Wednesday Journal 011222 by Wednesday Journal

W E D N E S D A Y

January 12, 2022 Vol. 42, No. 24 ONE DOLLAR

@wednesdayjournalinc

JOURNAL

@wednesdayjournal

@oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

ARTBEAT What’s ARTBEAT: Wh ’ a paleontologist? Page 5

Journal salutes Betty White #belikebettyop

2021 VILLAGER of the YEAR

River Forest faces, embraces its diversity Dozens join Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

ALL IN: Erika Bachner is a River Forest village trustee and co-chair of the ad hoc DEI committee. The 43-member committee is the Journal’s River Forest Villagers of the Year. By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

Like most people, River Forest Trustee Erika Bachner still feels the impact of 2020. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest spurred by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and countless other innocent Black men and women have had a lasting effect on communities nationwide.

Bachner was among those who watched people across the country and in her own neighborhood unite and speak up against racial injustice, police brutality and white supremacy, systemic issues that were ever-present in today’s world. The fight for freedom and equality was far from over. It wasn’t long before Bachner and another River Forest trustee began talking about creating a diversity group, engaging in larger discussions about inequity

and understanding their residents’ realities beyond the rows of luxury homes on manicured lawns. On the surface, River Forest is a majority-white, affluent Chicago suburb, and with the exception of nearby Oak Park, it’s surrounded by some communities where the median income per household ranges between $25,000 and $40,000. River Forest is also home to a pair of private universities, See DIVERSITY on page 9

Be Like Betty Special Pullout Section 24 pages of Betty White and her connections to her hometown

The Podcast

Listen to Cindy Fee, a River Forester, talk about recording the Golden Girls theme song at OakPark.com

The event

Saturday morning at 10 a.m. outside the Lake Theatre a 30-minute tribute to Betty White. Also live streaming.

! H S S W A FL NE You can get local news delivered right to your email in-box. Sign up for FREE at OakPark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

‘Something of ill-omen is among us’

the pleasure-hunting masters of Southern slaves, n April 28, 1836, Francis McIntosh, a and the order-loving citizens of the land of 26-year-old free man of color and steamsteady habits. Whatever, then, their cause may boat porter, was arrested by local police after refusing to help the officers chase be, it is common to the whole country.” down a sailor. He was charged with breach of peace and told by two arresting officers that he *** would serve at least five years in prison for the crime. Last week, I read The Next Civil War: DisShocked and likely fearing the possibility of patches from the American Future, a new book being returned to slavery, McIntosh stabbed the by the Canadian journalist and novelist Stephen two arresting officers, fatally wounding one of Marche. The book, a work of speculative nonficthem, before fleeing into a nearby outhouse. tion, illustrates a range of possible scenarios that Moments later, after McIntosh was caught and might prompt a wave of crippling civil unrest in taken to jail, an angry white mob numbering in the United States: a political assassination, the the thousands broke the Black man out. In his catastrophic flooding of a major urban center like 1994 biography of abolitionist newspaperman Elijah Lovejoy, New York City and an act of domestic terrorism, such as a Paul Simon wrote that McIntosh was then chained “to a dirty bomb exploding in the nation’s capital. large locust tree, his back against the trunk of the tree, facAny of these can be the spark that blasts the federal goving south and facing the people who brought him there. ernment’s last, fragile vestiges of institutional legitimacy “They piled wood around him, mainly rail ties and old and organizational competency to smithereens, essentially planks, as high as his knees. Shavings were brought, and foreclosing any hope we have of collectively confronting other someone got a hot brand — the kind used on horses and livecascading existential threats — from climate change to the stock. They touched the brand to the shavings and started a next pandemic. fire …” “The United States, as an entity, survived one civil war,” The mob paid an old Black man named Louis 75 cents to Marche writes. “The question for the next civil war is not neckeep the fire burning overnight. The next morning, a “black essarily whether the United States would survive but whether and disfigured corpse could be seen. A group of boys started it would be recognizable afterward.” throwing stones at the Nowadays, I often remains, the object of wonder, quietly, if my their game being to see concern is sound or if I who could first succeed have become, in Lincoln’s in breaking the skull.” words, ‘over-wary.’ Have Two years later, on the many books, the Jan. 27, 1838, a 28-yearmagazine and newspaold lawyer stepped in per articles, the cable front of members of the TV “commemorations” Young Men’s Lyceum of Jan. 6, and all of the of Springfield to give a trending alarm about pospeech. The theme of his tential civil war on social remarks that evening media thrown me into a were “the perpetuation state of undue anxiety? of our political instituThe worry, at this LITTLET889, CC BY-SA 4.0 tions,” and the lynching point, is tactile. As I of Francis McIntosh — type this in my drafty A drawing of the burning of Francis McIntosh, from “Illustrawhich many of his peers apartment, I dread the tions of the American Anti-slavery Almanac” for 1840. and colleagues would prospect of a country so have preferred he just ungovernable, so ragforget or at least suppress in polite company — was top of gedly decentralized and chaotic, that central heat in freezing mind. temperatures will no longer be taken for granted, and every “At what point is the approach of danger to be expected?” winter everywhere in this dismantled, disunited republic will Abraham Lincoln said. “I answer, if it ever reaches us, it be, to varying degrees, a version of Texas in the winter of must spring up among us. It cannot come from abroad. If 2021. destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and And if this is the direction we’re headed, if my gut is right, finisher. what should we do to either pre-empt this cold, dark future or “I hope I am over-wary; but if I am not, there is, even now, prepare for it? something of ill-omen, amongst us. I mean the increasing “Yes, possible civil unrest looks very likely to happen more disregard for law which pervades the country; the growing in our future,” Bao Bui, a visiting history lecturer at the disposition to substitute the wild and furious passions, in University of Illinois Chicago, told me last week in an email lieu of the sober judgment of Courts; and the worse-thanresponse to my concerns. Bui teaches a course on the first savage mobs, for the executive ministers of justice. American Civil War and wrote his doctoral dissertation on “This disposition is awfully fearful in any community; “personal privacy and letter-writing” during that period. and that it now exists in ours, though grating to our feelings “The [Black Lives Matter] protests can be seen as outto admit, it would be a violation of truth, and an insult to growths of the Civil Rights marches of the 1950s/1960s,” he our intelligence, to deny. Accounts of outrages committed wrote. “But what will be even more dangerous to human life by mobs form the every-day news of the times. They have and democracy will be copycats of events like Jan. 6 and milipervaded the country, from New England to Louisiana; they tia plots (like the one in Michigan to kidnap the governor).” are neither peculiar to the eternal snows of the former, nor Patrick Homan, an Oak Park resident who teaches politithe burning suns of the latter — they are not the creature cal science at Dominican University in River Forest and of climate — neither are they confined to the slave-holding, whose course on democracy and authoritarianism started on or the non-slave-holding States. Alike, they spring up among Monday, told me over the phone that he also thinks America is

MICHAEL ROMAIN

“trending in the wrong direction.” Homan’s concerns about the widespread disruption of social norms and the increasingly disintegrating rule of law in this country echo a young Lincoln speaking roughly 200 years ago. Corey Davis, a lecturer at UIC who specializes in 19th century U.S. history and who has also taught courses on the first Civil War, told me last week that he’s alarmed at the division in the country, but emphasized that the racial and political violence we’re seeing today is nothing new. “The events of Jan. 6 are in keeping with a tradition,” Davis told me. “Political violence of that sort has always been around. We like to think that events like that are relics of a distant past rather than something that is still with us today, but that’s largely wishful thinking. So when I think about Jan. 6, I’d like to contextualize it within a longer history of political violence in the U.S.” There is a clear and present through line that runs from the lynching of Francis McIntosh to the extrajudicial killings of Michael Brown and Trayvon Martin and Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. An invisible bridge, much stronger than the literal ones that are falling apart all over America, connects the insurrection of Jan. 6 to the Wilmington insurrection of 1898, in which white supremacists overthrew the democratically elected, ethnically diverse government in that North Carolina city; and the Tulsa, Oklahoma massacre of 1921, in which white mobs destroyed the Black section of that city’s Greenwood District. There is a through line stronger than a fiber optic cable connecting a group of white boys stoning the skull of a lynched Black man for sport to a national wave of white teenagers conducting mock slave trades of their Black peers on Snapchat for laughs and giggles. But historians will tell you to be careful about simply extrapolating from the past. “If there were another civil war, it would look very different from the one in the 19th century,” Davis said. “The American Civil War of the 1860s was, of course, largely regionalized — famously North vs. South. Sectionalism drove that conflict. Today, it would be more of an urban/rural divide. Secondly, there is no central issue driving the conflict presently in the way that the Civil War of the 19th century was driven by slavery.” Indeed, the very term, civil war, may be insufficient, if not counterproductive, for explaining the nature of our current political predicament. The 19th century Civil War would seem downright orderly in comparison. That war was at least fought between two well-defined polities. Moreover, the election of 1860 that brought Lincoln to power may have been a major catalyst for the war, but Stephen A. Douglas did not go around propagating the Big Lie. After a cleavage, at least substantial parts of the material are still intact. It may be more accurate to call what we’re currently experiencing and are likely to experience in the future a Shattering. If the first civil war was tragedy and left us the aura and mystique of Lincoln at Gettysburg, the second civil war will be farce, perhaps leaving for posterity (if successive literate generations remain) the motto of another tall, ambitious, wiry 20-something-year-old who, unlike Lincoln, has no need for history nor the classics, who has never experienced war nor mass death, his moral maturity stunted by a life programmed in front of glass screens, his life’s work reducible to the perpetuation of what psychologists, in the words of Marche, call “‘the reduction of empathic stress’ — the basic inhumanity that the facelessness of the internet permits.” “Move fast,” Mark Zuckerberg famously said in 2014, “and break things.” The second part of this column will be published in print next week. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Miss Barbara Clifford & the Shakin’ Tailfeathers Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2:30 p.m., FitzGerald’s, Berwyn Clifford came straight from Chicago’s rockabilly scene with a sound that plays up that genre’s rockabilly roots. If you want an excuse to rock-and-roll away a weekend afternoon, Clifford and band give you the reason. 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BIG WEEK January 12-19

Peace Quilt Squares Monday, Jan. 17 from 2-4 p.m., Oak Park Public Library Visit the Main Library Children’s Services Area to decorate a fabric square and sew it to our ongoing peace quilt project. All supplies provided, no sewing experience needed. Register now at oppl.org/calendar.

Writers’ Word Feast Sunday, Jan. 16 from 1:30-4:30 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library Bring your words and words yet to be written to this group for writers of all types and genre. Each writer will get a chance to read their story, poem, or novel chapter and receive feedback from the group. Then we will spend some time writing! Register now at oppl.org/calendar.

Memory Cafe Tuesday, Jan. 18 from 2-3:30 p.m., virtually through the Oak Park Public Library Designed for individuals living with memory loss and their care partners to have a safe space in the community to connect through conversation and enjoyable activities, Memory Cafe is a partnership of Oak Park Township Senior Services, River Forest Public Library, and Oak Park Public Library. Register now at oppl.org/calendar.

Low Grav Comedy Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. Outta Space, Berwyn Monthly comedy revue hosted by Patrick Bolduc every third Wednesday. $10, 6840 W. 32nd St., Berwyn.

Women Hold Up Half the Sky Sunday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Oak Park First concert of the 2022 season, Church of Beethoven, Oak Park brings back soprano Christine Steyer in “Women Hold Up Half the Sky,” a recital featuring music by women composers and lyricists. Steyer will be accompanied by collaborative pianist Peter Storms. Maureen Kwiat Meshenberg will share her poetry. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 611 Randolph St. in Oak Park. Ample free parking on the street. Vaccination card to be shown upon entry. $15 general, $10 students/kids. For information on Christine Steyer, visit her website, www.christinesteyer.com.

Eating the Rainbow: The Plant-Based Way Saturday, Jan. 15 from 1-2 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library

This is an exploration of a whole-food, plant-based eating style to prevent and reverse heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. This session will include recipes, resources, and practical tips so you can immediately add colorful foods from the plant “farmacy” found at the grocery store. Register now at oppl.org/calendar.

Tarot Card Meetup Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 6-7 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library Once a month, gather to discuss cards, explore spreads, and learn from one another. Best for ages 12+. This is a group for sharing thoughts and ideas, not a professional tarot reading or a class taught by experts. We welcome people with all experience levels, even if you’ve never tried tarot before. If you don’t have a physical deck, a digital deck works too. Register now at oppl.org/calendar.

Chicago Católico: Making Catholic Parishes Mexican Wednesday, Jan. 19 from 6-7 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library Today, 100 Chicago-area Catholic churches offer Spanish-language Mass to congregants. How did the city’s Mexican population, contained in just two parishes prior to 1960, come to reshape dozens of parishes and neighborhoods? Deborah Kanter, prize-winning historian, Oak Park native, and author of Chicago Católico, tells the story of neighborhood change and rebirth in Chicago’s Mexican-American communities. Register now at oppl. org/calendar.

Leading Edge Teen Advisory Board Sunday, Jan. 16 from 4-5 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library Looking to gain strong leadership skills, self-advocacy skills, and have a community voice? The Leading Edge Teen Advisory Board (LETAB) is for you! Learn more about joining LETAB at oppl.org/teens and register to attend the meeting as a guest at oppl.org/calendar.

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

ART BEAT

Why paleolithic is with it By ROY PLOTNICK

Guest Author

hen I tell someone I am a paleontologist, it leads to a predictable set of responses. The most gratifying initial one is “Cool!” An 8-year-old will then ask if I have found many dinosaurs and a 40-yearold will reference either Ross on Friends or Indiana Jones, and then ask if I have found any dinosaurs. I may also be asked if I have discovered any gold jewelry or pots on my digs. Suppressing a scream, I calmly explain that going on digs to uncover jewelry and pots is archaeology, not paleontology; that Indiana Jones was an archaeologist and a bad one (theft of cultural heritage, anyone?); and that Ross was an idiot who would never have been hired as a paleontologist at even the lowest-ranked college. I then sheepishly explain that I have never found, let alone collected, a dinosaur (the 8-year-old immediately loses interest). I then discuss how my research is on some group of organisms that most people had never heard of and was definitely not the stuff of blockbuster movies — although I found it exciting. These are only some of the misconceptions about paleontologists. gists. We are often pictured only as bearded white men in battered cowboy hats, with hammers and d whisk brooms as ourr main tools. And, unnfortunately, in this day ay of gene sequencing and nd giant colliders, many of our colleagues view paleontology as an old and archaic science (no pun intended). My new book, Explorers orers of Deep Time: Paleontolontologists and the History off Life, was largely written to o dispel these misconceptions. ons. It is about who paleontologists logists are, what they do, and d why it is important. Readers will learn that many paleontologists are women (though still predominantly white), that they use all the modern hightechnology tools of science to explore life of the past, and that their subject is the entire history of life, including every kind of organism that lived and left some trace of its existence. Most importantly, paleontologists know what happens to life when things go bad. In the current time of ongoing environmental disruptions, we have a unique perspective — because we have seen it happen before. I wrote the bulk of Explorers of Deep Time while I was on sabbatical at Yale University.

ROY PLOTNICK It is my first book, so I had no idea about how to find a publisher. Friends who had already published books urged me to get an agent, since commercial publishers want to deal with an agent, not the writer. This did not go well. Many of tthe agents I contacted never responded, even to acneve knowledge my proposal. Othknow ers could not be convinced that, because the book was tha about paleontology, it was ab not intended for juveniles. no Yet another said (and I Ye am paraphrasing here): a ““We loved Stephen Jay Gould’s books! But you G are not Steve Gould.” I finally gave up on finding an agent and thus publishing with a commercial press and started contacting academic presses directly. The first press I talked to looked at my proposal and suggested I write an entirely sugge different book. Finally, I found an enthusiastic publisher at Columbia University Press. With a few bumps (I had to pay out-of-pocket to have an index made), it has been a great experience. From when I first conceived the book until its publication took more than five years. It would not have been possible without the dozens of colleagues who agreed to be interviewed. They taught me a lot about my field; perhaps most importantly, how much we enjoy what we do! Roy Plotnick, an Oak Park resident, is professor emeritus at the University of Illinois Chicago. “Explorers of Deep Time” is available at The Book Table.

Could your non-profit organization benefit from Community Development Block Grants? Be sure to attend one of two mandatory workshops for Program Year 2022: 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25

11 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Jan. 26

Hosted by the Village of Oak Park, the workshops will cover: Application for funding Required attachments Reporting requirements Grant funding timelines Attendance at one virtual workshop is required to apply for funding in PY2022 Email grants@oak-park.us to receive a registration link or for more information www.oak-park.us/cdbg

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Schools stay open, mostly, as districts adapt on the fly Short-staffed with rising COVID cases in Oak Park, River Forest

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

A week has passed since schools in Oak Park and River Forest reopened after winter break, but district officials say the challenges to stay open for in-person learning continue, putting them, their employees and students in a bind. From staffing shortages to an upswing in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant and a new recommendation from public health officials to shorten quarantine guidelines, local school communities are pivoting once more as the second semester begins. Last week, 55 school employees called in absent, said Karin Sullivan, spokeswoman for Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200. Sullivan told Wednesday Journal that nearly half of the employees who were out, including some teachers, were impacted by COVID-19. Sullivan said she could not comment on why other employees were absent last week since workers are not obligated to disclose their reasons for missing work. Sullivan and Oak Park District 97 spokeswoman Amanda Siegfried said their schools, along with many others nationwide, have struggled to hire substitute teachers prior to the pandemic. A 2021 story published in TIME cited lack of pay and unpredictable work schedules among the reasons why substitute teachers have been tough to find. The average median hourly wage for shortterm substitute teachers is $14.12, reported the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Both D200

and D97 pay above the national average with wages ranging from $18 to $20 per hour, according to the districts’ websites. “We had a sub shortage before the pandemic, which has only been exacerbated,” Sullivan said. “As you can imagine, a lot of substitutes are retired teachers, so they’re older, and they’re reluctant to come into [the classroom] during the pandemic.” So, the schools have had to make do. Sullivan, Siegfried and River Forest District 90 spokeswoman Dawne Simmons said faculty and staff are working together to help each other and fill in the gaps. Siegfried, herself, said she is stepping in as a sub for lunch and recess at Irving School. “We are trying to keep buildings open because that’s the directive that’s been given by the state,” Siegfried said. “It’s really challenging across all levels to do that – and we’re doing everything we can. … We’re deploying staff where we can to fill in, but it is extremely challenging and we’re going to continue to do everything we can to keep kids in school.” Out of the three school districts, D97 was the only one that allowed two of its schools to begin the first week of second semester with remote learning. Students from Longfellow Elementary and Percy Julian Middle School returned to e-learning for two days last week because of an uptick in staff absences. Sullivan said D200, so far, has no plans of shutting down the school, unless they also encounter the same staffing problems as District 97.

Concordia, Dominican welcome back students Dominican University and Concordia University Chicago faculty, staff and students are making their way back to campus this week, and university officials from both River Forest institutions are gearing up for their return from winter break. Among DU’s safety plans, the university is hosting a COVID vaccine booster clinic on Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The clinic will be held in Springer Suites, one of DU’s buildings, and is open to eligible students and local residents, including families and children. A link to the registration form can be found online or through the university website at www. dom.edu. Barrington Price, DU’s vice president of student success and engagement who also works with the university’s COVID-19 response team, said the school has reverted back to its “grab-and-go” approach at the dining halls and cafe. Seating in the dining halls is now limited to two to three

people per table, as well. Price and university spokeswoman Jessica Mackinnon said university employees and students are encouraged to use Campus Clear, a free app that helps individuals screen their symptoms. Selftesting COVID-19 kits are also available on campus. Over at Concordia, faculty, staff and students were required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result dated between Jan. 4 and Jan. 9, regardless of vaccination status. CUC spokesman Eric Matanyi said the university is providing faculty, staff and students with free PCR tests on campus. “We remain exceptionally flexible and ready to amend our operations accordingly as conditions warrant and in line with CDC/IDPH recommendations,” Matanyi wrote to the Journal in an email. “We continue to build on lessons learned over the past 22 months, as we respond to this ongoing pandemic.”

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

A SHOT IN THE ARM: Sophia Ramilo prepares to get the dose during a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic in the gymnasium at Oak Park and River Forest High School in Oak Park last August.

Hatch, Lincoln faced COVID surges School officials told the Journal they anticipated a surge of COVID-19 cases among students and staff upon their return to the building after a two-week holiday break and reassess their safety measures as needed. Siegfried said District 97 closed down Hatch and Lincoln elementary schools Jan. 6 in response to the high number of coronavirus cases, which were spotted early that week and stemmed from winter break. Students from those two schools shifted to online learning from Jan. 6 to Jan. 10 and were set to return for in-person learning Jan. 11. Siegfried said the district’s decision to call an “adaptive pause” for Hatch and Lincoln was made in tandem with the Oak Park Department of Public Health, as school staff struggled to keep up with contact tracing. The pause gave school nurses and local health officials the chance to catch up and look closely at the ballooning cases. “It really was an unprecedented amount of work,” Siegfried said. “We have one school nurse at each building, and they were having to keep up with contact tracing to make sure that we did not have anyone coming back the next day and putting anyone else at risk.” At this point, the district is planning to add a couple of mitigation measures including providing students with KN95 or surgical

face masks and improving their classrooms’ air ventilation systems. Simmons said District 90 is also looking to offer their students surgical face masks and plans on hosting another vaccination clinic for eligible district students and their families at Roosevelt Middle School from 4 to 8 p.m. Jan. 25. Details are forthcoming on the school website. Over at District 200, officials already began supplying employees and students with surgical face masks and extended its offcampus lunch option for all students to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Also last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Illinois School Board of Education (ISBE) announced they would adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest recommendation and shorten the quarantine and isolation periods for staff and students. Over the holidays, the CDC announced that people with COVID-19 should isolate for five days, a departure from the initial 10-day period and wear their masks for another five days around others – if they are asymptomatic or no longer have signs of symptoms. Illinois public health and education leaders have yet to release guidance for schools to follow, so the original 10-day quarantine period is still in effect, Sullivan, Siegfried and Simmons said.

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Animal Care League expands shelter premises

Phase 1 of 4-phase project has commenced By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Construction is underway on Garfield Street, where crews are building a new welcome center and front-facing adoption center for the Animal Care League (ACL) at 1003 and 1009 Garfield St. Crews broke ground last month, but the transformation of the two buildings is starting to materialize. “The outline for the walls is up and you can really see what the two buildings are going to look like and the space that we’re going to have for animals,” said ACL Executive Director Kira Robson. The work is the first phase of a wider fourpart plan to expand the nonprofit animal shelter’s premises, which will ultimately allow ACL to take in more animals and increase its in-house care services. “It is well overdue, and we are so excited,” Robson said of the planned expansion. ACL spent over a decade trying to buy the run-down, abandoned building at 1009 Garfield St., which sits between three other shelter-owned structures. The shelter was finally able to acquire the property in the summer of 2019, with the help of the Cook County Land Bank Authority. The first phase of the expansion plan focuses entirely on 1003 and 1009 Garfield St. Eventually each of ACL’s four buildings will be joined to create one large structure, but in the meantime, Robson is thrilled that ACL will finally have a lobby. “We’re very excited about it because if you’ve ever been here, we don’t have that kind of a space right now,” she said. The lobby will house the welcome center, as

well as offices and a community room, where ACL plans to host birthday parties and seminars. The center is meant to be, as Robson described, “an engaging space for the community.” Currently, ACL takes in about 1,200 animals each year. With the new adoption center, it will have the ability to house two to three times as many rabbits, cats and dogs and do so in a lower-stress environment. It will also allow for discrete adoption, as well as medical and intake spaces. The full adoption center includes dog suites as opposed to kennels, plus communal cat adoption rooms and suites for cats with feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia. Rabbits haven’t been left out either. The center will feature an expanded rabbit adoption area. “It’s going to have a really serious impact, not only on the animals we serve, but our volunteers will have a better space to come and volunteer,” said Robson, who expects the first phase of the project to be finished in March or April of this year. Upon completion, the plan is to move directly into the following phases, which focus on the expansion of ACL’s in-house medical capabilities and construction of training spaces for animals, as well as “real life rooms,” which Robson explained are designed to feel like a home environment to get the animal adjusted to that lifestyle. How quickly ACL can move forward with phases 2-4 depends entirely on the community, according to Robson. Funding will be key in determining how quickly construction crews will be able to move from phase to phase. ACL plans to announce a capital fundraising campaign in the coming weeks. “I truly hope that Oak Park is going to realize how important it is for us to have this kind of a facility, both for the animals and the community,” she said.

Start delivery of

today! Enclosed is my payment of ¨$43 for 12 months Name ___________________________________________ Address _________________________________________ City _______________ Zip ______ Phone ______________ Email ___________________________________________ Visa/MC/Discover # _________________ Exp Date _______ Signature ________________________________________ Mail to: Circulation Dept., 141 S. Oak Park, IL 60302 Offer valid for new subscribers in Cook County only. Expires 11/30/16

Or visit www.oakpark.com/subscribe/

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

River Forest

FOOT CLINIC

7351 Lake St. (Just west of Panera Bread)

Do you have diabetes?

f you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. This is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes affects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation. The key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist. Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely to undergo an

Dr. Linda Lambert

amputation than those who do not seek treatment. Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. The shoes come in 30 different styles each for men and women. These include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available. Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.

Aetna, AARP, Blue Cross PPO, United Healthcare, Healthspring, Humana, PHCS, Medicare Assignment & most other insurances accepted • CIGNA PPO

26 Years’ Experience • Se Habla Espanol • Free Parking

708.366.FOOT (3668)

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

2021 VILLAGER of THE YEAR FOR RIVER FOREST

DIVERSITY

tive, almost two years ago. Duba and Bonner were among dozens who submitted their applications and expressed interest in joining the diversity committee. Duba told the Journal she’s passionate from page 1 about social justice and wanted to participate in the ad hoc committee to set an examone of which has pulled in a large Latinx ple for her teenage children, while Bonner student population over recent years. was moved by the village’s decision to adopt Bachner, who is Latinx and represents a covenant with nearby Maywood, a mostly those in River Forest who make Black community, and sought to a moderate income, said she has help deepen and further those ties. dreamed of putting this kind of Back in June 2020, Maywood 2021 group together for River Forest, Trustee Miguel Jones approached VILLAGER the River Forest village board and there was no better time to act than now. with an idea to create a covenant of the “We brought it to the table of the between the two suburbs, after a YEAR village board, and we were told to prominent River Forest developer run with it,” Bachner told Wedneswas charged with one count of a day Journal about the start of River Forest’s hate crime and one count of aggravated batDiversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) ad hoc tery by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s committee. Office. “We spent many months speaking with The developer, a white man, allegedly ascommunity members, experts and stake- saulted a Black woman in the parking lot of holders about what this might the River Forest Jewel, according look like, what would be imto earlier reporting in the Jourportant in the work and what nal. The woman recorded the [would] our focus, mission, and incident on her cellphone and goals, and responsibilities look uploaded the video on Twitter, like,” said Bachner, who cowhich later went viral and “put chairs the diversity committee. at least one Maywood resident on And they haven’t looked back edge,” according to reporting in since. Maywood’s Village Free Press. ‘Where you stand depends on Bonner, who is Black, said the where you sit’ covenant in tandem with the Last April, the River Forest vilnewly formed DEI committee is DAVID BONNER lage board voted to establish the necessary, especially for a town size of the DEI committee and that may have “lost sight” of its appointed 43 members, most of whom, if racial demographics. not all, are residents with a story and hope “[It’s] 80% Caucasian and the rest are othto make a difference in some way. er races [in River Forest], and I thought this Take Renee Duba, a River Forest mother [the DEI committee] is a good way to extend of two. Or David Bonner, who moved to the work that the village has done,” said River Forest with his wife, a Maywood na- Bonner, adding he had worked with other

Focus on inclusion

Those who’ve made an impact

Every year, since 2005, Wednesday Journal has named a Villager of the Year in River Forest. The tradition first began back in 1985, when the Journal first started, recognizing individuals in Oak Park who have made an impact. Here’s a list of the people we’ve recognized from River Forest.

2005 Frank Paris, River Forest village president 2006 Charles “Chuck” Biondo, River Forest village administrator 2007 Steve Hoke, River Forest village trustee 2008 Frank Paris, River Forest 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 village 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 2018 Dr. Edward Condon, superintendent for River Forest School D90 2019 Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams, D200 superintendent 2020 River Forest residents, helpers and heroes

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

SOCIAL JUSTICE: Renee Duba joined the DEI Committee to listen to marginalized voices and to share the experience with her two teenage children. organizations such as My Brother’s Keeper, it took some time for her to understand that a mentoring program for young men and she “needed to just sit down, shut up and lisboys of color launched by former President ten to the voices of the people” from marginBarack Obama. “I thought this was right up alized communities. my alley.” Especially in River Forest, Duba said it Duba shared that her desire to be part of may be easy for residents to “think we’re the diversity committee also comes from a welcoming,” but she wants to hear from othpersonal place. Apart from her years servers, including those of color or in need. ing on the board of the “You need to hear from Community Renewal Socithem,” she said. ety, one of Chicago’s oldest Trustee Ken Johnson, who faith-based nonprofits and co-chairs the DEI committee owner of the publication, with Bachner and newly The Chicago Reporter, Duba hired village administrator cited her own family as a Brian Murphy, echoed Duba. “I believe where you stand key influence to her advodepends on where you sit,” cacy work. said Johnson, who is the vilDuba, who is white, told lage’s first Black trustee and the Journal that some of her an over-decade-long River loved ones are people of colForest resident. “Your posior, members of the LGBTQ+ tion on life or your stance community or practice difdepends on your backferent religions. She thinks ground and where you grew about them constantly and up.” remains unafraid to step up “Because we have a very – and to also just listen. limited percentage of miDuba said it can be tough, nority populations, it’s just especially for white people, KEN JOHNSON a fact that some of the stancto talk about racial injusticTrustee es or inequities. As a whole, es that a percentage of River that kind of conversation Forest may have could also forces people to take a look be related to how they grew at themselves, their own beup,” Johnson told the Jourliefs and the privilege and power they may nal. “It all changes over time, and it changes hold. Being honest, open and vulnerable are with experiences, but I want to ensure that crucial in those discussions, and that can be I allow people to come where I sit. And I difficult for some who have never thought believe that every member of the diversity about money, race or class as a divider. committee is working to allow us to sit in “I had sort of all those similar experi- each other’s chairs and find out what our ences that cis-gender white women might different experiences are and how we can have, which is people talking about race and relate and grow from them.” inequity felt racist. It was sort of this ‘white fragility’ kind of thing,” Duba said, adding See DIVERSITY on page 13

“I believe that every member of the diversity committee is working to allow us to sit in each other’s chairs and find out what our different experiences are and how we can relate and grow from them.”

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

New River Forest fire chief is long on experience Tom Gaertner is also familiar with the village

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

River Forest’s new fire chief not only has experience running a fire department but also is familiar with the western suburbs. Tom Gaertner, whose appointment as fire chief was approved unanimously at the Jan. 10 village board meeting, grew up in neighboring Broadview and served as fire chief there as well as in North Riverside. Because he was in North Carolina and unable to attend the meeting, Gaertner took his oath of office via Zoom from Jonathan Keller, village clerk. He will serve until May 12, 2025, when the term of Village President Cathy Adduci also ends. He replaces Kurt Bohlmann, who served as fire chief since 2017 and announced his retirement in July. His last day was Sept. 20. When Gaertner joined the Broadview Fire Department in 1986 as a firefighter/paramedic, he followed in the footsteps of his father, who was a firefighter there for 28 years. “I basically grew up in the firehouse,” he said. Gaertner moved up the ranks, serving as lieutenant for five years and captain for three before being appointed chief in 2011.

TOM GAERTNER He served in that capacity, retiring in 2015. He also served in North Riverside in 2017 and 2018, as deputy chief for 11 months and chief for seven months. Related experience includes serving as a fire service training instructor at the Arlington Heights Fire Academy; task force leader/training officer for the state of Illinois Urban Search and Rescue Team, Illinois Task Force One; inaugural fire academy coordinator and deputy director of the Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Train-

ing Academy; Deputy fire safety director at Restore Construction in Melrose Park; and lead instructor at RescUSA Inc. in Niles. Gaertner explained that his work for RescUSA prevented him from attending the Jan. 10 village board meeting. Instead he was serving as a member of the standby rescue team on a project in North Carolina that involves replacing gates on a dam. “We hope they don’t need us,” he quipped. He “probably” will continue working with RescUSA, which he joined in 2015, noting it “keeps my skills up.” After graduation from Proviso East High School in Maywood, Gaertner joined the U.S. Air Force, serving as a firefighter at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota and assistant fire chief at Florennes Air Force Base in Belgium. He furthered his education with an associate’s degree in fire science from Triton College in River Grove and is completing work on his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Illinois. In explaining his return to school at a later age, Gaertner said he wanted to further his education, noting, “I like to stay on top.” “I think it will be a really good fit,” he said of the River Forest position, adding

OPEN HOUSE

Full-day, after school, summer camp

Part-day program

Thursday, February 17th, 7pm

Full-day for ages 6 weeks - preK Part-day for ages 3 to 5 After School for K - 5th Summer Camp for 3 to 5, K-5th

that he was familiar with the village because several aunts and uncles lived there when he was growing up. “I think it’s going to work out well,” he said. “I’m really excited about it and really looking forward to it.” Adduci said Gaertner was one of three finalists interviewed by the village board, noting there were “a lot of good candidates.” “He’s the perfect fit for us,” she said, pointing to his experience and familiarity with the area. “He has all the skills we’re looking for.” The new fire chief will be paid $139,500. Interim Fire Chief Robert Nortier will continue in that position for the time being to help with the transition. Gaertner’s hiring follows the appointment of Brian Murphy as village administrator in December, a position that was vacant since the departure of Eric Palm in February. “We’re happy to have the two positions filled,” Adduci said. “I think we’ve got a great team.” Gaertner will be back in the area this week and his first day on the job will be Tuesday Jan. 18.

Thursday, January 20th 7:00 - 8:30pm Advanced registration required at www.opfs.org

Advanced registration required at www.opfs.org

Ginkgo Room Applications accepted

Morning Session:

Friday, February 18 -

8:15 - 11:15am

Monday, March 4th

Afternoon Session:

online at www.opfs.org

12:15 - 3:15pm

Email info@opfs.org • Or call 708-686-2030 to learn more! 63 0 0 Rooseve lt Road , Oak Park • w w w.opfs.org Oak Park Friends School | Learning Through Play

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

D97 narrows superintendent candidates to final 2 Zoom forum Wednesday night for public to meet and query

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

Two finalists are vying to become the next superintendent of Oak Park Elementary School District 97, according to a districtwide email announcement sent to families, Jan. 8. Of the top six candidates, the D97 Board of Education narrowed its list to Kim Nalls, assistant superintendent of human resources and benefits for Rich Township High School District 227, and Ushma Shah, interim chief portfolio officer for the Chicago Public Schools Office of Portfolio Management. As a chief portfolio officer, Shah supports and supervises six of CPS’ instructional and operational departments, including its charter and alternative schools, as well as analyzes enrollment and demographic data, according to her LinkedIn profile. Shah also served as assistant superintendent of elementary schools and a chief of equity and social justice at Elgin School District U-46 and has held other positions, including a middle-school teacher and principal, the email announcement stated. During Nalls’ career in education, she

vored six and interviewed them during executive sessions at school board meetings. With Nalls and Shah now named, board members are inviting the community to participate in an online forum, Jan. 12. The forum will be held over Zoom and allows attendees to meet Nalls and Shah and ask questions, said district spokeswoman Amanda Siegfried. The forum starts at 6 p.m. and runs for about two hours. Nalls will be featured during the first hour of the forum, from 6 to 7, while the latter half of the program will be reserved for Shah, from 7:15 to 8:15. The link to access the Zoom meeting can be found on the school website: https://www.op97. org/news/1730111/d97-superintendentfinalists-and-virtual-community-forumon-jan-12. According to the email announcement, Nalls and Shah will have about 10 minutes

to introduce themselves, share why they believe they are a fit for the superintendent position and talk about their professional experiences and accomplishments. Then they will answer questions from the community. HYA President Max McGee and Constance Collins, the firm’s senior associate and a former D97 superintendent, will direct the Q&A portion of the forum. District families, local residents and other stakeholders had until Jan. 11 to submit questions for the superintendent hopefuls. Siegfried said attendees will be asked to complete a survey and provide written feedback about the candidates after the forum. The board plans to review those responses before making any final decisions. A link to the survey will be shared after the event. The board plans to announce the final candidate by the end of the month, Siegfried said. For more information on District 97’s superintendent search, visit www.op97.org/ boe/superintendent-search.

Each candidate will

USHMA SHAH

KIM NALLS

served as an assistant superintendent of human resources and technology and assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at Proviso Township District 209. Nalls is also a former high school principal, guidance counselor and elementary school teacher, the email announcement stated. The school board began its search last summer, working alongside representatives from the search firm, Hazard, Young and Attea (HYA), to find D97’s new superintendent. Over the last couple of months, HYA conducted screening interviews with 13 of the total 19 applicants and presented a slate of candidates to the board. From there, board members selected their fa-

have 10 minutes to introduce themselves and talk about their professional experiences.

Growing community.

explore your community @ OakPark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Downtown Oak Park Holiday Inn moves forward Village to look into ways to address Lake Street traffic

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

It appears downtown Oak Park will get that Holiday Inn Express and Suites after all. All village board members present at the Jan. 10 meeting signed off on the project, directing staff to work with the neighboring condo association to address Lake Street congestion. Trustee Arti Walker-Peddakotla was absent from the meeting. “As much as we can, we will work on the challenges of the residents,” Village President Vicki Scaman promised. “It really is inevitably us that you need to hold accountable for that, as a village board.” The project originally received the approval of the village board under then-Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb in November 2019, but the ensuing pandemic caused the project to be delayed and the village’s approval lapsed. Brothers and co-building owners Azeem

and Salim Hemani returned to the village with a revised plan to build the Holiday Inn at 1140 Lake St. That is the site of an existing office and retail building which will be expanded and repurposed as a hotel. The project was scaled down to 68 hotel rooms and only one added floor, while the original called for 97 hotel rooms and the addition of three more floors to the existing 5-story structure. The modifications, which the Hemani brothers hope will help mitigate traffic concerns, won over the Zoning Board of Appeals Dec. 1. However, zoning board members were at a loss as to how to reconcile the area’s vehicular congestion. While village staff believe the adjacent Holley Court Garage has the capacity to house the 45 or so extra vehicles the hotel is expected to generate, multiple downtown Oak Park residents took to public comment to inform the board of the traffic complica-

tions they routinely face. Commenters described the hassle caused by delivery trucks blocking Prairie Way, the alley behind 1140 Lake St., as well as the illegally parked cars outside Lake Street businesses. Customers of Chipotle Mexican Grill, which is located next door to the Hemani’s building, are major offenders of this as they often double park on Lake Street and block the easement to the Holley Court garage, according to members of the neighboring condo association. Patrons of MedMen and Nando’s Peri-Peri restaurant, both of which are located on the first floor of 1140 Lake St., also contribute to the illegal parking problem and public commenters expressed their fears that traffic blockages would worsen with the hotel, despite it having on-site laundry and no restaurant, limiting deliveries. “I would like to make a specific request to the board to table any vote on this particu-

lar ordinance until the issues that have been raised… are addressed in some comprehensive way, so that we don’t have these horrendous parking and traffic issues,” resident John O’Rourke said. Tammie Grossman, the village staff member who oversees development, however, informed the board that prolonging approval in the interest of disentangling traffic would likely complicate financing for the Holiday Inn project. And, despite the board’s vocalizations of empathy for the affected residents, O’Rourke did not get his wish. Believing the traffic issue still a worthy issue, but one independent from the hotel as it predates the project, the village board directed staff to work toward finding a reasonable solution. The village board ultimately approved the Hemani brothers’ request for special use permit to construct the hotel.

Oak Park down to three village manager candidates Names have yet to be released

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Only three candidates remain in the running for the open Oak Park village manager position, according to Kira Tchang, Oak Park’s human resources director. The trio of finalists were chosen following interviews conducted last Thursday by the Personnel Committee, a subset of the village board.

As the interviews were held in executive session, the contents of the interviews are confidential and the names of those interviewed were not released. However, Tchang told Wednesday Journal a total of four candidates were interviewed by the Personnel Committee during the executive session, which lasted about four and a half hours. At this time, the village has not released the names of the three finalists. However, Tchang said the names will be released this Friday,

following confirmation from GovHR, the recruitment firm hired to assist the village in its village manager search. “GovHR is likely still in the process of following up with all candidates and we will share more information regarding the finalist pool once we have confirmed that candidates will be proceeding forward in the process,” said Tchang. In the meantime, the village of Oak Park announced via emailed newsletter

that the community will have an opportunity to learn more about the three finalists during a virtual public forum scheduled for 7 p.m., Jan. 25. Finalists will be responding to questions “curated from input” gathered by GovHR at the forum, according to the newsletter. Residents have the ability to email suggested topics and questions for the finalists to GovHR at oakpark@govhrusa.com until 5 p.m., Jan. 14.

House Hunting? Find a Realtor. Find a home. Get a list of Open Houses. Every week, every day in

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

ASSISTED LIVING • SHELTERED CARE • MEMORY CARE • SKILLED NURSING

Now safely moving new residents to our small, wooded campus.

A safe & smart choice. Choosing communityyou you Choosing aa community can trust has never been can trust has never been more important. more difficult. Our has an an Our community community has impeccable record of safety impeccable record of safety during the COVID-19 crisis during the COVID-19 crisis and we at nothing to make andwill we stop will stop at nothing sure it continues. to make sure it continues.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

GROW FROM DIFFERENCES: Ken Johnson co-chairs the DEI Committee and is River Forest’s first Black village trustee.

DIVERSITY

create a supplier diversity program to help support and promote businesses owned by women, veterans, people of color or those from underrepresented communities, while Johnson suggested hosting an inclusivfrom page 9 ity fair and inviting local families to learn about the many resources available in River Forest. Bonner said he would like to find a Strength in numbers way to use River Forest’s playgrounds as a That’s the thing about the diversity comway to hold events, bringing in residents mittee: It’s about making room for residents from other nearby communities, while to be heard. Duba wanted to see more affordable housing And while one may think that could be options spring up around the neighborhood. difficult in a group with over 40 members, Johnson also said several residents of colBachner said she sees the group’s size as a or reached out to him during his candidacy strength, not a distraction. and asked to take a closer look at the traffic “At some point, we realized that if we stops conducted by the River Forest want to be radically inclusive Police Department. There are some [and] including anyone who apthat think police officers may have plies is important to this,” said 2021 pulled over drivers of color more Bachner. “I did not imagine that than white drivers, he said. VILLAGER we were going to get over 40 ap“That is a prevailing thought that of the plications [for] this, and so that goes on in River Forest, but no one’s was wonderful. And really what YEAR checked into it, and I’m a strong bethat allows for is a lot of commuliever as a lawyer that I don’t want nity engagements and our decito say anything unless I have some sion-making process. It also means that we evidence,” he said. “I wanted to make sure have a lot of hands to work on concurrent that I promised my constituency I would items, which is really wonderful.” look into it, and if it’s not happening that “Because of that [the committee’s] size,” way, then that’s great. But if it is, let’s talk Bachner added, “we’re able to truly repreabout it.” sent what we stand for with regard to workJohnson said the purpose of the diversity ing with diversity.” committee is to keep going – to keep talking At this time, Bachner and Johnson said and listening. People have to continuously the committee is planning to divide its show up and come together. members up into smaller subcommittees “We just have to continue to educate each and work with a consultant to assess the other that this is happening,” he said of the village’s policies and practices. The needs struggles and challenges that marginalized could vary, but Bachner, Johnson, Duba and communities face. “We have to continue to Bonner have some ideas that they hope the admit that that is going on. The vulnerabilcommittee could jump into. ity on both sides is what gets us through to Bachner said she’d like to see the village a result.”

Seeking equity

We would wouldbe behonored honoredfor foryour your We family ours. family to to be be part part of of ours. Immediate availability in our Memory Care Assisted Living Small House

99% OF OUR CALEDONIA STAFF IS VACCINATED

2800 Des Plaines Avenue, North Riverside, IL 60546 (708) 447-5092 | CaledoniaSeniorLiving.org

Limited availability!

NOW HIRING — FLEXIBLE HOURS — $15/HR TO START

SERVING OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST SINCE 1976

RESIDENTIAL — COMMERCIAL — RETAIL — CHURCHES — SCHOOLS

C R I M E

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Chicago juvenile arrested for aggravated assault One Chicago juvenile was arrested and two released following an attempted armed robbery of an Oak Park resident in the 600 block of Clarence Avenue at 6:46 p.m., Jan 8. While out walking, the victim was knocked to the ground by three juveniles, one of whom pointed a black handgun at the victim. All three offenders fled after the victim started kicking and screaming. After a short foot chase, Oak Park police officers took two offenders into custody in the 700 block of Gunderson Avenue. Another juvenile was taken into custody in the 700 block of South Elmwood Avenue after he dropped a black handgun, which was found to be a BB gun. The victim was able to identify the offender found with the gun, who was charged with aggravated assault and battery. The other two offenders were released without charge after the victim was unable to identify them.

Domestic battery and kidnapping arrest Kendall R. Parker, of Bellwood, was arrested at 12:14 p.m., Jan. 8 in the 300 block of North Austin Boulevard after being identified as the offender in several domestic violence incidents involving a female Oak Park resident. According to the police report, Parker allegedly hit the victim with a metal stand on Dec.

3 then choked and beat her with closed fists. He reportedly struck and choked the victim again on Jan. 7 and then forced her to drive with him, threatening to beat and shoot her if she did not go with him. The victim was able to escape and reported him to the police. Parker was identified by the victim Jan. 8 after police accompanied her to her residence, where Parker was located. The 24-year-old has been charged with two felony counts of aggravated domestic battery, one felony count of kidnapping with a firearm, two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and one misdemeanor count of interfering with the reporting of domestic violence.

Armed robbery arrest

Attempted robbery

An Oak Park resident was robbed by two teenage boys, one of whom pointed a handgun at the victim while the other took the vehicle keys out of the victim’s pocket, at 10:32 p.m., Jan. 4 in the 500 block of South Cuyler Avenue. The two offenders fled the scene in the victim’s gray Hyundai Sonata, which was recovered a short time later by Oak Park police after having been involved in a traffic accident in the 600 block of South Ridgeland Avenue. Two Chicago males were arrested at the scene of the crash at 11:18 p.m., Jan. 4 and taken into custody, where they were charged with armed robbery.

An Oak Park resident was saved from an armed robbery after a witness saw through her window two offenders approach the victim from behind and knock the victim to the ground; as the offenders were searching for the victim’s keys, the witness yelled at both offenders, causing the two to flee the scene at 4:56 p.m., Jan 8 in the 400 block of South Taylor Avenue.

Armed robbery

Aggravated carjacking

Two men, both armed, robbed an Oak Park resident after hitting him in the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground at 8:43 p.m., Jan. 4 in the 200 block of South Oak Park Avenue; the offenders went through the victim’s pockets, taking his cell phone and a gold chain from his neck, then followed the victim to his apartment where cash was handed over. The estimated loss is $2,200. The first offender is described as a Black male, about 6 feet 2 with a thin build, last seen wearing all black. Police describe the second as a Black male, in his early 20s, about 5 feet 8 with a thin build and wearing all black.

■ While sitting in her car, an Oak Park resident was ordered out of her white 2011 BMW at gunpoint by a man who exited a black sedan before approaching the victim in the 800 block of Washington Boulevard at 3:28 p.m., Jan. 5. When the victim complied, the offender snatched the victim’s white iPhone XR out of her hands and then fled in her vehicle, traveling westbound on Washington Boulevard. A second offender followed in the black sedan. The estimated loss is $12,800. ■ Chicago police recovered the BMW in the 3100 block of West Polk Street, Chicago at 10:22 p.m., Jan. 5.

oprfchamber.org

Motor vehicle theft A running and unattended black 2008 Lexus ES 350 with a purple bumper sticker was removed from the 6200 block of Roosevelt Road at about 5:30 p.m., Jan. 4. The estimated loss is $9,000. These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports through Jan. 4 to Jan. 10 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Homes

NEED TO REACH US?

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

Not just any old house

The nonprofit A House in Austin offers families a place for support By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

hen Erica Hilgart moved to Oak Park as a mother of three young children, the former public school teacher enrolled in a Musikgarten class with her children. “It helped me not feel so lonely in Oak Park,” Hilgart said. “I wondered if there was a place like this in Austin.” Around the same time, young mothers and friends Lynette Kelly-Bell and Becky Martin, who lived on the West Side of Chicago, were looking for activities they could do with their young children. “We couldn’t find anything on the West Side,” Kelly-Bell said. “Every parent and child class was in the South Loop or Edgewater.” Seeing the void of opportunities, Hilgart reached out to the

PHOTOS COURTESY A HOUSE IN AUSTIN

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

Co-executive director Lynette Kelly-Bell (above) was one of parents who founded A House in Austin in 2016 to provide enriching programs and support for parents and children on Chicago’s West Side. By the Hand Club, which offered up a room for her to host a music class. “I created what I needed as a mom,” Hilgart said. The first Boppin’ Babies music class took place in January 2016. Hilgart says that along with her child, a grandfather from the neighborhood attended with his grandson. The second class brought more participants, including mom Precious Jones. Over the first year, the class grew to include 14 parents. Among those original parents were Martin and Kelly-Bell, who were thrilled to find something closer to home. “Becky found this group that we could walk to,” Kelly-Bell said. “When we went, it was amazing. From that time on, I was committed.” Growth happened organically that first year. “Initially, it was the music piece with a literacy component,” Hilgart said. “Every week, families received breakfast and a book to bring home.” Martin’s experience as a licensed social worker led to the addition of more parenting support programs.

Children engage in early learning development activities while parents receive support during group. Children learn a gross and fine motor skill, in addition to imaginative play and a healthy snack to promote overall health development.

“We added a home visit group, and a weekly parent support group meeting with childcare,” Hilgart said. “We partnered with Children Research Triangle to offer therapy and early intervention services.” After borrowing space from other organizations, A House in Austin earned its name when the organization purchased the single-family home at 533 N. Pine Ave. in the summer of 2016. Hilgart says the large house was an ideal spot for the nonprofit organization to grow. Instead of an institutional space, locating in a house fostered a sense of home. This house also provided a large backyard, key for providing the young children with outside time throughout the year. Although the house had the potential they needed, former board member Maureen Hunter, who helped with the construction process, says that the old frame Victorian house needed significant restoration. “It’s a magnificent home, but it’s just a vessel to provide an opportunity to these families,” Hunter said. “Not only was the size of the house a selling point, but so was the corner lot. Eighty-five percent of families in this neighborhood don’t have access to safe outdoor space.” There was a long process to get a permit to convert the residential space to commercial space, and architectural firm Aria Group from Oak Park helped with the design, which included adding and an ADA-accessible bathroom, See HOUSE IN AUSTIN on page 17

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

830 ASHLAND AVENUE, RIVER FOREST

830ASHLAND.INFO

139 S GROVE AVENUE, OAK PARK

139SGROVE.INFO

Beautiful River Forest Estate features a wonderfully detailed stone and brick

This majestic Victorian home commands your attention with its impressive

exterior, leading into a timeless interior. $1,995,000

wraparound porch and grand entrance. $1,179,000

DAN HALPERIN

TONY & KATHY IWERSEN

•

708.848.0200

•

danhalperin@atproperties.com

•

708.772.8040

•

tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

1011 SOUTH BOULEVARD

1224 N OAK PARK AVENUE, OAK PARK

1224NOAKPARKAV.INFO

1009 BONNIE BRAE PLACE #5B, RIVER FOREST

1009BONNIEBRAE5B.INFO

Wow! This home has been updated to the 9’s with all new bamboo wood

Set on the top floor this beautiful condo is so bright and airy with wide

flooring and new windows too.

open views.

HASEMAN/CURRAN

•

$599,000

708.606.8896

•

greer.gps@atproperties.com

$539,950

DAN HALPERIN

•

708.848.0200

•

danhalperin@atproperties.com

Stop looking, start finding® atproperties.com

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

HOUSE IN AUSTIN

Want to find out more?

Ideal spot from page 15

a ramp, fire protection and all new electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems. Construction began in January 2020, and by the time it wrapped up that fall, the former single-family home had been transformed into a place where parents and children could gather for music, classes and support. Hunter says that during the construction process, the team discovered a lot about the home’s history. Built in 1897, the home was owned by the Frederick Glenn family from 1903 to 1978. Glenn, a co-founder of West Suburban Hospital, had his office in the home for 58 years. A subsequent owner, Padraic Cunningham, a mental health specialist and therapist, also ran his practice from the home office. Hunter says relatives of Glenn and Cunningham have reached out to share photos and memories of the home. “It just has a good history and a strong history of supporting the community that will live on through A House in Austin,” Hunter said. Today, Kelly-Bell and Martin are co-executive directors of A House in Austin, and Jones serves as a music teacher and sits on the board of directors. Hilgart is happy to

You can get more information about A House in Austin and register for programs at their website, ahouseinaustin.org. During the month of January, AHIA hosts an online fundraiser. Cards for a Cause offers boxed sets of beautifully embellished cards with matching envelopes that can be used for every holiday and occasion. From each $30 purchase, $13 goes directly to support the mission of AHIA. Cards can be purchased on the AHIA website.

COURTESY A HOUSE IN AUSTIN

Parents meet weekly for support groups to take time to recharge. Parents enjoy a meal and have an opportunity to meet other local parents, discuss important parenting topics, learn and be supported. have handed the reins over to experienced parents who have been with the group from the beginning. Kelly-Bell says that even through the

pandemic, A House in Austin has continued to grow. Parent Café meets on Mondays as a time to offer parent support. On Tuesdays, there is a virtual and in-person

Chicago Parent Program, a 12-session evidence-based parenting program for parents of kids between the ages of 2 and 8 designed to meet the needs of culturally and economically diverse parents. February Tuesdays will feature My Fresh Table, a class on making healthy, affordable meals for families. Boppin’ Music for babies and toddlers meets on Wednesdays, and on Thursdays there is a Parent Chat and Fatherhood group. All parent programming correlates with a My Wonder Kids art and reading class, so that parents and children both are learning and enjoying time with their peers at the same time.

CONDOS

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

Sunday, January 16 ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

1176 S. Harvey Ave., Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $240,000 . . . . . Open Sun 1:30-3:30

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

1128 N Harlem Ave., Unit C, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $235,900 . . . . . . . . . . Open Sun 12-2

This Directory brought to you by This Directory brought to you by mrgloans.com mrgloans.com

Providing financing for homes in Oak Park

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

Conventional, FHA, and Jumbo mortgages FHA, and Jumbo mortgages Conventional, Free Pre-approvals Free Pre-approvals

6821W. W.North NorthAvenue Avenue 7544 ElmwoodSuite Park,201 IL Oak Park, IL 708.452.5151 708.452.5151

Mortgage MortgageResource ResourceGroup Group is isan anIllinois IllinoisResidential Residential Mortgage MortgageLicensee. Licensee. NMLS NMLS##207793 207793 License License##1031 1031

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

@ @OakPark

SPORTS Strong second half boosts LT past OPRF boys Mullins leads Huskies with 21 points, 11 in third quarter By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Senior Justin Mullins went on an offensive tear for the Oak Park and River Forest High School boys basketball team Jan. 7 with 11 points in the third quarter at Lyons Township. Unfortunately for the Huskies, those were the only points they scored that period. Lyons Township earned the 74-60 West Suburban Conference Silver Division victory by taking control in the second half after OPRF (7-5, 1-1 in Silver) trimmed a 35-26 deficit to 38-34 by halftime. “I just tried to bring it towards scoring, all of my energy into scoring, so we could get back into the game,” Mullins said. “We just came out kind of slow [in the second half]. We started getting beat on defense and after that they just got a lot of energy and it just went off from there.” Mullins finished with 21 points. Sam Lewis had 15 with an eight-point fourth quarter and John Vincent added six points with 10 rebounds. On its first three possessions of the third quarter, Lyons Township (12-3, 4-1) used Will Carroll’s steal and coast-to-coast layup, Nik Polonowski’s three and a driving layup by Akron recruit Tavari Johnson (25 points, 8 assists) for a 45-34 lead.

“We were pumped up [at halftime]. I don’t know what really happened. They got those first couple of buckets and it got out of control from there,” Mullins said. Mullins’ first third-quarter points came with 5:07 left in the period. LT’s 13-3 run to start the fourth quarter opened a 68-48 advantage. “We didn’t get enough stops, especially in that third quarter. In the second quarter, the last three-and-a-half, four minutes, we got stops, got into transition. We were able to run,” OPRF coach Phil Gary said. “We were feeling fine, all good [at halftime]. We just came out very lethargic in the third quarter. Teams are usually better when they play at home and make all of their shots. And they did a really good job of making all of their shots.” That game against LT began OPRF’s threegame stretch of key Silver games. The Huskies were at Hinsdale Central on Jan. 11 and are home Jan. 14 against top-rated and undefeated Glenbard West (16-0, 3-0), which beat LT for the second time this season 60-28 on Dec. 31 to win York’s Jack Tosh Holiday Classic. Like their games at York, the Lions came out in a man-to-man defense against OPRF and alternated with zone defenses as the game progressed. OPRF led 20-12 in rebounds at halftime with eight by Vincent that included three putback baskets. “We do have some tough games so we definitely have to show up for those,” Mullins said.

SHANEL ROMIAN/Contributor

Justin Mullins (20) paced OPRF with 21 points -- 11 of them in the third quarter -- against Lyons Township, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lions in LaGrange on Jan. 7.

Slow-starting Huskies fall to Lyons Township Lions scored first 16 points, never looked back

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School girls basketball team entered its West Suburban Conference Silver Division home matchup against Lyons Township High School on Jan. 7 feeling confident about making a strong push in the second half of the season. Unfortunately for the Huskies, the Lions had other ideas, scoring the first 16 points of the game en route to a decisive 53-21 victory.

“We didn’t match their intensity to start the game,” said OPRF coach Carlton Rosemond. “We didn’t come out prepared, and that’s on me. We also missed a lot of open shots early, and when you do that and then can’t get stops, you find yourself in a hole.” LTHS senior guard Izzy Lee had a dominant game with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Rosemond knew OPRF would have its work cut out in an effort to contain her. “One of the things I expressed to my players was that they had to battle her,” Rosemond said. “We let her get a feel for the game in the beginning and when you let a player with her caliber get going, she’s go-

ing to get hot, and she stayed hot.” Senior Martha Lipic led OPRF (5-10) in scoring against LTHS with six points, while senior Kennedy Jones and junior Libby Majka each added four points. The Huskies were outrebounded 46-33 and committed 20 turnovers. “We got killed on rebounds. They got all the hustle plays,” Rosemond said. “Our girls have to learn how to do that. They have to ultimately come together and say, ‘We’re going to put ourselves in a position where we want to fight as hard as the other team is fighting against us.’” On Jan. 8, OPRF put forth a much better

showing, but lost at Glenbard West 33-30. Rosemond feels the Huskies will give themselves a better chance of competing if they can get off to faster starts. “Hopefully we can learn from [LTHS] and don’t get off to slow starts. That seems to be our MO,” he said. “We’re still battling and working, and we’re going to keep pushing.” OPRF started a stretch of four consecutive home conference games Jan. 11 (postdeadline) with Hinsdale Central. The Huskies will also host York (Jan. 13), Glenbard West (Jan. 15) and Downers Grove North (Jan. 18) over the next week.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M. Call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com

VIEWPOINTS

IGov, composed of two representatives each from the village, public library, park district, township, and school districts 97 and 200, today begins a monthly column on a very timely and important topic. ustainability: This buzzword means, at its core, efforts humans and their institutions make to protect the environment, to ensure that life on our planet continues to thrive far into the future. In Oak Park, this idea has had broad impact. In particular, our taxing bodies are taking measures and sharing ideas intended to make sustainability a lens through which all their projects and activities are considered. Recently, for instance, the village of Oak Park has taken the following actions: 1) Hired a firm to, among other things, get the word out to villagers about the free energy audits conducted by Commonwealth Edison, which can pinpoint places in their homes that are costing money and wasting energy. For example, so many of our homes are graced with drafty old windows, losing heat in the winter and air conditioning in summer. 2) In addition, the village is providing grants to low-income renters, landlords and homeowners for energy retrofits, as well as rebates for rooftop solar. In collaboration with the village, IGov held its fall forum in September, focusing on sustainability. Through IGov, each of Oak Park’s taxing bodies works together to provide the community with more informed and responsive government — discussing issues, sharing information, building relationships and holding forums on topics of interest to the community. At this well-attended Zoom forum, several groups, from the park district to Com Ed to the president of Oak Park and River Forest High School’s Environmental Club presented information both on their sustainability activities, and also ideas community members could use to improve their own efforts — everything from participation in the village’s composting program to having an energy audit of their home. School District 97 has reported a large number of ways they are working to make their operations more sustainable, including: using a digital backpack for communication with school families, significantly reducing the amount of paper used; reducing waste from the cafeterias, including recycling and composting in all 10 buildings, no longer using plastic-wrapped utensils, and switching to a three-week cycle of menus, which reduces food waste from unpopular items and increases inventory efficiency; installing LED lighting in all new additions and retrofitting it in others as the budget allows; and adding storm water retention tanks at Longfellow and Lincoln, and permeable pavers at the administration building’s parking lot. We can do many sustainable things in our own homes: print on both sides of the paper; replace light bulbs with LEDs; when we order takeout, ask that they not include plastic-wrapped singleuse utensils; and use a compost bin in your garden, or participate in the village’s composting program.

IGOV

The return of Shrubtown! p. 21

PRO AND CON

S U S T A I N  A B I L I T Y

Saving the planet … at the local level

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

This is the project to get behind

The impact of 7 Van Buren could be generational

n Tuesday, the village board will decide whether to approve the Oak Park Residence Corporation’s proposed mixed-income, net-zero-energy was saddened and disappointed to hear of the apartment project at 7 Van Buren St. The Plan commissioners approving the application benefits of recent development to our village’s at 7 Van Buren. One of the reasons for approvvitality, vibrancy, and tax base are undeniable. But 7 ing the application is that it was determined the Van Buren is a different kind of project, one that would proposed building was not detrimental to the represent a triumph of Oak Park’s values in the develsurrounding property or their value. In regard to opment arena. This project embodies what Oak Park the residents of the Poley strives to be. The board should building on Austin Boulevote yes on this proposal. vard directly adjacent to the Affordable. Sustainable. Acproposed building I respectcessible. Equitable. Pick your fully disagree. Oak Park value of choice: 7 When one purchases a Van Buren hits the mark on home, they should have the each of these in a way that few reasonable expectation that projects have or can, and does their home should be able to minimally retain the valso in an Austin Boulevard location that has not seen ue of the purchase price of their property. However, such meaningful investment in at least 50 years. The when an over 83-foot wall is built next to your home, building will produce as much energy as it consumes; at a distance of 9 feet from building wall to building will offer 20% of units as affordable, a standard that wall, it will undoubtis considered best pracedly have a negative tice for positive ecovalue on the property nomic integration; and value. Over 60% of all will provide an elevator of the natural light and senior-friendly will be severely imlevel of accessibility pacted by the proposed — a combination of building, which will attributes that is, quite be twice the height of simply, an astonishing that building and will achievement for the greatly affect the value Residence Corporation of their homes. If the and for the village of proposed building Oak Park. were built closer or in The 7 Van Buren code on height this building will be transitPROVIDED BY OAK PARK RESIDENCE CORPORATION impact would not be oriented. Accessible to YAY OR NAY?: Proposed new development at 7 Van Buren St. felt as greatly, espeboth the Austin Blue cially to the garden on Austin Boulevard. Line station and to and first floor units. multiple bus stops, the How the garbage is building will be marketed by the Residence Corporabeing handled will also have an impact on some of the tion to prospects who do not, or need not, own automoPoley building’s home values. The garbage recepbiles. The building will be an economic catalyst, bringtacles will be lined up against the south wall feet away ing with it the potential for more investment and retail from the lot line. This is the only proposed building in services to a gateway area that is ripe for that boost. recent memory that has not had its waste receptacles And the building will be beautiful, bringing a modern enclosed within the building structure. The refuse and eco-friendly aesthetic to the eastern border of our will be feet away from the entry door to the garden village. unit at the Poley building and will be readily smelled Is the 7 Van Buren building perfect? Of course not. by everyone when the windows are opened, not to Plan commissioners (who deserve heaps of praise for mention exacerbating the rodent issues. Hard to show their thoughtful, thorough, and patient review of this and sell your home when the “curb appeal” is walking proposal) expressed reservations with waste handling, past at least half a dozen commercial dumpsters. right-of-way acquisition, building size, and the amount They may not be able to retain the value of their of on-site parking. But the building’s waste managehomes on purchase price, let alone any investments ment plan is code-compliant; the acquisition of rightmade or equity they would reasonably hope to have of-way is minor and not uncommon; and the building gained.

AMANDA AUSTIN

JOHN LYNCH

One View

See LYNCH on page 22

See AUSTIN on page 22

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

O U R

My loss, my gain

V I E W S

Be like Betty

t was early in December when Wednesday Journal put in a call to Jeff Witjas in LA. We’d been told he was Betty White’s longtime agent and her friend. We were surprised when he came on the line to hear about our nascent plans to celebrate the life of Betty White in her hometown of Oak Park, Illinois. Any chance of an interview? No, he said, Ms. White had stopped giving interviews and making personal appearances almost a year back, when she turned 99. Any legal concerns with our using Betty White images at our planned event? “Well, you’re doing this in a positive way, right? So no concerns.” And he asked us to stay in touch and let him know how it all unfolded. “I’ll tell Betty about it when I see her. I think she’ll be tickled that her hometown is celebrating her birthday.” Of course, the world knows that Betty White died on New Year’s Eve, three weeks shy of her 100th. The response to her death has been enormous, free flowing, filled with warmth and joy. Here in her hometown, a village that mostly didn’t realize it was Betty White’s hometown since she departed as a toddler, the response has also been generous and loving. As we pivoted under the leadership of our Lourdes Nicholls and Melissa Elsmo, from a birthday party to a celebration of a truly great life, the local connections kept surfacing and are now built into our 24-page Be Like Betty special section. We knew our onetime WJ salesperson Kelly Schumann had gone to Hollywood and had a recurring role on Hot in Cleveland with White. She wanted to talk. We found out that Cindy Fee, then an Oak Parker and now a River Forester, recorded the Golden Girls theme song “Thank You for Being a Friend.” She wanted to sing on our podcast and at our event this Saturday. The fellow who made the cheesecakes on the Golden Girls, George Geary, had a connection to Oak Park through Frank Lloyd Wright and wanted to talk and to share his cheesecake recipe. We’ll be live streaming the event Saturday morning from outside the Lake Theatre. Stay warm at home and enjoy the show. Or come on out and get some Red Vines, Betty’s favorite dessert. Whatever you do, don’t miss the centerspread of the special section which is, of course, a fabulous poster of Betty White created by our Andy Mead. Finally, in this confused and tumultuous world we’d all do better if we were more like Betty White.

River Forest engages on diversity We’ve never given our Villager of the Year recognition to a group as large as River Forest’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ad hoc committee. But its 43 members dwarf the 16 locals we recognized a year ago as critical helpers in what was then the height of the COVID pandemic. We have watched with interest, respect and, yes, some surprise as River Forest has sincerely begun in recent years to think about, talk about, and, most critically, listen to voices of diversity in the village while also engaging with its neighbors in Maywood, a historically Black community. Equity efforts at the District 90 public schools have been impressive and sometimes necessarily uncomfortable. The ongoing work of the DEI committee will also bring discomfort along with many opportunities. Our thanks to the DEI Committee and to all of the River Forest village leadership for its efforts.

Something’s lost, but something’s gained, in living every day.

Joni Mitchell

Both Sides Now

osing weight is probably America’s #1 New Year’s resolution. It may also be the #1 failed New Year’s resolution. There is plenty of advice floating around about dieting and weight loss. Most of it, I’m told, works temporarily or not at all. I don’t have advice to offer, but I have some experience. Over the past six months, I lost 15 pounds. Here’s how I did it: I got through 69 years without ever attempting “a diet.” But for many years I wanted to lose weight. I was sick of looking at the gradually expanding girth around my waist in the bathroom mirror every day and really disliked the idea of simply surrendering to it. Finally, at the age of 69, I had a “now or never” moment and decided “now” was much better than “never.” There were other motivators (gastro-intestinal, cholesterol, etc.) and I thought weight loss, or more specifically a healthier direction for my food intake, might make a difference. In other words, I was ready for a change. More than ready, eager. A permanent change. I never wanted to go back to the way things were. It wasn’t working. I had a goal weight in mind but no deadline and I wasn’t in a hurry to get there, so I didn’t feel a lot of pressure. I also had a friend who wanted to lose weight. Mutual support helps. She was having success with Noom online, so I piggybacked onto that. I didn’t feel disciplined enough to follow their approach to the letter, but I checked with her on calories and paid attention to the three categories (green, yellow and red). But first, I bought a scale. I hadn’t owned one in years and never weighed myself. Getting the scale was a tangible act that said I was serious about this. Weighing myself each morning reinforced the commitment. I kept track, writing it down, starting July 21. Intentional changes to my routine followed — foremost was drinking more water. I have to force myself because I’m almost never thirsty. So I have to remind myself, and if that doesn’t work, my dieting partner nudges me. I feel better when I drink more water, but I have to go to the bathroom more often, especially at my age. So be it. Next, smaller portions. Overeating was causing my G.I. distress, so I was highly motivated to eat less and, as they say, enjoy it more. I pay a price every time I overeat, so it’s not that hard to keep up my resolve. I started saying “No” more often. No to chocolate, No to the second (or third) glass of wine, No to wine altogether as often as possible, No to a second helping,

No to as many of the “extras” as I could. I wasn’t puritanical about it. As I write this, I’m coming off a night with friends where I didn’t say No enough, but it’s a good reminder to get back on track. When I weigh myself next, the numbers will motivate me. I try not to get emotional about the weighin. I know the numbers will go up and down, especially since I allow myself some indulgences, so I don’t let it upset me. But if I go up 2 pounds, I feel much more determined not to go up 3, and, in fact, to go back down. Eating more vegetables and less meat, less salt (and higher sodium prepared foods), fewer desserts, less bread, etc., all this is reinforcing because I feel better and I like feeling better. Exercise is essential. Bike-riding and long walks in the summer and fall were critical to dropping weight. This month, the severe weather has kept me inside, so my progress stalled. Fasting occasionally also helps. Nothing dramatic, just skipping a meal from time to time. After an indulgent evening, I often skip breakfast the next morning. Or dinner after a bigger lunch. I enjoy being hungry. It’s a clean, healthy feeling. I have a weakness for sweets, but fruit and lighter confections like the meringues at Trader Joe’s help allay cravings. Success is reinforcing. The numbers zigzag, but they have zigzagged downward overall. Finally doing this makes me feel good about myself by doing something good for myself. I’ve lost about 15 pounds, going from the high 170s to the low 160s, and the difference is noticeable. Not in how I look because I wasn’t visibly obese. I haven’t been this light since college. Fifteen pounds may not sound like a lot, but pick up a 15-pound weight sometime. Not carrying that around is a relief. My knees are happier. I have more energy. I even challenged my 8-year-old grandson, Bryce, to a race. He almost beat me, but I just loved running again. I don’t like jogging, but I love to flat-out run. I was lucky that I didn’t injure myself, but it felt great, even as my body was shouting, “You’re too old to be doing this!” For a moment, I felt young again. There’s still a little girth to lose around my waist, so I remain committed. But this isn’t an obsession. It is, however, a permanent change, a conversion, and I’m not sure sustained weight loss is possible without that. I have no desire to go back to the “old days” of overeating and unhealthy habits. It doesn’t feel like deprivation. I don’t know if any of this works for you, but I offer it in case it helps you firm up your resolve, heading into your weight-loss journey. Sometimes loss is a good thing, and gain not so good. But with loss, you just might gain a better feeling about yourself.

KEN

TRAINOR

V I E W P O I N T S S H R U B T O W N

by Marc Stopeck

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Equity Editor/Ombudsman Michael Romain Digital Publishing and Technology Manager Briana Higgins Staff Reporters Stacey Sheridan, F. Amanda Tugade Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Food Editor Melissa Elsmo Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Business Manager Joyce Minich Marketing Representatives Marc Stopeck, Lourdes Nicholls Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Development & Sales Coordinator Stacy Coleman Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

A G I N G

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

D I S G R A C E F U L L Y

My West Side Story

t’s hard to believe it was 60 years ago that I saw the original road show of West Side Story in the Loop at the Erlanger Theatre, one of the buildings later torn down to build the Daley Center. A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to be able to take one of my granddaughters to see the remake of the movie version of West Side Story at The Lake. It was wonderful. I loved every moment. She, on the other hand, was polite … West Side Story is a masterpiece of musical theater. And why not: story by Shakespeare, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by a very young Stephen Sondheim, choreography by Jerome Robbins and book by Arthur Laurents. It’s Romeo and Juliet set in mid-1950s gang warfare on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York. I was young (so was Rita Moreno!), home from the University of Illinois for winter break (I’m guessing it was called something like Christmas Holiday back then). The music from West Side Story had played endlessly on 33 1/3 records from almost every room in Busey Hall. In the showers and hallways we sang a badly accented “I Want to Be in America.” We also wafted down the hallways singing “Maria.” Who wouldn’t

want to be called “The most beautiful girl in the world?” It was so cold in Urbana that winter that my long ponytail often froze: between showers, swimming class, and walking back and forth to class. Hats didn’t work with pony tails. My boyfriend at the time, now deceased, took me to see West Side Story as my Christmas gift. He was living at home and a student at the University of Chicago (at that time, the men wore shirts and ties to class). For this very special Christmas gift, I bought a new dress at Marshall Field: a white wool sheath with a jacket that had gold buttons down the front. I had seen it in the Tribune and my mother said yes, despite the fact that it cost $25! Our tickets were in a box close to the stage and we held hands. It seems unbelievable now, but we had parked on the street not far from the theater. We felt safe. As we were fogging up the car windows after the show, a policeman came up and told us to move on. We called him Officer Kruppke, but not out loud; this was the era when it never occurred to young people to disrespect a policeman. At least not us.

MARY KAY O’GRADY

About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY

■ 250-word limit

■ 500-word limit

■ Must include first and last names,

■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,

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

■ Signature details as at left

your connection to the topic

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

H O W

T O

R E A C H

U S

ADDRESS 141 S Oak Park Ave., Oak ParkIL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-5248300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00. A one-year subscription costs $43 within Cook County and $53 outside of Cook County. Advertising rates may be obtained by calling our office. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, IL (USPS 10138). Postmaster, send address corrections to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Il 60302. © 2022 Growing Community Media, NFP.

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Post office: shovel your sidewalks! Why — after receiving a reminder sent to all residents from the village of Oak Park that all sidewalks should be shoveled — did the main post office neglect to shovel sidewalks and stairs along the entire Lake Street side? Trying to walk on this side of the building, with two entrances and the disability ramp, was and is very dangerous. This area also has a bus stop, a crosswalk and three drop boxes. A call to local police produced no re-

sults. Does one have to wait until someone is seriously injured and an ambulance is called before village officials or police officers take notice? Checking inside the post office is not an option. Official offices are always closed. Postal workers at the windows are overwhelmed by long lines of customers, so I’m not certain anyone is in charge!

Joan Meister

Local resident and frequent user of post office services and sidewalks

Boiled icing or coleslaw? I love the holidays, especially making and eating traditional family items. My all-time favorite is angel food cake with my great grandma’s boiled icing. For the umpteenth year, however, I have omitted her homemade coleslaw. I ate it for years; I don’t care for it. I get to choose my menu items. Unlike my holiday meals, current events foisted equity into my daily life. I can no longer avoid it, so I’ve chosen to educate myself about it. I can consume and even embrace the loudest interpretation of equity — the USA is inherently oppressive — or I can nibble on and even develop a voracious appetite for an alternative paradigm: The USA provides the greatest opportunities for everyone! Ibram X. Kendi and Nikole HannahJones receive an awful lot of attention. They have written some tantalizing books and papers.

LYNCH

Worthy of support from page 19 size is fully within the goals articulated in a 2003 “Character Plan” commissioned by the village for this and other commercial districts. Yes, the amount of parking provided onsite is below what the village has approved in recent years. But the likelihood that a prospective renter in need of parking would still choose to rent in this building if all the indoor spaces and all nearby parking lots were completely full is not high. Sure, a few such renters may disagree and take their chances with street parking, but that number is likely to be in the single digits at best. In fact, if the Center for Neighborhood Technologies is correct that demand for parking in this building is likely to be around 15 spaces, the number of tenants looking for off-site spaces may, in fact, be zero.

I’ve read some other scholarly works too. Bob Woodson is my favorite. I particularly appreciate his book Red, White, and Black and often click on his 1776 Unites reading list. Carol Swain’s work is listed on the 1766 Unites reading list. I found her book Black Eye for America very compelling. I also really like Thomas Sowell’s works, especially Charter Schools and Their Enemies. Charles Love’s Race Crazy has brought me great insight into equity messaging. Lastly, my favorite podcast host is John Anthony. He also hosts a radio show on AM-560. Equity will be part of my life for the foreseeable future. I consume a variety of perspectives to decide if boiled icing or coleslaw best fits my appetite.

Mindy Credi

River Forest The 7 Van Buren project is possible because the Oak Park Residence Corporation is a not-for-profit entity and is undeterred by a project that will not generate financial returns. The ambitious sustainability and affordability goals here preclude this development from being a viable privatesector project without significant public subsidy. As a result, there is no better Plan B waiting in the wings; not by the Residence Corporation, and certainly not in the private development market. And to be clear, there is no village subsidy here. This is the project to get behind. The village board knows, the Plan Commission has stated, and I understand that this project isn’t perfect. But it is better than good. It is very, very good, and we should all be wary of holding this project to a standard that somehow eliminates every imperfection while still accomplishing everything this project does. That project doesn’t exist. This project does, and it is worthy of the board’s support. John Lynch is executive director of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Make 7 Van Buren truly affordable

t was interesting to read in a previous Wednesday Journal the letter written by Wayne Pierce, board chair of the Oak Park Residence Corporation, titled “What the Residence Corporation stands for.” ResCorp has a long and significant history within the village of Oak Park. But what needs to be explained is how the proposed building at 7 Van Buren fits and meets ResCorp’s stated mission and purpose. Per their tax forms, which state, “The organization was established to promote the progress and general welfare of the residents of the Village of Oak Park, Illinois by improving or causing to be improved substandard Oak Park housing stock and developing projects and activities for the prevention and elimination of blight.” Nowhere in this mission statement does it state that ResCorp is a developer, that it is in the business of constructing new developments, or that their purpose is to construct new, luxury housing. How does the role of developer fit with their mission? It does not. While ResCorp argues that it is providing affordable housing within this proposed building, it actually is creating a de facto loss of three affordable units at this location. The remaining 36 units will be rented at market rate — and an expensive one at that. These units will be priced at 90-95% of the market rate of Class A buildings, such as the pricier luxury apartments in downtown Oak Park. The price a renter was paying for a two-bedroom apartment ($1,200, including utilities) at the current building will not pay for the smallest studio apartment at the proposed

building. The average rent at the proposed building will be $1,795, not including utilities or parking. This rent is considerably higher than most other ResCorp units in the area (average rents are $985 to $1,145) and other apartments in the neighborhood. In fact, a large twobedroom apartment on the 900 block of South Humphrey (one block away) rents for $1,335 versus a two-bedroom unit in the proposed building that will average $2,304.50 — $1000 a month more. So how do apartments that cost $500-$800 a month more than anything else in the neighborhood create more affordable housing? ResCorp is creating apartments that are, in fact, much less affordable. ResCorp says it wants to invest in the area and construct a new building at 7 Van Buren. That is fine, but build it within code, and build one that actually provides affordable apartments. The AMI proposed for this building is 60%, with its tenants required to use 33% of their income for rent, and that does not include utilities. If ResCorp truly wants to provide affordable housing, it should have an AMI that is renting at a lower threshold to provide housing for those most in need of affordable rents. Construct a building that has a higher percentage of its units dedicated as affordable and set the rent of the market rate units at an amount that is more financially accessible to a larger population of people. We would gladly welcome truly affordable and financially accessible housing, just as this neighborhood has done for decades. Frank Vozak is an Oak Park resident.

FRANK VOZAK

One View

AUSTIN

Impact on neighbors from page 19 This is an especially salient issue considering the demographics of the Poley building. Of the six units on floors 1-3, four are owned by minority families. The racial wealth gap will only be increased by this proposed building. Why should it be acceptable that the generational wealth of four minority families is completely upended by this development? These are the very people we should be protecting. This will affect them not just for a few years but for decades. If they have less equity in their homes, they have less means by which to increase their financial stability. The equity they have in their homes determines so much — it’s the money they will use to send their children to college, to start their own businesses, to retire with, or be able to reinvest in this community. These homes

were hard won by these minority families and it seems particularly unfortunate that they will suffer financial setbacks because of the proposed building. The seniors who own homes in the Poley building will also be placed in a precarious financial situation. They have far less time to recover the financial loss they will endure, should medical needs or other events precipitate it. For most seniors, their property is their greatest asset and their last line of defense and safety net. If the proposed building were built within the village code or closer to it, value would be preserved. This area of Austin Boulevard is zoned to heights that are already higher to accommodate multifamily buildings so it is not unreasonable to ask that the developer remain close to those standards. If this building were constructed differently those losses could be mitigated not just in the short term but for their generational wealth that have implications for decades. Amanda Austin is an Oak Park resident.

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS

2022 Scavenger Sale

COOK COUNTY DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAX LIST

THE SCAVENGER SALE BEGINS ON

OFFICE OF THE COOK COUNTY TREASURER AND EX-OFFICIO COUNTY COLLECTOR OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

LEGAL NOTICE

Schedule

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Cook County Scavenger Sale Notice to Property Owners 2022 Scavenger Sale Schedule and Delinquent Real Estate Tax List

AT 8:00 A.M. THE SALE WILL RUN UNTIL 3:00 P.M. EACH SCHEDULED DAY. DAILY HOURS MAY BE EXTENDED AS NEEDED.

This legal notice includes a list of real estate parcels in Cook County on which property taxes for 3 or more years are listed as delinquent and subject to sale as of Friday, December 17, 2021.

WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN JANUARY 14, 2022 AND FEBRUARY 4, 2022.

SPECIAL NOTE: This list may include some properties on which the taxes were paid subsequent to the list’s preparation. It is the property owner’s responsibility to verify the current status of payment.

FOR REGISTRATION INFORMATION, VISIT

Under Illinois law, properties having delinquent real estate taxes on 3 or more years must be offered for sale by the Cook County Treasurer’s Office. IF YOUR PROPERTY IS LISTED IN THIS NOTICE FOR SALE OF DELINQUENT REAL ESTATE TAXES, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO TAKE ACTION SO THAT YOUR TAXES ARE NOT SOLD. CONTACT THE COOK COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE at 118 NORTH CLARK – ROOM 434, TO OBTAIN THE INFORMATION NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE PAYMENT. The Scavenger Sale is scheduled to begin on Monday, February 14, 2022. The sale of taxes will result in a lien against the property that will add, at a minimum, hundreds of dollars in fees to the amount currently due. Sale of the tax and subsequent failure by the owner to redeem (pay) may result in the owner’s loss of legal title to the property. For information on the Scavenger Sale, please visit our website at www.cookcountytreasurer.com.

TAX BUYER REGISTRATION

WWW.COOKCOUNTYTREASURER.COM OR CONTACT THE TREASURER’S OFFICE.

Date

Volume

Townships

February 14, 2022 February 15, 2022 February 16, 2022

001-021 022-044 045-199

February 17, 2022 February 18, 2022 February 22, 2022 February 23, 2022 February 24, 2022 February 25, 2022

200-210 211-259 260-298 299-426 427-457 458-601

Barrington, Berwyn, Bloom Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Cicero Cicero, Elk Grove, Evanston, Hanover, Lemont, Leyden, Lyons, Maine, New Trier, Niles, Northfield, Norwood Park, Oak Park, Orland, Palatine, Palos, Proviso, Rich, River Forest, Riverside, Schaumburg, Stickney, Thornton Thornton Thornton, Wheeling, Worth, Hyde Park Hyde Park Hyde Park, Jefferson, Lake Lake Lake, Lake View, North Chicago, Rogers Park, South Chicago, West Chicago

March 1, 2022

Reoffer

Advertisement and Notice by Collector of Cook County of Application for Judgment and Order of Sale of Lands and Lots upon which All or a Part of the General Taxes for 3 or More Years are Delinquent, as provided by law.

COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS January 12 – January 13, 2022. NOTICE is hereby given that the said Collector of Cook County, Illinois, will apply to the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois on Monday, January 31, 2022, for judgment against all lands and lots hereinafter described as being parcels upon which 3 or more years of general real estate taxes remain due and unpaid along with interest and costs, and for an order of sale of said lands and lots in accordance with law. Final entry of said order will be sought on Thursday, Feburary 10, 2022. NOTICE is further given that in the event an order of sale is entered as provided above, on the 14th day of Feburary, 2022 at the hour of 8:00 a.m., all said lands and lots hereinafter described for sale for which an order shall have been made, will be exposed to public sale at 69 W. Washington Street 22nd Floor Conference Room G & H, in Chicago, Illinois, for the amount of taxes, interest, and costs due thereon, respectively. The following is a list of delinquent properties in Cook County upon which the general taxes or any part thereof for 3 or more years remain due and unpaid; the name(s) of the owners, if known; the property location; the total amount due thereon; and the years for which the taxes are due.

DELINQUENT PROPERTY TAX LIST as of 12/17/21 TAXPAYER NAME

PROPERTY ADDRESS

VOL CUR REAL ESTATE INDEX CLASS FROM YEAR TO YEAR TAX AMOUNT INTEREST

TOTAL

TOWNSHIP OF OAK PARK OAK PARK - RESIDENTIAL VALERIE VILUMIS IREA WALKER TAXPAYER OF THE SAWYERS & LERNER B FERNAND L FORTIER RUBY DEVELOPMENT CO YVETTE SPENCER

644 HARRISON 603 N CUYLER 721 WOODBINE 1124 LAKE 938 NORTH 240 S MARION 222 WASHINGTON

017 138 140 141 141 141 142

16-18-226-036-1021 16-05-315-028-0000 16-06-310-022-0000 16-07-119-033-1087 16-07-128-032-1001 16-07-309-046-0000 16-08-314-043-1033

2-99 2-05 2-41 2-99 2-99 2-41 2-99

11 12 02 14 02 15 02

15 17 18 18 14 18 17

$1,416.61 $29,009.41 $1,144.59 $1,637.24 $15,705.62 $570.96 $3,732.01

$1,222.21 $18,887.99 $1,296.59 $600.54 $21,930.58 $220.02 $4,510.94

$2,638.82 $47,897.40 $2,441.18 $2,237.78 $37,636.20 $790.98 $8,242.95

139

16-06-204-005-0000

5-92

$116,774.78

$55,739.88

$172,514.66

140 144

16-06-317-040-0000 16-18-109-038-0000

1-00 1-00

01 03

18 18

$633.03 $776.78

$514.41 $807.46

$1,147.44 $1,584.24

145

16-18-302-008-0000

2-01

$2,300.70

$2,785.86

$5,086.56

OAK PARK - COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL ROBERT & MARCELLA GRAY

6549 NORTH

OAK PARK - VACANT LAND PAULINA PLACE TOWNHME TTA INVESTMENTS INC

1133 PAULINA 641 S MAPLE

UNKNOWN - RESIDENTIAL TAXPAYER OF

1037 UNKNOWN

Published by order of

MARIA PAPPAS

County Collector of Cook County, Illinois

Please note, where an “E” indicator appears immediately before a PIN in the column marked “CUR”, the real estate corresponding to said PIN may currently not be subject to taxation or may currently be owned by a governmental agency whose interest in the property may not be defeated by a tax deed. With respect to parcels bearing an “E” (may be currently exempt) indicator, tax purchasers are encouraged to further investigate the taxable status of such a parcel before purchasing the delinquent taxes at the sale. When the tax sale of a currently exempt parcel is vacated, the final result may be a refund without interest. Where an asterisk appears immediately before a PIN in the column marked “CUR”, the real estate corresponding to said PIN may have been sold at a previous sale of delinquent taxes. In lieu of a legal description, each parcel of land or lot is designated by a Property Index Number (PIN). Comparison of the 14-digit PIN with the legal description of any parcel may be made by referring to records that are maintained in the Cook County Clerk’s Offices. The delinquent taxes on the parcels offered for sale are described solely by their Property Index Number (PIN), and NOT the common street address. Street addresses and classifications of the property listed on the sale list as of the date of sale are not guaranteed to be accurate. The Treasurer’s Office does not guarantee or assume responsibility of any kind, implied or otherwise, as to the accuracy of street addresses or property classifications, or as to the legal status or physical condition of the properties. It is the responsibility of each tax buyer to perform proper research to determine the property location, classification, nature, and condition of any property or improvements prior to the sale. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. NO TAX BUYER IS ELIGIBLE TO OBTAIN A TAX DEED FOR ANY PROPERTY OWNED BY A UNIT OF GOVERNMENT. IF AND WHEN THE TAX SALE OF SUCH PROPERTY IS VACATED, THE RESULT MAY BE A REFUND WITHOUT INTEREST. Published by order of MARIA PAPPAS County Collector of Cook County, Illinois

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

O B I T U A R I E S

Mona McNeese, 88

Principal in Oak Park and Elmhurst Born in the depths of the Great Depression in Toledo, Ohio on July 12, 1933, Ramona C. “Mona” McNeese led a rich and full life that included becoming the first female principal in Oak Park Elementary District 97 and earning her PhD in Public Policy Analysis at age 53 from the University of Illinois Chicago. After graduating from the University of Toledo with a bachelor’s degree in 1955, this trailblazer took her first-ever flight to Japan where she married and worked as a substitute teacher on an Army base. Following this stint in Sendai, Japan, she moved to Oak Park and started her career as a beloved kindergarten teacher at Lincoln School. As a full-time working mom, she managed to earn two master’s degrees and served as the principal at Whittier School before accepting positions as principal of Madison then Jackson schools in Elmhurst District 205. Upon her retirement in 1995, she continued to devote her time and talents to help her three grandsons grow and prosper. She was also an active volunteer and Deputy Committee Woman with the Democratic Party of Oak Park where she once “babysat” for Malia and Sasha Obama while Michelle was busy campaigning for then State Senator Barack Obama. In addition to her political activities, she managed to read all the Pulitzer Prize books and this accomplishment was featured in a Chicago Tribune column by Mary Schmich. She also enjoyed traveling the world with her husband, James, who she married in 1976. Mona is preceded in death by her husband, Dr. James McNeese, as well as her sister Ardis (George) Wollenweber, Kenneth

(Carol) Leininger and Albert N. Leininger. She leaves behind a blended family that includes children Robin (Joseph Picone) Zimmerman, Dana (Michael) Murphy, Amy McNeese, and Terry (Karen) McNeese. She is also survived by her three beloved grandsons, Tom (Lauren Meleney), Dan (Carly Neville) and Jack (Kelly Hickey) Murphy, and her brother, Paul (Sherri) Leininger. Her family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff of Artis Senior Living of Elmhurst and Kindred Hospice, who took such wonderful care of her this past year before her death on Jan. 7th, 2022. A memorial service will be held at Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Oak Park on Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association are suggested.

Tesse Donnelly, 91

Community action at a fever pitch Mary Therese “Tesse” Donnelly, 91, completed her life on Jan. 4, 2022, in her home, surrounded by family. Born on Oct. 20, 1930, she was originally from St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Vincent and Theresa McNulty Hartigan and older sister to Vincent Emmet and Helen Patrice Hartigan. After attending Fontbonne College in her home state, she transferred to the College of New Rochelle, in New York. An active member of the Young Christian Students and the National Students Association, she served as chair of the latter’s MissouriKansas region in 1949 and continued her education at the University of Chicago, studying under Yves Simon, earning her master’s degree in history. At the time, she was the only woman enrolled in the university’s graduate history program. It was during her time at the University of Chicago that she met the

Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory Kevin Kopicki

3117 S Oak Park Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402 (708) 788- 7775

man she would marry, Bill Donnelly. Together, they led a household of five children in Oak Park, and right into the fray of public life. She maintained a fever pitch of community action. From the La Leche League, to a 1970s women’s consciousnessraising group, to a Friday “Lauds” women’s prayer group, to “Limina” a women’s spirituality organization, she worked with women to foster mutual flourishing. During the ’70s, she was active in the Open Housing movement in Oak Park, which focused on retraining realestate agents to prevent racial steering and encouraged Black home-seekers to live in the village. She served on the board of the C.G. Jung Institute in Evanston, for a time as its president, and was a founding member of Arbor West Neighbors and the Experimental Program at Oak Park and River Forest High School. As often as her activism drew her from the home into the world, she would bring the world into her home, inviting guests to join them for gatherings characterized by ritual and song. As founding members of the St. Giles Family Mass Community, the Donnellys also hosted Mass in their home. An avid organic gardener, she delighted in visits from all manner of birds to her always-full birdfeeder. Asked how she would like to be remembered, she replied, “As someone who cared.” Her life and legacy provide abundant evidence of that. Tesse was the wife of Bill Donnelly, M.D. who predeceased her in 2016. She is survived by her children, Thomas (Anne Wicker), John, Theresa (John Irwin), Patrick (Jessica Daniels), and Maura (Matthew O’Halloran); and her grandchildren Claude, Ambrose, Liam, Lucy, Gabriel, Beatrice, Fiona, Finnbar, Ronan, and Emmett. Visitation was held on Jan. 7 at Salerno’s Galewood Chapel. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Jan. 8 at St. Giles Catholic Church in Oak Park. Save the date: Memorial for Tesse on Saturday May 28. If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Arbor West Neighbors (arborwestneighbors.org). Their mailing address is P.O. Box 1584, Oak Park, IL 60304-1584. Arbor West’s mission is to support and enrich aging through community building and advocacy. They are a 501 (c)3 and donations are tax deductible.

Colleen Clow, 54 A passion for puzzles

Colleen Marie Clow, 54, a lifetime Oak Parker, died on Jan. 2, 2022, after a courageous fight with cancer. She attended elementary school at both Beye and St. Edmund, is a 1985 graduate of Trinity High School and earned her BA at Dominican University. Both talented and creative. She spent the bulk of her career working as an IT professional, but her true passion was solving puzzles of any kind — sudoku, crosswords and jigsaws being some of her favorites. She could not be beat at Scrabble or any card games requiring strategy. She loved crafts and used her imagination to create works of art out of almost any object. Her creations were unbeatable at the St. Giles Family Mass annual coloring contest that her mother and sisters were a part of for many decades. The best gift-giver, her gifts always brought joy into the lives of her friends and family members. She was always incredibly generous. Colleen is preceded in death by her parents Harry Sr. and Sally (Schaefer) Clow and her first fur baby Danny Boy. She is survived by her aunt, Patricia (Schaefer) Fiorini, and her siblings, Harry Jr. (Maura Harding), Kevin (Jen Cote), Gabby, and Kelly (Mike Rabichow) as well as her fur babies, Tom and Jerry. She is also survived by her 14 nieces and nephews: Peter Clow, Michaela Clow, Harry Clow III, Maeve Clow, Richard Clow, Sally Clow, Anna Clow, Elizabeth Clow, George Clow, Michael Rabichow, Madeline Rabichow, Schaefer Estrada, Grace Estrada and Alice Olsen. A funeral Mass celebrating her life will be held on Friday, Jan. 21 at 10 a.m. at St. Giles Church in Oak Park. It will also be live-streamed for those who would be more comfortable participating from home, due to the pandemic. To access the link, please visit https://www.petersonfuneralhome. com/obituary/colleen-clow.

W E D N E S D A Y

Eric Kopicki

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

To run an obituary An affordable option

Se habla Español

Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, Please include a photo if possible.

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Growing Community Media

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI Deadline is Monday at 5:00 p.m.

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

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job. DEFINITION To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing. SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES: Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Essential duties and responsibilities 1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture. 2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays. 3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers. 4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management. 5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software. 6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system. 7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review. 8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning. 9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs. 10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,



software and other forms of systems and data. 11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training. 12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling. 13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions. Other important responsibilities and duties 1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures. 2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports. 3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies. 4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems. 5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations. 6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner. 7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing. 8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required. QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis. Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android. Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology. Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down. Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant. Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts. Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment. Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages. Ability to: Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following: - Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time - Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance - Working in and around computer equipped vehicles Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others. Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance. Work overtime as operations require. Experience and Training Guidelines Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking. Possession of a valid Illinois Driver License is required at the time of appointment. Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred. WORKING CONDITIONS Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.





ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HR AND RACIAL EQUITY The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Director of HR and Racial Equity in the Human Resources Department. This newly created position supports the management of activities and operations of the Human Resources Department and collaboratively develops and drives an organization-wide racial equity and social justice strategy, ensuring timely execution of objectives, and continuously monitoring the progress towards reaching milestones. The incumbent will lead and provide subject matter expertise to the leadership team in the development and implementation of equity initiatives, both internal and external. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs. Position opened until filled. MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST Part time or Fulltime Medical Receptionist for an OB Gyne Office in River Forest Nye Partners in Women’s Health Please email resume to: yvonne@ nyepartners.com POLICE RECORDS CLERK The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. This position will perform a wide variety of specialized clerical duties in support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. SANITARIAN The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sanitarian in the Health Department. This position will perform a variety of duties including education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health environment. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/jobs.

Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager in the Health Department. This position manages the Oak Park Farmer’s Market including the vendors that sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This is a part-time seasonal position with work from January-mid November and work required on Saturday’s from May through October. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http://www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

River Forest Public Schools District 90 River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking to hire a School Psychologist for a full-time position for grades PreK-4th starting in December 2021. To qualify, candidates must have a valid Illinois Professional Education License with endorsement in School Psychology (PreK-4). A Master’s Degree is preferred as well as 5 years of successful educational experience in both general and special education; and at least five years of successful experience in evaluating students, collaborating, and problem-solving with school and District teams. The right candidate will facilitate MTSS meetings, including individual and grade-level planning meetings. Integrate D90 practices around equity and inclusivity into daily work and relationships with students, families and colleagues.

Duties include: Completing appropriate psychoeducational assessments for children who have or are suspected of having a disability. Identifying and assessing the learning, development, and adjustment characteristics and needs of individuals and groups, as well as, the environmental factors that affect learning and adjustment. Using assessment data about the student and his/her environment(s) in developing appropriate interventions and programs. Responding to parent and teacher requests for evaluations in accordance with Illinois law and maintaining compliance in accordance with Illinois special education law. Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application availableat district90.org.

River Forest Public Schools District 90 River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking to hire a Special Education Instructional Teacher Assistant for K-4th starting immediately.

Qualifications: a) Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with Endorsements; or Educator License with Stipulations with a Paraprofessional Endorsement. b) Successful instructional assistant experience is preferred in regular education or special education. Job Duties: The instructional assistant in Special Education will work with both general education and special education staff members to support learning for identified child(ren) with special needs. Responsibilities include instructing students in small groups and one-on-one settings. This will also encompass helping students to develop positive interpersonal

relationships with peers and adults: utilizing and modeling school behavior management programs: and assist in communications between students, teachers and parents as requested. As an equal opportunity employer, it is the policy of the River Forest Public Schools, District 90, to not discriminate against any employee or any applicant for employment. District 90 values a talented and diverse workforce, and will attempt to recruit and hire minority employees. Application Procedure: Interested candidates should complete the online application available at district90. org

River Forest Public Schools District 90 River Forest Public Schools is seeking a part-time, 0.60 FTE Physical Education Teacher for Lincoln Elementaray School, Pre-K-4th Grade.

Qualifications: a) Valid Illinois Professional Educator License with Grade-Appropriate Physical Education Endorsement b) Successful teaching experience in physical education preferred c) A Master’s Degree is preferred

Job Duties: Work in partnership with the full-time PE teacher to instruct students in Pre-K through 4th grade on how to develop habits of mind and actions that support good health, fitness and enjoyment of sport

PART-TIME COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualiﬁed candidates for the position of Part-Time Community Service Coordinator (up to 10-15 hrs./week) in the Adjudication Department. Thisperson monitors individuals who have been ordered to provide community service in the Village, coordinates with organizations that provide community service opportunities, etc. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park. us/jobs. Open until ﬁlled. Senior Vice President, Strategy w/ Geometry Global, LLC (Chicago, IL). Rspnsbl for provdng anlytcs-bsd strtgc insghts & directn to aid in dvlpmnt of comms intiatvs for exstng & potntial agncy clients. Bach’s in Mktg, Econ, Psychlgy, or rel plus 10 yrs exp as Dat Anlyst or rel occuptn. Exp w/ datbse dsgn (MS Visio or comprbl tools for schema dsgn, SQL Server Mngmnt Studio or comprbl tools for DB mgmt, DB2 datbse exprtse); ETL tools (SAS, MS Access for data extrctn, transfrmtn & loadng, SQL Srvr Intgrtn Srvcs); MS Access

and play. The PE teacher will facilitate a learning environment that engages students in learning skills for sport and fitness, as well as SEL skills by growing confidence, sportsmanship and team spirit. The PE teacher will cultivate an environment that supports risk taking and trying new things. The PE teacher will demonstrate strong classroom management as children enjoy PE inside the gym or outdoors on the field. Collaboration with all D90 colleagues, including the special education team, classroom teachers, other special area teachers and administration is integral to their daily work, as well as their contributions to building-wide events and activities. Interested candidates, please complete an online application at https://www.district90.org/about/employment

qury dsgn exp w/ automatn/macros; MS Excel; VBA knwldg; SQL Srvr Rprtng Srvcs exp for bldng real-time rprtng; Tableau knwldg for data vislztn, dashbrd bldng & anlytcs; Tableau Srvr admnstrtn exp for rprt distrbtn, usr access mgmt & timed extrct refrshng. Qualiﬁed Applicants: Email resumes to apply.vmlyr@vmlyr.com and reference Senior Vice President, Strategy Head of Infrastructure Debt, North America sought by Legal & General Investment Management America in Chicago, IL to lead the origination of new investment grade infrastructure debt investments in North America. Req US master’s degree or foreign deg equiv in Fin or a rel ﬁeld & two yrs exp in: Originating potential debt investment opportunities through extensive network across infrastructure funds, corporates, banks, advisors & sponsors; Completing detailed credit analytics through review of due diligence; Undertaking relative value analysis of potential debt investments versus traded credit markets; Managing existing debt investment portfolios incl detailed review of compliance reporting &

negotiation of complex waiver request; Presenting infrastructure debt opportunities to investment committees & at international conferences; Marketing capabilities to external parties & speaking at infrastructure conferences to deepen its footprint in North America; Serving as a voting member at the Private Credit Investment Committee; & Supervising a team of ﬁve (5) or more ﬁnancial analysts. Send resumes to LGIMA at katie.edeus@lgima.com.

In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | AustinWeeklyNews.com | RBLandmark.com | ForestParkReview.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

CLASSIFIED

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 BY E-MAIL: EMAIL@GROWINGCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG RENTALS & REAL ESTATE

MARKETPLACE CARS WANTED

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS Restored or Restored or Unrestored Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Cars & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Import Cars: Cars:

Mercedes, Corvette, Mercedes,Porsche, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, MuscleCars, Cars, Ferrari’s,Jaguars, Jaguars, Muscle Mustang && Mopars Mopars Mustang Top $$ Etc. $$$$Top $$allallmakes, makes, Etc.

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

ITEMS FOR SALE 40 in. gas range double oven, side by side: $350 obo Wardrobe cabinet: $195 obo Desk: $195 obo CALL 773-722-0405

CLASSICS WANTED

Restored or Unrestored Cars & Vintage Motorcycles HOME SERVICES Domestic / Import Cars: HAULING ELECTRICAL Mercedes, Porsche,ELECTRICAL Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, A&A ELECTRIC Mopars Let anMustang American & Veteran do your work

Ceiling Fans Installed

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

We install plugs for battery-operated vehicles We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs We install Surge Protectors • Home Re-wiring • New Plugs & Switches Added • New circuit breaker boxes • Code violations corrected Service upgrades,100-200 amp • Garage & A/C lines installed Fast Emergency Service | Residential • Commercial • Industrial Free Home Evaluations | Lic. • Bonded • Ins. • Low Rates • Free Est.

Collector James

630-201-8122

708-409-0988 • 708-738-3848 Sr. Discounts • 30 Yrs. Exp. Servicing Oak Park • All surrounding suburbs • Chicago area

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood ﬂooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-ﬁnishing, staining. Low prices, insured. Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

HANDYMAN Mike’s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Don’t Do

708-296-2060

HANDYMAN Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs • Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

LANDSCAPING BRUCE LAWN SERVICE Fall Yard Clean-Up Slit Seeding Bush Trimming Fall Leaf Clean-Up Senior Discount Snow Removal

brucelawns.com

708-243-0571

PAINTING & DECORATING CLASSIC PAINTING Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/ Plaster Repair Low Cost 708.749.0011

STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR Best Selection & Service

MMpropMgmt.com

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS INSTRUCTIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR: Village of Oak Park 2022 Lead Based Paint Testing, Risk Assessment, and Clearance Testing Proposal Number: 22—NSD-100

CICERO 3724 S 53RD CT

A beautiful 2 ﬂat in South Cicero off 35th st. Features include 3 bedrooms, central air, garage parking. Modern appliances include dishwasher. Utilities separate. $1,700 per month plus security. Lease with option to buy possible. 708-383-9223 or 773-676-6805

RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft. OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

PLASTERING McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

Small & big work. Free estimates. Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708/386-2951 • ANYTIME Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

WOODWORK Terry's

Woodwork Restoration On-site refinishing of wood

and fiberglass since 1977. Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty! References available. Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

Ask for John

Place an ad in GCM Classified! Call 773/626-6332

OAK PARK & FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

773-637-0692

Reach the people making the decisions.

PUBLIC NOTICES

SUBURBAN RENTALS

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT

Collector James Collector James 630-201-8122 630-201-8122

PUBLIC NOTICES

Illinois Classiﬁed Advertising Network WANTED TO BUY FREON WANTED: We pay $$$ for cylinders and cans. R12 R500 R11 R113 R114. Convenient. Certified Professionals. Call 312-291-9169 or visit www.RefrigerantFinders.com

FOREST PARK 1 BEDROOM

GREAT LOCATION- CLEAN AND QUIET on 2nd ﬂoor: lg eat-in kitchen, lg livingroom, parking, coin laundry on premises, includes heat, cooking gas and water. close to I290/Blue Line, shops, Loyola Med and RushOak Park Hospital. no smoking-no pets $1100/mo. Call: 708-262-2444 or 708-598-8898. *view by appt only.

ROOMS FOR RENT

Large Sunny Room with fridge, microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $125.00. New Mgmt. 312-212-1212

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE For any person who was a Special Education Student at Oak Park & River Forest High School and graduated in 2014 or 2015 you will have 30 days to contact Lynette Welter, 708.434.3806, lwelter@oprfhs.org at Oak Park & River Forest High School to request your records. On February 24, 2022, the Special Education student records for the 2014 and 2015 school years will be destroyed. Lynette Welter Scheduling and Records Secretary Special Education Published in Wednesday Journal January 5, 12, 2022

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certiﬁcation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21008414 on December 28, 2021 Under the Assumed Business Name of PAT MADE US with the business located at: 11 S LA GRANGE ROAD APT 202, LAGRANGE, IL 60525. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: MEGAN PATSAVAS 11 S LA GRANGE ROAD APT 202 LA GRANGE, IL 60525, USA Published in Wednesday Journal January 5, 12, 19, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certiﬁcation was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y21008415 on December 28, 2021. Under the Assumed Business Name of PHEE PHUMPS DESIGN CO with the business located at: 2623 ELDER LN, FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: MELISSA GUILLEN 2623 ELDER LN, FRANKLIN PARK, IL 60131. Published in Wednesday Journal January 12, 19, 26 2022

Issuance Date: 01/10/22 The Village of Oak Park will receive proposals from qualified individuals or firms interested in providing lead risk assessments and lead clearance testing on single family homes during the calendar year 2022 pursuant to this Request for Proposals. Proposals will be accepted at the Neighborhood Services Division, Room 214, Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street., Oak Park, IL 60302 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. local time on Monday, January 31, 2022. Proposals will be reviewed in private and the results of the review will be available after February 7, 2022. Proposals must be enclosed in a sealed envelope marked “BID: 22-NSD-100 Lead Based Paint Testing, Risk Assessment, and Clearance Testing.” Specifications, plans/drawings and proposal forms may be obtained at the Neighborhood Services Division at the address

listed above or by calling 708-3585410. The Village reserves the right to accept or reject any and all proposals or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of any proposal. Information is available from the Neighborhood Services Manager, Jeff Prior, at 708-358-5412. Upon formal award to the successful Contractor, a written agreement will be executed for the Project in substantially the form attached. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids or to waive technicalities, or to accept any item of any bid. Submission of Proposals The proposal shall be submitted on the proposal form included herewith. The proposal shall be submitted in a sealed envelope and shall bear the return address of the bidder, and shall be addressed as follows: TO: Neighborhood Services Division The Village of Oak Park 123 Madison St Oak Park, IL 60302

Published in Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

LEGAL NOTICE FOREST PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS Sealed bids will be received by the Board of Library Trustees of the Forest Park Public Library for the Capital Improvements at the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd, Forest Park, IL 60130. Sealed bids will be received on or before 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at the Administrative Ofﬁce of the Forest Park Public Library, 7555 Jackson Blvd, Forest Park, IL 60130. Bids received after that time will not be considered. All bids shall be submitted on or before the speciﬁed closing time in an opaque sealed envelope marked “Forest Park Public Library, Capital Improvements, Bid Package #_________________” on the outside. The bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the Meeting Room of the Forest Park Public Library at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2022. Bids shall be submitted in the form and manner contained in the Bidding Requirements. Bid Documents will be available after 4:00PM on January 10, 2022. Bidding Contractors may obtain electronic copies of the Bidding Documents at no cost from SMC Construction Services through the SMC Construction Services PROCORE Electronic plan room. Please contact Nicole Frohling at 847.622.1214 x242, nicolef@buildwithsmc.com to make arrangements to obtain a set of Bidding Documents. Hard copies of the documents will not be provided. Pre-bid contractor walk-through meeting will be held Wednesday January 19th at 1:00 pm in Meeting Room in the library. Attendance at the pre-bid meeting is not mandatory however is the best opportunity to see non-public spaces if needed. The Library will be open for prospective bidders to tour, on their own, during normal hours of operation. All questions are to be directed to either Nicole Frohling or Jason Perkunas at Shales McNutt Construction at nicolef@buildwithsmc.com or jasonp@buildwithsmc.com The work consists of the following Bid Packages: BP-06A – General Trades Work BP-08A – Glazing Work BP-14A – Elevator Work BP-26A – Electrical Work

Each bid must be accompanied by a bid bond or a cashier’s check in the amount of 10% of the total bid, made payable to Forest Park Public Library, as a guarantee that the successful bidder will promptly execute a satisfactory contract, will furnish a satisfactory performance bond and payment bond and proceed with the work. Upon failure to do so, the bidder shall forfeit the amount deposited as liquidated damages and no mistakes or errors on the part of the bidder shall excuse the bidder or entitle the bidder to a return of the aforementioned amount. No bid will be considered unless the bidder shall furnish evidence satisfactory to the Board of Library Trustees that the bidder has the necessary facilities, abilities, experience, equipment, ﬁnancial and physical resources available to fulﬁll the conditions of the Contract and execute the work, should the Contract be awarded such bidder. Bidders will examine the Bid Documents, the existing conditions and location in which said work is to be done, and judge for themselves all the circumstances and surrounding conditions affecting the cost and nature of the work. All bids will be presumed to be based on such examination, familiarity, and judgment. The successful bidder shall be required to provide a Performance Bond and a Material and Labor Payment Bond in the amount of 100% of the Contract Amount, as well as liability and property insurance as required within the Bidding Documents before commencing work. The successful bidder shall enter into a formal contract based on the conditions and requirements in the Bidding Documents which will be incorporated into the contract. Not less than the prevailing wage shall be paid for labor on the work to be done as required by law. The successful bidder will be required to comply with the provisions of all State of Illinois and federal laws concerning public works projects as well as the State of Illinois Human Rights Act and the regulations of the Illinois Human Rights Commission. The Board of Library Trustees reserves the right to reject any and all

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: February 2, 2022

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 06-22-Z

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“Board”) will conduct a public hearing on a variance application filed by the Applicant, Chicago Title and Trust #4753, seeking a variance from Section 9.3 (L) (1) (d) of the Zoning Ordinance of the Village of Oak Park, which requires that fences located more than 35 feet from a front lot line or behind the front of an existing building and less than ten feet from an interior side lot line cannot exceed six (6’) feet in height to erect an eight (8’) tall fence along the north interior lot line of the property commonly known as 508-510 S. East Avenue, Illinois, Property Index Number 16-18-204-040-0000 (“Subject Property”) in the MS Madison Street Zoning District. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Board will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The hearing will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/ commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings

Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 2, 2022. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. Individuals who sign up to participate in-person will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the hearing online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

bids, and to waive any technicalities and irregularities in the bidding and to hold the bid proposals for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of opening set forth above. Questions about the Bid Documents should be submitted, in writing, to Nicole Frohling, SMC Construction Services at nicolef@buildwithsmc. com or via facsimile at: 847-6221224. By order of the Board of Library Trustees of the Forest Park Public Library, Cook, Illinois. Dated at Forest Park, Illinois, this 5th day of January 2022. Published in Forest Park Review January 12, 19, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE Notice Of A Public Hearing By The Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board Of Appeals Of The Village Of North Riverside Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of North Riverside on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. At such time, the Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals will consider a request to approve a child care facility as a Conditional Permitted Use in a B1 Retail Business District under Title 17 Attachment A of the North Riverside Zoning Ordinance. Applicant: Claudia Alvarez 8709 W. Cermak Road North Riverside, IL 60546 This meeting will be conducted remotely using the Zoom meeting

application. Contact the Village of North Riverside to register to attend this meeting remotely. The deadline to register to receive the link to attend is Monday, January 24, 2022. Village of North Riverside Pat Ferriter, Chairman of the joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals Published in RB Landmark January 12, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE Notice Of A Public Hearing By The Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board Of Appeals Of The Village Of North Riverside Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of North Riverside on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. At such time, the Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals will consider a request for an amendment to the Planned Development Ordinance to approve the development of a freestanding ALDI Grocery Store. Applicant: ALDI/Seritage SRC Finance, LLC 7503 W. Cermak Road North Riverside, IL 60546 This meeting will be conducted remotely using the Zoom meeting application. Contact the Village of North Riverside to register to attend this meeting remotely. The deadline to register to receive the link to attend is Monday, January 24, 2022. Village of North Riverside Pat Ferriter, Chairman of the Joint Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals Published in RB Landmark January 12, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS HEARING DATE: February 2, 2022

TIME: 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits CALENDAR NUMBER: 05-21-Z

APPLICATION: The Zoning Board of Appeals (“Board”) will conduct a public hearing on a special use permit application filed by the Applicant, Krohvan LLC, to operate a day care center (Kiddie Academy) pursuant to Section 8.3 (Table 8-1: Use Matrix) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance at the property located at 900 S. Maple Avenue (11251105 Garfield Street), Oak Park, Illinois, Property Index Numbers 16-18-301-034-0000; 16-18301-002-0000; & 16-18-301-0030000 (“Subject Property”) in the GC-General Commercial Zoning District. A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Board will conduct the public hearing remotely with live audio available and optional video. The hearing will be streamed live and archived online for on-demand viewing at www.oak-park.us/ commissiontv as well as cablecast on VOP-TV, which is available to Comcast subscribers on channel 6 and ATT U-Verse subscribers on channel 99. The remote public hearing is authorized pursuant to Section 7(e) of the Open Meetings Act. The Village President has determined that an in-person public

hearing is not practical or prudent due to the COVID-19 outbreak during Governor JB Pritzker’s current disaster proclamation. It is also not feasible to have a person present at the public hearing due to public safety concerns related to the COVID-19 outbreak. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. Interested persons may provide written evidence, testimony and public comment on the application by email to Zoning@oak-park.us or by drop off in the Oak Park Payment Drop Box across from the main entrance to Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 2, 2022. An individual’s name and their testimony or comment will be read aloud into the record at the public hearing if received no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the public hearing. Interested persons may also sign up to participate in-person in the hearing to cross examine the applicant and its witnesses, present evidence, testimony or public comment by emailing Zoning @oak-park.us before 5:00 PM on the day prior to the public hearing. Individuals who sign up to participate in-person will receive an email from Village staff with information about how to join the hearing online through Zoom web-conference means or by phone. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Board to another date without further notice by public announcement at the hearing setting forth the time and place thereof.

Published in Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE 2022 Cyclic and Demand Tree Pruning BID NOTICE The Village of Riverside will be receiving sealed bids for the 2022 Cyclic and Demand Tree Pruning Services. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. January 19 th , 2022 at the Riverside Department of Public Works. The Village of Riverside requires the payment of prevailing wages in accordance with the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, when applicable. Bids will be accepted at the Riverside Public Works Department, 3860 Columbus Blvd., Riverside, until 10:15 a.m. January 26 th , 2022, at which time bids will be opened and read aloud. Bid Packets and Specifications may be obtained at the Public Works Department, weekdays, between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00p.m. Questions may be directed to the Public Works Department at (708) 442-3590. The Village of Riverside reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive technicalities, and to accept any bid which is deemed to be in the best interest of the Village of Riverside. Published in RB Landmark January 12, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE 2022 Tree and Stump Removal and Emergency Storm Damage BID NOTICE The Village of Riverside will be receiving sealed bids for the 2022 Tree and Stump Removal and Emergency Storm Damage Response services. A mandatory PreBid meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m. on January 19 th , 2022 at the Riverside Department of Public Works. The Village of Riverside requires the payment of prevailing wages in accordance with the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, when applicable. Bids will be accepted at the Riverside Department of Public Works, 3860 Columbus Blvd., Riverside, until 10:00 a.m. January 26 th , 2022 at which time the bids will be opened and read aloud. Bid Packets and Specifications may be obtained

at the Department of Public Works between 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Questions may be directed to the Public Works Department at (708) 442-3590. The Village of Riverside reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive technicalities, and to accept any bid which is deemed to be in the best interest of the Village of Riverside. Published in RB Landmark January 12, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Brian Humberto Sanchez 20212004288. There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Brian Humberto Sanchez to the new name of: Brian Roncal Magnani The court date will be held: On 02/22/2022 at 10am at 5600 Old Orchard Road, Skokie IL 60077 Cook County in Courtroom #202 Published in Wednesday Journal January 12, 19, 26, 2022

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.RASHINDA PLUMP, WAVERLY CLARK, JR, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, WAVERLY CLARK, JR., INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATOR Defendants 12 CH 25204 1187 SOUTH HIGHLAND PARK OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 11, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 28, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 030R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1187 SOUTH HIGHLAND PARK, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-325-0470000 The real estate is improved with a one story two unit brick building with no garage. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088 E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com Attorney File No. 2005419IL_615363 Attorney ARDC No. 61256 Attorney Code. 61256 Case Number: 12 CH 25204 TJSC#: 41-3006 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 12 CH 25204 I3184301

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, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 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. 14-21-01929 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 17CH02438 TJSC#: 41-3039 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 17CH02438 I3184363

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE OF LSF10 MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST Plaintiff, -v.HEATHER JOHNSON, BENEFICIAL ILLINOIS I, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BENEFICIAL ILLINOIS INC., DELL FINANCIAL SERVICES L.L.C., UNKNOWN TENANTS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 17CH02438 1161 S. RIDGELAND AVE. OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 17, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 31, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 030R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1161 S. RIDGELAND AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-18-429-0200000 The real estate is improved with a single family 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, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal-opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. Wednesday Journal • Landmark • Forest Park Review

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

WE’RE BY YOUR SIDE 447 Hannah Ave Forest Park | $699,900 Monica Klinke

310 N Cuyler Ave Oak Park | $649,900 Patricia McGowan

428 S Grove Ave Oak Park | $599,000 Hannah Gillespie

1133 Elgin Ave Forest Park | $599,000 Roman Lewis

631 Marengo Ave Forest Park | $525,000 Cathy Yanda

2521 Nelson Sq Westchester | $490,000 Bethanny Alexander

738 Woodbine Ave Oak Park | $479,000 Hannah Gillespie

255 South Blvd #2 Oak Park | $385,000 Saretta Joyner

101 N Euclid Ave #19 Oak Park | $379,000 Ann Keeney

812 Lathrop Ave Forest Park | $365,000 Swati Saxena

909 Marengo Ave Forest Park | $329,900 Roman Lewis

1176 S Harvey Ave Oak Park | $240,000 Amy Harris

1128 N Harlem Ave C River Forest | $235,900 Patricia McGowan

426 S Lombard Ave #306 Oak Park | $215,000 Cathy Yanda

1435 Harlem Ave Forest Park | $199,000 Swati Saxena

1040 Ontario St #2G Oak Park | $175,000 Catherine Simon-Vobornik

844 Harvard St #3 Oak Park | $165,000 Bobbi Eastman

1121 S Oak Park Ave #1 Oak Park | $152,000 Patricia McGowan

1539 Monroe Ave #2 River Forest | $119,000 Swati Saxena

7231 Randolph St #1B Forest Park | $61,650 William Geldes

Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest | 1037 Chicago Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 | 708.697.5900 | oakpark.bairdwarner.com Source: BrokerMetrics® LLC, 1/1/2019 - 12/ 31/2019Detached and Attached only. Chicagoland PMSA

A Special Section Celebrating Betty White An Oak Park Treasure

#belikebettyop

Fond memories of a golden girl Honoring the life and legacy of Betty White

By MELISSA ELSMO

Contributing Reporter

answered the phone on New Year’s Eve in my usual cheerful tone and was greeted with a heavy sigh. “You haven’t heard yet,” said Lourdes Nicholls, my friend, and Growing Community Media colleague. “Betty White just died.” Just two days earlier I had been sitting across from Cindy Fee inside the Boulevard Studio at Crossfunction flexible workspace,

1033 South Blvd. Microphones separated us, but I made direct eye contact with her as she sang, “Thank You for Being a Friend” — the song she recorded in the mid-eighties as a theme for an unknown sitcom. Of course, the song went on to introduce The Golden Girls. The Golden Girls premiered Sept. 14, 1985, when White was just 63 years old. Seven seasons, 180 episodes and now 37 years later, the show remains synonymous with the bonds of friendship between women. Anyone fa-

miliar with The Golden Girls can quickly conjure an image of White as Rose Nylund — the big-hearted, slightly dimwitted, wickedly competitive, herring-loving Minnesotan who was pals with fellow elders: Dorothy, Blanche and Sophia. My mom, Trish, started watching The Golden Girls in the 80s and grew to appreciate the show so much that she watched it almost daily when it went into reruns. In fact, my brother and I used to tease her because she talked about that lanai-lounging

quartet like they were her real friends. She would often comment that Rose Nylund reminded her of her own mother — both in appearance and demeanor. My maternal grandmother, Dorothy, was one of my favorite people and I can attest to the fact that she looked and dressed a lot like Rose Nylund and shared all her best traits — she was much more than “terminally naïve.” The show was on a fairly continuous loop in See GOLDEN GIRL on page A3

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

presented by

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

presented by

GOLDEN GIRL A fan’s salute from page A1 the house while I was growing up and White and the rest of the cast unwittingly became some of my most consistent companions. To this day, I can name the plot of any episode within moments of its start. And so can my son. I folded laundry in the late afternoon when he was little and much like my mother, I would put on reruns of The Golden Girls while I completed the task. My son is grown now and has a soft spot for Rose and girls, too. White was born at Oak Park’s West Suburban Hospital on Jan. 17, 1922 and brought home to an apartment on Pleasant Street. A trailblazer, she spent more than 75 years in the entertainment industry and was the first woman to produce a sitcom in the United States. Premiering in 1952, Life with Elizabeth, centered on a newly married couple and featured White as both producer and star. She went on to be known as the “First Lady of Game Shows” making regular appearances on Password, Match Game, To Tell the Truth and Hollywood Squares among others. In addition to her role on Golden Girls, White famously portrayed Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Elka Ostrovsky on Hot in Cleveland. She even earned an Emmy nomination for hosting Saturday Night Live

White as Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. in 2010 and proved to be a tireless advocate for animals throughout her life. White managed to harness the love of the nation earning top honors in a 2017 Reuters/ Ipsos poll seeking to identify the most trustworthy celebrity in America. She beat out Oprah and Tom Hanks. Though she only spent her babyhood in Oak Park, it is no surprise Betty White remains a claim to fame in our

Celebrate Betty Beer!

community. Lourdes’ came up with the idea to celebrate what would have been White’s 100th birthday over a year ago. While White’s resume is clearly comprised of much more than her role on the Golden Girls, Lourdes invited me to participate in the festivities simply because I lost control and blurted out my love for White and the Golden Girls.

As a result, my days leading up to and immediately following White’s death on Dec. 31 were filled with uncanny conversations with people both directly and indirectly affiliated with White. My private Cindy Fee concert was followed by phone calls with George Geary, Golden Girls cheesecake creator, and Kelly Schumann, former Wednesday Journal employee turned television star who appeared with White on Hot in Cleveland. They all had wonderful stories to share. What started out as a birthday party has morphed into a community wide celebration of the life and legacy of the one and only Betty White. To say the least, local and national response to this effort has been surprising; I am clearly not alone in my love for Betty White. The news that White had died was bittersweet. Sure, there was a part of me that, like Rose Nylund, “felt like crawling under the covers and eating Velveeta right out of the box,” but the better part of me remembered what White said in a 2011 interview: “There’s no formula. Keep busy with your work and your life. You can’t become a professional mourner. It doesn’t help you or others. Keep the person in your heart all the time. Replay the good times. Be grateful for the years you had.” So, I skipped the cheese eating, put on a few episodes of the Golden Girls and laughed. I remembered my grandma, called my mom and thought about ways I could be a little more like Betty -- one of my favorite girls. Enjoy this Betty White Centennial Celebration.

In honor of Oak Park’s own Golden Girl, Oak Park Natural Pet & Fish will be participating in

The Betty White Challenge #bettywhitechallenge

Her 100th Birthday would have been January 17th. Come in and say:

Enjoy a pint of our special Betty “White Ale” for just $5 plus a special treat for your canine companion. All weekend.

“Thank You For Being a Friend” and you’ll be automatically entered to win a basket of pet treats and another basket will be donated to The Animal Care League.

1026 North Blvd., Oak Park • 847-946-4164 • Beershopreports@gmail.com

OAK PARK NATURAL PET & FISH 23 N. Harlem Ave, Oak Park (708) 660-9500 • 10AM - 7PM

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

A TOAS T TO B ET T Y ! Betty White Cocktail

Cucina’s pairs a splash of vodka with lemon, & honey syrup.

A little sweet, like Golden Girl Rose, a little tart, like Sue Ann Nivens from The Mary Tyler Moore Show... but all heart, like Betty, with 50% of sales donated to local animal shelters!

presented by

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

We Betty! Coming Soon! OUR CUSTOM LINE OF MERCHANDISE HONORING THE BELOVED BETTY WHITE!

Better #BeLikeBettyOP and enjoy one soon. Available January 12th - January 17th.

Cucina Paradiso 814 North Blvd., Oak Park ph: 708.848.3434 cucinaoakpark.com

Our West Sub Babies are Something Special

At West Suburban Medical Center, we are proud of our track record in delivering babies—we’ve been delivering babies for a long time. Our maternity services are highly recognized for safe, quality care at such a special time in a woman’s life. We’re also proud of the many babies who were born at West Sub–and we count the late Betty White among those. She was born at our hospital 100 years ago on Jan. 17, 1922.

PERSONALIZATION HOUSE WILL BE DONATING A PORTION OF THE PROFITS TO A CHARITY ENDORSED BY BETTY WHITE.

Happy birthday, dear Betty. Thank you for your enduring humor and inspiration! – With love from your West Suburban family

1 2 7 M A R IO N S T RE E T, O A K PA R K | 7 0 8 . 3 8 3 . 4 1 0 0 G O P E RS O N A L I Z E . CO M

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

ENJOY THESE

Betty White Specials

IN DOWNTOWN OAK PARK •

Byline Bank (1001 Lake St):

•

Pumpkin Moon (1028 North Blvd):

Marion St): Small white chocolate

Mention Betty White at checkout

League at the Byline Bank Oak

mocha & white chocolate cookie for

to receive 10% off your purchase.

Park branch at 10:30 a.m. on

$5. from Jan 12-16.

Valid now through Jan 15.

Betty White’s legacy by visiting

•

with puppies and kittens that are available for adoption. As part of the #BettyWhiteChallenge, donations also be served!

•

Tre Sorelle Ristorante (1111 Lake St): FREE Betty White drink with any dinner on January 15th — 10% of your bill will be donated to the Animal Care League. Lake Theatre (1022 Lake St):

BeerShop (1025 North Blvd):

•

Scratch ‘n Sniff (120 N Marion St):

$5 Betty White Ale’ & FREE

Mention Betty White at checkout

dog treats on Jan 15 & 17. Now

to receive 10% off your purchase.

accepting donations for the Animal

Valid now through Jan 15.

Care League.

will be accepted. Refreshments will

•

Join Byline and the Animal Care

Saturday, January 15, 2022. Honor

•

Sugar Fixe Patisserie (119 N

•

Wise Cup (1018 Lake St):

Jerusalem Cafe (1030 Lake St):

16oz Betty White Mocha made with

Betty White Special: Lunch combo

white chocolate & rose for $5 from

for $7.99 (when you ask for lunch

Jan 14-16.

combo). Valid now through Jan 15.

•

Kalamata Kitchen (105 N Marion St): We are honoring Greek American Betty White on January 17 with Baklava Cheesecake!

Get $1.00 off soda of any size from now through Jan 17.

www.downtownoakpark.net/betty-white

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Present

Celebrating Betty White

An Oak Park Treasure Saturday January 15 at 10am Under the marquee at Classic Cinemas Lake Theater, 1022 Lake St, Oak Park A brief ceremony honoring Betty White will include: • A proclamation by Vicki Scaman, Oak Park Village President • Commentary from Frank Lipo, Executive Director of Oak Park River Forest Museum • “Thank You for Bring a Friend,” performed by Cindy Fee, singer of the Golden Girls theme song • One hundred cake slices provided by Turano Baking Company • “Be like Betty” photo ops by Prime Party, with a display by 99 Haus Balloons and Alpha-Lit • Red Vines courtesy of American Licorice Company • 10:30 am Animal Care League Pet Adoption event-Byline Bank Lobby across from the theater This outdoor event will happen rain or shine. Please wear your mask.

#belikebettyop

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Journal’s Betty White event getting national attention Music, tributes, puppies and cake this Saturday By STACEY SHERIDAN

HOMETOWN LEGENDS: Learn Their Stories.....Share Your Stories

Oak Park Located at Oak Park Located at River Forest 129 Lake Street River Forest 129 Lake Street Museum Museum 708-848-6755 | oprfmuseum.org 708-848-6755 | oprfmuseum.org

Reflecting on Betty’s life has taught me the value of laughter and optimism.

#belikebettyop

Vicki Scaman, Oak Park Village President

Staff Reporter

hen Growing Community Media’s Wednesday Journal set out to host a community get-together to celebrate Betty White’s centennial birthday this month, no one quite expected the level of interest the event would draw outside Oak Park, where the star was born. The universe, however, has a fickle way of intervening. As news spread of White’s death on Dec. 31, Oak Park and Growing Community Media were thrust into the limelight and the event itself became something of a media sensation. “I am so surprised by the media attention,” said Lourdes Nicholls, GCM senior media strategist. “Things have been really crazy.” Now a celebration of White’s life and its start in Oak Park, the event has attracted the attention of news outlets as far away as the United Kingdom. Several news crews

have made plans to cover the 30-minute celebration, scheduled for 10 a.m., Jan. 15 under the marquee at Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St. “When we were planning a celebration of her 100th birthday, we had no idea that her passing would impact this event in such monumental ways,” said Oak Park Eats Editor Melissa Elsmo. Elsmo worked with Nicholls to make the event happen, as well as writing multiple stories for today’s Wednesday Journal’s Be Like Betty special section. Nicholls, who first pitched the birthday party idea, has found herself overwhelmed with calls from news outlets. “CBS, ABC, NBC, The New York Daily News, Newsday,” she listed. “I’ve been in touch with the U.K. for the United Kingdom Press Association.” Those involved with the event never doubted the extent to which people loved White, who was known as much for her See WHITE EVENT on page A22

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Lift a Glass for Betty White! Get Betty’s favorite cocktail, a Vodka Martini with lemon, FREE with your meal on Saturday, January 15.

We are excited to announce that we are NOW accepting applications for brand new studio and 1/2 bedroom apartments! The 801 is located at 801 Van Buren St. in historic Oak Park. Near public transportation and shopping. Income limits apply.

Feel free to substitute with your own favorite drink. Must mention this ad We will donate 10% of every check on Jan. 15th to the Animal Care League of Oak Park The 801 would like to send our condolences to the close family, friends, and hometown community of Betty White.

Tre Sorelle Ristorante Lunch & Dinner • Dine In • Take Out • Delivery • Catering 1111 Lake Street | Downtown Oak Park | 708.445.9700 Hours: Closed Mon., Tue-Thu 4-9pm, Fri-Sat 4-10pm, Sun 4-9pm

Please visit our website: www.the801oakpark.com for additional information. Questions can be directed to: 801 Van Buren St, Oak Park 708-613-7236 • info@The801OakPark.com

Exit Strategy Realty/ EMA Management 7300 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Chicago, IL 60619 • 312-767-0572

A10

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Not Feeling Well?

presented by

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Eat like Betty in Oak Park!

B.B.Q. RIBS & CHICKEN BURGERS & HOT DOGS

In 1992, Betty White divulged to Bon Appetit Magazine that her “lunch is usually a hot dog and French fries or something equally devilish.”

On January 15th, 16th, 17th Get a hot dog, small fry and small coke for just $4.79. Betty would have eaten her hot dog plain, but Mickey’s will top it how you like it best!

Don’t delay your care. RUSH has successfully maintained the safety of our patients and staff at all of our locations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We are ready for you. In addition to same-day primary care appointments for adults and children with non-emergency health issues, Rush Oak Park Physicians Group is now offering on-demand and scheduled video visits. This allows you and your family to receive the same high-quality care from our providers in the comfort of your own home.

Visit rush.edu/primary-care-oak-park or call (888) 352-RUSH (7874) to schedule an in-person or video visit.

525 N Harlem Ave, Oak Park (708) 848-3333 • 11am - 9pm Daily

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

A11

SR0701

Illinois S

enate Res

olution 7 01

WHEREA S, Betty W hite was b and Tess White on orn in Oa January 1 k Park to 7, 1922; a Harris n d WHEREA S, as having Betty White was w idely reco bu gn that Guin ilt a career that sp anned sev ized in her craft ness World en decade Records c entertain s, ertified h er with th er as the f such e longest emale career; an d WHEREA SR0701 S, Betty W er; alongside v lo l a im n a g n h awards fo lo ite was aw d r her acti White was a life arded sev ty et B , S den, she devote A d E u R L n E n g e H en Emmy ; she was ll Academy W A r, e rt d suppo inducted Ha into the T ved husband an o el rican Humane b e of the Yea ll of Fame in 1995 r m e h A e th g e in le rt vision r by mem ppo and was v e Fund for bers of th th oted Ente e off-screen to su , n m given a li o ti ti r a e d h n u o F e r al Associate fetime ach d Press; sh tainer the Morris Anim , ievement n o ti Guild in 2 a ci o ss A e was award by 010, only geles Zoo; and n A s o L t e h th e t d o S n into her 9 creen Act continue Animals, a 0s; and ors acting an s d produci 2006 by the Lo in ng well d re o n o h s a ty White w WHEREA Animals” and a e th to r o WHEREAS, Bet d a S, Betty W ss a the title “Amb hite supp barriers i geles Zoo with orted the n the tele n A nd b vision ind dancer, A in her honor; a ed il e v n ustry by f reaking of racial u e u rthur Du q pla eat ncan, on regular d Americans The Betty uring a Black tap s es tl uring the n u co to y White Sh ht jo 1950s; an ow as a ty White broug et d B , S A E c abilities; and R ti E is H rt a W d n a r o with her hum over the decades ly contribute to ch ri to s ek se t a ors nois is a state th vision and hon e v ti ea cr WHEREAS, Illi h g u ro ors; erican culture th m A r te a thropic endeav n re a g il e h p th to fe li t dedicate their individuals tha therefore, be it D ONE HUNDRE E H T F O E T A THE SEN OF ILLINOIS, E T A T S E H T RESOLVED, BY OF AL ASSEMBLY R E N E ite Day” in the G h D W N O ty et SEC “B s a 22 c, January 17, 20 devoted, artisti ly p ee that we declare d e th te ra to commemo etty White. B State of Illinois f o it ir sp ic p philanthro visionary, and

Don Harmon Senate President

6941 W. North Avenue Oak Park, IL 60302 708-848-2002 harmon@senatedem.illlinois.gov

S EN AT E P R ES I D EN T

DEMOCRAT • ILLINOIS

A12

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

presented by

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

#belikebettyop

A13

A14

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Always in Our

Hearts!

Discover the magic of truly living here... an experience like no other. Cheers to a New Year and living well into the Golden Years!

7824 West Madison Street, Forest Park, IL 708-366-2206 • www.thealtenheim.com

Tina and Jim Salerno with Betty White

We had the pleasure of meeting Betty White and supporting her love and vision for the Morris Animal Foundation through our FUNraising efforts at our Paul Mitchell Schools, Chicago and Lombard locations, as well as at James Antony Salon and SalonJAS in Oak Park. Betty made an impact in our lives and every night in our homes with laughter and kindness. She will always be in our hearts!

James Anthony Salon

115 N Marion St, Oak Park • 708-383-3100

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Betty would have been 100, we are turning 50, we hope to have another 50 golden years.

The Oak Park Regional Housing Center • 1041 South Blvd, Oak Park, IL 60302 • (708) 848-7150 • oprhc.org

OAK PARK AREA

ARTS COUNCIL Always there for the Arts.

www.oakparkareaartscouncil.org

etty White was iconic, a legend! You often hear people in show business referred to as being a triple threat. That was Betty, she was a singer, dancer, and

actor. A triple threat and a hilarious and talented comedienne. We are fortunate to have her as one of Oak Park’s finest. Oak Park is known for its arts that are all around us. The fact that the Oak Park Area Arts Council (OPAAC) awarded 34 grant awards in 2021 speaks to the power of the arts in this uncommon community. These 34 dedicated non profit arts organizations provide this community with performances of all kinds; visual art classes/exhibits, and museums. You will not find many communities of equal size and population that are so rich in the arts. We are very proud of Betty and the legacy she leaves behind. Betty did not have the opportunity to grow up in Oak Park. However, there have been hundreds of individuals born and raised in OP who are now making highly successful professions in the arts. This spring, OPAAC will send out a call for artists to submit their artwork for a special Betty White community mural. Stay tuned! www.oakparkareaartscouncil.org; info@oakparkareaartscouncil.org

A15

A16

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Betty White, (cue music)....thank you for being a friend!

etty White paved the way for all women to be successful in doing the things that they love. We are grateful for our hometown hero who paved the way for us all.

Beyond Properties is celebrating 15 years as an independent, women owned, local business. We are a team of brokers committed to our clients, doing what we love, just like Betty. In honor of her legacy, we are accepting the Betty White Challenge and are donating to our local Animal Care League.

Denise Sacks

Michele Strimaitis

Cynthia Howe Gajewski

Karen Baldwin

Debra Rachal

Phil Joseph

Erica Cuneen

Martha Murphy

Kristen Hollinden

Isaac Jordan

Shalena Thomas

Visit us at BeyondPropertiesRealty.com • 109 N. Marion St., Oak Park

Miriam Tamayo

Ruby Blair

Denise Espinosa

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

A17

Connecting to Betty with a single song Cindy Fee, a local, is the songstress behind ‘Thank You for Being a Friend’

By MELISSA ELSMO

Contributing Reporter

n instant earworm. That’s “Thank You for Being a Friend” a song written in under an hour by Andrew Gold, pop rock singer, and released in 1978 on his third album, “All this and Heaven, too.” Gold considered the song to be a “throwaway.” A throwaway until the ditty was rerecorded for the NBC sitcom, The Golden Girls. Cindy Fee, a former Oak Park and current River Forest resident, has made a living recording jingles and themes. She recorded the song in just a couple of takes and it went on to become the theme song for The Golden Girls. The comedy, created by Susan Harris and starring Betty White, Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, centered on the friendship and the daily lives of four older women sharing a Miami home. All seven seasons are available on Hulu. The show premiered in 1985 and nearly 40 years later the cheery tune remains among the most recognizable television

show introductions. In a 2020 Paste Magazine list of the 50 best TV theme songs of all time, “Thank You for Being a Friend,” slid in at number 23. The song fell behind the themes from Cheers (1), Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, MASH and The Simpsons, but ranked ahead of themes from Mad Men, Knight Rider, The Sopranos and Friends. “’Thank You for Being a Friend,’ was just one of maybe 10 songs I recorded that month,” said Fee. “I had no idea what it was going to be used for and certainly didn’t expect it to be what is has become today.” She had never heard the song before stepping into the recording booth. An accomplished vocalist, Fee was a demo-singer for the prolific songwriter Diane Warren and a frequent hire for product jingles. She explained success in the competitive field depended largely on speed and efficiency. Sight reading, quick tonal adjustments and limited takes made a singer more valuable to a client. “I sang it twice, maybe three times and made a few vocal adjustments; that was See CINDY FEE on page A22

Wise Cup raises a glass to Betty White!

Come and Join us all weekend long and enjoy our special "Betty White Mocha" We also offer Coffee,Tea, Samosas, Pastries and Bagels

Locally sourced,owned and operated. • 1018 Lake Street, Oak Park • (708) 628-3707

COURTESY LOURDES NICHOLLS

IN THE STUDIO: On Dec. 29, Cindy Fee (left) sat down with Melissa Elsmo in the Boulevard Studio to chat about recording “Thank You for Being a Friend.” Listen to the podcast at oakpark.com.

A18

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

presented by

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Butterflies are like women –

we may look pretty and delicate, but baby, we can fly through a

hurricane. – Betty White

Garland Flowers

ELMONT VILLAGE IS UTSMARTING MEMORY LOSS

137 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park

ward-winning Circle of Friends® delivers positive results for sisted Living residents with mild to moderate memory loss

Thank you for being a friend Traveled down a road and back again Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant.

708-848-2777 or 1-877-244-3181

www.garlandflowers.net

Worldwide Delivery - Major Credit Cards Accepted

ilable only at Belmont Village, Circle of Friends® was pioneered to curb the cts of cognitive decline through a unique program that builds brain fitness. Bring your sparkle Circle back. of Friends® is rooted in eloped by a nationally recognized gerontologist, dence-based research in collaboration with UCLA and Vanderbilt University. d it works. Residents enjoy a rich, therapeutic program of physical and mental vities designed to maintain brain function and build self-esteem.

more about how we tackle memory loss at BELMONT VILL AGE .COM/OAKPARK CallO 708-848-7200 to schedule a virtual tour today. A K PA R K

OA K PA R K The Community Built for Life.®

Learn about our708-848-7200 community response to COVID-19. Visit belmontvillage.com/corona-virus-preparation belmontvillage.com/oakpark

That is our motto at Alpha-Lit Chicago! We offer the highest quality marquee letters, numbers, and symbols to rent and customize for any event! We offer clients something that can bring emotion, fun and LIGHT. Take your event to another level and let us

7/2/20 10:00 AM

www.alphalitletters.com/chicago-form chicago@alphalitletters.com @alphalitchicago

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

A19

A20

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Thank You for Being a Friend! COURTESY OF KELLY SCHUMANN

ON THE SET: The cast of Hot in Cleveland (from left) Betty White, Valerie Bertinelli, John Mahoney, Kelly Schumann, Jane Leeves, and Wendie Malick.

AX OY AX OY

189 N Marion St. Oak Park • 708-613-5491 thelittlegemcafe.com

ng with a nt, and tting

ng with a nt, and ttin g (708) 613-5491

Kelly Schumann, an Oak Park native, tells her Betty stories Appeared on Hot in Cleveland with Betty White By MELISSA ELSMO Contributing Reporter

When former Wednesday Journal employee and Oak Park-River Forest native, Kelly Schumann stepped onto the set of the sitcom Hot in Cleveland for the first time she was keenly aware of Betty White’s celebrity status. “You hear stories of celebrities acting like celebrities,” said Schumann. “I had this expectation my access to her would be limited, but that was not the case at all. Betty was at every rehearsal, running lines and working on the blocking right alongside us. She was brilliant. Jokes just fell out of her mouth.” Hot in Cleveland premiered in 2010 on TV Land and ran for six seasons. The show tells the story of three LA transplants who make the bold move to relocate to Ohio after their airplane is forced to make an emergency stop in Cleveland. Bamboozled by the Midwest way of life, the trio rents a home owned by Elka Ostrovsky portrayed by Betty White. The show also featured the late John Mahoney, another Oak Park resident, in a recurring role as a love interest

to White’s character. Schumann portrayed Sally, a quirky midwestern mom and neighbor, on five episodes of the show. “I have always been proud of my hometown and honestly had no idea that Betty White was from Oak Park,” said Schumann. “I was telling John Mahoney I grew up in Oak Park and he was the one who told me Betty was born there, too. So there the three of us were, having an Oak Park reunion on the set of Hot in Cleveland.” Schumann, who went on to have a recurring role on the NBC sitcom Superstore, credits the cast of Hot in Cleveland with helping her navigate the world of sitcoms. Though White was in her 90’s when she was on the show, Schumann considered her to be “sharp as a tack” and a true professional. Like all the women on the show, White “did not take herself too seriously.” “We made a decision about Betty White a long time ago. We decided she was deserving of the lion’s share of our collective adoration,” said Schumann. “I don’t know how it is possible, but she managed to exceed my high expectations. She brought kindness, respect and humility to everything she did.”

Kathy Griffin — sending love to Betty

(708) 613-5491

“To know her was to love her,” said actress and comedian, Kathy Griffin, in a video message sent to honor the memory of her “dear friend Betty White.” The 1978 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School first met White on the set of Suddenly Susan in the late 90s and “fell in love with her” after it was revealed Griffin had inadvertently parked in her parking spot. The video can be found at oakpark.com and includes a clip from My Life on the D List featuring Griffin introducing her mother, Maggie, to Betty White at Sizzler. “May she rest in peace and hilarity,” said Griffin.

Melissa Elsmo

COURTESY OF KATHY GRIFFIN

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

A21

George Geary, the man behind iconic Golden Girls cheesecakes

And his local connection is through Frank Lloyd Wright Trust By MELISSA ELSMO

Contributing Reporter

n effervescent character, Chef George Geary, had no idea what he was in for when he made a wedding cake for an unnamed television pilot in the 1980s. He was in his 20s and managing the bakery department of a Safeway grocery store in Hollywood. The store’s proximity to Paramount Studios meant staff would often field strange food requests to be used on various sets. “I got a call to make a wedding cake for a jilted bride on a show about three old ladies with a mother that visited occasionally,” said Geary. “I made the cake, and nothing came of it until a year later.” Geary received a call that the show had been picked up and production requested he make an exact replica of the cake he had made the year prior. When he watched the VHS tape of the pilot for reference he thought, “this show is really funny; they’ve got something here.” Despite the fact Geary’s wedding cake was barely seen during the pilot episode, his un-

derstanding of studio lighting and how it affected color caught the attention of producers. “Obviously things have advanced a lot since then, but at the time they were impressed that I understood how white frosting could read yellow on camera and things like that,” said Geary. “When Golden Girls moved production from Paramount to RenMar studios they started incorporating cheesecakes into the scripts and I made every one of them.” It was Betty White as Rose Nylund who introduced the iconic cakes to the rest of The Golden Girls in a fast exchange during the season one finale episode entitled, “The Way We Met.” “Wait a minute. What’s that?” asks Blanche blocking Rose as she crosses the kitchen carrying a pink bakery box. “Oh, I’m sorry. I know it’s awful, but I have this incredible sweet tooth,” responds Rose. “What is it?” chimes in Dorothy. “Cheesecake,” answers Rose. “What kind,” asks Blanche. “Chocolate,’ says Rose. “Oh, I think this could be the beginning of

Golden Girls Cheesecake (Recipe courtesy of George Geary) Makes: One 10-inch Cheesecake Crust: 1/3 pound graham crackers, crushed 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1. In a bowl mix the above and press into a cheesecake pan, and freeze. Filling 2 lbs cream cheese, softened (Philly) 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1. Adjust the rack to the center, and preheat the oven to 350°F. 2. In the mixer, place cream cheese and sugar, blending until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, while mixing. Add lemon juice and vanilla, and blend well.

3. Pour batter into frozen cheesecake bottom, smoothing it out to touch sides. Bake it until the top starts to pull away from sides and still look a bit loose in center, about 35-40 minutes. It will look like it is puffed up. Take it out of the oven (do not turn the oven off) and set it on a rack 10 minutes. (This will cause cake to sink slightly, which is normal) Topping: 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tbsp lemon juice 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1. In a small bowl, combine sour cream, sugar, lemon juice and vanilla. Pour it into center of the cheesecake, then place cheesecake back into oven for 5 minutes only; cool for 1 hour prior to serving. Top with fresh berries.

COURTESY OF GEORGE GEARY

SEVEN CHEESECAKES A WEEK: Chef George Geary shows off a cheesecake made from the original recipe he created for The Golden Girls. a beautiful friendship,” says Dorothy. And just like that Geary’s cheesecakes became the fifth character at the kitchen table on the Golden Girls’ set. Geary encouraged they use cheesecake because they were easier to produce than layer cakes. He speculates close to 100 episodes of the show featured his cakes. Though he has never officially counted, TVLand produced a compilation video highlighting the “best cheesecake moments” on The Golden Girls with a run time close to 20 minutes—so his math can’t be far off. The show taped on Friday nights and Geary would make seven cheesecakes for every show in case they needed them for reshoots. They never went through more than two cakes in a single taping and the leftovers were shared with the cast and crew after taping wrapped up. Only, Bea Arthur never took a bite, on camera or off. According to Geary, she was not fond of cheesecake. “The refrigerator on set really worked and every Friday night you would find seven identical cheesecakes in there,” said Geary. “We changed up the look from season-to-season and most importantly we always wanted the cakes to look like something one of the girls had picked up from a

local bakery.” Geary styled all the foods on Golden Girls including Rose Nylund’s incredibly sweet “maple syrup honey brown sugar molasses rice krispies log.” He also created foods for Dynasty and Falcon Crest, served as a pastry chef for the Walt Disney Company and grew to be best-selling author of 15 cookbooks. Looking for a local connection? Geary is an architecture lover and has donated his cooking talents to the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust’s Ultimate Plus Dinners hosted annually in Oak Park. Geary admits he only watched three Golden Girls tapings over the years because he was young, “wanted to be like Blanche” and go out in Hollywood on Friday nights, but he remembers his time on set fondly. “When I was on set, we were all working, but Betty was one of the kindest and gentlest and sweetest people on this earth,” said Geary. “I never thought anything of it at the time, but it was special. I guess I really am a part of Golden Girls’ history.” When Geary learned of White’s death, he expressed shock and rightly suggested we all enjoy a slice of cheesecake in her memory.

A22

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

BETTY EVENT

for animals. For all the positive press Oak Park has received as a result of the media’s interest in White’s celebration of life, some inaccuracies have popped up in coverage of the event. Primarily, that the village of Oak from page A8 Park is proclaiming the actress’s Jan. 17 kindness as she was for her comedic pres- birthday as “Betty White Day.” That is not ence. That in and of itself was enough to en- the case. While Village President Vicki Scaman is tice CBS2 Chicago reporter Marissa Parra to do a story about the memorial event last reading a proclamation recognizing White at the Jan. 10 village board meeting and then week. “It’s an excuse to celebrate a woman who again at the Jan. 15 Journal event, the proctouched so many lives,” said Parra. “As a lamation does not establish White’s birthday as “Betty White Day.” journalist, I was intrigued by Likewise, event organizers that.” were cognizant that White’s acAnd even though White didn’t tual birthday falls on Martin live in Oak Park for a substantial Luther King Jr. Day this year. It amount of time, Parra thinks was decided from the start that her association to the village ofthe event honoring White would fers some joy for people in the be held Jan. 15, so that it would Chicago area. Joy has been hard in no way conflict with the fedto come by of late, considering eral holiday commemorating the the world has entered into the civil rights leader. third year of the COVID-19 pan“We were planning this event demic. before Betty White died,” said MARISSA PARRA “The fact that she spent any Elsmo. “It was always going to CBS2 Chicago reporter time here at all just makes peobe on Jan. 15 because we didn’t ple excited they have some conwant it detract from the impornection to Betty,” said Parra. tance of Martin Luther King Parra believes the fond recolDay.” lections of White’s consummate The village president will also goodness serve as an opportunity for us all be reading a proclamation Jan. 10 declarto emulate the qualities for which the acing the village of Oak Park will observe of tress was adored in our own lives. That would seem to be the case, as many King’s birthday Jan. 17. Martin Luther King people and businesses are volunteering Jr. Day is always observed the third Monday their time and services for the Jan. 15 event of January. The sentiment behind the celebration has in Oak Park. Turano Baking Company is providing birthday cake for the attendees. remained the same from the start. “It’s a moment to express our gratitude for The Animal Care League is hosting a pet what Betty White was emblematic of in this adoption event after the celebration in the lobby of Byline Bank, across from Lake The- country: kindness, compassion and connecatre – a nod to White’s well-documented love tion,” said Elsmo.

We’re streaming live

“It’s an excuse to celebrate a woman who touched so many lives.”

CINDY FEE

The voice, the song from page A17 it,” said Fee who continues to earn royalties for the theme song. “The most interesting thing about that song is how enduring it is and how much it means to people.” During the pandemic, Fee called overworked healthcare workers and sang the song to lift their spirits. She recollects being recognized and asked to sing “Thank You for Being a Friend” while she was blueberry picking and admits she leveraged her celebrity singer status just once — to help facilitate adopting a dog during the pandemic. “Everyone was adopting dogs and when I called the shelter, I mentioned that I sang the Golden Girls theme hoping it might help me get a dog,” laughed Fee. In her early twenties, with just $300 in her pocket, Fee packed up her car and followed her dream from New York to LA. She found success singing jingles for Hoover (“Nobody

Does it Like You”) and Wheaties (“What the Big Boys Eat”) and recorded The Golden Girls theme song before making her way to Nashville to pursue solo projects with RCA. When the label flew her to Chicago she fell in love with the city and the family relocated to the Midwest. After a bit they settled in Oak Park because the “community aligns” with her values. “This is just a very cool place,” said Fee who now splits her time between River Forest and Michigan. Growing Community Media recorded a conversation with Cindy Fee at the Boulevard Studio, Crossfunction, 1033 South Blvd., in late December. Visit oakpark.com and search “Cindy Fee Podcast” and take a listen. In the wake of Betty White’s death, Fee agreed to attend Growing Community Media’s Betty White Centennial Celebration this Saturday, Jan. 15 to sing “Thank You for Being a Friend” in her honor. “Women’s’ issues are at the heart of The Golden Girls and those are the same issues women deal with now and keep the show relevant all these years later,” said Fee.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

99 Haus Balloons • @99hausballoons • Order on our website: 99hausballoons.com

The world kneaded you!

Thank you for being a friend!

A23

A24

Wednesday Journal, January 12, 2022

Inspired

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

presented by

Betty.

“Be Like Betty” at our pet adoption event! Join Byline and the Animal Care League at the Byline Bank Oak Park branch at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Honor Betty White’s legacy by visiting with puppies and kittens that are available for adoption. As part of the #BettyWhiteChallenge, donations will be accepted. Refreshments will also be served! Byline Bank 1001 Lake Street Oak Park, IL (708) 660-1000

bylinebank.com/oprf