Wednesday Journal 012424

W E D N E S D A Y

January 24, 2024 Vol. 44, No. 30

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JOURNAL @oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

Oak Park and River Forest junior swimmer Pablo Pareja sets a new school record for the 100-yard backstroke during the Huskies’ final home meet in the East Pool, Jan. 19.

Oak Park at 122 Page 6

Snow days may be thing of the past with e-learning Still, some parents love the ‘Midwest tradition’

Backstroke to the future

CAROL DUNNING

Records set at final meet in OPRF’s East Pool

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Two pool records were set Friday that will never be broken.

That’s because Friday was the last swim meet that will be held at the East Pool at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

The pool that was built in 1928 will be duce drag and typically are only worn demolished over the next year and be for the most important meets.

It was the last chance for a swimmer replaced by a much larger pool as part to set a pool record and get his name on of the Project 2 construction project.

That reality gave Friday’s dual meet the record board.

In the 95 years the East Pool has been with York more urgency than is typical. multiple companies OPRF’s top swimmers wore their tech used for high school swimming, no one quality suits, swimsuits designed with com-coverages multiple companies See EAST POOL on page 10 educated agents pression features and fabrics that requality coverages educated agents

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

As Oak Park and River Forest braced themselves for the first proper snowfall of 2024 on Friday, Jan. 12, local school districts made the decision to close their buildings and call for e-learning – a decision that proved to be highly controversial.

A working parent, Christina Timme, a ‘09 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School and a parent of two at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 students, said e-learning was a struggle for her children, who had to attempt their virtual school days from daycare.

“They are not getting the one-on-one time with the teachers that they need too,” Timme said, addSee SNOW DAYS on page 12

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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Project 2 loses space in minor budget cutbacks Board member Fred Arkin says he feels like Ralphie in ‘A Christmas Story’

By BOB SKOLNIK

Arkin said that a training room, but in an undefined space, was always part of the Imagine Plan for Project 2.

Interested contractors also will submit supplemental bids for an approximately 2,000 square foot training facility. The training room will be included in Project 2 if the base bids come in below expectations.

Contributing Reporter

The bid package for Oak Park and River Forest High School’s nearly $102 million Project 2 hit the street last week.

Contractors will have a month to bid on the work involved in the project as the bid opening is scheduled for Feb. 16.

At its Jan. 11 meeting, the OPRF District 200 Board of Education voted 6-0 to approve an estimated budget of just less than the $102 million it planned for Project 2.

The exact cost will not be known until the bids are opened. The board will not vote to award the contracts until March, but it has already hired Gilbane Building Company to manage the construction.

In order stay within the budget for Project 2, which consists of demolishing the southeast corner of OPRF and rebuilding it with a new swimming pool, third-floor gym and other new spaces, architects had to make some minor cutbacks and shaved off 13,000 square feet from the project.

The square footage FRED ARKIN of the project was Board member reduced to 174,500 square feet from the 187,500 square feet presented in the schematic design the board approved last year. That square footage had increased to approximately 199,000 square feet in a design development presentation made to the board in August. One classroom has been cut from the design.

The cutbacks include reducing the seating capacity of the observation balcony of the new swimming pool by 12 seats, reducing the estimated capacity to 408 people from 420. A more significant cutback was to leave a new training room out of the base bid package.

The budget that was approved eliminates fourth-floor space that was going to be used for a wrestling room or for shelving and

“I kind of feel like Ralphie in ‘A Christmas Story’ waking up in the morning and getting a squirt gun instead of his Red Ryder BB gun.”

Other budget cuts

PROVIDED

Aquatic schematic design, aka the new pool, is one part of OPRF’s Project 2 proposal.

PROVIDED

Exterior schematic design for Imagine OPRF Project 2. storage. Instead, the mechanicals will be placed in what would have been the fourth floor, allowing a low roof.

The project manager pointed out that the fourth-floor space is anticipated to go away eventually when and if the district ever does what is called Project 5 in the future. The wrestling room, which had been planned for the fourth floor, is being moved to the second floor and will also be used in a multipurpose room. That room will only accommodate two wrestling mats instead of the three mats that the fourth-floor

space would have accommodated.

Board member Fred Arkin, who also coaches girls wrestling at OPRF, said he is not happy about the cutbacks, especially leaving the training room out of the base bid package.

“I just don’t know how we can build what we’re going to build, which is primarily, you know, for a substantial amount of athletics and not have an adequate athletic training facility for our studentathletes,” Arkin said before the vote on Jan. 11.

At the Dec. 7 school board meeting, where the latest plans for Project 2 were released, Arkin groused about the cutbacks.

“I kind of feel like Ralphie in ‘A Christmas Story’ waking up in the morning and getting a squirt gun instead of his Red Ryder BB gun,” Arkin said at the Dec. 7 Committee of the Whole Meeting. “I feel like what was presented to us in August was unrealistic. It could not have been anywhere near what our budget was. I’m very upset that there’s been so much change. We’re losing 13,000 square feet.”

Other cuts call for foregoing the renovation of the South Hallway corridor, an improvement that the school board had approved last year. This is expected to shave approximately $400,000 from the cost of Project 2. Another major cost-saving move was the decision to use pillars in the swimming pool area to support the floors above it instead of an overhead steel truss that would have allowed for an unobstructed view of the pool. That decision will save millions of dollars, according to Alyson Sternquist, the lead architect for Project 2.

Stenquist also said that designers have cut back on some finishes for the spaces.

Board members have made clear that that they are most interested in maximizing usable space, not eyepopping finishes or fancy design elements.

“We are looking for the heavy-duty Chevy, not the Cadillac,” Arkin said. “We’re looking to have a space that will last a very long time. All of the extras that can be added on later, whether it’s interior design, whether it’s decoration, whatever, those always can be added on later. The actual structure itself is what’s most important.”

At the Dec.7 meeting, school board president Tom Cofsky emphasized that the board wants to stay within its $102 budget.

“We don’t have a bottomless well to pull from,” Cofsky said.

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

Harold Dawson Live! at Encore

By Little Gem Cafe Friday, Jan. 26, 7:30 – 10 p.m., The Little Gem Cafe Encore!! By Little Gem Cafe is having live music by smooth jazz saxophonist Harold Dawson. Dine in and enjoy your evening. 187 N. Marion St. Oak Park.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BIG WEEK January 24-31

One-on-One Small Business Consulting Friday, Jan. 26, 1 – 4 p.m., Oak Park Public Library Explore insights into starting or expanding your business by connecting with Chettha Saetia. As a seasoned business owner, advisor, and the director of The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Chinese Mutual Aid Association. For additional details, visit www.chinesemutualaid.org/illinois-sbdc. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Adult Program Performances at School of Rock Oak Park Saturday, Jan. 27, 5 – 5:45 p.m., School of Rock School of Rock’s adult students rock the warehouse stage with movie-themed performances. 219 Lake St., Oak Park.

Monday, Jan. 29, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m., The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association Learn how America’s art museums—through timing, luck, and lots of money—became international leaders of the world’s best art collections.

Curator and consultant Paul Neumann will uncover how museums grew to become America’s cultural guardians.

178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Free Live Illinois Beverage Alcohol Seller and Server Education Training Saturday, Jan. 27, 12 – 4 p.m., Oak Park Public Library The Illinois B.A.S.S.E.T program, authorized by the Liquor Control Act, aims to educate alcohol sellers and servers on the effects of alcohol and drug abuse. The 4-hour in-person training grants a certification that is valid for three years. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Meditations for an Inspired Life Friday, Jan. 26, 10:30-11 a.m., Kadampa Meditation Center Chicago in Oak Park This weekly class explores a sequence of practical and profound meditations called Lamrim (“Stages of the Path”) which are the essence of Kadampa Buddhism.

These meditations are said to act as supreme medicine that heals the stresses, negativities, and confusion within people, and leads them naturally to a state of ultimate, lasting happiness. 13 Harrison St., Oak Park.

Art: Museum Made, the Rise of America’s Art Museums

National Lego Day Celebration

Sunday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m.– 3 p.m., Wonder Works Children’s Museum They will have Legos in a variety of shapes and sizes set up throughout the museum for your children to build to their heart’s content. All National Lego Day activities are included in the regular price of admission. 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park.

Sound Bath Meditation

Cooking 101 Workshop

Wednesday, Jan. 31, 3 – 4 p.m., The Oak Park Public Library Relax and reset with a guided meditation sound bath, featuring crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, and tingsha bells.

Limited yoga mats are available, so bring your own if possible. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Saturday, Jan. 27, 3 – 6 p.m., Oak Park and River Forest Neurodiverse Social Club Participants will learn basic recipes like scrambled eggs, pasta, soup, and possibly Hungarian goulash. Limited space, so RSVP quickly. Open to all experience levels.

Note: Not suitable for those with moderate to severe food allergies. The event takes place in Oak Park with the address provided after RSVPing here: http://tinyurl. com/4y29e24h.

Early Learning Provider Meet & Greet Sunday, Jan. 28, 3 – 5 p.m., Wonder Works Children’s Museum Looking for a preschool or early learning program for your child? Discover a variety of early learning programs and get your questions answered all in one place at this meet and greet event. Kids play free at the museum during the meet & greet, too, so bring them along. 6445 W. North Ave., Oak Park.

Listing your event Wednesday Journal welcomes notices about events that Oak Park and River Forest groups and businesses are planning. We’ll work to get the word out if you let us know what’s happening by noon Wednesday a week before your news needs to be in the newspaper.

■ Send details to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, 60302 ■ Email calendar@wjinc.com

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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Oak Park development department welcomes new leaders Emily Egan and Brandon Crawford will begin their roles Feb. 5

son said. This includes historic preservation activities, permit processing, parking mobility and business licensing. Neighborhood Services, which oversees housing programs, compliance inspections and more, will eventually become a separate department, Jackson said.

By LUZANE DRAUGHON The department will most likely work on Staff Reporter its economic vitality planning process and Two new faces will tackle development update its vision for affordable housing and economic vitality in Oak Park: Emily strategies in 2024, Jackson said.

Egan has been the director Egan, the incoming development of community development in services director, and Brandon the Village of Brookfield since Crawford, the deputy director of 2021, according to the release. development services.

She also had positions as the Oak Park is working to revillage planner in Brookfield structure its Development and assistant city planner for Services department, and the the City of Elmhurst. village board approved related “I really believe all of my changes last spring. Part of professional experiences and that restructuring includes new volunteering and education hires after the previous direcEMILY EGAN throughout my master’s detor, Tammie Grossman, retired. gree is perfectly aligned and The new hires will begin on Feb. 5. Village manager Kevin Jackson has well prepared me for this position,” said Egan and Crawford each bring strong she said.

Egan’s bachelor’s degree is in liberal skills and experience that will benefit the studies. She also has a master’s degree in expanding department.

“Their profiles compliment the leaders urban planning and a policy degree with a we already have in place,” he said. “So, concentration in economic development, according to a news release. we’re not necessarily duplicating a lot of She said she loves that Oak experience and expertise. What Park has a strong focus on enwe’ve done is build a really good suring new businesses and diversity of expertise.” developments are the right fit Egan said a few personal prifor the community. The vilorities for her are diversity, eqlage looks for smart economic uity and inclusion, as well as growth, not just any growth, sustainability. In her new role, she said. she said she hopes to emphasize “[This department] is one economic vitality, implementaof the most important departtion of the Climate Ready Oak ments to shape the look and feel Park Plan and updating the EnBRANDON CRAWFORD and character, and also protect vision Oak Park plan. the character, of the communi“I’m sure I’ll hit the ground ty as it continues to grow and transform,” running,” she said.

The department is intended to focus on she said.

Crawford, the new deputy director of four areas: economic development and vitality, development and permits, plan- development services, said he’s excited ning and urban design and parking and about the new role because the village mobility services, according to a village has a legacy of fostering an inclusive and diverse community. news release.

“There’s not many communities like Oak “[Egan and Crawford] are going to be really good assets to our team,” Jackson said. Park [with a] strong legacy of fighting the “They’ll be able to grow with the village good fights,” he said. and the community.”

His background in real estate developThe Development Services department ment has prepared him for the role, Crawis responsible for managing growth and de- ford said. According to a news release, he velopment regulations for Oak Park, Jack- has worked as a site development portfolio

manager for Meta Platforms, Inc., an associate development manager for Lendlease and a planner in the Village of Glenview.

Crawford’s bachelor’s degree is in urban and regional planning and his master’s degree is in real estate investment and finance, according to a release.

Development services, such as zoning, redevelopment, parking mobility and more have an impact on most people’s day to day

lives in some form or other, Crawford said.

In his new role, he said he wants to see what might be missing in the community and work on redevelopment in those areas. “[I’m] just really excited to build upon all of the great assets that are already in place,” he said. “[I’m] excited to see what we can do to make a great community even better, and one that not only is a guiding star locally but also nationally.”

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Way Back Inn, a local nonprofit organization treating individuals seeking recovery from gambling and substance use disorders, is seeking potential bids for a backup generator for our Oak Park recovery home located at 412 Wesley Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302.

Please contact Anita Pindiur, Executive Director 708-345-8422 ext. 125 • anitap@waybackinn.org

This is a Federally funded project, with the money coming from Oak Park Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and thus is subject to all applicable Federal rules, regulations, and guidelines, including Davis-Bacon and Related Acts. Preference is given to qualifying Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE).

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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Longtime Oak Parkers share why they love the village as it turns 122 From Hemingway to homes — residents share what has made Oak Park special

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

The Village of Oak Park has long drawn in residents for its community spirit, beautiful architecture and other amenities.

Now, the village will celebrate its 122nd birthday Jan. 25. On that date in 1902, Oak Park was incorporated as a village under Illinois law, according to the village website. It had been one of eight communities within the township of Cicero.

In honor of that, long-time Oak Parkers shared their experiences living in the village with the Wednesday Journal.

Linda Sahagian has lived in Oak Park since 1971. The area reminded her of New England, where she grew up, so she and her husband decided to buy a house in the village. They eventually had three children who have since grown up and moved away.

“My husband and I are so, so grateful that we found Oak Park and raised our children here,” she said. “[Our children] love coming back here and who knows, one day they may live here. All things are possible.”

She’s been involved in the village in many ways, including opening a corporation that produces candy and LINDA SAHAGIAN participating in the Village Manager Association.

The biggest change Sahagian said she’s seen since living here is in business development. There are more residents now, she said, and therefore additional customer support.

Residents of Oak Park generally love living here, she said.

The history, creativity and community involvement draw people in. One big plus, Sahagian said, is the village having its own government, as well as numerous committees and organizations to join.

“It’s a place that you can be a part of, not just live or dwell in,” she said. “No other communities around here have that

COURTESY OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

Still standing are two commercial buildings across the street from one another at Lake Street and Oak Park Avenue (above, shown here in the 1970s), developed by members of the Scoville family. same spirit.”

The more you put into Oak Park, the more you’ll get out of it, Sahagian said. The diverse citizen involvement and ways of thinking bring changes for the better, she said.

“As long as people have a volunteer spirit, you can make anything happen,” she said.

Rob Breymaier has lived in Oak Park for 17 years. He was formerly the executive director of the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, as well as a District 97 school board member.

Ensuring racial equity and integration was a focus for Breymaier in both roles. He said it’s important to him not only because he believes ROB BREYMAIER real equity comes from sharing experiences, but also because of his own interracial marriage and child.

“I want to make sure there’s a world in the future where my family and my child are welcome and feel comfortable,” he said.

Breymaier said he wants Oak Park to make racial equity and residential integration a higher priority moving forward. That’s the key to ensuring the village remains a wonderful place to live, he said.

“I really hope that we can recognize that again, and how critical that is to our community’s spirit and vibrancy,” he said.

Frank Lipo has lived in Oak Park since 1990. Lipo, executive director of The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest, said his wife grew up here and the fam-

ily ties were part of their decision to come back.

The sense of community is central to the heart of Oak Park, Lipo said, as well as the blending of history. That history is visible in architecture, he added, with buildings from different decades decorating the town.

“I do enjoy sort of the historical, FRANK LIPO almost chapters where you can walk around, be in different parts of the village and get a sense of real history,” he said.

Oak Park is a complex, urban suburb, Lipo noted, with hundreds of interesting people who have local ties, including Frank Lloyd Wright, Ernest Hemingway, Percy Julian and Betty White. “[Oak Park] is very culturally rich, and rich in terms of history and architecture,” he said.

A lot has changed in Oak Park, Lipo said, like the loss of Winberie’s Restaurant & Bar, a former staple in the community. But he said he’s grateful that the overall character of the village is not included in those changes.

“There’s still a commitment to Oak Park being a special and different community, kind of uniquely not like anywhere else,” he said It’s OK to not be completely happy when things change, Lipo said, but some change is good too. In 2024 and beyond, he said he hopes people will continue to commit to making the community diverse, preserving history and architecture and maintaining Oak Park’s values.

“I hope that Oak Park individuals and the community keep on appreciating where we’ve been as we’re looking to the next chapter,” he said.

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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OPRF alum featured in ‘America to Me’ is now behind the camera

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Contributing Reporter

Jada Buford got a lot of screen time in America to Me, the multipart documentary made by local filmmaker Steve James about Oak Park and River Forest High School that aired on Starz in 2018.

But even then, Buford preferred being behind the camera to be on screen. Now 25, Buford is finishing up a master of fine arts degree in film at Columbia University in New York City. She is working on her thesis film, titled Sing a Black Girl Song. The film is the last requirement she must fulfill to receive her degree in May. Sing a Black Girl Song will be a short film, about 10 minutes long, is about three preteen Black girls who have a sleepover.

“It’s a story that was inspired by my girlhood,” Buford told the Wednesday Journal in a telephone interview.

Buford, who grew up in Galewood neighborhood and River Forest, said that sleepovers are important events for preteen girls.

“For most preteen girls, sleepovers represent a significant aspect of growing up,” Buford said, adding that sleepovers can be a safe haven for girls where they can laugh, cry, sing and dance. “Sleepovers for me, I felt like, were pivotal safe havens for girlhood,” Buford said.

The movie, which will be filmed in Harlem, will feature three girls, ages 11 and 12. Buford said that the film will focus on the sometimes-awkward transition from young girl to young woman.

Buford is the writer and the producer of the film that will feature both documentary and narrative elements. The film will be directed by Danielle Therese Dougé, a 2022 graduate of the Columbia film school, who also grew up in Galewood and met Buford at Columbia.

Buford plans to shoot the film in February

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Jada Buford and expects to complete the movie in time to graduate in May. But producing a movie, even a short one, is not cheap. She needs money to pay her director, film crew and other production and post-production costs. She is trying to raise $12,000 toward the estimated $15,000 cost of making the film.

To raise funds, Buford has turned to Seeds&Spark, a crowd funding platform that focuses on film and storytelling. Those interested in making a donation to support the making of Sing a Black Girl Song can donate at https://seedsandspark.com/fund/ sing-a-black-girls-song#story. You can follow the progress of the film on Instagram at @ singablackgirlsong.

After the film is completed, Buford plans to show the film in Oak Park or River Forest, perhaps this summer.

Buford was a senior at OPRF during the 2015-16 school year and was one of the students that the filmmakers followed and chronicled. She made her first film as a senior at OPRF and has made four other short films, including one about hair.

After graduating from OPRF in 2016, Buford attended Columbia College in Chicago for one year before transferring to Howard University. At Howard, she majored in media, journalism and film communication and received her bachelor of arts degree in 2020.

Buford’s mother, Telisa Felder, now lives in Forest Park.

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

BENEFITS ARE WITHIN REACH! Get connected!

The Benefits Access Network is working to connect our neighbors across Chicagoland to food and medical benefits like SNAP and Medicaid.

Assistance is free.

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT: chicagosfoodbank.org/BAN

Heather Mack sentenced to 26 years in prison for mother’s murder

Mack and her former boyfriend conspired to kill Sheila von Wiese-Mack in 2014

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Benefits Access Network This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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Former Oak Park resident Heather Mack, 29, was sentenced Wednesday to 26 years in federal prison for conspiring to kill her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack.

The sentence, which came down Wednesday in Chicago, follows her lawyers asking for a minimum sentence of 15 years and federal prosecutors calling for 28 years in a plea agreement.

Mack will not get credit for the seven years she spent in prison in Indonesia, according to CBS News. She was deported to the United States from Indonesia in 2021 and has since been held in the Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago. She will receive credit for two years spent in custody awaiting trial, according to ABC News.

Mack pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill her mother and was eligible for up to life in prison during sentencing, according to CBS News. But if she had been sentenced more than 28 years, she could have withdrawn her plea.

Mack’s defense attorneys argued for the lower sentence not only as a way to save public resources, but also to avoid further strain on Mack’s relationship with her eight-year-old daughter, Stella, according to CBS News.

Lisa Hellmann, Stella’s court-appointed legal guardian, however, said Stella does not want Mack to raise her.

In the plea, she admitted to plotting the beating murder with her former boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer. The couple concealed von Wiese-Mack’s body in a suitcase and placed it in the trunk of a taxi, later running off, according to CBS News.

The murder, which took place in 2014 in Bali, was thought to have been a way for

SKETCH BY L.D. CHUKMAN

Mack, in an orange prison jumpsuit, entering her guilty plea.

Mack and Schaefer to gain access to the proceeds of von Wiese-Mack’s $1.5 million estate. Schaefer is still serving an 18-year sentence in Indonesia.

Mack’s uncle, Bill Wiese, said in a victim impact statement during Mack’s sentencing that he would want Mack to spend the rest of her life in prison, according to CBS News. He said she has never shown remorse for her actions.

Mack’s attorneys said her mother abused her, according to CBS News, but also acknowledge Mack’s role in that abusive relationship. Wiese also said the cycle of alleged abuse between Mack and her mother was instigated by Mack, according to CBS News.

One of Mack’s lawyers, Michael Leonard, also said Mack witnessed her father as an aggressor of domestic violence, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. After his death, Mack’s mother refused to return home immediately from her and Mack’s vacation in Greece, according to the article.

The victim’s sister, Debbi Curran, also provided a statement which was read in court during the sentencing Wednesday, according to CBS News. Curran said she is haunted by the murder, imagining it when she sees a suitcase.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Rangoussis said von Wiese-Mack died a painful death, according to CBS News, and that stuffing her body in a suitcase would have been “no easy task.”

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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‘Crossroads America’ and the summer of unity Two OPRF grads raise funds for a project that looks for common political ground

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

Hoping to set off on a cross-country road trip, two OPRF High School graduates are not just looking for a fun summer, but also to unite people from across all walks of life through a new video series.

Lucas Kult-Banout, 19, and Ezekiel Wells, 18, both 2023 graduates of Oak Park and River Forest High School, are raising money for “Crossroads America,” a video series they hope to kickstart in the summer, documenting their journey as they travel across the country and speak with people from across all political parties and backgrounds to find that sacred “common ground.”

After noticing political tensions at their prospective college campuses, they came together to use their love of adventure and desire to find that commonality among others and “uncover a fuller American perspective.”

“With the conflicts going on in the world right now, we are both bringing up a lot of debate and events at our campuses,” Kult-Banout said. “We both noticed a lack of dialogue and effort to try to find common ground. It is really easy to talk at each other instead of to each other and try to understand the other side better.”

Kult-Banout, a political science major at the University of Chicago, was not a stranger to being on video. He produces a YouTube channel that Wells, who attends Harvard University for computer science and East Asian studies, had already made guest appearances on, so the video series was a natural fit.

The goal is that by documenting different perspectives in a “fun and intriguing way,” viewers would be able to walk away learning a little more about others who they previously viewed as different from them.

“What we want to show is that people who are seemingly very different, when you look at their values, when you look at their challenges, and the dreams they have, at the end of the day a lot of those things are way more similar than you might imagen,” Wells said.

Kult-Banout, who was recently at the Iowa Caucus where former President Donald Trump scored a win, said he spent time speaking with rural farmers. As a Democratic college kid from Chicago, Kult-Banout said he was able to have those conversations and was surprised by their openness.

“Even though we had those differences, there were many people I talked to who saw the importance of seeking out other perspectives, of challenging yourself,” he said. “People on the other side aren’t as crazy as we make them out to be. They are just people.”

The video series would run on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram posts.

A priority is being placed on ensuring they make it to each region of the United States.

“I think it will be worth it to make sure we are really highlighting all types of people that call this country home,” Kult-Banout said. “America isn’t just for one type

PROVIDED BY EZEKIEL WELLS AND LUCAS KULT-BANOUT

Ezekiel Wells and Lucas Kult-Banout, OPRF ’23 graduates, plan to travel this summer documenting American perspectives from people across the political spectrum through their video series “Crossroads America.” of person; this is for everyone and that is what we are trying to show with this project.”

The plan is to be on the road in early June with enough time to be back on their prospective campuses for the start of the fall semester.

While the pair hasn’t set off yet, they are already working on reaching out to communities across the country who would potentially host them and speak with them, including a Native American reservation in Montana and an income sharing community in the Northeast.

While they want to leave room for spontaneity and genuine conversation with the people they meet along the way, three questions are also on the forefront to ask of the people they speak with: What’s their biggest challenge? What are their dreams? And what’s something they respect and admire about “the others?”

To raise the funds needed for the project, the pair initially began working their OPRF High School connections, family and friends, and those with whom they had worked with around Oak Park, raising support across all political parties.

“We have raised support from across the aisle,” KultBanout said. “Which is important to us. The fact that we are able to have bi-partisan support means a lot to us and it symbolizes that people on both sides want to see some-

thing like this. I think we all do. I think we all know that it can be impactful.”

Through Kickstarter, they have already hit their initial goal of $5,280 and raised $5,464.

This is “seed funding proof of concept,” as Kult-Banout said, for the bigger goal of roughly $55,000.

The money will be used to fund the van, insurance, camera equipment, parking, flights, fees and miscellaneous expenses.

“With our Kickstarter numbers we are able to go to organizations who would be able to help us fund this type of work and show them that this is something that people have proven, financially, that they want,” Wells said.

Kult-Banout and Wells also said they are applying for grants through both of their universities to raise the funds. While they are confident they can raise additional support, they said they want to do their best to make sure they can to avoid having to scale back in any way as the conversations they hope to have are much needed in today’s political climate.

“If we are not able to come to the table and hear about what challenges and hopes they have that led them to that place, as a country, we won’t be able to make progress on those issues,” Wells said.

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

EAST POOL A last hurrah from page 1 had ever swum the 100-yard backstroke as fast as OPRF junior Pablo Pareja did Friday. Pareja covered the 100 yards in 50.60 seconds, breaking the pool record his older brother Diego Pareja set in 2021.

“It’s a great feeling,” Pareja said. “I’m super excited knowing that my name is going to be on the pool record on little plaques in the future pool for a long time. It’s, like, ecstatic. I’ve never felt this before.”

The Huskies started the meet by setting a pool record in 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:33.83, breaking the old record of 1:34.21 a Huskie team set in 2021. Pareja led off the record-breaking relay swimming the backstroke, and was followed by senior Adam Pedraza swimming the breaststroke leg, senior Lars Rauch swimming the butterfly leg, and junior Will Keyes bringing the record home with his freestyle anchor leg.

“It was really big for us to try to get our names on that board,” Rauch said. “I’m on the 2[00] free relay pool record so it’s really cool for me to have my name up on there twice.”

Pedraza came up a little short in his attempt to break the pool record in the 100breaststroke, but won the race and set a new personal record of 57.65.

OPRF defeated York 100.5 to 85.5 to win the meet.

But setting as many pool records as possible was the goal coming into the meet.

CAROL DUNNING

Oak Park and River Forest High School swimmers and coaches pose for a final photo at the East Pool, Jan. 19, as their parents and fans look on from the balcony.

CAROL DUNNING

Huskies swimmers (left to right) Adam Pedraza, Will Keyes, Lars Rauch, and Pablo Pareja established a new school record in the 200 medley relay against York.

CAROL DUNNING

OPRF junior swimmer Pablo Pareja set a new school record in the boys 100-yard backstroke. His brother Diego had set the record in 2021.

“I was really psyched up,” Pareja said. “I suited up for this, I was really prepared to break it and I’m glad I did.”

Pareja said his brother helped him as he was coming up as a young swimmer. Pareja’s brother was also part of the 2021 medley relay teams whose record was broken.

“He just taught me the ropes and I took it farther,” Pareja said.

The meet was especially emotional for seniors such as Rauch and Pedraza. Not only was it the last meet ever in the East Pool, but

it also was the last meet home meet of their high school careers.

The East Pool is small, only six lanes, hot, stuffy and has only a few rows of cramped balcony seating for spectators. It also has a special atmosphere that Pareja and Rauch said that they would miss.

“I’m going to miss the competition, it’s different from any other (pool) because it’s just so close, it’s so loud, and the atmosphere is just so much better,” Pareja said.

“I really like the atmosphere in here. Unfor-

tunately, the pool is not very good but it’s a good place to race.”

Pareja and Rauch also like the 15 bas-relief classical sculptures that adorn the walls.

“We call it the Greek bathhouse, we call it that, the girls call it the Roman bathhouse.”

Rauch said. “I do like the statues, that’s a unique thing, you don’t see that at any other pool around here.”

Some of the sculptures will be persevered during the demolition and current plans are to display three in the outside area of the new, large 10-lane pool that will have a balcony capable of seating 408 people.

Although he won’t compete in it, Rauch said he believes the new pool will help the already-strong swim teams at OPRF. “Having that type of facility at OPRF will really help the program,” Rauch said. “Not just because it’s a faster pool, but because that will mean the program can have more people on the team. We had to have cuts this year. We’re traditionally a no-cut sport, but we had like 73 people show up for tryouts this year and we had to cut people and that was heartbreaking for the coaches. But once we have a way bigger pool, we’ll be able to have all 73.”

The East Pool will be used this spring for water polo. OPRF’s West Pool will be open during at least the next two years of construction. Next year, OPRF might host some meets in the West Pool, which only has five lanes.

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

11

Why most migrants and asylum seekers can’t ‘just get a job’ Answers for one of the most common questions as Oak Park houses migrants

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

As Oak Park grapples with housing roughly 160 migrants, mostly Venezuelans, who came to the village at the end of last October, and setting them up for a new start, questions abound. One of the most common: Why can’t they just go to work?

Migrants who arrive in the United States face many barriers to staying, including how to find a job and support themselves.

Fred Tsao, senior policy counsel for Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, said most new arrivals in the United States have to wait to receive work permits, which can be a lengthy process.

“For better or worse eligibility to work is governed by federal law,” he said. “It’s not as though someone can just show up and work.”

The following is a list of the most common options available.

One pathway is Temporary Protected Status TPS is a form of humanitarian protection intended to shield some migrants from deportation.

TPS covers 16 countries, according to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, including Venezuela. The list is subject to change.

The TPS application includes questions about criminal history, Tsao said, which can affect an individual’s eligibility. Records such as a felony conviction can disqualify a migrant from receiving TPS. However, the approval rate is generous at roughly 94%, Tsao said.

Those who have TPS are eligible to apply for a work permit for a fee of $410. The processing time for a work permit, or an

Employment Authorization Document, is typically 3 months, according to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, in contrast to the typical 6-month wait for TPS. However, migrants from Venezuela who arrived in the United States after July 31, 2023, are not eligible to apply.

“The cutoff is basically meant to discourage people from coming in now,” Tsao said.

TPS is typically valid for only up to 18 months, including the processing time, Tsao said, but can be extended. If a migrant from Venezuela arrived before the deadline, they could still apply for TPS, but would not get the full 18-month benefit.

So for those who arrived in the village last October, it’s not an option.

Another option is applying for asylum TPS is meant to be temporary, Tsao said, and is not a path to citizenship. Migrants can, however, apply for asylum. However, denial rates for asylum are high, as only about one in four applications are approved, Tsao said.

“Asylum applications require and demand very significant amounts of documentation,” he said. “You have to prove the country conditions in your country of origin are really, really terrible and that this particular applicant has been subjected to persecution.”

Applicants would need to prove, for example, that the government or police were abusing them, were denying them employment opportunities, harassing them or even torturing them to be approved for asylum, Tsao said.

If approved, asylees would be eligible for employment, according to USCIS.

What about visas?

Temporary non-immigrant visas are typically for people looking to work in the United States for a fixed period of time, according to Boundless Immigration, which

would most commonly require an application before coming to the United States.

These types of visas also have commonly have education or profession requirements. For example, an H-1B visa has a residency cap of three years, requires a U.S. job offer for a specialty field, proof of a bachelor’s degree in that field and the employer providing evidence of a lack of qualified U.S. applicants for the role.

For employment-based visas, immigrants must have a specific combination of education, expertise or skills to qualify, according to Boundless Immigration. For example, an EB-1 visa applies only to those with “extraordinary ability,” such as scientists or business professionals.

Student or exchange visas can be acquired by academic or vocational students as well as those in cultural exchange programs, according to Boundless Immigration, but are not immigrant visas. These visas have requirements including types of eligible employment and language proficiency.

Migrants could also strive to achieve parole status Another option for migrants is applying for parole, which is approved on a case-bycase basis, Tsao said, and those approved are eligible for work permits.

“For many of these people, particularly those people who are in the shelters right now, they want to be able to work, they want to be able to support themselves,” he said.

Parole allows an individual who may be otherwise unable to enter the country to be paroled in, according to USCIS, without being formally admitted. Parole is typically not granted for more than one year.

Undocumented migrants face additional challenges Saul Arellano, a 25th police district council member, said he would like to see TPS expanded to include undocumented immigrants who are already in the United States.

“The majority of people who are undocumented are not able to get unionized,” he said. “Having a work permit would protect many people.”

Undocumented immigrants sometimes face losing their jobs when newer migrants with access to work permits apply, Arellano said, and can get exploited in other positions. Arellano said some of his family members who don’t have legal status or work permits in the United States have even been denied pay for their work.

“Many of them need help and support,” he said. “They are starting from scratch.”

Arellano said he wants to see undocumented individuals who have been working here and paying taxes included in the opportunity to receive work permits. He does not want anyone to be excluded.

“Right now, we can get them work permits that will help them,” he said. “Then slowly building to a movement to fight for immigration reform.”

C O R R E C T I O N

An article titled “Oak Park Resettlement Task Force to help migrants find affordable housing” that appeared in print on Jan. 17 has been updated online to reflect clarifications about the nature of rental expenses and participants of home shares, as well as a correction about the task force’s fundraising efforts. We apologize for the error.

12

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

SNOW DAYS

E-learning has also been seen as a positive solution by some local children.

Aarons McMenus, who has a 5th grader at Beye Elementary, said his daughter was excited.

“She said how happy she was that the other kids from page 1 couldn’t be mean because the teachers could hear them and see them in the chat,” McMenus said. ing that her child receives therapy at school. “It’s Jennifer Martignon, a student at Roosevelt Middle not helpful.”

School, said e-learning is less stressful than physiA better option, said Timme, is to just give kids cally going into school. the day off.

“Sometimes kids need a break from school,” Mar“I would rather them stay home and just not try to tignon said, adding she doesn’t find it hard to condo e-learning, it is not productive,” she said. centrate while working from her room.

All local schools closed for Friday Jan. 12 beBut every student is different, and with e-learncause of the heavy snow and dangerous travel ing, it is proving to not be a one-size-fits-all. conditions, and then again on Tuesday Jan. 16 “This model does allow for continuity in stanbecause of the frigid wind chills. Many parents dards-based learning, especially for our older stuvoiced their frustrations. dents,” said Dr. Ushma Shah, superintendent at As of Jan. 16, a petition targeting D200, D97, and D97, acknowledging it can be more challenging for D90 titled “We Want Snow Days!” calling for “real younger students. snow days, or ‘too cold’ days, without e-learning,” “We have to make one decision as a superintendent has received more than 110 signatures. that meets the needs of all students. So, it is always “E-learning is a tremendous, stress-inducing burgoing to be less than ideal,” she said. den for parents who must balance being a worker, Shah said had D97 chosen to not do e-learning, a ‘teacher’ and for some a parent to preschoolers,” eighth graders would have lost two days of inAMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ the petition said. “For teachers e-learning is an unstruction as the calendar would have placed the fair obligation, doubly so for teachers who are also Percy Julian Middle School building photo taken on Jan. 16. make-up days after their graduation. parents to school age kids.”

So, tension arises from the various experiences Christian Norton, parent of two at Longfellow of students.

ISBE worked with West Chicago 94, Gurnee 56, and LeyElementary, is behind the petition.

“The question is – given that tension and those While his oldest child can navigate e-learning “a little bit den 212 for the pilot program. constraints – how can we design a model that is as best as In June 2019, Public Act 101-0012 permitted school dis- possible for all of our students, especially paying attenbetter,” his youngest, a kindergartner, has found it very chaltricts statewide to use e-learning days in lieu of emergen- tion to our students with unique learning needs and our lenging to be successful. cy days, which ISBE requires each district to account for students with special needs,” Shah said.

“It has been very frustrating for him to struggle through e-learning and it has been tough for us as parents as well,” five emergency days built into the end of the school calen“We know that students learn best when they are in dar year. This law also required school days to consist of a school with their teachers and peers,” she added. “Which Norton said.

Norton and his wife tag teamed trying to help their chil- minimum of five hours of instructional time. is why we always strive to keep our schools open.”

“You have to have an approved plan that meets criteria dren participate in e-learning while also trying to work from Other local districts share in that sentiment. outlined by the state,” said Amanda Siegfried, senior dihome and juggle a toddler.

“Closing school buildings for in-person instruction is Norton said he has received messages from other parents rector of communications and engagement for D97. “We a serious matter that we don’t take lightly,” said Edward were developing the e-learning plan in 2019-2020, even pri- Condon, superintendent at D90 in an email sent to famiwho also expressed their frustrations. or to the pandemic even happening.”

But not everyone agrees. lies on Thursday, Jan. 11. “We appreciate the challenge this D97’s Board of Education approved the e-learning plan poses for families, but know that safety is our strongest Mary Urbina, a local mom of three, said she was very happily surprised with how D97 teachers managed to continue in July 2021. shared priority.” to provide a great education to students.

As a district that is not required to have bus service, “I know it’s not the perfect situation and I know there are Karin Sullivan, executive director of communications for families that it is not working for,” Urbina said. “But I want OPRF, said they take weather conditions very seriously Officials at River Forest School District 90 also said they and often look at what other local districts are doing when the teachers to know how much we appreciate them, and my children learned a lot, especially my daughter during CO- feel confident in their teachers’ ability to handle e-learning. making decisions on whether or not to close.

“The pandemic accelerated the pace of acquiring more VID. It wasn’t just a washed away year.”

Sullivan said that with the introduction of e-learning, technology that allows for synchronous instruction,” said it will be highly unlikely that a district will opt to fully Stephanie Rath, director of communications and commu- cancel classes during emergency days. nity relations. “Teachers built their skills in making virHowever, many are not sold on the new way to address While some might believe e-learning stemmed from the tual learning as productive as possible.” emergency days despite local districts having already apA teacher herself, Urbina said she sees it as a good op- proved e-learning plans for these types of situations.

COVID pandemic, ISBE had already been piloting e-learntion for short periods of time, like emergency days. ing since 2015.

For D97, their plan expires in July 2024, creating an opMary Pat Eraci-Sullivan, a local Oak Parker and teach- portunity to review and make possible changes.

According to ISBE, the pilot program was established with the purpose of “recording the efficacy of e-learning ing assistant at D97, said she preferred e-learning days so “We are just at that window now, we have that opportuduring emergency/non-attendance days pursuant to state that extra attendance days are not added in June, because nity to look at it again,” said Shah. “We are thinking about statute.” The state requires 176 days of instruction and they would be trading cold weather and snow safety issues how we might engage our educators in that kind of deschools must plan 185 days in its calendar to ensure stu- for heat related weather issues. sign challenge and figuring out, there are going to be con“There is no perfect answer for all, but I am glad D97 straints, but how do we create the best student-centered dent get in the minimum mandated number of instrucchose the e-learning option,” she said. tional days. E-learning is one way to do that. model even given the constraints. What is possible?”

Nostalgia vs. learning

District decision-making

State requirements

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Oak Parker Dawn Gonzalez appointed Cook County Circuit Court Judge She has 29 years of experience in civil litigation

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Dawn Gonzalez, an Oak Parker since 2002, has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the 11th Subcircuit of Cook County left

by Judge Ann Finley Collins’ retirement.

Gonzalez has 29 years of experience in civil litigation, according to her website, with experience at numerous law firms.

She has been a partner at Stone & Johnson, Chartered, since 2018, according to a Cook County news release. She was a senior coverage litigation attorney at an insurance agency, an equity partner, a nonequity partner and an associate at several other firms.

Gonzalez attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she received her bachelor’s degree, and later attended DePaul University College of Law, where she acquired her juris doctor, according to the press release.

She grew up in Michigan, playing softball, volleyball and golf in high school, according to her website. She met her husband during her undergraduate studies, and they were married before starting law school. Gonzalez graduated in the top 15% of her law class, according to her website.

She and her husband moved to Oak Park in 2002. Their sons attended Oak Park and River Forest High School.

She was a past president of the Wom-

en’s Bar Association of Illinois, as well as a member of the American Bar Association and Chicago Bar Association, according to the release. Gonzalez served on the

Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Foundation of Illinois and is a member of the Lawyers Auxiliary Committee of the Illinois Judges Foundation.

DAWN GONZALEZ

Do you have DIABETES?

I

f you do, you should know how important foot care is. Over time, diabetics risk developing foot complications. When the nerves are damaged from chronic high blood sugar, feet can become numb or painful with burning or tingling. This is called diabetic neuropathy. When diabetes affects the arteries, circulation to the legs and feet may be compromised. Either of these conditions may lead to serious problems including ulceration, even amputation.

The key to prevention is early diagnosis of diabetes, and regular foot exams from a podiatrist.

Diabetics who receive regular foot care, including paring of calluses and debridement of thick fungal toenails, are almost four times less likely

to undergo an amputation than those who do not seek treatment.

Medicare and some private insurances cover 1 pair of diabetic shoes and 3 pair of protective insoles each calendar year. Dr. Lambert has been a supplier of diabetic shoes since 2002. The shoes come in 30 different styles each for men and women. These include boots, lightweight colorful athletic shoes, and dress shoes. Even patients who are not diabetic love the look and comfort of the footwear. Diabetic socks, slippers and compression hosiery are also available.

Protecting your feet with appropriate footgear is an important aspect of preventive care for diabetics.

708.366.FOOT (3668)

Dr. Linda Lambert

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FREE PARKING (on street or lot on west side of building) Aetna, AARP, Blue Cross PPO, United Healthcare, Healthspring, Humana, Medicare Assignment, Medicare Advantage Plans & most other insurances accepted

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

With a new principal, opportunities come to Cornerstone Jeffery Fields hopes to help turn students into ‘givers’ to the community

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

The right environment and the right mentorship can turn the life of a student around.

That is the message Cornerstone Academy’s new principal is bringing to the small private Christian high school in Oak Park.

Jeffery Fields, who started with Cornerstone Academy in June 2023, has always had a history of routing for the “underdog,” often finding himself relating to the hurdles they are facing.

For Fields, who had been in Special Education classes throughout his own education because of a disability, it wasn’t until he found a mentor in a retired principal that he was able to see his potential.

“He treated me with dignity and respect,” Fields said. “He never ‘you have to go to college,’ or ‘you need to better yourself,’ he just treated me as a person. That humanity, I was just drawn to that.”

Having that mentor speak into his life during a time he was vulnerable set him on a path toward a career in education, and after graduating from Prescott College in Arizona, he began coaching and teaching physical education.

Then, following a tragic situation where a student died as a result of bullying, Fields wanted to do more.

“I said I need to be able to work with these kids to have some sort of influence or policy,” he said.

Fields received his master’s degree in school administration and began working in school support services.

Fields, who grew up in Chicago after moving to the city from the Dominican Republic at two years old, found his way back, completed a principal internship at a charter school on the South Side before taking a position as a dean in a school in Detroit.

However, two years of having a long, fivehour commute on Sundays and back to Chicago after the school day was done on Fridays began taking its toll and Fields wanted to find a job closer to his home. Fields then worked as a dean for a school district in Waukegan and as a principal at a therapy day school before coming to Cornerstone.

At the small private Christian high school, Fields found a real chance to bring positive change into the lives of students who needed additional support.

“It is really different from what I am used to because it is private and I come from public schools,” Fields said.

He began with the school just in time for the 2023-24 school year.

The high school, located on Harvard Street, purposefully maintains a small student body population to help provide more individual support and fresh start to students whose “dreams and talents are in danger of being wasted.”

This is exactly where Fields wants to be, helping students and putting programs into place that gives them a better school experience and sets them up for success.

The work-study program is one that is expanding, growing from two partners to almost 12, Fields said.

“They get credit for their time spent there and the skills they learn they bring them back into the school and they are helpful as they transition out into the world,” Fields said. “I try to place them in jobs that will benefit their personalities and some want to try careers they want to do after high school.”

Having those additional responsibilities is also important in creating a wellrounded student.

Fields wants to instill giving back, and the work study program allows students to learn to be “givers of their time,” as well as advocating for themselves.

Being able to get students out working is a win, Fields said.

“They are learning to navigate for themselves,” he said. “Students who come to Cornerstone a lot of the time are struggling with mental health challenges, like depres-

PROVIDED BY JEFFERY FIELDS

Jeffery Fields started his position as the new principal of Cornerstone Academy in June 2023. sion or anxiety, so to get them out working and placed in positions that they normally might not be considered for, that is really big for them.”

Fields did not want to stop at that, but he also placed a focus on helping students learn healthier habits after he noticed students were either not eating at all or leaving campus for lunch.

Thanks in part through a grant received from the Oak Park and River Forest Community Foundation, Fields was able to close down the lunch period on Fridays and provide healthy meals to students while they also learned more about food deserts and environmental justice around food access.

“At first the kids didn’t want to have anything to do with it, but now they are interested in eating healthy,” Fields said.

“Once a student said she had never had a smoothie before.”

The mind, body, and soul approach seem to be working and giving students the confidence to participate in other programs, including the newly formed Student Council Club, which was created a little more than a week ago and has five students participating.

While five might not seem like a very big number, it is important to note that Cornerstone has 20 students enrolled across the high school grade levels.

While many students who transferred into Cornerstone come from larger schools that had an active student council, the majority had never participated in school activities before.

“We are introducing them to different clubs and organizations and it is about relationships really,” Fields said. “They don’t have strong relationships: it is about being around people, how do you talk to people, how do you show interest in people, how do you ask them a question. We have to model a lot of that to the students.”

As Cornerstone and Fields work to bring these opportunities to students, he hopes to turn them into “givers” to the community and help serve the needs of others.

The changes the students that attend Cornerstone are making can be life altering.

“They are looking to belong somewhere and because we are small, everything is more family oriented. We eat lunch together, we have family meetings together, they have a voice,” Fields said. “When at their old school they hung out in the bathroom all day.”

The student body at Cornerstone is unique, Fields said, and it is his mission to make sure they find a safe, small environment where they can finally find that sense of belonging, just like he did years ago with the help of his own mentor.

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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C R I M E

Boyfriend ditches victim during aggravated assault A man started a confrontation with a Chicago resident’s boyfriend on Jan. 17 at the 900 block of Madison Street. The boyfriend fled. Then, the man approached the Chicago resident, who was in a vehicle, and pointed a firearm at her. The man then pushed her face and fled the area. The man was last seen driving away on Oak Park Avenue in a black Jeep Patriot.

between Jan. 18 and Jan. 19 and stole $1,500 worth of items. The person, who may have got in through an unlocked front door, stole a PlayStation 5, two controllers, a backpack containing a wallet with miscellaneous identification and credit cards, keys and a laptop.

Catalytic converter theft

An Oak Park man was arrested for domestic battery against a Kenosha, Wisconsin, resident on Jan. 19 at the 500 block of Lyman Avenue.

Domestic battery arrest

■ Someone stole the catalytic converter

from an Oak Park resident’s 2010 Toyota Prius. The incident occurred between Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 on the 400 block of South East Avenue. The estimated loss is $100.

■ An individual stole the catalytic converter from an Oak Park resident’s 2014 Nissan NV200. The incident occurred between Jan. 15 and Jan. 16 at the 1000 block of South Oak Park Avenue. The estimated loss is $500.

■ Someone stole the catalytic converter

from an Oak Park resident’s Toyota Prius.

The incident occurred between the evening of Jan. 15 and the morning of Jan. 16 at the 500 block of South Maple Avenue. The estimated loss was $2,000.

Residential burglary Someone broke into an Oak Park apartment on the 400 block of South Boulevard

Motor vehicle theft ■ Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s black 2015 Kia Optima while it was parked on Jan. 16 on the 100 block of Forest Avenue. The estimated loss was $10,000. However, the Chicago Police Department recovered the car on Jan. 18 at the 700 block of North Sacramento Avenue.

February 18

THE PACK DRUMLINE April 12 Pat Hazell’s PERMANENT RECORD April 20 Carrie Newcomer and John McCutcheon events.dom.edu

■ An individual stole a Chicago resident’s gray 2017 Kia Soul on Jan. 17 at the 300 block of North Cuyler Avenue. The estimated loss was $12,000. However, the Illinois State Police recovered the car on Jan. 21 in Chicago.

■ Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s blue 2013 Hyundai Sonata between Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 on the 1100 block of South Euclid Avenue. The estimated loss is $10,000.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department reports dated Jan. 16-22, 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 Luzane Draughon

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Home Avenue bridge over Eisenhower Expressway to be replaced The village is looking for engineering firms to contract for the design

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

The Home Avenue pedestrian bridge overlooking the Eisenhower Expressway is set to be replaced, along with the Interstate 290 reconstruction project due to deterioration.

The Village of Oak Park is asking for engineering firms to submit their qualifications to do planning and design for the replacement of the bridge by Jan. 26. The bridge was built as part of the original I-290 construction in the late 1950s.

“It’s still structurally fine, but it is getting near the end of a lifespan for a typical bridge,” Oak Park village engineer Bill McKenna said.

No submissions from engineering firms have been received yet, McKenna said, but he expects those closer to the deadline. An internal village staff group will review the

proposals and conduct interviews before recommending a firm for approval by the village board of trustees.

“We review the submittals and try to pick the firm that’s most qualified to do that project,” he said. “We look at what kind of past experience do they have for doing similar bridges.”

In Oak Park’s 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan, the village has budgeted $1.1 million for the preliminary engineering study and $1.2 million for the final design.

Federal funds will finance 80% of the cost of the design work, McKenna said, the other 20% coming from the village’s capital improvement funds. The village expects to spend $1 million on construction management and $10 million on construction in the fiscal year 2028, according to the plan.

McKenna said he imagines it will take roughly three years for the final design to be approved. After the bridge design is completed, the village will look for additional federal funding for the construction of the bridge. The timeline for construction is to be determined, he said, as the design will dictate time and cost.

IDOT has completed a preliminary engi-

FILE

The Home Avenue pedestrian bridge on Sept. 26, 2022 over I-290 in Oak Park. neering and environmental study but has not yet proposed a detailed improvement plan for reconstructing the expressway.

Other bridges over I-290 will likely require replacement along with the Home Avenue bridge, McKenna said. The village anticipates IDOT approval to start design work in 2024, according to the recent CIP. The Village of Oak Park has completed maintenance over the years to make sure the Home Avenue bridge is in safe condition, McKenna said, including improve-

ment to the ramps, patching up the deck and repairs on fencing and railing. But the village has known for a while that it would need to be replaced eventually, he said.

The village also intends to get public input on the proposed bridge replacement designs during public meetings, McKenna said.

While the bridge is under construction, the walkway will be out of service. Pedestrians trying to cross at the Home Avenue bridge will likely be rerouted to Oak Park Avenue or Harlem Avenue, McKenna said.

Sedgwick takes steps to stop sale of Lake & Lathrop The developer is taking legal action to prevent marketing and potential sale of the property

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Officials at Sedgwick Properties appear to not be walking away from the firm’s onetime condominium development at Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue, taking legal action to prevent the marketing and potential sale of the property, according to River Forest officials.

Sedgwick’s action targets efforts by Ascend Real Estate Group, the court-appointed receiver for the Lake and Lathrop property, to market the site to developers and

investors. Sedgwick is expected to present a motion to reconsider to the Cook County Circuit Court on Jan. 24.

Village officials said they expect Ascend to call for final offers in February but stressed that any proposed development for the site will be subject to village zoning and permitting approval.

River Forest pulled the plug on the Lake and Lathrop development on a critical Sept. 15 deadline, apparently ending years of frustration for village officials and village residents, especially those who live near the development—but resulting in an

unknown future for the site.

Sedgwick Properties failed to meet the conditions set forth by the village, according to officials. Construction activity was not to be permitted on the site, they added.

“As of September 15, 2023, at 4:30 p.m., the Village has repealed the building permit for the Lake and Lathrop development at Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue and issued a stop work order to Sedgwick Properties, the developer,” village officials said in a news release issued at that time.

The project had been on the drawing board since before the village board’s 2016

approval of the proposal by Lake Lathrop Partners LLC to build a four-story, mixeduse development containing 22 condominium units with 14,000 square feet of retail space. Variations on the same project had lurched and lingered for a decade previously. The original project included another story and eight more units but was scaled back.

The project experienced a series of delays over the years, including environmental cleanup from a dry cleaner originally on the site and a lawsuit involving a tenant who did not want to leave.

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Homes

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

17

The Neighborhood Bridge: a new life for St. CatherineSt. Lucy rectory Services will be available for schoolchildren and their families

ST. CATHERINE-ST. LUCY RECTORY BUILDING

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

For a little more than a year, a dedicated team of volunteers from Oak Park’s four Catholic parishes have been working with Father Carl Morello and the Oak Park and Austin communities to discern the next stage of life for the St. Catherine-St. Lucy rectory building on Austin Avenue at Washington Boulevard.

That new life is a new social ministry called Neighborhood Bridge, a kind of outreach to residents across Austin Boulevard that will launch by focusing on school families.

The goal is to host a range of services Austin residents reported they need, including mental healthcare, primary healthcare and financial counseling. These services would be provided by established organizations leasing space in the building.

Since the consolidation of the four Oak Park Catholic parishes in the Archdiocese’s Renew My Church initiative, the future of the SCSL rectory has been in flux.

Housing Forward is now leasing the property for its emergency shelter program through April 30, but the long-term plan for the space has been to create a community services hub, bridging the divide between Oak Park and Austin.

The SCSL School is a Big Shoulders School, and 85% of its students hail from the Austin neighborhood. Starting with SCSL school families and branching out to include the voices of others throughout Austin, a team of volunteers worked throughout 2023 to determine the shape of a program that will provide access to ser-

TODD BANNOR

Dan Doody (at right facing camera) of Neighborhood Bridge addresses representatives of area service providers at Build Chicago on Tuesday Jan. 9, 2024. vices to that families in Austin need.

Dan Doody, co-chair of the volunteer committee, summarized the past year’s efforts saying, “The essence is: We were a feasibility team doing a feasibility study. We did 20 public forums and got really strong community engagement. We also got five to seven great new volunteers with great skills. We shifted to a ‘let’s do this’ stance.

We’re a business now. We’re a start-up.”

The Neighborhood Bridge’s purpose, he said, “is to connect people in need with the services that are available. The premise is that there are a lot of services and a lot of aid that our students and families qualify for, but there are a lot of barriers to getting it. The goal of the Neighborhood Bridge is to break down those barriers.”

Volunteers spent this fall presenting the ideas behind the Neighborhood Bridge at

20 public forums held at Oak Park, River Forest, and Forest Park congregations and at five schools in Austin.

The information and support gathered at those meetings informed the volunteers’ next step to incorporate the Neighborhood Bridge as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The newly formed corporation has a See RECTORY BUILDING on page 19

18

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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19

RECTORY BUILDING Seeing the prize from page 17 three-person board made up of Doody, Jack Crowe and Kenna MacKinnon.

The three-person board is assisted by five volunteer committees: development, planning, communications, facilities and service connector.

Immediate goals include securing a master lease agreement with the Archdiocese and upgrading the lower level of the rectory to house some of the current ministries serving Austin residents and to be able to host adult educational programming and distribute needed household staples to families.

The planning committee is currently focused on hiring an executive director and a development director. A local family that wishes to remain anonymous has pledged to fund the renovations to the lower level of the rectory.

Doody said that the work of the past year has been made possible by the efforts of many throughout the community.

“It’s a really great group of volunteers.

All of these people have tremendous professional skills. Everybody sees the prize: we have neighbors who live to the east of us who have very significant needs and we have the resources to connect them with the services they seek,” he said. “We are accompanying them on their journey.”

TODD BANNOR

John Meister, Kenna MacKinnon, Debbie Holiday-Phillips and Dan Doody of Neighborhood Bridge after their presentation to service providers at Build Chicago on Tuesday January 9, 2024.

Father Carl Morello, Doody and Morello who leads the four Oak agreed that community Park parishes, noted that support and sentiment the work that has been done are strong and that the in the past year to create the next step is to get finanNeighborhood Bridge is uncial backing to support the believable. operating costs and nec“It’s a testimony to the essary renovations to the DAN DOODY community,” he said. “Peobuilding.

Co-chairperson, volunteer committee ple here just have the mindDoody, for one, is excited set for social justice and to jump in. “We’re working ministry to others.” with five different schools.

He added that from his We can be getting to know standpoint, he sees the Holy the families and staff right Spirit at work, motivating people to care for away and focused on getting our executive others. As a priest, he said that this endeav- director out into the community.”

He added, “If it’s going to be successful, or puts a public face on what the Church it will be one case at a time. That’s how we should be doing: helping people in need.

The community at large is motivated at will make change. One family at a time.”

In the interest of transparency: Jack its heart by love and care for others, and Morello said that is evident in their support Crowe, a GCM columnist, was also a cofor ministry to migrants and for their de- chairman of the feasibility study comsire to help their neighbors. “The Oak Park mittee for the future of St. Catherine-St. community and beyond have a mindset and Lucy’s rectory. He was not involved with this article. a heart-set for service,” he said.

“That’s how we will make change.

One family at a time.”

FILE

Father Carl Morello giving remarks during Housing Forward’s soft opening of their emergency shelter at the St. Catherine-St. Lucy rectory building on Jan. 4., 2023.

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

P R O P E R T Y

T R A N S F E R S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Oak Park home sells for $1,300,000

The following property transfers were reported by the Cook County Clerk from September 2023. Where addresses appear incomplete, for instance where a unit number appears missing, that information was not provided by the clerk.

OAK PARK ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

1206 Forest Ave 604 N Grove Ave 344 N Grove Ave 843 N Oak Park Ave 312 N Taylor Ave 1002 Home Ave 643 N Elmwood Ave

$950,000 $950,000 $805,000 $796,000 $750,000 $630,000 $650,000

727 Gunderson Ave 224 N Austin Blvd 1048 N Euclid Ave 1324 N Austin Blvd 1031 Home Ave 726 S Humphrey Ave 218 Chicago Ave 521 Clarence Ave 107 S Euclid Ave 319 N Oak Park Ave 1122 S Scoville Ave 837 N Lombard Ave 1028 S Ridgeland Ave 735 Gunderson Ave 948 Hayes Ave 1168 S Grove Ave

$595,000 $590,000 $535,000 $525,000 $520,000 $520,000 $505,000 $490,000 $451,500 $425,000 $415,000 $410,000 $405,000 $400,000 $396,000 $384,000

325 N Oak Park Ave 514 N Lombard Ave 224 N Kenilworth Ave 1186 S Harvey Ave 837 Wisconsin Ave 221 N Kenilworth Ave 221 N Kenilworth Ave 227 N Grove Ave 1045 S Ridgeland Ave 237 S East Ave 434 Lombard St 125 S Lombard Ave 644 S Harvey Ave 950 Washington Blvd

$370,000 $355,000 $336,500 $318,000 $315,000 $310,000 $307,500 $305,000 $290,000 $285,000 $285,000 $242,500 $238,000 $235,000

Smith Kevin Mack Jennifer Leslie Strimaitis Michele Gastonguay Laura Quinn Matthew A Soh Dahm-Yi Hanley Lisa Wieferich Madison Molior Inc Buller Sarah Cassel Scott C Trotman Caroline Alyssa Chicago Title Land Trust Polk Ross W Co Tr 8002379222 Lachniet Nickolas Allen Howland Erik Pride Karen Thanakone Sengtavanh Ogden St Manager Llc Hall Nicholas G R Mayweather Flats Ltd Huerta Jacqueline Fisher Jeffrey E Wirth Jakob N Marjoyre K Copy Prov Wright Trust Kihoi Scott Mickel Scott Holtzmann Sophie L Kunz Philip A Latham Edward Samuel Worrall David Dunne Elizabeth Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr 2749 Stein Robert D Wirth Jakob Paumier David Bibbs Brandon Rushing Jimmie Paragon Ventures Llc Loech Robert William Vondrasek Thomas R Dittmer Jack J Swanson Eric A Tr Woods Elsa E Chicago Title Land Trust Yw Anita Co Tr 8002374266 Ho William Tr Kaufman Seth Komai-Thompson Loisjean Bennett Crystal M Rund Voice Joshua Baker Kathy Meacham Keri A Floramo Michael M Gilroy Philip W Tr Jr Flipping Amazing Llc Eblen Trudi Tr Lichtenberg Rachel Millan Carmenza Tr Schwider Michael J Parlier Molly Kirk Wright Hannah A Galezewski Sharman H Miranda Rodrigo Bourbonnais Patrick Tr Pediment Llc Dmytrenko Iryna Estelle Lola 5301 W Ogden Llc Chicago Title Land Trust Co Tr Balark James A Theile Carolyn Brixius Tori L Ochoa Patricia

1019 Superior St., Oak Park

OAK PARK ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

930 Ontario St 125 S Lombard Ave 1034 S Cuyler Ave 1215 N Taylor Ave 530 Washington Blvd 530 Washington Blvd 425 Home Ave 222 N Marion St 433 S Lombard Ave 1002 Clarence Ave 1041 Susan Collins Ln 1311 N Harlem Ave 1127 Erie St 950 Washington Blvd 800 Washington Blvd 1150 Washington Blvd 417 S Kenilworth Ave 1019 Superior St

$230,000 $220,500 $205,000 $200,000 $197,500 $195,000 $190,000 $186,000 $183,000 $180,000 $172,000 $166,000 $157,500 $155,000 $136,000 $127,500 $107,000 $1,300,000

Kamani Shobhana Judicial Sales Corp Hedges Michael J Breschnev Peter Calacci Taylor Paumier David A Sadler Carl Federal Home Loan Mtg Corp Harvey Joyce L Tr Cheney John W Dlj Mtg Cap Inc Tidei Joseph Kushnick Cathleen Sap Feliciano Rosie Wright Lakeshia Tillander Brice D Green Nancy Anne Extr Powers John

Kransdorf Joseph 5301 W Ogden Llc Morey Carole A Il Prop Solutions Llc Dolezal Robin E Joyce Clara Violet Glover Jeffrey M Mcdaniel Veronica Sadler Carl Warrior Const Inc Unruh Marilee Arguijo Andre L Bendowitz Catherine Tr Fannings Cristy Ann Casarez Ricardo Bates Kevin Sapp Whittey Ainsworth Russell

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

P R O P E R T Y

T R A N S F E R S

RIVER FOREST ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

1007 Thatcher Ave 313 Thatcher Ave 7416 Oak Ave 1009 Bonnie Brae Pl 1035 Bonnie Brae Pl 318 Park Ave 1535 Forest Ave 1424 N Harlem Ave 410 Ashland Ave 506 Bonnie Brae Pl 7221 W Division St 146 Keystone Ave 1349 Thatcher Ave 1323 Jackson Ave

$700,000 $635,000 $626,000 $500,000 $455,000 $300,000 $296,000 $260,000 $240,000 $190,000 $155,000 $1,350,000 $1,275,000 $1,250,000

Bendit Teresa L Garcia-Gonzalez Maria Gordon Jill C Tr Winkler Connie Bergetz Carl Rogers Richard J Tr Bibbie Lorna G Quintos Melissa De Guzman Beacom Virginia Losik Robert Tr Tupas Raymart G Whiting Heidi Schmid Levy Jane Ellen Tr Leja John A

Kazzaz Shira Gabriella Paniagua Ricardo Lunde Kristen M Banerji Manatosh Rodriquez Hubert Tr Novak Jiri 1535 Forest Llc Eichwald Terry Kenneth Beacom Michael A Lechtenberg Thomas Sanchez Justin J Leonard John A Brim Sterling Lucchese Vincent C

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FOREST PARK ADDRESS

PRICE

SELLER

BUYER

7637 Jackson Blvd 7440 Harrison St 7316 Madison St 138 Lathrop Ave 7531 Brown Ave 836 Thomas Ave 1105 Hannah Ave 1062 Des Plaines Ave 7542 Dixon St 7209 Jackson Blvd 235 Marengo Ave 235 Marengo Ave 516 Elgin Ave 1027 Harlem Ave 115 Marengo Ave 300 Circle Ave 7210 Jackson Blvd 320 Circle Ave

$96,000 $580,000 $570,000 $450,000 $365,000 $345,000 $335,000 $287,500 $270,000 $265,000 $223,000 $200,000 $190,000 $190,000 $160,000 $146,000 $135,000 $135,000

Barksdale Syreeta L Cwik David Bella Holdings Llc Mclinden Matthew Patrick Otoole Kevin P Clark Donna A Tr La Susy Llc Local Prop Llc Series M Tyle Laura B Ardinger Eric K Nicholas Meyer Shelby Tr Gage Robert E Tr 1 Cambell John H Tr Ii Fifth Third Bk Natl Assn Bistiop Cassandra M De La Hoya Oscar Touszzini Michele Oriuno Maria E

Gallus Michael F Sr Jj Global Investments Llc Dobab Llc Jarrett Peter C Martin Ronald E Vander Laan Sarah M Paredes Lidia Deleon Samantha Sheehan Thomas Barnett Maria Pedroza Reev Judith M Tr Wiese Lauren Elizabeth Grandview Cap Llc Darugar Hassan Ali Salvador Rosemarie Saril Thompson Rosie Namini Robin Penson Kennan L Sr

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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

VIEWPOINTS

Where is Walter Cronkite when we need him?

25

Migrants test the depth of our commitment

A

joke: Fr. O’Malley gave a homily at Mass on the day of the Feast of the Holy Innocents in which he praised children as being pure and good models of faith. The next day he was having a cement driveway poured, and, as kids will do, some of the parish children began writing things in the wet cement.

When the good father saw what they were doing, he stormed out of the rectory, cursing and swearing at the frightened children.

When a parishioner observed what happened she chastised her pastor saying, “Father, yesterday you spoke so glowingly about children and today you are screaming at them.”

To which Fr. O’Malley replied, “I love children in the abstract, but I can’t stand them in the concrete!”

TOM HOLMES

* * * We live in a very progressive, blue part of the country in which we love liberal ideals in the abstract. We verbally condemn xenophobia and see ourselves as welcoming migrants, especially those seeking asylum.

Yet, lately I read in Wednesday Journal, “Less than a month after Oak Park’s village board allocated $500,000 in unspent American Rescue Plan Act funding to aid asylum-seekers, the village’s Emergency Operations Center has outlined protocols to send any new arrivals away.

“The Dec. 7 memorandum states that any asylum seekers who arrive in Oak Park will not be allowed to disembark from a bus and will be advised that local shelters are at capacity. The driver will be directed to continue to the city of Chicago landing zone,” One of my friends, who is a member of an Oak Park church that is hosting migrants, tells me his congregation is having trouble finding volunteers to staff the outreach ministry.

See TOM HOLMES on page 26

FILE

T

No Plan B for our planet

here is no Planet B. Out of the mouths of babes! I heartily applaud the letter that Amy Rosenthal submitted on behalf of her 10- and 8-year-old children, Bennett and Rosemary Funk. Thank you, kids! [Make the world a better place, Viewpoints, Jan. 17] I confess I am imperfect when it comes to doing my part to combat Climate Change. I’m doing better of late, thanks in part to joining the River Forest Sustainability Commission as one of its commissioners. I’m learning all sorts of things beyond the obvious stuff — like taking reusable bags to the grocery or composting my kitchen scraps.

Not that those aren’t a good first step. Every little bit helps.

Sadly though, I think there are a lot of folks who just feel this is a losing battle. Or maybe that it’s too much trouble. Or what difference do the efforts of one person really make? And gee whiz, with all that is going on now in this country, who can deal with Climate Change?

Out of the mouths of babes, yes, and here’s another such story:

Before I joined it, I spoke about the benefits of heat pumps during the public comment portion of the Sustainability Commission’s meeting a few months ago. Candidly, I will admit that I used that bully pulpit as a job interview for the job of commissioner.

Well, anybody who knows me knows I’m gung-ho on heat pumps — had them at our house in Oak Park and have one on the roof of our condo in River Forest. Can’t say enough good about them. In the three years we’ve lived in River Forest, our furnace has come on exactly once — during this latest cold streak. Otherwise, we’ve been running on the much more efficient heat pump for both our heating and cooling needs.

But I digress. Sitting in the back of the room at that meeting was a very young boy, the son of one of the commissioners. The boy was very well behaved and quietly keeping himself entertained and didn’t seem to be paying much attention to the proceedings.

Turns out I was wrong because at a subsequent meeting, his mother told the commission the follow-

LOUISE MEZZATESTA One View

See LOUISE MEZZATESTA on page 26

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

V I E W S

Chevy, not a Cadillac

T

hey are getting down to cases at Oak Park and River Forest High School where a bid package for the long-planned Project 2 construction project has just gone out.

With the jaw-dropping price tag still set at $102 million, the school board last week took a paring knife to its plans, reducing the total square footage of the remaking of the school’s indoor athletic facilities by 13,000 square feet, cutting a classroom, lopping off some fancier finishes and eliminating a planned athletic training room.

The goal of the administration and board was to contain the cost of the project as it goes out to bid. Tom Cofsky, president of the school board, said cost containment was important. “We don’t have a bottomless well to pull from,” he said.

Fred Arkin serves both on the board and as a longtime volunteer coach in the wrestling program. He was, not unexpectedly, grumpy as cuts were approved to facilities specific to wrestling but was on target when he said, “We are looking for the heavy-duty Chevy, not the Cadillac.” He noted that the “actual structure is what’s most important,” and finishing touches and small upgrades can be added later.

We have spent two decades criticizing this high school and its leadership for too-generous contracts with staff and then for obscenely overtaxing property owners, resulting in a cash reserve that absurdly topped $125 million.

That said, in the past 10 years the recent versions of the school board came back to reality and negotiated teacher contracts that were fair but not excessive and began to address issues beyond salary that lined up with the district’s vision for education and equity. District 200 has rightly limited the tax hikes it might have taken and acknowledged that the fund balance had become an albatross that broke trust with taxpayers.

As it has addressed long-ignored investments in the physical plant through its series of renovation and construction projects, the board has also actively worked to spend down that balance as a partial funding solution for these projects.

So it was in character for this board to focus on a range of details in the Project 2 plan and to find an array of cuts to keep this worthy project within the already agreed-to financial limits.

Grads telling stories This week we tell the stories of three recent OPRF grads who are looking for donations to fund important storytelling projects: Jada Buford is finishing a Master in Fine Arts at Columbia University. She is working on her thesis film, focuing on the essential place of sleepovers in the lives of pre-teen girls. The short film reflects Buford’s life experience growing up here. We remember her as one of the defining voices in Steve James’ America to Me documentary set at OPRF. Lucas Kult-Banout and Ezekial Wells are 2023 OPRF grads who will set out this summer on a cross-country trip to document diverse but not polarizing voices of the people they meet. Their work will post to YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

We raise some remarkable kids in these villages.

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

23

Comfortable in the Mystery Zone

D

o you ever find yourself in the “Mystery Zone”?

In early December I was driving north on Oak Park Avenue to an appointment. I was late and didn’t need any more delays than I had already endured. Passing the Mars candy factory, I thought I was making decent time (a curious expression, “making time”). Just then the arms of the railroad crossing came down and the red lights flashed their “stay back” warning. The last thing I needed was a long, slow, lumbering freight train, one of those traveling graffiti-artist exhibitions, holding me up.

I descended into a pit of despair (aka the “slough of despond”), which is ridiculous since most freight trains pass in five minutes or less, even though it feels like forever. But I was late, and I hate being late. I don’t want people thinking I’m irresponsible and unreliable. Before you know it, they’ll start using the word “flighty” to describe me. No one wants to be branded “flighty.”

Shoving the car into “park,” my head drooped, and I found myself staring into the cradle formed by the interlaced fingers of my hands in my lap.

Then I uttered — not quite a complaint, not quite a prayer — but a deep lament. “Why do things like this have to happen when I’m late?!” It was an outcry directed at the seemingly un-random injustice of a cold-hearted universe. It didn’t “always” happen to me, but I cried out anyway. It was deeply sincere, though childishly self-pitying. As they say, First World problems.

When I looked up, the crossing arms were rising even though no train had passed. Slowly, scarcely believing my luck, vehicles started across. Just in case it was the elevating, not lowering arms, that were misfiring, I glanced down the tracks to my left and saw the bright light of a train, at a distance, not moving. Heading on my merry way, feeling liberated, a cat swallowing the canary, I looked in the rear-view mirror and saw the arms lowering again.

Many would be tempted to view this as some supernatural intervention in response to my “prayer,” but it wasn’t a prayer really, more of a beseeching whine, even though it came from deep within. Others would assure me there must be some “perfectly logical explanation.”

I didn’t surrender to either description. All I knew was it felt eerily unreal, extravagantly pleasant, and deliciously inexplicable. Maybe God was sick of hearing me complain that such things “always happen to me,” and wanted to shut me up. If so, it worked. I will never again say such annoyances “always” happen. “Often” maybe, but not

“always.” I’m cured.

There may well be a logical explanation for what happened that night.

Maybe this is simply the protocol when a train has temporarily halted. Maybe the human, not divine, overseer cuts the people up-track a break until the train gets clearance to continue. If so, the railroad people have become a whole lot more considerate of vehicular traffic than they used to be — and deserve positive publicity for it.

I wouldn’t know where to begin tracking down that logical explanation.

Maybe some railroad buff reading this will provide it.

When I told a friend about my experience, he wondered why I hesitated to call it an answer to my heart’s petition. He believes in an interventive, personal God and I find his belief admirably sincere because his faith hasn’t shuttered his mind.

But I don’t share that particular human version of God, so I answered his question with a question.

I don’t feel a need to attribute the unexplainable to a higher power. Did he feel a need for those who don’t share his belief to do so? To his credit, he said no.

On the other hand, I also feel no need to find a logical explanation. There may be one and I won’t be disappointed if there is, but I’m also not looking to shove a chair under the doorknob to prevent the entry of inconvenient mystery. In all things natural and supernatural, I am much more comfortable between the extremes of theism and a-theism, favoring the “mysterious middle.” I like the fact that there is more to our world, and certainly more to the universe at large (mind-blowingly large), than we can fully explain.

I love science and cheer for every step taken in advancing our knowledge of the particular universe we inhabit but, as with the James Webb Space Telescope, each step tends to illuminate the vast scope of just how much scientists, and the rest of us, don’t know.

Science is only a threat to those who live in a fortress of certainty, holding on tenaciously to their cosmic flotation device, but it is no threat to those for whom mystery is the heart of spirituality (and science).

Every time I find myself in the Mystery Zone, I give thanks for uncertainty, and thoroughly enjoy the tantalizing wonder of what might be.

Whoever or whatever was responsible for those railroad-crossing arms going up, I’m deeply grateful.

It felt great to be moving again.

KEN

TRAINOR

24

V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

Shining a positive light in our communities The following is a letter that appeared in the Jan. 14 online Ascension and St. Edmund Parish bulletin from Father Carl Morello: ear Community, I hope your new year is off to a good start. For our Migrant Ministry, the new year began with the successful move from St. Catherine-St. Lucy Rectory to St. Edmund School. It was a lot of work but, with many dedicated volunteers, the transition went smoothly. I was able to be there on Thursday morning, Jan. 4, the first morning we welcomed migrants coming for needed clothing and support at the new location. It was nice to have the added space and to be in one area where everyone felt connected and part of this important ministry of compassion and care. I am so impressed with our volunteers and the different faith backgrounds and how the paths of our lives cross here in this ministry.

I want to highlight what a positive light this has shined on our Christian, Catholic, communities!

There is an unease in our culture with professing Christianity. We have two choices: we walk the talk or shut up about it. If we cannot match our walk with our talk, then it might be best to opt out, and do as Peter once did, “Jesus? No I don’t really know him.”

The Indian reformer Mahatma Gandhi is often misquoted as saying, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Although it cannot be confirmed that he actually spoke those words, it is likely he said something similar.

In The Christ of the Indian Road by E. Stanley Jones, a Methodist theologian and author who was a friend of Gandhi, Jones asked him how to better introduce

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Christianity into India. Gandhi replied in part, “I would suggest first of all that all you Christians, missionaries and all, begin to love like Jesus Christ.”

I am so proud of the fact that our parishes, and our larger Oak Park community and members of communities beyond ours, are putting their faith into action — and others are taking notice. In our support for Housing Forward and in the extensive help we have been offering migrants who come to our door for clothing and care, we are living this fact: We are choosing to walk the talk!

I encourage everyone in this new year to be a Jesus person. Can we all go a day without gossip, without being ungracious and impatient, snide or rude? I am so glad you chose to read this article; hopefully it is after having come to Mass. Being at church together in prayer, our weekly worship, enhances our Jesus skills, helping us succeed at the Christ Challenge, the challenge that calls us to live authentically. Being at Mass helps us end the disconnect between the talk and the walk!

Finally, I recently saw a quote attributed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who our nation honors for his leadership in civil rights: “I was a drum major for justice, righteousness and peace.”

Let us follow his example and not only continue to pray for peace on Earth and good will toward all, but to live as instruments of that peace.

Rev. Carl Morello is the pastor of two new parishes with four worship sites in Oak Park, building a new reality as a church and communities of faith, for all people of good will, living in peace and promoting peace to the benefit of all.

REV. CARL MORELLO One View

An honor well deserved

It was wonderful to read Amaris Rodriguez’s article about Mike Kennedy, teacher at St. Catherine-St. Lucy School [When the second time’s a charm: Careerchanging teacher wins honors, News, Jan. 17] Ms. Rodriguez explained that Mr. Kennedy started teaching at the age of 60, after retiring from a career as a commodity broker. He is now being recognized as the recipient of the 2024 Barack Obama Library Award, as an outstanding educator for “work in promoting and teaching lifelong literacy with their students.”

As a volunteer with the Pro Bono Network’s Lawyers in the Classroom program, I’ve had the privilege of working with Mr. Kennedy’s students. His excel-

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor Erika Hobbs Digital Manager Stacy Coleman Staff Reporter Amaris Rodriguez, Luzane Draughon Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, Mary Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner E-MAIL jill@oakpark.com Special Projects Manager Susan Walker Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs Publisher Dan Haley

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Steve Edwards Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer

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

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

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

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names,

lence as a teacher couldn’t be more apparent. His students are always highly engaged, inquisitive, and informed, with a sophistication that is both surprising and indicative of the preparation they have received.

While Mr. Kennedy is modest and downplays his influence, he can’t stop boasting about his students and their plans for high school — and beyond.

Congratulations, Mr. Kennedy — an honor well deserved and truly reflective of excellence in teaching.

Patti Marino River Forest

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

‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself,

your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left

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

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ADDRESS 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-524-8300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $2.00.

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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An apology

Several readers have called one paragraph in my “One View” of Jan. 3 Islamophobic.

As careful as I thought I was, and despite a couple of rounds of editing with Ken Trainor, it came out the way

The gigabyte blues An ode to Walter Cronkite: Gigabyte blues, I caught the Internet flu Right here, on my computer.

I’m drowning in digits and analog widgets, Quantum computing just gives me fidgets!

Answers in an instant, too good to be true — Just a million links for me to review!

Oh where is Walter Cronkite to package the news?

Pass me a bowl of that Internet stew.

We’re dancing in the giga-gulch, With terabytes of search results We’ve all got the webby world blues.

Internet flu, you’ve got the bug, it’s true.

Search anything — you can choose!

But who said what, about which, to who?

C’mon, really, who wrote this spew?

Walter was our Reality Wiz, He always said “that’s the way it is!”

Where is our Cronkite to civilize the news?

Just pass me a glass of that Internet goo.

I’m in a data trance, The modern data dance, I’ve got the gigabyte blues.

Our brains weren’t built for this kind of deluge.

We’re overwhelmed, overheated; Under-filtered, un-deleted.

We need an editor to tell us what’s true.

What Cronkite reported at six was official, Not a concern about Intelligence Artificial.

What Walter said was clearly the truth, Not some al-go-ri-thm with attitude!

We’re stumbling in the data storm, The information swarm, We’ve all got the gigabyte blues.

Karen Muriello Oak Park

it did. I take responsibility. I apologize to the letter writers and to the readers of Wednesday Journal.

Alan Peres Oak Park

Eliminate minimum parking requirements

I would like to voice my enthusiastic support for Diversity Oak Park’s call for an expanded Inclusionary Housing Ordinance [A new housing ordinance, Viewpoints, Jan. 3], and recommend an additional policy change that will be necessary to make it successful: the elimination of minimum parking requirements for new development.

Parking uses up valuable square footage without generating any revenue, forcing multifamily housing developers to cover those costs through increased rents.

A single parking space in a parking structure can cost $50,000 or more.

By giving developers flexibility to include less parking onsite, it will be more economically feasible for them to comply with such an ordinance and use that valuable square footage to house people instead of cars.

Research shows that low-income households generally drive less compared to higher-income households — unsurprising given the cost of car ownership and maintenance has ballooned to an eye-popping $12,000/year. We are incredibly lucky that Oak Park offers better access to transportation than many neighborhoods in Chicago, with access to the el, CTA buses, Metra and Pace, and even Divvy bikes in the Austin neighborhood. By building apartments with less parking, we will attract resi-

dents with fewer cars who drive less — a win for traffic congestion, the environment, and local businesses.

Eliminating parking minimums became a national trend last year, with even NPR reporting on the wave of zoning changes across the country as cities from Austin to Anchorage seek to “end up with less parking, more affordable housing, better transit, and walkable neighborhoods.”

If a car-centric city like Austin, Texas can eliminate parking minimums in the name of affordability, then surely a dense, urban, walkable, and increasingly unaffordable community with plentiful transit access like Oak Park can.

More affordable housing, a more diverse community, less traffic congestion, more pedestrian activity and a growing and vibrant community? Sounds like the Oak Park I want to live in.

Sources: “From Austin to Anchorage, U.S. Cities opt to ditch their off-street parking minimums,” https://www.npr. org/2024/01/02/1221366173/u-s-cities-drop-parking-spaceminimums-development Parking Reform Network: www.parkingreform.org

Nicole Chavas Oak Park

Are some Trump supporters intelligent, thoughtful?

Recent letters to Wednesday Journal labeled Trump supporters “sycophants” and “boobs.” To the extent those labels accurately apply to some Trump supporters, they also apply to some Biden supporters. Similarly, just as many supporters of President Biden are intelligent and thoughtful, so are many supporters of former President Donald Trump.

I don’t understand the devotion and allegiance many thoughtful, intelligent people have for Donald Trump, but I know

some of them and I respect them and their views. To paint with such a broad pejorative brush when referring to supporters of one candidate or the other does all of us a disservice.

Let’s counter opposing views with good arguments rather than with negative labels.

Karl Lauger Oak Park

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

TOM HOLMES

Testing our commitment from page 22 A member of my own congregation here in Forest Park is homeless, but we decided to not let him sleep in the church because he caused trouble during a previous stay and because we couldn’t get anyone to volunteer to stay overnight and monitor his behavior.

For four years my wife and I have been helping with money and friendship a formerly homeless couple now living in an apartment subsidized by Housing Forward, and it’s really starting to wear on us. Virtually everyone we know tells us that we shouldn’t be giving them money.

A staff member of L’Arche here in town told me that the assistants who live with their developmentally disabled core members often begin their time in the program with idealistic enthusiasm, but they last only a year or two.

We live in a progressive lifestyle enclave.

We are liberal politically. Over four out of five of us voted for Biden. We are liberal in our charitable giving. In 2022 our local

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henever Chicago gets hit with an Arctic freeze, it is the worst time in the world for anything to break down. Especially a furnace, hot water heater, locks to the door, or pipes bringing in the water.

An Arctic freeze will quickly show you how poorly insulated your house is as that cold weather seeps through the doorway, and other cracks and crevices. It will make one long doing the weather stripping that was previously ignored and not taken care of during the warmer weather.

I remember the Arctic freeze that happened around Christmas 2022. I was out of town and had completely forgotten to allow the water to drip. By the time I got back, the temperature had warmed up, but when I turned on the faucets upstairs, they sputtered and brown water came out, along with a lot of sediment. That was a sure sign the water pipes had frozen.

V I E W P O I N T S CROP Hunger Walk raised $127,000, ranking us number 5 of 661 CROP Walks in the nation. We are liberal in our acceptance of diverse faith communities and racial/ ethnic groups.

And yet our encounter with migrant groups has been a gauge of the depth of our commitment to the values we espouse.

We are generous with our time and treasure, up to the point where it affects our lifestyle.

Here’s a thought-provoking question: What if we as individual citizens, when creating our budgets, decided on the percentage of our annual income we wanted to spend on what I will call charities first before determining the amount for their own food, utilities, mortgage, car payments?

I mean, what if we determined that before we bought a car or a house. For example, the average household income in Forest Park is $72,827. Let’s say I decided to give 10% of my income away to causes I value. That comes to $7,300, right? And that leaves roughly $65,000 for everything else.

Now the median annual rent in Forest Park is around $1,200 a month or $14,400 a year. So $65,000 minus $14,400, if I’ve done my math right, leaves $50,600 for food,

taxes, family trips, clothes, car payments, etc. Is that enough?

My wife and I know what charity fatigue feels like. We’ve been giving money, time and above all emotional energy to our homeless couple for a long time, and it has forced us to decide what we really value.

The same is true on a community-wide basis. The influx of migrants is forcing us to determine what we really value, not just in the abstract as we debate politics after church or in the local diner, but in terms of our wallets and free time.

The campaign season is upon us. We will wax eloquently and passionately about what we value and who will best turn those values into policies, In addition to expressing our fears regarding what might happen and arguing about how to fix the immigration system, how many hours and dollars are we willing to spend on writing postcards, and door to door canvassing?

The influx of migrants to our area is forcing us to face how deep the commitment to our values really goes.

So will this upcoming campaign season.

Tom Holmes, a resident of Forest Park, writes a regular column for the Forest Park Review, a Growing Community Media publication.

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

LOUISE

MEZZATESTA

From heat pumps to composting to a healthy planet from page 22 ing story: It seems the child went to school the next day and told his class about heat pumps — all about this lady who came to his mother’s meeting and talked about how wonderful heat pumps are.

As I sat in the meeting listening, my eyes teared up, as they do now writing this. The moral of the story is: Don’t ever think that one small action can’t make a difference, because it can. If even one small little boy is listening, maybe your words and actions can make a difference.

And yes, folks, there is no Plan(et) B, so please heed the words of the little children.

A frozen water pipe is no fun My water pipes froze again during last week’s Arctic blast.

Thankfully I had a case of bottled water, which saved me from not having any water. I finally narrowed the problem area down to the northwest corner of the basement. On the exterior of my house, that area doesn’t have any bushes or anything else to block cold or break the wind. I tried putting a heat gun and a halogen lamp in the area where I figured the problem was occurring.

However, because a prior owner of my home had encased the water pipes in cement, that strategy didn’t work. Putting pipes in cement is great protection from being hit with a nail but horrible when it comes to trying to find out where the pipe is frozen at. Hav-

ing the pipes run behind the wall made it difficult as well.

In trying to find and defrost the frozen pipe, I had both the furnace and a heater in the basement going. My basement was starting to feel like a tropic zone, so it was weird hours later that wherever the frozen pipe was, it hadn’t warmed up the area enough to defrost it. I finally solved the problem by running a heating cable into the area behind the wall. The extreme warmth worked! Twenty minutes later, the wonderful gurgling sound of water coming through put a smile on my face.

One of the things I now have to debate is how much money it is going to cost me to replace the galvanized pipes currently

ARLENE JONES

in place with copper pipes. I’m pretty sure freezing has not been good for them. My water pressure is excellent, so it does not appear that those pipes are clogged.

And ever since I moved into the house 34 years ago, I always let the water run for about two minutes after it has been standing all night. If there’s any lead leaching into the water, it would be more concentrated in water that has been standing than water that is moving.

I think I’ll spend the next six weeks plotting all my projects for the upcoming spring and summer. My list, as usual, will be things I can do, and things I’m going to have to pay the professional to do. I know I definitely need to have some additional plumbing work done in addition to those incoming water pipes, so that project may be prioritized up.

Home ownership is always an adventure!

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Selma Belajec, 87 Travel agent

Selma Wijnhausen Belajec, 87, of River Forest, died peacefully on Jan. 13, 2024. Born on Oct. 25, 1936 in Heerlen, The Netherlands, she was the only child of a young Jewish couple living in the most southern part of the Netherlands, a region she was proud of. She and her parents survived World War II by hiding in rural southern Dutch countryside farms. After only a few years of schooling and work experience, she married Vladimir J. “Vlado” Belajec, a chemistry scientist from Croatia, and together they moved to the Chicago area.

She acquired Mark’s Travel Agency on Chicago Avenue in Oak Park, and operated and expanded that business for over 25 years. She traveled to over 60 countries, organizing a wide variety of trips and journeys. An active Rotary Club member and a devoted 19th Century Club member, she belonged to several book clubs, and was a member of the Har Zion Temple.

She was preceded in death by her former husband Vladimir (1997). For the last five years, she thrived with the help of her care team. Special thanks for the heartfelt care of Kim, Karen, Riley, Rosa, Margot, Awa, Juveria, Fera, Christine, Tamara, and Kimberly from Ashland & Vine In-Home Care.

John Craig, 78

Taught at Leyden High School John H. Craig, 78, died on Jan. 12, 2024. Born on July 16, 1945, he taught at Leyden High School, retiring with 34 years of service, 1967 to 2001. He was a resident of Oak Park from 1973 to 2005.

John was the husband of the late Martha (nee Lynam); the father of Christie E. Craig, Nancy (Ray) Humpage, and the late John Robert Craig;

O B I T U A R I E S the grandfather of Sean & Sam; the brother of James, Joseph & William Craig; and brother-in-law of Michael (Sandy) Lynam.

Visitation was Jan. 20 at Hursen Funeral Home & Crematory, SW corner of Roosevelt & Mannheim Roads; Hillside/Westchester.

Private interment at Glen Oak Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.

Marion Mengert, 94 Social services worker, social justice advocate

Marion Grace ( H a m p t o n ) Mengert, 94, died in Exeter, New Hampshire on Dec. 10, 2023. She grew up in Euclid, Ohio, raised her family in Oak Park, and later moved to Exeter, New Hampshire to be near her daughter and grandchildren.

She majored in sociology/psychology at Bowling Green University and earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Chicago. She met her husband, Eric Mengert, at the Young Adult Group of First Unitarian Church of Chicago. They later became active members of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Unity Temple Unitarian-Universalist congregation in Oak Park.

She pursued a career in social services, beginning as the clinic coordinator at Planned Parenthood, then became the senior citizen coordinator at Oak Park Township. Later, she was a supervisor at the Cook County Area Agency on Aging, and completed her working years with the Federal Administration on Aging. She was passionate about social service and social justice in her professional, personal, and religious life.

A dedicated member of the Social Justice Committee of First Unitarian Universalist Society of Exeter, she attended protests, marches, and vigils. She was a quiet but powerful and compassionate woman, mother, grandmother, activist, and friend.

Her wit often caught people off guard. She always enjoyed a good book, word games, and putting experiences down on paper.

Marion is predeceased by her parents, William J. Hampton and Marion L. Par-

sons, her brother Donald B. Hampton, and her husband Eric J. Mengert. She is survived by her daughter, Vandy (Mengert) Leigh and her children, Tadhg and Allura Duffy; her sons, William E. Mengert and Kenn Mengert; her sister-in-law, Sylvia Hampton; and a niece and two nephews.

The family appreciates memorial donations to the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Exeter (exeteruu.org) or the American Civil Liberties Union (aclu.org) A Celebration of Life will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Exeter, Exeter, NH on March 30, 2024, at 10 a.m.

Karen Paul, 81 Health-care consultant, hospital chaplain

Karen Paul, 81, of Oak Park, died on Jan. 15, 2024 after a short illness.

Originally from Lima, Ohio, she entered a convent after graduating from college, and served with the Sisters of Charity.

During this time, both of her parents passed away while she was in her 20s. As a woman religious, she served as a retreat leader in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

After deciding to go to graduate school at Notre Dame University, Karen left the order and completed her graduate degree in religious studies, then started a career in health-care consulting, ending up at The Seagal Group in Chicago.

As a single woman, she wanted a family, so she adopted Sarah in 1983 and Angela in 1987.

While working at Segal and raising a family, she also served as a lay eucharistic minister at Grace Episcopal Church, in Oak Park.

She retired as senior vice president of Health Services Delivery for Segal Group in 2010. After that, she took a position as a chaplain at Rush University Medical Center until 2020.

Karen is survived by two daughters, Sarah Worthington and Angela Worthington, and two grandsons, Martez Bassett, and Jordan Worthington-Peeples.

Her memorial service will take place at

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

27

St. Martin Episcopal Church, 5710 W. Midway Park, Chicago on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 11 a.m.

Julia Hickey Memorial

A memorial service for Julia Hickey will take place on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Grace Lutheran Church in River Forest. Julia died on Dec. 1, 2023 in St. Croix Virgin Islands, where she was living. She attended Oak Park schools when the family moved here from Wales, UK. She is survived by her mother, Susan; her brothers, Paul, Chris and Patrick; her sister, Gaye Kassir; her nephews, Dan Hickey and P.J. Hickey. She was preceded in death by her father, John, and her sister, Camille. Many remember her bubbly personality and compassion.

There will be a gathering at 10 a.m., with the service starting at 11. There will be a reception with food at noon. An open mic will be available for anyone who would like to share a memory they have of Julia.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to any animal rescue or domestic violence support organizations of your choosing.

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: 708/5240447 before Monday at noon.

Please include a photo if possible.

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Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

SPORTS Nate Marshall’s twist of fate

Conversation with his teacher before freshman year opened doors

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

features the top high school players selected from each NFL city, with participants getting one-on-one instruction and training from current and former NFL players.

Most surprising of all, Marshall, who couldn’t be reached by Wednesday Journal for this story, did not initially plan to play football at Fenwick. He was focused on basketball, which is in his bloodlines. Marshall’s mother Khara played at DePaul University, and his uncle Ken Norman played at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign before enjoying a lengthy career in the National Basketball Association, primarily with the Atlanta Hawks.

But during a summer math enrichment class before his freshman year, a chance conversation with his teacher influenced Marshall to come out for football.

“The first day that Nate walked into the classroom, I knew he was someone I needed to get on the football field,” said the

Each year, college football coaches go all over the country to visit and recruit high school players. To be sure, most of the visits are mundane and low-key.

COURTESY OF FENWICK HIGH SCHOOL But there was absolutely nothing boring Fenwick High School junior Nate Marshall (right) is presented a special award from about Fenwick High School junior Nate Chicago Bears’ manager of youth football and community programs, Gustavo Silvas, Marshall’s day on Jan. 16. Not only was he at a ceremony, Jan. 16. Marshall will represent the Bears at the Nike Next Ones visited by a major college coach in quite a unique fashion, he also received a nice Showcase, Feb. 10, in Las Vegas. surprise honor from the National Football teacher, Dominic Bolton, who also happens get where he is now.”

League’s Chicago Bears. to be a coach on Fenwick’s freshman team.

What impresses Bolton most is how MarThe day began with Marshall getting a “The first reason was mainly because shall has conducted himself throughout visit from University of Miami (Florida) of his size; he towered over the recruiting process. head football coach Mario all the freshmen. Every day I “Everyday at practice, he walks past the Cristobal at Fenwick’s Priowould ask Nate, ‘What are your freshman field and always takes the time to ry Campus in River Forest. thoughts on playing football?’ say hi,” Bolton said. “When players receive Unbeknownst to Marshall, His response was, ‘I’ll think certain accolades, some walk around like arrangements had been about it.’ they think they’re better than everyone made to have Cristobal de“On the last day of class I told else, but Nate has stayed humble.” part via helicopter from the him, ‘I’ll see you at the first pracMarshall, who has offers from numersoccer field. tice’,” Bolton added. “He didn’t ous major universities, including AlaAfter that surprise, Marsay anything, looked at me, and bama, Auburn, Illinois, Michigan, Notre shall, a two-way player at smiled when walking out. Sure Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M, defensive end and offensive enough, he showed up the first and Wisconsin, hasn’t announced when tight end, received another day of practice, and the legend he will make his decision. Nor has he repleasantly unexpected gift leased a list of schools he will officially of Nate Marshall began.” when Gustavo Silvas, manThat day, Bolton says, he and visit this year. ager of youth football and First, Marshall has another season left to the other freshman coaches community programs for were awed by Marshall’s ability. hone his skills. the Bears, came by and an“I just hope he makes it his best,” said “He did things that freshnounced that Marshall COURTESY OF FENWICK HIGH SCHOOL men weren’t supposed to do,” Bolton. “I want him to enjoy the black and would be the team’s reprehe stated. “We all said he had white for one more season and make some sentative in the Nike Next University of Miami head football coach Mario Cristobal (left), what it takes to play at the next memories with his teammates. Wherever Ones Showcase on Feb. 10 Fenwick High School junior Nate Marshall (center), and a Miami level. [But] I think that Nate Nate decides to further his education and at Allegiant Stadium in Las football career, the school should know has been successful because of Vegas, site of Super Bowl assistant coach display the “U” - Miami’s logo - at the end of Cristobal’s LVIII (58), which takes place visit to Fenwick’s Priory Campus, Jan. 16. Cristobal and his assistant then his dedication to get better; he they are getting a one-of-a-kind athlete who the following day. The event boarded the helicopter behind them en route to another destination. has worked extremely hard to is going to give it his all.”

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

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OPRF wrestling wins conference championship Huskies claim first WSC Silver title since 2020

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

For many years, the Oak Park and River Forest High School boys wrestling team ruled the West Suburban Conference Silver Division, winning many consecutive championships. In recent seasons as the Huskies went through a rebuilding process, they were knocked off their lofty perch. If this season is any indication, the program is back to its winning ways.

Last week, OPRF claimed the outright WSC Silver title with back-to-back dual meet wins: 44-17 over visiting York on Jan. 16, then 38-25 at Glenbard West, Jan. 17. It’s the first time in four years that the Huskies have finished atop the conference.

“It’s awesome,” said OPRF coach Paul Collins. “These guys wrestle hard for each other. It’s amazing to watch our seniors (Ruben Acevedo, Emmett Baker, Isaac Davies) scrap and do what they could. They helped us win both of those dual meets, and our younger guys stepped in and built off of their momentum.”

OPRF hosted its annual Huskie Invitational on Jan. 20, finishing third in the

standings with 317 points. Sophomore Zev Koransky was the Huskies’ sole individual champion, winning the 126-pound final via major decision, 13-2, over Glenbard West’s Alejandro Arenda.

“Zev beat a tough kid who’s stymied him a little bit this year,” Collins said.

Junior Joe Knackstedt (138 pounds) and sophomore David Ogunsanya (150) had runner-up finishes; junior Eric Harris took third at 215; freshman Michael Rundell was fourth at 106; junior Gabe Rojas was fourth at 113; junior Terrence Garner was fifth at 285; and sophomore AJ Noyes was sixth at 132.

While Collins is happy with how his team has done in dual meets, he’d like to see improvement in tournament performances, especially timely with the Huskies hosting an IHSA Class 3A regional in less than two weeks.

“Our tournaments haven’t been bad overall. Today was solid,” Collins said. “[But] the way I operate, I only think about missed opportunities. Between the 157, 165, and 190 classes, we scored only four team points. If we’re thinking about winning a regional title, we’ve got to be better than that. There were a lot of winnable matches we lost today, and we have a lot of work we need to do over the next two weeks.”

The Class 3A OPRF Regional takes place Feb. 3.

CAROL DUNNING

Oak Park and River Forest sophomore wrestler Zev Koransky picks up Glenbard West’s Alejandro Arenda in the 126-pound final of the Huskie Invitational, Jan. 20. Koransky won via a major decision, 13-2.

Fenwick Fenwick placed 13th with 41 points in the Chicago Catholic League tournament, Jan. 20, at St. Rita. The Friars had two individu-

als place fifth in their respective weight classes: Dominic Esposito at 165 pounds, and Patrick Gilboy at 175 pounds.

Up next for Fenwick is the IHSA Class 2A regional, Feb. 3, at St. Ignatius.

Fenwick comes up short at Riverside-Brookfield

Bulldogs edge the Friars in overtime

By LAUREN RECCHIA Contributing Reporter

After a great performance, the tight game between the Fenwick and Riverside-Brookfield boys basketball teams settled things in OT, with the Friars coming up just short, 63-59 Saturday, at Riverside-Brookfield.

With the score knotted at 53 heading into the extra frame, RB senior post player Stefan Cicic scored on a layup from the right side with 3:10 left to put his team in the

lead. Fenwick’s junior guard Ty Macariola answered with a tip-in from the right side with 2:35 left to play to tie the game at 55, and the Bulldogs answered on a 3-pointer from the left side by senior guard Steven Brown with 2:07 to play, putting them up 58-55.

“We were playing well, but we had some crucial turnovers late in the game,” said Fenwick junior guard Dominick Ducree.

“Overall, in the game we shot the ball well, and we did get some good turnovers ourselves. We just couldn’t get the job done.”

Ducree led the Friars with 24 points while junior forward Nate Marshall put up five points and junior guard Deonte Meeks notched four points.

“Dom [Ducree] has been a steady player for us all season,” said Friars head coach David Fergerson. “Teams scout him and he’s still able to make the plays when his number is called. He made some big shots for us which was great tonight, we just fell a little bit short.”

On Jan. 19, Fenwick notched a 44-29 Chicago Catholic League victory at Leo. Junior guard Kamren Hogan had a team-high 12 points, while Meeks added nine and Macariola had eight.

Ducree and the rest of the Friars have a lot they can build on after Friday’s game, as they head into more Chicago Catholic League play this week.

“We’re a defense-oriented team” Ducree

said. “We don’t want to give anyone free looks or free options, or free drives in the lane. This week we’re really going to focus on the defensive side of things.”

Ducree also knows that getting things rolling right from the start of games will be a big key in finishing games the rest of the way.

“The games we lost this season, it was because we’ve come out flat in the first or third quarter,” Ducree said. “If we can just keep up our first and third quarters, we’ll be really solid. The biggest thing for us is to make sure we come out with high energy and really get on the other team, and making sure that we hold the lead and take care of the ball.”

30 Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024 Let the sun shine in...

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PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed separate bids will be received by the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (the “Board”) for the following project:

to make an award that in the Board’s sole opinion is in the best interest of the District.

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request of bids for the Oak Park Conservatory Vestibule Restoration, 615 Garfield St., Oak Park.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302 The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Oak Park Conservatory Vestibule Restoration, 615 Garfield St., Oak Park. The project consists of removal of existing glass, glazing members, doors and vestibule, furnish and install new glass glazing system and doors to match original details, new East house door and restore portico. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 10:00 a.m. (Central time) on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Demand Star website as of 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2024. The Conservatory is open to view Tues- Sunday’s from 11am-3pm. A non-mandatory prebid walk-thru is scheduled for Tuesday, February 13th at 9:00 a.m. at the Conservatory at 615 Garfield St., Oak Park, IL 60304. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors.

Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Demand Star website at: https://www.demandstar.com/app/ buyers/bids/438218/details For additional information, contact Chris Lindgren at chris.lindgren@pdop.org or (708) 725‑2050. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2024. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request of bids for the Oak Park Dole Center Window Replacement, 255 Augusta, Oak Park.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302 The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Oak Park Dole Center Window Replacement, 255 Augusta, Oak Park. The project consists of removal of windows, provide and install new energy efficient windows. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 10:00 a.m. (Central time) on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Demand Star website as of 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2024. A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for February 13th, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at Dole Center 255 Augusta, Oak Park, IL 60302. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors. Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Demand Star website at: https://www.demandstar.com/app/ buyers/bids/438307/details For additional information, contact Nelson Acevedo at Nelson.Acevedo@pdop.org or (708) 725‑2053.

Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2024. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 SD97 – JULIAN MS GENDER NEUTRAL TOILET ROOMS OAK PARK, IL 60302 BID GROUP 1 – GENERAL TRADES, ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, PLUMBING Bids will be received until 2:00 p.m.

CST on Thursday, February 8, 2024, at the Oak Park Elementary School District 97 Administrative offices, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302, and will be read at 2:15 p.m. CST on that date. Bids shall be submitted in an opaque sealed envelope clearly marked: Oak Park Elementary School District 97 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 Attention: Bulley & Andrews Project: SD97 – JULIAN MS GENDER NEUTRAL TOILET ROOMS Bid Opening will be held at 2:15pm CST within the board room: Scope of work for Bid Group 1 generally includes: GENERAL TRADES, ELECTRICAL, MECHANCIAL, AND PLUMBING All bids must be submitted in accordance with the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project. Bid security in the form of a bid bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the base bid amount shall be submitted with the bid. Should a bid bond be submitted, the bond shall be payable to the Board of Education, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, 260 Madison Street, Oak Park, IL 60302. All documents and information required by the bidding instructions contained in the Bidding Documents for the project shall be submitted with the bid. Incomplete, late or non-conforming bids may not be accepted.

No bids shall be withdrawn, cancelled or modified after the time for opening of bids without the Board’s consent for a period of ninety (90) days after the scheduled time of bid opening.

The Bidding Documents for the project (which include the bidding instructions for the project and other related documents) will be available Friday January 19, 2024 and are available for viewing/ download online without cost or purchase on the Bulley & Andrews, LLC Google Drive, located at the following link. No username or password is required. https://drive.google.com/ drive/folders/19k -upj1_k5Y_Qo2IvAw VDuSHWladZCdZ The Board reserves the right to reject any or all bids or parts thereof, or waive any irregularities or informalities, and

The site will be available for visits by appointment to be coordinated with Bulley & Andrews, LLC. Interested parties may inspect the existing conditions. Schedule an appointment with Michael Damato of Bulley & Andrews in advance if you wish to visit the sites.

All bidders must comply with applicable Illinois Law requiring the payment of prevailing wages by all Contractors working on public works. If during the time period of work, the prevailing wage rates change, the contractor shall be responsible for additional costs without any change to the contract amount. All bidders must comply with the Illinois Statutory requirements regarding labor, including Equal Employment Opportunity Laws.

For additional information on the project, contact Michael Damato of Bulley & Andrews, LLC at mdamato@bulley. com or 847-602-9512.

Dated: 1/19/24 Michael Damato Bulley & Andrews, LLC Published in Wednesday Journal January 24, 31, February 7, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICE ADVERTISEMENT OF BIDDING Request of bids for the Oak Park Cheney Mansion Tuckpointing, 220 N. Euclid, Oak Park.

Owner: Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302 The Park District of Oak Park will accept sealed bids for the Oak Park Cheney Mansion Tuckpointing, 220 N. Euclid, Oak Park. The project consists of removal of old failed mortar, new mortar tooled into the joints and sealer coat. The Park District of Oak Park will receive individual sealed Bids until 11:00 a.m. (Central time) on Friday, February 23, 2024, at 218 Madison St., Oak Park, IL. The bidding documents and requirements will be available on the Demand Star website as of 5:00 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

A non-mandatory pre-bid walk-thru is scheduled for February 8th & 9th at 9:00 a.m. at Cheney Mansion at 220 N. Euclid, Oak Park, IL 60302. Bid bonds will be required by bidding contractors.

Copies of the bidding specifications are available via the Demand Star website at: https://www.demandstar.com/app/buyers/bids/438220/details For additional information, contact Nelson Acevedo at Nelson.Acevedo@pdop.org or (708) 725‑2053. Only the bids prepared in compliance with the bidding documents will be considered. This project must adhere to the Prevailing Wage Act of 2024. The Park District of Oak Park encourages minority and women owned business firms to submit bids for this project.

Park District of Oak Park By: Sandy Lentz, SecretaryPark District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal January 24, 2024

Park District of Oak Park By: Sandy Lentz, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302

Park District of Oak Park By: Sandy Lentz, Secretary Park District of Oak Park 218 Madison St. Oak Park, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal January 24, 2024

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Dana Louise McKinzie Case Number 2023 CONC 001444 There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Dana Louise McKinzie tto the new name of: Dana Louise Allen.

The court date will be held: On March 8, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.at in Courtroom # 12, Zoom link: https://circuitcourtofcookcounty. zoom.us/j/95894921843?pwd=S1RCcmlCZjFpRnVIQUpZU25lRzJFUT09

STATE OF ILLINOIS, CIRCUIT COURT COOK COUNTY. Request of Robert Thomas Vishneski Case Number 20234006707.

There will be a court date on my Request to change my name from: Robert Thomas Vishneski to the new name of: Robin Titania Vishneski The court date will be held: On January 30, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. via Zoom at Zoom Access Code: 914 3462 0283 Password: 988648 To access Zoom by phone call 312626-6799 then enter the Access code and password listed above.

Published in Wednesday Journal January 10, 17, 24, 2024

Proposal documents may be obtained from the Village’s website at http://www.oakpark.us/bid.

For questions, please call Public Works at (708) 358-5700 during the above hours.

Published in Wednesday Journal January 24, 2024

Published in Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

Published in Wednesday Journal January 24, 31, February 7, 2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park is seeking proposals from qualified vendors for a Voice over IP (VoIP) Cloud Hosted Telephone System. The full RFP document can be obtained from the Village website www. oak-park.us. Proposals must be received by 4PM February 16, 2024.

LEGAL NOTICE

Village of Oak Park Green Roof Maintenance Proposal Number: 24-114

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Passcode: 226532

Published in Wednesday Journal January 24, 2024

The Village of Oak Park will receive sealed proposals from qualified contractors at the Public Works Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time until 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 7, 2024 for the following:

be obtained via the electronic service starting on Thursday, January 25, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Plans and proposal forms can be found at https://www.oak-park. us/your-government/budgetpurchasing/requests-proposals or at www.questcdn.com under login using QuestCDN number 8885146 for a nonrefundable charge of $64.00.

The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue plans and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified.

No bid documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of bid opening.

The work to be performed pursuant to this proposal is subject to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.

Meeting ID: 958 9492 1843

Published in Wednesday Journal January 24, 2024

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE OF COURT DATE FOR REQUEST FOR NAME CHANGE

The Village of Oak Park --Office of the Village Engineer, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302-- will receive electronic proposals until 03:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2024 for Project: 24-7, Austin Boulevard Sewer Improvements.

Bids will be received and accepted, and bid results posted via the online electronic bid service listed below.

In general, the improvements consist of lining the existing sewer main, repairing existing manholes, replacing service line connections, catch basins, and inlets, pavement patching, traffic control, and all appurtenant work thereto. The work at Roosevelt Road and Austin Boulevard will include filling two vaults and excavating and shoring at the intersection to allow for the City of Chicago to cut and cap an existing 12” water main.

Plans and proposal forms may

HEARING DATE: February 8, 2024 TIME: 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits LOCATION OF HEARING: Room 201 (Council Chambers), Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302 APPLICATION: The Historic Preservation Commission will conduct a public hearing on an application for a Certificate of Economic Hardship filed by the Applicant, Janelli Barrow, to demolish the residence at 430 S. Taylor Ave., Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-08-322-0150000, which is located in the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District.

A copy of the application and applicable documents are on file

and are available for inspection at Village Hall, Development Customer Services Department, 123 Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing. The public hearing may be adjourned by the Commission to another date without further notice other than a motion to be entered upon the minutes of the hearing fixing the time and place of the date. The Commission shall issue or deny the Certificate of Appropriateness within 15 days following completion of the public hearing.

Published in Wednesday Journal, January 24, 2024

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law.

This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby

informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-6699777.

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