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Troubled Aperion Care cited multiple times by federal, state authorities during past 3 years The Roosevelt Road facility was investigated by IDPH for recent spate of drug overdoses

Raising the flag

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Aperion Care Forest Park rehabilitation and memory care facility, which saw a rash of heroin overdoses this past summer, racked up hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines from state and federal regulations and failed multiple inspections over the past three years.

According to public records, the Illinois Department of Public Health, which regulates nursing homes on state level, fined it a total of $140,700 during that period, while

And more, story on page 11.

PHOTO CREDIT

Caption

See APERION on page 12

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

John Rice: Fake or real? That was the question

Jill Wagner: Loving the village’s economic ecosystem

Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

PAGE 17

PAGE 15

IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 THIS ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

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Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

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With ‘commendable’ rating, D91 plans ‘baby steps’ to improve Its Illinois Report Card shows several areas for growth

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

“Slow and steady wins the race,” might be the new motto for Forest Park School District 91, as the district says it has been working on implementing curriculum and other practices to continue to improve, not only in proficiency, but also across the board.

“The baby steps that we are putting in are going to be worth it because we are going slow to go fast,” said Supt. Elizabeth Alvarez, who told Forest Park Review that the district saw a growth in proficiency in the Illinois Report Card for 2023.

The report card, released each year, offers a look into students’ academic achievements at the state, district, and school level.

According to the Illinois Report Card, the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, ESSA, requires states to assess learning standards for English/Language Arts, math, and science.

Proficiency can be measured in various ways, but the state report card reports it as ‘the students” success in achieving levels within standardized testing that indicate proficiency, in the subject matter.

The district’s highest rate of improvement in proficiency was in English language arts, where their score increased by 3.9%, going from 29.2% in 2022 to 33.1% in 2023.

“Good things take time,” Alvarez said.

“Right away you can dismantle something that is good pretty quickly, but in order to build something, the pyramids were not built in a day, so this is going to take time.

I am giving it grace, I am being patient.”

Proficiency also increased in mathematics, where, overall, the district increased by 3.2% from 2022 and in science, where there was a 1% improvement from 2022 to 2023.

The highest improvement was credited to Forest Park Middle School, which saw

their score in English language arts increase by 12.6%, going from 17.1% in 2022 to 29.7% in 2023.

An increase in proficiency is part of the reason the district was able to receive a “commendable” rating on the 2023 state report card, with all three schools, besides Garfield Elementary, receiving that designation.

“I was excited, but I also know not to get too excited because designations can change,” Alvarez said, recalling her first initial reaction to the district’s score.

After the district received the official letter at the end of October, which confirmed the designation, Alvarez could rejoice in the improvement of the school.

The rating is the second highest on the State Board of Education’s four-category scale, indicating that each school has no underperforming student groups, a graduation rate greater than 67%, but whose performance is not in the top 10% of schools statewide.

According to past designations from the State Board of Education, the last “commendable” rating D91 received was in 2018, before dropping down to a “targeted” rating, a school in which one or more student groups is performing at or below the level of the “all student” group in the lowest performing 5% of schools, for the following years, not including 2021, when the summative designation was waived.

In math, the district also saw an improvement, going from 15.4% in proficiency to 18.6%.

When it came to the Illinois Assessment of Readiness, IAR, Alvarez said data showed that D91 needs to find ways to reach their Black student population, also their largest student population, so that they can also continue to show improvement.

According to the Illinois Report Card, more white and Hispanic students at D91 “met expectations,” compared to their Black counterparts, who saw a dip in their ELA, going from 18.8% in 2022 to 17.4% in 2023.

While Black students make up the largest student demographic in D91, 42.5%, the district is composed of primarily White

FILE

Forest Park Middle School teachers: 81.9%.

“Since I’ve come here, the teachers of color have gone up,” Alvarez said, adding students have expressed their desire for more diversity in the faculty. “Are we where we want to be? No. Particularly with having Black teachers, we have very few.”

Because studies have shown that students learn better from teachers who look like them, the district hopes to increase their faculty diversity, especially Black teachers, who only make up 6.9% of teachers in the district.

Alvarez said she was not sure why more teachers of color are not choosing D91, adding the pool of applicants is usually composed of white teachers. Hoping to continue to launch the district forward, Alvarez said, their best bet to attract teachers of color is by word of mouth and by creating an inviting environment. She said she hopes teachers of color will see that the district is a great place to be.

Alvarez, who joined the district in 2021, said a goal of hers was to increase the district’s rating in special education, which was accomplished after the district received an improved score compared to the previous year: 48.37% in 2023 to 2022’s score of 31%.

When it came to emerging English learners, Alvarez told Forest Park Review, that the district wants to get ahead of the pack and improve on their program as the population demographics can change in the future.

When compared to the state data, D91 has 6.2% fewer English learners, students whose primary language is not English.

“We don’t have a high percentage,” Alvarez said. “Our enrollment for emerging bilinguals is very small. So, for our emerging bilingual students, we are focusing on it because we know that if we don’t do that now, there is going to be an influx with immigrants, refugees, they may choose to come to Forest Park.”

That decision might pay off in the future as the district has seen a slight increase in English learners from previous years, as shown from their increase in 5.4% in 2021 to this year’s 8.4%. Despite the increase in students whose first language isn’t English, the district has maintained itself below the state’s average, which for 2023 was 14.6%.

The district also saw an increase in the percentage of students who are “proficient,” meaning they are able to meet the standard and demonstrate essential knowledge and skills in the Illinois Science Assessment.

In 2022, the district had 35.2% of students meeting that level versus the 40.6% of students who received a “proficient” score in 2023.

“I was really excited that they were just at the nip of the state,” Alvarez said. “We are going a lot more in showing and connecting the dots between science, technology, engineering, arts and math.”

Also added to this year’s curriculum is a four-week pilot curriculum program exposing students to AI. “There is a lot within that curriculum to make sure our children are exposed to it and are ready to go when it comes to high school and beyond,” Alvarez said.

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Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

November 15-22

BIG WEEK Paint Your Own Bath Bombs With Naturally Refreshed Saturday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., M.E. Marketplace Retail Co-Op & Model Esteem This is a chance to unleash your inner creativity. Special hands-on event. $18, 7451 Madison St., Forest Park.

Author Discussion With Max Allen Collins and Barbara Collins Sunday, Nov. 19, 2-4 p.m., Centuries & Sleuths This husband-and-wife team are individually both novelists in their own right. This event is billed as their “One-Stop Farewell Tour.” 7419 Madison St., Forest Park.

Book Talk: ‘Our Town Oak Park Walk With Me, In Search of True Community’ Thursday, Nov. 16, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum Wednesday Journal’s own Ken Trainor will have a discussion with author William Hazelgrove regarding Ken’s new book, Our Town Oak Park. Books will be available for purchase at the event.

Registration is requested as event capacity is limited. https://tinyurl. com/5t454cbh. 339 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Songwriter’s Circle with Jenny Bienemann Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m., FitzGerald’s Jenny Bienemann will be swapping songs and stories with Phil Angiotti and Matt Tiegler.

6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

You can get local news delivered right to your email in-box. Sign up for FREE at ForestParkReview.com

NEWS FLASH!

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

Scarecrow talk of the town Barbie scores a banner year

By JILL STEWART Contributing reporter

Pink just looks so good in Forest Park.

Not one, but two Barbie-themed homes took home top honors at the annual Scarecrow Invasion.

In a world full stereotypical Barbies, it was “Weird Barbie,” by Zackary McDowell of 937 Circle that was awarded as the most Artistic.

Across town, the People’s Choice award went to the interactive Barbie Photo Booth

by Burhan Syed of 301 Elgin, as skeleton Barbies were ready to party with the Barbie scarecrows.

Forest Park Bank-loan and deposit operations took home the Most Historical Scarecrow, finding inspiration from the Monsters of the Midway, Da Coach, Mike Ditka.

While Iron Mike was on Madison, around the corner, the vital role of transportation

was celebrated with the CTA Rail Operator created by Hillary Mason of 439 Hannah, who took home the prestigious honor of Forest Park Pride.

The popular Scarecrow Invasion, a collaboration between the Historical Society of Forest Park and the Arts Alliance raised $1,500 from the participants, which will be used for exhibits, programs, and events.

This year, a Scarecrow display was put in River Forest, too, and participation outside of Forest Park is welcome.

This year the organizers added a category to honor the block with the greatest participation, which was the 900 block of Circle. It had four displays along both sides of the street.

The invasion comes just once a year and planning for next year has started.

Luckily, with the presidential election coming in November 2024, the return of Kung Fu Panda, Dune, the Joker, Beetle Juice and a movie called Terrifier 3 on the horizon, there will be plenty of material to draw inspiration from to make next year’s invasion incredible.

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Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

D209 joins national lawsuit against social media companies The district alleges TikTok and others harm students

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Proviso Township High School District 209 has joined schools across the country in a federal class action lawsuit a California law firm has filed against major social media companies.

During the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 24, all board members present approved the action item to join the class action lawsuit filed by the Frantz Law Group.

Board members Rodney Alexander and Arbdella Patterson were not present. According to board president Amanda Grant, the discussion of the item was held during a closed session.

Supt. Bessie Karvelas will not be commenting at this time, said Kristi Vandenbroek, director of public and community relations.

The lawsuit claims social media companies have behaved in a way that has caused harm to students and that school districts have incurred costs to treat those harms.

“We allege that Meta, TikTok, Snap, YouTube, and other social media companies have engaged in reckless and negligent misconduct that has caused a mental health crisis among our youth,” said James P. Frantz, on behalf of the plaintiff school district in a news release. “Social media companies are and have been well aware of the harm they cause. It must stop, and we will fight to hold these social media companies accountable for choosing profit over the mental health and safety of children and their families.”

District 209 joins other schools in the area, including Oak Park and River Forest High School who announced their participation in the lawsuit in early September. Riverside Brookfield High School District 208 and Riverside Elementary School District 96 also joined the over 650 school districts across the country who are participating in the lawsuit.

According to PR Newswire, the lawsuit was filed on April 13, 2023, in Federal District Court in San Francisco County, CA on behalf

of sixteen school districts across the country.

In the lawsuit, Frantz Law Group raises the claims that the named social media companies have caused a crisis amongst children and teenagers marked with higher proportions of anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm, which affect their daily lives and their success in schools. They also claim that students are “subjected to often harmful and exploitative content that encourages disorderly behavior, unhealthy social comparison, and cyberbullying.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of adolescents who are reporting poor mental health is increasing. In data presented in their “Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data Summary and Trends Report: 2011-2021,” in 2021, more than one in five, 22%, students seriously considered suicide and one in 10 attempted suicide. Additionally, mental health issues often are associated with other health and behavioral risks including drug use, violence, and higher risk sexual behaviors, often carrying into adulthood.

The CDC lists proactive steps school districts can take to aid students including

FILE PHOTO

Proviso Mathematics and Science Academy in Forest Park. helping students cope with emergencies, providing safe and supportive environments, providing mental health services, training staff, combining social emotional learning, and reviewing policies to ensure equity amongst others.

This is not the first major class action lawsuit taken by Frantz Law Group. They represented more than 42 school districts across the country who were using Juul Labs.

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Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

D209 partners with Triton for new dual-degree program

Applications are now open for rising juniors

Here’s Your Fall Clean-Up List

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Rising juniors at Proviso Township High School District 209 will have the opportunity to graduate with an associate degree from Triton College through a new dual degree program.

The dual degree from Triton College allows high school students to also attend classes at Triton’s campus. This gives them the opportunity to graduate with both a high school degree and an associate degree in the arts or sciences.

According to Alexander Brandon, district coordinator of career and technical education, the program made sense because the college has been a trusted partner of the district for many years.

“Throughout the years they have helped our students take dual-credit and dual-enrollment courses,” Brandon said. “Many of our students go to that college, many students feel at home at Triton College. The advisors have helped them and supported them along the way.”

The program is free.

“It significantly reduces the cost of higher education,” said acting Supt. Bessie Karvelas said at last month’s board meeting. “Parents don’t have to pay for the first two years of tuition [for students] to go to college or university.”

Students who participate must: ■ be in good standing at D209 ■ be on track to graduate ■ hold a GPA of at least 2.5 ■ have at least a 90% attendance rate ■ have completed two years of high school math ■ submit two recommendations from teachers or school counselors ■ pass two Triton placement tests Placement tests taken in person or remotely.

“Their chances are so much better because they are transferring,” Karvelas said. “They are not going in as a freshman with an SAT score, they are not competing with the oth-

As winter closes in, be sure to take time to check off these items from your Fall Clean-Up List: 1. Clean-up landscape debris: Removing any fallen landscape debris such as branches Scott and leaves will help McAdam Jr. prevent nesting of pests and will limit the ability for plant diseases to overwinter in fallen plant tissues.

FILE PHOTO

Triton campus. ers. It is an absolutely win-win situation for these kids. They are going in as juniors at 18, 19 years old.”

Available courses are equivalent to juniorlevel ones, such as AP Biology/Principles of Biology, AP English Language and Composition/Rhetoric and Composition and Integrated Math 3/ IAI Math.

A Triton College Advisor will be conducting bi-weekly check-ins with students, who will also have in-person and virtual tutoring available to them through the college. The director of early college from D209 also will be doing weekly check-ins.

“Guidance is the most important component of this process because students need guidance as they change climate and culture and move into a new environment,” Brandon said. “We need to give them that support. They have the motivation, but we need to provide both academic and social emotional support.”

Students will also be required to participate in a dual degree bootcamp class, worth three credits, which is designed to help students learn skills they will need to be successful in college.

If a student fails, they will return to their assigned D209 high school.

Brandon said during the presentation that

each student would cost the district about $4,000 to $6,000 each year to send to Triton for the program. According to Brandon, the district would like to start with 15 students but would consider more once applications are in and students are vetted.

“We can send as many as we want. I’m afraid to put too many in until we get our feet wet,” Karvelas said.

The program also gives student athletes an opportunity to play at a collegiate level if they make a team at Triton.

“This has been around for the last five years,” Karvelas said, adding that other local high school districts have already been participants, including Riverside Brookfield High School. “I couldn’t believe we didn’t know about this.”

“We want to promote post-secondary education and vocational education,” Brandon added. “We want students to know that they can enter early college, receive credentials and go beyond. Last but not least our goal is to ensure all of our students are not only college and career ready, but also workforce ready.”

Applications for the program will be due by January 19, 2024, to the director of early college and career admissions/CTE coordinator.

2. Cut back perennials: Doing so will allow them to have uninhibited growth during the spring flush.

3. Fertilize your lawn: Apply a lateseason, winterizing fertilizer that is high in phosphorus. This will allow for enough nutrients to sustain through the winter, provide better root growth, and allow your lawn to be lush come spring.

4. Give one final mow: Set your lawn mower to a low setting between 2” and 2 ½”. That will not only make it less vulnerable to winter turf diseases, but will help the soil dry faster during the spring thaw.

5. Protect your sensitive plants: Adding a layer of mulch at the base, wrapping your plants, or applying anti-desiccant sprays will help your vulnerable plants sustain through the winter and minimize any damage from freezing.

6. Plant your bulbs: Doing so now will provide your garden with seasonal color in the spring.

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Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

C R I M E

Walmart declines to press charges against women with child Forest Park Walmart decided not to press criminal charges against a 26-year-old Chicago Heights woman and a 24-year-old Crete, Ill. woman who tried to steal $596.37 worth of items, saying that they were fine with the two being cited at the village level, Forest Park police said.

According to the surveillance footage, on Nov. 8 at 1:07 p.m., the two didn’t scan

all the items at the self-checkout – and even then, they only paid $20 using a LINK card and didn’t pay $85 they owed. When the Walmart employee asked them for the receipt, they refused to provide one and walked out of the store. The two got into a black 2008 Ford Expedition with a man and a child, and the car drove away.

Police intercepted the Ford as it exited

the Walmart parking lot. The three originally denied stealing anything, but the security footage and employee testimony confirmed the two women’s identities.

Walmart loss prevention staff decided that given the circumstances, a village ordinance citation for theft would suffice.

The two were released. A hearing for their citation is scheduled for December.

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Motor Vehicle Thefts

One car was taken and one theft prevented after a witness scared the thief off, police said.

A grey 2021 Toyota RAV4, which was parked in front of its owner’s residence on Circle Avenue, was stolen overnight of Nov. 8. The victim said that he and his wife left the keys inside the Toyota. There was no surveillance footage in the area.

An attempted theft also took place on the evening of Nov. 10 at the 7400 block of Washington Street. On Nov. 11, at 9 a.m., the victim discovered that someone shattered the front driver’s side window of her black 2015 Kia sedan. The steering column was peeled. The victim reported they didn’t believe anything was stolen from the Kia. A witness said that the day before, at around 6 p.m., he saw a man wearing black clothing break the window. The witness yelled, and the would-be-thief ran away.

Bike Burglary A green Huffy-brand bike and a black bike helmet were stolen overnight from the garage at the 1100 block of Troost Avenue.

The victim discovered the burglary on Nov. 11 at about 9:59 a.m. She said she believed she locked her garage door, and the police found no signs of forced entry. The victim didn’t have her bike’s serial number. While the house had a surveillance camera on the porch, it didn’t capture the incident.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Nov. 6-13, 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

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

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Forest Park’s first cannabis infuser set to open

Karuna Ventures was first to try to open recreational cannabis dispensary in the village

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

It took Michael Cardozo four years and many trips through the Illinois state bureaucracy, but he is now set to open a cannabis business.

In 2019, his company, the New Jersey-based Karuna Ventures approached the village about opening a recreational cannabis dispensary. Those plans expanded to include a craft grower and an infuser, allowing the company to grow and sell its own cannabis products. But securing the necessary licenses from the state has taken years, and so far, Karuna has only obtained an infuser license.

The business will operate out of a pair of converted shipping containers placed at a fenced-off area south of the Ferrara Pan Fitness Factory gym building on Circle Ave. Under the village zoning code, infusers are allowed as conditional use – in other words, the village would approve it on case-by-case basis. The application cleared the Forest Park planning and zoning commission in July, and the village council gave the final approval Monday.

Cannabis infusers put the oil from the cannabis plant into various products. In August 2022, the Illinois Department of Agriculture issued a compliance alert specifying that those products must be “beverage, food, oil, ointment, tincture, topical formulation, or another product containing cannabis or cannabis concentrate that is not

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3D rendering of container. intended to be smoked.” east tip, and the 1937 Group is The notice also specified that in the process of opening the cannabis infusers can’t extract dispensary in the original, twothe oils themselves — the oils story portion of the Doc Ryan’s must come from a licensed culbar. tivation center of a craft growMayor Rory Hoskins first er. Since Karuna doesn’t have a mentioned Karuna’s plans to dispensary license, it can’t sell open the infuser back in May, its products to the public, but it but he didn’t elaborate or share can sell it to other dispensaries. the location. At the time, CarSince Cardozo began his efdozo declined to comment as MICHAEL CARDOZO forts to open a dispensary, there well. But details emerged durhave been several other appliing the planning and zoning cations for similar operations. The village commission meeting. the containers made council allowed the Bloc dispensary to open out of Cor-Ten steel, steel alloy developed by at a shuttered CVS at Forest Park’s north- the United States Steel Corporation to resist

open-air corrosion. Karuna argued that the materials “make the facility more secure than a conventional style building.” In compliance with the state law, the containers will have round-the-clock security cameras that can be accessed by Forest Park police. It will also have a “24/7 monitored alarm system” with sensors mounted at container doors.

The application described the crates as a temporary arrangement, with the hopes that as the business grows, Karuna will be able to upgrade to something larger elsewhere.

During Monday’s meeting, commissioner Jessica Voogd said she wanted to make sure that the infuser followed the state law when it came to deliveries and pick-ups, which calls for the delivery area to be screened.

Cardoza confirmed that there will be.

“We’ll make sure it looks nice,” he said.

Voogd said she also had concerns about the separation between the entrance for the delivery vehicles and the vehicles that use the part of the parking lot Karuna won’t be using. Cardoza replied that while there is indeed only one entrance right now, he and the landlord, Ferrara Pan Fitness Factory owner Nello Ferrara II, are already talking about creating separate entrances.

Hoskins said that he appreciated that Karuna Ventures was the first entity to want to open a cannabis business in Forest Park – and didn’t give up on it. “[Cardoza] chose Forest Park – we appreciate that,” he said.

O B I T U A R Y

Proviso East mourns loss of teacher

D209 is banding together to provide resources for students and faculty at East

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The Proviso Township High School District 209 family is mourning the loss of one of their own after they announced Monday afternoon that Jennifer Miller, a family and consumer science educator at Proviso East High School, has died.

“The entire D209 family mourns the loss of a dedicated educator, mentor and friend,” Acting Supt. Bessie Karvelas said in a statement.

She said that the district released the news of Miller’s passing with “profound sadness,” adding that details of a memorial service or remembrance activities will be shared with the community once they

are available.

“The entire PTHS community is saddened by the loss of Jenny Miller,” said board of education president Amanda Grant. “We send our love to her family and friends, and we are focused on giving affected students and staff the support they need during this difficult time.”

Grant also said the district was working

on putting together all available resources from West and PMSA to East to help comfort grieving students and staff.

No other information about her death is available at this time.

“Let us join together in honoring her memory and offering our collective support to one another during this time of loss,” Karvelas said in the statement.

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Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

Chabad Center’s menorah aims to ‘bring more light into the world’

the horrors of Oct. 7 has battle against terrorists; it’s a battle of As Hannukah nears cal been to make many Jews light over darkness, of goodness over evil. If go into a dark room and light a candle strengthen their connecand the Gaza war rages, ityoubrightens up the room. It changes the dy- tion to their religion. In namic of the room. The way to get rid of evil other words, the darkness Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein is to bring more light into the world, bring caused by the war has motivated many to seek light kindness.” said he felt the world more Rabbi Bergstein said that one way to bring and carry it into the darkneeds more light light into darkness is to do mitzvahs, small ness, even if it is saying a prayer or two or wearing a Large menorah outside the Chabad Jewish Center.

TODD BANNOR

By TOM HOLMES Contributing reporter

Rabbi Yitzchok Bergstein set up a ninefoot-high menorah outside his Chabad Center on South Boulevard not only because Hannukah is right around the corner — Dec. 7 — but also because he feels that the world right now needs more light.

The menorah is part of an effort he is calling Be a Pillar of Light. Its goal is to place at least 14 menorahs around Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest.

“It was a flash of inspiration,” he said.

“I was constantly thinking during the past month about what’s going on in Israel. The battle we are facing today is not just a physi-

deeds of kindness.

“Any act of kindness,” he said, “has a ripple effect on the world. In our prayers on Hannukah, we remember how a small group of Jews called the Maccabees were fighting a large army, and it was a spiritual fight as well as a physical fight.”

“In our campaign,” he said, “we are setting up menorahs to encourage people to do acts of kindness, to do as many mitzvahs as they can.”

Every Hannukah, Jews remember the miracle of one day’s worth of oil keeping the lamp in the temple in Jerusalem burning for eight days when the Maccabees retook the temple from their enemies who had been occupying their holy place.

The Chabad rabbi noted that one effect of

prayer shawl.

He referenced Victor Frankly, a Holocaust survivor who, in his book Man’s Search for Meaning, argued that a secret to survival is to find purpose in what you are going through. It’s not the darkness that defeats people, but their inability to find some kind of meaning or purpose for what they’ve gone through.

Rabbi Bergstein explained that if you change the vowels in the Hebrew word for why you get the word for what for.

“We are permitted and even encouraged to ask ‘why,’” he said, “but we’ll never get a satisfactory answer. It’s how we respond to the darkness that gives life meaning.”

Last year, Mayor Rory Hoskins lit a meno-

rah in Forest Park’s Constitution Court and another menorah stood outside the River Forest Public Library.

When asked for his thoughts on how the State of Israel is responding to Hamas, he made a distinction between the State of Israel and the Holy Land on which it is situated.

“It’s all about our relationship to the land God gave us.”

When asked if the increased darkness frightened him, replied, “No, I’m not afraid, but I am concerned. We have an armed guard posted here during Shabat services and the Oak Park police check in on us regularly, but we can’t let the terrorists infuse fear in us.

That’s what they want.”

Forest Park schools and village officials pack the community pantry

is estimated that 1 in 5 people do goods collected from the food drive. Once There was enough to not“Itknow where their next meal is com- a team completed a box, a bell was rung, teams cheered. ing from.” make at least 42 portions The Middle School Honor Society host- and“The event also created an opportunity ed a food drive the week leading up to the to connect families to the greater commuof food event. The middle school collected cans of nity and have discussions about food inse-

By JILL WAGNER Contributing reporter

The Middle School cafetorium transformed into a hub of prepping food boxes for the Forest Park community pantry.

With 71 volunteers coming in two shifts, the PTO created an awareness of food insecurity and packing center this past weekend.

“When someone has a broken bone, you can see it, when someone is sick they have symptoms, but you cannot tell when someone is hungry,” said PTO President Rachelle Ernst.

food, granola bars, toiletries, and other items filling tables with items to stock the pantry in the coming month.

Volunteers who came to the event first watched a video that simplified what food insecurity was, then groups prepped boxes from Feed6, which is part of Outreach Services. The boxes of pantry packs each had six bags of freeze-dried meals such as oatmeal, rice and beans, tomato basil pasta and mac and cheese, enough to make 42 portions of food.

Groups each decorated the boxes with notes of kindness and embellishments, adding bonus items from the table of

curity,” Ernst said.

The PTO committee behind the event not only connected families from the schools, but they were also strongly supported by the village and D91 board members.

The boxes and additional food items were shared in the community pantry located near the entrance of the Community Center at Jackson and Des Plaines. The community fridge also was decorated with extra joy and construction paper flowers.

“I am so proud of our community,” Ernst said. “Being a part of this was really something special.”

JILL WAGNER

Elloise Billingsley and Olivia Caris

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

11

Forest Park dedicates second flagpole ahead of Veterans Day

The new pole allows the village to fly more government and commemorative flags, such as for Juneteenth

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The Village of Forest Park officially dedicated the second village hall flagpole on Nov. 9, more than a month after it was installed.

The second pole was purchased last year to accommodate more flags, but when it came time to put it up, the village council deadlocked on authorizing the spending.

Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin launched a GoFundMe online fundraising campaign and worked with the Forest Park American Legion Post 414 to raise the necessary $3,000. She had told the Review that she wanted a ceremony to mark the occasion, but

it took a while to schedule working with Forest Park Scout Troup 107, whose members served as color guards.

At last Thursday’s ceremony, Melin-Rogovin said that it was fitting that it ended up happening two days before Veterans Day. Mayor Rory Hoskins, who actively pushed for a second flagpole, acknowledged the long and winding road to get there, but said that he appreciated the civic spirit that made it possible.

The ceremony kicked off with the scouts carrying a folded American flag up to the poll, carefully unfolding it and, with the help of the village staff, raising it. As the flag rose, the Scouts led the attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Hoskins noted that the new flagpole is “a little taller” than the first, specifically so that the American flag could be mounted on it. He said that he was pleased to see it installed.

“There was a lot of input, a lot of emotion,” Hoskins said. “But the community rallied, and Commissioner Melin-Rogovin really stepped up with the GoFundMe campaign.”

Post 414 member Mike Thomspon said

that American Legion members and Forest Park veterans in general were happy to do their part.

“On behalf of the American Legion and the veterans of Forest Park, I would like to thank [Melin-Rogovin] for the great job,” he said.

Melin-Rogovin said that the flagpoles and the fact that the fundraising campaign succeeded reflected well on Forest Park.

“It’s about honoring and making sure we can display flags that honor the sacrifices and diversity and dignity and vibrancy of our community appropriately,” she said. “This project allowed our community to come together creatively with love and respect.”

Hoskins proposed adding a flagpole because he wanted to regularly display more government flags than there’s currently room for, while also having more room for commemorative flags such as the Juneteenth flag and the Pride flag. He said he was concerned that if too many flags are up on the one flagpole, lowering them half-mast would put the lower flags too close to the ground.

The Illinois Flag Code requires that, when

a Forest Parker serving in any branch of the armed forces is killed in action, the village must display the flag of whatever branch they served at half-staff.

The village council voted on whether to spend $3,000 on the flagpole in June. Commissioners Ryan Nero and Maria Maxham balked, saying that the money should be spent on other, more pressing matters. With Commissioner Jessica Voogd absent and Melin-Rogovin and Hoskins voting in favor, the council deadlocked.

Melin-Rogovin at the time told the Review that her constituents gave her the idea to do a fundraiser.

According to the fundraiser page, she donated $1,000 to the campaign. The American Legion and Forest Park Kiwanis donated $600 and $250, respectfully. The campaign got an anonymous $225 donation. Forest Park School District 91 Board of Education members Shannon Wood and Kyra Tyler contributed $25 each. The rest of the donation mostly came from Forest Park residents, business owners and elected officials.

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12

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

Village Council plan vote on new Circle/Harlem TIF at end of November

Old Brown/Harlem TIF to be terminated in December, but its funds will be moved to new TIF beforehand

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The village council is expected to sign off on the new Circle/Harlem Tax Increment Financing District at its final meeting in November.

The village council had hoped to extend the Brown Street Station TIF, also known as Brown/Harlem TIF, in order to help fund projects such as the Harlem Avenue

APERION

Multiple violations from page 1 Medicaid fined it $651,186. The state reports cited failures to prevent patients from fighting, failure to prevent sexual assault, failures to keep patients with cognitive issues safe and failures to properly monitor patients’ health issues.

Representatives from Aperion Care didn’t respond to the request for comment by deadline.

Regulators say their goal isn’t to shut down these facilities, but to try to get any issues fixed as soon as possible. Penalties include losing access to Medicaid funding until they address cited problems.

IDPH spokesperson Mike Claffey said that the department “doesn’t generally comment on the specific cases.” But, generally speaking, the ultimate penalty to a skilled nursing facility like Aperion is losing access to Medicaid and Medicare patients. That would happen if IDPH finds that conditions inside the facility presents an immediate danger and the owners do nothing to correct the issues.

railroad bridge revamp, and to replace the lead pipes in that part of the village.

But because the extensions must be approved by the Illinois General Assembly, the village decided to instead create a similar TIF, let the old TIF expire and “port” the remaining funds from the old TIF into a new TIF. As part of the process, the village council unanimously agreed Monday to change the current Brown/Harlem TIF borders to take out the sections that won’t be in the new Circle/Harlem TIF. It is expected to approve the new tax funding district at the end of the month. Because the two TIFs would exist simultaneously, the village council will be able to move the money from the old TIF to the new TIF – something it expects to do later during the same meeting. The council will then terminate the old TIF in December.

When a TIF district is created, the amount of tax revenue that goes to the taxing bodies is frozen at current levels.

As assessments and levies rise, the surplus money is deposited into a TIF fund.

The idea is that the new development would raise the property values, which would increase property tax revenue in the long run.

The major differences between the two TIFs are that most residential buildings that are part of the current TIF wouldn’t be part of the new TIF, and it would include a larger portion of the Harlem Avenue commercial corridor, reaching all the way down to Madison Street.

Since the Circle/Harlem TIF would be a new district, the frozen levy would be reset from 2000 levels to 2023 levels. Former village administrator Moses Amidei previously estimated that it would more than

double the tax revenue the taxing bodies are currently getting. The redevelopment plan estimates that the equalized assessed value (EAV) of the properties that would fall within the new TIF is over $10.3 million. The plan projects that, after 23 years, when the TIF would expire (unless it’s extended), the EAV within the TIF would go up to anywhere between $17.5 million and $22.5 million.

According to a memo by Ryan LLC’s, Forest Park’s planning consultant, the Joint Review Board, a body made up of representatives of all taxing districts that would be affected by Circle/Harlem TIF, met on Sept.

27. It stated that the representatives in attendance supported the new TIF, but didn’t offer any further details. While the extension of the TIF requires all taxing districts’ support, the creation of a new TIF only requires a simple majority.

“The most serious penalty a home can face is a finding of Immediate Jeopardy – which means that they have placed the health and safety of residents at risk for serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment or death,” Claffey said. “The finding means they have 23 days to present IDPH with an acceptable plan of correction – and if they fail to do that, they are in jeopardy of losing access to Medicare funding.”

Aperion has had its Medicare payments suspended five times in the past three years.

Seven overdoses involving the use of Narcan and CPR were reported at Aperion between July 7 and Sept. 6, according to a recent Forest Park police report. Police Chief Ken Gross said that to the best of his knowledge, none of those overdoses were fatal.

The report also said that an employee didn’t report overdoses to the police, took it upon himself to test the drugs and then flushed the substances down the toilet.

The Review has reported on safety issues and lawsuits at the nursing home both under Aperion and the previous operator, Pavilion. A review of reports showed that in the spring of 2021, Aperion was fined $25,000 for failing to keep patients from injuring each other, and another $25,000 for failing to keep a patient with cognitive issues safe.

The patient reportedly sat on a dresser and fell, which resulted in a head injury that required hospital treatment. Aperion was reportedly aware that the patient was at the high risk of falls, but didn’t put anything in place to reduce the risk.

In the fall of 2021, Aperion was fined another $25,000 after another patient was injured because the staff didn’t properly lower the bed as they were moving the patient into the bed after a dialysis treatment.

In the winter of 2021, Aperion was fined $4,000 after the nursing home staff failed to notify a staff physician that one of their patients’ lab test results came back “abnormal” and the patient ended up hospitalized with acute kidney failure. The nursing home was also flagged for neglecting patients and causing them to develop ulcers.

In the winter of 2022, Apeiron was fined $25,000 for not monitoring a patient’s food for nutritional issues, causing the patient to lose nearly 28% of the body weight within three months and led to difficulty swallowing.

In the fall of 2022, Aperion was fined $2,000 after a patient touched the breasts and genitals of some patients. While the fine was only for failing to prevent a patient from sexually assaulting other patients, the report mentions that he assaulted the staff as well. The

nursing home was fined another $2,000 for not properly treating a patient’s wounds, which led to the patient being hospitalized.

This winter, Aperion was cited for failure to keep patients from attacking and injuring other patients, and for an incident where a staff member was rough with a patient in a shower, allegedly becoming angry because the patient had a “bowel movement.”

The department flagged Aperion for failing to put in safety railings for patients that needed them to safety get out of bed, failing to provided incontinence care for six patients, and plugging a damaged air mattress court into a power outlet, which caused two power outages in the room where two patients were staying. Aperion was fined a total of $32,700.

This comes on top of the seven times Medicaid fined the nursing home during the same period. According to Medicaid records, the facility was fined once in 2020, three times in 2021, twice in 2022 and once in 2023. Aperion was denied Medicaid payments five out of those seven times. The site also indicated that during the most recent inspection on Jan. 10, the nursing home received 17 fire safety and emergency preparedness citations.

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

13

Most Metra ticket fares will decrease in February Among the changes: reduced prices for one-way and monthly tickets, and no more 10-rides

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Most Metra riders within the Growing Community Media’s coverage area will pay less for one-way trips and monthly passes under the new fare structure that will take effect on Feb. 1, 2024.

During its Nov. 10 meeting, Metra Board of Directors unanimously approved a new fare policy that reduces the number of fare zones from 10 to 4. All but one station within the Growing Community Media’s coverage area will fall into Fare Zone 2. Brookfield’s Congress Park station will fall into Fare Zone 3.

Riders traveling from Fare Zone 2 to downtown Chicago will pay $3.75 for one-way tickets and $75 for monthly passes. For example, that represents roughly a 12% decrease for one-way Oak Park riders, and a 25% decrease for monthly ones.

Congress Park riders traveling toward the Loop will pay $5.50 for one-way tickets and $110 for monthly passes.

In other words, they will pay the same for one-way tickets and $10 more for monthlies.

In a major change, the fare for any trips that don’t start or end at any of the downtown terminals will be the same regardless of distance, or $3.75 for one-way trips and $75 for monthly passes. This represents a decrease even for riders who travel short distances. For example, a one-way trip between River Forest and Oak Park now costs $4.

The new fare policy will eliminate $6 unlimited ride day pass that’s good for up to three fare zone and the $10 day pass that’s good system-wide. It will be replaced with a zone-based pass with a value that will increase the farther one travels from the Loop. Riders within Growing Community Media coverage area who use the $6 pass will need to pay $7.50, and riders who use a $10-day pass will need to pay between $7.50 and $13.50 if they are traveling to and/ or from the Loop. They’ll pay $7.50 if they want to travel elsewhere in the system.

Union Pacific West Line

Station Kedzie Oak Park River Forest

Location East Garfield Park Oak Park River Forest

IGOR STUDENKOV

Oak Park Metra station While both of the current day passes can only be purchased on Ventra app, the new Day Pass will be available in physical form, as well.

The $100 Super-Saver monthly pass, which is good system-wide, is going away, too, in favor of zone-based passes.

But the increase will mostly affect collar-county riders traveling to and from the Loop.

But in perhaps the most dramatic change, the 10-Ride tickets, which allow riders to take 10 trips for a price of

Fare Zones One Ways Current Feb. 2024 Current Feb. 2024 10-Rides Five Packs B 2 $4.25 $3.75 $40.50 $35.75 B 2 $4.25 $3.75 $40.50 $35.75 B 2 $4.25 $3.75 $40.50 $35.75

nine, will be going away. It will be replaced by a Ventraonly “Day Pass Five Pack,” which will allow riders to buy five, one-day passes for the price of 9.5 monthly tickets.

Since the price of one-way tickets is decreasing, that still represents a decrease for riders who use 10-rides for round trips in the newly minted Fare Zone 2.

Aaron Maertins, Metra’s director of operations, planning and project management, told the Metra board last Friday that they wanted to move away from tickets that are “trip-limited” and toward those that are “time-limited.” And he noted that when the trains are crowded, it’s easy for conductors to forget to hole-punch paper tickets or swipe digital ones during those trips.

Riders who buy five-packs will be able to share passes within the pack with other riders, similar to how 10-ride ticket holders can use it to pay for their companions’ fares.

Riders who board at stations that either have ticket agents or ticket vending machines now pay a $5 surcharge if they buy a ticket on the train. Maertins said that Metra will be “suspending the surcharge for the time being” to make it easier for riders to adjust to the new fare policies.

He did not specify how long that would be.

14

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

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Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

OPINION

The new flagpole

The impulse is the right one. Create space so that Forest Park can more simply fly more flags over village hall. The American flag, state flag, of course, but also, over the course of a year, to raise a flag to mark Juneteenth, Pride month and other commemorative banners that reflect the village’s increasing commitment to its diversity and welcoming nature.

The second flagpole, a bit taller than the first, was installed about a month back but was put into service just ahead of Veterans Day. Local scouts served as the color guard as the American flag was hoisted. It was a lovely moment.

But let’s acknowledge some oddness and some wonder. Back in June the village council agreed on the virtues of a second flagpole. But its members split 2-2 (with one commissioner absent) on whether to spend village monies to make the purchase.

That left Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin listening to supporters who urged her to launch an online fundraiser to bring in the necessary $3,000. The campaign got off to a good start when Melin-Rogovin contributed the first $1,000. The local American Legion Post also got involved as did a range of other residents who chipped in.

The vets and the scouts and Mayor Rory Hoskins all lauded MelinRogovin at the dedication. And we add our thanks. All told, it feels like an oddly Forest Park way to accomplish a worthy goal. But accomplished nonetheless.

D209’s turn toward normal

We want to note three things out of Proviso District 209 high schools this week. One we reported on last week, the other two are covered this week by our Amaris Rodriguez.

The Illinois State School Report Card for two of the three high schools in the district is almost fantastically dismal. How low can 209 go in academics, in attendance, in truancy? We’d have thought the bottom was reached several years ago. But the recent years of COVID, failed administrative and board leadership made it worse.

So what’s the upside here? Bessie Karvelas, the current acting superintendent, is talking honestly about the grim situation. She told the Review that she could see the dip coming and that there are plans to restore programs and consequences that disappeared under the past leadership.

Telling the truth is essential to making things better. Karvelas and the new board majority are not sugar-coating the depth of the challenges.

That’s a start.

Also good news is the district’s decision to expand its partnership with Triton College to get its students into a dual degree program that will allow a small number of Proviso seniors to graduate with substantial college credits in the bank.

The district has also signed on to a national class action lawsuit charging that social media companies are causing damage to teenagers. Of that we have no doubt. Many other local districts have already joined the suit.

No risk. Reasonable cause. Reflects a district paying attention.

C

15

Loving the village’s economic ecosystem

ollectively here in Forest Park and individually, we are saying “goodbye” to Century & Sleuths Bookstore, an anchor midway on Madison.

The bright side of a goodbye is the closure and reflection we get to experience as we handle the emotions of change.

Augie Aleksy, a gentleman, always able to give a smile and ray of hope, and sincerely a good fellow, has made the decision to exit into retirement. He is not just an ordinary businessman but a real advocate for our local cultural history — a Frank Orland Award winner, a Community Pride Award winner, and just a solid person who has added so much to the well-being of the Madison Ecosystem.

In addition, Exit Strategy, the proud Forest Park brewery, is exiting. They held their garage sale this past weekend, a business with strong ties to Forest Park. A model of ingenuity, coupled with great beer (with clever names), private mugs and a community space for those who appreciate the attention to detail and cleanliness, mixed with the spirit of humanity.

While the city of big shoulders is to our east, our small town is the village of big wills, and we hope another fiercely independent shop owner takes the reins of these spaces, and that these businesses, which gave so much extra to our town, will not be forgotten. They made our community a better place to call home.

There were record-setting crowds at the Wine Walk two weeks ago, a Madison Street full of people. With wine glasses hanging from necklace straps, trays to hold wine glasses, and even groups of people wearing matching T-shirts, the street was alive with bright energy. Merchants even welcomed the Arts Alliance, which added individual booths of artisans to share their glass works, tote bags, yarn spinning, pottery and paint-

ings, all adding to the energy of the day.

A fun splash of yarn and textiles adorned Constitution Court in the first Forest Park Fiber Flash. The handiwork of many warmed that space with beauty and creativity. Such small acts create rays of joy that bind our community narrative, just in time for the holiday season.

It is such a privilege to live in Forest Park and I sincerely appreciate all the good acts taking place every day, by groups, individuals and businesses. I am thankful that this village has made a space for me and my family to be involved in the whole community, which cares deeply about one another. I’m excited about the next chapter that unfolds in town as new businesses join the mix.

Next up is the live holiday window display, a special night distinctly Forest Park on Friday, Dec. 1. As you visit and gather around the cozy windows, renewing bonds with community friends, and managing expectations of the holiday season, it will be hard not to feel good about your hometown.

The Forest Park Review will be in one of the windows of Grand Appliance and we are planning a special treat for you. Stop by with your festive “hellos” as you celebrate another year of Forest Park success — and maybe even play a round of rock-paper-scissors, if you’re feeling up to it.

The Review looks forward to this night every December and always feel renewed afterward. As a special add-on, we are hosting a meet-and-greet in the Austin Room of the Forest Park Public Library on Thursday, Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. and we would love to introduce you to our new editor, Erika Hobbs, hear your unique perspectives, and gather your expectations for our newsroom, as we strive to contribute to our small-town charm.

JILL WAGNER

16

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

I

Fake or real? That was the question

just lost the final battle of a struggle that began 43 years ago. It’s about how we decorate for Christmas.

For me, Christmas meant a fresh-cut pine, decorated with large bulbs, tinsel and frosted gingerbread men. My wife had a different vision of a Christmas tree: tiny lights, garland and no gingerbread men.

But regardless of how it was decorated, the tree had to be real.

We started out buying Christmas trees from the lot that springs up each December next to Portillo’s.

I admire this crew living in a trailer for weeks until their last tree is sold.

We have also visited tree farms to cut down our own. Frostbite sets in as we trudge through the snow looking for the perfect tree. It has to have a straight trunk, no bare spots and a pointy top for placing the star.

Once we saved money by cutting down a tree in my brother-in-law’s backyard. I was careful to avoid this activity, which involved my daughter lying in the snow and sawing away at the trunk.

After that, we bought trees from big-box stores. I didn’t care where we bought the tree, or how we decorated it. I was just happy to breathe that pure aroma of pine. I also

saw the tree as a huge humidifier. I may not know how to keep a house plant alive but I’m good at keeping a dead tree hydrated.

After we brought a tree home, my wife expertly hung the tiny lights, garland and sentimental ornaments. After the star was finally stuck on top, we celebrated with a cocoa party: candles, Christmas music and Frango mint hot chocolate.

This peaceful scene has been disturbed in recent years by rumblings about buying an artificial tree. It would save us money and be much less work. It would be fully lighted and decorated and we could use it year after year.

This sounded practical but I stubbornly refused to consider a fake tree. Last year, our Christmas struggle finally reached a climax. When we couldn’t agree on fake, or real, we spent the first Christmas of our lives without a tree. This year, my wife forged ahead and bought a fake tree at a big-box store for $50.

If I had only done my homework, I could have prevented this purchase. According to The National Wildlife Foundation, real trees are better for the environment.

That’s because the tree farms grow

JOHN RICE

A

A

L O O K

B A C K

I N

between 350-500 million trees but only harvest 30 million. The remaining trees create a forest habitat for wildlife. Plus, buying trees from neighborhood lots supports our local economy.

Meanwhile, 90% of the soulless sterile fake trees are manufactured in China.

They are made from metal and plastic and cannot be recycled. Real Christmas trees are easy to recycle. We simply place them on the parkway and Public Works picks them up and uses their wood chipper to turn them into mulch.

Real trees do have some drawbacks, though. They aren’t as sturdy as fake trees. It’s disheartening to wake up and find the Christmas tree on the floor. The lights and ornaments are in disarray and there is water everywhere. Real trees are also fire hazards and many rental properties don’t permit them.

But they are part of a hallowed tradition that dates back to 1419 in Germany.

They give us a chance to express our primitive instincts. What could be more medieval than placing a dead tree in our living rooms?

And what could be more savage than snatching a gingerbread man from a branch anytime we’re hungry for a snack?

Guess I have to get used to being “civilized.”

T I M E

Crying fowl over raffling gobblers

t the regular monthly meeting of the Forest Park Business Men’s Association in November 1916, certain grocery and market men protested the custom of raffling poultry in saloons and pool rooms around Thanksgiving. As many turkeys were “disposed of in this way,” it interfered with the trade of the meat markets in town. The Business Men agreed to take the matter before the mayor and council to “instruct the police department to prohibit such raffling in any of the business houses hereafter.” The village council, which met the next evening, did vote “prohibiting the raffling of turkey and other fowls.”

Jill Wagner

Image: Harlem Meat Market, circa 1900, located at 22 Madison (today 7218 Madison St.). Notice the wood sidewalk, dirt roads and the poultry on display.

www.forestparkreview.com/2020/11/25/harlem-meat-market-to-fat-duck/

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

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18 Forest Park Review, November 15, 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 HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

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PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER FOREST PARK, IL

The Forest Park Police Department is seeking Part-Time Parking Enforcement Officer(s); Shifts to be filled are 8:00pm – Midnight or Midnight – 6:00am. The position is a rotating schedule assigned by the Supervisor – 4 days on and 4 days off which includes weekends and some holidays. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check.

Qualifications include high school diploma (or equivalent), a valid driver’s license, knowledge of basic parking regulations, and good verbal and written skills.

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

Assistant Regional Technical Director @ BDO USA, P.C. (FKA BDO USA, LLP) Chicago, IL. F/T. In chrge of audit qlty & risk mngmnt mattrs for prctcs wthn the appointd rgion. Bchlr’s or frgn eqvl in Accn, Bus Admin or rltd & 5 yrs of exp in job offrd, Audtor or rltd. In lieu of Bchlr, ER will accpt 2 yrs of acad stdies & 2 yrs of rltd exp. Mst hv exp in ea: Rslvng cmplx accnt issues; GAAP; GAAS; SEC rules & regs; PCAOB rules & regs; Pblic accn; Microsoft office prod, incl Windows, Word, Excel & Powerpoint; Using vrs assrnc appls & rsrch tools. Must have CPA OR sffcnt educ/exp reqts (as determined by state Board of Accntncy) to rec CPA w/in 24 months of hire or promo.

Mail resume to: T. Brown, HR, BDO USA, P.C.; 615 South College St, Suite 1200, Charlotte, NC 28202.

Job title & code “RB-IL” in cv ltr. EOE.

R E N TA L S

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

PART-TIME CIVILIAN CALL TAKER FOREST PARK, IL

The Forest Park Police Department, seeks a Part-Time Civilian Information Management Call Taker. Eligible candidates will be required to pass an aptitude test and an extensive background check. Qualifications include high school diploma (or equivalent), good verbal and written skills, working knowledge of the computer and Windows, ability to type accurately, a good working knowledge of the English language, the ability to treat customers and co-workers in a polite manner and the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Data entry skills and experience answering telephones/operating a switchboard are preferred.

EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS ARE MANDATORY. Open until filled. $18.25/hour. Applications are available at Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Ave. 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

MARKETPLACE OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com

WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS:

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

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

HOUSING PRGRAMS COORDINATOR

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Housing Programs Coordinator in the Neighborhood Services Department. This position is responsible for coordinating and participating in the more complex and difficult work of staff assigned to the Village’s single-family and multi-family rehabilitation, multi-family housing incentives programs, and lead programs; serves as a liaison between financial institutions, property owners, tenants and contractors; and performs a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility. This position also supervises the community development/property maintenance inspector assigned to the rehabilitation program at the direction of the Neighborhood Programs Manager.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website https:// www.oak-park.us/your-government/ human-resources-department. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

HOME SERVICES

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

FLOORS

FIREWOOD

KLIS FLOORING INC.

FIREWOOD

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

UNLIMITED

Fast Delivery MIXED HARDWOODS CBH & MIX 100% OAK CHERRY OR HICKORY 100% BIRCH

PAINTING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair

Low Cost •708.749.0011

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

Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available

847-888-9999 Order online:

www. suregreen landscape.com

Credit Cards Accepted

TOOLS WANTED:

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 NO TEXTS

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice:

Your right to know...In print • Online Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com • RBLandmark.com • ForestParkReview.com • AustinWeeklyNews.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023 19

CLASSIFIED BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG PUBLIC NOTICES Growing Community Media a non-profit newsroom

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, COUNTY DEPARTMENT, PROBATE DIVISION

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

ESTATE OF RITA QUILLE, DECEASED. NO. 2023 P 007191

Local

News

Notice is given to creditors of the death of the above named decedent. Letters of office were issued to BRIAN QUILLE, 1957 W RACE, CHICAGO, IL 60622, as Independent Executor. The estate will be administered without court supervision, unless under section 5/28-4 of the Probate Act (Ill. Compiled Stat. 1992, Ch. 755, par. 5/28-4) any interested person terminates independent administration at any time by mailing or delivering a petition to terminate to the clerk. Claims against the estate may be filed in the office of the clerk in Room 1202, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL, or with the representative, or both, on or before April 9, 2024, or, if mailing or delivery of a notice from the representative is required by section 5/18-3 of the Probate Act, the date stated in that notice. Any claim not filed on or before that date is barred.

Copies of a claim filed with the clerk must be mailed or delivered by the claimant to the representative within 10 days after it has been filed. E-filing is now mandatory for documents in civil cases with limited exemptions.

We’ve got YOU covered.

To e-file, you must first create an account with an e-filing service provider.

Visit Http://efile.illinoiscourts.gov/service-providers.htm to learn more and to select a service provider. If you need additional help or have trouble e-filing, visit http://www.illnoscourts.gov/FAQ/ gethelp.asp.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 1, 8, 15, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): SHEKI D. WELCH, an individual and DOES 1 to 25 YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): EB HALEM, LLC d/b/a DRIVE LA, a California Liability Corporation

Donate today at

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación.

Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

CASE NUMBER: (Número del Caso): 23VECV00177 The name ad address of the court is: (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles, Northwest District Van Nuys Courthouse 6230 Sylmar Avenue, Van Nuys, CA 91401 The name, address and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney or plaintiff without an attorney is:

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

(El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telfono del abogado el demandante, o demandante que no tiene abogado, es):

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE/PUBLIC NOTICE

Keith M. Davidson, Esq. (SBN212216) Tel: (323)658-5444 KMD Law 2629 Townsgate Road, Suite 205 Westlake Village, CA 91361 Date (Fecha): 3/20/2023 Clerk (Secretario): David W. Slayton, Executive Officer/ Clerk of Court

By Deputy (Adjunto): A. Salcdeo Published in Forest Park Review November 1, 8, 15, 22, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY Request of BILLY MICHAEL SMITH Case Number 2023 CONC001645 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: BILLLY MICHAEL SMITH to the new name of: CASEY WILLIAM STEWART III The court date will be held: On January 25, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom.

Zoom Meeting ID: 91404109299 Passcode: 407193 Published in Wednesday Journal November 15, 22, 29, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of MARIA CONCEPCION MUNOZ, Petitioner and AGUSTIN CHINO PEREZ, Respondent, Case No. 2023D003396.

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before December 18, 2023, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 15, 22, 29, 2023

Hephzibah Children’s Association is soliciting bids from a Window Replacement Company to remove and replace 74 windows at the residential home located in the Village of Oak Park, Illinois.

A Complete Bid Packet can be obtained by contacting Nancy Dorfman Schwartz at: nschwartz@hephzibahhome.org.

Pre-bid site inspection is mandatory and will be scheduled by appointment only. Please contact Nancy Schwartz at (708) 649-7081.

Bid Deadline is 10 am on 12/15/2023 This is a Federally Funded (Community Development Block Grant) Project and is subject to all applicable Federal rules, regulations, and guidelines, including but not limited to payment of Prevailing Wage.

MBE and WBE contractors are encouraged to bid on this project.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 15, 2023

PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE TO BIDDERS Processed USDA Commodities and Commercial Food Products The Northern Illinois Independent Purchasing Cooperative (NIIPC) will be receiving Offers on its Request For Proposals for: Direct to Manufacturer Processed USDA Commodities and Commercial Food Products. RFP’s must be received by Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 9:00 AM, in the Business Office, Room 270A, of The Oak Park and River Forest High School, 201 North Scoville Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. RFP documents may be obtained by contacting Micheline Piekarski at niipcinfo@ gmail.com or (708) 434-3142. RFP’s should be placed in a sealed envelope marked: Processed USDA Commodities or Commercial Food Products ATTENTION: Micheline Piekarski, Food Service Director.

Published in Wednesday Journal November 15, 2023

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

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

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF HENRYK KWEC, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE ESTATE OF HENRYK KWEC, DECEASED, UNKNOWN CLAIMANTS AND LIENHOLDERS AGAINST THE UNKNOWN HEIRS AND DEVISEES OF HENRYK KWEC, DECEASED, EWA GEBICKA, 640-44 LAKE STREET CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, DAMON RITENHOUSE, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF HENRYK KWEC, DECEASED Defendants 22 CH 11586 644 LAKE ST., APT. 1C 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 20, 2023, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on December 21, 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: PARCEL 1: UNIT 1, ‘’C’’ IN THE 64044 LAKE STREET CONDOMINIUM AS DELINEATED ON A SURVEY OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED REAL ESTATE: LOT 11 IN C B SCOVILLE’S SUBDIVISION OF LOT 22, IN J W SCOVILLE’S SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST ¬Ω OF THE NORTHEAST 1/4 OF SECTION 7, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 13 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN WHICH SURVEY IS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT ‘’A’’ TO THE DECLARATION OF CONDOMINIUM RECORDED AS DOCUMENT 25033782 TOGETHER WITH ITS UNDIVIDED PERCENTAGE INTEREST IN THE COMMON ELEMENTS IN COOK COUNTY ILLINOIS. PARCEL 2: THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF PARKING SPACE NO. 5 A LIMITED COMMON ELEMENT AS DELINEATED ON THE SURVEY ATTACHED TO THE DECLARATION RECORDED AS DOCUMENT 25033782 IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Commonly known as 644 LAKE ST., APT. 1C, OAK PARK, IL 60301 Property Index No. 16-07-219-0281001 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

The judgment amount was $91,216.20.

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 1660117.

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. 1660117 Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 22 CH 11586 TJSC#: 43-3730 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 # 22 CH 11586 I3232820

20

Forest Park Review, November 15, 2023

189 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 386-1400

CT A R T N ER CO Oak Park

UND

Cicero $229,900 2 BR 1 BA Call Maria

UND

$389,000 3 BR 1.5 BA Call Kris

Cicero $499,900 Multi-Unit Call Erika

Erika Villegas,

Managing Broker/Owner

Kyra Pych

Mike Becker

CT A R T N ER CO Oak Park

UND

CT A R T N ER CO Forest Park

T C A R T R CONNorth Riverside

UNDE

$699,000 4 BR 3.5 BA Call Jane

HomesInTheVillage.com

Laurie Christofano

Maria Rodriguez

Linda Rooney

$514,800 Multi-Unit Call Kyra

$369,900 3 BR 2.5 BA Call Keri

Oak Park $725,000 4 BR 3.5 BA Call Leslee

Berwyn $450,000 4 BR 2.5 BA Call Laurie

Forest Park $420,000 4 BR 2 BA Call Mike

Marion Digre

Morgan Digre

Kris Sagan

Leticia Cruz

Patti Sprafka-Wagner

Jane McClelland

Harry Walsh