony screen door was left open. The police officers found no sign of forced entry.

The victim was advised to contact Sony and Chase to try to track his console and debit card, respectively

These items were obtained from police re ports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Sept. 21-30, and re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Igor Studenkov

STATEMENT OF

OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685)

1.Publication Title: Forest Park Review

2. Publication no.: USPS 0205-160

3. Date of filing: Oct. 4, 2023

4. Frequency of issue: Weekly

5. No of issues published annually: 52

6. Annual subscription price: $36.00

7. Complete mailing address of known office of publication: 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302, Cook Co.

8. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business office of publisher: (same)

9. Names and complete mailing addresses of publisher, editor and manager editor:

Publisher: Dan Haley, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

Editor: Erika Hobbs, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

Managing Editor: same as Publisher

10. The owner is: Growing Community Media NFP, 141 S Oak Park Ave Oak Park IL 60302.

11. Known bondholders, mortgages and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of the total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities are: None.

12. N/A

13. Publication name: Forest Park Review

14. Issue date for circulation data below: September 27, 2023

15. Average no. copies each issue during preceding 12 months:

A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): 983

B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 39

B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 550

B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 73

B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0

C. Total Paid distribution: 662

D1. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS form 3541: 0

D2. Free on nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541:153

D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0

D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail:40

E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 193

F. Total distribution: 855

G. Copies not distributed: 128

H: Total: 983

I. Percent paid: 77.43%

15. No. copies of single issue published nearest to filing date:

A. Total no. copies printed (net press run): 835

B1. Mailed outside-county paid subscriptions stated on Form 3541: 35

B2. Mailed in-county paid subscriptions stated on form 3541: 524

B3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other paid distribution outside USPS: 75

B4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail through the USPS: 0

C. Total Paid distribution: 634

D1. Free or nominal rate outside-county copies included on PS form 3541: 0

D2. Free on nominal rate in-county copies included on PS Form 3541: 56

D3. Free or nominal rate copies mailed at other classes through the USPS: 0

D4. Free or nominal rate distribution outside the mail: 40

E. Total free or nominal rate distribution: 96

F. Total distribution: 730

G. Copies not distributed: 105

H: Total: 835

I. Percent paid: 86.85%

16. Publication of statement of ownership will be printed in the Oct. 4, 2023 issue of this publication.

17. Signature and Title of Editor, Publisher, Business Manager, or Owner: Jill Wagner Circulation Manager, October 3, 2023

Forest Park becomes new home for interactive mural

A shipping container at the park on Harrison Street will get a new look in October

By HEC TO R CERVANTES Contributing Reporter

A new mural is coming to the Forest Park community with the help of the volunteers of the Forest Park Arts Alliance and the Park District of Forest Park.

The mural will stand at 8 feet tall and 40 feet long and will be painted on an old shipping container at the Park District of Forest Park on Harrison Street. The $500-project will be an interactive mural with a nature theme of butterflies, plants and flowers.

Forest Park Arts Alliance Treasurer Rick Wagner is ov seeing the project.

“The Park District of Forest Pa came to the Fo Park Arts Alliance and said to us that they have this 40foot black canv We covered it with a coat of blue paint to re present the sky and we are now starting to outline and do the mural,” Wagner said.

When the Park District of Forest Park came to the Forest Park Arts Alliance, Wagner stepped forward and ag reed to the painting of a mural and submitted a design to the park district.

“We wanted to do a mural for a number of years. We do have funds in our murals budg et. But we are not drawing from the mural funds as the Park District of Forest Park is paying for it, and we have volunteers who are helping to paint it,” Wa gner said.

Wagner said he wants the mural to be an interactive experience and with a pl ayground right across the street and the mural being located behind the pool, the mu-

ral will attract families and their children.

“A child or adult can stand in front of the mural and become a butterfly. Lots of children are here on the playground especially on weekends. The mural will be realistic and abstract at the same time,” Wagner said.

He said the purpose of the mural is to make the area there more attractive, fun and interactive, and it can be a spot to check out.

“If somebody wants to take a picture and be a butterfly for a minute, there will be a place to do it year-round. It is both fun and whimsical,” Wagner said. The mission of Forest Park Arts Alliance is to bring artists from all disciplines, the right resources, and residents together to enrich their lives through the power of art.

“Our approach to painting this mural is that it be fun, colorful and something that fits into the landscape,” Wagner said.

He said they’ll be starting work soon and that the mural should take seven to 10 days to complete.

In other mural news, the Forest Park Arts Alliance plans to re paint the Circle Avenue bridge in May, pending village board approval. It was last painted in 2015.

“Art has always been part of my life. Everything is visual whether it be architecture or nature. It affects what you see and how you see the world,” Wagner said.

“I think a person that focuses and studies and looks at art sees the world a little differently in that you appreciate nature, you appreciate color and its architecture.”

PHOTO CREDIT

Even an eyesore like a shipping container can become a thing of beauty, Forest Park muralists believe.

Village extends grant-writer’s contract amid budget woes

Commissioner MelinRogovin is expected to help ACG with grantwriting

BETTER FOR US, BETTER FOR THE PLANET!

original contract without any discussion, the Sept. 25 renewal vote proved to be livelier. Resident Steve Backman questioned whether the village was getting its money’s worth.

Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin, whose day job is to help medical researchers obtain grants, said that according to the standard industry metrics, the cost was well worth the value

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

BETTER FOR US, BETTER FOR THE PLANET!

quested administrative projects” a year. That developing job descriptions, preparing bid documents and compiling annual reports. And while the previous contract called for monthly payments, the company will now be paid quarterly. About $5,000 of that payment will come from the village’s ARPA funding.

actually require a lot more than money than $20,000,” Melin-Rogovin said. “And at the [time] when we don’t have fully staffed finance department, we’re getting a lot of bang for our buck.”

BETTER FOR US, BETTER FOR THE PLANET!

LEARN ABOUT EV’S (ELECTRIC VEHICLES)!

LEARN ABOUT EV’S (ELECTRIC VEHICLES)!

Forest Park Village Council unanimously approved a one-year extension of a $20,000 grant writing contract with Algonquin-based Administrative Consultive Services — and Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin will be personally helping them this time.

GREEN TRANSPORTATION RALLY

GREEN

RALLY

As the village faces declining traditional revenue sources and looming pension debt, it has increasingly relied on gover nment grants to fund major projects. ACG worked with the Forest Park Police Department in the past, and it helped the village manage COVID-19 mitigation federal stimulus funds. In late August 2022, the village contracted with ACG to find grants for the village as a whole

LEARN ABOUT EV’S (ELECTRIC VEHICLES)!

Check out EV models, talk to owners, & ask questions about battery range & longevity, charging access & cost, longdistance EV driving, & more Meet local vendors & owners with cargo bikes, adult trikes, e-bikes

BETTER FOR US, BETTER FOR THE PLANET!

While the village council approved the

Check out EV models, talk to owners, & ask questions about battery range & longevity, charging access & cost, longdistance EV driving, & more

Interim Village Administrator Rachell Entler told the Review that ACG worked with the police department since at least 2012. In 2022, the company and the village discussed the possibility of it offering village-wide grants. ACG proposed four options. Joe Byr nes, who served as the commissioner of accounts and finance at the time, and Commissioner Jessica Voogd, recommended going with the “Cadillac” option.

The difference between that and the second-most expensive option, which would’ve cost the village $16,000 a year, was that it agreed to provide 24/7 support and “any required” administrative assistance.

BETTER FOR US, BETTER FOR THE PLANET!

During last Tuesday’s meeting, Melin-Rogovin said that the success of grant writing company is judged by how much the amount that they bring in exceeds what they were paid. By that metric, she said, they had “an outstanding ratio of success.”

“The contract for the services that the village pays $20,000 for sounds like a lot, but it’s actually very, very small,” MelinRogovin said. “In the past year, they wrote [grants] and we were awarded over $1 million in grant funding.”

She also said that ACG’s administrative services have been very valuable.

She said that, going forward, she would use her professional experience to help ACG. In a follow-up interview, Melin-Rogovin pointed to the fact that she made using her skills to help village get grants part of her campaign platform, and this was simply her fulfilling her campaign promise

“Any services that I provide to the village, or any experience is in my capacity as a commissioner, I do so with pride and with great enthusiasm,” she told the Review.

Maria Maxham, who succeeded Byrnes as the commissioner of accounts and finance, said she appreciated Melin-Rogovin’s explanation and willingness to assist the company.

Food trucks!

Meet local vendors & owners with cargo bikes, adult trikes, e-bikes Food trucks!

A CELEBRATION OF EMISSIONS-FREE DRIVING & ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

A CELEBRATION OF EMISSIONS-FREE DRIVING & ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

The new contract is similar to what the village approved last year. One major difference is that ACG agrees to do up to three “re-

A CELEBRATION OF EMISSIONS-FREE DRIVING & ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

“They helped really support several of our staff, most importantly our finance director, in providing very technical specialized services, providing compliance for really important grant reports that we’d ordinarily have to pay someone else to do, and it would

“I also like the idea of giving them more direction from us, you know, from the village,” she said. “I think it will allow us to really take advantage of the services being provided. And I agree that we should continue [the contract]. It’s an invaluable service and we’re getting a lot out of it.”

PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH PARKING LOT

PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH PARKING LOT

SUN, OCT 8TH

SUN, OCT 8TH 3–5 PM

3–5 PM

SUN, OCT 8TH 3–5 PM

RAIN DATE, OCT 15TH

PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH PARKING LOT

PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH PARKING LOT

Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302

460 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60302

If you can't walk or bike to this event, park free at OPRFHS garage at Lake/Scoville

you can't walk or bike to this event, park free OPRFHS garage at Lake/Scoville more information, email wgreenhouse@gmail.com

If you can't walk or bike to this event, park free at OPRFHS garage at Lake/Scoville

For more information, email wgreenhouse@gmail.com

For more information, email wgreenhouse@gmail.com

Reading rally

The American Library Association re ported that 2022 saw the highest number of attempted book bans in 20 years, nearly double from 2021. The Forest Park Public Library took a stand. A crowd turned out at its Freedom to Read rally last Sunday to support their message that book bans have to go.

The placards said it all: “My family supports your family ’s right to read.”

SARA JANZ

SARA JANZ

SARA JANZ

JILL WAGNER

JILL WAGNER

D91 projects $4.7 million de cit for 2024

Total budgeted revenue is a little more than $22.2 million, with total budgeted expenditures of more than $26.9 million, according to Robert Hubbird, assistant superintendent of finance and operations. There’s an estimated fund balance of $21 million.

“We overestimate our expenditures and they always come in the actuals a little bit lower, much lower than what we projected,” Hubbird said.

By EREZ

The Forest Park School District 91 Board of Education unanimously passed a budget for the 2024 fiscal year, projecting a $4.7 million deficit.

GRANT-WHITE

Optimizing space

from page 1

For the 2024 budget, 67.8% of expenditures will go toward instruction and instruction support, while 24.8% will go toward district operations, with 7.4% toward school and district leadership.

Larger expenditures include $1.35 million for student outplacement tuition and $750,000 for the construction of the two STEAM labs that opened earlier this year.

Additionally, $125,000 is allotted for an 8th grade trip, while $650,000 is allocated for the hiring of permanent substitute teachers. Hubbird said he believes the district has hired 11 per manent substitutes

“We know there is a teacher shortage, so we were very proactive and looked to hire permanent subs this year,” Hubbird said at last month’s board meeting

Hubbird added that while data for the year was not yet available, per pupil spending was higher in 2023 than 2022, in which District 91 spent more than $27,000 per student.

Hubbird also said that there remains Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding available for the district, with 2024 being the last year to utilize ESSER III funds. According to Hubbird, all ESSER II funds have been expended.

ater and Fo rest Pa rk Scout Troop would c ontribute to the progr amming .

“We see the site becoming a Forest Park Youth Center,” Hoskins later told the Review.

Board member Kyra Tyler asked Hoskins what would happen if it is determined that it is not feasible to continue using the Mohr Community Center at all.

The 2024 budget expects 85.2% of collected revenue to be local, while 7.5% is state revenue and 7.4% is federal revenue.

“We always underestimate our revenues, and they come in much higher, so that is a good thing,” Hubbird said.

Referring to a slide outlining notable expenditures in the 2024 budget, like student outplacement tuition and the STEAM labs, board member Kyra Tyler said she thinks it “sums up our story” about what District 91 has been “trying really hard to do” in the last 12 to 18 months.

“I think a lot about all of the kids in our community who are not coming to our schools, and what I really want to say is to anybody who’s watching this or who likes to think our schools aren’t as good as they are, I really want people to look at this,” Tyler said.

to other uses. Yet it is undergoing a “comprehensive building assessment to determine the future of that building,” he said. Its location near the Forest Park Blue Line station also is less than ideal for the area’s youth, he said.

“Because this facility provides care for our children, it’s not safe to have it accessible to persons from the train station,” Hoskins said. “There’s quite a bit of drug use unfortunately in that area.”

At the same time, Grant-White is centrally located and it has what a youth program needs: a gym, kitchen, classrooms, playg round and parking.

T he new youth space would launch progr amming for students ages 12-14, something that’s not available now. T he village would seek to share c osts with the district.

C ommunity groups such as the Fo rest Pa rk T he-

“Then we’ll have to really put our thinking caps on and explore other options,” Hoskins said.

District 91 director of eng agement Nurys Uceta-Ramos told the Review that the district wants “to make sure that we are optimizing the space for what it costs to operate it” and that the board of education is “looking for something that’s going to be sustainable” for the Grant-White building.

“They’re not trying to just pass on this building and kind of wash their hands from it because they understand that it’s an asset and that they want to make sure that whatever happens with it is going to continue to bring benefits to the children, particularly students of the Forest Park public schools,” UcetaRamos said.

The district planned to host a community forum Oct. 3 at Grant-White to discuss the future of the building.

Grant-White building.

“We overestimate our expenditures and they always come in the actuals a little bit lower,” an assistant superintendent says

BEN-AKIVA Contributing Reporter

OPINION

Grant-White’s future use

Forest Park is at its best when it collaborates. It might be multiple taxing bodies coming together on a project. Or nonprofits or advocacy groups working in alliance.

We may be at only the middle stage of discussions over the future of District 91’s Grant-White School on Randolph. The district, suffering from ongoing declines in student enrollment, closed the school last year.

This week it is holding a public meeting to consider options for it s future use. That meeting was held after the Review’s print deadline. But as we report in today’s paper, discussions have been underway between the public elementary school district and village government. Mayor Rory Hoskins made an initial presentation to the school board at its recent meeting asking that it consider a shared use of the up-to-date facility as a youth center focused on programs for children from 12 to 14.

An impetus for the proposal is the substandard condition of the village’s Howard Mohr Community Center on Desplaines Avenue. That aged and unimproved facility currently hosts programs for seniors and youth, among other purposes.

Hoskins says the Mohr Center is in the midst of a thorough assessment of the facility as its future use is contemplated. Surprisingly, he also reflected negatively on the center’s location near the Blue Line el ter minus, noting ongoing drug use nearby.

We think it is intriguing to consider a shared use of Grant-White, which melds both the school district and village’s efforts to support programs for tweens. There is already discussion of how other local theater and scout groups might contribute to the programming

We’d make this note: Forest Park’s village gover nment has long been stretched financially. One of the outcomes of being cashstrapped is that its buildings (and its infrastructure overall) have been allowed to deteriorate Village hall, the fire station, the police station, the community center are all in fairly sad shape

Contrast that with the taxpayer-funded investments over the past decade by the park district in its improving and expanding facilities, the library on Desplaines Avenue which is wrapping up a notable upgrade, and the elementary schools that have their issues but work in well maintained and modernized buildings

Any time village gover nment can find a partner to share a facility is a likely upgrade. And we’ll wait for the final assessment of the substandard community center building.

Reiger Park unstuck

We watched through the spring and summer as an initial burst of activity at reconstructing Reiger Park sputtered and halted. Now as we move into fall, a bottleneck has been removed in the form of permits from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and work should be underway soon.

Reiger, at 16th Street and Circle Avenue, is one of the village-owned pocket parks taken over by the park district a few years ago. The park district renovation plan is ambitious, community driven, and will be a notable upgrade.

We look forward to major progress before the snow falls

Pastor Walter Mitty received a text from his nephew Brian on Wednesday morning. The text read, “Uncle Walt, everybody is talking about strikes up here. Mom isn’t interested in politics much, so I thought I’d ask you if you would explain what’s going on.”

“Hey Brian,” he answered. “The way I understand it is that in the late 1800s our country went through what they call the Industrial Revolution when men with the capital, like Rockefeller and Carnegie, bought expensive machinery and built big factories which produced unimaginable wealth for the owners, but these rich guys paid low wages to the workers who were producing the wealth and the workers were creating that wealth for them in really bad conditions.”

“So the workers joined together and for med unions in order to get enough power to make the fat cats share the wealth, right?” Brian texted Mitty laughed and replied, “You already have it down, Brian, so why are you asking me about it?”

“What I want to know is, are the industrial owners bad people and the workers good people, or is it more complicated than that?”

Uncle Walt didn’t text his nephew back right away because he decided to get some facts first. He Googled the earnings of the workers’ bosses and found: GM CEO Mary Bara, $28.9 million per year

Ford CEO Jim Farley, $20.9 million per year

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, $24.8 million per year

He also learned that Tavares’ ear nings were 365 times larger than that of an average worker employed in one his plants, and that GM workers’ salaries range from approximately $60,000 per year for Line Technician to $154,604 per year for Software Engineering Manager.

Five minutes after sending the information to Brian, his nephew texted back, “What are GM workers complaining about? Starting at $60,000! I’m making minimum wage at McDonald’s which is $7.25 per hour. I did the math. I’d have to work 8,275 hours at Micky Dee’s to get to $60,000!”

“Number one law in economics,” Mitty texted Brian, “supply and demand.”

“I get it, Uncle Walt, but what I want to know is, ‘Is it fair?’”

Pastor Mitty pondered his nephew’s statement implying that it isn’t fair and asked Michael what he thought about the UAW strike when they touched base with each other the next morning

“I guess Yom Kippur is on my mind more than the

strike,” Michael began. “Let me see if I can connect the dots between the holiest day of the year and the strike.”

While Michael was gathering his thoughts, Mitty said, “It’s also called the Day of Atonement, right? I mean, it sounds kind of like what we do on Ash Wednesday.”

“Yeah, sort of,” Michael replied. “It’s a day for private introspection, but it’s not really a sad day because the focus is on the fact that we are facing our shortcomings more than feeling sorry for them. We don’t hang on to our sins. We atone for them. We wipe the slate clean and start over.”

“Yeah, I get that, Michael, and to me it’s very powerful, but you said that you would try to connect the dots.”

“OK, let me see. I guess one way of looking at it is to start with the fact of the wealth gap in this country. Our latest temple newsletter pointed out that 69% of the wealth in this country is owned by the top 10%, and the lowest 50% own only 2.5% of the wealth.”

“But Michael, my nephew implied that workers who make $60,000 a year should stop whining and be thankful that they are citizens in a country where they can make that much rather than comparing themselves to those who make even more.”

Michael paused and said, “Walt, I thought of an analogy. Say you have the most powerful stock car in the race, but if you don’t have a great driver you won’t win.”

Mitty liked the analogy and said, “So the best drivers demand the highest remuneration. Like NFL quarterbacks!”

Michael laughed. “We won’t name names, right?”

“Right, so the owner of the car pays the hot-shot driver ten times as much as he pays the guys in the pit crew.”

Pastor Mitty felt like he understood capitalism better that evening, but Brian’s question still bothered him. Is it fair?

When he compared what UAW workers were making compared to what their CEOs were g etting, he felt simmering moral outrage, but when he compared $60,000 a year to the $2,000 a worker in Afghanistan makes in a year, he felt like he was living in a land of abundance. Sure, millions of people here live in food deserts, but you hardly ever hear of someone dying of hunger.

The cool air coming through his open bedroom window made him glad to crawl under the covers that night, but he still had not answered his ne phew’s question.

It’s all relative, but is it fair?

Editor Erika Hobbs

Sta Reporters Igor Studenkov, Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez

Digital Manager

Stacy Coleman

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

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

Big Week Editor James Porter

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea

Designer Susan McKelvey

Sales and Marketing Representatives

Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe, Tram Huynh

Business & Development Manager

Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Tea leaves predict new life for Todd & Holland

Forest Park has many businesses that are owned by refugees from the corporate world.

One of these is Todd & Holland Tea Merchants. The new owner, Laurie Jackson, left corporate consulting to buy the business from longtime owners, Bill and Janet Todd. They couldn’t have found a better person to carry on the tradition of selling tea at 7311 Madison St.

Laurie’s background makes her ideally suited for operating a retail business. She was introduced to retail as an intern at Marshall Field’s. Her engaging personality helped her become a top salesperson at Field’s and other department stores.

The next phase of her “long and winding” career was becoming a consultant to small, struggling businesses. She tur ned around their fortunes and made re gular visits to keep them on track. Next she lear ned how to operate financial software by working for IBM. Her longest stint, though, was 20 years as a technical trainer at Nor thwester n Hospital.

Laurie’s dream, though, was to own a business. She comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Her father, James Jackson, manufactured laundry detergent for Sears

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: $34 per year. $55 for two years, $69 for three years. Out-of-county subscriptions: $42 per year.

Searching for the most sincere gourd

for 13 years. He and Anita have steadfastly supported their aughter along her non-traditional career path.

On the way, she acquired skills needed to operate a successful usiness. Laurie is well-versed in retail, finances and consulting. She just needed a business to buy. All the stars aligned, when Todd & Holland became available. Bill and Janet had to abruptly sell the business to travel out-of-state to help a family member. No family members were interested in the tea business, so they felt blessed to find Laurie

She took over the shop in July 2023 and, despite a few glitches, is off to an encouraging start. Faithful to the practices that helped Todd & Holland survive the pandemic, when many tea shops closed, she plays classical music to preserve the Zen feeling of the shop and brews tea for customers to sample.

The serene atmosphere is very conducive for selling tea. The shop already had a solid customer base, selling tea online to customers across the nation. Plus, their many long-ter m local customers love the war m atmosphere of the shop.

Laurie sells much more than rich flavorful tea. The shop offers tea pots, electric kettles and infusing mugs. It also has a vast selec-

LOOK BACK IN TIME

tion of colorful tea towels and sells jams, honey and scones to complement the tea. It is one of few shops on Madison that carries greeting cards.

Still learning about tea, Laurie says it is a never-ending process. So many varieties with so many different benefits. Matcha green tea from Japan supports immunity and helps digestion. Customers can buy a grinder for turning Matcha leaves into powder. Chamomile tea contains lavender and is a sleep aid. Ajir is a strong black tea from Kenya that provides a great source of energy

Laurie loves her location and is becoming acclimated to Madison Street. She just held her Annual September Sale and is looking forward to Fall Flavor Fest, featuring autumnal flavors like pumpkin, apple spice and maple. She supplies the tea to Kribi Coffee and is looking forward to participating in the Holiday Walk.

She couldn’t run her business, without her right-hand person, Melissa Ortez, who was her colleague at Northwester n. She has nine employees, mostly students, who work there after school and on weekends. They still retur n after college and love the flexibility of the work schedules

But most of all she’s looking forward to hosting a much-deserved retirement party for Bill and Janet Todd.

The great pumpkin patch, Oct. 27, 1999. Charles Cotton and sons Cody and Sean pick out the perfect pumpkins at the Park District’s patch located at the basketball cour ts in The Park. Jill Wagner

Photo by Frank Pinc

HOME SERVICES

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

Experience or not.

Retired person or person looking for extra cash Call for more information.

708-738-3848

POLICE RECORDS SUPERVISOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Supervisor in the Police Department. This position will manage, supervise, plan and coordinate the activities and operations of the Police Records Division Support Services Bureau, within the Police Department including records maintenance and management services; and coordinate assigned activities with other divisions, outside agencies and the general public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at https:// www.oakpark.us/yourgovernment/ human-resources-department First review of applications will be September 22, 2023.

HELP WANTED

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Community Service Officer in the Police Department. This position will perform a variety of public service, customer service and law enforcement related duties and responsibilities that do not require the services of a sworn police officer; and to perform a variety of administrative duties. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at https://www.oak-park.us/your-government/human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

POLICE RECORDS CLERK

GARAGE/YARD SALES

HUGE ANNUAL DOWN SIZING SALE

OCT 6,7,8

10AM-4PM

547 MARENGO AVE

FOREST PARK

Many quality items at reasonable prices. Much kitchen misc.: Gadgets & small appliances; much fine crystal; set of silver flatware; several rugs & runners; misc. garden, including pots; several misc. pieces of furniture, including vintage floor & table lamps; too much to list. Must see to appreciate. No early birds.

CARS WANTED

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. This position will perform a wide variety of specialized clerical duties in support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/human-resources-department. SUBURBAN

CLASSICS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars:

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

FLOORS

Domestic / Import Cars:

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Collector James • 630-201-8122

MARKETPLACE HANDYMAN

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

klisflooring.com

CLASSICS WANTED

WANTED TO BUY

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS:

Collector James 630-201-8122

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

Domestic / Import Cars:

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Collector James 630-201-8122

708-296-2060

WOODWORK

Terry's Woodwork Restoration

On-site refinishing of wood and fiberglass since 1977. Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty!

References available.

Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y23011011 on September 20, 2023

Under the Assumed Business Name of GRATEFUL GOURMET TO GO with the business located at: 535 S HARVEY AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: MARGARET A CVERCKO 535 S HARVEY AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304, USA

Published in Wednesday Journal September 27, October 4, 11 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF AUDIT REPORT OF RIVERSIDE TOWNSHIP

Riverside Township hereby provides public notice that an Audit of its funds for the period April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023 has been made, and that a report of such audit dated September 11, 2023 performed by Selden Fox, LTD has been filed with the County Clerk of Cook, Illinois, in accordance with 30 ILCS 15/0.01 et seq. The full report of the audit is available for public inspection at Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, during regular business hours 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Friday, except for holidays.

Published in RB Landmark October 4, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE RESOLUTION NO. R-89-23

A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY OF AN ADDITIONAL LIBRARY TAX FOR BUILDING AND MAINTENANCE

BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Village of Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois, as follows:

Section 1. The Board of Library Trustees of the Village of Forest Park, by Resolution dated September 18, 2023, has requested the corporate authorities of the Village of Forest Park to levy an additional 0.02% tax for the maintenance, repairs and alterations of library buildings and equipment, pursuant to 75 ILCS 5/3-4, in order to include the sum of $76,168.00 in the Village’s 2023 tax levy ordinance as the 0.02% Library Building and Maintenance levy.

Section 2. The corporate authorities of the Village of Forest Park hereby determine and propose to levy such additional 0.02% tax for the year 2023, subject to the provisions of 75 ILCS 5/3-4.

Section 3. The Village Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to publish a copy of this Resolution in the Forest Park Review, a newspaper with a general circulation within the Village of Forest Park, said publication to occur within fifteen (15) days of the adoption of this Resolution.

Section 4. Pursuant to 75 ILCS 5/3-4, notice is hereby given that if a petition requesting a referendum signed by 1,044 or more electors of the Village of Forest Park is filed with the corporate authorities of the Village of Forest Park on or before November 3, 2023, which is thirty (30) days after the date of publication of this Resolution, then the question whether this Resolution shall become effective and said tax imposed

shall be submitted to the electors of the Village of Forest Park at a general or special election to be held in accordance with the election laws of the State of Illinois in force at the time of such election. The Village Clerk is hereby directed to provide a petition form to any individual requesting one. Section 5. In the event no petition is filed with the corporate authorities within thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this Resolution, then this Resolution shall be effective and the additional library tax shall be levied accordingly, and included in the Village’s levy ordinance for library purposes. ADOPTED by the Council of the Village of Forest Park, Cook County, Illinois this 26th day of September, 2023.

AYES: 4 NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1

APPROVED by me this 26th day of September, 2023.

/s/ Rory E. Hoskins Rory E. Hoskins, Mayor ATTESTED and filed in my office, and published in pamphlet form this 26th day of September, 2023.

/s/ Vanessa Moritz

Vanessa Moritz, Clerk

Published in Forest Park Review October 4, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in the Riverside Township Hall, Room 4, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to review and consider various changes to the standards for porches as set forth in the Riverside Zoning Ordinance.

Application No.: PZ 23-0010

Petitioner: Village of Riverside

Proposed Text Amendments: Various changes to the Village of Riverside Zoning Ordinance regulations relative to front porches. The affected section(s) includes, but may not be limited to, Section 10-7-3 (Accessory Structures and Uses). Among the potential changes being considered include possibly changing the standards for porches for single or two-family dwellings in the R3 District. Other procedural and process changes to the site plan review provisions in the Village’s Zoning Code may be considered.

The application and proposed text amendments are available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. The proposed text amendments may be added to or otherwise revised as a result of the public hearing. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on this matter. Persons wishing to appear at the hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the proposed text amendments. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearings or with the Planning and

Zoning Commission in advance by submission to Village Planner Anne Cyran via email at acyran@riverside.

il.us or delivered to the attention of Village Planner Anne Cyran at the Village Offices at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the public hearings. Please specify the public hearing to which your comments pertain.

The public hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The proposed text amendments may be added to, revised, altered, or eliminated as a result of the public hearing and prior to final action by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Riverside.

Dated this 4th day of October, 2023.

Jennifer Henaghan, Chairperson Planning & Zoning Commission

Published in RB Landmark October 4, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 for the following:

Village of Oak Park

2024 Water Service Line Replacement Program Bid Number: 24-102

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 3585700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal October 4, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302

Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 26, 2023 for the following:

Village of Oak Park 2024 Emergency Water and Sewer Repair Work Bid Number: 24-101

Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 3585700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal October 4, 2023

NOTICE

OF PUBLIC

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

CALENDAR NUMBER: 05-23-DRC

APPLICANT: American House, LLC.

ADDRESS: 703 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

REQUEST: The Community Design Commission will hold a public hearing on an application filed by the Applicant, American House, LLC, seeking variances from the following sections of the Oak Park Sign Code relative to increasing permanent window sign coverage, increasing the size of temporary banners, increasing the number of banners that can be displayed on a zoning lot and increasing the amount of time a temporary banner can be displayed at the premises commonly known as 703 Madison Street, Illinois, Property

Index Numbers 16-18-200-0320000 and 16-18-200-005-0000

(“Subject Property”).

1. Section 7-7-15 (C) (1) of the Oak Park Sign Code, requiring that permanent window signs affixed to or painted on the inside of a window shall occupy no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the surface of each window area. Window area is counted as a continuous surface until divided by an architectural or structural element. There is a total of twelve (12) window areas along Madison Street; two (2) of the twelve (12) window areas

COMMISSION

would contain 100% window coverage.

2. Section 7-7-13 (B) (2) (b) of the Oak Park Sign Code limits the size of temporary banners to 32 square feet in area. Whereas the proposal features two (2) 60 square foot banners located along the Madison Street elevation.

3. Section 7-7-13 (B) (2) (c) of the Oak Park Sign Code allows only one (1) temporary banner per zoning lot. Whereas the proposal features two (2) 60 square foot banners located along the Madison Street elevation.

4. Section 7-7-13 (B) (2) (f) of the Oak Park Sign Code limits temporary banners to a display of seven (7) days when not related to a date specific or, if date specific, may be erected no earlier than five (5) days prior to the event plus the duration of the event and must be removed within two (2) days after the event. Where as the Applicant is requesting that the temporary banners be displayed for one (1) year.

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.

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

MATRIX FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

Plaintiff, -v.RONALD CAILLOUET, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD

CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN

OCCUPANTS, UNKNOWN

HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF SUSAN L. CAILLOUET, DAMON RITENHOUSE, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUSAN

L. CAILLOUET A/K/A SUSAN CAILLOUET (DECEASED)

Defendants 2022 CH 04542

31 LE MOYNE PKWY OAK PARK, IL 60302

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on July 12, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30

AM on October 25, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 31 LE MOYNE

PKWY, OAK PARK, IL 60302

Property Index No. 16-05-112-007-

0000

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 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

SALE

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. 14-22-09308

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2022 CH 04542

TJSC#: 43-2890

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

Case # 2022 CH 04542 I3229738

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS TRUSTEE OF CITIGROUP MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2021-

RP1

Plaintiff, -v.-

ADRIENNA BELL-CADE, BANK OF AMERICA, NA, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF ANDREW CADE, SR, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, CHRISTOPHER BROWN, ANDREW CADE, JR., DAMON RITENHOUSE, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR ANDREW CADE SR. (DECEASED)

Defendants

2022 CH 05424

845 S. HARVEY OAK PARK, IL 60304

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 1,

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30

AM on November 3, 2023, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:

Commonly known as 845 S. HARVEY, OAK PARK, IL 60304

Property Index No. 16-17-126-0360000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

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

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. 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 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

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

SALE

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. 14-22-01405

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2022 CH 05424

TJSC#: 43-3379

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

Case # 2022 CH 05424 I3230230

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

THE MONEY SOURCE INC.; Plaintiff, vs.

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF GERZINE SPENCE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE REAL ESTATE FOR SALE EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

AKA GERZINE L. SPENCE; KRAMER RESTORATION OF DUPAGE COUNTY LLC DBA PAUL DAVIS RESTORATION OF DUPAGE COUNTY; RONNEISHA JINKINS INDIVIDUALLY AND AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF GERZINE SPENCE AKA GERZINE L. SPENCE; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 22 CH 4005

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty

Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, October 23, 2023 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 15-21-402-009-0000.

Commonly known as 1643 Manchester Avenue, Westchester, IL 60154.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call The Sales

Let

Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A., 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563. (630) 453-6925. 7182183141 ADC

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3229004

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

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

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year

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PublicNoticeIllinois.com

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