GROWING COMMUNITY WEDNESDAY JOURNAL, INC.
ForestParkReview.com
Vol. 99, No. 52
$1.00
F O R E S T PA R K
REVIEW
Looking back on education in 2016 PAGE 4
A busy year for the village council PAGE 8
DECEMBER 28, 2016
S TORY
OF
T H E
2016
Y E A R :
Video gaming
YEAR IN REVIEW
Gambling debate dominated the pages of the Review in 2016 By THOMAS VOGEL
F
Contributing Reporter
orest Parkers decisively rejected video gaming in the village in a non-binding referendum in 2013. But in 2016, the issue once again dominated public discourse, with forums, town halls, council meetings, letters-to-the-editor, editorials, and signature petition campaigns throughout the year. Signatures were challenged. Experts were consulted. Research was done. Discussions were had. Still, the fight over gaming is not over. Here is a year-end summary of the Review’s coverage of this ongoing debate. You can find the articles online at forestparkreview.com. February 23 - Mayor Anthony Calderone says there is no “active conversation” to consider gaming again but suggests the issue could come up in the future. http://www. forestparkreview.com/News/ Articles/2-23-2016/Village-:-Noimmediate-plans-for-video-gaming/ March 22 - Local Madison Street business owner Noel Eberline authors letter-tothe-editor arguing against allowing gaming. http://www. ANTHONY CALDERONE forestparkreview.com/News/ Mayor Articles/3-22-2016/Forest-Parkneeds-economic-development,-not-video-gambling/ March 29 - Village council addresses rumors of renewed video gaming discussion at biweekly meeting. Commissioners confirm no immediate plans exist and request more information on gaming. http://www.forestSee VIDEO GAMING on page 7
WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer
STEPPING UP: Irish dancers perform during the annual St. Patrick’s Parade on Saturday, March 5. See more photos from 2016 on page 6.
New year, new businesses set to open Activity on Madison gears up as 2017 arrives
By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter
Three new businesses will open in Forest Park in early 2017 and a townhouse development in the village also is in the planning stages.
IN Big Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 THIS Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ISSUE Crime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Bella Angel Music and Escape Factor will be relocating to the village and Twisted Cookie will open its first brick-and-mortar facility. Bella Angel Music director Ellen Bartolozzi said she hopes to open at 7601 Madison St., Suite E, on Jan. 2.
She previously operated a studio at Harlem and Belmont avenues in Chicago that is now closed. “Music has been the one thing in my life that has been positive,” said the
John Rice’s 2016 roundup
Tom Holmes on the year in religion
PAGE 3
PAGE 14
See NEW BIZ on page 9
@FP_Review Follow us on TWITTER