W E D N E S D A Y
January 2, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 22 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL
Oak Park pulls biz license after massage parlor bust
of Oak Park and River Forest
SAY Connects
Special pullout section
2018 VILLAGER of the YEAR
Sunny Spa permanently shut down after prostitution sting By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
The Village of Oak Park has revoked the business license of Sunny Spa, a massage business at 1053 Madison St., after the business was busted for committing sex acts on an undercover police officer in November. The village issued a press release on Dec. 19, noting that the business was closed permanently in a decision by Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelley, following a decision in an administrative hearing on Dec. 17. According to the administrative order released by Shelley, Sunny Spa was operating under the ownership of Chen’s Massage Corp., owned by Xiuping Chen. Oak Park police and the Cook County Sheriff ’s Department investigated the business and, according to the administrative order, the officer arrested Sunny Spa employee Hang Wa Wong on Nov. 14 and charged her with prostitution after “she touched a sex organ of the undercover officer in exchange for his payment for See BUST on page 13
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
A RADICAL AT HEART: Jackie Moore has been at the center of Oak Park and River Forest High School’s racial equity progress before and after ‘America to Me’ was filmed at the school roughly three years ago.
Jackie Moore, quiet revolutionary D200 board president a force before and after ‘America to Me’
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
When the 10-part Starz documentary series America to Me finished airing earlier this year, Oak Park and River Forest High School became the center of a national dialogue on race and equity. But on Nov. 4, during a panel discussion
on the documentary held at the high school and hosted by the New York Times and a variety of local organizations, such as Excellence with Equity in Education (or the E-Team), a group of students rushed the stage and interrupted the discussion. They had heard enough talk. They wanted action. “Is this Oak Park?!” the students chanted. “Whose school?! Our school!”
On the stage, the panel’s moderator, John Eligon, the New York Times’ national correspondent on race, asked panelists how they planned on responding to the students’ demands. “What are you going to do differently to help us address this equity issue?” Eligon asked Jackie Moore, the District 200 board See MOORE on page 11
defy expectations. ffc.com/defy
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The Year of Equity
A powerful conversation on equity among Wednesday Journal’s Villagers of the Year Jackie Moore
Wednesday Journal
OPRF school board president Villager of the Year/Oak Park
Ralph Martire
CONVERSATIONS
2018 Villagers of The Year
River Forest D90 school board president Co-Villager of the Year/River Forest
Ed Condon District 90 school superintendent Co-Villager of the Year/River Forest
Steve James “America To Me” director and producer Runner-up Villager of the Year/Oak Park & River Forest
Tuesday, January 29 n 7pm n Dominican University Performing Arts Center Our moderator, Francis Craft, The Equity Team
Plus, we will honor 38 years of previous Villagers of the Year. Our first ever reception for the extraordinary women and men we’ve recognized since 1985.
RSVP to this FREE event at www.OakPark.com/wjconvo
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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I N S I D E
R E P O R T
Happy News for The Happy Apple USA Today has named Happy Apple Pie Shop the top place to get pie in the state of Illinois in its “Road Trip Guide: The best pie shop in every state.” Honorees were chosen based on topranking Yelp! reviews statewide and further assessed for menu diversity and overall accolades. Happy Apple, located in the Oak Park Arts District at 226 Harrison St., boasted a perfect Yelp! rating, according to the newspaper. “We are pleased and proud,” owner Michelle Mascaro said of her USA Today mention. “And we are grateful to all the customers who mentioned us in their positive reviews.” Happy Apple has been in business for nearly two years and relies on a unique blended work environment where people with and without developmental and intellectual disabilities work side-by-side crafting pies every day. Mascaro and her kitchen coaches find a role for everyone who wants to work at Happy Apple; the business shifts job descriptions as needed to include the abilities of each individual employee. The shop is even laid out to ensure the kitchen area is roomy enough to accommodate wheelchairs. “Being named the best pie shop in Illinois by USA Today proves our model is working,” Mascaro proudly said. “People with all different kinds of abilities can work together every day to craft meticulous pie.”
Melissa Elsmo
Twelfth Night at the museum
Oak Park River Forest Museum is hosting the Christmas season finale Twelfth Night from 2 to 4 p.m. on Jan. 6. The event, an ancient solstice tradition and the traditional feast of the Epiphany, will be celebrated with games, caroling and cake. The cost is $6 for members and $12 for non-members. Jan Dressel, former president of the Historical Society of Oak Park-River Forest, will present the program: “Everything you’d want to know about 12th Night if you were on Jeopardy!” Museum Executive Director Frank Lipo noted in a press release that Jan. 6 also is the start of the last week of the museum’s exhibit “Ghosts of Christmas Past.” The Oak Park River Forest Museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is available at www.oprfmuseum.org.
Timothy Inklebarger
MELISSA ELSMO/Contributor
LET THEM EAT PIE: Jenny Pirricone (left), has been working at the Happy Apple since the shop opened a year and a half ago. She works alongside Rebecca McIntyre who also loves handling the pie dough. “I like working here because a lot of the jobs let you use your hands,” says McIntyre, “and I just love feeling the dough in my hands.”
Bowling for a good cause
Tickets have gone on sale for a charity fundraiser for Sarah’s Inn, which helps women escape domestic violence. Bowl for a Cause will be held on Feb. 2 from 2 to 5:30 p.m. at Timber Lanes, 1851 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. Tickets are $35 online and $40 at the door. Admission includes food, drinks, bowling, trophies and a raffle. More information is available on the organization’s website at https://sarahsinn.org.
Timothy Inklebarger
Correction Wednesday Journal inaccurately reported that funding was cut for the Youth Interventionist Program at Oak Park Township in the Dec. 26 edition. We regret the error.
At home with the Hemingways
Submitted photo
The Hemingway Readers Theatre presented “The Spirit of Boxing Day” at the Birth Home celebration of this English custom. From left, the Hemingway Readers Theatre Players included Dan Doyle, Jay Champelli, Barbara Rush, and Barbara Lawrence. The History Singers vocalist Kathryn Atwood and guitarist John Atwood provided background music.
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Jan. 2 - 9
BIG WEEK Twelfth Night Community Choral Performance  Sunday, Jan. 6, 4 p.m., United Lutheran Church: This musical program features choirs from First United Church of Oak Park, Grace Episcopal Church, Pilgrim Congregational Church UCC, United Lutheran Church and Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist. 409 Greenfield St., Oak Park.
See It, Feel It and Touch It Reception Sunday, Jan. 6, 2 to 4 p.m., Art Gallery, Main Library: Meet Oak Park artist Hai S. Lam and see his exhibit featuring abstraction art with acrylic paint mixed with sand. Through the end of January 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
Martin Luther King Jr. Film Festival Weekends in January, 2 to 4 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day and explore More than a Month with these films. â– Saturday, Jan. 5: More Than a Month â– Sunday, Jan. 6: I Am Not Your Negro â– Sunday, Jan. 13: Cry Freedom â– Saturday, Jan. 19: The Ladies #1 Detective Agency â– Saturday, Jan. 26: Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
The Conversation: Have It Sooner Rather Than Later
A Conversation with Linda Francis of Success of All Youth
Tuesday, Jan. 8, 9:30 to 11 a.m., Nineteenth Century Club: Success of All Youth is an initiative of the OP-RF Community Foundation. Hear about progress made and challenges ahead. Brought by the League of Women Voters. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.
Wednesday, Jan. 9, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Dole Library: Thinking ahead and planning for end-of-life choices can reduce stress, making the process less difficult. Join neighbors the second Wednesday each month. The first session is a discussion of the book The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan For End-of-Life Care by Dr. Angelo Volande. 255 Augusta St., Oak Park
Warming Centers Open to All
Healthy New Year Apps and Websites Wednesday, Jan. 9, 7 to 8 p.m., Computer Classroom, Main Library: Use technology for motivation to get healthy in 2019. Explore recommended fitness websites and apps in this interactive class. Bring your own device or use library computers. Register: oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
Tuesday Films Tuesday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m., Lake Theatre: In Pick of the Litter, meet five spirited puppies who, from the moment they’re born, begin a journey to become guide dogs for the blind. Noon showing of First Tuesday film introduced by film buff Doug Deuchler. On the third Tuesday, Jan. 22, Tea with the Dames, shows what happens when four legends of British stage and screen get together. $8.50; $6, matinee/seniors/children. Info: classiccinemas.com. 1022 Lake St., Oak Park.
The following locations provide a place to go during the cold, winter weather. If transportation is needed, call the Oak Park Police: 708-386-3800. â– 24 hours a day, Rush Oak Park Hospital, 500 S. Maple Ave., Oak Park. â– Daily, 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., West Suburban Medical Center, 3 Erie Ct., Oak Park. To find out if the warming center is open after hours, call: 708-763-6200. â– Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oak Park Township, 130 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, for seniors age 60+. â– Weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St.
Aging & Disability Resource Program Consultations Thursday, Jan. 3 and 17, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Building A, Community Room 1104, West Suburban Medical Center River Forest Campus: Oak Park & River Forest Townships Senior Services staff provides one-on-one assistance with local state and federal programs, including individual case monitoring, transportation, meals, caregiver support, daily monitoring, home energy assistance and more. Also on Thursday, Jan. 10 and 24, 10 to 12:30 p.m., Room 1062, West Suburban Medical Center, 3 Erie Ct., Oak Park. Appointments: 844794-4301. 7411 Lake St.
Twelfth Night Celebration Sunday, Jan. 6, 2 to 4 p.m., Oak Park River Forest Museum: Jan Dressel will share Twelfth Night traditions stretching back to the Roman Empire. Enjoy music and desserts, as well as the exhibit Ghosts of Christmas Past, ending Jan. 12. Museum hours: Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Twelfth Night: $12; $6, members. Twelfth Night reservations/more: 708-848-6755, oprfmuseum. org/events/twelfth-nightcelebration. Reservations preferred by Jan. 3. 129 Lake St., Oak Park.
Queerios Holiday Party Thursday, Jan. 3, 4 to 7 p.m., Meeting Room, Maze Library: This new LGBTQ+ group (named by teens) provides a space for those in grades 6 through 12 to get together. Come celebrate the holidays with a potluck (bring a favorite holiday dish). Also, make buttons and play games like The Escape Closet. Held in partnership with OPRF High School’s A Place for All and the Rainbow Tribes of Julian and Brooks Middle Schools. Question: jvaughn@oppl.org. 845 Gunderson Ave., Oak Park.
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ART BEAT
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You Married a What?
oreign countries are supposed to be just that, foreign. I never expected that foreignness would become such a huge part of my life. Our business contract in Cairo, Egypt, was meant to be a trip that would make us a lot of money and give us pictures of the Pyramids to hang on our wall. We never bargained for an Egyptian son-in-law. Instead of simply facilitating softskill training classes and going home with the experience of a lifetime, my youngest daughter, Sarah, fell in love Guest Author with and married, Ehab, our company man.” Who knew I had a ghost living inside tour guide, driver and bodyguard. Different my body? cultures and religions are interesting to Poor Ehab had similar run-ins when he read about and visit. But it’s a whole other arrived in America — getting lost in a grostory when they become family. cery store, being robbed at gunpoint, and You Married a What? has two parts: me navigating American greetings (Egyptians coping in Egypt and Ehab don’t hug the opposite sex unsurviving America. It begins less they are family). “You Married a when my husband Jeff and I I recently overheard someone What?” is available land in the bustling, loud city say, “Why would anyone write locally at The Book of Cairo. From the get-go, Jeff about their family secrets?” Table. Jeff and Val and I are at odds. I’m terrified With everything going on Gee are appearwe’ll be kidnapped, and Jeff is in the world right now, from ing at Eastgate high-fiving everyone, including MAGA to Brexit to numerous Café, 102 Harrison Ehab. It’s only later in the book wars, I wanted to write about St., Oak Park, on when Ehab romances Sarah the experiences of immigrants. Friday, Jan. 18, 7 to that the high-fiving stops and I We’re all here by the Grace of 9 p.m., and appear wish I had been kidnapped. Whomever we believe in: God, regularly one FriIt’s not just me that finds Allah, Mom and Dad. If we day per month for living with a different culture don’t acknowledge, empathize a stand-up comic challenging, Ehab does as well. and accept our differences, open mic. More: At the end of every chapter, we then we lose our humanness. eastgatecafe.net/ hear Ehab’s point of view; what I married Jeff Gee in 1970 in events. it’s like for him to protect AmeriEngland, we had our two girls can tourists in Cairo, and what a few years later, and our three it’s like to be an immigrant living over here. grandchildren even later. In 1983 he was Being an immigrant is not easy. I should sent across the pond for business; we loved know, I am one. I was born in Manchester, it, ended up staying and became American England, lived in Italy for a while, and citizens. We run a family-owned traincame to America in 1983. Even though ing company called MJ Learning (www. English is my first and only language, it’s mjlearning.com). We consult with corporaremarkable how many times I was misuntions and government agencies worldwide, derstood, embarrassed and felt alone. Absuch as GE Healthcare, the U.S. Department bot and Castello’s “Who’s On First” routine of Veterans Affair and Vodafone — the parhad nothing on me. Asking for butter in a ent company of Verizon, which took us to grocery store went around and around so Cairo. We facilitate hundreds of soft-skills many times, a small gawking crowd gathworkshops like Emotional Intelligence, ered. Clarity came when I wisely chose to Leadership Development and Diversity. It’s spell it out, “Can you please tell me where authentic and powerful when you can teach the B.U.T.T.E.R. is?” To which the crowd from experience. replied, “Oh, BUDDA! You mean budda.” McGraw-Hill Education published my As a tourist in Cairo, it didn’t go any first five books: Super Service 1st and 2nd smoother. I was thrown out of a mosque editions, Customer Service Training Toolkit, for being a woman, stopped by the “antique The Winners Attitude, OPEN Question Sellpolice” for being a supposed thief and taken ing and Business Improv. to the desert to be exorcised by a “magic
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The week that was, back in 1907
efore we look ahead to 2019, let’s look back 112 years at a copy of the June 29, 1907 Oak Leaves, a copy of which recently fell happily into my hands. It was a week like any other week in Oak Park. There was a meeting of the Oak Park Horse Show Association at the Scoville Institute — then as now the site of the village’s main library. There were Hemingway social mentions sprinkled across the pages with the Hemingways of Kansas City visiting the Oak Park Hemingways on their way to attend a graduation at Wellesley. Meanwhile on page 5, the Oak Park Hemingways “attended commencement at Wheaton College recently. The college is in a prosperous condition, the present graduating class numbered seven.” The first news page carried a long, flowery report on the just accomplished graduation of 68 young souls from Oak Park high school. In 2018 the school board considered moving next year’s graduation to the UIC Pavilion. But in 1907, graduation was conducted at the lovely Warrington Opera House at Marion Street and South Boulevard. The condo building currently on the site was christened the “Opera House” in memory of the Warrington. This issue, and I presume most issues, carried voluminous coverage of Prot-
estant Christianity. Long reports of sermons given. And nary a Catholic nor Jew to be found in the extensive Church Notices column. Way back on page 15, placed under an ad for a new real estate office on Madison Street, was the disturbing report headlined “Hit By Stray Bullets.” Must admit that a story such as this might have knocked the opening reception of the Oak Park Military Club off the front news page if I were editing the Leaves back then. But since 9-yearold Joe Jonnotta wasn’t hurt badly after getting hit in the head by a stray rifle shot launched “by some boys in a vacant lot” a half-block away, and that H.J. Powell, a working man out collecting for the gas company, wasn’t badly hurt after getting hit in the neck by “a bullet fired from across the tracks” along South Boulevard, it got four graphs. Phone numbers back then had just four digits. Neice’s Bakery, 123 Oak Park Ave., was, as usual, selling 4th of July fireworks out its back door. Philander W. Barclay, whose candid photos make up the foundation of our local history, was advertising
his bicycles for sale. And here’s a discouraging flash about rising prices. A group of six local liverymen announced in an ad that a carriage trip to Forest Home Cemetery — unclear if a corpse is included — had increased to $5, while a trip to Oak Park Hospital was up to $1.50. What was driving these outrageous costs? “The extremely high prices of hay, grain, labor and horse flesh.” Oak Park was known in those years for its centralized Yaryan heating company, which sat at the corner of Euclid and South Boulevard, pumping heat to the neighborhoods through underground pipes. Oak Leaves carried an ad for Cook & Chick Co., which still had “several carloads of the Screwed Nipple Radiation in stock.” These were, the ad said, the radiators specifically recommended by Yaryan Company. Back in the classified pages, there was a fellow looking for a swap. He was prepared to trade his modern eight-room house on Cuyler, valued at $4,500, for a good lot in River Forest. Everyone always wants to move to River Forest. Under Help Wanted, there was this: “WANTED – Good girl for general housework to go to country for summer. Mrs. G.W. Woodbury, 213 S.
DAN HALEY
Euclid av. Tel. 1661.” Sixteen of the 20 help wanted ads were, in fact, for girls — good, experienced, neat, of a specific pigment — to clean house. That’s the news from 1907. As reported by Oak Leaves: “An exclusively local newspaper, devoted to Oak Park and River Forest — two of Chicago’s most beautiful suburbs — with a population of 15,000.”
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D97 administrator leaves for supt. post
Amy Warke, chief accountability office, leaving for supt. position By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
A top administrator at Oak Park Elementary Schools District 97 has resigned from her position to take a post in another district, D97 officials announced in a statement released last week. Amy Warke, D97’s chief academic and accountability officer, is leaving to take the position of superintendent for LaGrange Highlands School District 106, D97 officials said. Her last day in Oak Park is June 30. “The board of education is expected to accept Warke’s resignation during its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 29,” the statement read. “The district will begin exploring the options for replacing Warke following winter break.” In a statement, D97 Supt. Carol Kelley praised Warke’s tenure at the district. Warke came to D97 from Flossmoor School District 161 in 2016. At Flossmoor, she was an assistant superintendent of learning and instruction for five years prior to taking the
Amy Warke D97 position. “Amy Warke has been an incredible leader and valued member of our team during the past three years,” Kelley said. “She has worked tirelessly throughout her time here to advance our vision, build on the success of our schools, and help all of our children
learn, grow and achieve. I thank her for everything she has done on behalf of our students, district and community, and wish her all the best in District 106.” Kelley added that the district will “keep everyone updated on the status” of its efforts to hire Warke’s replacement. “Over the past three years, I have had the privilege of serving as the chief academic and accountability officer for District 97,” Warke said in a statement. “During that time, I have had the chance to work alongside a group of immensely talented individuals whose tireless efforts and advocacy on behalf of children have amazed and inspired me on a daily basis.” Warke said that she “will always cherish my experiences here, as well as the people who have contributed to them. I will also never forget how special Oak Park is, or how much this community values the importance of education. “While this change has given me the opportunity to reflect on my time in District 97, there is still a lot that needs to be done between now and June 30. That is why my primary focus over the next several months will be the continuation of the critical work we do to support the success of our students.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
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River Forest platform tennis coach is also a champ
Berendt, hired in August, is one of the top players in the nation By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
River Forest Park District’s platform tennis program has come a long way since a group of volunteers had to go out and get enough signatures to prove that there was demand. Since the sport officially launched in the village in 2012, the number of members has more than doubled, and so did the number of available tennis courts. In early August 2018, the park district hired Laura Berendt, a tennis and platform tennis champion, to be its new platform tennis coach. And, to the delight of River Forest’s platform tennis community, she won another national championship in early November – something that she lists as her proudest accomplishment. Platform tennis shares some features with traditional tennis, but it is distinct in several respects. The courts are about half the size of the traditional tennis court and are surrounded by a fence, which lets players bounce the ball off the walls. The players use paddles instead of tennis rackets and the courts stand on platforms that can house heaters – which means that, unlike traditional tennis, it can be played during winter. Discussions about bringing the sport to River Forest started in 2010. Kitty Bingham, one of the residents who led the effort, recalled that players liked what they saw in other communities, and they felt that the village had the right demographics -- “older, active, accomplished adults” who played tennis or golf during warmer months – to make it work here. Originally, the courts were tied into the proposed construction of a new community center on the south side of River Forest. While the plan didn’t pan out, the courts were built at the Keystone Park. Players agreed to pay operating and capital costs through membership fees. “In the first year, we’ve had close to 70 or 80 members,” Bingham said. “The majority were from the Oak Park-River Forest area, but we also had people from Elmwood Park, Forest Park.” Since then, the membership continued to grow to the point where there was demand for more courts. Two more courts were built in 2017, bringing their total number up to four. Bingham estimates that, overall, the membership is currently at around 200 people. Not only can the sport be played in cold weather, it’s easy to enjoy even if you don’t play traditional tennis. Then there’s the social aspect. Bingham said that platform tennis players often have dinner together after games, which is a great way to make friends and professional connections.
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
WELL SERVED: Laura Berendt, of River Forest, at the Keystone Park courts. By the time the first two courts went up, Berendt was already a major fixture in the world of tennis. According to the website of the Platform Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame, she was born in suburban Barrington, but she and her family moved to Florida when she was young. She started playing tennis not long after, competing in junior tennis and winning multiple state competitions. By the time she was 18, Berendt ranked the No. 1 tennis player statewide. She was able to go to the University of Texas on a tennis scholarship and after graduating, played tennis professionally for two years. Berendt said she got into platform tennis in 2003, almost on a lark. “I was working at the [Glenview] country club and they needed assistant,” she said. “I wasn’t very happy to be outside teaching in the winter, because I had previously lived in Florida and Texas, but I decided to give it a try. I’m extremely competitive by nature, so when I started playing I was motivated to get good.” Berendt said she didn’t plan on getting into any platform tennis tournaments, but she found herself taking part in some anyway. According to a profile provided by the River Forest Park District, Berendt is a 2007 Chicago Platform Tennis Charities 2007 Open National Tournament champion, a 2016 Il-
linois state champion and a winner of the 2018 Hinsdale Women’s Challenge. At the time she was hired by the park district, she ranked 12th nationally. When asked why he applied for a job at River Forest, Berendt said it came down to family. “I moved to River Forest to be closer to my father and stepmother,” she said. “I’m a single mother so I appreciate their help with my children.” Bingham said that she appreciated Berendt’s predecessor, but she was also glad the park district brought her on. “She’s just very, very capable, and I give the park district a lot of credit for [hiring] her,” she said. For her part, Berendt said that teaching platform tennis in the village has been a great experience. “The paddle community in River Forest has been so refreshing,” she said. “Everyone is eager to learn and they have welcomed me and my children with open arms.” And on the first weekend of November, Berendt reached another milestone. She and her platform tennis partner, Roxy Enica, competed in Chicago Charities 2018 tournament and won the grand prize. She described it as her proudest accomplishment. “I hadn’t won a big tournament in a long time, and I honestly wasn’t sure if I had it in me anymore,” Berendt said. “I think my results at last year’s nationals disappointed me, so all of the sudden I became highly motivated to do well.”
Unity Temple nominated as World Heritage site
By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. That is the new motto of the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy, which is trying a second time to get a group of Wright’s buildings added to the United Nations Education-
al, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s World Heritage List. The conservancy submitted a proposal in 2015 for 10 Wright buildings, but was asked to revise the nomination and “rework the justification for inscription,” according to a conservancy press release. Two buildings were removed from the
first nomination – Price Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and Marin County Civic Center in San Rafael, California. The seven other buildings included in the nomination are as follows: Frederick C. Robie House in Chicago; Taliesin in Spring Green, Wisconsin; Hollyhock House in Los Angeles; Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsyl-
vania; Herbert and Katherine Jacobs House in Madison, Wisconsin; Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The nomination will be reviewed in July 2019 at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. tim@oakpark.com
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A focus on the American dream
D90 equity proponents named villager of the year By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter
In 2018, the Illinois State Board of Education rated River Forest School District 90 “exemplary,” the highest designation possible, which only 10 percent of schools in the state received. In the state’s annual test of students’ math and reading abilities, River Forest students again scored above the state in every grade level in every subject. All this could be described as “business as usual” for D90. “We’ve always been a high-performing district,” said Ralph Martire, president of the D90 Board of Education. Despite the consistent academic accolades, about four years ago D90 realized it had a problem. It wasn’t a finance, capacity or resource issue. “We had a couple of experiences with students that happened in a short period of time, where families indicated they felt excluded,” D90 Superintendent Ed Condon said. And board members had noticed a consistent disparity between majority and minority students’ academic performance. “As you tracked cohorts throughALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer out the years, the disparity got worse,” EQUITY: Dr. Edward Condon, superintendent for River Forest School District 90. Ralph Martire said. D90 had a systems issue. “While we’re fortunate to have a very sup- Martire, School District 90 board president, have beened named dual villagers of the year. portive community, outstanding teachers “So we’re really excited about what this will and dedicated students and families, the real- fied to chair the group. The committee spent a year reading mean for the future of D90 and we think that ity is that people were having varying experiwe will be a leading district in academic perences with school,” Condon said. “If there’s books, journal articles and summaries of any group, any individual, who are feeling best practices for districts to obtain equita- formance and equity, not just in Illinois but this isn’t a place for them, that’s not OK. ble education. They then applied what they nationally, in about five years.” After accepting the committee’s recomMost would agree that for a school to be truly found to River Forest, charging D90 with implementing a new instructional pedago- mendations, D90 has since implemented a successful, it’s gotta work for everyone.” In 2014, D90 formed the Inclusiveness Ad- gy that would eliminate achievement gaps, whole new teaching model, named the unidiversifying D90’s workforce, versal design for learning (UDL). Under the visory Board, in an effort to make instituting professional develop- UDL system, students are given more freesure the district considered the 2018 ment, adapting more culturally dom in how they achieve mastery of subneeds and voice of everyone in appropriate teaching materials, jects like math or English, expressing their VILLAGER River Forest. making the equity committee a ideas through 3D printing, songs, essays, or About six months later, the of the permanent standing group, and whatever they’re most comfortable with. board formed an equity commitYEAR embedding equity initiatives into “It promotes more critical thinking and more tee — officially composed of two the district’s strategic plan. problem solving. A lot of what they will do in board, faculty, administration, The board voted unanimously to accept math, science, history, whatever, is discuss an and community members — to study the latest, evidence-based research on how to ef- the proposals. And the district, under the issue,” Martire said. “It’s OK to be wrong in fectively address the achievement gap. Mar- leadership of Condon, has spent a good your analysis as long as you work it out with tire, executive director of the Center of Tax chunk of time since then working to imple- your peers. This really gets the kids thinking, hearing everybody’s point of view. Suddenly and Budget Accountability and co-author ment these mandates. Which brings us to where we are today. everyone’s point of view matters. Suddenly of the state’s new evidence-based funding “This equity initiative — we know it’s the the system cares about and is soliciting your model, who served on the federal Excellence and Equity Commission during the Obama way to promote excellence for all kids on unique input and is valuing your input.” In addition to implementing a new eduadministration, was particularly well quali- any range of the spectrum,” Martire said.
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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cational framework, the board also contracted with the National Equity Project, a leadership organization focused on correcting biases and academic gaps between majority and minority students. The group was charged with training teachers, administration, and even the board to recognize implicit biases they may hold. The board undergoes this training about three times a year during public meetings. “That’s difficult and can make some people defensive, and that’s completely understandable. That said, we still had to do it because a major element of the system is the faculty and administration,” Martire said. “People are the most important element of that system. So that was really a crucial initiative started with professional development. There was some natural resistance from the faculty. But we stayed with it and by the third evidence-based session we surveyed our teachers and over 90 percent said, ‘Oh my God, I had no idea I was doing that and I want practical tips to be able to better reach students.’” D90 also did a full review of its human resources records, to find historical and current data on what portion of its staff were of color, along with reasons why employees stayed in the district, why they left, and how the district could better support them. “We had a consultant look at it, and it was something like a high 80 or 90 percent chance that, if you’re an African-American student attending D90 to eighth grade, you’ll never have had a black instructor,” Martire said. The consultant implemented a competency-based hiring strategy to increase the number of highly-qualified, diverse candidates submitting their resumes to D90. “We have, in fact, diversified our hiring since we went to this. It’s somewhere like 30 percent plus have been diverse new hires,” he said. Now the board is in the process of creating a longitudinal online dashboard of student outcomes to monitor how these institutional changes affect student progress over time. The dashboard will be composed of student scores in the annual, state-mandated Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test, individual students’ performance in class — including grades on assignments and engagement — disciplinary rates, involvement in extracurricular activities and more. The dashboard should be finished and unveiled to the public around February, and will be updated on an ongoing basis. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a Republican or Democrat, or conservative or liberal, or somewhere in between. Most people believe that what the American dream kind of stands for is that the circumstances of your birth don’t limit the outcomes for your life,” Martire said. “So if your educational system is not designed to encourage all students to attain high academic standards, to allow all students to attain high academic standards, you’re actually getting in the way of what I think most agree is core to the American dream, to go to where your innate abilities and work ethic will take you.” For their efforts in spearheading this initiative, Ralph Martire and Ed Condon have been named co-Villagers of the Year in River Forest.
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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Those who’ve made an impact River Forest Town Centers I and II, Euclid Terraces, and the Mews 2002 Nile Wendorf and Mila Tellez, community activists 2003 Robert Milstein, a rare trustee on the Oak Park village board who Oak Park was not a member of the Village Manager Association party 1985 Dan Elich, founder of the CARE political party 2004 John Schiess and Alex Troyanovsky, architect and developer, 1986 Keith Bergstrom, Oak Park respectively, on numerous projects police chief in Oak Park 1987 Clifford Osborn, Oak Park village president 2005 Citizens for Change, group of 1988 J. Neil Nielsen, Oak Park vil- nine who helped shift power to a new political organization lage manager 1989 John Fagan, superintendent 2006 Ali ElSaffar, Oak Park Townof Oak Park Elementary School ship assessor District 97 2007 David Pope, village president, and Tom Barwin, village 1990 Marjorie Judith Vincent, manager Oak Parker named Miss America that year 2008 Gary Balling, park district executive 1991 Philip Rock, IlliVILLAGERS director nois Senate president of the 1992 Joseph Mendrick, 2009 Mike Kelly, head Oak Park police chief of Park National Bank YEAR 1993 Allen Parker, Oak 2010 OPRF Citizens Park village manager Council, fighting substance abuse 1994 Crime-fighting Harrison Street residents, organized to 2011 Peter Traczyk, District 97 resist gang incursions from the board president West Side 2012 Collaboration for Early Childhood Care and Education 1995 John FS Williams, director of Oak Park Township Youth 2013 Anan Abu-Taleb, Oak Park Services president 1996 Martin Noll, founder of Com- 2014 John Phelan, D200 board munity Bank of Oak Park-River president Forest 2015 Cara Pavlicek, Oak Park vil1997 Rev. M. Randolph Thompson, lage manager pastor and founder of Fellow2016 Monica Sheehan, community ship Christian, Oak Park’s first activist predominantly black church 2017 Anthony Clark, founder of 1998 Kathy Lamar, active in youth Suburban Unity Alliance, OPRF teacher concerns and outgoing District 97 school board member River Forest 1999 Susan Bridge, superintendent and principal of Oak Park 2005 Frank Paris, River Forest and River Forest High School village president District 200 2006 Charles “Chuck” Biondo, River Forest village administrator 2000 Carl Swenson, Oak Park village manager 2007 Steve Hoke, River Forest vil2001 Seymour Taxman, developer of lage trustee the Shops of Downtown Oak Park, 2008 Frank Paris, River Forest Wednesday Journal has named a Villager of the Year in Oak Park since 1985 and in River Forest since 2005. Here are the people we’ve previously recognized:
Clifford Osborn, 1987
John FS Williams, 1995
Ali ElSaffar, 2006
Marjorie JudithVincent, 1990
Catherine Adduci, 2013
Cara Pavlicek, 2015
village president, and Steve Hoke, River Forest village trustee 2009 Frank Limon, River Forest chief of police 2010 John Rigas, River Forest village president 2011 John Rigas, River Forest village president 2012 Al Popowits, citizen activist 2013 Catherine Adduci, River Forest president 2014 John Phelan, D200 board president 2015 Kristin Carlson Vogen, Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation president 2016 Dave Franek, former chair Historic Preservation Commission 2017 Donna Carroll, president of Dominican University
Donna Carroll, 2017
Anthony Clark, 2017
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MOORE
“If something wasn’t right, I wanted to understand why,” she said. “I asked questions and pushed — whether the issue was a racist bus driver or classes that had content that was suspicious, things like that. I wasn’t afraid to stir the pot.” from page 1 When Moore moved to Oak Park president who was among the featured from Houston with her husband, Mark panelists. Fields, 23 years ago, she found herself Moore paused, seemingly surprised fighting similar battles on behalf of by the question, before she quipped, her four children — Jordan, Merrick, “Short of getting arrested … my whole Lindsay and Kendall — all of whom self is in this work.” went through Oak Park’s elementary Indeed, Moore’s imprint on that mo- and high schools. ment was unmistakable. The young Moore said she wasn’t going to let people who led the protest were mem- an educator or someone else in the bers of Students Advocating for Eq- schools decide who her children were, uity, or SAFE, an OPRF club that was based on their race. founded as an outgrowth of a retreat “I had to say, ‘No, that’s not who they on equity that Moore organized in 2013. are,’ and I had to teach my kids to say Moore is a founding member of the that as well.” E-Team, one of the local organizations In 2008, Moore’s oldest son, Jordan, that co-hosted the panel discussion. died in a car accident. This year, the organization won the “During those four years after [JorOak Park-River Forest Community dan’s death], I didn’t really volunteer Foundation’s $50,000 Big Idea prize for or anything,” she said. its work in the area of educational eqAnd then in 2012, Nobel Prize-winuity. Last year, the organization, found- ning economist James Hackman vised by Oak Park teacher Frances Kraft, ited Unity Temple to talk about his was a runner-up for the prize. pioneering work in early childhood And Moore was one of the six board development. At the time, Moore was members who voted in favor of allow- on the board of the Collaboration for ing Steve James, a longtime Oak Park- Early Childhood — the organization er whose kids graduated from OPRF, to funded by Oak Park taxing bodies film inside the school for a year — over that provides resources for parents of the very vocal objections of former young children in the village. D200 Supt. Steven Isoye and most of Moore worked the front table durhis administration. ing the event with fellow board mem“I’m a revolutionary at heart,” said ber Jeff Weissglass, who told her that Moore, when she was asked he was planning to run for to recount that moment on the D200 school board. At 2018 Nov. 4 during a recent inthe time, Moore said, her VILLAGER terview. “I was one of those two sons had graduated students who protested and from OPRF while her twin of the circulated petitions in high daughters were preparing YEAR school and college, so I was to enter as freshmen. proud of the students. I was Moore seized the opporproud that their voices were being tunity to grapple with “the whole idea heard and that they took a national of two schools and the different expespotlight and used it in a way that was riences that black and brown students provocative and powerful.” were having,” and to tackle a more What made her most proud, she said, than $100 million fund balance the was that the students merged their high school had accumulated (“I recall passionate protest with intelligent, using the word ‘obscene’; it just felt clearly articulated demands. like we were sitting on money”). “I met with them about a week [beSince her election to the board in 2013, fore the protest] and talked with them Moore has placed the concept of stuabout their curricular unit, about be- dent voice at the center of the board’s ing informed and doing the work it equity focus. For instance, recent eftakes to do a protest and to have solu- forts by students, particularly SAFE tions be part of your protest,” Moore members, to develop a first-of-its-kind said. “Don’t just be against something racial equity course and to pressure — talk about what you’re for.” board members to enact a comprehensive racial equity policy can be traced, in part, back to Moore’s retreat in 2013, ‘I asked questions and pushed’ held at the Oak Park Public Library. Moore grew up in Dayton, Ohio, and The event, she said, was prompted attended a small college prep high by her frustration with the race-based school “far away from the 98 percent discipline disparities at OPRF. Moore black, working-class neighborhood I felt barraged by data telling her what grew up in.” In school, she developed a students already knew. What was penchant for “pointing out injustices” needed, she said, was concrete action and pushing against certain harmful to eliminate the disparity. aspects of the status quo. “Our black and brown students were
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VILLAGER OF THE YEAR RUNNERUP
Steve James televised a (slow) revolution
Understated power
Two firsts. On Jan. 29 the four people recognized as our 2018 Villagers of the Year will take part in a Wednesday Journal Conversation on equity. That same evening, as part of the Conversation, we’ll also recognize all those we’ve named as Villagers of the Year over the past 33 years.
The longtime Oak Parker opens up about ‘America to Me’
There is no admission fee for the combined Conversation and reception. However, you must reserve your tickets at OakPark.com/wjconvo. Seating is limited.
It took a nationally televised 10-part documentary series on race and equity at Oak Park and River Forest High School to sow the seeds of discontent that could grow into tangible progress in the area of racial equity at the high school. But the longtime Oak Parker behind the series, Steve James, has a candid admission. In a recent interview, James opened up about making the film and living with its effects.
Frances Kraft, an equity activist and a leader of the E-Team, will moderate the Conversation, which includes Jackie Moore of OPRF, Ed Condon and Ralph Martire of River Forest’s District 90 and Steve James, the director and producer of America to Me. The event begins at 7 p.m. in the Dominican University Performing Arts Center. The reception follows immediately. saying how they didn’t feel that they were heard at the time,” Moore said. “One recommendation that came out of that retreat was the need to cultivate our student voices.” In addition to the creation of SAFE, the retreat also led to OPRF working with an organization to teach studentleaders how to advocate for themselves, similar to how Moore taught her own kids. A year after the retreat, Moore said, the high school held student-led discussions on a range of racial equity-related issues. By the time the board voted in 2015 to allow James to film at OPRF for a year, a slow shift in the district’s approach to racial equity was already afoot. Filming students’ experiences, Moore said, would serve as a learning tool for the outside world. The documentary, she added, “was a way to validate the experiences students talked about, but that had been diminished. “Living in Oak Park is a choice for me and something I’m proud of, but I didn’t want us to get stuck resting on our laurels of racial diversity and feeling as though we’ve done enough by just being here, when there are people in our community who have had experiences that are negative because of race — myself included,” she said. “Being on the board wasn’t personal,” Moore added. “This wasn’t about my own kids. If that’s true, I wouldn’t have gone into a second term. But it was really about feeling as though I knew how to advocate for my own kids and I wanted that to be the experience of all of our kids in Oak Park.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
On citizenship “I was not a really involved citizen in Oak Park before I made the series, quite honestly,” the critically acclaimed director said in a recent interview. “I lived here, I observed things about the community by living here, by reading Wednesday Journal each week, but I wasn’t someone who joined committees or attended school board meetings to just see what was up.” James is human, after all — busy, just like everyone else, hammering out a living and taking care of a family. That day-to-day grind, he said, may have helped to obscure from his view some of the glaring racial injustices that he helped make known to the world. “I feel like I got a real window STEVE JAMES into the school and the way it Filmmaker operates that I had no clue of as a parent of three kids who went there,” James said. “As a parent, the school was this immutable, huge institution.” James said he “definitely gleaned the gap between” Oak Park’s “self-congratulation and self-image and the reality,” but he didn’t engage with it “in any direct way or do anything about it until I made the series. “I’m glad I did the series, but it’s a little embarrassing to say that I wasn’t that committed to the community I live in.”
On Jackie Moore “Jackie was an outlier at board meetings when I filmed,” James said. “She was one of the few people on the board who would speak openly and candidly in public about frustrations and problems. There was a lot of euphemistic dialogue that would go on.”
On the future James said that since the documentary aired, he’s been asked to run for a position on the District 200 school board. “That will never happen,” he said, but “I can’t go back to the way it was before and do nothing. I haven’t figured out what that will be yet, but I have to figure out some way to be part of the solution.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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C R I M E
Four cars burglarized on Christmas night near Ike
Almost $400 in cash and possessions were stolen from four cars during the overnight hours of Dec. 25 and Dec. 26 in the 800, 1000 and 1100 blocks of South Humphrey Avenue and the 1100 block of Lyman Avenue. An Oak Park resident’s black 2012 GMC Terrain was hit in the 800 block of South Humphrey Avenue between 10 p.m. on Dec. 25 and 10 a.m. on Dec. 26. The offender entered through an unlocked door and took two cell phone chargers worth $5. Another Oak Park resident’s gray 2007 Infinity Q35X was burglarized in the 1000 block of South Humphrey between 12:24 and 6:43 a.m. on Dec. 26. The burglar entered the vehicle by unknown means, ransacked the interior and stole an envelope containing $65. In the 1100 block of South Humphrey, a Broadview resident’s red 2003 Ford Taurus was broken into sometime between 10 p.m. on Dec. 25 and 11:56 a.m. on Dec. 26. The offender entered the unlocked car, ransacked the interior and stole silver jewelry, including a ring, earrings and necklace with blue and green stones. They also made off with a Samsung tablet and cash. The loss is estimated at $165. A black 2018 Ford Fusion was also burglarized a block away in the 1100 block of Lyman Avenue. The offender entered through an unlocked door and stole a pair of Apple earbuds valued at $160.
Carjacking A Cicero resident was carjacked at gunpoint in the 400 block of North Scoville at 7:19 p.m. on Dec. 21. The victim exited a silver 2012 Nissan Maxima, worth an estimated $21,000 and was approached by four men with handguns. One, who was wearing a “Jason” mask and brandishing a handgun demanded “everything” and the victim
SUNNY SPA Prostitution from page 1 the massage.” Wong also was charged with conducting a massage without a license. The order also notes that Chen violated the village’s massage business ordinance by failing to “provide to the village or maintain an on-site list of licensed massage therapists” who work at the business. Sunny Spa violated the ordinance by failing to post a current copy of the business’s anti-sexual harassment policy in a conspicuous place and failing to maintain clear glass at the establishment’s storefront. Chen said at the administrative hearing that she had to tell employees “not to commit prostitution” and that she was not often
complied, handing over a wallet, a Samsung cell phone and the keys to the car. The four men entered the vehicle and sped off on Chicago Avenue. At 11:15 p.m., the vehicle was found in the 3100 block of West 15th Place in Chicago. All four offenders were black and described as between the ages of 18 and 20. The man wearing the Jason mask was described as also wearing a black and red sweater with a hood and dark pants. Police did not give detailed descriptions of the other offenders.
Robbery ■ Navarrow Vandyke, 31, of the 5600 block of West Washington Boulevard, Chicago, was arrested in the 500 block of Harrison Street at 8:57 on Dec. 24 and charged with aggravated robbery and violation of parole for an incident that occurred at the above location. Police gave no further information. ■ An Oak Park man was robbed at gunpoint in the 500 block of South Austin Boulevard at 4:33 a.m. on Dec. 23. The victim was walking south when a man with a handgun jumped out from gangway of a building and demanded money, the victim’s possessions and the pin number for his debit card. The victim dropped his wallet and gave the PIN for the debit card. The offender stole $90, the debit card and the victim’s driver’s license from the wallet. He fled in a White Dodge Caravan that was waiting nearby. The offender was described as black, 20 to 29 years old, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10, 180 pounds with a dark complexion and wearing a dark hoodie with the hood cinched around his face and blue jeans. The estimated loss is $90. ■ A man in his late 20s to early 30s wearing a painter’s mask robbed a Chicago resident in the 1000 block of Lake Street at 1:20 p.m. on Dec. 23. The offender approached the
present at the business. The village and administrative judge determined that the business is a nuisance in that it “endangers the safety or health of the public” and “offends public decency.” The bust comes nearly a year after the Oak Park Board of Trustees approved a strict ordinance regulating massage businesses in the village. That ordinance was approved in response to another police sting in 2017, where three businesses were closed for performing sexual acts and operating without a license. The village also revoked the business licenses of those three massage parlors in 2017. King Spa, formerly located at 6441 W. North Ave., was shut down after owner Tina King was charged with prostitution. Angel Spa, formerly at 1102 Chicago Ave., was also closed for prostitution, and Angel Spa, formerly at 6340 Roosevelt Road, was closed for operating without a license. tim@oakpark.com
victim and asked for assistance to deposit a check into the ATM. The offender forced the victim to deposit a check in the victim’s account then withdrew $400. The victim then was forced to hand over the money. The offender was described as a black male, 6-foot-2, with a goatee and wearing a gray hoodie and black jeans. ■ An Oak Park resident was the victim of aggravated robbery in the 500 block of South East Avenue at about 4:17 p.m. on Dec. 20. A man in his early 20s approached the victim and said, “Give me all your money.” The victim refused and the offender pushed the victim to the ground and held an unknown object to the victim’s head. The victim then handed over $80.
■ A maroon 2002 Lexus ES300 that was left running and unattended was stolen from the 6100 block of North Avenue at 6:29 p.m. on Dec. 25. It was recovered a short time later by Chicago police. The victim’s black Samsung 8 cell phone was missing from the vehicle. ■ A license plate was stolen from an Oak Park resident’s white 2014 Chrysler 300 in the rear of a residence in the 100 block of North Euclid Avenue sometime between noon on Dec. 18 and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 20. ■ A white Chevy Traverse that was left running and unattended was stolen from the 1100 block of South Grove at about 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 22. The estimated loss is $10,000.
Criminal damage
A delivery vehicle was burglarized in the 1100 block of Lake Street around 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 26. The offender gained entry to the delivery vehicle’s trailer while it waited for a business to open to make a delivery. The offender then took three small rugs and three boxes of unknown merchandise that belonged to the business. The offender was seen leaving eastbound on Westgate Street from North Maple Avenue on a red mountain bike.
■ Both side mirrors were damaged on a gray 2016 Honda Civic in the 400 block of North Taylor Avenue during the overnight hours of Dec. 25-26. Someone bent the mirrors backward, causing the covers to break. The estimated loss is $400. ■ Someone threw an empty mini beer keg through the front window of a residence in the 600 block of South Harvey Avenue at 11:44 p.m. on Dec. 21. The estimated loss is $300.
Theft ■ An Oak Park resident was the victim of theft in the 1100 block of Lake Street at 1:52 a.m. on Dec. 26. A woman removed a pink Victoria’s Secret handbag that was left unattended and contained gift cards, cash, headphones, and lip gloss. The estimated loss was unknown. The offender was described as a black female between the ages of 30 and 40 with a heavy build, black hair and wearing a blue long-sleeved denim shirt, black leggings and white shoes.
Burglary
These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Dec. 18-26, 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 Timothy Inklebarger
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
SPA CLOSED: Sunny Spa, 1053 Madison St., was closed permanently by the village of Oak Park after one of its employees was arrested for prostitution at the business.
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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A conversation with homebrewer Douglas Hill
All Programs are open to the public: $15 requested donation for nonmembers for each program. Try our Lunch: A three-course meal precedes Monday programs at 12:00, $25 for nonmembers, RSVP required– all are welcome! Monday, January 7 – 1:15pm Author and poet Angela Jackson was moved by the 100th anniversary of Gwendolyn Brooks’ birth and inspired to write A Surprised Queenhood in the New Black Sun.
Monday, January 14 – 1:15pm Queen Victoria – The Life of a Glorious Monarch Sovereign of an empire on which the sun never set, Victoria inherited the throne when she was 18 years old. In this illustrated lecture, Leslie Goddard chronicles Victoria’s astonishing reign of 64 years. Monday, January 28 – 1:15pm Women Empowering Women: How Wealthy Women Helped Women Get the Right to Vote Historian/Author Joan Johnson shares the impact stories of Phoebe Hearst, Alva Vanderbilt Belmont and others. More than 100 years ago, these women contributed millions of dollars to promote suffrage, provide working women access to higher education and champion reproductive rights.
Public Evening & Weekend Events Friday, January 4 – 7:00pm English Country Dance is a social dance with a long history and a vibrant modern presence. Dances are taught and called. No partner needed, no experience necessary. Suggested donation: $10 Adults / $5 Students and Seniors. Sunday, January 20 – 3:00pm Lady Vadula Spellbound Produced and directed by Michelle McGovern, award winning flutist, film maker and musician. Unable to speak, the mysterious Victoria Vadula’s only form of communication is through her flute, Detective Jack O’Mally becomes obsessed in search of her and the truth of her enigmatic life. Six performers, through music, dance and theater tell this powerful musical story of love, tragedy and revenge. Doors open: 2:30 p.m. Program: 3 p.m. – Followed by a light meal $40 for Members / $50 for NonǦ members. Reservations required.
Sunday, January 20 – 3:00pm Free Readers presents Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron Elderly Mr. Green is almost hit by a car driven by Ross Gardiner, a 29Ǧ yearǦold corporate executive. His community service is helping the recent widower once a week for six months. Two men who do not want to be in the same room together get to know each other, come to care about each other, and open old wounds they've been hiding and nursing for years. FreeǦwill donations are appreciated and help cover costs. freereaders.com Thursday, January 24 – 5:30pm Happy Hour Mind Boggles Explore the history, current state and the future of the death penalty punishment in America, from both the abolitionist and proǦdeath penalty points of view. Attorney and professional actor Kevin Bry will present. $15 entry fee. Cash bar and snacks provided.
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association 178 Forest Ave, Oak Park, IL 60301 708-386-2729 For more information: nineteenthcentury.org
H
omebrewing beer has been one of the more educational and fulfilling food-related experiences I’ve ever had. Making beer is relatively simple, and the steps involved in the beer-making process can deepen your understanding and appreciation of not only beer but also distilled products, like Scotch and bourbon, that all basically start with beer. The Oak Park Homebrewers (OPHB) are dedicated to building a community of local homebrewers and promoting homebrewing as a hobby. OPHB hosted a “Learn to Homebrew Day” event at Exit Strategy (7700 Madison St. in Forest Park) on Nov. 3. Douglas Hill, OPHB vice president, took the time to tell us about beer generally and OPHB specifically:
What do you look for in a beer; what characteristics make you sit back and say, “Now, that is a good beer!” The first thing is that the good beer should have no “off ” flavors. Off flavors mainly come from fermentation problems but can also be caused by improper storage and age. The second thing we consider is the style of beer we are drinking. We compare the qualities of the beer (color, aroma, flavor) to the style guidelines. When I say “Now, that is a good beer!” the beer will have a clean fermentation profile, meet the style profile, have proper carbonation, and will be served in proper and clean glassware. I would say about half the beers I sample get the stamp of “Now, that is a good beer!”
File photo
Kinslahger, 6806 Roosevelt Road.
Park and the surrounding area that have a common hobby. We get together to relax, share our homebrews, shoot the breeze, and enjoy the company. Brewing is a very social activity. Brewers like to share their beer, get feedback, and learn from more experienced brewers. The club enjoys participating Tell us about the Oak Park in events that raise money for beer scene. What places are local charities as well. The club you especially excited about? is constantly evolving and is The Oak Park beer scene has looking for new members to really changed in the last few participate. We have a lot of Local Dining years. Kinslahger and Oak Park members from outside of Oak & Food Blogger Brewing (149 S. Oak Park Ave.) Park, including from Berwyn, anchor locally-sourced brews Forest Park, Indiana and even and both have tap rooms. We Mexico. We encourage folks have Wild Onion Brewing which to stop by one of our monthly does not brew on the premises; meetings to see what it is all they brew at their original locaabout. We meet the fourth Tuestion in Barrington. Like Oak day of each month at KinslahPark Brewing, Wild Onion Tied ger (6806 Roosevelt Road). House (1111 South Blvd.) also To find out more about homehas a restaurant and full liquor brew events, go to https://www. bar. Beer Shop (1026 North Blvd.) homebrewersassociation.org/ 7700 Madison St., has really changed the dynamic aha-events/learn-to-homebrewForest Park of having access to local craft day/aha-lthd-event/?site_ beer and beer from around the id=5062 708-689-8771 country. They focus mostly on To find out more about OPHB, regional/Chicago beer. you can visit the Oak Park Homebrewers Facebook page at https://www. What is OPHB all about? facebook.com/oakparkhomebrewers/ and We are a diverse group of folks from Oak their website: www.ophb.org.
DAVID
HAMMOND Exit Strategy Brewing Company
SAY CONNECTS
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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A YEAR-LONG SERIES FOCUSING ON COMMUNICATING OUR PRIORITIES FOR CHILDREN
INTRODUCTION
We all want to belong
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elonging is a basic human need that transcends age, background, and culture. It is especially critical for children, who have been known to languish or thrive based upon their feelings of belonging. Schools must play an integral role in ensuring that students feel this sense of belonging so they can learn, grow, and flourish within our community. There are a myriad of ways that classrooms and schools can help students feel connected and valued enough to thrive. Amongst others, these include creating culturally responsive spaces within schools, ensuring that schools are harassment-free zones, and fostering greater acceptance of students who identify as LGBTQI throughout our classrooms and schools. To ensure that school-based inclusion strategies are authentic and successful they must also be coordinated and intentional. As you’ll read in the following articles, authentic efforts are underway across our communities to ensure that all individuals –– and especially students –– will have the experience of being a part of a school community that is truly inclusive and welcoming. We all want to belong.
BELONGING: From left, Whittier students Aden Liss, Madden Spurlock, Milla Liss and Arielle Spurlock, point to the back of their school shirts that say “Where I Belong.” (ALEXA ROGALS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Beyond sombreros, D97 schools get a grip on cultural awareness By LACEY SIKORA
Contributing Reporter
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Ed Condon Superintendent District 90 River Forest Public Schools
hen Cynthia Brito’s daughter was a student at Percy Julian Middle School, it was standard practice for winners of academic awards in Spanish class to be awarded with the opportunity to wear a sombrero. The third-generation Mexican-American student railed against the culturallyinsensitive practice. Her mother says issues such as this
In partnership with
made her daughter feel very alienated in school and also created a spark of activism. Jocelyn approached the administration about ending the practice, and it is no longer in use today. For her mother, it was an eye-opening process. “It was unnecessarily complicated to get the practice to stop. It took a long time.” Cynthia Brito, now a member of District 97’s Diversity Committee, says that both of her daughters -- Jocelyn, a sophomore at OPRF, and Marlene, a seventh grader at Julian -- are question-
ing the institutional approach to Latinx culture in Oak Park schools. “There’s an institutional side of this. There’s a lack of Latinx history in the history, music and language arts classes. We’re not seeing it in the mainstream culture. That has had a huge impact on my daughters. They aren’t finding themselves in lessons about our heroes. It has a very negative impact.” After witnessing what her daughters experienced, Brito knew it made sense to join the Diversity Committee, now in its third year at all District 97 schools.
She was active on the policy team, which helped draft the equity policy for the district and notes there is still much work to be done. She points out that the curriculum’s Euro-centric teachings don’t cover a lot of important information. “In Spanish, indigenous cultures aren’t taught. They are only covered during Latinx History Month, and then often for one day. It’s a missed opportunity to have more focus on Latin America.”
See CULTURAL on page 17
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‘We need to expand the narrative of success’
To keep able-bodied students with IEPs from falling through the cracks, celebrate all kids, say advocates By MICHAEL ROMAIN Contributing Reporter
Throughout the Starz documentary series America to Me, Telicia Moore was a ubiquitous, determined presence in the halls, classrooms and offices of Oak Park and River Forest High School. She had to be. Her son, Terrance Moore, was a senior during the taping of the series. Terrance isn’t physically handicapped or obviously disabled. It’s only when the viewer more deeply evaluates the young man’s mannerisms that it’s possible to spot his challenges. Terrance went through OPRF on an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which is a plan of assistance for students in special education. During a recent interview, Moore gave some advice to parents of OPRF students whose children may be in Terrance’s shoes — that is, young people whose cognitive
challenges may get obscured because they’re able-bodied. “One of the main challenges I faced when Terrance first started high school was my ability to connect with the services and to know who to go to when I had a problem, and how to get immediate assistance when I had questions,” Moore said. Moore is currently the vice president of African-American Parents for Purposeful Leadership and Education (APPLE) — an organization founded by OPRF parents 30 years ago. “Through APPLE, I connected with some special education directors who attended APPLE meetings,” Moore said. “I also got resources through APPLE that let me know how the school functions and allowed me to access additional services.” Moore said that it isn’t enough to simply know your student’s IEP team and case manager. “Not everyone is reliable,” she said,
ALEXA ROGALS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ADVOCATE/ACTIVIST: Anthony Clark
FINDING A PATH: Terrence Moore in class at OPRF. (AMERICA TO ME/ COURTESY OF STARZ) adding that if parents are not constantly path to independent living, and Opporvigilant, some case managers at OPRF tunity Knocks, which provides structured activities for TEAM students, didn’t exist “treat you like paperwork.” Something else that’s vital, she said, is when he was at OPRF. In addition, these programs provide understanding your child’s ability. That’s especially true when it comes to raising increased opportunities for participants a young person who appears capable of to develop friendships and mentoring relationships - all important components mainstream instruction, she said. for developing a sense of “Unfortunately, some of belonging. this comes down to parent Still, Clark said, there’s pride,” she said. “Everya lot of room for improveone wants their kid to be ment both within the high brilliant and perfect. Evschool and in the larger eryone wants their child to Oak Park community succeed. That being said, when it comes to embracit’s also OK to have your ing individuals who are kids try and if they fail, let able-bodied but cogniit go. Don’t always blame tively disadvantaged. teachers for problems.” “I have former students Anthony Clark is a speTelicia Moore with cognitive delays who cial ed teacher at OPRF are 6-feet, 5-inches — and a community activist. He has taught many students like men of color who are already perceived Terrance and said special education by society as dangerous,” Clark said, at OPRF has improved since he was a adding that oftentimes, law enforcestudent there in the late 1990s and early ment officials aren’t trained or equipped 2000s. to recognize the social cues of the cogClark said that when he attended nitively disadvantaged. OPRF, the school’s TEAM program When combined with structural rac[Transitional Education with Access to ism and overly aggressive policing, that the Mainstream] — which is designed miscommunication can sometimes be to “maximize student independence fatal — one of Clark’s greatest fears for by developing [their] unique potential” some of his former students. according to OPRF’s website —wasn’t To mitigate the local hazards that may “fully articulated and didn’t have built-in accompany the cognitively delayed, supports like it does now.” particularly young black men, Clark In addition, Clark said, programs like emphasized the forging of partnerships CITE (Community Integrated Transition between agencies like the Oak Park PoEducation), which provides students lice Department, local businesses and with IEP’s with a real world skills-based OPRF, particularly its TEAM program, so curriculum designed to put them on the that police officers and business own-
ers “understand what an IEP is, what a disability is and how it presents itself beyond the physical component.” “We have to eliminate biases that exist like ableism by recognizing them first,” Clark said. “We also have to be more holistic in our approach to instruction.” Clark and Moore also said that people in the high school and community need to change how they perceive people who don’t fall within the mainstream perception of success. “Sometimes in high school, teachers can be dismissive of kids who are struggling,” Moore said. “We need to really invest in expanding the narratives of what success looks like. TEAM kids ought to be celebrated in the same way that general track kids are.” Often times, students who matriculate through the TEAM program end up working in jobs that may not be dazzling, but are nonetheless useful, Clark said. “If you have a job at Jewel, you are a hard-working citizen, you’re paying taxes,” Clark said. “That needs to be celebrated as well. Let’s celebrate a multitude of successful narratives outside of four-year university.”
Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with District 97 policy does not imply, directly or indirectly, that the group’s program(s), event(s) and/or service(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.
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Yes. Sexual harassment is an issue in our middle schools By LACEY SIKORA
give voice to the fact that this firmation hearings for nowhappens in our community. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, “I heard stories She set out to find out just she joined Pam Hessing and created the Facebook he school board and administration at how prevalent harassment is, about repeated, ungroup which has grown Oak Park’s District 97 elementary school with a focus on behavior in elwanted touching; onto over 320 members in district are working to craft a sexual ha- ementary and middle school. “I spent my summer ina few short weeks. Raja is rassment policy, an effort that community line harassment that terviewing Oak Park teens, hopeful that the group can members and parents say is sorely needed. included disseminatwork with the district to Dr. Sheela Raja, Oak Park resident and a clini- many of them now in high school, about craft a sexual harassment cal psychologist, associate professor ing sexual pictures.” their experipolicy to improve the cliand behavioral scientist at the Uni— Dr. Sheela Raja ences in junior mate at the schools. versity of Illinois Chicago, has written high. I noticed a She points out that several books on sexual harassment Clinical psychologist theme of climate Oak Park fits right in with and teens. This fall, she became one that seemed national statistics in which of the founders of a local Facebook to be, in my one in four children report group called Protect Our Kids: Creopinion, problematic. I heard stories some kind of sexual harassment in middle school ating Harassment-Free Schools in about repeated, unwanted touch- and notes that interest in the issue has gained tracOak Park and River Forest. ing; online harassment that included tion due to national events, such as the #MeToo For her, the connection between disseminating sexual pictures; and a movement. her work, her community and her Dr. Sheela Raja hallway and locker room culture that “We’ve gotten a core group of parents energized role as a mother to two daughters sometimes included repeated name and activated. We’ll need courage and leadership was clear. “This topic is very near calling and harassment based on at school and will need this to carry over into homes and dear to my heart.” as well. We all need to be talking about this.” About 18 months ago, she was approached by gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.” Holly Spurlock, president of the District 97 school another Oak Park mother who shared her daughOverall, Raja says the kids she spoke with had a ter’s chilling story of harassment. The behavior be- very unclear sense of who they were supposed to board serves on the board’s policy committee. gan in elementary school as bullying, escalated to report these issues to. “Kids and the administra- Since August, she says, the committee has been stalking and on-line harassment and culminated tion need to be trained. I started a dialogue with tasked with creating the sexual harassment policy. in sexual assault when the child was in middle District 97 right away because I knew there would The board is looking to OPRF’s policy and proceschool. be people within the administration who would dures as framework, but she notes that District 97 For Raja, hearing the story was an entry into life want to champion the issue if they knew the seri- has unique considerations. “We’re different because we have such a differas a community activist. While recognizing that ousness of the problem.” the story was extreme, she says it is important to This fall, in the wake of the Supreme Court con- ent age group. The kids are much younger. We Contributing Reporter
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CULTURAL continued from page 15 Daughter Marlene has spoken to the school board about cultural issues and continues to push for change. In her language arts class, she would like to see more diversity in choice in the writers covered. In her Spanish class, she questions the practice of having all students choose a Spanish name. Brito applauds her efforts, saying of the push to choose a different name in class, “What does this tell our Latinx kids in the class? This curriculum is made for white kids.” When Brito talks to other parents, she says they have experienced similar issues in the district. “There is no historical memory at the district, but there is power in organizing.” Brito says that as the population changes, it makes sense for the District 97 to make changes now. “The local
Latinx community is doubling or tripling every year in the district. We need bilingual counselors. We need to build bridges with our neighbors in Berwyn and Cicero. Oak Park needs to wake up, build bridges and serve incoming families the best that we can.” According to enrollment figures provided by District 97, the percentage of Latinx students in the district doubled from six to 12 percent between the 2015 and 2016 school years. In the two years since, Latinx enrollment has leveled off at 13 percent of student population. At Holmes Elementary School, principal Dr. Christine Zelaya and ESL teacher Jennifer Jaros say they see increasing cultural diversity among the student body and are working hard to make changes to help the school be welcoming to those of all cultural backgrounds. Jaros notes there are currently 15 different primary languages spoken by Holmes students. For those who come
from a non-English-speaking background, Arabic, Mandarin and Korean are the dominant languages spoken at home, with some Spanish, French and Hindi speaking students as well. For schools such as Holmes that have fewer than 20 students of any non-English language group at the school, ESL services are primarily pull-out, with care taken to carry over learning to in-class instruction as well. “For newcomers,” Jaros says, “especially for kids with different alphabets and phonetic backgrounds, we meet at least four times a week and go over things such as clothing and foods, and commonly used words. For those with more proficiency, we try to go over the content they are learning in class but ahead of time.” Last year, the school instituted Hawk Nest, a program through which all children in kindergarten through fifth grade are known, nurtured and celebrated.
need to be age-appropriate in terms of language.” She also says that the education portion of the policy needs to fit the needs of this age group. “There has to be real care to see that the perpetrators are sometimes victims too. Kids learn from what they see at home.” Raja says the ages of the children at District 97 certainly need to be considered in crafting the policy and that a restorative justice policy is key. “We want to meet the children where they are. We need to do it in a way that’s not punitive, but that catches things early, before they escalate.” Another challenge in creating the policy is the breadth of the district. “The high school has one building. We have 10 buildings,” says Spurlock. “Our biggest challenge is not the desire to do something, but how do we come close to what the high school did in providing someone kids know to go to, who knows what they are doing?” Currently, issues such as inappropriate touching and harassment are commonly covered in the district’s Second Step programming, and Spurlock says the educational piece of the policy will include a review of the current curriculum. “Can we say, ‘yes, this is sufficient.’ Or do we say, ‘No. We need more?’” Spurlock says engaging with the community is the next step for the committee and that the goal is to get a draft policy to the board in early 2019. “If you want people to have a sense of belonging, the bottom line is that you have to be intentional about this. It doesn’t just happen. You have to be proactive.”
Jaros says the program uses small groups as a way for children to get to know each other individually, work on team building and social-emotional learning. Zelaya says Holmes has been making changes to embrace different cultures to meet the needs of the diverse student body. “In every classroom, we have five to 10 kids who are bilingual or multi-lingual. The staff is moving away from special holiday celebrations and moving towards celebrating all cultures in a respectful way.” Cultural awareness can take place in special classes like art and music, keeping different cultures in the everyday curriculum, and Zelaya points out the staff also have to think beyond curriculum. “For example, we have so many Muslim students who are fasting during the day. We need to be thoughtful during Ramadan. We might need a different lunch room protocol. The Muslim
children might need to sit out during gym class during Ramadan.” Jaros says that in furtherance of the goal of making all families feel welcome at Holmes, the recently-formed Family and Community Engagement (FACE) committee is focused on making it easier for all families to feel a part of the school. “For parent-teacher conferences, we were able to provide translators for everyone who needed them. This year, we’ll have our first year of ESL summer school for newcomers and in the spring for the first time, we will have ESL tutoring in all 10 (District 97) buildings.” For Zelaya, keeping the curriculum in sync with the community needs and planning events such as International Taste of Holmes, can help cover all of the bases. “It’s not just about the language; it’s about the culture too. Kids get it really fast, and we are always working to get the parents involved too.”
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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Finding their Tribe. Percy Julian students create safe LGBTQI space
By LACEY SIKORA
Contributing Reporter
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iddle school can be a tough experience. From hormones to homework, from changing friend groups to changing bodies, the years can be challenging to navigate. Add in exploring gender identity, and walking the halls of middle school can feel like a minefield. A few years ago, a group of Percy Julian Middle School students decided that the school needed a safe place for LGBTQI students and set out to create a welcoming club for LGBTQI students and their allies. Now in its third year, Rainbow Tribe has become a home for many. Ashley Kannan is the faculty moderator. He says two eighth graders created the group. “They wanted to create a safe space, and they wanted it to be for students, by students.” The founders of the club wanted to make a space within the school where dialogue about LGBTQI issues encountered by young adults could take place, and three years in, Kannan says their efforts have paid off. “When the girls brought this up three years ago, we didn’t have a place in our building where being trans was normalized, where being bisexual was normalized. As teachers, we would do our part to be allies, but that wasn’t enough.” Kannan says the year the club began, he had a student in his class who was transsexual. “I tried to be an ally, but I couldn’t really tell him, ‘This is your school too.’ Either you lived in the
closet, or you lived in the shadows at school. These kids needed a place to go, and it needed to be engineered from the top down.” Once the club began meeting on a regular basis and was given a room at the school, Kannan says the change was evident. “Rainbow Tribe fulfills a function by way of saying it’s completely OK. You can be bisexual, gay or straight, and this is your place.” Rainbow Tribe meets every Wednesday, with student leaders getting together with moderators the day before to plan the week’s activities. Kannan says that each week is different, but the kids in the club might work on an arts and crafts project, talk about young adult literature or discuss issues as significant as how kids come out to their families and friends. Each meeting begins with the question, “Why do you need a safe space today?” Kannan says safety is a key component of the club. “Research shows that students are often targeted for bullying based upon their sexual identity, and suicide rates among kids who are not hetero-normative sky rocket.” While the club can’t solve all problems, Kannan says it gives kids a place where for one hour a week they don’t feel different. He recalls one student who attended his first meeting and said, “This is the first time I don’t feel like a freak.” For Kannan, those who attend take away that feeling. “It allows a certain segment of our population to feel for a time as if they are the norm in middle school.”
ARTIFACTS: A colorful poster for the Rainbow Tribe Club (top) is seen on Dec. 12, at Julian Middle School in Oak Park. (Above) A pride flyer. A hand painted pride flag (right) on a hallway wall on the first floor. (Bottom left) A painted bench for the Rainbow Tribe. (ALEXA ROGALS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Outside of its members, Rainbow Tribe also affects the wider population at Julian. Kannan says the group’s visibility is viability for kids at this age. If they see that there’s a meeting being held on a regular basis, or hear that a friend or classmate attends, it is a part of the process of acceptance and erasing the idea of LGBTQI students as the “other.”
He says it also teaches boundaries. “Kids might learn that they can’t say ‘that’s so gay,’ or ‘you’re a fag,’ as derogatory remarks. You take the victories where you get them.” At the end of the day, Kannan says Rainbow Tribe is a great addition to the middle school landscape and likens it to other activities that children join during those years. “The high
school has a great Gay-Straight Alliance. Just like athletes look forward to making the team in high school, or actors look forward to doing the productions at OPRF, our kids look forward to the GSA. We’re like the minor leagues here with Rainbow Tribe. When the kids go to high school, they come back and tell us how great it is.”
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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Homes
Wednesday Journal as time capsule New homeowners find newspaper purposely preserved behind wall By LACEY SIKORA
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Contributing Reporter
ack in 1989, when the Wednesday Journal real estate section was known as “Homefront,” the paper already was in the practice of keeping residents informed about local real estate issues. As proof that the more things change, the more they stay the same, the Homefront edition from Sept. 20, 1989 included stories on new luxury apartment rental buildings, as well as a feature on a local historic home about to undergo extensive renovations. The owners of the home at 201 S. Euclid Ave. told reporter John McDermott about their plans to renovate their home. In the days before internet archives of the weekly paper, the Troelstrup family found a unique way to preserve their moment in the media. They wrapped a copy of the Wednesday Journal in a Dominick’s bag and placed it in the wall behind a bathroom medicine cabinet during the renovation. See TIME CAPSULE on page 21 PHOTOS BY ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
IF WALLS COULD TALK: Kate Seavey (above) reads a note “for the future owners of this wonderful home” written on the front page of the Sept. 20, 1989 Wednesday Journal, which workers found behind the wall of a bathroom (at left) she and her husband are renovating.
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TIME CAPSULE
Ties to Pleasant Home? from page 19 Recently discovered by the new owners of the home, who are renovating that same bathroom, the article is a peek into a home with an interesting past. In August 1989, Sandy and John Troelstrup purchased the brick home from the Archdiocese of Chicago for their family of eight. Built in 1904 for W.G. Lloyd, the home is rumored to have been designed by renowned architect George Maher, who also designed Oak Park’s Pleasant Home. Lloyd was a founding member of Oak Park’s first automobile club and close friends with fellow club member, Henry Mills, the second owner of the Pleasant Home, which is one possible link to Maher. In 1929, Lloyd’s son sold the home to the Archdiocese of Chicago for $50,000. From that time until 1984, it was home to Dominican sisters who taught at St. Edmund’s School, di-
TIME MACHINE: The Sept. 20, 1989 Wednesday Journal (above) featured a story about the family who owned the former St. Edmund’s convent and reconverted it into a single-family residence. A vestige of the home’s days as a convent is a sink in one of the bedrooms (below left). Original stained glass (above left) remains in the home, though the bathrooms have gotten multiple makeovers (right) through the years. rectly behind the home. Legend has it the sisters liked to roller skate on the home’s front porch. After leasing the home to a soup kitchen and lay people for a few years, the archdiocese listed the home for sale in February 1989 for $365,000.
PHOTOS BY ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
When the Troelstrups purchased the home, the window above the front door read, “St. Edmund Convent” in gold lettering, and the second floor had been subdivided into small bedrooms, or cells, for the sisters. According to the 1989 article, the family had plans to strip the paint from the quartersawn oak woodwork, remove the shag carpeting, create a master bedroom and convert the nuns’ second floor chapel into another bedroom. The numerous bedrooms on the second floor were perfect for their six children. Judy Shepelak and George Vinyard purchased the home in 1997 for $515,000 and continued the tradition of restoring the home to single-family status. They returned the front porch to its original open footprint, removing
asbestos flooring from the original Greek-key patterned tile and restoring leaded glass side panels at the front door. They also redid the kitchen and created a master suite above it. Shepelak, who worked as a landscape architect, turned the unfinished third floor into her studio space and a hangout space for her family while overseeing a complete overhaul of the yard. Kate and Paul Seavey purchased the home in April 2015 for their family of six. Keeping up with former owners, they recently embarked on a renovation project of their own -- updating a second-floor bathroom for daughter Chloe. See TIME CAPSULE on page 23
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SURE, AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. SURE, I TAUGHT TO THROW STICK ATBUT FIRST I WAS AHIM LITTLE TAKENAABACK AND NOW HANGING OUT WITH HIM BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. IS ITHE BESTHIM PARTTOOFTHROW MY DAY.A STICK BUT TAUGHT AND NOW HANGING OUT WITH HIM IS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY. — EINSTEIN adopted 12-09-10 — EINSTEIN adopted 12-09-10
PHOTOS BY ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
AT HOME: Homeowner Kate Seavey plans to hang onto the newspaper (above) that was carefully preserved for them inside a Dominick’s bag behind a bathroom wall more than 20 years ago. More renovation work awaits on the second floor of the home (top).
TIME CAPSULE from page 21 Kate Seavey says that the crew of their contractor, Tom Sundling of Thomas Patrick Homes, determined that this is the bathroom’s fourth remodel, mostly likely one remodel for each owner of the home. A few weeks ago, the crew discovered the Dominick’s bag protecting the September 20, 1989 edition of the Wednesday Journal during demolition of the existing bathroom. “They always say if these walls could talk,” Kate Seavey said, and that’s what happened here. When working with historic properties, Seavey said, Sundling’s workers carefully deconstruct a room in case there is something historic hidden within the walls. According to Seavey, the workers often find clues to a home’s history left behind by
builders, but rarely something left behind by the owners. For her family, it is further evidence of the good karma in the home. While friends often ask in jest if the house is haunted by nuns, Seavey says that to the contrary, the family feels a sense of warmth in peace in the house. They do have some fun with the home’s history -- the former office for the mother superior is now used as a bar and called Purgatory -- but overall, they feel a benevolent presence throughout the house. Future plans include renovating the rest of the second floor, another bathroom will be added and the chapel will become an office, with the stained glass retained, and Kate Seavey says their family is happily at home. They plan to hang onto the Wednesday Journal left behind by John Troelstrup with his hand-written note, “For the future owners of this wonderful home.”
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
The NEXT SAY Connects Community Conversation A conversation between OPRF community youth of color about our community and what actions they are taking to make it better.
Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 7 p.m. Percy Julian Middle School Auditorium RSVP requested - oakpark.com/sayconnects
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Get to know who is working for you! We wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR! LEAD . LEARN . PROMOTE
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Fortifying wisdom from ‘On Being’ p. 28-29
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Getting beyond ‘virtual’ reality
he other night I watched the movie The Matrix. I hadn’t seen it since it first came out in 1999, when the Wachowskis were still brothers. That’s 20 years ago. I liked it then, and I still do. I don’t watch movies at home very often. I don’t even have a TV in my apartment. But as I sought some spontaneous diversion, my laptop screen offered some really good choices. Most of you have seen The Matrix, but to briefly re-cap: Self-aware machines have enslaved most of humanity in a virtual reality system. The humans are convinced their lives are normal, but, in actuality, they are kept in self-contained bubbles as the farmed power supply for the machines. A small number of humans live outside the virtual reality system, fighting for their survival in hopes of setting their species free. About 20 minutes into the movie, Mr. Anderson/ Neo asks one of the “free” human leaders, “What is The Matrix?” Morpheus replies, “It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.” I immediately hit the Pause button and replayed that line several times because it reminded me of one of my all-time favorite sentences. In her Foreward to The Five Invitations by Frank Ostaseski, Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen writes: “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.” Let’s tear a hole in how we age and die to reveal the true nature of that world. As we start yet another year, let’s honestly appreciate the opportunities offered us in the last third of our lives. Such appreciation may not be easy. Fear, among other things, can throw up roadblocks. But really, what else do we have to do? I suppose we could live in a “virtual” reality, like The Matrix. We can continue to mistake “the daily fabric” for what is most real. Or, figuring out what is really important can help us appreciate the opportunities. Actually, just trying to figure out what is really important can help. The last third of life gives us the opportunity to slow down and to honestly grapple with what is really important. There is no simple template to this existential dilemma. But the precious opportunity is here. Let’s take advantage of it. Many of us are no longer so enamored of social networks or of accumulating material shows of grandeur. And for just as many, our physical changes in this awesome physical existence are cause for consternation. We’ve been taught there are bumps in the road of life. But are they really bumps in the road? Actually, the road is just what it is. People-made roads are smooth and straight, but life and death are not people-made roads. They are perfectly imperfect journeys. Joan Chittister, in her book The Gift of Years, writes, “We are finished now, except for the finishing.” But the finishing just might take another 20 or 30 years. Let’s finish strong and well, all the way — imperfectly strong and well. 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.
MARC BLESOFF
Credit: Liberty Films Inc./imdb.com
ANGELS WITH WINGS: James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Karolyn Grimes in It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
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A ‘Wonderful Life’ moment for the class of ’68
iving Tuesday took on a whole new meaning for the OPRF High School class of 1968 this year. We worked hard to keep down the costs of our 50th reunion in October, while also reaching out to classmates to help with expenses for other classmates who didn’t have it in their budget to attend. Due to the generosity of 70 donors, we helped some with airfare, some with room costs and 27 tickets/dinner costs at the 19th Century Club. We had made it known that if there was money left, we would donate it to the OPRF Alumni Association and to Empowering Gardens. After paying all of the bills, we were left with some nice funds. One donor gave us $1,000 specifically related to what we were doing in honoring veterans, especially Vietnam Veterans who were not appreciated upon their return from the war. We divided that donation between two recipients, the Daughters of the American Revolution Jean Cardinelli Chapter in Iowa, which supplied us with all of the Vietnam packets, and the local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans in which at least one of our vets is involved. The DAR chapter has given out over 12,000 of the packets since 2012 with a note from the President, a pin, high-quality paper describing each of the symbols on the pin, and a
banner to put in the window of their car or their home saying they served. We then wrote a check to the OPRF Alumni Association for $1,000 because they always help us with our reunions as they do others. Our goal then became to help our classmates, Dick Biggins and Maggie Miles and their partner Ana, with their nonprofit enterprise, Empowering Gardens. They opened the doors 2½ years ago specifically to hire and train the disabled. As with any new venture, it takes time and money to get off the ground. Dick let me know that on Giving Tuesday, the Coleman Institute would provide some matching grant money for them. We were able to write a check for $10,000! Ana and Dick were there to receive the donation. In addition to the check from the class, I contacted several class members who donated more directly to Empowering Gardens as well for another $1,500, plus one classmate is sending $25,000! We had a few classmates there to help personally give the donation, and Jackie Sbarboro said she felt like she was in her own mini “It’s a Wonderful Life” moment. Our classmates dug into their pockets so generously that we were able to help a struggling fledgling business with big visions! A wonderful life indeed. Kathleen Sullivan was a member of the OPRF class of 1968 reunion organizing committee.
KATHLEEN SULLIVAN One View
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John Williams’ legacy
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ake a list of the most influential people in Oak Park and River Forest over the past 40 years and you’ll find the name of John FS Williams. Actually, the Journal has made such a list. We call it Villager of the Year. And John’s name makes that list for the year 1995. Last week he announced his retirement from the township with plans to focus on a training and consulting business. He will not lack clients. The mid-1990s was the time when John arrived at Oak Park Township to head its historically important Youth Services program. It was a precipitous moment in Oak Park as worries were growing that youth gang issues were spreading from the West Side into the village. Just the year before, the Journal’s Villagers of the Year were a group of Harrison Street neighbors who had banded together to battle perceived gang incursions into that neighborhood. The issue in Oak Park, John Williams observed, was not so much city gang members coming into our village as it was a more focused recruitment of wannabe gang members in Oak Park, and also in River Forest. There was, of course, handwringing. Lots of handwringing. Oak Park had so many social service agencies, so many school-based staff, a large police force. All, theoretically, had programs they could offer as help. The problem was they had no means whatsoever to actually connect with these on-the-edge youngsters, to know their parents and the family challenges that made these young people vulnerable to being recruited. That was where Williams’ inspiration came from. Through the township, he created the Youth Interventionists. John, along with a small handful of young, trained social workers, went out into the streets and the parks to begin conversations with young people at risk. These were quiet, personal conversations between individuals looking to make a connection. Wouldn’t have worked with cops in the park. Wouldn’t have worked with deans from OPRF more focused on course work and grades. The connections made in a park often led to knocking on apartment doors and then wider conversations with parents, making plain that their kids were potentially on the verge of trouble. That’s when the connections with Oak Park and River Forest’s myriad social services happened, when after-school jobs were found, when schools reached out and connected these youngsters to an extracurricular. Altogether remarkable. In retrospect altogether obvious. Also essential this past quarter century has been the shared funding for this program among every local taxing body — that’s 11 governments in sync. It wasn’t ever about the money. It was about the shared commitment from libraries and parks and village governments that we all had the responsibility and the opportunity to reach out and grab up our kids facing bad choices. That was powerful but in the past couple of years it has begun to fray as village governments in both villages dropped their funding of Youth Interventionists. These are short-sighted decisions but, according to the township, unrelated to Williams’ decision to depart. As he departs Youth Services, we offer our thanks to John Williams for his dedication to our young people.
It’s our tax money Always a good sign when our local taxing bodies are focused on reducing the property taxes we pay. We’re hopeful that OPRF will win a good share of new state grant funding dedicated to high-taxed districts. Possible that District 97 will get a small share, too. However, we’re not likely to give either district any credit when they boast about ways they are returning tax dollars which they have improperly collected, via miscalculations or perversions of tax referendum hikes that citizens generously provided. District 200 drove up its obscene cash balance by actively scamming a loophole tied to a referendum. D97 erred in its calculations on a referendum and has been actively returning that money. Good for them, but its not like they’re doing taxpayers a favor.
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@ @OakParkSports
Fortifying wisdom for an unsettling new year
ith the New Year upon us, most are bracing for what figures to be the strangest year yet in Trump’s wild and stormy tenure. To help keep our bearings, I offer the following wisdom mined from On Being interviews broadcast recently by host Krista Tippett:
The Deep Stories of Our Time, Oct. 18 Krista Tippett: Arlie Hochschild is professor emerita of the Sociology Department at the University of California, Berkeley, and the author of nine books including, The Managed Heart, The Second Shift, and Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right, a finalist for the National Book Award. She helped create the field of the sociology of emotion: our stories as “felt” rather than merely factual. Caring, she insists, is not the same as capitulating. Hochschild: It doesn’t mean you’re capitulating — that’s the misunderstanding. “Oh, if you listen to them, that means you’ve been taken over.” Not at all. If you want to make a social contribution and help build a public conversation about the big issues of the day, you have to really be good at emotion management. It’s a contribution to the larger whole, to be really good at that. … The left and the right have different deep stories. What is a deep story? A deep story is what you feel about a highly salient situation that’s very important to you. You take facts out of the deep story. You take moral precepts out of the deep story. It’s what feels true. I think we all have deep stories, whatever our politics, but we’re not fully aware of them. They’re dreamlike and are told through metaphor.
KEN
TRAINOR
When the market is our only language, Nov. 15 Krista Tippett: Anand Giridharadas is a former columnist and foreign correspondent for the New York Times, a visiting scholar at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University and the author of India Calling, The True American, and Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. Giridharadas: I actually think we’re now at a place where we are ripe, much as we were 100 years ago when we were in the first Gilded Age, and you had these great inequalities and great new technologies and a lot of dislocated people and a lot of anger and a lot of philanthropy. That gave way to an age of reform. … The agnosticism of the market, when it comes to who you are and your background, is a very powerful thing. But I think when it becomes the only language, when it becomes the only way of thinking about the right thing to do, it leaves us with a very impoverished sense of how to live together. [The market is] good for creating wealth, creating things and building things, but it’s not a
guide. It’s not a useful vocabulary for living together. … I think Trump needs to be the end of something bigger, which is an end of the veneration of money, an end of the faith in billionaire saviors, an end of trusting that the people who cause problems are the best at fixing them, and actually could be the spark of a moment and an age where we actually solve problems together again, through deep reform at the root, for everybody.
The Difference Between Fixing and Healing, Nov. 22 Krista Tippett: Rachel Naomi Remen’s lifelong struggle with Crohn’s disease has shaped her practice of medicine. She is founder of the Remen Institute for the Study of Health and Illness (RISHI), clinical professor of family medicine at UCSF School of Medicine, and professor of family medicine at the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University. Her books, Kitchen Table Wisdom and My Grandfather’s Blessings, have been translated into 24 languages. Living well, she says, is not about eradicating our wounds and weaknesses but understanding how they complete our identity and equip us to help others. The way we deal with losses, large and small, shapes our capacity to be present to all of our experiences. There’s a difference, she says, between curing and healing. Remen: We thought we could cure everything, but it turns out we can only cure a small amount of human suffering. The rest of it needs to be healed, and that’s different. I think science defines life in its own way, but life is larger than science. Life is filled with mystery, courage, heroism, and love — all these things that we can witness but not measure or even understand, but they make our lives valuable anyway. … How would I live if I was exactly what’s needed to heal the world? … What seems to be important is much more simple and accessible for everybody, which is who you’ve touched on your way through life, who’s touched you. What you’re leaving behind you in the hearts and minds of other people is far more important than whatever wealth you may have accumulated. I have come to see loss as a stage in a process. It’s not the end of the story. What happens next is very, very important. People often are angry [after] a terrible loss. They often feel envious of other people. But over time things evolve and change. And at the very least, people who have lost a great deal can recognize that they are not victims — they are survivors. The Urgency of Slowing Down, Nov. 29 Krista Tippett: Pico Iyer is one of our most eloquent explorers of what he calls the “inner world.” The journalist and novelist travels the Continue on page 29
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An apology I have long been a critic of police impropriety. But I made a terrible mistake conflating these concerns with the tragedy that occurred this week, and I want to apologize to all who were affected by my actions [Nyberg takes heat for chastising dead cops, Inside Report, Dec. 26]. Two police officers — Conrad Gary and Eduardo Marmolejo — were killed in the line of duty. When I learned of this, I ignorantly mocked the manner in which they were killed. There is no excuse for my actions. Those statements do not reflect who I am, nor do they reflect the dignity which every human life should be afforded. I deeply regret my actions. To the officers’ family and friends, I apologize for any pain I may have caused. Upon reflection, I recognize that these individuals died in service to the community and deserve that acknowledgement and respect. I failed to do that, and I am sorry. I need also to be clear that my ignorant statements
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were mine and mine alone. As much harm as my statements may have caused, some people have cynically been trying to exploit my error for their own political gain because of one of my associations. I have resigned from the Northside Democracy for America (NDFA) steering committee because I care deeply about the organization’s mission, and I know that my actions would distract from that mission even though neither the organization, its officers, nor its members were in any way responsible. I implore those who seek to exploit that association for their own political gain to consider, as I have, the harm caused by those actions. I have made mistakes in the past and, no doubt, will make more in the future. But this mistake caused harm. I deeply regret my actions, and I am sorry for my statements and any harm that came as a result.
Carl Nyberg
Originally posted on social media
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Timothy Inklebarger, Nona Tepper Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West, Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, Cassandra West, Doris Davenport Staff Photographer Alexa Rogals Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich
Continued from previous page globe from Ethiopia to North Korea and lives in Japan. But he also experiences a remote Benedictine hermitage as his second home, retreating there many times each year. He has written over a dozen books including, The Open Road: The Global Journey of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere. Pico Iyer: Sometimes “mystery” is a word I use as an equivalent to spirituality. I think our relation with the Divine is a passionate love affair. It’s as tumultuous as any affair that we have in the world with somebody we care about a lot. So it’s not all sweetness and light and probably shouldn’t be because the sufferings and the demons are often what instruct us much more than the calm, radiant moments. I love that word “absorption” because I think that’s my definition of happiness. I think all of us know we are happiest when we forget ourselves, when we forget the time, when we lose ourselves in a beautiful piece of music or a movie or a deep conversation with a friend or an intimate encounter with someone we love. Very few people feel happy racing from one text to the next, to the appointment, to the cellphone, to the emails. I think a lot of us have got so caught up in this cycle that we don’t know how to stop and it isn’t sustaining us in the deepest way. I think we all know our outer lives are only as good as our inner lives. So to neglect our inner lives is really to incapacitate our outer lives. We don’t have so much to give to other people or the world or our job or our kids. … I think we all have something changeless and vast and completely unfathomable inside us. I’m very happy if a Christian calls that God and if a Muslim calls that Allah and if a Buddhist calls that Reality. I don’t think the names matter so much, but the truth is very, very important, and I think that’s the fundamental truth we can’t afford to lose sight of. … To be human is to try to find the best part of yourself that is, in fact, beyond yourself, much wiser than you are, and have that to share with everyone you care for. The Prophetic Imagination, Dec. 20 Krista Tippett: Walter Brueggemann is William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus at Colum-
bia Theological Seminary in Georgia. He is the author of The Prophetic Imagination, Collected Sermons of Walter Brueggemann, and Tenacious Solidarity: Biblical Provocations on Race, Religion, Climate, and the Economy. He is one of the world’s great teachers about the prophets, who both anchor the Hebrew Bible and have transcended it across history. Tippett: In one of your sermons, you are talking about some poetry in Isaiah that offers five images for God: “A demolition squad,” “a safe place for poor people who have no other safe place,” “the giver of the biggest dinner party you ever heard of,” “a powerful sea monster,” “a gentle nursemaid who will wipe away every tear from all faces.” Brueggemann: What the church does with its creeds and its doctrinal tradition — it flattens out all the images and metaphors to make it fit into a nice little formulation. And then it’s deathly. We have to communicate to people: If you want a God that is healthier than that, you’re going to have to take time to sit with these images and relish them and let them become a part of your prayer life and your vocabulary and your conceptual frame. Otherwise, you’re just going to be left with these dead formulations, which is why the poetry is so important — because the poetry just keeps opening and opening and opening, whereas the doctrinal practice of the church is always to close and close and close until you are left with nothing that has any transformative power. More metaphors give more access to God. One can work one metaphor awhile, but you can’t treat it as though that’s the last word. You’ve got to move and have another and another. It’s just amazing — in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Josiah, there are just endless metaphors. … A community or a society, finally, cannot live without the quality of mercy. The problem for us is, what will initiate that? What will break the pattern of selfpreoccupation enough to notice that the others are out there and that we are attached to them? Here’s to a year of mercy and tending our inner lives and healing and finding a useful vocabulary for living together and identifying our deep stories and the deep stories of others so that we’re not unconsciously ruled by them. Happy New Year.
IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Bill Wossow Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Event Coordinator Carmen Rivera Ad Coordinator Nonna Working 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 ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)
‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, 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
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Images released by Golub and enhanced by Unity Temple Universalist Congregation
Oak Park should hold out for a better fit
I have followed the saga of the proposed 28-story high-rise in the heart of Oak Park with great interest. Having attended the Golub presentation to the community in late November and to the Unity Temple congregation in mid-December, I have considered its impact on the community. I admit that I happily live in a capitalistleaning society; have benefited from this system; and understand the drive for profit and the balance to find mutual benefit. I am not opposed to development of the property
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across from Oak Park’s front lawn [Scoville Park]. However, I am puzzled by the sentiments of insecurity expressed by many Oak Parkers in the present debate. I am reminded of the familiar story that runs through many of our tales of the young woman who is eager to choose a suitor to marry. She meets a young man of means, and, at least on the outside, he seems to be a nice enough fellow. He certainly makes some intriguing, if somewhat vague, promises. But he is a bit
pushy, self-centered, and his fit into her family makes the clan uncomfortable. A voice inside of her whispers that maybe this is the best that she can get and she should take his offer of marriage. But, as the story goes, we hope that she can decide with self-worth and self-confidence: “I am pretty. People like me and my caring personality. I have so much to offer in the right relationship. Surely there are other suitors who would be drawn to me for the same reasons as this fellow! If he really wants me, he
will change for me as he asks me to change for him. If he does not, then ‘there are plenty of fish in the sea,’ and I will wait for a more suitable match!” Oak Park is a beautiful village with great amenities and easy access to Chicago. We have so much to offer to the right developer from which we can all benefit. I encourage our trustees to confidently hold out for a better fit.
Stephen Kelley, FAIA, SE Oak Park
School board doesn’t reflect community will
he Hinsdale school board met on Dec. 17 to discuss its next steps following its second failed referendum in as many years. District 86 board members stated that many people voted against the November referendum because of the proposed $39 million for 40-yard pools at its two high schools. In response, the board voted and now supports the least expensive and smallest high school competition pools: 6-lane, 25-yard pools. The board said its pivot on the pools was in direct response to the wishes of the community. One board member said, “Part of leadership is acting on the community will.” That’s what every community should expect from its school board. District 200 failed in its efforts to build a 50-meter pool, followed by a 40-meter pool. It’s now pushing for a 37-meter or 40-yard pool, the same size as Hinsdale Central’s failed referendum pool. D200’s pool and its 600-seat natatorium are encased in the
proposed $65 million Component D, and the huge pool is the underlying reason for the proposed demolition and rebuild of the structurally sound building. It’s not financially feasible to build this size pool within the existing building based on 2014 estimates of $80-$87 million. The other elements in Component D, formerly Imagine’s Sequence 2, can be accommodated through renovations. At the Dec. 11 school board meeting, D200 board member Matt Baron raised a community request that the administration conduct a review of the self-imposed, mandatory swimming requirement before any decision is made on a pool. In response, Supt. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams said, “The curriculum does not impact the size of the pool. That is a misconception. … We can look at the curriculum, but that has nothing to do with the size of the pool.”
Her comment underscores that a large pool isn’t a need of the school; it’s a want of a special interest group, OPRF’s aquatic teams and the private swim club TOPS. The aquatic teams stated the same in their 2013 natatorium proposal. The proposed 17-lane practice pool isn’t a want of the community. D200’s Fako Report, the only scientific, statisticallysignificant voter survey on OPRF’s pools and replacement options, showed that a pool was not a priority for the community, and it rejected all three pool plans under consideration in 2016. Voters’ strongest rejection, 69%, was for the most expensive plan at $68 million, close in estimated price to Component D. At the Dec. 20 meeting, despite recommendations by the administration and the Imagine group, the D200 board declined to commit to funding Component D now.
MONICA SHEEHAN One View
Instead, the board voted to transfer $20 million from the Education Fund to a new capital reserve fund and stated that the money was earmarked for the “urgent” facility needs in Component D: locker rooms, an ADA-compliant elevator and a pool solution. The administration is now pursuing private money to augment this fund. If donors want to fully finance the estimated $65 million Component D and establish an endowment to cover the oversized pool’s operating costs, build it. Otherwise, the D200 board should be responsive to the community and choose the common-sense and least-expensive solution: a collaborative year-round pool at Ridgeland Commons for $14.5 million total, according to a 2017 estimate. OPRF’s Adventure Ed gym class already walks to Ridgeland to skate in its rink. Monica Sheehan is a member of OPRF Pragmatic Solutions.
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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Faithfully yours An email has been forwarded to this office by a former Treasure Island bagger and now an administrator at a high school district who shall remain nameless. The email appears to have been sent by the board chair to all board members. Dear board members: In order not to join Hinsdale in the twice-failed-referendum club, we need a better strategy than threatening to cancel any and all sports and clubs. Our district’s voters might not fall for that old chestnut. I say “might,” but why take the chance? We are blessed with a slush fund that allows a more subtle approach. Here is my proposed five-step program to referendal triumph: 1. Declare the swimming facilities unsafe due to deterioration. Immediately close them. 2. In response to community shock and dismay, “reluctantly” spend the slush fund on a showpiece natatorium that will seat 600 spectators the two times a year
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Improving the optics at OPRF
it is used for competitions that anybody actually attends. 3. Once the dust settles, float a referendum for everything non-athletic on our wish list. Sell it as “For Education.” 4. Count on the voters to fail to connect the dots. Nobody is “Against Education.” 5. Reserve a fancy restaurant for the election-night victory party. Don’t worry about non-refundable deposits; success is certain. The only drawback to this program is that the slush fund goes away. The #1 takeaway from Hinsdale’s bind is that a nine-figure slush fund means you never have to play “Mother, May I?” with the voters. However, a well-crafted future referendum should allow slush fund replenishment. Faithfully yours, <Name Withheld> Board chair
Bob Stigger
Oak Park
The optics are pretty awful. After the defeat of the last District 200 bond referendum, the board decided to delegate decision making for an infrastructure plan to an appointed body of citizens while setting no limits on how much the plan could cost. The board would determine what to spend only after seeing this unconstrained plan. In a parallel action, the board endorsed the making of a highly publicized film in which a handful of black students, most of whom were struggling academically, socially, or both, were given a platform for airing their complaints. Some felt their problems were largely due to overt or covert racism embedded in the white culture. The interplay of these two board decisions has led some to suggest that it would be best to upgrade teaching and social facilities while delaying improvements in, or even abandoning, failing sports facilities. A main target has been the 90-year-old swimming pools. After all, the pools can be viewed as mainly benefiting advantaged white students, many of whom prefer
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aquatic sports. Never mind that black students, too, should learn how to swim. Question: Did the recent construction of two modern middle schools in Oak Park actually reduce the gap in test scores? The optics look still worse because the architects were unable to put a separate price on the proposed pool since it would be so thoroughly integrated with other improvements. This allowed the critics to assume the worst. But what about the rising cost of construction if the sports facilities improvements are simply delayed? I commend Supt. Pruitt-Adams for pointing out that students who engage in sports typically perform better in their academics. She also said the board should consider rectifying the most urgent facility needs as contained in Component D, including a new pool. For me, that would greatly improve the optics.
Lawrence Christmas
Former village president Oak Park
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O B I T U A R I E S
Mildred Bentley, 97
Jesus died for their sins and they could go to heaven to be with him if they put their trust in him. She often reminded people the Bible says, “Whoever comes to me I will never cast out” (John 6:37). Mildred R. Bentley, 97, died on Dec. 17, She loved to read, especially mysteries 2018. Born on Sept. 9, 1921, she was raised and books on living the Christian life. She in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1968 she moved enjoyed novels such as the series to Chicago to be close to her of books about Amish life writdaughter, and in 1980 she moved ten by Beverly Lewis. in with her daughter, son-in-law One of her favorite pastimes and their two children in Oak was needlework, both crocheting Park. At that time she was a and knitting. Her daughter owns live-in companion, coming home a pink sweater with intricate only on the weekends. designs whose tag reads, “Made She had been a caregiver all of especially for you by Mildred her life. When her mother conBentley.” tracted liver cancer, she cared for Mildred was the mother of her until her mother’s death. She MILDRED BENTLEY Sheryl (Dean) Oder; the grandwas also a dutiful mother and mother of Elizabeth and Michael grandmother. For many years she was a companion to those with physical Oder; and the sister of the late Edmund problems. In fact in her 80s she proudly said, (Mary Ann) Robinson. Visitation was held on Dec. 26 at Drechsler, “I take care of old people.” She considered her job to be a ministry as Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. well. She often had the TV tuned to the 700 Marion St., Oak Park where services were Club and other such programs. She was ea- held on Dec. 27. Interment is at Resthaven ger to share with her charges the fact that Cemetery, Louisville, Kentucky.
Caregiver
Betty Piper, 92
ria (the late Jack) Burback, the late Jack (the late Shirley) Marlowe, Sally (the late James) Thele, Joyce Vukelic and Robert Marlowe; the sister-in-law of the late Norman (Gerri) Piper; and the aunt and greatBetty M. Piper, 92, of Oak aunt of many. Park, formerly of Westchester, Visitation will be held on Fridied on Dec. 27, 2018. Born on day, Jan. 4 from 3:30 p.m. until June 29, 1926, she was a mastime of the wake service, 7:30 ter seamstress and quilter and p.m., at Drechsler, Brown & worked for many years for the Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Singer Sewing Machine Co. and Marion St., Oak Park. Friends later JoAnn Fabrics in the Chiand family will meet at Ascencago area. sion Church on Saturday, Jan. Betty was the wife of the late 5 to celebrate a funeral Mass Hugh D. Piper; the mother of at 9:45 a.m., followed by private David and Vicky (Brian CrawBETTY PIPER interment at Assumption Cemford) Piper; the grandmother etery in Glenwood. of Sheridan and Delaney CrawIn lieu of flowers, donations to the Chiford; the sister of Marge (the late Allan) Johnson, Ruth (the late Chuck) Norton, cago Symphony Orchestra (www.cso.org) Lucille (the late James) Hofbauer, Glo- are appreciated.
Master seamstress and quilter
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.
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RELIGION GUIDE Presbyterian
Check First.
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
ELCA, Lutheran
Good Shepherd
Worshiping at 820 Ontario, Oak Park IL (First Baptist Church) 9:00 a.m.—Education Hour 10:30 a.m.—Worship
All are welcome. goodshepherdlc.org 708-848-4741
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.
Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM 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
West Suburban Temple Har Zion
1040 N. Harlem Avenue River Forest Meet our Rabbi, Adir Glick Pray, learn, and celebrate with our caring, progressive, egalitarian community. Interfaith families are welcome. Accredited Early Childhood Program Religious School for K thru 12 Daily Morning Minyan Weekly Shabbat Services Friday 6:30pm & Saturday 10:00am Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 708.366.9000 www.wsthz.org
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
744 Fair Oaks Ave. Oak Park 386-4920 Sunday Schedule Christian Education for All Ages 9:00am Worship Service 10:00am
Child care available 9-11am
fairoakspres.org 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 LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service
Fair Oaks
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 Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 pm Saturday Taize Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1
Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor
Roman Catholic
St. Edmund Catholic Church
188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:30 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
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
Roman Catholic
St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park
CELEBRATING OUR 107TH 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
Upcoming Religious Holidays
Jan 1 Gantan-sai Shinto 6 Epiphany (Theophany) Christianity 7 Feast of the Nativity (Christmas) Orthodox Christian 13 Maghi Hinduism
To place a listing in the Religion Guide, call Mary Ellen: 708/613-3342
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM New local ads this week
HOURS: 9:00 A.M.â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00 P.M. MONâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;FRI
WEDNESDAY
CLASSIFIED
YOUR WEEKLY AD
REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO
Deadline is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
Place your ad online anytime at: www.OakPark.com/ClassiďŹ ed/
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.
BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED
ROOMS FOR RENT
FULL TIME MAINTENANCE PERSON Downtown Chicago company looking for full time maintenance person. Good pay & benefits. Hours: Monday thru Friday, 7:30am to 4pm. If interested please call Tony at 312-942-2686
AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro. Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up. 773-637-5957
PARKING ENFORCMENT OFFICER The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website http:// www.oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than January 25, 2019. VISION THERAPIST (PT) Vision Therapist (PT) Late afternoon/evening hours(weekdays). Possible Saturdays. Work one on one with patients(typically children) to improve vision skills. Training provided. River Forest Optometrist-Fax resumes to 708-771-0513. No Calls
SUBURBAN RENTALS 2BR OAK PARK GARDEN APT 2BR Garden Apt near Longfellow School. Freshly decorated w/ hdwd floor, tiled bath and beautiful backyard. Rent includes heat, private parking, and washer/dryer on premises. $1300 plus 1 mo. security deposit. Background Check required. call 847-561-2677
Large Sunny Room with fridge & microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $101.00 week & up. New Mgmt. 773-378-8888
OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT 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 room. Call or email with questions. Shown on Sundays. Lee 708.383.0729 drlmadden@ameritech.net You Have Jobs. We Have Readers! Find The Best Employees With Wednesday Classified!
SUBURBAN RENTALS
M&M
property management, inc.
708-386-7355 â&#x20AC;˘ www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Contact us for a complete list of available rentals throughout Oak Park and Forest Park.
Apartment listings updated daily at:
TO BE GIVEN AWAY CHINA CABINET FREE to a good home! 2 piece glass and mirror china cabinet. Light in color. Call 708-383-7518.
WANTED TO BUY WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers-lead plastic-other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400
â?&#x201E;â?&#x2026;â?&#x2020;â?&#x201E;â?&#x2026;â?&#x2020;â?&#x201E;â?&#x2026;â?&#x2020;
A&A ELECTRIC
Let an American Veteran do your work
We make service calls! We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs Home Re-wiring â&#x20AC;˘ New Plugs & Switches Added New circuit breaker boxes â&#x20AC;˘ Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp â&#x20AC;˘ Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial â&#x20AC;˘ Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. â&#x20AC;˘ Bonded â&#x20AC;˘ Ins. â&#x20AC;˘ Low Rates â&#x20AC;˘ Free Est.
708-409-0988 â&#x20AC;˘ 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts â&#x20AC;˘ 30 Yrs. Exp Servicing Oak Park â&#x20AC;˘ All surrounding suburbs â&#x20AC;˘ Chicago area
HANDYMAN
Pamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A+ Cleaning Service
CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE
Fall is here! Time to make a change? Take a moment to preview our detailed cleaning. For a free esimate please call 708-937-9110
FIREPLACES/ FIREWOOD
FIREWOOD UNLIMITED
Fast Delivery MIXED HARDWOODS â&#x20AC;˘ $130 F.C. CBH & MIX â&#x20AC;˘ $145 F.C. 100% OAK â&#x20AC;˘ $165 F.C. CHERRY OR HICKORY â&#x20AC;˘ $185 F.C. 100% BIRCH â&#x20AC;˘ $220 F.C. Seasoned 2 years Stacking Available
847-888-9999 Order online:
www. suregreen landscape.com
Credit Cards Accepted
FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.
New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com
Our 71st Year
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Ceiling Fans Installed
CLEANING
GARAGE/GARAGE DOOR Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.
ELECTRICAL
Garage Doors &
Electric Door Openers
Sales & Service Free Estimates
(708) 652-9415 www.forestdoor.com
Drywall Repair â&#x20AC;˘ Painting Fans Installed â&#x20AC;˘ Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning â&#x20AC;˘ Window Repair
FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small
708-488-9411
%,%#42)#!, (!.$9-!. 3%26)#%3 !LL 4YPES OF (OME 2EPAIRS 2EPAIRS )NSTALLATIONS 0ROFESSIONAL 1UALITY 7ORK !T 2EASONABLE 0RICES 0ROMPT 3ERVICE 3MALL *OBS A 3PECIALTY
Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do
708-296-2060
HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges â&#x20AC;˘ Ovens Washer â&#x20AC;˘ Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience
FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.
ORGANIZING
BASEMENT CLEANING
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER Home organizer. Reasonable rates and privacy assured. Send contact info to Organizher c/o Hollywood Citizens Assoc P.O. Box 262 Brookfield, IL 60513
Starting a new business in 2019? Call the Experts! Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in Wednesday Journal/ Forest Park Review/ Riverside Brookfield Landmark/ Austin Weekly News/ Village Free Press. Call 708/613-3342 to advertise.
PLUMBING
A-All American
Plumbing & Sewer Service FREE ESTIMATES Service in 1 Hour in Most Cases
All Work Guaranteed Lowest Prices Guaranteed FREE Video Inspection with Sewer Rodding /P +PC 5PP -BSHF t /P +PC 5PP 4NBMM Family Owned & Operated
t Lic. #0967
P
PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING
Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost
708.749.0011
WINDOWS BROKEN SASH CORDS?
708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000
HAULING Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404
PLUMBING
PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y18000107 on December 12, 2018. Under the Assumed Business Name of JANET VARN TRAVEL CONSULTANT with the business located at: 1123 PLEASANT STREET, UNIT 4, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JANET VARN 1123 PLEASANT STREET, UNIT 4, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal 12/19, 12/26/2018, 1/2/2019
CALL THE WINDOW MAN!
FAST RELIABLE SERVICE
(708) 452-8929
Licensed
PUBLIC NOTICES
Insured
Ralph Grande Elmwood Park 708-452-8929
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CHANGE OF REGULAR MEETING DATES VILLAGE OF FOREST PARK DIVERSITY COMMISSION PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that beginning on FEBRUARY 7, 2019, the regular meeting of the Diversity Commission of the Village of Forest Park will be the first Thursday of each month. Published in Forest Park Review 01/02/2019
Serving Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park & Riverside Since 1974
Resolving to get rid of clutter in the new year? To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified. To place your ad, call 708-613-3342
Selling your home by owner? Advertise in Wednesday Classified! Call: 708-613-3342
PB
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
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(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 467-9066 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM
Let the sun shine in...
Public Notice: Your right to know
In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | RiverForest.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION DOCKET NUMBER: PC 18-11 Planned Development (Fenwick High School – Parking Garage and Alley Vacation) HEARING DATE: January 17, 2019 TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits. LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICANT(S): Fenwick High School, 505 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 OWNERS OF RECORD: Fenwick High School, 505 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 & 423-425 S. Scoville LLC & 427-429 S. Scoville LLC SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESSES: 505 Washington Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 (I Institutional Zoning District)
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Lots 1 to 12 and Lots 20 to 24 and Vacated Alley Per Document Number 88576924 and the Vacated Alley Lying North of Lot 8 All in Block 4 in East Avenue Addition to Oak Park, A Subdivision of Blocks 52 to 54 and 59 to 61 in Village of Ridgeland, A Subdivision of the East ½ of the East ½ of Section 7 and the Northwest ¼ and the West ¼ of Section 8, Township 39 North, Range 13, East of the Third Principal Meridian, In Cook County, Illinois. PIN: 16-07-421-011, 16-07-421-020, and 16-07-421-021. Alley: All of the 15’ Public Alley Lying Between and Adjoining Lots 13 to 19 and Lot 12 and Lot 20 and Vacated 15’ Public Alley in Block 4 in East Avenue Addition to Oak Park, A Subdivision of Blocks 52 to 54 and 59 to 61 in Village of Ridgeland, A Subdivision of the East ½ of the East ½ of Section 7 and the Northwest ¼ and the West ½ of the West ½ of the Southwest ¼ of Section 8, Township 39 North, Range 13, East of the Third Principal Meridian, in Cook County, Illinois. REQUESTS: The Applicant is requesting approval of a Planned Development on the Subject Property for a privately owned parking garage, of five (5) stories and approximately sixty-two feet (62’) tall, with approximately three hundred and fifty (350) parking spaces designed in the same style as the existing historic building along Washington Boulevard, with the following two (2) allowances from the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance: 1.) ARTICLE 6: SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS; 6.2 Institutional Zoning District; C. Dimensional Standards; Table 6.2 Maximum Height requirement of forty-five feet (45’) to a requested height of sixty-two feet (62’), requiring an allowance of seventeen feet (17’), and 2.) ARTICLE 6: SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS; 6.2 Institutional Zoning District; C. Dimensional Standards; Table 6.2 Minimum corner side yard setback of fifteen feet (15’) feet to a requested setback of nine feet (9’), requiring an allowance of six feet (6’). The Applicant is also requesting the Village vacate the portion of a public alley, legally described above, south of the Subject Property to the Applicant. Copies of the application and each of the applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at the Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Persons with disabilities planning to attend and needing special accommodations should contact the Village Clerk’s Office at 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, or call (708) 358-5670. ALL PERSONS INTERESTED IN THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD. David Mann, Chairperson OAK PARK PLAN COMMISSION, Sitting as a Zoning Commission Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal 1/2/2019
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WANTED TO BUY
FREON R12 WANTED: CERTIFIED BUYER will PAY CA$H for R12 cylinders or cases of cans. (312) 291-9169; www.refrigerantfinders.com
Notice to Prospective Village of Oak Park Federal Grants Applicants The Program Year (PY) 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) & Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) application process begins January 31, 2019. For PY 2019, which runs from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, there will be an estimated $215,000 available in Village Public Service CDBG funds, approximately $40,000 in Public Facilities Improvements CDBG funds and approximately $125,000 in ESG funds. Other PY 2019 grant funds will be set aside for Village-run activities. The federal CDBG program is a source of funding that addresses local housing & community development needs. These funds are available to non-profit organizations and other agencies that serve primarily low and moderate income persons residing in Oak Park. Each proposed activity must meet one of the CDBG Program’s National Objectives and be eligible. ESG funds are available to non-profit organizations that serve persons who are experiencing, or are at-risk of, homelessness. Individuals not representing non-profit agencies cannot apply for either of these grants. Applications for PY 2019 CDBG & ESG funds must be completed online and will be available January 31, 2019 on the Village’s website at www.oak-park.us/PY2019Grants The Application process runs from January 31, 2019 to March 1, 2019, with the option of an early, feedback-eligible “safer” due date of February 22, 2019. To instruct potential Applicants on the grants and on the online application process, the Village will hold a Mandatory CDBG-ESG Application Workshop from 10 am to Noon, Thursday, January 31, 2019 in Room 101 of Village Hall at 123 Madison Street in Oak Park. All potential applicants must attend and RSVP first. For more information (and to reserve for the Workshop) contact Elia Gallegos, Grants Coordinator, at 708.358.5419 or egallegos@oak-park.us
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
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 July 2, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 25, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 522 NORTH HUMPHREY AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-05-326-0080000. The real estate is improved with a residence. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1).
IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-17-07164. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE, IL 60527 (630) 794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-17-07164 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 17 CH 009087 TJSC#: 38-9287 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. I3107527
17 CH 06287 215 MARENGO AVE., APT 6-F 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 November 14, 2018, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 15, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 215 MARENGO AVE., APT 6-F, FOREST PARK, IL 60130 Property Index No. 15-12-426-0241038. The real estate is improved with a residential condominium. The judgment amount was $114,747.29. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale
other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC, 111 East Main Street, DECATUR, IL 62523, (217) 422-1719 Please refer to file number 2120-13570. If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 111 East Main Street DECATUR, IL 62523 (217) 422-1719 Fax #: (217) 422-1754 CookPleadings@hsbattys.com Attorney File No. 2120-13570 Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 17 CH 06287 TJSC#: 38-8963 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. I3106468
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.MARK E. HACKER, 215 MARENGO CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants
Published in Wednesday Journal 1/2/2019
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION STERLING NATIONAL BANKAS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO ASTORIA BANK Plaintiff, -v.CARL M. WAHLSTROM A/K/A CARL M. WAHLSTROM JR., SUSAN I. WAHLSTROM, PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, TARGET NATIONAL BANK, CAPITAL ONE BANK (USA), N.A. Defendants 17 CH 009087 522 NORTH HUMPHREY AVENUE
MORTGAGE DIRECTORY
MORTGAGE RATE DIRECTORY LENDER COMMUNITY BANK OF OAK PARK - RIVER FOREST
(708) 660-7006 1001 Lake St., Oak Park IL 60301 www.cboprf.com
AMOUNT
RATE/YR
80% 80% 80% 80% 80% 80%
4.875% / 30 yr. fixed 4.750% / 20 yr. fixed 4.375% / 15 yr. fixed 4.375% / 5 yr. ARM 4.500% / 7 yr. ARM 4.750% / 10 yr. ARM
POINTS/ APP. FEE 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550
A.P.R.
4.949% 4.851% 4.502% 5.075% 5.020% 5.051%
· Approved IHDA Mortgage Program Lender · Financing available up to 97% LTV Construction Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit available – call for terms.
Mortgage rates are accurate as of Monday afternoon. Due to the fluctuation of mortgage rates, the rates may vary before publication. Contact your mortgage lender for complete details. Mortgage rates vary in APR and other qualifying factors.
To Advertise your Mortgage Rates, call Mary Ellen Nelligan: 708/613-3342
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REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act., which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informedthat all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. WEDNESDAY JOURNAL Forest Park Review, Landmark
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S P O R T S
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
2018
Inspired Efforts from page 38 During her sophomore year, Ungaretti won an individual state title in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.31. She also was runner-up in the 100 free (50.90). In the relays at that state meet, Ungaretti teamed with Hanna Blankemeier, Alex Gill and Samm Neilson in the 200-yard medley, posting a time of 1:43.94 to become just the third relay team in program history to win a championship.
Friars flourish on ice Fenwick girls hockey (15-2-5) produced a record seven all-state players as the team took second place in the Metro North playoffs and also made it to the Final Four of the Blackhawk Cup. Scoring leaders Elllie Kaiser, Erin Proctor, Cecilia Jenkins, Megan Krikau, Caroline Jenkins, Emily Franciszkowicz, Sarah Steadman, Jenn Davis and goaltender Lena Flores (93 percentage on saves) led the Friars.
OPRF football overcomes odds Before the regular season started, head coach John Hoerster suffered a heart attack during a family vacation. Even with Hoerster courageously back for the season opener, the Huskies began inauspiciously with a 1-2 record and several unproven starters. However, the Huskies (8-3) won seven of eight games (including notable victories against Glenbard West and New Trier) and a share of the West Suburban Conference Silver Division championship the rest of the way. Standouts such as Jaden McGill, Trevon Brown, Cedric Cheatham, Izaiah Ruffin fueled the team’s turnaround. “It’s an amazing group of young men,” Hoerster said. “Going into the season, we had a lot of questions that needed to be answered. We didn’t know how good we could be. But we knew we were going to have tremendous leadership from the senior class.”
Huskie hoops achieve perfection The OPRF boys basketball team (21-5, 12-0) made history as the first squad in program history since the 14-team West Suburban Conference was created to go undefeated in league games. OPRF earned that distinction with a 50-36 win against Proviso West on Feb. 17. The Huskies clinched the West Suburban Silver with a 78-46 win against Hinsdale Central at the OPRF Field House on Feb. 13. The victory marked back-to-back conference titles for OPRF. “Being back-to-back conference champions sounds great,” center Malachi Ross said. “We haven’t done that in a while. I’m happy I was able to do it with these guys in my senior year.”
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
OPRF girls cross country makes mark The OPRF girls cross country team capped off a superb postseason run by placing 10th at the Class 3A state finals. Competing at Detweiller Park in Peoria, the Huskies scored 318 points on Saturday in cool conditions. “I am so proud of what the team accomplished at state this year,” OPRF coach Ashley Raymond said. “We didn’t have a front runner but we had seven girls who bought into the power of the pack.” The Huskies’ 10th place finish ties the 1984 team for the best result ever at state finals in program history. OPRF has qualified for state nine times since 1979. Nora Wollen, Violet Harper, Josephine Welin, Hannah Thompson, Samantha Duwe, Parker Hulen, Audrey Lewis and Maggie Rose Barron comprised the team.
Friars excel in boys golf Fenwick boys golf capped off a memorable season by finishing 10th at the Class 3A state finals. The Friars tallied a score of 319 (31-over) in very difficult conditions at the Den at Fox Greek golf course in Bloomington. Josh Kirkham carded a 74 (2-over) to lead the team. Jackson Schaeffer (80), Jake Wiktor (82), Clark Davis (83) and Phil Sandor (84) were bunched together, all posting scores in the low-to-mid 80s. Padraig MeEnery carded an 89 for the Friars. Fenwick qualified for state with runnerup finishes in both sectional (304) and regional (309) competitions. During the regular season, the Friars went 11-0 in dual matches, highlighted by a 7-0 record in the Chicago Catholic League. The Friars also won invitational titles at Loyola and Mount Carmel and placed second at the CCL Championships and Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational.
Rivalry in pool It’s fitting that the OPRF and Fenwick high school boys swimming teams finished close in the standings of the IHSA State Finals. Hosted by Evanston, the Friars tied Lake Park with 19 points apiece to finish 19th, while the Huskies tied Downers Grove North with 16 points each for 21st place on Saturday, Feb. 24. Will Raidt and Liam Hutchinson, good friends who swim for OPRF and Fenwick, respectively, excelled at the state meet with a pair of impressive results. In the 200-yard freestyle, Raidt finished sixth in the state with a time of 1 minute, 40.45 seconds. Hutchinson placed seventh (1:39.15, consolation final) right behind Raidt, who set an OPRF school record in the prelims with a personal-best time of 1:39.12. At the Fenwick Sectional, Raidt (1:41.86) edged Hutchinson (1:42.10). “We push each other to swim faster,” Raidt said. “We are happy to see the other put up fast times.”
Early Childhood Resources Early Childhood Center and Camp
West Suburban Temple Har Zion 1040 N. Harlem Ave. River Forest, IL 60305 708.366.9000 www.wsthz.org 2-5 years old 7:30 am–6:00 pm M-Th 7:30 am–3:30 pm on Fri.
Pilgrim Community Nursery School Celebrating 50 years. 460 W. Lake St. Oak Park IL, 60302 Phone: 708-848-5869 www.pilgrimschool.net Accepting students ages 2–5 years old.
Preschool and kindergarten programs for three, four, and five-year-olds Call for an appointment. 7300 Division St. River Forest 708-366-6900 graceriverforest.org
First United Church Nursery School More than Just a School 848 W. Lake St. 708-848-4910 Find us on Facebook and at www.firstunited school.com Call for a tour and info about summer camp.
Helping parents be successful since 1980 New Moms (Oak Park) contact@newmoms.org Find us on Facebook.
Early Childhood Education at
The Day Nursery
1139 Randolph Street Oak Park, IL 60302 708.383.8211 Call to Schedule a Tour! oakparkdn@att.net www.oprfdaynursery.org
• Open 7 am–6 pm • Serving children 2½–6 years old • NAEYC Accredited
Raise your profile in the community. Check the early childhood directory on oakpark.com for updated listings, maps, & current open house information. Call Mary Ellen Nelligan for details: 708-613-3342
Collaboration for Early Childhood Strong Start, Bright Future
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
2018
Memorable Year from page 40
Foster fills in for the Blackhawks Scott Foster will never forget March 29, 2018. After finishing a typical day as an accountant at Golub Capital, the 36-year-old Oak Park resident spent the evening making his improbable NHL debut as emergency goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Foster, who played college hockey at Western Michigan, had seven saves for a 1.000 save percentage in 14 minutes of action against the Winnipeg Jets and their third-ranked NHL offense. The Blackhawks won 6-2. “A few hours ago, I was sitting at my computer typing on the 10-key, and now I’m standing in front of you guys, just finished 14 and a half minutes of NHL hockey,” Foster told the media after the game. “From my perspective, this is a dream regardless. This is something that no one can ever take away from me; it’s something I can go home and tell my kids.”
OPRF softball denied three-peat Lauren Derkowski essentially derailed the Huskies’ bid for a third straight state title. The precocious freshman from York, who has committed to Michigan, tossed a two-hitter and struck out 13 in the Dukes’ 6-1 win over OPRF in the Class 4A Niles West Sectional final. She also hit a 3-run homer against the Huskies. “We knew [Derkowski] was a good pitcher,” OPRF coach Mel Kolbusz said after the game. “She was on her game and shut us down.” OPRF finished 26-6 on the season. “Anytime I get to coach outstanding young ladies like this group, it’s a pleasure and a privilege,” he said. “The last few years have been awesome. In 2015, we finished third in the state, first in 2016 and 2017. We were hoping for the three-peat this year, but sometimes things just don’t go your way.”
Huskie wrestlers take second in state Despite the disappointment of losing to Montini 43-29 in a riveting Class 3A IHSA dual team state final, the Huskies are ensconced as one of the premier programs in the state. “I think we wrestled great (at state),” said Jake Rundell, who won an individual state championship in the 106-pound weight class. “Everyone who stepped on the mat put forth their best effort for the family.” Over the past five years, the Huskies have earned three state titles (2014-2016), a quarterfinals appearance and state runner-up.
File photos
(Above) Fenwick’s Dan Lynch provided scoring and leadership for the state runner-up water polo team. (Right) OPRF quarterback Jaden McGill led the Huskies to an 8-3 record.
Kaminski snags 195 state title Fenwick’s Jacob Kaminski dominated on the mat all season. Kaminski (31-2) won a state championship in the 195-pound class in relatively comfortable fashion. He advanced to the semifinals in the individual state tourney in 2017 and finished the job in 2018 with a 7-1 decision over Rochelle’s Alex Harvey in the championship bout at state. Kaminski, also a standout in football, transferred to Wyoming Seminary (a prep school in Pennsylvania).
Malnati leaves Fenwick hoops After five years as the Fenwick boys basketball head coach, Rick Malnati resigned from the position in April. Staunton Peck, an assistant coach under Malnati at Fenwick since 2013, is the new head coach. Over five seasons, Malnati guided the Friars to a 122-33 record, highlighted by a 38game winning streak and three straight titles in the Chicago Catholic League. In 2016-2017, Malnati led Fenwick to a 30-5 record and a Class 3A runner-up finish. In the Class 3A finals, Morgan Park edged the Friars 69-67 in overtime. Led by stars like Jacob Keller, Jamal Nixon and DJ Steward, the Friars recorded the best season in program history.
Fenwick water polo: Twice is nice Since the Friars have won 30 state championships (20 boys, 10 girls) in water polo, the annual goal is apparent. Fenwick fell just short of its objective in 2018 as the boys
and girls teams both finished second at the Ungaretti’s last laps state finals. OPRF senior swimmer Natalie Ungaretti, Naperville Central scored four goals who has committed to Tennessee, closed early en route to a 13-5 victory over Fenout her stellar high school wick in the boys state final, while swimming career with a pair Stevenson defeated the Friars 12-7 of fourth-place finishes at the on the girls side. 2018 IHSA Swimming & Div“We had our ups and downs ing Championships. this season,” Fenwick boys coach “I’m happy with how I did,” Kyle Perry said. “You never want Ungaretti said. “I’m so proud to lose your last game, but being of the team and all of my able to play in the state championfriends who swam so well.” ship game on a Saturday night is Ungaretti placed fourth rewarding.” in both the 50-yard freestyle Fenwick returns team captains (23.09 seconds) and 100-yard Payton Comstock, Dan Lynch and NATALIE UNGARETTI freestyle (50.50 seconds). She Ramses Flores, plus Alex Figus, accounted for all 22 points for Nate Fisher and Dan Badja next OPRF, which came in 15th place in the team season. Paulina Correa (team-high 79 standings. goals), Harper Daniels, Kassy Rodriguez and goalie Sam Rodriguez will lead the lady Friars in 2019.
See 2018 on page 37
Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
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Wednesday Journal, January 2, 2019
Huskie wrestlers take second in state 38
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SPORTS
Friars excel in boys golf 37
Sports dreams that came true in 2018
Foster, Rundell and Kaminski headline group of athletes who had an impact By MARTY FARMER
T
Sports Editor
he Wednesday Journal sports year in review invariably features inspirational stories, provided mostly by OPRF and Fenwick high school athletes. Kids like Jake Rundell and Jacob Kaminski, who won state championships in wrestling for OPRF and Fenwick, respectively, come to mind. However, if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for something truly out of the ordinary, check out Scott Fosterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible story. The unassuming Oak Parker bats leadoff in our 2018 lineup of memorable stories. See 2018 on page 38
GREAT SCOTT!: Oak Park accountant Scott Foster served as an emergency goalie for the Chicago Blackhawks during their 6-2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Courtesy of the Chicago Blackhawks