Wednesday Journal 020520

W E D N E S D A Y

February 5, 2020 Vol. 39, No. 27 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Girls wrestling thrives Sports, page 38

River Forest takes developer to court Paris being forced to finish or remove back deck

By MARIA MAXHAM Staff Reporter

The River Forest home of Marty Paris, president and founder of Sedgwick Development, which is involved in the proposed development at Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue, has come under fire by the village of River Forest, which will pursue the issue in circuit court, according to Village Administrator Eric Palm.

Palm, who described the situation as a code enforcement issue, said that following the December 2019 expiration of the permit for an unfinished deck with a fireplace on the back of the house at 711 Park Ave., the village is taking action to force Paris and wife Kerry Paris, who is also listed as homeowner, to either complete the project or tear down and remove the structure.

This follows years of inaction by Paris, son of former village president Frank Paris, who was served with a stop work order by the village in 2016 when he began the house project without a permit. Eventually a permit was granted to Paris, but the work was never completed.

Palm said the village will be officially giving the Parises paperwork and a notice of intent to go to court this week, after which the village must wait 15 days to actually file with the court.

The goal, said Palm, is for the judge to compel See PARIS on page 16

Discussing Dignity

Photo by Kevin Penczak, WBEZ

Krista Tippett reads from “The Age of Dignity” by Oak Park resident Ai-Jen Poo, whom Tippett interviewed at Unity Temple, Friday night, for her show “On Being.” See story and more photos, pages 10-11.

Al’s Grill hailed for dementia-friendly service Oak Park recognizes restaurant for helping those living with dementia

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

As Oak Park charges ahead toward achieving dementia-friendly status, the village has recognized Al’s Grill, 1100 Madison St., as the dementia-friendly champion of the restaurant sector.

“It’s a great feeling because it means a lot,” said Al’s General Manager Pete Mourtokokis, the son-in-law of owner Vasilios Loutos.

Perfectly situated near Belmont Village and Rush Oak Park Hospital, Al’s Grill has for years utilized compassionate practices that made it a welcoming spot

for people of all abilities, especially those living with dementia.

“It’s important to us, and aside from that, it’s important just in general for businesses to know how to deal with them, how to help them,” said Mourtokokis.

See AL’S GRILL on page 12

SUBSCRIBE! O N LY $ 38 A Y E A R !

@OakPark.com/subscribe • Enter “FREE MONTH” in comments for...you guessed it...a FREE month!

2

FPSD91 Kindness ad (FPR) 012220.pdf

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

1

1/20/20

11:06 AM

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

I N S I D E

R E P O R T

Local product featured on Goop Amongst the amethyst crystal-infused water bottles, apple cider vinegar capsules and golden handcuffs, actress Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness and lifestyle company, Goop, is selling an exciting new product developed by Oak Park acupuncturist Mary Jane Neumann.

Neumann’s stainless steel Hegu Acupuncture Rings stimulate the pressure point between the thumb and the index finger, which is believed to relieve minor and occasional headaches.

“There is a growing demand for drug-free alternatives for pain, and I’m happy Hegu is a small part of the solution,” Neumann said in an email to the Wednesday Journal.

In her work, Neumann focuses on pain management, women’s health, and facial rejuvenation. She’s been practicing in Oak Park since 2006. She currently operates out of famed author Ernest Hemingway’s childhood home.

“I created Hegu acupressure rings in 2012 as a take home solution for my patients, but I’m excited that they are now gaining national and international exposure,” she said.

The rings retail on Goop for $55 and come in a package of two. There are three sizes — small, medium and large.

The large rings also work on pressure points located in the feet.

Photo provided

In January, River Forest resident Donna Wilcox won the Get10Give10 sweepstakes offered by TCC, a Verizon retailer. Wilcox was awarded $10,000 during a check presentation on Jan. 31 at TCC’s River Forest store, 7261 Lake St. But in addition to the money Wilcox got to take home, she was given the opportunity to choose a charity to receive $10,000 on her behalf. Wilcox chose the American Cancer Society.

In a press release, Wilcox was quoted as saying she chose it because every woman in her family has been diagnosed with some form of cancer. She hopes to break that pattern.

Getting out (Above) Harper Bortscheller, 3, of Oak Park, gets help climbing the gymnasium equipment from her father, Mark Bortscheller, while Jude Kakos, 1, (left) considers his next move on the playground at Beye Elementary School, taking advantage of warmer temps.

Stacey Sheridan

TWO WINNERS: Donna Wilcox of River Forest won $10K and the opportunity to choose an organization to receive another $10K. She chose the American Cancer Society.

River Forester wins $10K and donates $10K

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Wilcox plans to use her winnings to help buy a new car.

“It’s so great TCC is giving back to its customers and their communities this way,” she said. “I set out this year with the hopes of saving $10,000 toward a new, more reliable car. I couldn’t believe it when I got the call [from TCC]. It just goes to show that if you aim for something and put it out into the world, you may just end up getting that extra help in reaching it.”

Wilcox was the second Get10Give10 winner announced by TCC since the sweepstakes launched in November 2019.

TCC is a Culture of Good Inc. company and makes ongoing investments in the local communities where it operates.

Earlier this year, the company donated more than 140,000 backpacks with school supplies at TCC stores across the country and gave supply packs to more than 6,000 teachers across the U.S.

Maria Maxham

8th case of pertussis confirmed at OPRF

The running tally of pertussis, or whooping cough, diagnoses at Oak Park and River Forest High School has hit eight, OPRF officials announced on Feb. 3. The diagnosis is the most recent announced case in a wave of them at Oak Park and River Forest public schools.

According to a Wednesday Journal article published last month, as of Jan. 15, there were 12 confirmed cases of whooping cough at River Forest District 90 schools and eight at Oak Park District 97 schools.

Schools are required to inform community members of each positive diagnosis of pertussis, but the districts “are dependent on our families to first inform school nurses of such diagnoses,” according to Gwen WalkerQualls, D200’s senior director of pupil personnel services.

“Although some instances of pertussis can appear to be relatively mild, we ask that families who have received a diagnosis still share that information with the school nurse. In this way,

we can help other families watch for potential symptoms in their students.”

If your child is diagnosed with pertussis, please notify the OPRF Health Services Department (nurses@oprfhs. org or 708-434-3234) as soon as possible, Walker-Qualls said.

Michael Romain

P.E.O. celebrates 100 years

The Illinois BI chapter of the women’s philanthropic education organization, P.E.O., held a celebratory tea at First Presbyterian in River Forest in honor of the chapter’s 100th birthday.

With chapters throughout North America, P.E.O. applauds and supports the advancement of women by raising money for scholarships, grants, awards and loans.

Founded in Oak Park in 1920, the Illinois BI chapter celebrated its 90th birthday in 2010 and vowed to raise $100,000 for P.E.O. projects.

As of 2020, the group surpassed its goal. The funds raised (including selling donuts at Farmers Market) will be distributed at the Illinois State P.E.O. Convention this June.

Stacey Sheridan

3

4

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Feb. 5-12

BIG WEEK 40th Anniversary Concert: C.J. Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band Friday, Feb. 7, 8:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s:

C.J. Chenier, Grammy-nominated musician and recording artist, is a Creole, born and raised in an indigenous American culture with its distinct language, cuisine and music. He delivers soulful vocals and accordion-driven Zydeco and Blues. $15, advance: $20, at door.

6615 Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn.

Winter Exploration Day Saturday, Feb. 8, Noon to 3 p.m., Thatcher Woods Pavilion: Learn to navigate using new-found orienteering skills, make a craft using natural materials, track animals and learn photography skills. Free. Chicago Ave. west of Thatcher, River Forest.

Chicago Arabic Music Ensemble Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 to 3:30 p.m., River Forest Library: Explore the songs, instruments, styles and people who create the sounds of the Arabic world and learn the shared musical history of East and West. Brought in partnership with River Forest Township. 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest.

Thrive Speaker Series: Trauma Thursday, Feb. 6, 7 to 9 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library: Hear from two leading experts in the field of domestic violence and learn how gender-based violence affects everyone and how we can help prevent it.

In collaboration with Sarah’s Inn. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

GriefShare Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 to 11 a.m., Grace Lutheran Church: If you’re grieving the loss of someone, find comfort and support at this group that meets weekly. More: 708-366-6900, gracechurch@graceriverforest.org.

7300 Division, River Forest.

Season of Hope Through Feb. 7, Oak Park Township, Oak Park Police Station, Oak Park Library, Beye Elementary: Help those in need throughout the community with donations of gently used or new coats, gloves, boots, and other winter gear. OP Township: 105 and 130 S. Oak Park Ave.; OP Police: 123 Madison; OP Library: 834 Lake St.; Beye: 230 N. Cuyler Ave., Oak Park.

Music to Warm Your Heart and Soul Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, 8 to 9:30 p.m., Ernest Hemingway’s Birthplace Museum: Guitarist Stephane Wrembel will showcase his new album, Django L’Impressionniste, which features meditative solo works by Django Reinhardt influenced by Ravel and Debussy, and is the first modern recorded collection of these compositions. CDs will be available for sale and signing. All ages. $40. Tickets/more: hemingwaybirthplace.com/programs-events. 339 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park.

Friday, Feb. 7, 7:30 to 9 p.m., Compound Yellow: See the Irving Artists Trio - violinist Joanna Nerius, violist Willie McLellan and cellist Alexa Muhly – performing works by Schubert, Beethoven and Dohnányi. $10 or what you can.

RSVP: info@compoundyellow.com; facebook.com/compoundyellow. Note: Stairs are used to reach performance space. 244 Lake St., Oak Park.

Sunday, Feb. 9, 4 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church: Hear international concert organist, choral conductor and lecturer Gail Archer perform works by Ukrainian and Russian composers. Free. 7300 Division St., River Forest.

Monday, Feb. 10, 1:15 p.m., Nineteenth Century Club: Jonathan Beyer (baritone), Amanda Crider (soprano) and Michelle McGovern (flautist) will perform love-themed music from “Opera, Jazz and Musical Theater.” $15, suggestion donation. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Wednesday, Feb. 12, 7:30 p.m., Nineteenth Century Club: At this Henry Fogel Presents Evenings of Great Music and Conversation concert, violinist Heather Wittels and pianist Andrew Rosenblum present a diverse program from the classical, romantic and modern eras. The audience is invited to engage with the performers and Fogel following the concert. $30; $25, members; $10, students. Tickets: nineteenthcentury. org or at door. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Grief Journaling Workshop Thursday, Feb. 6, 6 to 8 p.m., Maze Library: Have you experienced the loss of a loved one? Sessions begin with prompts followed by time to journal. At the end, there is time to share (optional). Resources for grief, where to get help, writing and more is provided. All welcome. First Thursday and fourth Sunday each month through May 24. Come when you like. Registration encouraged: oppl.org/ calendar. 845 Gunderson Ave., Oak Park.

Community Listening Sessions Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 to 4 p.m., and Monday, Feb. 10, 6 to 8 p.m., Scoville Room, Main Library: The Oak Park Library seeks input on choosing an anti-racism training partner.

Reesheda Graham Washington, community leader, is facilitating sessions to take in community feedback. Childcare available. More/register: oppl.org/calendar.

834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BIG WEEK

Hot Topics to Enrich Your Life in 2020

THRIVE TALKS

Valentine’s Market

A FREE Speaker Series: Inspiring Healthy Families

Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oak Park Conservatory: Shop for blooming plants and flowers such as orchids, anthuriums, sweetheart hoyas, succulent heart gardens, fresh cut bouquets and more while sipping hot cocoa and coffee and sampling chocolates. Children can visit the chocolate exploration station. 615 Garfield, Oak Park.

Presented by Thrive Counseling Center

Thursday, February 6, 2020

7 p.m. — 8:30 p.m.

Oak Park Public Library, Main Library, Veterans Room 834 Lake Street, Oak Park

Symphony of OP-RF Fundraiser: Paint Your Pet Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 to 5:30 p.m., One Lake Brewing: Be guided through completing a portrait of your pet, based on a photo sent in and sketched onto a canvas before the event. No experience necessary. Ages 12+; under 18 should be accompanied by an adult. Register/send photo by Feb. 6. $45 includes all supplies and a prize-drawing ticket. Food and beverages may be purchased before and during the event. Tickets: thesippingmuse.com/event/fundraiser-symphonyoprf/. 1 Lake St., Oak Park.

Oscarthon Saturday, Feb. 8, Veterans Room, Main Library: View Oscar-nominated films while enjoying popcorn and having a chance at raffle prizes.

9:30 a.m., Honeyland | 11:15 a.m., Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (R) | 2:15 p.m., Parasite (R) More: oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Affordable Housing the H.A.R.D. Study Tuesday, Feb. 11, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Nineteenth Century Club: Join Kelly Keliman, chair of the H.A.R.D. Study, a threeyear project by the Cook County League of Women Voters, which asked “What can Cook County government do to promote affordable housing for families with children while reducing segregation?” Learn about the findings and discuss the implications. Questions: lwvoprf1924@ gmail.com. Free. Hosted by League of Women Voters of OP/RF. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Local Art Reception Friday, Feb. 7, 7 to 9 p.m., Oak Park Art League: At Domestic Moments, view art exploring tensions, work and leisure of suburban life. Through Feb. 28. More: oakparkartleague.org/exhibition-calendar. 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park.

Reception Sunday, Feb. 9, 3 to 5 p.m., Art Gallery, Main Library: View work by the Oak Park Photography Club, on exhibit through Feb. 28. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Violence against Women: The Hidden Trauma Which Impacts Us All

with Colleen M. Sutkus, ICDVP, Marian Sassetti, MD, FAAFP and Ave Zuccarino Violence against women affects all of us whether we are young, old, male, female or non-binary. We often feel helpless to confront violence against women in all its forms: intimidation, gender discrimination, sexual harassment, domestic violence, date rape. This talk, with two leading experts in the field of domestic violence, will help us learn to recognize gender-based violence and play a role preventing it.

Colleen M. Sutkus has been the director of Training and Education at Sarah’s Inn since 2009 and currently oversees all internal and external training, including curriculum development and evaluation, training and outreach. Ms. Sutkus is an Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional with 30 years of experience in the domestic and sexual violence and child welfare fields.

Marian Sassetti MD is a family physician and has lived and worked in the Oak Park community for more than 30 years. She is an assistant professor of Family Medicine at Rush Medical College. Dr. Sassetti is an expert in violence against women and teaches health care providers across the country how to recognize and to minister to victims of violence. She has developed curricula and published articles on violence against women. Currently, she serves as a content expert for the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians’ program on Preventing Sexual Harassment in Healthcare.

Ave Zuccarino is a landscape design specialist and local business owner. She has agreed to share her story of domestic violence as a part of this talk. Ave will remind us that violence against women and its devastating effects cut across all racial, socioeconomic and class lines.

All THRIVE TALKS are open to the public and free of charge. www.thrivecc.org/thrive-talks/

RSVP to Wynne Lacey at wlacey@thrivecc.org or 708.383.7500 x111

“What Truth Sounds Like” Tuesday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m., Lund Auditorium, Dominican University: Public intellectual and political commentator Michael Eric Dyson will discuss his book, What Truth Sounds Like: RFK, James Baldwin and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America. $10.

Tickets/more: events.dom.edu/dyson. 7900 W. Division, River Forest.

HOPE

RESILIENCE

R EC OV E RY

120 South Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 383-7500 www.thrivecc.org

5

6

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Boykin’s back. And holding court

D

orothy Brown, the longtime Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court, has maxed out her pension and chosen to retire. Better outcome for her than the indictment threat that has been hanging over her head seemingly forever.

For Cook County voters it is just good riddance to another machine Democrat who ran an important office incompetently and without ambition.

You ever visit an office of the court clerk? A trip back in time to a send-up of a 1960s office.

Piles of file folders stacked on top of file cabinets, bored staffers and a chronic shortage of carbon paper. Pitiful.

The March primary is coming and, because this is Cook, the winner of the Democratic race will be the next court clerk. There are four contestants. One is the party-backed Michael Cabonargi, who has experience on the county’s Board of Review. Iris Martinez is the first female Hispanic elected to the State Senate.

Jacob Meister is running again for this office having lost to Brown in 2016. He stakes a claim to being a party outsider with deep understanding of technology needed to fix what’s broken.

Then there is Richard Boykin, the Oak Parker in the race. You’ll remember Boykin as the former 1st District Cook County Commissioner who unexpectedly to many lost his first re-election bid. The man has a taste for public office — for public service he would say — having tested the waters for races for the U.S. Senate, for county board president against his nemesis Toni Preckwinkle, all before he lost his seat to current Commissioner Brandon Johnson. And, of course, Boykin is the perpetual rumored backup to Cong.

Danny Davis if Davis ever decides to retire, which will not be this November.

I liked Boykin. Partly that was because of my strong disdain for his predecessor, the invisible Earlean Collins who held the 1st District seat for decades without accomplishing anything for the West Side, the near west ’burbs or Proviso Township. I also liked Boykin for his independent streak, for his passion for

complicated issues such as urban violence. In contrast to the somnambulant Collins, I admired his willingness, his desire to get himself on TV and in the newspapers talking about the district. That desire tilted toward showboating at times and was reinforced by his experience as a minister claiming a bully pulpit.

Last week we sat down to talk about why he is back at it and what path he sees to winning this race against the party candidate and two others.

When I suggested that reforming the court clerk’s office seemed fundamentally a technology job that didn’t suit his passions, he inevitably pushed back, calling the office “the front door to the justice system.” The county’s “most vulnerable” find themselves up against a court system that is confusing, punitive in its fines and fees, in its inequities in bonding out those with some wealth while jailing before trial those without resources.

Poorer residents, mostly people of color, he says, lack digital access to the courts, are poorly represented with a shortage of legal aid organizations and not simply in criminal matters but when it comes to filing a will or other standard legal documents.

“For lawyers it may be a tech issue. Yes, get rid of paper. Make it cloud-based. All for that. But my vision is for transformation of the office. It is about access and accountability,” said a revving-up Boykin.

While he says his goal is to “root out waste and abuse, the party wants to control the office for the 1,400 jobs.” County board President Preckwinkle, he says, already controls the State’s Attorney and the Public Defender’s offices. “They can’t control me,” he says.

I’ve long ago given up predicting election outcomes. But when it comes to control, if Boykin were to win this race, Oak Parkers would hold both the County Court Clerk’s Office and the County Assessor’s Office via Fritz Kaegi. And there are ongoing rumors that Maywood’s Karen Yarbrough, the current county clerk, contemplates an Oak Park move.

Total dominion.

For what that’s worth.

DAN HALEY

Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois 60302 PHONE 708-524-8300 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com | www.RiverForest.com CIRCULATION Jill Wagner, 708-613-3340 circulation@oakpark.com DISPLAY, DIGITAL, EVENT ADVERTISING Dawn Ferencak, 708-613-3329 dawn@oakpark.com

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SALES Mary Ellen Nelligan, 708-613-3342 maryellen@oakpark.com NEWS/FEATURES Dan Haley, 708-613-3301 dhaley@wjinc.com

CALENDAR Michelle Dybal calendar@wjinc.com SPORTS/PARKS James Kay, 708-613-3319 james@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, Illinois (USPS No. 0010-138).

In-county subscription rate is $32 per year, $57 for two years. Annual out-of-county rate is $40. © 2020 Growing Community Media NFP.

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

At OPRF, an equity course, for students by students

New ‘solution-based’ offering tackles topics of race, oppression

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

In December 2018, a group of Oak Park and River Forest High School students proposed to District 200 school board members a racial equity course created mostly by students and that centered on student perspectives.

Now, students and administrators are well on their way to making the course a reality.

Naomi Leach and Rhyan Miller were among the OPRF students who presented to the board in 2018. They’ve since graduated, but returned to the school during a board meeting held Jan. 23 to formally introduce the Youth and Action-Race Equity course.

“We came up with this idea of having a class where we discuss race in modern terms past slavery and oppression topics, because we felt that even when we did try to tackle race in class at all, it was frustrating,” Leach told board members.

“Our teachers didn’t even know how to hold a conversation with it and it was very hard for students of color and non-students of color to have a conversation,” she said, “because they were afraid it would be disrespectful or they’d be easily offended.”

Miller said that the class “is definitely a safe space for these topics to happen and by it being student-drive, students can actually talk to other students and create a safe dialogue between each other, instead of having it be controlled or forcing it.”

Back in December 2018, Greg Johnson, then the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said that the high school’s Spoken Word Club is a model for how the course might work logistically. As with Spoken Word, some students will be identified to train as student-leaders, who will then “push out to other courses to facilitate curriculum.”

At the time, Johnson said that the administration was working to identify teachers to develop and teach the course. Last year, D200 Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt-Adams implemented an organizational realignment, with Johnson promoted to associate superintendent and LeVar J. Ammons hired as director of equity, a position the board created to help administer initiatives like the Youth and Action-Race Equity course.

“We’re looking to bring awareness to the disenfranchisement of racially diverse groups, so that we can drive that conversation forward,” Ammons told board members on Jan. 23.

In a district memo, Ammons explained that the course is “solution-based, whereby students will engage in conversations that

increase their understanding of racial equity” and will “also have the opportunity to critically think about necessary steps to challenge racial inequity.”

At the Jan. 23 meeting, OPRF teacher Lavie Raven, who is spearheading the development of the course, said that the district has partnered with Chicago Freedom School to facilitate four separate full-day trainings between January and March in four different areas: anti-oppression, understanding adultism, creating positive partnerships and generating solutions in solidarity.

According to its website, Chicago Freedom School “creates new generations of critical thinkers who use their unique experiences and power to create a just world. Inspired by the Mississippi Freedom Schools of the Civil Rights Era, CFS takes an innovative approach to youth activism, leadership development, and movement building.”

“About every two weeks in the class, we introduce a main topic or series of topics, concepts and a relevant vocabulary through intertextual resources, which means there are books, articles, artworks, films and music tied to those concepts and the students,” Raven told board members.

Raven said that the burgeoning studentleaders learn a range of concepts, and conduct academic research and critical inquiry together before “conceptualizing how to transmit the information they’re learning to other students and to use Chicago Freedom School as a model.”

He added that he’s identified other OPRF teachers, such as Avi Lessing and Devon Alexander, to help facilitate the trainings. Raven said he expects more OPRF teachers to help write curriculum for the course over the summer.

Ammons said that Youth and Action-Race Equity class participants will develop and facilitate workshops that will be incorporated into three classes -- Youth and Social Justice, College Prep U.S. History and AP Psychology -- at the end of this semester.

Ultimately, he explained, the goal is to establish the class as a standalone civic engagement course with multiple sections that will also incorporate the involvement of parents, among other goals.

On Jan. 23, D200 board President Jackie Moore praised Leach and Miller for their work in bringing the course about. Many of the students were members of the extracurricular group Students Advocating for Equity.

“These two young ladies here are amazing and have tenacity and drive like you can’t believe,” Moore said. “There were moments when literally their plan was in the trashcan and they pulled it out and I promised them they would have the support they needed. This has been a vision since I got on the board … and watching you all now come back and lend your expertise and leadership to this is so awesome.”

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

share the

7

love s a l e

F E B R U A RY 7 - 17

buy one, get one

50% OFF STO R E W I D E

OAK PARK

121 N. Marion St. • 708-848-4572 Artisans have been paid in full. Offer valid at participating stores and online from 2/7/2020 at 12 a.m. EST to 2/17/20 at 11:59 p.m. PT. Discount applied at checkout. One coupon per customer. Not valid with other offers or discounts, or purchase of gift card, consumables and Bunyaad Rugs. Store specific restrictions may apply.

Broaden your skills, expose yourself to a new style, give the gift of music

Enjoy the best coffee, tea, smoothies & free WIFI

Fit right in to this eclectic neighborhood bar, never pay a cover for live, local music

Online: FriendlyMusic.Community Call: (708) 749-1932 Visit: 6731-33 Roosevelt, Berwyn

8

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Oak Park OKs elevator subsidy for Lake Street building Troubled building near Unity Temple gets upgrade

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

The unoccupied six-story, 64-unit apartment building, 855 Lake St., just east of Unity Temple, is being restored with a promise of affordable housing units.

Chicago-based Icon Clark LLC purchased the building in May 2018 for $3.97 million and has steadily been renovating its interior and exterior.

At a Feb. 2 meeting, the Oak Park village board accepted a recommendation from the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation (OPEDC) to subsidize construction of a new full cab elevator by providing a grant of $260,000 to Icon Clark.

Upon inspection of the building, the fire department recommended the addition of an enclosed staircase and an external elevator which would improve accessibility for both tenants and emergency responders. The costs of such additions were not factored into the purchase price as they are not required by village code, according to OPEDC. While Icon Clark has agreed to pay for the construction of a stairwell, the cost of adding an elevator is not financially viable, according to OPEDC. OPEDC made this recommendation based on the intended outcome of increased safety, as well as “the preservation of affordable and accessible housing in the downtown area,” as stated in its letter of recommendation to the village board.

The letter of recommendation said Icon “will commit to keeping 20 percent of the units affordable to renters at or below 50 percent area median income (AMI) for at least 15 years as part of its financing agreement with Community Investment Corporation and The Preservation Compact’s Opportunity Investment Fund.”

Beyond that, OPEDC’s analysis suggests that over 85 percent of the units will be “naturally more affordable.” The building is primarily studio apartments which are more affordable than apartments with one or more bedrooms.

David Pope, former village president and current executive director of the Oak Park Residence Corporation and the Oak Park Housing Authority, commended the developer for having 20 percent affordable housing and 80 percent market rate apartments.

Pope said that ratio reflects the underlying economic model of the non-profit Oak Park Residence Corporation.

“There’s a rationale that I want to make sure is clear and understood,” Pope said. “There are affordable housing developments that are 100 percent affordable that make sense and they tend to be ones that are geared toward specific populations where you want to tie services to those developments so you can provide wraparound services.”

Pope cited senior living communities, as well as the recent New Moms housing support project located on Chicago Avenue, as examples of logical places to have a concentration of affordable units.

“But on balance, the real goal of affordable housing is to work to be able to break up the cycles of poverty that occur, the intergenerational continuation of

poverty,” he said. “The data demonstrates that that is most likely to happen in a mixed income scenario, within this case 20 percent of units being affordable and 80 percent being market rate, and for those developments to be located in opportunity areas.”

Lake Street is a thriving downtown area. The opportunity to upgrade the vacant building, which has a sordid past, is twofold: It would restore the eyesore property as well as offer affordable housing in an economically thriving location.

“In this context, if it’s executed well, I think it will be a real asset to the village and I think it’s worthy of support,” said Pope.

“I don’t believe we should use affordable housing funds that aren’t necessary to create affordable housing and I think this project already does create affordable housing,” said Trustee Simone Boutet. “This to me is no different than a developer, doesn’t make the proforma, coming to the village and just asking for money.”

“There is a benefit that the village is obtaining by paying the purchase price for the elevator, in addition to making the units accessible to low-income people,” Development Customer Services Director Tammie Grossman said.

Grossman said that the project hadn’t come to the village for any variances or type of review. “I also think it’s the right thing to do because it makes this building accessible,” she said.

Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla was concerned about whether the units set aside as affordable housing would continue to be affordable after the promised 15 years ended.

“There’s no guarantee that it can remain affordable without any restrictions, given that we have Albion and all of those large developments on Lake Street,” she said. “What happens after the 15 years is up?”

Walker-Peddakotla called out the village because it has “failed to define what affordable housing” means.

“When we talk about using the Affordable Housing Fund, are we using it specifically to fund affordable units or are we using it for extraneous purposes like this?” she asked. She also was concerned about spending $260,000 of the Affordable Housing Fund when the entirety of the fund is currently at $382,000.

Boutet gave her support for the project on the condition that the language in the grant agreement was amended from “20 percent of the units affordable to renters at or below 50 percent area median income” to “20 percent of the units affordable are to and rented by households earning at or below 50 percent area median income.”

Trustee Dan Moroney offered his definite support for the project and thanked the developer for putting money into the project. “I’m fully in favor of this and I think it’s a great use of the funds,” he said.

Trustee Jim Taglia agreed with Moroney, while Trustee Deno Andrews said there were good arguments on both sides.

Andrews wasn’t “thrilled” with the 15-year limit.

“I’d like to see that limit be in perpetuity and if that limit isn’t in perpetuity, I’d like to see that money returned to the village,” he said.

Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb and Trustees Susan Buchanan, Moroney, Boutet and Taglia all voted in favor of passing the agreement to provide Icon Clark with a $260,000 grant to construct the elevator. Trustees Andrews and Walker-Peddakotla gave dissenting votes.

Warm hearts trump frigid temperatures

Band of volunteers will transport the homeless at a moment’s notice during emergency weather situations

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

In light of last winter’s polar vortex, the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition has created the Polar Vortex Response Team to transport people experiencing homelessness to safe areas when extreme cold temperatures strike.

“When institutions close – schools, township, library, etc. – then it’s harder for people who are experiencing homelessness to get to somewhere warm for, say, the day,” said John Harris, Oak Park Homelessness Coalition core committee member.

Homeless shelters rotate nightly in Oak Park and River Forest and are closed during the day.

“So, at 7 or 7:30 a.m., the guests check out and go to their jobs or to the library or wherever they might spend their day and then they go to the next shelter that evening,” Harris said. “With the extreme cold, it makes travel on foot or bike obviously very difficult and dangerous.”

Last January, the Midwest experienced historic low temperatures. Chicago experienced its coldest temperature – negative 23 degrees – in 34 years Jan. 23, 2019.

Throughout the Chicago area, businesses and schools closed and flights were canceled. Metra workers lit frozen rail tracks on fire to keep trains running. The whole region basically shut down, resembling a dystopic ice age.

Housing Forward and the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition mobilized a group of volunteers to protect the homeless from the unsafe temperatures, sowing the seeds of what would later become the Polar Vortex Response Team.

“I think we had 25 or 30 people each morning and evening transporting Housing Forward clients experiencing homelessness to a daytime shelter. There was a shelter that was opened for the day and there was transportation,” Harris recalled. “Literally cars were lined up in the parking lot and down the street.”

The huge response from people in the community made the effort a success.

“What was wonderful about that is, with a few emails and texts and phone calls, the community mobilized, and we were able to keep everybody out of harm’s way and safely indoors,” Harris said.

“What we learned from that though is, if that were to happen again, it’s better to be prepared.

We created this Polar Vortex Response Team.”

The first email asking people to join the team went out around the holidays last month.

“After sending one email, we had 40 people signed up to become members of the team,” Harris said.

A database holds the contact information and availability of every individual who signed up to volunteer.

“You can sign up for emergency notices for the village, including severe weather. Severe weather [alerts] are what triggers our response team,” Harris said. “If it’s going to be below zero and it looks like institutions are going to close, we get a notification from the village and that puts our wheels into motion.”

People can sign up to receive these alerts on the village website.

“It’s the Oak Park bat signal,” Harris joked.

In the event of more severely cold weather, the Polar Vortex Response Team is at the ready. More volunteers are welcome to join the group.

“We’d certainly love to have more people sign up,” Harris said.

“By getting people to sign up, what it does is it helps people think of the plight of those who are experiencing homelessness…

It does raise the awareness of what it might be like for others and how we can help in a pinch.”

People can sign up online at endhomelessnessoakpark.com.

“Hopefully we won’t have an extreme weather emergency this winter,” Harris said, “but if it does occur, we have 40 people ready on call.”

CONTACT: Stacey@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

In wake of scandal, red-light cameras on the hot seat River Forest to review program as Senate leader pushes for ‘full review’

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

By BOB UPHUES Senior Editor

The future of red-light cameras in Illinois appears to be in some doubt in the wake of former state Sen. Martin Sandoval pleading guilty to accepting $70,000 bribes from a redlight camera company official in exchange for protecting the interests of the red-light camera industry in the Illinois General Assembly.

Sandoval remains free on bond and is cooperating with federal investigators in what appears to be a wide-ranging corruption probe involving local politicians and large contributors, including the red-light camera company SafeSpeed LLC, and lobbyists.

SafeSpeed LLC operates red-light cameras in more than two dozen municipalities in northern Illinois, including River Forest, North Riverside and Berwyn, generating millions of dollars in fines, predominantly from people failing to make a complete stop before turning right.

At least one town that has partnered with SafeSpeed in recent years, Oak Lawn, has pulled the plug on the devices. Cameras in that southwest suburb went dead on Jan. 1, after the village board voted not to renew its contract with SafeSpeed, and Tinley Park’s village board signaled in December that it may follow suit.

In light of the Sandoval case, officials in River Forest may soon reconsider its three red-light cameras -- one at Harlem and North avenues and two at Lake Street and Harlem Avenue.

“The village of River Forest is monitoring and reviewing the information surrounding the ongoing federal investigations related to the red light camera bribery scheme. We support efforts to eliminate corruption,” said Village Administrator Eric Palm in an email response to an inquiry from Wednesday Journal.

“I anticipate discussing this item with the village board at a future meeting.”

Should River Forest choose to end its redlight camera program, it would eliminate a revenue stream that’s used to fund capital projects.

Over the past five years, River Forest has collected more than $4 million in red-light camera fines, according to village budget documents.

New state Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), meanwhile, is calling for a “full review of the red-light program in Illinois” after the latest revelations involving Sandoval.

“What I read in the [Sandoval] plea agreement is disgusting,” Harmon said in an

River Forest unveils 5-year capital plan

PHOTOGRAPHER/Title

REVIEWABLE: River Forest has three redlight cameras operated by SafeSpeed LLC, including two at the intersection of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue. email to Wednesday Journal. “These cameras were meant to protect the public from irresponsible drivers. Running a red light is incredibly reckless and dangerous. That public safety goal, unfortunately, appears to have been lost.

“There is legislation already pending in the Senate for a review of red-light cameras, and I plan to talk to my colleagues to see how to best address this troubling issue.”

Harmon was referencing two bills pending in the Illinois House and one in the Illinois Senate introduced last fall and still awaiting committee assignments. All three would outlaw red-light cameras and reportedly have bipartisan support.

North Riverside Mayor Hubert Hermanek Jr. said that village is not planning to reconsider its red-light cameras, which also are operated by SafeSpeed and have raked in more than $10 million for the village since 2014.

The revenue, which helps fund the village’s police and fire pension obligations – at about $3 million annually -- is just too important, said Hermanek.

“We are not reconsidering our view on our red light cameras, as our village abides by the law of its implementation, and should not suffer due to the improper conduct of others,” Hermanek said. “Also, non-home rule villages are strapped as to revenue sources. Maybe the state can readdress the necessity of home rule vs. non-home rule, as well as meaningful pension reform, which may alleviate the dependence on revenues from red lights.”

CONTACT: buphues@oakpark.com

A five-year capital improvement plan totaling $17 million was unveiled at the Jan. 27 River Forest Village Board meeting. In the first year, fiscal year 2021, which begins May 1, capital expenditures are estimated to be $4,257,854. Expenditures are estimated to rise to $5,019,371 in FY 2022, then level off for the next three years. Expenditures are estimated at $2,715,776 in FY 2023, $2,996,238 in FY 2024 and $2,222,930 in FY 2025.

Lisa Scheiner, assistant village administrator, who presented the plan to the village board, explained that certain vehicle purchases and projects in the first two years of the plan, while more costly than some projects proposed for the remaining three years, will provide improvements in public safety and customer service.

She said work on the plan began last August. “Each year staff works diligently to manage the village’s facilities, fleet, equipment and infrastructure,” Scheiner said.

“The plan that was presented to the board represents a significant effort by staff to ensure the day-to-day needs of the community are met and our resources are well maintained.”

Unveiling the capital improvement plan is the first step of the budget process. Officials said the plan is generally amended during the budget process as determinations are made for items to be moved forward or to be deferred based on current information. This month, officials from the village departments will meet with the budget team, consisting of Scheiner; Eric Palm, village administrator; and Rosey McAdams, finance director. In April, a preliminary budget will be prepared, a recommended budget will be presented to the village board and a public hearing will be held. The final step in the process will be adoption of the budget, which is expected at the Monday, April 27 village board meeting.

Proposed expenditures were grouped in three categories — critical, recommended and contingent.

Critical expenditures total $2,126,190; recommended, $1,731,664; and contingent, $400,000.

Heading the list of proposed capital improvement projects considered critical are $825,000 for street improvements and $475,000 for water main replacements.

Streets to be resurfaced under the street improvement program include Oak Avenue from Thatcher Avenue to Bonnie Brae Place; Quick Avenue from Lathrop Avenue to Bonnie Brae; Jackson Avenue from Chicago Avenue to Augusta Street; Franklin Avenue from Oak to Chicago; and Keystone Avenue from Chicago to Thomas Street. Also, Forest Avenue from Chicago to Thomas; Iowa Street from Keystone to Forest; Jackson from Lake Street to Quick;

9

Monroe Avenue from Lake to Oak; and Keystone from Lake to Oak. Scheiner explained that the first two years of the plan include an expanded street improvement program, using the new infrastructure improvement bond fund to complete additional projects. The fund utilizes the $525,000 in proceeds the village collected from the 2020 general obligation bond that was issued using the village’s available debt service extension base.

The water main replacement projects will replace 1,500 feet of water main on Iowa and Thomas streets from Keystone to Forest and on Augusta Street from Thatcher to Keystone.

Other large, proposed capital improvement projects considered critical are $175,000 for a large public works dump truck; $140,000 for sewer lining; $100,000 for street maintenance; and $100,000 for deployable leak sensors.

Although a few trustees had a few comments and questions, presentation of the capital improvement plan by Scheiner was accepted without major discussion.

The exception was the request by Village President Cathy Adduci that a street camera implementation project be given higher consideration than contingent. The proposed street camera implementation, with an estimated expenditure of $365,000, would expand the village’s street camera system at key locations throughout the village, specifically in the Madison Street corridor, to enhance public safety.

Scheiner noted that projected expenditures included in the capital improvement plan are cost estimates that may vary from the actual costs. However, she noted these projects typically come in under budget.

The capital improvement plan is divided into six categories — buildings & improvements, vehicles, equipment, information technology, streets, sidewalks & alleys and water/sewer improvements.

In addition to the infrastructure improvement bond fund, capital improvement projects are funded through nine sources — the capital equipment replacement fund, capital improvement fund, general fund, motor fuel tax fund, water & sewer fund, water & sewer fund/capital equipment replacement fund, grant revenues, parking revenues and tax increment financing district revenues.

For FY 2021, over half of the capital improvement expenditures are estimated to be covered by the capital improvement fund and the water & sewer fund with capital improvement fund expenditures estimated at $1,564,330 and water & sewer fund expenditures estimated at $992,300.

Other estimated expenditures by fund are capital equipment replacement fund, $646,224; motor fuel tax fund, $550,000; infrastructure improvement bond fund, $275,000; and general fund, $230,000.

10

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

ASSISTED LIVING • SHELTERED CARE • MEMORY CARE • SKILLED NURSING • RESPITE CARE

Move to our awardwinning memory care this winter and save up to two months!*

We know what a living room is for.

More than a place to live, it’s a place to call home.

Laughter echoing across every room. Meals shared, stories swapped. Impromptu dancing in the living room.

Photo by Kevin Penczak, WBEZ

CARING FOR THE CAREGIVERS: Oak Park resident Ai-Jen Poo (left), director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and Krista Tippett of “On Being,” discuss the plight and rights of marginalized workers in the U.S. economy at Unity Temple in Oak Park on Jan. 31.

At Caledonia Senior Living, we care for each person’s quality of life without losing the essence of life.

Living the questions

Krista Tippett brings ‘On Being’ to Unity Temple SCHEDULE A PERSONAL TOUR TODAY! 2800 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546 (708) 477-5092 | CaledoniaSeniorLiving.org

By KEN TRAINOR Staff Writer formerly The Scottish Home

Temple Har Zion proudly presents:

Jewniversity Temple Har Zion’s Jewish Journeys Program Jewniversity classes will examine the following topics: Contemporary Judaism, Jewish History, Text, Prayer, Israel, Hebrew, Jewish Life, Jewish Thought, Social Justice, Spirituality, Jewish Culture

Upcoming Classes SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 10:30 AM–NOON: ”Introduction to Ma’ariv” – Learn about the Jewish prayer service held in the evening or night. (Prayer Track; Jewish Living Track) SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 10:30 AM–NOON: “Repair the World”– Learn about helping refugees and issues with the Illinois criminal system. (Social Justice Track) Complementary breakfast included; free of charge, but RSVP is required.

ALSO, SUNDAYS, 9:00–9:30 AM: Rabbi Adir Glick’s inspiring Jewish Meditation Class To RSVP and learn more about these free Temple Har Zion 1040 North Harlem programs and about Temple Har Zion, River Forest IL 60305 please visit www.wsthz.org www.wsthz.org 708.366.9000

Temple Har Zion is warm, diverse, and committed to deep intellectual and spiritual life. Temple Har Zion is a leader in the Conservative movement in welcoming interfaith families.

I want to beg you, as much as I can, dear sir, to be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.

Rainer Maria Rilke

W

Letters to a Young Poet

hat can a question do? Open the possibility of transforming the world, if you believe Krista Tippett, who has been asking such questions for almost 20 years in her weekly national radio show on NPR. And if you don’t believe her, ask the hundreds of wise people she has interviewed during the last two decades.

The power of questions was on display at Unity Temple last Friday night as Tippett, accompanied by a coterie of young, energetic idealists, held a live taping of On Being, sponsored by WBEZ-FM, the NPR affiliate, in the sanctuary of Frank Lloyd Wright’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. She was there to interview another in a long line of extraordinary people: Ai-Jen Poo, a labor activist, co-founder of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, MacArthur “Genius” Fellow — and, by happy coincidence, an Oak Park resident.

At one point, after the 250 or so in attendance broke into spontaneous applause following an answer, Poo leaned in and said, “We’re in the right place.”

Indeed they were, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. We were talking about questions.

Tippett has been asking them since she started her show, then called Speaking of Faith, in 2003. I had the opportunity to ask her some questions myself as she waited in the Minneapolis airport to board her flight to Chicago, Thursday night, and I couldn’t resist turning her traditional opening question around on her, wondering if there was anything in her background or upbringing that encouraged questioning and asking questions.

Just the opposite, she said. “I did not grow up in a family of great listeners. I’m an example of a person who learned to ask questions by experiencing its absence. Questions and being curious about questions became important to me. I found certainties and lack of curiosity really deadening.”

It sparked a hunger.

She asked questions as a journalist in Eastern Europe and then working for U.S. State Department diplomats in the 1980s, just as East and West met in the rubble of the Berlin Wall. The hunger led her to complete a Master of Divinity degree at Yale in 1994. Then she started thinking about, and shopping, a new radio show concept in the late-’90s/early 2000s.

“There was a lot of religion in the headlines,” she recalled. “You had an evangelical president, George W. Bush, in the White House. Suddenly religion was being spoken about more than it had been in recent times, but it tended to be presented through the most strident, devastating events and voices. I was interested in this whole, rich, complicated part of life, part of the human enterprise, part of us, the place where we all do ethical thinking and discerning. I was frustrated that this part of life was covered so partially and in a way that really distort-

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

11

ed how it actually works in real life.

“There was a lot of skepticism in Public Radio that you could do this without being exclusionary or inflammatory or proselytizing.

It was an experiment. Even when religion was in the news, the spiritual content was pretty much missing, or it was really superficial. Can we find ways to talk about what is as interesting and serious and defining as those things we automatically take seriously, which is essentially politics and the economy?”

American Public Media took a chance on Speaking of Faith. Affiliate stations picked it up, including WBEZ. I stumbled across it around 2005 and have been waking up to the hour-long show pretty much every Sunday at 7 a.m. for the past 15 years — except for a period of months when WBEZ apparently lost faith, so to speak, and temporarily canceled it.

They eventually came to their senses — probably because the show became a phenomenon.

Tippett received a Peabody Award in 2008 and President Barack Obama awarded her the National Humanities Medal in 2014, the same year Ai-Jen Poo, received her MacArthur “Genius” grant for working with those in the economic shadows, who toil largely without Photo by Kevin Penczak, WBEZ recognition, dignity and benefits.

In 2010, the name of the show changed to GENEROUS QUESTIONS: Krista Tippett conducted a live taping of her weekly NPR show, “On Being,” in Frank Lloyd Wright’s Unity “On Being.”

Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before an audience of 250. She interviewed Oak Park resident and 2014 MacArthur “Genius” “I’ve always believed that naming is imGrant winner Ai-Jen Poo. portant,” Tippett said, “but naming is complicated.” On Being, she felt “is spacious. toward the ceiling on three sides, facing each spirit of learning rather than demonstrat- unfold in generational time. It’s work that’s While the word ‘faith’ is really meaningful other as if this had been designed for some ing something.” going to take 10-20 years. So if we can really for a lot of people, it’s very loaded for other kind of sacred town hall meeting, Tippett’s Interviewer and interviewee certainly take that in and internalize it, living the people, even some religious people. I wanted skill as an interviewer was on full display. seemed at ease on Friday as the conversation questions honors the reality of the really a name that would feel welcoming. We alPreparation, presence, listening, gener- sauntered effortlessly back and forth with the hard work we have to do, but also it’s really ways had people listening who were not tra- ous questions, warmth, curiosity and vul- freedom of friendly informality, leaving us beautiful work, too.” ditionally religious or not religious at all. On nerability is the formula she uses to turn a (i.e. me) to wonder, “What’s it like to be that After a lengthy discourse on the numbers Being also has a deep lineage in philosophy mere interview into a genuine conversation. articulate under the gaze of 250 onlookers?” and facts behind this critical social justice and theology. I wanted the new name to make Her sense of humor and honeyed, soothing I asked Tippett to talk about Rilke’s fa- issue that most of us (meaning, mostly, me) them feel invited from the very beginning. mous advice, “Live the questions.” voice also help. seldom give a second thought to, Ai-Jen Poo “It’s been fascinating to listen to what’s “That phrase has come to mean every- made a particularly pertinent point: “Presence is where it really starts,” she happening in our culture where these said. “Everything else flows out of that. If thing to me,” she said, “because it’s so “There are two kinds of truth: factually questions of meaning have reyou’re not present, a lot of that true. We do ourselves, especially our young true and emotionally true. Organizers exist ally evolved in our midst, and just can’t happen. We know pretty selves, such a disservice by giving people in the world of factually true. We talk about where religion has evolved. quickly in any situation whether the impression, all the way across life, that changing hearts and minds, but we’re actuEven as the traditional ways of we need to be guarded with our you’re supposed to know — know things you ally only good at changing minds. We have being religious — and really all words, whether we’re going to have couldn’t possibly know, things that just take to become good at changing hearts.” our institutions — are changto explain ourselves or defend our- time, things you have to find out.

With Tippett’s gentle steerage and reading ing, this part of us doesn’t go “More than I could possibly have imagselves. But if you encounter someoccasional quotes from Poo’s book, “The Age away, this curiosity, this hunone who is genuinely curious, it’s ined when I first started the show, the great of Dignity,” this conversation between two ger. It’s still very much alive very hard to resist that. Your whole challenges before us, as people, as a country, highly intelligent, highly articulate women and being creatively picked up body relaxes and you’re present in but really as a species, are all big open quespivoted from a consideration of the plight of by the new generations who tions. Things we have to figure out about return.” domestic workers and caregivers, possibly are rejecting the older forms.

The way to make someone feel our relationship to the natural world, how the largest single sector of the workplace, to “I’m also fascinated by quescomfortable in an interview, she we make capitalism work for human beings, AIJEN POO an understanding that we are all care-givers tions about what it means to said, is to prepare. “All the prepa- how we remake democracy for this century, Domestic workers advocate be human, about the nature of ration I do is a form of hospital- which we clearly have to do. Whatever we and care-takers, and took us to the edge of consciousness. These are being ity. If somebody understands that did before has stopped working. How do a world that can be transformed completely investigated in completely new I not only respect them, but I’ve we create common life? How do we create by our “true superpower” of caring.

“A caring U.S. is in reach,” Tippett sumplaces, by cosmologists and already done work to understand shared life and even a shared moral imagimarized, “unleashing the caring majority.” neuroscientists, and evolutionary biology them and create a good experience for them, nation in such a different world?

“That is what we are doing,” Poo said. is getting more and more interested in the that puts them at ease.”

“What I also see in our culture is how we fullness of human behavior, not just the surrush to answers, solutions and actions. We “The vast majority of people are caring.”

And she asks “generous questions.”

It was extraordinary, really. vival-of-the-fittest genes, but what is it about “I contrast it with the kinds of questions waste so much time doing something preIt was also a stretch, as Tippett pointed our superpower of cooperation, our ability we hear much more often in the media,” maturely without considering it fully, withto care for each other, that has helped us sur- Tippett said. “They actually aren’t ques- out asking the questions that it was posing. out, given the current state of the world.

“But with you sitting here,” she added, “it vive and flourish as society evolves? I would tions. They’re weapons, tools to corner you Then we have to go back and tear things up never have guessed we would have so many or embarrass you or just drive a point home. and start over. So live the questions is not feels a lot closer.”

Krista Tippett’s ‘On Being’ interview They’re not questions but a form of answer just resonant. It’s really practical advice. It scientists on the show, so many poets.”

Friday night at Unity Temple, sitting in two that you’re supposed to react to. A gener- forces us to be more intentional, question with Oak Parker Ai-Jen Poo is tentatively scheduled for broadcast on WBEZ sometime plush blue chairs in front of the pulpit, in the ous question is an invitation for the other how and when we act.

“The challenges before us are going to in April. well of the sanctuary, with balconies rising person to open up and say something in the

“We’re actually only good at changing minds.

We have to become good at changing hearts.”

12

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

River Forest Youth Soccer Spring 2020 Season Registration is Now Open to Oak Park Residents!

River Forest Youth Soccer, Ltd. presents competitive recreational soccer programs for boys and girls who reside in or attend school in Oak Park/River Forest and all surrounding municipalities. Games are played on Sundays and there are no practices in the Spring. Season includes 8 total games including playoffs, rain outs are not made up. We stress fair play, equal playing time and sportsmanship, while trying to maintain the spirit of competition to teach valuable life lessons. For schedules, registration, and other information, visit www.RFYS.org

Leader: River Forest Youth Soccer Location: RF Soccer Fields Dates: April - June Ages: K - 8th grade Fee: $80 Nov 1st - Dec 31st $90 Jan 1st - Feb 15th $165 after Feb 15th Registration at: www.RFYS.org

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

AL’S GRILL

A dementia-friendly role model from page 1 The process of becoming recognized as a dementia-friendly business includes training on how to recognize signs of dementia in customers and how to best serve them.

“Then identify those businesses that have gone through the training so that people who are dealing with dementia can see, ‘Oh, that’s a safe place to go,’” said Cameron Davis, the village’s assistant director of development for customer services.

Occupational therapy doctoral student and village intern Tamzyn Mather spent time interviewing people affected by dementia, with her township intern counterpart and fellow occupational therapy doctoral student Luisa Tovar, to identify businesses already using dementia-friendly practices.

“That’s kind of how Al’s came to be,” said Mather.

Al’s Grill kept popping up during interviews in a positive way because of its reputation for taking care of those living with dementia with understanding and without condescension.

“This is something people need to know — that we have such good, kind people doing things out of the goodness of their hearts,” said Mather.

She reached out to Al’s Grill to pinpoint what exactly made Al’s such a welcoming place for people with dementia and to incorporate those methods into the industryspecific training curriculum.

“I consider Al’s the champion of the restaurant sector,” said Mather.

The village previously recognized Al’s Grill for its dedication to customer satisfaction. In 2017, the village of Oak Park’s Disability Access Commission gave the restaurant an award for going above and beyond in its service to patrons with disabilities and their families.

A woman whose husband has dementia told Mourtokokis the high level of service and attention to care at Al’s Grill prompted her to contact Mather.

“She said, ‘I’m one of the people that mentioned your name because no one does what you do and makes sure that there are best practices out there for staff to do as well,’” recounted Mourtokokis, who knows the importance of having those principles and practices in place.

“The biggest thing about people with dementia is that people think they don’t know when something is wrong,” he said. “They know something is wrong and it scares them, especially in the beginning stages.”

At Al’s Grill, the goal is to make people with dementia feel safe and at ease.

“I’ve seen people with dementia get taken advantage of. I’ve seen it firsthand,” he said. “And it makes me furious. It makes me furious.”

People with dementia may not remember that they have already paid, making them an easy target for others to double- or even triplecharge them. That does not happen at Al’s.

“No one takes money twice here, but it’s

more about making the person who has dementia more comfortable,” he said.

To ensure that people with dementia don’t get confused, Al’s staff clearly writes in big letters “PAID” on each itemized bill after each transaction. Giving the person proof of payment stops them from attempting to pay multiple times. The waitstaff also doesn’t have to explain that the person already paid; correcting people with dementia could cause confusion, defensiveness and distress.

“Probably more important than anything else, if we ever see somebody who has it [and is] with somebody else, we always get their contact information,” Mourtokokis said. Al’s staff can call and alert that person in the event of an emergency.

Asking for someone’s personal information may come off as intrusive or alarming if phrased wrong. To illustrate the correct way to ask, Mourtokokis used a previous experience where he asked the wife of a man he knew to have dementia.

“Once he brought his wife in, I said, ‘Oh, we take care of him here. You don’t have to worry. Is there anyone we can contact if he needs something? He’s been coming here a lot more often,’” he said.

The woman willingly gave Mourtokokis her number.

“If you make it about their safety, no one is going to say no,” he said. “It’s all about the words you choose and how you say them.”

Mourtokokis has never faced any problems after asking for contact information.

“The other thing about getting someone’s contact information — God forbid someone gets lost, but it happens and at least you know where they were,” he said.

Al’s can also aid people looking for loved ones by giving them the time when the missing person arrived and left the restaurant.

Too much choice can also overwhelm people with dementia, especially on large menus at restaurants. Al’s Grill works around that. The waitstaff knows the usual orders of the grill’s regular customers.

“For example, one of the guys who comes in here has raisin toast and a cranberry juice or sometimes a breakfast sandwich.

Those are the only two things he orders,” said Mourtokokis. “So when we go up to him, we say three things: ‘Would you like to have your raisin toast today, your breakfast sandwich or something else?’”

Customers with dementia usually stick to what they’ve previously ordered without feeling steered.

The village’s next dementia-friendly action committee meeting, Feb. 5 at 8:30 a.m., falls on Mourtokokis’s day off.

“I’m going. It takes me an hour to get here from home, but that’s worth going to on my day off,” he said.

The dementia-friendly practices and principles utilized at Al’s are applicable to people of all types and abilities.

“If you only do them for a certain kind of people, then you’re excluding that maybe no one else has it that you don’t know,” Mourtokokis said. “If you keep those best practices for everybody, then you’re at least doing the best you can to help anyone you meet, anyone who feels lost.”

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

13

7th District candidates spar in Austin While Congressman Davis was absent, scrutiny of his record dominated debate

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Democratic candidates running for the 7th District Congressional seat packed the secondfloor auditorium at the Austin Branch Library, 5615 W. Race Ave. in Austin, on Jan. 30 for a forum that put the incumbent’s long legislative record under scrutiny.

The forum — sponsored by the Northeastern Illinois Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action and Northside Democracy for America, the primary’s three challengers — included Oak Park activist Anthony Clark, Austin activist Kina Collins and Streeterville attorney Kristine Schanbacher. Longtime incumbent Danny K. Davis was absent due to travel, according to Ira Cohen, a Davis spokesman who attended the forum in the congressman’s place.

The political event, attended by roughly 100 people, was moderated by Oak Park attorney Richard K. Means, an ADA national executive board member and chair of ADA Northeastern Illinois.

From the outset, Cohen framed Davis’ reelection bid as a continuation of his long record fighting for progressive causes and pushing progressive legislation. Cohen pointed out that Davis is a sponsor of the Green New Deal — the package of legislation designed to resolve the problems of climate change and economic inequality — and said he’s been a pioneer in the community health movement, a predecessor to the current Medicare for All movement.

“What [Davis] is talking about is a total revolution of eliminating profit from healthcare,” Cohen said.

Collins and Clark pushed back against Cohen’s narrative. Collins said she was motivated to run after organizing doctors and medical students nationally in support of single payer healthcare and lambasted Davis for taking “$2.4 million in corporate money from mostly private insurers and pharmaceutical companies.” Collins added that Davis had to be lobbied by National Nurses United to join the Medicare for All Caucus.

“It shouldn’t be the fact that we didn’t hear about Medicare for All … until I was on the ground with Nurses United, because you can’t change policy until you change minds,” Clark said. “I didn’t see the congressman or his team door-knocking [on the West Side] and on the ground talking to people who have been ignored for generations.”

Discussing immigration, Means pointed out that last year Davis voted for a budget proposed

by President Donald Trump that allocated “$9 billion to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and $20 billion to border protection.”

Cohen said that Davis’ staff has had “more people come into our office for aid and immigration in a month than anyone at this table has in their entire careers,” adding that there were some items in the spending package that Davis agreed with and others he didn’t agree with.

“Nobody is going to get everything they want,” he said.

Schanbacher, a human rights attorney who said she has won asylum for a transgender Mexican immigrant, blasted the incumbent for his handling of a 2019 incident at O’Hare, where children were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials because the girls were allegedly undocumented.

While Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who voted against Trump’s budget, showed up to the airport, Davis didn’t, Schanbacher said. “[Davis] not only did not show up to the airport, he was silent,” Schanbacher said. “After the fact, there was a letter signed by many representatives in the Chicago area regarding the deplorable conduct of ICE and Davis did not sign on to that letter. His actions have serious consequences. We need someone strong to protect our immigrants and he is not doing that.”

Clark, who said that he was at the airport, called for the abolition of federal agencies like ICE and CBP, the dismantling of the border wall and detention centers, and the decriminalization of the border.

Collins urged candidates to expand the scope of the immigration issue to include African immigrants from places like Haiti who “get left out of the conversation of immigration in this country.”

When it came to money in elections, there was a consensus among candidates that Citizens United, the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that opened the floodgates for special interest groups to spend unlimited amounts of money in elections, should be overturned.

In an effort to demonstrate Davis’ independence from corporate funding, Cohen said that the congressman has never been a prolific fundraiser and, as far as Cohen knows, does not spend his time “dialing for dollars.” Cohen said that the little fundraising the congressman does participate in is in order to pay his dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

The point opened Davis up to a criticism from Collins, who said the fact that Davis is “taking corporate PAC money and then paying the DCCC is problematic, because we know the DCCC is trying to stop the emergence of insurgent candidates coming in and shaping and shifting this party.” Collins cited the example of Rep. Dan Lipinksi, a Democratic congressman who has come out against abortion rights.

The Democratic Primary election is on March 17.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Photo courtesy transitchicago.com

THAT’S A WRAP: After nearly 40 years in business, Village Laundromat, located at 14 Chicago Ave. in Oak Park, is closing.

Village Laundromat folds

The times they are a changin’

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

As the number of large buildings in Oak Park continues to rise, smaller businesses in the village can be overshadowed by the new buildings. Those businesses also have to continue to generate enough revenue to pay high property taxes and utility bills, while fighting obsolescence in a changing business landscape.

One such business quietly closed last summer. After almost 40 years, owner Roy Burton sold Village Laundromat, 14 Chicago Ave. “The thing about doing business in Oak Park is that the taxes were crippling,” said Burton. “You know, $40,000 a year and the water bill was $60,000.

You start out with a $100,000 deficit and you’ve got salaries, upkeep and you’re supposed to put new equipment in, and I was not able to put any new equipment in, so I ended up closing.”

The construction of the high-rise apartment buildings also hurt Village Laundromat; the Albion, Emerson, Eleven33 and Vantage have washers and dryers in every apartment unit.

“Everyone thinks you’re rich because you own a property like that and there’s a lot of people running around washing

clothes,” Burton said. “But there’s competition in Oak Park and there’s a lot of competition from both the condominiums and the rentals.”

According to Burton, the number of Oak Park residents doing laundry at Village Laundromat dwindled, especially in recent years.

“Almost no business from people in Oak Park,” he said.

But not from lack of trying.

“I went to a 30 unit building one time that was within a block of my laundromat and I went through and I got the names off all the mailboxes. I wrote individual letters to each person who lived in that building, offering them free wash,” said Burton. “I got nobody. Zero.”

To cut overhead costs, Burton carried out all the laundromat’s maintenance and upkeep.

“I did all my own repairs, bought the parts and installed them. I did all my plumbing and electric work,” he said.

“Since 2012, I had 10 days off. Total.”

Now happily retired, Burton’s doing the things he didn’t have time to do while the laundromat was in operation, such as visiting the Art Institute’s Andy Warhol exhibit, which he called “disappointingly small.”

Burton doesn’t regret closing Village Laundromat, which turned profits for a while.

“It made some money in the beginning,” he said. “But everything gets old, including me.”

14

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Lincoln principal resigns, prompting concerns

Laura Zaniolo is school’s second permanent principal to leave since 2017

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The principal of Lincoln Elementary, 1111 S. Grove Ave., resigned on Thursday, sending members of the school community into a frenzy and prompting District 97 administrators to devise a comprehensive support plan for students and staff at the school.

On Wednesday, D97 Supt. Carol Kelley notified Lincoln families that Laura Zaniolo, the school’s principal since July 2019, announced her resignation “due to personal reasons. Her resignation took effect Jan. 30.

Lincoln has had two permanent principals and one interim principal since 2017, when the D97 school board accepted longtime principal Cathy Hamilton’s retirement over the vocal opposition of some Lincoln faculty members and parents who wanted the board to allow Hamilton to serve an additional three years in the role. Hamilton had requested the extension after a change in the state’s early retirement option program affected her ability to collect her full pension. She was eventually moved to an administration role in the district.

Lisa Bucciarelli-Carlos replaced Hamilton in July 2017, but resigned the following year to be a principal in another district. Theresa Silva was hired as interim principal in August 2018 before she was replaced by Zaniolo roughly a year later. The D97 school board is scheduled to formally accept Zaniolo’s resignation at a meeting on Feb. 4.

In her letter to families, Kelley acknowledged that Zaniolo’s resignation was “unexpected,” but urged community members to “respect her privacy. We wish her nothing but the best moving forward.”

Kelley said that, as part of a comprehensive support plan, she’ll recommend that the school board allow Hamilton and Sheila Carter, another former D97 administrator to stay on through the end of the school year to support Assistant Principal Paula Hughes.

Both have been serving as interim assistant principals since November.

The plan also calls for additional support from Meghan Stewart, a teacher-mentor, and Maggie Cahill, the school’s elementary climate and culture coach. Amanda Siegfried, the district’s communications director, will “be working with building leadership and staff to maintain consistent communication with families throughout the school year.”

And the Lincoln PTO and Oak Park ETeam will facilitate restorative circles for Lincoln staffers and families. The two organizations are planning a “Come Together”

event that will be held inside of the cafeteria at Lincoln on Monday, Feb. 3, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., “We fully support this initiative and will collaborate with the leadership team, PTO and community partners going forward to plan additional events,” Kelley said in the letter.

Kelley added that her administrative team will conduct “a thorough and transparent review of our hiring practices before making any decisions regarding the 2020-21 school year.”

As part of that process, she said, the district will host a town hall meeting with students, staff and families on Feb. 19, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Lincoln, “to give the community the opportunity to share thoughts and perspectives that will help us reflect as an organization and plan our next steps.”

During an interview on Jan. 31, Kelley said that Reesheda Graham-Washington, the owner of Live Café in Oak Park and an equity consultant, has agreed to work with the district “from a critical, objective lens” during a comprehensive review of its “hiring, on-boarding and induction processes for new principals.”

“It’s important for me to take a pause, listen and have someone else the community trusts to do that listening,” Kelley said, adding that she plans on learning from the information received “before making any decisions moving forward.”

Kelley and other administrations acknowledged that Zaniolo’s resignation has prompted concerns and frustrations among the Lincoln community. In a letter sent to families on Jan. 31, Kelley said that her administration shares in the community’s “disappointment and frustration.”

During the interview, Kelley said that she and members of her administrative team have been on-site at Lincoln since the day that Zaniolo announced her resignation and that she’s listened to community feedback in the wake of the resignation.

“Parents have questions and they’re seeking stability for the school,” said Siegfried.

“Our number one priority is for students and staff that come to Lincoln every day,” Kelley said, before addressing the principal turnover directly.

“While these two events [the resignation of two permanent principals since 2017] have happened here, I don’t believe that they’re a reflection of the school,” Kelley said.

“I don’t want families or students to feel that there’s something wrong with them and that we can’t keep a principal here,” she said. “I really want us all to look at this with a learning lens. How can we better understand what happened and how can we capture that lesson and use it to improve moving forward?”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

C R I M E

Woman is victim of armed carjacking

A 26-year-old woman was about to enter her car parked in a public lot in the 1200 block of North Marion Street at North Avenue, around 6 p.m. Jan. 29, when a man carrying a handgun approached her and reached into her coat pocket, taking her vehicle key fob.

The man entered her 2013 BMW 650i and drove south on Marion Street, then west in the alley south of North Avenue. Chicago police recovered the woman’s car at 10:23 a.m., Jan. 30 in the 4300 block of West Grenshaw Street, Chicago, but made no apprehensions.

The police report describes the man as African American, 5 feet 8 inches tall and of medium build. He was last seen wearing dark pants and a dark jacket with a hood covering his face.

Burglary ■ Someone shattered the exterior glass of BP Amoco, 6119 North Ave., and unsuccessfully tried to pry open an ATM machine at 2:11 a.m., Jan. 27. Estimated loss is $500.

■ A person entered a residence through an unlocked basement door and took a silver MacBook Pro laptop, an estimated loss

Theft

An Amazon package containing two Monarch/Cypress white spa robes was stolen between 7:30 a.m. and 10:32 a.m., Jan. 30 in the 600 block of Lyman Avenue. The loss is estimated at $170.

Criminal damage to property Someone broke the rear windshield of a vehicle belonging to a Chicago resident between 7 and 9:12 p.m., Jan. 30 in the 900 block of Lake Street. The damage is estimated at $300.

of $2,000, between 10 p.m., Jan. 27 and 6:15 a.m., Jan. 28 in the 400 block of North Kenilworth Avenue.

■ A men’s silver Trek bicycle was stolen out of a garage with an unlocked side service door between 12 p.m., Jan. 27 and 8:06 a.m., Jan 30 in the 1000 block of North East Avenue. The estimated loss is $500.

■ A person pried open the door of a garage, then once inside, pried open the door to a vehicle but took nothing between 6 p.m.,

Feb. 1 and 12 p.m., Feb. 2 in the 800 block of Gunderson Avenue. The estimated damage is $1,000.

Vehicle theft Someone took a Forest Park resident’s silver Chrysler Town and Country van while it was parked in the 100 block of North Harvey Avenue between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., Feb. 2.

Police estimate the loss at $2,000.

■ These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports Jan. 27-Feb. 1 and 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 adjudicated. 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 Stacey Sheridan

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

15

16

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

PARIS

Circuit court next step from page 1 the homeowner to finish or remove the structure.

If a homeowner fails to comply, the village can be granted a demolition order and can hire a contractor to take down the structure.

In such cases, explained Palm, a lien can be put on the property so the village can recoup the expense of demolition.

“We need to protect the village’s interest,” said Palm. “In situations where, for example, an entire structure is deemed unsafe, the village can be granted the right to hire a contractor and take it down.”

Paris is the president and founder of Sedgwick Development, which, along with Keystone Ventures, formed Lake Lathrop Partners LLC, the group that has created frustration for the village board by drawing out the mixed-use project at Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue.

The most recent conflict occurred when Lake and Lathrop Partners LLC asked for an extension on the project in October. It was granted by the village but extended the permit application deadline from June 17 to Dec. 15, 2019, which pushed out dates for breaking ground and, ultimately, project completion. Trustee Patty Henek voted against that extension, and Trustee Tom

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

UNFINISHED: River Forest is taking legal action against Marty and Kerry Paris, the homeowners of 711 Park Ave., to force them to finish or remove the incomplete deck on the back of their home.

Cargie said it was the last time he would vote for an extension for this project.

“It seems like a continuous process of delays,” said Cargie at that time. “There will be no more excuses moving forward.”

In December 2019 Lake and Lathrop LLC submitted a new set of project plans, which

reduced the building height from five stories to four and from 33 condominiums to 22. Lake and Lathrop LLC also sent the necessary reports and documents to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that soil remediation is completed.

If the plans are approved by the architec-

tural engineering firm outsourced by the village, the permit will be given to Lake and Lathrop LLC around May, and the developer will have 15 months to complete the project.

A prior issue with Lake and Lathrop LLC related to the village reluctantly agreeing to a “clawback” provision in March, in which Lake and Lathrop LLC would be reimbursed by the village for demolition and environmental remediation if the village ultimately voted to take back the property. At that time, Trustee Henek, who voted against the provision, stated during the meeting that there seemed to be a precedent of extending village deadlines for this developer.

“What I struggle with, in terms of that decision, is how often do we keep doing that before we decide we have to cut ties and be done and move on?” Henek asked at the meeting.

“Say in a year it falls apart,” she added.

“Now we’ve covered all the costs incurred.

We’ve not only done that, we’ve also lost a year’s time to try and develop the property differently.”

Trustee Susan Conti, who voted in favor of the clawback provision at that March meeting, said she wanted to see the Lake and Lathrop project move forward. “I think the prevailing feeling around the board table is [a lack of] confidence in the developer, and if we are going to have to execute the clawback, which none of us want to do,” she said.

Neither Paris nor trustee Henek responded to requests for an interview.

You are a great provider.

Food, shelter, education, unconditional love.

Just not alcohol.

78% of 8-12th graders report that their family has clear rules about alcohol & drug use (68% 12th graders, & 80%10th graders)

For more information and to discover local resources: www.OakParkTownship.org/PYD This campaign is supported by the Strategic Prevention FrameworkPartnerships for Success Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 93.243 funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration through a grant administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Supporting youth in Oak Park and River Forest Townships.

@Positive Youth Development

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

17

Valentine’s Day Family Dinner Night Friday, February 14th

@BUZZ CAFE 905 S. Lombard Ave, Oak Park Adult Menu

Beef Medallions with Béarnaise Sauce, served w/ Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Asparagus accompanied by Tomato Basil Soup and a Classic Caesar Salad. Dessert is New York-Style Cheesecake drizzled with Wild Berry Sauce and Whipped Cream $30*

Kids Menu

Cheese-filled Ravioli with Tomato Sauce accompanied by Classic Chicken Noodle Soup, and a Strawberry and Yogurt Parfait.

Dessert is a choice of either a Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pie! $15* *Ask about our vegetarian option!

Capitol News Illinois file photo by Jerry Nowicki)

NEW TEAM: State Sen. Don Harmon, speaks to the media, Jan. 19, after being elected Senate president. On Jan. 28, the first day of the legislative session, Harmon announced his leadership team.

Harmon names new leadership team

Cunningham of Chicago named president pro tempore

By JERRY NOWICKI Capitol News Illinois

SPRINGFIELD — New Illinois Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) announced his leadership team Jan. 28, on the first day of the 2020 legislative session.

Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) will remain the chamber’s majority leader, while Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) will become an assistant majority leader and president pro tempore — a position once held by Harmon under former President John Cullerton before he changed the caucus’ leadership structure.

Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) will serve in another newly created position — that of deputy majority leader.

Sen. Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), previously a majority caucus whip, will ascend to assistant majority leader as well. She joins Sens.

Dave Koehler (D-Peoria), Iris Martinez, (DChicago) and Tony Munoz (D-Chicago), who all already held assistant majority leader positions and will retain them.

Sen. Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) will remain majority caucus chair, and Jacque-

Noticeably absent from the list is Sen. Terry Link (D-Indian Creek), who was an assistant majority leader under Cullerton. line Collins (D-Chicago) will be the deputy majority conference chair, a newly created position. She was previously a majority caucus whip.

The three new majority caucus whips will be Omar Aquino (D-Chicago), Michael Hastings (D-Tinley Park) and Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey), all new to the position.

Noticeably absent from the list is Sen. Terry Link (D-Indian Creek), who was an assistant majority leader under Cullerton.

Chicago newspapers have identified Link as the unnamed senator who cooperated with the FBI and wore a wire in conversations with indicted former Rep. Luis Arroyo.

Link has denied the allegation and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

LIVE MUSIC

BYOB always available!

Reservations Required - Seatings at 5pm, 6:30pm & 8pm

Call 708-660-0894

18

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Generations of Excellence since 1958

708.771.8040 • 7375 W. North Ave., River Forest DonnaAvenue Barnhisel 7375 West North Dan Bogojevich MANAGING Anne Brennan River Forest, Illinois 60305 BROKER/OWNERS Karen Byrne Calkins 708.771.8040 Kevin Tom Carraher Andy Gagliardo Pat Cesario Joe Cibula

Tom Poulos

Don Citrano Alisa Coghill Kay Costello Maria Cullerton Julie Downey Kurt Fielder Yvonne Fiszer-Steele Ramona Fox

Laura Gancer Lisa Grimes Dan Halperin Sharon Halperin Greg Jaroszewski Vee Jaroszewski Noa Klima Jack Lattner

Jane Maxwell Iris McCormick Vince McFadden Elizabeth Moroney Colleen Navigato John Pappas Rosa Pitassi Sue Ponzio-Pappas

Jenny Ruland Laurel Saltzman Laurie Shapiro Tom Sullivan Debbie Watts George Wohlford Nancy Wohlford

Randy Ernst • 773-290-0307

806 MONROE • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 13

1423 LATHROP • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 122

P RI CE RED U CED!

PRI CE RED U C E D!

LOVELY TRADITIONAL HOME, found in walkable OP location, offers wonderful space for family and entertaining. Original details blend seamlessly with the updated 3 story addition. Offers 5 bedrooms, 4-1/2 baths, newer kitchen, abundant storage, family room, wine cellar........................................................ $1,065,000

GORGEOUS RESTORATION of stately RF home offers 3BRs, 4 full baths, recently updated kitchen/dining, art glass windows, French doors, hardwood floors, sun room and large family room.

Fab finished basement. Private, beautifully landscaped, newly fenced yard with in ground pool. ...................................$1,100,000

HANDSOME TUDOR with classic original archway details beautifully blend w/ tasteful updated bathrooms and kitchen. Spacious formal living room with wood-burning fireplace. Lovely dining room with built-in corner cabinets. OUTSTANDING BACKYARD. Finished basement!............................................................ $699,000

STUNNING RENOVATION with exquisite modern finishes. Solid brick home features new hardwood floors throughout, recessed lighting, wood burning fireplace, family room, 3 generously sized BRs. Spacious finished LL. Central air, and 3-car garage. Just Move in and Enjoy! ....................................................................... $629,500

611 THATCHER • RIVER FOREST

921 ONTARIO UNIT B • OAK PARK OPEN SUNDAY 13

142 S SCOVILLE • OAK PARK OPEN SUNDAY 13

704 MONROE • RIVER FOREST

NEWLY UPDATED HOME on large lot in a great location of River Forest. Brand new eat-in kitchen. Four spacious BRs, two and half baths of which upstairs have radiant heated floors. Completely painted, refinished floors, newer windows. New staircase leading to the basement. ................................................................ $699,000

LOCATION IS EVERYTHING! This great quad has that and a whole lot more. Open two-story atrium, 12 foot ceilings, skylights, modern kitchen, unique master bath with whirlpool, fireplace, hardwood floors, huge walk-in closet, 300 sq ft of balcony, one car garage. A must see! ..................................................... $299,000

CENTER OF TOWN VICTORIAN with high ceilings, four spacious levels of living in beautiful Oak Park. This 5 BR, 3-12 BA home offers a formal entry, wood burning FP, sun room, family room, eat-in kitchen. Great flow, tons of natural light & storage throughout this beauty! ...................................................................$519,000

VINTAGE CHARMER on tree lined cobblestone street. Warm, inviting home with lots of potential! Living room is centered with a cozy fireplace, separate dining room, bright kitchen and spacious family room. 2nd floor has 3 BRs and 1 full BA. Large deck overlooking backyard................................................................ $425,000

RIVER FOREST HOMES

ROOM FOR EVERYONE! Move in ready, gracious rooms and highest end updates! Designer kitchen, first floor family room, mudroom, 5 BRs, 3-1/2 baths, finished 3rd floor retreat, finished basement with a 6th bedroom. Completely renovated top to bottom, all you need to do is move in!....................................$939,000 UNIQUE QUALITY BURMA BUILT HOME with 5 bedrooms and 3 full, 2 half baths. House has many wonderful features; 2 separate office areas, hardwood floors, kitchen with all newer appliances, adjoining eating area-family room. Finished basement. Three car garage.......................................................$795,000 LOVELY SLPITLEVEL HOME offers newly refreshed contemporary style and wonderful space. Home offers three bedrooms, three brand new bathrooms, beautiful front entryway, vaulted ceiling family room, sun room, game room, deck, spectacular backyard, attached two car garage. ..................................$659,000

UNPRECEDENTED ESTATE in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historical district of Oak Park! This meticulously renovated 5 BR, 5 full / 2 half bath property offers exquisite details and refined finishes that boast timeless materials and over the top custom millwork. This is a showcase home!............................................................$1,450,000 BEAUTIFUL HOME found in OP Historic District. Offers three large bedrooms, all with hardwood floors, two and a half bathrooms, new kitchen with butler pantry, full finished basement, over-sized backyard, brick paver patio, dog run, two car garage and two outdoor parking spaces. ......................................$562,000 CLASSIC OAK PARK HOME on a large corner lot in the Harrison Arts district. This four BR, three BA home boasts four levels of living space. Tall ceilings, hardwood floors, vintage leaded glass windows, updated kitchen with breakfast bar. Finished 3rd floor, newly finished basement. ..................................................$549,000

174 N RIDGELAND • OAK PARK

BURMA BUILT BUHRKE HOUSE combines Tudor revival & chateau style architecture elements. Gorgeous décor and impeccable attention to detail and care found in house and landscaped grounds, extends to fabulous in ground pool and patios. Perfect for entertaining. ..................................................................... $1,975,000 BEAUTIFUL, CLASSIC HOME offers everything for today’s modern living. Custom-built home has the highest quality finishes. No detail was missed. Brick and stone exterior, wrap around porch, eleven-foot ceilings and oversized windows. LL has 2,000 feet of living area..............................................................$1,525,000 BEAUTIFUL BRICK & STONE CLASSIC HOUSE with a unique front wrap-around porch sits on a private park-like lot. Features 4 BRs, 2 full/2 half baths, natural wood, art glass windows, open kitchen with breakfast room, family room, mudroom, finished basement. Nothing will disappoint! .............................. $1,150,000

OAK PARK HOMES

1020 BELLEFORTE • OAK PARK

CONDOS/TOWNHOMES/2 FLATS RIVER FOREST 3BR, 2-1/2 BA. Two heated gar spaces.$479,000 RIVER FOREST 1BR, 1BA. Updated and move-in ready.$169,000 OAK PARK Two Flat ..........................................................$669,000 OAK PARK Two Flat ..........................................................$530,000 OAK PARK 3BR, 2 full / 2 half BA. East facing bal ..........$429,900 OAK PARK 2BR, 2-1/2BA. Stunning, bright tri-level. .....$330,000 OAK PARK 3BR, 2-1/2BA. 3 floors of living! ...................$259,000 OAK PARK 1BR, 1BA. Cared for building. ..........................$99,000

Get Ready for the Spring Market!

For more listings & photos go to GagliardoRealty.com

Contact a Gagliardo Realty Associates Agent for a free market analysis

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

NEED TO REACH US?

oakpark.com/real-estate email: buphues@wjinc.com

Property tax tips for seniors Oak Park assessor details ways to freeze, lower, or defer liability

By LACEY SIKORA

I

Contributing Reporter

f you own your home or condominium in Oak Park or River Forest, your most recent property tax bill should have just landed in your mailbox. Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar says that for local seniors, there is a new policy this year to be aware of and a couple of existing policies that bear repeating.

The Senior Exemption is available to all homeowners aged 65 or older, regardless of income. The exemption reduces the Equalized Assessed Value of a senior’s home by $8,000.

Because Cook County taxes in paid arrears, ElSaffar said this means that if an owner of a property was born in 1954 or earlier, and was 65 or older in 2019, they can claim the exemption if they used the property as their principal residence in 2019.

For married couples, the first person to reach 65 qualifies the household for the exemption.

ElSaffar said that last year, a little more than 3,500 senior exemptions were issued for Oak Park, which represents about 23 percent of Oak Park households. He adds that for most in Oak Park, the Senior Exemption resulted in savings of about $1,000 last year.

Senior Exemption renewal dropped The new law taking effect this year, which applies only to the Senior Exemption, eliminates the annual renewal requirement for the Senior Exemption. Senior citizens who qualify for the exemption one year, will continue to qualify in the future without having to submit renewal applications each tax year.

ElSaffar stated it has been at least 10 years since the county had auto-renewal for the Senior Exemption. He notes that the new

19

Homes County Assessor’s website for a freeze application or go to the Oak Park Township Assessors Office, 105 S. Oak Park Ave. The forms must be returned by Feb. 13, but ElSaffar encourages any senior who is having trouble meeting the deadline to bring their paperwork to the township assessor’s office.

Tax deferral option A third, less-frequently utilized program available for senior homeowners is the Property Tax Deferral Program. Under this program, senior citizens aged 65 or older who are struggling to pay their property taxes can defer payment until their homes or condominiums are sold.

This program allows seniors to defer as much as $5,000 of their property tax bill each year. Applications Residents who are new senior for deferral are due March 1. citizens, that is born in 1954 and turned ElSaffar says the pro65 in 2019 and just became eligible for gram is not used a lot, the exemption, should apply for the noting that there are only exemption by accessing the exemproughly 2,000 households tion application on the Cook County in Cook County who use it.

“For those that qualify, Assessor’s website (cookcountyassessor. it’s nice program,” ElSaffar com) or reaching out to the Oak Park said. “It’s sort of similar to Township Assessor’s Office (708-383a reverse mortgage. A lot 8005) for more information on the of seniors are house rich exemption. and cash poor once they’ve paid off their homes and stopped working. This is for those situations.”

He points out that the 6 percent interest law makes things easier. and not realize it until they received their collected is simple interest, not compound“No one had created a fountain of youth second installment property tax bill in the ed.

To assure repayment, a lien is placed on that rolled back the clock,” ElSaffar said. summer. the senior’s home that will prevent it from “Once you qualify, you continue to be old “We’d have to file for certificates of error enough to qualify.” for a lot of people in that situation,” ElSaf- being sold until the debt is repaid.

In order to qualify for the program, the ElSaffar says that if you qualifar said. “It was a lot of paperannual household income must be less than fied for the exemption last year, work and time.” $55,000, the equity in the home must exceed the county will mail you a postUnlike the Senior Exemption, the sum of property taxes deferred, and card to confirm the continued the Senior Freeze continues to the homeowners have to have lived in their exemption, a cost-savings move. have to be renewed on a yearly homes at least three years. Properties such ElSaffar stresses the new seniors basis. ElSaffar says it is imporas two-flats that generate income are not elistill have to apply to receive the tant to distinguish the freeze gible for the program. exemption the first year. from the exemption. The Senior ElSaffar notes that seniors interested in Residents who are new senior Freeze provides additional tax learning more about the deferral program citizens, that is born in 1954 and savings for low- to moderate- and other tax benefits available to seniors turned 65 in 2019 and just beincome seniors. Because it is can contact his office at 708-383-8005. He came eligible for the exemption, income-based, it must be applied stresses that those homeowners who are elishould apply for the exemption for every year. If the combined gible for the deferral are also eligible for the ALI ELSAFFAR by accessing the exemption ap- Oak Park Township Assessor income of all members of the Senior Exemption and Senior Freeze, so it plication on the Cook County Ashousehold is less than $65,000, makes sense to apply for all available senior sessor’s website (cookcountyasand if the senior has been an benefits prior to seeking a deferral in order sessor.com) or reaching out to owner occupant of the property to reduce the property tax liability. the Oak Park Township Assessince Jan. 1, 2018, they can qualAt the end of the day, ElSaffar says it’s imsor’s Office (708-383-8005) for more informa- ify for the freeze. portant the local senior citizen population is Any senior who received the freeze last aware of all three programs. tion on the exemption.

The return to the automatic renewal will year should have received their renewal “It’s a nice idea. They are designed to keep be an efficiency for local township asses- application in the mail the week of Jan. 13. people in their homes,” ElSaffar said. “It’s sors like ElSaffar. He states that residents Seniors who are qualifying for a freeze for good public policy to keep people in their would forget to renew the senior exemption the first time this year should visit the Cook homes as they age.”

Senior property tax exemption

“It’s good public policy to keep people in their homes as they age.”

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

Unparalleled Service.

Unmatched Experience.

With over 45 years of combined real estate experience, the Navigation Group has been faithfully serving Oak Park/River Forest and beyond.

Let your trusted neighbors and local experts guide you home.

Steve Nasralla Joelle Venzera Adriana Laura Cook

Real Estate Broker

Real Estate Broker

Real Estate Broker

708.466.5164

708.297.1879

312.497.2044

Navigation Group is a team of Real Estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed Real Estate broker with a principal office in Chicago, IL and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage.

20 OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

700 COLUMBIAN AVENUE, OAK PARK

700COLUMBIAN.INFO

1122 FOREST AVENUE, RIVER FOREST

1122FOREST.INFO

Vintage C. E. White estate home facing Augusta Blvd extensively renovat-

Gracious center entrance brick home located on a half acre lot in the

ed by architect/builder owner to today’s standards.

Northwoods section of River Forest.

KEVIN WOOD

•

773.472.0200

•

$1,350,000

kevin@kevinwoodgroup.com

$1,219,000

TONY & KATHY IWERSEN • 708.848.0200 • kathyiwersen@atproperties.com

1011 SOUTH BOULEVARD

1338 FRANKLIN AVENUE, RIVER FOREST

1338FRANKLINAVENUE.INFO

540 LINDEN AVENUE, OAK PARK

540LINDENAV.INFO

You will love this stately Lannon Stone Georgian that is move in ready.

Fabulous opportunity to live in a really cool house in the heart of Oak

Located across from Willard Park and short walk to school.

Park. Walk to everything!

LISA PASQUESI

•

708.848.0200

•

$1,000,000

lisapasquesi@atproperties.com

GREER HASEMAN

•

$949,000

708.848.0200

•

greer.gps@atproperties.com

Stop looking, start finding® atproperties.com

21

22

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

1015 S FERDINAND • FOREST PARK $205,000 • OPEN SUNDAY 1:30-3PM

TOWNHOMES

CONDOS

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Sunday, February 9, 2020 ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

1015 S Ferdinand, Forest Park . . . . . . . . . . .

842 Euclid Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1207 Rossell Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

611 N. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park. . . . . . . . . .

1130 Paulina St, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

949 Linden Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3332 N. New England Ave, Chicago . . . . . .

3332 N. New England Ave, Chicago . . . . . .

7660 Wilcox St. Forest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . .

1423 Lathrop Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . .

623 N. Grove Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . .

1201 N. Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . .

1016 N. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . .

742 Bonnie Brae Pl, River Forest . . . . . . . .

806 Monroe Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . .

703 N. East Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

700 Columbian Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . .

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$205,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$434,900 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $449,000 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$524,895 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$534,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $560,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$569,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$569,000 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $614,800 Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$699,000 Beyond Properties Realty Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$750,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$925,000 Beyond Properties Realty Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$999,000 @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,097,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,100,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,130,000 @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,350,000

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

817 Lake St. UNIT 2N, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . .

424 Park Ave., Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

424 Park Ave., Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

921 Ontario St. UNIT B, Oak Park . . . . . . . .

17 Forest Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

110 S. Marion St. UNIT 402, OAK PARK . . .

110 S. Marion St. UNIT 402, Oak Park. . . . .

110 S. Marion St. UNIT 403, OAK PARK . . .

1133 W. Chicago Ave. UNIT 3E, Oak Park. .

Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $124,900 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219,000 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$299,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $499,000 @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000 @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $500,000 @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$525,000 Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $694,000

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

TIME

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1:30-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12:30-2:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sat. 1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sat. 1-2:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

LISTING PRICE

TIME

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1:30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

LISTING PRICE

TIME

105 S. Euclid Ave. UNIT B, Oak Park. . . . . . Re/Max In The Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$398,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-1 186 N. Marion St, OAK PARK . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$599,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

This Directory brought to you by mrgloans.com

Providing financing for homes in Oak Park and surrounding communities since 1989.

Conventional, FHA, and Jumbo mortgages Free Pre-approvals

7544 W. North Avenue Elmwood Park, IL 708.452.5151

Mortgage Resource Group is an Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee.

NMLS # 207793 License # 1031

Interior Just Painted, Updated Kitchen & bath, 2 BR, Near Blue line, Great starter home!

Margie Bidinger Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Oak Brook | Broker P 708-257-7617 margie.bidinger@cbexchange.com MargieBidinger.cbintouch.com

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

500 WILLIAM ST, RIVER FOREST

427 N OAK PARK AVE, OAK PARK

735 AUGUSTA ST, OAK PARK

1220 N GROVE AVE, OAK PARK

234 S KENILWORTH AVE, OAK PARK

5 br, 5 ba $775,000

4 br, 4 ba $739,000

4 br, 2.1 ba $729,000

4 br, 2.1 ba $670,000

5 br, 2.1 ba $649,000

Monica Dalton 708.848.5550

Alice McMahon 708.848.5550

Alice McMahon 708.848.5550

Victoria Witt 708.848.5550

Kelly Fondow 708.848.5550

OPEN SUN 122

OPEN SUN 122

7660 WILCOX ST, FOREST PARK

442 LENOX ST, OAK PARK

611 N RIDGELAND AVE, OAK PARK

804 N HARVEY AVE, OAK PARK

1105 LYMAN AVE, OAK PARK

4 br, 3 ba $619,800

3 br, 2.1 ba $549,900

4 br, 1.1 ba $524,895

5 br, 3 ba $499,000

3 br, 2.1 ba $399,000

April Baker 708.848.5550

Victoria Witt 708.848.5550

Jennifer Hosty 708.848.5550

Jonathan Reith 708.848.5550

Alice McMahon 708.848.5550

Get Noticed.

World-Class Marketing that moves your home from Listed to Sold.

BHHSChicago • 866.795.1010 OPEN SUN 13

OPEN SUN 13

1108 S SCOVILLE AVE, OAK PARK

1024 PLEASANT ST 6, OAK PARK

424 PARK AVE 303, RIVER FOREST

235 MARENGO AVE 4A, FOREST PARK

424 PARK AVE 302, RIVER FOREST

4 br, 2.1 ba $399,000

3 br, 2 ba $392,000

2 br, 2 ba $239,000

2 br, 2 ba $224,900

2 br, 2 ba $219,000

Susan Abbott 708.848.5550

Victoria Witt 708.848.5550

Susan Maienza 708.848.5550

Dorothy Gillian 708.848.5550

Susan Maienza 708.848.5550

7243 MADISON ST 417, FOREST PARK

1421 N HARLEM AVE A, OAK PARK

911 MARENGO AVE, FOREST PARK

200 HOME AVE 2C, OAK PARK

820 WASHINGTON BLVD 3, OAK PARK

1 br, 1 ba $199,900

2 br, 1.1 ba $199,000

2 br, 2 ba $198,000

2 br, 1.1 ba $179,900

1 br, 1 ba $132,498

Dorothy Gillian 708.848.5550

Victoria Witt 708.848.5550

Tabitha Murphy 708.848.5550

Jeffrey O'Connor 708.848.5550

April Baker 708.848.5550

BHHSChicago.com

23

24

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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

HomesInTheVillage.com

Featured Listings for This Week Oak Park $579,900 5BR, 3.2BA Marion x111

Properties of The Week

Chicago $420,000 Multi unit Laurie x186

Oak Park $517,000 Multi unit Laurie x186

Open Sun 11-1 pm

105 S Euclid Ave, Unit B

Erika Villegas,

Managing Broker/Owner

Jane McClelland

Oak Park $275,000 3BR, 2.1BA Elissa x192

Oak Park $359,000 3BR, 2.1BA Harry x116

Oak Park $398,000 3BR, 2.2BA Jane x118

Chicago 4259,000 3BR, 1BA Erika x180

Forest Park $219,500 2BR, 2BA Elissa x192

Oak Park $175,000 2BR, 1BA Jane x118

Oak Park $115,000 1BR, 1BA Elissa x192

221 Rockford Ave Forest Park $352,000 3BR, 1.1BA Patti x124

Forest Park $199,800 3BR, 1BA Kyra x145

1328 Elgin Ave Forest Park $219,000 2BR, 1BA Patti x124

Oak Park $99,000 1BR, 1BA Jane x118

Mike Becker

Laurie Christofano

Marion Digre

Morgan Digre

Ed Goodwin

Leticia Cruz

Sharon O’Mara

Elissa Palermo

Kyra Pych

Linda Rooney

Kris Sagan

Patti Sprafka-Wagner

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

501 Edgewood Place River Forest This one-of-a-kind Mid-Century classic has been completely renovated into an open modern masterpiece of design, function, and luxury.

3 Bed ∙

1.1 Bath ∙

$585K

Steve Scheuring Realtor and Local Expert, Oak Park & River Forest steve.scheuring@compass.com 708.369.8043

Steve Scheuring is a real estate agent affiliated with Compass Real Estate. Compass Real Estate is a licensed real estate broker and abides by federal, state and local equal housing opportunity laws.

25

26

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

NEW PRICE

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

JUST LISTED

400 FOREST AVE, OAK PARK $1,167,500 :: 5 BED :: 3.5 BATH

1023 PARK, RIVER FOREST $1,650,000 :: 7 BED :: 6.5 BATH

Frank Lloyd Wright historic district - beautiful 1 acre lot.

Beautiful English Tudor - Exquisite Home.

700 COLUMBIA N, OAK PAR K

OPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY, FEBRUA RY 9, 2-4PM NEW PRICE

JUST LISTED

NEW PRICE

906 COLUMBIAN, OAK PARK $799,000 :: 4 BED :: 2.5 BATH

900 FRANKLIN, RIVER FOREST $849,000 :: 4 BED :: 3.5 BATH

1023 WENONAH, OAK PARK $774,000 :: 5 BED :: 4 BATH

Beautiful totally new renovation top to bottom. Great location.

Brick Colonial Home.

New kitchen & baths.

Unique Victorian in Lincoln School district. Renovated kitchen & baths.

KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

Vintage C. E. White estate home facing Augusta Blvd extensively renovated by current architect / builder owner to today’s standards. Casually elegant, open and functional plan that lives unusually well. 6 Bedrooms/3.5 baths featuring massive Great Room that overlooks private rear yard with garden wall, bluestone patios, gas fire pit and dining pergola. All new mechanicals including Control 4 Smart Home with A/V, lighting, HVAC and motorized shade control. 3 car garage + side drive for total of 6 car parking. Offered @ $1,350,000.

KEVIN@ KEVINWOO DGROU P.COM

773.382.4310

WE SHALL OVERCOME

Apartment living with congregate services

A CELEBRATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR

114 South Humphrey Oak Park, IL 60302

featuring DAMIEN SNEED

2.15.20

An electrifying production, tying together a living lineage of music and culture including traditional and modern gospel, classical, jazz, Broadway and spirituals, interwoven with spoken word from Dr. King’s recorded speeches.

Featuring the music of Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder; Nina Simone, songs from The Wiz and more...

SATURDAY, February 15, 2020 | 7:30 p.m.

BOX OFFICE (708) 488-5000 • FREE PARKING 7900 West Division Street • River Forest, IL 60305

T

events.dom.edu

his property with its architecturally award-winning atrium, provides seniors and persons with disabilities with parking, library, laundry room, wellness center and other conveniences. A service coordinator is on staff to assist tenants who may need additional services. The units are studio and one bedroom, each with electric appliances, tile bath, and wall to wall carpeting. Modern fire and safety systems are installed in each apartment and common areas of the building. There are 8 accessible one bedroom units for the mobility impaired.

The Oaks is owned and operated by the Oak Park Residence Corporation and is funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development through the 202/section 8 Program. Residents pay approximately 30% of their monthly income for rent.

For additional information, please visit our web site at www.oakparkha.org or contact us at 708-386-5812.

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

02.11.20 Dominican University Performing Arts Center & St. Catherine of Siena Center TUESDAY, February 11, 2020 | 7:00 p.m.

events.dom.edu

Join us for an evening with best-selling author Michael Eric Dyson as he explores how we “learn from the past in order to move forward into the present.”

Get tickets online or at the box office

02.15.20 Concert

WE SHALL OVERCOME with jazz/ gospel artist DAMIEN SNEED and music

by Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis, Duke Ellington, The Wiz and more...

BOX OFFICE (708) 488-5000 FREE PARKING 7900 WEST DIVISION STREET RIVER FOREST, IL 60305

27

28

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Moderator Suzy Schultz, Exec. Dir. of the Museum of Broadcast Communications, enjoys The View Exec. Producer Candi Carter’s remarks.

A rapt Conversation audience listens to Candi Carter discussing her non-profit organization We’ve Got Friends that provides hangouts for teens with special needs.

The View’s Candi Carter inspires a Wednesday Journal Conversation

C

andi Carter, executive producer of the politically potent The View on ABC, came home to Oak Park and River Forest Saturday night. In front of a crowded Dominican University auditorium blending colleagues from Carter’s days as a producer for Oprah, friends from First Baptist Church in Oak Park and old running buddies from early mornings in Oak Park, Carter told stories, answered audience questions and stayed long to greet old friends and new admirers.

Carter, her husband Joe and their family lived in Oak Park for many years while she worked long hours as a producer for Oprah. She talked about her opportunity to revive The View from a low ebb while making the move to New York. Carter also talked with candor about being the

photos courtesy of Shanel Romain

An engaging audience Q & A wrapped up the Conversation.

mom to a special needs son and her current effort in New Jersey to create a simple non-profit called “We’ve Got Friends” which invites teenagers with disabilities to share a twice a month pizza and dance party.

The event was the latest in the Wednesday Journal Conversations series which invites home people with roots in Oak Park and River Forest who have done interesting work in the world.

The conversation was moderated

by Susy Schultz, herself a long time Oak Parker, and now the Executive Director of the Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago.

The series, done in partnership with Dominican University, is sponsored by State Sen. Don Harmon of Oak Park and Maya del Sol.

The post-Conversation Candi Carter and audience group shot reflects the energy of the evening.

Candi Carter speaking about her experiences at The View.

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Advertise in the

2020

Publish Date:

February

12

th

Ad Deadline: Feb. 7th

Buy a 1/8 page ad or larger and get a FREE 100 word listing!

Are you excited about your Summer Camp program? This is the time to tell everyone about it!

Get your message out to thousands of households in Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Riverside, North Riverside and Brookfield. That’s a huge audience of parents and kids all looking for fun things to do this summer!

To advertise, call 708-524-8300

29

30

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

Fitness

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

www.TENandFiT.com

Racquetball

It Is, Resolution Time!

Beginner Non-Member Tennis Classes Available

301 Lake St., Oak Park (708) 386-2175

266 Lake Street, Oak Park (708) 524-YOGA

Investing in Our Community and Residents for 36 Years New Tennis Classes Starting NOW • Register Online Today or Call!

Pickle ball

Tennis

Group Exercise

Yoga

Pilates

Spinning®

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com

VIEWPOINTS

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

31

DOOPer’s Memories: Dogs I once knew p. 33

Seeing the real amidst the familiar Previously posted as a blog on the Institute Of Noetic Sciences (IONS) website: ’m reading a book written by David Brooks titled, The Second Mountain. In it, Brooks discusses the difference between a career and a vocation. He writes that in the vocation mentality, one is not living on the ego level of consciousness, not guided by the frontal cortex.

“When you are looking for a vocation, you are looking for a daemon. You are trying … to fall through the egocentric desires and plunge down into the substrate to where your desires are mysteriously formed. You are trying to find that tension or problem that arouses great waves of moral, spiritual, and relational energy. That means you are looking into the unconscious regions of heart and soul that reason cannot penetrate. You are trying to touch something down there in the Big Shaggy, that messy thicket that sits somewhere below awareness.

“By one calculation the mind can take in 11 million bits of information a second, of which the conscious mind is aware of 40. The rest is in the Big Shaggy. As Timothy Wilson of the University of Virginia put it, consciousness is like a snowball sitting on an iceberg. In other words, most of what guides us is not our conscious rationalization; it’s our unconscious realm.”

Brooks’ quote reminds me of one of the best sentences I’ve ever read, written by Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen in her introduction to the book, The Five Invitations: “The daily fabric that covers what is most real is commonly mistaken for what is most real until something tears a hole in it and reveals the true nature of the world.”

Remen writes, “In his brilliant book Small Is Beautiful, E.F. Schumacher suggests that we can see only what we have grown an eye to see. He proposes that the endless debate about the nature of the world is not about differences but simply about the differing capacity of our eyes.”

Indeed, let’s grow our eyes so we can see what is most real in the midst of what is most familiar. This is a question of our awareness and our conscious-

I

MARC BLESOFF

Conscious aging helps us to walk our species’ natural path of aging.

See BLESOFF on page 34

Wikipediax

Oak Park and River Forest High School

A

Why we should all support educational equity

merican schools have been struggling for decades — and should have been struggling since their inception — to properly educate black and Latinx students. Oak Park and River Forest High School, like many suburban high schools with sizable black and Latinx populations, has been discussing this issue for years as part of a push for educational equity.

This past summer, school administrators rolled out the district’s plans for restructuring their freshman curriculum to combine the Honors track, where mostly white students are found, with the less rigorous College Prep track, where black and Latinx students are overrepresented. The district is planning to implement the new curriculum in the fall of 2021, so halfway through the planning year seems like a good point to take stock.

Research has demonstrated that a de-tracked curriculum, with proper training and support for teachers, can improve the performance of students who were formerly tracked into the less rigorous curriculum and at the same time maintain the performance of students who were tracked into the rigorous curriculum. According to a study by Burris, Wiley, Welner, and Murphy, “A well-executed detracking reform can help increasing numbers of students reach state and world-class standards without adversely affecting high-achieving students.” Evanston Township High School has been held

up as an example of a school that has detracked successfully, with students in the combined curriculum increasing their ACT scores, Advanced Placement participation, and Advanced Placement success.

Oak Park has made the case for restructuring, but many middle-class white parents are skeptical. They worry that their child’s performance will decrease because he or she is being put into a class with “lower-performing kids” who might “affect the classroom environment.” These judgments are wrong on two counts.

First, although as parents we must care about our own children, we must not care only about our own children.

Especially when thinking about racial inequity, white middle-class parents must be willing to tolerate some risk in making changes that will benefit people of color who are the primary recipients of harm in the current system. Second, test scores are not the only, or even best, metric on which to evaluate a student’s schooling.

Defining success narrowly according to student achievement on standardized tests necessarily devalues every child’s experience.

This is not to say that we should detrack primarily because white people benefit from it. The primary motivation for addressing inequities must be to stop and reverse the harm being done to people of color. But it is to say that white people cannot do the work of anti-racism just because we believe

JIM SCHWARTZ One View

it will benefit others. White people need to work toward being anti-racist both because it is the right thing to do for others and because we ourselves are also damaged by white supremacy.

When any child is valued according to their ability to produce narrow, analytical reasoning in a sterile testing environment, that child’s life is diminished.

We human beings contain so much, and we need to value all of it — from narrow, analytical reasoning to broad, creative thinking, everything between, and everything outside. And the schooling we provide to our young people should demonstrate and cultivate what we value.

I cannot guarantee that the specific plan OPRF High School is creating will do this, but we need to start the change somewhere. The plan has the right research backing and is moving forward in a spirit of learning and growth.

Staying where we are is a recipe for stagnation and inequity, and moving forward will allow us to work toward greater educational equity for all of our children.

I ask my fellow white Oak Parkers to support this plan and the growth and values that come with learning from our mistakes. It is this willingness to try, fail, and learn that will enable us to fulfill the promise of American education — to educate black students, Latinx students, Asian students, white students, and students of all races to the level they deserve.

Jim Schwartz is an Oak Park resident, an educator, and a blogger at Entwining.org.

32

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

O U R

V I E W P O I N T S

V I E W S

Something’s up at Lincoln

S

omewhere between creating profound change and perpetual chaos, District 97, Oak Park’s public elementary schools, has to achieve more balance in the hiring and the retention of principals. And soon.

News Friday that yet another principal had left Lincoln School — this time making a very rare mid-year exit — leaves that school community unsettled at best.

After the long tenure of Cathy Hamilton as Lincoln’s principal ended badly in 2017, things have gone from steady to untenable.

Hamilton, after an unfavorable change in state pension rules, attempted to pull back her early retirement. Administration and the school board declined that seemingly reasonable request, hired a new principal and wound up parking Hamilton in another post in the crowded central office on Madison Street.

Lisa Bucciarelli-Carlos lasted a year at Lincoln before taking a principal’s job outside Oak Park. Theresa Silva was hired as interim principal in August 2018. Laura Zaniolo turned up as this school year began. Reinforcements were sent in last November in the form of, ironically, Hamilton and Sheila Carter, another popular former D97 principal, who were titled as interim assistant principals. Zaniolo left as of Jan. 30.

Permanent (as if) Assistant Principal Paula Hughes will seemingly run the school for now, with Hamilton and Carter in support.

Two other district officials, a teacher-coach and a climate and culture coach, will also parachute into the school.

Parents are urged to be patient and respect the privacy of the now-departed Zaniolo. Patience, though, is rightly in short supply.

A community meeting, using restorative circles and run by the PTO and the respected E-Team, was set for Monday night. A town hall meeting will follow on Feb. 19.

In an interview Friday with the Journal’s Michael Romain, Supt.

Carol Kelley said, “I don’t want families or students to feel that there’s something wrong with them.” This is a tight and traditionally positive school community. Seems unlikely the problem is with the parents and students. Kelley wants “to look at this with a learning lens.” All well and good. Our advice is to start with the lens focused on the district administration.

Affordable in downtown Affordable housing, goes the rap, winds up in Oak Park’s less desirable neighborhoods. We don’t fully buy that as Madison & Grove and Oak Park & Van Buren, the sites of two recent affordable housing developments, seem like strong and vital neighborhoods to us.

That said, it is harder to place affordable projects right in downtown Oak Park with higher property values, desirable access to public transit and sought-after walkability. That’s why we’re pleased to see that a classic, though troubled and shabby, six-story apartment hotel on Lake Street, just across the street from the main library, is being restored while also being maintained as reasonably affordable units with small studios starting at $800.

Oak Park’s village board on Monday night OK’d a $260,000 grant to the developers to allow construction of a new elevator which had been strongly urged by the fire department. The additional elevator will allow more disabled and emergency access to the building, which both bolsters safety and expands the potential mix of residents.

The building’s owner, as part of a pact with the village to win the elevator grant, guarantees that a minimum of 20 percent of the 64 units will remain affordable for at least 15 years. In recommending the grant to village government, the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation says it is likely that up to 85 percent of the units will remain affordable to renters at or below 60 percent of the area median income levels.

That is a strong number and a strong addition to affordable housing in Oak Park.

W

Film buffs want to know

ith Oscars imminent, I’ve been thinking about sequels, Hollywood’s favorite genre. Not the sequels already made. The ones that haven’t been made and that I would like to see.

What happens, for instance, to Maria in West Side Story? As the film ends, the love of her life has been murdered and the Sharks and Jets put aside their differences to carry the body in a solemn funeral procession, followed by this newly widowed young girl.

The New York version of Romeo and Juliet leaves Juliet alive. She’s all of 16. The film came out in 1961, so she would be 75 today.

What has the rest of her fictional life been like?

Did she marry a Shark? Or another Jet and start the whole feud over again? Maybe she never married. Traumatized, does she withdraw and become a bitter recluse? Or did she move back to Puerto Rico and eventually become the island’s first female governor? I like to think she completed a master’s degree in social work and a PhD in sociology and studied gangs in New York City, looking for solutions. She might have become a “violence interrupter,” roaming the streets to quell tensions, or established a community center named for Tony and Bernardo attempting to bring warring gangs together. And over many decades, she becomes a legendary neighborhood elder who writes a book full of wisdom and compassion titled, West Side Stories.

What happens to George Bailey in It’s Still a Wonderful Life (working title)? Does he ever leave Bedford Falls? Does he file charges against Mr. Potter for absconding with the Building & Loan’s $7,000 after Potter’s long-suffering wheelchair-pusher gets fed up with the old skinflint’s shenanigans (and being underpaid) and squeals to the police (and to George)? Does Mr. Potter spend a Happy New Year … in jail!? I like to think George takes the $25,000 offered by Sam Wainwright in the euphoric final scene of the original film then sues Mr. Potter for defamation and puts him out of business, thereby becoming the richest man in town, financially and figuratively. George might use the settlement from Potter’s plea deal to start an affordable housing nonprofit that builds more homes so Mr. Potter’s “rabble” can have two rooms and a bath to raise their families in. I hope George goes to college at last and earns his degree in architecture so he can oversee and fund the design of creative buildings by Frank Lloyd Wright and other prominent architects, making Bedford Falls known as the “Columbus, Indiana of New England”? Eventually, he serves three terms as mayor and writes a play titled, Bedford Falls … or Potterville? featuring re-enactments inspired by the original film’s nightmare scenario, a cautionary tale of what might have been if Mr. Potter’s dystopia of economic inequality had prevailed. And in the final scene, George and Mary go off into the sunset — on their longdelayed honeymoon.

What happens to Rick and Ilsa after Casablan-

KEN

ca ends? Does she get fed up with Victor Laszlo, her heroic husband, whose passion is focused on grand causes but not really on her? After the war, I bet she leaves him and becomes a cabaret singer in Paris, thrilling 1950s audiences with her sultry hats and Swedish accent. But it’s small consolation. It looks like she will regret getting on that plane every day for the rest of her life. So she boards another plane — back to Morocco, hoping against hope, and discovers to her delight that Rick’s Café Americain is still in business. She sees a notice about a blind audition for a new singer. After her rendition of “As Time Goes By,” the curtains part, and she sees Rick with his face in his hands, leaving her to wonder, “Is he happy to see me or was I really off-key?”

What happens to Tiffany and Pat from Silver Linings Playbook? Do they continue their choreographed love affair and end up on Dancing With The Stars? Do the Philadelphia Eagles eventually defeat the hated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl? Yes! But few realize this was entirely due to Tiffany and Pat and his family and sundry oddball friends watching the game, aligning the stars (and his father’s remote controls) for the ultimate Excelsior.

After Christmas Story ends and Ralphie grows up, he gets drafted and goes to Vietnam as a second lieutenant, then discovers his former tormentor, Scut Farkus, has been assigned to his platoon. Awkward. But Scut has reformed and still respects Ralphie’s fists of fury. He also no longer calls him Ralphie. No one does. Ralph survives the war but comes home traumatized and disillusioned. He lands a job in advertising with the toy manufacturer that still produces the Red Ryder BB gun. This causes considerable internal conflict, but he resolves it by putting a warning on all the magazine ads: “With gun rights come responsibilities! Watch out for icicles! And don’t shoot your eye out!” Eventually, Ralph writes his memoir, which becomes a bestseller titled, The Life and Times of a Lifebuoy Boy. The book is credited with ending the abusive practice of washing kids’ mouths out with soap. But it’s too late for him. He goes blind from soap poisoning.

As Roman Holiday ends, we see reporter Joe Bradley walking down a long palace hall accompanied only by his integrity. Despite all his bellyaching about going back to New York, however, he can’t tear himself away from Rome because he knows, sooner or later, Princess Ann will make another state visit. While he waits, he writes a book about their magical few days together — changing names to protect the innocent. She reads and treasures it, and finally after many years returns to the Eternal City, this time as queen, and Joe is assigned to cover the story (to be continued).

But Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn are no longer around. The better the film, the more I wonder, but any Hollywood attempt at a sequel (with new actors) would likely come up disappointingly short.

Probably best to leave the endings in our minds and hearts.

Where they can live happily ever after.

TRAINOR

V I E W P O I N T S D O O P E R ’ S

W

M E M O R I E S

Dogs I once knew

hen I was growing up, my family owned three dogs at various times.

Ginger was a pugnacious dog inclined to chase and confront. We had her for only two years because one day she bit my grandmother on the leg, so we gave her to a family friend who owned a farm in McHenry County.

Heidi was a lovable German shepherd who wanted to be a lap dog, but she was too big, so that didn’t work out well. I had to teach her to lie or sit on the floor rather than on our laps. I took her for long walks and played with her in our backyard and in her basement living area.

We had her until she died at age 13, and I was always amazed at her alertness and intelligence.

She was also a marvelous watchdog.

Prince was a Basenji hound, also known as a barkless dog. However, he did make other sounds that were mostly of a guttural nature. Prince was a playful dog and a good companion to me.

One day, though, he ran out of the house and was struck and killed by a delivery truck in front of our house. Our entire family was deeply saddened by this terrible event.

It was my job to see to the everyday needs of our dogs. Not only did I walk them, but I also played with them, fed them and cleaned them.

The Bournes, who lived behind us, had a Pointer named Pepper. Early each morning, Mr. Bourne would attach the dog’s leash to a long wire that allowed Pepper to move only east and west.

Whenever kids came to play in the Bournes’ yard, the

dog was immediately moved into the house.

Pepper was a lonely dog and howled much of the time because no one would pay attention to him. The Pointer is a hunting dog, but since Mr. Bourne did not hunt, Pepper simply languished during all seasons of the year.

Dr. Grissom, our next door neighbor, owned a Cocker spaniel named Paddy, who had one habit that was irritating. Many times when we played ball in our yard, and the ball went over the fence and Paddy was in the Grissoms’ yard, he would retrieve the ball and run away with it and then put it somewhere behind the Grissoms’ garage.

Many times Paddy would collect a half dozen balls, but we knew that Dr. Grissom would gather the balls and toss them over the fence into our yard.

The Kings had a Scotch terrier named Mac. Whenever we played baseball on the lot next to the Kings’ house, Mac would sit and watch the entire game without leaving his spot, which was out of range of any batted ball.

The people living next door to the Kings had a Great Dane named Norman. This dog was massive with a square jaw and a golden brown coat.

Whenever a ball went into Norman’s yard and he was outside, and one of us was brave enough to go after the ball, this huge, overly-friendly dog would knock down the person trying to retrieve the ball and give that person a tongue-lapping. We left many balls in Norman’s yard.

I liked all of the dogs that lived by our house, but I never overstepped my bounds and played roughhouse with them.

JOHN

STANGER

Thrive offers parent workshop on teens

L

ast year, Thrive Counseling Center, our community mental health center, began sponsoring an annual discussion series focused on meaningful topics relevant to our community. I gave a talk titled, “Creating Peaceful Families.” In November, I continued the conversation with a presentation called, “Becoming an Even Better Parent.” These discussions as well as all other Thrive Talks can be viewed on the Thrive website (thrivecc.org).

In the most recent talk, I spoke about viewing each family as a unique culture that is primarily influenced and shaped by parents. I asked several questions of the participants such as: “Are you creating the kind of family culture that you want?” “What would you like to see happening differently in your relationship with your child/children?” “When you are interacting with your child/children, are you

being the person you want them to be?”

It is quite clear to me that all parents want what is best for their kids. They want to teach their children important life lessons so they can grow up and find success and happiness in their own lives. The problem isn’t what we want for our kids but how we teach them these important lessons.

This spring, Thrive will pilot a program for people who want to be even better parents of teens.

As group facilitator, I will guide participants as they share their own parenting issues in a supportive and encouraging environment.

Participants will learn from each other new strategies for creating a kinder and more respectful family culture and understand the difference between a reaction and a response. Parents will also gain skills to interrupt emotional surges with thoughtful responses that commu-

STEVE PARKER One View

nicate their wisdom.

The program will be offered in a series of three 2-hour workshops for parents of adolescents. Groups will be limited to 10-20 participants and will be interactive in nature, using role plays, simulation, and discussion. We will meet three times from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 12, April 9 and April 30 at Thrive Counseling Center, 120 S. Marion St., Oak Park. Attendance at all three workshops is expected. The fee for the series will be $150 per person and $200 per couple.

If you are a parent of younger children and feel a similar program for this age group would be worthwhile, please contact Thrive.

To register for this program, please contact Wynne Lacey, 708-383-7500, ext. 111. For general questions related to the program, you may contact Kristen Keleher at Thrive, 708-383-7500, ext. 206 or kkeleher@thrivecc.org.

Steve Parker, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Stacey Sheridan, Maria Maxham Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter James Kay Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West, Linda Francis Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Mark Moroney, Scot McIntosh Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Bobbie Rollins-Sanchez Revenue & Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Client Engagement Natalie Johnson Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action.

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing.

Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay.

If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 250-word limit

■ 500-word limit

■ Must include first and last names,

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,

municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 708 613 3300

33

34

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

BLESOFF

Gerotranscendance from page 31 ness. This is an example of conscious aging.

As I was reading the introduction to The Second Mountain, I noticed a striking resemblance to Lars Tornstam’s theory of “gerotranscendance.” In describing people who have been liberated by their struggles and their sufferings in the valley between their two mountains, Brooks writes: “But suddenly they are not interested in what other people tell them to want. They want to want the things that are truly worth wanting. They elevate their desires.

The world tells them to be a good consumer, but they want to be the one consumed — by a moral cause.

The world tells them to want independence, but they want interdependence — to be enmeshed in a web of warm relationships. The world tells them to want individual freedom, but they want intimacy, responsibility, and commitment. The world wants them to climb the ladder and pursue success, but they want to be a person for others. The magazines on the magazine rack want them to ask ‘What can I do to make myself happy?’ but they glimpse something bigger than personal happiness.”

This is akin to what Tornstam posits is the natural path of aging for our species. As Dr. Bill Thomas summarizes gerotranscendance, human aging includes an increased feeling of affinity with past generations and a decreased interest in superfluous social interaction; a feeling of cosmic awareness, and a redefinition of time, space, life and death; becoming less self-occupied and at the same time more selective in the choice of social and other activities; and experiencing a decrease of interest in material things, with solitude becoming more attractive.

Conscious aging helps us to age with intention. Conscious aging helps us to walk our species’ natural path of aging. Conscious aging helps us re-frame aging so that life can be more wonderful, not just less horrible.

Marc Blesoff is a former Oak Park village trustee, co-founder of the Windmills softball organization, co-creator of Sunday Night Dinner, a retired criminal defense attorney, and a novice beekeeper. He currently facilitates Conscious Aging Workshops and Wise Aging Workshops in the Chicago area.

‘I

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

The problem with (and for) lawyers

told you.”

Alice had a smug look on her face as Pastor Walter Mitty walked in the front door of the Main Café last Saturday.

“Told me what, Alice?”

“I told you President Trump would be acquitted.”

“But Alice,” Mitty replied, “the Senate hasn’t even voted yet.”

The cantankerous server who has been waiting on the Saturday morning men’s fellowship breakfast since Moses brought the 10 Commandments down from Mt. Sinai rolled her eyes and said, “They don’t have to. It’s all over. President Trump’s lawyers shot holes in all of the House managers’ arguments.”

Alice followed the pastor of Poplar Park Community Church to the big table in the back where most everyone had already arrived.

“Happy Saturday, Alice.” Dominique greeted the irascible waitress with a smile, hoping to defuse the rant he suspected would soon be coming.

“Well, lookey what we have here,” Alice continued, 10 of Poplar Park’s most loyal Hillary voters who want to remove our duly elected president in that hoax of an impeachment trial.”

Dominique, determined not to take the bait, responded, “C’mon Alice, you know I vote Republican most of the time.”

“You’re all the same,” Alice shot back.

“You swallow everything the liberal press and those House managers say, and you can’t accept the common-sense facts that our president’s lawyers are laying out.”

Alice had her mind already made up, so Dominique let her have the last word.

The men around the table felt their shoulders relax as Alice stomped back to the kitchen, muttering under her breath the whole way.

Eric Anderson was the first to speak.

“Adam Schiff ’s closing argument was pretty compelling. To me he sounded kind of like a preacher more than a lawyer.” Turning to

Mitty all the guys at the table laughed in unison.

“Kind of like Obama, in that sense. Going above whether Trump broke the law to ‘Was it moral?’”

“You all know that I, like Dominique, tend to vote Republican,” said Asch, “but I have to admit that after Schiff ’s speech — actually after Nadler’s speech too — I was leaning toward thinking that Trump should be found guilty.

But then as Dorothy and I were running errands around town last Saturday, we listened to bits and pieces of Trump’s lawyers’ preview of their arguments, and I have to tell you, to me they poked a lot of holes in the antiTrump prosecution.

“You see, my problem is that both groups of lawyers are smarter than I am, and I wind up being convinced by whomever I listen to last.”

On his walk home, Pastor felt more uncertain than ever about how he would vote if he were a senator. He definitely thought Trump was an immoral person, but is that a good enough reason to convict him, especially with an election coming up in nine months?

■ As he passed by the History/Herstory Bookstore, he saw through the front window that Bernie Rolvaag had no customers, so he decided to use his friend to help him sort out his conflicting feelings and thoughts.

“Hey, Walt, what’s happening?” Bernie greeted him warmly.

Mitty took the invitation seriously and launched into a 10-minute vent of his internal turmoil.

When he finished, Bernie said, “I hear you my friend, and maybe what’s at the root of your struggle is that you feel like the lawyers on both sides are not really after the truth but only after winning the argument.”

“But isn’t that their job?” said Mitty. “Isn’t our legal system called adversarial because the whole theory is that the prosecuting attorneys present their one-sided view of the

TOM HOLMES

case and the defense lawyers present their side, and then through that competitive presenting of sides, somehow the truth will appear to an impartial jury?”

“Exactly, but do you see the problem with that model? In the case of the impeachment trial going on now, what is supposed to happen is that the House of Representatives acts like a grand jury with the task of objectively deciding if there is enough evidence to bring someone to trial — not to convict or acquit — but enough to bring the case to court.”

Mitty nodded in agreement.

“What’s more, the jury — aka the Senate — is also supposed to be objective, to have no biases, no preconceived opinions.”

Mitty nodded again and said, “It’s not the fault of the lawyers, is it? They’re just playing the game according to the rules.”

“And I just had a thought about why those senators can’t seem to be objective, Walt. It’s like that guy I read back in college — Peter Berger I think his name was. He argued that every society has what he called ‘plausibility structures.’ You know, like patterns of accepted beliefs and practices in their minds which determine what statements of ‘fact’ are plausible and which are not.”

“And you’re comparing the two parties to like two societies looking at life through different lenses, right?”

Bernie nodded and added, “So you have people on both sides of the aisle looking at that transcript of the July 25 phone call and the Democrats are convinced they know what Trump meant even though he never said the words and most of the Republicans say that no crime was broken, as if that was all there is to it.”

Mitty sighed, “Half the couples who come to me for counseling have the same problem — I’m right and you’re an idiot.”

Pastor Walt walked out of History/Herstory feeling his shoulders relaxing a bit.

At least he felt like he understood what was going on inside him better, but he still had no clue regarding how to have a mutually satisfying conversation with Alice.

Out with the old, in with the new

I’m thrilled about Pete’s, a grocery that has proven itself a community asset on Lake Street.

Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. The existing Packard (or Hill Motor Co.) building at Wesley and Lake has to go.

Nostalgia for the insignificant is great, but not on this taxpayer’s nickel. If you love the building, buy it yourself.

I’m thrilled about senior housing across the street from Pete’s.

Real estate taxes for school districts 97 and 200 without a single additional student — that’s what Soak Park needs more of. Businesses are better for the taxpayer, but senior housing is pretty good.

I’m thrilled to see the Jewel at Elmwood and Madison under discussion for sale and redevelopment. The store is too small for modern full-service grocery concepts and Jewel has not been

investing any serious money in the store for quite some time.

It’s obvious they are just letting the store limp along, hoping the property gets in the way of development and they can off-load it at an attractive price. Looks like their strategy is working out.

All we need now is for the frustrated would-be museum curators in our town to stop getting in the way of every sensible proposal to let the new be informed

but not hidebound by the old. Between a Hysterical Commission that thinks everything Wright ever touched is a masterpiece and a village board that thinks it’s OK to make owners suffer while it hunt-and-pecks toward a coherent strategy, it’s a wonder

anything ever gets done here.

Bob Stigger Oak Park

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

R

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

After all, it’s a small world

ecently I profiled a courageous Iraqi woman named Alyaa Shakir [Changing the world, one piece of litter at a time, Viewpoints, Jan. 15]. Alyaa is leading a movement to clean the streets of Baghdad in Iraq. I compared her to some like-minded people in our community. Picking up litter around here, though, is not dangerous, while Alyaa risks her life daily in the war-torn city.

The column captured the attention of local readers but I had no idea it was being read by a reporter half a world away. Then I received an email from Daniel Boehm. He is a German TV journalist who is covering the Middle East from Beirut, Lebanon.

He found Alyaa’s story to be very inspiring. It’s also a good fit for a series of short TV pieces he is producing. Boehm is focusing on young artists and activists who are working to improve conditions in Arab countries. His aim is to show young people fighting for a better future, instead of the typical news stories that dwell on the misery, hopelessness and destruction in the region.

Boehm said Lebanon is now experiencing protests like the ones in the streets of Baghdad. They are not targeting a brutal leader.

It’s an uprising against a government that doesn’t provide adequate services and exploits religious divisions. Protesters want to hold their political leaders responsible for their actions.

He believed that Alyaa’s story reflected many of these problems in the Middle East: failing governments, civil strife and gender inequality. But instead of dwelling on the negative, it showed how she is doing what she can to improve the situation.

Collecting litter may appear to be unimportant compared to Iraq’s more pressing problems but that is precisely why he wants to do the story. Boehm said real change doesn’t start from the top; it starts with ordinary people like Alyaa. Her civic pride and sense of citizenship is inspiring others to take action.

He hoped to interview Alyaa. When I forwarded Boehm’s request to Alyaa, she was thrilled to grant an interview. I’m very happy that Alyaa’s story is going to reach a larger audience and astonished that a TV journalist in Beirut is picking up a story from the Review.

I had no concept of this paper’s reach, until I spoke with our circulation manager.

It is read all over the world. At any given

JOHN RICE

moment, we have readers in Europe and countries across the globe.

It sounds self-serving for a columnist to praise their own newspaper. But I loved this paper long before I started writing for it.

Ours is a “hyperlocal” newspaper that has global reach. Thanks to the column, a young Iraqi woman is taking her place on the world stage. It’s not the first time a Review story has had impact overseas. Some years back we wrote a profile of a young woman playing her cello on the corner of Circle & Madison. The article was picked up by another publication and led to her being hired as a music teacher in South Africa. That was quite a promotion for a former street musician and shows it’s a small world indeed.

John Rice grew up in Oak Park and is a columnist for our sister publication, the For-

Clarification In last week’s Viewpoints, we ran a letter [Support the war powers resolution, Jan. 29] which called on U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth to sign onto the resolution. Sen. Duckworth’s press office informed Wednesday Journal that Sen. Duckworth had already signed onto this legislation on Jan. 7.

Need a helping of

Call Jill at (708) 524-8300 or visit OakPark.com/ subscribe

the recipe for a successful night!

thank you to all of our incredible sponsors and vendors

35

36

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Oak Park Eats positively encourages readers to think about the food and beverages they consume and seek our unique and memorable beer drinking experience while celebrating Kinslagher’s local partnerships with Carnivore, Opportunity Knocks, Daly Bagels, and Darr-B-Q. - Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher

Sip more at Kinslahger.com/ Keith Huizinga, Kinslagher

Keep up with Melissa Elsmo and what she’s cooking up at:

OakParkEats.com

Robert P. Gamboney Funeral Director I am there for you in your time of need.

All services handled with dignity and personalized care.

Cell: 708.420.5108 • Res: 708.848.5667 I am affiliated with Peterson-Bassi Chapels at 6938 W. North Ave, as well as other chapels throughout Chicagoland.

Administrative Assistant Growing Community Media (Wednesday Journal) seeks a part-time Administrative Assistant. Reporting to GCM’s associate publisher, this position will primarily support sales and donor development staff and activities which grow revenue for GCM. Oak Park location. Bring your good energy and join our fast-paced, ever-changing, multicultural, and multigenerational team. Must be willing to take direction from multiple leaders and be comfortable community in-person yet also remotely with an outside sales team. Rare but occasional nights and weekends may be required. Please send a cover letter and resume to dawn@oakpark.com by February 12th.

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Check First.

Religion Guide

First Congregational Church of Maywood

400 N. Fifth Avenue (1 block north of Lake St.) Come join us for Sunday Morning Worship at 11 am Pastor Elliot Wimbush will be preaching the message.

Refreshments and fellowship follow the service.

708-344-6150 firstchurchofmaywood.org When you're looking for a place to worship the Lord, Check First.

You’re Invited to A Church for All Nations A Church Without Walls SERVICE LOCATION Forest Park Plaza 7600 W. Roosevelt Road Forest Park, IL 60130

William S. Winston Pastor

Roman Catholic

St. Edmund Catholic Church

ELCA, Lutheran

Good Shepherd

188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:00 p.m.

Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. M–F Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m.

Parish Office: 708-848-4417 Religious Ed Phone: 708-848-7220 stedmund.org

Worshiping at 820 Ontario, Oak Park IL (First Baptist Church) 9:00a-Worship 10:30a-Education Hour

All are welcome. goodshepherdlc.org 708-848-4741

on the corner of Thomas and Fair Oaks Ave. Lutheran—ELCA

United Lutheran Church

409 Greenfield Street (at Ridgeland Avenue) Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and children’s chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

worship on Sundays @ 10am nursery care available

fairoakspres.org 744 Fair Oaks Ave. • 708.386.4920

OAK PARK MEETING OF FRIENDS (Quakers) Meeting For Worship Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Park Art League 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park Please call 708-445-8201 www.oakparkfriends.org

Roman Catholic

Ascension Catholic Church

www.unitedlutheranchurch.org

708/386-1576

(708) 697-5000 Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM

LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service Believer’s Walk of Faith Broadcast Schedule (Times in Central Standard Time) Television DAYSTAR (M-F)

3:30-4:00pm

Nationwide

WJYS-TV (M-F)

6:30-7:00am

Chicago, IL.

WCIU-TV (Sun.)

10:30-11:00am

Chicago, IL.

Word Network

10:30-11:00am

Nationwide

(M-F)

www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org

Lutheran-Independent

Grace Lutheran Church

7300 W. Division, River Forest David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor David W. Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Lauren Dow Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m.

Sunday School/Adult Ed. 9:45 a.m.

Childcare Available

Grace Lutheran School

Preschool - 8th Grade Bill Koehne, Principal 366-6900, graceriverforest.org Lutheran-Missouri Synod

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship, 9:30am Christian Education Hour 8:30am Wednesday Worship 7:00pm Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 www.stjohnforestpark.org Methodist

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

324 N. Oak Park Avenue 708-383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org Sunday School for all Ages, 9am Sunday Worship, 10am Children’s Chapel during Worship Rev. Katherine Thomas Paisley, Pastor Professionally Staffed Nursery Fellowship Time after Worship

808 S. East Ave. 708/848-2703 www.ascensionoakpark.com Worship: Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:00, 11 am 5:00 pm at St. Edmund Church Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 – 4:45 pm Saturday Taizé Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1 Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor Roman Catholic

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park

CELEBRATING OUR 108TH YEAR! Sat. Masses: 8:30am & 5:00pm SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00am & 10:30am 10:30 Mass-Daycare for all ages CCD Sun. 9am-10:15am Reconciliation: Sat. 9am & 4pm Weekday Masses: Monday–Thursday 6:30am Church Office: 708-366-0839 CCD: 708-366-3553 www.stbern.com Pastor: Fr. Stanislaw Kuca

St. Giles Family Mass Community

We welcome all to attend Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. on the St. Giles Parish campus on the second floor of the school gym, the southernmost building in the school complex at 1034 North Linden Avenue.

Established in 1970, we are a laybased community within St. Giles Roman Catholic Parish.

Our Mass is family-friendly.

We encourage liturgically active toddlers. Children from 3 to 13 and young adults play meaningful parts in each Sunday liturgy.

Together with the parish, we offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based religious education program for children in grades K-8.

For more information, go to http://www.stgilesparish.org/ family-mass-community or call Bob Wielgos at 708-288-2196.

Third Unitarian Church 10AM Sunday Forum 11AM Service Rev. Colleen Vahey thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield, Chicago Committed to justice, not to a creed Upcoming Religious Holidays

Feb 5 Chinese New Year Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist 8 Nirvana Day Buddhism 9 Triodion begins Orthodox Christian 12 Triodion Orthodox Christian 14 St. Valentine’s Day Christian

To place a listing in the Religion Guide, call Mary Ellen: 708/613-3342

37

38

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

@ @OakPark

Fenwick boys hoops splits weekend 39

SPORTS

OPRF boys b-ball hopeful after losses 40

OPRF girls wrestling thrives in first full year

Courtesy Jamil Smart

TAKEDOWN: OPRF Tiffany White (above) is 17-3 this season and has been one of the many bright spots for the Huskies girls wrestling team.

Illinois sees state-wide growth in participation

By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

OPRF girls wrestling team has made the most of its expanded opportunities this season.

While the team still has to compete against all-boys teams, it has competed in 16 tournaments that exclusively feature female wrestlers after not having any last year. Some of OPRF’s notable performers include Tiffany White (17-3), Kennedi Dickens (18-5), Saddie Sheer (19-4), Louise Calkins (15-15) and Camila Neuman (14-14).

“I feel like [the season has] been really successful so far,” said Neuman. “Last year was a struggle since there weren’t any girls’ events but this year it’s a lot more serious. We have to be more prepared because there are so many more competitions.”

The team also hosted its first all-girls dual meet on Jan. 25 versus York High School on senior night and dedicated the event to raising awareness around sexual misconduct.

After doubling the number of wrestlers on the team last year, Arkin has been impressed with how the team has developed over the season.

“The team has vastly improved,” said OPRF’s girls wrestling head coach Fred Arkin. “They have wrestled in what I would consider to be a full schedule. They are improving at a pace that is typical the Huskies’ wrestling program.”

Tiffany White, whose brother is University of Nebraska wrestling star and OPRF alumnus Isaiah White, has been one of the standouts this season. After missing the first six meets for undisclosed reasons, White has gone up two weight classes this season and, despite this, is still dominating her opponents.

“I just don’t like to lose,” said White. “When you’re on bottom and you have to really get up, you can do it. You just have to really want it and that’s what I have been trying to do.”

Statewide success Throughout the state, there has been an increase in participation in girls wrestling in Illinois.

According to Arkin, who is one of the co-chairs of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) steering committee, the state has seen the number of certified girls wrestlers rise from 641 last year to 835 (across 250 schools) in 2019-20. To be counted as a certified wrestler, athletes need to have their body fat tested before the season.

In a conversation with Wednesday Journal last year, Arkin said that the IHSA is seeking more data on participation in the sport before giving girls wrestling a sanctioned state event. Illinois is amongst the top-10 states in the country for participants in girls wrestling. However, Illinois and Florida are the only states on that list that don’t have a sanctioned state event.

Arkin said the IHSA has been supportive of girls wresSee WRESTLING on page 40

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

39

Fenwick boys hoops falls to Riverside-Brookfield

Mounts 23-point comeback night before

valry with Fenwick over the years,” said RBHS head coach Mike Reingruber. “It’s fun for both teams, and luckily we came out on top.”

After an early 9-9 tie, Fenwick looked like

By MELVIN TATE it had taken command after it went on a 12-0 Contributing Reporter run that extended into the second quarter.

“I told the guys to calm down and play On Feb. 1 at Riverside-Brookfield High School, the Bulldogs hosted Fenwick on the with some confidence,” said Reingruber of hardwood and the two rivals put together RBHS rallying from the 12-point deficit. “We a hard-fought, competitive boys’ basket- kind of lost our way a little bit and tried to ball game in front of a large and raucous pump them up more than anything. It helps when you make shots, and we matched (Fencrowd.

RBHS sophomore guard JP Hanley proved wick) blow-to-blow.”

Responding to their coach’s inspiring to be the difference as he hit all five of his three-point shots in a 66-59 Bulldog win over words, the Bulldogs ran off 13 consecutive points of their own and outscored the Friars the Friars.

“It’s always fun playing neighborhood 21-7 the rest of the first half. They took a 30schools, and we’ve developed a bit of a ri- 28 lead into halftime.

“In the first quarter, we came out focused defensively,” said Fenwick coach Staunton Peck. “But as we got tired, that focus went away, and they got a lot of wide-open threes.

Give credit to RBHS, that’s a good team. They went through a little rough stretch, but they’re going to beat some teams, and it’s tough to beat them here.”

Hanley heated up in the third, scoring 10 points as the Bulldogs extended their lead to 53-45 going into the final eight minutes.

“We lost (Hanley) a few times,” Peck said. “He’s a good shooter, and when he’s wide-open, he’s going to make some threes.”

“JP is a talented kid, there’s a reason why he’s starting on the varsity as a sophomore,” Reingruber said. “He comes from a long line of Hanleys that can shoot the ball, and he stepped up and hit some big shots for us.”

The Friars managed to cut their deficit to 62-59 with less than three minutes to play and had a couple of possessions to tie but weren’t able to convert. A basket by Paul Zilinskas followed by two Luke Gentile free throws with eight seconds left sealed things for RBHS. RBHS’ Zilinskas finished with 15 points while Jamir Truman added 13 points and 9 rebounds and Dylan ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer Meehan 9 points and 4 reDOWN LOW: Fenwick’s Trey Pettigrew (No. 1) takes contact bounds for the Bulldogs from RBHS’ Paul Zilinskas (No. 10) in the Friars’ loss to (13-8), who shot 59% (10-of17) from three-point range. the Bulldogs on Jan. 31

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

TRANSITION OFFENSE: Fenwick’s Bryce Hopkins runs the break versus RBHS on Feb. 1. He finished with 21 points, five rebounds and five assists.

Bryce Hopkins led Fenwick with a gamehigh 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists.

However, he went 0-of-6 on three-pointers as the Friars struggled to connect from long range, shooting just 33 percent from beyond the arc. Hopkins was the focus of an intense defensive effort displayed by RBHS. “Bryce was fine. He missed some shots he usually makes,” Peck said. “He’s not going to score 40 every game.”

Trey Pettigrew added 14 points and 4 rebounds, David Gieser 9 points, and Sean Walsh 8 points and 5 rebounds for Fenwick (19-5).

Fatigue may have also come into play for the Friars, given that they were coming off a scintillating 69-67 victory at St. Laurence the previous evening. Trailing by 23 to the Vikings at one point, Fenwick staged a dramatic rally and closed the game with a 13-2 run over the final 64 seconds. Hopkins, who had a game-high 36 points, scored on a putback as time expired.

“Every loss is a learning experience. Our guys will be back,” said Peck. “Sustaining success on the road as a young team is hard.

But I’m not disappointed, I thought we gave

a great effort.”

Also on Jan. 31, RBHS notched a 71-45 victory at Chicago Christian. Truman (18 points, 6 rebounds), Hanley (17 points, 6 assists), and Zilinskas (9 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) led the way for the Bulldogs.

As the season enters the final month, both Fenwick and RBHS are looking to fine-tune their play in an effort to be at their best come March. Win or lose, these games are good preparation for the postseason.

“We want to play a tough non-conference schedule leading up to the state tournament,” Reingruber said. “We look at this game as preparation for that, and this win will help with seeding (in the IHSA Class 3A tournament) while giving our guys confidence moving forward that we can play with anybody.”

Fenwick will have almost one week off before facing Brother Rice on the road Feb. 7. Meanwhile, RBHS will host Metro Suburban leader Aurora Christian Feb.4 and IC Catholic Prep Feb. 7, then travel to Nazareth Academy Feb. 8.

40

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

S P O R T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Huskies boys hoops hopeful despite two losses

Come close to topping top team in state

(57-54).

OPRF fouled the Red Devils’ Connor Nelson on the next possession and he also missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Barnes grabbed the rebound and dribbled up court. His attempted a three but it went off the side of the rim. However, OPRF’s Rashad Trice flew in for the offensive rebound and passed it to his teammate Demetrius Dortch on the wing. With 18 seconds left, Dortch buried a three to tie the game at 57.

Hinsdale Central immediately took the ball up court and missed a shot inside. However, Quast grabbed the rebound and laid the ball in with 4.4 seconds left. After the Huskies called a timeout, Trice threw an inbound pass to Dortch who pushed the ball to the three-point line. Over two defenders, his 3-point attempt just missed as time expired.

Smith finished with 19 points and Barnes added 16.

By JAMES KAY Sports Editor

After losing two late-game thrillers on back-to-back nights, OPRF’s boys basketball team (11-8) is pushing forward with one month to go before the playoffs start.

The Huskies have been hit hard with the injury bug for over a month now and haven’t been able to field their full starting lineup since the Pontiac Holiday Tournament.

“We definitely had both of those games in our hands,” said OPRF guard Josh Smith.

“It just came down to execution. We have to mature in the way we execute. Those were two good teams, and when you play against good teams, energy and effort isn’t going to cut it. But I think we are starting to understand that and it’s coming. You can see it.”

OPRF almost beats Evanston

Huskies vs. Hinsdale Central OPRF hosted Hinsdale Central on Jan. 31 and held the lead for most of the game. However, Hinsdale’s Ryan Isaacson tallied nine points in the third quarter (scoring 31 total) and put his team back within one point heading into the fourth quarter.

“Isaacson is a tremendous player,” said OPRF head coach Matt Maloney. “We tried throwing 3-4 guys at him and every two minutes switch him on a different guy. The game plan was to deny him the ball. Obviously, we did not do that.”

The Huskies beat the Red Devils 51-47 in their first matchup this season on Dec. 12 as senior Justin Cross, who is recovering from a fractured elbow and wrist, held Isaacson to 8 points.

After a quick scoring spurt from the Red Devils, OPRF trailed 57-50 with 2:20 left after

WRESTLING

More opportunities from page 38 tling and that there is “constant communication” going on between the IHSA and the IWCOA. The IHSA’s bylaws state, “Students who participate on a school squad in Girls Wrestling may participate in no more than thirty-five (35) matches in any one season prior to the IHSA series, regardless of competition format.”

Under the bylaw, students can’t compete in more than 18 events in one season.

The future of OPRF girls wrestling Even with certain limitations that come with the bylaw and the classification of being an emerging sport, OPRF has brought on more coaches to train the girls this year.

Photo by HOLDEN GREEN

OPRF’s Josh Smith attempts a dunk versus Hinsdale Central on Jan. 31. He scored 19 points in the 57-59 loss.

Isaacson caught a lob from his teammate, Mac Quast, slammed home a two-handed dunk, and drew a foul (he converted the and one).

The Huskies started their comeback with a putback by Kyren Gardner with two minutes left. OPRF fouled Hinsdale Central The team also had the opportunity to attend a “Wrestle Like A Girl” clinic and worked out with Olympian Alli Ragan.

From the workouts intensifying to the rise of energy from the coaches at practice, there is a new atmosphere around the team.

“Our coaches get heated and are always yelling, but in an encouraging way,” said Dickens. “You can tell they want us to do well and to like the sport. They always want us to do better and it has been great.”

The opportunity to compete more frequently against girls has Neuman wanting to continue wrestling when she graduates high school.

“Yeah I am super serious about competing at the next level,” said Neuman. “It’s the one thing that I know that I want really bad. I don’t even know what I want my future job to be but I know that I want to wrestle in college and I want to go to state and impress people to get scholarships. I’m very determined to go for.”

on the next possession and the Red Devils missed the front end of their one-and-one opportunity. The Huskies’ Isaiah Barnes battled for the rebound and, falling out of bounds, tipped the ball to Smith, who dribbled through traffic and went coast-to-coast to put the Huskies within one possession

Despite the tough loss to the Red Devils, the Huskies bounced back against one of the top teams in the state. OPRF trailed by two with less than a minute left, but the Wildkits escaped the upset with a 54-45 win after late-game fouling put Evanston on the line the rest of the way.

“We competed with a top-two team in the state in a hostile environment and were a few plays away from finishing,” said Matt Maloney. “I am very proud of how they competed with not having an extra day to prepare.”

Moving forward OPRF has another back-to-back game set versus Lyons Township High School on Feb. 7 at home at 7:30 before heading to Chicago to play Christ the King High School on Feb. 8. That game starts at 4 p.m.

Photo provided by JAMIL SMART

WINNER, WINNER: OPRF’s Louise Calkins went 2-1 verus Niles West on Dec. 23.

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM New local ads this week

YOUR WEEKLY AD

REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED

41

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI

Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion.

Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion.

The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

Place your ad online anytime at: www.OakPark.com/Classified/

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED

River Forest D90 has an immediate opening for a Part-time (0.3) English Language Learner Teacher.

Qualifications: Valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with an English as a Second Language Endorsement. Master’s Degree is preferred. Successful teaching experience is preferred.

Job Duties: The English Language Learners Teacher will meet the needs of limited English proficient students.

Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at www.district90.org. Please do not send hard copies of supporting documentation, i.e. cover letters, resumes, licensure, etc. to River Forest Schools District 90; instead, upload these materials onto the online job application system for proper processing.

Senior Data Statistical Analysts (Chicago, IL) sought by ShopRunner, Inc. Resp: Dvlop & test statstcl mthds for anlysis of prprietry consmr data cllction sftwre to assess retailr prfrmnce trnds. Req: MS in Statistics; 2 yrs of wrk exp as an anlyst dsigning & mnging custm analyses invlvng statstcl modlng & numricl optmztions to imprve mrketng & busness initiatves; 1 yr of exp usng SQL & Microsoft Excel to extrct data & generate statstcl reprsntations & rports of bsiness prfrmnce trnds; 1 yr of exp usng SAS to prfrm statstcl modlng of data; 1 yr of exp idntfyng mrktng objctves, dfining Key Prfrmnce Indctors & Rtrns on Invstmnt, & creatng optmztion plans usng this data. Telecmmtng Prmttd 1 dy pr bsnss wk. Email resumes to recruitment@shoprunner.com.

HELP WANTED Senior Software Engineers sought

by Uptake Technologies, Inc. in Chicago, IL. To Create interactive visualization tools and dashboards; Build a highly scalable framework for ingesting, transforming and enhancing data at web scale. Requires BS in CS, Software Engineering, or related field plus 5 years programming experience. Alternatively, employer accepts MS in CS, Software Engineering, or related field plus 2 years programming experience.

Experience with object-oriented programming and design. Experience programming and problem solving.

Experience using agile methodologies. 2 years experience with SQL and NoSQL database technologies.

2 years experience with structure and usage of restful web services.

Experience with service-oriented (SOA) and event-driven (EDA) architectures. 1 year of experience with Spring’s open source tools. .

Must have authorization to work permanently in U.S. Applicants send cover letter and resume to Rashonda Kirkwood at 600 W. Chicago Ave. Suite 620, Chicago, IL 60654 Staff Engineers sought by Uptake Technologies, Inc. in Chicago, IL. To creat intrctv visualztion tools n dshbrds; Bld hghly sclabl frmwrk fr ingstng, trnsfrmng n enhncng data at wb scal. Reqs BS in CS, Sftwr Engnrng, or rltd fld pls 6 yrs systm bldng exp n 5 yrs prgrmng exp usng JVM bsd lnguags. Altrntivly emplyr wil accpt MS in CS, Sftwr Engnrng, or rltd fld pls 3 yrs systm bldng exp n 2 yrs prgrmng exp using JVM basd lnguags. Exp automtng infrstrctr n bld prcsses. Exp w/ srvc-orientd (SOA) n evnt-drvn (EDA) archtctrs.

Exp usng bg data soltions in AWS envmnt. Exp w/ NOSQL data stors: Cssndr, HDFS n/or Elsticsrch. Exp w/ Jvscript or assciatd frmewrks.

Mst hv auth to wrk perm in U.S. Applcnts snd cvr lttr n resm to Rashonda Kirkwood at 600 W Chicago Ave #620, Chicago, IL 60654

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE NEW CONCEPT FOR MAYWOOD In this quiet residential neighborhood

902 S. 3RD AVENUE (2 blks W of 1st Ave & 1 blk N of Madison)

Reserve your own affordable 2 or 3 BR condo unit of 1000+ sq ft of living space being built on this historic site. You’ll benefit from a unique 12-year tax freeze and lower monthly living expenses from energy saving systems/appliances, and you can help design your own individual unit. Plans also include building 5 new townhomes onsite.

For details Call 708-383-9223.

SUBURBAN RENTALS CICERO Lg 3 RMS, 1BR. $795/mo. No pets.

Sec. dep. Incl. heat, water, appl., etc. Blvd Manor area.

BROKER 312-780-9257 FOREST PARK 2BR 2BR 2nd floor. 1 pkg space avail.

Tenant paid central air & heat. On Madison in downtown Forest Park.

Spacious apt. w/ hardwd floors. Very private. $1150/mo.

708-436-3644 RIVERSIDE 5RMS 2 BR incl. heat, water, parking, appl., etc. $995/mo. Sec. dep.

Lease. Parking area, close to train, bus & shopping.

BROKER 312-780-9257

SUBURBAN RENTALS

M&M

property management, inc.

708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park River Forest D90 has an IMMEDIATE opening for an Evening Custodian, 2pm - 10pm at Lincoln Elementary School. Responsible for cleaning of buildings and grounds, as assigned. A strong work ethic, interpersonal skills and custodial experience is required. Salary commensurate with experience. For consideration, please send resume to Pam Jenkins, HR Specialist at jenkinsp@district90.org.

Salesforce IT Analyst sought by Interfinancial, Inc. in Chicago, IL to support and develop business processes and applications within Salesforce.

Req BS in CS, Engg, or rltd + 5yrs Salesforce exp. Req exp w/: AppExchange, SCRUM, SOAP, REST Services, QMetry, & Siebel. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com #12920

Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.

CITY RENTALS AUGUSTA & HARDING Beautiful 2-bedroom condo-like apt, in a sunny, safe, secure 8 unit bldg.

Large newly tiled kitchen & bath, hardwood floors, central air, appliances included, tenant pays utilities, rent $830.00, for more information call 773-838-8471.

AUSTIN RENAISSANCE APARTMENTS

A HUD subsidized affordable Apartment property announces the opening of its waiting list specifically for Two Bedroom Apartments only! Resident rent is approximately 30% of gross household income, some restrictions apply. Our property is located on Washington Blvd in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

Apartments offered with an occupancy of two to four persons permitted. Properties feature modern kitchens, include appliances, and offer onsite maintenance and laundry facilities.

Austin Renaissance will except requests for application packages by U.S. Mail postmarked no later than March 16, 2020. Send or email a written request for an application package that includes your name, mailing address.

Daytime telephone number, Email address, and the number of persons in your household to: Town Center Realty Group LLC, PO Box 64, Huntley IL 60142-0064. email requests to: mrpaul2u70@aol.com Application packages available by mail or email delivery only.

No walk-ins accepted.

Town Center Realty Group LLC

ROOMS FOR RENT AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro.

Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up.

773-637-5957

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT SHARED OFFICE AVAILABLE Forest Park office available to share, days, evenings and weekends,free standing building, warm, comfortably furnished, ideal for psychotherapy, massage therapy or acupuncture, located close to public transportation, free parking.

Call Connie 630-640-9693 THERAPY OFFICES FOR RENT Therapy offices for rent in north Oak Park. Rehabbed building. Nicely furnished. Flexible leasing. Free parking. Free wifi; Secure building; Friendly colleagues providing referrals. Shared waiting room; optional Conference. Call or email with questions. Shown on Sundays.

Lee 708.383.0729 drlmadden@ameritech.net Lost & Found, Items for Sale, and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

COMMERCIAL SPACE BERWYN FOR RENT/LEASE STORE OR OFFICE App. 2750 sq ft. Great loc. 2 or 3 mo. sec. dep. Imm. poss. $2750/mo CENTURY 21 HALLMARK, LTD CHRIS T. 708-788-2800 CICERO FOR RENT/LEASE Vic. 35th St & Austin Blvd App. 900 sq ft. 2 exits. Add’ storage/ warehse avail in rear. Seller open to all ideas and remodeling. $1100/mo.

2 or 3 mo. sec. dep. Imm. poss.

CENTURY 21 HALLMARK, LTD CHRIS T. 708-788-2800

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

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

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

GARAGE DOORS

ITEMS FOR SALE

HEATING / AIR CONDITIONING

Our 73rd Year

FULL LENGTH SHEARLING COAT Brown full length shearling coat w/ attached hood. Beautiful condition. $89.00 708-488-8755

Smart Door Openers

HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT

WANTED TO BUY

(708) 652-9415

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

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

ELECTRICAL Red Star Electric

Your Neighborhood Electricians *Licensed *Bonded *Insured

-Residential/ Commercial Electrical Upgrades -Electrical Service/ Panel Upgrades -Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations -Standby Generators 708 722 1388 www.RedStarElectric.net

Garage Doors & Sales & Service Free Estimates

www.forestdoor.com

HANDYMAN

Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE Drywall Repair • Painting Fans Installed • Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning • Window Repair

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-488-9411

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

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

708-296-2060

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

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

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

Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges • Ovens Washer • Dryers Rodding Sewers

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

Attention!

Home-improvement pros!

Reach the people making decisions - your target demographic. Advertise in Wednesday Classified.

Call 708/613-3342

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

708.749.0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

Find more homeimprovement pros on the next page!

☛

42

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

CLASSIFIED WINDOWS

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

WINDOWS

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Cold rooms, we have the solution!

Our acrylic storm window inserts will make your rooms warmer, and reduce outside noise

Easy press fit from the inside

We can make for exterior or interior or both, any size to fit your window.

No need for expensive window replacement, low cost local install or DIY. Direct from manufacturer, we’re right up the street in Galewood, see our factory video. Owner is an Oak Park resident since 2008.

Call for a simple, free estimate, fully guaranteed or your money back BBB A+ rating.

sales@stormsnaps.com Alpina Manufacturing, 6460 W. Cortland St. Chicago Visit our website for easy online ordering or call us for info:

773-202-8887 STORMSNAPS.COM ®

free local delivery

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20002975 on January 15, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of B-SAFE PPE with the business located at:2245 KEYSTONE AVE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, IL 60546. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: PAUL CONRAD, III 2245 KEYSTON AVE NORTH RIVERSIDE, IL 60546.

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y20003040 on January 21, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of ONLY BY HIS STRENGTH PHOTOGRAPHY with the business located at: 845 S HUMPHREY AVE APT 1, OAK PARK, IL 60304. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ALENA CRAFT 845 S HUMPHREY AVE APT 1 OAK PARK, IL 60304.

Published in RB Landmark 1/22, 1/29, 2/5/2020

Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5, 2/12, 2/19/2020

Application No.: PZ19-007 (Special Use), PZ19-008 (Variations) Petitioner: Riverside School District 96 Property Commonly Known As: 86 Southcote Rd., 92 Repton Rd and 443 Loudon Rd. PINs: 15-25-303-019, 15-25-303020, 15-25-303-021, 15-25-303004, 15-25-303-005 Special Use Expansion: To expand the existing special use for an elementary school (Blythe Park Elementary) to allow the construction of a 2-story classroom addition on the north side of the existing school in the R1-A Zoning District, as well as associated parking lot and playground improvements.

Variations: The variations sought include, but may not be limited to, vari-

ations from the following sections of the Riverside Zoning Ordinance: Section 10-4-5, Table 3 (Residential Districts Bulk Requirements), which establishes the required minimum setbacks, maximum building coverage and maximum impervious surfaces for the R1-A Zoning District, Section 10-73(I) (Refuse Containers), which prohibits refuse containers from being located between a building and a street lot line, Section 10-8-4(A)(1) (Dimensions of Spaces and Aisles), which requires one-way traffic aisles for nonresidential parking lots to be a minimum of 18 ft. wide, Section 10-8-9, Table 8 (Required Off Street Parking) which requires 2 parking spaces per classroom, Section 109-5 (Perimeter Parking Lot Landscaping), which requires a 10 ft. perimeter landscaping area around parking lots and requires shrubs to be planted at a one for every three feet of landscaped area length ratio, and from Section 10-9-6 (Interior Parking Lot Landscaping), which requires parking lots containing 20 or more parking spaces to provide interior parking lot islands at a rate of one for every five parking spaces, that the islands must be a minimum of 144 sq. ft. in area and a minimum of 8 ft. wide. It also requires each island to be planted with one shade tree.

The Petitioner seeks these variations to build a 2-story classroom addition on the north side of the existing school, rebuild and expand the parking lot and install new playground areas in the R1-A Zoning District. The addition will encroach into the required street yard (LoudPublished in RB Landmark 2/5/2020

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

Notice of Invitation to Bid to Visit Oak Park LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter: Cal. No. 01-20-Z: 6000-6020 Roosevelt Road, Oak Park, Illinois 60304 Property Index Numbers 16-17-331-033-0000; 16-17-331-032-0000; 16-17-331-026-0000; 16-17-331-025-0000; and 16-17-331-024-0000 (“Premises”) The Applicant Ampler Development LLC (“Applicant”) seeks a special use permit to operate a drive-through facility pursuant to Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) and Section 5.4 (Table 5-12: RR District Use Restrictions by Building Type) of the (“Zoning Ordinance”) of the Village of Oak Park to permit an accessory drive-through facility for a freestanding Taco Bell restaurant located in the RR Roosevelt Road District at the Premises. The application that was continued from February 5, 2020 to March 4, 2020 includes a revised site plan.

In addition, the Applicant seeks the following variances from the following sections of the Zoning Ordinance: 1. Section 5.4 (F) (1) (Table 5-5: RR District Front Setbacks) of which requires a build-to-zone setback of 2.5 feet along Roosevelt Road. The proposed setback along Roosevelt Road is approximately 38.875 feet.

2. Section 5.4(H)(2)(b) (Table 5-9: RR District RR-T Street Frontage Options) of which requires that a building be built out to the corner of the property and that sixty percent (60%) of the street frontage along Roosevelt Road be occupied by the building. The proposed building street frontage along Roosevelt Road will be approximately thirty percent (30%); and 3. Section 5.4(I)(1) (Table 5-11: RR District Required Façade Elements) of which requires an entry facing Roosevelt Road, that the façade’s transparency (windows on the building façade) on Roosevelt Road shall be fifty percent (50%) and that the side street along Humphrey Avenue shall be twenty percent (20%). The proposed building does not have an entry facing Roosevelt Road and the transparency along Roosevelt Road and Humphrey Avenue will be approximately eight percent (8%) and zero percent (0%) respectively.

All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. The Zoning Board of Appeals may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

Starting a New Business?

Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice here!

Call for details: 708/613-3342

Visit Oak Park will receive sealed Bids from qualified creative marketing agencies at 193 N. Marion Street, Suite 208, Oak Park, IL 60301, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. local time until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2020 for the following: Visit Oak Park Agency-of-Record Visit Oak Park will receive proposals from responsible creative marketing agencies for an agency-of-record to assist the bureau in services that will encompass, but not be limited to, domestic and international tourism. A full copy of the RFP is available by contacting Eric Wagner at eric@ visitoakpark.com.

Visit Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those vendors deemed qualified. For more information, call Visit Oak Park at 708-524-7800.

Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

PUBLIC NOTICE Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS The Park District of Oak Park is accepting proposals for the printing of the 2020-2021 Brochure Series.

Specifications may be obtained at www.pdop.org starting Friday, January 31, 2020. Each proposal must be placed in a sealed envelope marked “Seasonal Brochure – Sealed Bid Enclosed” and addressed to Diane Stanke, and delivered on or before 1:00pm on Monday, February 17, 2020 to Park District of Oak Park, 218 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL, 60302. The Park District encourages qualified minority-owned, locally-owned and woman-owned business enterprises to compete for and participate in the Park District’s supply and service requirements.

For further info contact Diane Stanke at (708)725.2022 or diane.stanke@pdop.org.

VILLAGE OF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission of the Village of Riverside will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as the business of the Planning and Zoning Commission may permit, in Room 4 of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois, to consider an application from Riverside School District 96 for an expansion of the existing Special Use Permit and several variations to allow for a two story classroom addition to the existing elementary school (Ames Elementary) and parking lot and playground improvements in the R1-A Zoning District for the property located at 86 Southcote Road, 92 Repton Road and 443 Loudon Road.

PUBLIC NOTICES

on), and side yards, the total building coverage and impervious surfaces will exceed the maximums for the R1-A district, the parking lot will not meet the minimum required parking spaces, perimeter parking lot or interior parking lot landscaping requirements and the drive aisle from Southcote/Nuttall will not meet the minimum width required by code.

The above application is available for inspection at the office of the Village Clerk, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546. During the Public Hearing the Planning and Zoning Commission will hear testimony from and consider any evidence presented by persons interested to speak on these matters.

Persons wishing to appear at this hearing may do so in person or by attorney or other representative and may speak for or against the expansion of the existing special use and the requested variations. Communications in writing in relation thereto may be filed at such hearing or with the Planning and Zoning Commission in advance by submission to the Village’s Building Department at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois prior to 4:00 p.m. on the day of the public hearing.

The Public Hearing may be continued from time to time without further notice, except as otherwise required under the Illinois Open Meetings Act. Dated this 5th day of February, 2020 Jill Mateo, Chairperson Planning and Zoning Commission

Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Community Design Commission, acting as the Design Review Commission, of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday evening, February 26, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 101 of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter: Cal. No. 01-20-DRC: 150 Forest Avenue Property Index Number 16-07-121-046-0000 The Applicant Vantage Oak Park, is seeking a variation from Section 7-7-12 (P) of the Oak Park Sign Code, which section allows one (1) commercial real estate sign no more than sixteen (16) square feet in surface area per street frontage advertising the sale or rental of the premises, to permit the installation of four (4) commercial real estate signs approximately 32 square feet in surface area each located on the southwest column of the building at the premises commonly known as 150 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, IL. All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449.

DATED AT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, this 5th Day of February, 2020.

Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter: Cal. No. 03-20-Z: 900 N. Kenilworth Ave., Property Index Number 16-06-125-012-0000 The Applicant Diane Woods, seeks a variation from section 9.4 (Table 9-1: Permitted Encroachments Into Required Setbacks) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, which section provides that a terrace is permitted to encroach into a corner side setback a maximum of five (5’) feet, whereas the Applicant is requesting permission to construct a terrace featuring an approximate encroachment of 6.67’ into the required corner side setback along Division Street at the premises commonly known as 900 N. Kenilworth Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois.

Those property owners within 300 feet of the Subject Property and those interested parties wishing to cross-examine witnesses must complete and file an appearance with original signatures with the Village Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on the business day preceding the public hearing.

All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. The Zoning Board of Appeals may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

DATED AT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, this 5th Day of February, 2020 Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

LEGAL NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter: Cal. No. 02-20-Z: 1110 North Blvd.

Property Index Number: 16-07-125-020-0000

The Applicant, Centunum, LLC, seeks a variance from Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance, which section prohibits medical/clinic uses from being located within the first 50 feet of the street lot line at grade level or on the ground floor of any building within the DT-1 and DT-2 Sub-Districts of Downtown, to allow an medical/clinic use (Life Speed: Behavioral Support Services, LLC) on the ground floor within 50 feet of a street line at the premises commonly known as 1110 North Blvd., Oak Park, Illinois.

Those property owners within 300 feet of the Subject Property and those persons with a special interest beyond that of the general public (“Interested Parties”) wishing to cross-examine witnesses must complete and file an appearance with original signatures with the Village Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on the business day preceding the public hearing.

All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. The Zoning Board of Appeals may continue the hearing to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

DATED AT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, this 5th Day of February, 2020 Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

email us: Classifieds@OakPark.com | classifieds@RiverForest.com NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois that bid proposals will be received for the following project: 2020 STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS This project will include the replacement of concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveway aprons, and drainage structures, installation of 1,800’ of 8” DIP water main, replacement of certain sections of combined sewers, milling and resurfacing certain pavements, reconstructing certain pavements, installation of brick paver cross walks and landings at Prairie Avenue and Grand Avenue, landscaping disturbed areas, and performing other related work.

Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, the 26th day of February, 2020, in the office of the Village Manager in the Village Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. All sealed bids received will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 A.M. on the same day, Wednesday, the 26th day of February, 2020, at the Village Hall.

Bidding documents, consisting of the bid proposal, project specifications, and project plans are available

at the office of Edwin Hancock Engineering Co., 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154, upon payment of a non-refundable charge of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per set of bidding documents. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday, the 19th day of February, 2020.

tation thereof from the Village. The bidder requesting the interpretation shall be responsible for its prompt delivery. At the request of the bidder, or in the event that the Village deems the interpretation to be substantive, the interpretation will be made by written addendum issued by the Village.

All bid proposals offered must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s check or certified check in an amount not be less than Five Percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured.

Checks shall be made payable to the Order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

In the event that a written addendum is issued, either as a result of a request for interpretation or the result of a change in the bidding documents issued by the Village, a copy of such addendum will be mailed to all prospective bidders. The Village will not assume responsibility for receipt of such addendum. In all cases it will be the bidders’ responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

All bidders wishing to obtain bidding documents must be approved by the Village prior to obtaining bidding documents. All bidders must provide proof that they are prequalified with the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform at least 35% of the value of the work before being issued bidding documents.

Any bidder in doubt as to the true meaning of any part of the bidding documents may request an interpre-

The Contractor and Subcontractor shall comply with all regulations issued pursuant to Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130), and other applicable Federal Laws and regulations pertaining to labor standards.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the rights to determine the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

Published in RB Landmark 2/05/2020

defdefdef defdefdef defdefdef

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing on the 2020-2021 school year calendar will be held at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 at the Board of Education Meeting Room, 260 W. Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. This hearing will be for the consideration of District 97’s school calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. Testimony regarding this proposal will be taken from both educators and parents.

Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request of bids for Randolph Park and Wenonah Park Site Improvements.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302 The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Randolph Park and Wenonah Park Site Improvements at 300 S Grove Avenue, Oak Park, IL and 844 Wenonah Avenue, Oak Park, IL, respectively.

The Randolph Park project consists of the removal of three (3) existing trees, some of the existing playground equipment & footings, associated playground poured-in-rubber surfacing, playground concrete curb, concrete walk pavement, site furnishings or amenities, relocate signs as specified; installation of new playground play equipment, pouredin-rubber surfacing, concrete curb, concrete pad for table and benches, fitness stations, drainage and grading, utilities, site furnishings, and landscaping. The Wenonah Park project consists of relocating (1) existing small tree and (1) shrub, relocating existing concrete frog on concrete base, relocate existing signs, concrete pavement, sand pit, site furnishings or amenities, utility pipes as specified; installation of new playground play equipment, poured -in-rubber surfacing at frog, engineered wood fiber surfacing, concrete curb, concrete pad for table and benches, porous pave, drainage and grading, utilities, site furnishings, and landscaping. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 2:00 p.m.

(CST) on Monday, February 24th, 2020, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Park District’s website as of 2:00 pm Thursday, February 6th, 2020.

A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for Thursday, February 13th, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. (CST) starting at Randolph Park, 300 S Grove Avenue, Oak Park, IL and continuing on to Wenonah Park, 844 Wenonah Avenue, Oak Park. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors.

Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Park District of Oak Park website at: http://www.pdop.org/bids-and-rfps/ For additional information, contact Chris Lindgren at chris.lindgren@ pdop.org or (708) 725 2050. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2019. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

Park District of Oak Park By: Sandy Lentz, President Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal 2/5/2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION FOREST PARK NATIONAL BANK & TRUST CO. Plaintiff, -v.JOHN JOSEPH SIGNORELLA, AN INDIVIDUAL, SPOUSE OF

43

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

JOHN JOSEPH SIGNORELLA, AN INDIVIDUAL, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019 CH 9407 7242 W. ROOSEVELT RD. FOREST PARK, IL 60130 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 14, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 18, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 7242 W. ROOSEVELT RD., FOREST PARK, IL 60130 Property Index No. 15-24-203-0030000 The real estate is improved with a commercial property.

The judgment amount was $146,876.71.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

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

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

For information, Chris A. Pellegrini, CHUHAK & TECSON, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 30 S. WACKER DRIVE, STE. 2600, Chicago, IL, 60606 (312) 444-9300. Please refer to file number CAP.21168.71290.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor,

Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

Chris A. Pellegrini CHUHAK & TECSON, P.C. 30 S. WACKER DRIVE, STE. 2600 Chicago IL, 60606 312-444-9300 E-Mail: cpellegrini@chuhak.com Attorney File No. CAP.21168.71290 Attorney Code. 70693 Case Number: 2019 CH 9407 TJSC#: 40-230 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2019 CH 9407 I3143329

tion to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-17-302-034-0000.

Commonly known as 915 South Lombard Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call The Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Anselmo Lindberg & Associates, LLC, 1771 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563-1890. (630) 453-6960. F19040247 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3143389

17 CH 954 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Friday, March 13, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-07-420-011.

Commonly known as 425 S. EAST AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 17-00157 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3144242

the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

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

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

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

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

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

For information, The sales clerk, SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm 3pm.. Please refer to file number 19-091229.

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

SHAPIRO KREISMAN & ASSOCIATES, LLC 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 19-091229 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 19 CH 9209 TJSC#: 39-7626 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 19 CH 9209 I3144136

one story two unit brick building with no garage.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

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

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

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

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

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

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

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088.

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

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 9903 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 12 CH 25204 TJSC#: 39-7957 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 12 CH 25204 I3144011

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR LEHMAN XS TRUST MORTGAGE PASS THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES 2007-17H; Plaintiff, vs.

ANGELO JOSEPH MESSINA AKA ANGELO J. MESSINA; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; RANDOLPH CROSSING CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION; Defendants, 19 CH 3643 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-07-408-026-1010.

Commonly known as 610 Randolph Street 2, Oak Park, IL 60302.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a condominium residence. The purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by subdivisions (g)(1) and (g) (4) of Section 9 of the Condominium Property Act Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 19-009642 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3143369 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION FIFTH THIRD BANK; Plaintiff, vs.

LONTIER C. HOUGH AKA LONTIER HOUGH AKA LONTIER HICKSHOUGH AKA LONTIER C. HICKSHOUGH; ANTHONY HOUGH AKA A. HOUGH AKA ANTHONY DAVID HOUGH AKA ANTHONY D. HOUGH; DOVENMUEHLE MORTGAGE COMPANY, LP; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 6127 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Wednesday, March 4, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auc-

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST; Plaintiff, vs.

LORNA J. RANKER; CHARLES K. RANKER; CITIZENS BANK NA; Defendants, 18 CH 2459 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, March 16, 2020 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-17-327-034-0000.

Commonly known as 1185 S. LOMBARD AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Mr. Ira T. Nevel at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Law Offices of Ira T. Nevel, 175 North Franklin Street, Chicago, Illinois 60606. (312) 357-1125. 18-04613 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3144629 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER Plaintiff, vs.

ELENA F. MARROQUIN A/K/A ELENA FIGUEROA INDIVIDUALLY AND AS GUARDIAN FOR CHRISTIAN MARROQUIN AND NICHOLAS MARROQUIN, JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., MARIELENA SANTANA INDIVIDUALLY AND AS PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ESTATE OF RICCARDO A. MARROQUIN A/K/A RICCARDO MARROQUIN, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants,

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION MIDFIRST BANK Plaintiff, -v.TAKYRICA Q. STYLES A/K/A TAKYRICA STYLES, TAYLOR LAKE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INC. A/K/A TAYLOR-LAKE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 19 CH 9209 118 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE, UNIT 1 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 22, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 17, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 118 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE, UNIT 1, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-122-0381005 The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $153,280.44.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.RASHINDA PLUMP, WAVERLY CLARK, JR, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, WAVERLY CLARK, JR., INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR Defendants 12 CH 25204 1187 SOUTH HIGHLAND PARK OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 11, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 12, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1187 SOUTH HIGHLAND PARK, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-325-0470000 The real estate is improved with a

44

Wednesday Journal, February 5, 2020

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

I love this community and have spent a lifetime enjoying the relationships developed here.”

MARY BETH MCINTOSH VICE PRESIDENT, BRANCH MANAGER, BYLINE BANK

A Community Bank for Oak Park and River Forest.

Growing up in Oak Park, Mary Beth has lived in the Oak Park River Forest Community her entire life. She attended St. Giles School and Trinity High School, then went on to complete her education at St. Mary’s of Notre Dame and receiving her MBA here from Dominican University. With her husband Scot, Mary Beth moved to River Forest over 20 years ago to raise their three children, who attended St. Luke’s School, Roosevelt Middle School, OPRF High School and Fenwick High Schools. The educational opportunities available here was one of the primary draws for Mary Beth and Scot, and continue to be something they are grateful to have been able to provide to their children.

Mary Beth has worked in banking for over 30 years, and feels fortunate to not only live here, but also to be able to work in the community.

To learn more about our commitment to Oak Park and River Forest, visit bylinebank.com/oprf

©2020 Byline Bank. Member FDIC.