Wednesday Journal 030222

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL

March 2, 2022 Vol. 42, No. 31 ONE DOLLAR

@wednesdayjournalinc

@wednesdayjournal

@oakpark

of Oak Park and River Forest

SSpecial i l SSection ti See Inside

Masking requirements eased in most Oak Park, River Forest schools

Pandemic, reforms reduce Oak Park police staffing Wave of departures leaves 13 patrol, two commander vacancies

Oak Park District 97 delays change until March 17

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Staff Reporter

JAVIER GOVEA/Staff

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

In the last two years, 15 patrol officers have left the Oak Park Police Department.

Nine resigned, five retired and one was terminated, according to police roster records. There are currently 13 patrol of-

ficer vacancies and two open commander spots in the department.

During a rare interview with Wednesday Journal, Oak Park Police Chief LaDon Reynolds shared his belief that societal changes are behind the drop in staffing. How work is viewed in the United States has shifted with the COVID-19

pandemic.

“Policing is no different,” said Reynolds.

While Wednesday Journal was unable to obtain exit interview information through open records requests, Reynolds See POLICE STAFF on page 15

Just days after school districts across Oak Park and River Forest held off on easing their indoor masking policies, administrators and board members were met with a surprise this past weekend, forcing them to pivot yet again.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced late Feb. 25 that staff and students could choose to be masked in schools starting Feb. 28. The decision came in time as the state removed the mask mandate in indoor places on Feb. 28 and was based on new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Last Friday, the CDC revised its guidelines, recommending masking in schools in areas of high transmission. The CDC now assesses transmission rates based on three key metrics: COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 people in the past seven days; total number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days and percent of hospital beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.

As of Feb. 28, the Cook County Department of Public Health reported a low transmission rate, with 55 new cases per 100,000 people. County public health officials also reported Feb. 28 that 3.2% of hospital beds are occupied by patients with COVID-19 and See MASK OPTIONAL on page 13

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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New nonprofit leader seeks to develop ‘Afrocentric lens’ Amari Wilkerson wants to make Africa central in young people’s thinking

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Equity Editor

A local nonprofit known for its work in Oak Park schools recently hired one of its former participants, closing a virtuous circle. The nonprofit, YEMBA Inc., hired Oak Park and River Forest High School alum Amari Wilkerson in January to serve as its new program director.

“One of my high school friends’ mother was the program director before me,” said Wilkerson, 25. “She introduced me to the position last year. I thought it would be a great opportunity. I was part of YEMBA’s first cohort class, so it was pretty cool to be able to hear from her what they’re doing now.”

Wilkerson’s road from Oak Park to college and back home again was circuitous. After high school, she attended Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington D.C., before taking a job in Houston after graduation.

At Howard, Wilkerson said she acquired a new way of seeing the world.

“I learned a lot about myself,” she said. “I got to learn from an Afrocentric lens. Everything we learned at Howard was from an Afrocentric lens because everything starts with Africa. A lot of times, history in America starts from slavery, but I feel it’s important to be able to go all the way back to the beginning of the human race. As we know from science and excavation, the oldest human remains have been found in Africa.”

Wilkerson said she got “bits and pieces” of that Afrocentric perspective at OPRF, particularly from her former track and field coach and history teacher Tyrone Williams, who teaches an African-American history course at the school.

“He did start from the beginning and taught us about Mansa Musa, the richest man in the world,” Wilkerson said.

That course, however, was an elective and that kind of deep historical approach wasn’t common across the high school’s curriculum.

“I feel it’s important to have that in U.S. history and world history courses, as well,” Wilkerson said. “That [Afrocentric lens] would change the perspective of students of other races and it would change how we think about the origins of races, creating an environment where Blacks are respected more and not necessarily held in a light where they’re oppressed or thought of as less than others.”

Now, as YEMBA’s program director, Wilkerson is plan-

PROVIDED

HISTORIC: OPRF grad Amari Wilkerson has taken over the helm of Yemba Inc. ning to provide for the young people in her stewardship the kind of experience she gained at Howard (or “The Mecca,” as the university is fondly known by alum).

Some of Wilkerson’s responsibilities include planning curriculum for participants of YEMBA, the nonprofit started by Edward Redd, an electrical engineer and youth advocate, in 2007. The nonprofit provides mentoring and development training for Oak Park middle school and high school students.

“I try to bring in the Afrocentric lens in whatever lessons we do,” Wilkerson said, adding that for Black History

Oak Park lifts indoor masking, proof of vaccination mandates Citing improved local COVID-19 metrics

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

As of Feb. 28, the Oak Park Public Health Department no longer required indoor masking and proof of COVID-19 vaccination in public places. The repealing and rescinding of the Oak Park public health order coincides with the Feb. 28 expiration of the similar statewide requirement The Oak Park safety measure was removed due to steadily improving local COVID-19 metrics, according to a Feb. 25 village news release. The village reported

the previous day that there were 92 new Oak Park cases and no fatalities, compared to the 117 new cases and five deaths the week before.

From a county standpoint, metrics are favorable as well. The Cook County COVID-19 levels are listed as “low” by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC recommends people who live in communities with low levels remain up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations and to get tested immediately if symptomatic.

The Oak Park Public Health Department still supports the wearing of masks for added protection against the virus. Masking is still required on public transportation.

Month, she created a lesson to highlight the namesakes of Brooks and Julian middle schools.

“It’s important to highlight the namesakes because when I was at Julian, we didn’t have an assembly or specific lesson where we focused on Percy Julian,” she said. “It’s important to highlight his struggles and the struggles of Gwendolyn Brooks. These are people who live in our community.

“I want the students to know the legacy these AfricanAmerican leaders left behind, so that hopefully they can follow in their footsteps.”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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BIG WEEK March 2-9

Adult Hip-Hop Wednesday, March 2, 7-7:55 p.m., GRC Studio 1 This class, which runs until May 4, focuses on the basics of hip-hop dancing, including house, stepping and isolations. Recommended for reducing stress and increasing energy. $120-140, 21 Lake St., Oak Park.

Grow Your Own Food

Thursday, March 3, 6-7:15 p.m., virtually through Oak Park Public Library The Deep Roots Project, Oak Park’s leading authority on organic homegrown food, offers practical tips on soil prep and choosing plants. No gardening experience necessary!

A brief Q&A session will follow. Register at oppl.org/calendar.

Pour Painting Friday, March 4, 6-8 p.m., Dole Center Studio Room This arts & crafts program supplies two canvas boards per person, along with a large variety of colors and finishes. An artistic mess, and a fun one! Ages 7 and up. $18-23, 255 Augusta St. (3rd floor), Oak Park.

Painting With Ink

Adult Improv

Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Dole Center Studio Room This class teaches students from age 8 and up how to draw with alcohol inks. Participants will be introduced to a variety of techniques used to create wispy, silk-like color on specialty paper. $25-30, 255 Augusta St. (3rd floor), Oak Park.

Tuesday, March 8, 7-8:15 p.m. through Oak Park Library A night of online spontaneous comedy, straight from the mind at the spur of the moment. All skill levels welcomed. Register at oppl.org/calendar.

One Earth Film Festival Friday, March 4 to Sunday, March 13 The Oak Park Public Library presents a special twoweek online film festival on the environment. This ongoing series features films that pinpoint the problems, followed by post-film discussions that identify the solutions. For tickets, film and program information, visit oneearthfilmfest.org.

Experience The Nineteenth: The Spy Who Knew Shakespeare Monday, March 7, Nineteenth Century Club, 1:15-2:30 p.m.

Author Allison Epstein shares information about Christopher Marlowe, a spy for Queen Elizabeth I who was also a prominent name in English theatre. Free for members, a $15 donation requested for nonmembers. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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FILE

Cars drive on the westbound lane of the I-290 Eisenhower Expressway.

Ike expressway shootings down 73% so far in 2022 State police ramp up patrols, plan more cameras as deterrents

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

As of Feb. 28, there have been 32 shootings on Illinois tollways and highways, compared to 48 by this time last year — a decline of around 33%, according to the most recent data on expressway shootings provided by the Illinois State Police.

The decline in shootings has been much greater on the Eisenhower Expressway. So far this year, there have been three shootings on the I-290, compared to 11 by this time last year — a decline of around 73%, according to ISP data.

The most recent shootings on I-290 happened on Jan. 21, Jan. 24 and Feb. 19. The Jan. 21 shooting happened at 10:41 p.m. on the westbound exit ramp to Harlem Avenue. Injuries were reported in all three shootings.

Last year, there were 310 highway shootings in Illinois, compared to 147 in 2020 and 51 in 2019. On the Eisenhower, there were 51 in 2021, 28 in 2020 and six in 2019. Of the 540 highway shootings that have taken place from 2019 to Feb. 28 of this year, around 93% have been non-fatal and around 56% have resulted in injuries.

The I-94 Dan Ryan is the most dangerous expressway in the state in terms of shootings. There have been 124 shootings on that expressway since 2019. The Eisenhower has the second-most shootings among Illinois highways, with 88 since 2019. The roadway is followed by I-57 (84 shootings), I-94 Bishop

Ford (67 shootings) and I-55 Stevenson (45 shootings).

So far this year, no fatalities have resulted from expressway shootings. At this point last year, there were six expressway shootings with fatalities and 24 in all of 2021.

“Does that indicate a trend?” Daily Herald reporter Marni Pyke mused in a Feb. 21 article.

“I think that remains to be seen,” ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly told her. “We’re utilizing every resource at our disposal to focus on the areas where we see the greatest amount of interstate shootings but we look for long-term trends.”

“I’m thinking shootings are down due more to the snowy weather in the city, rather than an increase in civility,” said veteran traffic and spot news reporter Kris Habermehl. “Feuds and bad blood continue unabated on social media, which oftentimes lead to expressway hits.”

Earlier this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker held a news conference with Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly in Chicago in order to update the public on recent measures implemented to address the shootings.

Pritzker and Kelly pointed out that 20 arrests had been made in recent months related to the shootings and other crimes and that 99 cameras equipped with automatic license plate readers had been installed on the Dan Ryan expressway, with “hundreds more coming,” according to Capitol News Illinois.

Kelly added that his agency “increased patrol presence on Chicago expressways by over 150 percent at ‘peak criminal activity times,’” Capitol News reported. “Since October, that has led to nearly 5,000 traffic stops, 132 DUI arrests, 69 firearm recoveries and 133 criminal arrests in the Chicago area.”

SATURDAY MARCH 12 TH 1PM - 10PM 1PM to 4PM

Andy Brown Duo Léa French Street Food (1-3pm) Neal Alger Trio Q-BBQ Tony do Rosario Trio Beer Shop

3PM to 6PM

SOHN The Little Gem Cafe Barry Winograd & Jim Ryan La Borra Cafe Luciano Antonio Brazilian Trio Nando's PERI-PERI Greg Dudzienski Quartet Sushi House

5PM to 8PM

Michele Thomas Duo Tre Sorelle Ristorante Derek Duleba Organ Trio Q-BBQ Paul Abella Trio Beer Shop Adrian Ruiz & Markus Rutz Katy's Dumplings

7PM to 10PM

Braden Smith Trio Nando's PERI-PERI Shawn Maxwell Quartet Sushi House Julius Tucker Trio Khyber Pass Andy Pratt Duo Kalamata Kitchen Peter Saxe Trio Encore! by Little Gem

Enjoy free live music performances at participating Downtown Oak Park restaurants with the option to order food & drinks.

www.downtownoakpark.net/jazz-thaw

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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Sustainability incubator raises Oak Park board tensions Parakkat, Scaman tangle on plan for proposal request

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

ciency Group. The guest found himself in the crosshairs of the fight, with Parakkat, in one instance, directing him to “stick to the point.”

“I am not here to create contention with anyone,” said Johnson, who noted the “acrimonious tone and tenor” of the meeting.

The argument began in earnest not even seven minutes into discussing the agenda item. While recounting an outside discussion he had with Scaman, Parakkat told

What was supposed to be a discussion of a request for proposal for a possible Oak Park sustainability incubator turned into an outright argument during a village board meeting Monday night between Trustee Ravi Parakkat and Village President Vicki Scaman. The discussion, which lasted over an hour, ultimately ended with direction to staff to essentially make no changes to the RFP. “At every instance, since [the sustainability incubator] got on the board goals, there’s been attempts to try and thwart it, primarily from Vicki,” said Parakkat at the onset of the discussion.

Before the debate began, Scaman commended Parakkat “treRAVI PARAKKAT VICKI SCAMAN mendously for the sustainability incubator,” but the situation soured after the village the board the village president had tried president said she hoped that the feasibil- to dissuade him from pursuing the project ity study would strive to connect the con- “largely because of the fact that there are other communities that may want to take cept with other communities outside of the lead on this.”

Oak Park.

Scaman immediately jumped in, suggestParakkat, who proposed the sustainability incubator while running for office a ing she speak for herself or that Parakkat year ago, proceeded to remind the village stick to explaining his vision. Parakkat board that it had agreed to make the incu- continued, under the guise of providing bator one of its goals. However, the board’s context, and said he was looking to have support for the incubator and an accom- this incubator specifically in Oak Park citpanying feasibility study has always been ing “the mandate for me to be on this board that was given by Oak Parkers.” tepid at best.

Parakkat then zeroed in on Scaman for Scaman, wishing for this sustainability incubator be a regional pursuit, invited her perceived resistance to the feasibility Darnell Johnson, a sustainability archi- study and the wider incubator idea. He told tect and Austin native, to share his pro- the board that he got a call a half an hour fessional insight into the RFP as written. before the meeting started alerting him Johnson is the president of Urban Effi- that Scaman was planning some sort of ef-

ing the larger impact collaboration can fort to push the project to the side.

“Let’s not have this sort of sideways at- have on sustainability and equity.

“If you would give me a chance to finish tack at every juncture,” he told her.

Yet to get heated herself, Scaman re- my thought. My point in bringing that up is sponded by saying she thought the RFP the issues that you all are trying to address had potential and that she did not wish to based on the RFP are also being addressed “contribute to any defensiveness at this through other efforts as well,” he said.

By partnering with neighboring commutime.”

The not-yet-issued RFP calls on quali- nities working on similar initiatives, refied firms to submit proposals to conduct sources could be pooled, and the collective a feasibility study in an amount of $10,000, positive impact broadened, said Johnson.

Parakkat told the board he while focusing on the had no problems partnering board’s goals. The board with neighboring communities goals to “be a leader in “down the road.” racial equity” and “invest “This feasibility study is in a sustainable future,” only to examine the feasibility Johnson felt went handof something like this,” said in-hand, but the scope of both needed to be adParakkat. “It is not the project dressed beyond Oak Park. itself.”

“The challenges and Chaos followed when Scaman the issues that are affectinterjected to remind him that ing folks of color, spethe point of the discussion was cifically, go beyond the to make the RFP itself as well boundaries of Oak Park articulated as possible. The and probably within the raised voices of Scaman and boundaries of Oak Park Parakkat were interrupted by RAVI PARAKKAT when we start to look at Trustee Arti Walker-PeddakotOak Park trustee the health-related issues la. that are associated with sus“I feel like the rest of the tainability,” Johnson said. board is a third wheel in this Parakkat immediately shut conversation,” she said.

Johnson down.

Walker-Peddakotla said she believed out“I’m not here to have a debate on those side conversations between board memtopics,” Parakkat told him. bers had confused the issue at hand. HowAfter his interruption, the trustee would ever, her point was all but drowned out by not allow Johnson to finish his explana- the resumed argument between Parakkat tion. Instead, he essentially told Johnson and Scaman. he was not qualified to participate in the “I’m sorry you’re bringing the level of discussion as he was not an elected mem- defensiveness that you’re bringing right ber of the village board. now,” Scaman told Parakkat.

“We are talking about a project that a The argument itself upstaged the 11group of people have been elected by the page RFP draft, the contents of which the Oak Park residents are sitting together and village board was largely fine with releasdeciding on,” said Parakkat. “That is the ing. Staff was directed to move forward mandate we have. I clearly get the fact that with the RFP with the option to expand on sustainability is a global issue.” certain areas should an individual trustee Undeterred, Johnson continued explain- request it.

“I’m sorry you’re bringing the level of defensiveness that you’re bringing right now.”

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OPRF hosts third annual Parent University

Mental wellness for teens, parents the focus of March 3 event

is no different.

“We could talk about how Black communities have different experiences with COVID, but I think even more so thinking about the racial unrest we’ve experienced in our country and continue to experience in our country, we know that’s impacting our students

By F. AMANDA TUGADE and our families right here in Oak Park and Staff Reporter River Forest,” Bencola said. “We want to In an effort to promote mental wellness make sure we’re talking about that and not for teens, Oak Park and River Forest High making that taboo and offering, again, our School is inviting parents to participate parents and families tools to navigate those in a virtual event March 3, complete with really unique experiences.”

Kris Johnson, a counselor at OPRF who presentations from six local medical professionals. The event – which will be held helped organize the event, echoed Bencola via Zoom from 6:30 to 9 p.m. – is folded into and added another session vital to the ParParent University, a popular series that of- ent University program is the one that centers on self-care stratfers free workshops egies for parents. and resources for “Parenting is a families. hard job,” JohnSince 2019, OPRF son said. “In fact, if Oak Park and River Forest High has tailored its Paryou’re doing it right, School’s Parent University event takes ent University proit’s probably going place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. March 3 on grams to focus on to be the hardest Zoom. Registration is required. The mental health and thing.” event is free and open to the public, not wellness, providing “We just felt like just parents with children who attend area parents and for parents to be in OPRF. For more information or to regguardians a platthe best position to ister, visit OPRF’s website at https:// form to learn, dishelp their kids, they oprfhs.org/. cuss, reflect and ask need to take care of questions, and this themselves, too. It’s year’s event looks to embrace those same goals. OPRF part- not just about getting things that will help nered with five local groups – the Oak Park you be a better parent to your kid. It’s putTownship’s Positive Youth Development ting in front of you [the] things that will and Community Mental Health Board, just help you be a stronger, more capable, NAMI Metro Suburban, Riveredge Hospi- more competent person yourself,” she tal and River Forest Township – to curate said.

Parent University is a learning experithe March 3 event.

This Thursday, attendees will have the ence, and these presentations are meant chance to attend three almost half-hour to provide attendees hands-on, practical sessions, each with two guest speakers. advice that they can use in their everyday Topics include emotional resilience, lone- lives, Bencola and Johnson said.

Bencola and Johnson emphasized that liness in children and teens, mental health this Thursday’s Parent University is for resources for Black teens and more.

Ginger Bencola, event organizer and everyone, not just parents with children OPRF’s prevention and wellness coordi- who attend OPRF. It’s a community event nator, told Wednesday Journal that some that’s easily accessible, and those intersessions at this year’s Parent University ested can even register to join on the day are new while others are mainstays, recur- of, Bencola said.

“It doesn’t even have to be for people who ring topics that are still relevant to today’s have school-aged children. It can be people families.

Bencola said previous Parent Universi- who are just interested in topics or have ties have included resources and support grandchildren,” Johnson added. “The nice for families of color, especially Black fami- thing about Zoom is that it’s easier to drop lies and students, and this year’s program into something.”

Here’s how to register

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@OakPark

Formerly Resurrection University

SPRING OPEN 2022

HOUSE

OAK BROOK CAMPUS

CHICAGO CAMPUS

Saturday, March 26 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 31 3:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m.

oakpoint.edu/visit-us

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Park district’s Carroll Center officially net-zero The second such facility in Illinois

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

Only two facilities in Illinois have achieved net-zero verification by the New Buildings Institute, and the Park District of Oak Park can lay claim to one. The Carroll Center, which was built almost a century ago, officially snagged the sustainable standing Feb. 1.

Carroll Center is at 1125 S. Kenilworth Ave, adjacent to Lincoln School.

NBI is a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings across North America.

An addition to Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire became the state’s first NBIverified net-zero building last year. Yet, the Carroll Center’s status as the state’s second NBI-verified net-zero structure is still very prestigious; a mere 148 buildings in North America have achieved net-zero verification from NBI. To be net-zero, a building must generate as much energy as it uses. To prove that the Carroll Center’s energy use equals the energy it produces, the park district submitted a year’s worth of energy data to NBI at the end of January.

“We were really vigilant in our process,” Chris Lindgren, the park district’s superintendent of parks and planning, told Wednesday Journal.

The park district used special metering software to monitor the building’s energy usage. That data was compiled into daily,

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

ECO-CENTRIC: Carroll Center, 1125 S. Kenilworth Ave., is a model of energy efficiency. weekly and monthly reports, which helped identify potential energy leakages.

“There’s actually equipment that gives us the exact real-time data of all the energy usage in the building,” said Lindgren.

ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer

GREEN AND GROWING: Chris Lindgren, superintendent of parks and planning for the Park District of Oak Park, points out some elements of the new green-energy physical plant in the basement of the Carroll Center in 2020.

Staff were also trained to treat energy use differently to ensure the building met the qualifying standards. The preschool teachers that hold classes in the Carrol Center received training too.

“People that operate [net-zero buildings] and work in them need to know that energy needs to be used differently,” said Lindgren.

“It’s not just an unlimited resource.”

Becoming net-zero took a lot more than just special software and teaching people not to leave the lights on, however. Constructed in 1928 with multiple additions built later, major renovations were needed to bring the Carroll Center to net-zero. The energy leakage on a structure that old was what one would expect, according to Lindgren.

“That building had holes all over it,” said Lindgren.

The process began in 2019 and cost approximately $2 million. A $577,800 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation was used to reconstruct the Carroll Center using Passive House design principles. Passive House, also known as Passivhaus, principles are rigorous energy-efficient building standards that in part include superinsulation and airtight construction with continuous ventilation.

“It’s the most comfortable building we had,” said Lindgren of the Carroll Center’s internal temperature.

To attain this level of energy efficiency

for Carroll Center, the park district enlisted local architect Tom Bassett-Dilley, whose firm has done seven other Passive Housecertified projects. Mark Nussbaum, an architectural design engineer from Oak Park, was also brought on. Nussbaum has worked previously with the park district, designing the geothermal heating and cooling system in Pleasant House. Neither Bassett-Dilley nor Nussbaum were available for comment, but Lindgren said they were the “top names for geothermal design in the Midwest.”

The renovation was completed in June 2020, but the park district had to wait until the beginning of this year to submit the Carroll Center’s energy data to NBI due to COVID-19. Temporary programming cessations and occupancy limits required Carroll Center to use far less energy than it would otherwise. Waiting ensured that NBI received accurate energy readings.

With the Carroll Center’s status sealed, the park district has turned its attention to its pending net-zero community recreation center on Madison Street, which was designed and will be built using Passive House principles. Groundbreaking is scheduled for March 14. However, the overall plan is to eventually bring all park district facilities to net-zero, according to Lindgren.

“We actually are working on a greenhouse gas inventory this year,” said Lindgren.

“And then we’re going to come up with a path for us to eliminate our emissions.”

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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Want to help?

Here’s how Our Future Reads is currently accepting book donations, ranging from new to gently used books, textbooks and comics. Interested donors must make an appointment and can opt for a contactless pick up. Our Future Reads also accepts monetary donations. To get involved or learn more about the local nonprofit, visit https://ourfuturereads.com/

– had limited literacy skills. In addition, the Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition (CCLC) noted that individuals with low literacy skills are more likely to face higher healthcare costs. The coalition also stated that children of parents with low literacy skills and do not receive the necessary academic intervention are more likely to require additional “costly” education resources.

There’s a domino effect, and efforts like Taylor’s help combat a larger issue.

“I want to make sure that our clients have [access to books] because a lot of them have trauma in their past. They have situations where they weren’t able to complete their education. They come from a wide range of backgrounds, and accessibility to literature was not high on their spectrum,” Villanueva said.

Taylor added, “If you grew up in Oak Park PHOTOS PROVIDED or if you grew up in a wealthier community, LET’S READ: Franklin Taylor (above), an Oak Park native and Fenwick alumnus, founded the nonprofit Our Future Reads to boost reading for someone would look at you and be like, ‘What?

I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ But area adults and families. Brian Heuss (below), also a Fenwick alumnus, serves as vice president and helps promote the nonprofit’s efforts. for people that don’t necessarily have access to books, it really is a big thing.” all over, and he was ready to let them go. range of books. They wanted an assortment,

By F. AMANDA TUGADE Taylor, who now lives in Germany, said he “What do I do with them?” Taylor told from nonfiction to cookbooks, crafts and easy continues to manage his nonprofit and credits Staff Reporter Wednesday Journal over Zoom. “I’m not going reads, said Villanueva who works closely with his board and team members for stepping up women in recovery. n just a year, Franklin Taylor’s newly to throw them out. Who throws out books?” and collecting and distributing more books to He went online, trying to find different book Villanueva told the Journal that when she those in need. Apart from SisterHouse, Our launched nonprofit Our Future Reads has collected more than 10,000 books and drives and places to donate, but instead was joined SisterHouse last year, the library was Future Reads has partnered with Oak Park small, and most of the books distributed them to dozens of organizations greeted by an unexpected challenge.

School District 97 and other “It seemed like all the nonprofits in the area were not in good condition. across his hometown of Oak Park and area groups such as the PCC “We always have donors that Chicagoland, reaching over 1,000 people. It’s a had these programs for children’s books, so Wellness Community Center, tremendous feat – a mission carefully crafted they would take in children’s books [and] give are like, ‘Hey, I want to donate which has locations in Oak them out to the schools and organizations in to you guys. I want to give you with compassion and care.

Park, Berwyn and Chicago’s the area,” Taylor said, noting most guys this and this,’ and then So, how did this all come together?

Austin neighborhood, and New of his books were meant for adults. it’s like pages [of the books] are The 25-year-old Fenwick Moms, a nonprofit also based “I needed a way to figure out damaged or missing,” she said. alumnus said he had an idea. in Oak Park and the Austin how to get the books to adult “That doesn’t do us good if we About two years ago, after neighborhood that works with readers,” he said. can’t provide material that is Taylor graduated from Bowdoin young moms under the age of From there, Taylor began intact.”

College in Maine, he, like most 24. thinking and ultimately decided That’s why Villanueva was people his age, found himself In an interview with the FRANKLIN TAYLOR to create Our Future Reads as a inclined to partner with Taylor. walking into a new stage of his life.

Journal, Jared Taylor, Franklin Our Future Reads founder way to close the gap and meet the “When Franklin reached out, The onset of the COVID pandemic Taylor’s younger brother and needs of adult readers, as well as I was like, ‘You know what? OK. had derailed his plans to travel to an Our Future Reads board children and teens. The goal, he Let’s have a conversation. Let’s Germany where he would teach member, shared his thoughts said, is to create a “personalized see what we can do.’ I’m of the English to young students as part on the nonprofit’s initiative to BRIAN HEUSS library” for recipients based on mind that if I can give somebody of a Fulbright program. Taylor promote inclusivity and literacy. books of interest. Taylor said he a book, then that’s giving them a was in transition, looking for work Jared Taylor, a 20-year-old connected with various local nonprofits and gift,” she said. and biding his time. college junior, said that Our Future Reads has Taylor and Villanueva shared that their put a spin on the old saying, “Don’t judge a Taylor, who later scored a job as a data analyst asked directors to fill out a genre survey, so for a Chicago-based healthcare equipment he and his small team could sift through their partnership speaks to the importance of book by its cover.” providing access – and that includes books. company, said one day while working from donations and match clients’ needs.

“Even if you judge a book by its cover, that’s Crystal Villanueva, a residential aide at the In 2011, more than a decade ago, Southern OK,” said Jared Taylor, a Fenwick alumnus home, he looked around his room and realized he was surrounded by pieces of his old life. No Oak Park-based nonprofit SisterHouse, said Illinois University’s economics and finance who now attends Knox College. “So, I feel like department released a report saying that about anything [that] sparks your attention to go and longer a college student, Taylor saw his books she completed Franklin’s survey on the behalf – some he loved and others he outgrew – piled of her clients who were looking for a wide 30% of Chicagoans – roughly 330,000 people read, you should definitely go and do that.”

Oak Park Don’t judge a One nonprofit pushing for literacy says, book by its cover? ‘That’s OK’

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“I needed a way to figure out how to get the books to adult readers.”

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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ART BEAT

After 23 years, Open Door Repertory closes After overcoming long odds, COVID proves too much

By MICHELLE DYBAL

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Arts Contributor

pen Door, no stranger to adversity, is officially closing at the end of March after a 23-year run as a repertory company and 12 years as a brick-and-mortar theater space at 902 S. Ridgeland Ave. in the Oak Park Arts District.

The troupe began in 1999 when theater-loving parent volunteers who had students in Percy Julian Middle School’s CAST program came together to create something for themselves.

They opened with “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Open Door Repertory put shows on at various District 97 stages — the former Julian building, Beye, Lincoln — eventually landing at Hatch Elementary where they held regular engagements for nine years. They performed as many as six shows annually, some for families (headed up by Gigi Hudson, current owner of The Actors Garden in the Oak Park Arts District), some geared toward adults, always school appropriate.

By the mid-2000s, Open Door was a professional non-equity company, meaning talent was getting paid. As Hatch’s auditorium got busier with its own school functions, Open Door had another growth moment. The company decided it was time to ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer acquire a place of its own.

Mary Pat Sieck, Open Door’s artistic/managing director and PANDEMIC CASUALTY: Mary Pat Sieck, left, Open Door’s artistic/managing director and a founding member, and Steve a founding member, called having their own space, “the biggest Saliny, Open Door founding member who is also technical director and facility manager, in the theater lobby. gift.” Sets and costumes could be left in place for the next show, Open Door tried new things during COVID. In Sept. 2021, something they could not do at schools. And, she said, “We just Over time, fewer plays were produced to account for this and the company sought other performing arts solutions. they teamed with Brookfield’s Habakkuk Theatre for “Coastloved the size of it, which allowed the actors or musicians to “It started as a financial decision — we cannot afford to do al Disturbances” held outside in Ehlert Park, Brookfield, on connect with their audiences. We felt we could really get to this many plays over the course of a year and still feel certain a sand volleyball court turned beach-scene stage. And, Open know our audiences.” The theater seats 70.

They found the site, formerly Convenient Food Mart, and that we’d be able to pay our bills,” Sieck said. “As it turned out, Door created The Backstory Project, featuring interviews with local journalists and editors (including our own Growing Comraised nearly $100,000 through donations and loans to trans- it allowed us to expand who our audience was.”

Open Door began partnering with comedy acts and musimunity Media’s Dan Haley, Bob Uphues and Michael Romain) form the building. But, in May cians. Some in recent years and Greek restaurant owners to tell the stories of those that 2010, when contractors broke included The Therapy Play- help make their communities tick. That project, released last ground to install support fall, was made possible with a grant from the Oak Park Area ers, The Real Housewives of posts, soil contamination was Arts Council (OPAAC) and is free to viewers, with donations Oak Park and the creation of discovered below. It turns out accepted. (View here: opendoortheater.net/backstory-project) a Women of Jazz series which a Standard Oil gas station had During the pandemic, Open Door received a grant from featured Margaret Murphypreviously occupied the locathe Rapid Response and Recovery Fund, managed by the Oak Webb and Bobbi Wilsyn. tion from the 1920s into the “It made it interesting for Park-River Forest Community Foundation and distributed by 1960s. The building owner, Jerus, too,” Sieck said. “We start- OPAAC. Other funding, such as the Shuttered Venue Operary Bloom, covered the cost to ed out as theater, and storytell- tors Grant, did not come to pass. complete the soil remediation.

Sieck describes their building owner as “the best landlord” ing was our primary art. ... It Nearly a year went by, and begave us a chance to appreciate for his support while the theater was closed for nearly two cause Open Door’s assets were other arts. It was a very happy years. Bloom, an equity actor and voice over performer himtied up in the building, proself, prompted a decision from his tenants. Sieck, along with gift.” ductions were on hold.

When COVID shut every- Steve Saliny, another Open Door founding member who is also When the time came for the COURTESY OPEN DOOR REPERTORY thing down in March 2020, technical director and facility manager, knew the time had theater to open, Open Door Open Door Th eater’s Main Stage seated 70. like all performing arts ven- come. was ready. “Smokey Joe’s “It was probably inevitable once this [pandemic] went on for ues, Open Door Theater went Cafe” rehearsals were taking dark. Shows that were sched- more than one year, but you keep hanging on, and our landlord place in Sieck’s living room, furniture removed. And when the cast got into the theater about a week before opening, rehears- uled that month, including a jazz series and some other musi- was fine to do that. But you get to a point where you can’t do als continued with sawdust on the stage, Sieck said, laughing cal acts, were canceled. Beginning in April, a new project was this,” Sieck said. “We are grateful for all that we were able to to kick off — partnering with another theater company that do, all the people we got to work with, all the memories we had about it now, as construction was completed. would use the space to stage its productions. That company created. ... It took so many people to make this happen.”

Having their own space, however, became a balancing act of In all, Open Door had its hands in more than 70 productions selling enough tickets to offset the cost of each production, a was also planning to do shows in the summer and fall of 2020. different ledger than when they had free use of school audi- It would relieve Open Door’s financial burden and keep the and brought nearly 50 comedy and musical acts to the commutoriums and no overhead. Open Door Repertory continued to theater and “good art” going, according to Sieck. But that was nity. Its end is not just the loss of an Oak Park theater but closproduce plays and musical revues, but could easily lose money. not to be. ing the book on a piece of local performing arts history.

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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Local food specialties: Rodney Fry at Cuzzo’s

By DAVID HAMMOND

C

Oak Park Eats Blogger

hicagoland is home to many local food specialties.

There are, among many others, the Mother-in-Law (a hotdog bun stuffed with a Chicago corn roll tamale, as served at Fat Johnnie’s, 7242 S. Western) and the Jim Shoe (also called Jim Shoo or Gym Shoe, a bun filled with gyros meat, Italian beef, corned beef, and ersatz tzatziki sauce, as served at Stony Subs, 8440 S. Stony Island).

None of these local food specialties contain ingredients that are truly special. It’s the unusual combination of very usual ingredients that makes these Chicago original foods stand out.

So it is with the Rodney Fry, as served at Cuzzo’s Pasta, Pizza & Panini (330 Madison St., Oak Park).

The Rodney Fry is a mound of French fries, dotted with circles of sliced sausage, mounted with Italian beef and cheese and, if you like, giardiniera and/or sweet peppers. The counter person told me it also contained tomato sauce, but no sauce was in evidence. The fries come fresh from the hot oil, then all the ingredients are added and the whole thing is baked in an aluminum bowl.

“Why is it called the Rodney Fry?” I asked the young man behind the counter. The origin story of the Rodney Fry, I was told, is that a “guy next store at the gaming place [Grandmaster Games, 436 S. Ridgeland] came in and asked

PHOTO BY DAVID HAMMOND

Rodney Fry from Cuzzo’s in Oak Park us to make it. So we did. I think his name was Rodney.”

Precisely how certain specialty foods came to be is usually shrouded in mystery, though Fat Johnnie will tell you his creation is called the Mother-in-Law because “it, too, will give you heartburn.” My friend Dr. Peter Engler asked a counter person at Stony Subs where the Jim Shoo came from, and the young man pointed to his head and said, mysteriously, “It comes from the mind!” (They do call the place *Stony* Subs, if you get my meaning).

At Cuzzo’s, The Rodney Fry is not on the regular menu;

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it’s listed on the wall under the title “Hidden Menu” (not exactly hidden, is it?).

The Rodney Fry tasted exactly as I expected it to taste, combining the familiar flavors of the fries, the beef, and the cheese. I had asked for the fries to be done “extra crispy,” but it’s exceedingly difficult for even crisp fries to maintain their delicate crunch when they’re covered in moist meat.

That such a dish would be invented, by someone at some point, seems inevitable. In fact, there have been sightings of similar dishes around the world. Poutine, the famous Canadian creation of fries covered in gravy, cheese curds and many other optional ingredients, is the closest to the Rodney Fry. Friend Dan Herwig told me about kapsalon, a “quintessential Dutch ‘loaded friets’ dish that has a similar origin story. Neighboring hair salon employee visits a shawarma shop and requests a delicious monstrosity [French fries topped with doner or gyros meat, gouda and Indonesian hot sauce].”

What I find so intriguing about specialties like Rodney Fries and kapsalon is that they spring — small “d” democratically — from customer suggestions. This phenomenon has started me thinking about unusual food combinations I might like to request. I could see a special order of hash browns, mixed cheese and bacon at George’s or an anchovychili pepper pizza from Cucina Paradiso. Someday one of these creations may appear on local menus. You can thank me later.

David Hammond, a corporate communications consultant and food journalist living in Oak Park, is a founder and moderator of LTHForum.com, the 8,500 member Chicagobased culinary chat site.

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MASK OPTIONAL Policies evolves from page 1 hospital admissions are also down.

In an email sent Feb. 27, District 200 Superintendent Greg Johnson told employees and families that masks were now optional on school grounds and buses. Johnson said the district plans to continue its voluntary COVID-19 saliva testing on Thursdays, but in-season athletes were no longer required to test for the novel coronavirus.

The district’s latest move to implement a mask-optional policy was a departure from its previous decision to hold off on relaxing its COVID safety measures, including indoor masking. During a Feb. 24 school board meeting, some D200 board members hesitated to greenlight a mask-optional policy and sought more input and guidance from local health officials and other medical professionals. The board planned to reconvene March 10 at the Committee of the Whole Meeting and discuss the issue, but that has changed because of Pritzker’s and the CDC’s announcements, district spokeswoman Karin Sullivan said.

In addition, the Oak Park Department of Public Health also announced its stance to lift the indoor mask mandate Feb. 28, aligning with Pritzker’s plans. Local public health officials stated they continue to “sup-

port the use of masks” as an extra layer of protection from COVID and reminded that those who have symptoms should test immediately and stay home. Masks are still required on public transportation, including bus stations, train stations and airports, per the federal mandate. The Illinois State Board of Education has yet to offer guidelines for school districts that now implement a maskoptional policy.

Sullivan told the Journal that school administrators felt the decision to move toward a mask-optional policy seemed “pretty clear cut” and do not plan on bringing the policy back to the board at this time.

“Our feeling was if we’re following the science, then the time has come,” Sullivan said.

“Our main concern is that everyone feels like their choice is supported. We want to make sure that everyone understands whatever choice a student makes, whatever choice a staff person makes, they are all supported now.”

In the Feb. 27 email, Johnson acknowledged that while there are some people who are comfortable being unmasked, there may be others who aren’t and asked district staff, students and families to “respect all choices that others in the building make for themselves.”

Other school districts in Oak Park and River Forest have also taken on the mask-optional policy but with caveats. Oak Park District 97 announced over the weekend that staff and students can choose to wear their masks be-

ginning March 17, citing its need for time to prepare for the transition. In a districtwide email sent Feb. 27, district officials clarified that come March 17, masking indoors will no longer be required but is still “highly recommended.” Until then, all staff and students must be masked while inside the school buildings. School districts can still require universal masking for staff and students, despite the governor’s decision to lift indoor masking in schools.

“While some members of our community are excited and ready to make this transition, there are others who are understandably feeling anxiety and stress,” the district wrote in a Feb. 27 newsletter sent to faculty, staff and families. “Waiting until March 17 provides time for staff to develop and communicate supports for our students, address accommodations for students who are immunocompromised, and work through updated guidance from the state.”

In River Forest, District 90 joined District 200 and many other public schools across Chicagoland and the state and became maskoptional on Feb. 28. But Superintendent Ed Condon told district families and employees via email that the D90 school board planned to review and vote on the policy at the March 1 board meeting.

“District 90 will update and broadly communicate revised D90 safety mitigation protocols to reflect any essential details,” Condon wrote. “Face masks will continue to be available to all students and staff who desire them.”

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Support for connecting River Trail with Prairie Path River Forest and Forest Park push for final piece of a long puzzle

By ROBERT J. LIFKA Contributing Reporter

Officials have identified sections of Forest Park and River Forest as the final pieces of the puzzle that will connect the 55-mile-long Des Plaines River Trail with the 61-mile-long Illinois Prairie Path, creating a continuous trail from the Wisconsin/Illinois border to Wheaton.

Originally, the Des Plaines River Trail stopped at North Avenue. However, plans have been developed to continue the trail through River Forest and connect with a planned bike path along Van Buren Street in Forest Park.

River Forest officials expressed support for the project at the Feb. 28 village board meeting, allowing the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to pursue funding opportunities to complete design/construction and permitting through the Illinois Department of Transportation. Jeff Loster, director of public works and development services, told officials that the River Forest and Elmwood Park sections are planned to undergo Phase 2 engineering and construction in 2022 or 2023, depending on funding.

The River Forest section of the trail will mainly run along Thatcher Avenue between North Avenue and Madison Street with a smaller section running along Madison between Thatcher and Van Buren Street, where it will connect with a proposed biking/walking path in Forest Park.

The Forest Park Van Buren Street Multi-Use Path Improvement Plan calls for construction of 1,600 linear feet of a 10-footwide, asphalt, multi-use path along the west side of Van Buren between Madison and the CTA’s Des Plaines Avenue Blue Line Station, also called the Forest Park Transit Center.

Forest Park officials learned in November that the village would receive a $247,500 Invest in Cook grant from Cook County to cover approximately half of the $540,000 estimated cost.

The village will pay the remaining $292,500 from the Village Improvement Program fund. Bicyclists and walkers can access the Prairie Path through the Transit Center parking lot.

“Not everything is 100 percent right now in terms of plans being ready to go,” said Moses Amidei, village administrator. “We have to do some coordination with ComEd regarding

FILE

Des Plaines River some utility pole relocation west of Van Buren, just south of Madison, and we will be talking to the owner of the adjacent property regarding the placement of the path and potential right-of-way needs.

“The ComEd relocation will take a few months, so we’re looking to later this year in terms of scheduling. There still are some semantics that need to be worked out before we can go to construction. We’re looking at a time frame of later this summer or fall for the project. It’s not immi-

nent, but it’s something we’d like to take care of it by the end of this year.”

Amidei said he hopes to work with Maywood in the future on improving signage directing bicyclists and walkers from the Transit Center parking lot to the Prairie Path.

“It would be nice in the future if the path between the CTA parking lot and First Avenue could be better delineated,” he said. “That would require a joint effort by our village and Maywood but it won’t be pursued this year.”

Keystone upgrades get nod from village, sent to review board Keep flagpole, village urges park leaders

By ROBERT LIFKA Contributing Reporter

The wheels are turning on the River Forest Park District’s proposed improvements to Keystone Park after village officials approved sending the planned development project to the Development Review Board.

At the Feb. 28 village board meeting, Lynn Libera, park district board president, and Mike Sletten, park district executive director, presented to village officials plans that include replacing the five tennis courts and four batting cages at the park, located east and west of Keystone Avenue between Lake Street and Central Avenue.

In a memo to the village board, Libera said the age and condition of the tennis courts warrants their replacement. In ad-

dition to replacing the tennis courts, plans call for installing new LED lights. She said the new lights would be controlled by three separate switches to eliminate lighting unused courts. All new tennis courts would be lined for pickle ball.

In addition to being replaced, the batting cages will be relocated. The first set of cages would be permanently installed along Central, west of the Keystone Center, centrally located between the two baseball fields. A second set of cages would be a temporary facility east of the synthetic infield with a permeable surface and nets up only during the youth baseball season.

Other proposed changes include relocating the tennis hitting walls to the east fence on the new south tennis court; relocating two basketball hoops from inside

the tennis courts to a dedicated area along Central Avenue; new storm water drainage with a drainage swale along Lake to meet Metropolitan Water Reclamation District requirements; and removing the flagpole, replacing it with a flag mounted on the scoreboard.

Sletten said the basketball hoops and batting cages would not be lighted. He also said park district officials are targeting summer for the construction but acknowledged that depends on availability of materials.

Village officials were generally receptive to the proposed improvements although removing the flagpole was questioned by Trustee Bob O’Connell and village President Cathy Adduci.

“Our residents want flagpoles in our parks,” Adduci said. “I’d like you to think

about putting up a flagpole.”

Sletten acknowledged that the project would lead to the loss of some trees but promised “whatever we take out, we’ll replace.”

Lissa Scheiner, assistant village administrator, explained in a memo that under the River Forest Zoning Ordinance, no new construction, expansion of any building or addition of any parcel or change of use shall be permitted in a Public, Recreational, Institutional District, except as approved as a planned development.

“I think it’s good use of the land,” Adduci said.

The next step will take place Thursday, March 3, when park district officials will appear before the Development Review Board.

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

POLICE STAFF

who are trained in other departments,” said Tchang.

For the most part, Oak Park rookie cops go through the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy and the Chicago Police Training from page 1 Division. The Suburban Law Enforcement Academy caps its classes at 84 trainees. said he believes officers are leaving for a COVID-19 necessitated fewer people per combination of reasons, including the de- class for a time, but the academy is back to sire to work from home and to have a better class sizes of 84, according to the academy’s work-life balance. He also cited civil unrest spokesperson Patricia Augustin. Wednesand political conversations around policing day Journal did not receive a response prior as contributing factors. to press time to a request for similar infor“The dialogues that have occurred at the mation from the Chicago Police Training national level as it relates to policing have Division. all converged and created this space that A formal lateral hiring program could we’re in,” said Reynolds. include a different application and hiring Last November, Village Trustee Ravi Para- process, as well as additional support and kkat submitted an opinion piece to Wednes- training to help integrate new officers into day Journal in which he beseeched the Oak the Oak Park force, according to Tchang.

Park community to more actively support Whether such a program will be implementits police department. ed will ultimately be up to the village board.

“According to officer exit inThe Oak Park Police Departterviews,” Parakkat wrote, “the ment still has the capability of key reason for this attrition is hiring laterally without a forthe lack of support for our pomal program. Commander Paul lice department from elected ofKane joined the Oak Park Police ficials and from the community Department in June 2020. Kane at large.” had spent 31 years with the ChiReynolds’ take, however, difcago Police Department. fered from Parakkat’s. The chief “I just felt like I had given evconceded that “at least a couple” erything I could to Chicago, and officers mentioned the perceived it was time for me to move on,” LADON REYNOLDS lack of support by the commusaid Kane. nity as a factor that played into During his last five years in their decision to resign, but Chicago, Kane worked in the that it was hardly the only rea19th District, which included son given.

Lakeview, which includes “I think the industry of Wrigley Field. He retired from policing in America is going CPD as a commander and was through a transformation,” hired in Oak Park at that same said Reynolds. rank.

Demands for equitable law “Basically, when I came in, enforcement reform and fiI came in as a brand-new emnancial considerations may be ployee,” said Kane. “I had to the reason behind some resiglearn Oak Park’s policies and nations, he said. In addition, Oak Park’s procedures and other suburban departments learn the different nuances.” and out-of-state police agencies The types of crimes that ocare recruiting officers, offering cur in the village reminded bonuses to make lateral moves between de- Kane a lot of the 19th District, as did Oak partments, according to Reynolds. Officers Park’s community policing model. The latmay just be exploring new opportunities ter has also attracted other officers to the that were not available in the past.

Oak Park department, according to Reyn“We didn’t see this a lot when I came on olds. back in the ‘90s, but again, I think we’re in a “I’ve had a couple of officers state directly transition,” said the chief. that they came here because of the type of Kira Tchang, human resources manager police department that we are,” said Reynfor the village of Oak Park, said the village olds. “We have a reputation for community has not offered bonuses to entice outside of- policing, officer safety, officer wellness.” ficers to join the Oak Park police force.

In the last six months, Reynolds has reOak Park does not currently have a for- ceived emails from two outside officers inmal program in place for lateral hires, but terested in joining the Oak Park force.

Tchang said the idea is being explored by Whether lateral hires will fill the pothe Board of Fire and Police Commission- lice department’s 15 vacancies remains ers as a part of the commission’s 2022 work to be seen. Oak Park currently has 79 acplan. The commission is still in the early tive sworn patrol officers and 18 sergeants, stages of the discussion. which Reynolds is capable of addressing the “The Board of Fire and Police Commis- needs of citizens. sioners is interested in implementing a It is also unusual for departments to be program for lateral hires, especially given fully staffed at all times. In Reynolds’ career, the current challenges in entry-level police there have only been “a few times” where recruitment, but recognizes there can be the Oak Park department had a full roster associated risks with bringing on officers of officers, he said.

Lateral hires eyed

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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C R I M E

Man destroys train windows A CTA passenger was caught on video surveillance damaging government-supported property while traveling on the Green Line.

The man boarded the train at Harlem at 11:30 p.m., Feb. 26, then began to kick the train car’s windows.

He then took out a hammer from the backpack he was carrying and proceeded to smash the windows with it, resulting in 14 broken windows. The damage is estimated at $5,507.

Battery A verbal altercation in the lunchroom between two high school students escalated into a physical confrontation between numerous students at 11:40 a.m., Feb. 24 at Oak Park River Forest High School, 201 S. Scoville Ave. School security personnel intervened, and students were separated.

Burglary ■ Someone broke into a 2016 Dodge Ram 1500 and removed miscellaneous Milwaukee tools at about 8:48 a.m., Feb. 23 in the 300 block of South Harvey Avenue. The estimated loss is $2,000.

■ Someone gained entry to a black Hyundai, possibly through a trunk left ajar, and took a

wallet that contained, an Illinois driver’s license, the victim’s Social Security card and credit and debit cards, as well as prescriptions for Xanax and Omeprazole, between 6 p.m., Feb. 26 and 9:30 a.m., Feb. 27 in the 600 block of Washington Boulevard.

Motor vehicle theft ■ A gray 2011 Honda Civic, left running with the keys in the ignition, was removed at 5:06 p.m., Feb. 22 in the 1100 block of Clarence Avenue. It was last seen traveling eastbound on Roosevelt Road. The estimated loss is $4,000. Chicago police recovered the vehicle at 11:03 p.m., Feb. 24 in the 3000 block of West Lexington Street. Two juveniles were apprehended.

■ A white 2015 Acura TLX four-door, left running without the key fob, in a parking lot in the 200 block of West Lake Street was removed at 10:22 p.m., Feb. 25. Video surveillance captured two men driving up to the vehicle in a dark sedan; one man exited the sedan and got into the Acura and left the parking lot, following the dark sedan. The Acura was recovered at 11:55 p.m., Feb. 26 in the 100 block of North Central Avenue in Chicago.

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Theft ■ The catalytic converter was removed from a gray 2015 Mitsubishi between noon, Feb. 3 and noon, Feb. 17 while the vehicle was parked in the 200 block of Kenilworth Avenue.

■ Someone removed a package containing a brown Coach purse from the vestibule of a building in the 200 block of South Maple Avenue at approximately 10:14 a.m., Feb. 23.

The estimated loss is $200.

■ The catalytic converter was cut from a gold 2005 Chevy Equinox while it was parked in the 100 block of Flournoy Street between 10 p.m., Feb. 22 and 7:09 a.m., Feb. 25.

Criminal property damage Someone cut a one-inch hole into the passenger side tire belonging to a white 2013

Chevy Cruz that was parked in the 500 block of South Taylor Avenue between 12:45 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., Feb. 23. The estimated damage is $200.

The rear passenger side window of a red Toyota Camry was smashed between 11:45 a.m. and 12:46 p.m., Feb. 25 in the 1100 block of Washington Boulevard.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park Police Department, came from reports Feb. 2228 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan

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17

Homes

Wright Plus blooms again in spring after two years in flux Annual housewalk will center on area near Wright’s Home & Studio

By LACEY SIKORA

T

Contributing Reporter

he Wright Plus housewalk is returning to its regularly scheduled season this year on Saturday, May 21.

The annual fundraiser for the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust has faced challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and experienced multiple cancellations, rescheduled dates and pushed the event to the fall in 2021.

This year’s walk will return in full-force on a spring weekend with a focus on the neighborhood surrounding The Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio.

Vicki Kwarciany, who along with Co-Chair Sue Blaine is organizing the walk, says of the return to the spring, “The fall walk last year had glorious weather, which we were grateful for, but there’s something about preparing all winter, and then having the walk in the spring, when everything opens up. We’re happy we’re back on schedule.”

The walk will feature eight private residences located on Forest Avenue, Kenilworth Avenue and Elizabeth Court -- all within walking distance of the Home & Studio. Kwarciany says that having everything in such close proximity to the Home & Studio makes for a block party atmosphere.

“When we cycle back to that neighborhood, it’s really exciting to include a house that’s never been on the walk before,” Kwarciany said.

Simon and Elizabeth Humphrey House 2 (Unknown architect, 1887) That new house this year is the Humphrey House on Elizabeth Court. Kwarciany says that a Frank Lloyd Wright Trust volunteer researcher recently discovered the house was misnamed as the Reed House. In reality, the first owners of the 1887 Queen Anne style home were Simon and Elizabeth Humphrey. The street was later named Elizabeth Court her honor.

Edward and Mary Hills/Thomas and Irene DeCaro House (Frank Lloyd Wright remodel, 1906)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD

Another interesting addition to the walk is the David and Carolyn Kennedy Coach House. Designed by architects Patton and Fisher, the coach house was originally part of the estate of the Kennedy House on Kenilworth Avenue, a See WRIGHT PLUS PREVIEW on page 18

David and Carolyn Kennedy House (Patton & Fisher, 1888)

18

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

David and Carolyn Kennedy Coach House (Patton & Fisher, 1888)

WRIGHT PLUS PREVIEW Eight homes featured from page 17 Queen Anne style home built in 1888 and also on this year’s walk. The coach house was last featured on Wright Plus in 1984, and Kwarciany says that visitors will enjoy getting a glimpse into the space.

Other houses on this year’s walk are two Wright remodels: the Hills-DeCaro House on Forest Avenue, which underwent a Japanese-influenced remodel under Wright in 1906, and across the street, the William and Frances Copeland House, an 1870s-era Italianate that Wright remodeled in 1909.

Also featured are the Laura Gale House designed by Wright in 1909 on Elizabeth Court, which has echoes of his later design for Falling Water in Pennsylvania. Non-Wright designs include the John and Elsie Vette House built on Forest Avenue in 1905 and designed by William G. Barfield.

Down the street is the Queen Anne style James and Ellen Hayden House built in 1893 and designed by William K. Johnson.

Kwarciany says that this year’s walk will be a treat for architecture and history lovers.

“Most of the houses are going to show multiple floors this year, so there’s a lot to see,” Kwarciany said. “Even though many of the architecturally significant details are often downstairs, there are frequently interesting features upstairs, and visitors love to see as much as they can inside the houses.”

Laura Gale House (Frank Lloyd Wright, 1909)

PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT TRUST/JAMES CAULFIELD

Call for volunteers Kwarciany says Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is always eager for new volunteers to help with the busy Wright Plus weekend. Noting that there is a job for everyone, whether they’re in the homes helping out or working behind the scenes to make the day run smoothly, she says that interested volunteers can email volunteer@flwright.org for more information.

The volunteer effort titled “Ready, Set, Go” begins with a series of emails on March 1, 8 and 15, which will include details and signup links.

Ticket information

John and Elsie Vette House (William G. Barfield, 1905)

James and Helen Hayden House (William K. Johnston, 1893)

William and Frances Copeland House (Frank Lloyd Wright remodel, 1909)

Tickets for Wright Plus are still available as of press time and cost $125 or $90 for Frank Lloyd Wright Trust members.

Limited tickets remain for the Fast Pass at $600 for members and $565 for non-members, which offers priority entrance to the homes on the day of the housewalk.

Ultimate Plus Weekend tickets at $2,675 for members and $2,525 for non-members are almost sold out. The weekend experience is a one-of-a-kind architecture and design experience over the Wright-centered weekend and includes Fast Pass entry on Wright Plus Saturday, a lunch that day at the Nineteenth Century Club, an exclusive day tour on May 20, dinner in a Wright home, accommodations and transportation to all events.

Likewise, few tickets remain for Ultimate Saturday, which includes a Fast Pass the day of the walk, lunch at the Nineteenth Century Club and a Wright dinner. Ultimate Saturday tickets cost $1,375 for Frank Lloyd Wright Trust members and $1,250 for non-members.

All tour participants will be required to show provide proof of vaccination. For more details on the day, purchasing tickets, and tour packages, visit flwright.org/wrightplus

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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WWW.FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM | WWW.EXPLOREFORESTPARK.COM WWW.FORESTPARKREVIEW.COM | WWW.EXPLOREFORESTPARK.COM

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21

SPORTS Fenwick’s Flynn wins twice at state swim meet OPRF ends 6th overall led by Louis’ 3rd in 200 free

By BILL STONE Contributing Reporter

Fenwick High School senior Mike Flynn had an outstanding boys swimming mentor in 2019 graduate Liam Hutchinson, the IHSA state champion in the 500-yard freestyle.

Flynn took that achievement one step further on Feb. 26.

The Brookfield resident not only captured the 500 title but also earlier won the 200 free during the first boys state finals held at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont.

“It’s just awesome to swim two events, get two state titles. I’m so humbled to be here in the first place and just to have this competition,” Flynn said.

Flynn won the 200 free in 1 minute, 37.03 seconds to break his school record of 1:37.42 which he set during the Feb. 25 preliminary heats. Flynn won the 500 at 4:27.66 in the finals after his second-best 4:29.90 in the prelims.

In Fenwick’s rich swimming history, two individual titles at one state meet only had been achieved twice before – Ed Pierce in 1991 and Robert Ramoska in 1979 both also in the 500 and 200 free. Ramoska also won the 500 free in 1978.

“It definitely puts him in special company,” Fenwick coach Steve Thompson said. “Going into the meet and looking at Mike’s experience overall, we knew it was a possibility. We knew if Mike was on his pace that he would be hard to beat.”

Flynn also was part of the Friars’ 400 free re-

VISUAL IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

Mike Flynn flashes a smile after winning the 500-yard freestyle, his second win of the day, at the IHSA state swimming and diving meet on Feb. 26 in Westmont. lay with junior Sam Kulisek and sophomores Tomas Adomaitis and Code Podgorski that placed 11th (3:09.46). The three finals performances gave Fenwick 10th as a team with 36 points.

Even with no 2021 state championships, Flynn brought significant state experience with seven finals or consolation finals races. Individually, Flynn was third in the 500 free and ninth in the 200 free in 2020 and 11th in both as a freshman, when Hutchinson won his 500 (school-record 4:24.47) and was second in the

200 (1:38.16).

Flynn’s 200 time in the state prelims on Feb. 25 broke the school record held by Hutchinson.

“I made sure to text him right afterwards that I broke it. But he was happy for me,” Flynn said.

Flynn received an extra finals push from Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Ben Louis, who was .02 behind Flynn during Friday’s prelims and had the fastest 500 that afternoon at 4:29.08. In finals, Louis was third in the 200 (1:38.91) and sixth in the 500 (4:36.55).

“This was Ben’s first state meet. I think he handled the circumstances and pressure really well,” said OPRF coach Clyde Lundgren.

“Ben is going out as one of the most decorated OPRF swimmers in history; he’s got four individual school records and is also a part of two relay records. He’s had an amazing career.”

OPRF junior Emmett Harmon finished 10th in the 100 butterfly with a time of 50.51.

OPRF also had two relays qualify for the finals. The 200 freestyle relay team of Louis, Thomas Rotatori, Lars Rauch and Harmon placed fifth in 1:24.69, and the same individuals finished seventh in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:07.68.

The 200 relay garnered All-American status, and Lundgren believes the 400 relay will merit the same. Overall, OPRF placed sixth as a team with 58 points.

Flynn and Hutchinson will be reunited next year at University of Notre Dame where Flynn plans to swim and study business analytics.

“I took an official visit there with him and I loved it. I told him I was committing there, so he was real happy,” Flynn said.

Like Hutchinson did for him, Flynn said he tried to be a role model and encourage younger Friars to further state success. Thompson said Flynn set the standard well, as senior Lindsey Drumm did during the girls season.

“Lindsey and Mike were the only seniors on deck at state and just really got involved, made the kids feel relaxed,” Thompson said.

“Mike is an established swimmer so hopefully I just helped him understand what he was capable of doing. Mike was primed for this and really took ownership of it. I’m just proud of have been a part of it.”

Melvin Tate contributed to this report.

Three OPRF girls wrestlers earn top 6 state finishes

Huskies cap off first-ever IHSAsanctioned season in style

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School girls wrestling team concluded its first IHSA-sanctioned season at the individual state meet Feb. 25-26 in Bloomington at the Grossinger Motors Arena with three Huskies placing in the top six.

For OPRF coach Fred Arkin, it was the culmination of a years’ long fight to get girls wrestling recognized by the IHSA. And

he was pleased with what he witnessed in Bloomington.

“It was awesome,” he said. “This was not fluff. All the girls came to compete and they did at the highest level.”

Although she didn’t medal, OPRF senior Bentley Hills (20-9) made history by being the first winner of an IHSA state tournament match, pinning Autumn Oregon-Williams of Addison Trail at 1:24 at 100 pounds.

OPRF ended the tournament with three medalists – those finishing in the top six.

Sophomore Trinity White (24-2) placed fifth at 170 pounds, senior Tiffany White (30-4) placed fourth at 190 pounds and sophomore Sarah Epshtein (17-4) placed fifth at 235

pounds.

“Sarah did great,” Arkin said. “She had never competed before this season, and we’re going to be excited for her to continue.”

Arkin thanked the school and community for the outpouring of appreciation the Huskies received this year. He noted that OPRF Athletic Director Nicole Ebsen was especially supportive, coming to watch several matches including those downstate. State Sen. Don Harmon, an Oak Parker and the Senate Majority Leader, and the General Assembly issued a proclamation on Feb. 25 that declared the day as Illinois Girls Wrestling Day. Ephstein, junior Keydy Peralta, and Trinity White will be OPRF’s leading returnees for

next season.

“We’re excited to move forward with them,” Arkin said. “And we’re just going to keep growing.”

Arkin would like to see the sport grow more in Illinois. The IHSA didn’t have a team state tournament, as it does for boys, which Arkin called disappointing. He thinks if one instituted next season, more schools will participate.

“The IHSA deliberately decided not to have a state team tournament, which I think is wrong,” he said. “If they start giving team awards, I think you’ll see more teams. These girls were the first ones [at an IHSA-sanctioned tournament] and their teams should be in the record books forever.”

22

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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@ @OakPark

Slow start dooms Friars against powerhouse Naz Basketball coach Dave Power’s career ends after supersectional loss

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Fenwick High School girls basketball team was hoping to send head coach Dave Power downstate in his final season as it met Nazareth Academy in an IHSA Class 3A supersectional on Feb. 28 at De La Salle in Chicago.

But the Roadrunners started the game with a 9-0 run, putting the Friars in a hole they couldn’t escape from as the season -- and Power’s career -- ended with a 46-30 loss.

“The start really hurt us,” Power said. “[Nazareth] is a very talented team. Defensively, they cause problems.”

The hot outside shooting of Nazareth junior guard Grace Carstensen also hurt Fenwick.

Carstensen drilled four of her six three-pointers in the first half and finished with a gamehigh 19 points.

Fenwick (23-11) didn’t get its’ first points until 2:18 to go in the first quarter on a basket by junior Cam Brusca. That was to be the Friars’ only scoring in the period, which ended with Fenwick trailing 12-2.

“In the beginning, we needed to get on their shooters,” said Fenwick senior forward Elise Heneghan. “If we played defense how we did the rest of the game, I think it would’ve been a much different game. But trying to dig ourselves out of that early hole, that’s what held us down for most of the game.”

Fenwick began the third quarter trailing 25-15, and the Friars continued to struggle offensively, not getting its first basket until more than five minutes into the quarter on a threepointer by Mia Caccitolo.

Nazareth’s interior defense was stingy all game, not allowing Fenwick’s post players -- Heneghan, Amanda Behrend-Hansen and Audrey Hinrichs -- many clean touches. The pressure led to multiple turnovers as the Friars finished with 21 for the evening.

“We’ve played against zones, but that was more aggressive than we’ve seen,” Heneghan said. “Posting up was a challenge, and it was a solid defense for sure.”

The Roadrunners (32-2) opened up their biggest lead at 38-23 with 6:44 to play, and Fenwick could come no closer than 12 afterwards.

“I feel bad. The girls had a great season,” Power said. “I’m very proud of them. We had a lot of big wins and proved we can play against anybody, but that start just killed us tonight.”

Hinrichs finished with a team-high 10 points and added seven rebounds for the Friars. Brusca had six points and Heneghan (4 rebounds) and Mia Caccitolo each scored four.

Heneghan said she’ll remember the closeness and chemistry she had with her classmates.

“It was a really good four years,” she said.

“I’ve been playing with a lot of them since I was 8 years old.”

Fenwick now begins the process of finding only its second head girls basketball coach in school history. But whoever winds up with the job should have a solid foundation to retool around as Brusca, Raina Ford, Allie Heyer and Grace Kapsch will be the top returning Friars.

SHANEL ROMAIN/Contributor

Fenwick’s Audrey Hinrichs (right) battles for the ball against Nazareth’s Olivia Austin during the IHSA Class 3A girls basketball supersectional on Feb. 28 at De La Salle High School in Chicago. The Friars fell to the Roadrunners 46-30, ending with a 23-11 record.

Hit or miss Huskies fall to RBHS in regional final Bulldogs free-thrown shooting ices game in fourth quarter

By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter

The Oak Park and River Forest High School boys basketball team entered its IHSA Class 4A regional title game Feb. 25 at Riverside-Brookfield High School a roll, having won seven of eight games.

The Huskies hoped to avenge a 73-66 defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs in November, but fell to RBHS 67-62 and ending their season at 16-11.

“It’s a tough way to end the season,” OPRF coach Phil Gary said. “We missed about 15

layups, and those points came back to bite us.”

OPRF was also hurt by free-throw shooting. The Huskies were just 6-of-11 from the charity stripe, while RBHS went 22-of-26 -including 15-of-16 in the final quarter.

The Huskies led RBHS 26-23 late in the first half, but the Bulldogs (23-5) went on a 10-0 run to take a 33-26 advantage into halftime.

OPRF rallied in the third quarter, outscoring RBHS 24-17 to forge a 50-50 tie. Junior Sam Lewis, a starter who came off the bench, poured in eight of his team-high 21 points to give the Huskies a boost.

“Sam played really well,” Gary said. “He was really aggressive, and that’s what we’ve been wanting him to do all season. The last couple of games, he played his best basketball.”

With about 3:30 to play, OPRF senior Keaghan Elmiger nailed a three-pointer to tie the game at 55. The Huskies then had a chance to take the lead after getting a defensive stop, but a layup try by junior Christian Marshall (12 points) spun out.

A layup by RBHS’ Joevonn McCottry (12 points) with 2:02 left put the Bulldogs ahead 59-57. With 1:24 left, OPRF senior Justin Mullins (17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals) was fouled, but he hit only one of two free throws.

Then the Huskies let almost 50 seconds elapse before fouling RBHS’ Brady Vaia, who made two free throws with 36 seconds left to give the Bulldogs the lead for good at 61-58.

Mullins scored twice on layups with less than 20 seconds remaining, but Gonzalez (14 points) and Vaia each made two more

free throws to keep the Bulldog’s lead out of reach of the Huskies.

Junior Rodney Murphy added 10 rebounds for OPRF, which loses 10 seniors to graduation.

Fenwick downs Prosser for regional title Seniors Denium Juette (3 steals) and Gabe Madej each had 13 points and senior T.J. Stephenson added 12 points and four steals as Fenwick High School routed host Prosser 65-28 to win a IHSA Class 3A regional title on Feb. 25.

The Friars (9-17) advances to the IHSA sectional round at King High School, where they were slated to meet top-seeded St. Ignatius on March 1 at 7 p.m., after Wednesday Journal’s press time.

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

C O N S C I O U S

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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23

Open Door closes

p. 27

A G I N G

More livable, more equitable

he number 5698 could become one of the most important numbers ever counted in Illinois. No, it won’t win the Illinois Lottery, but it just might make life in Illinois more livable and equitable — for everybody.

House Bill 5698 was recently sponsored by state representatives Kam Buckner, Barbara Hernandez, Maurice West and Dagmara Avelar. It is the brainchild of Health & Medicine Policy Research Group and Illinois Aging Together.

HB 5698 is part of a growing statewide movement for aging equity, engineered by Illinois Aging Together. This type of campaign has shown positive results in other states, including Colorado and California.

There are two basic ideas behind HB 5698.

One is to have the state of Illinois develop and adopt a long-term Strategic Action Plan for Aging. The other is to expose and dismantle ageism and to uphold and celebrate the values, meaning and contributions of post-adulthood life.

To accomplish these goals, HB 5698 will establish an Aging Equity Planning Commission, to be co-chaired by the Governor’s Office and the Illinois Department on Aging.

This commission will develop specific proposals to help Illinois government successfully navigate and lead through our relatively-new, rapidly-aging demographic.

The organization and policies we have in place for aging were developed when most people retired at 65 and died a few years later.

Today that “few years later” is now 25-30 years. Hopefully, the commission will be able to think outside the box and transcend bureaucracy. But just doing more of what we’ve been doing for the past 60 years definitely will not suffice.

We live in a system of prejudice and inequity that thinks poor people are stupid and expendable, minimizes and shames women, pities and smirks at physical/mental differences, and arrogantly and violently de-humanizes people of color. Ageism makes older people stupid, ashamed, laughed at and barely tolerated as well. We need to dismantle ageism and promote equitable aging throughout the life course.

No matter how many years we’ve been alive, we are all aging.

Along with thinking outside the box, a future Aging Equity Planning Commission will need to think beyond “age-friendly.” The main focus of the age-friendly framework is to foster community that is welcoming, accessible, inclusive and responsive to older people.

Don’t get me wrong, I support and applaud the age-friendly approach, which is rightfully getting traction all around the world.

It has been a huge step forward. However, we need to shift from age-friendly, which primarily focuses on older people, to a longevityready, life course perspective. Let’s act from the moment children are born, instead of reacting to the needs and harm at the time they reach older age.

This longevity-ready perspective can make life in Illinois more livable and more equitable — for everybody.

Please support HB 5698. It is a big step in the right direction. For both individuals and organizations, get more information and sign on your support at https://illinoisagingtogether.org/getinvolved/#get-involved.

MARC BLESOFF

GOOGLE MAPS

ONCE UPON A TIME: 516 N. Oak Park Ave.

D O O P E R ’ S

M E M O R I E S

The house I once called home

W

hen I was growing up, I lived in the house that stands at 516 N. Oak Park Ave. It looked like a home out of Gone With The Wind. It was, and still is, a three-story colonial with a wide front porch with another porch above it. The building was painted white, and the shutters and porch floor were painted green.

The side driveway was straight until it reached the back of the house, and then it gently curved until it reached the garage.

There was a flower garden on the north side of the driveway and a grassy area on the south side. In 1955 a cement patio was built in this grassy area. We had a two-car garage with a second floor that was used by a coachman as living quarters at the turn of the 20th century.

To the right (south) of the garage was a vegetable garden that produced bumper crops every year because the garden had once served as an enclosure for the family horse. To the left of the garden and attached to the rear of the garage was the woodshed where lumber and logs, used in the fireplace, were stored.

When a person entered the house, he/she would step into a moderate-size hall and immediately see the stairs leading to the second floor. To the left of the front hall was a formal dining room, and to the right of the hall was the living room, which included a fireplace, a small library with shelves on two walls and two stuffed chairs sat in front of a picture window that looked out onto the back yard.

The kitchen was directly behind the dining room, and a large screened-in porch was reached either

through the rear kitchen door or by a door off the long hall that skirted the staircase in the front hall. Off the long hall and on its right was a closet and a small bathroom.

Since the back porch was screened, we were able to eat our evening meals on the porch during the summer months.

Wooden steps led from the porch to the driveway.

The basement consisted of four rooms and a commode. In 1949, my uncle Hubert fashioned a bedroom in the main room and used the room until he married and moved in 1951. In 1956 my uncle Gene and I [mostly Gene] converted the main room into a den.

Under the basement stairs was a coal bin which was used until we converted to oil in the mid-’50s, and in this same area was a storeroom for canned goods, the commode, a wood shop, and the furnace.

In the rear of the basement and behind the main room was the laundry room that consisted of a wringer washer, a dryer, and two iron tubs. The backyard could be reached through the rear laundry room door.

On the second floor there were four bedrooms, a sewing room, and a bathroom.

When I climbed the stairs to the third floor, to my left was a bedroom where my uncle Gene slept, and directly in front of me was the main part of the attic that made up most of the third floor. It was filled with clothing, luggage, and odds and ends.

I have many fond memories of the house that I once called home.

JOHN

STANGER

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

O U R

V I E W P O I N T S

V I E W S

A visionary library

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here are two visions of libraries.

One is book-centric. OK, maybe you’ll allow for lending DVDs. It is a quiet place. Always this odd intense focus on quiet. And admit it. You miss the card catalogues.

In your nostalgic view, those of us who need a warm place or a cool place on an intemperate day don’t belong in a library.

Teenagers should be seen but not heard. And technology should be limited to a printer to produce a resume. The better to pull oneself up by the bootstraps.

The rapidly-evolving alternate view of a library is as essential social infrastructure. The community library is a hub of welcoming, learning, gathering, invention and solace. Technology is central to the process of sharing knowledge. But core values are more central. Equity. Access. Literacy. Civic engagement.

David Seleb, director of Oak Park’s public library system for the past eight years, has just announced his retirement. Together with an elected board that was always fully in sync, Seleb has been a transformational leader. He took our library from a space patrolled by hired security to a social service leader that connected clients to needed help. He put equity and antiracism at the top of the strategic plan. He invested in both technology and people, making our libraries both cutting edge and fun. He oversaw a major investment in the Maze Branch, quieting longtime fears that the two branches were expendable. And he led the institution through an unprecedented pandemic.

He has our respect and our thanks.

Next phase of COVID

As mask mandates ease across the country, the state, and our villages, we’d urge caution and kindness as the COVID pandemic morphs into a less immediately threatening but still long-term reality in our lives.

There has been intense suffering, painful division, and much hard work to get us to this moment. Beyond the science that created vaccines and the valiant work of the federal government to make them widely available, we take this moment to credit the thoughtful, often bold work of Oak Park’s public health department in helping our town navigate a confusing and almost impossible situation.

Working in concert with public-school leaders in making hard choices and pushing out evidence-based solutions, Oak Park has been fortunate and, it turns out, visionary in being one of a handful of communities to fund (inadequate though it has been) its own public health department.

We’re not done with COVID. Staying masked in many indoor settings seems wise to us. But as spring arrives, it will be a good time for a deep and cleansing breath.

Girls wrestling on the map

No one does the work because they’re shooting for a “proclamation” from the Illinois State Senate. But when you’ve done worthy work, it is not bad to have the parchment, fancy type and affirming words, and be proclaimed.

Doesn’t hurt that the president of the Illinois Senate is Oak Parker Don Harmon. But the declaration of Feb. 25 as “Illinois Girls Wrestling Day” is, we’re sure, a kick for the Oak Parkers who have been working long and hard to have girls wrestling as a distinct and worthy sport within Illinois high school athletics.

Much of the energy for this movement comes from Oak Park and River Forest High School. They’ve pushed and cajoled and leg-locked girls wrestling from a novelty to a state tournament for a sport that this year featured 517 varsity girl athletes at 177 Illinois high schools.

Thanks and congratulations to the young women and to those who made this possible.

E

Sandy Hook families win with heroic persistence

veryone’s attention is fixed on Ukraine, understandably, as Vladimir Putin works his evil alchemy. But beyond this far-reaching gloom, back in this country, stories of heroism and light are worthy of our attention.

Nine of the families from Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, recently won a breakthrough case against Remington, a gun manufacturer, for $73 million in damages for the 2012 massacre of 20 first-graders and six adults by a 20-year-old young man wielding a Remington-manufactured Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle.

It took the families nine agonizing, hellish years to gain their first measure of justice against a well-funded industry, well defended by the cold-hearted protectionists in Congress who passed federal legislation in 2005, making it almost impossible to hold the firearm industrial complex legally accountable for their part in this nation’s masskilling epidemic.

The ice-cold hearts in the Mitch McConnell-led Senate in 2013 turned their backs to the entreaties of Sandy Hook families in the wake of the massacre and refused to pass any gun-regulation legislation that might help prevent such murders in the future.

But with each mass-killing, more determined activists are created who will eventually — no matter how long it takes — bring down this unholy killing alliance.

In this instance, the families turned to Josh Koskoff, a lawyer with a local law firm, whose team found the “path up the mountain” that many had been seeking.

One of the attorneys, Alinor Sterling, developed and refined the strategy: The federal immunity legislation contains six exceptions. One of them involves state consumer protection laws governing the way guns are marketed, specifically the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, which Koskoff and his crew said was violated by marketing this gun to young users. The courts agreed.

There were plenty of twists and turns in their litigation odyssey, as Elizabeth Williamson details in her excellent Feb. 20 New York Times piece, “How They Did It: Sandy Hook Families Gain Long-Awaited Legal Wins.”

But how to prove that Adam Lanza, the murderer who killed himself at the end of his shooting spree, was influenced by Remington’s marketing? Williamson describes the turning point in the article’s opening lines: The image stopped him cold. Josh Koskoff, a Connecticut lawyer, was scanning crime photos of the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting when he noticed “taped mags” on a classroom floor, two ammunition magazines crudely duct-taped together to speed reloading. The gunman had dropped them during his rampage …

That photo was a “checkmate moment,” Mr. Koskoff said, in the novel legal strategy that ultimately resulted in the $73 million settlement last week for the families of the nine Sandy Hook victims from insurers for Remington, the maker of the Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle used in the massacre. It was the largest payout so far in a mass-shooting-related case against a gun manufacturer. …

Before the shooting, Mr. Lanza had spent hours a day playing “Call of Duty,” a video game in which players used the Bushmaster to wage war. Mr. Koskoff, the lawyer

for the families, had played “Call of Duty” too, introduced to it by one of his sons — and he recognized the duct-taped magazines from a contemporaneous version of the game.

“Once I saw that in that first-grade classroom, that was it for me,” Mr. Koskoff said last week. “Remington may not have known [the murderer], but they’d been courting him for years.”

David Wheeler, father of Ben, who would now be a sophomore in high school if he hadn’t been killed in that classroom, said he and the other parents agreed, after the Senate blocked their efforts to pass gun regulation, “There has to be a way to get something done.” In the aftermath of this settlement, he said, “A lot of people believe we’ve changed things.”

Someone should make a movie about this.

There’s more good news: In four separate cases, 10 Sandy Hook families and an FBI agent sued notorious online conspiracy theorist Alex Jones in Texas and Connecticut. Jones last year was found liable in all four suits, and juries will determine this spring how much he will have to pay in damages.

In that case, Lenny Pozner, a technology consultant, was instrumental in helping lawyers navigate the online conspiracy theory world. In retribution, Jones publicized Pozner’s address and phone numbers, so he and his family had to move numerous times. Pozner also won a case against James Fetzer, who edited a 400-page book titled, Nobody Died at Sandy Hook. In retribution, Fetzer leaked a video of Pozner’s sealed deposition to other conspiracy theorists. The court subsequently more than doubled his damages.

To win the Fetzer case, Pozner was forced to prove that his son, Noah, the youngest victim at Sandy Hook, had, in fact, died and that the Pozners had not forged their son’s death certificate. He and his wife were also involved in the Remington suit. After the verdict, he said, “Of course the victories feel good, but they were very slow in coming. It’s a relief, but I’m kind of tired, you know?”

Their persistence is heroic. The Sandy Hook families and their lawyers stood up to the forces of untruth and got around the legislative hurdles set up by the morally bankrupt but thoroughly bought-off Republicans (primarily) in the Senate. The families have taken one small step toward justice and accountability. Let’s hope it won’t be the last — for the sake of victimized families all across the country.

The Sandy Hook parents finally won. This of all the mass-killings affected me the most. I’m thrilled for them, after all they’ve been through — after what so many families are still going through. After each horrific event, Americans say, “our thoughts and prayers are with you,” but what about our feelings? Did we let them know how much we hurt with them, how much we still do? President Biden should award them a medal for their courage.

It’s not over, of course. This Dec. 14 marks the 10th anniversary of the massacre. The rest of us can help these bereaved parents take a much larger step toward justice and accountability by voting against every politician beholden to the NRA until our so-called legislators finally pass gun regulation that will protect all of us.

Especially our children.

KEN

TRAINOR

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

by Marc Stopeck

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

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

Corruption in the Supreme Court It is clear to everyone that there is a radical conservative majority in the Supreme Court. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has described how a group of billionaire oil company barons have systematically and successfully taken over the Court by supporting and campaigning for jurists who will do their bidding [1].

By refusing to accept President Obama’s nominee for the Court when a vacancy arose in 2016, Mitch McConnell violated the U.S. Constitution in order to steal one extra conservative Justice.

The Court now supports radical positions that are opposed by a large majority of Americans (on environmental issues, legalizing corruption in political campaigns, abortion, global warming). There is no longer any pretense about the Court applying the Constitution. The Court is an overtly partisan group determined to overturn American democracy. They have little choice because their beliefs are so divergent from those of most Americans.

The clearest demonstration of this corruption is that the spouse of a sitting Supreme Court Justice played an active role in the effort to overturn the result of a presidential election, hand victory to the loser, and unravel American democracy [2]. Clarence Thomas’ wife is a member of the “Council for National Policy,” an influential group of radical conservatives who dictate policy to Republican Congressmen, who supported and helped organize the January 6 insurrection and have been instrumental in rewriting the history of that infamous day to turn it into ordinary discussion of ideas.

Their goal was to overturn state electors so the Supreme Court could decide the 2020 election. Justice Thomas cannot be allowed to remain on the Court. His shameless support for the overthrow of democracy led him to be the sole dissenting vote when the Court re-

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

In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital.

We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing.

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

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR quired former President Trump to release documents to the Congressional Committee investigating the events of Jan. 6.

Thomas must be impeached. Would this be a strong move by those who love American democracy? Yes, but it is clearly far more legitimate than was McConnell’s refusal to allow a sitting President to appoint a Justice.

It is time for patriotic Americans to stand up to these traitors. They will destroy America if we let them do it.

[1] https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/feb/22/ the-scheme-senators-highlight-rightwing-influencesupreme-court?

[2] The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/magazine/clarence-thomas-ginni-thomas.html

Tom DeCoursey Oak Park

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

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ADDRESS 141 S Oak Park Ave., Oak ParkIL 60302 ■ PHONE 708-5248300 EMAIL Dan@OakPark.com ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com Wednesday Journal is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. The newspaper is available on newsstands for $1.00.

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The dark clouds of war

Column rates another ‘bravo’

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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t seemed dark clouds had enveloped my room as I watched the new horror show on television.

There were Russian tanks plundering and bombs blasting Ukrainian cities. The scenes were not fiction, although impossible to believe. Families were running for safety, young teens and grandparents were arming themselves with guns ready to fight in the resistance, and refugees were jamming the exits, rushing to leave their homeland.

Vladimir Putin has directed this massive Russian military might against the independent democracy of Ukraine, a small country the size of France. Of course, it cannot win a military battle against Russia, but the Ukrainians are determined to try to save their country. President Biden has been able to re-establish the U.S. influence in NATO, and the Big Seven nations have all agreed to heavy sanctions against Russia. They hope to choke off financial support for the criminal action against Ukraine. The U.S. and other NATO nations have also sent weaponry and military equipment to bolster the Ukrainian forces.

Putin has announced his mad power plan to reinstate the former Soviet Union, which included all the countries in Europe surrounding Russia. His justification for his aggressive

action against Ukraine is to save Ukraine from its “Nazi” leadership. This is, of course, absolutely ludicrous — President Zelensky and his chief foreign minister are both Jewish.

Another bizarre happening is that ex-president Donald Trump is in favor of Putin’s plans. He has even called Putin a “genius.” Not only is this a shocking, un-American view, but this kind of talk by him and others has already been used as propaganda, to try to convince Ukraine to lay down its arms in opposition to Russia because we Americans won’t support them. Ukraine is an ally of the United States. Their soldiers fought side-by-side with us in several campaigns and in Afghanistan. America does not desert its allies.

Meanwhile, some Americans are complaining more about higher gas prices, some of which were caused by the sanctions placed on Russia, than any concern for the human cost of the war.

Some say, “It’s in Europe — why should we be drawn into it and cause us problems?” They say we are comfortable and reasonably safe here. We are not facing loss of limb, life, or home. In contrast to Russia, we have a strong economy with higher wages. Unemployment is at the lowest we’ve had in some 20 years. One problem facing us is higher inflation. However, our comforts

HARRIET HAUSMAN One View

and cost-savings should not take away from our support of Ukraine’s democracy.

Putin is an autocrat. Autocracies and dictatorships translate into money and power for its leaders, while the people under this rule suffer.

How do these mad, power-hungry people gain leadership? The answer: These demonic individuals lie and set up scapegoats, stirring hate and fear.

We must stop Putin’s terrifying plan now. It isn’t just this one battle to save democracy in Ukraine. It’s about standing up for democracy everywhere, including our own.

Perhaps some of the great pain and empathy I feel for the Ukrainian people as they struggle to survive is my own my memory from World War II. My fiancee, Joe, was killed, and his brother was severely injured in that war. It was the war meant to end all wars and aggressiveness between nations. It was to end hate against races, religions, life styles, and creeds. My Joe insisted he had to be part of saving our democracy and Bill of Rights. How sad he’d be to witness the many aggressive actions and wars that have taken place over the years around the world, and the current attacks on our nation’s Bill of Rights.

And so the slaughter of innocents goes on and on as power-mad people spread their dark clouds over us.

Harriet Hausman is a longtime River Forest resident and 97 years young.

You earned another Bravo with this week’s column [We the vaccinated, Ken Trainor, Viewpoints, Feb. 23]. I especially liked the take-off on the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. That was a brilliant gem embedded in the text. Thank you.

Elaine Johnson Oak Park

Say no to diesel trash trucks

Why were we not informed about the new trash collector’s trucks using diesel fuel?! Big mistake! Go back to Waste Management.

Community Health & Wellness Fair Presented by:

Save the Date!

Sunday | May 15| 11am - 2pm FFC Oak Park, 1114 Lake Street

Reconnect with your health & wellbeing.

oprfchamber.org

KL Williams Oak Park

V I E W P O I N T S

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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Why residents don’t trust District 200

thank Wednesday Journal for its excellent Feb. 23 editorial on OPRF High School’s finances and attempt to build a very big new pool [OPRF’s $96M albatross, Our Views, Viewpoints]. Per the editorial, D200’s $96 million cash reserve was collected illicitly from taxpayers and is a continuing source of mistrust. The editorial notes efforts of recent boards to reduce this cash hoard, which are appreciated. But substantial distrust remains.

In addition to the bloated cash reserve, the high school’s actions and inactions on the pools inspire suspicion. Consider: ■ In 2015, the high school attempted to pay for a 23-lane pool by issuing nonreferendum bonds. A successful petition drive forced a narrowly defeated 18-lane pool referendum in 2016, despite deceptive marketing that it was for “academic and performing arts” purposes.

■ Undeterred, the administration recom-

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

mended avoiding a referendum again this year by issuing debt certificates. Its finance committee vetoed this in a unanimous, welcomed vote.

■ The administration has apparently tried to avoid/ minimize public comment.

A finance committee meeting was held without providing opportunity for public comment, violating the Open Meetings Act. A facilities committee meeting was held on Valentine’s Day evening. Other than Christmas Eve, when would such a meeting receive fewer public comments?

■ D200 seems to be low-balling the cost of Project 2’s 17-lane pool and 600-seat natatorium. The new pool’s cost is supposedly $14 million. But the administration estimated pool renovation costs at $46 million this January and last fall.

■ Pre-2016 referendum, we were told

the pools were so far past their useful life that they’d soon be unusable. But they’ve been used another six years.

■ Now the high school seems to be self-fulfilling its 2016 prophecy by deliberately failing to maintain the pools. It has not made the repairs recommended by Larson Engineering in at least seven years. Larson’s reports were not shared with the public until after FOIA request and disclosure.

(The 2021 report is now posted on oprfhs. org; search term, Larson Report.)

I completely agree with the editorial’s recommendation for direct, public discussion of what kind of pool(s) is really needed. Two thoughts: ■ WJ asks indirectly what pool capacity is needed to teach every student to swim.

Many students enter high school already knowing how to swim. Yet D200 continues

JUDITH

ALEXANDER One View

to require everyone to take two sessions of swimming. At numerous other high schools, any student passing a reasonable swimming test can opt out of these classes.

How much instructional capacity is needed if OPRF adopts this policy?

■ The editorial also asks what’s needed to house a competitive swimming program. In many communities, high schools and park districts share pools of this size. How about such a collaboration in Oak Park, whether by enclosing the Ridgeland Common pool or co-designing a suitable pool for the new community center?

As the editorial suggests, it makes sense that residents who will benefit from major high school capital investments pay for them over many years via referendum bonds. If D200 seeks to fund the pool(s) it really needs, it need not fear a referendum.

Judith Alexander is a resident of Oak Park.

What will be the work of home?

amilies have always done work at home.

By “work” I mean productive and creative activity, some of it paid, that generates a variety of “goods” — physical, social, educational and nutritional — for the benefit of individual members, families themselves, their neighborhoods, or the markets served through their members’ employment.

In our case, when I was a kid, Mom didn’t have a paid job, but she labored throughout the day, cleaning, cooking, teaching, counseling, taking care of six kids through illness and health, handling disputes, and managing everything else that went on from 7 a.m. until Dad came back in the evening.

Dad had a full-time job at RR Donnelly’s on Cermak Road, just west of the lake, but when he wasn’t sitting at his photo re-toucher’s desk in the plant, he’d be doing the work of home as well; building things, like an ornate

wood and stone-tile cover for the long radiator in the parlor, repairing broken furniture, unplugging stuck drains, drawing funny caricatures of us, painting rooms as bedroom assignments changed over the years, and as the basement’s functions evolved. In our first home in Brookfield, he and other men from the neighborhood had built our garage.

Our Berwyn home was an engaging place of study, prayer and play. It was where we ate all our meals, usually together, even coming home for lunch from elementary school, a half-block away. The yard was for cavorting and letting our dog run. The alley provided an extension of home: Dad and I would play catch back there. In it, up and down the block, my sisters and I would run with other kids, competing in impromptu games of baseball, football, tag and hide-

and-go-seek.

Years later, when we raised our own kids in Oak Park, Maureen and I went to offices in the city but also had the flexibility to do some of our professional work from home. That kept at least one of us around enough, with parttime, in-home child care also present, to do some of what Mom and Dad used to do. And the kids still walked to their schools, Longfellow, Beye, Julian and OPRF, keeping them either close by or fully present, frequently with friends.

We also did some things Mom and Dad didn’t do, such as grow some of our own food in beds and on poles in the backyard. The garden beds were enriched with our own compost. More of the work occurred online than had been the case in the 1960s. But in this evolved form, our Oak Park home was still, like my abode as a kid, a place of study,

RICH

KORDESH One View

It was a great run

Twenty-three years ago, Open Door Theater started with a group of energized people in a bar in Forest Park. We came of age in school auditoriums and matured into our own space 12 years ago. Today, we are closing our Door, another casualty of COVID. Thank you to our landlord, investors and donors; to the many who served tirelessly on our board; to our actors, directors, stage managers, design and technical artists and our videographers; to our musicians, vocalists, and comedians; and to our many volunteers.

You made this happen.

And to our many thousands of patrons who laughed, cried and applauded, thank you for 23 years. Nothing would have been possible without each of you, all of you.

Together we brought magic to our communities.

Open Door Theater Oak Park

reflection, play and hard work. Being productive in our house bonded us with it, infused meaning into our relationship with it, helping to make it more of a home.

COVID has brought about a sea-change in the relationship between work and residence. Now, as many return to the out-ofhome workplace, there’s plenty of questioning about the enduring nature of that shift.

Will the work-at-home bubble, inflated by the pandemic, pop as the world unmasks?

What will have been the effect of the recent, furious flow of paid work into the domicile? How has child care changed? What insights have we gained about the benefits — monetary, social and environmental — of avoiding long commutes to places of employment? Which of those commutes are truly necessary?

And what kinds of productive homes will we build as the waters of the crisis recede?

Rich Kordesh is a resident of Oak Park.

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Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

Marge Steffen, 93 Taught and practiced gifted education

Margaret Mary (Ampe) Steffen, 93, formerly of Oak Park, died on Feb. 18, 2022 at her home in Denver, surrounded by family. Known as “Mimi” and “Marge,” she was born in Rileyville, Pennsylvania. The daughter of George and Ada Steffen, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics at Hunter College, New York, and an M.S. in Child Development from Kansas State University. She taught Child Development at Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin and later taught elementary and gifted education in Oak Park, until her retirement in 1988. She moved back to Pennsylvania, where she had a 30-year “career” volunteering for the Wayne County Public Library, the Victim’s Intervention Program, the Wayne County Historical Society, and the Alzheimer’s Association. She moved to assisted living in Denver, Colorado in 2018 to be near family.

For 30 years, she resided in Oak Park and attended St. Edmund’s Church. While married to Leonard Ampe, she had six children, Mary Beth (David), Peggy, John (Susan), Virginia (Jack), Jim (Kirsi), and Peter (Lisa). She has 13 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Throughout her life, she loved learning.

She had one of the first home computers and was never without her laptop. An avid researcher, she published six books on the Rural Schools of Wayne County under the name Mimi Steffen.

A strong believer in justice and advocacy, she marched for Open Housing in Oak Park in the mid-1960s. She championed ending secrecy around and early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s. She was featured in a segment of a PBS television spe-

cial, Retirement Revolution, wrote an essay for Maria Shriver’s book on Alzheimer’s, and advocated vociferously at local, state and national forums.

She passed on her values: work hard, get a good education, treat everyone fairly, and be independent. She also handed down her love of homemade pies and how to make them (especially with wild blueberries).

Most important was family.

A remembrance will be celebrated in Rileyville, Pennsylvania, tentatively set for June. Contact Mary Beth Redding (email: mary.beth.redding@gmail.com).

Richard Murphy, 87 Fenwick grad, 60-year resident of Oak Park

Richard Murphy, 87, a resident of Oak Park for 60 years, died on Feb. 26, 2022.

He attended Fenwick High School and went on to John Carroll University, where he met his bride, Laverne. He served in the army and later attended Loyola University Chicago. He was known for his wit and sense of humor as well as his servant’s heart. He served his family, his church and his community. He loved Oak Park and all it had to offer.

Richard is survived by his four children, Anne Ryan; Mary Ellen McGuire and her husband Brian; Amy Rosten; Ric Murphy and his wife Aimee; his grandchildren, Jessica Ryan, Andrew, Brendan, Caileigh & Bella McGuire, Jillian, Liam & Ava Rosten; as well as nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by Laverne, his wife of 58 years, and his middle daughter, Meg, who died in 2019.

A wake will be held this Friday, March 4, at Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home in Riverside, followed by a Mass on Saturday, March 5 at St. Bernardine Church in Forest Park.

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

Glenn Leonhart, 93 Restored Wright furniture for the Home & Studio

Glenn Leonhart, 93, a former longtime Oak Park resident, died peacefully at home in Redmond, Washington, on Feb. 20, 2022, surrounded

by Marilyn, his wife of 65 years, and his family.

Trained in industrial design, he was self-employed as a furniture designer, highly sought after for his custom executive office suites. During the early years of the restoration of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, he was called upon to make renderings for a project to restore some of the original Wrightdesigned furniture for the Oak Park house museum.

“He never used autoCad,” recalled one of his daughters. “Everything in his work was done by hand, very old school.”

He also had a passion and talent for gardening and inspired a love of gardening in his daughters as well as grandchildren.

Born in September 1928 to Lala and Arthur Leonhart in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, he graduated in 1946 from Classen High School, served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1946-48 and was an officer in the Army Reserve from 1948-56.

He earned a Bachelor of Interior Architecture degree in 1953 from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University), where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He earned a Master of Industrial Design in 1956 from the Illinois Institute of Design, Chicago. There, he met another art student, Marilyn; they were married in 1956.

Three years later, the couple moved to Oak Park, where they raised four daughters and were very active in the community. They were members of Grace Episcopal Church for more than 35 years.

After retiring in 1996, he and his wife retired to Columbus, Indiana, where he served

on the board of directors of the AtterburyBakalar Air Museum. He also served as a docent at the air museum and helped restore vintage aircraft. In more recent years, the couple moved to Washington State to be closer to family.

In addition to his wife, Glenn Leonhart is survived by his four daughters and their spouses, as well as 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; his brother, Don, and stepsister, Jane.

Services in Washington State are pending.

Arrangements are being handled by Greenwood Memorial Park & Funeral Home, in Renton, Washington. Burial will take place at a later date in Mt. Emblem Cemetery, Elmhurst, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, River Forest, or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, Indiana.

Helen Scharama, 99 75-year member of Calvary Memorial Church

Helen R. Scharama, 99, a longtime resident of Forest Park, died on Feb. 8, 2022. Born on Oct. 21, 1922, she had recently moved to Arizona with her family, but her heart will always be in Forest Park. She was a member of Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park for 75 years, loved her church family and was very involved in church activities. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.

Her husband, George, died in September 1987. They had two children, Robert and Carol. Robert died in 1995. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Sciaccotta (Raymond); her granddaughter, Denise Buresch (Scott); and her three great-grandchildren, Brooke, Payton and Nathan Buresch.

Robert P. Gamboney

Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory Kevin Kopicki

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Funeral Director Eric Kopicki

I am there for you in your time of need.

All services handled with dignity and personalized care.

Cell: 708.420.5108 • Res: 708.848.5667 An affordable option

Se habla Español

I am affiliated with Peterson-Bassi Chapels at 6938 W. North Ave, as well as other chapels throughout Chicagoland.

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

Growing Community Media

29

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

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

HELP WANTED JANITORIAL

Part-time. 5 days per week. Evening hours 5-9. $14-16/hr to start. Job located in Morton Grove, IL. Must have own transportation.

Call Larry for more information.

773-636-2505

HELP WANTED • NETWORK SPECIALIST Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class.

Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION To perform various network/system administration, computer support, and operational activities for the Village including computer system setup, configuration, and testing.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED Reports directly to the Information Technology Services Director.

EXAMPLE OF DUTIES: Essential and other important duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following: Essential duties and responsibilities 1. Ensure that best in class customer service is provided to both internal and external customers and also embrace, support, and promote the Village’s core values, beliefs and culture.

2. Configure, test, and deploy network systems, such as, firewalls, routers, switches, wireless equipment, network servers and storage arrays.

3. Configure, test, and deploy system servers, such as, file, print, Internet, e-mail, database, and application servers.

4. Configure, test, and monitor server and end-user systems for security, such as, user accounts, login scripts, file access privileges, and group policy management.

5. Configure, test, and deploy end-user systems, such as, workstations, laptops, mobile devices, printers, and software.

6. Test, configure, deploy, and support security systems, such as, facility access system, video & audio system.

7. Monitor and auditing of networks, systems, and user activities to ensure security and efficiency of systems. Create scripts and reports of detail activities for regular review.

8. Perform and participate in disaster recovery activities, such as, backup procedures, data recovery, and system recovery planning.

9. Assist end-users with computer problems or queries. Troubleshoot systems as needed and meet with users to analyze specific system needs.

10. Ensure the uniformity, reliability and security of system resources including network, hardware,



software and other forms of systems and data.

11. Prepare, create and update user/technical procedure documentations and provide computer training.

12. Assemble, test, and install network, telecommunication and data equipment and cabling.

13. Participate in research and recommendation of technology solutions.

Other important responsibilities and duties 1. Train users in the area of existing, new or modified computer systems and procedures.

2. Participate in the preparation of various activity reports.

3. Travel and support remote facilities and partner agencies.

4. Operate, administer and manage the Village and Public Safety computer systems, including E-911 center, in-vehicle computer systems.

5. Prepare clear and logical reports and program documentation of procedures, processes, and configurations.

6. Complete projects on a timely and efficient manner.

7. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

8. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

9. Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge of: Principals and procedures of computer systems, such as, data communication, hierarchical structure, backups, testing and critical analysis.

Hardware and software configuration of. computers, servers and mobile devices, including computing environment of Windows Server and Desktop OS and applications, Unix/Linux OS, VMware, iOS/Android.

Network protocols, security, configuration and administration, including firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technology.

Cabling and wiring, including CAT5/6, fiber network, telephone, serial communication, termination, and punch-down.

Telecommunications theory and technology, including VoiP, serial communication, wireless protocols, PBX, analog, fax, voicemail and auto-attendant.

Principles and methods of computer programming, coding and testing, including power shell, command scripting, macros, and

VB scripts.

Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.

Technical writing, office productivity tools and database packages.

Ability to: Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities, which may include the following: - Walking, standing or sitting for extended periods of time - Operating assigned equipment - Lift 50 pounds of equipment, supplies, and materials without assistance - Working in and around computer equipped vehicles Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for: - Making observations - Communicating with others - Reading and writing - Operating assigned equipment and vehicles Maintain mental capacity allowing for effective interaction and communication with others.

Maintain reasonable and predictable attendance.

Work overtime as operations require.

Experience and Training Guidelines Experience: Three years of network/system administration in the public or private sector, maintaining a minimum of 75 Client Workstation computers. AND Training: Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in computer science or a related field. Certifications in Microsoft Server Administration, Networking, Applications and Cisco Networking.

Possession of a valid Illinois Driver License is required at the time of appointment.

Vaccination against COVID-19 strongly preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS Work in a computer environment; sustained posture in a seated position for prolonged periods of time; continuous exposure to computer screens; work in and around computerized vehicles outdoor and garage facility; lifting heavy equipment, communication cabling and wiring into walls and ceilings.



PART-TIME SEASONAL OPPORTUNITY

The Riverside Department of Public Works is seeking energetic, responsible, and motivated applicants who enjoy working outdoors. This is a part-time, seasonal position lasting from approximately May through September. Applicants will be expected to work up to 40 hrs. per week or as scheduled by staff.

Primary tasks will include, but not limited to: cutting grass, maintaining athletic fields, general facilities maintenance, flushing hydrants, reading water meters, installing water meters, assisting full-time employees, and other duties as assigned.

Applicants must be 18 years old, possess a valid Illinois driver’s license and high school diploma or equivalent.

Applicants will be subject to a criminal background check, pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol screening.

Applications can be downloaded from the Village website at www.riverside. il.us or picked up at the Riverside Village Hall located at 27 Riverside Rd, Riverside, IL 60546. Completed applications should be submitted to the Riverside Village Hall or the Riverside Public Works Department, 3860 Columbus Blvd, Riverside, IL 60546. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Pay rate is $15/hr.

The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

PART-TIME FORESTRY INTERN

The Riverside Department of Public Works is seeking energetic, responsible, and motivated applicants who enjoy working outdoors. This is a part-time, Forestry intern position lasting from approximately May through September.

Applicants will be expected to work up to 40 hrs. per week or as scheduled by staff. Primary tasks will include monitoring of Village Trees for disease and insect issues, updating tree inventory records, maintaining woody and perennial plantings in parks and parkways, record keeping and administrational duties related to forestry operations, and assisting the Forester with various forestry related activities and ecological restoration.

Applicants must be 18 years old, possess a valid Illinois driver’s license and high school diploma or equivalent.

Course work and/or experience pertaining to urban forestry or a related field are desirable for the position. Applicants will be subject to a criminal background check, pre-employment physical and drug/alcohol screening.

Applications can be downloaded from the Village website at www.riverside. il.us or picked up at the Riverside Village Hall located at 27 Riverside Rd, Riverside, IL 60546. Completed applications should be submitted to the Riverside Village Hall or the Riverside Public Works Department, 3860 Columbus Blvd, Riverside, IL 60546. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. Pay rate is $15/hr.

The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

National Accounts Rep Get a job super close to home!

Top rated firm, Alpina Manufacturing LLC, founded in 1992, locally Manufacturing owned beautiful campus in Galewood, near Mars candy, 3 blocks north of Oak Park. We build and sell display framing systems to customers nationwide including Wal-Mart, Verizon, Circle K, Hospitals. We are seeking a college educated trainee to become an office professional.

Work is in person at our beautiful, safe, spread out, elegant executive offices in Galewood. We train, no travel, work in Galewood. Open to any backgrounds. Excellent pay, salary, benefits, friendly caring management, Oak Park owner. Please send resume to careers@fastchangeframes.com.

Visit www.fastchangeframes.com/careers for more details. 6460 W. Cortland Street, Chicago, IL 60707

ACCOUNTANT CLERK

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Account Clerk II. This position which performs a variety of accounting clerical duties involving financial record keeping and/or transactions including accounts payable and receivable and to provide a variety of accounting support to the Development Customer Services Department. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oak-park.us/.

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSE

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Public Health Nurse in the Health Department. This position will provide professional public health nursing services including health education and promotion which includes disseminating information, making referrals, and counseling as well as managing caseloads, and performing a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs.

Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. This position is open until filled with first review of apps 2/2/22.

Ecommerce & Java Architects sought by Avionos LLC in Chicago, IL. Assist ObjectWaves clients with development of customized software for their business purposes.

Requires 30% travel to client sites.

Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com #70351 Software QA Tester sought by Coyote Logistics LLC in Chicago, IL respbl for ovrl qlty of sftw in a hgh ownrsp wrk envir. Apply @ jobpostingtoday.com #48374

PARKING ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Parking Enforcement Officer in the Police Department Field Services Division. This position will perform a variety of duties and responsibilities involved in the enforcement of Village parking regulations; and to provide general information and assistance to the public. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www. oak-park.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET MANAGER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Manager in the Health Department. This position manages the Oak Park Farmer’s Market including the vendors that sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This is a part-time seasonal position with work from January-mid November and work required on Saturday’s from May through October.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application. Open until filled.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Community Service Officer in the Police Department. This position will perform a variety of public service, customer service and law enforcement related duties and responsibilities that do not require the services of a sworn police officer; and to perform a variety of administrative duties. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application.

POLICE RECORDS CLERK

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Police Records Clerk in the Police Department. This position will perform a wide variety of specialized clerical duties in support of the Police Department including processing and maintaining documents, correspondence and coding reports; and to provide information and assistance to the public.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website at http:// www.oak-park.us/jobs.

SANITARIAN

The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sanitarian in the Health Department.

This position will perform a variety of duties including education and enforcement activities for the promotion and protection of the public health environment.

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http:// www.oak- park.us/jobs.

  In print • Online • Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year OakPark.com | AustinWeeklyNews.com | RBLandmark.com | ForestParkReview.com | PublicNoticeIllinois.com

Let the sun shine in...

Public Notice: Your right to know In print • Online Available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year • OakPark.com • RBLandmark.com • ForestParkReview.com • AustinWeeklyNews.com PublicNoticeIllinois.com

30

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

CLASSIFIED

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

MARKETPLACE

CEMENT

CARS WANTED

CEMENT

MAGANA

C O N C R E T E C O N S T RU C T I O N “QUALITY IS OUR FOUNDATION” ESTABLISHED IN 1987

CLASSICS WANTED CLASSICS WANTED Restored or Unrestored

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

COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette,Cars: Ferrari’s, Domestic / Import Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, $$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

'5,9(:$<6 )281'$7,216 3$7,26 67(36 &85% *877(56 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7(

Mustang & Mopars

FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

Ferrari’s, James Jaguars,• 630-201-8122 Muscle Cars, Collector

$$ Top $$ allWANTED makes, Etc. CLASSICS Collector James

WANTED TO BUY

Restored or Unrestored Cars630-201-8122 & Vintage Motorcycles Domestic / Import Cars:

WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers – lead, plastic – other misc. toys.

Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari’s, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars

$$ Top $$ all makes, Etc. RENTALS & REAL ESTATE Collector James

SUBURBAN RENTALS 630-201-8122 STUDIOS, 1, 2 & 3 BR OAK PARK & Best Selection & Service

FOREST PARK

708-386-7355

MMpropMgmt.com

OFFICE /RETAIL FOR RENT RIVER FOREST–7777 Lake St. * 1116 sq. ft. * 1400 sq. ft. Dental Office RIVER FOREST–7756 Madison St. * 960 sq. ft.

OAK PARK–6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. * 3 & 5 room office suites FOREST PARK–7736 Madison St. *2500 sq. ft. unit Strand & & Browne Strand Browne 708-488-0011 708-488-0011

Starting a New Business?

Publish Your Assumed Name Legal Notice in • Austin Weekly News • Wednesday Journal • Forest Park Review • Riverside/Brookfield Landmark Call the Experts Before You Place Your Legal Ad! Call Stacy for details: 773/626-6332

ELECTRICAL Ceiling Fans Installed

ELECTRICAL

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

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

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

FLOORS KLIS FLOORING INC.

New hardwood flooring installation & pergo. Sanding, re-finishing, staining. Low prices, insured.

Call: 773-671-4996 www.klisflooring.com

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

708-296-2060

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

773-637-0692 Ask for John

HAULING BASEMENT CLEANING

Appliances & Furniture Removal Pickup & Delivery.

708-848-9404

PUBLIC NOTICES

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

PETS While you’re away, your pets are okay . . . at home

cat calls

Oak Park’s Original Pet Care Service – Since 1986

Daily dog exercising Complete pet care in your home )PVTF TJUUJOH t 1MBOU DBSF Bonded References

524-1030

WOODWORK Terry's

Woodwork Restoration On-site refinishing of wood

and fiberglass since 1977.

Includes doors, woodwork, windows, staircases and new woodwork etc. All work done by hand. NO sanders. Your unfinished project my specialty!

References available.

Contact Terry Seamans at 630-379-7148 or terryseamans@yahoo.com

LEGAL NOTICE The Village of Oak Park will receive bids from qualified roofing contractors to repair various roof leaks at Village Hall located at 123 Madison St. in Oak Park, IL. Bids will be accepted at the Public Works Service Center, 201 South Boulevard, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, until 10:00 a.m. local time on Friday, March 18th, 2022.

Oak Park Village Hall Roof Repairs Bid Number: 22-102BM Issuance Date: 3/2/2022 There will be a pre-bid meeting at Village Hall on Wednesday, March 9th, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. Bid forms may be obtained by calling 708-358-5710 or by e-mailing vics@oak-park.us between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

M-F. The Village of Oak Park reserves the right to issue proposal documents and specifications only to those contractors deemed qualified. No proposal documents will be issued after 4:00 p.m. on the working day preceding the date of proposal opening.

THE VILLAGE OF OAK PARK Published in Wednesday Journal March 2, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice is hereby given that the Village of Oak Park Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee will be holding a meeting for applicant Presentations, a funding recommendations determination meeting and a Public Hearing on Program Year (PY) 2022 project proposals submitted to the Village for federal Community Development Block Grant Program funds. PY 2022 will run from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. All meetings will be held on Zoom and are as follows: Presentations, 5:30 – 8:30pm, April 13, April 20, and tentatively April 27, 2022; Meeting to determine funding recommendations and receive public comments on proposed funding recommendations, 5:30pm, May 2, 2022. All meetings are open to the public and reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities and non-English speaking persons, as needed.

Meeting specifics are subject to change; please send a message to grants@oak-park.us to confirm details and/or received the Zoom link.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 2, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y22008592 on February 2, 2022. Under the Assumed Business Name of KNOTTIE GYAL WIGS with the business located at: 805 LAKE STREET PMB #119, OAK PARK, IL 60301. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: RHENESHA J EAGINS 801 VAN BUREN APT 202 OAK PARK, IL 60304, USA Published in Wednesday Journal February 16, 23, March 2, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: Y22008651 on February 15, 2022 Under the Assumed Business Name of RHJ STRATEGY & MARKETING CONSULTING with the business located at: 609 GROVE LANE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: RHONDA HUMPHREY-FINKLEA 609 GROVE LANE FOREST PARK, IL 60130, USA Published in Wednesday Journal February 23, March 2, 9, 2022

PUBLIC NOTICE LEGAL NOTICE/PUBLIC NOTICE UCP Seguin is soliciting bids for a GENERAL CONTRACTOR to replace the existing front porch structure at one of our residential homes located in the Village of Oak Park, Illinois.

Complete Bid Packet can be obtained by contacting Inga Sandoval at: Isandoval@seguin.org Pre-bid site inspection is mandatory, and is scheduled to occur by appointment only. Please contact Inga Sandoval at (708) 222- 5641 to schedule an appointment.

Bid Deadline is 10 am on 3/18/22 This is a Federally-Funded (Community Development Block Grant) Project and is subject to all applicable Federal rules, regulations and guidelines, including but not limited to payment of Prevailing Wage.

MBE and WBE contractors are encouraged to bid on this project.

Published in Wednesday Journal March 2, 2022

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION MTGLQ INVESTORS, L.P. Plaintiff, -v.MARIA C. RIVERA Defendants 2019CH05114 1024 S RIDGELAND AVE OAK PARK, IL 60304 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 17, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 4, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1024 S RIDGELAND AVE, OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-17-308-0110000 The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the high-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE est bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-03763 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH05114 TJSC#: 42-797 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2019CH05114 I3188285

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

CLASSIFIED

31

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

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC DBA CHAMPION MORTGAGE COMPANY; Plaintiff, vs.

THOMAS QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR MARGERY L. NEFF; ARTHUR NEFF; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF MARGERY L NEFF; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 19 CH 12930 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Monday, March 21, 2022 at the hour of 11 a.m. in their office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell at public auction to the highest bidder for cash, as set forth below, the following described mortgaged real estate: P.I.N. 16-18-130-020.

Commonly known as 831 Clinton Ave., Oak Park, IL 60304.

The mortgaged real estate is improved with a single family residence. If the subject mortgaged real estate is a unit of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by subsection (g-1) of Section 18.5 of the Condominium Property Act. Sale terms: 10% down by certified funds, balance, by certified funds, within 24 hours. No refunds. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

For information call Ms. Kathryn Bodanza at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Marinosci Law Group, PC, 134 North LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602. (312) 940-8580.

19-08226 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION intercountyjudicialsales.com I3186993

is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 19-091229.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 19-091229 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 19 CH 9209 TJSC#: 42-495 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 19 CH 9209 I3187122

the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, The sales clerk, LOGS Legal Group LLP Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301, Bannockburn, IL, 60015 (847) 291-1717 For information call between the hours of 1pm - 3pm.. Please refer to file number 20-094050.

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

LOGS Legal Group LLP 2121 WAUKEGAN RD., SUITE 301 Bannockburn IL, 60015 847-291-1717 E-Mail: ILNotices@logs.com Attorney File No. 20-094050 Attorney Code. 42168 Case Number: 20 CH 5941 TJSC#: 41-3442 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 20 CH 5941 I3187184

NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, GERALD NORDGREN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR MARILYN F. HAYES (DECEASED), IMPERIAL MANOR OF OAK PARK CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, ELLEN YOPCHICK, JULIE HAYES, SUE BARRETT A/K/A SUSAN BARRETT Defendants 2019CH12263 425 HOME AVENUE UNIT 2B OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 16, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 18, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 425 HOME AVENUE UNIT 2B, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-323-043-1012 The real estate is improved with a condo/ townhouse.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency

(driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-08274 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH12263 TJSC#: 42-209 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2019CH12263 I3187191

deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property.

Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-20-06459 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2021CH04435 TJSC#: 42-403 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2021CH04435 I3187429

Property Index No. 16-07-415-0271007 The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale.

The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876 THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300 E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com Attorney File No. 14-19-02481 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH09264 TJSC#: 42-421 NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.

Case # 2019CH09264 I3187480

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION MIDFIRST BANK Plaintiff, -v.TAKYRICA Q. STYLES A/K/A TAKYRICA STYLES, TAYLOR LAKE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INC. A/K/A TAYLOR-LAKE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 19 CH 9209 118 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE UNIT 1 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 22, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 17, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 118 NORTH TAYLOR AVENUE UNIT 1, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-08-122-038-1005 The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $153,280.44.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION CITIZENS BANK, N.A., FORMERLY KNOWN AS RBS CITIZENS, N.A. SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO CHARTER ONE BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.JOEL A. VERHOFF, RAELIN M VERHOFF, RANDOLPH CROSSING CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, UNKNOWN OCCUPANTS Defendants 20 CH 5941 612 RANDOLPH STREET, UNIT 2 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 17, 2021, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 18, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 612 RANDOLPH STREET, UNIT 2, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-408-026-1012 The real estate is improved with a condominium.

The judgment amount was $62,179.24.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST Plaintiff, -v.MICHAEL J. HAYES, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF MARILYN F. HAYES, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, ROBERT J. HAYES JR., PATRICK J. HAYES, MARY TERESE BUDGE A/K/A MARYTHERESE BUDGE A/K/A TERRY BUDGE, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A. AS TRUSTEE FOR MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT SERIES I TRUST Plaintiff, -v.ROLAND HERRERA, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF GEORGE HERRERA, LUKAS’S CONTINENTAL CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, CARY ROSENTHAL, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR GEORGE HERRERA (DECEASED) Defendants 2021CH04435 403 N MARION ST APT 3 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 11, 2022, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 24, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 403 N MARION ST APT 3, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-07-101-017-1009 The real estate is improved with a residence.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT - CHANCERY DIVISION NEWREZ LLC D/B/A SHELLPOINT MORTGAGE SERVICING Plaintiff, -v.AMIN SAHTOUT, SCOVILLE COURT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION Defendants 2019CH09264 500 WASHINGTON BLVD, UNIT 107 OAK PARK, IL 60302 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on November 7, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on March 17, 2022, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 500 WASHINGTON BLVD, UNIT 107, OAK PARK, IL 60302

32

Wednesday Journal, March 2, 2022

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Special Advertising Section A St. Patrick’s Day

Celebration!

A St. Patrick's Day

Celebration

March 2. 2022 B1

B2

March 2, 2022

A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

Special Advertising Section

Open Monday through Saturday from 630a.m.-4p.m.

Forest Park Bakery Call us or stop in!

S C O R E M O R E . S H O P S U S TA I N A B LY. 7443 Madison St, Forest Park • (708) 657-4230 • playitagainsports.com/locations/forest-park-il

(708) 366-3669 7332 Madison St, Forest Park

Special Advertising Section

A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

JOIN THE FARMINGTON TEAM Since the 1930s, our families have been dedicated to Chicago’s meat industry. And for more than 50 years, we’ve been proud to call Forest Park our home at Franklin and Circle Streets. Just as it was when our company was founded so many years ago, we remain committed to doing what is best for our employees, our customers, and our community.

MORE THAN 50 YEARS IN FOREST PARK Farmington Foods specializes in delicious, center-of-the-plate meat and poultry products for retailers and foodservice operators alike. Look for our Big Shoulders Smokehouse products in grocery stores across the country!

WE'RE HIRING NOW! If you’re interested in joining our team, please call Farmington Foods human resources today!

(708) 771-3600 Ext# 2069

Visit our websites at FarmingtonFoods.com and BigShouldersBBQ.com 7419 West Franklin Street, Forest Park, IL 60130

March 2. 2022 B3

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A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

March 2, 2022

Special Advertising Section

Why St. Pat’s comes early in Forest Park

M

Chamber’s biggest event is back this Saturday

ore than 31.5 million U.S. residents c l a i m Irish ancestry -- but everybody’s Irish on

By LAURIE KOKENES parade day in Forest Park. We may not bring Executive Director Forest Park Chamber 750,000 people to town like they do in Dublin, but the Forest Park Chamber’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is certainly our most popular event and our attendance numbers are just as impressive. Depending on the weather, parade attendance has reached as high as 8,000 people.

We’ll host the parade this Saturday, March 5. The Chamber chose that path – two weeks before the official day -- initially to ensure that we didn’t compete with local or city parades for entrants or attendance, and to also allow for a second day of celebration.

Not scheduling the parade during the ‘official’ St. Pat’s weekend brings groups of folks to Forest Park twice in March. The early date turned out to be a blessing in 2020 as we were able to sneak in the 25th annual parade just before COVID hit. Little did we

know the challenges everyone would face over the next couple of years or how much we’d miss getting together for our usual events.

As with any event the Chamber hosts, sponsors are key to making this parade possible. Sponsor support allows us to continue this event and create an entertaining line-up that includes entries like Medinah Shriner’s parade units who receive an honorarium for participating.

Event revenue provides about 50% of the Chamber’s income, so the generosity of our sponsors also supports the work of the Chamber.

Who are our parade sponsors? Title sponsors this year are O’Sullivan’s Public House; Fiore Pizzeria & Bakery; Ironworkers Local 1 and Riveredge Hospital.

Advertising sponsors are Mark Hanson Agency/State Farm Insurance; Forest Park Bakery; Mohr Oil; Astro Coleman Entertainment; Republic Services; REM Inc.; Ideal Facilities; Fatduck Tavern & Grill; Christopher B. Burke Engineering; Burke Beverage; Currie Motors and Smooth-ish.

Shamrock sponsors are Little Teeth Big Smiles/Children’s Dentistry; Friends of Brandon Johnson; Our Planet Automotive

and the Park District of Forest Park.

Leprechaun Sponsors are Living Fresh Market, Office Furniture Center and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Mariyana Sypryopoulos.

Thank you all for supporting the 26th Annual Forest Park Chamber St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

I also want to thank every single Chamber member as well as the Village of Forest Park who each play a vital role in the success of the Chamber and our community.

Together with organizations like Forest Park Arts Alliance, Historical Society of Forest Park as well as our library, park district and community center to name a few, the Chamber’s overall work helps strengthen our local economy by supporting and promoting its members, and by keeping Forest Park’s name at the forefront and driving traffic to Forest Park’s through events and marketing.

Happy parade day and happy St. Patrick’s Day to one and all.

Celebrate 19 years of business with us!

FFoooodd & & DDrriinnkk SSppeecciiaallss ddaaiillyy 77224444 MMaaddiissoonn SSttrreeeett ~ ~ 770088--336666--66666677 oossuulllliivvaannssFFPP..ccoom m

A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

Special Advertising Section

A historic property offering apartment living for individuals over 55.

Come for a visit and explore the many advantages of living at The Altenheim Studio Apartments • 1 Bedroom & 2 Bedroom

Luck is… following the Rainbow to The Altenheim The Pot of Gold is… living well into your Golden Years!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

7824 West Madison Street, Forest Park

708-366-2206

www.thealtenheim.com

March 2. 2022 B5

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A St. Patrick’s Day Celebration!

March 2, 2022

Special Advertising Section

ELMWOOD PARK CAPUTO'S ST.

Patrick’s SPECTACULAR

VALID 3/2/22 THRU 3/8/22.

FLORIDA FRESH

JAMESON

Green Cabbage

Irish Whiskey

39¢ lb.

Regular or Orange 750 ml.

$26.99 MURPHY‘S

FRESH IDAHO

Russet Potatoes

POINT CUT

$3.99 10 lb. bag

Corned Beef Brisket

GONNELLA

GUINNESS

$3.99 16 oz.

$10.99 8 pk. cans

Irish Soda Bread ROSEN’S

Rye Bread

$3.99 lb.

16 oz.

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!

COOK‘S

$3.99

FARM FRESH

Carrots (Loose)

FLAT CUT

49¢ lb.

Corned Beef Brisket

4 pk. cans

$3.99 lb.

SAVE

5.00

OFF!

On purchase of

50 OR MORE

$

with this coupon.*

JAMESON

Ginger & Lime

DOMESTIC

Swiss Cheese

$5.99 lb.

$

Draught Beer

$12.99

Angelo Caputo’s Coupon PLU #10087

*Excludes liquor, sales tax, lottery, wine grapes, gift card purchases and all advertised sale items. Coupon must be present at time of purchase. Limit 1. Coupon cannot be duplicated. Coupon is redeemable only at Angelo Caputo's 2400 N. Harlem Ave., ELMWOOD PARK, IL 60707.

VALID 3/2/22 THRU 3/17/22.

Special Advertising Section A St. Patrick’s Day

March 2. 2022 B7

Celebration!

Faith and begorrah, it’s that time again!

L

Eagerly awaited, long-delayed St. Patrick’s Day Parade is at hand at last

ike many of the events sponsored by the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Saturday is intended to be good for both the commuBy TOM HOLMES nity and for business.

Contributing Reporter Laurie Kokenes, director of the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the St. Patrick’s Day Parade this Saturday, said that up to 7,000 spectators will be lining Madison Street on Saturday when the parade kicks off at 1 p.m. from Van Buren Street.

An annual harbinger of spring in this town, the parade will feature in the neighborhood of 60 units, including the following: ■ Proviso East High School Marching Band ■ Police and Fire Dept. units with sirens wailing ■ Doonaree Pipe Band ■ Medina Roaring 57’s ■ Children’s Dentistry “tooth car” ■ Band of Brothers Pipe Band ■ Local Politicians “Everyone loves a parade,” said Kokenes, pointing out that the big show is free to the thousands of people who will be lining the street.

The Chamber’s mission statement includes, “enhancing the local business environment and quality of life in our community and promoting Forest Park as a great place to live, work, shop, dine & play.”

Mike Mohr (Sr. and Jr.) aren’t lead sponsors for the event because they get a lot of business by doing so, but because they are genuinely interested in the welfare of the community in which they do business.

“We are happy to be a parade sponsor,” said Michael H. Mohr, president of Mohr

Oil, “and as we are one of Forest Park’s oldest businesses, we are proud to support any type of function that brings our community together.”

The same is true for another title sponsor, Iron Workers, Local 1.

The Proviso East band, does not charge the Chamber anything.

“They participate,” Kokenes explained, “because they want to be part of the community.”

The parade, of course, is good for the taverns lining Madison, providing many options in the area for folks looking for an excuse to have a cold one … or two … and literally thousands of people will be standing at their doorsteps.

Marty Sorice, who owns multiple bars in town, reported, “It is the best day of the year for Angelo’s and Shortstop. It is a good day for Blueberry and Circle, but it hasn’t affected Carole’s and Pioneer much at all.

St. Patty’s Parade primarily helps Madison Street.

“But, it’s more than the increased revenue,” Sorice added. “It’s knowing that we are an integral part of making a fun event occur. My staff always looks forward to it so much.”

The same is true for the eateries along the parade route.

But even though sales may not increase for some businesses on that day, Kokenes explained, events like the parade, the Wine Walk (April 23 this year) and the Holiday Walk (in December) show off many of the unique shops on Madison with the hope that spectators will notice them and return on another day.

“Special events,” Kokenes explained, “bring anywhere from several hundred to thousands of people to Downtown Forest Park. Positive unique events keep Forest Park’s name at the forefront, creates positive press, drives traffic to our downtown business district and all in all allow visitors to see all that Forest Park has to offer. They bring new folks to the area and keeps them

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from everyone at the Pool passes go on sale April 1!

Summer Camp registration begins March 7 for residents, March 21 for non-residents.

Alex Rogals/Staff Photographer

Attendees shake hands with a “leprechaun” during the annual Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2019. coming back.”

The Chamber is funded approximately 50% from event revenue and 50% from membership dues. It invests a lot of money on the parade to make it a quality event. The organization pays for the three Medinah units — Mini Shoppers, Roaring 57’s and Motor Corps — as well as two pipe bands (with Burke Beverage) and a donation to Toys for Tots.

Income from the event comes from sponsorships and entry fees: ■ Chamber member business $65 ■ Non-member business $120 ■ Non-Profit/Political $45 ■ Residents/Individuals $30 ■ Large groups of residents/individuals $45

Kokenes added, “We’re selling parade merchandise, too (www.etstores.com/FORESTPARKSTPATSPARADE).

Aware that Forest Parkers may be experiencing COVID fatigue, Kokenes said, “Lots of regular folks, businesses and political candidates are excited to get out and celebrate something ... and everyone loves a parade!”

St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on March 5, beginning at 1 p.m. on Madison Street, heading east from Van Buren.

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The Village of Forest Park wishes everyone a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Enjoy the parade and celebrate at one of our many local businesses.

We are glad to have you back!

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It’s not all candy and beer Great eats, some green, along Madison St. on parade day

By CHRISTINE BARNARD

Something healthy

Forest Park Chamber

After a year’s hiatus due to COVID, the beloved Forest Park St. Patrick’s Day’s Parade is back on March 5. Hosted by the Forest Park Chamber of Commerce, the parade will have 60+ entries including bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, local business entries, Medinah Shriner parade units, local police and fire departments and more.

While the kids are filling their bags with candy along the parade route, we invite you to stop by one of the many local restaurants along Madison Street to grab some amazing food. Whether you are in the mood for Italian, BBQ, Mexican, Cajun or Irish, our local restaurants are celebrating all things green.

Last time we counted, your options for a corned beef sandwich on parade day are at least 10.

Here are some other fun options.

Something Irish Slainte, 7505 Madison St., will be serving Irish Coffee, Irish mules and corned beef sandwiches. Doors open at 11 a.m. For more fun, their resident DJ will be playing on both floors.

If you are looking for something healthy, make sure to check out newcomer Smoothish, 7415 Madison St. They are rolling out a new drink just for parade day named the O’Green. This juice will consist of celery, orange, kale, apple, and ginger.

Not all parade menus are finalized so please follow Explore Forest Park on Facebook for updated information.

We can’t wait to see you on Madison Street on Parade Day!

The Brown Cow, 7347 Madison St., is also joining the fun by selling corned beef and potato hand pies. These are great to-go items to grab as you watch the parade.

DuckFat, 7218 Madison St., is offering traditional favorites including a corned beef sandwich with hand-cut fries, corned beef and cabbage and, the less traditional, Irish nachos.

Small Batch, 7441 Madison St., is a parade day favorite serving up their world-famous smoked pastrami sandwich. These are also a great grab and go option.

Make sure to stop by O’Sullivan’s Public House, 7244 Madison St. They are one of the parade’s title sponsors and are sure to have some amazing Irish food on the menu.

Madison St., to get your sugar fix. They are offering shamrock marshmallows dipped in chocolate, green sprinkle, green sugar cookies, shamrock hot chocolate and leprechaun crunch. We’re not sure exactly what leprechaun crunch is but anything that owner Joana makes is amazing so make sure to try it!

Looking for a hot drink? Look no further than Kribi Coffee, 7324 Madison St. Their Irish themed drinks are 20% off on parade day and include Dublin the Fun Mocha, Life of the Mardi Spritzer, Paddy It Up Shake, RBG Matcha. The kids can enjoy a 12 oz hot cocoa for $2. To celebrate their new partnership with Oak Park’s Onion Roll they will be sampling green bagels.

Something green The Forest Park Bakery, 7332 Madison St., will be giving away mini green donuts.

Make sure to grab one while they are available. They are also sure to have many other sweet treats as well as Irish soda bread.

Looking for some more sweets?

Make sure you stop by The Brown Cow, 7347 Madison St., for some sweet ‘green inspired’ treats including Mint chip ice cream sandwiches, Green River floats and mint chip shakes.

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