Forest Park Review 102523

F O R E S T PA R K

ForestParkReview.com Vol. 106, No. 43

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REVIEW OCTOBER 25, 2023

Gary Jackson, someone you should know PAGE 5

@ForestParkReview @FP_Review

LifeSpeed autism treatment center moves to bigger digs in Forest Park

Early Learning Center teaches kids with autism life skills, selfadvocacy

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

LifeSpeed Early Learning Center doesn’t look like the kind of place where kids on the autism spectrum would go for formal therapy. It looks more like a playground.

That’s by design, said Tony Russo, owner of the LifeSpeed Early Learning Center.

Much of the space inside the Madison Street storefront looks like any other indoor playground, complete with a trampoline, construction blocks, a swing, a wooden slide and plenty of stuffed animals. There are two small rooms off to the side, but there are no locks.

Kids can go there for therapy, but they can also leave whenever they want.

“When someone is happy, when they’re relaxed, when they’re engaged, they’re able to absorb information, I think, more robustly than if they’re doing it in the place

Go, go, goners See who came in dead last, page 12.

TODD BANNOR

See LIFESPEED on page 6

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

John Rice: Why we aren’t qualified to be homeowners

Tom Holmes: Passion and its limitations

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

PAGE 20

PAGE 19

IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 THIS ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

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Your independent, local source for Oak Park and River Forest News

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

L E T T E R

F R O M

T H E

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E D I T O R

We’re transforming, inside and out. Join us.

I

t’s been two months, readers, since I was hired to lead all news operations here at Growing Community Media — long enough for me to get grounded and time now to introduce myself to you.

It’s been a wild and fun ride, for sure. I’ll explain, and when I do, I’ll share my vision for our community news organizations you’ve loved and supported for so many years.

My name is Erika Hobbs, and I’m an award-winning, veteran journalist who has worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, Orlando Sentinel, Center for Public Integrity, Newsweek and other publications. I’m a digital strategist with a track record of transforming newsrooms into audience-focused publications. I’m a cat lady, favorite aunt (wink) and spiritual seeker who is committed to high-quality, authentic and representative local news.

My role here is a little different than what you may be used to. Growing Community Media is a nonprofit organization with four publications under its umbrella: Austin Weekly News, Forest Park Review,

Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and Wednesday Journal. In the past, one editor and maybe one reporter was assigned to each coverage area. We’ve changed that structure. I act as editor-inchief of all four publications, so I steer the plans with help from our reporters and edit all of the stories that come in. Our reporters are still embedded in each community — we wouldn’t have it any other way — but changing the structure eases their workload so they can focus on the quality news and information you deserve.

That new structure also frees me to set the vision for GCM for how we’ll grow, how we’ll better serve you and how we’ll continue to nurture our staff. It’s going to be tough, but I promise you that it will also be exciting and transformative. And you’ll be a part of it all.

Our mission is to connect “citizens through community journalism rooted deep in our neighborhoods, based in facts, and reflective of voices not always heard.”

Sometimes we’ve done that beautifully.

Sometimes we could have done better. We’ve

ERIKA HOBBS

talked the talk. Now it’s time to walk the talk. Here’s how I plan to do that: ■ Beginning in November, I’ll be holding meet-and-greet sessions in all our coverage areas so you can meet me personally and ask me anything you like.

■ By the beginning of the year, we’ll expand that to hold deep listening sessions with each community so we can learn how we can serve you better.

■ Also in the beginning of the year, we will begin intensive diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging trainings to transform our internal culture, and as part of that, we’ll publicly display our DEIB statement that will be crafted from that work. We recognize that we have a lot to learn. We will do better. And our coverage will authentically represent the communities we cover.

■ We will be focusing on audience-first coverage, which means we’ll be listening more.

■ It also means we’ll operate with a digital mindset. You’ll see more content online, on social media and in newsletters. We’ll be experimenting with content types and delivery of news and information. Does this mean the paper will go away? No. It means that we’ll bring you better stories in more 21st century ways.

■ You’ll see stories that offer solutions to the problems we write about and offer more ways that readers can help.

We’re already on our way to reaching our goals. Reporter Francia Garcia Hernandez, for example, wrote about how survivors of domestic violence can get help. Digital manager Stacy Coleman revamped our community page to help you find what’s new and to-do about town. And we’ll be piloting a newsletter strategy in Wednesday Journal that we hope to expand across the board after we learn more about what readers want in their inboxes.

Finally, we’ll be making key hires in coming months to ensure quality coverage continues. You’ll see invigorated writing, bright voices and bold design.

Growing Community Media is a leader in the local news space. It’s an award-winning publication with a stable financial foundation and some of journalism’s best at the helm and on the ground. I’m proud to be here. And I’m just as proud — even thrilled — that I’ll be leading GCM through its digital evolution. Stick around. You’ll love it. I promise.

Feel free to drop tips, questions and comments anytime. You can reach me at erika@ growingcommunitymedia.org.

Van Buren multi-use path project delayed

The grant to pay for it has been extended to 2025

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

More than a year after the Village of Forest Park approved the engineering contract for the bike and walking path on the west side of the section of Van Buren Street that runs along the historic Altenheim property, the project hasn’t seen any progress – and the land negotiations between the village and the Altenheim retirement community are the reason for the stall.

The multi-use path would connect Madi-

son Street and the start of the Illinois Prairie Path Trail. On the long run, it would link to the proposed south extension of the Des Plaines River Trail, which would run along Thatcher Avenue in River Forest and along Madison Street in Forest Park. While most of the path would be built along the villageowned portion of Altenheim property, it would cross the section of the property the retirement community still owns.

For the retirement community, the issue goes back to the way the property was divided up when the village bought 11 acres of it back in 2001. The Altenheim board wants to straighten out some of the dividing lines, by land swap of necessary. According to Public Works director Sal Stella, the negotiations have stalled, which ground any work on the Van Buren path to a halt.

In November 2020, Forest Park received a $247,500 Invest in Cook grant, which at the time was expected to cover about half of the construction costs. The delays got to the point that on Oct. 23, the village council voted unanimously to extension of the construction deadline to the end of 2025.

Stella said that he had no idea how long the negotiations would take, let alone whether they would be concluded in time to meet the new deadline.

The village council didn’t discuss the reasons for the agreement extension. But Stella told the Review that the issue was the ongoing negotiations over the land swap, as well as “some type of right-of-way disagreement.”

Altenheim retirement community board member Mark Zinni has said that they were interested in the land swap to straighten out

the edges of their current property limits.

Stella said that the situation was further complicated after village administrator Moses Amidei was fired at the end of August. He said that Amidei was conducting the negotiations, and it fell down the list of priorities as Rachell Entler was appointed interim village administrator.

According to the village documents, the path will be 10 feet wide to allow bicyclists and walkers to travel in both directions without worrying about passing cars. The project would also include directional signs for the Illinois Prairie Path.

The Van Buren path would connect to the Forest Park Blue Line ‘L’ terminal, a major transit hub where riders can transfer See VAN BUREN on page 5

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

October 25-November 1

BIG WEEK

Morning Mixer: Forest Park Wednesday, Oct. 25, 7-8:30 a.m., Madison Park Kitchen Special event for TMA manufacturers to network over coffee and pancakes. Anyone in the industry who isn’t (yet) a TMA (Technology and Manufacturing Association) member is invited to attend. 7525 Madison St., Forest Park.

Senior & Veteran Resource Fair Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Proviso Mathematics & Science Academy Emanuel “Chris” Welch, 7th District State Representative, hosts this visit with health providers for special screenings and resources for seniors and veterans. From noon to 2 p.m., there will be lunch, bingo and prizes. COVID vaccinations and flu shots will be available. 8601 W. Roosevelt Road, Forest Park.

Author Discussion & Signing

Trunk or Treat!

Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Roos Recreation Center This totally free, safe trick-or-treat event takes place in the back parking lot of the Roos Recreation Center and requires no registration. If you’d like to decorate your trunk and hand out candy, it’s also free, but you do need to reserve a parking spot. Learn more at https://bit.ly/TrunkOrTreat2023.

7329 Harrison St., Forest Park

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

week before your news needs to be in the newspaper.

■ Send details to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 60302 ■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 - 4 p.m., Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore is entering its last few months of being open, because Augie Alesky is retiring on Dec. 31. However, there are countless events for everyone to enjoy until the bookstore closes. Kathleen Anne Fleming will be at the bookstore for a book discussion and signing of A Menacing Luster: Chicago 1927, the end of the Jazz Age and the beginning of the Art of Luminous Watch-Face Painting. 7419 W. Madison St., Forest Park.

Dia de Muertos Market and Sugar Skull Workshop Sunday, Oct. 29, 12 - 6 p.m., Let’s Play Work For the second year in a row, I’ll be hosting one of our favorite workshops, Sugar Skull Decorating, for children ages 3-14 years. Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to sign-up as soon as possible. We will also have our artists doing Catrina & Catrines face painting. Market is open to everyone, but if you want to participate in the workshop, face painting and arts and crafts corner, we encourage you to pre-register at letsplaywork.com.

7228 Circle Ave., Forest Park.

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

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Amid adversity, Forest Park man ‘turns mourning into dancing’

Gary Jackson, a Forest Parker you should know

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

Resilience is a major theme in Gary Jackson’s life story.

He recently turned 60, but he looks half that age. People who don’t know the softspoken Forest Parker would never guess that he suffered a stroke at 10 years old and was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis at 50.

Call it grit, call it determination, Jackson refused to sit on a pity pot. At 10, the stroke paralyzed his entire left side, but it didn’t paralyze his spirit. As a student at Whitney Young High School, he signed up for a dance class.

“I wasn’t very good,” he acknowledged, “but I took the class to get my coordination back. I also worked out with the football team. It took me 20 years to get the full use of my arms and legs back.”

He said that physical fitness became his “full time job.” He worked out to the point where he was running marathons and acquired a “ripped” body worthy of a picture in a Charles Atlas advertisement.

He went to college, earned a degree in electronical engineering and got a job in Silicon Valley making microprocessors and memory chips.

“I was also selling an average of 10 pieces a day of a fitness machine I had invented and making $8,400 a week just on sales of the machine,” he recalled. “I would do a 100mile bike ride every week and would burn 1,000 calories a day working out.”

Life seemed to be back to normal until the shoe dropped in 2013. He had accepted a new position in Florida, sold his house and was driving through Oklahoma when he started losing his sight.

“Late in the evening’” he said, “everything got really blurry, and I couldn’t see how to get off the freeway. I followed some brake lights and made it to a hotel. When I woke up the next morning, everything was

fine. I jumped on I-55, and I drove to Chicago to stay with family and see what was going on.”

Three days after arriving in Chicago, he was rushed to an emergency room, because he couldn’t see and was shaking badly.

“I ended up in the hospital,” he said, “because my body shut down. They had to put me in a coma and gave me blood transfusions for seven days.”

It took the staff at the hospital two weeks to make the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis, because he was in such good shape—only 3% body fat. “They couldn’t believe it,” he said, until they did an EMG, which gave the docs the answer to the question they had not been asking. Myasthenia gravis, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, is a chronic autoimmune, neuromuscular disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles.

That resilience and grit he exhibited 40 years earlier disappeared.

“The first four years after I was diagnosed, I was very depressed,” he said. “I was thinking of all the things I couldn’t do anymore. I was tired of fighting, and I didn’t want to live. I got my affairs in order. I told my kids where everything was and took out a $100,000 life insurance policy.”

During the pandemic, people often said, “I just want to get back to normal,” but “normal,” or the way things used to be, was no longer possible for the overachiever. Resilience could no longer be defined as “bouncing back to normal.” Lately, it has been “bouncing forward to something new.”

Part of bouncing forward has been learning to live with limitations. He has had to learn to live in what he refers to as a “box of restricted possibilities.”

Another part had to do with an experience which, as the Bible says, “turned his mourning into dancing.”

Jackson explained: “One day I woke up and God said to me ‘you’ve spent your entire life fighting and overcoming things, so now you’re ready to give up?’ He said, ‘Stop worrying about what you can’t do and focus on what you can. Stop worrying about what was taken away from you and deal with

PROVIDED

“One day I woke up and God said to me ‘you’ve spent your entire life fighting and overcoming things, so now you’re ready to give up?’” Gary Jackson said. what is left. Learn how to make that the best part of your life.’”

“So now I see life differently,” he said. “I

don’t worry about what I used to do anymore, because I’m doing things now that I couldn’t do then.”

VANBUREN

the Altenheim Committee to figure out the best use for the village-owned portion of the property. Its final report, which was released in March, called for keeping the triangle-like north section of the property as a public recreational space, building homes that comply with R-2 zoning between the south edge of the current retirement community and the Altenheim cemetery, and adding denser housing at the southeast corner to take advantage of its proximity to the “L’ terminal. The committee also recommended selling a few pieces of the land back to Altenheim to even out its portion of the property.

The plan didn’t explicitly address the Van Buren Path. Since the Altenheim Committee released its recommendations, the village council agreed to work with Tim Brangle, head of the Chicago Consultants Studio development consulting firm and a member of the River Forest Economic Development Commission, to flesh the recommendations out.

Discussions continue from page 3 to multiple Pace bus routes serving the surrounding suburbs. The buses come equipped with bike racks, and riders can bring bikes on board the el trains during off-peak hours.

The 61-mile-long Illinois Prairie Path largely follows the former Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad interurban train line right of way. The trail goes to Wheaton, where it splits off into two branches, one going to Elgin and one going to Aurora.

The 55-mile-long Des Plaines River Trail runs along or near the eponymous river, stopping just short of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The trail currently doesn’t go further south than North Avenue in River Forest, creating a significant gap.

In June 2022, the village put together

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

LIFESPEED Kids’ refuge from page 1 of discomfort, a place of fear,” he said. “We tried to really create a space where kids could be kids.”

The Early Learning Center first opened in Oak Park in March 2020 but moved to a larger Madison Street space in Forest Park that offered significantly more room to work with. It allowed them to create a separate staff lounge and dining area for kids, to expand the play area and to create transitional rooms at both entrances to make it easier for kids coming in to adjust to the new surroundings. It also had the advantage of being closer to Eisenhower Expressway and not too far from the original Oak Park location. The Learning Center is open to the kids between ages three and 13.

Russo said the goal is to have kids do therapy when they’re comfortable.

“Kids choose to go to the rooms when they’re ready,” he said. “You feel good, you know you can access it whenever you want. At any moment, you just tell us and

show us you want to do something else.

The doors don’t lock. We keep them open on purpose.”

With the therapy, the goal is to teach kids to advocate for themselves and respond to stress constructively. For example, Russo said, if a child asks for candy and they didn’t get the type of candy they specifically wanted, the therapist teaches the child to ask for candy again, as opposed to throwing the “wrong” candy at the wall.

Because of the nature of autism spectrum disorder, there is no one-size-fits-all approach for how much noise and other sensory input is too much, and what kind of behaviors the kids are comfortable with.

Russo said that they approach each child on a case-by-case basis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, is a “developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.” The exact symptoms, or the extent to which those symptoms manifest, can vary a great deal depending on the person, but can include struggles to pick up social cues, fixation on narrow interests, preference toward routines and struggles with processing sensory input. The level of sup-

IGOR STUDENKOV

The Learning Center is open to kids ages 3 to 13 who are on the autism spectrum. port they need varies a great deal as well, ranging anywhere from little to no support to regular care.

“We don’t presume that any one child

likes things a certain way,” he said. “We offer everything and see what they gravitate towards.”

If a child needs a quiet, dark room to

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IGOR STUDENKOV

Children in therapy can take time to decompress in the playroom. destress, the center provides it. If the child likes “loud music, pressing buttons and banging on things,” they can do that.

LifeSpeed Early Learning Center is part of LifeSpeed Behavioral Support Services, founded by Russo in 2013 to provide services for adolescents and young adults with a variety of developmental and cognitive disorders, including autism spectrum disorder. Russo said that he wanted to address an issue that affects many young people with disabilities – when they age out of high school-based

programs, they find themselves without any support whatsoever.

He decided to branch out into therapy for young children because the interactions with the youth made him realize that they could’ve benefitted from therapy and support earlier in their lives.

“What we saw was that our adults lacked the foundational skills that are typically taught when they’re very young, so this center is our venture into the space of early learning, so we can reverse-engineer,” Russo said.

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

Forest Parkers sound off on asylumseekers, recycling, flooding

Commissioner Michelle MelinRogovin said her first community meeting was ‘productive’

Resident Catherine Hagerty said she was worried that housing migrants would cause community backlash.

“I’d like to think that people who are welcoming would outweigh [those who aren’t], countered resident Roopleen Rai. The meeting also touched on recycling and composting, and it quickly became clear that some participants weren’t aware that Forest Park offers a composting program. Rai’s husband Burhan

By IGOR STUDENKOV Syed, who sits on the village’s traffic and safety commission, said Staff Reporter that when he called the village to try to find out about composting options, he was directed to the leaf pick-up Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin’s first program. The village does have an organic waste colleccommunity meeting was sparsely attended, but the tion program that residents must opt into and pay an discussion was lively and touched on many local additional $113.63 fee for it. The program runs between and regional issues.

April and October.

The commissioner, whose areas of responsibility Syed also said that one thing she would like to see include sewers and waste removal, made good on changed is to let residents choose how big their villagea campaign promise to hold meetings like the one issued recycling bins are. held last Wednesday.

“The recycling bins here, I’m paying for a giant bin ...

With four people attending and two people briefly I don’t take it out for a month, because I feel bad for a stopping by, Melin-Rogovin opted for a conversaguy who has to haul it into a truck,” he said tional format as opposed to a presentation. VilMelin-Rogovin said that she is putting together lage traffic issues, flood mitigation and waste rea “wish list” for a new waste haul contract the vilmoval programs were major concerns, but so was lage could negotiate before the current one expires the broader issue of what Forest Park could do to in 2025. support asylum-seekers from Central and South Flooding was another major concern, with AberAmerican countries that are being bused to Chinathy mentioning that Veterans Park, one the two cago’s 15th Police District station. pocket parks the village hasn’t leased to the Park DisSamantha Abernethy said she has been part of trict of Forest Park, because “unusable” during the the ad hoc volunteer efforts to support asylumpast summer. Melin-Rogovin said that she and Voogd seekers. She asked whether any support might are working with village staff to identify flood-prone be coming on the village level. After Melin-Rogareas to make sure they get priority with flood mitiovin said that nothing was planned, Abernethy gation projects. brought up the fact that Joliet Township with“Let’s say — this is where we had a huge issue drew its request for state funding for migrant and start there,” she said. “Let’s not just go street by housing last week in the face of public backlash. street.”

“So, my first thought [was] -- is that money up for Melin-Rogovin later told the Review that she grabs?” she asked. thought that the meeting was productive, although it Melin-Rogovin said that she hadn’t heard about was sparsely attended. the incident, but she would look into whether there MICHELLE “There are all sorts of things people asked tonight is any grant funding the village can apply for. that I wouldn’t have anticipated, or expected,” she MELIN-ROGOVIN Abernethy also said she wanted the village to do said. “I think it’s important [for me] to make time.” more to house people without permanent housing, She added that she intends to hold such meetings not just migrants. two to three times a year, with the next meeting “The other thing is winter is coming, and there planned for some time next spring. By that point, Melin-Rogovin are going to be more people living on Blue Line, and if we’re not doing anything for the migrants, the town should be prepared to said, the word will spread, and more people will attend.

Melin-Rogovin was elected village commissioner in April. While do more on the houselessness front this winter,” she said. she was campaigning, she said she would hold community listenForest Park historically referred homeless individuals to Maying sessions, where she would go to a Madison Street business and wood-based Housing Forward. Melin-Rogovin pointed to news residents would be able to share their comments and concerns that the organization is working with Cook County to acquire with her.

Oak Park’s Write Inn to provide interim housing.

“I think that a commissioner needs to be accessible and open and “I’m not sure how they see themselves getting involved, if they be more of a listener, and not someone who represents their own see helping people from the Blue Line or helping people at police point of view but represents the point of view of people that they stations,” she said. talk to,” Melin-Rogovin said at the time.

“There are all sorts of things people asked tonight that I wouldn’t have anticipated, or expected,” she said.

“I think it’s important [for me] to make time.”

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

C R I M E THE MACLEAN HOUSE AT CALEDONIA SENIOR LIVING.

Man claims he’s with ‘Mexican Mafia,’ threatens to They will never forget shoot up Walmart

A man called the Forest Park Walmart auto service department demanding supplies to treat a gunshot wound, and threatened to shoot up the store when an employee who picked up the phone refused to help him.

The man called the store on Oct. 15 at 2:40 p.m., demanding bandages and oxygenated water to treat a gunshot wound. When the employee said he wouldn’t do it, the caller said that he was part of “Mexican mafia” and threatened to shoot up the store.

Because the high volume of calls, the police weren’t able to find the exact phone number, but they narrowed it to the most likely number. The police were not able to track down the caller at the time of the report.

Armed robberies Forest Park saw two unrelated armed robberies last week.

The first robbery took place on Oct. 18 and around 8:30 a.m. The victim parked his work truck near the intersection of Jackson Boulevard and Wilcox Street, and he was standing outside the truck, talking on the phone, when three men approached the truck and one of the men demanded his “stuff.” Worried that he would get beaten if he refused, the victim opened the truck. The men removed his work utilities scanning equipment and fled north, then headed east toward Desplaines Avenue.

The victim returned to work to get replacement equipment, and was told to make a police report because Chicago has seen a series of equipment thefts.

The second robbery happened on Oct. 21 at around 10:10 p.m. According to the victim and the security footage, victim stopped at Thorntons gas station to get gas when a men went up to the driver’s side window, put the gun to the victim’s head and demanded money. The robber took $450 from the victim and $400 from his passenger. The robber than asked them if they had gold necklaces. When the two said they didn’t, the robber fled.

The security footage showed the robber running west on Jackson Boulevard.

Burglaries from motor vehicles

Three burglaries from motor vehicles occurred in Forest Park over the past week.

On Oct. 17, at around 3:55 p.m., the victim drove her black 2018 Honda sedan to the Forest Park Planet Fitness location.

She left her purse on the driver’s side seat, under a jacket. While the victim locked the doors, the windows were partially rolled down. When she came back around 5 p.m., she found that both the purse and the jacket were missing.

The witness said he saw a black Cadilac SUV pulled into the Planet Fitness parking lot, a man got out, reached through the window to open the door and grabbed the jacket and the purse. The witness said he didn’t get the license plate number, and Planet Fitness employees told the police officers that didn’t have access to security camera footage.

On Oct. 21 at 11 a.m., the owner of a 2015 Jeep Compass, which was parked on Marengo Avenue, discovered that someone ransacked her vehicle overnight and stole a MacBook laptop she kept there. The victim said she believed she locked the car, and there was no sign of forced entry.

On Oct. 22 at around 1 a.m., the owner of a red 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan parked his car at the 140 block of Circle Avenue. He said that he believed that he locked the vehicle. The following morning, the victim’s wife saw that the passenger’s side door was open and the contents of the glove box were scattered inside, but nothing was stolen.

While there was no physical damage to the car, the victim wasn’t able to start it.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Oct. 15-22, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Unless otherwise indicated, anybody named in these reports has only been charged with a crime. These cases have not been adjudicated.

Compiled by Igor Studenkov

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

District 91 could vote on park district’s Grant-White proposal in November

The Board of Education appears leery of proposals that would keep building from returning to school use

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The Forest Park School District 91 Board of Education may vote as soon as next month on whether to accept the Park District of Forest Park’s proposal to use the former Grant-White Elementary School building as a new indoor facility.

During the Oct. 12 meeting, the school board discussed the park district proposal presented in August, the proposal presented by Mayor Rory Hoskins in September and the takeaways from the Grant-White Harvest community listening session in early October. The general consensus was that while the board might consider leasing out the building, it was leery of any proposals that change the building enough to preclude it from being used as a school in the future. It agreed to have a special meeting to discuss a possible “rubric” by which they’ll consider the current and future proposals and vote on whether to accept the park district proposal in either November or December.

District 91 closed Grant-White at the end of the 2021-2022 school year due to declining enrolment. The building is currently used for board meetings, adult education, after school and summer programs, and the school parking lot houses the district school buses.

The park district is looking to lease Grant-White for at least 30 years as an alternative to building a brand-new facility on Harrison Street, across the street from its main park. The indoor facility is meant to provide more programming space and new, more centrally located office and programming space for West Suburban Special Recreation Association, a collaborative that provides activities for people with physical and mental disabilities. The park district currently has $5 million out

of the $10.5 million it would need to build a new structure from scratch. Park district executive director Jackie Iovinelli told the board of education that reusing an existing structure would save money and allow them to expand the programs much quicker.

At the time, Iovinelli asked D91 to allow their architect to inspect the Grant-White building to figure out how much the reuse would actually cost and whether it’s something they should proceed with. According to Supt. Elizabeth Alvarez, the inspection has since happened. And while D91 got the copy of the park district’s plans for a brand-new building, as of Oct. 12, they did not know how those plans would translate into Grant-White renovations.

In September, Hoskins presented his own proposal, saying that the village would use it to house children and youth programming that currently operates out of the village-owned Mohr Community Center.

The community center building faces multiple maintenance issues, and work on replacing its playground has been paused as the village inspects the reservoir located underneath. Expanding programming for teens has been a priority for Hoskins, and the mayor told the school board that they would work with entities such as the Forest Park Theatre and local Scout troops.

The feedback from the Harvest suggested broad community interest in some kind of educational or recreational use. Suggestions included turning the building into a youth or community center, a media, arts or STEM complex, a space for educational or health and wellness programming, or a rentable space for various events.

During the October meeting, Alvarez said that she wouldn’t want to see any drastic changes to the structure.

“In my heart, I want it to reopen as a school,” she said. “I also understand that our numbers are not growing, even though we did grow slightly this year, and part of me feels like – what happens if we give up Grant-White and we do [see enrollment] increase?”

Board member Steve Rummel agreed.

“If we had to move some walls or some electricals to accommodate some programs, that’s fine, but I wouldn’t want to see this building transformed away from

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Grant-White building in Forest Park. its core function as a school so, if the day comes, we were able to open it back up as a school,” he said. “[I’d want us to be able] to bring it back with minimum disruption and also accommodate the community.”

Board member Kyra Tyler said that she would want the building to remain something that’s “incredibly welcoming to children” and would preserve the existing gym/auditorium. But she also said that if she had to choose between the two proposals, she was leaning toward the one from Hoskins “That feels like a greatest need to me, and they don’t have additional space, whereas the park has the Roos [Recreation Center], you know, they have the [administration] building,” Tyler said.

Board President Shannon Wood said that given that the park district presented its proposal three months ago, it was only fair to vote on it – something she wanted to do at the regularly scheduled Nov. 9 meeting.

“To be clear, when I’m asking for the vote on the park district, it is only yes

or no vote for the park district,” she said. “If it’s a ‘no’ for the park district, it doesn’t mean an automatic yes for the village. We still have things to figure out.”

Wood said she generally wouldn’t support significant changes to the building, either.

“What I’m saying is, what I took away from the Harvest, with all the classrooms, with all the space, I would like to keep this budling intact, as is,” she said.

Board member Monique Cotton-Yancy said she would like the board to vote on the village proposal in November as well.

Board member John Lyons argued that the November vote would be too soon because the board hasn’t discussed what it would like to see happen to the building, including what it would take to realize some of the ideas suggested during the Harvest.

“We’ve been talking, but I feel like we’re rushing to get to somewhere,” he said. “I don’t feel like we as a board sat down and really had an idea of what we wanted to do and how that fits in with any proposals that matches up to that.”

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

Death on wheels

Or caskets, at least.

Forest Parkers turned out in droves with their ride-or-dies in the annual Casket Races, the zany way the village nods to its 800,000 people buried in local cemeteries and honors its local businesses. It draws at least 1,000 spectators each year.

Check out the Cheese Balls, Barbie and Disney villains and you’ll see why.

TODD BANNOR

TODD BANNOR

The fastest teams are, well, the fastest, but not exactly the winners. There’s a special category for that. But there seems to be no surprises among the teams that hit the finish line first.

4. Forest Park Public Works at 19:41 minutes 3. Park District at 19:03 minutes 2. Forest Park Police at 18:67 minutes 1. Bulldog Crossfit at 18:61 minutes.

And for the moment all have been waiting for: the “winners.”

Funniest Supermarket Sweep - Sweeping the Competition Creepiest Ian Pfaff ’s Dead Last Best House Party Bethany De Casper’s on Beloit

Participating teams include It’s So Good to be Bad Smoothie King on Lake St ■ Supermarket Sweep- Sweeping the Competition ■ Forest Park School District 91 ■ Park District of Forest Park ■ Bulldog Bootcamp & Crossfit ■ Forest Park Library ■ Graveyard Grand Masters (Grand Appliance) ■ Team Wednesday (Riveredge Hospital) ■ Forest Park Police Department ■ The Helletubbies ■ The Deadlifters ■ Out a Time (Back to the Future) ■ Alma Arts Language Music Academy ■ Cut to the Chase ■ Ian Pfaff Dead Last ■ Venture Paving ■ Forest Park Public Works ■ Parkway Dispensary ■ ■

TODD BANNOR

Dead Last It’s so good to be Bad (the Disney villans) IGOR STUDENKOV

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

P R O P E R T Y

T R A N S F E R S

Belleforte Ave. home sells for $1,350,000 The following property transfers were reported by the Cook County Clerk from July 2023. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

OAK PARK ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

1030 Woodbine Ave 1132 N Grove Ave 1132 N Grove Ave 824 Belleforte Ave 420 S Kenilworth Ave 940 Washington Blvd 135 S Kenilworth Ave 643 Garfield St 715 Washington Blvd 222 N Grove Ave 420 Home Ave 204 N Kenilworth Ave 216 Flournoy St 408 S Austin Blvd 947 Pleasant St 1179 Wisconsin Ave 1007 S Ridgeland Ave 431 S Kenilworth Ave 1125 N Harlem Ave 740 N Humphrey Ave 205 S Humphrey Ave 1182 S East Ave 422 S Harvey Ave 222 Flournoy St 1032 S Taylor Ave 726 N Harvey Ave 104 Le Moyne Pky 1172 S Taylor Ave 912 Thomas St 912 Thomas St 1028 Wenonah Ave 1137 Clarence Ave 1156 S Lombard Ave 1146 S East Ave 844 Wenonah Ave 1023 Clinton Ave 433 N Harvey Ave

$1,020,000 $1,200,000 $1,200,000 $1,350,000 $112,000 $115,000 $125,000 $145,000 $162,000 $165,000 $180,000 $220,000 $225,000 $227,500 $231,000 $245,000 $260,000 $263,000 $279,500 $315,000 $350,000 $350,000 $375,000 $379,000 $386,500 $390,000 $401,000 $430,000 $430,000 $430,000 $435,000 $440,000 $445,000 $450,000 $450,000 $450,000 $515,000

Hilgart Bret Barrett John Kenneth Tyler Tr National Resid Services Inc Lewin David S Mcgregor George K Jr New Direction Ira Inc Gdn Ernest Opella Finley Tr Burton Diane M Tr Kosinski William F Papp Grayce Elizabeth Vesole Real Estate Ii Llc Grace Michael J Payne Reta Tr Thompson Mary L Cashman Jacob Saldana Maria N Keys Michael Hollis Taemyn K Lagattolla Alfonso Demes Joseph J Tr Baiman Rhon P Rychlewski Jeffrey W Humphrey Maria Elena Gregory Jessie J Oufkir Samir Alvarez Bob Nicholson Donald R Jr Done Done And Dine Inc Metcalf Patrick Cartus Fin Corp Davidson Daniel L Tr Amato Thomas J Tr Jin Michael Rubio Edward A Tr Stempniak Agnes M Sage Mark A Bucher Jacob

Gibson Jack M Tr National Resid Nominee Services Inc Fargana Daniel Quinn Mary Kathryn Johnson Jennifer Coleman Clarkson Paul Steadman Rick Ferry David J Walek Ewelina Delaney Malama Mendez Jennefer Shusher Jovan T Munley Karis Mcfarland Shannon Lane Joshua Edward Gonzalez Jenny Gardiner John F Byard Vicki F Valencia Maria D Vernon Christopher Second City Renewal Llc Fung Cyrus Bet Rlty Grp Llc Gould Karen Barton James Harmon Tara Lyn Richter Lan Sturm Stephen D Cartus Fin Corp Hohler Paul M Boland Cade Bunch Kelly J Baker Alexander Nevergall Michael D Kartheiser Rebecca Gonzalez Irvin J Lopez Smaniotto Anthony

824 Belleforte Ave., Oak Park

OAK PARK ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

637 S Taylor Ave 206 Iowa St 741 N Marion St 1227 N Marion St 1132 Miller Ave 734 S Harvey Ave 511 N Humphrey Ave 215 S Kenilworth Ave 315 N Cuyler Ave 624 N Marion St 415 Wesley Ave

$525,000 $528,000 $535,000 $545,000 $577,500 $595,000 $60,000 $600,500 $630,000 $630,000 $65,000

Vara Ralph P Alkme Alliance Llc Vilarino Francisco Javier Toubes Tr Ecp Lp Hamel Keith Michael Kumpin Waldemar Appleton-Ivy Juanette Garland Linda C Tr Debled Robin Tr Trust Co Of Illinois Tr Wilmington Trust Natl Assn Tr

631 S East Ave 7 Division St 426 N Harvey Ave 1008 S Grove Ave 827 Clinton Ave 1159 S Cuyler Ave 732 S Taylor Ave 415 S Maple Ave 540 S Elmwood Ave 424 N Oak Park Ave

$650,000 $68,000 $70,000 $700,000 $750,000 $750,000 $760,000 $79,500 $795,000 $822,000

Andreoli Nicholas Verpetinskas Laima Wolanski Susan Brennan Scott M Tr Delaney Robert Temperly Todd F Tr Perkowitz Grace Deutsche Bk Natl Trust Co Tr Escobedo Miguel Bundy Karen A

Duncan William S Younkie Gregory Gangopadhyaya Claire Elizabeth Maynard Charles Hiatt William J Jurado Sergio R Lara Sanchez Fredy Rahill Elizabeth A Hurley Maureen Ann Griggs Kenneth R Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 8002391953 Gass Timothy Siya Apartments Llc P Mishev Llc Martin Derek C Kirby Todd Mcquade Brianna M Krawczykowski Patrick Josifova Denitsa J Nyhuis Jenifer D Crowe-Wermund Paul Wallace

P R O P E R T Y

T R A N S F E R S

OAK PARK

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

FOREST PARK

ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

734 Woodbine Ave 508 N Oak Park Ave 1140 N Kenilworth Ave

$875,000 $880,000 $935,500

Ruiz Michel Eugenio Tr Hembling Judith B Eldred James G

Ye Anna Greenwell Matthew Osowski Jeffrey M

7637 Jackson Blvd

$104,500

Cervenka Amy E

Diverde Marcia J Tr

300 Circle Ave

$105,000

Seals Marvin

Polk Janice M Weathersby

7449 Washington St

$135,000

Canam Ventures Llc

Gaines Taylor

315 Des Plaines Ave

$136,000

Hayworth Kimberly J Tr

Tendick Janet

850 Des Plaines Ave

$140,000

Torres Sergio

Mcgee Yolanda

RIVER FOREST 1512 Forest Ave

$1,200,000

Meinhold Jane M Tr

Cullinan Patrick

315 Marengo Ave

$146,000

Lopez Cristian Sanchez

Keller Robert M

1501 Franklin Ave

$1,250,000

Soffer Leonard

Imhoff Gregory Joseph

140 Marengo Ave

$150,000

Atienza Franz R

Gorgone John Joseph

1415 Ashland Ave

$1,650,000

Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 30624 Alvers Brian

7231 Randolph St

$161,000

Goffron Andrew

Ross Terry

1538 Forest Ave

$246,000

Olson Jeffrey C Trust

Del Mundo April Ann P

1105 Ferdinand Ave

$176,000

Umb Bk Natl Assn Tr

Home First Rlty Inc

1535 Forest Ave

$315,000

Agajanian Tilda

Gaze Ralph

324 Marengo Ave

$260,000

Tipps Inv Llc

Aig Holdings Llc

230 Forest Ave

$465,000

May Joseph A

230 Forest Ave Llc

1126 Des Plaines Ave

$267,500

Mcshane Patrick J Jr

Liverly Janice Tuck

7624 Washington Blvd

$600,000

Fohrman Joel Tr

Coughlan Martin

211 Elgin Ave

$281,500

Ptaszynski Jack

Mongoven Cameron

335 Thatcher Ave

$649,000

Champion Jarad L

Vall Josep Maria Saura

827 Hannah Ave

$310,000

Miller David A Sr

Barbahen Jennifer W

207 Gale Ave

$650,000

Rider Martha L

Brown Laron

7634 Adams St

$310,000

Us Bk Trust Natl Assn Tr

Jodoin James

730 Bonnie Brae Pl

$675,000

Stearn Katherine Suzanne Tr

Degroff David J

1405 Marengo Ave

$330,000

Leska Ian

Williamson Mary K

714 Park Ave

$690,000

Gilbert Eric P

Heerema Luke Aaron

7604 Harrison St

$380,000

Digre Morgan

Carrillo Carlos Lara

7214 Oak Ave

$74,000

Hedges John L

Kremidas Angela J

324 Marengo Ave

$475,000

Dalton Patrick M

Crawford Anthony

343 Keystone Ave

$760,000

Bennett David

Holt Jason

1003 Beloit Ave

$485,000

Isenstein Burton

Bolden Alexander

527 Park Ave

$787,000

Davidson Andrea

Seidel Amanda

7642 Adams St

$650,000

Green Dev Llc

Valentin Jonathan C Tr

7610 Washington Blvd

$875,000

Gonzalez Jennifer

Bergetz Carl

824 Beloit Ave

$675,000

Warrior Const Inc

Harris Robert Harvey

600 Clinton Pl

$909,000

Schutt Ryan John

Lee Eric

850 Des Plaines Ave

$85,000

Bozarth Martin C Tr

Tayefeh Emadeddin

SHE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUTSHE I STILL SHE SNORES MORE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. SHE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL THAN I DO, BUT I STILL THAN I DO, BUT I STILL SHE SNORES MORE SHE SNORES MORE LOVE MY HUMAN. —IMY BANDIT THAN DO,HUMAN. BUTITHAN ITHAN STILL LOVE I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. adoptedBUT 11-26-09 LOVE MY HUMAN. THAN I DO, STILL I DO, BUT I STILL — BANDIT — BANDIT MY HUMAN. LOVE adopted 11-26-09 LOVE MY HUMAN. — BANDIT LOVE MY HUMAN.LOVE adopted 11-26-09 MY— BANDIT HUMAN.

adopted 11-26-09 adopted 11-26-09 —— BANDIT BANDIT — BANDIT — BANDIT adopted11-26-09 11-26-09 adopted 11-26-09 adopted adopted 11-26-09

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

LEGAL NOTICE

Annual Treasurer’s Report • Village of Forest Park Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2023 (Unaudited) tems Inc: 4,535, NICOR: 8,289, NICOR: 9,290, Michael Fluker, Mario Foster-Flores, Elsa North East Multi-Reg Training: 5,085, North- Franco, Genesis Guzman, Joella Harris, Raiswestern Center for Public Safety: 4,400, sa Herscovitch, Maya Hill, Laura Hogan, Cory Property Tax Nunley LLC: 6,680, Office 8: 4,000, O’Herron Howard, Te’Lynee Howery, Jabreal James, Sales Tax Co Inc, Ray: 21,192, Orange Boy, Inc.: 5,600, Anthony Jamison, Jamica Jones, DougUtility Taxes OTM Water Services: 10,470, OverDrive, Inc: las Key, Kenneth Knack, Mya Lyman, Claire Income Tax 9,093, Peterson-Bassi Chapels: 8,315, Petty Manor, Katherine Manor, Taylor Matthis, Replacement Tax Cash-Center: 3,000, PHS Locksmiths: 5,107, Maria Maxham, Molly Maylath, Justin McUse Tax Pit Stop: 2845.00, PITNEY BOWES: Cormick, Millicent Merrill, Michael Miller, Amy 21000.00, Pitney Bowes Inc: 2550.42, Play- Morales, Christoper Moravec, Ivan Moreno, Other Taxes away Products LLC: 5,735, POLICE PENSION Ryan Nero, Sean O’Mara, Albert Natase, CeGrants FUND: 201,112, PowerDMS Inc: 7,376, Premi- sar Ortiz, Daphane Patterson, Barbara PelLicenses, Permits, and Fees Star-North: 11,792, Printing Store, The: lettiere, Fatima, Perera, Nicole Petrey, Gloria Ambulance, Fire and Police 13,487, Pro Line Embroidery LLC: 3,063, Quill: Pitts, Christine Poreba, Ray Pough, Kelvin Water Sales 26,239, Quintairos Prieto Wood & Boyer P.A.: Quizhpi, Victoria Rakowski, Thomas Reich, Refuse, Yard Waste and Recycle 2,500, Regional Truck Equipment Co: 5,953, Justin Reyes, Jacqueline Rice, Toni Rice, Mia Fines Reliable Fire & Security: 3,287, Republic Ser- Richardson, Angela Sanchez, Nancy Schultz, Rentals vices #551: 764,012, Republic Services: Elizabeth Shlah, Michael Sinisi, Valerie Sivels5,924, Risk Program Administrators: 4,187, Jones, Kailyn Slater, Latessa Smith, Lincoln Pension Contributions Robert R Andreas & Sons Inc: 5,450, Roetzel Smith, Karl Solms, Paul Stamatakos, Morris Interest Income and Dividends & Andres LPA: 70,000, RPC Solutions: 2,506, Thomas, James Thompson, Belina Treadwell, Community Center Activities RR Donnelly: 4,852, RubyRose Strategies: Georgia Tsaganos, Stacey Tyler, Dana ValenCharges for Services 4,950, RUSSO POWER EQUIPMENT: 5,833, tino, Christine Vilutis, Jessica Voogd, Henry Investment Gains (Losses) Rydin Decal: 5,266, S&D Prime Maintenance: Wagner, Courtney Walton, Talheyah Webb, Miscellaneous 5,789, Schaeffer Mfg Co: 3,770, SCHAUERS Marie Weinbrecht, Karen Wiebe, Tracy WilTotal Revenue HARDWARE: 8,901, SEPS Inc: 4,066, Shales son, Pollyann Zagar, Steven Zanoni McNutt Construction: 704,923, Smithereen $25,000 to $49,000 Pest Mgmt Services: 15,372, Solar Traffic Expenditures 21,571,137 2,014,875 1,082,689 3,192,125 5,745,638 2,402,134 Systems: 6,363, Sound Works Productions: Christie Bassaloff, Urszula Blonska, Martricia 3,000, Southside Motorcycle Company: Bowers, Matthew Cline, Casey Dougherty, Net Increase/(Decrease) 2,990, Special T Unlimited: 6,932, Spring- Matthew Dowdle, Daniel Dudek, Morna Flain Fund Balance/Net Position (1,289,958) 3,063,851 580,884 4,028,379 (1,246,103) (253,364) brook Holding Company LLC: 47,368, Sta- nagan, Maribel Fuentes, John Gemmel, Janet Transfers and Other Sources 1,758,287 (858,287) 117,527 (900,000) nard & Associates Inc: 23,559, Standard Ghanayem, Steven Herigodt, Rory Hoskins, Previous Year End Fund Balance 935,421 14,062,639 2,371,803 24,447,388 40,784,892 2,403,411 Equipment Co.: 777,962, State of Illinois Wendy Keohane, Heather King, Francis Current Year Ending Fund Balance 1,403,750 16,268,203 3,070,214 27,575,767 39,538,789 2,150,047 Treasurer: 90,883, State Treasurer-IDOT: Lane, Frank Marasco, Sandra Nutley, Sha8,696, Stefl Inc, Tim: 7,643, Steiner, Dr. Car- ron O’Shea, Alea Perez, Scott Popelka, Brian Printz, LaShan Riggins, Cristina Robles, ConDisbursements Greater than $2,500 – May America: 3,824, Constellation Energy Servic- and Family Services - GEMT: 451,874, Illinois rie: 7005.00, Sterling Codifiers Inc: 5127.82, nor Solms, Harrison Vogt, Margaret Wilkines Inc: 34,266, Cook County Dept of Public Alarm: 6,359, Illinois Communications Sales Storino Ramello & Durkin: 134899.45, Subur1, 2022 – April 30, 2023 ban Laboratories Inc: 6,149, Suburban Mail- son, Joel Zavala Health: 15,600, Core & Main LP: 22,919, CurInc: 23,414, Illinois Counties Risk Manage34 Publishing Inc: 3,200, AA Rental Center: ing Services Inc: 16,720, Susan Quinn: $50,000 to $74,999 6,762, ABC Automotive Electronic: 2,707, Ac- rent Technologies: $6,138, Currie Motors ment Trust: 56,884, Illinois Environmental 26,750, SWAN: 37,052, T & M Plumbing: Joseph Aftanas, James Becker, Brandon tion Transmission & Auto: 30,376, Adminis- Chevrolet: 16,827, D & S Truck Center Inc.: Protection Agency: 7,478, Illinois EPA: 6,000, 5,600, Techno Consulting Inc: 63,318, Tecorp Betancourt, Steve Brhel, Claudia Corzine, trative Consulting Specialists LLC: 11,667, 5,131, DACRA Adjudication System: 32,100, Illinois Municipal League: 2,775, Illinois State Inc: 426,852, Telcom Innovations Group LLC: Joseph Decosola, John Ryan Doss, Meghan Advanced Weighing Systems: 7,411, AEP En- Dandan, Tariq: 13,463, Danno, Joseph: Police: 5,085, Infrasearch Inc: 13,250, ITsav6,409, Terminal Supply Co: 2,558, The Chi- Dowdle, Rachel Entler, Susan Farnum, Alicia ergy: 24,837, Air One Equipment Inc: 39,833, 5,559, Darien Marion-Burton: 4,675, Dave & vy LLC: 15,072, J.G. Uniforms: 16,941, JC Licago Lighthouse: 4,152, The Locker Shop: Hammond, Deborah Harris, Grayson Hendrix, Aladtec Inc: 6,048, Alliance Pension Consul- Busters: 2,694, Davis Tree Care: 30,615, cht LLC: 8,847, Joel Kennedy Constructing 3,074, The Wrench Truck & Trailer Repair Inc: Robert Kendall, Skye Lavin, Daniel Michaels, tants LLC: 20,600, Alliant Insurance Services Dearborn National Life Ins.: 10,880, DELL Corp.: 110,135, Kane McKenna and Assoc: 4,420, Thomson Reuters-West: 5,166, To- Peter Morrissette, Ly Nguyen, Jon Pankey, Inc – 8377: 13,955, Allied Benefit Systems: MARKETING LP: 20,787, Dieters & Todd Li- 7,628, Kanopy, Inc.: 3,583, Karl Chevrolet Inc: day’s Business Solutions: 5,283, Total Park- Brenda Powers, Rafal Radomski, Paul Rich2,850, Altec Industries Inc.: 3,761, Amalgam- brary Consulting: 13,000, Digitech Advanced 76,332, K-Five Hodgkins LLC: 5,328, ing Solutions Inc: 86,843, Traffic Control & ards, Dylan Ryan, Michael Salgado, Patrick ated Bank of Chicago: 714,500, Amazon. Data Processing Inc: 52,696, Doors by Dave KIESLER’S POLICE SUPPLY INC.: 24,970, Protection: 17,150, Transportation Safety Ap- Scollard, Pilar Shaker com: 10,124, Amazon Capital Services: Inc.: 7,100, Dost Valuation Group LTD: 6,500, Kimball Midwest: 3,267, Kinetic Energy Inc.: parel: 3,049, Traynor, Raymond: 15,075, Tri27,293, American Door and Dock: 8,739, Doty Nurseries LLC.: 4,275, EBSCO Informa- 2,649, KLF Enterprises: 35,201, KMI Force: angle Environmental: 10,679, ULINE: 4,914, $75,000 to $99,999 American Mobile Staging Inc: 3,070, AMS tion Services: 3,730, Elevator Inspection Ser- 23,650, Knights Body Shop Inc: 5,027, KonicUS Coachways: 9146, USA BLUE BOOK: Mohammad Awad, Richard Barger, DeAires vices: 9,964, Elmhurst Chicago Stone Comka Minolta: 11,639, Kuusakoski US LLC: Electric Inc: 13,095, Animal Care League: 3,472, Utility Dynamics Corporation: 3,654, Blackwell, Stephen Glinke, Mitchell Kempka, 5,025, Aries Charter Transportation Inc: pany: 6,379, Elmhurst Occupational Health: 5,532, Lakeshore Recycling Systems LLC: Verizon Wireless: 12,877, Vigilant Solutions Steven Knysch, Richard Lovett, Michael Mar16,081, Artistic Engraving: 4,718, AT&T: 3,280, Enchanted Castle: 3,359, ESO Solu- 18,656, Lakeview Bus Lines Inc: 5,568, Larry LLC: 3,050, Village of Forest Park: 173,805, asco, Dora Murphy, Kyle Piotrowski, George 33,060, AT&T: 4,349, Axon Enterprise Inc: tions Inc: 6,375, Estate of Jose Francisco Roesch Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram: 15,924, Village of Oak Park: 3,752, Weiner, Murray: Prescott, William Shanahan, Danylle, Ryan 2,872, Baker & Taylor: 99,474, B&F Construc- Flores: 12,760, Factory Motor Parts Co: Lauterbach & Amen LLP: 34,000, Lauterbach 9,600, Wesley, Shavon: 6,765, West Central Winkoff tion Code Service: 21,929, BC Body Craft Inc: 25,307, Fidelity Security Life Ins Co: 7,613, & Amen LLP: 8,200, Leahy-Wolf Co: 3,173, Municipal Conf: 29,928, West Cook County $100,000 to $124,999 8,202, Berwyn Garage: 14,537, Blue Cross- Fire Service Inc: 36,351, Firefighters Pension Lemeer Design LLC: 3,195, Lewis University: Solid Waste: 213,524, West Side Tractor Jesus Arroyo, Andrea Caines, Thomas CanBlue Shield of Ill: 1,577,624, Book Reporting Fund: 204,651, First Ayd Corp.: 4,763, Fleet 6,768, Lexipol LLC: 4,976, Libraries of Illinois Sales: 2,998, West Suburban Cons Dispatch non, Karen Dylewski, Scott Frey, Kenneth Service: 9,080, BP: 4,097, Brhel, Steve: 2,679, Safety Supply: 22,940, Forest Printing Com- Risk Agency: 17,498, Lindahl Brothers Inc: Center: 73,0421, WESTAF: 2,750, Wholesale pany: 15,805, Forest Printing Company: 3,478, Lindco Equipment Sales Inc: 140,123, Hriensaitong, Benito Marti, Vanessa Moritz, Broadleaf Inc.: 3,750, Burke Beverage Inc: Direct Inc.: 2,923, Witmer Public Safety 17,383, Franzen Plumbing Inc: 7,758, Freeway Linde Gas North America LLC: 6,266, LinkeTravis Myers, Laura O’Donnell, Letitia Olm6,372, Burke Engineering LTD, Christopher: Group: 5,051, Xerox Financial Services: Ford Sterling Truck: 24,739, Frontline Public dIn Corporation: 4,500, Local 701 Welfare sted, Daysi Riglos, Salvatore Stella, Antonio 509,523, C.O.P.S. and F.I.R.E Personnel Test25,544, XTreme Graphics Lettering: 2,880, Safety Solutions: 4,200, Galaxy Underground Fund, Automobile Mechanics: 19,240, Local Torres, William Toth, Brian Valtman, Anthony ing: 3,320, Cairo & Sons Roofing Contractors Zeigler Ford North Riverside: 5,246 Inc: 24,200, GFS Marketplace: 2,799, GPG 705 I.B of T. Health & Welfare: 339,304, LPS Villasenor, Andrew Weber Inc.: 92,446., Caliber Collision: 13,162, CAStrategies LLC: 24,000, Graf Tree Care: Pavement: 8,650, Lyons Pinner Electric Co: Disbursements less than $2,500: 292,897 $125,000 and over PERS North America: 13,000, Capital One 19,500, Grand Appliance, 7436-40 Madison 227,783, MABAS DIVISION XI: 10,000, ManBank: $54,054, Cargill Salt Road Safety: TOTAL: 13,912,716 Moses Amidei, Lauren Battistoni, Zach70,086, Carrier Corporation: 82,071, Case St LLC: 7,657, Greenwood Transfer LLC: gos Languages: 2,536, McAdam Landscapary Calamus, Phillip Chiappetta, Christopher 9,500, Griffon Systems Inc: 76,679, Groing: 47,503, McCann Industries Inc: 5,046, Salaries – May 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023 Lots Inc: 10,798, CDC ENTERPRISES INC: Chin, Phillip Damato, Louis Davini, Nicholas 49,148, CDS Office Technologies: 24,728, blewski, Adam: 2,600, Growing Community Mckesson Medical: 2,687, Medieval Times: $25,000 and Under: Defors, Kenneth Gross, Tom Hall, Lindsey Cedar Pine Holdings LLC: 2,613, CellTech Media NFP: 4,938, Guardian: 89,457, Haci- 3,083, Metro Paramedic Services Inc: Hankus, Aaron Hannan, Jarlath Heveran, LLC: 4,000, Cengage Learning, Inc: 8,488, enda Landscaping Inc: 17,450 Halloran & 272,049, Midwest Fence: 5,086, Midwest Timothy Adams, Kathryn Alexander, Saman- George Hickey Jr., Michael Kinder, Arleta Centurion Plumbing Company: 120,593, CFA Yauch Inc, Irrigation Systems: 8,180, Hawk Tape: 39,727, Mobile Beacon: 3,840, Mohr Oil tha Amador, Samantha Bahena, Ida Bailey, Kochan, Mark Maylath, Scott McClintock, Software Inc: 2,800, Chicago Police Depart- Chrysler Dodge Jeep: 37,849, Health En- Company: 211,366, Motorola Solutions Inc: Donald Bolton, Patrick Braniff, Robert Bry- Daniel Miller, Michael O’Connor, Daniel Pater, ment: 4,772, City of Chicago: 1,969,114, Clear deavors SC: 15,239, Hedrick, Kevin: 2,764, 2,628, Municipal Emergency Services Inc: ant, Joseph Byrnes, Michael Campbell, Ajah Nichola Petrovic, Bobby Reid, Brendan Reilly, View: 36,321, College of Du Page: 22,520, HOME DEPOT CREDIT: 7,524, HR Source: 4,646, Muse Community + Design: 48,736, Crittenden, Luther Curtis, LaDonna Daniels, John Reilly, Timothy Ryan, Joseph Schick, Com Ed: 75,182, Comcast: 15,169, Commer- 14,440, Hustler Turf Equipment Inc: 11,499, Nardulli Concrete Inc, J.: 313,570, National Melissa De LaTorre, Gerald Dillon Jr, Alexan- Humberto Soto, Michael Spagnolo, Adam cial Tire Service: 23,469, Compass Minerals Ice Miller LLP: 3,000, IL Dept of Healthcare Power Rodding Corp: 16,274, Nelson Sys- der Dowdle, Johnny Edwards, David Finlay, Stasinopoulos Revenue

General 5,420,734 3,712,741 1,340,138 2,206,650 555,013 587,979 95,498 320,152 1,211,684 1,669,363 1,123,646 651,811 161,152 92,331 271,964 671,070 189,253 20,281,179

Major Funds 1,783,980 2,287,473 742,681 37,460 227,132 5,078,726

Non-Major Funds Enterprise Fiduciary 1,213,214 3,674,894 69,324 209,276 7,088,552 92,808 548,608 28,350 111,952 (572,362) 848,395 50,601 20,000 1,663,573 7,220,504 4,499,535

Library 1,941,144 129,159 28,650 34,445 13,038 2,334 2,148,770

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

17

Organizers demand Oak Park, west suburbs support new migrant arrivals New arrivals further strain Austin’s resources, organizers say

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter

A coalition of west suburban and Austin organizers is demanding the village of Oak Park supports new arrivals in Austin.

At an Oct. 23 rally outside the village’s town hall, the group demanded Oak Park honors its welcoming village designation to provide coordinated support to migrants and asylum-seekers sheltered at Austin police stations. In 2017, the village approved a welcoming ordinance to prevent the village from collecting immigration status information and limiting the village’s cooperation with agencies on immigration enforcement cases.

“If we are communities that continue to advocate that hate has no home here and that we are welcoming to all, it’s time to lift that spirit and start wrapping it into more practical sustainable solutions to the people who are most vulnerable and most directly impacted,” organizer Betty Alzamora of Forest Park told this publication.

Oak Park and west suburban communities need to support new arrivals in Austin because the growing influx of asylumseekers further strains Austin’s resources, creating more scarcity in an already disinvested environment, said Austin activist and labor organizer Crystal Gardner on a social media post about the Oct. 23 rally.

Many of the organizers have volunteered to help asylum-seekers in Austin since the spring and are calling for organized cooperation between the village and the city of Chicago. Elected officials in Oak Park and neighboring suburban communities must now step up and lift the burden placed on Austin, organizers said.

“We know that we have to join collectively in order to be able to maximize our impact,” Alzamora said.

The grassroots coalition also questioned why the village of Oak Park, which declares to be committed to equity, inclusion and diversity, has not provided aid for the

humanitarian crisis unfolding in the police station a few miles away on Madison Street.

Among their demands are village funding and wraparound services for asylum-seekers, as well as the creation of a west suburban task force.

The village of Oak Park “is aware of the growing population of asylum seekers at nearby Chicago Police Department stations, specifically the 15th and 25th District Headquarters,” a village spokesperson told this publication via email.

Oak Park Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer Danielle Walker said she visited the 15th district on Oct. 19 and met with volunteers who “emphasized 15th Chicago Police District station the need for immediate housing, legal assistance, drinking water, to determine how the funds can be used. laundry support, and food delivery.”

The coalition includes the United Work“Village staff have been engaged for ing Families group 290 IPO, community quite some time and the visit only further groups Activate Austin and Activate Oak underscored the urgency for thinking Park, the local grassroots group Indivisthrough positive solutions, which we are ible Oak Park Area, and the local youth all committed to,” the village said. group Revolutionary Youth Action League.

The coalition also is asking Oak Park that The push comes amid the increaswelcome migrants to resettle in the area and ing influx of asylum-seekers citywide, in other west suburban municipalities. including in Austin police stations. A few The Village of Oak Park said that weeks months ago, the 15th Police District had before the rally, it applied for the Supportsmaller groups of 15 to 20 migrants, but ing Municipalities for Asylum Seeker the number has more than tripled in the Services (SMASS) grant in the amount of last few months, causing several of them $7.5 million to serve as a passthrough to to camp outside the police station. At the organizations such as Housing Forward, 25th Police District, volunteers have seen Catholic Charities, Beyond Hunger, PCC the number of asylum-seekers double Wellness, Greater Chicago Legal Clinic, from one week to the other.

West Cook YMCA, and Thrive CounselAustin residents decried the city’s plans to ing Center. On Oct. 6, the village was turn the local Amundsen Park into a shelter, informed it was awarded $150,000 to assist in preparation for “future opportunities to depriving local community members from existing resources in the community, at a support asylum seekers” and it continues public meeting and subsequent rally. to talk with the grant program managers

FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ

Faith leader Marshall Hatch said communities with more resources can help respond to this humanitarian crisis at a faith-based meeting early this month. At that meeting, Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) questioned why the city of Chicago is able to spend hundreds of millions of dollars into migrant aid when neighborhoods like Austin or Englewood have been historically disinvested.

“When we asked for money to rebuild schools, when we asked for money to open up shelters when we asked for support for our community, how many times were we told that money doesn’t exist?” Lopez said.

Lopez is pushing a proposal that would allow Chicago voters to decide if the city should keep its welcoming city designation in the upcoming election. Chicago’s welcoming city ordinance protects undocumented residents from being prosecuted solely due to their immigration status and provides them access to city services.

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

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O U R

V I E W

Pause on Grant White

L

eaders of the public elementary schools in Forest Park have heard proposals for the future of its shuttered Grant-White School from both village government and the park district. They gathered community input at a special listening event early this month.

In both these proposals, in the “Harvest” listening session, and in its own board and administration discussions, there is a consensus that the future of Grant-White must be child-centered and community-focused.

So that’s good. Beyond that, though, District 91 leaders seem at best ambivalent about what to do with this building on Randolph Street. Two years after closing Grant-White due to long-term and notable enrollment declines, the district has rightly concluded it needs to make a more substantive plan than using the building for school board meetings, summer programs and school bus parking.

But now as it has actual viable options to consider, it seems to have developed lessor’s remorse. From the superintendent and across the school board there is some hoped-for-but-unlikely enrollment rebound which would require reopening Grant-White as a school.

And so, in preliminary discussions roadblocks are being raised. Any structural changes to the building that would make it work better for the park district or the village’s child- and teen-centered plans must be limited, the district suggests, so that classroom spaces are preserved.

Can’t have it both ways. We’d suggest that the school board, which is considering voting on the proposals as early as next month, take a pause, reassess its priorities for the building, for its financial goals, and move forward when their worthy motives are clearer.

Not a long pause. But time to focus exclusively on what it needs to accomplish here for itself and for the community and its families.

Melin-Rogovin’s listening session

Voters and non-voters often bray about elected officials never listening to them. There is some truth to that. However, when sincere candidates promise and, when elected, deliver on pledges to sit down for conversations with voters, the audience is more meager than eager.

So it was when Michelle Melin-Rogovin, a Forest Park village commissioner, hosted her first community meeting recently. Four guests joined the meeting while two people stopped by. Could have been better, but a game Melin-Rogovin said by the time she makes the next invite in the spring she expects the crowd to build a bit.

That said, there was still value in the conversation as an interesting range of topics were raised. Some were very local: recycling and composting were discussed. Flooding was raised, as it should be. And in a town with an increasingly progressive view, there was discussion about the intersection of the national failure to make a humane plan for immigration and the local impact of thousands of migrants landing in Chicago, many on the West Side.

What should Forest Park’s official and unofficial role be in providing direct help to migrants crowded into West Side police stations? Is there state grant money available to provide direct help?

These are important topics. Good for those residents who turned out to share their concerns. And good for Commissioner Melin-Rogovin for being there to listen.

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

OPINION

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19

Passion and its limitations

hen I ask people these days why they’re involved in some cause, they tend to reply that they are passionate about it, which doesn’t satisfy me.

See, passion is an emotion, and as such it is morally neutral. People who work at Sarah’s Inn told me that they are passionate about ending domestic abuse, but Hamas was so passionate about destroying the state of Israel that they slaughtered over 1,000 innocent victims.

For me, passion is not a satisfying reason for why people choose to invest themselves in this or that. I also need to know what they are passionate about, and on that basis I will make an ethical decision about whether it’s worth doing or not.

My problem is that lots of people these days seem to be replacing ethics with psychology. Instead of saying, “That’s good or bad, right or wrong,” I hear lots of people saying, “I’m not comfortable with that.” You don’t have to defend how you feel.

What’s interesting to me lately is that I hear people responding to what Hamas did and how Israel plans to respond with emotional language like “outrage” or “sadness” or “anger.” Rabbi Max Weiss, in a service at Oak Park Temple on Oct. 7, expressed how he and most Jews were responding to the atrocities committed by Hamas by talking about how they felt. He said that it was like they were all “sitting shiva,” all in deep mourning for the loss of a family member.

But he and almost everyone I talk to also use ethical/religious language, including the word “evil” to describe the situation and add that we had a duty, a responsibility, an obligation, to destroy the evil.

Psychological language was simply inadequate.

“Feeling” words were supplemented by words of action and duty. “Should” had to be added to “feel.”

Let me share some personal history. When I was growing up 70 years ago, I was taught in many ways that, to be a real man, I couldn’t show my feelings. That is what women do. Women were emotional, flighty, moody — not of much use in a crisis.

Men had to be steady, controlled, rational, evenkeeled, dependable. I learned to express my love not by saying, “I love you,” but by being responsible and dependable.

I think my first wife was attracted to that, but as we got further into our marriage, she asked me to start talking about my feelings with her. Talk about

getting out of my comfort zone. Now, 40-some years later, my adult children tell me they didn’t feel close to me when they were growing up. They appreciated my dependability and everything else that men were supposed to do, but they didn’t feel the emotional connection they longed for.

A lot of us men got the message, and we’ve tried to learn new “love languages,” but I fear the pendulum has swung too far the other way.

We’ve become so “passionate” about making diversity work that we hesitate to call any behavior right or wrong for fear of offending a neighbor who thinks differently than we do.

That is, except in the culture wars.

We tend to migrate into lifestyle enclaves in which everyone thinks and values pretty much the same way. Around here, if you are not “woke” you pretty much stay in the closet for fear of getting emotionally clobbered by the like-minded majority. I confess that I feel most comfortable with folks who think and see the world as I do. You noticed I used the word “comfort,” right?

The problem is living that way prevents us from getting a lot of practice making the necessary ethical decisions that have to be made in the public square when the square expands beyond our homogenous cultural boundaries.

In the locker room before the game, football teams try to get pumped with passion. However, when the team starts the fourth quarter three touchdowns behind, the teams that fight on are not motivated by passion but by character traits like grit and determination.

I was not passionate about being a parent or a pastor. Passion might energize athletes for a hundred-meter dash but not for a marathon.

Marriage, parenting, leading a church, running a small business — all of those are long-distance races with emotional highs and lows. Parenting, for example, isn’t a game with nine innings but more of a season with 162 games.

Joe Biden gets criticized for not being emotional enough. He, in other words, generates some light but not much heat. He doesn’t express much passion. Donald Trump, in contrast, generates a great deal of heat — another word for passion — but almost zero light.

When I was a pastor I was more like Biden than Trump. My people seemed to be OK with that for 25 years.

TOM HOLMES

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Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023 F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW Editor Erika Hobbs Staff Reporter Igor Studenkov, Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Lifka 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 Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Publisher Dan Haley Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

I

Why we aren’t qualified to be homeowners our house smelled like it was occupied by old people. Meanwhile, the squirrels were unfazed by the aroma of mothballs. They stayed busy eating our beams.

I thought of another way to make the squirrels move. My piano rested against the wall and whenever I played, the squirrels became very agitated. When I looked down into the wall, they were covering their ears.

Sometimes, they pounded on the wall with their tiny paws to beg me to stop.

I couldn’t play a set long enough to make them leave, so I hired a contractor to erect a squirrel-proof fence to protect the wall. It had a one-way exit for the squirrels which would not allow them to re-enter. Unfortunately, neither the mothballs nor the piano-playing forced them to exit.

So one day I sat and watched how the squirrels were getting in. I saw them climb a tree in front of the house and jump the short distance to the roof. From there, it was an easy task to climb down the gutter and re-enter the wall.

That night, I had a revelation. Why don’t we saw off the branches the squirrels were

t’s gratifying to learn there are homeowners who are as incompetent as I am. It’s even better when they make the exact same mistake I made. I’m referring to SunTimes columnist Neil Steinberg, who resorted to pouring mothballs into his wall to get rid of a critter.

His critter was a chipmunk; ours were squirrels. It all started when we had a gap in our siding and a flock of birds moved in.

We didn’t mind the birds but our neighbor was irritated about living next door to an “airport.”

When the birds flew south for the winter, they apparently sublet to a gang of squirrels. We were not as tolerant of the squirrels. They have a bad habit of gnawing the wood and we were worried about structural damage.

Someone suggested that squirrels could not tolerate the odor of mothballs and suggested we pour some into the wall to evict them. Like Neil, I poured in way too many.

Suddenly, our house reeked of mothballs from top to bottom.

Our kids were not happy about it. They already considered us old people and now

JOHN RICE

A Board of Directors Chair Judy Greffin 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.

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L O O K

B A C K

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using to reach the roof? My son did the honors. I later watched the squirrels climb the tree but the jump to the roof looked too risky, even for a squirrel.

Now that we had stopped the influx of squirrels, they abandoned the space. I made sure to close the gap in the siding before the birds could move back. The house was now secure but I wondered how much damage the squirrels had done.

It so happened that a public adjuster stopped by and claimed our house had hail damage. We quickly signed with him and he made a claim against our homeowner’s insurance. The insurance company agreed to have the siding and roof replaced on our house and garage.

The work wasn’t going to cost us a dime, until they tore off the siding on the former squirrel nest. They had eaten the beams so thoroughly, the wall collapsed and suddenly I was looking at the great outdoors. It cost us to replace the wall but the rest of the upgrade was free.

Besides learning to trust public adjusters, we also learned to never pour mothballs into a wall. The “old people” smell finally went away. We decided on a new course of action for incompetent homeowners.

Rent a two-flat where the squirrels can only torment us in the backyard.

T I M E

50 years ago this week

reaking ground for the foundation of the new community center was featured in the Oct. 24, 1973 Forest Park Review. Mayor Howard Mohr had called on the people of “his village” for contributions earlier that year — cash or material supplies — so a community center could be built for senior citizens, and other community groups. Repurposing the former water works garage, Jackson Boulevard just west of Desplaines, following the completion of the new public works garage at the south end of town, was his dream. With no way to finance construction using public funds, the popular mayor made an appeal to residents and businessmen to raise $40,000.

“When the people of a community join together to work for the progress of their town,” Mohr said, “it is indeed most heartening. As mayor of Forest Park, I am greatly pleased at the response by the people joining this drive to make the community center a reality.” The center was renamed in Mohr’s honor after his death in 1976.

Jill Wagner

Tangible progress toward the new community center was realized as the ground was broken for the foundations of a new wing. In the background is the old Water Works garage, and contractor Tom King, project coordinator, goes over construction plans with the excavator.

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023

THAT PART OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 12, TOWNSHIP 39, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: COMMENCING AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SAID SECTION 12; THENCE SOUTH ALONG THE EAST LINE OF SAID SOUTHEAST QUARTER TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE SOUTHERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF THE CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY, FOR A POINT OF BEGINNING; THENCE SOUTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE OF SAID SOUTHEAST QUARTER TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE EASTERLY EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH LINE OF AN EAST-WEST 20-FOOT-WIDE PUBLIC ALLEY LYING NORTH OF MADISON STREET; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID EASTERLY EXTENSION AND THE SOUTH LINE OF THE EAST-WEST 20-FOOT-WIDE PUBLIC ALLEY LYING NORTH OF MADISON STREET TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE SOUTHERLY EXTENSION OF THE WEST LINE OF A NORTH-SOUTH 20 FOOT PUBLIC ALLEY LYING WEST OF HARLEM AVENUE; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID WEST LINE OF THE NORTH-SOUTH 20 FOOT PUBLIC ALLEY LYING WEST OF HARLEM AVENUE TO A POINT ON THE SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF FRANKLIN STREET; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF FRANKLIN STREET TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE SOUTHERLY EXTENSION OF THE EAST LINE OF THE WEST 34 FEET OF THE EAST 53 FEET OF LOTS 6 AND 9 IN BLOCK 1 IN RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM AS RECORDED NOVEMBER 26, 1858; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE OF THE WEST 34 FEET OF THE EAST 53 FEET OF LOTS 6 AND 9 IN BLOCK 1 TO A POINT ON THE SOUTH LINE OF AN EAST-WEST 20-FOOT-WIDE PUBLIC ALLEY LYING NORTH OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID SOUTH LINE OF THE EAST-WEST 20-FOOT-WIDE PUBLIC ALLEY LYING NORTH OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF ELGIN AVE; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID WEST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF ELGIN AVE TO A POINT ON THE SOUTHERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE SOUTHWESTERLY ALONG SAID SOUTHERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE TO THE A POINT ON THE EAST LINE OF THE WEST 4 FEET OF LOT 2 IN BLOCK 2 IN SAID RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM; THENCE SOUTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE OF THE WEST 4 FEET OF LOT 2 IN BLOCK 2 IN RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM AND THE SOUTHERLY EXTENSION THEREOF TO A POINT ON SAID SOUTH LINE OF THE EAST-WEST 20-FOOT-WIDE PUBLIC ALLEY LYING NORTH OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID SOUTH LINE OF THE EAST-WEST 20-FOOT-WIDE PUBLIC ALLEY LYING NORTH OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET TO A POINT ON THE EAST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF MARENGO AVE; THENCE SOUTH ALONG SAID EAST RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF MARENGO AVE TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE EASTERLY EXTENSION OF THE SOUTH LINE OF THE NORTH 100 FEET OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 3 IN SAID RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID EASTERLY EXTENSION AND THE SOUTH LINE OF THE NORTH 100 FEET OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 3 IN SAID RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM TO A POINT ON THE WEST LINE OF SAID LOT 1 IN BLOCK 3; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID WEST LINE OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 3 TO A POINT ON THE SOUTHERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE, SAID POINT ALSO BEING THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 1 IN BLOCK 3; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG A RADIAL LINE TO CIRCLE AVENUE TO A POINT OPPOSITE AND ADJACENT TO SAID NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 1 IN BLOCK 3, SAID POINT BEING ON THE NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE NORTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH A LINE 50 FEET SOUTHWESTERLY OF (MEASURED PERPENDICULARLY) AND PARALLEL WITH THE SOUTHWESTERLY LINE OF THE TRACT OF LAND CONVEYED BY THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY TO MAX GOLDSTEIN, JOSEPH GOLDSTEIN, EVA GOLDSTEIN AND BESSIE GOLDSTEIN BY QUIT CLAIM DEED RECORDED AUGUST 23, 1963 AS DOCUMENT NO. 18893094; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG SAID LINE 50 FEET SOUTHWESTERLY OF (MEASURED PERPENDICULARLY) AND PARALLEL WITH THE SOUTHWESTERLY LINE OF THE TRACT OF LAND CONVEYED BY THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY TO MAX GOLDSTEIN, JOSEPH

NUMBER 96-722111 AND RESUBDIVISION OF PLAT RECORDED AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 97833582; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG THE NORTHERLY LINE OF SAID LOT 3 TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER THEREOF; THENCE SOUTH ALONG THE WESTERLY LINE OF SAID LOT 3 TO A POINT ON THE NORTH LINE OF LOT 2 IN SAID “BROWN STREET STATION” RESUBDIVISION; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG SAID NORTH LINE OF LOT 2 TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 2, SAID NORTHWEST CORNER ALSO BEING THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF LOT 1 IN THE AFORESAID “BROWN STREET STATION” RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 1 AND 2 IN SILVER MOON SUBDIVISION; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG THE NORTH LINE OF SAID LOT 1 TO A POINT OF CURVATURE; THENCE CONTINUING ALONG SAID NORTH LINE ON A CURVE CONCAVE TO THE SOUTHWEST TO A POINT OF NON-TANGENCY; THENCE CONTINUING WESTERLY ALONG SAID NORTH LINE TO THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF SAID LOT 1; THENCE WEST ALONG THE WESTERLY EXTENSION OF SAID NORTH LINE OF LOT 1 TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE WEST LINE OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SAID SECTION 12; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID WEST LINE OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 12 TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH THE AFORESAID SOUTHERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF THE CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY; THENCE EASTERLY ALONG SAID SOUTHERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF THE CHICAGO & NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING. The Redevelopment Project Area is generally described as the parcels on the west side of Harlem Avenue and the north Village boundary along the Chicago Transit Authority (“CTA”)/Union Pacific Railroad (“UPPR”) rail tracks, and generally bounded by Madison Street to the south, the CTA/UPPR rail tracks and the Village boundary to the north, Harlem Avenue to the east, and Lathrop Avenue to the west, and includes all adjacent rights of way, including to the centerline of Harlem Avenue, the east boundary of the Village.

There will be considered at the public hearing the Redevelopment Plan and Project for the Redevelopment Project Area.

The Redevelopment Plan and Project, including Eligibility Report, as proposed is on file and available for public inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois. The proposed Redevelopment Plan and Project includes the acquisition and conveyance of land in the Redevelopment Project Area, demolition, clearance and related site preparation activities, the construction, acquisition and installation of certain public works and improvements, if any, including, but not limited to, streets, storm sewers, water mains, sanitary sewers, traffic signalization, curbs, gutters, landscaping and public facilities including parking areas and related costs and expenses, all as provided in the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act, as supplemented and amended.

Prior to the date of the public hearing, each taxing district of which taxable property is included in the Redevelopment Project Area and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (f/k/a Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs) may submit written comments to the Village, to the attention of the Village Clerk, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, 60130.

There is hereby convened a joint review board to consider the proposed approval of the Redevelopment Plan and Project designation of the Redevelopment Project Area and adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The joint review board shall consist of a representative selected by each community college district; local elementary school district and high school district or each local community unit school district; park district; library district; township; fire protection district; and county that has authority to directly levy taxes on the property within the Redevelopment Project Area; a representative selected by the Village; and a public member selected in accordance with the Act. The first meeting of said joint review board shall be held at 11:00 a.m. on the 27th day of September, 2023, at the Forest Park Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, 60130.

At the public hearing, all interested persons or affected taxing districts may file written objections with the Village Clerk and may be heard orally with respect to any issues regarding the approval of the Redevelopment Plan and Project, the designation of the Redevelopment Project Area, and the adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The hearing may be continued by the Village Council without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the continued hearing. /s/ Vanessa Moritz________ Village Clerk Village of Forest Park

essential news. essential voices.

Notice is hereby given that on November 13, 2023 at 6:45 p.m. at the Forest Park Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, a public hearing will be held to consider the approval of a redevelopment plan and project (“Redevelopment Plan and Project”) for the designation of a redevelopment project area (“Redevelopment Project Area”) to be known as the “Circle Harlem Redevelopment Project Area” and the adoption of tax increment allocation financing therefor. The Redevelopment Project Area consists of the territory legally described as:

GOLDSTEIN, EVA GOLDSTEIN AND BESSIE GOLDSTEIN TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH A LINE 102 FEET SOUTH OF AND PARALLEL WITH THE SOUTH BOUNDARY LINE OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, EAST OF HARLEM AVENUE, EXTENDED WEST; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID LINE 102 FEET SOUTH OF AND PARALLEL WITH THE SOUTH BOUNDARY LINE OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY A DISTANCE OF 230 FEET, MORE OR LESS; THENCE SOUTH ALONG A LINE BEING AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM SAID SOUTH BOUNDARY LINE OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, EAST OF HARLEM AVENUE, EXTENDED WEST TO A POINT ON A LINE BEING 8.50 FEET SOUTH OF AND PARALLEL WITH THE CENTERLINE OF SPUR TRACK I.C.C. NUMBER 367 OF SAID CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID LINE BEING 8.50 FEET SOUTH OF AND PARALLEL WITH THE CENTERLINE OF SPUR TRACK I.C.C. NUMBER 367 OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, 162 FEET TO A POINT ON A LINE DRAWN PERPENDICULAR TO THE NORTH LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET THROUGH A POINT THEREIN WHICH IS 41.0 FEET WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET AND SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE SOUTH ALONG SAID LINE DRAWN PERPENDICULAR TO THE NORTH LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET THROUGH A POINT THEREIN WHICH IS 41.0 FEET WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET AND SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE, 187.30 FEET; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG A STRAIGHT LINE A DISTANCE OF 64.4 FEET TO A POINT 90 FEET NORTHWESTERLY OF AND MEASURED RADIALLY TO THE NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID CIRCLE AVENUE ALONG A LINE DRAWN FROM A POINT ON SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE, 121.5 FEET CHORD DISTANCE FROM SAID INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET AND SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG THE LAST DESCRIBED LINE TO SAID POINT BEING 121.5 FEET CHORD DISTANCE FROM SAID INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET AND SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE NORTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHTOF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE TO A POINT BEING OPPOSITE AND ADJACENT TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF LOT 4 IN SAID BLOCK 3 IN RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG A LINE TO SAID NORTHEAST CORNER OF LOT 4 IN SAID BLOCK 3 IN RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM; THENCE SOUTH ALONG THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 4 IN SAID BLOCK 3 IN RAILROAD ADDITION TO HARLEM AND THE SOUTHERLY EXTENSION THEREOF TO A POINT ON SAID SOUTH RIGHTOF-WAY LINE OF FRANKLIN STREET; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF FRANKLIN STREET TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION WITH SAID SOUTHEASTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE SOUTHWESTERLY ALONG SAID SOUTHEASTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE TO A POINT BEING OPPOSITE AND ADJACENT TO A POINT OF INTERSECTION OF SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OFWAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE AND THE SOUTH LINE OF THE NORTH 108 FEET OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 1 IN THE SUBDIVISION BY THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY OF PART OF THE RESERVATION FOR RAILROAD PURPOSES, AS SHOWN ON THE PLAT OF RAILROAD ADDITION TO THE TOWN OF HARLEM, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED NOVEMBER 14, 1881 AS DOCUMENT NUMBER 358829; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG A LINE TO SAID POINT OF INTERSECTION; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID SOUTH LINE OF THE NORTH 108 FEET OF LOT 1 IN BLOCK 1 TO A POINT ON THE EAST LINE OF THE WEST 8.0 FEET OF SAID LOT 1 IN BLOCK 1; THENCE NORTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE OF THE WEST 8.0 FEET OF SAID LOT 1 IN BLOCK 1 TO A POINT ON SAID SOUTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF FRANKLIN STREET; THENCE WEST ALONG SAID SOUTH RIGHT-OFWAY LINE OF FRANKLIN STREET TO A POINT OPPOSITE AND ADJACENT TO A POINT BEING 606.90 FEET WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET AND SAID NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE NORTH ALONG A LINE TO SAID POINT BEING 606.90 FEET WEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET AND THE NORTHWESTERLY RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF CIRCLE AVENUE; THENCE NORTH ALONG A LINE AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM THE NORTH RIGHT-OF-WAY LINE OF SAID FRANKLIN STREET, A DISTANCE OF 324.79 FEET TO A POINT 9 FEET NORTHERLY, AS MEASURED AT RIGHT ANGLES FROM THE CENTERLINE OF SPUR TRACK I.C.C. NO. 760 OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY, AS NOW LOCATED AND ESTABLISHED; THENCE WESTERLY ALONG A LINE PARALLEL WITH SAID CENTERLINE OF THE SPUR TRACK, A DISTANCE OF 135.99 TO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF LOT 3 IN “BROWN STREET STATION” RESUBDIVISION OF LOTS 1 AND 2 IN SILVER MOON SUBDIVISION, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED SEPTEMBER 20, 1996 AS DOCUMENT

WeConnect

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS CIRCLE HARLEM TAX INCREMENT FINANCING REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT AREA

21

22 Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023 Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG

HELP WANTED

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

Experience or not.

Call for more information.

708-738-3848

Data Analyst sought by Crystal Equation Corp. (Chicago, IL). Work assignments may be in various unanticipated work locations in the US. Telecommuting permitted. Please apply Job #38120 by sending resume to apply@crystalequation.com

ASSISTANT VILLAGE ENGINEER/ TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Village Engineer/ Transportation Engineer in the Public Works Department. The employee will be responsible for leading the planning, design, and operation of the Village’s transportation system; designing and managing capital improvement projects; supervising and directing the Transportation Engineering Division; assisting in directing, supervising, and coordinating activities of the Engineering Division; and providing administrative support to the Village Engineer and Director of Public Works. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park. us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application..

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

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

POLICE DESK CLERK FOREST PARK, IL

The Forest Park Police Department, seeks a Full-Time Police Desk Clerk.

Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check. Qualifications include computer skills, the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, good knowledge of English language, general office skills, including handling non-emergency calls and walk-up customer service, and good verbal and written skills.

HOLIDAY, EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS ARE MANDATORY. Open until filled. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. or at www.forestpark. net and should be returned Attn: Vanessa Moritz, Village Clerk, Village of Forest Park, 517 Des Plaines Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130. Email: vmoritz@forestpark.net.

R E N TA L S

STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com

MARKETPLACE

WANTED TO BUY

CARS WANTED

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS:

I want to buy all your old tools American tools, Wilton Vise, Wood working tools, Machinist tools.

Call, Justin C 708-822-8822 H 708-445-0164

GARAGE/YARD SALES RIVERSIDE GARAGE SALE 165 BARTRAM RD FRI 10/27 & SAT 10/28 9AM TO 3PM

Furniture, yard tools, games, clothes, lamps, pictures, books and much miscellaneous household items!

PAINTING

FIREWOOD

CLASSIC PAINTING

Fast Delivery MIXED HARDWOODS CBH & MIX 100% OAK CHERRY OR HICKORY 100% BIRCH Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available

847-888-9999

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

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

TOOLS WANTED:

FIREWOOD UNLIMITED

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

PART-TIME ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER

HOME SERVICES

Order online:

www. suregreen landscape.com

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS WANTED Restored or Unrestored

or Unrestored Cars &Restored Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Import Cars: Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette,Cars: Ferrari’s, Domestic / Import Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, $$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

Ferrari’s, James Jaguars,• 630-201-8122 Muscle Cars, Collector Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top makes, H O M$$ E Sall ER V I C E S Etc. CLASSICS WANTED Collector James Restored or Unrestored CEMENT CEMENT Cars630-201-8122 & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars:

MAGANA Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette,

C OFerrari’s, N C R E TJaguars, E C O NMuscle S T RU C T ION Cars,

Mustang & Mopars COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL $$ Top $$ all makes, Etc. “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

Collector James 708.442.7720 630-201-8122 '5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

ELECTRICAL

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Ceiling Fans Let an American Veteran do your work Installed We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

Credit Cards Accepted

FLOORS

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair

Low Cost •708.749.0011

PETS While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home House sitting • Plant care Bonded References

708-524-1030

KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 • www. klisflooring.com

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

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

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023 23

CLASSIFIED BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday 20 November 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, the Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing to consider a request for a variation to reduce the side yard setback and a variation to reduce the required lot width to construct a new single family dwelling at the following location:

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS RIVER FOREST, ILLINOIS

PUBLIC NOTICES SHARED INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) SUPPORT SERVICES

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) of the Village of River Forest, County of Cook, State of Illinois, on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois on the following matter:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NOTICE

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Jason Issac Arroyo Case Number CONC001250 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Jason Issac Arroyo to the new name of: Jason Issac Roth The court date will be held: On November 9, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington Street, Rm. 1702, Chicago, IL 60602 via ZOOM at ZOOM ID 986 9592 1385 Passcode 539505.

Zoom Call-In Number 312-626-6799 Published in Wednesday Journal Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday 20 November 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois, the Village of Forest Park Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a Public Hearing to consider a request for a variation to reduce the minimum lot width and a variation to reduce the side yard setback for the following property: LOTS 23 AND 24 IN BLOCK 1 IN ADAM SCHAAF AND W.A.KREIDLER’S ADDITION TO SOUTH OAK PARK BEING A SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST ½ OF THE NORTHEAST ¼ OF THE SOUTHEAST ¼ OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN IN COOK COUNTY ILLINOIS Commonly known as 836 Circle Ave. PIN: 15-13-405-020-0000 and 15-13405-021-0000 The petitioner is Patrick Buckley dba Cill Dara, Signed: Marsha East Planning and Zoning Chairperson Published in Forest Park Review October 25, 2023

LOT 269 E.A. CUMMINGS AND COMPANY’S MADISON STREET ADDITION TO SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, SITUATION IN THE VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK, COUNTY OF COOK, IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. Commonly known as: 7713 Wilcox Ave. Forest Park Il. 60130 PIN 15-13-105-018-0000 The petitioner is George Rosca dba RG Green Builder Signed: Marsha East Planning and Zoning Chairperson Published in Forest Park Review October 25, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on 08 November 2023, at 6:30 P.M. at the Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Blvd, Forest Park, Illinois, the Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct special meeting.

The purpose of this meeting is to conduct member training by representatives from Illinois APA..

Signed: Marsha East, Chair Planning and Zoning Commission Published in the Forest Park Review October 25, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Catherine Mary Divane Case Number 2023 CONC001589.

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Catherine Mary Divane to the new name of: Casey Catherine Mary Castle The court date will be held: On February 2, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Zoom Meeting ID: 95894921843 Passcode: 226532.

Published in Wednesday Journal Oct 25, Nov 1, Nov 8, 2023

The ZBA will consider an application for a major zoning variation submitted

by Kristin and Shawn Vogen, owners of the property at 214 Gale Avenue, who are proposing to construct a new detached garage.

Section 4-8-5 of the Village Code provides the Zoning Board jurisdiction to hold public hearings and offer recommendations to the Village Board concerning variations to the Zoning Ordinance.

The applicants are requesting a major variation to Section 10-9-6 of the Zoning Ordinance.

Section 10-9-6 of the Zoning Ordinance (10-8-6-A) limits accessory buildings to eighteen feet in height or one and one-half stories, whichever is less.

The legal description of the property at 214 Gale Avenue is as follows: THE SOUTH 10 FEET OF LOT 2 AND THE NORTH 50 FEET OF LOT 3 IN BLOCK 2 OF EDWARD C. WALLER’S ADDITION TO RIVER FOREST IN THE SOUTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 11, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. A copy of the application will be available to the public at Village Hall and on the Village’s website at www.vrf. us/zoningvariation no less than 15 days prior to the public hearing. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting packet will also be available at www. vrf.us/meetings no less than 48 hours prior to the public hearing.

All interested persons will be given the opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. For public comments to be considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals and Village Board of Trustees in their decision, they must be included as part of the public hearing record. Interested persons can learn more about how to participate in the hearing by visiting www.vrf.us/zoningvariation.

Sincerely, Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals Published in Wednesday Journal October 25, 2023

The Village of Riverside, Village of North Riverside, Village of La Grange, and West Central Consolidated Communications (WC3) Dispatch Agency, Illinois (The Cooperative) will be receiving proposals for Shared Information Technology (IT) Support Services. A Notice of Intent to submit a proposal is required and due by 3:00 p.m. on November 6, 2023. Proposals will be accepted at the Riverside Village Hall, 27 Riverside Rd, Riverside, IL 60546 until 3:00 p.m. on December 11, 2023.

The Request for Proposal document may be obtained at the Riverside Village Hall between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Questions may be directed to the Riverside Village Hall at (708) 447-2700. The Cooperative reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive technicalities, and to accept any proposal which is deemed to be in the best interest of the Cooperative.

Published in RB Landmark October 25, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE INTENT OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS TO SELL NOT TO EXCEED $1,400,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION LIMITED TAX BONDS PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois (the “Village”), will hold a public hearing on the 2nd day of November, 2023, at 7:00 o’clock P.M. The hearing will be held in Room 4 at the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois. The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comments on the proposal to sell bonds of the Village in the amount of not to exceed $1,400,000 for the purpose of financing various capital projects in and for the Village.

By order of the President of the Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois.

DATED the 25th day of September, 2023. /s/ Ethan Sowl Village Clerk, Village of Riverside, Cook County, Illinois Published in RB Landmark October 25, 2023

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION CITIMORTGAGE, INC. Plaintiff, -v.FELICIA DEGRAFFENREID, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSISTANCE CORPORATION OF AMERICA, ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY Defendants 20 CH 01174 1540 N. ROHDE AVE. BERKELEY, IL 60163 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 6, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 17, 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 1540 N. ROHDE AVE., BERKELEY, IL 60163 Property Index No. 15-08-113-0500000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $130,373.67.

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

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

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

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales

Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 601 E. William St., DECATUR, IL, 62523 (217) 4221719. Please refer to file number 403024.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 601 E. William St. DECATUR IL, 62523 217-422-1719 Fax #: 217-422-1754 E-Mail: CookPleadings@hsbattys. com Attorney File No. 403024 Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 20 CH 01174 TJSC#: 43-401 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 # 20 CH 01174 I3227977

Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4).

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

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact ALEX PORTER, LATHROP GPM LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 155 N WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 3000, CHICAGO, IL, 60606 (312) 920-3333.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

ALEX PORTER LATHROP GPM LLP 155 N WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 3000 CHICAGO IL, 60606 312-920-3333 E-Mail: alex.porter@lathropgpm.com Attorney Code. 46500 Case Number: 2020 CH 06119 TJSC#: 43-3860 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 # 2020 CH 06119 I3231381

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE HOLDERS OF BENCHMARK 2018-B1 MORTGAGE TRUST COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2018-B1 Plaintiff, -v.1120 RETAIL LLC, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2020 CH 06119 1114-1126 LAKE STREET OAK PARK, IL 60301 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on September 28, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on November 20, 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 1114-1126 LAKE STREET, OAK PARK, IL 60301 Property Index No. 16-07-119-0290000, 16-07-119-030-0000, AND 1607-119-031-0000 The real estate is improved with a mixed-use commercial / residential property.

The judgment amount was $16,499,313.09.

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

24

Forest Park Review, October 25, 2023