cials narrow sights to Ehlert Park, Kiwanis Park for a potential community center
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Ehlert Park and Kiwanis Park have become the two sites in consideration to host a community center in Brookfield in response to an open survey of residents and feedback from public open houses.
Andy Dogan, managing principal of Williams Architects, told trustees at the Jan. 27 committee of the whole meeting that residents at an opem house held Jan. 22 preferred Ehlert Park and the parking lot behind Village Hall near Kiwanis Park as potential sites in the first village board update on the project since October. T hese two sites have since become the main focus-
STORY BY ZOË TAKAKI, PAGE 4 STORY BY TAK AKI,
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Annual renewals at $25 said to fund the costs of signs and new curb painting e orts
By TRENT BROWN Staff Reporter
Brookfield will continue to charge residents with disabilities $25 each year to renew permits for on-street designated parking spots
The decision came after trustees reviewed the costs to install signs for the spots and staf f recommended painting curbs to mark the reserved spots.
At the village board’s Jan. 13 committee of the whole meeting, Police Chief Michael Kuruvilla explained to trustees the importance of disability parking permits and the need for the village to offset costs associated with the parking spots by collecting an annual renewal fee. While the board did not take for mal action at the meeting, trustees were supportive of the new curb painting initiative.
“The ‘persons with disabilities’ parking permit ordinance has been in place [since 2008] to support residents with disabilities by providing on-street, designated parking spaces near their residences. The ordinance ensures equitable access and enhances the quality of life for those in our community with mobility challenges,” Kuruvilla said. “There are administrative costs. Staf f time [is] required to process and approve permit applications. There are public works-related costs.”
Kuruvilla said it costs Brookfield $160.96 for each sign it installs to mark of f a designated parking space for a resident with a disability. Curb painting, a new measure he said public works would undertake each year, will cost $61.68 per location, he said.
“This measure minimizes the potential for costly violations by clearly marking where these spots begin and end,” he said.
Kuruvilla said the review of the permit fee was spur red by a public commenter. At the board’s Dec. 9 meeting, James Connelly spoke on behalf of Brookfield resident Mary Calzada, who he said could not at-
tend the meeting herself due to her mobility-related disability.
“This fall, a letter was sent by the police department. You have a very wonderful, new administrator dealing with the nuts and bolts of the law. He read [the ordinance] and determined that there should be a $25 fee every year to have that sign, which is a little bit confusing,” Connelly said. “If you look at the proposal from 2008, it talks about … that there is a set fee for the sign. That fee was never charged until recently, so we were asking that the board review that amendment and reconsider it.”
In a memo attached to the board’s agenda packet for the meeting, Kuruvilla wrote that Brookfield’s $25 fee – the same for initial permit requests and annual renewals –is “competitive” with the fees in other municipalities. In Berwyn, the village charges $75 for the permit application; in North Riverside, it’s $100, and in Cicero, it’s $120. While Chicago and Berwyn both charge $25 to renew a permit, other municipalities charge up to $50, he wrote
Kuruvilla also wrote that, in conducting a review of disability parking signs in town, village staf f found that 69 signs were still in place out of more than 100 that had been noted on record by the village. When Brookfield sent out notices to renew the permit this year, five residents chose to give up their permit, he wrote, while only 39 of the remaining 64 residents had yet completed their renewal application.
“These findings underscore the need for continued systematic annual verification to maintain accurate records and to ensure that resources are appropriately allocated,” Kuruvilla wrote
At the meeting, Village President Michael Garvey lauded staff’s review of the signs.
“These things, by their nature, don’t go on forever, and we’ve found that some of them continue to stay up long after they’re not needed, and all of these things take staf f time,” he said. “I think, as you will see, the request from staf f is very reasonable. It doesn’t even incorporate or recapture all the costs involved in this. This an area where we can provide services to certain residents at a reduced rate, but, I think, clearly, we have to charge the $25 per year renewal of the application.”
Fresh Beginnings YOUR BEST LIFE with Lisa Capone
The start of a new year is a perfect time for seniors to embrace fresh beginnings and focus on staying motivated and engaged. Here are some simple tips to help make 2025 a year of growth and joy.
Set Meaningful Goals: Start with small, achievable resolutions like walking daily, reading a book each month, or trying a new recipe. Every success boosts confidence and adds purpose to your day.
Explore New Interests: Learning something new can stimulate your mind and spark creativity. Try painting, knitting, playing an instrument, or even joining a class on a topic that interests you.
Stay Connected: Building social connections enhances mood and supports emotional well-being. Attend community events, join clubs, or simply spend more time with friends and family.
Focus on Wellness: Gentle exercises like yoga or walking paired with nutritious meals and staying hydrated can greatly improve your energy and overall health.
At Cantata, we’re dedicated to supporting residents in making the most of every moment. Let’s make 2025 a year filled with opportunities to grow, connect, and thrive together!
Visit Cantata.org for more senior living advice or call (708) 387-1030.
Reptile Den is gearing up for its biggest ev
Traveling reptile show comes to North Riverside for free event March 29
By ZOË TAKAKI Contributing Reporter
Twenty-four-year-old Woodridge nati Ali Baghdadi will be bringing creatures and crawlers to the Chicago suburbs with his ani mal show The Reptile Den.
The Reptile Den is a traveling re ptile show made up of Baghdadi’s personal animal collection, which he houses in his Countryside home.
“My freezer is full of reptile food, with just a little spot for some ice cream for myself,” said Baghdadi.
Baghdadi said the Reptile Den puts on mor than 500 shows annually, typically at birthday parties, schools, libraries and on film sets
On March 29, Reptile Den Day, will tak place at the North Riverside Park and Recreation Department from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with one of its largest displays yet.
ZO Ë TA K AKI
Baghdadi will show his entire collection of more than 100 animals, including snakes, lizards, bugs and so much more, with presentations at 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. The event will also feature crafts and kid-friendly activities put on by local organizations
This family-friendly, free event is Baghdadi’s way of giving back to the suburbs of Chicago. He hopes it will become an annual event.
“I’m so happy to be able to be doing it in Chicagoland. I hope that it’s going to be an event that’s synonymous with North Riverside,” said Baghdadi.
C onservation is of major importanc e to Baghdadi, with most of his animals being rescues
“About 90% of them are formerly neglected animals that we rehabilitate and turn them into educational ambassadors. They are from all over Illinois,” said Baghdadi. “Reptiles traditionally don’t have a voice. They can’t yelp or whine, like a dog or cat can. So we try to give a voice to the voiceless in a way with these animals.”
As he does this, he hopes he can change people’s perceptions on the animals they may
Woodridge native Ali Baghdadi is travels the region to teach about his slithe ry friends.
have been afraid of before
“What I’m trying to do is create memories where people have positive experiences with animals. A lot of the animals that we display, they get the worst rap in history, like snakes and tarantulas. I want to break down those old stereotypes,” he said.
As he creates these memories, he creates relationships across the suburbs
“There’s been kids that come to every single show, and they ask about the animals They’re like, ‘How’s Godzilla doing? How is Sunburst?’” he said.
Baghdadi has always loved animals.
“Growing up, I’d catch toads and frogs and things like that. I just always had an interest in the natural world,” he said “When I got my own place, I could get all the animals I ever wanted. So my first exotic pet after moving out of my parents’ home was a 10 foot Python.”
In the future, Baghdadi says he hopes to open a zoo.
RECREATION Creating space
from page 1
es of further exploration for the c ommunity c enter ’s f easibilit y, as a building of the imagined size of the c ommunity c enter — about 33,000 square f eet — would not fit at Madlin Pa rk , the St. Barbara Parish C enter or the St. Nikola Serbia n Or thodox C hurch, wh ich we re all previously being considered, he said.
Do g an said an open sur ve y of r esid ents, wh ich c ould have included mult iple r esidents from the same f amily or duplicate r esponses from individuals, f ound that about 60% of r esidents re ported a need for more recreation facilities in town, wh ich was “nearly identical” to the r esults of the statistic ally v alid sur ve y trustees heard about in October
T he open study also showe d that about 60% of r esidents would be willing to f und the c ommunity c enter over the span of decades: 60.1% would pay $270 per year over 20 years toward $20 million in bond s, Do g an said, wh i le 57.2% would pay $265 each year for 30 years to pay of f $25 million in b ond s. In the statistically v alid sur ve y, wh ich filtered r esponses by household, only about half of r espond ents said they would be willing to pay these costs
Looking at layouts
Kim Nig ro, a senior project architec t at Wi lliams, told trustees Wi lliams had created hypothetical layouts for two different c ommunity c enter s, one at E hler t Pa rk and one at Kiwanis Pa rk , that take their location into account.
If the c enter we re to go up at E hler t Pa rk , it would be two stories and about 32 f eet tall to a ccount for the proximity to r esidences on E lm and Shield s Avenues, Nig ro said. Th at layout would feature fitness r ooms, g eneral pr ogr amming space and a gy mnasium on the first f loor with multi-pur p ose spaces and a two-lane track on the second f loor. Th at c enter would either go in near the pa rking lot of f E lm Avenue or south of the firehouse of f Shields Avenue
At Kiwanis Pa rk , a p otential c ommunity c enter would feature three storie s alongside a r ooftop terrace, with a total height of 52 f eet. Th at layout would focu s multi-pur p ose, g eneral pr ogr amming
OPTION A: A community center at Ehlert Park would be two stories tall and fe ature community spaces spread across both oors with a gy m and second- oor track taking up much of the space.
and administration space on the firs t f loor next to about 25-30 cove red pa rk in g spaces under the main gy m spac e. Th e second f loor would feature the gy m and other fitness spaces wh i le the third f loor would feature a track on the outside with the rooftop terrace nestled within.
A c enter at this location c ould only go in where the b asketball and volleyball c ourts now sit north of the pa rk ing lot, Nig ro said. Big draws of this location, she a dded, would be i ts proximity to the c entral b usiness district along Grand Boulevard and the notion of a “municip al campus” area around Vi llage Hall.
At the open house hosted J an. 22, about 70% of a ttendees prefer red the Kiwani s Pa rk location to one at E hlert Pa rk , Nigr o said.
Do g an said it was too early in the p lanning stage for the project to estimate a definit ive c ost for the c enter b ut tha t architects would li ke ly be able to wo rk within the village ’s budg et and provide a r ange of c osts b ased on different variables once a final location was decided.
Board direction
At the end of the presentation, the village board appeared split on which potential location trustees preferred. Trustee Julie Narimatsu said she preferred the location at Kiwanis Park because of the parking while Trustee Kit Ketchmark said he would prefer the location at Ehlert Park south of the firehouse because of concerns the center could ne gatively impact the appearance of Kiwanis Park
Trustee Jennifer Hendricks recommended allowing residents to continue to
OPTION B: A community center at Kiwanis Park would be three stories tall with a rooftop terrace, featuring the gy m and exercise space on the second oor above ground parking and community spaces.
send in feedback through an online survey until the board’s next meeting. Trustee Katie Kaluzny ag reed, but said she would prefer a location at Ehlert Park to avoid overcrowding the Village Hall parking lot and inter rupting the natural area near Salt Creek.
“It feels like the Kiwanis pa rk ing lot is t rying to pa rk ing lot eve rybo dy ’s things: the far mers market, the b aseball g ames, Metra, and then t rying to have a performance or another thing that you’ re inviting a lot of p eople to,” she said. “I think you’d have to do a lot of extra scheduling to make sure that you’ re pa rk ing eve rybo dy a ppropriately wh en having any sort of event, but I understand the lure of putting it there.”
Trustee Edward Côté said he would prefer the site at Ehlert Park unless the community center at Kiwanis Park included
extra space for village purposes that would allow officials to move out of Village Hall so it could be torn down. Trustee Nicole Gilhooley said she also liked the idea of centralizing the community and village spaces within one building, but Assistant Village Manager Stevie Ferrari warned that doing so could increase the cost of the building from about $25 million, which could be covered through bonds, up to a range of $60 million to $100 million, which is too expensive to issue bonds.
Ultimately, at Village President Michael Garvey’s recommendation, the board directed the village to continue accepting resident feedback through an online survey that was available at the most recent open house so trustees can make a decision at the next meeting
COURTESY OF WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS
COURTESY OF WILLIAMS ARCHITECTS
Three new Brook eld Zoo trustees ready to dive in
Gambs, Pepper, Elebua bring myriad business experience – and passion – to their positions
By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter
Many are excited about the recently announced pregnancy of Brookfield Zoo’s resident bottlenose dolphin, Allie – but fewer more so than Matt Gambs.
Which is convenient, because Gambs was recently one of three appointed to the zoo’s Board of Trustees
“I have a picture at my house, I took a behind-the-scenes tour and I got to meet her, before she was pregnant,” Gambs said of Allie, 37 years old and a five-time mom. “It’s an amazing thing and especially with the new space they have. I’m not a veterinarian, but it’s amazing at 37 that she is going to have another calf.”
Gambs, who serves as chief impact officer at Wintrust, the Rosemont-based financial services company, has a lot of history with these gregarious mammals
“My boys are grown, but when they were kids, it was a special thing to see the dolphins,” he said.
Gambs, who leads Wintrust’s community impact team, joins Stan Pepper, chairman and CEO of Pepper Companies, and Excelon Corp. senior vice president and chief strategy and sustainability officer Sunny Elebua, as new trustees
The business experience of these three will be crucial to help execute Brookfield Zoo’s strategic plan, according to zoo president and CEO Mike Adkesson.
“Earlier this year we released our Next Century Plan that will guide the next 15 years of progress at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, including dynamic plans to reshape animal habitats, guest experiences and impact programs,” Adkesson said in a statement. “Stan, Sunny and Matt all have substantial expertise in major project development and execution.
“They are passionate about our mission and commitment to conservation of wildlife and nature.”
Pepper has his own favorite animal at the zoo – the giraffes
Why? They are simply “cool to be around,”
he said.
“Conservation is a passion of mine, and I needed something else to put my oar in the water,” said Pepper, whose Chicago-based commercial construction company was founded in 1927 by his grandfather, Stanley Pepper. “Brookfield Zoo came up and it was a good idea.”
Pepper said his company does much work on animal habitats around the country, but Brookfield Zoo is special, partly because of the work his firm has done there. That includes Tropical Forests, an anticipated $66 million project that creates nearly three acres of four new outdoor habitats.
“[The zoo has] a lot of opportunity,” he added. “They’ve got a lot of land and a good longterm plan to utilize it, to bring more animals in and create more opportunities. It’s on the edge of doing some great stuff. Dr. Mike [Adkesson] is fantastic, a really good guy.”
Elebua oversees Exelon’s sustainability strategy, including its Path to Clean initiative, and leads efforts to drive changes in technology, policy and regulation necessary to achieve the company’s net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal by 2050. He joined Exelon in 2008 and previously worked in investment banking in the energy and power sector
In leading Wintrust’s community impact team, Gambs focuses on building, strengthening and optimizing relationships that make the greatest impact in the communities the bank serves. In addition to 20 years of leadership in the banking sector, he also has six years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserves.
“Not only is the zoo a customer of ours, but it’s a partner of ours,” Gambs said.
As for Pepper, he oversees Pepper Companies’ strategic direction and resource management. He began his career at the firm at age 15. He also has work experience in private equity, consulting, software development and sustainable products. Prominent Pepper Companies’ projects include Tropical Forests at Brookfield Zoo, the 1060 Project at Wrigley Field, the University of Indianapolis Health Pavilion and the Northern Kentucky University Recreation Center.
“The zoo is a microcosm of habitat,” he said. “You have the power and the water, all the things necessary to bring animals and humans alive.”
“They always put me on the building committee, and that’s probably a good thing,” he added.
Summit man charged for reversing into car twice
Riverside police ticketed a Summit man Jan. 16 for a hit-and-run after he backed into a Riverside woman’s car twice
Around 2 p.m., an officer responded to the intersection of East Quincy Street and South Delaplaine Road for a report of the hit-and-run and spoke with the woman whose car was involved.
According to police, the woman said she had been stopped in traffic on South Delaplaine Road waiting for a train to pass on the BNSF railroad when the white car in front of hers began to reverse and struck her car’s front bumper. She said the car pulled forwar d and the driver started to get out before the vehicle reversed, struck her car’s front bumper a second time and then turned south to flee the scene.
Through watching footage obtained by village cameras on East Burlington Street, Riverside police identified the license plates of the car that had reversed and witnesses the hit-and-run. Police found the plates were registered to an address in Summit, so they contacted Summit police, who sent an officer to locate the car at the address and have it towed.
Riverside police tried and failed to contact the registered owner of the vehicle before he walked into the Riverside Police Department around 6 p.m. and spoke to an officer. The man told police he was stopped in traffic due to the train when he decided to turn around; he said he thought he had room to reverse and did not see the woman’s car before his vehicle struck it. He said he pulled forward and began to get out of his car once he realized what had happened but that he accidentally put the car in reverse instead of in park, which caused it to strike the woman’s car again. He told police he then left the scene because he did not have insurance on his car.
Police issued the man citations for improperly reversing, failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident, leaving the scene of an accident and failing to produce proof of insurance. They gave him a tow receipt for his vehicle and set a Feb. 7 court date before releasing him.
Drunk speeder charged
Riverside police ticketed a woman Jan. 18 for driving drunk after they caught her speeding, police reports show.
Around 2:28 a.m., an officer was on patrol at the intersection of Blackhawk Road and Har-
lem Avenue, checking the speeds of vehicles with radar, when they witnessed a white car drive past at 50 mph in the 30-mph zone while approaching Ogden Avenue. The officer activated their emergency lights to pull the car over, and the driver pulled over near the intersection of 40th Street and Harlem Avenue
According to police, when the officer told the driver they pulled her over due to her speeding, she apologized and “slightly laughed.” While talking with her, the officer observed the woman to have had slow speech, droopy eyes and the odor of alcohol on her breath. When asked if she was OK, the woman said she was “fine, just tipsy,” and admitted after further questions that she had drunk “a couple shots” earlier while celebrating her birthday. After the woman provided police with her driver’s license and proof of insurance, the officer had the woman step out of the car to perform field sobriety tests due to her admission.
After completing the field sobriety tests, the woman agreed to take a preliminary breath test. After multiple failed attempts, the test showed blood alcohol content of .118. Based on the reading and the other tests, the officer arrested the woman for driving under the influence of alcohol and transported her to the North Riverside Police Department for processing After a 20-minute observation period, the woman took another breath test, which showed a blood alcohol content of .116. After being read her Miranda rights, the woman answered some questions from police before saying she did not want to talk further.
Police issued two charges to the woman for driving drunk and a third for speeding. After setting a Feb. 7 court date, police had the woman call an Uber to take her to her destination and released her
These items were obtained from the Riverside Police Department reports dated Jan. 16-18 and the Brookfield Police Department reports dated Jan. 20-27; they represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest
Compiled by Trent Brown
Identity Protection PINs stop identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns. Taxpayers who participate in this program are assigned a six-digit number that they use to prove their identity when they file their federal tax return. The IRS’s Identity Protection PIN is an added layer of security for taxpayers. In the recent past, the Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee called the IP PIN, “The number one security tool currently available to taxpayers from the IRS.”
How to request an IP PIN: After a taxpayer verifies their identity, the Get an IP PIN tool allows people with a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number to request an IP PIN online. Taxpayers should review the identity verification requirements before they try to use the Get An IP PIN tool. Tax pros should advise clients affected by identity theft to request an IP PIN. Even if a thief has already filed a fraudulent tax return,
an IP PIN could prevent the taxpayer from being a repeat victim of tax-related identity theft.
Additional information about IP PINs: An IP PIN is valid for one year. For security reasons, new IP PIN s are generated each year. Some participants will receive their IP PIN in the mail, while others will have to log in to the Get an IP PIN tool to see their current IP PIN. Enrolled taxpayers can log back in to the Get an IP PIN tool to see their current IP PIN.
Taxpayers with an IP PIN must use it when filing any federal tax returns during the year, including prior year tax returns or amended returns. IP PIN users should share their number only with the IRS and their tax preparation provider. The IRS will never call, email or text a request for the IP PIN.
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EXPLORE YOUR POSSIBILITIES
Age Well
Together
VIVA LA VIDA
National Museum of Mexican Art | 1852 W. 19th Street
January 30, February 27 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
LUNCH & COMMUNITY
Kehrein Center for the Arts | 5628 Washington Boulevard February 14 | 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
WALKING & WELLNESS CLUB
Salvation Army Freedom Center | 825 N. Christiana Avenue Fridays | 8:30–10:00 a.m.
Registration appreciated! Anyone 55+ is welcome at these FREE programs.
Kelly is your 30+ year experienced Oak Park based Realtor providing services to a variety of buyers and sellers, including older adults and retirees. Kelly is designated with SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) & ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative). She began her career in real estate in 1994 on the administrative side in River Forest, fell in love with the process and became licensed in 2001. She has been helping clients move confidently ever since. Kelly grew up in Oak Park, currently resides there and is very familiar with the surrounding areas of Chicagoland. Kelly is a full service Realtor assisting in all aspects of your move, including connecting you with related services and professionals.
Broker
Would you like to get moving and take advantage of the super-hot real estate market? Retiree’s real estate specialist Roz Byrne of ROZ Real Estate facilitated the sale of an impressive 24 homes last year, and over half of them were the homes of seniors.
“I’ve held the Seniors Real Estate Specialist �SRES� designation since 2006,” says Roz Byrne, “My favorite group of people to serve are retirees and their families.”
Come to Roz’s upcoming appearances:
Tues April 8th at 10�30a
Ascension Casa Scalabrini in Northlake
Sat April 12th at 10�30a
Oak Park Arms in Oak Park
Weds April 30th at 10�30a
Central Baptist Village in Norridge
Sat May 17th at 2pm
La Grange Pointe in La Grange
THE L ANDMARK VIEW
Nuance and a parking spot
Brookfield’s village government continues to work the weeds of local governance, finding new, often small, but important opportunities to improve its services
Right now the eagle eye is trained on parking spaces for residents with some form of mobility challenge. We take these for granted, right? We might chirp when it turns out the open parking space is actually set aside for a neighbor or, in a commercial area, a shopper who needs the accommodation.
But do we think about how a disability parking spot on a residential block is secured in the first place? Better yet, how do they ever go away? And are there ways to better secure that parking spot for its intended user?
No to all three of those questions We’ve never thought about it Brookfield’s village staf f, though, is thinking about it. From public safety to public works the entire process has been reviewed, including a discussion about continuing to impose a $25 annual renewal fee for each spot.
Here’s what we’ve learned: The exact amount, down to the penny (and that may be overkill), it costs to install a disabled parking sign. It’s $161. We rounded up by four cents. The village also wants to star t painting the curb associated with the parking space as an added visual clue for drivers to back of f the spot. That will cost $62, rounded up 32 cents if our math is right.
That’s one case for continuing the annual fee. It gradually pays for the out-of-pocket costs the village incurs to establish the parking spot. But here’s the other thing. Requiring the modest annual renewal fee also surfaces set-aside spots that no longer need to be set aside. People with a mobility issue, just like other people, move out of town, into assisted living, and sometimes they die. Cancelling the special parking space is not top of mind while packing up a house, or when the executor of a will works to sell a house
The village board nodded favorably at the staff review during a recent meeting. We expect the action to be confirmed shor tly. And that will be another small win and sign of incremental progress in Brookfield.
Going up on Burlington
A long proposed, thoroughly discussed plan to construct a 22unit luxury apartment building on Burlington Avenue in Riverside is a step closer to construction after the village board approved the project in mid-January.
Now it is on the developer, who has been working steadily, to secure a building permit within six months and to complete the 5-story building within 18 months.
This is a victory for intentional planning in Riverside. Adding higher-end housing, adding density along the rail lines, is exactly what the village has chosen. Balancing that with the inevitable, often overblown, wor ries about scale has been well handled here. What’s next?
Vincent Marra, 87
Loved coaching, bowling, painting and dancing
OBITUARIES
pository would be appreciated
Arrangements were handled by The Original Kuratko Family, Brian D. Kuratko-Director
Gloria Maruska, 84
Vincent Marra, 87, a longtime resident of North Riverside, has died. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Vince will be remembered as a sweet, kind, and gentle man with a heart of gold and the patience of a saint. He was extremely proud of his family. He loved coaching his kids’ baseball/softball teams and enjoyed watching his kids’ and grandkids’ sports games and school music performances. He was always willing to do anything or go anywhere. He was very creative, the ultimate “idea man.” He loved bowling, oil painting, and dancing, and was a huge fan of Chicago, especially the Cubs. He enjoyed his longtime role as an usher at Mater Christi Church. He had a great sense of humor and was respectful to everyone with no judgment. Everyone who met him loved him instantly. But mostly, he will be remembered for the love and care he had for his family.
Vince was the husband of JoAnn (née Hipsman) Marra for 52 years, and he was preceded in death by the late Nancy (née Dufal) Marra. He was the father of Vincent (Lois) Marra, Philip (the late Mary) (Lynn Texidor) Marra, Michael (Anna) Marra, Joseph (Missy) Sebek, and Sandy (Brian) Brantner; the grandfather of Nick Marra, Kaitlyn Marra, Megan (Gianni) Tommasone, Nancy Marra, Michael Emery, Jane (Josh) Genovesi, Gianna (fiancé Christian) Marra, Mina Marra, Vincent Marra, Lauren Sebek, Ella Sebek, Hope Sebek, Brady Brantner, and Danny Brantner; the great-grandfather of Giovanni, Dylan, Michael, Anna, Frankie, Rossella, Christian “CJ”, Zeno, and Ginetta; the brother of Joan Zichmiller and Richard Marra; and the uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Services were held on Jan. 24, 2025 at Mater Christi Church, with interment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Vince’s memory to the American Cancer Society or the Chicago Food De-
Co-owned graphics business
Gloria Mae Maruska (nee Ross), 84, of North Riverside, died on Jan. 22, 2025. She was the co-owner of Tape & Label Graphics Inc.
Gloria was the wife of the late Victor Ervin Maruska; the mother of Michael (Jennifer), Joseph (Andrea) Maruska, and Vicki (Brian) Pencak; the grandmother of Olivia, Adam, Victor, Natalia Maruska and Andrew (Diana) Soto, Alyssa and Ella Pencak; the great-grandma of Jameson Burkhardt and Emiliano Soto; the sister of the late Paul Ross; and the aunt and friend of many.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 3 to 8 p.m. and Jan. 29, 9 a.m. till time of services at 9:45 a.m. at Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St., Riverside, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church, with inter ment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society are appreciated.
David Schmuck, 65 Plumber
David A. Schmuck, 65, of Brookfield, died on Jan. 18, 2025. He wo rked as a p lumber. David was the son of the late Fred and Doris Schmuck (nee Freeburg); brother of Don (Susan) Schmuck, Dale (David) Overholt and Duane (Kris) Wi nchester; and the uncle of six.
Memorial visitation will be held on Friday Jan. 31 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Hitzeman Funeral Home & Cremation Services 9445 31st Street, Brookfield, IL 60513. Info rm ation 708-485-2000 or www.HitzemanFuneral.com.
Jose Muratalla, 59
Ow ner of JM Construction.
Jose Muratalla, 59, of Cicero, for merly No rt h Rive rside, died on Jan. 14, 2025. He owned JM C onstruction.
Jose was the husband of Maria; the father of Janet (Ulises), Esther, Jose (Julissa) and Liliana; the grandpa of Thiego, Jose, the late Isaac and late Little Angel; the brother of Trino, Teresa, Jesus, Ester, Salvador and Maria; and the uncle of many.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary Church Riverside on Jan. 25.
Arrangements were handled by Ivins/Moravecek Funeral Home, 80 E. Burlington St. Riverside.
Sports
Abasta becomes 4-year pioneer for RBHS wrestling
By BILL STONE
Contributing Reporter
Encouraged by friends to try wrestling, senior Frankie Abasta joined the Riverside Brookfield High School program as the lone female among the incoming freshmen.
With Abasta among four girls reco gnized on Senior Night Friday, she is believed to be the first four-year girls wrestler in school history.
“I do think that is really cool. I didn’t think I’d be the person to do so but here I am,” Abasta said.
“I am very proud of it. Now that I have [achieved it], I feel like everything’s going to go good.”
The Bulldogs lost to Oak Lawn 32-29 as they prepare for the Hinsdale South Re gional Friday and Saturday. Top-four finishers advance to the Schaumburg Sectional Feb. 14.
in three seasons, and Abasta (13-9 at 125) are the Bulldogs’ returning 2024 sectional qualifiers. Abasta, however, was unable to compete after her left shoulder was injured during her second re gional match. She still managed a qualifying sixth place with a 3-3 re gional record.
Lesley Castillo, Diana Garcia and Samira Giron Cantero also are seniors but none started as freshmen. The girls program officially began their sophomore year.
“[Girls wrestling] has really grown,” Abasta said. “I’m very proud it’s growing very fast. It’s a very lovely sport. It’s hard but it’s lovely.”
Junior Danely Villagomez (18-6 at 155 pounds), going for her second state berth
“[Qualifying] was definitely a highlight, but I got thrown into physical therapy,” Abasta said.
At their first Upstate Eight Conference Meet Saturday at Streamwood, the Bulldogs were eighth (85.5 points) among the 14 teams.
Villagomez won at 155. Junior Estafany Bejarano (12-9 at 170) was third, Castillo (15-8 at 190) was fourth and Abasta, junior Sascha Hayes (3-6 at 235) and sophomore Emily Anaya (16-11 at 135) were fifth.
Abasta joined wrestling with primarily a softball playing background.
“I’ve always been a little more aggressive and my friends recommended [wrestling] to me in middle school,” Abasta said. Her freshman matches were against girls if opponents had them or boys. One of her announced career highlights was beating a male wrestler.
“He was like super hyped he was going to
win with me being a girl. I thought that was funny,” Abasta said.
LTHS girls wrestling
Lyons Township j unior Sofia Ture k str ives to learn from b ut not dwell upon defeat s.
“I try to focus on what’s in front of me and just trying to beat myself from past years,” Turek said.
Turek achieved that Saturday as she won the 135 championship at the West Suburban Conference Meet at Addison Trail after losing in the 135 final in 2024.
Turek (14-4) pinned Glenbard West senior Nydia Jotzat (24-7) in 2:55 for the title after losing their re gular-season meeting.
South Re gional Friday and Saturday seeking top-four finishes to advance to the Schaumburg Sectional Feb. 14.
Senior Avi Gonzalez and sophomore Zoe Connelly are the Lions’ returning 2024 sectional qualifiers, but Connelly is out for the season with an injury. Gonzalez missed the WSC Meet with illness.
“It was pretty crazy. It was like surreal. I didn’t realize it in the moment,” Turek said.
“Having my team there to cheer me on, it was a really crazy feeling. It’s always been a big goal of mine [to win conference].”
Junior Ashley Uhler (11-4 at 115) and freshman Jhania Wickert-Harris (13-4 at 100) both finished second for the Lions (69 points), who were sixth of 14 teams.
A third-year varsity wrestler, Turek is hoping for her first sectional berth after a 1-2 re gional last season, two wins from a then top-six qualifying finish.
Conference joins Turek’s re gular-season invite titles at Lakes and East Aurora.
“[Winning conference] really boosts my confidence because it’s showing all the work I’ve been putting in is paying of f,” Turek said.
“She’s always working hard. She’s always looking [at losses analytically] and that’s what been successful for her, what I like to call her mental toughness,” LTHS coach Darwin DePina said.
“She’s really improved on the mat but also with her leadership skills. She’s more vocal in helping out the younger girls and working with them because we have quite a young team.”
FRANKIE ABASTA
SOFIA TUREK
Energetic Lions can cheer about back-to-back WSC titles
By BILL STONE
Contributing Reporter
After the graduation of 16 seniors, Melissa Marquez and her fellow Lyons Township High School competitive cheerleading teammates were determined to continue the success.
“We all knew it was coming and there was big shoes to fill with a lot of the leadership roles,” Marquez said.
“We [seniors] would all meet together, talk about what we have to do for our team and how we can encourage our team and build our skills as a group to become better for each competition.”
The Lions couldn’t have re plicated any better at the West Suburban Conference Meet Jan. 20 at Hinsdale South.
After winning their first title in 2024, the Lions did so again with a season-best score of 92.08.
Team members who competed are seniors Maddie Brennan, Grace Lannon, Devon Mackenzie, Marquez, Annie Sarno and Katie Villarreal, juniors Erin Gugliuzza, Skyla Hendrix, Sophia Horwath, Vivi Koppel (manager), Aracely McNamara, Ryan Renderman, Maggie Sammon and Bridget Waight, sophomores Averie Grigus, Hayden Livingston, Ashlynn Monckton, Gloria Podolner, Kennedi Ross, Olivia Van Wyck, Audreya Wilkins and Aleigh Zeman and freshman Aylee Holguin.
The Lions are coached by Sharon Lupo and Ana Samaniego. Brennan, Lannan, Marquez, Sarno and Villarreal are fouryear varsity members. Marquez, Mackenzie and Zeman are Brookfield residents.
“I was a lot more excited this year because I didn’t really know if we were going to place first [again],” Sarno said immediately afterward.
“This is our first performance facing our crowd. We’ve been facing a wall and that just brought the energy. We got to perform for a lot of our [supporters].”
The Lions not only won but by 2.80 points over second-place York (89.28). The Lions’ junior varsity team was fifth (80.90).
“That was fun. A 92.08? It is very exciting. This was their goal. They wanted back-toback champions so they did it,” Lupo said.
LTHS pom team earns return trip to IHSA state meet
Team members are seniors A nastasi a Brown, Annie Ketchum, Nisha McGahey, Syd ney Michalak, L eslie Moore, Brooke S hurhay and Brooke Walsh, j uniors Pe yton Carmody, Maddie Dienes, Nora Foley, Hayd en Frazier, A lexis Jain, Brooke Manley, Maeve McCo rm ick, Lucia Nemeth, Greta Newlin, S amantha S exton, Elizabeth S hor rock, Karina Singh and E laina S toltz, sophomores Siena Giord ano, C ampbell McCa rt hy and Natalya T hompson and freshmen Madison Ca rmody, Julia Dienes, A lexa Far mer and K assi dy Powell.
Walsh, Michalak and Frazier are team captains. The Lions are coached by Brittany Smith.
On Sunday, the junior varsity captured the unofficial JV state championship at Glenbrook South for the first time.
“We are very thrilled with our performances this weekend and can’t wait to take the state floor,” Smith said.
At the WSC Meet, the Lions’ 89.17 was edged by York for the title by just .03.
e Lyons Tow nship varsit y competitive cheeleading team won a second straight West Suburban Conference Meet Jan. 20. Front row : Hayden Liv ingston, Aleigh Zeman, Maddie Brennan, Olivia Van Wyck, Annie Sarno, Aylee Holguin, Bridget Waight; Middle row : Grace Lannon, Katie Villarreal, Kennedi Ross, Sophia Hor wath, Aracely McNamara, Gloria Podolner, Averie Grigus, Melissa Marquez ; Back row : Viv i Koppel (manager), Erin Gugliuzza, Ashlynn Monckton, Audreya Wilkins, Devon MacKenzie, Skyla Hendrix, Mag gie Sammon, Ryan Renderman.
“These kids had to ste p it up. We had a lot of kids from the JV [last year] move up. They worked very, very hard. They’re a great group.”
Marquez said the season started “a little rough,” partly because of learning a routine that Lannon said is harder than last year’s with more tumbling and double jump to tuck sequences.
Lannon said a solid competitive performance at Lockport two days earlier strengthened team confidence for conference.
“We went from a rough c ompetition at Buf f alo Grove [Jan. 12] to amazing at Lockpo rt to j ust outstanding [at c onference],” Lannon said.
“We didn’t even know we g ot a 92. It f elt li ke 100. ”
The goal now is a fourth consecutive berth to the IHSA state meet with a top-five finish in the Coed Division at the Buffalo Grove Sectional Saturday.
“Definitely winning two [WSC] titles in a row gives us confidence and energy to
move forward,” Marquez said.
The Lions hope to replicate the energy at the conference meet fueled by numerous family and friends in the packed downstairs and upstairs bleachers.
“This is a lot of our favorite competition because it is so close to home,” Marquez said. “As soon as we stepped on the mat, it was like just all of us were focused on our goal and hitting it hard and winning.”
LTHS/Nazareth poms/dance
Lyons Township’s varsity competitive dance team couldn’t have come much closer to winning the WSC Meet Jan. 20 at Hinsdale South.
The Lions, however, comfortably won the Class 3A Maine East Sectional with a season-best 93.30 points Saturday to qualify for an eighth consecutive IHSA state meet.
Smith said afterward it was the team’s best performance to that point with help from a strong turnout of fans. The Lions’ JV finished fourth (73.60).
Competing at the WSC Meet were Brown, Ketchum, McGahey, Shurhay, Walsh, Peyton Carmody, Foley, Frazier, Manley, McCormack, Nemeth, Shorrock, Singh, Madison Carmody, Julia Dienes and Far mer.
“It was so close, the closest we’ve ever had in conference competition,” Smith said.
“So far, our best [performance], finally, at the right time. We were so happy and I told them after, coming of f the floor, that’s all that matters. We felt good about it.”
In Class 1A, Nazareth Academy returns to the state meet for the fourth straight year after its second-place 84.33 at its Maine East Sectional.
Team members are seniors Emma Chiarito, Lia Jozwiak, Bella Madonia, Maria Nelson, Georgia Panek and Rosaria Ricchio, juniors Elisa Drda, Violet Umbrasas, Lilly Baldwin, Emma Calderon, Gabriella Imbarrato, Bea Keenan and Zoe Weiss, sophomores Norah Cassidy and Shaye Neville and freshmen Kassandra Carreno, Kiley Broderick, Olivia Caputo, Gianna Lavorato and Ivy Wiet. The head coach is Kristen Yarka and assistant coach is Kristi Przybylski.
PHOTO BY ANA SAMANIEGO
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
2025 Street Improvement Program
This project includes the replacement of curb and gutter, sidewalk and driveway aprons, hot-mix asphalt surface removal, frame/lid adjustment, resurfacing, and other associated work.
The bidding documents are available for download starting Thursday, January 23, 2025 at:
www.vrf.us/bids
Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at:
Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305
The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work.
No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening.
Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: HMA Paving
The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids.
Published in Wednesday Journal January 29, & February 5, 2025
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
LEGAL NOTICE
THE LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN
Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway Ste. 101B Chicago, IL 60614
STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss
Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.
In re the Marriage of: Vivian Monroe Moore, Petitioner and Harold Lewis Moore, Respondent, Case No. 2024D008815
The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Harold Lewis Moore, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, Vivian Monroe Moore, for Dissolution of Marriage 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 February 12, 2025, 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.
MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Cook County, Illinois
Published in Wednesday Journal January 15, 22, and 29, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed bids from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7�30 a.m. to 4�00 p.m. local time until 2�00 p.m. on Friday, February 25, 2025 for the following:
Village of Oak Park
Waste Characterization Study Proposal Number: 25�113
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358�5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal January 29, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park -Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302�� will receive electronic proposals until 10�00 a.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2025 for Project: 24�14, Bridge Rehabilitation Program. Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below. In general, the work includes deck slab repairs (full depth and partial depth), protective shielding installation, approach hot-mix asphalt removal and replacement, expansion joint replacement, concrete sidewalk and curb repairs, fence and railing repairs; and all appurtenant work thereto.
Plans and proposal forms may be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, February 6, at 4�00 p.m. Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oakpark.us/your-government/ budget-purchasing/requestsproposals or at www.questcdn. com under login using QuestCDN number 9510247 for a non-refundable charge of $64.00. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No bid documents will be issued after 4�00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.
The work to be performed pursuant to this Proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.
THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer
Published in Wednesday Journal January 29, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed Proposals from qualified consultants at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7�30 a.m. to 4�00 p.m. local time until 2�00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 for the following:
Village of Oak Park Landscape Consulting and Inspection Services Proposal Number: 25�111
Bid documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oak-park. us/bid. For questions, please call Public Works at �708� 358� 5700 during the above hours.
Published in Wednesday Journal January 29, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
The Village of Oak Park will receive qualifications submittals via email to the Public Works Department, at eduffy@oak-park.us until 3�00 P.M. on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, for the following: Project 25�106 � Water & Sewer Rate Study
The Village of Oak Park is issuing a Request for Qualifications �RFQ� to solicit qualification submittals from interested consulting firms to develop a five-year, comprehensive Water and Sewer Rate Study. The Request for Qualifications may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www. oak-park.us/bid starting on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. For questions, please call or email Erin Duffy, Deputy Public Works Director, at 708�358� 5700 or eduffy@oak-park.us
Published in Wednesday Journal January 29, 2025
session to session and they have come to us in a variety of ways. Some of them have been in the audience at a previous show and have approached us and said: “I want to do that.” Some of them have come through our own personal and professional networks, or they have been in another storytelling event or process that we met along the way.
Q. How crucial is it to have a safe place for women of color, and women in general to express themselves and explore these topics?
I think it’s absolutely critical for our self-protection, for our healing, for our surviving and our thriving. And especially considering the political moment that we see ourselves walking into in the future, I think they’ll still even be more critical.
Q. What is this event bringing to the community?
I think it’s bringing joy, it is bringing celebration, and it’s bringing people together in a way that has been very isolating because of this moments of uncertainty. Isolating because we are still actively recovering from all of the trauma and loss that we’ve experienced during the pandemic and post-pandemic. It is giving us an opportunity to feel unified and to celebrate each other in a way that we probably don’t get enough times to celebrate each other
Q. Are there any events coming to the west side in the future?
It just depends, you know, our relationships. One of my roles as the co-founder is to build partnerships and we continue to seek out partnerships that make sense for us, so who knows what the future brings? We do two shows a year as a collective and then, all of us individual storytellers do other things, so it just depends on where the opportunity is
More info:
SOL Collective website: chisolcollective.com/ Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/p/ SOL-Collective-Storytelling-by-Women-of-Color-100075819836151/
Oak Park’s North Avenue, bite by bite
A journey along North Avenue reveals a mix of culinary staples and fresh avors that bring Oak Park’s northern boundary to life
By RISÉ SANDERS-WEIR Contributing Reporter
Oak Park’s stretch of North Avenue is not as restaurant-filled as River Forest/ Elmwood Park’s Section, but it’s a dining destination that sometimes gets overlooked by those of us “south of the border.” Here’s a roundup of what’s new and tasty at our norther n boundary.
Heading from east to west the first restaurants on the south side of North Avenue are in a strip mall. J&J Fish has long anchored the mall with wings, catfish, gizzards aplenty.
The restaurant hosted an event for his family and friends and they have a poster of him up in the restaurant. His parents say that North Ave Falafel’s chicken shawarma wrap and Alpine Food Shop subs were his go-to treats
“It’s hilarious – at his memorial, one of his friends called him a ‘sandwich connoisseur.’ I have never been prouder,” said his father, Brian Souders.
Just past Narragansett, at the next strip mall over, China Chop Suey has stood the test of time. A new location of the locally-based chain Taco Pros is under construction in the old Surf ’s Up space.
Continuing west, at the intersection with Oak Park Avenue, Michael’s Beef House upgraded their restaurant and refreshed the menu a few years ago.
While you can still get a Chicago dog, Italian beef and many burgers, they also feature chicken and fish sandwiches and five different salads.
Passion Eats Express a Buona Beefa Rainbow Cone
The Onion Roll a
Woodbine Nor th Av e
Na Siam a
Michael’s Beef House a a Nor th Ave Falafel a Linda Michocana
Taco Pros a
Across the street in Galewood, — making one exception to the tour of the south side of the street — is another strip mall. Linda Michoacana serves ice cream and savory treats. On weekend, they add homemade tamales. Flavors are chicken and green salsa, chicken and red salsa, rajas con queso, and sweet versions. Pre-ordering is the best way to make sure you get the ones you want.
In the same mall is North Avenue Falafel. Owner Youssef Salama forged a special bond through food with Oak Park teen Hank Souders, who died recently at the age of 19.
it is still delivering Jewish deli and NY diner style treats, like hand sliced lox. Bagels are made in-house, and the ones that don’t sell are sliced, toasted, then given to customers along with butter and jelly when they settle in at a table.
Oak Park Ave.
China Chop Suey a J&J Fish a Ridgeland Narragensett
continued from page 16 c
“We brought the chocolate egg cream to Oak Park. I do not know of another diner that serves egg creams in the area, but they are a must try and very different from the Chicago Chocolate Phosphate,” said co-owner, Ryan Rosenthal.
Edging closer to Harlem, Buona Beef has been at the corner of Belleforte since 1989. It was the second location for the Buonavolanto family’s growing business. Since 2018 their ventures include Rainbow Cone ice cream.
The iconic Rainbow Cone with its “slices” of chocolate, Palmer House (vanilla, cherry, walnuts), followed by pistachio and orange sherbet — has been a Chicago tradition for almost a century.
A block further on is Na Siam. New owners Knock and Honey Wareewanich came from Thailand to take over this Thai staple eight months ago. The menu includes all the Thai food basics, but they are starting to branch out into more flavors and tastes rooted in their memories of home.
“We love this area. We could see the potential of this restaurant. At first, we try not to change anything much. But we adapt the food as we get to know customers,” said Knock Wareewanich
Just past Woodbine, The Onion Roll also got a renovation refresh recently, but
Now it’s expanding. Rainbow Cone is now in six states. One of those location is at Buona on North Ave.
“We always kind of had that side dining room. Over the last several years as our business shifted a lot to online delivery, it kind of left some vacant space,” said Joe Buonavolanto III. “Rainbow Cone express version as we call it.”
Last, but not least, is the strip mall that marks the other end of our journey. Several national chains have outlets there, including a new Wing Snob location in the works. But eating local means eating with your soul and that’s what you get at Passion Eats Express. Owner and chef Shawanda Simmons says it’s “pick up and go.” You can call ahead, ordering fresh chicken wings, catfish, spaghetti. The goal for Oak Park was to reestablish that Souther n customer service. Every person that walks through the door, whether you are doing a catering order or you are just doing lunch, we want you to feel that you are part of the family.” Said Simmons. That sentiment is found all along North Avenue. These restauranteurs show a dedication to customers and fresh flavors. They don’t just have an address in Oak Park, they are a part of the community.
Harlem
East
Black History Month: A guide to events
By DALAL ORFALI Vibe Assistant Editor.
As February approaches, we’re celebrating Black History Month, dedicated to showcasing African American heritage, highlighting struggles and triumphs, and honoring the generations that paved the way toward liberation. Here’s a selection of events to help you celebrate:
AUSTIN
Struggle & Resilience
■ Saturday, March 1, at 2 p.m.
■ The Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 West Washington Blvd.
Enjoy a ballet performance honoring women’s empowerment and resilience. The Caged Bird Sings, in collaboration with Overshadowed and Tobin James, will resonate with the history and culture of Black and Latina women.
Black history month bingo
■ Monday, February 3, at 6:30 p.m.
■ Austin Branch 5615 W. Race Ave.
Join the Austin Branch for a fun Black History Bingo game, testing teenagers’ knowledge of Black history, with prizes to be won! This event is free and open to those aged 13 and up.
FOREST PARK
Edmonia Lewis and The Death of Cleopatra:
Uncovering the Forest Park Connection
■ Wednesday, Feb 19 at 7p.m.
■ Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd.
The library hosts a talk by Amy BinnsCalvey on Edmonia Lewis, a groundbreaking African American and Native American sculptor, and her work The Death of Cleopatra. Discover its connection to Forest Park and celebrate Lewis’s life, and le gacy. Sign up on the library’s website at www.fppl.org
More Than a Month: Liberated Arts Movement gallery opening night
■ Saturday, Feb 1 at 6 p.m.
■ Forest Park Public Library – art gallery 7555 Jackson Blvd. Forest Park Enjoy Forest Park art gallery’s opening night in partnership with the Liberated Arts Movement. The event include perfor mances, artist talks, refreshments, and more. Re gister at www.fppl.org.
HYDE PARK
Legacy: A Black Physic ian Reckons with Rac ism in Medicine – book signing event
■ Tuesday, January 28, at 7 p.m.
■ Call & Response Books 1390 East Hyde Park Blvd.
Dr. Uché Blackstock, a physician and leader on bias in healthcare, talks about her memoir, highlighting her advocacy against healthcare inequities. Event tickets are available on Eventbrite.
OA K PARK
Black history month celebration
■ Saturday, February 08, at 11 a.m.
■ The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association 178 Forest Ave #1
The Village of Oak Park celebrates Black History Month with speakers, performers, activities, music, and refreshments. Registration available online at oak-park.us.
Living legacies & the Black history of Oak Park
■ Saturday, Feb 24, at 1 p.m.
■ Oak Park Main Library (Veterans Room) 834 Lake St.
Join an inspiring conversation is set to feature three of Oak Park’s remarkable Black elders and educators: George Bailey, Howard D. Simmons, and Betty Smitherman. Dive into the history of the community through their perspectives and their vision on the path forward. These gathering will to offer invaluable insights and reflections on Oak Park’s past, present, and future.
