Forest Park Review 122023

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2‘nonconforming’ houses get retroactive approval Village mulls changing zoning code to avoid future problems

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Forest Park Village Council voted to retroactively approve two homes which, as the village acknowledged, was approved by mistake.

Both houses were built on lots that were zoned R-1.

Under the current zoning code, they must at least 50 feet wide, but the lots at 7713 Wilcox St. and 838 Circle Ave. are 25 feet wide. Neither property owner should have been able to build anything on them without getting a zoning variance. By the time the issue was flagged, they were already part-way through construction.

In response, the village changed the review process to require a third party to review residential building permits – something that was previously only required for

Feliz natty dog See readers’ decked out furbabies on page 17

See HOUSES on page 7

IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 THIS ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

John Rice: A Rear Window holiday PAGE 21

Kamau Jones: The importance of being Santa PAGE 20

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

H O L I D AY S A R E A T I M E TO C O M E TO G E T H E R.

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Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

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D209 moves forward with superintendent search ‘The sooner we can start this the better we are before people are snatched up by other districts,’ the hiring consultant says

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The board of education has taken the initial steps to find a replacement for James L. Henderson, who resigned from the position in August.

Members plan to begin candidate interviews around the first week and second week of March.

Connie Collins, a senior associate at Hazard Young Attea Associates, the consulting experts who are helping the district search for a new superintendent, said the superintendent position has already had interest expressed by potential candidates.

“The sooner we can start this the better we are before people are snatched up by other districts,” Collins said. “We really want to get started with this, so we have a really great selection of candidates.”

Her comments came during the early December board of education meeting at Proviso Math and Science Academy on Roosevelt Road, where her group presented plans for the superintendent search. The agency has worked in more than 42 states and served more than 1,600 clients, including Forest Park School District 91 — a feeder district for Proviso, — Oak Park and River Forest School District 200, and Oak Park Elementary District 97.

However, a series of decisions must be made before interviews can begin.

HYA walked the board through what the hiring process will entail, including selecting a liaison between the board and the consulting agency, as well as a district staff contact person. Board members also should be interviewed before the holidays to keep on schedule, the consultants said.

Among the critical decisions: The board will need to determine whether the search will be confidential or open.

According to Collins, senior associate at HYA, the board would see a greater number of applicants if the search were confidential, saying many applicants prefer to refrain from publicizing their names through at least the early parts of the hiring process.

Board member Rodney Alexander asked what the hiring process would look like if the board decided to go the confidentiality route. Collins said there are options, including remaining confidential until the search is narrowed to two or three candidates. Collins said HYA will provide the board with such options.

HYA also asked the board to identify community members whom they should interview individually or as part of focus groups.

Frank Henderson, associate at HYA, said the agency is determined to find the right

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for the Proviso community.

To do that, Henderson said they hope to have the input of as many people in the district as possible to determine what the right person looks like and what characteristics they should have.

One way is through focus groups.

“We need everybody to be a part of this process and give their feedback regarding what you are looking for in the next superintendent, we really want to emphasize that for whoever the district contact person is and the liaison, that that information gets out there,” Collins said.

Board president Amanda Grant said that forming focus groups sooner rather than later was in the best interest of the district, adding she hoped they could begin with focus groups following the district’s return from winter break. The district and HYA agreed to aim for the middle to the end of January.

Along with focus groups, HYA will be conducting online surveys that will be available when the focus groups begin. The surveys are expected to last between 10 to 15 minutes, and can have three customized questions about D209.

The surveys will be available in both English and Spanish, with a possibility of also having expanded to other languages as well. Grant said it would be helpful to in-

clude the top three or four languages.

“If we can cast as wide of a net as possible, especially when it is something so accessible as an online survey,” said Grant.

As for candidates, Henderson said the agency would ensure all applicants provide a full resume, references, and a cover letter addressing why they want to come to Proviso.

“We feel that is very critical,” Henderson said. “Hopefully they have done their homework and know why Proviso is a great place to work and a great place to be a leader.”

HYA will be waiting for the board to determine the exact language they want to use to publicize the position opening on the HYA website. The position opening will also be published on the district’s website, and the job opening would be promoted online, which HYA said should cost the district about $2,000.

The board still needs to decide a range for total compensation, including salary, vehicle allowance, health insurance, housing allowance, and others.

“That is not something you have to decide tonight of course,” Henderson said.

“But as a board, come together and think about what would be an appropriate range so that it will help us and guide us when we begin to talk to potential candidates.”

We’re taking a break

By ERIKA HOBBS Editor

What better way to spend the holidays than with friends and family? We think so, too.

So this year, to thank our reporters, editors and staff, we’re taking a week off. We will not be publishing a print edition on Wednesday Dec. 27. Our offices also will be closed

from Monday Dec. 25 through Monday Jan.1. We’ll return Tuesday Jan. 2. Most of us will not be answering phones or email.

However, we know news never stops.

If there is an emergency or breaking news, please email me, Erika Hobbs, at erika@growingcommunitymedia.org.

Happy holidays from all of us at Growing Community Media!

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Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

December 20-27

BIG WEEK

Home For The Holidays with the Chicago Cellar Boys Saturday, Dec. 23, 8 p.m., Robert’s Westside The Chicago Cellar Boys Trio will be performing classic holiday tunes. This is a free event, under 21 welcome with parent/guardian. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park.

Betsy Ross Classroom Holiday Parties!

Thursday, Dec. 21. 1:45 – 2:30 p.m., Betsy Ross Primary Elementary School If your child attends Betsy Ross, make sure they do not miss out on this fun holiday party. 1315 Marengo Ave., Forest Park.

Last Minute DIY Gifts Thursday, Dec. 21, 4 - 6 p.m., Forest Park Public Library Need a last-minute gift for the holidays? Whether it’s for someone special or you’re treating yourself, stop by the Forest Park Public Library for fun stocking stuffer crafts. This event is intended for young adults.

7555 Jackson Blvd,. Forest Park.

After-Hours Family Cosmic Bowl and Mini-Golf Friday, Dec. 22, 6 - 8 p.m., Forest Park Public Library Get your glow on at the library. At this family event, you can play mini-golf, bowl, and eat pizza. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Listing your event

Escape! Mission #07

Forest Park Review welcomes notices about events that Forest Park 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

Thursday, Dec. 28, 3 - 4 p.m., Forest Park Public Library It’s an escape room ... in a box. The secret organization, Eagle, has been infiltrated. As agents, it’s up to you to identify the mole and bring them to justice. Be advised that this event is limited to 6 people; visit the website for more information about sign-up. If you happen to miss out, no worries because the library will play “Mission #07” again on Jan. 4. 7555 Jackson Blvd., Forest Park.

Reilly Downes Wednesday, Dec. 27, 6:30 p.m., Robert’s Westside Country music on Madison with Reilly Downes. Free with RSVP or $10 day of show. 7321 Madison St., Forest Park.

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

A Christmas miracle. It’s a tie!

Two homes stole the show this year

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

In what the Park District of Forest Park described as a “quite literally a photo finish,” the annual holiday home decorating contest ended in a tie for a first time in its 19-year history.

Normally, the park district staff picks the overall winner, and the home that got the most votes on its Facebook page is declared

“People’s Choice.” But, this time around, the house at 1035 Elgin Ave. and the house at 1540 Elgin Ave. both got 160 votes. As the park district announced on the Facebook page, it was clear that the “people have spoken” and both houses were declared winners of the overall prize and the People’s Choice award.

The house at 1035 Elgin Ave. features an elaborate light-up display with a snowman, Stata’s sleigh and Christmas tees next to the house with a nativity scene in the front.

The house at 1540 Elgin Ave. features litup snowmen, a Santa, a polar bear, a penguin and even a lit-up image of Buddy, the protagonists of 2003 Will Ferrel Christ-

mas comedy “Elf.” The prize? Gift baskets.

In the announcement, the park district celebrated all contestants.

“Thank you to all of our homes who entered,” officials wrote. “Each display helped provide a little extra light to this holiday season!”

Commissioner Michelle Melin-Rogovin left her congratulations on Facebook.

“Well done!” she wrote. “So many beautiful homes this year it was definitely hard to choose!”

For the complete list of all contestants, see https://bit.ly/2023HolidayDecorMap

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Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

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Avoiding mistakes from page 1 commercial properties. And it decided to allow the two property owners to apply for the zoning variances retroactively. The applications cleared the planning and zoning commission Nov. 20.

Commissioner Jessica Voogd said that while she felt that approving the Wilcox property was necessary, given the circumstances, she was leery of approving the Circle Avenue variances. While the former is hemmed in by homes on both sides, the latter is located next to the vacant lot at 836 Circle Ave, which is owned by the same person – so, theoretically, he could’ve built a house on a 50-foot lot without any issues.

Voogd decided to abstain from the Circle Avenue vote.

According to the memo by director of health and safety Steve Glinke, the issue stems from a decision made sometime in 2010 to change the zoning requirements for R-1 residential zoning areas, which re- 7713 Wilcox St. sulted in the current limits. While the buildings that are already there are grandfathered in, any new houses must follow the current regulations.

Glinke wrote that as part of the longdiscussed top-to-bottom village zoning code rewrite, he would recommend reducing the minimum lot width down to 25 feet. He noted that homes built on 25-foot-wide lot have been increasing in value over the past 15 years, and that such lots “remain a dominant housing feature in Forest Park and in many ways define single-family housing in Forest Park.”

According to the Cook County records, the Wilcox home ended up in foreclosure after its previous owner, Kenneth Wick, died. It ended up in the Cook County Treasurer’s scavenger tax sale. Gheorghe “George” Rosca, of northwest suburban Niles, bought it in late April.

The Circle Avenue property has been vacant since the house burned down in 2005.

Patrick Buckley, of Deerfield Beach, Fl., purchased the 836-8 Circle Avenue lots in 2023.

In their applications, Rosca and Buckley both argued that the single-family homes they are building wouldn’t be out of character with the neighboring houses. If the variances weren’t retroactively granted, the houses would’ve had to be torn down – which, they argued, would only hurt Forest Park.

Voogd, who attended the Nov. 20 planning and zoning meeting, said that while she agreed that it would be in the best interest of the village to approve both homes, she was worried that issues like that might come up in the future.

“I do hope that, going forward, we’ll make a better effort to provide consistent oversight,” she said. “We need to be clear and fair in our enforcement, not just in building codes but all of our ordinances.”

Voogd added that the she hoped that the update to the zoning code would include examining how the village handles applications and fixing any issues that may be discovered.

Commissioner Maria Maxham, who also attended the meeting, said that IGOR STUDENKOV she was satisfied that the steps the buildings department already took to increase oversight were enough to avoid similar mistakes.

“It sounds to me, like it isn’t just hope that it’s going to change, but that changes are going to be put in place, and I believe, and not just hope, that mistakes like this won’t happen again,” she said. “The best thing to do is approve it retroactively and more forward and do better.”

Ryan Nero, who, as the commissioner of public health and safety has oversight over Glinke’s department, was more forceful, noting that the changes were announced at the Nov. 20 meeting.

“Controls were put in place, publicly communicated, those controls, and we want to drag department into the street and throw rocks at them! It’s wrong! It’s wrong!” he said, adding, “to err is human. Taking ownership of that – that’s leadership.”

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Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

Pandemic reshaped how patrons use the library, director says

Patrons show more interest in activities and volunteering

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

In many ways, 2023 was a year Forest Park Public Library returned to “normal” — or at least the new normal.

During the December meeting of the Forest Park Library Board, Vicki Rakowski, who became the library’s executive director in January, gave her end-of-theyear round-up.

She said that the library usage bounced back to pre-pandemic usage — but the way patrons use the library has changed.

“We feel like we’ve seen the return to prepandemic conditions, but even still, people are different,” Rakowski said. “I think we have finally reached our new normal, and we’re adopting to that.”

When asked to elaborate in a follow-up

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interview, she said that it wasn’t anything based on concrete metrics — just something she and her staff felt based on the interactions with patrons.

“People are different now,” she said. “A lot of us picked up habits during the pandemic and were more introverted.”

The library went through major renovations from 2019 to 2020 and some smaller renovations in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted library programs and kept patrons out of the building for months, and it took years for the numbers to recover. Alice Hammond, head of the library’s community engagement, has in the past told the Review that even in 2022, many patrons were still rediscovering the library and “starting just now to use the [renovated] spaces as intended.”

As 2023 got underway, the renovations were behind the library and the number of patrons checking out materials, using the library services and taking part in the library programs continued to recover. Rakowski said that the pandemic did change some things. There is more interest in group activities and oppor-

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tunities for people to gather — something that is at least partially backed by patron statistics.

In her presentation, Rakowski added that children had their development disrupted by the fallout from the pandemic, such as schools going remote.

This is the reality the library operates in now.

“People really seem to be craving connections with each other in ways that seem... more obvious and more clear,” Rakowski said. “So, things that staff tried to do is FILE provide opportunities Group activities have picked up interest at the library. for people, so that they can chat and [interact], and that goes for On the adult services end, the library has all ages. We know that’s a need we can meet been expanding programs for seniors, which for all people.”

The report does show that the demand for Rakowski said, some of the participants deprograms has increased across the board. scribed as a “lifeline.”

“We have a robust following for our Social Rakowski said that the children’s section play space “[has] become a destination lo- Circle, Tai Chi, and Yoga classes,” she said.”

These programs have provided community cation for local families and caregivers of members with the opportunity to create and young children.”

“The staff has watched it become a lively sustain rewarding relationships with each connection point for our caregivers and other, as well as another way to stay active their kids at a time when that social inter- and create well-being.”

All this comes as the number of materials action and connection is really craved,” patrons check out — whether they’re physishe said.

To further shore up the children’s program- cal or digital, increased by 7%. Some of the ming, the library has been building partner- less traditional materials are also doing well ships with Forest Park businesses that work — Rakowski said that children’s services with children, such as Let’s Play Work, a For- learning play kits has been “a major star est Park indoor playground, Creating Aquat- with our youngest patrons.

She said that the campaign to get patrons ic Safety Teams Water Safety Foundation, to either sign up for library cards or renew and Tooth Buds pediatric dentistry.

“Let’s Play Work has been a great partner their expiring library cards has been the most successful since before the renovafor us,” Rakowski said.

The Young Adult department has seen tions, with around 150 patrons signing up enough interest to justify the revival of the or renewing.

Overall, Rakowski told the Review, that afteen volunteer program, and the teen advisory council is back up and running. The ter a “double-whammy” of the renovations library has been working with the Park Dis- and the pandemic, she and the staff were trict of Forest Park to offer cooking classes happy to see more and more patrons using the library. for teens.

“People are just happy to be together “The Park District was really open-minded, and we had seen some good stuff come again,” she said. “We see a lot of new friendships form, and it’s a joy for us, too. “ out of it,” Rakowski said.

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

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Forest Park approves tax increase for village, library

Reimbursements for refunds got the taxing bodies more than they levied last year

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

The village approved a higher tax levy for the 2023 tax year – though that number won’t necessarily reflect how much will actually be levied.

Unlike last year, when there were some rumblings about how tax increase would affect residents, the Dec. 18 vote was straightforward. No one spoke during the legally required tax levy hearing, and the commissioners approved it unanimously and without comment.

The village has increased the tax levy to 6.5%. But the number is misleading. The Harlem/Brown Tax Increment Financing District was officially terminated during

the same meeting, which will create a onetime spike in tax revenue as the amount of money the taxing bodies get, which was frozen since 2000, returns to 2023 levels.

Without increasing the levy, the village and the library wouldn’t be able to capture that extra revenue. But since the amount the property owners actually pay wasn’t affected by the TIF, the increase in revenue won’t be nearly as drastic, if it happens at all.

As a non-Home Rule municipality, Forest Park is subject to the Property Tax Limitation Law, which caps the overall tax levy increase at 5% or the change in the Consumer Price Index, whichever is smaller. The village also levies property taxes on behalf of the Forest Park Library, and the library’s levy is also subject to PTELL. The caps for the two entities will be calculated separately.

The Office of Cook County Clerk, which has the final say over the actual levy, establishes a “limiting rate” for all of the taxing bodies using a formula that takes into account the CPI for the prior year and

the Equalized Assessed Value, which is in turn based on the actual value of the property and the State Equalization Factor, which is meant to bring some parity to the way properties are assessed throughout the state. The limiting rate is expected to be calculated by later summer 2024, and Forest Park finance director Leticia Olmsted indicated in the past that she expects it to be reduced compared with the 2022 tax year.

To further complicate matters, under the state law passed in 2021, the amount of money taxing bodies lost when they had to issue refunds get added on to the next year’s tax levy extension. In other words, the village and the library would be able to collect the amount of money they had to refund, and those amounts don’t fall under PTELL caps.

In a Dec. 15 memo to the village council, Olmsted laid out what the village levied for the 2022 tax year and what it actually ended up getting. It notes that while the county reduced the levy for the 2022 tax year, it was balanced out by what the

village and the library got thanks to the refunds. The village ended up getting a little more than $100,000 more than it originally levied, and the library got a little more than $20,000 more.

Olmsted’s memo noted that the portion of the levy that doesn’t go toward police and fire pension funds will decrease compared to what was levied for 2022. The portion that covers most village expenses would decrease by $176,163, and the portion that goes toward Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and Social Security will decrease by a total of $109,000.

Olmsted has indicated that this increase is still below what the village actuary recommends, but supplemental payments the village makes every two weeks as part of its regular billing cycle, as well as funds from the Personal Property Replacement Tax, which the State of Illinois collections on municipalities’ behalf, could be used to bring the funding closer to 90%.

Under state law, municipalities are required to fund at least 90% of their pension obligations by 2040.

Let us help you get ready for your holiday entertaining!

Custom Stair Runners, Rugs, Carpet, Hardwood, LVP & LVT Located in the North Ave Business District

7040 West North Avenue 773.889.7500

Since 1906 Chicagoland’s Oldest Floor Covering Store Hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am – 5:30 pm • Friday-Saturday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

10

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

Mohr salutes seniors with New Year’s Eve party

The event will cap off with ‘midnight’ toasts at 3 p.m.

By IGOR STUDENKOV Staff Reporter

Mohr’s Community Center invites seniors from the Forest Park area to come to its Senior New Year’s Eve party next week.

The party will take place at the center on Friday Dec. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Officials promise an elegant meal served by the center’s “spectacular staff.” The event will also feature raffles, prices and dances.

At “midnight” – that is, 3 p.m. – guests are invited to toast to the new year.

Anyone wishing to attend must make a reservation ahead of time by calling the center

Ken Trainor’s “Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community”…

A wonderful holiday gift for your grown children!

Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community is for anyone who lives in Oak Park, formerly lived in Oak Park, is about to move to Oak Park, is curious about Oak Park, or might live in Oak Park in the future. In other words, pretty much everyone. You can find it at Book Table, the OPRF History Museum, the Hemingway Birthplace Home, and, if you must, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Great Holiday gift for the “Oak Park fan” in your life!

at 708-771-7737. The tickets cost $60 for Forest Parkers and $63 for non-Forest Parkers.

Forest Park seniors will be able to take advantage of a Dial-a-Ride service that the Pace suburban bus company is operating under contract with the village. The ride must be ordered ahead of time by calling the Community Center at least one day in advance, and the bus will pick up and drop off seniors door-to-door. The cost for the ride is $2. The regular Pace bus route 318, which serves portions of Desplaines Avenue, Madison Street and Harlem Avenue, stops across Jackson Boulevard from the center.

Mohr Community Center offers a number of programs for senior citizens. They include exercise programs, noon Bingo and free monthly movie screenings. The center organizes regular shopping trips to area grocery stores using the Dial-a-Ride buses. It also organizes day trips to destinations throughout the Chicago area.

O B I T U A R Y

Donald Stetler, 72

Marine Corps vet, lifelong Cubs fan Donald Richard Stetler, 72, of Bull Shoals, Arkansas died on Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, in Mountain Home. Born March 13, 1951, in Evergreen Park, Illinois to Frank and Virginia (Blommaert) Stetler, he was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a longtime resident in the Forest Park area. He was also a lifetime Chicago Cubs fan and enjoyed sports and fishing.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kenneth Stetler; and three sisters, Barb Tassos, Patricia Garrett and Mary Armbrust. He is survived by his wife, Susan Stetler; two brothers, Frank (Mary) Stetler and Gary (Mary) Stetler; a sister, Virginia Wozniak; a sister-in-law, Linda Gale; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services are private under the direction of Conner Family Funeral Home & Cremation Center. The online guestbook and obituary are available at www.connerfamilyfuneralhome.com.

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

December 20, 2023 11

Christmas 2023

Special Advertising Section

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

12 December 20, 2023

St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Oak Park, invites you to join us for Holiday Worship Services.

2023 holiday services at

Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation

12/21 Blue Christmas, 7 pm 12/24 Christmas Eve Rite II Kid Friendly Service, 4 pm Midnight Mass, 10:30 pm 12/25 Christmas Day

Winter Solstice Celebration Thursday, December 21

Spoken Rite II Service, 10 am St. Christopher's Church, 545 S. East Ave., Oak Park. www.stchristophersoakpark.org

7pm In-Person Only

WORSHIP WITH

Christmas Eve Services Sunday, December 24

W/>'Z/D KE'Z ' d/KE > ,hZ ,͕ h WOO R SIH IW P IW ITH ϰϲϬ > < ^d͘ W R S H P T H W/>'Z/D KE'Z ' d/KE > ,hZ ,͕ h ǁǁǁ͘ƉŝůŐƌŝŵŽĂŬƉĂƌŬ͘ŽƌŐ W/>'Z/D KE'Z ' d/KE > ,hZ ,͕ h

3pm Christmas Pageant & Worship for All Ages 7pm Choir & Candlelight Service

ϰϲϬ > < ^d͘

ϰϲϬ > < ^d͘ /ŶƚĞƌŐĞŶĞƌĂƚŝŽŶĂů WĂŐĞĂŶƚ͕ ǁǁǁ͘ƉŝůŐƌŝŵŽĂŬƉĂƌŬ͘ŽƌŐ ǁǁǁ͘ƉŝůŐƌŝŵŽĂŬƉĂƌŬ͘ŽƌŐ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϭϳ͕ ϭϬ͗ϯϬ /ŶƚĞƌŐĞŶĞƌĂƚŝŽŶĂů WĂŐĞĂŶƚ͕ /ŶƚĞƌŐĞŶĞƌĂƚŝŽŶĂů WĂŐĞĂŶƚ͕ tŽƌƐŚŝƉ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ Ϯϰ͕ ϭϬ͗ϯϬ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϭϳ͕ ϭϬ͗ϯϬ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ ϭϳ͕ ϭϬ͗ϯϬ ĂŶĚůĞƐ͕ ^ĐƌŝƉƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ DƵƐŝĐ tŽƌƐŚŝƉ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ Ϯϰ͕ ϭϬ͗ϯϬ tŽƌƐŚŝƉ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ Ϯϰ͕ ϭϬ͗ϯϬ ĂŶĚůĞƐ͕ ^ĐƌŝƉƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ DƵƐŝĐ ĂŶĚůĞƐ͕ ^ĐƌŝƉƚƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ DƵƐŝĐ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ Ϯϰ͕ ϱ͗ϬϬ

New Year’s Eve Sunday, December 31

10am Letting Go and Embracing Mystery 5-7pm New Year’s Eve Sangha Services will be both in-person and live streamed.

To learn more go to: www.unitytemple.org

PP CCEE P EEE AA C AE

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CHRISTMAS EVE CANDLELIGHT SERVICE

Sunday, December 24th, 2023 at 4:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Oak Park

1

820 Ontario St, Oak Park, IL

1

www.fbcoakpark.org

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

December 20, 2023 13

Christmas CELEBRATE

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

324 N. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, DEC 24: 10:00 AM FAMILY/CONTEMPORARY 6:00 PM TRADITIONAL CHORAL CANTATA Candlelight singing of Silent Night at both Pick either powerful worship experience or come to both, in person or online!

We look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus with you.

FIRSTUMCOAKPARK.ORG FOR DETAILS

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP Sunday, December 24 10:15 am Family Worship 8:00 pm Candlelight Worship 10:30 pm* Candlelight Communion Worship

First Presbyterian Church of River Forest 7551 Quick Avenue, River Forest | firstpresrf.org Hearing and wheelchair accessible. *In-Person Only

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

14 December 20, 2023

The Oak Park Catholic Community welcomes you to our celebration of the Christmas Season!

The Parish of Ascension and St. Edmund www.ascensionoakpark.com · 708-848-2703 or 708-848-4417 Ascension Church 808 S. East Avenue, Oak Park

St. Edmund Church 188 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park

The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena - St. Lucy and St. Giles www.stgilesparish.org · 708-383-3430 St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church 38 N. Austin Boulevard, Oak Park

St. Giles Church 1045 Columbian Avenue, Oak Park

The Nativity of the Lord

Christmas Eve, Sunday, December 24 3:30 pm Mass with the Ascension Schola at Ascension Church

3:00 pm Mass with Children’s Gospel at St. Giles Church

4:30 pm Mass with the St. Edmund Choir at St. Edmund Church

5:00 pm Mass with Children’s Gospel at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church

5:30 pm Mass with the Ascension Choristers and String Ensemble at Ascension Church

5:00 p.m. Mass with Teen Choir at St. Giles Church

11:00 pm Mass with the Ascension Choir at Ascension Church Carols begin at 10:30 pm

7:30 pm Family Mass Community Mass in the St. Giles School Gym Carols begin at 7:00 pm 10:30 pm Christmas Vigil Mass with the Combined Choirs at St. Giles Church Carols begin at 10:00 pm

Christmas Day, Monday, December 25 9:00 am Mass with organ, instruments and cantor at Ascension Church 11:00 am Mass with organ, instruments and cantor at St. Edmund Church

9:00 am Mass with the Praise Choir at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church 10:30 am Mass at St. Giles Church

The Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God Sunday, December 31

5:00 pm Oak Park Catholic Community Mass at St. Edmund Church

Monday, January 1

Monday, January 1

9:00 a at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Church 10:30 am Mass at St. Giles Church

9:00 am Mass at Ascension Church

Prayer in The Spirit of Taize´ for World Peace Day Monday, January 1 at 7:30 pm at Ascension Church

*Certain Masses may be livestreamed; times to be determined. Please see our websites, ascensionoakpark.org or stgilesparish.org, for further information, and to find links to online or livestream events.

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

December 20, 2023 15

Christmas and New Year’s Mass schedule        

Sunday, December 24, Fourth Sunday of Advent 8:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine 9:30 a.m. at St. Luke

Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 3:30 p.m. from the Children’s Choir and Cherub Choir 6:00 p.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 5:45 p.m. from Vocal Ensemble with Instruments 10:30 p.m. at St. Bernardine with carols before at 10:00 p.m. from Festival Choir with Instruments

Monday, December 25, Christmas Day 8:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine with festive instrumental music before at 7:45 a.m. from Cantor and Trumpet 9:30 a.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 9:15 a.m. from Contemporary Choir with Instruments 11:00 a.m. at St. Luke with carols before at 10:45 a.m. from Festival Choir with Instruments

Sunday, December 31, New Year’s Eve

  

9:30 a.m. at St. Luke



9:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine

8:00 a.m. at St. Bernardine

11:00 a.m. at St. Luke

Monday, January 1, New Year’s Day Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from

Our Community Needs Community Journalism It’s not just about crime reports and board meetings.

We also need inspiring, funny, heartwarming and, at times, heartbreaking stories about our friends, neighbors and children. Perhaps now, more than ever.

Let's build community!

Read and Support: Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review Austin Weekly News Riverside-Brookfield Landmark

Partner with us.

Donate at GrowingCommunityMedia.org Growing Community Media NFP is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization

CHRISTMAS CHURCH GUIDE

16 December 20, 2023

Christmas at GRACE CHURCH

Ken Trainor’s “Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community”…

Sunday, December 24 – Christmas Eve 4:45 pm Carols and Organ 5:00 pm Festive Worship for All Ages especially kids!

10:30 pm Carols and Choir 11:00 pm Festive Choral Eucharist with incense Monday, December 25 – Christmas Day 10:30 am Holy Eucharist In person 924 Lake Street, Oak Park and online GraceOakPark.org

Peace to You This Christmas

Happy Holidays! from your friends at Growing Community Media

Reasons ‘Our Town Oak Park’ makes a good holiday gift for your grown children: • They can relive May Madness, Erik’s Deli, Magic Tree Bookstore, playing lob ball in the park, the July 4th parade and fireworks, OPRF graduations, the Lake Theatre, Thursday Night Out, Maze Library, Hole in the Wall ice cream, trick-or-treating on Halloween, Farmers Market and A Day in Our Village • They’ll like it so much, they might move back • If they don’t move back, at least they won’t forget where they came from • If they can’t come in for Christmas, it’s easy to wrap and mail Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community is for anyone who lives in Oak Park, formerly lived in Oak Park, is about to move to Oak Park, is curious about Oak Park, or might live in Oak Park in the future. In other words, pretty much everyone. You can find it at Book Table, the OPRF History Museum, the Hemingway Birthplace Home, and, if you must, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Great Holiday gift for the “Oak Park fan” in your life!

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

Festive Pets

We asked to see to see photos of your furbabies decked out for Yuletide merriment. You answered - and we love it! Want to see more? Head to our community section online.

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Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

C R I M E

Teens carjack freshly washed car, crash it in Chicago A woman who was drying her car after getting it washed at the Crystal Car Wash was carjacked by two teens.

The victim said that on the morning of Dec. 12, she washed her silver 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee and parked it at the vacant lot across Lexington Street from the car wash in order to dry it out. At around 11:26 a.m., two teens approached the victim. The first teen pointed a gun at her and demanded that she step away from the Grand Cherokee. The other teen demanded the victim’s phone and keys. The victim said that those items were in the car. The two teens then got in and drove away, heading north on Harlem Avenue.

Other customers at the car wash told the police that they saw the two teens walking around, looking at the cars and “acting suspicious.”

The Grand Cherokee was later found in the Austin neighborhood, crashed into a tree and unoccupied. According to the report, the two teens were apprehended

by Forest Park and Chicago police detectives. Each teen was charged with one

count of aggravated vehicle carjacking.

Road Rage A bicyclist who confronted drivers about throwing trash out the window got a juice bottle thrown at him for his trouble.

The victim said that on Dec. 15 at around 4:30 p.m., he was biking west on the section of Harrison Street west on Harlem Avenue when he saw a blue 2019 Ford Edge. According to the license plate record, it was a rental vehicle. The victim said that he saw a woman behind a wheel and a man in the front passenger seat. He saw the man throwing the trash out the window.

When the victim told the duo to pick up the trash, the man got out of the Ford and shouted at the victim. The passenger then threw a partially filled juice bottle at the victim, hitting him in the shoulder. The passenger then got back in the car, and the car drove east, crossing Harlem Avenue, where Harrison Street turned into Garfield Street. The victim tried to chase them. He last saw them crossing Lombard Avenue.

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The victim was able to take pictures of the car and the duo. No arrests were made at the time of the report.

Catalytic Converter Theft The owner of a gray 2015 Ford F-150KLT came back from work to find the vehicle’s catalytic converter stolen.

The victim parked the car at the Forest Park Blue Line’s terminal north commuter parking lot on Dec. 15 at around 9:30 a.m.

He returned at around 6:30 p.m. As the victim drove home, he heard “loud rumbling noise” coming from the car. He checked under the Ford and confirmed that the catalytic converter was stolen.

Identity Theft A man who was bedridden with COVID-19 in early November discovered that his phone and ID were stolen after he recovered — and also discovered that someone used the stolen information to buy two expensive bikes.

The victim said that while he was bedrid-

den, he had “approximately 10 to 12” family members and friends stop by for a visit. He felt better by Nov. 15, which is when he realized that his phone and state ID were missing. While the phone was found near the dumpster outside the building, his ID was still gone.

On Dec. 12, he got an alert on his Affirm payment application showing a new charge of $2,079 at Oak Park’s Wheel & Sprocket bike shop. When the victim contacted the company to dispute the charge, Affirm said that someone used the money to purchase two bikes.

The police were unable to get access to the store security camera footage at the time of the report.

These items were obtained from police reports filed by the Forest Park Police Department, Nov. 11 – 17, 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

O U R

A

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

OPINION

V I E W

Dear readers,

reminder if you’ve missed the other notes.

For the first time in 43 years, we’re taking a week off between Christmas and New Year’s. So, no paper next week. We’ll be back in print on Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

Why the break? A few reasons. Our small crew of reporters, our editor, designers, salespeople and admins work very hard week after week. It will do us all good to have 10 days off, to be with friends and family, some fun, some downtime.

And honestly, the task of compiling all those year-in-review stories to fill space in that lost-in-time issue, frankly, which seem likely to go largely unread — well, it made us want to take a rest.

Not much news. Not much advertising. A good time to take the week off.

Mind you, we will be paying attention and if major news breaks, we will jump on it and publish it promptly online.

Here’s the segue you’ve doubtless anticipated: The publisher just told us he gave the entire staff a week off but isn’t there a promo on page 1 about needing to raise money by Dec. 31?! So now he’s going to ask us for money while telling us there is no paper next week?

Yes. Here at Growing Community Media — publisher of Forest Park Review, Wednesday Journal, Austin Weekly News and RiversideBrookfield Landmark — we punch above our weight. That’s what I tell people when they ask why we didn’t cover this story, or that meeting, or their kid.

Don’t get me wrong. We love what we do and we’re proud of it.

But there are only a handful of us over here in the newsroom on Oak Park Avenue. Four reporters. Our editor. A part-time Viewpoints editor. A digital manager. Three page designers. And a strong and valued batch of freelance reporters and photographers.

So yes, our staff deserves time off. And yes, I am asking you to become a donor to Growing Community Media, our nonprofit newsroom, right now. Before Dec. 31.

We are working to raise $250,000 by then to fund our work and to grow our newsroom. It is an ambitious goal but an attainable one.

If you value the newspaper you are reading, if you believe local news is the glue that makes our communities strong, if you want this newspaper arriving in your mailbox or at a newsstand every week — or at least almost every week — I’m asking you to invest in it.

I said recently that we know donating to the local paper feels sort of counterintuitive. We’re not providing housing or job training or education. But we do serve the public good, and the business model that used to drive this engine just doesn’t work anymore. That doesn’t make independent local news any less important. It means we need to find a new and improved model to fund it.

At Growing Community Media we have found the model. And we’re building it out in real time. Part of that model is giving our valued staff some deserved time off. Part of that model is asking our dedicated readers to join in paying for journalism you value.

May your holidays bring peace.

Dan Haley

Publisher Growing Community Media

L

The Importance of Being Santa

et’s start with an anecdote.

I was standing outside on Madison Street getting some air when a woman ran at me across traffic at full speed and with reckless abandon to get to me. I did not know this woman but apparently she knew me. I know this because as she got closer I heard her screaming at the top of her lungs. “Santa! Santa!!”

Oh yeah, I guess I should mention that I was standing outside dressed from head to toe as Santa Claus for a Holiday Market. My first appearance as Santa since the pandemic. She finally gets to me, out of breath and panting, and says to me, “Can I take a picture with you?” Hesitantly, I said yes. Realizing that I was a bit uneasy she added, “I am sorry for the way I approached you, but in my 26 years on this Earth I have never seen another Black Santa besides my dad.”

In that moment I had inadvertently tapped into a deep well of nostalgia and holiday cheer. Later, when I recalled that encounter I cried at the pureness of that moment. Why was that so important to her? Why was it so important to me? I began to wonder about the importance of me, a Black man, being Santa. I started by looking into the history of the character.

Santa Claus was a real person. If you are not familiar, St. Nicholas of Myra (240-343 A.D.) was a bishop of Turkish descent. He was known for using his fortunes to help those who needed it by giving them gifts anonymously. Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and the Dutch began to celebrate Sinterklaasfeest, likely a combination of pre-Christianization Norse traditions (like the Wild Hunt) mixed with tales of St. Nicholas. There are also some weird, super-problematic depictions of Saint Nicholas having a Moorish servant named

19

Black Pete though … so glad we have mostly evolved past that!

Seriously, look it up. By the 1800s, thanks to the poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (you probably know it as “The Night Before Christmas”) by Clement C. Moore with illustration by Thomas Nast, Santa was reimagined even further, depicting him not as a man, but as “a right jolly old elf,” who through magic reindeer brought presents down the chimney for sleeping littles. In the 1900s, L. Frank Baum (yes, author of Wizard of Oz) added to his mythos with his book, The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

Then in the 1930s, Coca-Cola’s Christmas advertising cemented this mythical figure’s image into the ethos of commercial Christmas.

But what about the history of Black people depicting Santa?

In 2021, Nationalsanta. com surveyed people who do Santa work. Of the 376 people who took the survey, two were Black. This actually made a lot of sense to me.

Growing up, I always heard more pushback about Afrocentric depiction of Santa than actually seeing Black Santas. Right-wing commentators like Megyn Kelly tell people to remember that Santa is white (Actually he is Turkish and of Greek descent, not the constructed identity of “white”). Do a Reddit search of Black Santa and see how many “hot takes” you get of people denouncing the idea of Santa being anything other than white (again, Turkish Greek not “white”).

So why is it so damned important to so many people to see Santa as something other than white?

Then it hit me.

Miles Gonzalo Morales! Miles Morales!! A halfBlack, half Puerto Rican kid from Queens is Spider-

KAMAU JONES

See SANTA on page 20

20

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

SANTA

Ride the sleigh from page 19

Season’s Greetings

Man. Since 1962, Spider-Man could only be Peter Parker, a white kid. Until Donald Glover dared to dream about being SpiderMan (check out the Community episode Anthropology 101) and Brian Michael Bendis, who was writing Ultimate Spider-Man at the time, was inspired. In that moment, we said to generations of young Black kids who have been historically depicted as thugs in every form of media and even in real-life news coverage, that anyone can wear the mask.

Anyone can do good things. Anyone can be a hero.

Only white men could be president until Barack Obama dreamed that he could be too. The more aspirational figures we have to look up to that look like us, the easier it is to believe that we can be more than what society tells us we are.

The enduring legacy of St. Nicholas of Myra is that people are so inspired by his acts of charity, they dress up to make children’s holidays a little brighter. Over the years, other cultures have added to his mythic representation. This is simply the next step in Santa’s evolution.

It shouldn’t stop there by the way. Latinx Santas, East Asian Santas, South Asian Santas. Drag Santas, Female Santas. Just as Miles taught us that anyone can wear the mask, anyone can ride the sleigh. The only thing you really need is the capacity to listen to the dreams of children and see the magic that they see. How lucky I am to be able to be a part of that legacy. To carry that responsibility.

I will end with this. A week ago, I had a little Black boy so excited to see me that he ran up to me, jumped into my arms, and told me what he wanted most for Christmas. I had toys to hand out so I gave him one and, after talking with him and wishing him a Merry Christmas, he walked away — only to come back for another hug and told me, “I don’t need the present I just wanted to meet you” and hugged me so tightly I could feel his little heart beating with joy in his chest.

I think one day he will ride the sleigh too.

That is the importance of being Santa to me.

Source: https://www.nationalsanta.com/wpcontent/uploads/2021/11/2021-Red-SuitStatistics-Release-1 11421.pdf

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

F

A Rear Window holiday

orest Park Private Detective Sam Diamond was miserable. He had been staking out a stock car race when he got too close to the action. The accident had broken his left leg and caused him to stutter like Jimmy Stewart.

Now he was stuck in a wheelchair and sunk in a “swamp of boredom.” His only entertainment was staring at the two-flat in front of him. The first floor was occupied by two women.

He dubbed them “Miss Torso” and “Miss Lonelyhearts.” One was a young ballet dancer with too many boyfriends. The other was middle-aged and disillusioned with dating sites.

A married couple lived above them. Mr. Thornhill was a man of thick build who wore glasses and had a mean resting face. He never spoke to neighbors. Thornhill carried a large sample case of knives, so Diamond believed he was a knife salesman. His wife spent most of her days in bed, so Diamond assumed she worked from home.

One night, as Diamond watched Miss Torso practice her ballet moves, he fell asleep. A violent rainstorm woke him up. He watched Thornhill leave the apartment carrying his sample case. He returned twice more to

repack his case and head out.

The next morning, he saw Thornhill wipe down the inside of the case and replace the knives and saw. Diamond told his girlfriend about him. Lisa was a stunning blonde from River Forest. She floated into Diamond’s place every evening wearing a Paris original. Diamond exclusively wore pajamas, even before he got hurt.

They argued. “Lisa, there’s no future for us. We, uh, I mean we come from two different worlds.”

“I’m in love with you, Sam. I don’t care what you do for a

JOHN RICE

A

T

living.”

“OK, but what if we’re on a stakeout in Berwyn and the only thing we can find to eat are chili dogs?”

“You don’t have to be deliberately repulsive,” she sniffed.

Diamond spotted something across the way. “Lisa, quick give me your opera glasses.

Hmm, your portable keyhole shows his wife’s bedroom is empty.” He immediately called a Forest Park police detective he knew.

“That’s pretty private stuff out there,” the detective declared, “and I don’t approve of your rear window ethics.”

“You mean you’re not going to arrest him for disposing of his wife?”

“There’s not enough evidence,” the

L O O K

B A C K

I N

detective replied. “Besides, Thornhill has a courtesy card from the police.”

Diamond wrote a note to Thornhill asking what he had done with his wife. He asked Lisa to deliver it. Lisa climbed up to the second story window and crawled inside.

When Thornhill came home, he found Lisa and had the police take her away.

Thornhill soon entered Diamond’s dark apartment. Diamond tried to blind him with his cellphone flashlight.

“Why don’t you leave me alone, Diamond?

“Why did you go out three times in the middle of the night in the pouring rain?”

“You think I’m a knife salesman, Diamond, but actually I’m a butcher. Our shop makes the very best cured meats, bologna, salami and pepperoni. I was going out that night to restock the Forest Park Community Fridge.”

“But why in the middle of the night?”

“I have a mean resting face, Diamond.

I don’t want anyone to know I’m really a softie.”

“What about your wife?”

“Hannah was sick of working from home, so now she volunteers at a migrant shelter.”

Diamond not only stopped spying on his neighbors, he invited them for Christmas dinner. Miss Lonelyhearts brought her new composer boyfriend.

They all enjoyed a feast of Thornhill’s cured meat, especially the chorizo.

God bless us, every one.

T I M E

Making merry for a good cause

he Forest Park Merrymakers Club met regularly in the homes of club members and sometimes at Bowman Dairy, often with a meal followed by bunco and card parties. They met to raise money to host parties and events at Hines Veterans Hospital and Vaughan General Hospital (all now part of the campus of Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Hospital) throughout the year. The merrymakers organized parties for the Tuberculosis wards at Vaughan Hospital, hosted cigarette drives for veterans, and created charity baskets for needy families of Forest Park at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Jill Wagner

Photo: 1957 Forest Park Review - The Merrymakers are shown making gifts and/or prizes. Included in the group are: Mrs. Terry Bergman, Betty Mull, Lucille Wendt, Gladys McCathren, Elizabeth Reiche, Henrietta Toerpper, Marie Schneeberger, Amanda Binder, Lillian Zimmerman, Ruh Ely and Grace Fink.

21

F O R E S T PA R K

REVIEW Editor Erika Hobbs Staff Reporter Igor Studenkov, Amaris Rodriguez Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan Contributing Reporters Tom Holmes, John Rice, Bob Skolnik, Jackie Glosniak, Robert J. Lifka Columnists Alan Brouilette, Jill Wagner, Tom Holmes, John Rice 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

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.

Out-of-county subscriptions: $42 per year.

Forest Park Review is published digitally and in print

by Growing Community Media NFP. © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP.

22 Forest Park Review, December 20, 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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Send Resume to Michelle@sievertelectric.com Job Type: Full-time Benefits Salary: $16.00 - $18.00 per hour Schedule: 8 hour shift Monday to Friday

ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

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.

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

In re ALLOCATION OF GLORIA RESENDIZ, Petitioner and ISAAC SANTACRUZ, Respondent, Case No. 2021d450036.

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 temporary and permanent sole allocation of parental responsibilities, child support, contribution to child-related expenses and for otherrelief; 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 January 8, 2024, default may be Entered against you at any time after That day, and a judgment entered in Accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal December 6, 13, 20, 2023

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PUBLIC NOTICE Thrive Counseling Center is soliciting bids for 2 projects at 120 S Marion St in Oak Park.

Public Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, on Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. in the First Floor Community Room of the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois, to consider amendment(s) to the Village’s Zoning Ordinance which include, but may not be limited to, the following:

Project 1: Replace 3 old drinking fountains with new drinking fountains that include water bottle fillers. Additionally, a 4th drinking fountain/bottle filler is needed at a new site.

1. A Text Amendment to create a new Chapter 12 to replace Chapters 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the Zoning Ordinance. The new Chapter 12 will designate bulk and dimensional standards for C-1, C-2, C-3 and ORIC districts.

2. A Text Amendment to Section 1021 (Land Use Chart) of the Zoning Ordinance to designate multiple-family dwellings as allowed by planned development in C1, C2, C3 and ORIC districts.

The petitioner for the Text Amendments is the Village President and Board of Trustees.

This public hearing is being held pursuant to direction given by the Village Board of Trustees for the Zoning Board of Appeals to consider these amendments. For additional information visit www.vrf.us.

Project 2: Rehabilitate all 8 bathrooms in the building and ensure fixtures such as hand bars and mirrors meet ADA standards, replace paper towel dispensers with electronic hand dryers, add aerators to the faucets, replace cracked floor tiles, replace damaged ceiling tiles, patch walls, and paint.

To bid on either or both projects, please contact Laura Palmer at lpalmer@thrivecc.org or (708) 6172506. Pre-bid site inspection is mandatory and will be scheduled by appointment only. All project questions can be clarified at that time. Bidding will end on 1/20/2024.

This is a federally funded program as a Community Development Block Grant and is subject to all applicable federal rules, regulations, and guidelines.

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

Published in Wednesday Journal December 20, 2023

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.

If you cannot attend the public hearing but would like to provide input on this matter to the Zoning Board of Appeals you may submit your comments in writing, to Clifford Radatz, Building Official, no later than 12:00 Noon on the date of the public hearing at cradatz@vrf.us or by mailing them to 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305.

Sincerely, Clifford Radatz Secretary, Zoning Board of Appeals.

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

S U B U R B A N R E N TA L S

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

For further information or for a copy of the proposed text amendments, please contact Village Administrator Matt Walsh at (708) 714-3563 or at mwalsh@vrf.us or visit www.vrf.us.

MARKETPLACE

CALL UNCLE GARY 708-522-3400

PUBLIC NOTICES

Published in Wednesday Journal December 20, 2023

Thank You! We have appreciated serving you with our classified ads over these many years.

In the New Year, this space will be devoted exclusively to public and legal notices.

Look for our home services advertisers in the news section of the paper.

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, December 20, 2023 23

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HEARING DATE: January 11, 2024 TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing on an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness filed by the Applicant, Janelli Barrow, to demolish the residence at 430 S. Taylor Ave., Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-08-322-015-0000, which is located in the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date. The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within 15 days following completion of the public hearing.

Published in Wednesday Journal, December 20, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION HEARING DATE: January 11, 2024 TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing on an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness filed by the Applicant, Janelli Barrow, to demolish the residence at 430 S. Taylor Ave., Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-08-322-015-0000, which is located in the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date. The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within 15 days following completion of the public hearing.

Published in Wednesday Journal, December 20, 2023

Season’s Greetings

24

Forest Park Review, December 20, 2023

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December 13, 2023

Primary contest for Rashid PAGE 10

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Major projects ahead for Brookfield PAGE 9

22-unit apartment complex coming to Riverside Riv

Dazzling lights See the best in Landmarkland STORY ON PAGE 4

The village villag vill agee also is considering ag considering creating cr ting a permanentt tax levy crea lev to ffund und street projects, projects, instead instead stead oof to borrow rr ing money through rrow through bond bondss borrowing

By AMINA SERGAZINA

Vol. 106, No. 47

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Amid the city’s mass shootings, community groups work to prevent more bloodshed

Heat, pollution take toll on West Side residents health, report shows The data show how these factors fact fac tors disproportionately disproportionately affect aff affec ect residents who ccould ould benefit benefit from simple ccooling ooling measures, like like planting trees

One UCAN member mediates ‘peace peace agreements’ after violent incidents

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staf Reporter Staff Re

Staf Reporter Staff Re

A 22-unit multifamily apartment complex with two, tw first-floor li live-work units — the first of its kind for Riverside — is coming to the village.

The Riverside village board approved a special use permit Dec. 7 for the mixed-use development at 28 and 30 E. Burlington St. The complex is expected to be a five-story building.

CZS/BROOKFIELD ZOO

See APARTMENTS on page 12

Best Wishes for a Happy & Healthy Holiday!

THE SHEILA GENTILE GROUP LIVE LOCAL • WORK LOCAL

708.220.2174 • www.SheilaGentile.com

Obama b ex-staffffer runs for Davis seat, page 5

@AustinWeeklyChi

In Austin, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale the index reached the 90-100 percentile. In contrast, more affluent neighborhoods such as Lincoln Park or Lakeview have scores in the 1 to 30th percentile.

Many residents in these neighbor-

After an overnight ernight mass shooting injured at least 15 people in North Lawndale on Oct. 29, a number of community partners and city agencies stepped in to coordinate services for victims and their families.

The Chicago Police Department on Oct. 31 opened an emergency service center at YMEN’s facility, where police and community organizations provided on-site support to victims and their families. Among them was UCAN, a nonprofit providing an array of services for

See POLLUTION on page 3

See SHOOTING on page 4

FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ

Galewood neighbors and tree ambassadors learn about trees from a certified arborist David Kusnierz on Oct. 28, 2023.

By FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ Staff Reporter

West Side residents are disproportionately burdened by pollution and environmental hazards that harm residents’ health, and are among those most heavily impacted by environmental issues when compared with

other Chicagoans, an environmental justice city report released in late summer showed.

Austin, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale are some of the areas with the highest cumulative impacts – a score that measures how a community is affected by environmental factors.

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Proviso West teacher champions trade school as a path for students

December 6, 2023 Vol. 44, No. 23

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OAK PARK TOWNSHIP TAX SALE NOTICE INSIDE

of Oak Park and River Forest

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staf Reporter Staff Reporter

In a bright room with state-of-the-art machinery, April Senase stands as a champion for kids who don’t want to follow a traditional post-secondary path. In her classroom, she shows them that a career in trades can make for a fulfilling and successful life.

She knows because she li live d it. And although she nevlived er thought she’d become a teacher, last year, Senase won the 2023 Illinois State Board of Education’s Teacher of the Year for Early Career Educator Meritorious Service Award. She has been nominated once again this year.

“This program at Proviso West High School is help-

Library landscaping The Forest Forest Park Garden Club boosts the public library’ librar library’s y’ss curb appeal. y’ Story on page 3

See SENASE on page 6

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

John Rice: Acceptance, the key to serenity…and gratitude

Tom Holmes: Gonna let my little light shine

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

PAGE 17

PAGE 16

IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 THIS ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Holiday Gift Guide Page B1

OPRF students who want to stop climate change head to Dubai Duba

Senase was awarded an ISBE award for her dedication to her students nt nts

Support and donate here:

Education

Season of Giving Inside

Katie Stabb and Kate Wallace W attend the annual UN Climate Summit

Reindeer eindeer in disguise?

By JACK HELBIG C Contributing Reporter Re

A year ago, two Oak Park and Ri Rive Riverr Fo Forest High School students — Manolo Av Avalos and Victoria “Tori” Evans — attended the United Nations annual conference on climate change, COP27, in Egypt.

They were part of a group of high school students sent to the conference under the auspices of a youth environmental group, It’s Our Future, part of the Oak Park-based Seven Generations Ahead environmental group.

By the time you read this, two more OPRF students — Katherine Stabb, who goes by Katie, and Kate Wallace — will have already made the 13-hour, 25-minute flight from Chicago to Dubai, to attend COP28, this year’s conference, held Nov. 30 to Dec. 12 and sponsored by the same group. They are part of a delegation of six Chicago-area high school students going to the conference.

Santa’s dachsunds distract attendees from the Cookie Walk in Downtown Oak Park MORE PHOTOS ON PAGE 9

TODD A. BANNOR

See DUBAI on page 15