Wednesday Journal 022824

of Oak Park and River Forest

elections

Bound by memories

How one man kept his daughter’s story alive

STORY BY AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ,

Danny Davis, supporters push to preser ve Julian home His proposal would make the African-American scientist’s home a national historic site

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

A push is on to rescue famous Oak Pa rk scientist Percy Julian’s home with supporters raising funds to pay taxes on the beloved house and a move by Re p. Danny K. Davis to have it declared a national historic site.

Percy Julian’s dautghter, Faith Julian, has been struggling to preserve the East Avenue home, and began raising money through a GoFundMe campaign in September 2021 to protect it from tax sale. An anonymous donor paid of f her 2021 property taxes, in the amount of $31,496.90, including interest, according to the Cook County Treasurer’s Office, temporarily keeping the home of f the tax sales list.

“There was one person, an angel of mercy, that paid the tax bill,” Julian said.

Davis also announced he’s introducing legislation

See

PROVIDED BY MOHIT JAIN

Mohit and Gauri Jain in 2015 at Grotto Falls in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Oak Parker becomes rst player on rst HBCU hockey team

Xavier Abel makes a name for himself as a Black hockey player

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

An Oak Park native signed up to be part of history when he inked a deal to play on the first ice hockey team at a Historically Black College and University.

Xavier Abel became the first committed player to Tennessee State University’s newly established ice hockey program in January. He will play center.

“As an African-American player in my sport and the hurdles I had to overcome and what I went through, I feel that having an opportunity like this for other minority players like myself could be amazing,” Abel said. “It could essentially change the culture of the sport and create more opportunities for players like myself so that they don’t have to face the same adversity and obstacles I faced through my come up. I wanted to be a part of that.”

While the TSU’s team is in the very early stages of recruiting players, according to an article on ESPN, it plans to start as a hoc club team for the 2024-25 season with hopes to achieve its National Collegiate Athleti Association Division I status by the 2026-27 season, putting it in the same division as other top universities including the University of Michigan, University of Wisconsi in Madison, and Arizona State Universit

For Abel, 22, the road to Tennessee State actually began in Oak Park at the West Cook YMCA, where Abel, at the age eight, began participating in sports leagues including basketball and soccer.

It was at the YMCA that Abel first part ipated in a field hockey league as a goali

At the recommendation of his coach, Abel decided to try ice hockey.

But first things first, he needed to learn how to ice skate.

Abel took skating lessons at Paul Hruby Ice Area, located inside Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex, on Madison.

Abel said what really sold him on the sport was when he attended a Chicago Blackhawks 2009 playoff game as a prize for winning a raffle at his school, Keystone Montessori in River Forest.

33, saw Abel wearing his jersey and gave him his signed hockey stick.

“That made me completely ecstatic,” Abel said. “I just want to essentially pass the torch of f to the kid from the next generation and hopefully make it to the NHL myself so I can do that Byfuglien did because that was what really drove me to really pursue hockey and go all the way with it.”

Abel began to dedicate himself to hockey, playing for various teams across Chicagoland and the nearby suburbs including, Chicago Bruins Hockey out of Addison and Chicago Blues Hockey Club out of Bensenville.

It wasn’t long before Abel looked around the ice rink and realized he was the one of the only, if not the only, Black player on the teams he was playing for.

“I was one of the only in the league,” Abel said.

Abel bonded with another young Black hockey player whom he often saw at the

ice rink, becoming good friends during the seasons they played hockey but Abel recalled being the only two Black players.

“It was definitely an interesting experience,” Abel said. “There were times when I would come across ignorant people who would say ignorant things, but honestly, I blame the adults. The adults didn’t say anything to be but the kids said ignorant things to be and I hold the adults accountable.”

S ome of those moments have stuck with Abel.

“I had a kid say to me ‘w hy do you pl ay Hocke y when you’ re Black? Why do n’ t you pl ay b asketball? Why are you here?’” Abel recalled

Despite the hurt in that moment, Abel channeled those experiences and let his game speak for itself

His talent was embraced, which brought with it positive experiences as well.

“It goes both ways but it definitely was a harder experience,” Abel said. “Being in a world when nobody looks like you, you feel uncomfortable at times and you have to go through uncomfortable conversations. It is definitely a learning experience.”

At the game, Dustin Byfuglien, number

PROVIDED BY XAVIER ABEL

ier Abel

During his time at Drury, Abel played in 34 games, with 12 goals and six assists. He also had 24 penalty minutes.

In a 2022 article by USA Today, the NHL was working toward changing the predominantly white face of the sport. In the article, Kim Davis, executive VP of social impact, growth and legislative af fairs for the NHL, said players of color made up roughly 7% of the league but that the NHL does “not keep official statistics on the racial makeup of team rosters.”

While he was on track to attend Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Abel decided to pursue hockey, which took him to Canada.

Abel attended high school in Toronto, where he played hockey for the Toronto Red ngs Greater Toronto Hockey League.

In Canada, Abel said he faced another challenge: being an American player on a Canadian team.

“I went through a lot of adversity that year,” Abel said, adding that moving away from his family at 14 to attend boarding ool was also tough for him.

Abel also played for Blyth Academy entral and the New Hampshire Junior Monarchs.

Abel transitioned to c olle ge hocke y after he was recruited to Drury Unive rsit y, in Springfield, Missouri, with an acaemic scholarship.

According to The Tennessean, during his time at Drury, Abel was the only Black player on the inaugural hockey team for the 2022-23 season and scored the first goal on Se pt. 23, 2022 against Saint Louis.

According to a 2022 article by ESPN, the NHL had also partnered with Jopwell, a diversity hiring startup, to expand its recruiting and attract more diverse talent to the organization and the NHL coach’s association created mentoring programs for women and BIPOC candidates.

In June 2023, Tennessee State University made the historic announcement that it would become the first historically Black colle ge or university to offer men’s ice hockey at the collegiate level as part of their dedication to expanding athletic opportunities for students and fostering diversity and inclusion.

The official hockey season starts in September, with the pre-season and training camp beginning in August.

“This is also huge for the HBCU because it is going to encourage them to also expand into other sports that African-Americans aren’t really involved in and not just African-American, but people of all minority-based backgrounds,” Abel said. “It will essentially expand sports culture as a whole.”

Xav

PROVIDED BY XAVIER ABEL

Xav ier Abel played for Drur y University before transferring to Tennessee State.

Magic & Adventure Club: DIY Dragon Eggs

Thursday, Feb. 29, 4 – 5 p.m., Oak Park Public Library - Main Library

This month, during Magic & Adventure Club, you will design and create your own dragon eggs using the power of clay, gemstones, and your imagination. Check the Oak Park Public Library’s website for registration information. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Co ee Monday, Adult

Monday, March 4, 10 – 11 a.m.,

River Forest Public Library

ome to the librar y on the rst Monday morning of every month for co ee and conversation about local matters. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors and learn about things going on in the community. Brought to you in par tnership with River Forest Township. 735 Lathrop Ave., River Forest.

ReTurn2SouL

Saturday, March 2, 7:30 – 10 p.m., Encore! by Little Gem

Who doesn’t long for meaningful lyrics and feel-good music? ReTurn2Soul transports you back to simpler times with our renditions of school R & B, Motown, pop, and even some jazz and blues. 187 N Marion St., Oak Park .

Handel Week Festival Concert

Sunday, March 3, 3 p.m., Pilgrim Congregational Church, UCC, Oak Park Handel’s oratorio Messiah, per formed by professional soloists and orchestra and the Handel Week Festival Chorus, conducted by Dennis Northway. 460 Lake St., Oak Park.

BIG WEEK

February 28-March 6

Comedy Night! Rami Abushhab: Let’s Talk About It

Saturday, March 2, 8 – 10:30 p.m., Madison Street Theater

A standup comedy show where Rami will use his storytelling and surgical comedy to tackle the issues of today’s climate. 1010 Madison St., Oak Park.

Lighten Our Darkness: An Af ternoon of Musical Re ection

Sunday, March 3, 4 – 5 p.m.,

First Presbyterian Church “Lighten Our Darkness” is a concert of music for choir, soloists, instrumentalists, and congregation. The focus of the concert comes from a hymn by The Right Reverend Timothy Dudley Smith. It speaks of Christian hope even in the darkest of times. 7551 Quick Ave., River Forest.

There Goes The Neighbor Hood: Oak Park & River Forest Organized Crime With John Binder

Wednesday, March 6, 6-7 p.m., Oak Park Public Library - Main Library Immerse yourself in the history of organized crime in Chicago from Prohibition until the 1990s, focusing on the lives and careers of many of Chicago’s most famous gangsters, with a focus on gangster history in Oak Park and River Forest. John Binder is an organized crime historian and author of The Chicago Out t and Al Capone’s Beer Wars. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Shake, Rattle & Read at Maze

Monday, March 4, 10:30 – 11 a.m., Oak Park Public Library - Maze Branch

An energetic program designed for children up to age 5, with caregivers. Get ready to sing, dance, and listen to great stories. Check the Oak Park Public Library’s website for registration information. 845 Gunderson Ave., Oak Park.

14th Annual Oscarthon

Saturday, March 2, 9:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m., Oak Park Public Library - Main Library

No need to wait on the red carpet — all day the library will have popcorn, ra e prizes, and Oscarnominated lms from the past year. See The Holdovers, 9:30-11:45 a.m., and Oppenheimer, 12:30-3:30 p.m. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.

Identifying Trust worthy Ar ti cial Intelligence

Monday, March 4, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m., The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association Ar ti cial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. Jennifer Heimberg, a trained scientist but not an AI researcher, will attempt to review the various types of AI — deep learning and generative AI — and what indicators one might look for to trust the results. To register for a Zoom link to the program, email Becky Grajeda at bgrajeda@ nineteenthcentury.org or call 708-386-2729. 178 Forest Ave #1, Oak Park.

Sugar Beet Af ter Dark

Wednesday, March 6, 7 – 9 p.m., Sugar Beet Food Co- op Mix & mingle with fellow owners while indulging in a curated tasting menu. Complimentary beer & wine. 812 Madison St., Oak Park.

Listing your event

Davis and 4 challengers square o in forum

Congressional District 7 candidates faced each other last week on the West Side

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The four main candidates in the 7th Congressional District primary made a case for themselves in a West Side for um last week. They had two-and-a-half minutes each to do so.

“I feel like I’m on a speed date this evening,” said Chicago City Treasurer Melissa Conyears-Ervin, one of four candidates challenging longtime incumbent Danny Davis.

Davis said that seniority in Cong ress has its perks, noting that he is the 24th longest serving member of the current Cong ress

“My opponents don’t seem to understand how this business works,” Davis told the Wednesd nal in a telephone interview, noting that if Democrats re gain the majority of the House of Re presentatives, he would likely chair the Worker and Family Support subcommittee of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.

sioner of Cook County Board and stayed until 1996. From the 1970s to the 1990s, Davis was a leader of independent Black progressive politics on the west side of Chicago. Although he fought the city’s Democratic machine, his opponents now say it is time for younger, more vigorous presentation in Congress.

Two years ago, Davis won a close primary race receiving only 51.9% of the vote against challenger Kina Collins and one other opponent. Collins received 45.7% of the vote and is back this year making her third attempt to unseat Davis.

Two years ago, Collins received nearly 74% of the vote in Oak rk and nearly 68% of the ote in River Forest, showing Davis’s weakness in

Wednesd

to 28th ward alderman Jason Ervin and recently was endorsed by the powerful Chicago Teachers Union.

“Working families believe that Washington, D.C. is broken, and they are looking for someone who is not only going to say what they are going to do but someone who has a proven track record,” ConyearsErvin said at the candidate for um. “I am that person.”

While Davis, Conyears-Ervin and Collins are seen as the three main candidates, Kouri Marshall, a 41-year-old who worked on the Obama campaign and now serves as the director of state and local public policy for a trade group, and math teacher Nikhil Bhatia, are also in the race.

Davis said that his health is decent and his mind his shar p.

“My mind is as shar p, as sharp as it’s ever been,” Davis said. “I’ve got great thinking capacity; I ha a tremendous knowledge understand the system.”

And if he doesn’t mo as quickly as he once did that’s not a requirement for the job.

“I’m not running to be pa the relay team in a track meet, I’m not running to be the quarterback for the Bears, or a running back, that’s not running,” Davis said adding that he is running for the same reason he ran for office decades ago, to make the world a better place in which to live

nal that she thinks that the sub urbs, and especially Oak can be the difference this time around in the district that runs from downtown Chicago to T ri State Tollway and also includes part of the south of Chicago.

“I think that Oak r

Davis, 82, has served in Congress for 28 years and has served in an elected office for the past 45 years. Before his Congressional election in 1996, Davis served as the alderman of the 29th ward from 1979 to 1990. That year, he became a commis-

the race depending on how things pan out in Chicago,” dnesday Jourinterview after the candium. “The suburbs are rt to a path-

Collins has been endorsed our members of the Oak Board: Susan Buchanan, Brian Straw, Ravi Parakkat and Luci Robinson. Two members of the River Forest Village Board, Erika Bachner and Katie Brennan. Davis is being supported by Oak Park Village Trustee Chibuike Enyai.

Conyears-Ervin is also a strong challenger to Davis. She has been the Chicago City Treasurer since 2019 and before that was a state re presentative. She is married

Marshall said that his background and experience equip him to work across the aisle noting that he can work with all sorts of people. Marshall pointed out that he was one of only eight Black students at Eureka Colle ge when he was elected as the school’s first Black Homecoming King.

Marshall made an oblique reference to ethical issues that Conyears-Ervin has been and that have been alged against Davis.

“I also believe that it’s possible to send a leader from the Illinois 7th Congressional District, a new leader who is ethical in his deeds when the lights are on and when they are of f,” Marshall said.

The Chicago Ethics Board determined that Conyears-Ervin fired two employees, including her chie f of staf f, in retaliation for complaining that they were asked to do personal work for ConyearsErvin on city time. Davis is facing a complaint that he used cong ressional funds to further his campaign

In a telephone interview Davis told the Wednesday Journal that there is nothing to the alle gation that was re ported by The Intercept in January.

“Everything that we sent out was approved by the Franking Committee, it was approved by the ethics committee, it was fact checked, otherwise we could not have sent it out,” Davis said.

DANNY DAVIS

KINA COLLINS

MELISSA CONYEARS-ERVIN

for

In

Housing Choice Voucher waiting list set to reopen

The list will be open March 4 through March 15

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

this voucher program.

An applicant’s household income, including all individuals’ income within the household, must be less than the following:

The Oak Park Housing Authority is opening its Housing Choice Voucher waiting list for low-income households from 8:30 a.m. March 4 to 3 p.m. March 15.

It is the first time the list has been opened since 2022.

The program, commonly known as Section 8, is a federal initiative in which the family or individual typically pays 30% of their monthly income toward rent and utilities and OPHA pays the remainder to the property owner, according to the housing authority.

Qualifying individuals, generally those with a gross family income of below 50% of the area median income, will be able to submit a pre-application through an online portal, accessible through the OPHA website. Assistance applying will be available through social service organizations listed on their website, according to David Pope, executive director of the OPHA.

The OPHA will then conduct a randomized drawing to select 150 applicants to be admitted to the waiting list. Nearly 600 households in Oak Park now benefit from

■ 1-person household: $38,650

■ 2-person household: $44,150

■ 3-person household: $49,650

■ 4-person household: $55,150

■ 5-person household: $59,600

■ 6-person household: $64,000

■ 7-person household: $68,400

■ 8-person household: $72,800

If selected, the family will be able to search for suitable units including apar tments, condos or single-family units. Voucher recipients are under the same lease obligations as anyone else, according to the OPHA website.

In 2022, the waiting list opened for the first time in 18 years. In 2004, more than 50,000 households applied to be put on the list, pushing the OPHA to create a more streamlined process.

More information about the waiting list can be found at the housing authority’s website: https://oakparkha.org/aboutopha/waiting-list-information/

2004, when the Housing Choice Voucher program opened, it attracted a large crowd.

Oak Park couple hosts GoFundMe to house migrant family

‘No one can x it all,’ says Cathy Angell, ‘but just to do one concrete thing.’

By ABIGAIL BLACK Contributing Reporter

Cathy Angell and her husband Jim had been keeping up with the news coverage of the migrant crisis in Chicago. On Jan. 11, news organizations such as ABC7 Chicago and the Chicago Tribune were writing of migrants waiting in the ‘landing zone’ and using warming buses.

They knew they had to do something.

“I pulled together jackets and sandwiches and went to the buses just to do something. And I did it again outside the shelters,” Cathy Angell said.

Cathy Angell identifies herself as a grandchild of Italian immigrants. She remembers the stories her grandfather would tell her as she was growing up. Seeing and reading about the desperation in today’ buses and shelter places, the Angells said they “just felt called to help.”

Cathy Angell says “My husband and I, we just don’t care about the politics of it all. We understand that there’s all different points of view. But what we’re seeing are people that are already here.”

T hey be g an looking at fundraising and researching online about crowdfunding campaigns and how to ensure success. Starting their GoFundMe, the Angells seek to raise $15,000 to help house a migrant f amily. However, the Angells knew that they needed to partner with an org anization that had the means to use the money they would raise. T hey knew Rev. Morello, a leader at the Catholic Parishes of Oak Park Migrant Ministry, and the Angells chose that organization to administer the money

Jean Meister, Communications Coordinator for Migrant Ministry and for Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter, said that Migrant Ministry be g an last July.

Opening up a little used rectory to provide a space for migrants, they be g an by offering showers twice a week. T hen they distributed clothes and provided childcare so parents could meet with caseworkers. However, the number of migrants they were assisting grew.

“We realized this need was going to last for a long time and we started to look for a new location,” says Meister.

That location was the empty St. Edmund’s school. Through working with the village, they were able to open the Oak Park family transitional center, as the Wednesday Journal re ported. Meister said that moving migrants in is the next ste p, which they plan to do next Tuesday. The shelter will last until June 30. Migrant Ministry and the Oak Park transitional shelter seek to support the transition of the migrants from hotel rooms to apartments.

“We have a great deal of trust in them,”

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FamilyConflict

Angell said. “We know that they’ll be great stewards of the money everyone donated.”

The Angells do not know the family that their fundraising will help. The chosen family depends on what families are in the position to be helped and on finding available apar tments. The Angell’s were even discussing updating their GoFundMe page to reflect the possibility that the family the donations help may not be from the original migrant group.

After finishing the GoFundMe c ampaign, Cathy Angell said she will focu s on more hands-on wo rk and volunteering. S he a dded that she hopes that Migr ant Ministry and other organizations across the city will rece ive more attention and reco gnition.

“There are so many organizations that are helping and I think people need to hear that. Because what people usually see are the ne gatives,” Angell said.

CommunicationandDealingwith FamilyConflict

CommunicationandDealingwith

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ThisThriveTalkwillprovideinformationandstepstocreatea deeperunderstandingoftheconceptofconflict,whyitis inevitable,andwaystoaddressitthroughopencommunication. DuringthisTalk,wewillexplorehowourinternalscripts contributetoeverydayconflicts.

DuringthisTalk,wewillexplorehowourinternalscripts contributetoeverydayconflicts.

ThisThriveTalkwillprovideinformationandstepstocreatea deeperunderstandingoftheconceptofconflict,whyitis inevitable,andwaystoaddressitthroughopencommunication. DuringthisTalk,wewillexplorehowourinternalscripts contributetoeverydayconflicts.

ThisThriveTalkwillprovideinformationandstepstocreatea deeperunderstandingoftheconceptofconflict,whyitis inevitable,andwaystoaddressitthroughopencommunication.

DuringthisTalk,wewillexplorehowourinternalscripts contributetoeverydayconflicts. Presentedby

ThisThriveTalkwillprovideinformationandstepstocreatea deeperunderstandingoftheconceptofconflict,whyitis inevitable,andwaystoaddressitthroughopencommunication. DuringthisTalk,wewillexplorehowourinternalscripts contributetoeverydayconflicts.

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River Forest begins fees for long EV charg ing sessions

Use of EV charging station will still be free for rst 2 hours

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Electric vehicle owners who their welcome while using the charging station at River Forest Village find themselves charged by the village lowing action by the village board

Although using the charging station two hours will still be free, village followed the recommendation of the sustainability commission to amend the ordinance to start charging vehicle owners $10 per hour for using the station than two hours, up to $30. Drivers staying longer than two hours will be charged the full third hour.

T he change will take effect in midMarch after coordinating with the app provider, according to Matt Walsh, village administrator.

The level two dual-port charging station, which is capable of charging two vehicles

at a time, was installed in November 2021. The station utilizes the ChargePoint network. Users are required to use the ChargePoint mobile app.

In a memo to village officials, Seth Jansen, management analyst, said data available since the station was installed shows that the average charging time was approx-

imately three hours. But the average session time was 4-1/2 hours, which means the re blocked for an additional 1-1/2 hour after a vehicle has finished charging, he noted. Since installation, the ports have ked by a fully charged vehicle 10.1 percent of the time but 11.4 percent of the time in 2023.

In response to a question from Trustee Ken Johnson, Jansen explained that residents will be infor med of the change through the ChargePoint app and the stanvillage communications tools including social media and the village newsletter.

Trustee Erika Bac hner suggested changing the signage at the charging station.

Jansen explained in the memo that ChargePoint allows station owners to establish various types of fees through the station owner dashboard on the company’s website. Because all ChargePoint users are required to have the ChargePoint mobile app to utilize the charging station, they

will be notified of the potential fee upon usage and upon completion of charging.

Fee structures are available to allow the village to begin assessing charges either after a specific amount of time utilizing the charging station or after the vehicle has stopped charging or is fully charged.

After discussion at their Jan. 4 and Feb. 13 meetings, commission members reached consensus that two hours of free charging, which can provide up to 50 miles of driving capability for an electric vehicle, is a sufficient amount of time for a vehicle to use the charging station, Jansen said. Commission members ag reed that a fee beyond this point would disincentivize individuals from remaining parked at the station after they have completed a charge, he added. Capping the fee at $30 matches the village parking violation fine.

Trustee Lisa Gillis defended the fee, noting that the village is “generous” to allow the first two hours to be free.

Oak Park boosts Airbnb tax to aid a ordable housing services

The tax will go into e ect May 1

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Oak Park’s village board approved a measure to increase taxes on transient occupancy rental units such as Airbnb to support af fordable housing

The Feb. 21 vote was 6-1 with trustee Ravi Parakkat dissenting

Village records show that Oak Park has 120 of these short-term rentals, compared with one full-service hotel and one bed and breakfast. The tax increase, to 7.5% from 4%, is expected to bring in more than $4.2 million over a 10-year period, a $1.2 million difference over what would have been collected without this change. That $1.2 million will go toward supporting affordable housing

The new tax will go into effect May 1.

Visitors will pay the increased tax, not Airbnb owners, village president Vicki Scaman said. Re gardless, Airbnb owners have said they don’t support raising the tax, citing concerns about losing visitors and the effect on tourism.

Oak Park partially funds its af fordable housing ef for ts through a measure that permits developers to contribute money to the fund in lieu of creating the required number of af fordable units, but no such projects are in the works, said Emily Egan, Oak Park’s development services director.

“The only way to make a dent in affordable housing is to add housing,” trustee Cory Wesley, who voted in favor of the tax increase, said “We need lots and lots of units.”

Trustees deliberated over several options, including taxing the village’s hotels and motels along with transient occupancy rental units, as well as ways to slowly increase the tax up to 7.5%.

Parakkat, who dissented, questioned whether the 3.5% jump was too much. Egan said that the staf f feels comfortable with the increase as it stands, rather than an incremental model.

Scaman said the village could implement a tax on hotels and motels later, adding that it’s easier to implement that later than do-

ing it now and potentially revoking it in the future. Staf f will continue to present more options to fund the village’s af fordable housing goals, Egan said.

Oak Park’s hotel/motel tax was originally 2% when established in January 1995, according to the village. It has remained at 4% since it was increased in 2004.

The revenue from that 4% tax has been mostly dedicated to tourism initiatives through Visit Oak Park. In the fiscal year 2024 budget, $209,042 was allocated to the nonprofit. The options presented by staf f at the Feb. 20 meeting assumed that annual contribution would stay the same.

In 2023, the 4% tax resulted in roughly $258,000. According to the village, more than half of that total was paid by shortter m rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo.

According to village officials, 20 users have two or more short-term rentals, and one operator, with a Forest Park mailing address, has 15 licenses. Of the 120 sites, 37 have a mailing address outside of Oak Park, meaning the operator may not live in the village

However, a lot of the short-term rental operators do have two or fewer units, trustee Brian Straw said, so they are likely to feel the impact of this tax increase more keenly. Parakkat also raised this concern during the Feb. 20 meeting, and said he hopes his worries are misplaced.

The board also examined a diversity, equity and inclusion assessment looking at how the tax would affect different groups. Under the option the board chose, small business operators may have a financial loss from the tax increase, according to the village. But these short-term rentals reduce the supply of available housing in Oak Park, officials said.

That loss of supply may disproportionately affect low to moderate income households, officials said. Additionally, if shortterm rentals cluster in one location, could affect the quality of life for existing residents, officials said.

The public will have access to re gular updates re garding the tax increase and revenue collected, officials said.

‘Monsters Everywhere’ captures childhood and memorializes a life

Family publishes a book to remember their daughter who wrote a special story as a child

By AMARIS E. RODRIGUEZ Staff Reporter

An Oak Park family is honoring their late daughter by publishing a story written through her 9-yer-old eyes about love, acceptance, and how, despite differences, people can come together to join in community.

Now, almost nine years after her death, the Jain family released “Monsters Everywhere” in hopes of sharing their daughter’s infectious spirit and her words that even at a young age, preached acceptance and community.

“Monsters Everywhere” is a story from the girl, Gauri, that she put to paper one fateful summer in 2012, when Sandee p Jain, a professor of ophthalmolo gy at the University of Illinois in Chicago, challenged his daughter and son, Mohit Jain, to write a story during their summer vacation under the guidance of their tutor, Erin Stelter

The idea wasn’t farfetched for the family Jain recalled asking Gauri to write summaries of what she was reading from the new books she would ask him to her, so while the price for Jain Guari had to “pay” in the book re ports.

“We had no clue that this was going to be several chapters or a book or a manuscript,” Jain said. “It was just meant to be a way for two kids to enjoy wasn’t meant to be anything.”

Mohit Jain, 24, and a graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, recalled the summer that he and his sister worked on the story, saying he was excited to get to do something with her and how it served as a “good bonding experience.”

“I think that summer brought us closer, my sister and I. We were continuously writing,” he said.

He added that because said that because they were kids who wanted to enjoy the

summer, there were definitely moments when they dreaded working on the story. However, Gauri’s creativity and imagination always managed to shine through.

The siblings produced a manuscript, which was emailed to Jain.

“Things pass and you never think about it anymore,” Jain said. “Except ‘that is good’ and you move on.”

On New Year’s Eve 2015, Gauri, who was 12 and a student at Brooks Middle School, died from anaphylactic shock. The family had no idea that Gauri held any allergies.

After her death, Jain said the family just tried to come to terms with their tremendous loss.

“We don’t think about how to celebrate somebody’s le gacy,” Jain said. “You just want time to pass.”

But the family has found that even as the years passed, Gauri’s memory is still very present in their lives; from the moments when they speak about her to the toothbrush that — even nearly nine years later — no one has moved from the last spot she placed it.

“It is one of those things where we celebrate her life, and yes there is obviously g rief,” Sandeep Jain said, adding that the first Saturday of June the family gathers with their community to celebrate Gauri.

“It is not very often you get to read a children’s book that is written by a child. There is nothing like leaving it as is. You take away from the soul of the book if you editorialize it.”

SANDEEP JAIN Gauri’s father

“It’s a tradition. It’s not that people come there to talk about Gauri but more so that everybody has a good time. It is not a sorrowful thing; it is a celebration.”

For years, “Monsters Everywhere” stayed in Sandeep’s inbox and the idea of having it published was tucked away in the back of his mind. The one day an artist walked into his office.

Jain took the chance to ask Emily Haworth, an illustrator, if she would look at Gauri’s manuscript to see if she could bring

PROVIDED BY SANDEEP JAIN “Monsters Ever ywhere” was illustrated by Emily Haworth.

PROVIDED BY SANDEEP JAIN

Gauri Jain was 9 when she wrote “Monsters Ever ywhere.”

her words to life through illustration.

“When she sent the cover I was like ‘are you kidding me?” Jain said. “This is bey ond what we ever thought anybody could do –making each character the way Gauri wrote in the book comes alive in illustrations.”

“Monsters Everywhere” tells the story of two groups — humans and monsters — who navig ate their differences after a new law is passed giving monsters and humans equal rights. It was Gauri’s way of telling a story about the power of unity, the strength of collaboration, and the importance of seeing the world through different perspectives

For Jain, it is a story of inclusiveness, and the message is that people may have different perspectives, but they can come together in the end.

For Mohit Jain, who said losing his sister was a “punch to the gut,” said he is always trying to honor her.

For the Jain family, it was important to keep the manuscript “as is,” so that people had the chance to see the world through the mind of a nine-year-old.

“It is not very often you get to read a children’s book that is written by a child,” Jain said. “There is nothing like leaving it as is. The way it was is the way it is. You

take away from the soul of the book if you editorialize it.”

Jain, who has kept all of his daughter’s stories and everything she wrote, said Gauri had a rare talent of being able to put her thoughts onto paper as they came naturally.

“What mattered to her was that she could jot down three pages and you would wonder how,” he said. “She was a very gifted writer in that sense. She had that ability, but she also had the ability of getting a sense of what it is written and what you take out of it.”

And while Mohit Jain was involved in the creation of the story, for him, Gauri is the real author whose ideas and work were the main driving force behind the story, with him serving more as a co-author to flesh it out.

“Whatever endeavor I pursue, I always use her as inspiration,” Mohit Jain said. “Most people try to spend their life trying to leave behind some kind of impact or meaningfully contribute and I think this book reflects her meaningful contributions to our community and people who will be reading the book, young children.”

“Monsters Everywhere” by Gauri Jain is available through Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

PROVIDED BY MOHIT JAIN

Jain celebrating Gauri’s 11th birthday on June 3, 2011.

Gauri and Mohit

JULIAN HOME

Preserving Black history

from page 1

that will designate the home as a national historic site.

“[This will] let young people, especially, know that this era existed, that it has historical value,” he said.

A ‘trailblazing scientist’

Percy Julian was an African-American chemist and entrepreneur, known for his synthesis of cortisone, hormones and other products from soybeans, according to Britannica He also registered more than 130 chemical patents and was an avid civil rights activist.

Percy Julian was referred to a “trailblazing scientist,” in a statement from Davis’ office for overcoming racial barriers and for his many contributions to science. He’s not the only famous individual with Oak Park ties, but he may not have received the same recognition so far.

Others include Ernest Hemingway, Frank Lloyd Wright and Edgar Rice Burroughs who all receive historical recognition in the village, Julian pointed out. Both of Julian’s parents fought for civil rights and made numerous contributions to Oak Park and society, she said.

“[This house] deserves recognition,” she said. “It deserves to remain a tribute to them as part of their legacy.”

The house also requires work to upkeep it A lot needs to be done both inside and outside

the home, Julian said, but her health affects bility to keep up. While the home is structurally sound and well built, it requires updating and care, said Jim Taglia, a mer Oak Park village board trustee and friend of Julian. She was never married and oes not have children, so the taxes and upcan be a lot for her to deal with alone ould be a burden for anybody,” he said. trying to preserve what can be pred, and doing the best she can.”

Over the years, the village’s rehabilitation loans and grants program has allowed for some repairs to the home, village president Vicki Scaman said.

Most recently, emergency repairs to the boilers were necessary before cold weather hit, Scaman said. Village manager Kevin

Jackson worked with Julian to complete that, she said.

“Whatever supports true awareness of Perulian’s legacy is something that you do great support of the board on, including myself,” she said.

there ever was a case for reparations, glia said, it would be this one. The Julian amily experienced extraordinary pain and discrimination, he said, and persevered rerdless. A lot of the village’s history is relected in that house, and efforts to help preve it continue, he said.

The taxes

Julian still owes delinquent taxes for 2018, as well as taxes for 2022 and 2023. As of Feb. 22, she has $54,759 raised in her GoFundMe. She still owes $90,386.39, including interest, according to the Cook County Treasurer’s Office. The market value of her home is $1.1 million.

“I’ve had a lot of support from people in this village of Oak Park, people I don’t know, and I am so grateful to them,” Julian said. “I’m just humbled.”

Illinois State Re presentative Camille Lilly said when the pressing tax issue came to her attention, she reached out to Ome ga Psi Phi, Percy Julian’s fraternity, and Delta Sigma Theta, Anna and Faith Julian’s sorority, to alert them about the issue

“Many members of both [the] sorority and fraternity are very interested in supporting,” she said. “As we go along in this process, we

will learn more about how we can help and help their surviving daughter, Faith, feel good about her family’s legacy.”

Sean Long, 10th district re presentative of the Ome ga Psi Phi fraternity, said many individuals within the fraternity donated to help Julian renovate and save the home. Long said he led the charge to spur donations because it’s important to preserve history and stand with Julian in her ef for ts to save the home.

“If we don’t preserve things like that and honor those who contribute to where we are today, how do we expect future generations to honor and contribute and support?” he said. “It’s important for us to be an example.”

According to tax records, Julian has received a homeowner, senior citizen, senior freeze and disabled person exemption for taxes every year since 2019. But each year the taxes grow, Julian said, and the interest on her unpaid taxes continues to add up.

Ta glia said the house could be auctioned of f if the taxes are not paid in full plus the interest.

“Nobody would want that to happen,” he said. “She’s very comfortable living there.”

Historic site

Davis, who announced his ef for ts to save the house Thursday, said he was inspired to do so after speaking with village officials for quite some time, including trustee Chibuike Enyia

Davis said Julian was “visibly moved” by the reco gnition, and he hopes organizations, such as philanthropists, and individuals with means contribute to the ef for ts to preserve the home.

“I’m very optimistic that we’re going to be able to restore the building and grounds,” he said. “We’re also going to be able to protect and keep articulating the value of what the good doctor and his wife did.”

Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi lent his support for the legislation.

“It’s vital that we remember the contributions of pioneering Black Americans in advancing scientific knowledge that benefits all of humanity,” he said in a statement.

“As an Oak Park resident, I am thrilled to see such a historic building reco gnized in my own town.”

Julian has said she’s been debating starting a nonprofit for the home to receive grants from other nonprofit org anizations. Ultimately, she said she wants to see the home turned into a learning center.

“The world needs to be able to see, this is where Dr. Julian and his family lived,” Long said. “They should be honored.”

TODD BANNOR

Percy Julian’s daughter, Faith, speaks at Congressman Danny Davis’ press conference on legislation he is introducing designating Julian’s home (below) a National Historic Site on ursday Feb. 22.

COURTESY OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIET Y OF OAK PARK AND RIVER FOREST

Dr Percy Julian was a reno wned and proli c chemist who accumulated more than 130 patents in his lifetime

COURTESY OF THE OA K PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY

River Forest ne-tunes NE section tra c measures

Washington Boulevard speeding also will be addressed

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

River Forest officials revisited an issue that vexed them and residents of the northeast section of the village in late 2022 and through most of 2023, ag reeing at the Feb. 26 village board meeting with recommendations from the traffic and safety commission to address ongoing traf fic safety complaints

The discussion of the traffic control issues in the northeast section has continued at village board and traffic and safety commission meetings for almost two years with residents and business owners and operators first expressing concerns about speeding drivers and cut-thru traffic, then debating the effectiveness of measures approved in October 2022 and implemented in November of that year.

On Feb. 26, officials accepted the recommendations of the traffic and safety com-

mission to stripe existing parking spaces along Monroe Avenue, William Street and Clinton Place between North Avenue and LeMoyne Street, and to install a 25-mileper-hour speed limit sign along the southbound direction of Monroe between North and LeMoyne.

T he recommendations stem from a supplemental re port to the village-wide traffic study by T homas Engineering Group presented in January that addressed traffic issues in the northeast section. Data was collected in November and December. TEG also conducted the village-wide study. Monroe, William, Clinton, Jackson Avenue and Bonnie Brae Place were studied for traffic volume and speed between North and LeMoyne. Within the re port, TEG used the recently adopted “traffic calming toolbox” to deter mine what level of traffic calming measures would be appropriate, Bill Koclanis, civil engineering technician, explained in a memo to village administrator Matt Walsh.

Traf fic calming measures in the toolbox “consist of horizontal, vertical, lane narrowing, roadside and other features that use self-enforcing physical or psychoperception means to produce desired effects,” according to the federal highway administration.

The re port indicated that adding parking space striping to existing parking spaces along Monroe, William and Clinton would help maintain a nar row road appearance, which in turn may help slow down vehicle traffic, Koclanis said. He also said the speed limit sign on Monroe would not be new, but would be re placing a sign that has been missing

Officials Feb. 26 also accepted a recommendation from the traffic and safety commission to install bollards at eight Washington Boulevard intersections, which supported a similar recommendation from TEG in the village-wide traffic study to address speeding drivers.

To discourage drivers from using the

parking lane, the four-foot-tall bollards will be installed on both sides of the intersections of Washington with Gale, Keystone, Forest, Park, Franklin and Ashland avenues; the east side of the intersection of Washington and Thatcher Avenue; and the west side of the intersection of Washington and Lathrop Avenue. The west side of Washington at Thatcher is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation and the east side of Washington at Lathrop is under the jurisdiction of Forest Park

In a separate memo to Walsh, Koclanis explained that the TEG recommendation was for curb bump-outs at the intersections that were identified, but traf fic and safety commissioners felt that would take a couple of years to complete and recommended installation of the bollards instead. Not only would installing the bollards be quicker but also the effectiveness can be studied before a more permanent solution is implemented.

Imagine Foundation donates $1M to OPRF

It is a rst installment of funds to pay for building upgrades

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

Re presentatives from the Imagine Foundation handed over their first check to Oak Park and River Forest High School last week and it was a big one: $1 million.

T he foundation has a goal of raising $12.5 million to help pay for estimated $102 million cost of Project 2, which will tear down and rebuild the southeast portion of the high school with a new 10 lane swimming pool, a new, third-floor gym and other improvements.

School officials — of course — were thrilled to receive the money, which will be used to reimburse the school for early expenses, such as the professional services of architects, engineers and construction managers

“There’s so many naysayers that said they’ll never raise any money,” said board member Fred Arkin, a for mer Imagine Foundation board member.

School board president Tom Cofsky also was thrilled to accept the money

“To get to this point is very exciting,” Cofsky said.

Work on Project 2 is expected to be gin this summer and take a little more than two years to complete.

The Imagine Foundation is a private

charitable foundation founded in 2019 to support and raise money for physical improvements to OPRF. It has committed to raising $12.5 million for Project 2 and school officials are counting on that money in their plans to pay for Project 2.

“This grant is an important step towards fulfilling the Imagine Foundation’s commitment to upholding OPRFHS’s tradition of excellence and helping provide ‘Those Things That are Best” to our OPRFHS students and surrounding Oak Park and River Forest communities,” said Imagine Foundation president and co-founder Stephen Schuler in a statement.

Imagine Foundation co-founder and board member Lynn Kamenitsa said that the $1 million came from contributions from about 12 to 15 donor s.

“We’ve got several people who’ve really stepped up,” Kamenitsa said. “It’s been people who either are alumni or a lot of f amilies of alumni, people who didn’t go here themselves, but their kids had such a great experience that they really want future generations to have that as well.”

Imagine officials declined to identify donors.

“Eventually they’ll come out when our tax report is made public,” Kamenitsa said.

Fundraising be g an in the last quarter of 2023 and is still in what Kamenitsa

COURTESY OF OPRF

Imagine Foundation representatives hand a $1 million check to OPRF Superintendent Greg Johnson for Project 2. Le to right: Stephen Schuler, Heidi Ruehle, Greg Johnson and Ly nn Kamenista .

Pedestrian hit and killed by semi-truck on North Avenue

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a semi-truck early Tuesday morning at North Avenue and Ridgeland Avenue

T he Oak Park Fire Department was sent to the scene at about 9 a.m. Para -

called the “quiet phase.”

“We’re still having lots of conversations privately with other donors,” Kamenitsa said. “We still have a lot of work to do to meet our goal, but we’re really heartened by this early response that we’ve received.”

Schuler said that more public fundraising will begin in four or five months.

“We’ve been pretty quiet about it,” Schuler said. “We have not been publicity- seeking.”

It’s standard fundraising practice to raise a significant amount of money from large donors to gain momentum before making more public appeals

“There’s no donate button on our web site, we’re not at public events yet passing out pledge forms,” Kamenitsa said. “We will do all of those things. We will have big public kickoff for the community phase of our campaign.”

The Imagine Foundation has raised more money than the $1 million it donated to OPRF last week, but declined to say how much money the foundation has.

medics pronounced the man dead on the scene as a result of the nature of his injuries, officials said.

Traf fic was temporarily dive r ted from the area wh i le the Oak Pa rk Police Department investi gated at the scene. Traf fic restrictions have sinc e b een lifted

Foundation hires Heidi Ruehle as executive director

The foundation has hired Heidi Ruehle as its new full-time executive director.

Kamenitsa had been serving as a part time executive director. Ruehle, the mother of two OPRF sophomores, is an experienced fundraiser. She has worked for the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation and the Pleasant Home Foundation.

“As the parent in me learns more about the vast benefits and value Project 2 will deliver for our students, I become more ardent as a fundraiser working to fulfill the school’s commitment to academic excellence, personal growth, and social responsibility,” Ruehle said a statement.

“We still have a lot of work to do to raise the funds needed to build a school our kids and community deserve, but I’m already impressed with the strong support we’ve received from both villages, even in these early stages.”

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Oak Park volunteers search for migrants housing as eviction deadline nears

One family ’s resettlement in Forest Park highlights needs and struggles amid the crisis

By KATRINA PHAM Borderless A Growing Community Media partner

A dim light shines through the frosttinged dining room windows of the Marquez family’s home in suburban Forest Park. Inside, the bustle of voices envelops the room as the full house prepares to eat their dinner of pepitos — a popular Venezuelan street food.

After moving in a week earlier, the Marque zes, who arrived in Chicago from Venezuela last fall, gathered in the sparsely furnished dining room. Jose Marquez, his wife Milagros, their three daughters, and Milagros’ sister and nephews found space to enjoy their home-cooked meal — sitting on windowsills, an inflatable mattress and neon children’s chairs.

While barriers to navigating their new life in the United States loom over their heads, the home offers the family hope in the face of much uncer tainty.

“When I walked in, I was so surprised,” said Meison Barraez, Jose Marquez’s 24-year-old ne phew. “I wasn’t expecting something so beautiful.”

With the help of volunteers in suburban Oak Park, the Marquez family moved into a four-bedroom rental home in mid-January after living in shelters since October. The support is part of a grassroots movement growing throughout the city and state to help find long-term housing for migrant families arriving in Chicago.

But resettlement is an uphill challenge, especially amid imminent shelter evictions

More than 34,000 migrants have been bused or flown into Chicago from Texas

and other Southern border states since August 2022. Volunteers have stepped up in Oak Park and Chicago as city officials have struggled to house the influx of migrants. Some community members have opened their own homes, fundraised for rental assistance and donated furniture and other necessities to help migrants move out of shelters.

For the Marquezes, their new home represents the first step at building a life in the U.S. and putting life in shelters behind them.

“We didn’t have good food at the hotel,” Milagros said in Spanish, reflecting on their time at the Oak Park hotel-turnedshelter. “The girls didn’t eat it. It was a struggle for us to eat it.”

“At least the girls are happy because they feel at home,” she said of their current living situation.

The home offers privacy and the ability to

Forest Park

stay rooted in their culture by cooking meals like Venezuelan pepitos or empanadas.

“Some of us sit down here to eat, some go to a room to eat,” Barraez said. “But the thing is that we’re always talking, and we’re always together.”

‘Everything is di cult’

Despite the immense need for affordable, long-term housing for migrants, Chicago and Oak Park recently introduced restrictions on shelter stays. Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city would not open any new shelters. Meanwhile, Oak Park officials will close its two shelters by the end of February.

These decisions will force migrants — almost none of whom can work legally — to find alternative housing quickly without funds to pay for it. The median rent in Chicago for a two-bedroom apar tment in January was just more than $1,600, according to Apartment List. A family would need a monthly income of $3,700 to af ford that priced apar tment, according to Zillow’s Rent Af fordability Calculator

In December 2022, the Illinois Department of Human Services implemented an Emergency Rental Assistance Program for asylum seekers. The program initially provided migrants up to six months of rental assistance if they could secure a lease. As of Jan. 29, about 4,700 people moved out of the city’s shelters with assistance from the state program, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. See

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA FRIEND CABRER A

e extended Marquez family, from le , Josemith Marquez, 7, Milagros Marquez, 45, Jose Marquez, 39, Amisaday Marquez, 12 and Meison Barraez, 24, in the dining room of their new home in

PHOTO BY SAMANTHA FRIEND CABRER A

Empanadas Venezolanas, or Venezuelan empanadas, are a staple in the Marquez household, prepared many times throughout the day for a meal or a snack.

Day Nursery honors Julian teacher with Rocking Horse Award

She’s been a volunteer at The Day Nurser y for over 20 years

By TAYLOR HAAG Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park-River Forest Day Nursery is honoring Percy Julian sixth grade teacher Nancy Guarino by awarding her this year’s Rocking Horse Award.

The Rocking Horse Award is an annual, 15-year tradition within The Day Nursery.

“It’s an award that we give to an individual or an organization that has been especiall g enerous with their time, thei money, their ideas, period of time,” said Michelle Arnold, president of Nursery’s director “It’s a reco gnition, reco gnition, almost.

Guarino got her start in the banking and securitie industry, but made the switch to education 13 years ago.

in accordance with the bylaws of The Day Nursery. She now works as the president of the grant committee at the daycare center.

She also volunteers at The Economy Shop, an organization The Day Nursery has partnered with for more than a century, and was last year’s recipient of The Rocking Horse Award. At the shop, Guarino works in the shoe room, where they sell shoes for a fraction of their original price and the lefto

“It’s a great age I work with,” she said. “They’re great, they’re interesting, they’re funny, they want to learn, they still want to, you know, do well, or they want to know that they’re doing well and everything’s just interesting to them.”

Guarino volunteers at The Day Nursery and has done so for about 20 years. Her friend, a for mer recipient of The Rocking Horse Award and advocate for The Day Nursery, Charlene Schwar, was the one to introduce her to the non-profit daycare. She said she fell in love with the communal work style — particularly how they include the parents of their kids.

“You want to know the kids’ parents, the parents want to know each other, so it’s networking. It’s just, it was just a wonderful way to get everybody involved,” she said.

Guarino has never been a teacher at The Day Nursery, because she is not certified in early childhood education, so she began her journey with them by joining as a member of their board. She was on the board for eight years, took some time off, and then came back to the board for another eight years –

around the state

1912, relies on volunteers to their mission afloat.

oard, administrat their in-classroom pr — extra help in the such as reading times ways been “super helpful” and her dedication to her v ery and her endless suppo is what made her the year’s Rocking rino’s honor was “long

“She has that kind of that’s like, ‘nothing is always willing to oll up her slee es and, you know, participate, and make it happen,” Arnold said.

Guarino said she find immense joy in volunteering for these companies. She added that other than the staff at The Day Nursery, her favorite aspect of working there is the intimacy and dedication of the corporation.

“You know, just because you’re small doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference,” she said. “We can make a difference for those kids who are there.”

The Rocking Horse Award will be formally presented to Guarino during The Day Nursery’s “Corks and Conversations” fundraising ev ent Feb. 29 at Trattoria 225, 225 Harrison St.

NANC Y GUARINO

Oak Park residents vow to walk until Israeli hostages are released

Local e or t is part of a global message

By STEPHEN SONNEVELD Contributing Reporter

“Fear and uncertainty,” is what Oak Park resident Jeffrey Bergman felt upon hearing the news on October 7, 2023.

That morning, the militant group Hamas launched a coordinated attack in the southern district of Israel, along the Gaza boarder, killing 1,139 Israelis and foreign nationals, and kidnapping 248 others.

“It’s hard to be reminded, so abruptly, that tens of millions of people would kill you, or hurt you, or kidnap you, if they had the opportunity, just because of who you

are,” he said.

Bergman added that he “needed a meaningful way to support the broader Jewish people and others who were affected” by the atrocity. A cong re gant of the Union for Reform Judaism and Oak Park Temple, he learned of Run for Their Lives, a “[grassroots] organization that facilitates global run/walk events calling for the release of the hostages held by Hamas,” according to its Instagram page

What appealed to Bergman about Run for Their Lives was the “simplicity and humanity” in which the group brings awareness. “The organization consciously aims to be peaceful, to walk and not to ‘march’ or ‘protest.’”

Bergman organized a local ef fort, to walk every Sunday until the remaining hostages

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are released. As of Feb. 27, 132 people were reported held captive, and in December, according to CNN, Israel believed 20 of them to be dead

The walks begin at the Harlem Avenue entrance of Oak Park Temple on North Harlem Avenue and continue for one kilometer

Bergman told the Journal that depending on the Sunday, anywhere from 15 to 40 people might join the walk.

“Our group gathers each week, records a message of support, and sings Hebrew songs while we walk for around 18 minutes In Jewish practice, the number 18 symbolizes life. It’s a way to show that we have not forgotten our brothers and sisters who are held in terrible captivity.”

Despite a documented worldwide rise in antisemitism in recent months, Bergman said the walks have only attracted one negative reaction. Instead, he said, “many drivers on Harlem give us a “thumbs up” or honk as they pass us.”

Visiting Israel for the first time with his family last summer gave Bergman a unique perspective on the Oct. 7 attacks.

“We saw firsthand that Israel is a wonderful country, but which like every place has real challenges and deep imperfections. The people who were abducted came to Israel, or were the children and grandchildren of people who came, to make it a better place. They did not deserve this, in any way, and they do not deserve to be forgotten.”

However, not everyone shares a personal

connection with Israel and Gaza. Bergman said they are walking so that everyone can “remember that the war started when Hamas brutally attacked communities inside of Israel, killing over 1,200 people and abducting hundreds more. The hostages are being held as bargaining chips by terrorists [and] are dual US-Israeli citizens, so as Americans they are our fellow citizens, as well.”

Two American women were among the four hostages released in October

According to Al Jazeera, by the end of a six-day truce on Nov. 30, 105 captives were released by Hamas and 240 Palestinian prisoners had been freed by Israel. Since that time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected further negotiations.

“Only the continuation of military pressure, until complete victory, will result in the release of all our hostages,” he has said.

As of Feb. 27, President Joseph Biden said he believed a cease fire in the re gion could happen within a week.

“I don’t pretend to know the best way to bring them home,” Bergman said. “That’s a question for statesmen and soldiers. But I do know that if the hostages are forgotten by America and the rest of the world, they’ll probably never leave the tunnels under Gaza. What we can do [through the walks] is to keep reminding our friends and neighbors here, so we don’t lose sight of their plight or Hamas’ awful crime.”

COURTESY JEFFRE Y BERGMAN

Run for eir Lives group at Oak Park Temple.

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Bite Nite returns March 1

Foodie festival promises samples from local eateries

By LUZANE DRAUGHON Staff Reporter

Bite Nite is back after its pandemic hiatus to showcase the area’s cuisine and engage the community.

The annual foodie festival, hosted by the Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce, features food, drinks and live music. The event will be from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. March 1 in the ballroom of The Nineteenth Century Club.

“As a chamber we try to do two things: connecting ness to business and ness to community,” sai chamber executive Darien Marion-Burton. “I see this as an opportunity us to connect business with community.”

A $60 event tick mits the attendee to sample food from more than 30 local vendors, access the dessert lounge, enjoy live musi a chance to interact with local chefs. Local foodies can also pre-purchase a $35 drink et for five discounted wine and/or beer drinks or spend $8 per drink at the event.

different things to try,” he said.

Bite Nite is an opportunity to showcase diverse restaurants and vendors in Oak Park, River Forest and the surrounding community, Guenthner said. January and February can be slow months for these businesses, he said, so it’s an opportunity for vendors to get their name out there and have people try new food.

“I hope that everybody that comes has an opportunity to try something from a restaurant that they haven’t dined at before,” Guenthner said. “That’s the purpose behind it … to give people a chance to try things that maybe they’ve overlooked in the past.”

Any food brand, caterer or restaurant can participate, Marion-Burton said. So far, confirmed vendors include Kettlestrings Restaurant Group, Spilt Milk, Kribi Coffee, Pretty Please Bistro and Poor Phil’s.

“I love all of our restaurants,” MarionBurton said.

For example, president of Kettlestrings Restaurant Group Rob Guenthner said the group will bring small bites from each of its four locations. The event will feature biscuits and gravy from Kettlestrings Tavern, charcuterie bites from Kettlestrings Grove, meatballs from Betty’s Pizza & Pasta and a broccoli-bacon dish from Starship Restaurant & Catering.

Ticket holders can enjoy an unlimited number of bites at the event, said Guenthner, who is also president of the board of directors of the OPRF Chamber of Commerce

“It should be a great night with a lot of

Proceeds from the event will go toward the OPRF Chamber of Commerce, Marion-Burton said, because membership dues aren’t enough to sustain all of its programs

The last Bite Nite was in 2020, MarionBurton said, and stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s exciting to be able to bring those events back and support local businesses again, he said.

“Oak Park is a very special place in that most of the business owners live here and most of the people that live here like to support local businesses,” he said. “We’re facilitating that connection through this event.”

Roughly 175 tickets have been purchased so far, Marion-Burton said, and about 350400 foodies are expected to attend the event.

“I hope people see [Bite Nite] as a return to normalcy,” Guenthner said. “I hope people come out and enjoy themselves.”

COURTESY

RESETTLEMENT

Overcoming barriers

from page 16

Caseworkers at the city’s shelters were tasked with informing migrants of the rental assistance program to connect them with housing. Still, with a shortage of caseworkers and about 15,000 migrants in shelters, some families have fallen through the cracks

“It wasn’t until just [late January] that there’s now [resettlement case management] support in every single one of [Chicago’s] shelters,” said Beatriz Ponce De León, Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights, during Chicago’s immigration committee meeting at the end of January. “Our shelters grew at a pace that was too fast for the outmigration support…to keep up with.”

For those who have secured emergency rental assistance, it is unclear how many of these families were able to stay in their apar tments after state funding ran out.

Without the help of local volunteers, migrants face the impossible task of starting a life in the city as federal backlogs delay work permits for new ar rivals

“Everything is difficult,” Barraez said. “Getting a job, g etting a house. Every single thing is difficult because you’ re an immigrant.”

Informal mutual aid groups

Chicagoans have used Facebook groups such as Chi Welcome and Refugee Community Connection to provide new arrivals with housing options, resources and support throughout the city. Many have opened their homes to temporarily house migrants, while others offer donations of necessities such as towels, clothing and winter supplies.

When they first arrived, the Marquezes stayed at Chicago’s District 15 police station, a short distance from Oak Park’s town hall center. Oak Park volunteers stepped in

“It’s very calm here, and there are a lot of opportunities to live in a digni ed way.”

JOSE MARQUEZ

before the village of Oak Park closes o shelters at the end of February. wever, the grassroots effort is limited. the volunteers have resettled four families and located housing for three others preparing to move into their new homes. The Oak Park Migrant Resettlement Mission is continuing to find more potential housing options for migrants.

“It seems overwhelming, and it is a lot,” Puentes said. “But I have to believe that s possible. I won’t let myself believe anything else at this point.”

Alzamora and Puentes emphasized that community ef for ts and collaboration are vital to move forward. They hope to collaborate with other suburbs to continue working toward finding solutions to the current housing crisis.

Any step forward, even a little one, can world of difference, Puentes added.

“Poco a poco, little by little,” Puentes said. “I’m just going to take what’s in front of me and do the best that I can with that.”

to help the Marquezes and other families move out of the police station and into an Oak Park shelter.

“Oak Park and areas like Forest Park… are really nice places to live,” Jose Marquez said. “It’s very calm here, and there are a lot of opportunities to live in a dignified way.”

In recent weeks, the Marquezes’ living room has slowly come to life with the help of volunteers who donated a couch, cabinets, dining room chairs and a television for the house. Oak Park resident and teacher Mika Yamamoto is among several volunteers helping support migrants like the Marquezes. She loaned furniture to the Marquezes from a family home

In addition to those supporting the Marquez family, a small group of Oak Park volunteers recently launched the Oak Park Community Migrant Resettlement Mission,an infor mal task force and mutual aid effort to help migrants resettle in the United States and find long-term housing solutions outside shelters.

Maya Puentes is part of the group of nine core members and dozens of other volunteers from the village They’ve helped with food distribution, gathering donations and fundraising to support migrants.

Puentes, a grandchild of Mexican immigrants, was determined to use her skills as a realtor to help people find housing as rough-

ly 140 migrants arrived at Oak Park shelters.

“Until you are really in your own space and feel like you can call something home, you don’t feel settled,” Puentes said. “So, how can you truly start to get out of survival mode?”

Oak Park volunteer Betty Alzamora, a first-generation Venezuelan immigrant, believes legal services, housing, and mutual aid support to migrants are essential to giving immigrants a fighting chance to get their lives started in the U.S.

“As volunteers, as organizers and as activists, the intent here has always been trying to help people find dignified shelter and gain access to services that are legitimate asks for anybody who is coming seeking asylum in this country,” Alzamora said.

The Oak Park Migrant Resettlement Mission, similar to the volunteers that helped the Marquez family, is trying to help resettle other migrants from Oak Park shelters. They aim to fundraise for up to a year’s rent for each family they help resettle. But it can be challenging to find af fordable housing in Chicago and surrounding areas, Puentes said.

High hopes for permanent housing

Oak Park volunteers have high expectations for their mutual aid resettlement efforts. They aim to resettle roughly 140 mi-

While volunteers work to raise rental funds for other families, the Marquezes are trying to get their work permits. Without them, they will likely be unable to pay rent in the new home long-term. One month’s rent in the house is $3,300, and that doesn’t include costs like utilities and furniture. For now, volunteers helped the Marquezes pay for the home’s deposit and the first month of rent.

The Marquez family has been grateful for the support they’ve received from volunteers, like Yamamoto, who helped them furnish and pay for their house. But they worry about the short time they have before they have to start paying rent, especially because they still need federal work per mits to establish a stable income.

“A month to find stability? That is impossible,” Mila gros said. “When you are an immigrant, much more if you have no f amily, you have no one here, it is even more impossible.”

Months of federal backlogs and barriers to applying for Temporary Protected Status and asylum have made it difficult for the Marquezes and thousands of other migrant families to secure work permits and deportation protections

The family wants to apply for asylum and is looking for an immigration lawyer to help them. But for now, the house is a start.

“In this house, there is a lot of talent,” Jose Marquez said. “But we just need to have the opportunity to work.”

This stor y is re published from Borderless as part of a partnership with Growing Community Media.

PHOTO BY MAX HERMAN

Oak Park native Maya Puentes is one of the volunteers from the v illage who helps gather food donations and fundraise for migrants resettling in the Oak Park area.

What to know about the 2024 primary races in Cook County

Suburban Cook County can begin traditional early voting on March 4

By LUZANE DRAUGHON, TRENT BROWN and ERIKA HOBBS Staff Reporters and Editor

Key races across Cook County will be decided by voters in the upcoming 2024 primary and general election.

In the highly contested run for incumbent Danny K. Davis’ seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, many eyes will be on Kina Collins as she tries for a third time to take the seat. Others will be wondering about Melissa Conyears-Ervin, who has been under fire for alleged ethics violations

Earlier this year, Kim Foxx announced she would not seek reelection as the Cook County State’s Attorney. A few candidates are running to fill the seat, affecting many pressing criminal justice issues in Cook County

Here’s what to know about the upcoming primary elections, the candidates and how to vote.

Who is running?

FEDERAL

U.S. House of Representatives, 4th District

2-year terms

• Jesús “Chuy ” García

García has held the House of Re presentatives seat since 2019. García serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as well as several Congressional caucuses, in cluding the Congressional Equity Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional La bor Caucus, the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, and the New Americans Caucus. He also serves as the vice chair at large for the Congressional Progressive Caucus and as a founding member of the Future of Transportation Caucus. Before being elected to Congress, García served as a Chicago Alderman from 1986-1993, an Illinois State Senator from 1993-1999 (of which he was the first Mexican-American

member) and a Cook County Commissioner from 2010-2018. Last year and in 2015, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Chicago. Throughout his political career, García has been known as a progressive

• Raymond Lopez

as the abuse of power. The city settled with the ex-employees. Conyears-Ervin has denied the alle gations. However, an Office of Inspector General investigation found this was a case of retaliation and the Chicago Board of Ethics ratified the findings Nov. 13. She can contest the results.

• Kina Collins

The Chicago alderman from the 15th Ward announced his run for the House seat last October. Lopez, who was elected to the Chicago City Council in 2015, is a selfdescribed “commonsense Democrat” who aims to “govern from the middle.” In 2012, Lopez ran unopposed to be the Democratic Committeeman for the 15th Ward, his first time being elected, making him the first openly gay Latino to hold office in Illinois. The year before, he ran unsuccessfully for his current aldermanic position. He also ran for mayor of Chicago in 2022 but dropped out before the 2023 election. Lopez has been known as a critic of for mer Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during her tenure and has a reputation for being tough on crime.

U.S. House of Representatives, 7th District

2-year terms

• Melissa Conyears-Er vin

The Chicago easurer and state re presentati officially announced she was running earlier this year. Sh Davis, is running amid alle gations of unethical conduct. In Springfield, according to her bio graphy, she passed bills to provide more funding for af fordable childcare and new, more equitable funding for Chicago Public Schools. In a 2020 letter, Tif fany Harper, Conyears-Ervin’s for mer chief of staf f, and Ashley Evans, another city treasurer employee, said they were fired in retaliation after they questioned what they described

• Danny K.

Davis, the 82-yearold Democratic in cumbent, has been in this seat for nearly three decades, totaling 14 terms in the posi tion. However, his seat isn’t safe this year in a highly contested primary. He announced last June that he would yet again. He is a for mer educator, community org anizer and civil rights He is known for his and criminal justice reform. According to The Intercept, he is facing scrutiny in connection with using Congressional funds to buy campaign advertising. He has denied the alle gations.

• Kouri Marshall

This is Marshall’s first run for office. He worked on for mer U.S. President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelecfor

mer First District Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin Illinois Gov.

B. Pritzker. He now serves as a director of state and local public policy for the Chamess, a trade organization for ompanies. Marshall told Austin Weekly News last year that he respected Davis’ decades of service but added that his campaign was about the future.

• Nikhil Bhatia

Bhatia, an Indian American, is a math teacher in Grand Crossing and an elected Local School Council member at Galileo Scholastic Academy

Collins is challenging incumbent Davis for the third time. In 2022, she was within 6 percentage points of winning in the priaccording to WBEZ. In 2017, med the Chicago Neighborhood Alliance to empower activists to end gun violence in Chicago. According to her campaign, she coauthored the Illinois Council on Women and Girls Act and served as the inaugural chairoman of a council that stemmed from that . During the 2019 Chicago aldermanic election, Collins helped form a coalition of organizations called Brand New Council, ich aimed to elect progressive candidates color to the city’s council.

• Chad Koppie

Koppie is the sole Re publican candidate in the heavily Democratic district.

STAT E

State Representative, 8th District

La Shawn K. Ford is running unopposed.

State Representative, 78th District

Camille Lilly, assistant majority leader, is running unopposed.

C OOK COUNT Y

State’s Attorney 4-year term

• Clayton Harris III

Harris is a public policy professor and for mer prosecutor, and is the Democratic Party’s pick to replace Kim Foxx.

• Eileen O’Neill Burke

Burke is also running as a Democrat and is leading Harris in fundraising.

Why do these races matter?

Not only is voting a right for most American citizens over 18, but it’s also a civic duty Why is that?

In local elections, turnout is often lower, according to Campus Election Engagement Project. This means individual votes can make a bigger difference. Understanding the roles of local executive, legislative and legal positions can help influence choices that affect Cook County

U.S. Representatives, like Davis, introduce bills and resolutions, offer amendments and serve on committees. The U.S. House of Representatives can collectively impeach federal officers and even elect the President if there were an Electoral College tie.

State Representatives, alongside state senators, form the legislative branch of Illinois. They work with the gover nor to create laws and establish a budget. State Representatives can pass bills on public policy, affect state spending, raise or lower taxes and override gubernatorial vetoes.

Illinois Supreme Court justices serve on the state’s highest court and hear appeals of lower court cases. The court has authority over all courts in the state

The Cook County State’s Attorney can seek convictions for many pressing criminal justice issues in the areas, including shootings and murders. Cook County is one of the largest counties in the area, meaning the

• Bob Fioretti

Former Chicago Ald. Fioretti ran for state’s attorney as a Democrat in 2020, but is running unopposed in the Re publican primary this time around.

• Andrew Charles Kopinski Kopinski, an attorney, is running as a Libertarian.

Clerk of the Circuit Court 4-year term

• Iris Mar tinez

Incumbent Martinez was the first Latina in the state Senate to become assistant majority leader. She won the last election without the Democratic Party’s backing.

• Mariyana Spyropoulos

Spyropoulos, an attorney and for mer commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Recla-

state’s attorney’s decisions have a big impact on Illinois’ prison population, according to WBEZ.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court oversees case files and documents for the largest court system in Illinois. The clerk attends court sessions and preserves court records.

The Cook County Commissioner 1st District covers the West Side of Chicago and western suburbs. Commissioners make sure citizen concerns are met, requirements are fulfilled on the federal and state level and that operations run smoothly, according to Cook County Gover nment.

Where to vote

Limited early voting began Feb. 21. Traditional early voting begins March 4 in suburban Cook County. This may not be an exhaustive list of polling places; to find your polling place, visit https://ova.elections.il.gov/PollingPlaceLookup.aspx. Or visit https://ow.ly/o3Rz50QIin3

** indicates an early voting location.

Oak Park:

■ Oak Park Village Hall, 123 Madison St.**

■ Village Hall is only open for early voting, not on March 19.

■ Hatch Elementary School, 1000 Ridgeland Ave.

mation District of Greater Chicago, has received many endorsements, including from the Cook County Democratic Party.

• Lupe Aguirre

Aguir re is running as a Re publican despite several unsuccessful campaigns for county offices in the past.

• Michael Murphy Murphy is running as a Libertarian.

Board of Review Commissioner, 3rd District 4-year term

• Larry Rogers Jr.

Rogers assumed office in 2004 and his current term ends Dec. 2, 2024.

• Larecia Tucker

■ Whittier Elementary School, 715 N. Harvey Ave.

■ J L Hedges Administration Center, 218 Madison St.

■ Oak Park Public Library - Maze Branch, 845 Gunderson Ave.

■ Abrahan Lincoln Elementary School, 1111 S. Grove Ave.

■ Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School, 508 N. Kenilworth Ave.

■ St. Giles Religious Education, 1101 Columbian Ave.

■ The Nineteenth Century Charitable Association, 178 Forest Ave.

■ Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St.

■ Oak Park and River Forest High School, 201 N. Scoville Ave.

■ Washington Irving School, 1125 S. Cuyler Ave.

■ William Beye Elementary School, 230 N. Cuyler Ave.

■ West Central Church, 1154 Wisconsin Ave.

■ Longfellow Elementary School, 715 Highland Ave.

■ Oak Park Conservatory, 615 Garfield St

■ Horace Mann Elementary School, 921 N. Kenilworth Ave.

■ Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.

■ Oak Park Township, 105 S. Oak Park Ave.

■ Dole Learning Center, 255 Augusta St.

■ Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland

Commissioner, 1st District Unexpired 2-year terms

• Tara Stamps

Stamps, a community activist and Chicago Teachers Union member, was selected to take Brandon Johnson’s seat after he was elected mayor in 2023. The district spans the city and the suburbs, including Austin, Oak Park, Forest Park, Maywood and Bellwood. Stamps is a for mer teacher and now serves as an administrator of new teacher development for the CTU.

• Zerlina A. Smith-Members

Smith-Member s, of Austin, is a c ommunity activist and victim services c oordinator for To g ether Chicag o, a non-profit agency that helps victims of c rime and p eople in need who live in the Garfield Pa rk and Austin c ommunities. SmithMembers also ser ve d as the I llinois re -

Forest Park:

■ Grant-White School, 147 Circle Ave.

■ Garfield School, 543 Hannah Ave.

■ Howard Mohr Community Center, 7640 Jackson Blvd.

■ Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison St.

■ Betsy Ross School, 1315 Marengo Ave.

■ Field Stevenson School, 925 Beloit Ave.

Austin:

■ Sayre Elementary Language Academy, 1850 North Newland Ave.

■ Rutherford Sayre Fieldhouse, 6871 West Belden Ave.

■ Galewood Community United Church of Christ, 1776 North Narragansett Ave.

■ Hamlett-Isom CME Church, 5446 West Division St.

■ Sankofa Cultural Arts and Business Center, 5820 West Chicago Ave.

■ Heritage Inter national Christian Church, 5312 West North Ave.

Voters can also find their polling location or submit a ballot by mail on the Cook County Clerk’s Office website at https:// www.cookcount yc le rk il.gov/elections / your-voter-information.

Re porter Jessica Mordacq contributed to this article.

gional director for Jill S tein in the 2016 presidential campaign

• James Humay

Humay is running as a Libertarian.

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioners 6-year terms

• Marcelino Garcia

• Daniel Pogorzelski

• Kari Steele

• Sharon Waller

• Claire Connelly

• Richard Dale

• Brendan Ehlers

• George Blakemore

• Toneal Jackson

Car ablaze at McDonald

A car was fully engulfed in flames Feb. 23 at the McDonald’s on Harlem Avenue in River Forest. The River Forest Fire Department responded to the scene by extinguishing the fire, using about 500 g allons of water, and disconnecting the battery.

T he car owner said while he was driving, he noticed smoke coming from the right side near his g ear shifter, then saw flames in the area, according to the River Forest Fire Department. As he pulled into the McDonald’s, the flames got worse. He and another passenger in the car got out.

The driver is paralyzed and cannot use his legs, but was able to get inside the McDonald’s. He said he was not bur ned or hurt but wanted to get checked out at the hospital, according to the fire department.

Burglary to motor vehicle

■ Someone got in a Wheeling resident’s unlocked 2019 Ford Transit van Feb. 19 at the 1100 block of North Kenilworth Avenue. The individual ransacked the interior and stole boxes of tools containing screw

guns, chargers and rotary laser mated loss is $5,000.

■ Someone got in two Bellwood resident work vans through unlocked Feb. 22 at the 700 block of North enue. T he individual stole various tools and a credit card. T he estimated loss is $5,081.23.

■ Two men were seen stealing power tools from a Lindenhurst resident’s 2021 Chevrolet work truck Feb. 24 at the 500 block of North Grove Avenue. The men fled in a black Kia Sorento. The estimated loss is $6,150.

Domestic battery arrest

An Oak Park man was ar rested for domestic battery against another Oak Park resident Feb. 21 at the 400 block of Home Avenue. He was held for bond hearings.

Motor vehicle theft

Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s white 2021 Kia Soul while it was parked at the 200 block of Superior Street. The inci-

dent, which occurred Feb. 20, resulted in an estimated loss of $12,000.

Armed robbery arrest

A Chicago man was identified Feb. 21 as the subject in an armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint that occurred at 100 Chicago Avenue on Dec. 4, 2023. He was held at Cook County Correctional Facility in Chicago.

Battery arrest

A Chicago man was arrested Feb. 22 at the 900 block of North Austin Boulevard for battery that occurred May 15, 2023, against an Oak Park resident. The man

also had an active Cook County warrant for aggravated battery to a police officer. He was held for bond hearings.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports dated Feb. 19-26, and from the River Forest Fire De partment. The items re present a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases ha ve not yet been adjudicated. We re port 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

CREDIT DANIEL LAUBER

Forest Park Bank Makes it Possible.

Forest Park Bank. A Community Bank for over 80 years.

Message from the Chamber

This Saturday is St. Patty’s in Forest Park

We’re not expecting half a million people like they are in Dublin, but attendance at our St. Patrick’s Day Parade is just as impressive for a town of our size. And if the current forecast holds, this could be the largest crowd yet.

We host the parade early in March (typically two weekends before St. Patrick’s Day weekend) for a couple of reasons: to help ensure we don’t compete with local or city parades for entrants or attendance, and to drive business to Forest Park before the ‘official’ St. Patrick’s Day/St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

People often remark that the weather would be better if we moved the date up, but that’s not how Chicago-area weather rolls. For example, we’ve had 70-degree weather on parade day, with temperatures in the 20’s the following Saturday. Over the last 27 years, it’s gone the other way of course, but Forest Park St. Pat’s Parade Day parade-goers are in it for the long haul so we always have a great turnout. So, no matter the weather, we hope to see you there!

As with any event we host, sponsors are key to making the parade happen. Their support allows us create an entertaining

line-up that includes entries like Medinah Shriner’s parade units who receive an honorarium for participating. Event sponsorship also supports the overall work of the Chamber.

Huge thanks to this year’s main sponsors: Title Sponsors: Village of Forest Park, O’Sullivan’s Public House; Ironworkers Local 1, Rework Office Furniture and Speaker Emaunel ‘Chris’ Welch and Liuna Local One. Advertising Sponsors: Advanced Orthodontic Specialists, Parkway Dispensary, Mohr Oil, McDonald’s Forest Park, Shanahan’s, Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Republic Services, Fatduck Tavern and Grill, Riveredge Hospital, Currie Motors and Burke Beverage. Shamrock

Sponsors: Scratch Public House, Robert’s Westside, Original Hooters, Chicago White Sox, Dot Doc, Dog Den Chicago, Our Planet Automotive, Friends for Owen J. Shelby, Grace Lutheran School, and Mid-America Carpenters Region Council. Leprechaun Sponsor: Citizens for Judge Debjani Desai.

I also want to thank every single member of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce for their support. Together with the Village and other key organizations, we all work together to keep Forest Park strong. Happy parade day and happy St. Patrick’s Day to one and all.

LAURIE KOKENES DIRECTOR

Going green in multi-family buildings

Forest Park’s The Grov shows us how it’s done

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

In Forest Park, a condominium development is proving that it’s possible to li green in a multi-family building.

The board and residents are together to back new sustainability measures that they think can be applied to other buildings in the area.

David Gulyas, The Grove resident and a member of the Village’s Environmental Control Commission, said that he and hi wife Carol brought a desire to inco green practice with them when they their condo at The Grove several years ag

“I’ve been involved in sustainable design for quite a while,” he said. “We an LEED certified home in Bloomington where we lived for 10 years.”

When the couple moved back to the Chicago suburbs to be closer to aging Gulyas brought his can-do attitude to their new building. As he describes it, “The Grove is not really old, but not really ne Built in 2007, the building was in good shape, but Gulyas saw areas that we for improvement.

His first step was to investigate electric car charging for residents. “I got an electrical engineer to install an electrical pathway so all residents could install an electric car charger,” he said.

He then turned his attention to other ways residents could practice sustainable living.

While he might have kick-star ted the changes, Gulyas quickly credited others for helping the movement get of f the ground.

“We are just so lucky to know someone like Mark Burger,” he said. “Also, our building manager Tim Davis made the process easy, and the condo board was very open to these initiatives.”

Burger, a solar consultant with Oak Park-based Seven Generations Ahead, helped the group decarbonize the building’s common areas. After exploring their options, they found that community solar made the most sense for The Grove. This al-

lows the building to source its energy from an Illinois solar farm without having to install solar panels.

For a single-family house, the move to go with solar panels is relatively straight forward. Bigger electricity users — those using 1 million kilowatts- can make special arrangements, but Burger said condominiums like The Grove are sort of a “middle market.”

“The condominium building might use 100,000-200,000 kilowatt hours per year. They’re big but they don’t quite have the

economy of scale,” he said.

He said SGA can help a condo board wade through the choices and financial implications of different plans. Burger notes that Seven Generations Ahead does not make or sell products.

“We’re not the developers, we’re the hand holders,” he said.

Working with the board at The Grove, Burger suggested a specific community solar provider, and the board researched that option and other companies to make sure

they were getting the best deal. At the end, they chose Burger’s suggested provider, Solstice, and expect to see electricity bills that are 10-20% lower.

The Grove is also retrofitting older windows to make them more energy efficient. Gulyas said that there are some benefits to being part of a larger, multi-family building when it comes to making these changes.

COURTESY

e Grove

Thrive Counseling Center: Rising to the Challenge of Meeting Community Mental Health Needs

Thrive Counseling Center is the local community mental health center ensuring access to mental health care for low-income individuals and families. Thrive recently reached its largest size in decades. With a growing team, it has been well-positioned to expand critical programs. An indicator of this expansion was a recent announcement that new clients are being scheduled immediately without spending time on a waitlist. A rarity for community mental health providers and welcome news as the nation’s mental health emergency continues. Other developments from Thrive include the addition of robust language assistance and the launch of an intensive therapy program for people who have experienced Trauma.

Enhancements have extended to Thrive’s Crisis Response Program. For more than 50 years, Thrive has partnered with the Oak Park Police Department and also works with the River Forest Police Department to decriminalize mental health and support individuals during mental health emergencies. Thrive’s’ crisis team is available to co-respond with police 24/7/365. In the past year, Thrive grew its staff to include Peer Support Specialists, individuals with personal experience having a mental illness or substance use disorder. These peers are trained as Certified Recovery Support Specialists and accompany mental health clinicians on crisis calls. Thrive also began offering short-term stabilization services for individuals immediately

police involvement. Additionally, it reflects Thrive’s certification by the State of Illinois as a 988 mobile response provider for this region.

following a crisis event. The sessions are designed to provide support after a mental health emergency with an effort to encourage the individual to pursue longer-term therapy and psychiatric medication as necessary.

The recent service enhancements build on national and local initiatives (such as the Community Emergency and Services Act- CESSA) to direct mental health emergency calls away from 911 to 988 in order to minimize

“It’s important for us all to consider what this shift away from hospitalization and police involvement looks like as we work together as a community to support those living with a mental illness. We often encounter the same people in crisis more than once, and it requires compassion and patience to get people connected with the right resources and help them with the courage they need to take the next steps toward recovery,” says, Dr. Sarah Wiemeyer, Thrive’s Clinical Director who joined the team in July of 2022. Thrive works to proactively address mental health through outreach and education. It continues to offer a CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited suicide prevention program and provides training to students at Oak Park River Forest and Trinity High

Schools. The team collaborates with other nonprofit organizations to conduct proactive outreach through partnerships with Live4Lali, joining their team weekly on their mobile outreach and harm reduction unit; facilitating monthly mental health screenings with Rush Oak Park and Beyond Hunger; and serves as active members of the Oak Park Homelessness Coalition.

“We aim to wrap around the community, providing all levels of mental health support from prevention and education to intensive therapy programs with evidencedbased treatment approaches. The people we serve need more than just weekly therapy, and we strive to meet whatever needs they have, even when that includes having our case managers take them to the local food pantry,” says President/Executive Director Jennifer Rook, also new to Thrive in 2022.

Thrive remains focused on its 20232025 strategic plan, looking forward to further growth and program expansion with a central focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

You can support equitable access to mental health care by making a gift on Thrive’s website, thrivecc.org/ donate or by attending their Spring Benefit on April 13th. Register at thrivecc.org/spring-benefit.

Contact Thrive: Communication@thrivecc.org (708) 383-7500

This content is made possible by our sponsor and is independent of GCM’s editorial staff.

Thrive’s team connects with community members at local resource fairs.

Thrive’s program staff has expanded by more than 40% since 2022.

“We have about 140 units and two large buildings. We can take advantage of group purchasing,” he said.

The condo board is taking those advantages and exploring replacing The Grove’s aging air conditioning system with heat pumps that can cool and heat the units Working with Oak Park-based Energy Matters, they are converting their systems

Gukyas said that heat pumps will probably allow The Grove to get to what he calls an 80/20 solution: “The heat pumps will provide up to 80% of our heating and 20% will be provided by the existing furnace system. We’re still using a little bit of fossil fuel, but you can keep moving forward.”

A community compost progr am is also part of the building’s shift towards embracing green initiatives. Gulyas said a company brings around a cart once a week that people can fill with their waste from “anything that lives.”

Participation in the compost prog ram is optional, and Gulyas said that’s important. “You have to give people a choice. We stay away from moralistic choices.”

At the end of the day, Gulyas said it’s about giving people what they want.

“A lot of folks here are anxious and ex-

cited to do this,” he said about the steps they are taking towards sustainability.

“You look around and there’s just so much that’s going to be changing in the next 10 years. Kitchens will be changing. Appliances will be changing,” he said, referencing new codes in municipalities such as Oak Park that are requiring all new construction use electrical appliances and heat sources rather than natural gas.

T he rate of the changes requires that all hands are on deck according to Gulyas.

T he Grove has proven to be up to the challeng e, and Gulyas thinks that it will continue to move forward.

“I relish the opportunity to be able to do projects like this. It’s really a dream come true. It’s like a laboratory here. People are very excited about this.”

Burger said that g etting more multif amily buildings to take on sustainability measure is one of the goals of Seven Generation Ahead.

“We want to g et the word out to other condo associations that want to do this, but don’ t know how to start,” Burger said.

When it comes to sustainability measures, he added, “Everyone is looking for the magic for mula, but it’s a question of the organization making it happen.”

If the leadership of the building is motivated, Burger said It’s possible to make change.

“It won’t happen overnight. It takes a few years. If you stay the course, in three to five years you’ll see real benefits like lower utility costs and improved value of units.”

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.

Call Viewpoints editor

Ken Trainor at 613-3310

ktrainor@wjinc.com

e Repair Cafe came through!

Ihave never underestimated the reach of a small neighborhood newspaper. Back on Dec. 4, I wrote an article about the Re pair Cafe. Held on the first Saturday of every month at the Fox Recreation Center in the 600 block of South Oak Park Avenue, it is a magnificent concept that keeps re pairable items out of

JONES

I had lamented in that column about my vinta ge Black Angus rotisserie oven. To this day, I can still remember being over at a friend’s house while we were in high school and she cooked a steak in one of those ovens. I still remember how good that steak was. The char-flavor was reminiscent of steak from a steakhouse. So when I had the opportunity to buy such an oven via eBay over 20 years ago, I jumped at the chance. And it has served me faithfully ever since.

When the tiny lamp-type vintage cord gave out, my first thought was to get it re paired over throwing it out. I had been reaching out to different repair locations, but the response I got was lacking. I even gave some thought to trying to rewire it myself. If all else failed, I could again go on eBay and look to buy a re placement. I actually did buy a replacement oven, but that oven’s timer knob was so hard to turn that the oven wouldn’t come on. So I returned it.

The December Re pair Cafe put a new plug on my oven. But truthfully, the entire thing needed to be rewired for safety. When you live in a 100-year-plus bungalow like I do, fire is always a concern. A couple of days after I wrote the column about my situation, I got a phone call and someone told me if I dropped it of f at the January Re pair Cafe, they would have it ready for me by the February session. I was overjoyed. So I did just that. When I got the oven back, she was ready to cook. The two-prong plug that looked like it belonged on a lamp, was re placed with a heavy-duty three-prong one. I cooked in it and my steak was excellent. The timer now works correctly and even the little button to indicate the oven is on was glowing a beautiful red. Big shout-out and thanks to the Oak Park Re pair Cafe!

Since I have another of those rotisserie ovens, I’m go-

I am trying to become the strongest person I can become to li been gi ven and to help effect change towa a livable future for this earth and for my children.

So much of learning about the experience of Blackness and our history within these “United” States of America is told through a lens of pain and suffering. It becomes hard when writing sometimes. I struggle to see all the joy and triumphs when I am constantly shown the pain and hardship of how we are viewed in media. I wanted to challenge myself to write about Black joy.

Then, as if by some cosmic happenstance, I got to be in a room for a few hours and watch joyful history being made by an incredible group of powerful Black women and girls led by Juanta Griffin.

A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to DJ the Uniquely You Tea Party. For those of you unfamiliar, Uniquely You is a yearly event created by Juanta. Every year

er the Chicago area ent to be loved, empowered, and celebrated. This year was the fourth and (with the exception of the second, which was gotten to be the DJ for each.

ear the theme was Africa, which was

Tea ceremonies, also known as Attayas, roots in African and Asian cultures. In West Africa, Attayas take hours to brew and drink and that time is spent relaxrsing. A time to strengthen the bonds of friendship and community.

ery few times in my life have I witnessed actual magic. That day was one of them. A sisterhood creating love energy will protect those girls as they become women.

Children dressed in beautiful Ankara and Kente fabrics walked through a door and were greeted by a group of adult mentors applauding them. After being seated at their tables, they were welcomed to the Oak Park Country Club, by Juanta, the coordinator of the

Kuumba Kids dance troupe

Funding housing

For more than a decade, Oak Park funded most of its affordable housing initiatives through fees charged to developers of the tall buildings which brought downtown Oak Park its skyline. These payments were “in lieu of ” actually requiring those apartment developments to reserve a portion of their units as affordable housing. Instead developers paid hundreds of thousands into the village’s affordable housing fund. It worked well as long as new buildings were being built. But with most prime sites for high-rise projects already developed, with a change in village leadership steering away from tall buildings and with interest rate hikes putting the kibosh on much new development, the affordable housing fund has been left without much of an ongoing funding mechanism.

Last week the village board voted 6-1 to increase the local tax on transient occupancy rental units — aka Airbnb. The 3.5% hike in that tax will be funneled into the affordable housing fund

This is a smart move. The added fee will be paid by tourists, not residents, and it is projected to raise a bit more than $1 million over several years.

However, it won’t be enough to add substantial affordable units at a time when the village has identified af fordability — a concept with many definitions — as a priority for Oak Park. “The only way to make a dent in affordable housing is to add housing,” said Trustee Cory Wesley. A simple truth, well stated

Saving Julian’s home

At an event last week at the Oak Park home of Faith Julian, daughter of the pioneering Percy and Anna Julian, an important point was made explicit. In a village where collaborations have been built to preserve the homes of Ernest Hemingway and the Home & Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright, it is imperative that such a coalition be roused to preserve the East Avenue home of the Julian family.

Last week Congressman Danny Davis announced plans to have the home declared a national historic site. That’s good. And it is one possible aspect of a broad-based effort to keep Miss Julian in the home during her latter years by getting property taxes caught up and critical repairs made to the house. Beyond that, a structure must be built, possibly through creation of a nonprofit, to keep the home long ter m, to emphasize its historic roots in Oak Park’s early and hateful march toward racial integration and to recognize the international prominence of Dr Percy Julian as a scientist.

There is much to do. The time is now.

A new niche

When two essential nonprofits join together to solve a problem, well, things happen. Housing Forward, Maywood based, and Sarah’s Inn, headquartered in Forest Park, have won federal funding to create a transitional housing program for families fleeing domestic violence.

Providing those families with stable, mid-term housing is vital to holding families close, to offering a base of operations where traumatized people can regroup and take steps toward a future of safety and love

What they’re good at

Bryce was inconsolable. We had just left the bowling alley. He didn’t bowl well enough and Tyler got a higher score. My grandsons are intensely competitive and unsportsmanlike behavior has been known to rear its head Talkings-to are a regular feature of our bowling outings. This isn’t about winning, I say. It’s about lear ning the game. It’s not about the score. It’s about how much you lear n.

This is a message that takes some time to sink in.

KEN TRAINOR

“I want to be good at something!” Bryce wails from the back seat. Don’t we all. They are growing up in a competitive society, but it’s more than that. He wants to feel good about what he does. He wants to feel good about himself. Being good at something is a step in that direction. I know the feeling well and sympathize with his plaintive cry.

The bowling alley has inflatable gutter bumpers, which are a help in keeping the ball in play, but a hindrance in lear ning not to rely on them. Tyler lets his ball fly with abandon, which caroms back and forth off the bumpers and somehow always seems to strike the pins in the middle. I call this “billiard bowling,” very satisfying if you get the right bounce. But it’s pure luck.

I mention that so Tyler doesn’t lord his score over his resentful brother. Then I point out that Bryce won the learning game. He actually kept his ball in the lane. He doesn’t have a lot of control over it yet, but he made far more progress than Tyler, so he was the winner on that front.

They play several sports, but they’re not ahead of the curve. They’re learning. Bryce’s main sport is soccer, but he isn’t the best player on his team so he doesn’t get as much playing time. Playing-time inequality is an issue in youth sports. Instruction is valuable, but playing time is invaluable. It’s the same for Tyler in baseball, his chosen sport. He works hard at it and receives instruction well, but he’s still developing. Ditto for basketball (which both of them play).

Coaches aren’t always helpful. God love ’em for volunteering and putting in the time, but they basically want to play their best players so they can win. They aren’t as interested in developing the rest of the squad, so the kids who need playing time the most get the least. Inequality is the essential flaw in a society that pledges allegiance to equality

I tell them I wasn’t a natural either, but I enjoyed basketball and baseball enough to stick with them. Eventually, I got better at both. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I became very good

at basketball. If you like a sport, I advise, stick with it. As you get better, you’ll like it even more. You may even come to love it.

Besides, I tell them, “You’re good at a lot of things right now.”

They’re good at reading and recall. They took part in the Battle of the Books, a quiz-show-format competition against local schools at the public library. Each of them answered questions correctly and benefitted their team.

They’re good at Legos and Magnatiles. They’re good at chess. Their paintings and drawings make great presents. They’re very good at the Harry Potter edition of Trivial Pursuit. They’re good at navigating the giant maze at Morton Arboretum. They’re good at doing flips on their backyard trampoline. They’re especially good at annoying each other. But they’re also good at impersonating animal sounds and bird calls. They’re good at finding the right walking stick for hikes in the woods. They’re very good at distance running. And both played flawlessly at last week’s piano recital.

They’re good at baking cakes and cookies. On Valentine’s Day, Bryce grabbed a pan and fried an egg, which he plopped on top of a burger he had cooked that morning after his mom left for work; then he warmed both in the microwave and served it to her when she got home. They know their way around the kitchen. It was just one of the things they did for her that day. They’re good at being considerate of mom. She only has to remind them some of the time

Last week, with the early spring war mth and later sunsets, they wanted to ride bikes. But the tires were low. Fortunately I had my pump in the car, so we inflated the tires and took off. They couldn’t believe how great it feels to ride a bike with inflated tires. They chortled with delight. Tyler said, “It feels like flying.” It was a revelation. We rode south to their future high school in the lingering dusk, where we found an indoor track meet ongoing. We watched through a large picture window and I said, “Someday that could be you.”

It was dark when we rode back and Bryce said, “This is so different. It’s quiet.”

“And peaceful,” I added, hoping to introduce a notion they might not be familiar with.

They’re good at noticing their sur roundings and appreciating new experiences. They’re good at undertaking adventures

And they’re very, very good at being 10-year-olds growing into 11-year-olds and beyond in an everwidening world.

SHRUB TO WN by Marc Stopeck

Senior thoughts about Biden

Here’s one senior ’s thoughts on the subject of President Biden’s age:

Critics see Bide n’s advanced age as a disability. We witness speech ga ff and stuttering, and an old man’s sti steps. This reminds us of our own dying, wh ich we studiously avoi d thinking about.

C onside r, however, that the path to aging is as individual and personal as any other human attribute. Bide n has his wits. His first four years are marke d by numerous significant crises wh ich he juggled with cool under fire. Democratic countries of the wo rl d look to our nation, and Jose ph Biden, for direction.

more unpredictable, turbulent year s Trump.

W ho re presents the values, coure, and problem-solving ability of our nation? Who demonstrates selfabsorbed scheming, cheating, and wh ining?

B iden has not been perfect. Give n our lengthening life spans, it is not sur prising that he is already the oldest serving president. But stop thinking that his proximity to his end disqualifies him from leading our country. Ever y year of accomplishment will ser ve to help navig ate our countr y, and the democratic countries of the wo rl d, into the future.

WEDNESD AY

JOURNAL

of Oak Park and River Forest

Editor Erika Hobbs

Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

Sta Repor ter Amaris Rodriguez, Luzane Draughon

Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor

Real Estate Editor Lacey Sikora

Digital Media Coordinator Brooke Duncan

Columnists Marc Bleso , 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

Is this age-ism at its wo r st — the temptation to throw aw ay an incumbent because they are pronounced “old”? OK, so he might pass aw ay m id-ter m. Our Constitution provides for thi s. But B ide n’s accumulated political and life experience is a treasure, not a liability. I’d rather have an i nter rupted Biden/Har ris presidency than four

You’ re right of course; aging is no picnic. I’m trading my dimples for wrinkles every day, but I’ ll fight li ke hell for wh at remains of my judgment, clarit y, wisdom, and courag e. They are still ve ry much alive, and I’m voting for Biden.

Ka ren Morris Muriello Oak Park

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chair Judy Gre n 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, re 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 ling.

Please understand our veri cation 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 veri cation, 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 con rm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay.

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

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e Community Rec Center is great, except …

Last year, the Park District of Oak Park (PDOP) had the official ribboncutting ceremony for its spectacular (for now) new Community Recreation Center, already known locally as the CRC. After a tour of this facility — solarpowered and environmentally-friendly, with a terrific workout floor, multi-sport athletic courts, great walking/running track — I gladly shed my longtime FFC membership for the Oak Park resident rate of $25 a month at the CRC.

Far closer to my home on the souther n edge of Oak Park, it not only saved me over $100 a month, but more than halved my commute to working out. Another benefit personally is numerous spaces to write and do other work on my laptop. I’m both impressed and super-happy with the CRC and its friendly staf f.

Except from 3:30 to 6 weekdays. Then it tur ns into somewhat of a chaotic hellscape.

OK, perhaps hellscape is a tad dramatic, but also maybe not, depending on who you ask. You see, around 3:30 each weekday afternoon the peaceful, warm ambiance of the CRC is changed by the invasion of screaming, cursing kids, seemingly intent on being as disruptive as possible for the full extent of their inhabitance of the building (some may say takeover).

PDOP has established an after-school program for kids, a laudable ef fort. But the issue is, nobody seems to be overseeing the program, or at least not very well.

First: it’s not the kids fault. Lest anyone who’s reading this and knew me and my

friends when I was 14 accuse me of being a raging hypocrite, let me declare: When I was these kids’ age, myself and my fellow delinquents were intent on thumbing our collective noses at adult authority at any possible opportunity, especially after school, with pent-up aggression unleashed in places like shopping malls, video arcades, and convenience stores.

PAUL TURNER

One View

I get it — these kids at the CRC are doing exactly what their changing bodies and minds demand, figuring out their place in the world and testing the limits of what they can g et away with. It’s easy to forget how things were when we were in junior high and annoyed now by adolescent behavior. We’ve all been there to some extent. These kids are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing, creating havoc.

But I and my fellow obnoxious friends knew where we could or could not get away with such behavior, or what consequences we would face if we went too far. At the CRC, it seems, our juvenile fellow citizens have nothing to fear as far as being reigned in, and act accordingly.

But as mentioned earlier, a big asset of joining the CRC is the brand-spanking-

new exercise equipment and building. A lovely place, but currently being attacked by pubescent hordes with very little to no discernible supervision. A very Oak Park code of conduct is posted in several areas, but the expectations spelled out in it are almost uniformly so blatantly ignored, it seems like the signs are hung as some sort of parody. It has been explained to this writer by numerous members of the CRC staf f that the PDOP has an organizational structure that places the management of the CRC and its staf f separate from the management and staf f of the after-school program. And the facilityspecific staf f has been told that they are to say nothing to the kids as they seemingly break every rule possible, cong re gating in places where they aren’t supposed to, eating snacks and drinks where they aren’t supposed to be consumed (like the exercise floor or in the gym) and yelling, screaming, and cursing freely. Several staf f members, with growing frustration every day, have expressly said they were told they don’t have the necessary training to deal with the little miscreants, I mean students, so they can’t tell them to stop

No credible threat?

“At 11:56 everyone is going to die,” “I have a gun in my bag,” and “I will shoot the school up during 5th period today.”

Three chilling statements that would terrify any parent. I am shocked at how this is being downplayed by the high school and the Oak Park Police Department.

“No charges filed in OPRF lockdown”

“No credible threat”

Does someone have to be shot to make this credible? Incredible

No charges filed, again, incredible. Kudos to Wednesday Jour nal for presenting the facts. I’m not sure how this isn’t considered criminal activity, at least “not at this time.”

What is going to change their opinion? Why weren’t the police allowed in immediately?

If I still had a child in the school (I’ve had two), I would’ve wanted police in immediately. Would the sight of police with weapons have traumatized students more than the three statements posted on Snapchat? What ever happened to the concern for “trigger words”?

Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I think would have taken comfort in the sight of a policeman in the hallway. Whoever was responsible for this threat, he/she needs help and should be removed from the school campus immediately. Has anyone deter mined

if this person (unnamed) has access to a weapon? Actually, nowadays, who doesn’t if they put their mind to it. Let’s not even talk about the time wasted and monies spent.

I’m not an attorney but God forbid this student should do anything going forward. It’s got lawsuit written all over it. But let’s not hurt anyone’s feelings; they’ll be scarred for life

Is this the last time we’ll ever hear about this? Probably I guess some of us just don’t understand.

Dan Sullivan Oak Park

doing the things they’re not supposed to be doing.

Hey, I don’t know how much training it takes to tell kids to stop drinking Cokes on the exercise floor, turning up the treadmill all the way and running on it in Crocs, or throwing gummy worms on the gym floor, but I guess I wouldn’t be qualified either.

Lest you think I’m overreacting, the elevator was out of commission for a few weeks after the kids repeatedly jumped up and down while riding it, causing it to break down and the fire department to be called to rescue them. On another occasion I was present when the police department was there to break up a scuffle.

If the kids are just being kids, then what is the solution? Well, from my observations and discussions, it seems the afterschool program is staffed, in part at least, by kids themselves, not much older than the children they are ostensibly supervising. This, unsurprisingly, doesn’t seem to lead to orderly activities. The entire structure of the program seems to be no structure at all, but rather letting the kids do whatever they want wherever in the building they want.

The CRC is a wonderful place, a great addition to Oak Park, and I encourage everyone to use it. If you can only go there from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. make sure you bring your headphones, blinders, and a generous helping of patience.

Paul Turner, former hellion, is an Oak Park resident and member at the Community Recreation Center.

Oak Parkers opened their hearts

When some of the Venezuelans being housed at the West Cook YMCA came out onto the balcony to see the pool below, all of us in open swim shouted greetings and “Welcome!”

It made me proud of where I lived. I felt hope for a country now dragged down to a shriveled version of itself from one that once absorbed people from all over the world and gave them a future they only imagined

As a second-generation Greek American, I can look back to my grandparents, peasants from small villages, who lived to see their sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters become doctors, professors, teacher, and writers.

That’s the promise of America.

Legal or illegal, these immigrants have chosen this country because it is safe, there is no war, and they can ear n a decent living.

My grandparents, ethnic Greeks in Turkey, fled from the convulsive death rattle of the Ottoman Empire. All my YiaYia Fofo ever said of that time was that she was walking to school and heard the screams of people buried underground. She was safe here.

One afternoon, I watched as a Venezuelan family got on the Lake Street bus with their daughter who just finished school for the day. The wattage of their pride just lit up the bus.

Dimitra Lavrakas Oak Park

Holmes,” hangs in the front entrance of the elementary school

Seeking hard ciders in Oak Park

Your de nition of antisemitism isn’t absolute

Some recent letters to Wednesday Journal’s Viewpoints section asser t that denying Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state is antisemitic. As Jews, we disag ree with this as an indicator of antisemitism. Jews do not speak with one voice in defining what is and is not antisemitic.

Susan Messer & Jim Poznak Oak Park

For years, we’ve attended the annual Cider Summit at Navy Pier, a gathering of cider makers from around the world.

The ciders at this year’s event were almost all “hard,” with sugars in apple juice converted, with yeast, into alcohol.

Ciders are made all over the world, and the ones in the United States continue the tradition of using the kind of apples sown by Johnny Appleseed. Born John Chapman, Mr. Appleseed planted thousands of trees bearing apples that were usually too sour to eat but that made excellent hard cider.

Keith Huizinga of Oak Park’s Kinslahger recommended I check out some of his tasting room’s selection of hard ciders from Overgrown Orchard. I tried Overgrown Orchard’s Monument and Geist.

HAMMOND

Local Dining & Food Blogger

■ Monument had a nose similar to that of a Belgian sour beer, tingly and appetizing. That aroma comes from cider that’s “wild fermented,” which means the fruit juice ferments using yeasts in the air and on the skins of Cox’s Orange Pippin, Roxbury Russet and Northern Spy apples.

■ Geist cider uses Northern Spy but also Winesap and Black Twig apples, naturally fer mented, and aged in pinot noir wine casks. Like Monument, Overg rown Orchard’s Geist is quite dry, and it begs to be sipped with food, the acidic notes perking the palate as do the cider’s light bubbles

“I was initially drawn to the Overg rown Orchard

because of their method of blending apples to make complex cider using wild fermentation,” Huizinga told us. “What they were doing was in complete contrast to how we make our lager beer: We control the process in intimate detail from start to finish. They let the apples and yeast/bacteria on the fruit lead the way.”

Intrigued by the fascinating flavors of ciders, I checked out some local sources. Wandering Famous Liquors in Forest Park and Whole Foods in River Forest, I found some big names, like Angry Orchard, but I was looking for something a little more, um, exotic. I found the best local selection of ciders at Sugar Beet Food Co-op. We tried several:

■ 2 Fools Cider is labeled dry, and it’s a good beginner’s cider; we found it just a touch sweet, which makes it more accessible to those starting to acquire a taste for hard cider.

Overgrow n Orchard

■ Shacksbury Arlo Cider is a Basqutype cider, fermented in chestnut barrels, slightly funky, perhaps even scrumpy (look it up) and very dry.

■ Far mhouse from Tandem Ciders is sold in 750 ML bottles, just like wine, and as with wine, Far mhouse is very food friendly, barrel-aged and with many dimensions of flavor.

Alcohol by volume, or ABV, for these ciders is around 6% -- for most beer it’s 5%, although craft beers can be upward of 12%. Basically, the alcohol content in a bottle of hard cider is roughly equivalent to that in a bottle of beer. Sorry to end on bad news, but Overgrown Orchard is out of business. I understand Kinslahger still has two cases of their excellent cider available. If you want to try some, hurry

DAVID HAMMOND

A true superhero

A couple of months ago I heard about a Marvel superhero cartoon series called “What If ?” The premise of one show was “what if” Native Americans were able to win over the conquistadors and Queen Isabella? Intriguing! I haven’t watched a cartoon or read comics for many decades, nor have the Disney+ channel. But this tur naround story of a Native American woman superhero, Kahhori, was so compelling I found a way to watch this episode.

As she was finding her power, she had to tur n to violence, flying through the air and planes of existence with blue light streaming from her eyes. It felt so foreign, violent, and contrived to me. I realized that my true superheroes were Pat and Charlaine McAnany and Celine and Don Woznica, social justice advocates, activists and warriors from their spirit and heart.

Pat McAnany recently passed away, just missing his 94th birthday. He was a friend for 47 years, a model and companion for me in my own varied social justice work, and a partner in Creation Care environmental work in our parish and archdiocese. When I was a young woman, we would have lively conversations in our friends’ home. He welcomed me and my husband

into their home and we shared many holiday meals together. We are so grateful for their graciousness, and memories of interesting stories, conversations, delicious food, and humor

With his wife Char, they were a force of nature and had a daily presence for others. It was so inspiring. They accomplished so much, helping so many causes and thousands of people Yet they are humble people. Their peace and justice activism, deep faith, family, extended family, church community, and good organic food grown in their own backyard helped keep them young, healthy, and vital.

When a really, really good man dies, I feel the Earth shudder. He was for med in an era that doesn’t exist anymore. There was no need for violence or blue light streaming from his eyes He let his social justice work and passion flow from his fine mind, deep faith, and caring heart.

Pat would often say, “God bless.” God bless you, Pat, as you rest in the sweet peace, light, and love of God. You will be missed so much by so many. And we sense you are having quite lively debates and conversations in the Light!

Gina Orlando Oak Park

ARLENE JONES

Hurray for Repair Cafe

from page 37

ing to bring it to the March Re pair Cafe. After having gotten the first one fixed, the identical second one will be a piece of cake. Hopefully others will look around their houses and find things that they don’t want to throw away and bring it in to see if it can be fixed.

The Re pair Cafe limits each person to one item, but you can just plan on bringing something else the following month. I already have something ready for the April cafe

MAUI JONES

Focus on Black joy

from page 37

event. She intentionally wanted to celebrate them in this space that they were not welcomed at in the past to show how far they’ve come. They proceeded to dine on finger sandwiches and sipped on tea. Then, after a few words from state senate President Don Harmon, Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps led the group in the Black national anthem.

After tea, Judge Marianne Jackson, told the story of “The Wiz” and what it meant to her. She had me play the song “Believe in Yourself” by Lena Horne as she told those future doctors, lawyers, judges, and entrepreneurs they could be whatever they wanted to be.

They created vision boards and dreamed of what they would do in the future. That was followed by an Affirmation Parade (how great is this?). Other highlights included a gift card giveaway and

Please keep dogs on leash

As the weather improves and days become longer and nicer, there is an increase in the number of people walking their dogs and going to the various parks Oak Park has to offer. What has also increased is the number of people who have their dogs off leash.

This is a safety hazard for the dogs themselves and the other humans and dogs they encounter. There seems to be an arrogance on the part of these dog owners that they can control their dogs in any situation. Maybe they can. However, they can’t control the people and dogs their pet interacts with.

Most recently I saw a couple walking down Pleasant for over six blocks and their off-leash dog traversed from the north side of Pleasant to the south side and back, without the owners. I dread thinking what would have hap-

celebrating individual tables by shining a literal light on them.

The next part was my favorite. It felt like mothers and grandmothers passing down their knowledge to the next generation. It started with a lesson on how to do an African head wrap or crown. Every girl in the room was given ankara fabric and learned not only how to wrap but also a bit about the history of why women wrap their hair in this way. I caught an amazing moment after the tutorial where one of the grandmothers in the room asked the woman who gave the tutorial to help her wrap her hair. That made me tear up.

And finally the wonderful Donna Calendar of Kuumbaa Kids presented a tutorial on African dance. We finished the whole thing of f with a dance party!

I wanted to tell you, dear reader, of all the things I saw at the event because this entire event is the brainchild of one incredible woman. So many people lend their talents and skills to make this happen, but truly it cannot be done without the leadership of Juanta Griffin. I don’t remember where I met Juanta for the first time, but I do remember walking away in

pened if a distracted driver unexpectedly came upon the dog while it was crossing the street.

There are too many times to count where I have walked through Mills Park, Austin Gardens and Taylor Park in the early mor ning where off-leash dogs have attacked me or my dog. While the owners are usually apologetic, they could have avoided the entire encounter by simply having their dog on a leash.

Oak Park offers two fantastic dog parks available for people who want to allow their dogs to be off leash. I would suggest they try those locations rather than creating an unsafe environment for others in public locations. If not, just keep the dogs on a leash.

Mark Schlosser

30-year Oak Park resident

37-year responsible dog owner

awe of her energy. It felt like being in the presence of Maya Angelou, Ida B. Wells, or Fannie Lou Hamer. She wears her Blackness so proudly in a way I envied. She taught me to truly embrace all parts of myself and stand rooted in my own Black joy.

She turns up for other people too. With her work as the multicultural coordinator at the Oak Park Public Library, she gives people from all over the world the space to be celebrated. Oh, and she does all this while battling chronic pain from various medical conditions. Still somehow she constantly rises. It is a revolutionary love of her community. I am so lucky to call her friend and sister. I am so lucky to bear witness to her as she rises. Lots of us talk about the need for more re presentation and moments of joy in our communities. Few of us actually get to create those moments.

Thank you, Juanta for your servant leadership and the gift of you. During this Black History Month I celebrate the le gacy you are creating.

Maui Jones is an arts entrepreneur who lives in Forest Park

A humane end-of-life care option

I am thrilled that SB3499 has been introduced in the Illinois Senate. During the winter of 2015 my fatherin-law was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. His prognosis was not promising and yet offers of medical trials and life-extending interventions were suggested. He retur ned home to Illinois and began pain management while exploring treatment options.

Having walked my own father through a grueling 8-year-long illness and ultimately his merciful death after a long period of suffering, I saw what he was facing and how the medical community cared for (and failed) him. Simply put, he was dying and none of the medical professionals treating him were willing to talk about it. My father-in-law instinctively knew his time was coming to a close. He was in pain and asked to die on his own terms — but couldn’t

Experiences like this one sent me on the road to becoming a death doula and advocating for individuals when it’s time to transition from curative care to pain management, focusing on autonomy and a full

understanding of end-of-life care options. I’ve had the privile ge of accompanying many people through the dying process. I have seen firsthand the suffering that can be caused by a terminal illness and heard from dying people who wished to end their lives on their own terms.

Medical Aid In Dying is an end-of-life care option that allows mentally capable, terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live, to request and receive a prescription for medication that they may decide to take to peacefully end unbearable suffering. I believe that it is a compassionate and humane option for people who are dying.

I urge you to support this end-of-life care option in Illinois. It is a law that will give people who are dying the option to pass peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and loved ones. Contact your Senator at http://tinyurl.com/SB3499.

Ti any Noelle Johnson Oak Park

OBITUARIES

Alice Hippard, 96

Worked for the U.S. Treasury

Alice Pauline Ryherd Conn Greenwalt Hippard, 96, for merly of Sullivan and Oak Park, most recently in Shelbyville, died on Dec. 20, 2023. Bor

liam G. and Florence E. Sullivan High School for tw uated from Seneca High School. After ation, she worked in the Bond Department of the U.S. Treasury at the Merchandise Mart. A member of First Methodist Chur Park and First Baptist was also a member of Historical Society in Sulli She married Paul C and he preceded her in death on 1961. She married Ro March 30, 1968. He preceded her in death on Dec. 16, 2001. She then married Hippard on Feb. 21, 2004, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 14, 2020.

Surviving are her d

Paula (Mark) Larimer, and Mary Jones; her sons, Paul (Deborah) Conn and John (Susan) Hippard; her brother, Duane (Mae) Ryherd; her sister, Linda (Joe) Martin; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, two brothers, and her son, Kelley B. Conn. Celebration of Life services were held on Dec. 27 at Reed Funeral Home in Sullivan. Graveside services were conducted on Dec 28 in Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago. Memorials in her name are suggested to

Welcome to Our Town Oak Park

“Our Town Oak Park – Walk with Me, in Search of True Community”, a new book by Wednesday Journal columnist Ken Trainor, an Oak Park native, is based on short essays, published over three decades in the local newspaper, that chronicle life in a dynamic, everevolving town where the unique meets the universal. Our Town Oak Park aims for that same “rainbow’s end,” capturing the experience of being alive — in one middle-sized, middle-class, Midwest town at the beginning of the 21st century. Join this pedestrian-friendly journey in search of true community.

The book is available at The Book Table, the Oak Park River Forest History Museum, or online via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

and the closeness of the farming community He loved sitting in the Sublette Café with his Uncle Melvin, swapping jokes while eating donuts.

A graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, he was active in Boy Scouts Explorers and at St. Giles Catholic Church. His passion for agriculture prompted him to ear n a degree in animal science from Western Illinois University which parlayed into a 39-year career. He served as executive vice president at Farm Journal for 10 years and held a 23ear position with Vance Publishing as senior vice president & publishing director for their food 360 Division. At the time of his assing, he was vice president of New Camus Development for the American Royal. Honored with several industry awards, he was a nationally recognized speaker and served on several boards, including vice president of the Agriculture Advisory Board at ester n Illinois.

He was passionate about the farm he purchased in Edwardsville, Kansas, his 25 head of cattle and his horse, Levi. He took rm-to-table literally to Cliff, and admired the people who raise and grow our nation’s ood. Most of all, he was passionate about his family and embraced everyone he met with generosity, empathy, wisdom, and a wicked sense of humor.

Cliff is predeceased by his parents, Clifford

Ivan Becker Sr. and Patricia Ann Becker. He is survived by his wife Kristine; his son, Ivan (19); his daughter, Ruby (12); and three siblings, John Becker, Kate Chomko and Justin Becker. He was the uncle, cousin, mentor, colleague, and best friend to many.

Linda Skogseth, 72

Supported numerous charities

Linda M. Skogseth, 72, of Oak Park, died on Feb. 9, 2024. She supported many charities, including the Salvation Ar my and PAWS Chicago. She was a loving and caring person who gave more than was asked of her

Linda was the daughter of Fred and Mabel, sister of Mabel and Lynn, and aunt of Jennifer.

As there will be no services, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice

Arrangements were handled by Zimmerman-Har nett Funeral Home. Info: 708366-2200.

ird time is not the charm for Trinity

Montini routs Blazers in sectional nal

By MELVIN TATE and LAUREN RECCHIA Contributing Reporters

After having lost in an IHSA sectional final the past two seasons, Trinity was hoping that the third time w ould be the charm when it faced Montini in the Class 3A Glenbard South sectional final, Feb. 22.

Unfortunately for the Blazers, the top seeded Broncos had lengthy scoring runs in each the second and third quarters to to a 69-40 victory and the sectional title

“Montini’s a good team, we knew tha going in,” said Trinity senior forward Lauren Miller, who scored a team-high 15 points, including 11 in the second half. “We gave it our all, fought, and never gave up.”

Trailing 20-8 early in the second quarter, Trinity (20-14) scored five consecutive points to pull within seven. But that was as close as the Blazers would get the remainder of the contest as Montini, led by Victoria Matulevicius (24 points) and Nicolette Kerstein (23 points) went on a 12-0 run.

am and school. Lauren and Luz laid the oundation for our kids coming up.”

T rinity’s 39-31 sectional semifinal against Glenbard South on Feb. 20, sophomore guard/forward Zaria Goins led the team with 14 points, while seguard Lauren Miller notched seven points. Senior guard Luz Del Rosario iatkowski Pere z and sophomore forward Chloe Santos each had six points for the Blazer s. T rinity had the lead against Glenbard South for the entirety of the ame, and while Glenbard got to within three points early in the fourth quarter, the Blazers turned it on with a 5-0 r un, capped of f by a shot from under the net antos to put the Blazers up 34-26 with 4:15 to play in the game.

“Our defense was really able to step up,” Miller said. “We were able to lock down hen we needed to, step up on the post, and et some really good boards, and that helped minimize extra possessions for them.”

“Pressure was one of the biggest keys of the game today on both sides of the court,” Goins added. “One thing we’re going to carry from this game is that we have to play up to our opponents, not down.”

“(Kerstein and Matulevicius) are very talented players,” said T rinity coach Kim Coleman.

T hen leading 37-21 at halftime, the Broncos, smelling blood, scored 11 unanswered points to start the third quarter. That effectively put things away as T rinity did not score in the quarter until Miller’s three-pointer five minutes in

Despite the rough ending, Coleman thought the Blazers had a terrific season,

one that exceeded expectations.

“Nobody expected us to win 20 g ames given what we lost last year,” she said. “I’m proud of the team for how they stayed to g ether and re presented the school. (Montini) was the better team tonight, but we’re going to keep working.”

Zaria Goins added 10 points for the Blazer s, who return seven players next season. Miller and Luz Del Rosario Kwiatkowski Pere z are T rinity’s only players

who will be lost to graduation.

“I’ve seen so much growth as a player and person,” Miller, an University of Chicago signee, said of her four-year varsity career. “The improvement I made helped me evolve into the player I am today and it’s also helped me play at the next level. I’m grateful to Trinity for everything.”

“Lauren has been phenomenal; she’s one of the best kids I’ve ever coached,” Coleman said. “It’s a big loss for our pro-

T he Blazers finished the first half of that g ame with a 6-0 r un, capped of f by Miller’s shot from the middle at the halftime buzzer to put her team up 23-12.

“[Miller] is our leader,” said Blazer s head coach Kim Coleman. “She does a good job of staying composed. She’s a senior so she’s been in this position three other times, so we look to her to settle us down and g et a quick bucket when we need one.”

OPRF boy wrestlers fall in state quarter nal

Epshtein nishes four th at girls state nals

By BOB SKOLNIK Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School boys wrestling season ended last

weekend at the place they hoped it would, the Class 3A dual meet state finals in Bloomington, but one day earlier than the Huskies would have liked when the Huskies were defeated by Libertyville 45-24 in

a quarterfinal Friday evening.

“There were a few toss-up matches that didn’t go our way,” said OPRF head coach Paul Collins

Libertyville went on to finish fourth in

the state as Mt. Carmel claimed the state championship with a dominating 59-6 win over Yorkville.

C AROL DUNNING

Trinity forward Zaria Goins drives against Montini during the IHSA Class 3A girls basketball Glenbard South sectional on Feb. 22. Goins had 10 points in the Blazers’ season-ending 69-40 loss

Fenwick boys roll to third consecutive regional crown

OPRF hoopers fall to New Trier in regional nal

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

Heading into the IHSA Class 3A state tournament, Fenwick boys basketball coach David Fergerson wanted his team to be sharp on defense during the regional.

Not only did the Friars meet Fergerson’s defensive aim, they were dominant. In two re gional games at Little Village, Fenwick allowed a combined total of 43 points en route to winning the re gional for a third consecutive season.

In the semifinals, Feb. 21, the Friars routed Schurz 57-17. Then in the final, Feb. 23, Fenwick cruised to a 48-26 victory over Bulls Prep and claimed the title.

“We just wanted to come out of there 2-0,” Fergerson said. “It’s not like those teams laid there and rolled over; they competed and we had to earn it. We wanted to focus on defense and rebounding.”

But the de gree of difficulty rises exponentially this week as third-seed Fenwick (18-10), hosting a 3A sectional, meets second-seed St. Patrick in a semifinal, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.

“They’re tough. Coach [Mike] Bailey has been there a long time and he’s going to have his guys ready,” Fergerson said. “We just have to come out and play hard, defend, and rebound.”

At this point in the season where it’s all about surviving and advancing, style points don’t matter. To Fergerson, even a 1-point victory will do.

“We’re not looking to impress anyone,” he said. “People are not talking about us, and that’s perfectly fine. We just need to get one more win on Wednesday.”

The Fenwick-St. Patrick winner meets either top seed Westinghouse or fourth seed Payton Prep in the sectional final, March 1 at 7 p.m.

OPRF

Oak Park and River Forest had perhaps its best victory of the season on Feb. 21 in a Class 4A re gional semifinal, upsetting Niles North 85-80 in overtime at OPRF. Alex Vincent’s short jumper with 3.3 seconds left in re gulation tied the game at 7272 and forced the extra four minutes

The Huskies (9-17) then started overtime with a 9-2 run to put Niles North away. Max

C AROL DUNNING

Johnson finished with 27 points. Alex Gossett had 25 points, and Justin Bowen added 15, including five in overtime.

On Feb. 23, OPRF was hoping to spring another upset, facing visiting New Trier in the re gional final. But after a tight first half, the Trevians gradually pulled away to hand the Huskies a season-ending 66-51 defeat.

OPRF trailed by just four points when with 5:44 left in the third quarter, Johnson committed his fourth foul and had to sit out the rest of it.

“That foul affected the game,” said OPRF coach Phil Gary. “I had to sit Max out for a long time.”

New Trier went on a 7-0 run after Johnson came out, then started the fourth quarter scoring 10 consecutive points to effectively put things away.

Bowen had a team-high 15 points, while Gossett finished with 10, and Johnson and Vincent had eight apiece.

Despite the loss, Gary felt OPRF made progress this season, even if it wasn’t reflected in the won-loss record

“We made it to a re gional championship g ame with a lot of juniors and two sophomores. It’s a stepping stone,” he said. “We played an amazing g ame — probably our best of the year — against Niles North, and we showed a lot of progress the last

two weeks.”

Johnson is one of four OPRF players who will be lost to graduation (Joe Halper, John Lambe, and Oscar Towne IV are the others).

But the Huskies will have several key returnees next season as Bowen, Gossett, and Vincent all have one year remaining. Sophomore Johnny Nelson, who moved into the starting lineup late in the year, also returns.

“I told the guys that we have to remember this moment into the offseason,” Gary said. “We lost the re gional championship game on our home floor, and we don’t want to have this feeling next year.”

Oak Park-River Forest’s Max Johnson goes up for a lay up during an IHSA Class 4A boys basketball regional semi nal Feb. 21 against Niles North. Johnson had 27 points in the Huskies’ 85-80 v ictory

Fenwick’s Fask surges to fourth at state nals

Friars set three school records; six OPRF entries reach nals

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Fenwick High School’s Carter Fask found himself filling the senior leadership role this season.

“Fenwick has already had some really fast swimmers, [2022 graduate] Mike Flynn going to Notre Dame and [2021 graduate] Connor McCarthy going on to Purdue,” Fask said. “I always looked up to them, so it felt like a different role this year, being the leader.”

Fask set the tone for the young and quickly improving Friars at the state meet Friday and Saturday.

Fask finished fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (20.34 seconds) at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont after his 20.24 in Friday’s preliminaries broke the 20.40 school record.

“I was happy how it went,” said Fask, the Friars’ lone senior in finals. “I was a little nervous coming of f the [200 medley] relay. I didn’t really like my split (20.27 in free), but I was content with my 50.”

This season, the number increased from the fastest 12 to the 16 best times advancing to Saturday’s finals. The top eight competed for the state championship. The 200 free relay of Fask, junior Finnbar Munley and Thomas Heit and sophomore Patrick Rhatigan also reached the championship final, finishing eighth (1:24.78) after a school-record 1:24.15 Friday.

Taking 15th in the consolation finals were Rhatigan (500 free in 4:38.77) and the 200 medley relay of sophomores Mi-

WRESTLING

The Huskies (15-3) won five matches against Libertyville Freshman Michael Rundell (34-10) earned a dominating technical fall win, 21-6, at 106 pounds. Sophomore Zev Koransky (37-8) also earned five points for a technical fall with an overwhelming 23-6 win at 126 pounds. Junior Joe Knackstedt pinned Libertyville’s Antonio Kelly at 138 pounds. Sophomore Tristan Kidd (4-4), a surprise insertion into the lineup at 150 pounds, defeated Libertyville’s Jacob Whisenand 11-6, and sophomore David Ogunsanya (39-11), who moved up to 157 for the match after finishing sixth in the state in the individual state finals at 150 the week before, dominated James Scanio 26-11 for another technical fall. But Ogunsanya’s win was the final one of the evening for the Huskies as Libertyville dominated the higher weight classes

The Huskies had advanced to the state finals by winning their first sectional championship since 2019, defeating Schaumburg 41 to 24 at Addison Trail on Feb. 20. In that dual meet the Huskies got important wins from sophomore Jeremiah Her nadez at 144 and Hugh Vanek at 175

The future looks bright for the Huskies as they had only two seniors, Ruben Acevedo (19-16) at 120 and Emmett Baker (8-19) at 175 in the lineup against Libertyville in the quarterfinal. The only other senior on the team was Issac Davies (22-18) who usually wrestled at 157.

chael Neumann and Jack Posluszny, Heit and Fask in a school-record 1:33.59. Fenwick was 14th (49 points).

“We’re the most excited team on this deck,” Heit said. “It’s really all thanks to our head coaches. We never rested for a meet. We put it all toward sectionals and state and that paid off. We came out of nowhere.”

It was a great season for first-year coach Spencer Walker, assisted by his father, Scott Walker, the girls swimming head coach at Lyons Township. Fask said the Walkers and club coach Matt Harder were inte gral to his improvement.

“They trained differently this year and bought into what we were trying to do. I couldn’t be more thankful for what I got,” Spencer Walker said.

OPRF

Oak Park and River Forest tied for 16th (37) with six entries reaching the consolation finals. Juniors Pablo Pareja and Will Keyes advanced in all four of their events.

“We checked a lot of boxes this year,” Collins said.

Rundell, Knackstedt, Ogunsanya, and 215-pounder Eric Harris (34-12) all qualified for the individual state finals.

Sophomore Aiden Noyes, who mostly wrestled at 132 pounds, also won more than 30 matches this season, finishing with a record of 33-19.

“All of our state qualifiers are coming back, our state placer is coming back,” Collins said, “so we knew there were some milestones we needed to hit this year in order to prepare for next year. Obviously you focus on having a successful season this year and that was our main focus, but as a coach you’re always thinking a year, three, four, five years ahead.”

Epshtein nishes fourth in girls wrestling

For the second consecutive year, OPRF senior Sarah Epshtein finished fourth in the girls state wrestling finals in the 235 pound weight class. Epshtein won three of five matches at the state finals, being pinned in the third place match by Aaliyah Grandberry of Currie.

Epshtein finished the season with a 27-5 record. She has made All-State, finishing in the top six at State, three straight years.

“We finished 11th last year and it felt like this year was better,” said OPRF coach Clyde Lundgren following numerous personal lifetime bests. “Just measuring on that standard, I’d say we had a fantastic weekend.”

The 400 free relay of freshman John Murphy, Keyes, Pareja and senior Lars Rauch (13th, 3:06.08) climaxed with the secondfastest time in program history. Murphy’s 47.13 split broke the freshman 100 free record for the third straight meet.

“It’s just great experience for all of the guys. A great way to go out for all of the seniors,” said Rauch, nicknamed The Viking, who will swim at Kenyon Colle ge. “I loved being on all of the relays and always being the anchor.”

The 200 medley relay of Pareja, seniors Adan Pedraza and Brady Sorg and Keyes (1:33.33) and 200 free relay of senior Joshua Wood, Keyes, Pedraza and Rauch (1:25.25) were 11th.

Pareja was 15th in the 100 back (50.95) and 16th in the 100 fly (50.36). Keyes was 15th in the 200 free (1:40.95).

from page 44 PROVIDED

“She’s awesome,” said OPRF head girls wrestling coach Patrick Woulfe. “She does anything you ask her. Any workout we set up; preseason, postseason, in-season, she’s there. She gives her best effort every single day and she’s a pretty awesome kid.”

The Huskies won conference, regional and sectional titles this season only a year after finishing 10-15 in dual meets in the 2022-23 season. Collins liked the progress and is looking ahead to a strong season next year

Fellow senior T rinity Whit e, the Huskies’ other state q ualifie r, won two and lost two matches at State in the 190 p ound we ight class to c ome one win aw ay from Al l State status. White finished with a 22-8 record

CA R TER FASK

OPRF senior Sarah Epshtein with OPRF girls w restling head coach Patrick Woulfe a er nishing fourth in the 235 pound weight class at the girls wrestling state nals.

Photo cour tesy of Patrick Woulfe.

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park is seeking proposals from qualified vendors for a FOIA Public Record Management System. The full RFP document can be obtained from the Village website www.oak-park. us. Proposals must be received by 4 PM March 22, 2024.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 28, 2024

LEGAL NOTICE

The Village of Oak Park -- Office of the Village Engineer -- will receive proposals until 4:00 pm. on Friday, March 15, 2024 for RainReady Program Design, Management, Outreach, and Implementation Services. Proposals should be emailed to azielinski@oakpark.us. In general, The Village of Oak Park, Illinois (the Village) is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to solicit qualifications from interested firms to provide program design, management, outreach, and implementation services for RainReady, a residential green infrastructure cost share program. These services will be procured in accordance with the Village’s policy on Qualifications Based Selection (QBS).

The full RFQ can be found at: https://www.oak-park.us/ your-government/budget-purchasing/requests-proposals Questions should be emailed to azielinski@oak-park.us.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Bill McKenna Village Engineer

Published in Wednesday Journal February 28, 2024

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF OAK PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

HEARING DATE: March 14, 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, Mark Risch, to demolish the residence at 125 S. Lombard Ave., Oak Park, Illinois, P.I.N. 16-08-302-015-0000, 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 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 Economic Hardship within 15 days following completion of the public hearing.

Published in Wednesday Journal February 28, 2024

bidding documents. A non-refundable fee of Thirty dollars ($30.00) will be required to obtain bidding documents. Proposals will only be accepted from bidders that have obtained bidding documents from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Company

LEGAL NOTICE Park District

Forest Park 7501 Harrison Street Forest Park, Illinois 60130

Remembrance Park

The Park District of Forest Park does hereby invite sealed bids for Remembrance Park. Work will include removals, earthwork operations, concrete curbs and paving, site furnishings, splash pad equipment, playground equipment, play surfacing, utilities, fencing, sod, planting, and subdrainage.

Project manuals, including bid form and specifications, and construction documents are available after 10:00

A.M. on February 28, 2024, from Accurate Reprographics 2368 Corporate Lane, Suite 100, Naperville, Illinois 60563, 630.428.4433 www hitchcockplanroom.com. Bidding documents are available to download and print at the non-refundable cost of reproduction.

Bids will be accepted at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130 during regular office hours. All bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked with the Contractor’s name and address, and “Bid for Remembrance Park,” on the face of the envelope. Bids must be received no later than March 13, 2024, 10:00 AM. Bids will be opened on March 13, 2024, 10:00 AM at the Park District of Forest Park, 7501 Harrison Street, Forest Park, Illinois 60130. All bidders will be required to submit Bid Security in the form of a Bid Bond in the amount of 10% of the Base Bid, payable to the Park District of Forest Park.

The successful bidder, as determined by the Park District of Forest Park, shall be required to pay, and to agree to pay no less than the Prevailing Rate of Wages, pursuant to the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130) for the locality of the Park District of Forest Park (Cook County), to each laborer worker, or mechanic needed or used to complete the work as detailed in the contract to be let. The successful contractor, and all

subcontractors shall be required to submit, to the Park District of Forest Park, certified payrolls no later than the tenth day of each calendar month for the immediately preceding month.

The Park District of Forest Park reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, parts of any and all proposals, or to waive technical errors or omissions in submitted proposals. No submitted bid may be withdrawn until a period of ninety (90) days after the bid opening date, without written consent of the Park District of Forest Park. The Park District of Forest Park encourages minority business firms to submit bids on this project and the successful contract bidder to utilize minority businesses as sub-contractors for supplies, equipment, services, and construction.

Questions should be directed to Bridget Deatrick or Eric Hornig, Hitchcock Design Group (630) 961-1787, bdeatrick@hitchcockdesigngroup.com, or ehornig@hitchccockdesigngroup. com

Published in Forest Park Review, February 28, 2024

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield, Illinois that bid proposals will be received for the following project:

2024 STREET IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

This project will include the replacement of concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks, driveway aprons, and drainage structures, pavement widening, replacement of certain sections of combined sewers, milling and resurfacing certain pavements, landscaping disturbed areas, and performing other related work.

Sealed bids will be received up to the hour of 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, the 13th day of March, 2024, in the office of the Village Manager in the Village Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois. All sealed bids received will be publicly opened and read at 11:00 A.M. on the same day, Wednesday, the 13th day of March, 2024, at the Village Hall.

Electronic copies of bidding documents, consisting of the bid proposal, project specifications, and project plans are available from the Edwin Hancock Engineering Co., 9933 Roosevelt Road, Westchester, Illinois 60154. Bidding documents can be requested by emailing info@ehancock.com. No bidding documents will be issued after 4:30 P.M. on Wednesday, the 6th day of March, 2024.

All bidders wishing to obtain bidding documents must be approved by the Village prior to obtaining bidding documents. All bidders must provide proof that they are prequalified with the Illinois Department of Transportation to perform at least 40% of the value of the work before being issued

All bid proposals offered must be accompanied by a bid bond, cashier’s check or certified check in an amount not less than Five Percent (5%) of the total amount of the bid, as a guarantee that if the bid proposal is accepted, a contract will be entered into and the performance of the contract properly secured. Checks shall be made payable to the Order of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Brookfield. No bid proposal shall be considered unless accompanied by such bid bond or check.

Any bidder in doubt as to the true meaning of any part of the bidding documents may request an interpretation thereof from the Village. The bidder requesting the interpretation shall be responsible for its prompt delivery At the request of the bidder, or in the event that the Village deems the interpretation to be substantive, the interpretation will be made by written addendum issued by the Village.

In the event that a written addendum is issued, either as a result of a request for interpretation or the result of a change in the bidding documents issued by the Village, a copy of such addendum will be emailed to all prospective bidders. The Village will not assume responsibility for receipt of such addendum. In all cases it will be the bidders’ responsibility to obtain all addenda issued.

The Contractor and Subcontractor shall comply with all regulations issued pursuant to Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130), and other applicable Federal Laws and regulations pertaining to labor standards.

The Village of Brookfield reserves the rights to determine the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder, to waive irregularities, and to reject any or all bid proposals.

BY ORDER

THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD, ILLINOIS

Published in RB Landmark,

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

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

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby 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: 1-800669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest Invites you to our annual

MUSEUM GALA

Honoring the 2023

Honoring

Heart of our Villages

Award Winners

Heart of our Villages

CamilleWilsonWhiteandJanNovakDressel

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest Invites you to our annual

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest Invites you to our annual MUSEUM

Heart of our Villages

Honoring the 2023 Award Winner

Honoring the 2023 Award Winner

Join us to celebrate the Exceptional people whose stories make our villages so special

Thursday March 9, 2023

Heart of our Villages

CamilleWilsonWhiteandJanNovakDressel

CamilleWilsonWhiteandJanNovakDressel

Join us to celebrate the Exceptional people whose stories make our villages so special

Join us to celebrate the Exceptional people whose stories make our villages so special

We celebrate the stories of Oak Parkers Foresters whose lives of service are models for our communities

We celebrate the stories of Oak Parkers and River Foresters whose lives of service are models for our communities

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

We celebrate the stories of Oak Parkers and River Foresters whose lives of service are models for our communities We celebrate the stories of Oak Parkers and River Foresters whose lives of service are models for our communities

Ni ne t een t h Cen t ur y Cl ub , 178 Fore st, Oa k Park

Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and carving station

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest Invites you to our annual

Entertainment at 6:30 P.M.

Entertainment at 6:30 P.M.

Remarks and Award Presentation at 7:30 p.m.

$125/ticket

$125/ticket

Thursday March 9, 2023

Thursday March 9, 2023

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

MUSEUM GALA

Questions? 708-848-6755 or oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net

Honoring the 2023

Heart of our Villages

Ni ne t een t h Cen t ur y Cl ub , 178 Fore st, Oa k Park Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and carving station

Ni ne t een t h Cen t ur y Cl ub , 178 Fore st, Oa k Park Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and carving station

The Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest Invites you to our annual

Entertainment at 6:30 P.M.

Entertainment at 6:30 P.M.

Remarks and Award Presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Remarks and Award Presentation at 7:30 p.m. $125/ticket

$125/ticket

Questions? 708-848-6755 or oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net

Questions? 708-848-6755 or oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net

MUSEUM GALA

Honoring the 2023 Award

Award Winners

Heart of our Villages

CamilleWilsonWhiteandJanNovakDressel

CamilleWilsonWhiteandJanNovakDressel

Join us to celebrate the Exceptional ople whose stories make our villages so special

Camille Wilson White Jan Novak Dressel

Thursday March 9, 2023

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Join us to celebrate the Exceptional people whose stories make our villages so spe

Camille Wilson White Jan Novak Dressel

Thursday March 9, 2023

6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Ni ne t een t h Cen t ur y Cl ub , 178 Fore st, Oa k Park Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and carving station

ne t een t h Cen t ur y Cl ub , 178 Fore st, Oa Park Cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and carving station

Entertainment at 6:30 P.M.

Remarks and Award Presentation at 7:30 p.m.

$125/ticket

Questions?

Entertainment at 6:30 P.M.

Questions? 708-848-6755 or oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net

Remarks and Award Presentation at 7:30 p.m. $125/ticket

Questions? 708-848-6755 or oprfhistorymatters@sbcglobal.net