WednesdayJournal_011817 by Wednesday Journal

W E D N E S D A Y

January 18, 2017 Vol. 35, No. 22 ONE DOLLAR

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

OPRF’s Jared Scott Sports, page 48

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Stranded Whittier Elementary students participate in a refugee simulation on Jan. 13. Lifeboats and tents were used to encourage the students to imagine what it feels like to be suddenly uprooted from their homes. Read more on page 7.

Area red-light camera tickets a boon for clouted company By BOB UPHUES and BRETT McNEIL Senior Editor and Contributing Reporter

He noted that the building would not be taller than the Vantage tower, which was completed last year, and that, like Vantage, it would be a mix of luxury apartments, ground-level retail and parking. The community meeting aims to discuss density, shadows cast by the structure and the general form and size of the building. The discussion of shadows could be a make-or-break topic for the project, due to its proximity to Austin Gardens, a public park that recently built an environmental education center building powered by solar panels. Park advocates already are eyeing the

Red-light cameras operated by Chicago-based SafeSpeed LLC have issued more than $26 million in tickets along a local four-mile stretch of Harlem Avenue since 2014. The privately held company’s cameras in River Forest, Berwyn and North Riverside issue citations at rates that far surpass even the busiest cameras in Chicago. While no central database exists for Illinois red-light cameras, those operated near Oak Park by SafeSpeed may be among the most lucrative in the state, acOF A 2PART cording to available records. Under the revenue-sharing SERIES terms of its vendor contracts, SafeSpeed stands to collect about 40 percent of all paid tickets. The company’s take on Harlem Avenue for tickets issued between January 2014 and October 2016 has been about $6.5 million, based on collected citations issued by River Forest, Berwyn and North Riverside. Red-light camera tickets worth millions more remain uncollected. The ticketing business is clearly good business. How good? One of SafeSpeed’s politically connected owners was carless and bankrupt just a couple years before helping found the company. Today he pre-

See NEW TOWER on page 16

See SAFE SPEED on page 8

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

New tower planned for downtown Oak Park Developer plans meeting with neighbors By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Albion Residential is planning to build a new mixed-use residential tower at the northwest corner of Lake Street and Forest Avenue, 1000 Lake St., right across the street from the 21-story Vantage Oak Park building. The development company is holding a community meeting on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at the 19th Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., to discuss the proposal with neighboring residents and businesses.

The project would mean the long-expected demolition of the two-story brick building at the site, which was purchased in August 2014 by UrbanStreet Group LLC, along with the adjacent seven-story building at 1010 Lake St., for $6.95 million. Andrew Yule, Albion’s vice president of development, said in a telephone interview that his firm is currently in negotiations with UrbanStreet, and its partner North American Properties, to purchase the property. Yule was short on details because of the negotiations, but he said Albion wants to work with neighbors and the community “to deliver a product that everyone will be appreciative of.”

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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I N S I D E

R E P O R T

Overnight parking via smart phone app Obtaining overnight parking passes in Oak Park is now just a few smart-phone clicks away, due to an update to the parking app now used at parking meters and at pay-by-space lots. The village has announced that the Passport Parking app available on Apple and Android devices now allows overnight parking pass purchases, according to a village press release. Residents can still reserve passes online (www.oak-park.us/parkingpass), but the online and smart-phone app options will soon replace the village’s automated telephone system for purchasing the passes, which will

end beginning in February. The cost is the same – residents can request up to 10 passes, the first three of which are free and the rest $7 apiece. Users must download the app and enter Zone 206 to get the passes. That zone covers the entire village where overnight parking is available. The app also offers a map showing where motorists can use the passes. Overnight parking is still not allowed along major thoroughfares, next to parking meters or other areas where parking restrictions are posted. “Vehicle owners wishing to park on Washington Boulevard or Oak Park Avenue, for example, may have to park on a side street

outside of an existing permit parking zone or not on a main route,” according to the village. The village notes that a person can contact the village operator between 8 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. through Jan. 30, to learn more about how the system works and to answer questions. The automated phone system for purchasing overnight parking passes is available by calling 708-716-0716. Passes can also be purchased at Village Hall, 123 Madison St., or by calling the Oak Park Parking Mobility Services Department at 708-358-7275 weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. betw

Timothy Inklebarger

Courtesy facebook

S STILL VIRAL: After her photo ppopped up on a vote-suppressing meme circulated by supporters of m Donald Trump during last year’s Do presidential election, Deborah Wilpre liams liam is now dealing with the photo’s new life as a bit character on a recent episode epis of the sitcom “Black-ish.”

The face of a Trump meme is still trending

A photo of Deborah Williams, a veteran political organizer with experience working for politicians in Oak Park and the Austin community, just won’t stop trending. Last November, shortly before the presidential election, Williams, a West Side volunteer for Hillary Clinton’s campaign, learned, by way of numerous phone calls from friends and relatives, that she had made a cameo appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show. A photo of the longtime organizer holding an African Americans for Hillary sign appeared on a viral internet meme that reads, “Avoid the line. Vote from home. Text ‘Hillary’ to 59925. Vote for Hillary and be a part of history.” It was a racially charged, blatant and foolhardy attempt to suppress turnout among Clinton supporters. The meme

was blasted by national media like Maddow and Wired Magazine. Williams wrote college professors and news outlets, hired a lawyer and even held a press conference so that she could tell the world “that the woman in that photo, who is me, was not party to this scam” and is educated and a veteran campaigner who knows you can’t vote by text. To Williams, the meme seemed too similar to the kinds of prejudiced, voter suppressing tactics employed in the past. So it was ironic when, last week, she discovered that she was still making cameos — this time on a recent episode of the popular ABC sitcom “Black-ish.” The photo, from the meme, of Williams holding her African Americans for Hillary sign appears in a visual montage — replete with Jim Crow-era photos of segregated water fountains — that backdrops a monologue delivered by comedian Anthony Anderson’s character, Andre Johnson., a black ad executive. Johnson feels compelled to explain to his white co-workers, during a water cooler conversation about Trump’s win, how blacks can still love a country

that’s that’ historically mistreated them. A two-minute Facebook clip of Anderson’s two-m monologue has been viewed nearly six mon million milli times. The Th meme’s misleading content wasn’t included with Williams’s photo, but that inclu wasn’t wasn enough to keep her from feeling that her image will forever be associated with an odious attempt to suppress the vote. t “I’m still making history,” Williams said last Friday in a tone of exasperation. That’s one way to think of it. In a review, TV Guide called the ‘Blackish’ episode “the first post-Obama work of art.” Williams helped make that, too.

Michael Romain

A ‘Hidden’ hit For the second week in a row, Hidden Figures is the number one film at the Lake Theatre, knocking the latest Star Wars movie, Rogue One, off its pedestal. And Oak Parkers aren’t alone. It knocked Star Wars out of the number one spot nationwide as well. The film, about three African American women who played a key, if not well publicized role in the success of the space program during the 1960s, is the surprise hit of the season. Not sure anyone saw this coming. Meanwhile, La La Land continues its strong showing at The Lake (number two and nationwide) and Classic Cinemas’ marketing chief, Mark Mazrimas, says they think they’ll have 20th Century Women (Annette Bening) starting this week as well. Mazrimas said they figured Hidden Figures would play well in Oak Park, but they weren’t sure about their outlying theaters. However, it’s playing well everywhere. He calls it “a very pleasant surprise.” It’s a good time to be a movie buff.

Ken Trainor

Actors Janelle Monáe, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer in ‘Hidden Figures.’

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Saints and Heroes

Jazz songs and styles of freedom

Sunday, Jan. 22, from 2 to 3 p.m., Main Library Veterans Room:

Friday, Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church: Take a break from Inauguration Day with Jazz Prayer, third Friday of each month. It’s a great way to unwind. The theme for January addresses how jazz progressed from its traditional roots and moved to embrace different cultures. 7:10 p.m. for pre-performance refreshments. The non-denominational events create an opportunity for reflection and meditation in an ambiance of quality jazz music. 611 Randolph (corner of East and Randolph). No admission fee, but free-will donations to support the jazz concert programs are appreciated. All are welcome. www.GoodShepherdLC.org.

Blizzard ’67 Thursdays and Fridays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 4 & 8 p.m., through Feb. 18, 16th Street Theater: The first play of 16th St. Theater’s 10th season, Blizzard ’67 by Jon Steinhagen, marks the 50th anniversary of the great Chicago blizzard. Directed by Ann Filmer. Four businessmen in 1967 Chicago carpool to work navigating the twists and turns of corporate politics. These tensions play out when they foolishly attempt to drive home in the record-breaking blizzard. Tickets at www.16thstreettheater.org. 6420 16th Street in Berwyn. www.16thstreettheater.org. 6420 16th Street in Berwyn.

Jan. 18-25

BIG WEEK Family Gospel Celebration Teen social justice filmmakers Thursday, Jan. 19 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Main Library Small Meeting Room: Celebrate films developed and created by Chicago teens in classes taught by instructors at CTVN (Community Television Network). Film subjects include documentaries, dramas, poetry, and music and tackle issues of homelessness, teen violence, friendship, and family dynamics. 834 Lake St.

CALENDAR EVENTS ■ As you’ve likely noticed, our

Calendar has changed to Big Week. Fewer items, higher profile. If you would like your event to be featured here, please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published. We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights. Email calendar@wjinc.com.

Sunday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church: The Beye School Gospel Choir and Cross Lutheran Youth Praise Choir will provide youthful energy, complemented by adult choirs, including Good Shepherd’s Gospel ensemble. Then adjourn to Fellowship Hall for cookies and punch. 611 Randolph, corner of East and Randolph, in Oak Park. Free-will donations to support the music program are appreciated. www.GoodShepherdLC.org.

Ike expansion hearings Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Proviso Math & Science Academy, Forest Park:

The I-290 Eisenhower Expressway Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is available for review. There is a 45-day comment period, and comments on the DEIS will be accepted through Feb. 13. A public hearing will be held at PMSA, 8601 Roosevelt Road, Forest Park. Questions should be directed to Mark Peterson, Illinois Department of Transportation, 201 W. Center Court, Schaumburg 60196.

In March 2017, after four years in the making, the Art Institute will open new galleri galleries of Medieval and Renaissance art, ar arms, and armor. This special snea sneak peek of “Saints and Heroes: Art of Medieval and Renaissance Europe” is a collaboration of the Oak Eur Park Park-River Forest Community Associates oof the Art Institute of Chicago and the Oa Oak Park Public Library. 834 Lake St.

Women of Faith Sunday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m., St. Catherine-St. Lucy Parish, Oak Park: Sister Maura Clarke MM, joined the Maryknoll Missioners and ministered to the people of El Salvador. She was assassinated by U.S.-trained National Guard members in December of 1980. Members of Clarke’s family and Eileen Markey, author of Radical Faith, a biography of Sr. Maura will be on hand to tell her story. 38 N. Austin Blvd. For more information, call Shelby Boblick, 630-240-2765 or email shelbyboblick@ comcast.net.

The Singing Detective Sunday, Jan 22 at 2:30 p.m., Open Door Repertory Company:

Put on your trench coat and hear the soundtrack, cabaret-style, from the BBC television series from 1986, The Singing Detective, hits from the Great American Songbook and more, presented by Sara Stern, Dana Brown and Erich Buchholz at the spaciously cozy Open Door Theater, 902 S. Ridgeland Ave. $20 tickets. Call 708-386-5510 for more.

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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ART BEAT

Playwright has deep roots in local theater

ENJOY THE GOOD LIFE

By DOUG DEUCHLER

from Chicago to New York, from Los Angeles to various festivals across the country. Among his many honors and awards, he uthor, actor, musician and play- won the Julie Harris Playwriting Award for wright Jon Steinhagen is talking his comedy The Analytical Machine. He seems especially attracted to historical topics. about his play Blizzard ’67 which His musical The Teapot Scanopens this week at 16th dals (for which he wrote the Street Theater, 6420 W. book, music, and lyrics) was 16th St., in Berwyn — exactset in the early 1920s durly 50 years after the Januing the corrupt Warren ary 1967 Great Chicago G. Harding presidency. Blizzard. The show, produced by “This is a human stoPorchlight Music Thery, not just a historical ater, was nominated story,” said Steinhagen, for a Jeff Award in the a longtime Brookfield Best New Work category. resident. “It’s set in a very He also received an After tight time period — durDark Award (Best New Work) ing the big blizzard of early for The Teapot Scandals. He re1967. But it focuses on four Photo by Bogdan Nastase ceived a producer-author initiahuman beings, businessmen tive grant from the National Alwho carpool, and foolishly Jon Steinhagen liance for Musical Theater. attempt to drive home from “Writing for the theater definitely infludowntown. It’s about their relationships. The play focuses on these gentlemen and ences one’s acting,” Steinhagen said. “And acting clearly influences one’s insight into their different stresses and choices.” For 16th Street Theater’s 10th season, the writing process. They both affect one whose theme is “The Journey,” Steinhagen another.” In 2008, Steinhagen was chosen as the was chosen as resident playwright. They are now mounting his Blizzard ’67, which resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists. More recently, Steinhagen has been dewas first performed at Chicago Dramatists veloping a series of plays set in 19th-century in 2012. “I did a lot of interviews before I actu- Chicago history. “It will be a cycle generated out of Chicaally started writing,” Steinhagen said. “So I heard lots of stories. I was not born in 1967, go’s forgotten past,” he said. “I have begun so I have no memories of the event. But I got with a play set in 1837 when Chicago was a lot of wonderful material. I have dedicated just chartered as a city. … This series of plays will cover the period of the 1800s but this play to my mom and dad.” Steinhagen, a prolific freelance artist, will stop at 1900 — about the time when the grew up in Brookfield, went to high school Chicago River was reversed so that the waat Fenwick, and worked on his early shows ter would be pure and not polluted.” Years ago, Jon and I worked together on in Oak Park and Forest Park’s Circle Thetwo local shows at the storefront theater atre. Down through the years, Steinhagen has level. I wrote the dialogue and Jon wrote the been constant, gifted figure in local theater music. First we did Kick Up Your Heels about and beyond. His plays and musicals have been produced nationally. His short fiction Grace Hayward, who ran her own theater is published widely, in literary journals and company in early 20th-century Oak Park at the Warrington Opera House. The show in books as well as online. He’s an actor of great depth and skill, played at Village Players in 1990. Next we playing leading roles like Felix in The Odd did a musical, kind of a “film noir” spoof, Couple, Big Daddy in Cat on a Hot Tin called Vendetta at Circle Theatre — a comRoof, J.J. Hunsecker in Sweet Smell of Suc- edy mystery set in Hollywood during the cess, Mack Sennett in Mack and Mabel, and mid-century ‘Red Scare.’ Each night the auSheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came dience would select the person they thought was the murderer. So Jon prepared an apto Dinner. Steinhagen recently portrayed Judy Gar- propriate ending for each of our characters. “I was always making things up,” Steinhaland’s pianist in Studio 773’s End of the Rainbow for which he had to play piano, gen recalled. “When I was a child in elementary school, I wrote a little piece of poetry lead the band and also act. “This was a very intense but exhilarating called ‘Toast’ and won an award for it. I was reading a lot and went to the library all the process,” he recalled. Steinhagen has won four Joseph Jefferson time. We had an old Carnegie Library in Awards, and his work has been performed Brookfield in those days. I loved it.”

Theater Critic

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Performing Arts Center

“electrifying talents” - The Washington Post

Prayers for a president

dds and ends with some a bit odder than others: In our prayers: I’ve never been much to pray. Suppose I was burned out on too many rote Hail Marys as a kid. And I’ve never made the leap to a more sophisticated take on prayer. But for a long time now, Mary and I have shared a prayer late on Sunday nights as we lay in bed and steel ourselves for the week just ahead. It’s a recap and an anticipation and an affirmation. And sure, there’s a little Bing Crosby in there as we count our blessings. We pray for our kids. We pray for the power of the two of us doing our best. We remember people we know who are in some immediate worry over health or love or money. We thank the people who have gone way up and over in looking out for us that week, and always there is more than one. We pray for the family that come before us and gave us life. Can’t say too many good prayers for Frank and Mary Haley and Dick and Babe Cassidy. We give thanks for the protection and caring of our little house in Berwyn. We pray for our small company and for the towns we cover — and, yes, Forest Park, I’m praying for you, too. Then there is the small band of regulars who make our prayer list. Maybe I’m going to hell, but we added Pope Francis and Cardinal Cupich and never really gave a positive thought to Benedict or Francis George. Bless me, Father, etc. For the past eight years, every Sunday night we have prayed for the president and his family. I’ve never prayed for a president before. Never occurred to me. But this president, President Obama, Mrs. Obama and those two girls brought out in us prayers of gratitude and of protection. We prayed for their strength and grace, love and fun, intellect and heart. All in the hurricane of a consequential presidency, in the face of obstinacy and, surely, racism, in the glare of our soupedup world of observation and commentary. This past Sunday night, as we prayed

for the president and his family, I thought about next Sunday night. Are prayers, like love and respect, needing to be earned? Or more freely given, especially to those who seem immune to their power? Maybe I’ll need to pray on that one. In the meantime, next Sunday night we’ll pray for our country. Red light tickets: I’ve got two of them myself. There they sit. Unpaid. Today, tomorrow, forever. We did a fair piece of reporting last week and this on the bald-faced municipal theft that red-light cameras represent. We focused on Harlem Avenue from North to Cermak and the $26.5 million in tickets that have been issued along that stretch in less than three years. Like 90 percent plus of all the tickets spit out by these cameras, both of my tickets — North Riverside and, I think, Hillside — were for making a right hand turn on red. A total crock that has no connection to traffic safety. And so, North Riverside village officials, you’ll need to find another sucker to pay your $100 ticket so that you can fund the police pensions you have otherwise failed to plan for. Won’t be me. A final deadline?: We’ll know soon enough if River Forest village officials are serious about headway for development at Lake and Lathrop. After years and years of delays and extensions the village board seemed intent this month in setting a hard stop of Jan. 30 for favoriteson developer Tim Hague to actually buy the property he claims to want to develop. Stay strong, village board. Or move on. Very quickly: The Chamber’s Bite Nite food fest is coming right up on Jan. 27 at the Nineteenth Century Club. Always fun and an indicator, in my mind, at least, that winter has reached some sort of breaking point. … The better indicator, of course, is that we are now less than one month from the start of Spring Training. My White Sox will be just as appallingly bad as the past two seasons. But it will be horrible in a youthful, energetic way that will make them fun to watch. And I suppose the Cubs will play again this season, too.

DAN HALEY

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AT-TENT-IVE: Whittier Elementary students crowd into a tent pitched at the bottom of the school’s auditorium stage on Jan. 13 for a refugee simulation. The demonstration is designed to simulate the experiences of people forced to suddenly flee their homes.

Oak Park and River Forest High School invites you to attend the

Superintendent’s Listening Tour Tour Dates Enjoy a complimentary light meal during the first half-hour, followed by dialogue. RSVP to Karin Sullivan, 708.434.3691 or ksullivan@oprfhs.org. Mon., Jan. 23, 2017 • RSVP by Jan. 20 Beye Elementary School 230 N. Cuyler Ave., Oak Park 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

It’s a hard knock life – for a day Refugee simulation held at Whittier School By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Violet Schnizlein, 8, knows how it feels to be separated from the place you love. This year, she said, her family moved nine blocks away from the place she had grown up and where two of her closest friends, who she’s known since she was a year old, still live. That experience, while sad, is nothing compared to the shock of becoming a refugee, Schnizlein said. The Whittier Elementary School student was among dozens of third- through fifthgraders who completed a refugee simulation at the school last Friday. “Since Monday is Martin Luther King Day, we’re trying to talk to them about becoming a good neighbor and one way of doing that is by welcoming new people into the country,” said Shana Wills, a parent who helped plan the experience. Last May, Wills and other parents from Whittier and Brooks Middle School, accompanied a small group of students to Chicago to help furnish an apartment that had been prepared for some refugees by the nonprofit Exodus World Service, which mobilizes volunteers to provide services for people who have been forced by conflict or catastrophe from their homes. “Because most of our collection efforts last year went through adults, we wanted to bring the students more into the refugee experience this year,” said Whittier Principal Keisha Warner. Stephanie Thomas, who was among the parents and students who made the welcoming trip to Chicago last year, said that more than meeting the refugees at the last point of their journey, she wanted the students to “internalize what these refugees go through. Exodus was our partner in setting up the houses last year, so naturally, we relied on them for this as well.” Michael Cruz, 9, was told by Exodus instructors to imagine himself at sea, confined to a raft with six other people. The Whittier’s wood-

en auditorium stage was beneath him, but he could imagine the water’s expanse, he said. “The worst part of the experience, I think, would be the ocean, because if people are seasick, they’d be coughing and vomiting all over the place,” Cruz said after going through the simulation. “Waves would be coming in and splashing everybody, you’d really have nothing and you’d be in a cramped space for years.” The students confronted the relative absence of mobility and choice, perhaps the hallmarks of the refugee experience, at five stations dispersed throughout the building. At the first station, students sat on the floor in a hallway, deciding on which six items they would bring with them on their escape from home. They then fled to the second station, the crowded life boats, before metaphorically floating to the pitched tents at the bottom of the auditorium stage that represented the refugee camp. In the camps, the students were forced to sit in silence for a few minutes in order to simulate how it feels to be herded into a crowded encampment where few people may speak your language. “You might be separated from your family for a few years and you might have to eat, like, one meal a day,” said Schnizlein. “A food truck only comes once a week.” After the camps, where, according to Thomas, most refugees spend at least three years, the students walked silently over to the border-crossing station located in the back of the auditorium. “The border patrol may likely request that the refugees give them something in order to get through,” Thomas said, whittling down what remains of their six possessions, some of which may have been lost at sea, to barely anything at all. By the time most students got to America, the fifth and last station, they were drained. Sue Horgan, Exodus World Service’s education coordinator, said that the refugee simulations are the informational aspect of her organization’s mission. “It’s one thing to see 20 people on a passenger boat on television, but it’s something else to actually sit in the boat,” she said. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

SAFE SPEED A gold mine from page 1 fers luxury vehicles like Ferrari and Bentley. Campaign finance records show he and others involved in the company also like to spend their money on political candidates. Since 2007, SafeSpeed, its principals and related business entities have made almost a quarter-million dollars in donations to Illinois politicians, including high-ranking state officials responsible for traffic safety regulations. At least one of these ofOF A 2PART ficials, state Sen. Martin SERIES Sandoval, appears to have directly advocated last year on behalf of SafeSpeed with the Illinois Department of Transportation in the company’s efforts to win approval for a controversial red-light camera in west suburban Oakbrook Terrace. Campaign finance records show Sandoval’s campaign committee has received more money from SafeSpeed, its officers and related businesses than any other politician in the state since 2007, the year SafeSpeed was founded.

PART 2

SafeSpeed’s reach in suburbs growing SafeSpeed’s ticketing business is not only good, it’s growing across the Chicago area. The firm today operates in at least 20 northern Illinois communities, according to a letter from Illinois State Sen. Tom Cullerton to an IDOT official on behalf of the company last year, and new SafeSpeed cameras are being installed this month at the intersection of 22nd Street and Kingery Highway outside the Oakbrook Center shopping mall. If those cameras operate like SafeSpeed’s others, they will be among the most prolific ticketing machines in Illinois. SafeSpeed cameras at Harlem and Cermak have issued more than $20 million in citations since 2014 and the firm’s camera at North Avenue and Harlem in River Forest would qualify as the fourth-most valuable red-light camera in all of Chicago. Further afield in Lake County, a trio of SafeSpeed cameras at a single intersection in tiny Lakemoor were identified by the Daily Herald as “easily the most lucrative” of all red-light cameras included in a 2014 survey of 32 north suburban communities. Seemingly wherever SafeSpeed goes, redlight camera tickets -- and profits -- follow in eye-popping numbers. So, who is SafeSpeed, and where did they come from? Despite the firm’s growing reach and profitability, no one has really asked that question before.

Company founders had no background in traffic safety SafeSpeed LLC was formed in Illinois in

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM June 2007 by a group of individuals who at the time appear to have had zero experience in traffic safety or control. In fact, three of the company’s four founding members were at the time partners in a Loop-based business that handled janitorial contracts for the city of Chicago. One of those partners, SafeSpeed President Nikki M. Zollar, is a former official in the administration of Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar and has longstanding ties to both Chicago Democrats and state GOP officials. In addition to her business ventures, Zollar is a one-time Chicago Board of Elections chairwoman who today serves as a trustee at Chicago State University. She was appointed to that post by former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. Her husband is a high-ranking executive at Exelon. Zollar brought political connections from both sides of the political aisle to SafeSpeed but it is unclear from a review of state records how she got into the red-light camera business. Her longtime primary business, Triad Consulting Services Inc., was founded by her mother as a business consulting firm and today appears to operate primarily as “a facilities management enterprise,” according to a company website. The firm continues to maintain janitorial contracts with the city. In response to written questions from Wednesday Journal, SafeSpeed spokeswoman Yvonne Davila wrote, “Ms. Zollar is an attorney with a wealth of experience in many different fields … She is an entrepreneur whose ideas are not constrained.” According to Chicago economic disclosures, Zollar has two business partners at Triad Consulting -- Chris Lai and Khaled “Cliff ” Manni. Both men joined Zollar in founding SafeSpeed. Khaled Maani has spent his professional career of more than 25 years focused on designing and implementing “custodial and maintenance systems for all types of properties,” according to an online professional biography. It is unclear what expertise he brought to the red-light camera company, and he did not answer that question when it was posed in writing by Wednesday Journal. Public records show Maani has a history of financial problems, including a 2015 federal tax lien for more than $92,000. Lai is a former University of Illinois student who has dabbled in online start-ups, including a daily fantasy sports site that received media attention in 2015. SafeSpeed spokeswoman Davila claimed Lai is a former Ernst & Young analyst who “has an extensive technology background and is an entrepreneur.” Online records associate Lai as the registrar of 100 different internet domains since 2004, including websites for SafeSpeed and Triad. Today, Lai serves as SafeSpeed’s chief operating officer.

Final SafeSpeed founder linked to clouted lawyer The fourth SafeSpeed founder, whose name has never appeared on company corporate filings, was even more of an outlier --

TRIAD CONSULTING SERVICES

KHALED MAANI

NIKKI ZOLLAR

KHALED MAANI

CHRIS LAI

BOC ENTERPRISES

OMAR MAANI

PRESIDIO CAPITAL

EYE IN THE SKY: The red-light camera company SafeSpeed LLC, which has contracts with River Forest, North Riverside and Berwyn for lucrative cameras along Harlem Avenue, operates out of offices on the eighth-floor of this skyscraper at 150 N. Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago. a then-26-year-old former Loyola University urban studies major who just three years before helping to create the red-light camera company filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. Omar Maani, the son of SafeSpeed cofounder Khaled Maani, had limited professional experience when he became a founder at SafeSpeed, and it is unclear what assets or skills he brought to the business. SafeSpeed spokeswoman Davila claimed Omar Maani worked for Triad Consulting as a college student and that because of his relationship to Khaled Maani and “as a productive member of Triad, he was included in the development of SafeSpeed.” Whatever his contributions to the janitorial contracting firm, Omar Maani was not without his own potentially important political connections in the western suburbs. Bankruptcy court records show that prior to founding SafeSpeed, Omar Maani during college spent at least three years as a part-

THE MAANI GROUP

time law clerk for Giglio and Del Galdo and Associates. This was the same time period when he was also allegedly working for Triad Consulting. Giglio and Del Galdo at the time was a small municipal law firm operating from offices inside Melrose Park’s village hall. One of Omar Maani’s bosses at the firm, Michael Del Galdo, would later go on to become an important political advisor to Cicero Town President Larry Dominick. From his position in Cicero, where he has handled legal work for the town for more than a decade, Del Galdo has established himself as a busy and influential municipal lawyer across the south and west suburbs. These include Berwyn, where Del Galdo has since 2009 performed legal work for the city and has served as an informal advisor to Mayor Robert Lovero. Del Galdo was advising Lovero when Berwyn officials in the fall of 2009 voted to contract some of the city’s red-light camera operations with SafeSpeed. Records show the Berwyn camera contract was among SafeSpeed’s first, and it established the firm on Harlem Avenue. Within a few years, SafeSpeed would dominate red-light camera operations along the local Harlem Avenue corridor.

SafeSpeed ties to lawyer questioned earlier SafeSpeed is a limited liability company controlled by a group of “members.” The company’s member roster has changed somewhat over the years but Illinois Secretary of State records show that in June 2009, two years after the company was organized, Del Galdo’s name was added to SafeSpeed’s member list in an annual report. Three months after it appeared in company filings, however, Del Galdo’s name was removed in an amendment filed by the com-

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM pany. That amendment is the only one of its kind filed by SafeSpeed in the company’s history. The move drew media attention in September 2009 when the Chicago Tribune reported that the removal of Del Galdo’s name from company records came on the same day Berwyn officials were set to vote on the red-light camera deal for SafeSpeed. In comments to the Tribune, Del Galdo denied any connection with the firm, saying he had “no affiliation with SafeSpeed” and no “economic interest in SafeSpeed.” He also expressed puzzlement why his name had ever appeared in company paperwork as a SafeSpeed member. But in a 2009 letter to Berwyn’s mayor and also in recent comments relayed to Wednesday Journal through the company spokeswoman, Nikki Zollar identified Del Galdo as an early member of SafeSpeed. According to the SafeSpeed spokeswoman, Del Galdo’s relationship with the firm began in 2007, when he provided unspecified legal guidance for the company, and ended in 2009. In an interview, spokeswoman Davila claimed Del Galdo “walked away” in 2009 when he realized the company could be slow to produce profits and that he faced potential conflicts of interest with his legal clients as a SafeSpeed member. Davila said she could not specify which clients posed a potential conflict for Del Galdo and that Zollar had “no clue” about Del Galdo’s client list. Del Galdo did not respond to written questions provided by Wednesday Journal.

Maani ownership held through corporation Del Galdo’s former law clerk, Omar Maani, is a founder of SafeSpeed but his name has never appeared directly on company filings. Instead, the younger Maani has always maintained his member position in the business through a pair of Illinois corporations where he serves as the sole publicly identified officer. He formed the first of those corporations, Strategy Inc., just one week before SafeSpeed was incorporated. The newly minted corporation almost immediately became a founding member of SafeSpeed, secretary of state records show. Two years later, a second Omar Maani business, BOC Enterprises, Inc., replaced Strategy Inc. as a member of SafeSpeed. BOC Enterprises today remains one of the four members of SafeSpeed. Illinois law does not require private corporations to identify their shareholders and it is unclear whether Omar Maani is the sole owner of BOC Enterprises or whether other individuals hold a financial stake in the business and, by extension, in the profits of SafeSpeed. In written comments, SafeSpeed spokeswoman Davila claimed Omar Maani is the sole shareholder of BOC Enterprises, Inc. She also claimed his Strategy Inc., which helped found SafeSpeed, “was never active or operated.” In a November 2015 email to state Sen. Martin Sandoval (D-11th) seeking assistance for the company’s efforts to win approval for red-light cameras in Oakbrook

Terrace, Omar Maani identified himself as a SafeSpeed “principal.”

State senators made IDOT contact for SafeSpeed Records obtained by Wednesday Journal through a Freedom of Information request show state Sen. Sandoval in late 2015 forwarded Maani’s email to an IDOT official involved in the red-light camera approval process for Oakbrook Terrace. “I encouraged Omar to drop u a line,” Sandoval wrote to IDOT Deputy Director John Fortmann. “Ur assistance would be appreciated.” A couple months later, in February 2016, state Sen. Tom Cullerton wrote to IDOT’s Fortmann on behalf of Oakbrook Terrace and SafeSpeed. Cullerton claimed SafeSpeed at that time operated in 20 different communities and was negotiating with six others. “I am writing to request your approval in allowing Oakbrook Terrace to begin implementation” of the red-light cameras on 22nd Street and Kingery Highway. IDOT reportedly reversed course on an earlier denial and in late 2016 approved the SafeSpeed red-light camera in Oakbrook Terrace. Village officials in neighboring Oak Brook, who oppose the camera as a threat to the Oakbrook Center shopping mall, have threatened to file suit in order to stop the camera’s installation. Last week the Oak Brook Village Board passed an ordinance banning red-light cameras that included language alleging that “contractors promoting red light cameras throughout Illinois and the United States have sought to corrupt local law enforcement by turning it into a moneymaker for political leaders.”

Red-light tickets and Ferraris Because SafeSpeed is a private business, the firm’s profits are not public. But DuPage County traffic court records shed some possible light on Omar Maani’s finances -- or at least his taste in cars. Twice in the last five years he’s been ticketed while driving super-luxury vehicles, including a brand new Ferrari and a lessbrand-new Bentley. Ticket records did not include model information for either vehicle but the 2012 Ferrari was gray and the Bentley, also a 2012 model, was black and it carried a set of personalized tags. Records show Maani was caught speeding on Ogden Avenue in the Ferrari in 2012 and was cited for improper lane usage while piloting the Bentley in 2015. In addition to his position at SafeSpeed, Omar Maani is involved in governmentsponsored property development in Cicero, where his former boss Del Galdo remains an influential figure. Maani’s Presidio Capital LLC in 2016 received Community Development Block Grants funds from Cook County to help underwrite a 29-unit townhouse development in Cicero. The firm also has reportedly participated in Cicero projects funded by the federal Neighborhood Stabilization

Pols benefit from SafeSpeed-related cash Individuals and companies connected to SafeSpeed LLC have been generous to the political committees of state and local politicians. Political donations total more than $245,000 since 2007, the year SafeSpeed was formed. State Sen. Martin Sandoval has been a favorite recipient, receiving $37,500. Cicero Town President Larry Dominick has received donations totaling $28,750, Illinois campaign finance records show. Here’s a summary of notable contributions made by people and companies connected to SafeSpeed:

Total SafeSpeed-related political contributions -$245,509 SafeSpeed LLC - $42,450 • State Sen. Martin Sandoval - $11,000 • Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx - $5,000 • Country Club Hills Mayor Dwight Welch* - $4,000 • Melrose Park Mayor Ronald Serpico* - $2,500 • North Riverside VIP Party* - $1,600 • Robert Lovero/Berwyn Democrats* - $1,280 Triad Consulting Services - $112,550 • State Sen. Martin Sandoval - $15,500 Program. DuPage County court records indicate Maani’s Presidio Capital LLC has also performed work on behalf of the Cicero Health Department.

Almost $250K to state, local pols Individuals and companies associated with SafeSpeed have contributed almost a quarter-million dollars to political campaign committees since 2007. The bulk of those donations have been made by Triad Consulting Services, the SafeSpeed sister company operated by Nikki Zollar, Khaled Maani and Chris Lai. Illinois campaign finance records show Triad since 2007 has made $112,550 in donations to state and local politicians. State Sen. Martin Sandoval has received $15,500 of those funds, while Cicero Town President Larry Dominick has received $8,100 from Triad. Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero has received $7,000, and records show Triad last fall made $20,000 in donations to campaign funds benefitting Illinois Democrats prior to the November elections. Triad also contributed $2,500 to the political committee for Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci in late October 2016. IDOT approved an Oakbrook Terrace red-light camera permit at 22nd Street and Kingery Highway the day after that donation, according to Chicago Tribune reporting. SafeSpeed, LLC has provided campaign cash to local politicians in towns where the company maintains red-light camera contracts -- including Melrose Park, Berwyn and North Riverside -- and the firm last summer made a $5,000 donation to newly installed Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx.

• Senate Democratic Victory Fund - $10,000 • Democratic Party of Illinois - $10,000 • Cicero Voters Alliance/President Larry Dominick $8,100 • Berwyn Mayor Robert Lovero - $7,000 • State Sen. Tom Cullerton - $2,500 Nikki Zollar - $28,500 • Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx - $9,000 • Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle $1,000 • Illinois Senate Democratic Fund - $1,000 Omar Maani - $10,009 • State Sen. Martin Sandoval - $5,000 • Cicero Voters Alliance/Larry Dominick - $750 Presidio Capital - $43,000 • Cicero Voters Alliance/President Larry Dominick $16,900 • State Sen. Martin Sandoval - $5,000 • Cook County Commissioner Jeffrey Tobolski - $4,000 The Maani Group: $9,000 • Cicero Voters Alliance/Larry Dominick - $3,000 • State Sen. Martin Sandoval - $1,000 • State Sen. Tom Cullerton - $500 * SafeSpeed operates cameras in municipalities where these individuals hold office. SafeSpeed co-founder Omar Maani has been generous, too. Records show Maani and companies controlled by him have made campaign contributions totaling more than $62,000 since 2007. Cicero Town President Larry Dominick has received $17,650 of those funds.

Sandoval a favorite politician The biggest beneficiary of contributions from individuals and companies affiliated with SafeSpeed has been Martin Sandoval, who is chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and represents portions of Cicero, Riverside, Lyons and Chicago’s Southwest Side. Companies and individuals with ties to SafeSpeed have donated $37,500 to Sandoval’s political committee since 2007. Triad and SafeSpeed last September each made $10,000 donations to Sandoval, and companies controlled by Omar Maani contributed $6,000 to Sandoval’s political war chest between 2015 and 2016, records show.

State Dems get cash, too Last fall, Triad Consulting Services gave $10,000 to the Democratic Party of Illinois, a committee chaired by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Triad contributed another $10,000 during that same time period to the Senate Democratic Victory Fund, which is chaired by Illinois Senate President John Cullerton. Both Sandoval and John Cullerton were Illinois Senate sponsors of the 2006 law that paved the way for red-light camera enforcement in Illinois.

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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D97 upholds Lincoln principal’s early retirement Cathy Hamilton had hoped to stay on for three more years By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Since at least last November, some members of the Lincoln Elementary School community have tried pressuring the District 97 school board to allow the school’s longtime principal, Cathy Hamilton, to remain in her position despite a 2013 board decision granting her request for early retirement by the end of this school year. In a letter emailed to parents last week, District 97 Superintendent Carol Kelley announced that the board denied Hamilton’s request, upholding their original 2013 decision to authorize her early retirement. The board also directed the administration to begin a search for Hamilton’s permanent replacement. After the state legislature allowed the Early Retirement Option to expire last July — a measure that would cut into Hamilton’s pension — the principal requested that the district push back her retirement for another three years, so that she could

leave with a higher pension. The decision had the support of many Lincoln families and staff members, some of whom signed off on a November letter to Wednesday Journal arguing that, when Hamilton made plans to retire this year with her full pension, she “was unaware the retirement option was going to be defunded.” “By telling Cathy you will honor her request to remain as principal, you will, by extension, be telling us, her colleagues, students, families and community members, that you value us and our commitment to the Lincoln community,” the letter read. In a statement released last November, Kelley explained that the “board authorized the payment of retirement benefits for Ms. Hamilton over a four-year period” that was based on her decision to voluntary retire in June 2017. The benefits, Kelley added, included a requirement that her retirement this year be “irrevocable” and “could not be rescinded.” The Early Retirement Option’s sunset, Kelley said at the time, “was common knowledge among members of the educational community here in Illinois” and that the Teachers’ Retirement System “included information about in their bulletins.” In her Jan. 13 letter, Kelley said that dur-

ing its review of Hamilton’s request for an extension of her early retirement, the school board “carefully considered the concerns Ms. Hamilton raised and the potential options of resolving them.” Kelley said that the search for a new principal at Lincoln, which began last week, would include posting the position on the district’s website and on “various local and national employment sites.” The district will also collaborate with Lincoln’s faculty, staff and families “to develop a leadership profile for screening candidates, and establish a school-based team that will assist with the interview process.” Some community members expressed disappointment with the Jan. 13 letter, saying that it fell short of transparency and requesting that the district make public what those “potential options” for keeping Hamilton were. When reached about those concerns on Monday, district officials would not comment beyond the letter. “We would also like to thank Ms. Hamilton for her dedicated service to the district and Oak Park community, and wish her all the best moving forward,” the statement read. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

D97 looking for volunteers Oak Park School District 97 is looking for community members who are interested in volunteering on its Finance Oversight and Review Committee and the newly created Committee for Community Engagement. The FORC committee meets four to six times out of the year and is responsible for providing the school board and administration “ongoing expertise, oversight and guidance on the district’s fiscal operations,” according to a district statement. There is currently one open seat on this committee. Anyone with questions or an interest in joining the committee should contact Chris Jasculca at cjasculca@op97.org. Interested candidates can also learn more about the committee at www.op97.org/BOE/FORC.cfm. The CCE, which was created by the board last year, will meet once a month during the school year and one time in the summer. Its primary responsibility is to provide the district with “ongoing expertise, strategic counsel and guidance that will help increase community interest and engagement in the work of District 97. Anyone interested in joining the CCE should contact Jasculca at the email above. For more information on the committee, visit www.op97.org/documents/CCECharge.pdf.

Michael Romain

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lready a month into construction, the District House project thoughtfully contributes to the community by delivering an appropriately scaled, sustainable development within the urban fabric of the Hemingway District and downtown Oak Park. The project is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, commonly known as LEED, certification. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, “LEEDcertified buildings are resource efficient. They use less water and energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” The design is a collaboration between Seattle-based The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP and Chicagobased Northworks Architects. “District House is a modern affirmation of the principles of the Prairie School of architecture. Deep projecting floor overhangs emphasize the horizontal while enhancing energy efficiency,” said Brian Court, Partner at Miller Hull. Frank Vihtelic, Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty listing agent, says this was all by design. “Every aspect of the District House project from the selection of the design team to the unit’s delivery specifications focuses both on quality and environmental impact.”

Since construction commenced, the project’s commitment to sustainability is at the forefront. Most recently, the project achieved a 95% landfill diversion rate for the demolition waste from the Tasty Dog building. The materials from the building demolition were sent to recycling centers, separation facilities and reused both on and off-site. This broad commitment to sustainability is not new for

The project will incorporate extensive green roofs and solar shades, while units will feature Energy Star furnaces and Nest self-learning, wi-fi-enabled thermostats, all contributing towards energy efficiency. The project will also utilize low-VOC paints, green label plus carpets and dual-flush toilets. As important, the project is located in the heart of Oak Park, just blocks away from the Metra and CTA. “One of the most sustainable aspects of the project is its location and the lifestyle it affords future buyers.” said Frank Vihtelic. District House in under construction and over 35% sold. To learn more about what District House has to offer, stop by the District House sales center at 805 Lake Street or call Frank Vihtelic at 708-386-1810 for more information.

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Village Manager Association candidates overcome ballot challenge Electoral board votes 2-1 to allow candidates to run in April election By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The unofficial slate of candidates endorsed by the Village Manager Association, a group that slates and vets candidates for public office, was allowed access to the ballot by the Oak Park Electoral Board for the municipal election in April. Also allowed access to the ballot were village clerk candidates Elia Gallegos and Mas Takiguchi after challenges made to their nominating petitions were withdrawn. However, Emily Masalski, an independent village trustee candidate, was disqualified from running in April. The electoral board voted unanimously that she did not collect the requisite 251 signatures needed to get on the ballot. Masalski argued that she relied on information from the village stating that the number of signatures needed was equal to 1 percent of the 5,021 votes cast in the most recent municipal election. VMA trustee candidates Glenn Brewer and Peter Barber and village clerk candidate Lori Malinski faced challenges by residents Kevin Peppard and former village trustee Robert Milstein, because the three filed joint signature petitions with only 735 signatures. Masalski also faced a challenge from Peppard as well as Oak Park resident George Lazewski. The electoral board is a three-member panel that includes Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, Village Clerk Teresa Powell and Village Trustee Colette Lueck and rules on challenges to nominating petitions. Abu-Taleb and Lueck split with Powell, voting to reject the objections to the VMA petitions. Peppard and Milstein argued that legal precedent precludes candidates from collecting signatures as a group. They also argued that if the three were allowed to collect signatures as a group, they would not have met the threshold of 251 signatures each. Candidates must collect signatures equaling 5 percent of the voters in the most recent municipal election. Lueck acknowledged that a previous court decision determined that candidates are not allowed to collect signatures as a group, but the court left it up to the local electoral board to decide a remedy. “It gives the board the option of throwing them off (the ballot) or not,” she said. Powell said she voted to deny the group access to the ballot, in part, because even if it were allowed to collect signatures as a group, the three candidates still fell short

of the 251 signatures each needed individually. Prior to the decision, Milstein said he would appeal the decision in Cook County Circuit Court if his challenge was not successful. Peppard separately withdrew his petition challenges to village clerk candidates Elia Gallegos and Mas Takiguchi. Peppard had originally challenged Gallegos, claiming that she had not bound her petition signature sheets into a book as mandated by state law.

He had challenged Takiguchi based on the notary public notarizing the petition signature papers with four stars instead of a signature and because of irregularities with some of the signature collectors who were identified as relatives of Takiguchi. Peppard said at the Thursday hearing that his decision to withdraw the challenge to Takiguchi was based on the realization that the notary in fact signs his name with four star symbols instead of a traditional signature. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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School board candidates riff on equity

Jan. 11 forum was the first of its kind this election cycle By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

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A few hundred people gathered at the Oak Park Public Library on Jan. 11 for the Conscious Political Dialogue Forum, which was sponsored by the nonprofit Suburban Unity Alliance. It was the first major candidate forum held ahead of the April 4 elections. Candidates seeking seats on the Oak Park village and library boards, and District 97 and 200 school boards filled the library’s second floor meeting rooms. Nine of the 10 candidates running for the District 97 board were present at the forum, including Heather B Claxton-Douglas, James Robert Breymaier, David Yamashita, Katherine Murray-Liebl, Robert S Walicki, Maya L. Ganguly, Cynthia Ashford Hollis and Keecia Broy. Seven of the nine candidates running for the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 board were present at the forum, including Matt Baron, Doug Springer, Jackie Moore, Jack Davidson, Albert Sye, Christian Chiakulas and Craig Iseli. They were grouped according to which race they were campaigning before filing into meeting rooms for separate discussions that took place simultaneously. But the despite the separation, the issues of equity and diversity dominated each discussion. To a person, candidates in both school board races acknowledged that a decades-long opportunity gap separating white and black students, and relatively affluent and low-income students, exists in Oak Park schools. The problem, the candidates mulled, is how to finally — after many years of gathering data, commissioning studies and peopling committees — start narrowing that racially and economically charged opportunity gap. “I think it’s very evident that there’s a racial problem,” said attorney Ashford-Hollis “There’s a silent racial problem and we didn’t want to talk about it in the past and now it’s being talked about with [D97 Supt. Carol] Kelley’s vision.” The candidates’ assessments of that “silent problem” varied, with some explaining that an ultimate resolution can only come from each individual’s acknowledgment of their own racial blind spots. “Let it begin with you and let it begin with me,” said Baron, the outgoing Oak Park Public Library Board president, who deferred running for a second term on that board in order to run for the District 200 school board. “I think it’s for us each to assess our own biases, prejudices and failures, and to change and improve.” “This issue starts with individuals and

our awareness and understanding of it,” said Iseli, a businessman who was appointed to a stint on the D97 board in 2015. “I don’t think the issues at the high school are just at the high school. They’re at the early childhood level, they’re at District 97 and we really have to focus on the whole community to address these issues.” “There’s been a lack of intentionality in dealing with the gap,” said Breymaier, the executive director of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. “We are dealing with a variety of experiences in our village and that’s been a great strength … We have to plenty of resources and excess capacity. We need to figure out how to marshal those resources so we can create more equitable structures.” Most of the solutions proposed by candidates in both school board races hinged on the need for a diversity of experiences in both districts. Numerous candidates argued for the need to hire more minority faculty members, for the implementation of more robust multicultural curriculum and for bringing in mentors from the community to work with low-performing students. Some candidates argued that implementing those solutions starts with listening to the experiences of students who may feel marginalized and reframing the equity gap issue in a radically different way. “For me, it has been about not discounting anyone’s experience,” said Moore, the current D200 board vice president. “If someone comes to a teacher or board member and says they’ve had an experience involving some type of disparity relating to race, we shouldn’t discount that and say, ‘On, no that wouldn’t happen here.’ We have to understand that those individual stories can become a collective.” “We’ve been trying as adults for close to 40 years trying to figure this out, maybe it’s us that has the learning gap, the knowledge gap,” said Sye, a former Oak Park and River Forest High School administrator. “The only difference is ours doesn’t get publicized. The kids’ get publicized. Maybe we should start listening to the kids more [and] asking the right questions regarding their needs.” Chiakulas, a political organizer who was himself a student at the high school less than a decade ago, proposed a radical change in how people talk about equity. “We don’t have an equity problem, we owe our students a debt in education that has not been paid for decades,” he said. “Instead of playing this game where we try to think of ways to help the underachieving students catch up, we need to be looking at ways we can come down to their level and bring all the students up together. It starts with these students. That requires courage, because it might mean some parents and students might need to make sacrifices.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Oak Park candidates discuss race at first candidate forum Suburban Unity Alliance forum draws hundreds of residents to meet candidates By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Oak Parkers got their introduction to candidates for local public office Wednesday, Jan. 11, at a candidate forum focusing primarily on equity and diversity issues sponsored by the Suburban Unity Alliance (SUA). Roughly 200 residents attended the forums, which were split between village government candidates – president, trustee and clerk – the two school boards and candidates running for Oak Park library board. The village government candidates focused primarily on taxes, racial diversity and affordable housing. Twelve of the 13 village candidates attended the forum – village clerk candidate Mas Takiguchi was not present. Anthony Clark, SUA executive director, got a range of responses to the first of two questions posed to candidates concerning whether Oak Park has “racial equity issues.” “If so, what is one thing the board can do to address them; if not, what would you do to make sure they don’t arise?” Clark asked. Trustee candidate Simone Boutet said the village racial equity issues are most clearly seen in the achievement gap between white and black students as well as a gap in participation by black residents on Oak Park’s various municipal advisory boards and commissions. “It’s a battle (over racial integration and diversity) that will never end because the inclination of people is to segregate,” she said. Trustee candidate Deno Andrews said Oak Park’s legacy on diversity looks great “on paper” adding, “But we have real problems.” Andrews said he doesn’t see diversity and equity at public events like Oaktoberfest – an annual street festival in downtown Oak Park – and the Concerts in the Park Series put on by the Park District of Oak Park. “I don’t see the numbers like we see on paper, and this is a major problem,” he said, adding that the village has to promote fair housing practices and affordable housing in the village. Andrews’ unofficial running mate for trustee, Dan Moroney, said Oak Park has to invest in its own community. “Not all of our citizens are engaged, so how do we communicate with citizens better?” he said, later adding, “How do you engage the entirety of Oak Park, so all of Oak Parkers feel a member of the community and are able to invest in Oak Park …” Trustee candidate James Taglia said racial diversity is an issue in Oak Park, partly because so much of the tax base comes from homeowners rather than businesses – an 80 percent to 20 percent split, respectively –

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

MAPPING THE MAYOR: Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb talks during a candidate forum on Jan. 11 at the Oak Park Public Library. making it more expensive to live in the village. “We need to expand and shift some of the percentages more toward business,” he said, noting that more business in Oak Park would take some of the burden off residents. “We need to increase that percentage from 20 (percent), and if you do that and bring more people in, you will spread that burden out over a greater number of people, and the tax burden will actually decrease and equity will increase.” Trustee candidate Peter Barber, an incumbent, said he did not believe racial diversity was a problem in Oak Park, although the village does have issues to address. He noted that the results of a sting in 2014 by HOPE Fair Housing Center showed multiple instances of discrimination in the village’s rental housing market. That study by HOPE was funded by the village government. “The (village) board was able to take some steps to immediately try and address it,” he said. “That’s a community that was responding to – albeit a couple of isolated incidents, hopefully – but they responded in a way that shows we don’t have that kind of a problem in Oak Park.” Trustee candidate Glenn Brewer, also an

incumbent and running mate of Barber’s, served on the Fair Housing Task Force established to address the housing discrimination issue, following the release of the HOPE report. He noted that during his tenure on the village board, he and the board have increased the staff of the Community Relations department, which deals with race and diversity issues. “You may not always hear about them, but they have had a number of diversity dinners where they have actually asked people to host folks in their home for dinner that they don’t know,” he said, adding it’s one of

the ways to engage people in the community. Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, who is running unopposed for the village president’s seat, said he is particularly sensitive to the issue of diversity because of his experience growing up in the war torn Gaza Strip. “It is really important for me that when people come to village board meetings they are feeling welcomed …” he said. He said neighbors and the local government have to come together as a village to maintain the values of diversity. Abu-Taleb noted that the village staff and police department reflect the racial diversity of the community and the passage of a living wage ordinance for village employees has advanced equity and diversity. Village clerk candidates also attended the forum, but questions where primarily of a nature that would be addressed by trustees and the village president. Trustee candidate Emily Masalski also attended the forum, but she was recently blocked from appearing on the ballot in the April 4 election because she did not collect the requisite 251 signatures needed. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Former state superintendent seeks River Forest trustee seat By DEBORAH KADIN Contributing Reporter

River Forest should embrace diversity and inclusiveness, says Respicio Vazquez, a candidate for village trustee. “We are all part of the community. I do not care what the percentages [of minorities living in River Forest] are. Inclusiveness should be about everybody,” he said. If the 56-year-old attorney wins in April, Vazquez will become River Forest’s first Hispanic elected official. “I don’t hide my ethnicity; I am proud of who I am,” Vazquez said. “It’s a badge of honor for me, but don’t vote for me because I am Hispanic.” Vazquez has lived in River Forest since 2014, is married and has no children. He says his love for community has inspired him to run for public office. Vazquez served on condominium boards in Chicago and participated in various church activities in the parishes where he has lived. He said he also mentored children and young adults at a nonprofit, Casa Aztlan, in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Because of his involvement in River For-

est Elementary School District 90 committees, some of his neighbors suggested he run for the school board. But that would be a conflict of interest, he said, because the law firm he works for, Franczek Radelet, represents District 90. He can volunteer and is a member of the district’s Inclusiveness Advisory Board. Before joining Franczek Radelet, Vazquez served as the general counsel of the Illinois State Board of Education. During his tenure, he also served for a time as the State Superintendent of Education. He was named acting superintendent in 2002 following the resignation of Superintendent Ernest R. Wish. In the late 1980s, Vazquez was an assistant attorney for the Illinois Attorney General and later served as assistant attorney for the Chicago Board of Education and associate general counsel and general counsel for City Colleges of Chicago. In October, he decided to run for village trustee after being encouraged by neighbors, including Trustee Carmela Corsini, who Vazquez said supports him. “We got to know each other because we were both on the IAB,” Vazquez said. “I was

unaware she was a trustee. She did not promote herself as a trustee.” Since his decision to run, he said he had begun speaking with residents and reading up on village issues. He has, however, not attended a board meeting. “I did not want to inject myself before I got on the ballot,” he said. One issue that caught his interest is economic development. He had read and spoken with people about the Madison Street Tax Increment Finance district and the question of eminent domain. He said he did not favor displacing residents. At the same time, he recognized the importance of TIFs, as there is limited commercial land in River Forest that can be improved. The North Avenue TIF, which trustees are expected to address sometime soon, is the last commercial area that needs to be looked at. He said he would review all the information before making a decision. There is an advantage of building up businesses to expand the tax base, he said. A course of action that the village should follow to make development work on Madison Street is to recruit businesses that would be

useful to the community, he said. “I would not replace existing ones with a business has just started up and does not have a history of success,” Vazquez said. A survey of residents and businesses should be done to see what they want and need, he added. Another issue that Vazquez said he is interested in is historic preservation. He expressed surprise when he heard about the demolition this fall of the Mars Mansion, a development that reawakened community interest in historic preservation. Vazquez wondered why the Historic Preservation Commission did not have a bit more authority to stop it. Vazquez expressed interest in environmental issues, but said he is not sure if the sustainability committee should be elevated to commission status or if its responsibilities could be wrapped into one or more existing commissions. To better explain and promote its positions, Vazquez said, the village needs to expand its outreach to the public. That effort should start with an explanation of the budget, he said, which trustees will adopt in April.

Oak Parker to debut prize-winning film at Siskel Center By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Oak Park filmmaker Seth McClellan remembers the first time he took a trip to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. It was during a winter of his childhood. “That’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been,” said McClellan, of the park’s jagged terrain, during a recent phone interview. “It’s stunning,” he said. “The stark, vivid composition is just gorgeous. It was awe-inspiring and it’s always been a lifelong dream for me to return there.” The park’s terrifying beauty backdrops McClellan’s 2016 documentary, Little Wound’s Warriors, which will have its Chicago debut at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center on Jan. 21. Last year, the film won the Best Public Service Award at the 2016 American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco — the oldest Native American film festival in the world. “A big part of what we did with this film is solicit a lot of feedback from our interview subjects and community members, so it wasn’t just another white guy swooping in and creating poverty tourism, essentially,” McClellan said. The film is about the Lakota Sioux Native Americans who live on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, which is located just south of Badlands, in the park’s shadows. McClellan said that when he visited the national park as a child, his knowledge of the

reservation was contoured by the limits of American history. “Like most Americans, you’re sort of aware of that stuff in the background, but you don’t really appreciate it,” the filmmaker said, of the reservation’s existence. “The big point of the movie is to show what taking these people’s land actually did to them. I wanted to show how the genocide that made America prosperous actually worked out for the victims of it.” McClellan shot the film over 12 days last winter. He had been drawn to Pine Ridge after a friend of his, Mark Hetzel, who is also the film’s co-producer, told him about an outbreak of suicide among teenage girls on the reservation the previous winter. Hetzel had been teaching at Little Wound High School, located on the reservation, since 2014. Between December 2014 and May 2015, nine people between 12 and 24 years old committed suicide at Pine Ridge, according to a New York Times SETH MCCLELLAN article published at Director the time. Within that same span of time, more than 100 people within that age range attempted suicide. “We started asking why this was happening and I got really curious,” said McClellan,

who added that, as with many residents of rural, impoverished reservations, the Pine Ridge Lakota suffer from high rates of alcoholism, generational poverty and violence. “I wanted to know the causes and what makes girls that young do that,” he said. “The most basic conclusion is that it’s all rooted in genocide.” McClellan, a mass communications professor at Triton College, has directed or coproduced other documentaries, including King in Chicago (2008) and Chicago Heights (2009), that are all oriented in social justice struggles. Little Wound’s Warriors, the filmmaker said, follows a well-worn path for him. “My other films deal with social justice and race, because we have to do a better job of understanding what causes cultural and per-

sonal dysfunction like the suicide epidemic at Pine Ridge or the murder epidemic in Chicago,” McClellan said. “We can’t get there without really understanding the context. Where did the narrative go wrong for people?” McClellan said that, compounded with the generational effects of genocide, the culture of the Native Americans of Pine Ridge is slipping away. “If you rip people out of their culture and don’t let them have a cultural narrative or personal story — we didn’t just slaughter the Indians, we rounded them up, took all their land, forbade them from speaking their language and from practicing their traditional ceremonies, we even took their kids away from them and put them in Christian schools — if you do all those kinds of things it doesn’t come out well,” McClellan said. The film, however, is more than the sum of that genocidal history, McClellan said. By the time he had wrapped up shooting, he was hopeful — even a bit jealous. “I went out there thinking I’d kind of feel sorry for these people, and I left feeling envious, because of the kind of culture and tradition they’re reconnecting with,” McClellan said. “On the reservation, the young people are really finding who they are — they’re reconnecting with their language, their heritage and their traditional ceremonies.” To purchase tickets to the Jan. 21 screening of Little Big Wound’s Warriors, visit: www.siskelfilmcenter.org/littlewoundswarriors. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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MEET THE NEIGHBORS: Albion Residential is holding a community meeting on Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. at the 19th Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., to discuss their plans for a mixed-use tower at 1000 Lake St.

NEW TOWER 1000 Lake St. from page 1 site’s potential for a large-scale project with some concern. Paul Aeschleman, president of the board of the Park District of Oak Park, said in September that the board has already discussed the issue and has concerns about the shadow that would be cast over the park and the effect it would have on vegetation, solar panels and the overall park experience. In an interview Monday, Aeschleman said he’s had preliminary discussions about the project with Oak Park Mayor Anan AbuTaleb and John Lynch, executive director of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation, which works with the village to attract and retain business in Oak Park. Aeschleman said the meeting primarily aimed to “talk about getting the park district involved in the discussion.” He said park district representatives will attend the Jan. 30 meeting to find out more. While the park district board has not taken a formal position on a potential project, park district spokeswoman Diane Stanke said in September that it is the park district’s position that eight stories is a preferable height for a project at the site. That is the height allowable under current zoning, so it’s likely that Albion aims to build taller. UrbanStreet and North American Properties proposed an eight-story, mixed-use apartment building for the site in November 2014, but after submitting the preliminary plan for the 140-unit building, conversation inexplicably stopped. UrbanStreet began marketing the parcel of land in summer of 2016, through the commercial real estate firm CBRE, as a property capable of accommodating a 16-story building with 189 units and 5,800 square feet of ground-level retail space and enough parking to accommodate 306 vehicles.

If Albion does intend to build taller than eight stories, it would require review and approval from Oak Park village government commissions and ultimately Oak Park’s village board. Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb said in a telephone interview that the meeting with Aeschleman aimed to involve the park district in the conversation. “We’d love to have (Albion) invest in our community, but we want to make sure we do all the due diligence and make sure stakeholders are aware of what’s about to take place,” he said about the forthcoming proposal. He noted that the existing two-story building – built in 1956 as a Lytton’s department store – stands vacant and “has been on the market for some time.” Albion is holding the meeting to open a dialogue with the community and is not required to do so by village ordinance, AbuTaleb said, adding that he and other village officials have encouraged Albion to release information to the public as soon as possible to build trust with the community. He encouraged residents to approach the project with an open mind and in the spirit of cooperation. “If we can protect the interests of the community and get a quality project, why would anyone in their right mind be opposed to that,” he said. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

To run an obituary Please contact Ken Trainor by e-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com, or fax: 708/524-0447 before Monday at noon. Please include a photo if possible.

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Timothy McNeil, 54, of the 1500 block of West Monroe in Chicago, was arrested on Jan. 12 at 4:30 p.m. in the 100 block of Randolph on an active Oak Park warrant for disorderly conduct. He also was charged robbery after being identified in a photographic lineup by the victim of a previously reported robbery. These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, Jan. 7-12, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

— Compiled by Timothy Inklebarger

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Theft United States Postal Service packages were stolen from the common area of a building in the 100 block of West Washington sometime between 2:36 p.m. on Oct. 15 and 4 p.m. on Jan. 7. The packages contained a pair of Vince Camuto high-heel shoes, a Mondetta quilted jacket, BCBG Paris clutch purses, Gio coats, St. Thomas necklaces, a Noir necklace, North Face jackets, Milor silver earrings, Mondetta coats, a cellphone charger, and miscellaneous African clothing. The loss was an estimated $731.86.

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■ A residence in the 300 block of North Taylor was burglarized sometime between 7:30 a.m. and 2:05 p.m. on Jan. 11. The burglar used a pry tool to the back door of the residence to gain entry and then stole a Kindle e-reader, Apple iPad Air and iPhone, Lenovo Yoga 2 laptop, a container with cash, an Xbox gaming console, and an orange carry on suitcase. The loss was an estimated $3,265. ■ A residence in the 100 block of South Cuyler was burglarized sometime between 4:40 and 5 p.m. on Jan. 10. The first burglar was described as a Hispanic male, about 30 years old, with a heavy build, clean shaven, wearing dark work clothes and carrying a flashlight. The second burglar was described as a Hispanic male between the ages of 30 and 40, with a heavy build and wearing dark work clothes. The two entered through the back door of the residence and stole $500 from the bedroom.

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■ Two people, described by police as black men in their late teens or early 20s, committed an armed robbery on Jan. 12 at 10:11 p.m. in the 500 block of South Cuyler. The two men displayed a handgun and demanded the victim’s keys and purse and then fled in a white four-door vehicle. They were described as 5-foot 8 inches tall, with medium build and wearing black clothing and black facemasks. The loss was an estimated $620. ■ An armed robbery took place in the 300 block of South Boulevard at 11 p.m. on Jan. 10. A black man between the ages of 18 and 25, standing 5-foot 8-inches to 5-foot 9-inches tall, wearing a dark coat and dark jeans and a beanie cap, approached the victim and displayed a silver and black semi-automatic handgun and stole the victim’s wallet from her purse. He then entered a white, newer model four-door sedan driven by another person and fled. ■ An armed robbery took place in the 600 block of South Ridgeland at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 7. The victim, a Bloomington resident, was approached by two black men wearing all black clothing and black ski masks and armed black semi-automatic handguns. They stole cash and an iPhone from the vic-

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The Oak Park Police Department is continuing its investigation into a shooting at a residence on the afternoon of Jan. 10 in the 700 block of South Harvey Avenue that left one man wounded and resulted in a brief lockdown of Longfellow Elementary School, about a block away. Oak Park Police Chief Anthony Ambrose said in a telephone interview that police have developed leads in the case that resulted in a 20-year-old man being shot in the leg at the residence. Ambrose could not divulge the nature of the leads but noted that the shooting happened on the front porch of the residence. He said it was not a drive-by shooting. Longfellow Elementary School, 715 Highland Ave., was put in lockdown after the shooting for less than 15 minutes, Oak Park village spokesman David Powers said in an email the day of the shooting, which took place at about 12:30 p.m. The shooting was described as a “targeted” event by police. “It’s not random, so that tells you something right there,” Ambrose said, adding that police were not immediately at liberty to give details on the shooting because it is an ongoing investigation. Ambrose said the shooting victim, who was transported to Loyola University Medical Center by the Oak Park Fire Department, has been released from the hospital. He said detectives are conducting “numerous interviews” to find the shooter.

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GETTING THERE: View of the almost renovated Unity Temple interior on Jan.12. Workers adjust the repainted radiators.

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Unity Temple restoration nears completion

Multimillion-dollar project expected to be done in late spring, early summer By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

The Unity Temple Restoration Foundation is getting close to completing its multimillion renovation of Oak Park’s architectural crown jewel. The Frank Lloyd Wright building – arguably the most architecturally significant structure in Oak Park – is undergoing a $25 million renovation that includes restoring the exterior façade, interior plaster walls and paint finishes, interior woodwork, art glass and bronze fixtures, the sanctuary and Unity House skylights and lay lights.

The project also includes environmental improvements, including a geothermal heating and cooling system and upgraded electrical system. “The building looks phenomenal; the interior plaster and paint finishes have been restored to the translucent that Frank Lloyd Wright intended when he conceived the building,” said Heather Hutchison, Unity Temple Restoration Foundation executive director. “The woodwork has been cleaned and looks stunning against the new plaster and paint finishes.” Hutchison said UTRF aims to have the building open to the congregation in midMay and to public tours in July. The group continues its fundraising efforts for the project, she said. More information is available at www.utrf.org. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

Homes

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oakpark.com/real-estate editor Ken Trainor at 613-3310 ktrainor@wjinc.com

Wright Plus 150: A birthday housewalk This year is the sesquicentennial of Frank Lloyd Wright By LACEY SIKORA

Contributing Reporter

rank Lloyd Wright was born on June 8, 1867, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is honoring the 150th anniversary of his birth with their annual Wright Plus housewalk on May 20. Wright Plus 150 will open up private homes and public buildings designed by Wright and his contemporaries. This year’s walk will feature four private Wright Homes as well as five homes designed by Wright’s peers.

The homes Wright Plus has long been the pinnacle of housewalks in Oak Park and, arguably, the entire country. The in-depth research by Trust volunteers and the unparalleled access to architecturally significant homes concentrated in a single area attract tourists from around the

globe. While the Wright-designed homes have all been featured on previous walks, each year the Trust approaches the walk with a fresh perspective, ensuring that the experience is new to all attendees. Wright Plus coordinator Angela Whitaker praises the homeowners who open their houses to the public, as well as the extensive efforts of the Trust’s volunteer research corps. “We recently held our volunteer kick-off,” she said, “and we are meeting with the homeowners to talk about things, such as the best routes through the houses and interesting features that might start our researchers down the right path. The researchers also meet with the homeowners to go over any items such as blueprints or records they might have, and they also get requests about things the homeowner might be interested in delving into.” See WRIGHT 150 on page 24

COURTESY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST | PHOTOS BY JAMES CAULFIELD

WALKABLE WRIGHT: (Top) Arthur B. Heurtley House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1902) on Forest Avenue. (Above) Laura Gale House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1909) on Elizabeth Court.

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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SO MUCH TO LOVE! Room for all, expansive family rm/kitchen combo, + green space galore! 6 BR, 3.2 BA, fantastic updates in heart of town location. ...............................................$1,925,000 REDUCED & READY FOR AN OFFER! Enjoy front porch, lovely entry, large open kitchen, 4 or 5 BRs, 3+BAs, many built-ins, C/A - screened porch, fenced yd. ...........................................$1,100,000 SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT. Jumbo bungalow beauty w/4+BR/3BA. Chef’s eat-in kitchen, fam rm, finished walk-out bsmt. ........................... $649,000 SUPERB BRICK 3BR, 3.1BA, North Oak Park home. Elegant LR, DR, 2-car garage w/awesome, finished bsmt. ..................................................... $599,000 ENJOY LIFE IN FLW Historic District. 5BRs, 1½BAs. Spacious LR w/FRPLC. Family rm. Great yard! ................................................................$519,000 AWESOME, SPACIOUS, romantic Queen Anne bungalow updated. 4BRs, 2BAs. Frplc. Huge eat-in kitchen w/SS applncs. New roof & windows. 2-car gar + pkg pad. ......................................$399,999 ALTERNATIVE TO condo living or downsizing. 2 BR’s, 1 BA. Cheery kitchen w/great cabinet spc & SS applncs. Full bsmt & attic. ................... $309,000

OAK PARK. BRICK 3FLAT close to school with a big living rm, formal dining rm. Excellent condition! Great income! .............................................. $729,000 RIVER FOREST. RARE OPPORTUNITY for the “Sandwich” generation! Have your parents or adult children close so you can help, but they can live independent. .........................................$749,000

RIVER FOREST

COMMERCIAL

JUST LISTED! NEW CONSTRUCTION! Fresh & exciting 4BR, 4.1BA. Open, spacious layout. Exquisite finishes. Cook’s kitchen w/ Thermador applncs & island open to stunning fam rm. Too much to list. Just Perfect! ........................................$1,350,000 NEW PRICE! MAGNIFICENT HOME! 5BR, 4.2BA Tudor built on massive 200 x 188 lot. Rehab & addition offer modern amenities. ............................................................ $2,750,000

VERY COOL RETRO RANCH w/open floor plan on a large lot. 3 BRs, 2.2BAs. WBFP. MBR suite. 1st floor laundry. C/A. Attached garage. ............................................................... $594,000

OAK PARK. WELLLOCATED STUDIO features hdwd flrs, new SS fridge and portable washer. Murphy’s bed. ............................................... $69,900 RIVER FOREST. SUNNY 1ST FLOOR UNIT in Victorian 2-flat. 3BRs, 2BAs. Hdwd flrs, Hi ceilings, gas frplc, 1 gar & 1 ext pkg spc. ....................................................................$2,200/mo

CLEAN CORNER CONDO facing south and east. RENTALS 2 bedrooms, 2 baths. Large closets. Covered pkg. A deal at ...........................................................$164,900 HOMES COMMERCIAL RENTALS ONE OF THE LARGEST FLOOR PLANS in the ELMWOOD PARK. SPACIOUS COLONIAL OAK PARK. OFFICE SPACES in lovely Art Deco Santa Maria. 2BRs, 1BA. Updated kitchen. Fireplace. w/3BRs, 1.1BAs. 3 levels of living. Updated kitchen OTHER AREA HOMES bldg. 2 Elevators. Entry handicap equipped. Tenants Lots of light. Pkg spc available. ........... $160,000 & BAs, fireplace, hdwd flrs & C/A. .........$2,500/mo BERWYN. AM 4SQ, 3 BR, 1.1 BA near Proksa pay electric. Public pkg. Call! Rent ranges from OTHER AREA Park & train. Huge deck & patio w/parking for 3 cars. CONDOS/APARTMENTS ...............................................$2,616/mo to $898/mo CONDOS/TOWNHOUSES ............................................................... $259,000 RIVER FOREST. INVITING 4/5 BR, 2 bath WESTMONT. CLASSIC STORE FRONT/walk ELMWOOD PARK. GREAT HOME, terrific loca- ELMWOOD PARK. LOCATION, LOCATION, Victorian 2-Flat. 2 levels of living space, 10 rms, high in office on busy street. 2 blocks from Metra train. tion - what else can one ask for? 3 BR, 1.1 BA on great LOCATION! MBR w/BA & large living space, ceilings, hdwd flrs, remodeled BA, huge yd & garage In-suite restrooms and kitchen. Great exposure. lot. This is the home for you! ............... $338,000 in-unit W/D, C/A, elevator bldg. - check it out! pkg. ...........................................................$3,300/mo ....................................................................$1,525/mo ................................................................$139,000 ELMWOOD PARK. TURNKEY BRICK 4 BR, 3 BA bungalow. Move right in to this spacious home with updated kitchen. .................................. $285,000

The Spring Market is just around the corner. It’s time to get your home ready and we can help. Call us for a FREE Market Analysis!

INCOME

OAK PARK. MIXED USE BLDG. 1st flr: lrg commercial spc – approx. 3000SF. 2 apts on 2nd flr: 3BR, 1BA /1BR, 1BA. 2-car gar. 1st flr handicapped acc. Call for more info......................................... $395,000

Showroom Open Sunday 12-2pm

ONLY

Located 139 S. Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park

LEFT!

OAK PARK CONDOS/TOWNHOUSES IDEAL OP LIVING! Contemporary 1BR + den, 1½ BA condo features open plan, designer kitchen & BAs, W/D, garage pkg, balcony & C/A. $215,000 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Starting at $669,900 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

Open 10am–4pm M-F or call for appointment

A New Standard of Luxury in Oak Park. • • • • • • •

11 spacious, deluxe residences Close to vibrant downtown Oak Park 3 bedroom units 2 indoor parking spaces 1808-2969 sq. ft. units Spacious terraces Eco-efficient- LEED certified

Don’t Miss Out on Pre-Construction Pricing!

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

F O R E S T PA R K

RIVER FOREST

OAK PARK

OPEN SUNDAY 12-2PM

OPEN SUNDAY 11:30-1:45PM

OPEN SUNDAY 12-2PM

OPEN SUNDAY 2-4PM

NEW LISTING!

131 Ashland Ave 4BR + 1BSMT, 3.1BA $699,000

1118 Circle Ave 2BR, 2BA $175,000

726 Forest Ave 3BR + 1BSMT, 3.1BA $629,000

1104 S. Cuyler Ave 4BR + 1BSMT, 3.1BA $669,000

1137 Linden Ave 3BR, 1.2BA $519,000

OAK PARK 3D

3D3D

1229 Woodbine Ave 3BR, 2BA $515,000

222 N. Grove Ave 2BR, 2BA $238,500

835 Columbian Ave 4BR + 1BSMT, 4.1BA $1,075,000

224 S. Oak Park Ave 2BR, 2BA $198,000

OAK PARK

1050 N. Humphrey Ave 2BR, 1BA $239,000

RIVER FOREST

3D NEW LISTING!

1157 S. Gunderson Ave 3BR, 1.2BA $415,000

1167 Clinton Ave 3BR, 1.1BA $320,000

222 N. Grove Ave 2BR, 2BA $211,500

F O R E S T PA R K

530 Forest Ave 5BR, 3.1BA $999,000

938 S. Euclid Ave 4BR, 3.1BA $699,000

CHICAGO

NEW LISTING!

1115 Thomas Ave 4BR, 3BA $449,900 Susan Abbott Dale Anderson 3D Adriana Cook Lorraine Cooper Monica Dalton Christine DeLeon David Dieschbourg Michael Dmyterko

121 Des Plaines Ave Duplex + PKG $225,000 Jannie Earl Kelly Fondow 3D Mitch Goldstein Trevor Good Priscilla Haddad Robert Hann Mari Hans Richard Holland

613 Grove Ln 2BR, 2.1BA $349,000

2544 N. Nordica Ave 2BR, 1BA $225,000

John Lawrence – Managing Broker/Owner Jennifer Hosty Enea Lako Mark Hosty 3D Alex LeGare 3D Evelyn Humphries Linda Little Donna Karpavicius Nick Lovett Zak Knebel Jeanette Madock Barbara Kohut Kris McCartney Cory Kohut Alice Fox McMahon Meg Kryger Jose Munoz

101 N. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park, IL 60301 • 708-848-5550 www.weichertnickelgroup.com

Adam Murphy Tabitha Murphy 3D Jeffrey O’Connor Sarah O’Shea Munoz Socorro Parra Jonathan Paul Michael Rabichow Jon Reith

Go to

WeichertRNG.com to view 3D 3D Tours and see what else is on the market!

Jessica Rivera Janet Rouse Donna Serpico Pauline Sharpe Marcos Sierra Patti Sprafka Wagner Victoria Witt

Follow Weichert

856 Carpenter, Oak Park 2 BR, 2.1 BA $325,000

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Super charming and completely updated home! Beautifully appointed kitchen with granite counter tops and all stainless appliances. Bathrooms completely rehabbed. Replacement windows throughout. Open-concept Call Laura! living on the first floor. Generously sized BRs with TONS of storage! Finished family room in the basement can also be home office or kids play area! Located steps from Southtown Shopping District, restaurants, shops, groceries and more, as well as walking distance to CTA and short drive to 290! Top-rated Lincoln School District--Nothing to do but move in and enjoy!

David Gullo, Managing Broker

708.567.1375

GulloAssociates@gmail.com

NEW LISTING

PRICE REDUCTION

1435 Park Avenue, River Forest $723,900 :: 4 bed :: 4.5 bath Spacious, meticulously maintained Georgian family home. Walk to elementary school.

1142 Franklin Ave, River Forest $1,600,000 :: 4 bed :: 4.5 bath Custom modern 6000 sq. ft. home. Dramatic design and unique detailing throughout.

PRICE REDUCTION

SOLD

730 Linden Avenue, Oak Park 847 Clinton Pl, River Forest $769,000 :: 4 bed :: 3.2 bath $1,149,000 :: 4 beds :: 3.5 baths Oak Park landmark with a light-filled, open Beautifully designed center entrance brick colonial with a gourmet kitchen. Walk to train. floorplan. Beautiful home in a great location!

KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

Call Laura!

1526 Clinton Place, River Forest 4BR, 3.5BA • $769,000 GORGEOUS STONE Georgian. Modern amenities! Fully renovated in 2014. Open layout on 1st flr perfect for family, entertaining. Sep office space. 2nd flr feat 4 BRs, laundry, balcony, master suite. Finished Bsmt has full BR.

Laura Maychruk 708.205.7044

LMaychruk@comcast.net

Rental Properties Margaret Jones 708.804.0368

Mark Finger 708.990.8115

PROUDLY WELCOMES BOB SWINDAL

Call Laura!

214 Harrison, Oak Park 1 BR, 1 BA • $1,500/month

Incredibly unique unit in the heart of the Oak Park Arts District! Completely new inside and out! Top of the line appliances and finishes, full-size, in-unit laundry, Central Air, and tons of storage. Walk to everything location--CTA Blue line, bus lines, shops, restaurants, schools, library and much more! Convenient on-street parking available. This one won’t last!!

820 Thomas Ave, Forest Park 2 BR, 2 BA • $1,900/mo

Very charming and completely updated home! Large open floor plan on first floor with beautiful chefs kitchen. Two nice sized BRs on the second floor. There are two full bathrooms, one on the first and one on the second floor. The basement has a nicely finished family room space, laundry and storage. The yard is nicely landscaped and has a brick paver patio. Two+ car garage rounds it out! Located in walking distance to CTA Blue line and easy commuting via 290. Walk to parks, schools and pool! Easy living!!

W W W. G U L LO R E A L E S TAT E . CO M

BOB SWINDAL 905 South Lombard Ste. 2 Oak Park, IL 60304

1011 South Boulevard, Oak Park, IL 60302 212 E Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611

MOBILE: 708.205.5115

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

WRIGHT 150

The lineup for Wright Plus 150

All in walking distance from page 19 In the months leading up to Wright Plus 150, the researcher will prepare in-depth papers on all of the homes. “We look at the research papers as a huge gift that we give the homeowners who participate in the walk and as something that is also great for the Trust’s library on all of these homes,” noted Whitaker. A pleasant bonus feature of this year’s walk is the walkable nature of the loop. All of the homes are located within a few blocks of Wright’s Home & Studio (Forest and Chicago avenues). Finding participating homeowners from the same neighborhood all fell into place this year. “Generally in our planning process, we look at the Wright houses first,” she said. “Once we determine that we have a couple of Wright houses in place, we start to look on those streets at non-Wright houses. It’s always nice to get a house that has not been on the walk before.” This year’s new house is the George Mayo Home, an Italianate home with Prairie updates on Elizabeth Court. Whitaker said everyone involved gets excited about a having a new house on the walk. “We’re really looking forward to the research on this one,” she added. “There is no known architect assigned to the house, and there’s some confusion about the dates because of additions to the home. We have one of our great researchers working on this one.”

Arthur B. Heurtley House (Wright, 1902) Hills DeCaro House (Wright, 1906) Laura Gale House (Wright, 1909) Harrison P. Young House (Wright alterations, 1895) John Schmidt House (unknown architect, 1872) Charles A. Purcell House (unknown architect, 1893) Charles E. Matthews House (Tallmadge & Watson, 1909) Chester Flitcraft House (Van Bergen, 1914) Bonus house for Trust Members only: Thomas H. Gale House (Wright, 1892) For further details on Wright Plus 150 and ticket and package details, visit www.flwright.org/wrightplus

COURTESY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST | PHOTOS BY JAMES CAULFIELD

FRANK LLOYD LOOP: Hills DeCaro House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1906) across the street from the Heurtley House. (Right) Harrison P. Young House (Frank Lloyd Wright alterations, 1895) on Kenilworth Avenue.

Ultimate packages

The four Wright homes on this year’s walk include the Arthur B. Heurtley House, designed in 1902, a Forest Avenue stunner; the Japanese-influenced Hills DeCaro House, designed in 1906; the Harrison P. Young House, remodeled by Wright in 1895; and the visionary Laura Gale House, designed in 1909. Whitaker explained that, because the Laura Gale House has not been featured on Wright Plus since 2009, the Trust volunteers are particularly looking forward to that part of the tour, and the Trust noticed quite an increase in website traffic when the home was announced for this year’s walk. For returning participants, Whitaker pointed out that several of the homes this year have new owners since they were last included on the walk. While the architecture stays the same, many attendees enjoy seeing the changes in style and furnishings that new owners bring to their historic homes.

Tiered ticket sales This year, in order to meet the demand of Trust members and non-members for tickets to Wright Plus, they instituted a new, tiered ticket sales system. Prior to Jan. 3, ticket sales were restricted to Trust members. From Jan. 4 through Feb. 28, Trust members can purchase tickets for $80, non-members for $90. Prices go up $5 between March 1 and 31 and another $5 during the month of April. From May 1 through May 20, members will pay $95 per ticket and non-members $110. For an additional $500 per ticket, any purchaser can buy a fast pass that will get them into the homes without the hassle of waiting in line.

For those who want to spend an entire weekend immersed in architecture, the Trust is again offering its Ultimate Plus Weekend Package, priced at $2,500 for members and $2,650 for non-members. The Ultimate Plus Weekend kicks off on Thursday, May 18 with cocktails at Wright’s Rookery Light Court in downtown Chicago. On Friday, May 19, Wright’s Chicago offers a day filled with excursions to the Isidore Heller House, an early Wright mansion, and Wright’s modern masterpiece, the Frederick C. Robie House. Participants then tour the main house and grounds of the Avery Coonley Estate with the owners and learn about their meticulous restoration of the home. On Saturday May 20, the package includes fast passes to all of the homes on the walk, with a stop for lunch at the Nineteenth Century Club in Oak Park. The day caps off with Exclusively Wright dinners, prepared by acclaimed chefs, in Wright’s Harry S. Adams House and Peter A. Beachy House. The Ultimate Plus Package includes transportation and accommodations at Oak Park’s Carleton Hotel. Recognizing that not all Wright-aficionados are arriving from out of town, Whitaker said the Trust decided to add a new package option. “We realized that locals might also be interested in some of the bonus activities of the Ultimate Plus Weekend,” she said, “but might not need to take advantage of the lodging options or be able to attend for all four days.” The Ultimate Saturday Package, therefore, costs $1,200 for members and $1,350 for nonmembers and includes fast-pass access to all of the homes, as well as lunch at the Nineteenth Century Club and a seat at the table during one of the Exclusively Wright dinners. For further details on Wright Plus 150 and ticket and package details, visit www. flwright.org/wrightplus

Special Advertising Section

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Special Advertising Section

winter 2017

Education &Enrichment guide

January 18, 2017

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

January 18, 2017

Special Advertising Section

Coding Sports Camps Exercise Mind and Body

ow that winter break is over, kids are counting down the days until summer. For parents, it’s time to look into summer camps. Legacy Sports and Code Play Learn are partnering together again to take active learning to a new level. For the third summer in a row, their popular Coding Sports Camps offer an experience like no other: a full-day of sports and STEM activities that exercise both kid’s bodies and minds. Through Legacy Sports, campers will spend half the day playing multi-sport athletic activities like Hand Hockey, Countdown Dodgeball, Treasure Island, Battleship, Capture the Flag and Soccer. These activities teach campers how to communicate with each other and work as a team to accomplish their goals. Through Code Play Learn, campers will spend the other half of the day creating, coding and building their own games, apps or robotics. New this year, Code Play Learn is offering BattleBot Engineering where kids build a variety of bots for competition, and Kids Can Code where campers explore the fundamentals of engineering and programming through play. These camps are

offered along with other returning favorites like Minecraft Modding, App Creation and LEGO Robotics. Together, this unique Coding Sports Camp program enables kids to think creatively, reason systematically, and work and play collaboratively. Camps are open to kids who are currently in Kindergarten through 8th grade. Each weeklong camp runs from 8:30am to 4:00pm. Legacy Sports activities will take place at The Tennis and Fitness Centre at 301 West Lake Street, and Code Play Learn is located at 30 W. Chicago Ave. Campers are walked between locations by staff from Legacy Sports. For more information on these and other Code Play Learn summer camps and programs, please visit www. codeplaylearn. com or call 708374-8286.

Full Day

SPORTS & CODING CAMPS Summer Registration Is Now Open NEW

BattleBot Engineering

NEW

Kids Can Code

Lego

Robotics Robotics

Minecraft Modding

Scratch Game Development

App Creation

Scratch Game Development

For registration and information about all our programs visit www.codeplaylearn.com 708-374-8286 • 30 Chicago Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

Special Advertising Section

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

January 18, 2017

A Note from Intercultural Montessori Language School From Oak Park Campus Manager – Roderick Shaw

or almost 30 years, Oak Park residents have been driving, biking, and walking by Intercultural Montessori on S. Ridgeland Avenue with smiles on their faces as they watch the children at play. But they might not be aware that Intercultural is the originator of our unique dual-language/ Montessori approach to education, providing Spanish/English and Chinese Mandarin/ English programs for children aged 3 to 6. It’s an approach that has been imitated but not reproduced, and it has gotten us a lot of positive attention with Montessori schools, teachers, and associations. That’s because it works, and I’m so happy to be a part of creating bi-lingual, bi-literate citizens of the world right here in Oak Park. As my third year at Intercultural begins, I would like to state how proud I am of the work that the teachers perform on a daily basis. That is where the magic happens, and I’ve found that it is true that the teachers are the soul of the school. As an Intercultural parent, I appreciated how hard the teachers work, but now as an administrator I understand and recognize the many subtle skills the job requires. For example: knowing how to observe constructively, and when, how, and

how much to intervene, is the key secret to a successful Montessori teacher. It’s a talent our teachers have acquired through their Montessori training and years of teaching at Intercultural. I would like to thank our teachers for their hard work, and congratulate them on the continued growth of our duallanguage program. As we grow, we continue to improve our school infrastructure at the Oak Park campus, including the installation of a new state-of-theart security system. This week, the students harvested their first vegetables from our new organic garden! And more upgrades are coming as this new school year begins. It is extremely fulfilling to see Intercultural’s continued growth. To me it means that Oak Park recognizes the value of the unique duallanguage education we are providing. From all of us on the Intercultural team, it is our pleasure to serve you, and the children of this vibrant community.

Roderick Shaw, Oak Park Campus Manager Intercultural Montessori Language School 708-848-6626 rshaw@interculturalmontessori.org

Why Choose St. Luke Parish?

rom our early childhood program through 8th grade, St. Luke Parish School, a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School, prides itself on the opportunity to educate the whole child, promoting spiritual, academic and emotional growth. As we prepare our students to ascend to top-flight high schools, it is imperative that they move to the next step not only with core skills, but an experience that is relevant and fuels learning. We recognize that every child is unique and that each child learns at his or her own pace. With this in mind, we provide an academically challenging curriculum that meets the needs of all our students. Our faculty strives to differentiate instruction in an effort to meet student strengths. Small group learning provides students with academically grounded, handson learning situations designed to foster new interests and develop intellectual talents. We know that each student has untapped gifts that are best nurtured by a variety of creative approaches to learning. Our STEM program works in conjunction with the high academic standards of our science and math curricula and puts our students at the center of the learning experience. We recently launched our Chicago Authors Program, which features visiting authors and encourages the advancement of all of our students to have a voice. Authors from our area are invited into our school for book readings and to share their experiences as writers.

Learning goes beyond the classroom as our students participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. From Speech Club to Choir to Art Club and more, extra-curricular activities extend learning opportunities into social activities outside the classroom environment. Additionally, St. Luke offers students in grades 4 through 8 organized no-cut team sports, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, track, and cross country. Our commitment to technology offers students a fully integrated, cutting edge academic experience. Our wireless campus includes a dedicated Mac computer lab, as well as technology in each classroom. In addition, students in 3rd grade participate in the one-to-one iPad program and students in grades 4 through 8 have a personal Google Chromebook for their classroom use. We combine technological adeptness alongside the building blocks of learning, because we understand that technology is an essential link between the classroom and the larger world. In order to ensure that we are the best we can be, St. Luke is currently undergoing a 6-month strategic planning process, that includes all school constituencies. This plan will be launched in September 2017. Please come to our open house on January 29 or call us at 708-366- 8587 to schedule your visit.

• Pioneers in Language Immersion Montessori Education • Ages 3-12 • Spanish/English, Japanese/English and Chinese Mandarin/English

LEArn MorE! nEW! After School Language Classes Oak Park Campus 708-848-6626 Chicago Campus 312-265-1514 info@interculturalmontessori.org InterculturalMontessori.org

St. Luke Parish School

Academic Excellence Surrounded by Catholic Faith

Open House Sunday, January 29, 2017 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Preschool through 8th grade

St. Luke Parish School

519 Ashland Avenue, River Forest, IL 708-366-8587 www.school-stlukeparish.org

January 18, 2017

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

CONSCIOUS CONSCIOUS AGING AGING WORKSHOPS WORKSHOPS __________

__________

 Explore unexamined, self-limiting beliefs, stereotypes and assumptions about aging and make better, more conscious choices about our worldviews on aging;

 Explore unexamined, self-limiting beliefs, stereotypes

 Develop self-compassion to cope more effectively and assumptions about aging and make better, more with change, worry, and stresses associated with aging;

conscious choices about our worldviews on aging;

 Discover and reflect on what has given heart and to copeour more effectively  Develop meaning to our self-compassion lives and how that informs intentions for our aging process; with change, worry, and stresses associated with aging;  Enhance connection and reduce isolation from others  Discover and reflect on what has given heart and and the web of life by understanding our shared meaning to aging our lives and how that informs our humanity in the process;

intentions for our aging process;

 Reduce fear and increase embracing in the presence of death and dying for our loved and for ourselves. connection andones reduce isolation from others  Enhance

and the web of life by understanding our shared humanity in the aging process; FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  Reduce fear and increase embracing in the presence Marcfor Blesoff of death and dying our loved ones and for ourselves. 312.816.5299

marcblesoff1@comcast.net FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Marc Blesoff Marc Blesoff

312.816.5299 | marcblesoff1@comcast.net 312.816.5299 318 S. Humphrey | Oak Park, IL 60302 marcblesoff1@comcast.net

Special Advertising Section

Discover & Reﬂect with IONS Conscious Aging Workshop

“W

hat caught my attention was that I realized most of us fear and deny what we all agree is inevitable – aging and death. What’s up with that?” So says Marc Blesoff, one of the over 650 IONS Conscious Aging facilitators spread around the globe. The IONS Conscious Aging Workshop program is a series of 8 weekly 2-hour sessions. Topics include: self- compassion, life review, forgiveness, death makes life possible, creating a new vision of aging. Sessions are organized around small group and large group discussions, presentations, journaling, readings, movement and sitting quietly. Comments from some previous participants include: “I never thought I’d talk about that elephant in the room so openly. What a safe space” or “I learned so much about forgiveness, I now look at it in a totally different way!”

When asked about the IONS Conscious Aging Workshops, Ron Pevny, Director of the Center for Conscious Eldering, replied, “An inspiring vision for aging that recognizes the vast potential for life’s elder chapters to be infused with purpose, passion, and continual growth! It is critical that the rapidly increasing number of people approaching their senior years have

Marc Blesoff

access to this rich program – helping us shine brightly as we age consciously.” The Institute Of Noetic Sciences (IONS) was founded over 40 years ago by physicist/ astronaut Edgar Mitchell, the 6th person to walk on the moon. Mitchell’s noetic experience (a-ha moment) on his return trip to earth led to IONS’ mission - to bridge science and spirituality. Blesoff was attracted to the Conscious Aging Workshops while he wound down his 30-year legal career. “As I continue to melt some of the armor I had built up, the Conscious Aging approach gives me a positive role-model as well as substantive relationships.” He claims that as much as his workshop participants smile and thank him, he actually gets more out of it than anyone.

St. Vincent Ferrer School

SUNDAY, UNDAY, NDAY JANUARY NDAY, JANUAR 29, 2017 8:00am - 1:00pm PreK3 to 8th Grade Flexible Plans for Preschool Full Day Kindergarten Before and After School Care

Or call today to schedule a visit!

Where GREATNESS Begins St. Vincent Ferrer School 1515 Lathrop Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 708.771.5905 www.svfschool.org

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT Special Advertising Section

GUIDE

January 18, 2017

Helping YOU Champion Your Child’s Education

t is no secret that your child’s education is important to his future. In today’s educational environment of frequent policy changes and the performance pressures, your child‘s educational needs too often lose out. Other times students with learning disabilities are not appropriately diagnosed because of lack of school resources and therefore struggle to function in the classroom. The cycle of poor school performance continues when a child’s low learning motivation results from low selfesteem, or traumatic family experiences, or lack of affordable help. This vicious cycle of low self-esteem and failing grades eventually leads giving up on school and high school drop outs. Most educational settings do not adequately address student’s weak educational foundation. Failing grades become routine. Benchmark school years are still too often repeated endangering chances for a select high school acceptance. If this sounds familiar to you and your child needs serious support, then DR. BILL’S LEARNING CENTERS can offer professional help. We are not just homework helpers, our specialized tutors and therapists offer educational rehabilitation serious individualized support. We focus on building the foundation your child requires to succeed in the challenging environment in his or her school. If you are seeking an added supportive opportunity for special service for students with special education needs, organizational challenges, time management, test taking strategies and motivational issues, DR. BILL’S LEARNING CENTERS CAN HELP. Every high school today makes every assignment and test counts. We know that every good grade increases the chance for every college scholarship dollar. Good paying jobs are waiting for your child only with high qualifications. If a child achieves poorly within their first two years of high school, the academic failure may lead to dropout and a lifetime of low income jobs in a still very tough economy. This path can be avoided with academic support. You will need the best

Our unique integrated services includes family support, art therapy, creative skills and stress management, nutrition counseling, computerized test preparation. and mentoring services to empower our students.

that professionals can offer without paying a hardship-causing price for it. The latest research shows that specialized, intensive, motivating and culturally relevant tutoring can turn around failures best identified after first grade. You are your child’s best advocate. So act soon, better yet, Act Now! Dr. Bill’s learning CenterS are organized to support students in second grade through tenth grade. We provide an evidence-based program that are family focused and holistic. Our interdisciplinary team is dedicated to individualized, special instruction to improving the educational outcomes for children like yours. Our unique integrated services includes family support, art therapy, creative skills and stress management, nutrition counseling, computerized test preparation. and mentoring services to empower our students. All our efforts focus on mastering fundamental skills that will strengthen your child’s self-confidence, organization and cognitive skills for life. We look forward to answering your questions, serving your special students, or just providing encouragement to make this and every school year a great one. Your children deserve a productive future.

GOT THE PROGRESS REPORT!?!

SPECIALIZED TUTORING (GRADES 2ND - 10TH) We help families turn test anxiety, attention deficit, or anger issues into success in math, reading, writing and self-confidence.

• Experienced, Trained Rehabilitation Facilitators • Individualized Intensive Specialized Tutoring • Culturally Relevant Resources: African-American and Latino/Latina American Diaspora • Multifaceted Service for Diverse Learning Styles • Computer Assisted Instruction • Organization Skill Streaming • Test Taking Anxiety Rehabilitation

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18 W. Lake St. Oak Park, IL 60302 708.434.0336

*Materials cost plus Service Program offering per Treatment Plan with consented Rehabilitation Evaluation if required. *Rate comparison to similar professional program offerings in local area.

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

January 18, 2017

Special Advertising Section

Learning and Growing at the West Cook YMCA Preschool

reschool at the West Cook YMCA offers opportunities for children 2-5 years old to learn new skills, make new friends, and gain selfconfidence through hands-on learning. Our program

impacts the lives of children, their families, and even their teachers. We are honored to share the stories and impact of one child from his mom and his teacher.

“My son is 3 years old and is a student in Ms. Gingi’s preschool class at the West Cook YMCA. I chose to send my son to the preschool here because of the flexibility in the number of days he can attend. Plus, the preschool runs from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm which gives him plenty of time with his friends and gives me time to take care of myself. Once I drop off my son at preschool, I can walk down the hallway and workout. It helps me to keep my commitment to take care of myself so that I can take care of him. Ms. Gingi is a wonderful teacher. The curriculum aligns with what is important to me in teaching my son. Through guided play, my son is learning and growing. For example, she spends time with the children to understand and handle their emotions. He is learning to swim through swim lessons that are included, he plays with play-dough and slime that he helps to make, he eats healthy snacks, and he loves to sing songs. More importantly, he has learned to grow and love his teacher. Every night, he lists the people he loves and Ms. Gingi is on the list at least three times. By regularly attending preschool, we have seen the impact at home. I am truly grateful for the partnership that I have developed with his teacher in seeing my child learn new skills, make friends, and gain self-confidence.” -Mom of three-year old West Cook YMCA Preschooler

Just as this young boy loves coming to preschool to see his teacher and friends, his teacher, Ms. Gingi, is just as excited for each child in her class. ”As a preschool teacher, I love seeing the growth of each child in my classroom. It’s so validating to hear a child say “I am using this right now, I will give it to you when I’m done.” Instead of them saying “no, that’s mine!” when another student is asking to use an item that they currently have in their possession. Working on delaying gratification is such a great way to experience great social-emotional growth for these young students. While there are many great activities I plan for each day, I also feel that it is so important to follow the children and allowing them to have a voice in what we do within our room. It is key that they feel ownership in the classroom. I love teaching- it’s the best job in the world. I’m the luckiest woman because I get so much love and joy out of the work that I do at the Y. Even the challenging parts are joyful too, because there is the process of learning in that, and I feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose in life.”

Preschool at the West Cook Y! Our educators will walk side-byside with you through your child’s first school experience. We offer: • Half-day sessions with options to participate 2, 3 or 5 days a week • Time for learning, playing, exploring, and creativity • Swim lessons included Request a tour of our DCFS licensed preschool today. Preschool is an important choice—and you can be confident the West Cook Y is the best choice for a child today—and far into the future. For additional information on Preschool or programs for school-age children contact: Elizabeth Lopez, Youth Development Director 708-434-0230 elopez@westcookymca.org

-Ms. Gingi, West Cook YMCA Preschool Teacher

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EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

January 18, 2017

Play, Explore, Discover The YMCA Preschool program offers opportunities to learn new skills, make new friends, and gain self-confidence. Our DCFS Licensed Preschool Program Features: • 2, 3, and 5 days a week options to accommodate your schedule • Classes for ages 2–5 years old • Offered Monday–Friday from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm Schedule a Tour Today. • Focus on Cognitive, Physical, and Social-Emotional Contact Elizabeth Lopez Development at elopez@westcookymca.org • Play-based learning through discovery • Learning Early Literacy Skills • On-site swim instruction with our certified swim instructors

ONLY 7 OPENINGS LEFT!

WEST COOK YMCA 255 S. Marion St., Oak Park, IL 60302 | 708 383 5200

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

January 18, 2017 PRE-K – 12TH GRADE

1ST-12TH GRADE

SAT, ACT & ISEE TEST PREP HOMEWORK HELP SUMMER PROGRAMS

SUMMER SAT, ACT & ISEE HOMEWORK ENRICHMENT TH PRE-K GRADE SAT, ACT & ISEE TEST PREPPROGRAMS HOMEWORK HELP SUMMER PROGRAMS TEST– 12 PREP HELP

Mathnasium Makes Math Fun!

A We We Make Math Make Math Make Sense Make Sense

WE ARE EXPERIENCED WE ARE EXPERIENCED MATH SPECIALISTS TRIAL SESSION MATH SPECIALISTS FREEFREE CONSULTATION

Call today to schedule An in-depth look at how the aMathnasium free session Method works andyour how we can meet your for child.

WE TEACH ALL LEVELS WE TEACH ALL LEVELS OF MATH ABILITY OF MATH ABILITY PROVEN RESULTS PROVEN RESULTS

family’s needs.

www.mathnasium.com/ Mathnasium of Oak Park/River Forest mathnasium.com/your web web address oakparkriverforest mathnasium.com/your address Your Location Location 212 S. Your Marion St., 123 Any 123 Street AnyRd. Street Rd. 708.613.4007 800-123-4567 800-123-4567 Oak Park, IL90000 60302 Any Town, STTown, Any ST 90000 mathnasium.com/your web address mathnasium.com/your web address oakparkriverforest@mathnasium.com

t Mathnasium of Oak Park/River Forest, you can feel the buzz of activity and excitement as soon as you walk in the door. Students of all ages from kindergarten through high school are actively engaged in learning and understanding mathematics. Operating on the philosophy that every child can become great at math, Mathnasium has become the industry leader in supplementary math education.

More than any other subject, math has a stigma of being boring and anxiety provoking. At Mathnasium, all the stress is taken out of the process as compassionate instructors work one on one with learners. As owner, Jana Frank explains, “We Make Math Make Sense. Kids don’t hate math, they hate being frustrated and intimidated by it. Our job is to help our students develop number sense so they aren’t just able to do it, but actually understand what they are doing and why. Since we individually assess each student and create a customized learning curriculum for them, we are able to set students up on a path to success.” The staff at Mathnasium works to ensure students are not just learning, but enjoying what they are learning. “Even more important than the math is the attitude and confidence,” says Frank. “We want to make sure every student feels welcome and encouraged to try their best. We will always adjust our teaching methods to find the one that works

Ascension School offers a faith-based Ascension School offers a faith-based education for children ages three through education for children ages three through eighth grade. To learn about excellent eighth grade. To learn about ourour excellent preschool elementary school, or for preschool andand elementary school, or for registration materials, please visit our website registration materials, please visit our website at:at: www.ascensionoakpark.com/school www.ascensionoakpark.com/school

Sunday Sunday January January29th 29th am— 1010 am— 12:30pm 12:30pm

601 Van Buren St. Oak Park, Illinois T: 708.386.7282 601 Van Buren St. Oak Park, Illinois T: 708.386.7282

for each child.” This personalized instruction incorporates best practices through a combination of learning styles including written, mental, verbal, visual, and tactile. Whether students are struggling to keep up or excelling in their classes, the proven Mathnasium Method™ can address and advance their knowledge and abilities. Mathnasium OPRF also offers private instruction, test prep, and homework help. Parents and students alike sing the praises of Mathnasium. A Hatch Elementary student says, “At Mathnasium, I’ve learned that I actually LIKE math!” A Julian Middle Schooler says, “I’ve learned how to understand why the solution to a problem works instead of just memorizing how to solve it.” From a parent’s perspective, “It is a great pleasure for my children to be part of Mathnasium OPRF. The attention paid to their needs is amazing. It has changed the way that they feel about school and greatly increased their confidence levels” Mathnasium OPRF is located at 212 S. Marion St, Oak Park. Learn more at www. mathnasium.com/oakparkriverforest or call 708.613.4007 to schedule a FREE TRIAL SESSION.

A Caring Community A Caring Community The opportunity FF The to opportunity learn in an

ounded in 1912, Ascension School has been providing CatholicSchool education for ounded inexcellent, 1912, Ascension has been families inexcellent, our community over a century. providing Catholicforeducation for With thousands many whom have families in of ouralumni, community forofover a century. chosen Ascension their many children’s education, With thousands offor alumni, of whom have chosen Ascension their children’s education, we continue to be aforvibrant school, proud of our we continue to beto a vibrant school, our history, and ready serve each newproud childofwho history, joins us. and ready to serve each new child who joins us. School offers a faith-based education Ascension Ascension School offers a faith-based education for children from three years old through the for children years old through the eighth grade.from Our three rigorous curriculum prepares eighth grade. Our rigorous curriculum prepares students for the next level of education. We students for the next level of education. We continue to provide a strong fine arts curriculum continue to provide a strong fine artsteachers. curriculum taught by highly qualified full-time taught by highly qualified full-time teachers. Ascension students consistently score above Ascension students consistently score above national norms on standardized tests at all grade national norms on standardized tests at all grade levels. received the theU.S. U.S. levels.InIn2007, 2007, Ascension Ascension received Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award.

Join ususforforour Join our Open House: Open House:

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to learn in anthat environment environment that promotes the promotes the principlesofofLove, Love, principles Kindnessand and Kindness Respect. Respect.

• Tablets available in classrooms to supplement • Tablets available in classrooms to supplement traditional educational materials traditional educational materials • Anti-bullying initiative and a “buddy” • Anti-bullying initiative and a “buddy” InInaddition elementaryschool school additionto to an an excellent excellent elementary mentoring program to connect upper mentoring program to connect upper andand education, education,Ascension Ascension provides: provides: lower grade students lower grade students ••An for 3 3 and and 44year-olds, year-olds, Anexcellent excellent Preschool Preschool for •AAservice-oriented service-oriented student council • student council with student-teacher withcertified certified teachers teachers and and aa student-teacher Weknow knowthat that parents have many wonderful We parents have many wonderful ratio ratioless lessthan than 10 10 to 1 optionswhen when choosing right school options choosing thethe right school for for theirtheir ••An ExtendedDay Day Anoutstanding, outstanding, affordable affordable Extended children.When When you choose Ascension School, children. you choose Ascension School, Programopen open from from 7AM to 6PM Program 6PM on onschool school bebeconfident that you areare providing youryour children confident that you providing children days. days. with anan academic experience, youyou are are withmore morethan than academic experience, Twofull-day full-day Kindergarten Kindergarten classrooms ••Two classrooms giving giftgift of of a caring community andand givingthem themthe the a caring community varietyof ofExtracurricular Extracurricular Programs to to learn in in an an environment thatthat ••AAvariety Programsincluding including the theopportunity opportunity learn environment band,orchestra, orchestra, and and drama drama club promotes principles of of Love, Kindness andand band, club promotesthe the principles Love, Kindness Competitive athletic athletic leagues leagues for Respect. ••Competitive for grades grades5-8 5-8inin Respect. soccer, cross country, basketball and volleyball soccer, cross country, basketball and volleyball

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EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Grace School Offers a Faith-ﬁlled Environment for Students from Preschool through 8th grade

race Lutheran School, at the corner of Division and Bonnie Brae in River Forest, offers a nurturing and faith-filled environment for students from preschool through eighth grade. “We love our daughter’s school!” says the mother of a Grace fourth-grader. “I can’t think of any other place we’d rather have our girl being lovingly taught about the world God created!” A strong core curriculum at Grace challenges children academically, while high expectations and appropriate supports help students achieve their best. The experienced faculty includes a full-time resource teacher and a part-time certified reading specialist. Grace School students consistently perform above national averages on standardized tests, and graduates succeed at competitive area high schools in the city and suburbs. Students of all ages participate in art, music and German classes. Band and orchestra lessons and ensembles are also available. Grace students study God’s word daily, in a nurturing Christian setting. Parents appreciate the supportive family atmosphere at Grace School. Social events for parents

and families bring students and parents together outside of school hours.

After-school enrichment classes offer a variety of fun and creative learning experiences. Grace sports teams are open to all interested participants.

Grace

Lutheran School

January 18, 2017

All-School Ope

n Hou

se Wednesday, Jan. 25, 6:30–8 p.m. Call 708-366-6900   for more informat ion

. . . where children grow in faith, academics and character. Early Childhood classrooms  for children age 3 to 5 ▪︎ Develop social and academic skills   in free play and structured activities ▪︎ Half-day and full-day options   for 4- and 5-year-olds ▪︎ Learn about God’s love

Early childhood programs at Grace provide flexible options for families with children age 3 through 5. Three-year-old preschoolers attend morning classes two, three, or five days a week. Junior and senior kindergarten classes for students age four and five meet in the morning, Monday through Friday; students may also attend the optional afternoon program which runs until 3 p.m. Extended care is available until 6 p.m. for children age four and up. Before-school care opens at 7 a.m.

Elementary grades 1–8 ▪︎ Experienced teachers ▪︎ Nurturing family environment ▪︎ Support for individual learning styles ▪︎ Music, art and sports teams ▪︎ Before and after-school care available

Grace School is currently accepting applications for the 2017–18 school year. For more information come to an Open House for prospective families on Wednesday evening, January 25, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tour the facility, meet the teachers and principal, and talk with Grace students and parents.

Bill Koehne, principal  7300 Division St. ▪︎ River Forest, IL 60305  708-366-6900 ▪︎ www.GraceRiverForest.org

For more information, call the school office (708-366-6900) or click on the Grace School tab at GraceRiverForest.org.

Looking for More than Just Looking justaaahigh highschool? school? Looking for more just high school? Lookingfor formore more than than Looking for more than just a high school? Looking for more than just a high school? a High School? You found it YOU FOUND IT! YOU FOUND IT! YOU IT! at Walther Christian Academy! YOU FOUND IT! YOU FOUND IT!

world, because like Walther alumni before elp your student get more out of them, our seniors excelling in college and high school by setting them up for many working and studying overseas. Fourth, success. Give them the advantage of a Walther education. Since 1954, Walther has our school’s diversity equips you with the empathy, communication skills and social been the chosen school for families looking awareness to connect with anyone, anywhere. for a superior college preparatory education Fifth, we ensure you develop the academic built on a Christian foundation. We are fundamentals, confidence proud to have 100% and character to become college acceptance for our the student you are meant graduating seniors each “Whenever I think to be. Finally, no matter year with most students earning significant merit back about my years your religion, you’ll find Christ here, and He will find scholarships and financial at Walther, I literally you, enlighten you, inspire aid. Beyond that, what makes Walther MORE? get a smile on my face. you, and guide you, in good times and bad First, your student will Those four years were “Whenever I think back experience more here, exploring their intellect, truly some of the best about my years at Walther, I literally get a smile on my spirituality, leadership years of my life.” face. Those four years were abilities, athleticism, quote from a Walther Alum truly some of the best years musicality, and artistry of my life,” quote from sometimes all in the same a Walther Alum. We are day. Second, our culture here to help your child grow. make us seem more a Choosing the right high school is an important university than high school with managed decision in not only the student’s life, but the class sizes, advanced courses, candid entire family. Choose MORE.www.walther.com discussions, and a collaborative faculty. Third, your student can someday change the

Help your child get Help get Helpyour yourchild child get Help your child get out of school. more out ofofhigh high school. Help your child get more out high school.

more out of high school. Set them up Set themof upfor forsuccess. success. more out high school. Set them up for success. Give them the advantage ofofa a GiveSet them theup advantage them for success. SetWalther them the up for success. Give them advantage of a education. education. GiveWalther them the advantage of a

Give them the advantage Walther education.of a Walther education. Walther education.

The Class of 2021HOUSE is forming NOW! OPEN HOUSE OPEN

OPEN HOUSE OPEN HOUSE HOUSE OPEN Thursday, October20, 20,2016 2016 Thursday, October Thursday, October 20, Thursday, October 20,2016 2016 Don’t Miss the Special 7:00pm 7:00pm Placement Test/Visitation Day Thursday, Come learn October about scholarship20, and 2016 7:00pm 7:00pm Come learn about scholarship and Fri., Jan.financial 27th • deadlines. 8am-2:45pm 7:00pm aid financial aid deadlines.

Come learn about Come learn aboutscholarship scholarshipand and ComeCome learnlearn about and aboutscholarship scholarship and financial aid deadlines. financial aid deadlines. SEE WHAT MORE THAN COLLEGEfinancial PREP LOOKS LIKE aidaiddeadlines. financial deadlines.

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B10

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

January 18, 2017

ST. GILES SCHOOL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

CATHOLIC VALUES

NURTURING COMMUNITY

LIFELONG LEADERSHIP

Learn more about our Pre-3 through 8th grade programs

OPEN HOUSE Sun., Jan. 29 12:30-2:30 pm Thurs., Feb. 16 9 am Fri., Feb. 24 9 am

stgilesschool.org/wjopenhouse 1034 Linden Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 708.383.6279 stgilesschool.org stgilesschooloakpark

Tuition assistance available for families with documented need.

Special Advertising Section

Academic Excellence in a Nurturing Catholic Community

t. Giles School offers an outstanding faith-based academic program for pre-school through 8th grade students, fostering intellectual, physical, social and spiritual growth. Our challenging curriculum emphasizes core academic subjects and leadership development.

The St. Giles Early Childhood Center was completely renovated in 2015 to meet the needs of our youngest students, including the addition of a gross-motor playroom. Preschool classes for both 3- and 4-year-olds provide building blocks to help children develop a natural love of learning. Half-day classes can be supplemented through extended day, before-and-after school programs. Our beautiful campus is spread across three buildings and includes a library, computer lab, gym, art and music classrooms, and two playgrounds. Recent enhancements include the renovation of our science lab in 2015 and a start on a new outdoor education space in 2016 to broaden and further our STEAM curriculum, which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. In addition to academic excellence and rigor, St. Giles emphasizes a wide range of enrichment and athletic opportunities. We offer competitive interscholastic sports

for grades 5-8, featuring co-ed soccer, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and volleyball. Intramural sports programs for grades K-8 are available throughout the school year and summer. Students also have the opportunity to participate in one or more of five bands, along with multiple after-school enrichment programs ranging from chess to robotics to theater.

St. Giles School is committed to providing a quality education that prepares students to be people of faith, strong leaders, and to serve the community. Our graduates develop a sense of personal responsibility toward themselves, their school, their parish and their community. Many go on to selective enrollment high schools. We are a welcoming, proud and vibrant community that celebrates every student for his or her classroom achievements, awards, athletic milestones, and service to others. New student applications can be submitted beginning January 29th at our Open House. Applications are available on our website below or by calling the office.

St. Giles School

1034 Linden Ave., Oak Park (708) 383-6279 www.stgilesschool.org

Learning Learning From from and with each other and With Each Other

oundedinin1961, 1961,Alcuin AlcuinMontessori Montessori School offers a cross-curricular learning environment * Junior and Senior Elementary, ounded balancing academic and emotional intelligence. We partner parents 8:30 a.m. towith 3:15 p.m. and provide School offers a cross-curricular learning students thebalancing tools to become highly-skilled independent thinkers with a passion for environment academic and * Middle School, confident, curious, selfknowledge. Our programs are designed to help each child become emotional intelligence. We partner with 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. disciplined and motivated. parents and provide students the tools to * Before/After At Alcuin, classroomsindependent operate on the principle of freedom withinSchool limits. Care Children, under the become highly-skilled thinkers guidance of a teacher, work at their own pace with materials of their choosing. Each student * Art with a passion for knowledge. Our programs may work alone or with others; different levels of ability are expected and welcomed within are designed to help each child become * Musical Theater each classroom. Education occurs in multi-aged classrooms where children of various stages confident, curious, self-disciplined and of development learn from and with each other. * Spanish motivated. Our programs for ages 0-14 include: Families currently attending Alcuin come At Alcuin, classrooms operate on the * Parent/Infant - Fridays, 8:45 to 10:30 a.m. from Oak Park, as well as Berwyn, Broadview, principle of freedom within limits. Children, Brookfield, * Three to Five Day a.m. Chicago, Cicero, Elmhurst, Forest under the guidance of a Toddler/Parent, teacher, work at 8:30 their to 11:30 Park, River Forest, Riverside, River Grove and * Primary, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. own pace with materials of their choosing. more. * Full-Day Kindergarten, a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Each student may work alone8:30 or with others; We welcome all prospective parents to join different levels ability Elementary, are expected8:30 and a.m. to 3:15 * Junior andofSenior p.m. us for our monthly informational Coffees. We Education welcomed within each classroom. * Middle School, 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. will start with some good coffee, a short video occurs in multi-aged classrooms where * Before/After School Care on Montessori education and then take an children of various stages of development in-depth look into all of our classrooms. At * Art learn from and with each other. the end of the tour we hold a question and * Musical Theater Our programs for ages 0-14 include: answer session, and explain our admissions * Spanish * Parent/Infant - Fridays, process. Tours are held throughout the school Families Alcuin come from Oak Park, as well as Berwyn, Broadview, 8:45 currently to 10:30 attending a.m. year on Thursdays (9:00-11:00 a.m.) at the Brookfield, Chicago, Cicero, Elmhurst, Forest Park, River Forest, Riverside, River Grove and main Alcuin campus. Visit Alcuin.org for tour * Three to Five Day Toddler/Parent, more. dates. To enroll in a tours please e-mail our 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. We welcome all prospective parents to join us for our monthly informational Coffees. We will Director of Advancement at avalera@alcuin. * Primary, 8:30good to 11:30 a.m. start with some coffee, a short video on Montessori education and then take an in-depth callhold 708.366.1882. look into all of our classrooms. At the end of theorg tourorwe a question and answer session, * Full-Day Kindergarten, and explain our admissions process. Tours are held throughout the school year on Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (9:00-11:00 a.m.) at the main Alcuin campus. Visit Alcuin.org for tour dates. To enroll in a tours please e-mail our Director of Advancement at avalera@alcuin.org or call 708.366.1882.

Special Advertising Section

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Learning Through All Aspects of Life at Keystone Montessori

hildren come from far and wide to Keystone Montessori, a school that has gained the reputation as one of the country’s premier Montessori schools. “The beauty of Montessori education is that it takes into consideration the whole child,” says Vicki Shea, Keystone’s administrative coordinator. “The physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of children are nurtured as well as their academic development and each child is respected as an individual with unique abilities.” If you’re wondering what Montessori education is all about, it’s based on the teachings of Maria Montessori, Italy’s first woman doctor who went on to become a renowned educator. From her observations of the natural development of children, she believed that a child’s independence, self-esteem and love of learning could flourish, given the right environment and with guidance from a properly trained teacher. Today, 100 years later, there are Montessori schools all over the world. Keystone has a class for two-year olds, primary classes for 3-6 year olds, junior elementary classes for 6-9 year olds, senior elementary classes for 9-12 year olds and a middle school. There are parent/infant classes also. One of the hallmarks of Montessori education is grouping together children of different ages. “In

this way children learn from each other,” says Shea. “It also helps the older children learn a sense of responsibility toward the younger ones.” Children learn by working with specially designed ‘materials’ in an age-appropriate environment which stimulates the senses and encourages exploration. The children are busy, each one involved in doing something either individually or in small groups. In one of the primary classrooms a three-year old is mopping the floor, and a five-year old is counting with a bead chain. In the junior elementary classroom a student is researching snakes and in another part of the room, a group of students is analyzing the grammatical parts of a sentence with the teacher. “Many of Montessori’s observations about how children learn have been borne out by recent research showing that children have windows in their development when they can best absorb things like language, music and math,” explains Shea. The school is proud of its consistently high academic achievement but places great emphasis on helping children become well-rounded, responsible members of society. Keystone Montessori is holding an Open House on Sunday, January 22, 2–4 pm. Located at 7415 W. North Ave., River Forest. 708/366-1080.

Join the fun in the Early Childhood Program at the River Forest Community Center!

he River Forest Community Center provides an age-appropriate curriculum designed to encourage positive group interaction as well as foster individual growth. Our teachers thrive on creating a safe and fun learning environment through play in which children are encouraged to explore and develop their cognitive, language, socialintellectual and motor skills. Our mission is to provide a hands-on approach to learning which allows the children to explore their environment while enhancing their social, emotional, cognitive and motor development. Classes start as young as 15 months of age. The Early Childhood Programs include: • Munchkins • Playschool • Preschool (Half-Day & Full-Day) • Pre-Kindergarten (Half-Day & Full-Day) • Before & After School Programs

The River Forest Community Center is located at 8020 Madison Street in River Forest. For more information about the Early Childhood Programs, call 708-771-6159.

January 18, 2017

B11

OPEN HOUSE: Sunday January 22nd 2–4 pm 7415 W. North Ave. River Forest Call 708-366-1080 for more information

Parent/infant program • Toddler Class, ages 2-3 • Primary Class, ages 3-6 Elementary and Middle School • After school program for ages 5 and up You are welcome to observe a classroom. Call for an appointment.

A place where children love to learn KEYSTONE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 7415 W. North Avenue, River Forest, IL 708/366-1080

River Forest Community Center River Forest Community Center River Forest Community Center River Forest Community Center Early Childhood Learning Center Early Childhood Learning Center Early Childhood Learning Center

Early Childhood Learning Center **Please join us at our **** **Please join us our **Please join join us at at us ourat ** our Please

Early Childhood Early Childhood Early Childhood Early Childhood Open House Open Open House House

Open House

Wednesday, January 29th Wednesday, Wednesday, January January 29th 29th 6:30 pm —8:00 pm 6:30 pm —8:00 pm Wednesday, January 18th 6:30 pm —8:00 pm

6:30 pm - 8:00 pm  Half-Day & Full-Day:  Half-Day & Full-Day: Preschool Half-Day & Full-Day: & Pre-K

Preschool & ! Half-Day & Full-Day: Preschool & Pre-K Pre-K Preschool & Pre-KCare  Before and After School  and After School Care  Before Before and After School Care ! Before and After School Care

 Summer Camps  Camps ! Summer Camps  Summer Summer Camps

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B12

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

January 18, 2017

Education for a Lifetime - Serving our community for over 20 years - Internationally recognized curriculum - Real Skills for Real Life

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

By ALI ELSAFFAR OP Township Assessor

Oak Park residents 65 years of age or older should receive renewal forms for senior citizen property tax exemptions this week and will have until Feb. 8 to file them. Local seniors should feel free to call the office of the Oak Park Township Assessor for help completing the forms. There are two senior tax exemptions: 1) The senior exemption, available to all seniors regardless of income, reduces property taxes by about $675. It is available for any owner-occupied residential property if the owner was born in 1951 or earlier. 2) The “senior freeze” provides some seniors with additional savings if the combined income of all members of the household is less than $55,000, and if the senior has been an owner-occupant of the property since Jan. 1, 2015. The recently mailed senior applications are for the 2016 property taxes, which are paid in

For seniors not receiving mailings Homeowners who were born in 1951 turned 65 in 2016, and thus are likely to be eligible for the senior exemptions for the first time. However, taxpayers who recently turned 65 will probably not receive applications when the senior renewal forms are mailed, so I encourage such individuals to call my office to obtain the forms and information necessary to receive the senior exemptions. The forms are also available online at www.CookCountyAssessor.com.

d e Of an th m h iN l r Pa u yo

Seniors must apply to renew property tax exemptions

calendar year 2017. The savings from the exemptions will appear on the second installment tax bills that will likely be mailed in late June of 2017.

Ev Er Ev Oa yt O Er k P hin ak y a g Pa on rk rk E

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Law on erroneous exemptions Owners of properties that erroneously receive tax exemptions can be made to repay the tax savings from any exemption for which they are not eligible. To avoid erroneous senior citizen exemptions, it is important to understand the eligibility rules for such exemptions. Although generally straightforward, the rules can be confusing after a senior leaves his or her home. If a senior was in residence on Jan. 1, 2016, the property should be eligible for the 2016 senior exemptions (paid in 2017), even if the senior citizen ceased living at the property later in 2016. But in most cases, the property will not be eligible for senior tax exemptions. Call the Township Assessor’s Office (708-383-8005).

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Sponsored Content

Realtor Holiday Bazaar raises money for the Food Pantry

O Pictured from left to right: Bethanny Alexander, Baird & Warner, Catherine Simon Vobornik, Baird & Warner, Michele Zurakowski, Executive Director, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, Michelle Kelly, CEO, OPAAR, David Dieschbourg, Weichert Realtors.

n December 13, 2016, the Oak Park Area Association of Realtors (OPAAR) hosted the 4th Annual Holiday Bazaar to benefit the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry. The event featured 15 vendors, giving holiday shoppers a chance to support local businesses and support the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry in the process. Each vendor donated a portion of their proceeds to the food pantry. Additional funds came from a raffle at the event, personal donations and a donation from OPAAR. The donations totaled $2,500.00. The Bazaar Committee presented a check for $2,500.00 to Michele Zurakowski, Executive Director, Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry on January 5, 2017.

212 S. Marion Street Oak Park, IL 60302 www.oakparkrealtors.org

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Generations of Excellence since 1958

708.771.8040 • 7375 W. North Ave., River Forest Donna Barnhisel Cibula 7375 West North AvenueJoe Dan Bogojevich Don Citrano Anne Brennan Julie Cliggett Illinois 60305 Karen Byrne Alisa Coghill Kevin Calkins JoLyn Crawford 708.771.8040 Tom Carraher Andy Gagliardo Maria Cullerton

MANAGING BROKER/OWNERS River Forest,

Pat Cesario

Tom Poulos

Karen Doty

Julie Downey Kurt Fielder Yvonne Fiszer-Steele Ramona Fox Chris Garvey Lisa Grimes Dan Halperin Sharon Halperin

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Laurel Saltzman Rob Sarvis Meg Sullivan Laurie Shapiro Tom Sullivan Debbie Watts George Wohlford Nancy Wohlford

1501 PARK • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

838 N HARLEM • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

827 N OAK PARK • OAK PARK OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

CLASSIC TUDOR located in the center of town includes many upgrades and a lot of remodeling! Bathrooms, basement, added closets including MBR walk-in. Resurfaced numerous hardwood floors. Stained glass windows. 2 car attached garage. Large private backyard. A can›t miss!..........................................................$999,900

GEORGOUS FRENCH NORMANDY with 5 bedrooms, 5 full & 5 half baths sits on a 75 foot corner lot. Gleaming hardwood floors and fireplace in LR, simply stunning eat-in kitchen with adjoining family room. Lower level rec room with gas fireplace. Beautifully landscaped grounds............................................................$1,099,900

BEAUTIFUL, MOVE-IN READY REHAB in River Forest. Large open kitchen with all brand new SS. New 3/4 inch Brazilian Koa wood floors throughout. Designer baths. Wood burning fireplace. Master suite. Full basement. Great backyard with covered patio. Close to great schools! .......................................................... $386,000

ROOM FOR EVERYONE and stunning finishes throughout. Newly finished kitchen features 2 dishwashers and a built in bar with beverage center. Top end bathrooms. Master Suite features a deck, walk-in closet and a redone bath. Beautiful decorating. Beautiful landscaping. ...........................................................................$719,000

638 N KENILWORTH OAK PARK

1145 S SCOVILLE • OAK PARK OPEN SUNDAY 10-12

425 S OAK PARK UNIT A • OAK PARK OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

1047 KEYSTONE RIVER FOREST

UNPRECEDENTED ESTATE in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historical district of Oak Park! This meticulously renovated 5 BR, 5 full / 2 half bath property offers exquisite details and refined finishes that boast timeless materials and over the top custom millwork. This is a showcase home! ................................................................ $2,525,000

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED 5 bed/ 2 full bath home with a newly remodeled kitchen with a large attached breakfast area or family room. Bathrooms updated this year. Four large bedrooms on 2nd fl , 5th BR on 1st floor, perfect for company, or your private office. ......................................................................................$475,000

MOVE RIGHT INTO THIS 4 STORY TOWNHOME! This 2 bedroom, 2-1/2 bath townhome is a sunny and quiet end unit. Granite kitchen, hardwood floors, master suite, 2nd floor laundry, fireplace in LR. 4th floor loft with kitchenette. Large wrap around deck and attached garage. ...................................................................$359,500

VERY UNIQUE PRAIRIE HOME sits on a beautiful corner lot. The home suggestive of Tallmadge & Watson has a dramatic family room that opens to the kitchen. Expansive LR with fireplace. Basement has 2nd half bath, and storage. Nice size yard with private brick patio & XL 2 car garage. ..............................................$569,000

RIVER FOREST HOMES

LARGE VICTORIAN with 4 bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths has great original details including wide moldings, wood burning fireplace, beamed ceilings, large room sizes and high ceilings. Master bedroom with bath, good closet space. Large backyard with deck. ....................................................$385,000

510 JACKSON • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

N E W L IS T ING!

RESTORE THIS HOUSE with fabulous curb appeal or Build your dream home on this 100’ x 184’ lot. .........................................................$1,400,000 BEAUTIFUL STYLISH UPDATED HOME with 4 BRs, 3.2 BAs on four floors of living space. Includes LR w/ frpl, new high end kitchen, Breakfast Rm, 1st FL office. LL has Fam Rm, Rec Room, Laundry, Wine Cellar and Full Bath. 2 car garage with extra storage and rooftop deck........ $1,049,000 CHARMING, SPACIOUS QUEEN ANNE BUNGALOW in pristine condition. Art glass windows, French doors, wood trim, hardwood floors. Granite kitchen, breakfast nook. Family room and 1st floor bedroom. 3 bedrooms on 2nd floor. Finished basement, enclosed porch, 2 car garage. ...............................................................................................................$639,900 SPECIAL HOME IN SPECIAL LOCATION! Good size rooms, large picture window, views out every window, family room overlooks kitchen. Just finish off the basement with the second fireplace located there. Beautiful brick pavers, attached garage. Make this home yours. .$599,000

OAK PARK HOMES VALUE MAY BE IN THE LAND. Major renovation needed to the house. Being sold “As Is”. ...................................................................$250,000

FOREST PARK HOMES TOTALLY REMODELED!! All new: kitchen, hardwood floors, windows, siding, roof, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, doors and hardware, and fenced-in yard. Master bedroom has walk-in closet, master bath, and walk out deck. 2 car garage with additional exterior prkng space.$559,900 NOTHING TO DO BUT MOVE IN! Newly stained dark hardwood floors throughout, including the kitchen. Three large bedrooms. New deck and many upgrades. Don’t pass this one by.... larger inside than it looks. Sunny back yard ready for your perennial garden. Fenced yard. ...$284,000

ELMWOOD PARK HOMES GEORGIAN STYLE HOME boasting three levels of living space. Solid brick home sits on double lot. Basement has eight foot ceilings and is finished with bedroom and family room. Home has all new stainless steel appliances. 2.5 car detached garage, driveway and alley access. $408,900

CONDOS/TOWNHOMES/2 FLATS

PRICE REDUCED! RIVER FOREST 1BR, 1BA. ......................$89,000 OAK PARK 2BR, 2BA. Many extra amenities...............................$535,000 OAK PARK Two Flat. ........................................................................525,000 NEW LISTING! OAK PARK 3BR, 2 Full, 2 half BA.................. $415,000 OAK PARK 2BR, 2BA. Gorgeous interior features........................$369,000 OAK PARK 2BR, 2BA. Unique condo. ........................................... $279,000 NEW LISTING! Oak Park 2BR, 1-1/2 BA. .................................... $182,500 NEW LISTING! Oak Park 2BR, 1BA...............................................$177,000 OAK PARK 1BR, 1BA. Convenient location. ...................................$84,900 OAK PARK 1BR, 1BA. Updated kitchen and bath.......................... $69,000 FOREST PARK 4BR, 4BA. Oversize rooms. ................................. $335,000 FOREST PARK 2BR, 2BA. Spacious corner unit..........................$289,000 FOREST PARK 1BR, 1BA. Recently updated..................................$87,500 FOREST PARK 1BR, 1BA. Updated kitchen. ................................. $69,900

For more listings & photos go to GagliardoRealty.com

THE SPRING MARKET IS FAST APPROACHING Please contact a Gagliardo Realty Associates Agent for a free market analysis

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Sunday, January 22, 2017 ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

1118 Circle Ave, Forest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$175,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 1830 Wisconsin Ave, Berwyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$269,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-1:30 1106 Ferdinand Ave, Forest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$269,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2:30

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

1114 S. Highland Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$299,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 840 N. Harvey Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$369,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 838 N. Harlem Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$386,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1007 Hayes Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$414,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1145 S. Scoville Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$475,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12 134 N. Taylor Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$569,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 240 S. East Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$609,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 726 Forest Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$629,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 1104 S. Cuyler Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$669,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 131 Ashland Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$699,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11:30-1:45 827 N. Oak Park Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$719,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 807 N. Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$769,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 7805 Greenfield St, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$814,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 939 Forest, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,059,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1501 Park Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,099,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

415 Wesley Ave. UNIT 42, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$115,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12:30-2 938 North Blvd. UNIT 303, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$119,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4

CONDOS

1036 Washington Blvd. UNIT 2, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re/Max In The Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$189,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:30-4 224 S. Oak Park Ave. UNIT 5E, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$198,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 425 S. Oak Park Ave. UNIT A, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$359,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 110 S. Marion St. UNIT 408, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$515,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 110 S. Marion St. UNIT 508, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$515,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 Showroom Open at 139 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$669,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 Showroom Open at 139 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$684,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

TOWNHOMES

Showroom Open at 139 S. Oak Park Ave.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$699,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

1192 Clarence Ave. UNIT 15, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$369,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 318 Pennsylvania Way, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$539,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

In The Village, Realtors®

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

April Baker

THIS WEEK’S FEATURED PROPERTIES

Joelle Venzera

Mike Becker

Oak Park • $849,900 4BR, 3.1BA Call Steve x121 Roz Byrne

Oak Brook • $579,900 5BR, 2.1BA Call Kerry x139

Oak Park • $519,000 3BR, 3BA Call Dorothy x124

Forest Park • $479,000 Multi unit Call Gary x125

Oak Park • $365,000 3BR, 1.1BA Call Dorothy x124

Laurie Christofano

Oak Park • $339,800 4BR, 2.1BA Call Kyra x145

Morgan Digre

Oak Park • $329,900 3BR, 1.1BA Call Kerry x139

Oak Park • $220,000 2BR, 2BA Call Laurie x186

1036 WASHINGTON BLVD 2 OPEN SUN 2:30-4 PM

Oak Park • $189,000 2BR, 1BA Call Marion x111

Linda Rooney

Berwyn • $149,000 2BR, 2BA Call Joe x117

Kerry Delaney

Marion Digre

Kris Sagan

Haydee Rosa

Tom Byrne

Kelly Gisburne

Harry Walsh, Managing Broker

Oak Park • $115,000 1BR, 1BA Call Kelly x113

Anna Gillian

Dorothy Gillian

River Forest • $73,900 1BR, 1BA Call Elissa x192

Ed Goodwin

Joe Langley

by our office • View all properties listed erties listed • View thousands of prop throughout Chicagoland on of Luxury Homes • View the Remax Collecti erties • View Foreclosure Prop • View Open Houses ur neighborhood • View recent sales in yo

Kyra Pych

Elissa Palermo

Steve Nasralla

Dan Linzing

Gary Mancuso

Jane McClelland

Keri Meacham

Alisha Mowbray

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Community Mental Health Board

The Oak Park Developmental Disabilities Consortium,

under the auspices of the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, and with support from the River Forest Township Mental Health Committee, is dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities in reaching their dreams and aspirations. CHECK THE WEDNESDAY JOURNAL FOR INSPIRING STORIES FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM.

of Oak Park Township

The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township (CMHB) is a branch of Oak Park Township. The CMHB is comprised of nine residents appointed by the Township Supervisor with the approval of the Township Trustees. One CMHB member is a Township Trustee. The purpose of the Community Mental Health Board is to assist in planning, developing, coordinating, evaluating, and funding mental health services in Oak Park. This includes services for persons with mental illness, alcohol or other drug dependence or developmental disabilities. The Township’s Community Mental Health Fund provides over $1 million in financial support for programs and services to 12-20 agencies per year in Oak Park. The River Forest Township Mental Health Committee (RFMHC) works to enhance the mental health and developmental potential of residents by supporting a continuum of community based services that are costeffective, systematically evaluated and responsive to evolving needs.

Exercising is not easy – you sweat, your heart beats fast, your muscles are sore, it takes time and dedication. Now imagine participating in an exercise program as a young adult with a disability – sensory processing disorder, a heart condition, low muscle tone – and engaging in physical activity becomes an even greater challenge. These are only a few of the factors that contribute to the statistic of nearly half of adults with disabilities getting no aerobic physical activity! Workout Warriors is a new Opportunity Knocks program that approaches fitness with a Warrior centered approach. We focus on physical activity that is fun yet challenging and include a hands-on experience learning about various health topics. Karisa was among the first cohort of Workout Warriors and, dressed in jeans and fancy shoes, exercise was not the ideal activity for her! Throughout the first session and as a returning Warrior in subsequent Workout Warrior programs, Karisa has gradually become one of the most dedicated Warriors in health and wellness now wearing full on workout gear from top to gym shoes! Opportunity Knocks serves young people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest communities through social, recreational and life-skills programming. We are dedicated to providing opportunities and resources to our program’s participants so that they may pursue their educational, occupational and social interests.

Suburban Access client Patrick has become a well-known and active community member in Oak Park and River Forest. As an individual with an intellectual disability, Patrick has been able to overcome significant barriers in order to work part time, volunteer, and participate in community programs. Patrick’s community involvement includes working part-time at Fitness Formula Club in Oak Park, working at Opportunity Knocks in River Forest, volunteering at Wonder Works Children’s Museum in Oak Park, and participating in the programs of Opportunity Knocks, West Suburban Special Recreation Association, and Community Support Services.

The RFMHC’s mission is fulfilled through partnerships with community agencies, which provide a flexible network of easily accessible services for treatment and prevention of mental illness, developmental disabilities and substance use. Services include case management, supervised housing, psychiatric treatment, volunteer opportunities, 24hour crisis management and social/recreational services.

DD CONSORTIUM AGENCY LIST Aspire aspirechicago.com

Community Support Services

With encouragement from his family, service facilitator, and Suburban Access service coordinator, Patrick frequently takes advantage of opportunities for enrichment that are available in the community. He is given opportunities to gradually increase his independence, and continues learning each week through the life experiences presented by his community involvement. Suburban Access continues to work with Patrick and his service team to ensure his happiness, progress, and success!

cssservices.org

Suburban Access, Inc., is an independent service coordination and advocacy agency that links children and adults who have developmental disabilities with lifeenhancing services, relevant programs and experiences, and personal supports to empower them to live life without limits. Since 1989, families have turned to Suburban Access to inspire their loved ones to realize their potentials in settings that break down barriers and remove stereotypes.

PACTT Learning Center

Oak-Leyden Developmental Services oak-leyden.org

Oak Park Township Senior Services oakparktownship.org/departments/seniors

Opportunity Knocks opportunityknocksnow.org pactt.org

Riveredge Hospital riveredgehospital.com

Seguin RCA seguinrca.org

Suburban Access, Inc. subacc.org

Opportunity Knocks 8020 Madison St. River Forest, IL 60305 708.771.6159 x 220 • info@opportunityknocksnow.org opportunityknocksnow.org • Facebook.com/okwarriors Instagram.com/okwarriors

Suburban Access, Inc. 1 Westbrook Corporate Center Suite 820 Westchester, IL, 60165 708.449.7257 • lrivero@subacc.org • subacc.org Facebook.com/suburbanaccess

The Answer, Inc. theanswerinc.org

UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago ucpseguin.org

West Suburban Special Recreation wssra.net

You can show your support for our Consortium members and the great work they do by visiting their websites – learn more, donate, volunteer, and follow them on social media. We appreciate your support!

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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

Let’s ‘pool’ our resources

o District 200 carries on in its journey to find a solution for its pool woes. In the Journal article announcing Monica Sheehan as 2016 Villager of the Year for leading the pool opposition movement, one take-away is there will be a new direction, a comprehensive approach that our brand new superintendent says should address the pool, academics, facilities, and equity. Sounds good. Understanding fully that the devil is in the details, I have some thoughts. But first I want to respond to criticism of the school board in the article by Jack Davidson, one of the leaders of the opposition movement who has announced he will run for the school board in April. Davidson claims he was energized to help lead the opposition because “this isn’t about the pool; it’s about the process, and it’s about having our voices heard in the community, which is what’s important, period, because we haven’t had the opportunity to do that.” I could not disagree more. The process could not have been more open and vocal. For years, the pool issue was debated in public meetings and the press. For years, there were public pool committee meetings, and oh-so-many public school board meetings with pool options and issues on the agenda. For years there were articles and editorials in the Journal keeping the community abreast of the latest news. I attended some of the school board meetings as president of one of the local community soccer clubs to advocate that the pool not be placed on any green space since our land-locked community has a shortage of fields. At these meetings, I was always deeply moved by the student athletes who advocated so politely and emotionally for any reasonable solution. They just wanted a good pool. The board solicited points of view, patiently listened, carefully deliberated all points of view, and vetted all plausible options. I know many people in the community, myself included, were frustrated because the process was so long and laborious. So for Davidson to say there was insufficient opportunity to be heard and to imply the process was not transparent is totally unfair. The so-called D200 Pragmatic Pool Solutions movement led by Ms. Sheehan and Davidson (and others) was way late to the debate. Mr. Davidson is also quoted as saying our brand new superintendent’s vision of a comprehensive solution is “handcuffed already” by the school board, which wants control and “significantly handicaps her.” These are strong words. The reader is not provided any facts to back-up Davidson’s accusations, and his accusations seem at odds with the fact that the superintendent is brand new and the board has showered her with accolades. Ms. Sheehan is certainly right when she states “the core mission of the high school is academics” and “the greater good of every student at the high school.” I don’t think any board member would disagree. So knowing that D200 has at its fingertips that gargantuan reserve of around $100 million, here’s my proposal for addressing two of the more pressing issues facing the board and superintendent: the pool and the achievement gap.

VIEWPOINTS

See GILLMAN on page 34

Reaction to red-light cameras p. 36

The best in our lifetime

KEN

STEVEN GILLMAN One View

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

TRAINOR

ix days before the next commander-in-chief takes over, I find myself thinking more about Barack Obama, the best president in my lifetime — not only the best in my life until now, but likely the best in the rest of it. I don’t expect to see anyone better. As for the new guy, based on his conduct in the campaign and transition, I expect a textbook catastrophe to unfold over the next four to (God forbid) eight years. But that cloud can’t overshadow my appreciation of the past eight years. I feel sorry for conservatives (and even some liberals) who were too closed-minded or narrow-minded and completely missed the best president in their lifetime as well. Maybe someday they’ll come to appreciate him. I’ve written many columns about Barack Obama over the past 12 years, as you would expect with the best president in my lifetime. The first, titled “Obama’s choice: Politics of cynicism or of hope,” ran on Aug. 11, 2004, shortly after his now-famous speech at the Democratic National Convention. Here’s an excerpt: “Let’s face it. Almost everyone these days is cynical or disillusioned about politics and politicians, but for 15 minutes that night, Obama brought democratic ideals alive again. A remarkable achievement. … “In this election, we are called to reaffirm our values and commitments, to hold them against the hard reality and see how we are measuring up — to the legacy of our forebears,

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org

and the promise of future generations. And, fellow Americans — Democrats, Republicans, Independents — I say to you tonight: We have more work to do. ... Alongside our famous individualism, there’s another ingredient in the American saga — a belief that we are connected as one people. ... It’s that fundamental belief — I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper — that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams, yet still come together as a single American family. E pluribus unum. Out of many, one. ... There’s not a liberal America and a conservative America — there’s the United States of America. There’s not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America. ... We are one people, all of

us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America. In the end, that’s what this election is about. Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or a politics of hope?” Cynics will contend that Obama failed to unite this country, but he didn’t fail. We did. It was always up to us. And now we’re reaping the consequences of that failure: with a president and party in power who practice the politics of cynicism, who are, in fact, masters of it — and mastered by it. ■

By chance, I met Obama in 2004 in Denver, Colorado at a hotel where I was attending a friend’s wedding. Already highly regarded, he was See THE BEST on page 32

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

O U R

V I E W P O I N T S

V I E W S

Gold-plated rip-off

nevitably, we are all focused this week on the myriad reasons we don’t trust government. The horror show unfolding, pre-inauguration, in Washington. The endless shame of our state government in Springfield. But as small-town publishers, we’ve most always been able to point with pride to our hometowns where local volunteer elected officials do a lot of good work, sometimes screw up, but at least in the towns we cover, are rarely venal. The current and local exception to this good government record would be the scourge and the scam of red-light cameras. As our reporting last week and again this week demonstrates, these devices accomplish absolutely none of the public safety goals attributed to them, but are instead an egregious hidden tax levied by governments hungry for cash — and are also a source of greedy profits for small firms with deep and disturbing political connections. We focused our attention on Harlem Avenue from River Forest’s North Avenue down through Forest Park and into North Riverside and Berwyn’s Cermak Road. The fines levied through these few pernicious cameras have totaled $26.5 million since the beginning of 2014. River Forest, North Riverside and Berwyn are the jackpot communities in our analysis, with Forest Park looking like it negotiated a weak contract. River Forest, with cameras at North Avenue and at Lake Street on Harlem, has issued $5.2 million in tickets while North Riverside and Berwyn combined to issue more than $20.7 million in violations to hapless drivers. To its great credit, the village of Oak Park has never seriously contemplated installing red-light cameras. It raises its gargantuan tax load the old-fashioned way, it levies a lot of property taxes, and with its home-rule powers, tacks a fee on anything that moves. Why are these cameras such a stick-in-the-eye to decent drivers working hard to pay their legitimate taxes? So many reasons. First 90-plus percent of all of these cool hundred-dollar tickets go to drivers turning right on red. The cameras aren’t rightly punishing red-light blowers. They are fining divers who do not come to an absolute full-stop and then turn right. There is little to no danger created in this action. Towns that had no plans to fix their infrastructure or meet their pension obligations have turned to the lucre from these cameras to stuff the holes in their budgets. There are other ways, more direct and more honest, for municipalities to meet their obligations. Finally, as we document this week, the handful of firms that offer this service are pumping political contributions into the coffers of local and state pols who have helped them gain necessary approvals for these lights. Simply bad news. This is a local government rip-off, plain and simple. Voters upset at these kinds of programs do have recourse. They can get enough signatures on a petition to put the matter to a binding vote at the polls. That way, they can send the message loud and clear on red-light cameras.

Talk straight on principal

It is an awkward situation, the principal post at Oak Park’s Lincoln School. This is the school where a long-serving and popular principal, Cathy Hamilton, chose of her own free will, four years back, to cash in on a crazy-generous state early retirement perk. She asked District 97 to set her retirement for the spring of 2017 and officials signed off on it. But later Hamilton discovered a change in the crazy-generous state plan and last fall asked D97 officials to rescind her pending retirement. She wanted to stay on. With a strong chorus of support for Hamilton from many faculty and parents, the district was in a tough spot. But its bureaucrat-speak since then and culminating last week hasn’t helped much. In a final letter announcing a help wanted ad was being posted, Supt. Carole Kelley said the district had looked at all options but the ship had left the slip, the cow was out of the stall, etc. One way forward and that’s full speed ahead, said the super. Maybe. More likely is that the board and the superintendent had longplanned for Hamilton’s departure and were looking ahead to a new hire of their own choosing to recalibrate the school somewhat more toward district/superintendent goals. That’s not a bad thing. It’s not unfair. And it is more honest than saying there was nothing else that could be done when they really wanted to do something else.

THE BEST

Character and results from page 31

@ @OakParkSports learned never to count on anyone when it comes to politics, but after two years in the spotlight, I have to say ... “So far, so good.” The title of the column was “Obama hasn’t disappointed us yet.” ■

invited there to campaign for another candidate. Mr. Obama sat in the passenger seat of his car by the curb, door open, legs extended out as he pored over some paperwork. We had a short conversation, but I didn’t say what I really wanted to say — and finally did say in my column on Oct. 20, 2004: “You’re about to be swept into a cauldron of fame and power and the distorted reality that is Washington D.C. Hold onto your humanity. A lot of us are rooting for you. We want you to fulfill your promise, and perhaps even become this nation’s first biracial president someday. But you have to hold onto your humanity. We need someone to unify this country, heal our cultural divorce, create stepbrothers and stepsisters where once we were antagonized fragments. You are a symbol of the unification we desire, but you can only unite the rest of us if you hold onto your humanity.” His greatest achievement was doing precisely that, sustaining his humanity for the next 12 years. He proved it’s possible. As his wife, Michelle, the most admired person in America, put it, “Being president doesn’t change who you are; it reveals who you are.” And President Obama’s character, fully revealed over the last eight years, was not found wanting. The presidency will also reveal the true character of the man about to succeed him, and, based on his behavior thus far, he will almost certainly be found wanting. The contrast with the best president in our lifetime, I predict, will be stark.

And from “Making the world safe for idealism,” Nov. 12, 2008: “On Election Day, one of the first things I saw was a cellphone ad on the side of a Pace bus: ‘Believe in something better.’ That pretty much sums up idealists. We believe in something better — and never quite give up on making it a reality. … “And now we’ve elected one.” Actually, it turned out President Obama was not an idealist. He was a “critical realist,” as defined by Rev. Vic Clore, a longtime Catholic pastor in inner-city Detroit, whom I interviewed in 2012. “Realism, in its grossest sense,” he told me, “is a kind of materialism where you don’t have broader principles. You just live in the most pragmatic way. Critical realism, on the other hand, is when you subject your insight to ongoing lived experience; then you keep talking with one another until Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.org you come to what is a reasonable judgment about what we should do now, or what is the truth about the matter.” That pretty much characterized Obama’s approach to the presidency: Seeing the world as it is — through other people’s eyes, not just his own — then trying to move things forward, together. He succeeded in some ways, and would have succeeded in many more were it not for the closed minds of the disloyal opposition — but legislative successes and failures are not the true measure of a presidency. One thing he did not do is disappoint. His many significant accomplishments (e.g. saving the country from a second ■ Great Depression and bringing health care to 20 My next encounter with Barack Obama came million Americans) will be recognized by histoin June of 2006 at Northwestern University’s rians, and he will be judged in the upper echelon graduation, where he delivered the commenceof presidents. But I measure his presidency in ment address. In my June 21, 2006 column, I terms of the challenge he issued back in 2004: wrote: “Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or “… It’s no secret a lot of people hope he ends a politics of hope?” up in the White House — not just liberals. His A large portion of the electorate this year was gift is his ability to talk to Americans across the mired in the politics of cynicism and despair, but political divide. He doesn’t leave anyone out of the portion that still embraces Obama’s politics the conversation. of hope, believing we can improve the lives of all “He also comes along during a near-total Americans, was 2.8 million voters stronger, and leadership vacuum nationally. In such a void, a that majority will continue to grow. politician who tells the truth stands out. Lincoln As Vic Clore put it, talking in 2012 about the arrived on the scene during a similar vacuum. Catholic Church’s lack of progress (before Pope So did FDR. There’s no way to know if Obama Francis came on the scene): “Am I dismayed? Yes, is capable of greatness, but he is certainly a fine I’m dismayed. Am I hopeless? No, I’m not hopespeaker. ... less. Gradually, things will move forward. I take a “It’s easy to see why Obama appeals. He conpretty long view of history.” nects with his audience, doesn’t project an air of I take the long view also, but at my age I don’t superiority, does project an air of quiet confitake a long view of my life, which is why I don’t dence and intelligence, speaks simply and diexpect to see another president who combined high character with real results the way Barack rectly, and doesn’t B.S. Since there is no one else Obama did. on the national scene who shares these qualities, Because of him, I embraced the politics of people respond. hope. “Will he end up as president someday, fulfilling Thanks to him, I still do. all that promise and our high expectations? I’ve

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

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

W E D N E S D A Y

by Marc Stopeck

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor and Publisher Dan Haley Senior Editor Bob Uphues Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Timothy Inklebarger Viewpoints/ Real Estate Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Staff Photographer William Camargo Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Joe Chomiczewski Media Coordinator Kristen Benford

D200 plods forward. Aimlessly? I think it would be a mistake for OPRF High School District 200 to place pool referenda on the ballot without an option of funding the replacement without further debt [With pool failure possible, D200 plots a path forward, News, Jan. 11]. The ridiculous and, by thirdparty estimates and recommendations, obscenely high D200 fund balance appears to contradict statements such as Tod Altenburg’s that such a funding scheme would force a finance referendum. It wears thin watching Mr. Altenburg and the district treat taxpayers as a free line of credit source while obfuscating the need to maintain the fund balance at such levels. Should the district have obtained a real line of credit from a financial institution that required compensation (interest payments), it’s likely the district wouldn’t

do so in such excess of its needs, let alone more than its annual operating budget. The fiduciary requirement would preclude such folly. If the district projects, as Mr. Altenburg contends, that lowering the fund balance by the cost of the pool would spur a need for a financial referendum in 2019, why then does the district’s current budget project a year-end fund balance in 2019 of over $91 million (see Exhibit 4.19, page 185 of the 2015-2016 budget)? Well, because replacing its 90-year-old pool was not in its financial projections. But let’s assume it costs between $25 and $40 million to prudently build a pool. It doesn’t seem like a complicated math problem to arrive at an estimated fund balance of between 61% and 82% of the district’s own projected $83 million estimate of 2019 total expenditures. That level of reserves remains grossly above the 50% or less advocated by industry groups and watchdogs. It could be that the budget is unreliable or that the simple math above is wrong. But I don’t think it an unnecessary burden for the district to provide an explanation for the disparity. Nor do I believe future unfunded liabilities are to be taken lightly. This is Illinois, right? Borrowing further increases the future liability. Wednesday Journal is the right forum for the discussion. If Mr. Altenburg and the district really do believe this to be the case, as they say in Missouri, “Show me.”

Brian Lantz

FILE

Oak Park

Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Caleb Thusat Comptroller Edward Panschar Credit Manager Laurie Myers Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 708-613-3310 or email him at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

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

Improve Your Life Through Exercise Improve Your Life Improve Your Life Through Exercise Through Exercise

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

V I E W P O I N T S

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OPEN HOUSE January 29th from 2-4 pm For over 28 years, WSMS has provided quality Montessori education in Oak Park. We have programs for students between 3–12 years of age. Please join us to meet our teachers and parents of enrolled children and to learn more about Montessori education.

1039 South East Avenue Oak Park, IL 60304 • 708.848.2662 wsms.org • facebook.com/westsuburbanmontessori WSMS_Wednesday Ad_12_06_16.indd 2

12/7/16 1:16 PM

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Save the birds from glass tower collisions

We were at the Preservation Awards this year [Recognizing property owners’ efforts, Homes, Jan. 11]. Our house was getting a Cavalcade of Pride Award. As I was listening to the awards given out, the Green Award was the one I really took interest in. I am a fourth-generation Oak Parker. I love to see the homes here being taking care of. But now I see the new buildings going vertical, which is how it will be from now on. I listened about using recycled building materials, recycling water, non-toxic materials and so on. But no one talked about the windows. I see so many birds that flew into windows and broke their necks. I walk by the Oak Park Public Library almost every day. I see many birds dead on the ground. They do put decals on the windows, but still ... Even with my one-story house being on a corner, I have given up on washing my windows on the street side because of this issue. I cut hair downtown and talked to a client who worked for Turner Construction about this issue. He said funny I should bring this

up, that he was at a meeting where they were talking about a new glass they will be using for this problem. In nature, birds don’t fly into spider webs. In prehistoric times, snakes were as big as a bus. Can you imagine what spiders and their webs looked like? Yikes! So there is a glass window made for commercial buildings with spider webs etched with laser beams. We can’t see it but the birds can. It seems to be effective. So I mentioned this to the architect who was at the awards, and he had never heard of this before. If you google A Concept USGBC - Biomimicry spider web/glass you can read about this. With all the new and taller buildings going in Oak Park, we need to set an example that we care about our impact on this planet and the animals too. We are all connected and need each other. I hope this raises awareness in our community as we head toward the future.

GILLMAN

over our community — the gap continues to consume time, energy, and resources, and engender controversy. The fact that District 200 and District 97 persevere in their commitment to close the gap is certainly right and laudable, but reports are that over the years little or no progress is being made. So let’s change the focus. Research is virtually conclusive that investing in high-quality child care and educational experiences for disadvantaged and at-risk children from birth to the time they enter elementary school pays off in higher levels of educational success and other benefits that last a lifetime. Readiness gaps among children can be measured by the time a child is 2 years old. Let’s contribute an impactful sum ($20 million?) to the Collaboration for Early Childhood. I’m not saying we give up on anyone already in school. I’m saying that if our elementary, middle and high schools want to make material progress on closing the gap, the focus should be on dedicating resources to disadvantaged and at-risk preschoolers so they have a better chance of succeeding in elementary school and beyond. Let’s focus on infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in an effort to provide the stability and stimulation youngsters need and deserve to succeed in school. And let’s dedicate space in that new community center for early childhood programs. By my count, that leaves $50 million of the reserve for high school facilities, technology, and other projects. Steve Gillman is president of Chicago Edge, a community soccer club, and the proud dad of three OPRF graduates.

from page 31 First, let’s spend a modest amount of money ($10 million?) to fix the existing high school pools so all students are afforded the opportunity to take swimming in gym onsite. Being able to swim is important and fun. Second, let the Park District of Oak Park take the lead on the pool. Kick-in a significant sum ($20 million?) and collaborate with the PDOP to include a state-of-the-art pool in the community center the PDOP is currently studying and wants to build. Check out the community center feasibility study on the PDOP website. The community center would include much-needed indoor space and other amenities. Wouldn’t it be great to have a beautiful indoor pool for use by high school athletes and everyone else who lives in Oak Park and River Forest? The park district is in the business of building sports facilities, and they’re good at it. The school board missed an opportunity by not joining with the PDOP years ago when the redo of Ridgeland Commons right across the street was studied and planned — the park district completed the project under budget and the facility and grounds are beautiful. Let’s seriously explore another opportunity to join with the PDOP. Let’s get the burden of the pool off the back of the school board (to the extent possible) and let’s “pool” resources. Third, during the 15 years my family has lived in Oak Park, the achievement gap issue has remained a low-hanging cloud

Jeanie Forbes Oak Park

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

The Ultimate Local Foodie Party! Friday, January 27, 2017 5:30 - 9:30pm

Gourmet “Bites” from dozens of local restaurants and caterers, plus music and prizes! 19th Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park $35 per ticket (4 for $120), cash bar Purchase tickets at foodiefest.net

Bite Nite is the kick-off to Foodie Fest “restaurant week!” Jan. 27 thru Feb. 4 participating restaurants will offer Special Prix Fixe Menus of 3 items/courses for $10, $20, or $30 (depending on the restaurant). Thank you to our Gold Sponsors: Adam Doe, State Farm

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust

Affordable Backyard Tents

J. Michael Williams, Cohon Raizes & Regal LLP

Angela Gambino, Brokerage Resources

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors:

Mickey Agney, Kneaded Work

Athletico Physical Therapy

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Predatory red-light cameras should be illegal

To the honorable officials of River Forest: Are you aware that almost 90 percent of the $3.7 million collected from red-light cameras came from safe drivers who endangered no one? Federal research for Congress showed that only six one-hundredths of 1 percent (0.06% or 0.0006) of crashes involved a right on red turn, including those with or without a full stop (http://www.nhtsa. gov/About+NHTSA/Traffic+Techs/current/The+Safety+Impact+of+Right+Tur n+on+Red:+Report+to+Congress) Yes, a slow-rolling right on red turn is a technical foul in every state, but in almost every case the drivers looked carefully enough to avoid conflicts of the right of way with pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles. What is the moral justification to fine safe drivers for the terrible crime of driving safely? Isn’t this a perversion of the very purpose of traffic enforcement —

fining mostly safe drivers with the only actual result being the collection of revenue? The public is increasingly aware that using traffic enforcement against safe drivers for profits is 100 percent wrong 100 percent of the time, and they despise it. Red-light cameras are a hated and dying industry that should be illegal in every state, as they are in some already. They produce profits only by giving most tickets to safe drivers who endangered no one. River Forest should end the use of the predatory red light cameras, as many cities nationwide have done.

James C. Walker

Life member National Motorists Association Board member and executive director NMA Foundation www.motorists.org Ann Arbor, Michigan

The River Forest ‘gold mine’

Thanks for the red-light cameras story [A street paved with gold, News, Jan. 11]. I turn right on Lake from Harlem multiple times weekly and in the summer received two tickets within a month. I contested one as, after watching the video multiple times, I thought I could make the case that I stopped. The hearing officer (a retired judge) looked at the video for a nano-second and said “you didn’t stop.” I made a comment explaining that I actually did and he became agitated and dismissive. No use in trying to continue the discussion, so I went to pay the ticket. I exchanged casual banter with the clerk about how the only purpose of the red-light camera was to generate revenue for River Forest. She glanced over her shoulder as if to see if anyone was in earshot — there wasn’t — and she nodded in agreement, then said if one regularly uses the intersection, the odds are likely that they’ll get

a ticket. I was going to contest the second one but was out of town on the hearing date. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway. The process is a sham. I wonder what percentage of tickets at Harlem and Lake are issued to River Forest residents? I’ve long-thought — way before I was ticketed — that the placement on Harlem was designed to minimize the chance for RF residents getting a ticket. Local residents who shop at the stores there wouldn’t need to be on Harlem. And there’s no corresponding red-light camera for the right turn from Lake to Harlem which would expose River Foresters to a ticket. I may be wrong, but I bet the majority of the tickets are to non-RF residents. Thanks for putting a spotlight on River Forest’s “gold mine.”

Gary Wilson Oak Park

Red-light camera haiku Great investigative reporting. Response from villages? Silence is deafening. It’s all about $$$.

Jack Crowe Oak Park

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

FINE TIME: Motorists making illegal right turns on red accounted for more than 90 percent of all red-light camera tickets issued along Harlem Avenue between North Avenue and Cermak Road from Jan. 1, 2014 to Oct. 31, 2016.

Making a case for some red-light cameras

Thank you for this week’s red-light article [A street paved with gold, News, Jan. 11]. It does a considerable service to the community in sorting out the kernels of public safety truth from the bushels of cynical money grabbing. I would suggest, however, that the Harlem/North and Harlem/Lake cameras should be viewed differently from the Harlem/Cermak cameras. A great number of pedestrians cross North Avenue on the west side of Harlem. This crossing is difficult at best. If one cannot be confident that traffic turning from eastbound North to southbound Harlem will honor a red light, the crossing is next to impossible. I think River Forest is justified in pointing to pedestrian traffic as a rationale for this camera. Perhaps it would be better,

however, to issue tickets only if pedestrians are in the vicinity, similar to the way schoolzone rules only apply if there is a student in the vicinity. I feel similarly but less strongly about Harlem and Lake. The streets are inherently easier to cross but pedestrian traffic is heavy. I never cross Harlem on the south side of Lake — it’s just too dangerous. The north side of Lake is no picnic but it’s doable. Harlem and Cermak, on the other hand — just a cynical money grab with no safety justification whatsoever. Have you ever seen a pedestrian at the northwest corner of that intersection?

Bob Stigger

Oak Park

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Thanks for covering education equity

oth personally and on behalf of the Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education (CEEE), I want to say thank you for your end-of-the-year article, “2016 was the year of equity” [News, Dec. 28] and your article “Activists call for greater effort on equity” [News, Jan. 4]. I believe your articles provided a sweeping look at efforts that have been intently underway for the last 15 months but that also stretch back to the beginning of the years of Stephen Isoye as District 200 superintendent when CEEE began. In addition to our Viewpoint articles on curriculum equity and our “One Book-One OPRF” activities of last spring, we have done work for racial equity through policy statements at the board level, and through conversations with individual board members in nonboard venues like APPLE meetings and even in our one-book dialogs that some board members joined. In September we joined in coalition with APPLE and the Suburban Unity Alliance in proposing a set of actions toward racial equity for the board to adopt. We will make the case for those actions in the near future in WJ. In addition to board members reading our proposed book, On the Same Track by Carol Burris, they examined reports we submitted on equity efforts with restructuring curriculum that have been successfully underway at Evanston Township High School since 2009. Other board members have carefully studied additional informative texts on how districts across the country have made significant progress in building racially-just schools and more equitable learning opportunities for all students.

These texts include Despite the Best Intentions, Leading with Equity and Excellence through Equity. The stories of the schools and people in these books have provided us a mirror to look at ourselves more closely and critically. Most importantly, in an affirming manner they have led many members of our community to say, “If these successes in making school more racially just and equitable can happen there, why not here?” We believe the current D200 Board of Education has been responsive to new ideas around racial equity on key fronts, including discipline, course offerings, teacher development and most recently with the hiring of Dr. Pruitt-Adams who very closely mirrors a set of hiring guidelines CEEE and APPLE shared with the board on July 1 of last year, even before we knew Dr. Pruitt-Adams. In another board initiative around racial equity, Dr. Steve Gevinson, in early December, led a team of a dozen or so faculty and administrators for a day-long visit to Evanston to see their programs in action and hear firsthand the unique and inspiring progress they have made with student achievement. Dr. Gevinson enthusiastically reported to the D200 board on his findings during the Dec. 22 school board meeting. We encourage you to examine the transcript of his report and to personally study the compelling documents and evaluations of the Evanston curriculum reform efforts. Again, thank you for your coverage of the resurgence of our community’s efforts around racial justice and equity in our schools. We will keep you informed of developments and actions that CEEE and the coalition will sponsor in 2017. John Duffy is the founder and chairperson of the Committee for Equity and Excellence in Education.

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

What I expect from President Trump

ast July I submitted a letter to the editor titled, “Why I am supporting Donald Trump,” in which I gave my reasons for voting for this candidate. I tried to give positive reasons and refrained from the campaign of personal destruction. I was pleased on Nov. 8 to be part of the small number of Oak Park voters who backed the winning candidate. By all of the established rules, set forth in the U.S. Constitution, he won without question. Now I would like to explain what I expect our 45th president to accomplish. As he promised: Make the U.S. tax code more business-friendly so small businesses can return to being the job creation engine it has been in the past. Give tax relief to the entire spectrum of taxpayers and provide a simple way of filing that everyone can understand. Replace the government-centered Obamacare with a doctor/patient-oriented health care system. Take a hard look at the drug industry and support research and development rather than putting up financial roadblocks (a new drug should not cost a billion dollars to meet government restrictions). Partner with the pharmaceutical and medical industry to cure the world’s illnesses (we know how to do that and we always have). Give authority to the highly qualified cabinet members to make the changes to eliminate fraud and waste we currently seem to accept as a hard problem. Hold those cabinet members accountable and replace them if we do not see real results. Charge them with the requirements to make each person do a single job, not five people. Make lobbying a despised occupa-

Our health and safety come before profits

tion that is looked upon by voters as an almost criminal activity (our government should be working on our behalf, not some giant foreign entity). Restore our military to the Latin phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum, roughly translated: to ensure peace, prepare for war. We have the core of a military that no thinking nation would dare challenge. Trump needs to create a lean, efficient, well-trained military that is prepared for war. Expand Project Exile, which puts gun-related felonies into federal court with federal mandated sentences. Then give police the support they need to return lawful quiet and safety. Ensure that the right of gun ownership is never violated. Immediate deportation of all undocumented aliens who have deportation orders pending and any who have been convicted of violent crime. Any country of origin who refuses this return will lose all U.S. tax-funded assistance. Register undocumented aliens remaining to ensure they are on the tax rolls and make clear there will never be a path to citizenship without returning home to apply the required way. These are the things I want to see started in the opening months of the Trump administration. I also want to see progress reports to let us know that our confidence is well justified. Each of these initiatives will benefit all Americans, even those of you who do not support Donald Trump. It is my hope that eventually you, too, will question the idea that government has the answer to all of our problems. Time will tell! Ray Simpson is an Oak Park resident and Trump supporter.

RAY

SIMPSON One View

Cherish those letters of insight and growth Thank you, Ken Trainor, for sharing Dylan’s achievement of becoming an infantryman [Back to basics in basic training, Viewpoints, Jan. 11]. I found your article both heart-warming and inspirational. I hope you will hold onto those letters of insight and growth from Dylan and read them again as the years roll by and other milestones are achieved. Parents never really like seeing

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

their children go through adversity but those are the moments when we (sometimes) better see them becoming the person we had hoped for all along. They really were listening! Many parents simply get to hold the visual experience in their hearts. You have the added benefit of written words. Cherish them.

Ken Woods Oak Park

Neoliberal, noun: One who supports enhanced power and influence of corporations and curtailed power of civil society. One of the many, many, many claims made by the donald on his way to losing the popular vote is that he would renegotiate NAFTA and make it better, better, better. I don’t want the donald renegotiating NAFTA, given that I think he is an unhinged threat to the health and well-being of this planet and those living on it. If he does go forward with renegotiations, then we, the people, need to weigh in. No top-secret negotiations guided by trans-national corporations. People and planet first — all the people and the entire planet. Not just America first. We need strong and enforceable labor and environmental standards. End the Investor-State Dispute Settlement system that allows trans-national corporations to sue the U.S. government before a panel composed of pro-corporate lawyers. This system allows multinational corporations to sue over the belief that these corporations are being kept from profits because of laws that protect our health and welfare. The protection of capital investment should not supersede the public interest. We must require imported goods and services to meet our minimal domestic health

and safety and environmental rules. Corporations always whine about our tough health and safety laws. Too bad. Our health and safety are non-negotiable. After President Obama gave up trying to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership he, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, and other neoliberal Democrats have begun stating the obvious: We’ve lost jobs because the pace of increased high technology has made our workers vulnerable. No mention of how to move forward in the education and training of our workers in the present and in the future. No mention of how to remove incentives and protections for corporations that move jobs offshore. No, these neo-liberal Democrats are tossing out the red meat of job loss due to high technology now so that when the donald can’t bring jobs back to America, can’t keep his promises to American workers who voted for him, it’s egg on his face. Well, I’ll like seeing egg on the donald’s face, but whenever you hear some neo-liberal Democrat crowing, “Where are the jobs, Donald?” ask how many jobs did Americans lose due to Democratic President Bill Clinton passing NAFTA.

Tom Broderick

Greater Oak Park Democratic Socialists of America

Working toward a first survivor As we move forward from election season and begin to work with 115th Congress on behalf of the American people, I want to highlight an issue I think we can all agree on, regardless of political preference. Right now in Illinois, 220,000 people have Alzheimer’s and 600,000 serve as caregivers — meaning that nearly 8 percent of our state’s population is living this experience daily. Across the country, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and it is the only disease among the top 10 that has no survivors. However, there is hope, and we’re beginning to see some real progress. The Alzheimer’s Association has been extremely

successful in raising public awareness of the disease. Thanks to increased federal research funding, we’re finally beginning to see breakthroughs in our understanding of dementia and possible treatments. Congress needs to continue to increase research funding when the budget comes up for a vote before long. Congressman Danny Davis has been so supportive of making research dollars available and I want to encourage his continued support for Alzheimer’s research funding. Finding the first survivor of Alzheimer’s disease is possible with his support in Washington. And I hope that first survivor will be a neighbor right here.

Ruth Reko

River Forest

A memory lapse I apologize to my readers regarding my lapse of memory in my last article [When boxing and ‘Creature Features’ rule Friday nights, DOOPer’s Memories, Viewpoints, Jan. 4].

I thank Mr. Koz for pointing this out [DOOPer’s dates were a little off, Viewpoints, Jan. 11].

John Stanger

Longtime Dear Old Oak Parker

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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SPONSORED CONTENT

Getting Down To Business

with the Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce January 16th, 2017

A League of Our Own

By CATHY YEN, Executive Director

his week we will witness the inauguration of our next United States President. We also will see millions of people, mostly women, stand up and demand to be heard by our governing bodies. Fitting that the week also includes our national tribute to Martin Luther King Jr., a reminder of a great leader and the importance of continuing his work for civil rights. Coincidentally, the Chamber of Commerce has been brainstorming ways our organization can do a better job representing local business and keeping business owners informed of legislative issues. It’s a big task. New activist groups seem to be forming every week. And that’s a good thing, especially because they attract new energy and new people interested in the political

process. Yet at the same time, constantly reinventing the wheel with new groups and new committees is inefficient. Sometimes multiple groups dilute our efforts and weaken our collective voice. In my search for synergy with existing advocacy organizations, I happily “discovered” our local League of Women Voters. “Discovered” is relative and I will take full blame for overlooking this 69-year old venerable, active, non-partisan political organization in my two decades living in Oak Park. I am not the only newcomer, however. Last Saturday, I rode a wave of new membership that increased our local League’s rank-and-file by over 10% since the November elections. The League operates through committees. Some focus on specific legislative issues local, regional and national. Another group regularly observes and reports on board meetings of our local elected officials. There are roundtables for people interested in discussing international politics. The region-

al League is working hard to protect clean water in the Great Lakes. With a tagline of “Making Democracy Work,” the League hopes to educate people on issues, influence public policy and encourage informed, active participation in government. I was delighted to find this group of politically active, knowledgeable, passionate, local women. I am happy to know that the League of Women Voters is an official sponsor of the Women’s March on Chicago. Membership is $60 annually (financial aid is available). If you do not want to join, programs are free to the public. www.lwvoprf. org

Friday, Jan. 27, 2017

5:30pm-9:30pm at the Nineteenth Century Club, Oak Park, IL

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Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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O B I T U A R I E S

Riva Pola Loula, 101 Active resident at the Oak Park Arms

Riva Pola Loula (née Andreuccetti), 101, died on Jan. 10, 2017. Born on July 15, 1915, she was active throughout her life and right up till the end at the Oak Park Arms, where she volunteered in the library, served RIVA POLA LOULA on the Welcoming Committee, sang in the choir, and was a member of the Spanish Club. A deacon at Warren Park Presbyterian Church, she was a member of Berwyn Amvets Auxiliary GI Post 24, past president of American Legion Auxiliary Post 422, and a member of CSA Fraternal Life Lodge, R.T. Crane Jr. Lodge #7, and Marguerite K. Speir Salon #773. Riva Loula was the wife of the late Frank Loula and the mother of and the late Roberta Gisselman. She is survived by her son Gilbert (Jane) Michelotti; her son-in-law, David Gisselman; her grandchildren, Robert (Cheryl) Michelotti, Jennifer (Chad) Bentley-Michelotti, Matthew Penar, Bradley (Rachel) Penar, Lynn Thompson, Lee (Brett) Reid and Scott Gisselman; and her great-grandchildren, Jonathon, Massimo and Anthony Michelotti, Noah Bentley, Sawyer and Olivia Penar, Rosie and Annabelle Penar, Loray Thompson, and Paige and Calleigh Reid. Services were held at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park on Jan. 16, followed by interment at Bohemian National Cemetery. The family appreciates memorials to the Rainbow Hospice, 1550 Bishop Ct., Mt. Prospect, IL 60056.

Edward Sullivan, 47 Commodity trader and Cubs fan

Edward C. “Eddie” Sullivan, 47, died recently at St. Anthony Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was a resident of Oak

Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home

Since 1880 Family Owned & Operated Charles Williams, Owner/Funeral Director 203 S. Marion St. Oak Park 60302 708/383-3191

Park from 1969 until 2008 when he moved to Florida and had been a commodity trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange for 14 years. He enjoyed playing softball, socializing with friends, and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. Eddie Sullivan is survived by his siblings, Lynn Sullivan, Kevin (Jennifer), Paul (Michelle) and Tim (Anne) Sullivan; and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward A. and Barbara J. (nee Heybach) Sullivan. A memorial visitation was held at Johnson Funeral Home Ltd. in Brookfield on Jan. 14. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a future date. Additional information is available at the Funeral Home, 708-485-0214.

Norma Barnard, 74 Former Oak Park resident

Norma Panzka Barnard, 74, former longtime resident of Oak Park and Lombard, died on Jan. 13, 2017. Born on July 19, 1942 to Walter and Mary Panzka, she grew up in, and then raised her family in, Oak Park. She NORMA BARNARD worked at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and then pursued a retail career at Nordstrom’s. Her joys in life were her children and grandchildren. She loved to laugh and will be remembered as a warm, kind, and generous woman of great faith. Norma Barnard is survived by her children, John, Ellen (Raymond Alamilla), Steve (Stephanie), and Mary (Angel Galarza); her grandchildren, Ben and Emily Plourde, Mali, Emma and Jacob Barnard, and Ceci Galarza; her siblings, Marilyn and Mike Gray; and she was the aunt of six. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Janet. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 611 Randolph St. in Oak Park at 10 a.m., followed by private interment.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Westchester Food Pantry, c/o Westchester Village Hall, 10300 Roosevelt Road in Westchester 60154, or https://publicgood.com/org/ westchester-food-pantry, are appreciated.

Ellen Rachel Bergstrom, 69

Longtime St. Christopher’s member Ellen Rachel Bergstrom, 69, of Oak Park, died on Jan. 9, 2017. Born on June 17, 1947, she was a longtime parishioner of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Oak Park and a recent volunteer at the Animal Care League. Ellen Rachel Bergstrom was the wife of Dan; the sister of Valerie (Brian) Harms and Leslie (Tim) Dempsey; the aunt of Daniel (Marie) Lenihan and Eoin Lenihan; and the niece of Elizabeth (the late Herbert) Corkish. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 2 p.m. until the time of service, 7:30 p.m. at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church, 545 S. East Ave. in Oak Park. Interment will take place at Chapel Columbarium at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to St. Christopher’s Church or the Animal Care League of Oak Park are appreciated. Additional information is available at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, www.drechslerbrownwilliams.com.

Diane Girardi, 64 ‘Queen of Fun’

Diane Girardi, 64, of Oak Park, died on Jan. 13, 2017. Born on April 20, 1952, she was a longtime parishioner of the St. Giles community and a supporter and teacher of the arts. She was known to many, adults and children alike, as the “Queen of Fun,” and her wacky sense of humor and joy in living will be missed. Diane Girardi is survived by her husband, Lee Webster; her children, Brooke (Laura Radcliffe) Webster, Nicholas (Evangeline Avila) Webster and Ben Webster; her sib-

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lings, August (Cate) Girardi and Stephen (Debbie) Girardi; and her many nieces and nephews. Visitation was held on Jan. 16 at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home in Oak Park, followed by a funeral DIANE GIRARDI Mass on Jan. 17 at St. Giles Church. Interment was private. The family appreciates memorials to the MPN Research Foundation, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1870 in Chicago 60601 or to www. mpnresearchfoundation.org/Donate-toMPN-Research.

Bill Sam, 67

Entrepreneur, landscaper, mechanic Bill Sam, 67, a longtime resident of River Forest, died on Jan. 1, 2017 at Oak Park Hospital following a courageous battle with liver cancer. Born on Aug. 10, 1949, he was a great entrepreneur, enjoyed BILL SAM landscaping and using his hands, such as fixing cars, lawnmowers, snow blowers, and anything mechanical. Bill Sam is survived by his wife, Lang Kim Sam; his children, Sharon (fiancé Brian Yu), Steven (Daisy), Stephanie and Susan Sam; his siblings, Muoi Ng, Ken Sam, Wendy Auyeung, Dieu “Barry” Sam, Jerry Sam, Victor Sam and John Sam; and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Trac. Visitation and services were held on Jan. 6 and 7 at Forest Park’s Woodlawn Funeral Home, followed by interment at Forest Home Cemetery.

Helene Sullivan, 100 Advocate of the developmentally disabled

Helene F. Sullivan (nee O’Keefe), 100, a longtime resident of River Forest, died peacefully, surrounded by her children, on Dec. 27, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville. She and her late husband raised their large family in River Forest, and she was an

HELENE SULLIVAN

See OBITUARIES on page 42

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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Religion Guide Check First.

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10:30-11:00am

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www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org

West Suburban Temple Har Zion

1040 N. Harlem Avenue River Forest Meet our Rabbi, Adir Glick Pray, learn, and celebrate with our caring, progressive, egalitarian community. Interfaith families are welcome. Accredited Early Childhood Program Religious School for K thru 12 Daily Morning Minyan Weekly Shabbat Services Friday 6:30pm & Saturday 10:00am Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 708.366.9000 www.wsthz.org

305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship, 8:30 am and 11:00 am Adult Bible Class, 10:00am Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 | www.stjohnforestpark.org

188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Masses: 8:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m. Parish Office: 708-848-4417 School Phone: 708-386-5131

Methodist

Songs and Styles of Freedom Friday, Jan. 20 7:30pm

You’re Invited to A Church for All Nations A Church Without Walls

Roman Catholic

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

First Congregational Church of Maywood

400 N. Fifth Avenue (1 block north of Lake St.) Come join us for Sunday Morning Worship at 11 am Pastor Elliot Wimbush will be preaching the message. Refreshments and fellowship follow the service. 708-344-6150 firstchurchofmaywood.org When you're looking for a place to worship the Lord, Check First.

Lutheran-Missouri Synod

First United Methodist Church of Oak Park

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

Lutheran—ELCA

Fair Oaks

United Lutheran Church

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

N. Ridgeland & Greenfield, Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and Children’s Chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Thomas Mass Third Sunday at 5:00 p.m. www.unitedlutheranchurch.org 708/386-1576 Lutheran-Independent

Grace Lutheran Church

7300 W. Division, River Forest David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor Phyllis N. Kersten Interim Associate Pastor Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Ed. 9:45 a.m. Childcare Available

Grace Lutheran School

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

Christ Lutheran Church

607 Harvard Street (at East Av.) Oak Park, Illinois Rev. Robert M. Niehus, Pastor Sunday Bible Class: 9:15 am Sunday School: 9:10 Sunday Worship Services: 8:00 and 10:30 am Church Office: 708/386-3306 www.christlutheranoakpark.org

744 Fair Oaks Ave. Oak Park 386-4920 Rev. Daniel deBeer, Interim Pastor Sunday Schedule Christian Education for All Ages 9:00am Worship Service 10:00am

St. Edmund Catholic Church

Roman Catholic

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park

CELEBRATING OUR 105TH YEAR! Sat. Masses: 8:30am & 5:00pm SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00am & 10:30am 10:30 Mass-Daycare for all ages CCD Sun. 9am-10:15am Reconciliation: Sat. 9am & 4pm Weekday Masses: Monday–Friday 6:30am Church Office: 708-366-0839 CCD: 708-366-3553 www.stbern.com Pastor: Fr. Stanislaw Kuca Traditional Catholic

Child care available 9-11am

fairoakspres.org

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

Roman Catholic

Ascension Catholic Church

808 S. East Ave. 708/848-2703 www.ascensionoakpark.com Worship: Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:00, 11 am, 5:00 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 pm Saturday Taize Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1 Holy Hour 6:00 pm Third Thursdays

Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor

The Traditional Catholic Latin Mass

Our Lady Immaculate Church 410 Washington Blvd Oak Park. 708-524-2408 Mass Times: Sat. 8:00am Sun. 7:30 & 10:00am Operated by Society of St. Pius X. Confessions 1 hr. before each mass

Third Unitarian Church 11am Service: “Celebration of Life”

And at the Altenheim, you’ll be able to protect it with rent that is reasonable. But the Altenheim is so much more… it is surrounded with beautiful grounds and wildlife, seniors who look out for one another and apartment selections and activities to suit your lifestyle. You’ll be as happy as a lark here; come visit us to find out why.

Arborwood 2 bedroom apartments now available.

7824 West Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130 708.366.2206 www.thealtenheim.com

You’re just one click away from... Getting the latest news updates Purchasing photos Searching past issues Searching Classified ads

thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield near Austin and Lake

Unity

UNITY CHURCH OF OAK PARK 405 North Euclid Ave.

Wherever you are, God is! And all is well. Sunday Services 9 am & 11 am Youth Education 11 am 708-848-0960 — unityoakpark.org

Fire Escape Counseling Psychotherapy & Life Coaching Services

To place an ad in Religion Guide, contact Mary Ellen: 708/613-3342 maryellen @oakpark.com

Rev. Dr. Charles E. Cairo

Master Addictions Counselor -Therapist Certified Criminal Justice Specialist www.fireescapecounseling.com 7645 W Jackson Blvd. Suite 200 Forest Park, Illinois 60130

FireEscapeEFBC@gmail.com Proverbs 13:10 - Jude 1:22-23 312. 719.6936

Upcoming Religious Holidays

Jan 19-25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Christian 19 Triodion begins Orthodox Christian Timkat Ethiopian Orthodox Christian 25 Conversion of St. Paul Christian 28 Chinese New Year Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist Feb 1 Vasant Panchami ** Hindu 2 Candlemas Presentation of Christ in the Temple Christian Imbolc - Lughnassah Wicca/ Pagan

www.OakPark.com

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

O B I T U A R I E S Continued from page 40 active parent at Fenwick and Trinity high schools during and after her children’s attendance at both schools. Mr. & Mrs. Sullivan also became strong advocates for the developmentally disabled, and, most recently, she was heavily involved at Good Shepherd Manor, a home for the developmentally disabled in Momence. After her husband’s death, she became a resident of Oak Park’s Holly Court Terrace, now Brookdale. She was a parishioner of St. Luke Parish in River Forest, and, more recently, St. Vincent Ferrer in River Forest. Helene Sullivan is survived by her children, Darby Cusick, John E. “Jackie”

Sullivan III, James F. Sullivan, Sheila Smith and Michael P. Sullivan; 16 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and her sister-in-law, Lillian “Snooky” Sullivan. She was preceded in death by her husband, John “Jack” E. Sullivan; and her sister, Bernice Folks. Visitation was held on Dec. 30 at Forest Park’s Woodlawn Funeral Home with a Funeral Mass on Dec. 31 at St. Vincent Ferrer in River Forest followed by interment at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery. The family appreciates memorials to the Good Shepherd Manor, P.O. Box 260, 4129 N. State Route 1 - 17, Momence, IL 60954.

ElizabethWehrman, 72 Longtime Oak Park resident

ALLSTATE ARENA

UNITED CENTER

JAN 25 – 29 FEB 1 – 12 FREE PARKING

Walter Van Slyke, 69 Anti-war and D97 schools activist

in all official arena parking lots with ticket purchase. Visit arena website for details.

DisneyOnIce.com

365462

mains to the Anatomical Elizabeth “Beth” A. Wehrman Gift Association of Illinois (née Fuog), 72, a longtime resiand a memorial visitation dent of Oak Park, died on Jan. will be held on Thursday, 14, 2017. Born on Oct. 23, 1944, Jan. 19 from 3 to 7 p.m. Beth Wehrman is survived by at Oak Park’s Drechsler, her children, Jennifer (RobBrown & Williams Funeral ert) Morales, Laura Wehrman, Home, 203 S. Marion St. Ann (Mark) Harmon and Stewith a memorial service at phen (Amanda) Wehrman; her 7 p.m., followed by private grandchildren, Megan, Alexandra, Emmett, Andrew, Taylor, ELIZABETH WEHRMAN interment. In lieu of flowers, the Lucas, Lily, Connor and Zack; family appreciates memoher siblings, Kathy (Carl) Sommers and Linda (John) Lee; and her rials to WTTW Chicago Public Media, many nieces and nephews. She was pre- 5400 N. Saint Louis Ave. in Chicago ceded in death by her husband, Ronald 60625-4698 or to secure.wttw.com/honG. Wehrman, and her brother, Robert or_memorial. Additional information is available at 708-383-3191 and at www. Fuog. Beth’s wishes were to donate her re- drechslerbrownwilliams.com.

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new people, and learn about Walter Van Slyke, 69, an art and cultures. Oak Park resident for over 30 He will be remembered as years, died on Dec. 30, 2016 at a confidant, counselor, and home after a two-year battle outstanding host, engaging with cancer. Born in Tampa, friends and loved ones with Florida in 1947 to Harvey and food, drink, political stratMartha Van Slyke, his early egy conversations, and great years instilled a lifelong love stories at his Oak Park home of the water — swimming, and the family cottage in Inkayaking, and scuba diving diana. Most importantly, he — as well as an enthusiasm WALTER VAN SLYKE will be remembered for his for bicycling. generosity and kindness to He and his wife Caren met organizing the 1969 March on Washing- everyone he encountered. Walter Van Slyke is survived by his ton against the Vietnam War, and his activism endured through his efforts to pro- wife, Caren; his children and their mote equity and enrichment for all Oak spouses, Tracy Van Slyke and Mike PerPark students. He played a key role in soon and Brian and Lydia Van Slyke; several District 97 school board elections and his grandson, Leo Persoon. His parand in referendums to put both school ents and brother Steven preceded him districts on a firm financial footing. in death. An activist, storyteller, outdoor enthuThe family desires donations to honor siast, loyal friend, and extraordinary Walter’s life and special gifts to Housing parent and grandfather, he and Caren Forward and the Greater Chicago Food loved to travel, explore new places, meet Depository.

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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

HOURS: 9:00 A.M.â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:00 P.M. MONâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;FRI

WEDNESDAY

CLASSIFIED Deadline is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

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

YOUR WEEKLY AD

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

Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion. Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 524-0447 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CLERK Hephzibah Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association, located in Oak Park, IL provides a variety of child welfare and family services programs including group homes, foster care and adoption programs and after school and summer day programs. We are currently accepting applications for an entry-level Accounts Payable Clerk. This full time position is responsible for processing account payments; maintenance of accounts payable files and records and other accounting duties as required. REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE: Associates degree in Business Administration or Accounting or an equivalent combination of education and experience. General accounting knowledge. Experience and proficiency Microsoft Office, Word, Excel

Ability to learn and become skillful in agency general ledger software. Excellent written and verbal communication skills

SITUATIONS WANTED 2BR APT WANTED Working mother of 2 with steady employment seeks 2BR apartment in west suburbs or Austin. Laundry on site preferred. Call 708-712-8633.

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE HISTORIC MAYWOOD MANOR

902 S. 3RD AVENUE (behind Aldi) Tired of renting? Why not consider buying an affordable 2BR condo w/ 1000 sq ft of living space on this historic site at less than market rents? Savings are built in from a unique 12 year tax freeze plus lower utility costs from energy saving systems and appliances. Onsite pkg, exterior lighting and enhanced security systems included. Be among the first to benefit from this unique project in which the buyer can have input into the individual unit(s). Call 708-383-9223.

Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently

SUBURBAN RENTALS

CONTACT: Mary Tortorici, Director of Finance by email at: mtortorici@ hephzibahhome.org EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER ADMIN ASST. PART TIME Lagrange Park real estate office needs part time administrative assistant to help answer phones, set appointments, greet clients and handling web based real estate platforms. Must be knowledgeable in Microsoft Word. Hours Thursday & Friday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Send resume to C21lja@aol.com or call 708 267 5374 for confidential interview. HOUSEHOLD COOK FULL TIME Cook needed for large Oak Park residence of priests. Duties include: operation of kitchen and all foodrelated activities, planning, shopping, preparation & serving following a healthy eating plan with some special dietary needs. Must be dependable & enjoy dealing with seniors. Comfortable with a religious environment is necessary. Training in related field and or 3 yrs work experience is required. Immediate opening, excellent benefits. For more info, email hr@claretians.org PART-TIME SOCIAL PROGRAMMING COORDINATOR SENIOR COMMUNITY Please send resume to: 7824 West Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130 Attention: Administrator

2BR APT OAK PARK 1322 N AUSTIN 1014 S HUMPHREY No pets. $1100/mo. Contact Walsh Management 708-548-1110 2ND FLOOR 2 BR 1185 S OAK PARK AVE OP $1200 @ mth. + Sec. Dep. Incl. gar park. You control, pay heat/AC. Avail Feb 1. Call 708-246-2579. OAK PARK FOREST PARK Studio, 1, and 2 BDRM. Heated. Dining room. Parking available. Walk to El. $625-$1250.

www.oakrent.com

RIVER FOREST 2BR & 1BR Hardwood floors throughout. Spacious walk-in closets. Storage. Parking. Laundry in building. Heat incl. Call 708-657-4226. RIVER FOREST 2BR CONDO River Forest condo for rent. 2 BR, 1 BA, Hardwood floors, built-in microwave and dishwasher. $1350 per month includes heat + 1 parking space. 1-1/2 month security deposit. $39.95 application fee. Call Vicki at 708-714-0686 or vicki@beyondpropertiesrealty.com.

Are you a For Sale By Owner? Call Mary Ellen to advertise: 708-613-3342

CITY RENTALS Augusta & Kildare: PERFECT FOR SENIORS Studio Apartment A gorgeous studio apt. features include kitchen, dining room, large living room, walk-in closet, hardwood floors, incl. heat, appliances, and laundry room, in a beautifully landscaped & well maintained building, quite, safe & secure, rent $585.00, for more information call 773-838-8471. Augusta & Harding: Beautiful 2-bedroom condo-like apt, in a sunny, safe, secure 8 unit bldg. Large newly tiled kitchen & bath, hardwood floors, central air, appliances included, tenant pays utilities, rent 785.00, for more information call 773-838-8471.

ROOMS FOR RENT AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro. Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up. 773-637-5957

ROOMS FOR RENT

SPACE FOR RENT

Large Sunny Room with fridge & microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $101.00 week & up. New Mgmt. 773-378-8888

OAK PARK SPACE Suitable for not-for-profit. Varied uses possible such as school, office spaces, community services center, clinic, etc. Please call 312-810-5948

CHURCH FOR RENT BEAUTIFUL CHURCH FOR RENT

in OAK PARK. Perfect for a congregation. Other potential uses. Corner of Scoville & Adams. 708-848-5460 MAYWOOD COUNTRY CHURCH Lovely, old fashioned country church in Maywood, on corner of Fifth and Erie is looking for a roommate or tenant. We are willing to work out a flexible arrangement if you are an appropriate tenant. Various size spaces. Call 708 344-6150, leave a message.

M&M property management, inc.

708-386-7355 â&#x20AC;˘ www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Oak Park: Studios, 1 & 2 BR from $750-$2000 Forest Park: 1 & 2 BR from $750-$1300

GLA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. LaVerne Collins Managing broker

Office located at: 320 S. Wisconsin Ave. Oak Park

708-763-9927 www.glapropertymanagement.com

Properties may be broker owned.

Call us for a complete list of rentals available.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

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We fix any electrical problem and do small jobs Fast Emergency Service | Residential â&#x20AC;˘ Commercial â&#x20AC;˘ Industrial Ceiling Free Home Evaluations | Lic. â&#x20AC;˘ Bonded â&#x20AC;˘ Ins. â&#x20AC;˘ Low Rates â&#x20AC;˘ Free Est. Fans Home Re-wiring â&#x20AC;˘ New Plugs & Switches Added Installed New circuit breaker boxes â&#x20AC;˘ Code violations corrected Serv. upgrades,100-200 amp â&#x20AC;˘ Garage & A/C lines installed

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- 3 & 4 room suites

7756 Madison St.

CLEANING

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- Store: 926 sq. ft. - Medical Office Suite, 2800 sq. ft.

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE

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Pamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A+ Cleaning Service

6955-6957 North Ave.

- 1, 2 & 3 room office suites

6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. - 5 room office suite

Strand & Browne 708/488-0011

ESTATE SALE Riverside

VICTORIAN ESTATE SALE 108 GAGE FRI 1/20 & SAT 1/21 9:30AM TO 4PM

Victorian furniture: washstands, dining room table, Victorian beds, armoires; antiques, majolica, pottery, glassware, cylinder desk.

WANTED TO BUY

A cleaner day is just a phone call away. For a detailed cleaning please call 708-937-9110

ELECTRICAL Electricians serving the greater Oak Park area. Licensed, Bonded & Insuredâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Reasonable Pricing & Free Estimates. Kineticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proud to say you have never experienced service like this! 15 years experience and dedication. No job too big or small!

(708) 639-5271

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

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

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

GARAGE/GARAGE DOOR

FURNITURE

Our 70th Year

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Drywall Repair â&#x20AC;˘ Painting Fans Installed â&#x20AC;˘ Carpentry Trim Gutter Cleaning â&#x20AC;˘ Window Repair

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TRADITIONAL DINING ROOM Table with 3 leaves & 6 chairs. Mahogany finish. Neutral upholstery on chairs. Very good condition. $400. Contact aytenai@aol.com

Electric Door Openers

708-296-2060

MUSICAL INSTRUCTION

Free Estimates

(708) 652-9415

HANDYMAN

PIANO LESSONS

You have jobs. We have readers!

IN YOUR HOME

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-888-328-8457 for an appointment.

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Experienced, creative teacher. Excellent with children. lessons@35piano.com 708.228.7150

Sales & Service www.forestdoor.com

Roofing Repairs Concrete Repairs â&#x20AC;˘ Drywall All types of handiwork Call For Free Estimates

773-732-2263 Ask for John

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery. 708-848-9404

Find the best employees with Wednesday Classified! Call 708-613-3342

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CLASSIFIED HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING

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Serving Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park & Riverside Since 1974

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number D17149235 on January 10, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of WW CONSULTING SERVICES with the business located at: 740 E 160 ST, SOUTH HOLLAND, IL 60473. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: CHRISTOPHER WALKER 740 E 160 ST SOUTH HOLLAND, IL 60473. Published in Wednesday Journal 1/18, 1/25, 2/1/2017

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PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions contained in Title 9 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Forest Park, being the Zoning Regulations of the Village of Forest Park, and the Statutes of the State of Illinois, the Plan Commission of the Village of Forest Park will conduct a public hearing on February 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Level of the Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois to consider a petition filed by the Mariano Mollo, 7415 W Madison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130 (Petitioner) for the following described property: LOTS 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, AND 22 IN BLOCK 4 IN THE SOUTH ADDITION TO HARLEM, BEING A SUBDIVIDION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE EAST HALF OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS (EXCEPTING THEREFROM THAT PORTION CONDEMED FOR STREET PURPOSES IN CASE NO. 96150527 DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF SAID LOT 22; THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES 13 MINUTES 02 SECONDS WEST (ASSUMED) 5.00 FEET ALONG THE SOUTHERLY LINE OF SAID LOT; THENCE NORTH 44 DEGREES 12 MINUTES 20 SECONDS EAST 7.07 FEET TO THE WESTERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF HARLEM AVENUE (ILLINOIS ROUTE 43); THENCE SOUTH 00 DEGREES 48 MINUTES 23 SECONDS EAST 5.00 FEET ALONG SAID RIGHT OF WAY LINE TO SAID POINT OF BEGINNING). Said property is commonly known as 949 Harlem Avenue, Forest Park, IL 60130 (Property). The Petitioner is seeking approval of a Planned Unit Development. Any person desiring to be heard or desiring to present any evidence or testimony relating to said matter should appear at the time and place above specified. A copy of the petition will be available for inspection beginning on Wednesday the 25th of January, 2017 in the Village Clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office at the Village of Forest Park, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois. Signed: Paul Barbahen Plan Commission Chairperson Published in Forest Park Review 1/18/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to â&#x20AC;&#x153;An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,â&#x20AC;? as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number D17149206 on January 6, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of TIME TO TALK with the business located at: 4234 ARTHUR AVENUE, BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: JENNIFER LILL MURFF 4234 ARTHUR AVENUE BROOKFIELD, IL 60513. Published in RB Landmark 1/11, 1/18, 1/25/2017

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions contained in Title 9 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Forest Park, being the Zoning Regulations of the Village of Forest Park, and the Statutes of the State of Illinois, the Plan Commission of the Village of Forest Park will conduct a public hearing on February 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Level of the Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois to consider a petition filed by Noah Properties, LLC 3009 N. Montrose, Chicago, IL 60618 (Petitioner) for the following described properties:

PARCEL 1: A PARCEL OF LAND IN LOT 1 IN NOYESVILLE SUBDIVISION OF THE WEST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRIME MERIDIAN DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: BEGINNING AT THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF SAID WEST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER; THENCE DUE SOUTH ALONG THE EAST LINE THEROF 33 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 89 DEGREES 51 MINUTES WEST PARALLEL WITH THE NORTH LINE OF SAID WEST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER A DISTANCE OF 215.00 FEET TO A POINT IN THE EAST LINE OF A 60 FOOT ROADWAY; (THE FOLLOWING COURSES TERMINATING AT THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID LOT 1 AND 25 FEET EASTERLY OF AND PARALLEL TO THE CENTER LINE OF SAID ROADWAY); THENCE DUE SOUTH PARALLEL WITH THE SAID EAST LINE OF THE WEST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER, A DISTANCE OF 72.57 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENCY WITH A CURVED LINE; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE CONVEX TO THE WEST, HAVING A RADIUS OF 375.00 FEET, A DISTANCE OF 135.21 FEET TO A POINT IN A LINE THAT IS 238.00 FEET SOUTH OF (AS MEASURED PARALLEL WITH SAID EAST LINE OF THE WEST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND PARALLEL WITH SAID NORTH LINE OF WEST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER, SAID POINT BEING THE PLACE OF BEGINNING OF THIS PARCEL OF LAND; THENCE CONTINUING SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE LINE, A DISTANCE OF 45.87 FEET; THENCE SOUTH 27 DEGREES 40 MINUTES EAST TANGENT TO SAID CURVE, A DISTANCE OF 147.57 FEET TO A POINT OF TANGENCY WITH A CURVED LINE; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY ALONG SAID CURVE CONVEX TO THE NORTHEAST OF TANGENCY IN A LINE THAT IS 55 FEET WEST (AS MEASURED PARALLEL WITH THE NORTH LINE OF SAID WESR HALF OF NORTHWEST QUARTER; THENCE DUE SOUTH ALONG SAID PARALLEL LINE, A DISTANCE OF 51.79 FEET ALONG SAID SOUTH LINE, A DISTANCE OF 55.0 FEET TO THE SAID EAST LINE OF WEST HALF OF NORTHWEST QUARTER;

THENCE DUE NORTH ALONG SAID EAST LINE, 78.06 FEET; THENCE N. 27 DEGREES 36 MINUTES WEST, A DISTANCE OF 387.58 FEET TO A POINT IN THE AFORESAID LINE 238 FEET SOUTH OF THE NORTH LINE OF WESR HALF OF NORTHWESR QUARTER; THENCE SOUTH, 89 DEGREES 51 MINUTES WEST ALONG SAID LINE, A DISTANCE OF 11.30 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING (EXCEPT THAT PORTION OF THE AFORESAID AND DESCRIBED PARCEL OF LAND LYING SOUTH OF A LINE PARALLEL TO AND 493.0 FEET SOUTH OF THE AFORESAID NORTH LINE OF THE WEST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN). ALSO A TRIANGULAR PARCEL OF LAND IN THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 13, LYING NORTH OF THE SOUTH LINE OF LOT 1 IN NOYESVILLE EXTENDED EAST; EAST OF THE WEST LINE OF SAID EAST HALF OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER AND SOUTHWESTERLY OF THE SOUTH WESTERLY RIGHT OF LAY LINE OF THE 100 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF THE BALITMORE & OHIO CHICAGO TERMINAL RAILROAD. PARCEL 2: THAT PART OF LOTS 1 AND 2 IN ABELL-HOWE COMPANY RESUBDIVISION OF PART OF THE NORTHWEST QUARTER OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN LYING NORTH AND WEST OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED LINE: BEGINNING AT A POINT IN THE WEST LINE OF SAID LOT 1, SAID POINT BEING 16.14 FEET NORTH OF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER THEREOF; THENCE EAST ALONG A LINE THAT IS PARALLEL WITH THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID LOT A DISTANCE OF 220 FEET; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY A DISTANCE OF 80.0 FEET TO A POINT IN THE SOUTHWESTERLY CURVED 100 FOOT RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF THE BALITMORE & OHIO CHICAGO TERMINAL RAILROAD. Said property is commonly known as 7771-7795 Van Buren Street, Forest Park, IL 60130 (Property). The Petitioner is seeking approval of a Final Plat of Subdivision on the property legally described above, and for approval of a Planned Unit Development. Any person desiring to be heard or desiring to present any evidence or testimony relating to said matter should appear at the time and place above specified. A copy of the petition will be available for inspection beginning on Wednesday the 25th of January, 2017 in the Village Clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office at the Village of Forest Park, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois. Signed: Paul Barbahen Plan Commission Chairperson

Published in Forest Park Review 1/18/2017

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PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions contained in Title 9 of the Municipal Code of the Village of Forest Park, being the Zoning Regulations of the Village of Forest Park, and the Statutes of the State of Illinois, the Plan Commission of the Village of Forest Park will conduct a public hearing on February 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lower Level of the Village Hall, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois to consider a petition filed by the Park District of Forest Park 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130 (Petitioner) for the following described properties: PIN: 15-13-226-046-0000 THAT PART OF THE WEST 298.1 FEET OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN, LYING SOUTH OF THE RIGHT OF WAY CONVEYED TO THE CHICAGO AND WISCONSIN RAILROAD COMPANY, BY WARRANTY DEED DATED OCTOBER 31, 1885 AND RECORDED OCTOBER 31, 1885, IN BOOK 1708, PAGE 157 AS DOCUMENT 665804 (EXCEPT THE WEST 33 FEET THEREOF DEDICATED FOR STREET BY PLAT FILED FEBRUARY 16, 1891 IN BOOK 46 OF PLATS, PAGE 26 AS DOCUMENT 1419420, AND EXCEPT THE SOUTH 33 FEET THEREOF TAKEN FOR HARRISON STREET AND EXCEPT THAT PART OF THE EAST 2.97 FEET OF THE WEST 298.1 FEET OF THE EAST HALF OF THE NORTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 13, TOWNSHIP 39 NORTH, RANGE 12, EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN) LYING SOUTHERLY OF THE FOLLOWING DESCRIBED LINE: BEGINNING IN THE EAST LINE OF THE WEST 298.1 FEET AFORESAID 406.97 FEET NORTH OF THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID NORTHEAST QUARTER (AS MEASURED ON THE EAST LINE OF THE SAID WEST 298.1 FEET) AND EXTENDING NORTHWESTERLY TO A POINT IN THE WEST LINE OF THE EAST 2.97 FEET AFORESAID 407.30 FEET NORTH OF THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID NORTHEAST QUARTER (AS MEASURED ON THE WEST LINE OF SAID EAST 2.97 FEET) EXCEPT THAT PART TAKEN FOR HIGHWAY PURPOSES IN CASE NUMBER 53C14880, ALL IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. Said property is commonly known as 7329 Harrison Street, Forest Park, IL 60130 (Property). The Petitioner is seeking approval of a Final Plat of Subdivision on the property legally described above, and approval of a Planned Unit Development. Any person desiring to be heard or desiring to present any evidence or testimony relating to said matter should appear at the time and place above specified. A copy of the petition will be available for inspection beginning on Wednesday the 25th of January, 2017 in the Village Clerkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office at the Village of Forest Park, 517 Desplaines Avenue, Forest Park, Illinois. Signed: Paul Barbahen Plan Commission Chairperson Published in Forest Park Review 1/18/2017

LEGAL NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing will be held by the Community Design Commission, acting as the Design Review Commission, of the Village of Oak Park on Wednesday evening, January 25, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 101 of the Village Hall, 123 Madison St., Oak Park, Illinois on the following matter: Cal. No. 02-17-DRC: 940 Lake Street, Edward Elmhurst Health Center Ernie DiFiore with Modern Signs, Inc., on behalf of Edward Elmhurst Health Center, is requesting that variations be granted from the following sections of the Sign Code of the Village of Oak Park, to permit the installation of two (2) wall signs, one on the east elevation of the building where there is no street frontage and said sign is located above the second story window sill, and one along Lake Street located above the second story window sill at the premises commonly known as 940 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL. 1. Section 7-7-15 (D) (1) (a), which section requires that walls signs for buildings located on interior lots shall only be placed along the front lot line. The proposal shows Sign # 1, a white illuminated channel letter sign that states â&#x20AC;&#x153;Edward-Elmhurst Health/ Health Center signâ&#x20AC;?, located on the east elevation of the building where there is no street frontage. 2. Section 7.7.15 (D) (5), which section requires that wall signs shall be located on the sign frieze or the sign band of the building immediately above the first floor window and below the second floor window sills in the case of a two-story building. The proposal shows Sign # 1, a white illuminated channel letter sign that states â&#x20AC;&#x153;Edward-Elmhurst Health/Health Center signâ&#x20AC;?, located above the second floor window sill. 3. Section 7.7.15 (D) (5), which section requires that wall signs shall be located on the sign frieze or the sign band of the building immediately above the first floor window and below the second floor window sills in the case of a two-story building. The proposal shows Sign # 2, a white illuminated channel letter sign that states â&#x20AC;&#x153;Immediate Careâ&#x20AC;? located above the second floor window sill along Lake Street. All papers in connection with the above matter are on file at the Village of Oak Park and available for examination by interested parties by contacting the Zoning Administrator at 708.358.5449. DATED AT OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, this 18th Day of January, 2017 Published in Wednesday Journal 1/18/2017

Buying? Selling? Renting? Hiring? Wednesday Classified 708-613-3333

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

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CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICES

Notice to Prospective Village of Oak Park Federal Grants Applicants The Program Year (PY) 2017 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) & Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) application process begins February 10, 2017. For PY 2017, which runs from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018, there will be an estimated $215,000 available in Village Public Service CDBG funds, approximately $20,000 in Public Facilities Improvements CDBG funds (for one project only) & approximately $124,875 in ESG funds. Other PY 2017 grant funds will be set aside for Village-run activities. The federal CDBG program is a source of funding that addresses local housing & community development needs. These funds are available to nonprofit organizations and other agencies that serve primarily low and moderate income persons residing in Oak Park. Each proposed activity must meet one of the CDBG Program’s National Objectives and be eligible. ESG funds are available to non-profit organizations that serve persons who are experiencing, or are atrisk of, homelessness. Individuals cannot apply for either of these grants. Applications for PY 2017 CDBG & ESG funds must be completed online and will be available February 10, 2017 on the Village’s website at www.oak-park.us/ PY2017Grants The Application process runs from February 10 to March 10, 2017 (with the option of an early, feedback-eligible “safer” due date of March 3, 2017). To instruct potential Applicants on the grants and on the online application process, the Village will hold a Mandatory CDBGESG Application Workshop from 3 to 4:30 p.m., Friday, February 10, 2017 in Room 201 (Council Chambers) of Village Hall at 123 Madison Street in Oak Park. All potential applicants must attend and RSVP first. For more information (and to reserve for the Workshop) contact Mark Dwyer, Grants Supervisor, at 708.358.5416 or mdwyer@oakpark.us Published in Wednesday Journal 1/18/2017

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 D16149135 on December 29, 2016. Under the Assumed Business Name of PAWS FUR PURRPUSS with the business located at: 7307 ROOSEVELT RD, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: JENNIFER LAWLOR 7307 ROOSEVELT RD FOREST PARK, IL 60130 Published in Wednesday Journal 1/11, 1/18, 1/25/2016

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PUBLIC NOTICES

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT–CHANCERY DIVISION BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICES, LLC Plaintiff, -v.BEVERLY D. BELLAMY AKA BEVERLY BELLAMY AKA BEVERLY D. HADDEN AKA BEVERLY HADDEN AKA BEVERLY D. PALMER AKA BEVERLY PALMER AKA BEVERLY D. WALLACE AKA BEVERLY WALLACE, CHARLES E. BELLAMY AKA CHARLES EDWARD BELLAMY AKA CHARLES BELLAMY, EASY STREET CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 15 CH 10122 1020 Washington Blvd. Unit 1D Oak Park, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on August 19, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 14, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1020 Washington Blvd. Unit 1D, Oak Park, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-316-054-1004. The real estate is improved with a residen-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

tial condominium. The judgment amount was $160,967.07. 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 Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC, 111 East Main Street, DECATUR, IL 62523, (217) 422-1719 If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 606064650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 111 East Main Street DECATUR, IL 62523 (217) 422-1719 Fax #: (217) 4221754 CookPleadings@hsbattys. com Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 15 CH 10122 TJSC#: 36-

14173 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. I710654

erty 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: Visit our website at service. atty-pierce.com. between the hours of 3 and 5 pm. McCalla Raymer Pierce, LLC, Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300, CHICAGO, IL 60602. Tel No. (312) 476-5500. Please refer to file number 7999. 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 Pierce, LLC One North Dearborn Street Suite 1300 CHICAGO, IL 60602 (312) 476-5500 E-Mail: pleadings@pierceservices. com Attorney File No. 7999 Attorney Code. 60489 Case Number: 10 CH 42289 TJSC#: 36-14560 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. I711510

of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 22, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on January 26, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 7221 W. DIVISION STREET UNIT #3, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305 Property Index No. 15-01-403-0471003. The real estate is improved with a condo/townhouse. 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 Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued

by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-15-08163. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. 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. 14-15-08163 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 15 CH 008268 TJSC#: 36-14645 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. I711460

Starting a new business in 2017? Call the experts before you place your legal ad! Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in Journal/Review/Landmark/Austin CLASSIFIED! Call 708/613-3342 to advertise

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT–CHANCERY DIVISION SUNTRUST MORTGAGE, INC. Plaintiff, -v.GREGORY GARMON Defendants 10 CH 42289 1170 SOUTH HUMPHREY AVENUE 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 August 19, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on February 7, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1170 SOUTH HUMPHREY AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-331-0070000. The real estate is improved with a yellow brick two story single family home with a two car detached 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 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 twentyfour (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 prop-

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Plaintiff, -v.MILDRED L. ERAMES, PRIORY POINTE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, BENEFICIAL FINANCIAL 1 INC., MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 15 CH 008268 7221 W. DIVISION STREET UNIT #3 RIVER FOREST, IL 60305 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment

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

MORTGAGE DIRECTORY

MORTGAGE RATE DIRECTORY LENDER COMMUNITY BANK OF OAK PARK - RIVER FOREST

(708) 660-7006 1001 Lake St., Oak Park IL 60301 www.cboprf.com

AMOUNT

RATE/YR

80% 80% 80% 80% 80% 80%

4.125% / 30 yr. fixed 4.000% / 20 yr. fixed 3.375% / 15 yr. fixed 3.750% / 5 yr. ARM 3.875% / 7 yr. ARM 4.000% / 10 yr. ARM

POINTS/ APP. FEE 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550 0%/$550

A.P.R.

4.195% 4.096% 3.497% 3.979% 4.010% 4.022%

· Approved IHDA Mortgage Program Lender · Financing available up to 97% LTV Construction Loans and Home Equity Lines of Credit available – call for terms.

Mortgage rates are accurate as of Monday afternoon. Due to the fluctuation of mortgage rates, the rates may vary before publication. Contact your mortgage lender for complete details. Mortgage rates vary in APR and other qualifying factors.

To Advertise your Mortgage Rates, call Mary Ellen Nelligan: 708/613-3342

S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Fenwick wrestling honors seniors Team veterans Lambert, Barshop and Flaherty power Friars past St. Joseph By BIll STONE Contributing reporter

For the Fenwick wrestling team’s Senior Night, old photos of Steven Barshop, Will Flaherty, Jack Lambert and Dan McCall were posted on its Twitter account. Lambert celebrated a second-round victory at the 2014 frosh-soph Chicago Catholic League Championships – a first-period pin against St. Joseph. On Thursday, Lambert was victorious in the Friars’ 53-21 Senior Night victory. It was against St. Joseph. And it was another first-period pin. “Senior Night was special. I wrestled on Senior Night all four years, even as a freshman, so to be in that position was incredible, just to see it from a different perspective,” Lambert said. “You work four years for that moment so it was really nice. But to top it off we really brought it to them. We won. That’s the most important thing.” Barshop and Flaherty also won with pins while McCall lost a close match. The Friars (9-9) were 1-2 at Saturday’s Maine West Quad with a 55-24 victory over Loyola and a 29-26 victory over Riverside-Brookfield Dec. 17. Tony Poro is in his third season as head coach after being the current seniors’ freshman coach. This season, the Friars regu-

larly fill all 14 lineup spots, a challenge all eight seasons the former Fenwick wrestler has coached with the program. “Sophomore year we had great wrestlers but we would lose duals because of forfeits,” Lambert said. Fenwick returns five 2016 Class 2A individual sectional qualifiers – Flaherty (182 pounds), juniors Harrison Graves (220) and Liam Mahon (285) and sophomores Adam Aguilar (132) and Brian Ziech (170). Undefeated freshman Jacob Kaminski (195) leads other strong underclassmen. The Friars compete at the CCL Championships Friday and Saturday at De La Salle. In 2016, they tied for 14th. “I’m looking to improve a lot,” Poro said. “We’re full of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, which bodes well the next couple of years. They’re feeding off each other. They push each other in the practice room.” Kaminski won 2016 freestyle and GrecoRoman state titles at 182 and the 189 folkstyle state title. Kaminski made his highschool debut Dec. 17 and has compiled about a dozen victories -- all by pin or technical fall. “I would really like to go undefeated as long as I can and try for a deep run into state,” Kaminski said. “I would have liked to have more matches, but I feel like I’ve been wrestling pretty well.”

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

WILL TO WIN: Aidan Flaherty during a wrestling match against St. Joseph at Fenwick High School on Jan. 12, 2017. The Friars defeated the Chargers 53-21. Aguilar is a two-time individual sectional qualifier. Ziech’s only loss is Dec. 10 in the 195 Prospect Tournament final. The seniors are fueling the success. Barshop, Lambert and McCall are fourth-year wrestlers. Flaherty, who joined as a sophomore, Lambert and McCall are captains. “They’ve been great as leaders,” Kaminski said. “They lead by example, really showing their work ethic and what it means to be a Friar wrestler academically and in the

wrestling room.” The Friars compete at the 2A St. Patrick Regional to advance individually to the Wauconda Sectional. Lambert wants to be among the Friars’ qualifiers for the first time. “My biggest goal is to make it to sectionals and not only to make it but to have an impact,” Lambert said. “It might be a stretch to make it to state, but I’d like to go to sectionals and win a few matches, show that I’m competitive.”

Friars, Blazers win at Subway Classic Blaze and Moore lead Fenwick, while Fanning’s double-double sparks Trinity By MATT LE CREN Contributing Reporter

Fenwick hadn’t played in 13 days, so Kate Moore and McKenzie Blaze were just itching to get on the court. It showed. Moore fed Blaze for a jumper to open the scoring and the Friars scored the first 10 points of the game en route to an impressive 63-46 victory over Plainfield North on Monday at the Subway Classic at Willowbrook. Blaze tallied six of her game-high 19 points during an opening 15-2 run, while Moore had 14 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and two steals. Chance Baggett added 12 points and Kelly Carpenter had eight points and seven rebounds for Fenwick (13-6). “We’ve been working really hard in practice,” Moore said. “We hadn’t had a day off in a while so it felt good to win.” The Tigers (14-6) pulled within six points in the second quarter and cut the gap to 33-25 early in the third quarter. But the Friars used tough defense to trigger some transition baskets during a decisive 22-11 run. “We worked all week on talking and that really encouraged our game today,” said Blaze, who had a game-high four steals.

“One of our main problems is coming out strong,” Moore said. “I feel like we play so much better when we come out strong.”

Trinity tops Brooks Alex Fanning scored a game-high 18 points and had a career-high 16 rebounds as Trinity routed Brooks 75-38 at the Subway Classic. Fanning, a 6-foot-2 junior center, did all of her damage in the first half as the Blazers (13-6) led 41-24 at halftime. “It was huge,” Trinity guard Lauren Lee said. “Especially in games where you know (the opponent) is smaller, it’s good because we know she’ll take over in those games. She’s unstoppable.” Fanning tallied 10 points in the first quarter as Trinity built a 25-11 lead. Four different players assisted on her first five baskets. “There were some great passes,” Fanning said. Lee had 11 points, four rebounds and four assists for Trinity, while Zyerra Stafford added 10 points and Dayjah Chmielewski, Sinead Molloy and Emma Hayes had eight points each. Fanning, Molloy and Hayes all had three assists, while Chmielewski and Lee both had two for the Blazers, who

File photo

Guard Kate Moore scores in a variety of ways for Fenwick. beat the Eagles at their own game. “We definitely got our momentum,” Lee said. “They were a pretty quick team, so it definitely helped running up and down the floor, getting quick shots like that.”

S P O R T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, January 18, 2017

the 1970 NBA Finals, but it was inspiring. “To be honest, the way he went down, I thought that was it for the night,” Maloney said. But it is never over for Scott, who is still mulling his college options. Maloney said he’s capable of playing both sports in college, but he will probably have to choose one. Regardless of where he goes, Scott will have a bright future after his playing days are over because the aspiring business major has his priorities straight. “That’s why I’m extremely thankful for my family because not everyone has the right people looking over them,” said Scott, who is taking a leadership course taught by OPRF football coach John Hoerster. “My dad always tells me to work hard because there’s always other people out there that have the same goals as you, but it’s about who wants it more and you’ve just got to put the work in every day, especially when people aren’t watching.” Scott is fortunate to come from a strong two-parent family. Not everyone has that luxury and Scott knows plenty of kids who come from more difficult backgrounds. “A lot of my friends are in that category, but they are defying that category,” Scott said. “They are well-spoken and got good people behind them looking after them and (they are) doing well on the field and court as well. “So I just like to surround myself with friends and people with similar goals to myself. You’ve got to do the right thing.”

Photo by Marie Lillig

HIGH FLYER: Jared Scott leads OPRF in dunks with seven.

WINNER

Leads by example from page 48 guys, kind of leads by example in the classroom.” Fuller, an explosive junior point guard, is glad to have Scott as a mentor. “He’s doing a good job of leading the team this year,” Fuller said. “He always says don’t let the outside be a distraction inside the lines. “He tells us to get our work done in the classroom so we can be focused on the court.” Scott, who is drawing interest from Division II college coaches in both football and basketball, knows better than to rely on athletics to get him where he wants to go. Knee surgery ended his junior basketball season last January, though he bounced back to play a starring role at wide receiver on the OPRF football team that went 7-3, losing in the first round of the state playoffs. Scott has had a breakout year on the hardwood. Through 14 games, he leads the Huskies (11-3) in scoring and rebounding, averaging 15 points per game on 49 percent shooting and 7.3 rebounds. The smooth lefthanded shooter also owns a team-best seven dunks this season. “He’s really made huge strides in a year,” Maloney said. “Last year he had the knee

troubles but you could always see the upside. “What I see now is a totally different Jared. He’s grown into his body and he’s playing with confidence. “He’s had some big games against what I think is one of the toughest schedules in the area, so he’s really been a bright spot. He’s showing our young guys, especially the sophomores, the progression of how sometimes it takes a year or two to get acclimated.” The Huskies usually play four guards at a time, which enables Scott to showcase his versatility. He’s equally comfortable inside or on the perimeter and has played the 3, 4 and 5 spots, happy to help out wherever he’s needed. “I’m definitely really thankful that I can go out there each night with a healthy body because I haven’t had that in a while,” Scott said. Scott showcased his worth – and gave his teammates a scare – during a Jan. 10 game at Downers Grove North. He was accidentally undercut twice during the key West Suburban Conference Silver Division game, landing on his arm in the first half and then falling hard on his tailbone late in the third quarter. After treatment from the trainer, Scott surprisingly returned to action early in the fourth quarter and converted a three-point play on the next possession. Scott scored 10 of his game-high 20 points

File photo

At 6-foot-6, Jared Scott has the size plus speed and talent to be an effective wide receiver at the college level. in the final quarter as the Huskies (13-5, 4-0) beat the Trojans (10-4, 3-1) by a 56-53 count to seize sole possession of the Silver lead. “I think that’s when our senior leadership took over,” Scott said. “I knew I couldn’t leave my team hanging, even with the pain that I was feeling. “I owed it to the guys to come back and help them win. They did a really solid job holding them off, keeping the lead until I could come back.” It wasn’t quite Willis Reed returning in

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Fenwick wrestling honors seniors 46

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Fenwick, Trinity girls hoops win at Subway Classic 46

Student of the Games Huskies’ Scott attracting interest from college hoops and football programs By MATT LE CREN

a Certified Public Accountant. They’ve raised four children who have done them proud. Scott’s brother, Evan, ran football and track at OPRF and graduared Scott’s athleticism is clear to ated in 2008. He graduated last year from anyone who watches the Oak Park and River Forest senior on the football field Marquette Law School and is studying for the bar exam. or basketball court. Camille Scott, played basketball for the But Scott is much more than a high Huskies and is currently in medical school school sports star. in Miami. Fluent in Spanish, she wants to The 6-foot-6, 215-pound senior forward work in the public health field. also excels in the classroom, Scott’s other sister, Simone, where he sports a 3.3 gradea 2016 OPRF alum, is attending point average. film school at Loyola MaryThe well-spoken Scott is the mount in Los Angeles. youngest of four children in a “As you can see with what my family of high achievers. siblings do and my parents do, “He’s very sharp,” OPRF there’s high expectations, so I’ve basketball coach Matt Maloney just got to live up to it,” Scott said. “I actually had him in said. “I think my parents have class two years ago and I could done a really good job of raising tell what type of kid he is. He’s a me, and my older siblings have credit to his parents putting the MATT MALONEY done a good job of keeping me emphasis on the academics.” OPRF coach doing the right things.” Scott took Sports and ResisMaloney agrees. tance in American History, an “They’re just a really good elective Maloney created, as a family,” Maloney said. “Their sophomore. He knows history priorities are in line and it’s is full of high school studentnice to have a kid who puts athletes who put sports first academics above athletics. and paid the consequences, so he considers “He’s a good role model for our younger sports an extension of the classroom, not guys. Isaiah Fuller, our point guard, is an the other way around. honor roll student, so we’ve had a lot of One only has to look at Scott’s family hisguys improve their academic standing tory to see why. since they’ve been part of the program. Scott’s father, Ron, is a high-ranking “So Jared is really good for the younger executive with Domino’s who oversees operations in 23 states. His mother, Pam, is See WINNER on page 47

Contributing Reporter

“He’s really made huge strides in a year.”

Photo by Marie Lillig

OPRF senior forward Jared Scott, right, is a versatile all-court player and excellent leader for the Huskies.

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