Forest Park Review 101624

But streaming services’ threat to music stores remains

By LEAH SCHROEDER Contributing Reporter

For a brief time this fall, a sign reading “lost my lease” was posted outside of Old School Records, a Forest Park staple that has been in business for more than 21 years.

Peter Gianakopoulos, the owner, put up the sign when he fell behind on his rent for the months of August and September after a “very tough year” for the store.

The store managed to survive, and the sign has since been removed from the facade of Old School Records. But that, Gianakopoulos said, doesn’t change the challenges that record stores are facing locally and indeed across the world.

He said that music streaming services is the main culprit.

During his more than two decades as a business owner, Gianakopoulos has noticed many ups and downs in the business of selling records. Most recently he says, music streaming has p osed a direct c ompetition for many stores that sell vinyl record s, C Ds and c assette tapes.

See RECORDS on pa ge 8

JILL WAGNER

events.dom.edu

Driehaus Museum exhibition, ‘Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright,’ showcases lesser-known side of the famous architect

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

Chicago’s Driehaus Museum’s upcoming exhibit on architect Frank Lloyd Wright will explore the famous architect through his own photos, as well as photos of others of his iconic works.

Opening on Oct. 24 and running through Jan. 5, 2025, the exhibit is the first of its kind to examine Wright’s relationship to photography.

Guest curator David Hanks said that it can sometimes seem like there is little more for the world to discover about Wright. He noted that most people in Chicago are very familiar with Wright ading, “Almost nothing is new.”

While people might have seen some of the previously published photos that other photographers took of Wright’s work, people don’t realize that Wright was a photographer himself, Hanks said.”

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is a collaborating partner in the exhibit, and Hanks said that the trust shared the album from Wright’s 1905 trip to Japan, which is one of the most important albums of his photographs.

The trust also provided photos from Wright’s Home & Studio that capture Wright and his family

The first part of the exhibit focuses on Wright’s photos as the architect experimented with the new hobby of photography. Along with photos from Wright’s 1905 trip to Japan, Hanks chose photos from the Avery Library Collection at Columbia University, which purchased the architect’s archives from Taliesin.

Some of Wright’s nature photography from the 1890’s is showcased too. Hanks said he was excited about a photo originally featured in House Beautiful magazine that pictures the weeds and flowers in front of Wright’s Oak Park home.

The trust contributed more than photos to the exhibit.

“The most exciting thing for me is that the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust lent one of the dining room chairs from the Home and Studio dining room to the exhibit,” Hanks said. “It’s always interesting to take something out of its original context. You put it up on a platform, and it becomes a piece of sculpture.”

Also included in the exhibit are photos Wright took of the Hillside Home School in Wisconsin, which was owned by his aunts. Hanks said the photos of the progressive school are interesting because they show people in everyday activities such as sports or cooking

The second part of the exhibit covers photographers who documented Wright’s career

Architectural photographer Henry Fuermann photographed Wright’s Prairie years.

“We have Fuermann’s own camera,” Hanks said. “We try to show a little bit of the technology because that interested Wright. He often worked closely with the photographers.”

Moving on to Wright’s work on Midway gardens and the first Taliesin, the exhibit showcases the work of Julius Shulman, who captured a lot of Wright’s later work in California

Hanks said that photographers Edmund Teske and Torkel Korling are less well-known but were considered artist’s photographers. It raises the argument, he said: “Is architectural photography art itself or just showing of f the architecture?”

Teske photographed Taliesin at Spring Green, Taliesin West and then the Hollyhock House in California, living on the estate grounds for several years.

Korling photographed the Johnson Wax Headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin for Life Magazine in 1939.

Hanks also pointed out the photography of HedrichBlessing, Ken Hedrich and Henry Blessing, who captured Wright’s work

Hedrich was engaged to photograph Falling Water in Pennsylvania.

“He had to put on wading boots to get that famous view,” Hanks said. “This is one of the most iconic architectural photos of all time.”

Photographer Pedro Guerrero met Wright in 1939 and photographed Wright’s work, including the Usonian designs, until the architect died in 1959.

Ezra Stoller worked in the 1950s and 1960s and captured iconic photos of the Guggenheim Museum, Wright’s final commission before his death.

Tickets for visiting the Driehaus Museum include access to the exhibit Photographing Frank Lloyd Wright and can be purchased two weeks in advance at: https://driehausmuseum.org/

During the duration of the exhibit, the Driehaus Museum and the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust will offer reciprocal member benefits that include admission to the Driehaus Museum, the Robie House Museum and Wright’s Home and Studio

William C. Hedrich for Hedrich-Blessing, Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin, Spring Green, WI circa 1937.

COLLECTION OF CHICAG O HISTORY MUSEUM

Hedrich-Blessing, Photographed by Bill Hedrich, December 1937 for Architectural Forum. Edgar Kaufmann residence, Fallingwater, Mill Run, PA.

COLLECTION OF FRANK LLOY D WRIGHT TRUST, CHIC AG O/ PHOTOGRAPH BY FRANK LLOY D WRIGHT West gate, Higashi-Honganji Temple, Nagoya-Betsuin, Nagoya.

BIG WEEK

Oc tober 16-23

Compiled by Brooke Duncan

Monday Enrichment Program: American Impressionism

Stroll to the Polls

Cemetery Tour

Sunday, Oc t. 20, 2 p.m., Forest Home Cemetery

G et your spook on at our tour of Forest Home

Monday, Oc t. 21, 1:15 p.m., Nineteenth Century Charitable Association

Discover the world of American Impressionist painters and their unique contributions to the ar t world with David Sokol, professor emeritus of Art Histor y at the University of Illinois Chicago. This program explores how these artists were in uenced by their French counterparts while forging their own identities. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park

Forest

Sunday, Oc t. 20, 9 a.m., Forest Park Park District

Join the CHANGE Illinois team for an empowering walk to several polling locations in Proviso. We’ll discuss who is on the ballot and the pivotal question that CHANGE has on the ballot about redistricting. Engage, walk, and learn with us 7501 Harrison St., Forest Park

Cow Tales Storytime

Thursday, Oc t. 17, 12 p.m., The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor

Our cozy parlor hosts a free weekly storytime every Thursday, for pint-sized humans and their adults. Engage your child with aMOOsing and MOOvelous storytelling featuring the wonderful Ms. Nanna. 7347 Madison St., Forest Park

Special Collections

Halloween Open Hours

Wednesday, Oc t. 23, 12- 5 p.m., Oak Park Public Library

Drop in for extended Halloween-themed open hours in the Special Collections Reading Room. Discover the spooky side of Special Collections with strange facts about Oak Park’s history and its gures. Treats and spooky surprises await — costumes encouraged. Learn more and register at //oppl.org/calendar.

834 Lake St., Oak Park

Cemetery, home of the Haymarket memorial, Emma G oldman’s grave, and much more. This walking tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours and includes walking on grass, so it may not be ideal for everyone. We’ve arranged a special rate of $15 per person, payable in advance. Please email us at beings@ELHumanists. org to reser ve your spot. We’ll adjourn to a local eatery afte rward for food, drinks, and conversation. 863 Desplaines Ave., Forest Park

Proviso to the Polls/ Dance for Democracy

Saturday, Oc t. 19, 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., Mohr Community Center

Kick o Early Voting with a free Dance Workshop for Ever ybody. Join BeMoved® Dance instructor Jennifer Edgcomb for a fun and energizing class designed to celebrate histor y and the future. This non-par tisan event o ers a joyful hour of dance, along with information about polling locations and voter registration. Everyone is welcome. Wear comfy clothes and sneakers or dance shoes and bring water for a fun experience. For more information on BeMoved Dance, visit bemoveddance.com. 7640 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park

Ca sket Races Af ter Part y

Oc t. 19, 11:30 a.m., Scratch Public House/Cibula Room

B ring the kids to the Casket Races after par ty for treats, spooky decorations, and Halloweenthemed movies. Enjoy adult beverages while wandering through both spaces for a spooktacular time. This event is perfect for families looking for some Halloween fun after the races. 7505 Madison St., Forest Park

More digital water meters coming soon to Forest Park

e village council is asking for proposals from consulting services to help replace manual water meters with digital ones

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Forest Park’s village council has approved a resolution to request consulting services to help the village replace manual water meters with digital ones.

Of the village’s 3,180 commercial and residential water meters, about 35% have digital displays, while the rest are manual meters. But the whole village will have digital water meters by the end of next year, according to Sal Stella, director of the village’s public works department.

The switch to digital water meters, Stella said, may increase bills by a few dollars.

“Once your meter does go digital, it catches every single drop,” Stella said. “Your bill might go up slightly, not dramatically.”

Water rates increased slightly for residents — no more than 30 cents for every 100 cubic feet of water — on June 1. This price increase wasn’t related to water meters, but a standard annual uptick in cost from the City of Chicago, where Forest Park gets its water.

The path to all-digital

Stella said that the village began replacing manual meters with digital ones around 2000. Since then, public works employees

have identified water meters around town that are faulty or degrading and replace them annually.

The first digital water meters that the village installed more than 20 years ago were regular mechanical meters with a wireless system, Stella said. So rather than walking from house to house to read water meters, public works employees drive around town, pick up water meter usage data from their vehicle, and upload it to the village’s system to send out water bills

Stella said the village has replaced about 400 manual meters, mostly smaller ones, with digital water meters during the past five years.

With the newest technology in water meters, the village plans to put antennas on its water towers and read water meters through radio signals. This way, public works employees won’t even have to drive around town to access the wireless meters, and all the data can be read from a computer in Village Hall.

These antennas will give the village a daily report on local water usage so staff can find any high or low usage areas where there might be faulty meters, helping the village identify inter nal operating inefficiencies.

The village is also going to introduce a customer portal to help residents keep track of their water usage in real time. Stella said this will come in handy when it comes to identifying leaks.

Right now, village employees manually read water meters about every two months. If a resident has a leak, it might be three months by the time their increased water bill is processed and sent to them. But digital readings cut out this delay.

“It’s helping my department as far as being more efficient,” Stella said. “It’s giving the

CO RRECTI ON S

An article titled “Dance drive aims to promote voting and elections” misstated the sponsor of the event. The sponsor is a private citizen and the event has no connection to any organization. We apologize for the er ror.

customer more transparency on their end and giving them the option for alerts.”

Hiring a consultant

Though the village has conducted preliminary research for its changing water meter system, staff will soon contract either an energy services consultant or engineering consultant to help develop and implement its water meter replacement project.

The consultant will help create bid documents for vendor proposals, evaluate vendor offerings, and make a recommendation to the village. They will provide installation support with the water meters, including helping to acquire equipment and materials

“They’re also going to be the ones that are going to get the best price for the meters for us,” Stella said.

Stella added that the consulting services will also consist of marketing to, and educating, residents.

Proposals for these consulting services are due Oct. 22. Stella said the village will likely choose a consultant within a month of that deadline and transition all of the village’s water meters to digital over the next year.

After the village has the stock of digital water meters, they’ll start scheduling appointments with residents to install them.

“It should be an easy transition,” Stella said of the switch from manual water meters. He adds that larger meters in more commercial areas will be targeted first, since they often have a higher rate of being faulty.

“You’re losing more water on those meters right now than you are on the smaller ones,” Stella said.

An article titled “Local League of Women Voters chapter turns 100” mispelled the last name of the LOWV-OPRF archivist. She is Mary Ann Porucznik. We apolo gize for the er ror.

Reflections on Pumpkin-Palooza

Different dates on the calendar remind us of the passage of time: holidays, birthdays, other special occasions.

For us, the McAdam Pumpkin-Palooza has become one of those special moments—and this past Saturday, we enjoyed gorgeous weather and numerous families as we hosted 2024’s installment of this autumn staple of fun. As a father of two young children, this experience has grown especially meaningful to me. Our free activities included a pumpkin patch, hayrides, ghost stories, sweet treats, pumpkin painting, and more at our Nursery & Garden Center. Every child received a free pumpkin and more than a few took in the experience with costumes. We offered huge fall discounts on all trees, shrubs, and perennials that are in stock. And we had professionals on hand to give tips on how to winterize your garden. Particularly with plants that have been growing in the same containers all year long, this is a good time to landscape. Before next summer’s heat comes around, it’s very beneficial to give new plantings upwards of six to eight months to get established.

A half-mile south of Roosevelt Road, the McAdam Nursery & Garden Center is open until midNovember. We’re always just a phone call away at 708-771-2299.

2001 Des Plaines Ave. Forest Park • 708-771-2299

www.mcadamlandscape.com

Scott McAdam Jr.

Invasion of the scarecrows

The Historical Society of Forest Park and the Forest Park Arts Alliance are once again teaming up this fall on their annual Invasion of the Scarecrows fundraiser. Remember to vote for your favorite scarecrow. Map and voting can be found at: www.forestparkhistory.org

How to celebrate Halloween in Forest Park

ings to do for spooky season and when trick or treating will begin in the village

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

With a chill in the air and the Halloween season in full swing, trick or treating is right around the corner. As kids get excited to collect baskets or pillow cases full of chocolate and sour candies, here’s what you need to know about collecting candy on Halloween — and other festivities about town.

In Forest Park, trick or treating will take place Oct. 31 from 3 to 7:30 p.m.

If your house is giving out candy, leave your front light on or post a sign on the front door so that children kno

parade at 10:30 a.m., races at 11 a.m., and trick or treating at 12:30 p.m.

The Park District of Forest Park is hosting Trunk or Treat Oct. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In the parking lot at 7329 Harrison St., those who have registered their car can park and help pass out candy from their trunks. Participants are responsible for providing their own decorations for their cars and individually wrapped candy, though Ferrara Candy Company is also donating candy. Registering your car and trick or treating are free. Register a car at https://bit.ly/TrunkOrTreat2024.

If these events aren’t enough to satiate

a bad idea for parents to inspect candy before their kids dive in. Parents can also help incorporate reflective tape on dark costumes to help with visibility after the sun goes down. If your kids are trick or treating alone, give them a refresher on traffic safety and the importance of traveling from house to house in a small group There will also be trick or treating on Madison Street following the village’s casket races. The casket races, an annual tradition in the village during the Halloween season, takes place Oct. 19 on Beloit Avenue between Madison Street and Adams Street. There’s a casket

Scarecrows. Every year, the Historical Society of Forest Park and Forest Park Arts Alliance sell materials to make scarecrows. Up to 300 scarecrows are guarding front yards around the village this season, and each tell their own story. Discover the variety of scary and funny scenes by walking or driving around town with the map on www.forestparkhistory.org. Or if you don’t want to tour the scarecrows on your own, bring a bike to the Roos Recreation Center, 7329 Harrison St., on Oct. 27 at 10 a.m. for a casual ride around town, enjoying the scarecrows with your neighbors.

RECORDS

Hanging tough from page 1

In spite of this adversity, Gianakopoulos said, record stores have persevered thanks to dedicated customers, a revival of vinyl in popular cultures and, perhaps most notably, the sense of community that the stores offer.

“There’s a lot of culture, a lot of history of music and movies,” Gianakopoulos said. “It’s kind of like a barbershop in the way that people come in and just hang out all day sometimes and just talk.”

Gianakopoulos said that there are certain things that record stores offer that just can’t be recreated. As a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Gianakopoulos feels that he can offer music knowledge and expertise to his customers.

He also works to tailor his stock to wide demographics, selling everything from Sabrina Carpenter to Mozart.

“I’ll still g et unique stuf f in and put it out there for people,” Gianakopoulos “They ’re still coming in and being very surprised to find amazing things they want. T he g eneral market of the new stuf f

that comes out probably is kind of tapering or evening of f a bit. It’s just the way the economy is.”

He added, “I’m just hoping the economy kicks around. It was a lot harder this year.”.

Old Schools Re cords is n’ t the only local record store wo rk ing to meet the challenges of streaming services by emphasizing community

Alan Heffelfinger, owner of Oak Park Records, has been dealing with the competition of music streaming since he opened his business in 2004. Despite that known threat, he decided to open his business anyway.

“It was just a dream of mine to have a store, so I went with it,” Heffelfinger said.

He said that there will always be a customer base for vinyl records.

“Streaming is still hugely popular, and I have no problem with it,” Heffelfinger said. “There are people who listen to music in two or three different ways. They’re just music junkies. They’re just happy to be able to tap their foot, not really concerned about how it’s coming across to them, whether it’s a radio, earbuds or a record pl ayer.”

Heffelfinger will be celebrating his store’s 20 anniversary in November and ag reed that record stores offer a powerful sense of community.

“Over the years, I’ve created something

great,” Heffelfinger said. “There are customers that I’ve gotten to know over the years, and I’ve really noticed, especially

in the last five years, a lot of customers of mine that are walking into the store and recognizing the other customers.”

Make a Difference in the Health of Our Community

Join Rush Oak Park Hospital’s Community Engagement Council and help us improve the health and well-being of our community. We’re looking for passionate, engaged people from Oak Park and surrounding communities who want to provide input and feedback on important local health issues.

— and to submit an application.

Peter Gianakopoulos, ow ner of Old School Records, in his new store at 413 D esplaines Ave. in 2000.

Village delays Harrison Street updates

e village decided not to apply for a matching grant to fund the project a er doubts about its budget

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

At the village council’s last meeting in September, Mayor Rory Hoskins announced he was skipping agenda item number six.

The agenda item was to approve a grant ap-

tion’s Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The ITEP grant provides partial funding for municipal projects that enhance transportation and infrastructure by covering engineering and construction costs.

The ITEP grant also requires municipalities that are awarded it to match the amount given.

The village would have asked for over $2.9 million through the ITEP grant, according to the resolution in the meeting agenda. The village’s share of the project’s cost would have been about $860,000.

“Depending on how much they gave us, we would be on the hook for the other [half],” Entler said. “I was not comfortable taking on that amount of money at this time without

apply for the grant because it’s unlikely that Forest Park could fund the rest of the project inter nally right now; the village approved its budget for the 2025 fiscal year in July with a $9 million deficit.

“After further looking into it and reviewing, we had not actually planned for our portion of paying for that,” said Village Administrator Rachell Entler

Approving the grant application was on the agenda because the deadline was coming up, Entler said.

The grant application would have been for the Illinois Department of Transporta-

tions to update Harrison Street.

“Eventually, we’ll have to redo the water mains and the streets, but it is on hold for now,” Entler said.

She added that the village is also looking into ways to capture water, or collecting and reusing rainwater, on and around Harrison Street.

Entler said the village may split up redoing Harrison Street in phases because of high cost.

“The whole street, from Harlem to Des Plaines, has to be done, but it’s going to be very expensive,” Entler said.

JESSICA MOR DACQ

ison Street, looking toward Harlem Avenue, that w ill need to be updated with a new water main.

Juvenile crashes stolen car into Concordia Cemetery

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

While on patrol at the CTA Blue Line station Oct. 9, police said they made eye contact with the driver of a green Kia Soul and followed the car, which started speeding. Police attempted to pull the car over, but the driver sped up, lost control, and crashed into Concordia Cemetery’s wall,

according to the police re port. Police contacted the car’s owner, who confirmed it was missing. The driver of the stolen Kia told police that he was kicked out of his father’s house in Maywood that day, and he and his girlfriend needed a place to slee p. He said they found the car with a broken window and damaged steering column. His girlfriend told police that he broke the

car window, and she didn’t want to get in the vehicle, but her boyfriend yelled until she did, according to the re port. She was charged with one count of criminal trespassing to a vehicle and turned over to her mother. The boy was charged with motor vehicle theft, criminal trespass to vehicle, attempting to elude a police officer, and theft over $500. He was taken to the Cook County Juvenile Center to be detained.

Burglary

■ On Oct. 7, police were dispatched to a residence on Troost Street after a neighbor called to say someone had broken into a next-door apar tment. When police knocked on the vacant apar tment’s door, a visibly intoxicated man answered and said he was armed with a baseball bat, police re ported. T he man was placed in handcuffs but told police he was the resident of the apar tment. Police spoke with the caller, who identified the man as the one who lived there and had told him to call the police because his apar tment was broken into. Police removed the man from the handcuffs, and he told them that he returned home to notice his front door open (he said he leaves the door unlocked) and a laptop, diamond ring, debit card and phone missing. T he man said he would file complaints if an offender was found, but didn’t cooperate with police to enter the apar tment and process the scene, according to the police re port

the police re port, there were three people inside the business and about 20 drinking around a bonfire in the backyard. One man told police he rented the location for a party from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., and he ended the party when police arrived. Later in the day, police met with Bizzy Bee Catering’s owner. She told police that she was aware that the catering company doesn’t have a liquor license — which allows for the consumption of alcohol on the property — and told the man that possessing and consuming alcohol was not allowed, and to clean up by 1:30 a.m., according to the police re port. She was given two citations for not having a liquor license while there was alcohol on the premises and occupying the building after hours.

Suspicious person

■ A man re ported Oct. 8 that his work truck had been broken into at the rear of an Elgin Avenue address. A car window was shattered, and the man was missing several drills, batteries, a vacuum and battery chargers that he had leased from his work. He told police that he doesn’t have surveillance cameras or know of any in the area, according to the police re port

■ Also on Oct. 8, police were dispatched to Thomas Avenue for a re port of tools stolen from a car. A man told police that his car window had been smashed, and that his drill, driver and Sawzall were missing — an estimated cost of about $900. The man said he would sign complaints if an offender was found.

Village ordinance violation

Just past 3 a.m. on Oct. 8, police received a complaint about a party at Bizzy Bee Catering at 26 Lathrop Ave. According to

Police received a call Oct. 8 about subjects that police said were attempting to steal a snowplow from Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy’s parking lot and put it in the back of a pickup truck. When police arrived at the scene, a school employee told them that two males fled the scene right before they arrived, according to the police re port. Police later contacted a subject, who told them that he found a listing for a snowplow on Facebook Marketplace for $1,200. An unknown man told him he’d meet at the school to give him the snowplow, which the man discovered wasn’t the same one that was advertised when he arrived. The man selling the snowplow cut the price by $400 for the discrepancy, and he and another man tried to load the plow into a truck for the buyer, but it was too heavy. The man who intended to buy the snowplow said he was no longer interested, and the two other men fled, according to the police re port. No one has been charged.

These items were obtained from Forest Park Police Department re ports dated October 7 through October 9 and re present 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 ar rest.

A guide to help you nd your polling place, learn about who’s running in your district and understand what’s on your ballot.

HOW TO FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE PAGE 12

ILLINOIS ’ BALLOT QUESTIONS DEMYSTIFIED PAGE 15

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES

GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE

RUNNING FOR STATE’S AT TORNEY? PAGE 16

Where and how to vote in the November 2024 election

There are multiple options for making your voice heard in

gistration system will close at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 20 and reopen Nov. 7. Residents already gistered to vote can also

ou want to vote in person on important to be prep and know where to go. Voters can find their specific polling location for Election Day with the zip code and street address of their through the Illinois State

FOREST PARK

there are five polling locations:

Who are Robert Sumrell Jr. and Kimberly Lightford?

The two are running for the State Senate’s 4th Distric t

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

The race for the State Senate’s 4th District is between Kimberly Lightford, the Democratic incumbent, and Re publican Robert Sumrell Jr.

Illinois’ 4th District covers Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, plus parts of Oak Park and Forest Park. Here’s what voters should know about Lightford and Sumrell. Neither candidate responded to interview requests by publication.

Lightford was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1998.

She’s considered a champion of education issues and has been a part of the Senate Education Committee for 22 years as a sitting member, vice chair, or chair.

Lightford is credited with starting Illinois’ universal preschool for all progr and, in 2000, helped to require the State Board of Education to give students access to breakfast at school. In 2009, she aided in establishing the Illinois Hope and Opportunity Pathways through Education Program, helping re-enroll students who dropped out of high school.

Lightford is also well-known for supporting fair pay.

She was the lead sponsor in the legislation that, in 2003, established the Illinois’ Equal Pay Act. In 2018, Lightford helped pass the African American Equal y Act. Last year, she sponsored legislation guaranteeing paid leave for Illinois rkers.

According to her website, Lightford helped pass a measure in 2019 to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.

Sumrell Jr. served in the Navy and has a master’s Public Health Administration. His current work involves assisting the elderly and disabled, according to his website.

If elected to the State Senate’s 4th District, Sumrell Jr. said he would prioritize creating more resources and addressing immi tion. His website lays out his views on a few key issues:

■ He promises to advocate for equal educational resources and opportunities.

■ He said he doesn’t think Lightford has transparently addressed migrants coming to her district and wants more opportunities related to migrants.

■ If elected, he will provide grants and resources to local entrepreneurs through his Back to Business Reform initiative. He will also address abandoned buildings in his district and find g rants to rebuild communities

In 2017, in an ef fort to reduce teen suicide and address mental health, Lightford led the ef fort requiring schools to perform social and emotional screenings for students as a part of their entry exams.

In 2019, Lightford became the first Black woman to serve as Illinois Senate Majority Leader. From 2015 to 2021, she was Joint Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, where she led the caucus’ ef fort in creating an agenda to eliminate systemic racism in Illinois.

■ Sumrell Jr. wants police reform and to address law enforcement’s implicit bias through retraining, education and wellness checks for police.

■ He is against new taxes without refor ms and vows to address District 4’s fiscal challenges.

KIMBERLY LIGHTFORD, DEMOCR AT

ROBERT SUMRELL JR., REPUBLICAN

GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE 2024

What to know about election security and fraud prevention

The Cook County Clerk’s

O ce

provides crucial information to voters

IBy LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

n the United States, there’s a common concern among voters about election security and the integrity of the voting process. It’s important to have the facts from a reliable source to trust in transparency of elections and to ensure your vote counts.

According to a NPR/PBS News/Marist poll published in October, 58% of Americans say they are very concerned or concerned that voter fraud will occur in the 2024 election.

So, how can their concerns be assuaged? With accurate information. The Cook County Clerk’s Office is one such reliable source that works on a local level to protect democracy by securing a fair election and preventing fraud.

Edmund Michalowski, deputy clerk of the elections division in the Cook County Clerk’s Office, said people need to have faith that an election is fair and free.

software to detect and block artificial intelligence, as well as preventing breaches.

“You have to come to a trusted source,” Michalowski said. “[Election-related information] is really a lot for people to take in. They just need to take a deep breath and understand that the Cook County Clerk’s elections department is here to help them.”

How does the Cook County Clerk’s O ce keep voters’ data secure?

The elections division in the Cook County Clerk’s Office has experts in election operations, logistics, cybersecurity and information technology. According to its website, there has never been a successful legal case taken against the division or its employees alleging fraud.

The Clerk’s Office also has a cybersecurity group, whose duty is to protect its networks, machinery, software and data. The office uses analytics and authentication

Threats from third parties around the world do come in and are more common with contentious presidential elections, Michalowski said. But if there ever is an issue with the technology or a cybersecurity concern, Michalowski said the office would lock down anything that could be vulnerable and resolve the issue.

“We’ve b een ve ry successful in blocking [ third pa rt y i nterference],” Michalowski said.

Voters concerned about election integrity can also participate as a poll watcher. Poll watchers can observe the conduct of the election in a polling place including by visually comparing voters’ signatures against their re gistration. Citizens can also serve as an election judge during early voting or on Election Day. Michalowski encouraged young voters to get involved with elections and help foster democracy by working in these roles. Interested parties can find more information at cookcountyclerkil.gov.

The public can also observe election recounts and testing of election equipment at the Clerk’s elections operations centers. And anyone can file election complaints with the Clerk’s Office or seek public election information through Freedom of Information Act requests.

What are the voter quali c ations that prevent illegal voting?

Illinois requ ires identification to re gister to vote. To re gister to vote in Illinois, an individual must be a United States citiz en, 18 years old by the g eneral election date and a resident of Illinois for at least 30 days prior to the election. T hey also must submit two for ms of identification. T hose identifications do not have to be a photo ID but one must include the voter’s current address, Michalowski said. Some examples include a driver’s license, a state ID card, a student ID, a credit card, a social security card, a utility bill or a

bir th certificate.

On Election Day, a voter must provide their signature to confirm their identity. It’s a good idea for voters to update their signature at their polling place ahead of time to ensure there’s no confusion with their ballot.

When a person dies, the Clerk’s Office removes them from the list of re gistered voters. They do this by cross referencing the voter database against government death records or through family members contacting the office.

How can voters trust mail ballots?

When a voter applies for a mail ballot, the Clerk’s Office verifies their infor mation through re gistration records before mailing the ballot. When a voter receives it, the ballot must be signed on the exterior of the envelope before being mailed back or dropped of f.

That signature is then verified by three bipartisan judges through re gistration records. These judges are trained in signature verification. If a signature is completely different, Michalowski said, the judges will ask for further identification.

Mail ballots are then counted after polls close on Election Day.

Mail ballots can be dropped of f at more than 50 early voting sites in Cook County. A licensed and bonded courier service picks up and delivers the ballots each day. The courier and an election judge at each location must ag ree on the number of ballots each day and place them in a sealed envelope for transport.

Voters can track their mail ballot to ensure it was counted through the Clerk’s Office. If a voter sees their ballot was not received or authenticated, there’s time to cure that ahead of time and produce any necessary identification.

“Our democracy depends on us,” Michalowski said. “It’s an honor to serve the citizens of Cook County.”

What are the tax, reproductive rights and elections interference questions on my ballot this year?

The state will ask voters three questions in November. Here’s what they mean

By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter

This election season, most eyes are on the biggest race of them all: the presidential race. As important as it is to make your pick b etween Vi ce President K amala Harris and for mer President Donald Trump, I llinois residents are also bein g asked to we igh in on matters that do n’ t involve a choice b etween candidates

Come Election Day, your ballot will ask you to vote on three statewide ballot measures, the maximum number allowed under state law. All three are considered advisory questions, meaning Illinois officials will not be bound by the results; instead, the questions are intended to give the state a sense of how voters feel about each subject. Sometimes, ballot measures can be worded in ways that are confusing or may cause people to vote the opposite way that they intend to. Luckily, all three in Illinois this year are worded affirmatively, so a “yes” vote means you support the initiative in question while a “no” vote means you oppose it

ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

The first question is on the topic of assisted re productive health care. Voters will be asked whether “medically assisted re productive treatments” should be covered by any health insurance plan in the state that provides full pregnancy coverage. The question itself mentions in vitro fertilization, one of the most common fertility treatments.

3% TAX ON WEALTHIEST CITIZENS

ELEC TION INTERFERENCE

The third question on the ballot considers recourse in cases of election interference. Voters will be asked if candidates up for election on ballots in Illinois — for all races, not just those at the state or local level — should be subject to civil penalties if they attempt to interfere or do interfere with the of ficial duties of an election worker. The question specifies civil penalties, which most often take the form of fines

According to the Center for Disease Control, its preferred ter m, “assisted re technology,” includes any fe treatment that involves handling ovarian eggs or embryos. Treatments that involve someone taking medicine to encourage egg production and those where only sperm is handled, such as artificial insemination, are not included

T he second ballot measure, on the subject of income tax, is relatively straightforward. Voters will be asked if Illinois should amend its constitution to create a new 3% tax on income above $1 million. If voters pass the ballot measure and Illinois of ficials choose to follow through, funds raised by the extra tax will be earmarked and dedicated to property tax relief. According to WBEZ, the state estimates it will rake in at least $4.5 billion each year if such a tax goes into ef fect.

All three ballot measures were approved by the Illinois General Assembly in May as part of Public Act 103-0586. In approving these three questions, state lawmakers rejected a fourth advisory question.

Under Illinois law, when more than three measures are submitted for inclusion on ballots, the state operates by a first-come-first-serve policy, meaning this question was the last one to be initiated for Disease Co eproductive fertility andling king se cial

That question would have asked voters if any person or entity, including schools and clinics, would require the written consent of a minor’s parent or guardian before it can provide non-emergency medical services or any services related to gender identity or “modification,” including therapy.

GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE

Who is running for Cook County State’s Attorney?

Eileen O’Neill Burke, B ob Fioretti and Andrew Charles Kopinski are running for the o ce vacated by Kim Foxx,

who is stepping down

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

In April last year, Kim Foxx announced she wouldn’t seek reelection this November after two terms as Cook County state’s attorney. Now, others are stepping up to the plate to take her place.

Eileen O’Neill Burke will be on the ballot as the Democratic candidate after beating Clayton Harris III in the primary elections by less than 2,000 votes.

Bob Fioretti, who ran uncontested in the primaries, is the Re publican candidate. Andrew Charles Kopinski is running as a Libertarian. Here’s what to know about each of the candidates in this race.

EILEEN O’NEILL BURKE, DEMOCR AT

O’Neill Burke has spent more than 30 years as a defense attorney, judge and prosecutor. She wo as a Cook County assistant state’s attorney for a decade, where she served as supervisor in appeals and argued cases.

She was then a criminal defense attorney for about eight years, resenting people in felonies, ju nile court and misdemeanor court.

In 2008, O’Neill Burke ran trial court, where she served ting elected to the First District Appellate Court in Cook County, a position she stepped down from last year to run for this of fice.

“I have b een on every single s ide of the j ustice system. I have b een in every corner of the c ourtroom, and I have seen the vantage point from every different angle that you c an,” O’Neill Burke said. “I know wh at wo rk s and wh at d oesn’t wo rk , and that’s why I decided to ste p down and r un for this offic e, because experience is needed right now. ”

prolific these guns are, just by enforcing the law,” O’Neill Burke said.

She also mentions supporting, but amending, the Safe-T Act, which Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law in 2021 and cently amended, ending cash bail in Illinois two years later

But the Safe-T Act also changed the state’s attorney role in pretrial detention. Before the judge makes a determination, the state’s attorney needs to file a petition to detain. If they don’t, the judge can’t detain the defendant, even if they’re a serial killer, O’Neill Burke said.

“It’s become exponentially more important who the state’s attorney is and that they are implementing criteria, procedures and training for those people who are in the detention courts,” O’Neill Burke said.

If elected, O’Neill Burke promises to recruit for County’s Restorative Justice Bureau, expanding restorat justice and deferred prosecution programs. These progr are a collaborative approach where the judge, state’s ney and defense attorney work together to decide how to help those committing nonviolent offenses back on track.

“I’m a believer in these programs because I’ve seen them work,” O’Neill Burke said. “The recidivism rates are significantly less than those going through a re gular felony trial call.” And restorative justice programs often cost a fraction of what it does to incarcerate someone, she said.

ROBERT W. FIORET TI , REPUBLICAN

100 state verdicts, federal verdicts and appellate cour t decisions.

T he main i ssues that O’Neill Burke is r unning on include removing g uns from the streets, a ddressing the root c auses of c rime and rebuilding the State’s A ttorney ’s Of fic e.

O’Neill Burke said Chicago saw 764 shootings this summer. She said many of these shootings weren’ t with handguns, but with guns that have a switch and extended magazine, making gunfire harder to control. She favors an assault weapons ban.

“We can change the behavior, and we can change how

If elected, O’Neill Burke has also committed to creating a Choice Protection Unit at the State’s Attorney’s Office.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned in the Supreme Court in 2022, giving states the right to outlaw abor tions, Illinois saw a 70% increase in abor tions last year, including many where people crossed state lines to access the Cook County Health system – the largest provider of re productive services to women in Illinois, according to O’Neill Burke.

With the influx of people coming to Illinois for abor tions, “It’s not a question of if we are also going to have people coming here from out of state to interfere with those services. It’s a question of when,” O’Neill Burke said.

So, she has helped develop a task force of service providers, politicians and Planned Parenthood employees to discuss how to address ordinance violations like picketing, and criminal charges like stalking and harassment, plus legislation to prevent them.

O’Neill Burke said that restorative justice programs and a Choice Protection Unit will help the State’s Attorney’s Office to recruit law students for an office that is understaffed — mainly in the felony trial division, which Burke said is the most important division.

O’Neill Burke said she would triage the felony trial division to ensure those attorneys have adequate support. She would do this by inviting retired judges and state’s attorneys to come help train those attorneys.

“I’ve tried cases in every courtroom in Cook County,” Fioretti said, including some in sur rounding counties and throughout Illinois.

Fioretti also won the election to serve as Alderman of the 2nd Ward on the Chicago City Council in 2007 and 2011. And he served as 2nd Ward Democratic committeeman for two ter ms

T he first week of October, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. endorsed Fioretti for state’s attor ney.

If elected, Fioretti said he’ll enforce the law as w ritten.

“I’m not going to coddle violent criminals,” he said. He added that he’ll work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove immigrants who have committed violent crimes.

“The current philosophy in that office, and including for my Democratic opponent, is that the criminal defendant is the good guy, the police are the bad guys, and the victims don’t count,” Fioretti said. “I am definitely looking to change that and, at the same time, restore the rule of law and break the cycle of crime and cor ruption that we see is so prevalent.”

Fioretti also said he would also pursue politicians who participate in day-to-day corruption that passes as standard practices, bolstering the office’s investigative division. He said he’s been putting together a team of people working in investigative areas on how

Kopinski has work accountant, attorney, entr neur and real estate broker. His legal career has largely centered around transactional law involving real estate, asset protection and debt collection.

“Alarming trends in crime have shifted my attention and focus on criminal la Kopinski, who is near ished with his associate’s degree in law enforcement and criminal justice at Oakton Colle ge in Des Plaines

Kopinski said he decided to run to improve the decreasing quality of ing from crime in the area.

“Crime has spread out from certain high crime areas,” Kopinski said. carjackings and shootings are taking previously high-quality areas,” he said.

Kopinski said his biggest goal would be to decrease these crimes “to help significantly reduce violent crime and property crime in Cook County so that the people feel safer and more optimistic. They will want to continue to live and do business in Cook County.”

When it comes to the current state of the office, Kopinski has a list of things he’d like to change.

“The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is not working well, as evidenced by the high turnover rate and the increase in property crime in Cook County,” Kopinski said. “High-quality prosecutors, like those at the top of other professions, work hard and are determined to contribute to society to make it better by pursuing justice against criminals.”

Foxx’s soft-on-crime policies, he adds, are “demoralizing” for these prosecutors.

they take tips and follow up with leads.

Fioretti said he’ll help get illegal guns of f the streets by working with law enforcement and organizations that are currently in place to prevent gun violence. To tackle the issue, he said he’ll meet with those in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, plus other federal and state agencies that address gun violence.

Re garding the Safe-T Act, Fioretti said that judges need more discretion when it comes to pretrial detention.

“Some of the crimes — such as aggravated battery upon a police officer, aggravated battery on an elderly individual, the illegal

lthough the Protect Illinois ommunities Act, passed at the start of 2023, requires citire gister assault weappinski said he doesn’t think those who fail to do so should be prosecuted, according to WTTW

According to his website, pinski opposes increasing penalties for gun possession. When it comes to the Safe-T ’t support the eliminaash bail. He said it sends the mesthat Illinois is soft on crime, and that a low bail should be instated instead. pinski said that he also wouldn’t continshoplifting cases, which elon must have stolen at least ve 10 prior convictions to be prosecuted. He said he would revert to the $300 threshold before prosecution.

Policies Kopinski supports includes creating opportunities to reduce prison stays, limiting or prohibiting police officers’ roles as School Resource Officers, reclassifying low-level drug offenses from felonies to misdemeanors, plus deprioritizing prosecution for cannabis possession, consensual sex work, and driving without an up-to-date license or re gistration.

Kopinski said he would engage with those he re presents through online communication and town halls to ensure that he is held accountable.

“I will consider supporting reasonable reform proposals that promote transparency and lead to the implementation of best practices and evidence-based decision making, which will serve Cook County best,” Kopinski said.

possession of a machine gun — are types of crimes that need to have detainable offenses,” Fioretti said, though they don’t currently under the Safe-T Act.

Like his opponents, Fioretti would also aim to increase staffing at the State’s Attorney’s Office, he said by welcoming back prosecutors who resigned from Foxx’s office.

“I’m going to stand up for victims and return professionalism to the State’s Attorney’s Office,” he said. “People will know where I stand, how we want to administer justice, how we seek justice for the victims in this county.”

Essential Civics

ANDREW CHARLES KOPINSKI , LIBER TARIAN

GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE 2024

Leslie Collazo takes on La Shawn Ford in the 8th District House race

The incumbent faces a challenge from newcomer Collazo, a real estate agent

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

The Illinois House of Representatives’ 8th District covers Chicago’s West Side, along with Brookfield, Forest Park, North Riverside, Oak Park and Proviso Township.

The battle for the two-year ter m for the state House seat will be between La Shawn Ford, who has represented the 8th District since 2007, and real estate agent Leslie Collazo

INCUMBENT LA SHAWN FORD, DEMOCR AT

A licensed teacher and real estate broker, Ford was motivated to run again to represent the 8th District because, he said, he can now do more as a legislator than before

“Knowing what I know now, and knowing the process of Springfield and the relationships that I built, it just makes me a stronger member,” Ford said. “I have the ability now to get things done that I couldn’t get done when I was first elected.”

For example, although Ford has been pushing for a comprehensive high school in Austin since he first became a state representative, he only recently started building coalitions of House and Senate members who support such a high school, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

Ford has been a big proponent of education and hopes to create a new high school in Austin while continuing to support Michele Clark Magnet High School. Throughout his tenure, Ford has sponsored legislation for educational summer programs for students performing below grade level and to increase access to early childhood education and care

Another one of Ford’s goals, if he is reelected, is to continue connecting locals with employment oppor tunities. He said a big way to implement that is by building and supporting small businesses

Ford created Illinois’ Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Task Force and created a loan program for ex-offenders who start businesses. In addition to re gularly hosting small business summits and job fairs, Ford also for med the State Re presentative La Shawn K. Ford’s Business Growth and Creation Committee to offer training and resources to businesses.

Ford also wants to pass more health care legislation if he wins another term. In previous years, Ford has passed legislation sup-

porting HIV/AIDS patients and led efforts to improve care for Alzheimer’s patients

As co-founder of the West Side Heroin Task Force, Ford works to prevent drug use on the West Side. He’s also led efforts to make sure health insurance companies cover recovery housing for those dealing with substance abuse.

Ford is working with the general assembly to make it so that those struggling with substance abuse who are arrested can go to a treatment center instead of jail, and he is collaborating with the West Side Heroin Task Force to create public policy

“Incarcerating a person in a county jail is way more costly to taxpayers than making sure that we get people on the road to recovery,” Ford said.

In late 2022, Ford proposed House Bill 0002, which proposes the opening of pilot overdose prevention sites in Illinois, where people can go for supervised consumption and access to behavioral health experts.

Ford views most of the legislation he’s a part of through social justice and civil rights lens

Ford worked with the Black Caucus to eliminate cash bail last year. He created a commission to address the economic problems in Black communities and passed legislation prohibiting employers from paying Black employees lower wages.

Ford has also introduced bills to help integrate ex-offenders back into society. He introduced the State Employment Application Act, which would make it so state employers can’t ask if an applicant has been convicted of a non-violent criminal offense. To increase employment for ex-offenders, Ford passed legislation allowing ex-offenders to seal criminal records for some non-violent offenses. He was the chief House sponsor of legislation that provides grants for those who are exonerated of their crimes to attend a public college

Ford also said he wants to see improvements in public safety on the West Side. He said he supports increased police presence in areas with high rates of violence and advocates for the Chicago Police Department to undergo an audit to evaluate their response times, and to make recommendations on improving those times in communities of color

Other initiatives Ford said he’s working toward include allowing people in prison to vote, which he’s been pushing for over a decade, plus advocating for voter ID cards with photos and for psychedelics as a medical resource for those with PTSD

Ford hopes that, if reelected, he can build more coalitions around these issues, something he said takes time but provides support for legislation.

“Before you ever try to attempt to build public policy and get people on your side, you have to first let people know who you are, and it takes years for people to connect,” Ford said. “Running again is an opportunity for me to go back and be a stronger voice for the 8th District.”

LESLIE COLL AZ O, REPUBLICAN

Leslie Collazo was born and raised in Chicago and currently lives in North Austin. She said she decided to run for the Illinois House of Re tives as a way to impact policy change her neighbors.

“I just reached a point where I felt li I could no longer sit on the sidelines with the political climate Collazo said. “I just want to see the families and citizens in the district thriving, because we’re not thriving right now under the current policies that we’re living under.”

Currently in real estate, Collazo has a background in teaching at a charter school and in the nonprofit sector.

“Working in the nonprofit world, you really have to leverage all the resources that you have and do a lot with very little,” Collazo said about a skillset she’s developed. She said she’s worked closely with the community and small businesses to pool resources and improve neighborhoods.

Collazo’s platform includes improving the economy for working class families like hers and lowering taxes.

She also wants to increase support for first responders, who she said are understaffed and overworked.

“If I’m having an emergency in my home, I can’t af ford to wait 15, 20, 30 minutes for law enforcement to arrive,” Collazo said. She added that, while it was great to see the Chicago Police Department step up for the DNC, “the people in my community felt like we could use that type of support in our neighborhoods that are riddled with crime right now.”

Collazo also said she supports small businesses and said, if elected, she’ll work to grow those businesses, rather than them shutting down. Collazo sees small businesses struggling to offer their employees health

care and other benefits, and g etting enough financing to purchase properties. When it comes to education, Collazo said her philosophy revolves around the f amily unit.

“When children have a supportive, loving, nur turing, structured environment in their home, they can achieve great things in sports, in school,” Collazo said. “We can give kids state-of-the-art schools with teachers who have doctorate de grees and all the technology and all the cool things. But at the end of the day, if they don’t have the support that they need in the home… how do they show up in these great facilities that we provide?”

One of the ways Collazo would look to provide more support at home is through transportation, since many parents have to take their kids to school themselves with CPS’ bus driver shor tage.

Collazo also said she believes in families having a choice where to send their kids. As someone who’s seen how selective enrollment schools operate, Collazo said she wants to see all Chicago Public Schools workin g at that level of excellence.

“I do n’ t know if they ’re f ully f unded differently, but even where they lack in f unding, they have such an active bo dy of parents who are willing to j ump in and p ut some time and ef fo rt in to supp lement where there’s gaps in the budg et,” C ollazo said of how she’d li ke to see selective enrollment schools emulated S he a dded that she knows it ’s more of a c omplex i ssue than parental pa rt icipation, wh ich many don’ t have the time for, but it is possibl e.

While Collazo reco gnizes that if elected,

GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE

Collazo’s ght to run

Collazo jumped in the race for the State House’s 8th District after the primary elections. She joined as a slated candidate, a legal process where a candidate can petition to get on the ballot after the primaries.

But as she gathered signatures, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill to eliminate the slating process

So, Collazo filed a lawsuit against the Illinois State Board of Elections. A circuit court in Springfield ruled in favor of Collazo, and the Illinois Supreme Court upheld that decision.

“Had that bill gone into effect,” Collazo said, “La Shawn Ford would have been the only candidate on the ballot for this office, and the choice for voters would have been made for them.”

“I felt that that was really unfair to the voter and robbing them of having a choice,” Collazo added. “Options are always good, and now they have one.”

she’ ll need administrative assistance to field constituents’ feedback, right now, her phone number is on all her campaign material, and she personally answers emails.

“I’m just your average citizen who is suffering alongside my neighbor,” Collazo said. “I’m definitely an underdog in this race, but I have heart, and I really care.”

GENERAL ELECTION GUIDE

Who are the U.S. 7th District House candidates, Danny Davis and Chad Koppie?

Davis, the longtime incumbent, is up against Koppie for the U.S. House’s 7th Distric t

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

One of the largest legislative offices on the ticket this election is that of the United States House of Re presentatives’ 7th District — a cong ressional seat that represents much of Chicago’s West Side, plus suburban Oak Park and Forest Park.

Incumbent Danny Davis and Chad Koppie will both be on the ballot for the position that is a two-year term.

In the March primary, Davis walked away with more than 52% of the Democratic vote, or more than 42,240 votes cast, according to Ballotpedia. Koppie, the lone Republican contender, gar nered more than 5,600 votes in the heavily Democratic area.

Here’s what to know about the candidates. Neither responded to interview requests by time of publication.

CHAD KOPPIE, REPUBLICAN

Chad Koppie is an Ar my veteran, retired Delta Airlines jet captain, and has been a far mer his whole life. Koppie has served on the Kane County Re gional Board of Schools since 2007 and as the board’s president. He was a Rutland Township trustee from 1983 to 1987, then a member of the District 300 School Board from 1987 to 1991. Koppie has run for the U.S. Senate multiple times — in 1992 for the Conserva tive Party of Illinois, in 1996 for the U.S. Taxpayers Party, and in 2008 for the Constitution Party.

U.S. REP. D ANNY DAVIS , INCUMBENT, DEMOCR AT

Davis has been a re presentative for the 7th District since 1997. He is the 24th longest- standing member of Congress, having sponsored nearly 7,000 bills and voted over 16,000 times in Congress.

Over his tenure, Davis has become known as a powerful advocate for criminal justice reform, health care, education, women’s and LGBTQ rights.

He serves on several Caucasus including the Congressional Black munity Health Center’s Caucus, Equity Progressive Caucus, and the Urban Caucus Davis also co-chair of the Caucus on and signed the Second Chance Act during the Obama administration, which provided $1.2 billion to help to ex-offenders trying to re-enter public life. Davis’ work on criminal justice reform also includes ef for ts to remove federal student aid limitations for those with felony drug convictions.

hood Home Visiting program, ich funded $5.2 billion nationally and $119 million in Illinois to imfamily safety, along with the health of mothers and children. He also helped increase funding for the first time in 15 years to $3.55 billion for national guaranteed child care. Davis consistently bring money to organizations in his district. Among others, these include Ashunti Residential Management Systems in Austin, which offers supportive ho were for merly homeless; Bethel New Life in Austin, a nonprofit with a community wellness hub; Mount Sinai Hospital for an expansion of its ICU. ts expand past helping with funding and grants. In February, he helped push for the home of Percy Julian, an Oak Park scientist, to become a national historic site

Koppie’s website lays out his views on certain issues:

■ On the budget and economy, Koppie said he promises to fight for legislation that cuts all government spending, from every cabinet and agency, by at least 3% a year until the budget is balanced. He said he’s also for tax cuts and wants to abolish the Federal Reserve.

■ Koppie said he is anti-abortion and, if voted into Congress, vows to protect all human life. On his website, he speaks of a bill he wants to pass that would place restrictions on fathers’ driver’s licenses and credit cards — allowing them to only commute to work or medical appointments, and restrict the purchase of alcohol, until they are up-to-date on child support

■ As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, Koppie said he will defend the Second Amendment.

■ Koppie said he suppor ts building a wall on the border betw een the U.S. and Mexico and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in ar resting and deporting “all illegal aliens.”

■ Koppie said he supports a ceasefire in Ukraine, largely to increase grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine.

When it comes to education, Davis has led effor ts to disaggregate education data to reveal disparities in the education of Black students. He’s also fought to protect educational opportunities for students with disabilities and those who are homeless or foster youth.

Davis is also a proponent of strengthening families, nationally and locally. He led the creation of the Maternal Infant and Early Child-

Over the last year, Davis was reappointed to the Committee on Ways and Means. He’s also the Subcommittee Ranking Member of the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee. In 2021, the subcommittee reduced U.S. child poverty by 50%, according to Davis.

Before becoming a member of Cong ress, Davis was an educator and community organizer. He also served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners and was alderman of the 29th Ward.

Casket Races

Expect drop-

Who w ill win ‘dead last’ this ye

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

The Casket Races is one of the Chamber of Commerce sponsored events that has put Forest Park on the Metro Chicago map.

Laurie Kokenes, the chamber’s executive director, said that one indication of the popularity of the event is the media coverage it has generated. For example, she appeared on WGN Oct. 10 and on ABC Oct. 13. CBS will be talking to her on race day.

For residents planning to wa along Beloit Avenue, the spot early, because more than 1,000 spectators are expected to attend the This year, 18 teams are expected to compete in the races.

Here’s the schedule

• 9-9:30 am: teams check in

• 9:30 am: vendors, food and fun begin

• 9:30-10 am: teams fo review

• 10:30 am: parade of caskets

• 11 am: races begin

• 12:30-2:30 pm: trick or treating on Madison Street

The kids and pets costume parade will be held before the final four heats. are awarded after the final heat.

Continued on pa ge 24

“The purpose of this and our other events,” Kokenes explained, “is to keep Forest Park’s name at the forefront and drive traffic to town, so people can continue to discover all that Forest Park has to offer, and hopefully become ‘regulars’ with main the focus being driving sales to our local businesses.”

Chris Everett from Everett Wealth Solutions has entered a casket in the races for the first time this year to “promote her business and support the Chamber.”

“Because we are a financial planning and asset management company,” Everett said, “we will have a money theme and will be passing some out as well. Sorry – it’s fake money!”

Charlie Grundas also is participating in the races “to show ourselves— We The Collective Fitness—as a local company,” he said.

“We will be dressed as the Borg from Star Trek,” he said.

Victor Vanek’s team is participating for the fourth time for the fun of it. The team’s members coached basketball to gether for their sons’ teams years ago, for med friendships, and

decided to try it.

“We enjoyed it so much we signing up,” he said. “Since we older than most of the entrants we’re not really contenders to the race. But we do come up with yearly theme, costume accordingl and vie for either Best Casket Décor or the coveted Dead Last plaques

Indeed, f un is why the c ommunity and out-of-towners turn up the event.

For example, Ian Pfaf f’s which he calls Dead Last, is pa pating for the fourth time. “We’ won Creepiest Casket the last three years,” he said, adding that the ‘vibe’ in town is why he and many of his neighbors love living here.

“The Casket Races is one of the things that made me fall in love Forest Park when I moved here six years ago,” he said. “It’s stuf this that makes Forest Park so special, and I’m lucky to be a part People should swing by before race. We’ll have drinks and snacks.”

Jenny Gonzalez, the C.E.O. of

Continued on pa ge 26

TODD BANNOR

TODD BANNOR

TODD BANNOR

Forest Park Review, October 16, 2024

Emporium said she had her casket designed like a dog bone and her team will be dressed in blow-up dog costumes. Jackie Iovinelli, executive director of the Park District of Forest Park, said they’ve done the race almost every year.

12 th Annual Casket Races

there is no competitiveness in the motivation of the teams, think again, Iovinelli said: “Each year we take home a trophy! We are looking forward to the first place one this year!”

Trophies, hand crafted by the Arts Alli-

TODD BANNOR

TODD BANNOR

TODD BANNOR

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OUR VIEW

More than cars

Over the decades, and in most every community, the focus of the local “transportation committee” was effectively to speed cars through town.

Transportation simply meant autos. Pedestrians were, at best, an afterthought. People on bikes were plainly an annoyance pouted on by car drivers for not coming to complete stops at stop signs. And we were not y et coping with the myriad new modes of scooters, electric bikes, motorized skateboards, etc

So an interesting and positive change is Forest Park Village Council recently reorienting the mission of its Safety and Traffic Commission to work more closely with village staff to factor in the needs of those on foot, pushing pedals, or in the middle place of battery-powered, twowheeled vehicles

This change, in the form of a new ordinance, seems to reflect the coordinated efforts of commission members, Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin, Village Administrator Rachell Entler, Mayor Rory Hoskins and Public Works chief Sal Stella. Melin-Rogovin, who is effectively the liaison to the commission, says the goal is to better represent the needs of all for ms of transportation and to be more immediately responsive to requests from citizens

Allowing for a wider definition of transit also is a nod to Forest Park’s growing focus on climate. Options other than gas-powered cars all help to reduce carbon emissions, which is all good

In an issue that is bigger than Forest Park, we are watching the rapid rise of two-wheeled, motorized transit with both fascination and some safety concer ns. For goodness sake, we’d like to see people using these modes of transit wear helmets

Lack of cash slows sewer work

Winning state grants to repair aging infrastructure is great. And Forest Park has some seriously obsolete water and sewer issues it must address. Case in point is Harrison Street, where Village Administrator Rachell Entler says major work must be done on the full stretch from Harlem to Desplaines

The village gover nment was prepared in September to apply for a state grant to fund a large portion of that work from Harlem to Hannah. The topic made it as far as a village council agenda in late September before Mayor Rory Hoskins and Entler pulled it back. That change came with the realization that the village does not currently have a plan, or likely the capacity, to pay what would be its portion of the cost. Not small dollars. Even with an ask to the state for $2.9 million, Forest Park would have needed to come up with $860,000 for its share.

Likely this was a wise decision. Entler states that the Harrison Street work is imperative but acknowledges the lack of funding. This is a foundational challenge for Forest Park. It has a history of ignoring its serious infrastructure woes and has not made a strong enough plan for finding funding sources to pay those bills

So while this is a setback, it is encouraging to see the village government being both ambitious and pragmatic in moving ahead

OPINION

Condo associations as micro-republics

When I tell people I’m president of my condominium association, they often reply, “I’m so sorry for you.”

Whether they get their impression of condo politics by way of personal experience or reputation, many folks I know imagine leadership in a condo association as a thankless, unpaid position with many responsibilities and little power.

In six days the contestants in a novel and contentious race for the White House will cross the finish line, and after 10 years of acting as board president I can’t help noticing the similarities between the office of the President of the 50 “United” States and the elected leaders of my condo association which represents 51 owners.

HOLMES

Some condo board presidents I’ve talked to — those who looked at the job of president of the association through the eyes of reality — did not want to be burdened with that responsibility but accepted the job, perhaps out of a sense of duty

Gorge Washington sent a letter to General Henry Knox, dated April 1789, in which he expressed his reluctance to become president. In that letter, Washington wrote, “I can assure you that my movements to the chair of Gover nment [aka President] will be accompanied with feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution: so unwilling am I, in the evening of a life nearly consumed in public cares to quit a peaceful abode for an Ocean of difficulties.”

I resonate with the feelings expressed by our first President. Ten years ago, I had retired from serving as a pastor for 30 years, having paid the price of responsible leadership. I had to admit, however, that I was the logical choice, so I accepted the job.

Our country’s form of government is a republic, not a direct democracy. In a condo association, the owners likewise vote for board members to whom they delegate the job of making policy. In the case of my condo building, the board hires a manager who does most of the work of implementing board decisions

Our federal gover nment employs 268,947 civilians and 2.25 million military personnel. Our management company employs just a few people, including a part-time maintenance man, and board members wind up doing a lot more of the hands-on work than

do Danny Davis or Emmanuel “Chris” Welch, but structurally we are largely the same

What is missing in the analogy is that my condo association has no independent supreme court to arbitrate disputes

And that’s where the manure can really hits the rotary oscillator

We had a dispute recently in my building regarding a decision the board made and with which about a third of the owners disagreed. Of the 25% of the owners who showed up at the all-building meeting — direct democracy — a significant cohort were adamantly opposed to the board’s decision while those with no opinion silently waited for some light to appear along with the emotional heat. We all recognize that the volume of noise in a room does not always equate to the number of those who favor a proposal.

There’s a story about a janitor who was cleaning the church one night and discovered that the pastor had already placed his sermon on the pulpit. He decided to read it and halfway through he saw a handwritten note in the margin, “Argument weak here, so pound the pulpit with fist.”

So it goes with pastors, politicians and condo owners. When you can’t summon up much light, there’s always the option of substituting heat for the absence of illumination, and it seems to me that many voters as well as some condo owners cannot discern the difference.

At the condo all-building meeting the weakest argument was what I will call “slippery slope” reasoning, i.e. if you give them an inch they’ ll take a mile. In the board’s opinion, the decision they made to make an exception to a rule was a one-time decision. They gave an inch and only an inch. That’s it

In our national politics the use of the slippery slope fallacy is evident. For example, “If we let them take our assault rifles, they will try to take our 30-30 rifles and our 12-gauge shotguns.”

Motivating the slippery slope logical fallacy is a lack of trust, and trust can be eroded by unethical behavior by the board (or federal gover nment) or the owners (or the electorate) or both

The strength as well as weakness of democracy is that it gives power to the people, and my experience indicates that the people sometimes are swayed by emotional heat while at other times it tur ns out that they are wise and discerning.

October 16, 2024

Editor Erika Hobbs

Sta Repor ter Jessica Mordacq

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Contributing Editor Donna Greene

Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, 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

Marketing & Adver tising Associate Ben Stumpe

Senior Media Strategist Lourdes Nicholls

Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Publisher Dan Haley

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Board of Directors

Chair Eric Weinheimer

Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards, Judy Gre n, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon

HOW TO REACH US

ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 708-366-0600 ■ FAX 708-467-9066

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Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2024 Growing Community Media NFP.

Lucia Whalen is a comedian who was born and raised in this area. She had a very well-rounded upbringing, putting her energy into sports, acting and comedy. She started doing standup at the age of 23. Her career has culminated in being the headliner at Zanies on Oct. 21.

Growing up, Lucia lived part-time with her father, Sam Whalen, and Amparo Castillo, in Forest Park. She also lived with her mother, Susanna Mlot, in Oak Park. Lucia attended Grace Lutheran in River Forest. She was funny but wasn’t wild like a class clown. She developed a more subtle sense of humor

Just for laughs

At OPRF High School, she shifted her focus from the perfor ming arts to the playing field, competing on the field hockey and lacrosse teams. She continued her athletic career at UIC, where her dad was the coach of the rowing team. Lucia rowed recreationally but found being a member of a team to be a huge commitment.

After studying English at UIC, Lucia attended the Medill School of Jour nalism at Northwester n University. She majored in Environmental Jour nalism and is currently using her degree to work for an environmental nonprofit

her notebooks with ideas, drawing humor from her own experiences, but she is not an observational comic.

She talks about her concepts of femininity and her humor has a feminist bent. She also connects with bigger issues, like the gender gap between men’s and women’s sports. She talks about having a reproductive disorder and her issues with health care

Lucia performs about three times a week. She finds which material works the best. “It’s a magical process,” she said. When not performing, she’s writing new material, a discipline she has long practiced. She is also a cast member at the Lincoln Lodge, where she has many comedy-loving friends.

It helped that she came from a family of “insanely funny people.” Lucia has an easy laugh and her aunts and uncles cracked her up. She also drew inspiration from watching Saturday Night Live and Comedy Central. Her early influences included Gilda Radner and Amy Schumer.

Lucia honed her acting skills by playing lead roles in shows at Grace Lutheran. She also star red in summer theater. When she wasn’t acting, she played the violin at recitals. She even did some stand-up comedy as a kid.

During this time, she also took comedy classes at Second City. These courses didn’t explain how to pursue a career in comedy.

“There’s no clear path to success,” she said, so she watched for open mic opportunities. She later took the scary step of going onstage with her own material. She admits the bar was set pretty low for perfor mers. “Everyone was bad,” she recalled, as the comedians entertained drunk people late at night. But it was great place to try out her material.

Lucia spent seven years doing open mics She became calm and confident on stage She is also a shameless storyteller who fills

Lucia is “young in comedy years” so she considers it an honor to perform at Zanies Headlining means spending an hour on stage; fortunately she has seven years of material to draw from.

Carving out a career in comedy can be difficult but Lucia loves what she’s doing.

She continues to grow as a comedian while maintaining a presence on social media. She has an Instagram, account @ luciawhalen with 6,000 followers. She participates in podcasts and maintains a website luciawhalen.com.

Lucia hopes to perform at BABS Comedy Club some day because this is the area which shaped her

Henry Lange’s saloon in 1882

Madison Street, circa 1882, had one saloon, Henry Lange’s Madison St. House. Henry and his wife, Dorothea (Metzger), ran the restaurant-saloon at 7445 Madison (present day Play It Again Sports) until they sold it in 1889 to Henry Licht. At the time of this photo, Phillip Krause had a stone yard south side of Madison Street. There were ve homes in the village of Harlem at this time, and only one on the south side of Madison Street. Re por boys could put on their skates and skate all the way to Halsted Street in Chicago. In addition, bands of nati people were said to have been frequently camping in the woods at the Des Plaines River, where the Au Elgin tracks crossed.

Photo featured on the cover of the Forest Leaves, Sept. 14, 1922, looking back 40 years.

Jill Wagner

A LOOK BACK IN TIME

NOTICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLNOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT, PROBATE DIVISION Estate of NANCY MELANSON, Deceased No. 2024P003200 That the Order Admitting Will to Probate and Appointing Representative in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois was granted on July 26, 2024 for the Estate of Nancy Melanson, Deceased and that KRYSTIN MELANSON BURNS was appointed as the Independent Executor and letters of office have issued and states under the penalties of perjury that:

1. Nancy Melanson died April 20, 2024, leaving a will dated February 13, 2013.

2. The approximate value of the estate is Personal: $10,000, Real: $400,000, Annual Income from Real Estate $0.

3. The names and post office addresses of the testator’s heirs and legatees are set forth on Exhibit A made a part of the petition.

4. The testator nominated as executor of the following, qualified and willing to act: Kristin Burns, 1115 Thatcher Ave., River Forest, IL 60305.

5. By order dated July 26, 2024 Kristin Melanson Burns has been appointed Independent Executor and letters of office issued.

6. This ad requests that any unknown heirs make themselves known to the attorney herein.

7. This ad will serve as a notice to creditors that they have 6 months from the date of filing of this petition to submit their claims.

Atty Name: Matt Leuck Attorney for Petitioner 84 E. Burlington, 2W Riverside, IL 60546

708-447-3166

Atty No. 11017

Published in RB Landmark October 16, 23, 30, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE LET IT BE KNOWN TO ALL PEOPLE OF Cook, Illinois, United States of America—This public notice and affirmation that Magdy-Joseph of the family Elpayaa has been born on the land in a mortal body. The living Male is the result of life and love and physical embodiment of the biological father Joseph-Magdy:Elpayaa and biological mother Megan-Diane:Quintaa. Magdy-Joseph of the family Elpayaa is their living Son from the moment of conception from the first combining of their unique genetic code and was born earthside on the land in the geographical location commonly known as St. Charles, Kane County, Illinois Republic, United States of America. He was born on August 25 in the calendar year 2023 Anno Domini at the hour and minute 11:14 AM, weighing 8 lbs 02 oz and 22 inches long. He is happy, healthy and thriving!

Published in RB Landmark October 16, 2024

Essential Civics

Democracy, Accountability, Equity, Connection, Civility

This week, as Election Day nears, Growing Community Media publishes our Election Guide.

Where to vote, how to cast a ballot, reporting on key races and important local referendums in each of our communities.

We are also carrying the invaluable 2024 Judicial Election Guide published by our partners at Injustice Watch.

All part of the essential civics a strong local newspaper provides its readers.

At Growing Community Media we work hard to foster five core values:

Democracy. Accountability. Equity. Connection. Civility.

Our

Our readers from the West Side to Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Brookfield and Riverside turn to us for news and information that is fairly reported, offers context on complex issues and which nurtures connections that grow community.

Thank you for your trust. Thank you for being part of our reader supported newsroom.