W E D N E S D A Y
March 13, 2019 Vol. 39, No. 31 ONE DOLLAR @oakpark @wednesdayjournal
JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest
Meet the h hi high-end h d market Homes, page B1
West Sub’s new owner, under fire, pledges loyalty Pipeline says despite closure of Westlake Hospital, they’re committed to West Suburban By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
Some changes are headed to West Suburban Medical Center, as the hospital’s new owner works to close another hospital it owns in Melrose Park and consolidate the resources of the two in Oak Park. Pipeline Health, a California-based private healthcare network, purchased West Suburban along with Weiss Memorial in Chicago and Westlake Hospital in Melrose Park from Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare for $70 million in January. Two weeks later, Pipeline announced that it planned on closing Westlake this year in order to invest in West Suburban and Weiss. After announcing the pending closure of the 233-bed Melrose Park hospital last month, Pipeline officials said they’ll invite qualified Westlake employees to apply for positions at West Suburban or Weiss Memorial, and that a comSee PIPELINE on page 15
TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER/Staff
IN MEMORY: Tonya Gary leaves a message for her cousin, Joy Tyus, who died in a car crash Saturday night in Oak Park, on a makeshift memorial erected at the intersection of Ridgeland Avenue and South Boulevard.
OP police charge man connected to car crash death Chicagoan accused of reckless homicide and aggravated DUI
By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
Oak Park Police Department have charged a Chicago man with one count of reckless homicide and two counts of aggravated driving under the influence in connection with a car crash over the weekend that left one person dead and another
seriously injured. Police announced March 11 that they have charged Kendall R. Harrison, 25, of the 1300 block of North Washtenaw Avenue, Chicago. He remains in custody and will appear at a bond hearing on March 12 at the Maybrook courthouse in Maywood. Harrison was taken into custody on Saturday, March 9, after crashing an SUV into a
vehicle driven by Austin resident Joy Tyus at about 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of South Boulevard and Ridgeland Avenue. Tyus, 28, was a lifelong resident of the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, according to a relative. She and her boyfriend, Pierre Shelton, See CAR CRASH on page 13
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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I N S I D E
R E P O R T
Chicken and Waffles and … booze Oak Park got a little boozier earlier this month when the Oak Park Board of Trustees approved liquor licenses for two more restaurants. Chicago’s Home of Chicken and Waffles, 543 Madison St., and New Pot Restaurant, 727 Lake St., were both approved for bring-your-own-bottle liquor licenses, at the board’s March 4 meeting. Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb was not present for the vote. Rosemary Malone, co-owner of Chicken and Waffles, said the restaurant has live music on Fridays and Saturdays and can be rented out for parties and events. “It enhances the opportunity for people to have a cocktail with dinner or lunch, so when the opportunity was there and the information was sent to us we said, ‘Yeah.’”
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Hoop-bound Oak Park police and firefighters joined OPRF Best Buddies Club members at the annual Battle of the Badges fundraiser at Brooks Middle School on March 9. For more photos, please turn to page 14.
Timothy Inklebarger
Jessica Stovall
OPRF teacher takes her talents to Stanford
The 10-part documentary series, America to Me, which took a probing look at the racial inequities at Oak Park and River Forest High School, has inspired one of the film’s subjects to create an entire college course. Jessica Stovall, the OPRF teacher who is currently on leave from the high school to pursue a doctorate at Stanford University, created a curriculum series called “America Never was America to Me: Race and Equity in U.S. Public
Schools,” WBEZ recently reported. Stovall’s attempts to forge a meaningful relationship with former OPRF student Ke’shawn Kumsa was among the documentary’s dramatic touchpoints — as was her failed attempts to establish a racial equity curriculum at OPRF. Many observers felt that the failure to implement Stovall’s course reflected poorly on school administrators. Now Stovall is seeing her ideas flourish elsewhere. “People are having really intense and important conversations about race and equity,” Stovall told WBEZ. “So I thought, why not bring it to an institution like Stanford University that’s at the forefront of some of these conversations about race and schools?”
Michael Romain
What partners want
Oak Park author Robert K. Elder is at it again with a new workbook — he published the The Mixtape of My Life: A Do-It-Yourself Music Memoir last year. This time he wants to help couples trying to learn more about their part-
Robert Elder ner. Read Your Partner Like A Book encourages couples to fill out the workbook to find out “what makes your partner tick,” according to a press release. The journal is designed for two people “with questions and prompts that can inspire new insight, communication, a little self-deprecation, and plenty of laughter.” It is Elder’s ninth book. His writing
has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe, and Salon.com, among others.
Timothy Inklebarger
Correction A story in the March 6 edition of Wednesday Journal [A new home for Infant Welfare Children’s Clinic, News] incorrectly spelled the name Peggy LaFleur. We regret the error.
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March 13 - 20
BIG WEEK City Voices Concert Saturday, March 16, 7:30 p.m., First United, and Sunday, March 17, 4 p.m., United Lutheran Church: Hear “Chicago’s most versatile community chorus” perform Zoltan Kodaly’s Missa Brevis, Arvo Pärt’s De Profundis, Randall Thompson’s Alleluia from The Place of the Blest plus music about angels. William Chin directs. $20; $10, students with ID; free, 18 and under. Tickets/more: cityvoiceskodaly.brownpapertickets.com. First United: 848 Lake St. United Lutheran: 409 Greenfield St., Oak Park.
Potluck @The Priory
St. Patrick’s Day Festival Saturday, March 16, 2 p.m. onward, FitzGerald’s: At this 38th Annual all-ages event, enjoy Irish foods, drinks and music. In the Tent: Mayer School Irish Dancers (2 to 6 p.m.) and The Dooley Brothers (7 to 11 p.m.). In the Club: Fitz & the Celts (3 to 5 p.m.), The Belvederes (6 and 9 p.m.), Cannonball (7:30 and 10:30 p.m.) and the Shannon Rovers midevening. $10; $5, 12 and under. Tickets at the door. More: fitzgeraldsnightclub.com/events/ view/38th-Annual-St-Patrick-s-Day-Festival-2. 6615 W. Roosevelt, Berwyn.
Educate to Liberate: Youth Social Justice Conference Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library: Middle schoolers, high schoolers and community members – meet community builders, hear expert speakers, participate in group panel discussions and partake in engaging activities all in the name of social justice. More: oppl.org/ calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
Jazz Programs Friday, Mar. 15, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., First Baptist Church: Join Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in prayer and jazz from female composers and writers. Free, non-denominational event. 820 Ontario St., Oak Park. Monday, March 18 – 1:15p.m., Nineteenth Century Club: See Dee Alexander, “the face of jazz in Chicago” in Reaching for the Moon – Ultimate Jazz. $15, requested donation. More: nineteenthcentury.org. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.
Sunday, Feb. 10, 6 to 9 p.m., Auditorium, Dominican University Priory Campus: Support the OP-RF Food Pantry, Housing Forward and the OP-RF Community Foundation. Bring a dish to share and an instrument (or sing along or listen). Free. Donations accepted: toiletries, fresh produce, canned/ boxed goods, high-protein items, cash or checks. Questions: musicandpotlucks@gmail.com, 312-451-5101. 7200 W. Division St., River Forest.
Bingo Bash Friday, March 15, 7 p.m., Nineteenth Century Club: Support the Oak Park Education Foundation while playing BINGO and honoring Julian Language Arts teacher and Spoken Word Club sponsor John Colucci. Event includes bingo prizes, raffles, live auction. $100. Tickets: opef.org/bingo-bash-tickets. 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.
“The Black American Experience”
Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest: Sibelius and Nielsen
Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m., Veterans Room, Main Library: Watch this documentary about Ida B. Wells, organizer and grassroots leader who was a precursor of the modern Civil Rights movement, and Fannie Lou Hamer, a powerful reminder of what can be achieved in the face of adversity. More: oppl.org/calendar. 834 Lake St., Oak Park.
Sunday, March 17, 4 p.m., Chapel, Concordia University Chicago: Hear the 2018 Community Orchestra of the Year perform Sibelius’ Violin Concerto with Chicago Symphony Orchestra violinist Baird Dodge and Nielsen’s Symphony No. 3 (“Espansiva”). Preconcert conversation at 3 p.m. Reception after concert. Bring instruments and accessories to donate to PING! (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation). $28; free, students. Tickets/ more: symphonyoprf.org/2018-2019-season. 7400 Augusta, River Forest.
CAST Theater Festival
Living a Life of No Regret
Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16, 7:30 p.m., Percy Julian Middle School: On Friday, see Barbed-Wire Sing-A-Long, which explores how children get caught in the winds of war. On Saturday, Smart Housekeeping, is a comedic look at the idea of domestic bliss. $10; $5, students/ seniors. Tickets/more: bit.ly/casthomefront. 416 S. Ridgeland, Oak Park.
Thursday, March 14, 7 p.m., St. Vincent Ferrer Parish: Hear Robert Rogers, lay evangelist with the ministry Mighty in the Land, tell how he survived tragedy in 2003 when his wife and four children died in a flood in Kansas. Questions: 708-366-7090. 1530 Jackson Ave., River Forest.
“Maiden” Reception Friday, March 15, 6 to 9 p.m., Expression Graphics: See relief prints and monoprints by Expressions Graphics member Cherylyn Gnadt. Closing reception, Saturday, March 30, 1 p.m., including artist talk on daily creative practice. Exhibit through March 31. Gallery Hours: Fridays, Noon to 3 p.m., Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m., or by appointment. More: expressionsgraphics.org. 29 Harrison St., Oak Park.
Screen Break March 18 through 23, Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park: Families - accept the challenge to turn off the TV, tablets, cellphone and video games for a week and participate in free activities. Choose from special story times, art classes, social change theater, Gaga ball, yoga class, a police or fire station visit, seeing bees at Oak Park Village Hall and more. Concludes with Jim Gill concert on Saturday at WonderWorks, 3:30 p.m. Complete list of events: pdop.org/screenbreak.
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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ART BEAT
An economical exhibit on the Economy Shop By MICHELLE DYBAL
O
Contributing Reporter
ne hundred years, embodied through objects donated to the Economy Shop is the theme of the new exhibit “Donations Through the Decades, Shopping Through the Century” at the Historical Society’s Oak Park River Forest Museum. The objects, representing each decade from pre-1910 onward, are all donations that came into the charity resale shop since August. And, like all Economy Shop items, nearly all will wind up for sale, but then be auctioned off in June. The Economy Shop is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this shopping season. It opened in April 1919 and was started by a group of women as a way to support five Oak Park charities. They saw a need to sell items no longer needed at a discount to others. The same concept is in place today. Donations are organized by room in a house on Grove at South Boulevard, where the resale shop has resided for 95 years. Three to four sale dates are held each month, September to June. Today, six nonprofits benefit — OP-RF Day Nursery, Infant Welfare Society, Thrive Counseling Center, Animal Care League, Senior Citizens Center, and OP-RF Food Pantry. To collect items for the exhibit, Economy Shop President Nancy Hines said she “reached out to our staff and room chairs and asked them to be eyes for me because so much comes in.” She also looked for items and researched dates. Call it serendipity — a 100-year-old oil painting by Charles C. Curran is perhaps the most valuable donation to date and currently part of the exhibit. It is up for sale at the June 9 Toomey Gallery Fine Art Auction. An estimate of $10,000 to $15,000 has been set by the Oak Park auction house. The 30-inch x 30-inch American Impressionist work shows three women on a cliff, painted in 1919, likely at the Cragsmoor Art Colony, located in the Hudson River Valley, New York. Curran’s works are in the Art Institute, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian and other significant art museums. Among the 50 items on display in the exhibit are a 1920s globe showing bygone country names such as “Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes,” a 1930s hand-sewn yoyo quilt, a 1966 Beatles concert program, Hello Kitty and Swatch watches from the 1970s and 2000s respectively, and a 1990s Waterford vase. A 1950 Singer sewing machine is the personal favorite of Hines, who regular sews on one three years older. “The Featherweights are a real collectable among quilters,” she said. “I took a little piece of felt; I stitched it and it sews beautifully just out of the box.” These objects will be available at a silent auction at the Economy Shop on June 8.
Celebrating 100 Years in the Community and Celebrating the Amazing Agencies that We Support! The Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society since 1919
Photo provided by The Economy Shop
CLIFF HANGER: A 1919 Charles C. Curran oil painting, donated to the Economy Shop, is on display at the OP-RF Museum and will be auctioned by Toomey Gallery on June 9. See “Donations Through the Decades, Shopping Through the Century” at the OP RF Museum, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays, through June 1. $5, OP and RF residents with ID; $7, non-residents; $3, students through college with ID; free, members and children under 7. More: oprfmuseum.org. 129 Lake St., Oak Park. Upcoming Economy Shop sales are Saturday, March 16, 23 and 30, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations accepted Mondays through Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon. More: economyshop.org. 103 S. Grove, Oak Park. The exhibit items represent the 16 departmental rooms of the Economy Shop, which range from toys to housewares, furniture and books, to things made from Economy Shop finds, such as a rag-wool rug made from donated wool clothing and scarves knit from yarns from the Craft Room. Clothing through the decades is featured and accompanied by two outfits, from the OP RF Museum collection, that women would have worn in the era of the shop’s opening. To kick off the exhibit opening, apparel played a key role with a fashion show of outfits primarily from the Women’s Better Clothes Room. Fifteen models showed off vintage wear, designer labels, formal gowns, work-appropriate finds and outer wear to an oohing and aahing crowd earlier this month. Historical Society Board Member Jan Dressel organized the fashion show and emceed. Several fashion show items did not make it out of the museum as they were sold on the spot. Other apparel was returned to the Economy Shop, where it, along with 10,000 other finds, can be purchased on sale days.
The Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society is a diverse member-driven organization with an abiding commitment to assuring the health and well-being of children. Through our IWS Children’s Clinic, the Oak Park River Forest Infant Welfare Society provides the highest quality medical, dental, and social services to those who are unable to afford the cost of private care.
See you at our next sale! 103 S. Grove, Oak Park IL | 708-383-2449 | info@economyshop.org
ATTENTION OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST & PROVISO RESIDENTS:
The Cook County Clerk is looking for tech-savvy individuals in the Townships of Oak Park, Proviso & River Forest to help on a special project to implement Cook County’s newest voting equipment. In addition to earning the amounts below for working Election Day, approved participants will also earn a daily stipend for each additional day worked.
$340 = EQUIPMENT MGR. | $190 = ELECTION JUDGE For more info visit cookcountyclerk.com/work or (312) 603-1081
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
George’s
Restaurant & Pancake House
Your Hosts: George & John 145 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302
Ph: 708.848.4949 Cell: 847.708.1727
Need a helping of
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Where’d all the good candidates come from?
ere at the Journal we’re about done with our endorsement interviews for school board candidates and village boards. Of immediate interest to Wednesday Journal readers are the candidates for seats in Oak Park and River Forest. But because we also publish in Forest Park, Riverside, Brookfield and North Riverside, I have the chance to meet candidates from those towns, too. (We also publish the Austin Weekly on the West Side, where we’ve been covering the fascinating mayoral primary.) A couple of points: Maybe we’re all wonderfully focused on keeping our democracy through these dark days, but there are a ton of candidates running for office this year in races that too often have gone uncontested. And overall, the quality of these candidates is outstanding. These are bright people who have been paying close attention to local issues and have thought about the tension inevitable in deciding some of these complex issues. Among those running for the elementary and high school boards there is a strong focus on equity, on continuing the hard work current school boards have done so far after previous school boards ignored or papered over this issue for so long. Some candidates have articulated well, though, that a focus on equity isn’t necessarily a budget buster. Equity is more about acknowledging the truth of the racism that clings to our historic institutions, about actively, intentionally changing the culture of those institutions, and holding the people now in those institutions accountable for making that change. It’s about making hard change, reallocating resources, not a hiring spree. Those same school board candidates seem earnestly aware of the unsustainable burden of local property taxes, largely driven by the local schools. The message that tax hikes have to moderate, that sacrifice and reinvention are critical if Oak Park is to remain in any sense affordable and racially diverse, is now part of the conversation. Incumbents running for the OPRF
board, and most challengers, too, see the just passed contract with faculty as a game-changer that will now, and over time, bring pay hikes out of the stratosphere. Not much one-issue thinking or campaigning going on. No one is running solely against tall buildings, though there is a range of views on how tall, where and how many. Among high school board candidates there is debate about whether the Imagine facilities master plan was too pie-in-the-sky or rightly captured the breadth of needs at a too-long-ignored physical plant. Mostly people think the school board’s initial response of spending down reserves to fund a first round of classroom and commonspace upgrades is about right. The discussion so far has risen above the “it’s all about the pool” clamor of past years. Mainly, we have a race, gender and age-diverse group. That’s good as elected boards, in Oak Park especially, have shifted too white and too male in recent elections. To the limited extent you can find a conservative bone among candidates in Oak Park and River Forest, there is also a good spread from centrists to actively progressive candidates. The Journal’s endorsements, by the way, will post online Tuesday, March 19 and appear in print on March 20. A couple of Saturdays back, I moderated the League of Women Voters’ annual State of the Villages event. In addition to interviewing Cathy Adduci and Anan Abu-Taleb, I had the chance to meet some April candidates I hadn’t yet met and to talk informally with a few I’d met across our conference table in the more formal, and I’m figuring out, semi-intimidating atmosphere of our endorsement process. When we decide our endorsements, I can guarantee you there will be a lot of talented, thoughtful people who simply won’t get our nod because there are so many good candidates. Endorsed or unendorsed, though, most all of these good people will be strong elected officials. That is good for our villages.
DAN HALEY
Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois 60302 PHONE 708-524-8300 ■ FAX 708-467-9066 ■ ONLINE www.OakPark.com | www.RiverForest.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SALES CALENDAR CIRCULATION Jill Wagner, 708-613-3340 Mary Ellen Nelligan, 708-613-3342 Michelle Dybal circulation@oakpark.com maryellen@oakpark.com calendar@wjinc.com DISPLAY ADVERTISING NEWS/FEATURES SPORTS/PARKS Dawn Ferencak, 708-613-3329 Dan Haley, 708-613-3301 Marty Farmer, 708-613-3319 dawn@oakpark.com dhaley@wjinc.com marty@oakpark.com Wednesday Journal is published weekly by Wednesday Journal, Inc. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302-2901. Periodical rate postage paid at Oak Park, Illinois (USPS No. 0010-138). In-county subscription rate is $35 per year, $60 for two years, $87 for three years. Annual out-of-county rate is $43. © 2019 Wednesday Journal, Inc.
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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OPRF looks to Community Foundation to house funds
Sponsored Content
CONDOS WITH PRIVATE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE AT RF
Utilizing the local charitable trust could be easier than D200 creating nonprofit arm, district officials say By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
The Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education is currently evaluating how to most effectively raise private funding to help cover the cost of the myriad construction projects within the school’s Imagine OPRF long-term facilities plan. During a Feb. 28 regular meeting, board members evaluated the option of establishing a fund at the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation — the 60-year-old local charitable trust. Antonio Martinez Jr., the foundation’s president and CEO, told board members that creating such a fund is much easier and potentially more cost-effective than having D200 creating a separate nonprofit for the purpose of raising private donations. Martinez said that any contributions made to an OPRF charitable fund housed at the foundation would be tax-deductible and that donors would easily be able to give in a variety of forms — from cash to securities. Donors would also be able to contribute anonymously. In December, the D200 board jumpstarted the first phase of Imagine-related construction projects by issuing a request for qualifications for design services. The first round of projects, estimated to cost a total of $32.6 million, includes classroom renovations and facilities enhancements targeted to OPRF’s disabled and special needs students, among other projects. At the time, the board directed the administration to consider creating a funding plan for subsequent phases of long-term facilities projects by no later than May 2020. “The board direction included that administration’s funding plan should specify that the district’s objective is to align spending with revenue and that at least 50 percent of the estimated total project cost of $65.4 million will be covered by private donations of at least $10 million,” combined with annual
cost of living increases equal to CPI and $20 million from capital funds, according to a Feb. 28 memo by Supt. Joylynn PruittAdams. During the Feb. 28 meeting, Rhea Yap, the community foundation’s director of fund and donor development, said that the organization has worked with a range of local institutions on philanthropic initiatives, including the Oak Park Public Library, the River Forest Public Library and Oak Park Township. “We manage more than 200 component funds and each is treated on its own,” Yap said. Foundation officials said that administrative fees for managing the fund could range from 1.25 percent to 5 percent. Currently, Martinez said, the foundation is managing around $70 million in total assets. A fund for OPRF could easily grow to become the biggest in the community foundation’s portfolio, he said. If D200 were to go with the foundation, they’d need to raise $10,000 to open the fund. The district would also establish an advisory board related to the fund. There was a consensus among board members that contracting with the community foundation would be easier than waiting at least six months to file for nonprofit tax-exempt status with the IRS and then hiring additional personnel to handle the day-to-day management and development of the fund. “I don’t know if there’s truly a downside,” said Pruitt-Adams, referencing the option of utilizing the community foundation. “The ideal way to do this is with the community foundation,” said board member Craig Iseli, before explaining that the district should nonetheless “look at different options and be sure this is the right way for us.” “I concur with that,” said board President Jackie Moore. The board will take final action on a philanthropic fund at a future meeting. CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
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edgwick Development’s brand-new building at the southwest corner of Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue plans to offer high-end condos with the latest in current floorplan design, interior finishes, and vibrant lifestyle. But the greatest new housing trend new residents will enjoy is outside the home. The RF development has been specifically designed to provide the greatest possible amount of private outdoor space. “Outdoor living space is the hottest topic in condo design in Chicago today,” shares Cory Robertson, Director of Developer Services at Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, whose firm is marketing the property. “We are not talking about the old 4-foot by 8-foot balcony with two deck chairs from previous building waves. Today’s buyers are seeking true outdoor living areas where they can cook a full meal in the sun, read a book in a hammock, eat at an al fresco dining table, or laugh with friends around a firepit.” Marty Paris, a longtime River Forest resident and CEO of Sedgwick Development, explains further, “We kept designing until every home at RF had the opportunity really live outside. We want this to be something never before seen in condo living in River Forest.” He notes that, in fact, every home at RF will include a large, covered terrace running the entire length of the living/dining room—almost doubling the available entertaining space for most months of the year. The demand for outdoor space is especially true in buildings where many of the prospective buyers are coming from singlefamily homes. “Many single-family owners welcome a more maintenance-free lifestyle,
and are even be willing to downsize some in order to achieve that,” adds Robertson. “But having to give up favorite outdoor activities has often been the reason people are reluctant to make the change. RF’s outdoor focus is giving those people everything they want.” In addition to the large terraces enjoyed by every RF owner overlooking St Luke’s Parish, a limited number of buyers have the opportunity to expand outdoor living even further. The 2nd Floor and Penthouse homes offer additional outdoor space for buyers to customize exactly how they live. The Premium 2nd Floor Terrace Level will provide owners with over 1000 sqft of southfacing, uncovered space for large parties, landscape planters, sunbathing, play areas, and pet runs. “A condo with a massive yard is what some people could only dream of, but that is exactly what we’ve got on the 2nd Floor,” says Robertson. The Penthouses at RF include private elevator access to their roof rights, directly above the unit. Robertson notes that as long as people get in quickly before the building starts “penthouse buyers can have the opportunity to design and build their own rooftop oasis.” RF will offer 30 condominiums with 3 to 4 bedrooms plus an office area and large outdoor living room. Direct elevator access and private two car parking available for every home. Pre-construction pricing from $599,900 to $1,499,900. Deliveries are anticipated to begin in Fall 2020. Visit the Sales Center at 7577 W. Lake Street, open daily from 12pm to 6pm. Call 312-335-5354 or visit www.RF-LakeStreet.com for more information.
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Oak Park passes affordable housing ordinance
Village board expands requirement to Madison Street By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter
The Oak Park Board of Trustees Monday approved the village’s first affordable housing ordinance, requiring developers along much of the two CTA el lines and on Madison Street to set aside affordable units or contribute funds for building such housing. After weeks of debating the details of the ordinance, the majority of trustees agreed that the new requirements would force developers building apartments or townhouses to make 10 percent of their units affordable to people making 60 percent of the area median income. Trustees voted to reduce the percentage from 80 percent of the area median income, which was suggested by village staff. The board also gives developers the option of contributing fees in lieu of units at a rate of $100,000 per affordable unit that it doesn’t include in the building. That would mean $1 million in contributions for a building that
aimed to build 100 units. The ordinance applies to any construction of apartment buildings or townhouses within a quarter mile of a CTA stop, but does not include stops near Austin Boulevard. Trustees expanded the ordinance to any development west of Lombard Avenue along Madison Street. Trustees also increased the lifespan of the affordability of units built within luxury apartment developments. The proposal from village staff would have set the affordable rate for 25 years, but trustees increased that to 30. The ordinance was approved by five of the seven board members -- Trustee Dan Moroney and Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb voted no. Moroney said he opposed the ordinance because the requirement would stifle development on Madison Street and along the CTA Blue Line. He noted that Mohr Concrete, 915 S. Maple Ave., recently went on the market and could be a major development opportunity for the village, arguing that an affordable housing requirement could deter developers. Trustees should instead “allow that area to mature more before laying on restrictions that certainly don’t spur development in that corridor,” he said. Moroney has argued that more affordable
housing is not needed in the village. Mayor Abu-Taleb agreed with Moroney, saying that the inclusion of Madison Street in the affordable housing requirement “killed it for me.” The suggestion to include Madison Street on the map came from Trustee Simone Boutet, who argued that Madison Street was a big focus of development for the board. “I think we have to look at what we have coming before us,” she said. The ordinance also waives permit fees for affordable units that are placed in luxury buildings. Developers would be allowed greater density for including affordable units in a building. A developer wanting to build 250 units, for example would have to include 25 affordable units in the building. They would, in turn be allowed to build an additional 25 units, putting the total number up to 275. Prior to the ordinance, village staff has negotiated proposed developments on a case-by-case basis. Over the past few years, the affordable housing fund has amassed $1.5 million in contributions from developer. Affordable housing advocates argued in favor of higher requirements. Oak Park resident Amy Dean said the village gave developers and real estate agents
the power to write the ordinance and did not seek input from the citizen-led Housing Programs Advisory Committee. “This ordinance is designed to fail, which is a travesty,” she said. Affordable housing advocate Alicia Chastain said that the $1.5 million collected from developers, so far, would have been about $12.6 million had the ordinance been in place years ago when high-rises were beginning to be built in and around downtown. She argued that developers have expressed their interest to continue developing in Oak Park, and not including Madison Street in the inclusionary zoning ordinance would mean that Jupiter Realty would not have to include affordable housing in its forthcoming senior living facility. Rev. C.J. Hawking, pastor at Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, said Oak Park lags behind other communities with its affordable housing requirement, noting that Chicago requires 10 to 20 percent affordable housing, New York 20 to 30 percent and Wilmette 15 percent. Evanston recently increased its in-lieu fee to $170,000 per unit, she said, arguing that Oak Park should institute a 15 percent affordable housing requirement and a $200,000 in-lieu fee. tim@oakpark.com
Oak Park denies historic designation for Foley-Rice
Developer vows to attempt to save a portion of building
Frank Heitzman, an architect and preservationist who is pressing for saving the building, told trustees that the developer promised to work with architects to save the south and east facades of the building. By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER That restoration could cost the developer Staff Reporter somewhere between $1 million and $2 milFollowing a last-ditch effort to save the lion, Heitzman said. Trustee Deno Andrews said he was on the historic Foley-Rice building at 644 Madison St., the Oak Park village board unanimously fence over whether to support the landmark designation, but added that he rejected a proposal approved by believed it would be unfair to the Historic Preservation Comthe developer, considering that mission to declare the building the village already has made an an historic landmark. agreement with Jupiter to deThe structure, built in 1925, has velop the land. served as a showroom for various “We shouldn’t go back on a car dealerships since its construcdeal like that,” he said. tion and represents a time when DENO ANDREWS Trustee Jim Taglia said he was that area of Madison Street was Trustee concerned about the state of the known as motor row. It has now building, which has long been vabeen vacant for more than a decade. cant. During a recent tour of the Preservation advocates have argued that the building, with its terra cotta structure, Taglia said he learned that the basefeatures and elaborate decoration, should ment is flooded up to the ceiling “and has been be preserved and reused, rather than torn so for years and is a block of ice.” Taglia encouraged developers to “use all down. The building is slated for demolition to make room for a second Oak Park Pete’s the tools and resources they have to save what can be saved.” Fresh Market grocery store. “We have to watch what we spend and we Last week, the Oak Park Board of Trustees urged the developer, Jupiter Realty, to have to be good fiscal stewards,” he said, work with architects and historic preser- noting the hefty price tag for restoring or vation experts to find a solution that could saving the building. save part or all of the building. tim@oakpark.com
“We shouldn’t go back on a deal like that.”
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
FACELIFT: The E.E. Roberts building at 644 Madison St. is at the center of a discussion about historic preservation.
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Appointed trustee now pushing for local support By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER
– in support of the 18-story luxury high-rise building by Albion Development. This ran Staff Reporter against the recommendation of the project He started on the campaign trail two years by the Oak Park Plan Commission, which ago but was appointed to a seat on the Oak did not support the plan. He said in a recent telephone interview Park Board of Trustees prior to the election. Now Trustee James Taglia, the only in- that he opposes the proposed 28-story building by Golub & Company, which cumbent running in the April 2 would be located about a half a election for Oak Park trustee, must block away from Unity Temple show he has the support of voters. on Lake Street. Taglia was a candidate four Taglia was unwilling to years ago when he was appointed say how tall luxury buildings to the board to fill the spot left by should be downtown, deferring Trustee Adam Salzman, who left to the Unity Temple congregafor a job that precluded serving in tion concerning the Golub proelected office. posal. Taglia is known as a consensus “What’s important is to get builder on the board of trustees, the buy in from Unity Temple,” but has been criticized by voters JAMES TAGLIA Taglia said. “They are stakefor his support for the high-rise OP village trustee holders and we have to listen to building by Albion Development them as stakeholders, and we at the corner of Lake and Forest. He is a lifelong Oak Park resident and has have to listen to the community. I listen to a history of public service in the village, the community and I hear that they are not serving six years as an Oak Park Township happy.” Taglia has said that he would work to protrustee, two years on the Community Mental Health Board and nearly 20 years on the vide more overnight parking for renters in board of the Oak Park River Forest Histori- the village, but last year he was among the cal Society. He also has served on the Fire trustees who voted to eliminate a pilot program that would have added 100 additional Pension Board for the last two years. He is the co-owner of Pro-Chem-Co, Inc., a parking spaces for renters near Washington chemical manufacturer for the steel indus- Boulevard and South Oak Park Avenue. The pilot program was killed after about try, and a former franchisee for Red Mango yogurt shop, 1044 Lake St. He closed the busi- a year of review and recommendation by ness last September saying it was too much to the Oak Park Transportation Commission, when homeowners complained that renters handle with all of his other responsibilities. Taglia joined four other trustees and would park in front of their homes. In a telephone interview, Taglia said the Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb – Trustee Simone Boutet was the only no vote for the project board reached a compromise that was a
“win-win” for renters and homeowners, adding 164 overnight parking spaces on Madison, Marion and Pleasant streets. Taglia said in an interview that he did not recall that homeowners complained about the pilot program and it was altered to remove overnight parking near renters’ homes. “I hate to tell you, but I don’t recall that particular part,” he said. Taglia said he would work to maintain the tax levy at an annual increase of no more than 3 percent, but he declined to say how the board should achieve that goal. He said the goal is to reduce spending but not cut services. “The one thing we don’t want to do is raise our taxes; I’m not for that,” Taglia said. The board would work to “economize in terms of staffing, and I believe that we’ll get there,” Taglia said. “I just don’t think we’re going to cut any programs; we really don’t want to cut any services – it is a goal.” The 3-percent levy increase goal is a recommendation from the Taxing Bodies Efficiencies Task Force, which was established by the village last year to explore ways to reduce taxes and possibly consolidate government entities, such as the village and the township. Asked if he supported consolidation of the village and township, Taglia said, “I don’t view that as something that is likely at all.” He declined to say whether he would support consolidation, but noted that the public voted in a non-binding referendum to explore the idea of consolidation. “The path to get there would take a decade,” Taglia said. CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com
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Amanda Massie OPRF High School District 200 Board Advocate for:
• Educational excellence and equity for ALL students • Fiscal responsibility & accountability to taxpayers • Real transparency for students, their families and all community members
What I bring to the position:
• Advocate for students AND taxpayers • 20+ years of accounting and management experience • Commitment to OPRF High School AND our community
Vote nd April 2
D90 board postpones Roosevelt schedule change By NONA TEPPER Staff Reporter
The River Forest District 90 school board voted unanimously to hold off on implementing a new schedule at Roosevelt Middle School at a regular meeting on March 5, in response to resident criticism over D90’s method of communicating the change, the proposed schedule, and recent changes to the school’s instructional philosophy. “It does underscore the degree to which our parents and community members support and are interested and invested in the effective functions in our schools,” said Superintendent Ed Condon. “It is genuinely a wonderful situation that a community would engage around classroom pedagogy and instruction, that these would be the areas of focus. What a positive and healthy dialogue.” Originally, D90 planned to implement a new block schedule at Roosevelt Middle School by next school year, with an initial proposal restructuring students’ days into
four, 80-minute learning blocks so as to increase learning time for math, integrate reading and writing curriculum, increase subject rigor and more. Students currently have eight, 40-minute classes daily. The initial proposal decreased students’ foreign language and fine arts time. Parents started a petition — named “Retain foreign languages at Roosevelt: delay the block schedule vote” — against the proposal after the district held two public meetings on the matter earlier this year. More than 180 residents signed the petition, which was created by school board member Matt Heffner. “The petition, I think, really underscored the depth of feeling that those family members feel about the role that foreign language plays in their children’s education,” Condon said. After the board meeting on March 5, Heffner posted on social media to update parents on the delayed change. “Essentially, everything requested in the petition was granted,” Heffner wrote.
“Thanks to all who signed and made comments. While we can’t know how large a role it played, I think it’s safe to say it played some role in the decision.” According to the district’s implementation plan, the delay was inspired in response to concerns shared by faculty over a need for additional professional development and “the desire of numerous community members for further modifications to the proposed schedule.” The district had originally planned to implement the proposed block schedule next school year, after four years of study, training and refinement of the current plan. Now the board aims to create a new schedule by fall 2020. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity to put a closer look to the proposed schedule revisions to ensure they are as optimal as possible,” Condon said. “We realize we have the chance to do this once and we believe it’s more important to do properly than quickly.” CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com
AmandaMassieD200.com Paid for by Citizens for Amanda Massie
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
D97 candidate wants to empower parents
D97 graduate Cheree Moore hopes to improve schools’ engagement efforts By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
A graduate of Oak Park’s elementary schools is hoping to win a seat on the District 97 school board in the April 2 election. Cheree Moore said she’s running in order to improve how the district communicates and engages community members, particularly with families that have been historically marginalized. “There’s a strong lack of engagement, specifically with low-income families and families of color,” she said. “I think that contributes to the opportunity gap.” Moore, whose three children now attend D97 schools, said the district can leverage technology to increase engagement. “There is a desire among families to get involved, but the district has to [help] from a different perspective,” Moore said, “even if it’s livestreaming board meetings on dis-
trict’s website. And if we can’t stream on the website, then on Facebook. That’s not that complicated.” Moore said she also wants the district to streamline information that goes out to families. “As a parent, I get so much paper every day and I feel like there’s information coming from everywhere,” she said. “Sometimes it’s overwhelming.” The district should also improve its capacity to produce and analyze racial equity-related data, she added, an improvement that could be critical to district officials’ ability to implement the pending racial equity policy that the board is poised to vote on this month. “I support [a policy] that will help us identify where we can improve the opportunity gap and the policies that harm children of color — particularly black and brown children,” Moore said. Other ideas that Moore wants to push her board colleagues to try if she’s elected include providing childcare at board meetings, particularly for working parents, and surveying families to find out what is prohibiting them from getting involved in district affairs.
Moore said she helped draft the initial equity policy that was presented to the board last year and is active in a variety of commissions and organizations — including Oak Park’s Community Relations Commission, the Diversity Committee at Longfellow, and the Suburban Unity Alliance. She said the racial equity policy in its current form still needs some improvement. “We need to look at the discipline numbers,” she noted. “How are we testing? How are we identifying students for the gifted and talented program? How are we advancing students? How do we say something is or is not working? We need more data and more benchmarking to know that programs are successful. I didn’t see that in the proposed racial equity policy language.” But the HR professional emphasized that the “strongest piece for me is community engagement.” The realization is personal, said Moore, who recalled moving to Oak Park at the age of 12. Her mother wanted better schools. But the family quickly realized that betterment would not happen simply by virtue of a move. “You have to do more than move to Oak Park for the good schools,” she said. “You
Cheree Moore have to be engaged, develop relationships, show up and advocate for your child.” Moore said the most effective kind of engagement is the kind that’s ultimately sustained by parents and families themselves. “I want to empower parents to be accountable,” she said. “Engagement doesn’t just fall on a board or a school principal. I really want to help empower parents and guardians to advocate for their children.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
Policy expert, D90 board prez eyes D200 board
Ralph Martire says evidence-based professional development is key to racial equity By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter
The current president of the River Forest District 90 Board of Education, a nationally known public policy expert, says he wants to bring some of the ideas he implemented in D90 to the Oak Park and River Forest High School board. Ralph Martire, a public policy professor and executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability — a nonprofit research and advocacy think tank in Chicago — said during a recent interview that although the current D200 board has made some significant strides in the area of racial equity, systemic change at the district has yet to occur. “They’re doing a number of things you’re supposed to do if you really want to change a system and environment for the better,” he said. But consistent implementation of some of those measures, particularly the pending racial equity policy that the D200 board could vote on soon, is where the rubber meets the road. Martire said that though monitoring
performance to “ensure that implementation is done with fidelity” are critical to the policy’s success, the district must confront head-on other issues that impact racial equity at OPRF. “I think the biggest challenge will be getting faculty on board with professional development on inclusive bias that is ongoing, evidence-based and embedded in the classroom,” he said. Martire, who has helped draft policy at the local, state and federal level in a range of areas — for instance, he helped draft the state’s new school-funding formula — pointed to D90’s successes in dealing with its own racial equity problems. He said he ran for re-election in 2014 on the need to establish a racial equity policy in the district, because “clearly, the data was telling us our educational system was flawed and it wasn’t providing excellent educational opportunity for all kids.” Once the board acknowledged it had a problem, Martire explained, they created an equity committee “that took a year to look at all the evidence-based practices effective at eliminating” the gap. The board unanimously adopted a racial equity policy, changed the district’s hiring practices, started recruiting teachers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, implemented an evidence-based system of teaching shown to eliminate race-based academic performance gaps, and required faculty, staff and board members to undergo
implicit bias training. “We reviewed the data and consultants looked at what it was like for minority students in D90,” Martire said. “We discovered that a kindergartener could enter our school system as a 5-year-old, graduate Roosevelt Middle School and have a 96 to 98 percent change of never having a minority teacher.” Since 2016, Martire said, 30 percent of D90’s new teachers have been minorities. He added that there have been many testimonials from white teachers whose perspectives and approaches to teaching students of color have changed after undergoing implicit bias training. If D90 sticks with the measures currently in place, he said, in three to seven years, “I think we will completely eliminate any statistically meaningful correlation between race or ethnicity of students in the district.” Martire wants to ensure that OPRF is on the same path by rigorously implementing evidence-based professional development and pedagogical practices across the board. “You look at the performance data and SAT achievement gap between white and black students at OPRF and it’s worse than the statewide average,” he said. “Partly, it’s because white kids at OPRF score so high, but if they can score in the 80 percent range, how come our black kids are only scoring in the 20s? That’s just unacceptable.” The barriers to quality learning and
Ralph Martire academic success for minority students at OPRF “have become ingrained in the culture,” he said, and can only be genuinely changed if they’re identified and addressed systemically. “You’ve got to put in place the researchbased practices best-suited for reversing this over time and you’ve got to stick with it,” he said. “Monitor it and publish results to the community. There’s a lot of work to be done. Passing a racial equity policy is very much only the first step.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
4 vying for 3 park board seats in Oak Park Field includes educator, architect, parks foundation president and former D97 board member By IGOR STUDENKOV
elected, Porreca said that she believed it was the wrong question, since she believed that “the agenda of the park district is not set Four candidates are competing for three by the personal priorities of any individual seats on the Park District of Oak Park Board commissioner.” The board has a strategic plan that the of Commissioners – and only one of them is board members developed together, Poran incumbent. The seats up for election are presently reca said, and her duty was to make sure it’s held by board President Victor Guarino, properly implemented. “My personal priority is to work with our Secretary Kathleen Porreca and Commisstaff and my fellow board members to oversioner Paul Aeschleman. Out of those three, Porreca is the only see implementation of that plan, which we one running for re-election. The other can- voted to approve,” she said. “It’s my job to work collaboratively with my feldidates include architect Chrislow board members to that end.” topher R. Wollmuth, Parks Other candidates talked about Foundation of Oak Park board the importance of not only lisPresident Jake Worley-Hood tening to residents, but taking and former Oak Park District 97 their input into account. Board President James Gates. Wollmuth and Gates both said Porreca was first elected in that they know that there was no 2015. Before that, she served on way to make everyone happy, so the park district’s Citizen Comthe goal should be creating somemittee from 2011-15. In 2010, she thing that would benefit the most was a member of the Park Dispeople. trict Comprehensive Plan Com“You have to look at everything mittee. She has been an educator through the prism of what benfor the past 30 years, working efits the community at large,” her way up from teacher to prinGates said. “You have to look at cipal. She is principal at Regina the greatest good for the greatest Dominican High School, of WilCHRISTOPHER R. number.” mette. WOLLMUTH Wollmuth added that, while he Porreca said she decided to run for a second term because Park Foundation of Oak Park didn’t have “overwhelming” prishe wanted to keep making a orities, he felt that there are two possible impact on the commuimportant issues the park disnity. The new candidates were trict will have to tackle. asked why they decided to run One is the potential communias well, there were two common threads. ty recreation center. The other is managing One way or another, their volunteer work the district’s finances, especially in light of helped them understand the park district’s the recently approved state minimum wage issues. And their families use the park dis- increase, while being mindful of the “the trict programs and facilities, so they have a overall tax burden” on Oak Parkers. personal reason for wanting to see the park “Park district being one of six bodies district do well. that’s taxing us, understand that there’s Wollmuth said that after serving on the balance that needs to be struck,” Wollpark district’s Green Advisory Committee muth said. “Intergovernmental collabofor six years and chairing it for three, he ration is going to be very important in wanted to get more involved. Worley-Hood the upcoming years and [so will be] makhad a similar motivation, saying that his ing decisions in the largest context. Our time as the president of the Parks Founda- boards, and the park board too, will be tion made him more informed about the very important” Gates said his other major priority would issues the park district was facing – which be to make sure that the park district was as “pushed [him] to the next level.” transparent as possible, especially when it Gates was elected to District 97 Board of Education in 2009. He served two terms, and comes to its decision-making process. “We have to be willing to transparently while he originally filed to run in the 2017 election, but he decided to withdraw his can- and clearly show why we’re considering any policy, any project related to the community didacy a few weeks later. Gates said that he wanted to run for the interest,” Gates said, adding that he wanted park board because he saw it as a way to give to have at least two meetings between proposing a board action and voting on it, to back to Oak Park. “I view public elected service as an aspect give residents ample time to study the issue of serving others,” he said. “This commu- and offer feedback, while giving the board nity has been good to me, it has been good time to adjust accordingly. Worley-Hood said his priority would be to my family. The honorable service is a way to maintain trust between the park district to pay back.” and the community. When asked about what their priorities if Contributing Reporter
“These are heavily invested communities, but also [have] diverse populations in terms of interests and needs.”
“If you talk [about] school districts, people complain about lack of control and all the issues,” he said. “I love the fact that, when we talk about park district, they talk about the favorite things in the park district.” Worley-Hood’s other priority would be to make the park district’s programs more accessible to residents who struggle to afford them. That has become his priority as the head of the Parks Foundation, and he intends to continue it. “I like and respect the fact that park district balances the revenue and programming fees, and that half of their money is from non-tax revenue,” he said. “But I’m troubled by the effect that has on equity.” Worley-Hood said he was conscious about residents’ tax burden, and he knew it was a tricky balance to strike – but he thought it was important for the board to seriously look at the issue. Ultimately, he said, he believed in “fiscal responsibility through the lens of equity.” When asked about how their professional experiences would affect how their approach their duties as park commissioners, Porreca said that her background as an educator and a principal gave her a useful perspective when it comes to park district’s teen-orientated programming. “I understand teenagers and how they think, so when we are designing programs and places to attract young people, I can call on my many years of experience working with youth,” she said. “I enjoy working with young people, and I respect them. I think they are often overlooked, underserved and disrespected in our culture, so I am an advocate for them.” Wollmuth argued that his professional experience will come in handy when considering issues of parks and facilities management, repair and renovation. And he said his experience gave him another skill that would come in handy in a leadership position – an ability to listen to multiple points of view and find something that works best for most people. “I did a lot of work [as an architect] for religious institutions,” he said. “These are heavily invested communities, but also [have] diverse populations in terms of interests and needs. So, a lot of skills I use to building consensus will apply here - making sure people are heard and understood, and [that] their input [is included] in the process.” Gates said he would draw not just on his experience as a member of the governing board, but on his experience collaborating with other governing bodies. “I believe I demonstrated ability to work within the board and in between taxing districts,” he said. “I have experience working [with the park district] on collaborative projects.”
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
River Forest economic head runs for trustee
O’Connell is passionate about development, service
“We are a landlocked community, so whatever decisions we make are going to be decisions that impact us a long time.”
By NONA TEPPER
ROBERT O’CONNELL
Staff Reporter
The head of the economic development committee is vying for one of three seats on the River Forest Village Board come April 2. Robert O’Connell, who works in national real estate for McDonald’s USA, is one of five challengers in the race. He said he was inspired to run after conversations with Village President Cathy Adduci and Trustee Tom Cargie, believing that his professional experience could help the village complete recent developments successfully and thoughtfully. “When you look at the issues facing River Forest today, my expertise played right into it,” he said. “There’s a lot of development actually occurring in the village. You have what’s going on at Lake and Lathrop, at Chicago and Harlem, which I think is going to be a win-win for the village. I feel like I could add some value.” O’Connell said he understands development as bringing new buildings like the senior home at Chicago and Harlem avenues, as well as the mixed-use development at
Village Board Candidate
Lake Street and Lathrop Avenue to the village. But he also views the process as attracting new retailers to fill some of the village’s vacant spaces, and quality employees to work in the village’s stores. “How do we attract workers to the community? If you go through the River Forest Town Center, several of the businesses have ‘Help Wanted’ signs in the window. So if there’s something we can do, or the village can encourage and better help the employees to better serve the customers, [that will] keep the customers shopping in River Forest.” He named keeping River Forest affordable as the village’s greatest challenge. “We are a landlocked community, so whatever decisions we make are going to be decisions that impact us a long time,” O’Connell said. “If there’s a way to bring users, not just development but other things to the community, I think that helps all of the residents, making it a comfortable place to live
that’s still relatively affordable.” O’Connell said he is passionate about making sure village staff — like the village administrator, as well as police — have the tools they need for keeping the streets safe, as well as operating in a more cost-effective and efficient manner. He would like to continue the “great job” the village does communicating information to residents, with monthly newsletters, posting the board packet ahead of village board meetings, text messages and more. “When you look at the issues around development, we need to do a good job communicating what these developments are going to look like, and what effect it’s going to have on their property because we all own properties,” he said. “What’s positive for not only them, but for the village.” A native of Oak Park, O’Connell has served as chairman of the River Forest Economic Development Committee for about a year. He was appointed to the committee
Robert O’Connell about two years ago. This is his first time running for elected office. His wife serves on the River Forest Township Board of Trustees. CONTACT: ntepper@wjinc.com
Cami can tell you the names of all of Mary’s grandchildren — in order, from youngest to oldest. As a Belmont Village caregiver, she’s passionate about enriching the lives of our residents through personal, skillful and thoughtful attention to every detail. From daily care to choosing the perfect birthday gift for the littlest grandchild, we’re there for our residents whenever — and however — they need us.
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
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CAR CRASH
Offender charged from page 1 30, were headed from Austin to her uncle’s house in Berwyn, when they were broadsided at the intersection of South Boulevard and Ridgeland Avenue by an SUV allegedly fleeing Oak Park police. Tyus and Shelton were taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, where Tyus, the driver, was pronounced dead. Shelton sustained multiple fractures and was placed on life support. Oak Park police said in a press release that Harrison was taken into custody shortly after the crash. Police noted that the officer “had not initiated a chase when the SUV struck the sedan.” Harrison was driving an SUV westbound on South Boulevard when he was pulled over by police at about 10:30 p.m. near South Boulevard and Humphrey Avenue. Police did not say why the man was stopped by a patrol officer. As the officer approached the vehicle, Harrison reportedly sped away and ran a red light at the corner of South and Ridgeland, striking the four-door sedan driven by Tyus that was headed south on Ridgeland. Tyus’ vehicle appears to have collided with the stoplight pole at the southwest corner of the intersection and came to rest adjacent to Pieritz Brothers Inc., 401 South Blvd., an office supply business. By Monday morning, March 11, loved ones had created a makeshift memorial on a utility box outside the business, featuring balloons, stuffed animals and messages to Tyus. “Love you, Joy. Until we meet again” and “I will miss you so much” were among the messages KENDALL R. HARRISON written on a sign at the memorial. Tyus’ cousin, Tonya Gary, was at the memorial Monday morning with loved one Lonzell Moore, who left messages for Tyus. Gary tearfully described Tyus as “a loving person” and “down to earth.” She said Tyus was traveling from Austin to a gathering at Gary’s father’s house in Berwyn on the night of the accident. The family was not notified about the accident until the early morning of March 10, she said. Bernita Brown, Tyus’ aunt, said in a telephone interview that Tyus had just recently graduated from the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy, where she majored in journalism. She also had completed an internship at WGCI-FM radio. “She was quiet, she was very smart and she was kind and willing to help anyone who needed help,” Brown said, adding that Tyus helped out as a caretaker for her grandmother. Shelton, also an Austin resident, is still
Photo submitted by John Roberts
AFTERMATH: Police say Kendall Harrison drove through a red light while fleeing a traffic stop on South Boulevard, striking a car (above) that was southbound on Ridgeland Avenue. Inside that vehicle were Joy Tyus and Pierre Shelton (below). Tyus was killed and Shelton critically injured. Debris from the crash smashed windows at Pieritz Brothers Inc., whose employees were still cleaning up the area two days later (below right).
Photo submitted by Gabrielle Riley
in critical condition at Loyola, according to his sister, Gabrielle Riley. She said he is in a medically induced coma and on a ventilator. Riley said he is suffering from multiple fractures and internal bleeding. “The swelling is decreasing, but everything is moving at a slow process; it’s a waiting game to see what’s going to happen,” she said. Shelton’s younger brother and roommate, Deandre Hampton, said Shelton is a warehouse worker who operates a forklift. “He’s a warm-hearted loving person and a father,” he said.
TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER/Staff
The collision resulted in considerable damage to the storefront windows of Pieritz Brothers. Several windows were boarded up following the incident. Deborah Pieritz, co-owner of the business, said glass was everywhere in the storefront, but neither of the vehicles appears to have directly struck with the structure. Pieritz said she was called out on Saturday night after the wreck and saw that the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle was completely destroyed. “There were car parts all over the place,”
she said. Pieritz said she believes that the SUV damaged storefront windows a few shops down from the intersection. She noted that the SUV appears to have collided with two parked vehicles on South Boulevard as well. Brown said funeral services for Tyus will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. and 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 16, at Pleasant Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, 116 S. Central Ave. Visitation is on Friday, March 15, from 3 to 6 p.m. tim@oakpark.com
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
B A T T L E
O F
T H E
B A D G E S
2 0 1 9
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Basketball buddies Oak Park police and firefighters, joined by members of the OPRF Best Buddies Club, took to the basketball court at Brooks Middle School on March 9 for the annual Battle of the Badges fundraiser in support of Best Buddies and Special Olympics Illinois. For more photos, visit online at www. OakPark.com.
7pm - Midnight, SATURDAY MARCH 23rd
Change your address,
not your neighborhood
The Gallery at Latin Rhythms, 210 N. Racine, Chicago Proceeds will create a Peace Room in the Austin Community Hub!
DANCE LESSONS • DJ OPEN BAR • FOOD SILENT AUCTION • RAFFLES
with senior living at Brookdale Oak Park. For senior living in the neighborhood you know so well, look no further than Brookdale Oak Park. Our Independent Living and Assisted Living community offers an active, enriching lifestyle without having to leave familiar surroundings and friendships.
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© 2019 Brookdale Senior Living Inc. All rights reserved. BROOKDALE SENIOR LIVING and BRINGING NEW LIFE TO SENIOR LIVING are registered trademarks of Brookdale Senior Living Inc.
Bringing New Life to Senior Living® brookdale.com
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
15
PIPELINE
Closing Westlake Hospital from page 1 munity shuttle between Melrose Park and West Suburban in Oak Park “is also in the works.” They added that Westlake’s in-patient services, including gynecology, intensive care and obstetrics, among others, will be consolidated at West Suburban. The pending changes, however, have been overshadowed by the public outcry that has accompanied Pipeline’s announcement to close Westlake. The move was swiftly condemned by Westlake employees, community members and Melrose Park village officials, who filed a lawsuit on March 7 in Cook County Circuit Court’s Chancery Division against Pipeline and other entities. The lawsuit alleges that Pipeline and its principals committed fraud and civil conspiracy during the process of purchasing the hospitals by telling state regulatory officials, Melrose Park officials and various Westlake stakeholders that they planned to continue operating the hospital. In addition to Pipeline Health, the complaint names Eric Whitaker and Nicholas Orzano, Pipeline’s principals, as defendants. TWG Partners, a private equity firm headed up by Whitaker — a close friend of former president Barack Obama — is also listed as a defendant. During a March 8 hearing before the Illinois House’s Appropriations-Human Services Committee in Chicago, local lawmakers, Westlake employees and community members described Pipeline’s principals as deceptive absentee owners who only bought the struggling hospital — which services predominantly low-income and minority patients who would not otherwise afford medical care — to shore up its bottom line. “Pipeline was less than honest and less than caring, except for profits,” Dr. Nabil Saleh, a longtime Westlake pediatrician, told lawmakers. “One day prior to announcing the closure of the hospital, my colleagues and I met with the medical director. … He assured us of the future and we promised to work hard with him to achieve the goals. Nothing could have been more deceitful.” State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (D7th), who sits on Westlake’s trustee board and whose district includes parts of the hospital’s service market, said that he was in “regular communication with Whitaker during the entire time they were purchasing the facility and at no time did Whitaker say they were selling the hospital.” Welch also slammed Pipeline, which sent no officials to the March 8 hearing. Pipeline CEO Jim Edwards submitted a five-page letter to the committee explaining he was “fully prepared to testify” before Melrose Park filed its lawsuit the day before. Edwards wrote that he was “disappointed” with the lawsuit’s timing. In a statement released last week, Pipeline officials called the lawsuit “defamatory and false.”
MICHAEL ROMAIN/Staff
CHASING THE TRUTH: State Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch (7th), third from left, during a committee hearing on Westlake’s closing, held last Friday in Chicago. Welch said that he believes Pipeline officials lied about their intentions to close the hospital.
Welch, however, disregarded Edwards’ explanation for his absence as part of a weekslong attempt by Pipeline to “avoid answering questions” about the closure. “[Pipeline officials] didn’t show up to a board meeting after purchasing Westlake, they cancelled the last board meeting after announcing they’d close and they used the lawsuit as an excuse not to show up today,” Welch said. “Pipeline can run, but they can’t hide. We are going to seek them out.” During the March 8 hearing, Shelly Pechulis, an emergency room nurse at Westlake, addressed Pipeline’s proposal to transfer some Westlake employees to West Suburban Medical Center or Weiss. She said that there was a job fair at Westlake and that two HR recruiters from West Suburban and Weiss “came to our cafeteria and said they have positions open at each hospital.” The recruiters, Pechulis said, did not tell anyone how many openings they have at either hospital. She said that she looked into personnel openings at West Suburban and only found “one nurse position” open. West Suburban officials could not be reached last week to comment on the openings. During a hearing held March 11 by the Il-
linois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, the regulatory agency that approves hospital change of ownership and closure applications, Joseph Ottolino, the CEO of both Westlake and West Suburban, said that Pipeline’s proposal to close Westlake is consistent with its goal of “modernizing” its healthcare offerings. “The way that doctors and nurses provide care has changed,” he said. “Hospitals do not play the same role they once did.” Ottolino added that Westlake’s operating losses in 2018 exceeded $14 million and that it serviced a region with “an excess of 473” medical, surgical and pediatric beds. During the March 8 committee hearing, Dr. Glenn Kushner, the president of Westlake’s medical staff, pushed back against Pipeline’s claims that closing Westlake would allow them to invest more in the patients within their network. “I hear that Pipeline wants to invest in people not buildings,” Kushner said. “Westlake is not made of bricks and mortar” but of community members. Kushner said Tenet Healthcare, the hospital’s previous owner, “only cared about the bottom line and did not invest much in the hospital which is why we’re in the predicament we’re in now. They came like vultures and left us to die, but we have survived.” Kushner said that Westlake’s planned closure is part of a national pattern of companies closing community hospitals in poor
and minority areas while building “bigger hospitals in richer suburbs.” He said that if “Rosa Parks rode the bus today, she’d see the same struggle.” Kushner said that “it’s been shown when corporations close the community hospitals, the doctors leave the area, as well.” He lambasted Pipeline’s proposal to provide shuttle busses to patients, who may include pregnant women, to West Suburban, and argued that closing Westlake could possibly translate into longer ambulance run times that could have a ripple effect. “More people will die waiting for help to arrive,” he said. “This is inequality at its highest form.” Welch and other community leaders urged the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to send the matter of Westlake’s closing to the Illinois Attorney General for an investigation into Pipeline’s conduct during the purchasing process. When asked if he was concerned about West Suburban’s future in light of the allegations of fraud and conspiracy, state Sen. Don Harmon (D-39th), who attended the March 8 committee hearing in Chicago, said that he’s “been assured by the new owners” that they’re “committed to bolstering their committed to bolstering operations at West Suburban.” CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
C R I M E
Arrested for armed robbery on North Harvey
Oak Park police arrested Kadrion Gipson, 21, of the 1600 block of South Harlem, Berwyn, at 9:34 p.m. on March 10 in 5900 block of West Walton Street, Chicago, and charged him with committing an armed robbery that took place about half an hour earlier in the 500 block of North Harvey in Oak Park. Police gave no detail about the armed robbery in its summary report.
Theft ■ An Oak Park resident was the victim of theft in the 200 block of Lake Street, sometime between 4 and 4:36 p.m. on March 9. The offender pressed up against the victim’s right side and removed their small red and black wallet that contained miscellaneous IDs and credit and debit cards and $70. The estimated loss is $575. ■ A black 2008 Audi A4 was stolen from the rear of a residence in the 200 block of South Elmwood, sometime between 5:17 a.m. on Feb. 18 and 11 p.m. on March 8. The estimated loss is unknown, according to a police summary report. ■ An iPhone that was left unattended was stolen in the 1000 block of Lake Street, sometime between 9 and 10:16 p.m. on March 10. The estimated loss is $1,000.
■ Someone stole an Oak Park resident’s red Beats headphones, which were left unattended in the 300 block of South Kenilworth, sometime between 11:12 and 11:50 a.m. on March 7. The estimated loss is $300. ■ A White 2019 Jeep Cherokee that was stolen out of Oak Park on Feb. 27, 2019, was recovered by the Countryside Police Department. The vehicle was stolen from the 600 block of Madison Street. No apprehensions were made. ■ Two men entered a retail business in the 1100 block of Lake Street at about 4:20 p.m. on March 6 and stole about $159.99 worth of products, including a bottle of testosterone booster.
Burglary ■ Someone
burglarized a car in the 300 block of North Grove Avenue, sometime between 7:30 p.m. on March 9 and 8:58 a.m. on March 10. The offender burglarized an Oak Park resident’s 2008 gray Nissan Rogue, which was parked in the victim’s driveway, where they found the overhead garage door remote and the key fob to the victim’s black 2016 Lexus 350 RX. They then used the remote to enter the garage and the key fob to steal the Lexus. The estimated loss is $36,000.
■ A residence was burglarized in the 200 block of South East Avenue, sometime between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on March 6. The offender entered through an unlocked rear door, ransacked the resident’s purse and stole a red wallet with miscellaneous credit cards and cash. The estimated loss is $50. The victim’s credit cards were later used numerous times in Berwyn and Cicero.
Criminal damage An Oak Park resident’s black 2011 Hyundai Elantra was damaged in the 300 block of South Maple, sometime between 10 p.m. on March 9 and 2 p.m. on March 10. Someone used a pry tool to damage all four door handles to the vehicle. The estimated damage is $400.
Delivery man gets ripped off
ed. 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.
38th Annual
Compiled by Timothy Inklebarger
Join the conversation Please send Letters to the Editor to ■ ktrainor@wjinc.com or ■38th WednesdayAnnual Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.
Someone ordered $42.91 worth of delivery food in the 400 block of South Maple at 1:30 p.m. but did not pay upon receiving it.
April 7, 2019 Oak Park, Illinois
These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, March 4-11, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police respond-
April 7, 2019 Oak Park, Illinois A Zero Waste Event
Sunday, April 7, 2019
8:45 am - Youth Mile | 9:10 am - Lively Women’s 5k | 9:11 am - 5k Walk 9:50 am - Men’s 5k | 10:30 am -Junior Dash A Zero Waste Event
38th Annual
Presented by the Oak Park Runners Club
Sunday, April 7, 2019
8:45 am - Youth Mile | 9:10 am - Lively Women’s 5k | 9:11 am - 5k Walk 9:50 am - Men’s 5k | 10:30 am -Junior Dash Presented by the Oak Park Runners Club
goodliferace.com
goodliferace.com
GoodLifeRace.com
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
17
Amadeo Montalvo slices up pizza at Old World Pizza in Elmwood Park. Photo by Melissa Elsmo
Honor the Irish!!
S P O N S O R E D
St. Patrick's Day Specials!
March 15th • 16th • 17th OPEN FOR LUNCH 11:30 till 10pm
Corned Beef & Cabbage Special Sandwich w/Pickle & Fries
$9.00 Dinner with Boiled Potatoes & Carrots $12.95
Tuesday March 19th THE
SAINT JOSEPH’S
TABLE
Beautiful Buffet of Italian Specialties $14.95 Great Food • Full Bar • Live Music
donnygsristorante.com 708-456-3644 | 7308 W. North Ave.
U
C O N T E N T
New world orders for Old World Pizza
pon entering The Original Old World Pizza (7230 W. North Ave., Elmwood Park) a simple message scrolled on a wooden sign greets customers declaring, “This place never ■ Monday: X-large thin runs out of pizza. Can I get crust cheese pizza for $11.99 you one?” ■ Two for Tuesday: Two And they've been filling ormedium Thin Crust Pizzas ders at this counter service with 1 Topping each for $20.99 establishment since 1963. ■ Wednesday: Chicken ParShop manager, Jen Wolski, mesan with a side of pasta has been greeting customers and fresh bread for $6.99 by name at Old World Pizza Food Writer ■ Thick Crust Thursday: for more than five years. She Large 1 topping pan pizza for attributes her loyal pizza en$14.99 or homemade lasagna thusiasts to the consistent or mostaccioli for $7.05. flavor of Old World Pizza, ■ Call 708.456.3000 to place a personal touch and quick an order. and reliable delivery. "I know most of my customers by name," says Wolski matterthin crust or deep dish, are of-factly, "and they made of fresh ingredients all love that our pizza yielding top quality pies. recipe has been passed Everything Montalvo uses down through generain the kitchen, from the tions." four tomato sauces used The bare-bones in their array of recipes establishment, to their signature crust, is made from focused primarscratch on-site. Even the meatballs ily on delivery used in Old World Pizza's gourmet and carry-out pasta dishes are made by hand. orders, has "Our chicken parmesan is also rebeen serving up ally special;" says Wolski, "it tastes award-winning like Grandma has been in the kitchpizza from the en cooking for you!" same 56 year old Old World Pizza is an Elmwood Park recipe since openmainstay and they've built a successful ing. Old World Pizza business on a foundation of loyal customhas also had the same cook ers, but offer several daily specials to atin the kitchen for more than twenty years. tract new patrons. Head pizza cook, Amadeo Montalvo, has Check 'em out and become a part of pizza been ensuring Old World pizzas, whether history in Elmwood Park!
Old World Pizza Daily Specials
MELISSA ELSMO
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Enrich Your Life in 2019
THRIVE TALKS A FREE Speaker Series: Inspiring Healthy Families Presented by Thrive Counseling Center
Thursday, March 21 • 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Oak Park Public Library, Main Library, Veterans Room, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park
Speaker Series:
Inspiring Healthy Families
Caring for Family Members Living with Dementia: Navigating the Ambiguity with Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW Presented by Thrive Counseling Center
Darby Morhardt
Almost 6 million Americans are living with some form of neurocognitive impairment or dementia that can differ dramatically in the types of symptoms they express. This talk will cover the different dementia disorders, provide a path toward navigating complex challenges families face and identify the available options for treatment and care.
• Darby Morhardt is an Associate Professor at the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease and Director of the Miller Alzheimer Family Support Program, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. • The focus of Dr. Morhardt’s work has been on the impact of cognitive impairment on the individual, family and their social networks.
All THRIVE TALKS are open to the public and free of charge. For questions please contact Monique Slater at mslater@thrivecc.org or 708.383.7500 x322 www.thrivecc.org/thrive-talks/
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Chicago Parent needs a few good moms and dads. We are looking for friendly, outgoing readers to staff Chicago Parent booths at events throughout the city and suburbs. Must have a car and flexible schedule. Events are mainly on weekends.
R EC OV E RY
120 South Marion Street, Oak Park, IL 60302 (708) 383-7500 www.thrivecc.org
Email Lori Smerz at lori@chicagoparent.com with your resume and a cover letter about yourself.
March 13, 2019
Homes
Powered by the Oak Park Area Association of Realtors
Meeting the market where it is
Getting real about high-end real estate pricing By LACEY SIKORA
I
Contributing Reporter
n February, Baird & Warner CEO Steve Baird made news with a video released to agents and on YouTube, in which he said agents and sellers of homes need to get realistic about the market. In particular, he singled out high-end homes on the North Shore, noting that owners of the these very nice homes were not immune to market trends and to the overall interests of a new generation of buyers who might not want a large estate home far from the city. We wondered, are these same market forces affecting the near-west suburbs? At the start of the spring market, there are plenty of single-family homes to choose from in the local market: 240 in Oak Park and 73 in River Forest, as of press time. Of those, 18 in Oak Park and 32 in River Forest are asking $1 million or more. Oak Park and River Forest are no North Shore, but all local markets are not immune to the market trends seen throughout the greater Chicago region. See HIGH-END on page B3
907 Lathrop Avenue, River Forest, listed at $1,495,000
309 Linden Avenue, Oak Park, listed at $1,375,000
Photos courtesy of Baird & Warner
1105 Park Avenue, River Forest, listed at $ 2,375,000
forestagency.com (708) 383-9000 •
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March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B1
OPEN SUN 122
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
1147 FOREST AVE, RIVER FOREST
1227 JACKSON AVE, RIVER FOREST
1434 JACKSON AVE, RIVER FOREST
234 S KENILWORTH AVE, OAK PARK
1224 N KENILWORTH AVE, OAK PARK
6 br, 4.1 ba $1,400,000
4 br, 3.1 ba $1,075,000
5 br, 3.1 ba $939,900
5 br, 2.1 ba $825,000
4 br, 3.1 ba $639,000
Pauline Sharpe 708.848.5550
Sarah O'Shea Munoz 708.848.5550
Sarah O'Shea Munoz 708.848.5550
Kelly Fondow 708.848.5550
Cara Carriveau (Busch) 708.848.5550
NEW LISTING
OPEN SUN 122
NEW LISTING
942 LATHROP AVE, RIVER FOREST
718 N ELMWOOD AVE, OAK PARK
936 FOREST AVE, RIVER FOREST
612 THOMAS AVE, FOREST PARK
1024 PLEASANT ST 6, OAK PARK
3 br, 1.1 ba $639,000
5 br, 2.1 ba $638,000
3 br, 2.1 ba $589,500
4 br, 2.1 ba $529,000
3 br, 2 ba $475,000
Susan Maienza 708.848.5550
Jeffrey O'Connor 708.848.5550
Jeanette Madock 708.848.5550
Dorothy Gillian 708.848.5550
Victoria Witt 708.848.5550
Get Noticed. World-Class Marketing that moves your home from Listed to Sold. 101 N. Oak Park Avenue | 708.848.5550
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
1230 N EUCLID AVE, OAK PARK
934 THOMAS AVE, FOREST PARK
709 HAYES AVE, OAK PARK
1118 WENONAH AVE, OAK PARK
1020 RANDOLPH ST 3W, OAK PARK
3 br, 1.1 ba $435,000
4 br, 2 ba $418,000
3 br, 1 ba $329,000
4 br, 1.1 ba $299,000
3 br, 2 ba $297,000
Tabitha Murphy 708.848.5550
Susan Abbott 708.848.5550
Cory Kohut 708.848.5550
Jeanette Madock 708.848.5550
Monica Dalton 708.848.5550
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
OPEN SUN 122
NEW LISTING
NEW LISTING
302 N OAK PARK AVE 3, OAK PARK
7243 MADISON ST 411, FOREST PARK
405 S HARVEY AVE 2B, OAK PARK
1120 HARRISON ST 5, OAK PARK
310 LATHROP AVE 607, FOREST PARK
3 br, 2 ba $281,500
2 br, 2 ba $279,000
2 br, 1 ba $149,900
1 br, 1 ba $115,000
1 br, 1 ba $89,900
Janet Rouse 708.848.5550
Meg Wygonik Kryger 708.848.5550
Sarah O'Shea Munoz 708.848.5550
Michael Dmyterko 708.848.5550
Tabitha Murphy 708.848.5550
| B2 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
HIGHEND Sales flat from page B1 A look at the numbers and what a few local real estate experts see happening in our communities shows that selling high-end is no cake walk. Stephanie Eiger, broker with Oak Park’s Coldwell Banker, recently prepared a market trend report and notes that if you’re feeling like the local market has stagnated, the numbers bear that out. Her research shows that 460 single family homes sold in Oak Park in 2018, 457 in 2017 and 544 in 2016. Prices fell on average 0.59 percent in 2018 after rising 1.36 percent in 2017. Across all price points, the market is not seeing growth like other cities across the country might be experiencing. In River Forest, she says the news is relatively similar. Average prices have dropped the last three years in a row, and sales numbers have stayed steady at 130 a year. When it comes to selling the higher-end homes, Eiger agrees with Baird’s points. Sellers need to be realistic on pricing and on how long it might take to sell that more expensive home. For homes in the $750,000 to $900,000 price range in Oak Park, she notes that market time has increased from five months in 2016 to 6.2 months now. For homes over $900,000, that number has grown to 9.6 months. John Lawrence, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Oak Park, says that looking at market time for these expensive homes can be tricky. “It’s hard to gauge the exact market time, because market time resets if the home is off the market for 90 days,” Lawrence said. “This time of year, a lot is coming on the market that was pulled off over the holidays. Some of the houses in this higher price range keep getting pulled off and put back on, some of those for years. We’ve seen extended market times.”
Photos courtesy of Baird & Warner
914 Ashland Avenue, River Forest, listed at $2,250,000
422 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, listed at $1,595,000
605 Iowa Street, Oak Park, listed at $2,500,000
509 N. Oak Park, Oak Park, listed at $1,650,000
Eiger, who has worked in real estate locally for almost seven years, thinks that the local market is reacting to two forces: changing trends and the after-effects of the real estate recession. “[The years] 2008 to 2012 put a crimp on the market,” Eiger said. “A lot of people who could afford to stay stayed, even if they might’ve sold under other circumstances. They felt like they just couldn’t get the value out. In 2013, people started to sell, but I’m not sure we’ve worked through all that back log. “We are not San Francisco or Las Vegas. There’s no huge influx of people coming in to bail us out.” Eiger says that one thing slowing down local sales could be less supply in the lower price ranges, and notes that no one can ignore property taxes when evaluating Oak Park real estate. “Everyone talks about our taxes,” she
said. “It changes what people can afford and at what price range.” Lawrence agrees. He notes that Oak Park saw a real market slowing in homes priced at $1 million and higher coming out of the recession and credits a few factors. “A lot of people hunkered down in their houses and decided to wait out the recession,” Lawrence said. “There are also the tax implications. A lot of these expensive homes have really, really big tax bills. Also, River Forest has become more affordable, so more buyers in this bracket may be searching on the other side of Harlem for a house.” Another factor? Tastes change. Eiger says that not as many buyers from the city are looking for historic homes. “The things I love about our houses, others may not,” Eiger said. “People are not as willing to do work.” Lawrence concurs. See HIGH-END on page B4
March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B3
NEW LISTING
LUXURY 510 KEYSTONE, RIVER FOREST $1,395,000 :: 7+ BED :: 7.5 BATH
1122 FOREST AVE, RIVER FOREST $1,299,000 :: 6 BED :: 5.5 BATH
Gourmet kitchen opens to family room. Attached 3 car garage. Walk to train.
Gorgeous kitchen/family room beautiful 1/2 acre lot.
NEW PRICE
UNDER CONTRACT
132 S GROVE, OAK PARK $519,000 :: 3 BED :: 3 BATH
1024 SUPERIOR, OAK PARK $739,000 :: 4 BED :: 2.5 BATH
NEW LISTING 7310 HOLLY , RIVER FOREST $1,125,000 :: 6 BED :: 5.5+ BATH
Beautiful kitchen & baths. In the heart of Oak Park, walk to everything.
Classic Victorian in the heart of Oak Park.
Great newer family home in awesome location. Walk to everything!
221 Keystone Avenue, River Forest, listed at $1,595,000
KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com
Open Sunday 12-2 • 1135 N. Grove, Oak Park
1431 Ashland Avenue, River Forest, listed at $1,489,998
HIGHEND
David Gullo, Managing Broker
708.567.1375
GulloAssociates@gmail.com
Call David!
5 BR • 4½ BA • $1,150,000 Built in 2009, this home is super energy efficient (USGBC certified LEED Platinum)! Move-in ready with a modern open layout, large kitchen and family room, great master suite (3 full baths on the 2nd floor!) and abundant closet space. The light-filled kitchen features a five seat quartz topped island, induction cook top, cozy breakfast area and walk-in pantry. 2nd floor has a vaulted ceiling master suite with spa bath and large walk-in closet. Across the sunny open hall is an en suite BR, a full BA and a large central storage closet. There are oversized high efficiency windows throughout the entire house including the basement rec room that has 9’ ceilings. Geothermal heating, a photovoltaic system and central vacuum system. Walk to Mann School, St Giles, Lindberg Park, restaurants & transportation. Call David at 708-567-1375.
W W W. G U L LO R E A L E S TAT E . CO M B4 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
Laura Maychruk 708.205.7044
LMaychruk@comcast.net
Kaylyn Fox 708.835.4142 Mark Finger 708.990.8115
905 South Lombard Ste. 2 Oak Park, IL 60304
Turnkey preferred from page B3 “Newly-rehabbed properties definitely tend to get more activity, especially those with open floor plans that are turnkey,” he said. “Not as many people are looking to take on a project. They want to spend their time living their lives, rather than fixing up their homes. There has been a mind-set shift.” Eiger says that while Oak Park’s closeto-the-city location is a bonus, she doesn’t know if it carries as much weight as it used to, as she sees more families staying in Chicago to raise their kids. “The city schools are getting better. That’s changed over the last 10 years.” For Lawrence, while younger families might find the city more appealing, that can translate to Oak Park.
Photos courtesy of Baird & Warner
“Peoples’ focus is on being in walkable neighborhoods and being in the hustle and bustle,” Lawrence said. “That’s one of the things that makes Oak Park desirable.” At the end of the day, both Eiger and Lawrence agree that this is not a hot market in which a freshly painted million-dollar home will garner multiple offers within days. Lawrence notes that while they might be well-appointed and well-maintained, estate homes are victim to the buyers’ market. “In the upper brackets, it’s a buyers’ market,” Lawrence said. “There’s no sense of urgency for these buyers. They can wait for the perfect house.” Eiger says that these are not the kinds of houses that can make their owners a quick return. “These houses are investments, but really they are places to live. They are dual purpose. You kind of hope you break even in the end,” Eiger said. “People expect to get rich because they look at other parts of the country, but that’s not necessarily going to happen here.”
UNDER CONTRACT!
FOREST PARK
2 BR, 2.5 BA ..................................$294,900 Ken Van Santen • 708-975-0210
OAK PARK
3 BR, 1.1 BA ..................................$469,000 Kevin Calkins • 708-829-2112
7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040
OAK PARK
3 BR, 2 BA .....................................$419,000 Pauline Trilik Sharpe • 708-785-1895
OAK PARK
2 BR, 2 BA .....................................$420,000 Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043
OPEN SUNDAY 1- 3 P.M. 707 MARION
OAK PARK
4 BR, 2 BA .....................................$479,000
OAK PARK
5 BR, 4.1 BA ..................................$875,000
Gagliardo Realty Associates • 708-771-8040
OAK PARK
4 BR, 2 BA ..................................................................................................................... $375,000 Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043
Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043
7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040
OAK PARK
2 BR ..............................................$159,000 Classic Properties • 708-524-8400
OAK PARK
4 BR, 3.2 BA ...............................$1,225,000
OAK PARK
OAK PARK
3 BR, 2.3 BA .................................................................................................................. $650,000
4 BR, 3.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $639,000 Pauline Trilik Sharpe • 708-785-1895
Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043
Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043
Want to see your listings in Distinctive Properties? Contact Marc Stopeck at 708.613.3330 or marc@oakpark.com March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B5
RIVER FOREST
5 BR, 4.2 BA ..................................$989,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates • 708-771-8040
7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040
OAK PARK
5 BR, 3 BA ..................................................................................................................... $748,000 Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043
OAK PARK
5 BR, 3.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $899,000 Stephanie Eiger • 708-557-0779
OPEN SUNDAY 1:30- 3 P.M. 1207 JACKSON
RIVER FOREST
5 BR, 3.1 BA ...............................$1,095,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates • 708-771-8040
7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040
RIVER FOREST
4 BR, 4.1 BA ...............................$1,400,000 Pauline Trilik Sharpe • 708-785-1895
RIVER FOREST
4 BR, 2.1 BA .................................................................................................................. $550,000 Steve Scheuring • 708-369-8043
RIVER FOREST
4 BR, 4.1 BA ............................................................................................................... $1,175,000 Greer Haseman • 708-606-8896
RIVER FOREST
5 BR, 5 BA ..................................$1,595,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates • 708-771-8040
7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040
Want to see your listings in Distinctive Properties? Contact Marc Stopeck at 708.613.3330 or marc@oakpark.com B6 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
RIVER FOREST
2 BR ..............................................$230,000 Classic Properties • 708-524-8400
OPEN SUNDAY 1- 3 P.M. 727 JACKSON
RIVER FOREST
4 BR, 2.2 BA ............................................................................................................... $1,295,000 Greer Haseman • 708-606-8896
RIVER FOREST
4 BR, 2.1 BA ..................................$850,000
RIVER FOREST
6 BR, 5.1 BA ............................................................................................................... $1,695,000 Gagliardo Realty Associates • 708-771-8040
Julie Downey • 708-203-0289
7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040
STILL TIME TO CUSTOMIZE!
7375 West North Avenue River Forest, Illinois 60305 708.771.8040
50% SOLD IMMEDIATE AVAILABILITY STARTING AT $479,000 New Luxury Townhomes Walk to restaurants, shops, Metra Attached 2-car Garages Blue Ribbon Schools
N E W M O D E L N OW O PE N 13 Forest Avenue, River Forest
(Corner of Forest Ave & Madison St)
Open Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-1PM or by appointment
promenaderiverforest.com · 708.457.1400 March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B7
Our team of brokers is committed to your success! F E A T U R E D
P R O P E R T Y
Oak Park This extremely large E.E. Robertsdesigned home was de-converted from a 2 flat in 2003 and has tons of flexible space. Enjoy three floors of finished space filled with gorgeous woodwork throughout. The first floor living room and second floor family room both have WBFPs, and overlook generous front porches. 4BR/3BA....................$750,000
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
Erica Cuneen Managing Broker
Ruby Blair
Broker Associate
Riverside
Oak Park
Cynthia Howe Gajewski
Broker Associate
Denise Espinosa
Broker Associate
Rarely available, lovely updated 2 BR, 2 BA condo in Riverside with 2 parking spaces. Hardwood floors, natural light, central air, spacious master bedroom with ensuite bath, petite balcony/deck. In-unit laundry, walk-in linen & coat closet, additional storage in basement. 2BR/2BA.....$245,000
Wonderful brick bungalow! Two of the bedrooms are on the first floor along with a newer bathroom. 3rd bedroom is on the second floor. Great basement finished in ‘15. Landscaped yard with perennials and paver patio. Two car garage and a parking space included. 3BR/2BA...............$385,000
Martha Murphy • 847-977-3456
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
U
E ND
R
C
ON
CT
Denise Sacks
Broker Associate/ Office Manager
Oak Park
Rare Mid-Century Oak Park ranch home! Three BRs and 3 BAs on a huge lot. Loads of space, a first-floor family room, eat-in kitchen, 3 full baths, and huge finished basement! Home checks all the boxes-hdwd flrs, 2 wood-burning fireplaces, central air, master BA, attchd garage, fenced lot, and great location! 3BR/3BA ..$499,000
A TR
Karen Baldwin
Broker Associate
Michele Strimaitis
Phil Joseph
Broker Associate/ Client Care Coordinator
Broker Associate
Lisa Allen
Kristen Hollinden
Client Care Coordinator
Oak Park
Marketing Coordinator
Chicago
Great opportunity for building in fantastic location in Logan Sq! Lot has great potential. Occupied two-flat currently on property, so exterior viewing for first showings only please. New-construction all around. Buyer responsible for any zoning due diligence/ variation. Vacant Land ................. $1,200,000
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
NE
Riverside
Oak Park
Stylish, bright & contemporary renovated 2 BR, 2 BA sits in commuter’s dream location near blue line train & South Town OP shopping & restaurants. Great condo alternative for someone who wants their own yard, garage, & driveway for additional parking! 2BR/2BA............................$319,900
Extensive gut renovation and reinvention of Mid-century beauty. Exceptionally livable, w/3 BR, 2 full BA (master suite) on the 2nd floor + large BR (or office, door to the yard) & full BA w/walk-in shower on main level which could be used as suite along w/1st floor laundry. 4BR/3BA ...................$625,000
LARGE beautiful 3 BR/2 BA unit with sep DR, sun rm, eat-in kitchen, outdoor space, in-unit laundry! Everything you want - hdwd flrs, decorative fireplace with built-in bookcases, tons of storage, and back porch leading to landscaped courtyard. Easy permit parking right outside your door. Close to Green and Blue lines and I-290.3BR/2BA .......$200,000
Cynthia Howe Gajewski • 312-933-8440
Cynthia Howe Gajewski • 312-933-8440
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
Elmwood Park
W
I PR
CE
!
Oak Park
Georgian with wonderful back yard. Newer kitchen (2010) and upstairs BA. Hardwood floors on first floor and 2 of the BRs. New HVAC (2016), newer CAC (2010). Many newer windows. Attached 2 car garage. Plenty of sunshine on corner lot! Being offered ‘As-Is’.3BR/2BA....................$275,000
Spacious with gorgeous hdwd flrs. Large kitchen overlooks large backyard with deck, patio. 1st flr laundry! Fam. room & bar area in fnshd bsmnt. Expansion possibilities for master suite on third flr. Open front porch on lovely block. 2-car garage plus addtnl parking spot. 4BR/1.5BA...............$410,000
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
NE
Oak Park
Isaac Jordan
Marketing and Technology
Vintage home built in 1887 has all the features you are looking for with many updates, including third party “green” cert. Art glass, original built- ins, quarter sawn oak mantle over wd burning fireplace, and hdwd flrs with stunning inlays. On a great cul-de-sac block! 5BR/2.5BA.........$600,000
!
Oak Park
Martha Murphy
Broker Associate
W
I PR
CE
!
Oak Park
Rare opportunity to own HUGE 2 flat on deep, double lot with double garage (4 car parking) only 2 blocks from vibrant downtown OP! Units are 3/4 BR, 1400+ square feet each. Possibility to duplex down into the basement for even bigger living space! 2 Flat – 7BR/2BA..................$475,000
Unique condo is truly a one-of-a-kind find! Hardwood floors, woodwork, art glass windows, abundance of natural light make unit incredibly warm and inviting. Kitchen with cherry wood cabinets, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Don’t miss out! 3BR/2BA................$315,000
Cynthia Howe Gajewski • 312-933-8440
Erica Cuneen •708-220-2025
Forest Park
Conveniently located mixed use space! Retail on 1st flr with three 1-BR apartments on 2nd flr. Close to Blue Line, I-290, and bus. Each unit has upgraded windows and long-term tenants. Six parking spaces! Opportunity for an investor or business owner! Mixed use – 4 units.............$320,000
Erica Cuneen • 708-220-2025
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
708.386.1366 • 109 N. Marion St., Oak Park • beyondpropertiesrealty.com B8 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
No. 1 Oak Park Office in 2018!
3BR/2.5BA & Dog Shower (We get you.)
630 N East Ave | Oak Park
1114 Forest Ave | River Forest
204 S East Ave | Oak Park
703 N East Ave | Oak Park
505 Marengo Ave | Forest Park
511 N Harvey Ave | Oak Park
401 Augusta St | Oak Park
3639 Wesley Ave | Berwyn
730 Augusta St | Oak Park
622 S Cuyler Ave | Oak Park
1032 Superior St | Oak Park
808 N Humphrey | Oak Park
170 N Marion #10 | Oak Park
3440 Clarence Ave | Berwyn
1188 Clinton Ave | Oak Park
847 Home Ave | Oak Park
1207 N Elmwood | Oak Park
547 N Ridgeland | Oak Park
19 Keystone Ave | River Forest
1 Gale Ave #4E | River Forest
$1,195,000 Catherine Simon-Vobornik
$379,000 Mary Carlin
$534,000 Lois Bonaccorsi
$549,000 Kara Keller
$999,000 Kara Keller
$569,000 Victoria Atkins
$399,900 Saretta Joyner
$579,900 Patricia McGowan
$899,000 Vanessa Willey
$295,000 Eddie Tovar
$364,900 Bethanny Alexander
$549,900 Catherine Simon-Vobornik
$1,220,000 Patricia McGowan
$410,000 Linda Von Vogt
$245,000 Sandra Lopez
$515,000 Vanessa Willey
Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest | 1037 Chicago Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302 | 708.697.5900 | BairdWarner.com
$569,000 Patti McGuinness
$339,900 Swati Saxena
$449,000 Heidi Rogers
$465,500 Saretta Joyner
Source: BrokerMetrics® LLC, 1.1.2018-12.31.2018 Detached & attached sales only. Chicagoland PMSA
March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B9
Time To Set Down Roots! Gunderson
Queen Anne Bungulow
2-Story ct ra t on C r de n U
Completely renovated 4 BR, 3.1 BA Gunderson home! Choice location, perfect condition--inside and out. Fireplace, gorgeous kitchen & baths, beamed ceiling, art glass windows & hardwood floors. ............................$695,000
4 BR, 3 BA Queen Anne Bungalow on spacious 50’ x 125’ lot with side drive. Hardwood flrs, built-ins, beamed ceiling, 1st floor Family Rm, vaulted ceilings, skylights, and lower level with 7’ ceilings. Wow!.$515,000
Victorian
Prairie
3+ BR 1.1 BA 2-story, stucco home with brand new kitchen and baths, hardwood floors, fireplace, breakfast room, and new central air, boiler, and water heater. 2 car garage & 1 parking space. Sweet house! .........$475,000
New Listing
t ac r t on C r de n U
Center of town location for this 4 BR, 1.1 BA Painted Lady! Natural woodwork, refinished hardwood floors, walk-up expandable attic & 1st flr Family Rm with woodburning fireplace. Stunning lot & garden........$540,000
Exceptional 5 BR, 3.1 BA Prairie home with stained glass windows, Roman brick fireplace, natural woodwork and 1st floor Fam Rm. You’ll love the Master suite with steam shower, sauna and 201’ deep lot. ...........$848,000
Hulbert
Victorian
New Listing
3 BR, 3.1 BA Hulbert home with private balcony off the Master bedroom suite & Family Rm & deck right off the remodeled island kitchen. New, neutral decor, hardwood floors, built-in buffet & natural woodwork .......$535,000
4 BR, 3.1 Victorian has been re-built & renovated! Master bedroom suite with walk-in closet, Family Rm off the island kitchen, hardwood floors, natural woodwork, built-ins, and even a sharp lower level. ............$899,000
Classic 3 BR, 1.1 BA home that’s ideally located between the Green & Blue Line “El”. New: siding, soffits, fascia and deck. Hardwood floors, granite counter kitchen with breakfast room, & gorgeous new full bath.......$425,000
Zak Knebel
Patti Sprafka Wagner
773.290.9293
708.218.8102
Patti@swkgroup.house
Charming 3+ BR, 1.1 BA Bungalow that’s been freshly painted, and has newly finished hardwood floors. Eat-in kitchen, sunny corner lot, and exceptional lower level Family Rm. A honey for the money! ...............$355,000
Zak@swkgroup.house
708.383.8700
1011 South Boulevard Oak Park, Il 60302 B10 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
In The Village, Realtors® 1041 N EAST AVE OPEN SUN 12-2 PM Harry Walsh, Managing Broker
Mike Becker
River Forest • $833,000 4BR, 4BA Call Marion x111
Oak Park • $718,800 4BR, 3.1BA Call Kyra x145
Oak Park • $699,000 4BR, 2.2BA Call Roz x112
Oak Park • $675,000 6BR, 4BA Call Roz x112
Roz Byrne Joelle Venzera
Tom Byrne
Oak Park • $525,000 5BR, 3BA Call Joe x117
Forest Park • $499,000 3BR, 2.1BA Call Joe x117
Oak Park • $517,000 Multi units Call Laurie x186
Oak Park • $459,000 3BR, 1.1BA Call Elissa x192
Home of the Week
Kris Sagan
Laurie Christofano
Oak Park • $449,000 3BR, 2.1BA Call Harry x116
Oak Park • $309,900 3BR, 2.1BA Call Elissa x192
Linda Rooney
Marion Digre
947 N Oak Park Ave, Oak Park Morgan Digre
Ed Goodwin
Oak Park • $250,000 3BR, 1BA Call Kyra x145
Joe Langley
$579,900 • 3BR, 3.1BA
Forest Park • $193,900 2BR, 1BA Call Kris x101
Jane McClelland
Kyra Pych
Call Harry x116
Keri Meacham
Mary Murphy
Steve Nasralla
Elissa Palermo
March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B11
Did someone say shenanigans? HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
B12 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
With a little luck of the Irish, you’ll find your dream home today! SUNDAY, MARCH 17TH FROM 1PM – 3PM.
424 Linden Ave Oak Park
413 N Marion St Oak Park
327 Gale Ave River Forest
15 Forest Ave #19, River Forest (Prominade Townhomes)
733 Clinton Ave Oak Park
719 Franklin Ave River Forest
529 N Taylor Ave Oak Park
1122 N Harvey Ave Oak Park
114 S Scoville Ave Oak Park
830 Clinton Ave Oak Park
808 Wisconsin Ave Oak Park
1125 Wisconsin Ave Oak Park
911 Lathrop Ave Forest Park
723 N Lombard Ave Oak Park
1029 Washington Blvd #101 Oak Park
223 S Kenilworth Ave Oak Park
203 Keystone Ave River Forest
1215 Park Ave River Forest
415 S Maple Ave #201 Oak Park
316 S Taylor Ave Oak Park
7310 Holly Ct River Forest
200 Lathrop Ave Forest Park
532 S Kenilworth Oak Park
329 S Lombard Ave Oak Park
March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B13
COLDWELL BANKER Oak Park | 6/7 | $1,650,000 509 N Oak Park Avenue
Oak Park | 6/5 | $1,595,000 422 Forest Avenue
River Forest | 6/6 | $1,449,000 823 Jackson Avenue
River Forest | 6/5 | $1,199,500 632 Lathrop Avenue
Oak Park | 5/4 | $899,000 423 N Kenilworth Avenue
Oak Park | 6/5 | $875,000 415 Forest Avenue
Prestigious 6 br, 5+ ba estate design by H.G. Fiddelke! 170x237 lot.
Updated & stylish 6 br, 4.5 ba home. Architecturally significant!
Stunning 6 br, 5.5 ba home w/gracious floor plan. Sun rm. Lush yard.
Beaut 6 br, 4.5 ba Victorian. New floors thruout. Spa-like master ba.
5 br, 3.5 ba home w/fabulous historical details. Near schools, shops.
6 br, 4.5 ba home in heart of the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic Dist.
Jennifer Vande Lune 312.593.8707
Monica Klinke 708.612.3031
Kirstin Gloor 708.351.8977
John Haagenson 773.230.6995
Stephanie Eiger 708.557.0779
Monica Klinke 708.612.3031
Riverside | 3/3 | $535,000 403 Uvedale Road
Oak Park | 3/2 | $525,000 819 Linden Avenue
River Forest | 3/4 | $489,000 12 Park Avenue
Elmwood Park | 4/4 | $449,000 1808 N 74th Court
Oak Park | 5/2 | $399,900 1153 Clarence Ave
Riverside | 3/3 | $369,000 523 Longcommon Road
3 br, 2.5 ba home offers tons of space! Sunny liv rm. Priv back patio.
3 br, 1.5 ba home w/huge yard. Remod ba. Orig hdwd flrs.
Spacious 3 br, 2+ ba end unit TH w/ an innovative & modern design.
Spacious and well-cared-for 4 br, 4 ba brick home. Full fin bsmt.
Well-maintained 5 br, 2 ba home w/ updated electric & new paint.
Nice 3 br, 2.5 ba brick home w/hdwd flrs throughout & att 2-car gar.
Michael Pochron 708.352.4840
Michelle Miller 708.334.5833
Lisa Andreoli 708.524.1100
Shea Kiessling 708.710.5952
Deborah Wess 708.212.1122
Sheila Gentile 708.352.4840
Oak Park | 3/4 | $365,000 601 South Boulevard F
Berwyn | 4/2 | $259,000 2109 Home Avenue
Riverside | 2/1 | $233,900 201 W Quincy Street
River Forest | 2/2 | $144,900 1531 William Street 2W
Berwyn | 2/1 | $139,900 1503 Elmwood Avenue
Oak Park | 1/1 | $109,500 434 Harrison Street 3
Sunny 3 br, 3.5 ba end-unit TH. Fresh paint, refin hdwd flrs, patio.
4 br, 2 full ba brick bungalow available in Berwyn’s Gold Coast!
2 br vintage charmer boasts fantastic loc, just 1 block to Metra!
2 br, 1.5 ba 2nd flr corner unit overlooking courtyard. Great street!
2 br brick home w/full basement has loads of potential! New roof.
Charming condo for sale in trendy Oak Park! Close to the Blue Line.
Deborah Wess 708.212.1122
Lisa Clemente 708.352.4840
Agnes Halmon 708.352.4840
John Nugent 708.424.4000
Andrea Bonnie Routen 708.544.8440
Jaurel Gobeille 708.460.4900
Riverside | 5/2 | $339,000 69 E Quincy Street
Berwyn | 3/2 | $259,872 2701 Harvey Avenue
Elmwood Park | 3/1 | $219,000 2900 N 74th Avenue
Berwyn | 4/2 | $215,000 3614 Lombard Avenue
Berwyn | 3/2 | $215,000 3607 East Avenue
River Forest | 3/2 | $205,000 1545 Monroe Avenue 3
5 br, 2 ba home near Metra, schools, library & shopping. Eat-in kit.
Brick 2-flat bungalow w/3-car garage. Great corner lot location!
3 bedroom single-family home. Don’t miss this opportunity!
4 bedroom, 2 bath home in a nice loc. Don’t miss this opportunity!
3 br, 1.5 ba brick tri-level home in South Berywn. Near everything!
Amazing 3 br, 1.5 ba unit has been completely rehabbed! Deeded prkg.
Sheila Gentile 708.352.4840
Michelle Kotowski 708.460.4900
Maria Estrada 773.457.3541
Dorene Fliger 708.352.4840
Lisa Clemente 708.352.4840
Ginny Leamy 708.205.9541
COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN REAL ESTATE? CALL ME TODAY.
Lewis R. Jones, Managing Broker Oak Park Office (Formerly Gloor Realty) 708.524.1100 | lewis.jones@cbexchange.com
The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Any affiliation by you with the Company is intended to be that of an independent contractor sales associate, not an employee. ©2019 Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Owned by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.
B14 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
Generations of Excellence since 1958
708.771.8040 • 7375 W. North Ave., River Forest Donna Barnhisel Cibula 7375 West North AvenueJoe Dan Bogojevich Don Citrano MANAGING Anne Brennan Alisa River Forest, Illinois 60305 Coghill BROKER/OWNERS Karen Byrne Kay Costello 708.771.8040 Kevin Calkins JoLyn Crawford Andy Gagliardo Tom Carraher Pat Cesario
Tom Poulos
Maria Cullerton Julie Downey
Kurt Fielder Yvonne Fiszer-Steele Ramona Fox Laura Gancer Chris Garvey Lisa Grimes Dan Halperin
Sharon Halperin Greg Jaroszewski Vee Jaroszewski Noa Klima Sherree Krisco Jack Lattner Charlotte Messina
Vince McFadden Elizabeth Moroney Colleen Navigato John Pappas Sue Ponzio-Pappas Rosa Pitassi Caroline Rauch
Michael Roche Jenny Ruland Laurel Saltzman Laurie Shapiro Tom Sullivan Debbie Watts George Wohlford Nancy Wohlford
Randy Ernst • 773-290-0307
221 KEYSTONE • RIVER FOREST
846 BONNIE BRAE • RIVER FOREST
1022 FOREST • RIVER FOREST
1808 N 77TH AVE • ELMWOOD PARK
NE W LISTI NG!
N EW LI S T I N G!
N EW LI S T I NG!
N E W L ISTIN G!
BEAUTIFUL, CLASSIC HOME offers everything for today’s modern living. Custom-built home has the highest quality finishes. No detail was missed. Brick and stone exterior, wrap around porch, eleven-foot ceilings and oversized windows. LL has 2,000 feet of living area. ...........................................................................$1,595,000
BEAUTIFUL ITALIAN VILLA combines wonderful upgrades and finishes in a comfortable family home. New kitchen and four full floors of elegant living. All the rooms are spacious and sunny. Situated on a large corner lot in a quiet area but close enough to walk to the train! ..........................................................................$1,375,000
THE ONE YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! Everything you want…pristine hardwood floors, wood trim throughout, expansive windows, custom kitchen, family room, expansive master suite, third floor with many options, redone basement. This house will not disappoint!..............................................................................$989,000
STUNNING DOUBLE BAY BRICK COLONIAL in the perfect location! You will not be disappointed. Hardwood floors, crown molding, fireplace, new kitchen. Side-screen porch that opens to the landscaped yard that has in-ground heated pool. This home is a rare find! .................................................................................$389,000
ADDITIONAL OPEN HOUSES • SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019
707 N MARION • OAK PARK OPEN SUNDAY 13
704 MONROE • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 122
RIVER FOREST 1207 JACKSON • OPEN SUNDAY 1:303
STATELY LANNON STONE GEORGIAN is move in ready with five large BRs, and three full BAs. Large rooms, remodeled gourmet kitchen, family room, three fireplaces , full finished basement, walk up third floor storage with 10 foot ceiling. Slate roof. Attd 2 car garage. .....$1,095,000
727 JACKSON • OPEN SUNDAY 13
WELL MAINTAINED 1894 FARMHOUSE that is ready to move in to. 4 BRs, 2 full BAs. First floor features a LR/DR combo, kitchen with Island and a full bath. Basement is semi finished with laundry rm, TV area. Hardwood floors. Cen Air. New back porch. Great street in NW OP. ................................................................................$479,000
RIVER FOREST HOMES STATELY BRICK/STONE ENGLISH STYLE HOME with 6 BRs and 7-1/2 BAs. Formal LR with limestone wood burning fireplace, dream kitchen, Smart Home ready, white oak floors, mud rm, 10 ft ceilings ...........................................$2,490,000 RARE NEW CONSTRUCTION in prime location is like no other. From the cut limestone, European detailing to the unequal foyer, it has no peers. This 7 bedroom, 7-1/2 bath home offers private office, elaborate chef’s kitchen, 10 ft ceilings, mud room, impressive lower level..........................................................................$2,490,000 BURMA BUILT BUHRKE HOUSE combines Tudor revival & chateau style architecture elements. Gorgeous décor and impeccable attention to detail and care found in house and landscaped grounds, extends to fabulous in ground pool and patios. Perfect for entertaining. .....................................................................$2,399,000 SPECTACULAR HOME offers modern/elegant architectural design, tasteful decor and impeccable attention to detail throughout, featuring 4 bedrooms and 5 full baths. Music room, private office, butler’s pantry, family room. Full basement w/wet bar, game room and rec room...........................................................$1,550,000 LOVINGLY MAINTAINED AND UPDATED, move-in ready, 6 BR, 3-1/2 BA Burma Brothers Home. Original woodwork, oak floors, art glass, wood burning frpl, fam room/sun porch, den/lib with built-in bookshelves, mudroom. Fenced yard, 2 car gar & 2 add’l spaces. ..................................................................................$1,250,000 LOVELY HOME, in premier location, offers wonderful space for family and entertaining, with 2 fireplaces, hdwd flrs. Elegant home is beautifully constructed and will accommodate family for years to come. .......................................$1,225,000
1035 BONNIE BRAE • OPEN SUNDAY 13
BRIGHT, SPACIOUS BRICK TOWNHOME with 3 bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths in outstanding location! This townhome lives like a single-family with three full levels of living space, private yard and garage parking! Beautiful refinished hdwd flrs, freshly painted throughout .......$419,000
1140 JACKSON • OPEN SUNDAY 13
PRICE REDUCED EXCEPTIONAL RENOVATION in the heart of RF presents unparalleled quality and design. Quality construction continues into the rehab, not a detail has been missed throughout this thoughtfully proportioned home with 6 BRs and 5 full and 1 half bath..... $1,695,000
SETTING A NEW STANDARD in approachable elegance, this five BR, 3-1/2 BA will exceed your expectations with wide plank hardwood floors, striking lighting and custom millwork throughout. One of a kind floor plan, and three fully finished levels. ................................$1,250,000
LOVELY BRICK GEORGIAN with elegance, modern day conveniences, and space. Features include hardwood floors, 3 fireplaces, family room, double-sided fireplace, sunroom with heated floors, beautifully paved patio. Lower Level rec room w fireplace and heated floors. ................................................................ $875,000 STYLE & ELEGANCE ABOUND in ideally located 4 BR, 2-1/2 BA. Old world charm blends with the newly renovated open kitchen and family room. 2 car garage & 1 ext space. ..........................................................................................$850,000 UNIQUE QUALITY BURMA BUILT HOME with 5 bedrooms and 3 full, 2 half baths. House has many wonderful features; 2 separate office areas, hdwd flrs, kitchen with all newer appliances, adjoining eating area-family room. Finished bsmnt. Three car garage.....................................................................................$845,000 PRICE REDUCED GRACIOUS, NEWLY UPDATED four BR, two full, two half BA features refinished hardwood floors, a recently renovated kitchen, updated bathrooms, two laundry rooms. Longtime owners have meticulously maintained this home. Enjoy all it has to offer!....................................................................$699,000 PRICE REDUCED ELEGANT, GRACIOUS HOME with 4 BRs, 2-1/2 BAs offers a large formal LR w/gas fireplace, spacious DR, hardwood floors, beautiful molding, family room, eat-in kitchen, finished lower level and whole house generator. Outside includes back deck & 3 car garage. ................................................... $675,000 GREAT LOCATION & EASY LIVING in single family Tri-level home on a quiet Cul-De-Sac street. Great flow for entertaining, complete with family room. MBR has an en-suite European bath. Finished lower level has a 1/2 bath, study and exercise room. Growth to make it your own. .................................................$585,000 OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU exists in brick colonial with attached garage. Three BRs-shared Master Bath with huge walk in closet. Walking distance to school and parks.......................................................................................................................$480,000 NEW LISTING OPPORTUNITY EXISTS in this mid century ranch. Bring your ideas!! Four bedrooms and sprawling basement. ..........................................$379,000
UNPRECEDENTED ESTATE in the Frank Lloyd Wright Historical district of Oak Park! This meticulously renovated 5 BR, 5 full / 2 half bath property offers exquisite details and refined finishes that boast timeless materials and over the top custom millwork. This is a showcase home ...............................................................$1,545,000 HANDSOME PRAIRIE INFLUENCED HOME, evident in gorgeous original wood, beautiful art glass windows. Beautiful entryway, classic wood mantle, French doors, built- ins. Charming coach house. Special home much loved by same family for two generations.................................................................................$899,000 PRICE REDUCED BEAUTIFUL TRADITIONAL BRICK HOME with four large BRs and two and a half baths offers a wood burning fireplace, high ceilings, leaded glass windows and beautiful architectural details. Sun room has French doors leading to patio. A must see property! ..................................................$749,500 PRICE REDUCED MOVE FAST! Lovely 4 BR, 2-1/2 bath Tudor with beautiful original woodwork, windows with built –in screens, wood burning stone fireplace, built-in shelving, family room with surround sound system. Two car garage w/2 extra spaces. Meticulously maintained! ................................................. $675,000 CENTER OF TOWN VICTORIAN with high ceilings, four spacious levels of living in beautiful Oak Park. This 5 BR, 3-12 BA home offers a formal entry, wood burning FP, sun room, family room, eat-in kitchen. Great flow, tons of natural light & storage throughout this beauty! ................................................................... $639,000 MOVEIN READY with space for everyone! Enjoy the well thought out design of this 5 BR, 4 bath home! 1st FL includes open floor plan, kitchen/family room combo, BR, full bath. 2nd FL features 4 BRs, 2 full baths, laundry. Finished basement with additional BR and 4th full BA..........................................................$599,900
OAK PARK HOMES
N E W L ISTIN G! VINTAGE CHARMER on treelined cobblestone street in prime location. Warm and inviting home with lots of potential! Living room is centered with a cozy fireplace, separate dining room, bright kitchen and spacious family room. 2nd floor has 3 bedrooms and 1 full bath. Large deck overlooking backyard. ........................$499,000 NEW LISTING CLASSIC QUEEN ANNE HOME with 3 bedrooms, 3-1/2 baths includes LR with gas FP and attached Sun room. 1st FL family room, updated kitchen with attached breakfast room. Great closet space. Finished rec room in basement. Custom deck. Great house for entertaining!................................$519,000 CLASSIC NORTH OP HOME with impeccable curb appeal. Three BR, one and a half bath includes wood burning fireplace, stained glass, family room, eat in kitchen, ample closet space, expansive deck overlooking a beautiful yard. Discover the best of Oak Park! ...........................................................................................$469,000 READY TO MOVE IN charming 3 bedroom home features a welcoming front porch with swing and sitting area. Home offers magnificent oak woodwork, stained glass & hardwood floors. Finished basement. Large deck & beautifully landscaped yard. Home has many extras! .....................................................$432,500
FOREST PARK HOMES
AWARD WINNING RENOVATION of this impressive 4 bedroom, 3 full bath luxury home! Large open floor plan, designer kitchen, mud room with built-ins, huge pantry, finished basement rec room, loads of storage and three separate porches. Architect designed landscaping. ...................................................... $639,000 ENJOY LUXURY LIVING in this masterfully renovated home on an extra wide lot. Gutted down to the studs, this Impressive open concept home features wood floors, natural light and high-style designer finishes. 1st FL office, finished LL family room and easy access to a large deck. ........................................................$454,800 PRICE REDUCED A GREAT HOME for your finishing touches to make it your own! Sunny LR with bay window. Separate dining area with attached fam rm leading to deck. Stainless steel kitchen. 2nd flr has 2 BRs and full BA. Two and a half car garage and parking on side apron...................................................... $259,000
For more listings & photos go to GagliardoRealty.com March 13, 2019 ■ Wednesday Journal/Forest Park Review
B15
Success
(suk’sess) noun. A favorable result, the gaining of wealth or fame, a successful thing.
Sunday, March 17, 2019 ADDRESS
ADDRESS
Realistic Expectation–Proven Results
REALTY CO.
REALTY CO.
LISTING PRICE
TIME
TIME
TOWN HOMES
ADDRESS
LISTING PRICE
15 Forest Ave. UNIT 19, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $554,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 15 Forest Ave. UNIT 19, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $554,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sat. 11-1
MULTIFAMILY
Tom Carraher
TIME
SINGLE FAMILY HOMES
Call Tom Carraher at 708-822-0540 to achieve all of your real estate goals.
LISTING PRICE
415 S. Maple Ave. UNIT 201, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$119,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1029 Washington Blvd. UNIT 101, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $195,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1 Gale Ave. UNIT 4E, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $465,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1:30 110 S. Marion St. UNIT 308, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $600,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
The achievement of success has most often been neglected by those who would compromise and settle for second-best. ...unless you select the uncompromising real estate services of Tom Carraher. The successful choice in real estate.
REALTY CO.
723 N. Lombard Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $329,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 911 Lathrop Ave, Forest Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $355,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 200 Lathrop Ave, Forest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $375,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 808 N. Humphrey Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $399,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3:30 1122 N. Harvey Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$419,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 223 S. Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $475,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 707 N. Marion St, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $479,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 704 Monroe Ave, RIVER FOREST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $499,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 808 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $515,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 529 N. Taylor Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $520,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 733 Clinton Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $529,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 830 Clinton Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $535,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 114 S. Scoville Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $540,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 316 Taylor Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $545,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 329 S. Lombard Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $560,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 842 N. Elmwood Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $564,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 413 N. Marion St, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $579,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 352 Gatesby Rd, Riverside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re/Max In The Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $625,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 718 N. Elmwood Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group . . . $638,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 101 N. Euclid Ave. UNIT 12, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $639,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1041 N. East Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re/Max In The Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $699,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 327 Gale Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $775,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 532 S. Kenilworth, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $784,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 925 Bonnie Brae Pl, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $825,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30-3:30 1215 Park Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $835,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 719 Franklin Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $875,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1125 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $899,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 424 Linden Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $949,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1207 Jackson Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,095,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30-3 7310 Holly Court, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,125,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1135 N. Grove Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gullo & Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,150,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 203 Keystone Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . @properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,175,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 1140 Jackson Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,250,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 727 Jackson Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,695,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
CONDOS
Tom Carraher redefines the essence of real estate service.
1035 Bonnie Brae Pl, RIVER FOREST. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$419,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
ADDRESS
REALTY CO.
LISTING PRICE
TIME
This Directory brought to you by mrgloans.com
7375W. West NorthAve. Avenue 7375 North River Forest, Illinois River Forest 60305 708.771.8040 708.771.8040
http://tomcarraher.realtor.com
B16 View more at OakPark.com/Real-Estate ■ March 13, 2019
Providing financing for homes in Oak Park and surrounding communities since 1989. Conventional, FHA, and Jumbo mortgages Free Pre-approvals
7544 W. North Avenue Elmwood Park, IL 708.452.5151
Mortgage Resource Group is an Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee. NMLS # 207793 License # 1031
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
Win e
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
pe u S
r Center
Irish Red Ale or Harp Lager
STING
TA “FAMOUS” WINE 00 12:00 - 4:
Tell your friends!!!
7714 W. Madison, Forest Park 708-366-2500 Monday - Thursday 10-10 Friday & Saturday 10-11 Sunday 10-7
105 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard 630-629-3330 Monday - Thursday 9-10 Friday & Saturday 9-11 Sunday 10-9
On sale March 13 thru March 19, 2010 Right reserved to limit quantities and correct errors.
Mark your Calendar for our Annual Spring
WINE TASTINGS
Saturday April 13th 1-5p.m. (Forest Park) Saturday April 20th 1-5p.m. (Lombard)
Clip & Save Instantly Irish Cream Liqueur
Sale Price $16.99
9
Smithwick’s
14
99 750ml
with coupon
10
12 PKB
Jameson
99
PLUS of Get a Bag ¢ 1 CHIPS for
Leinenkugel’s Beers
27
11
Mix or Match
Jameson
St. Brendan’s
750ml
750ml
18.99
$
Maker’s Mark
Bushmills Black Bush
99
750ml
19.99
$
750ml
Regularly 27.99 $
Bushmills
Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin
99
VR Chardonnay 2016
5
750ml
19 2 for 35
Paddy’s
Gilbey’s
750ml
899
99 750ml $
Regularly 39.99 $
17.99
Vodka
1.75 L
Kim Crawford Marlborough
Sauv. Blanc 2018
99 750ml
WINE SPECIALS!
5.99 Wente
$
VS Cognac
19.99
$
Chardonnay 2016
99
Martell
750ml
Toasted Head or Clos du Bois
Kendall Jackson
$
Irish Whiskey
$ 2 for $30
Regularly 19.99
750ml
Kinahan’s
13.99 $
99 13 2 for 26
Lord Lieutenant
Irish Whiskey
750ml
12 PK
Original Irish Whiskey
8.99
$
99
Bushmills
Irish Cream
Red Bush
$
1.75 L
California Pinot Noir ........... Reg. $9.49
$
Irish Whiskey
750ml
Reg. 32.99
Mark West
Bottles or Cans 12 PK
ST. PAT’S LIQUOR SPECIALS
CASKMATES Stout or IPA Edition
8
12 PK
25
2 FOR
8 PKC
13
1099
Any 30 Packs Beer
99
23
Beers
99
8
14.9 oz. Cans
Bourbon 90 Proof
27
Seagram’s Escapes 99 3 $ 12 PK FOR
Draught
$
3 $ 12 PK FOR 16 oz. Cans
12
99
23
99
Stella Artois
Guinness
8
Goose Island
Miller Lite or Coors Light
Draught or Extra Stout
y for a Join us EVERY Saturda
Baileys
ST. PAT’S BEER BUYS!
Guinness
9
99 750ml
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Pinot Grigio 2016 ................................ $15.99
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
LET'S ENGAGE & PARTICIPATE IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT SMALL BUSINESS ISSUES & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The OPRF Chamber of Commerce & the Business and Civic Council of OP invite ALL BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS to join us for a panel discussion with candidates for the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees. Friday, March 15, 2019 at the Carleton Hotel Doors Open at 7:30am for a complimentary breakfast Program starts 8-9:30am
ATTENDING CANDIDATES Thomas Gary Christian Harris Graham Brisben Joshua Klayman James Thompson Arti Walker Peddakotla Susan Buchanan James Taglia Bridgett Baron Cory Wesley
FACILITORS: Lynn Palmgren: Owner of Palmgren Acupuncture, Board Member, OPRF Chamber of Commerce Steve Strahler: Crains' Chicago Business, Freelance Journalist and Executive Director, BCC
If you can not attend the discussion, please submit questions to info@oprfchamber.org
Lead. Learn. Promote
join us at oprfchamber.org
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY 5 P.M.
Email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor, ktrainor@wjinc.com
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
VIEWPOINTS
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What could go wrong? p. 23
Haley didn’t listen to the students’ side
I
am disappointed in Dan Haley’s recent piece [Fostering, containing student protests, News, March 6] about how he thinks the recent walkout and subsequent actions by District 200 and students fit into the picture of equity work at OPRF High School. As someone who’s been present for many of the events of the past week and a half as a supporter of these student activists, I am skeptical that he has even spoken to Antoine Ford or any of the others involved in these protests. He raises up the work of BLU and SAFE but fails to recognize that those are the very same leaders who (with others) engaged in the walkout and subsequent protests. He makes no attempt to understand or communicate students’ side of the conversations which have taken place with the superintendent, instead dismissively explaining that Dr. Pruitt-Adams’s efforts “have not taken” with Antoine Ford. Given how difficult it is to engage young black men in this work — OPRF senior Michela Anderson heart-wrenchingly described “picking up the broken pieces of black boys” at a recent SAY Connects event co-sponsored by Mr. Haley’s publication — shouldn’t we be listening when there is an opportunity, rather than pushing our own notion of “effective methods”? Most disappointingly, he presents recent progress in equity work as the result of the efforts of the superintendent and board president (his pick for Villager of the Year in 2018). While they have certainly played important roles, Mr. Haley’s narrative misses the steadfast efforts of community members who have organized around getting the board to adopt an equity policy and hire more teachers of color. And of course, he misses the contributions of the students themselves, which he sees as having been fostered by Dr. Pruitt-Adams and Dr. Moore. He states the superintendent “basically invited” students onto the stage at an America to Me-related forum. Well, I was present at the back of the auditorium that day to witness the current director of Campus Security physically bar the door when students tried to enter the auditorium and then shoved the first individual who was able to pass through. If the superintendent and board president’s engagement with students is what led to the student-written curriculum for an equity course, how is it that the school principal dismissed the curriculum entirely, and it was only after a board meeting where dozens of community members showed up, at the explicit request of students, that work began in earnest to make these students’ plans a reality? Haley closes with what sounds to me like an either-or proposition with either school administrators or faculty/ staff leading students toward change. He seems unable to imagine the possibility that students themselves could be driving these efforts, that they could be the ones who understand the problems they face and have the courage and commitment to organize. This makes me sad, because I have met them, I have seen them in action, and I know that they are their own best advocates. Paul Goyette is an Oak Park resident.
PAUL
Photo provided by Frank Lipo
BACK IN THE DAY: The former Foley-Rice building at 644 Madison St. was built in 1925 as a showroom for Packard dealer Hill Motor Sales Company. The building could be torn down to make way for a grocery store.
GOYETTE One View
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Preserve the E.E. Roberts building on Madison
e, the students of Triton College’s School of Architecture, are writing in an effort to voice our strong opinion regarding the future of the Hill Motor Sales Co. Building, located at 644 Madison St. We feel that a complete demolition of the historic E.E. Roberts building would be a mistake and have a negative effect not only on the character of Madison Street but set a negative precedent for development in the surrounding area. During our studies, we have learned the importance of buildings, their historical meaning and their effect on the communities in which they are found. The village of Oak Park has been a focal point for our studies of architecture and design, due to the rich architectural heritage. Our solution is to utilize an adaptive reuse approach. This would accomplish many positive goals. Adaptive reuse of this structure would
TRITON SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS One View
conserve energy by utilizing existing structural components, preserve historical and artistic character, create a more unique and interesting space, and blend any future expansion with the current character of the streetscape. There are many other positive outcomes of the adaptive reuse of this building. At the paramount of these is the conservation of Oak Park’s legacy as a place of architectural importance. Adaptive reuse has already shown to be successful within the village. For example the Walgreens and Sugar Beet buildings located on Madison
Street, just a few blocks away. The proposed future use of 644 Madison as a grocery store makes this building an ideal candidate for adaptive reuse. We implore the Oak Park Village Board to take serious consideration in preserving, not only the architectural history of Madison Street, but the integrity of Oak Park as a whole. George Venetsanakos Emanuel Garcia Yvette Rivers Lola Casillas Kelly Sanchez Brian Macaluso Thomas Allen Kinwan Gaston Tim Steffen Naylah Santana Victoria Kospin Nancy Coronel Yamil Lara Bryn Hane Thomas Hernandez Eugene Micah Muhammed
Foley-Rice building is costume jewelry I commend the trustees who express serious reservations about any sort of historic designation for the Foley-Rice building. The last thing Oak Park needs is another impediment to worthwhile redevelopment of a long-unused parcel. If anyone wants to salvage ornamental features of the facade, I’m sure the developer will be happy to let said persons have said features and move
them somewhere else. I’d like to see more attention to facilitating architecture that future generations will look back on as significant and less attention to keeping marginally interesting structures on life support. Keep the gems like the Wright Home & Studio, but let the costume jewelry like Foley-Rice go. Meanwhile, has anyone discussed the Madison Street narrowing con-
cept with the developer? The last thing Pete’s would need is a clogged two-lane street causing parking lot gridlock. Entering and exiting the parking lot at Pete’s Lake Street location can be a nightmare, and Lake Street in that area is not nearly as traffic-congested as the Madison Street/Oak Park Avenue vicinity.
Bob Stigger
Oak Park
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
O U R
V I E W P O I N T S
V I E W S
Historic homes’ future
H
istory, meet market. Preservation, meet open concept. Restoration, meet demolition. For the third time in three years, River Forest is debating the future, more precisely debating the demolition of an architecturally and historically significant home in the village. Now on the bubble is 1123 Franklin Ave., a 95-year-old Tudor constructed by Buurma Brothers, immigrants from Holland who settled in Oak Park and built homes known for meticulous construction. The home has reportedly not been occupied since 2006 due to a series of aborted sales and rehabs, bank repossessions and other sidetracks which have allegedly led to substantial damage to the home’s interior. The home was purchased last summer by a couple now applying for a demolition permit so they can clear the site and build a smaller, more modern home. River Forest’s Historic Preservation Committee has brought out its puny little claws: Hold hearings, delay permits, grant permits, watch the wrecking ball. River Forest clearly hasn’t the stomach to fight for its historic heritage. Over more than a decade, determined volunteers have tried and utterly failed to put any whop into the village’s preservation laws. The commission has documented the notable homes, but it is more an exercise in recording history than in preserving history. The result is that River Forest is picking up steam in its effort to become the next Hinsdale, a formerly lovely town along the Metra with new houses crowded on what used to be quaint streets. Is this pattern inevitable? It could be if you read the lead piece in today’s Journal real estate section (Homes). Reporter Lacey Sikora reports the local version of a February missive from Baird & Warner’s Steve Baird instructing his agents on the North Shore to get realistic on why peddling those multimillion-dollar historic mansions has gotten so hard. The reasons says Baird is that young buyers don’t want old houses. They want open floor plans, not formal dining rooms. They want modern amenities, not last-century charm. Many of them, he said, want to live in the city and not commute to Highland Park. And fewer and fewer want to make updating an old house a primary aspect of their lives. In Oak Park and River Forest, local agents told Sikora that larger, older and more pricey homes are not moving as they once did. As the spring market opens, there are an even 50 milliondollar-and-up homes on the market in these villages. The more expensive the home, the longer it lingers on the market — pushing 10 months now on average. And finally, for the second time in a year, we have leading local Realtors telling us that high property taxes are absolutely a drag on the market in Oak Park and River Forest. No surprise. And no comfort.
Westlake/West Sub The battle to save Westlake Hospital intensified this week with hearings before state agencies, an effort to convince the state’s attorney general to investigate and a lawsuit charging fraud being filed against Pipeline Health, its new and possibly final owner, by the village of Melrose Park. This is a lot of deserved heat against Pipeline, an out-of-state company, which also bought West Suburban Medical Center and Weiss Memorial in the city. Those two hospitals will, allegedly, survive Pipeline’s botched arrival in Chicago. For Oak Park, River Forest and Austin, these are days to demand that Pipeline follow on promises to invest notably in our local hospital and in the health of our communities. So far, its word has not been its bond.
A
@ @OakParkSports
Reaching beyond our circle
lex Kotlowitz certainly looks the part of the mild-mannered reporter from a great metropolitan news organization, but while his manner may be mild, his writing is anything but. He’s not a muckraker or an investigative journalist. He doesn’t “break” news. And he goes to great lengths to disabuse people of the notion that he is any kind of public policy proponent. Simply and eloquently, he tells stories — about people whose stories almost never get told, people who are poor, who live in “distressed neighborhoods” in the innercity, and whose lives are deeply affected by violence. Mystery writer Sara Paretsky calls him “America’s preeminent narrative journalist.” Author Matthew Desmond calls Kotlowitz’s latest book, An American Summer – Love and Death in Chicago, “a masterpiece of real-life storytelling.” But he is also a pioneer — in the kind of storytelling few are willing to take on, which is why his first book, There Are No Children Here, about the lives of people living in Chicago’s notorious housing projects, made such an impact when it was published in 1991, and why people still talk about it, perhaps because too little has changed. “The numbers are staggering,” he writes in the prelude to his new book. “In Chicago, in the 20 years between 1990 and 2010, 14,033 people were killed, another roughly 60,000 wounded by gunfire. … Let me put this in perspective, if perspective is possible; it’s considerably more than the number of American soldiers killed in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq. Combined. And here’s the thing: Chicago is by no means the most dangerous city, not even close. Its homicide rate doesn’t even put it in the top 10.” The projects are gone now, thanks partly, maybe largely, to his willingness to leave his comfort zone and go into “bad neighborhoods,” over and over again, to listen to people, establish relationships, honor their stories, bear witness. It’s important work. Call it the journalism of empathy. That’s what Rachel Weaver said, on the evening of March 4 as she introduced him at Dominican University in River Forest, where he was interviewed by Jenn White of WBEZ-FM’s Morning Shift before an audience of several hundred. Weaver, the co-owner of Book Table, Kotlowitz’s favorite bookstore (his own admission), praised his “empathy and artfulness as a writer.” Dominican, one of eight universities to bestow an honorary degree on Kotlowitz, was the evening’s host. A longtime resident of Oak Park, he didn’t have far to travel. Just as we don’t have far to travel to reach the neighborhoods Kotlowitz writes about — except maybe psychologically. “I’ve been haunted for over 30 years by the stubborn persistence of violence, in communities of color, deeply distressed, isolated, economically depressed, communities that fray and unravel. There is a lack of empathy, which is why I tell stories.” These aren’t just stories about violence and death,
which he admits would make pretty grim reading. They are also stories about love and redemption and endurance. He pointed to a single mom in the audience, whose son, Darren, was killed in a shootout. The newspaper story talked only about her son’s criminal record, which allows too many of us to let ourselves off the moral hook of doing something about it. He was a gang member, many think. He must have had it coming. But Darren was more than that, Kotlowitz said. Lisa, his mother, has a license plate frame that reads: “He was my son. His name was Darren.” When his murderer went to trial, the attorneys worked out a plea deal, but Lisa would only agree to it if she could read a victim impact statement at the sentencing. Kotlowitz read her powerful statement aloud. After the trial, Lisa forgave her son’s killer and still corresponds with him. Such stories come out of a grim and painful landscape, he said, but he also finds positives in them. “People somehow emerge from all this standing erect and pushing on heroically,” he noted, which is why the book’s subhead is “Love and Death in Chicago.” “What do we get wrong about all this?” asked White. “We get numb,” Kotlowitz replied. “We are disconnected.” “What would shift this?” she asked. “Anyone who says they know what will work is lying,” he said. “We have a politics of neglect. We do a really lousy job of taking care of our most vulnerable.” But he still believes in the power of story. He ran a writing program for prison inmates some time back, empowering them to tell their own. “It makes us feel less alone,” he said, quoting Tim O’Brien, the acclaimed chronicler of the Vietnam experience. “Stories can save us.” Even stories about the most distressing moments of their lives, stories people hate to tell but have to tell. “Telling stories is how we build connections,” Kotlowitz said. Several audience members asked how we can move beyond “our circle.” “I don’t just wander around the neighborhoods,” he noted. “I look for people or institutions with some standing to provide introductions.” He spent a lot of time at the local Boys Club, for instance, shooting pool, getting to know people. “I’m not foolish about where I go. You have to earn trust. Fear of the unknown prevents people from doing this. It doesn’t come naturally.” These are unsettling times nationwide, he noted, which has allowed “the unseemly side of our country to emerge. It’s been there a long time. The first thing we need to do is acknowledge that race really matters in this country.” Listening to others’ stories is a good place to start. Kotlowitz believes it makes us more human. “I feel I’m a better person for working on this book,” he said.
KEN
TRAINOR
V I E W P O I N T S
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With so many candidates, what could go wrong?
ur Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, provided in our Constitution that a male citizen could not be president unless he was at least 35 years of age. It took a while before women or men of color could qualify, but I say better really late than never. That choice of 35 years actually seems a bit on the young side since the average life span for a white male was 38 in 1787, but sociology had not been invented and rich white men lived considerably longer. I suppose a 35-year-old has a little life experience that might better equip him to fill such a big job. This minimum age does preclude Justin Bieber, Khloe Kardashian, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from running, and for that we can be thankful. At the other end of the age continuum, it seems that many feel you should not be president if you are too old. Old Joe Biden gets hit hard on this issue because he will be 77 on Election Day. Never mind that President Trump will be 74, Bernie Sanders will be 79, and the spring chicken, Elizabeth Warren, will be 71. As a self-loathing senior, I think they are all too old, but singling out Old Joe seems a bit unfair even it seems he’s been around forever. Like the arcade game Whack-A-Mole, Democrat candidates just keep popping up. Like fish in an aquarium, it is hard to keep count. For now there at least 20, including all the Democratic women in the U.S. Senate.
I have some favorites. There was a West Virginia state senator who declared in November last year but quit the race in January this year. I can only assume he sobered up, and hopefully won his bet. Ms. Marianne Williamson has tossed her bonnet in the ring. She is Oprah’s “spiritual friend and counselor.” She hopes to improve on a fourth-place finish in her 2014 primary race for a House seat in California. I kind of like Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend. He seems smart, authentic and a decent person. My older cousin Ron, who lives in Indiana, vouches for him. When I was in high school, I wanted to be president; in college, a senator; in law school, a representative. When I was 37, I was elected to the District 97 school board and served a four-year sentence with no time off for good behavior. My epitaph should read “Ambition Diminished.” I am very wary of the preening egoism of most of these candidates. Their spiel seems merely strategic and is designed to get their sliver of votes in Iowa and New Hampshire. Their vision is next spring. We saw this kind of clustercluck on the Republican side just a couple of years ago. What could possible go wrong in the mud-slinging, attention-grabbing, back-stabbing ego fest we are about to witness? Everything.
JOHN
HUBBUCH
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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 Associate Publisher Dawn Ferencak Staff Reporters Michael Romain, Timothy Inklebarger, Nona Tepper Viewpoints Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Marc Blesoff, Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West, Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, Cassandra West, Doris Davenport Staff Photographer Alexa Rogals Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Bill Wossow Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Event Coordinator Carmen Rivera Client Engagement Natalie Johnson Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Wakeelah Cocroft-Aldridge
Race-baiting makes her point hard to hear
I
n her puzzling and hypocritical piece titled, “White women in Oak Park are not in danger” [Viewpoints, Feb. 27], ShaRhonda Knott Dawson begins by appealing to “those who actually care about the facts and statistics,” but she immediately abandons facts or statistics to attack “white women in Oak Park.” The thrust of her argument is that “white women in Oak Park” are constantly calling police because they fear black men. This is stereotyping, and it’s exactly what she accuses the “white women in Oak Park” of doing. Ms. Dawson is surprised that the just-released 2018 statistics from the Oak Park Police Department show 1,650 investigated crimes, and 66,286 calls to the police. She thinks that is a lot of calls, and from that she springs to the conclusion that “white women in Oak Park” think they are “in danger from black men/black children.” Indeed, she says, it is the “white women in Oak Park [who] are dangerous.” First, should we even be surprised at the ratio of crimes investigated to the total number of calls for service? I don’t know if that’s a lot of calls or not, but neither does Ms. Dawson. The police department’s report shows the number of calls for service has been basically flat since 2016. The police don’t say that they think it is a lot of calls. Second, and more importantly, how does Ms. Dawson get from A to B? She directly and without evidence
equates calls for service to “a white woman feeling scared.” According to the Census Bureau (as of July 1, 2017), about half of Oak Park’s residents are men and about one-third are non-white. I don’t see any statistics from the police department on the demographics of their callers, but it is not a stretch to think that the department gets calls from men, and maybe some calls from non-white women, too, or that some calls, regardless of their source, were about things other than fear of a black man (noise complaints, abandoned cars, loose dogs, etc.). She offers no reason for equating however many calls the police receive to the white women of Oak Park living in terror of black men. Injustice surely exists in Oak Park, as it does everywhere. To address the problem, we need to do a better job of listening to each other; especially to those with different world views than our own. Maybe Ms. Dawson’s point was to ask the “white women in Oak Park” to think about whether they might be baselessly afraid of black men, and, if true, to consider the consequences of that to the subjects of their fear. That might have been a useful discussion. But instead, Ms. Dawson’s race-baiting abandonment of reason and facts in this piece is counter-productive and makes it hard to hear her. Peter Preston is proud to live in Oak Park with his wife and daughter.
PETER PRESTON One View
Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs
About Viewpoints Our mission is to lead educated conversation about the people, government, schools, businesses and culture of Oak Park and River Forest. As we share the consensus of Wednesday Journal’s editorial board on local matters, we hope our voice will help focus your thinking and, when need be, fire you to action. In a healthy conversation about community concerns, your voice is also vital. We welcome your views, on any topic of community interest, as essays and as letters to the editor. Noted here are our stipulations for filing. Please understand our verification process and circumstances that would lead us not to print a letter or essay. We will call to check that what we received with your signature is something you sent. If we can’t make that verification, we will not print what was sent. When, in addition to opinion, a letter or essay includes information presented as fact, we will check the reference. If we cannot confirm a detail, we may not print the letter or essay. If you have questions, email Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR ■ 250-word limit ■ Must include first and last names, municipality in which you live, phone number (for verification only)
‘ONE VIEW’ ESSAY ■ 500-word limit ■ One-sentence footnote about yourself, your connection to the topic ■ Signature details as at left
Email Ken Trainor at ktrainor@wjinc.com or mail to Wednesday Journal, Viewpoints, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
V I E W P O I N T S
Bachner has leadership skills
There are a number of top-notch candidates vying for the River Forest Board of Trustees. Among the best is Erika Bachner. She is an energetic community activist, and has practical work skills which will be of use to our village. I support Erika’s candidacy because she is a born leader who is particularly skilled at listening to residents and involving them in community activities. At Willard School, she served on the PTO executive board and is currently chair of Roosevelt Middle School’s IM Pack-Parent Enrichment Committee. She has also organized coalitions of locals to do registration drives, and has led efforts to improve the rights of
women, immigrants, and the disabled. For many years Erika has worked in investment banking and real estate M&A. This work experience will enhance the village’s efforts to bring economic development to North Avenue and Madison Street. In doing so, she is particularly sensitive to efforts not to undermine neighborhoods, or permanently removing residents who live around the TIF areas. Erika’s energy, leadership abilities, and practical skills will make her a welcome addition to the River Forest Board of Trustees.
Al Popowits
River Forest
Buchanan for village trustee Susan Buchanan will be an exceptional Oak Park village trustee. I have known Susan for years and have been impressed with her love of Oak Park and her commitment to grassroots political activism, progressive values, and passion for service to the community. She is a physician by training and has provided care for those without health insurance and for those vulnerable to workplace injuries. She is a serious researcher and professor and will bring those skills and seriousness to studying the issues facing our village. Susan has a strong desire to maintain Oak Park as a diverse community committed to racial equity, affordable housing and great schools — a community for all. Susan will be a hard-working, open-minded,
conscientious trustee. She will not rush to judgment on issues but will delve into all sides of issues before casting a vote. She will listen to people with differing opinions and will use her skills in consensus-building to help solve issues in a way that will benefit all in the community. She will demand transparency in village government. Susan’s profession, her training, and her 20year commitment to Oak Park, to her family and to all families in the village will make her a great village trustee! I plan to cast one of my votes for her, and I urge you to vote for a village trustee who will do a remarkable job — Susan Buchanan!
Bob Haisman Oak Park
Wanted: independent, responsive trustees It is critical that each candidate for the Oak Park Village Board commit to being independent and responsive to village residents if they are elected. This is an especially strong imperative given that our current board has repeatedly failed to respond to residents’ needs and concerns, whether through its well-known approval of taxpayer-subsidized “luxury” developments or its lesser-known, year-long stall of much needed equity training in the village. Current board members have also failed to maintain their independence from the village president by rubber-stamping a corporate agenda, which prioritizes outside business over local residents’ needs and concerns and by dismissing individual residents’ issues he isn’t interested in. As one current trustee told my family, they were sympathetic to a concern we brought before the board, but they could not act because doing so was not in sync with the board president’s point of view. Such deference does not serve residents. Board members must work together, but working together does not mean sacrificing independence, particularly when that sacrifice betrays the electoral process and
harms residents. According to the National Citizen Survey, Oak Parkers’ biennial evaluation of “general” governance, the village has been steadily declining since 2013. From 2015 to 2017, it decreased in all areas, including “Being honest” (63 percent decreased to 46 percent), “Acting in the best interest of Oak Park” (60 percent decreased to 50 percent), “Treating all residents fairly” (61 percent decreased to 56 percent) and “Overall direction” (59 percent decreased to 45 percent). A copy of this survey, the most up-todate broad overview of residents’ concerns, is available to each board candidate on the village website’s “Village Board Candidate Page” under “Community Surveys.” As Election Day nears, I encourage each candidate to share how they would respond to these concerns. I also encourage each candidate to commit to independence so that if they are elected, they will continue to be responsive and accountable to residents even in the face of pressure to do the opposite.
Bonita Robinson Oak Park
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Taglia for Oak Park trustee I worked with Jim Taglia when I was a trustee for the village of Oak Park, and observed firsthand his approach to serving as trustee. I was impressed. Jim is thoughtful, careful and takes the time to research every topic in depth — a timeconsuming and sometimes difficult task. He takes to heart the notion that he is there to serve all of Oak Park and consistently makes balanced decisions backed by facts, something that seems so basic but is all too often lacking in our current politics. Jim sees himself as a public servant, not a politician. He is modest to a fault, quiet but resilient. It is very striking that every sitting trustee supports Jim’s candidacy. This is a testimony to his ability to
find the best in opposing positions, build trustworthy relationships, and create consensus around compromise solutions that actually mean getting something done. This is not to say that he is without principles, but he is not dogmatic. Rather, he is kind, respectful and dedicated. Jim also knows his way around a budget, having served on the Oak Park Township board prior to becoming trustee. He understands the essential link between policy and funding and knows that the budget is, at its core, a policy document. This is the type of expertise I want as a village trustee and it is why I am voting for Jim Taglia.
Colette Lueck
Former Oak Park village trustee
The pursuit of hope How do we bring people together when it feels like our society is breaking apart? That is one of the big questions we will address at the Oak Park Public Library on the evening of Thursday, April 4, when we welcome Rich Harwood, president and founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation. Rich, who is also the creator of the “turning outward” approach that is so integral to our work here at the library, is visiting Oak Park as part of a year-long, multicity tour to discuss how communities can get on a more hopeful path. His keynote, “Building Community in Today’s World,” will address the searching questions with which so many of us struggle. For example, how can we unleash a greater sense of shared responsibility among us? How can we be a part of something larger than ourselves to truly make
a difference in our communities? And how can we personally find the courage and humility to take such a path? As Rich has said, “People are looking for a trusted voice who can provide a clear path for how to channel their frustrations, energies, and aspirations to get on a more hopeful trajectory. We will need to be ruthless in our pursuit of hope in order to rediscover what we share in common and actively build upon it.” Please join us for this public discussion to inspire hope and encourage action to build community on Thursday, April 4, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St. Learn more and RSVP at oppl.org/calendar.
David Seleb
Executive director, Oak Park Public Library
Vote ‘No’ on Taglia for village board Jim Taglia is the only candidate who voted in favor of the Madison Road diet, which passed the Oak Park Village Board by one vote, despite the explicit findings in the village’s own 300-page traffic study. This study concluded that Madison Street is, in fact, a poor candidate for a successful road diet. It further concluded that Madison Street will see an increase in minor accidents and most intersections with Madison Street will degrade significantly, to the point that it will not be possible to drive through them in a single red-green traffic light cycle. A separate traffic mitigation report addressed Washington and Jackson, two
streets that will see a great increase in traffic. But village staff conceded that almost none of the Washington Street proposals will be enacted because they require state approval, which will not be granted. The Jackson Boulevard proposals are half-hearted at best. Mr. Taglia ignored the expert conclusions of the village’s own study. We need board members who make data-based decisions. Sadly, Mr. Taglia seems to make whatever decisions are favored by the mayor. Please consider your vote carefully.
Jerry Bowman Oak Park
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
V I E W P O I N T S
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
Martire is eminently qualified for D200 board The voters of Oak Park and River Forest have an unusual opportunity to elect an expert on school policy and finance to the OPRF District 200 School Board. He is Ralph Martire, currently finishing his term as president of the River Forest District 90 School Board and a recent Wednesday Journal Villager of the Year. You have probably seen Ralph numerous times on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight as a consultant on public finance issues, such as budgets, new construction and
pensions, a skill sorely needed in these days of ImagineOPRF and other schoolrelated issues. Ralph is executive director of the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability and a professor of public policy at Roosevelt University. He holds a law degree from the University of Michigan and co-wrote the new school funding formula for the state of Illinois. He has received several awards for his leadership on the issue of equity. His leader-
ship and experiences in his professional life and in D90 make him uniquely qualified to serve on the D200 board. River Forest residents and fair-minded Oak Parkers can also help resolve the issue of there currently being no board member from River Forest. Ralph is the only candidate to represent that village. Vote Ralph Martire on April 2.
also co-founded the Tri-Board Equity Committee to promote needed coordination between the high school and school districts 90 and 97. Sara has demonstrated strong fiscal stewardship. She understands and capably balances complex (and sometimes competing) issues, such as thinking strategically about the tax strain placed on our community while understanding the need to make certain crucial facility improvements in a very old school building. During her first term on the D200 board
Baron for Oak Park trustee
She also has worked collaboratively with the other taxing bodies in Oak Park and River Forest, helping to foster a spirit of cooperation and a desire to find efficiencies that benefit all of us. The local election on April 2 matters, and Sara’s voice is needed on the D200 board. Please vote and make a difference for our children and our community. I hope you will join me in supporting Sara Dixon Spivy.
Slowing the growth of taxes should be the top issue in Oak Park’s upcoming village election, and Bridgett Baron is a candidate with a clear understanding of the challenges. She recognizes three key points: Rising property taxes are driving some middle-class residents out of town. She has seen all the charts and graphs in the last year, and recognizes this fact: For some families the formula is becoming: Mortgage + property taxes + maintenance = more than the family’s income can support. She is not saying, “Cut taxes.” Her position is slow property tax growth. She supports capping the village’s property tax growth to 3 percent and even to the lower rate of inflation. That is not a cut. It is less ominous increase than the 5 percent growth of the recent past. Transparency in municipal finance is an issue she sees. The village’s budget is online. But short of being a CPA, one finds it impossible to link costs and outcomes. Baron is one of the candidates who wants to add transparency to the village’s finances. Yet, she is not a one-issue candidate. If you look at her materials, you will see an understanding of the issues seniors face. And she is not anti-development; rather, she takes the route of having master plans nudge development rather than piece-meal actions.
Oak Park village trustee
Oak Park
Charles Vietzen Sr. River Forest
Spivy, a thoughtful leader for D200 I support the re-election of Sara Dixon Spivy for the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 Board of Education. During her first four years on the D200 board, Sara has demonstrated that she is a thoughtful, professional, engaged and intelligent leader. She has worked tirelessly to help improve opportunities for all students at the high school. She worked to create the Culture, Climate and Behavior Committee to address disproportionate discipline of African-American students. She
25
Bob Tucker
Jim Peters
Celebrate Spring! Jay Friedman, Conductor
Sunday, March 17th • 4pm
Pre-Concert Conversation at 3PM with David Leehey. Free parking in the garage located at 1124 N. Bonnie Brae Place (one block west of Harlem Avenue between Division and Thomas Streets) in River Forest. Chapel just west of garage exit. Single tickets: $28. Students through college attend free of charge. Tickets are available through: SymphonyOPRF.org and at the door. Email TheSymphonyOPRF@gmail.com or call 708-218-2648 for more information. Reception immediately following the concert. Please bring used instruments and/or cash donations for P.I.N.G. (Providing Instruments for the Next Generation.)
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
V I E W P O I N T S
Keep the D200 board independent
Trust, transparency and the D200 election
Trust and transparency issues exist with some of the District 200 school board candidates. Incumbents Fred Arkin and Sara Dixon Spivy voted to bypass voters in 2015 to spend $37.5 million on an Olympic-size pool and demolishing the garage. In 2016, they voted to spend 77% of the proposed $44.5 million on a 40-meter x 25-yard pool and its associated building costs, and they supported the disingenuous marketing of the referendum as an academic and performing arts initiative. Their actions don’t inspire trust. What’s their stand on the large pool now? Pension pickups are controversial, and their wording in contracts can lack transparency. The D200 board, including Arkin and Spivy, approved a 9 percent annual pension pickup for the superintendent, her entire required state retirement contribution in her current contract, but it didn’t state the percentage amount. A FOIA revealed the 9 percent and also that this pickup is 2-3 times more than the pension pickup of the other 32 administrators/division heads.
The D90 contract disingenuously states that the board will pay a “portion” of teachers’ required state retirement contributions. A FOIA revealed that the board actually picks up the entire 9% required pension contribution, not a portion of it, for every teacher. This pension pickup is a practice continued by the current board and President Ralph Martire. A possible conflict of interest or the appearance of one is inherent in the candidacies of Gina Harris and Martire. They both have political and financial ties to the Illinois Education Association (IEA), the union that represents D200’s teachers. Harris is a teacher and an IEA leader; Martire runs a political center that receives substantial funding from the IEA and other unions. D200 board members elected on April 2 will have input and influence in the next teacher contract. IEA interests belong on only one side of the negotiating table.
Jack Davidson, William Gale, Monica Sheehan, Doug Springer, and Leslie Sutphen
Baron offers actual answers
Like many people in Oak Park, I knew Bridgett Baron as a name on the OakPark. com comment boards before I met her “in real life.” From reading her intelligent comments on the Wednesday Journal website, I developed great respect for her years before I got to know her personally. She operates from a fact-based foundation and is well-reasoned in presenting her thoughts. Bridgett’s clear-thinking approach is a refreshing break from the often emotion-laden reactions that further entrench one side against another. She has an uncanny ability to cut through so much of the noise generated by disparate opinions by presenting information based on reliable sources and her own experience and knowledge. As I’ve gotten to know her over the past few
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years, my high opinion of her has only been strengthened. Bridgett is respectful of others and tries to offer actual answers rather than empty platitudes. She truly plans to keep taxpayers’ interests in mind and hold the line on spending. Knowing her, I know that means she will do her utmost to be a responsible steward of our hard-earned taxpayer dollars. Bridgett would make an excellent trustee for the village. I encourage others who are not familiar with her to get to know her either in person at an upcoming forum or through her website (www.BridgettBaron. com). Please consider giving her your vote for Oak Park Village Board trustee.
Maureen Kleinman
Oak Park
In Oak Park, we pride ourselves on independent thought. We encourage it in our schools. Our schools encourage it in our students. With that ethos in mind, I find it concerning two candidates for the District 200 school board, Ralph Martire and Gina Harris, have financial and political ties to a wealthy and one of most politically powerful organizations in the state, which also happens to represent D200 teachers: the Illinois Education Association. The IEA holds $55 million in assets. Their parent corporation (NEA) and affiliates nationwide registered over $1.6 billion in revenue last year. Tax free dollars, that is (just like those evil corporations). And it’s political. Both state teacher unions classify their contributions to Mr. Martire’s mostly union-funded Center for Tax and Budget Accountability as political activity. Even a portion of Ms. Harris’ time,
Nick Binotti Oak Park
The tax-conscious should vote for Spivy for D200 I am voting to re-elect Sara Spivy for District 200 School Board because she works hard to keep OPRF High School as one of the best schools without raising my taxes. She voted to abate taxes twice, to approve renovations for students with disabilities, for the development of new special education spaces and for upgrades to classrooms. The board also recently approved a budget-neutral director of equity position so they will not need to raise property taxes. Sara was a founding member of an equity committee for our three school districts in Oak Park and River Forest that recommends equity initiatives across the
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
George’s
Restaurant & Pancake House
Your Hosts: George & John 145 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302
paid for by the union, is classified as political activities and lobbying. What do they say about politics and the board room? Teacher unions have their tentacles in nearly every significant political move in our state. They’ve spent decades lobbying for higher taxes on OPRF’s working families, and for the past decade or so, the CTBA has been like their marketing division. When the unions reach their legal contribution limits for political candidates, they call their rich “parents” in DC for more money or shuffle dollars between political allies and form another PAC (as CTU did for Brandon Johnson). Undoubtedly, these are two smart individuals with much to contribute to the education conversation. Let them make that contribution on company time. Keep the D200 school board independent.
Ph: 708.848.4949 Cell: 847.708.1727
K-12 educational system. She also pushed for restorative justice training at all levels, including the board, and for a progressive gender equity policy to protect transgender students. While some actions have little impact on budgets/costs, many actions mentioned earlier can become very costly without continued financial oversight. Sara gets my vote because she, too, as an Oak Park resident, does not want property taxes to strain family budgets. Having excellent schools at reasonable costs is my concern as a voter and Sara Spivy gets my vote.
Ronald Koch Oak Park
Send letters Ken Trainor, Wednesday Journal 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 E-mail: ktrainor@wjinc.com Please include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.
V I E W P O I N T S
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
Re-elect Hickey to D90 school board Barbara Hickey is an asset to the River Forest District 90 School Board, and I encourage D90 constituents to vote for her. I have worked alongside Barb for over 10 years, first as a fellow board member for PING! and currently as co-chair of the Positive Youth Development coalition (+PYD) that addresses underage drinking and substance abuse in our community. Her affiliation with these two organizations, as well as her tenure on the D90 school board, and PING! before that demonstrates her commitment to ensure that all of our youth have the opportunities to succeed. Barb is strategic, thoughtful and articulate. She listens to and respects colleagues and stakeholders alike. She is a hard worker and knows how to collaborate to get things done. The D90 school board has accomplished much during her first term and by re-electing Barb Hickey to another term, the positive momentum can be continued. Remember to vote on April 2.
Susan Parks Oak Park
Three candidates stand out
Deciding who to vote for in an election in Oak Park is not easy. In my opinion the field is strong, but three candidates for village trustee stand out. Graham Brisben He is intelligent and understands the issues facing Oak Park. He will push the board to look at the data, and he will “base” his votes on the facts. Brisbane is focused, and he will bring solid decision-making and accountability to the board. Christian Harris He is on the Chamber, the North Ave. Business Association, Reclaim, VOICE, and an organization called HOPE that provides housing for low-income seniors. From what I can tell, from speaking with other Oak Park citizens, he has a calm demeanor, would represent the interests of renters and African Americans, and would advocate for both responsible spending and equity. In addition, he supports reasonably scaled economic development rather than high-rises. Jim Taglia He operates from a sense of civic duty and understands our values and our strengths. Most important, in my opinion, he is responsive to constituent concerns and actually solves the problems people bring to him. Citizens I spoke with say he is honest and trustworthy. Vote!
Robert Milstein
Former Oak Park trustee
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
27
Baron doesn’t base decisions on emotion
There was a time when it would seem silly, or at least would go without saying, for political candidates to point out their “fact-based” approach to making decisions. Unfortunately, our current state of political affairs makes it a pre-requisite quality for anyone I would consider voting for. That is one of the reasons I am so pleased that Bridgett Baron is a candidate for the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees. Throughout her campaign, Bridgett has emphasized her fact-based foundation in arriving at decisions. I am confident that, using the same skill set she practices as an accoun-
tant, she would make decisions after a careful evaluation of what is real, not based on emotion. In my years getting to know her, I have found Bridgett to be a very positive, engaging and ethically centered person. She is honest, looks at all sides of an issue, and is open to learning from people with a wide range of opinions and experiences. Some other candidates may say they agree
with her very vocal view that the village needs to hold the line on tax increases. But as I have followed the race, those other candidates clearly don’t understand the drastic negative impact these spiraling tax costs will have on all people, at all socio-economic levels. Please join me in electing this tremendously qualified individual.
Pat Koko
Oak Park
Visit us online at www.OakPark.com
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
RELIGION GUIDE Presbyterian
Check First.
First Congregational Church of Maywood
400 N. Fifth Avenue (1 block north of Lake St.) Come join us for Sunday Morning Worship at 11 am Pastor Elliot Wimbush will be preaching the message. Refreshments and fellowship follow the service. 708-344-6150 firstchurchofmaywood.org When you're looking for a place to worship the Lord, Check First.
You’re Invited to A Church for All Nations A Church Without Walls SERVICE LOCATION Forest Park Plaza 7600 W. Roosevelt Road Forest Park, IL 60130
William S. Winston Pastor
ELCA, Lutheran
Good Shepherd
Worshiping at 820 Ontario, Oak Park IL (First Baptist Church) 9:00 a.m.—Education Hour 10:30 a.m.—Worship
All are welcome. goodshepherdlc.org 708-848-4741
Lutheran—ELCA
United Lutheran Church
409 Greenfield Street (at Ridgeland Avenue) Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and children’s chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM Believer’s Walk of Faith Broadcast Schedule (Times in Central Standard Time) Television DAYSTAR (M-F)
3:30-4:00pm
Nationwide
WJYS-TV (M-F)
6:30-7:00am
Chicago, IL.
WCIU-TV (Sun.)
10:30-11:00am
Chicago, IL.
Word Network
10:30-11:00am
Nationwide
(M-F)
www.livingwd.org www.billwinston.org
West Suburban Temple Har Zion
1040 N. Harlem Avenue River Forest Meet our Rabbi, Adir Glick Pray, learn, and celebrate with our caring, progressive, egalitarian community. Interfaith families are welcome. Accredited Early Childhood Program Religious School for K thru 12 Daily Morning Minyan Weekly Shabbat Services Friday 6:30pm & Saturday 10:00am Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism 708.366.9000 www.wsthz.org
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
744 Fair Oaks Ave. Oak Park 386-4920 Sunday Schedule Christian Education for All Ages 9:00am Worship Service 10:00am
Child care available 9-11am
fairoakspres.org OAK PARK MEETING OF FRIENDS (Quakers) Meeting For Worship Sundays at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Park Art League 720 Chicago Ave., Oak Park Please call 708-445-8201 www.oakparkfriends.org
Roman Catholic
Ascension Catholic Church
www.unitedlutheranchurch.org
708/386-1576
(708) 697-5000 LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service
Fair Oaks
Lutheran-Independent
Grace Lutheran Church
7300 W. Division, River Forest David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor David W. Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Lauren Dow Wegner, Assoc. Pastor Sunday Worship, 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School/Adult Ed. 9:45 a.m. Childcare Available
Grace Lutheran School
Preschool - 8th Grade Bill Koehne, Principal 366-6900, graceriverforest.org Lutheran-Missouri Synod
St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 Circle Ave, Forest Park Sunday Worship, 9:30am Christian Education Hour 8:30am Wednesday Worship 7:00pm Wheelchair Access to Sanctuary Leonard Payton, Pastor Roney Riley, Assistant Pastor 708-366-3226 www.stjohnforestpark.org Methodist
First United Methodist Church of Oak Park
324 N. Oak Park Avenue 708-383-4983 www.firstUMCoakpark.org Sunday School for all Ages, 9am Sunday Worship, 10am Children’s Chapel during Worship Rev. Katherine Thomas Paisley, Pastor Professionally Staffed Nursery Fellowship Time after Worship
808 S. East Ave. 708/848-2703 www.ascensionoakpark.com Worship: Saturday Mass 5:00 pm Sunday Masses 7:30, 9:00, 11 am, 5:00 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation 4 pm Saturday Taize Prayer 7:30 pm First Fridays Feb.– Dec. & Jan. 1
Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor
Roman Catholic
St. Edmund Catholic Church
188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Mass: 5:30 p.m. Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m. Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m. M–F Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m. Parish Office: 708-848-4417 Religious Ed Phone: 708-848-7220
St. Giles Family Mass Community
We welcome all to attend Sunday Mass at 10 a.m. on the St. Giles Parish campus on the second floor of the school gym, the southernmost building in the school complex at 1034 North Linden Avenue. Established in 1970, we are a laybased community within St. Giles Roman Catholic Parish. Our Mass is family-friendly. We encourage liturgically active toddlers. Children from 3 to 13 and young adults play meaningful parts in each Sunday liturgy. Together with the parish, we offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based religious education program for children in grades K-8. For more information, go to http://www.stgilesparish.org/ family-mass-community or call Bob Wielgos at 708-288-2196.
Third Unitarian Church 10AM Sunday Forum 11AM Service Rev. Colleen Vahey thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield, Chicago Committed to justice, not to a creed
Roman Catholic
St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park
CELEBRATING OUR 107TH YEAR! Sat. Masses: 8:30am & 5:00pm SUNDAY MASSES: 8:00am & 10:30am 10:30 Mass-Daycare for all ages CCD Sun. 9am-10:15am Reconciliation: Sat. 9am & 4pm Weekday Masses: Monday–Thursday 6:30am Church Office: 708-366-0839 CCD: 708-366-3553 www.stbern.com Pastor: Fr. Stanislaw Kuca
Upcoming Religious Holidays
Mar 20-21 Purim Holi Naw-Rúz (New Year) 21 Apr 8 13-14 14
Judaism Hinduism Bahá’í, Zoroastrian Magha Puja Day Buddhism Vesak (Buddha Day) Buddhism Ram Navami Hinduism Palm Sunday Christianity)
To place a listing in the Religion Guide, call Mary Ellen: 708/613-3342
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM New local ads this week
YOUR WEEKLY AD
REACHES SIX SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES: OAK PARK, RIVER FOREST, FOREST PARK, BROOKFIELD, RIVERSIDE, NORTH RIVERSIDE, AND PARTS OF CHICAGO
WEDNESDAY
CLASSIFIED
29
HOURS: 9:00 A.M.– 5:00 P.M. MON–FRI
Deadline is Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
Please Check Your Ad: The publisher will not be responsible for more than one incorrect insertion. Wednesday Journal Classified must be notified before the second insertion. The newspaper reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement.
Place your ad online anytime at: www.OakPark.com/ClassiďŹ ed/
BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 467-9066 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
HELP WANTED
Aircraft Electrical Engineer sought by Gogo, LLC in Chicago, IL. Rspnsble for engnrg, dsgning & dvlping electrcl instlltn engrg dcmntn bsd on cstmr & rgltry reqs. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com, #56462.
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Part-time Customer Service Representative II. This position which performs a variety of responsible and difficult clerical work in support of the Development Customer Services Department; and to perform the more difficult and complex clerical duties including but not limited to parking permits, parking passes and vehicle stickers. 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 no later than March 20, 2019.
PART-TIME COMMUNITY SERVICE COORDINATOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Part-Time Community Service Coordinator in the Adjudication Department. This person monitors individuals who have been ordered to provide community service in the Village, coordinates with organizations that provide community service opportunities, etc. Applicants are encouraged to visit the Village of Oak Park’s website http://www.oakpark.us/. Interested and qualified applicants must complete a Village of Oak Park application no later than March 22, 2019.
BUSINESS ANALYST Procom Enterprises, Ltd. seeks Business Analyst. Mail resume to 951 Busse Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL. COMMUNITY RELEATIONS INTERN The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Community Relations Intern in the Community Relations Department. This is a seasonal position will provide assistance to the Community Relations Department provides intake and referral services for residents to community resources, assists in investigations of landlord/ tenant complaints, etc. 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 no later than March 22, 2019.
You Have Jobs. We Have Readers! Find The Best Employees With Wednesday Classified! Call 708/613-3333
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH INTERN The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Environmental Health Intern in the Health Department. This fulltime seasonal position will provide assistance to the Environmental Health Practitioners in the inspection and local businesses, homes and other establishments to enforce state and local laws and ordinances related to public Health safety; to respond and resolve citizen complaints regarding nuisances and reported epidemics. . 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 no later than April 5, 2019.
ACCOUNTING CLERK Responsibilities: Qualifications: • Accounting duties • Previous experience in accounting, finance, or other related fields • Process invoices accurately and timely • High level of accuracy in data entry skills • Check the accuracy of business transactions • Ability to prioritize and multitask • Perform data entry and adminis• Strong organizational skills trative duties • Deadline and detail-oriented • Preparation of payable checks • Proficient in Microsoft Excel • Posting of checks and ACH • Proficient in QuickBooks payments Benefits: • Create, edit and update spreadMedical, Vision, Dental, Life Insursheets in excel ance, Short-term and Long-term • Daily, weekly and monthly disability and retirement plans. reporting Candidates will be tested on all skillset. Qualified Candidates should send their resumes and salary requirements to job.post.chicago@gmail.com BOOKKEEPER Responsibilities: Qualifications: • Bookkeeping duties • 2+ years Previous experience in accounting, finance, or other • Obtain primary financial data for related fields accounting records • Fundamental knowledge of • Process invoices accurately and GAAP timely • High level of accuracy in data • Check the accuracy of business entry skills transactions • Ability to prioritize and multitask • Perform data entry and administrative duties • Strong organizational skills • Preparation of payable checks • Deadline and detail-oriented • Auditing as needed • Proficient in Microsoft Excel • Posting of checks • Proficient in QuickBooks • Create, edit and update spreadBenefits: sheets in excel Medical, Vision, Dental, Life Insur• Create and manage Purchase ance, Short-term and Long-term Orders disability and retirement plans. • Daily, weekly and monthly reporting Candidates will be tested on all skillset. Qualified Candidates should send their resumes and salary requirements to job.post.chicago@gmail.com
SEASONAL FARMERS’ MARKET ASSISTANT The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Seasonal Farmers’ Market Assistant in the Health Department. This position will provide administrative support to the Farmers’ Market Manager to allow growers and producers of food to sell directly to the public within established guidelines. This position requires work in inclement weather conditions; some heavy lifting of up to 50 pounds; walking or standing for sustained periods of time. 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 SPOTLESS CAR WASH We are looking for a self-motivated friendly person to meet and greet customers and keep the properties clean. Weekends are a must. Duties are to meet and greet, prep the cars with wheel cleaner and squeegee the windshield, on site car wash token sales, and keep the lot and equipment room clean. If you are interested please apply at the Car wash, 7343 Roosevelt Rd in Forest Park.
SUBURBAN RENTALS BERWYN:2 BR,gorgeous Apt w/ granite kitchen countr top. All appls. HT/WTR inc. Security cams. $1000 + $1500 sec. Close to Shpng Mall 708-699-8916
CITY RENTALS DELUXE GARDEN APT 5955 W HURON Large 2BR, 4 room apt. Newly decorated. Near West Suburban Hospital. Near all public trans. Rent includes all util. plus laundry facilities avail. $1050/mo. Call 773-637-8677 for appt.
ROOMS FOR RENT
SPACE FOR RENT
AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro. Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up. 773-637-5957
OAK PARK SPACE FOR RENT Massage rooms for rent. Looking for Licensed Massage Therapist & Licensed Esthetician. Must have state licensed & carry own liability insurance. $500 a month. 312-203-1276.
Large Sunny Room with fridge & microwave. Near Green line, bus, Oak Park, 24 hour desk, parking lot. $101.00 week & up. New Mgmt. 773-378-8888
Forest Park
CITY RENTALS AUSTIN VILLAGE APARTMENT 5937 W MIDWAY PKWY Clean 1BR apt, 1/2 blk from OP Green Line & shops. 3rd flr. $785/ mo. Heat not included. 708-383-9223
SUBURBAN RENTALS
M&M
property management, inc.
708-386-7355 • www.mmpropmgt.com 649 Madison Street, Oak Park Oak Park: Studios, 1, 2 & 3 BR from $825 - $2,100 Forest Park: Studios, 1, 2 & 3 BR from $795 - $1,850
Apartment listings updated daily at:
OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT 7740 Madison Street 1200 sq. ft. of built-out office space with parking in front. $1,750 per month
Strand & Browne 708-488-0011 THERAPY OFFICES FOR RENT Therapy offices for rent in north Oak Park. Rehabbed building. Nicely furnished. Flexible leasing. Free parking; Free wifi; Secure building; Friendly colleagues providing referrals. Shared Waiting room; optional Conference room. Call or email with questions. Shown on Sundays. Lee 708.383.0729 drlmadden@ameritech.net
ITEMS FOR SALE CERTIFIED WIND SURFER
Full Size, with cover and sail $125.00
WATER SKIS $25.00 708-488-8755
MUSIC
Musical scores, piano trios, concertos, violin, cello and flute music. All 1/2 price or less. 708-488-8755
WANTED TO BUY BUYING VINYL RECORDS! Hello, I am interested in buying your old 33 1/3’s, 45’s and 78’s and some cds/cassettes.
Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue. Or call us toll free at 1-833-440-0665 for an appointment.
I’m looking for soul, r&b, hip hop, reggae, latin, african, electro/disco/ house/techno, jazz, soundtracks, psych rock, garage, punk, indie, old school country (bluegrass, honky tonk, rockabilly). If interested in your records I will offer you a very fair price!!! Call Andy 773-241-0929.
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%,%#42)#!, (!.$9-!. 3%26)#%3 !LL 4YPES OF (OME 2EPAIRS 2EPAIRS )NSTALLATIONS 0ROFESSIONAL 1UALITY 7ORK !T 2EASONABLE 0RICES 0ROMPT 3ERVICE 3MALL *OBS A 3PECIALTY
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PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
PUBLIC NOTICES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BROOKFIELD PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION MARCH 28th, 2019 AT 7:00 P.M.
PUBLIC NOTICE INVITATION TO BID/BID FORM March 13, 2019
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
Notice is hereby given by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest, Cook County, Illinois, that sealed bids will be accepted for:
2019 Street Patching Program
2019 Curb and Sidewalk Replacement Program (Various Locations)
NOTICE is hereby given that the Village of Brookfield Planning and Zoning Commission will conduct a public hearing on Thursday, March 28th, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. in the Edward Barcal Hall located at 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois for the purpose of considering a request for a preliminary planned development application regarding a property located at 3609 Grand Boulevard and 3541 Park Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513 (PINs 15-34-401-016-0000; 15-34-401-017-0000; 15-34-401018-0000; 15-34-401-019-0000; 15-34-401-020-0000; 15-34-401021-0000; 15-34-411-001-0000). Legal Description: Lots 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 43, 44, 45 and 46 in Block 12 together with Lots 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in block 6 in Grossdale, being a subdivision of the southeast ÂŹ of Section 34, Township 39 North, Range 1 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian in Cook County, Illinois. The public is invited to attend the public hearing and present oral and/ or written comments. The application including the proposed planned development may be viewed at the Village of Brookfield Village Hall during normal business hours. Written comments may be provided prior to the public hearing to: Village of Brookfield, Planning and Zoning Commission c/o Elyse Vukelich, 8820 Brookfield Avenue, Brookfield, IL 60513. Please reference PZC Case 19-01.
OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT 97 LINCOLN & LONGFELLOW ADDITION & RENOVATIONS 1111 S. GROVE AVE. & 715 S. HARVEY AVE. OAK PARK, IL 60304 BID GROUP–AUDIO/ VISUAL EQUIPMENT OWNER: Board of Education–Oak Park Elementary School District 97 260 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302 ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID The Board of Education of Oak Park School District 97 is accepting sealed bids for audio visual equipment and the installation of said equipment. Bid packages are available for pickup from the District’s Administration Center, located at 260 W. Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302 or by emailing the District’s Senior Director of Technology, Michael Arensdorff at marensdorff@op97.org. Sealed bids must be submitted on or before Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. to the District’s Administration Center, located at 260 W. Madison Street, Oak Park, Illinois 60302, at which time the bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Faxed or electronically submitted bids will not be accepted. Any faxed or electronically submitted bid will disqualify vendors.
By the Order of Chuck Grund, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman.
The equipment and scope of work shall be more thoroughly described in the bid packet. No pre-bid meeting will be scheduled for this project. Bidders wishing to visit the project site, or with any questions about the bid process may contact the District’s Senior Director of Technology, Michael Arensdorff at marensdorff@op97.org or by telephone at (708) 524-3015. Those questions will be documented and answers will be shared with all interested vendors submitting bids.
Published in RB Landmark 3/13/2019
Published in Wednesday Journal 3/13/2019
Individuals with disabilities requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in any meeting should contact the Village of Brookfield (708) 485-7344 prior to the meeting. Wheelchair access is available through the front (South) entrance of Village Hall.
ILLINOIS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING NETWORK AUCTION
This project consists of the patching of approximately 3,350 square yards of existing, defective asphalt pavement at various locations throughout the Village, as designated by the Department of Public Works. The bidding documents are available for download starting Monday, March 11, 2019 at: www.vrf.us/bids Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work. No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening. Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: HMA Paving The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids. Published in Wednesday Journal 3/13/2019
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: Y19000779 on March 8, 2019. Under the Assumed Business Name of LIFE IS AN OCCASION EVENTS with the business located at: PO BOX 220856, CHICAGO, IL 60622. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: MELISSA KIRK 1029 N KEYSTONE AVENUE CHICAGO, IL 60651 Published in Wednesday Journal 3/13, 3/20, 3/27/2019
GUN AUCTION 1035 Guns at Auction March 17th Sunday 9AM • 2601 Lake Land Blvd., Mattoon, IL Details & 5000 photos bauerauction.com • 217-259-5956
LEGAL SERVICES NEED LEGAL HELP? Get a FREE referral to an attorney! Call the Illinois State Bar Association Illinois Lawyer Finder The advice you need: 1-877-270-3855 or https://www.isba.org/public/illinoislawyerfinder
email us: classifieds@OakPark.com classifieds@RiverForest.com
Selling your home by owner? Advertise here! Call: 708-613-3342
This project consists of the installation of approximately 4,750 square feet of PCC sidewalk, 350 linear feet of PCC curb/gutter, 150 square yards of driveway apron and other work incidental thereto. The bidding documents are available for download starting Monday, March 11, 2019 at: www.vrf.us/bids Bids must be submitted by Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at: Public Works Department, 2nd Floor Village of River Forest 400 Park Avenue River Forest, IL 60305 The bid proposals will be publicly opened and read at that time. Proposals will be considered not only on the basis of cost, but also on past performance, experience and ability to perform the work. No bid shall be withdrawn after the opening of the Proposals without the consent of the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of River Forest for a period of thirty (30) days after the scheduled time of the bid opening. Bidders shall be prequalified by IDOT for: Concrete Construction The Village of River Forest reserves the right in receiving these bids to waive technicalities and reject any or all bids. Published in Wednesday Journal 3/13/2019
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION OCWEN LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff, -v.CHICAGO TITLE LAND TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF A TRUST AGREEMENT DATED THE 17TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1997 KNOWN AS TRUST NUMBER 1104974, MARY JANE SCHENN, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING BY AND THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Defendants 18 CH 02340 1140 WESLEY 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 22, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 23, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1140 WESLEY AVE., OAK PARK, IL 60304 Property Index No. 16-18-416-0140000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $282,590.46. 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)
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM
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
OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC, 111 East Main Street, DECATUR, IL 62523, (217) 422-1719 Please refer to file number 2120-14605. If the sale is not confirmed for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the purchase price paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee or the Mortgagee’s attorney. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 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. HEAVNER, BEYERS & MIHLAR, LLC 111 East Main Street DECATUR, IL 62523 (217) 422-1719 Fax #: (217) 422-1754 CookPleadings@hsbattys.com Attorney File No. 2120-14605 Attorney Code. 40387 Case Number: 18 CH 02340 TJSC#: 39-470 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. I3111906
Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above entitled cause Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 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. 12-31-207-007-0000. Commonly known as 506 JEROME DRIVE, NORTHLAKE, IL 60164. 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 Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 17038322 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3115030
60130. 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 Sales Department at Plaintiff’s Attorney, Manley Deas Kochalski, LLC, One East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. (614) 220-5611. 18037762 F2 INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 I3115051
real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/ 18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.
For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-17-03859. 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. 14-17-03859 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 17 CH 004465 TJSC#: 39-491 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. I3114373
Commonly known as 520 N. OAK PARK AVENUE, OAK PARK, IL 60302 Property Index No. 16-06-419-006. 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 or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-18-04360. 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. 14-18-04360 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 18 CH 05417 TJSC#: 39-187 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. I3112799
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, vs. LAURA SALGADO; WILLIAM DURAN Defendants, 17 CH 15294 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC DBA MR. COOPER; Plaintiff, vs. DANIEL RILEY; ACCUBANC MORTGAGE CORPORATION; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 18 CH 10533 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 Wednesday, April 24, 2019 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. 15-13-429-024-0000. Commonly known as 1125 Marengo Avenue, Forest Park, IL
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION MTGLQ INVESTORS, L.P. Plaintiff, -v.ANGELA FOSTER–WOODS, BARTHOLOMEW WOODS, STATE OF ILLINOIS– DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE Defendants 17 CH 004465 817 BELOIT AVENUE FOREST PARK, IL 60130 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, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 22, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 817 BELOIT AVENUE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130 Property Index No. 15-13-401-019. 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
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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WELLS FARGO BANK SOUTHWEST, N.A. F/K/A WACHOVIA MORTGAGE, FSB F/K/A WORLD SAVINGS BANK, FSB Plaintiff, -v.JOHN E. STROTH, VILLAGE OF OAK PARK, WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Defendants 18 CH 05417 520 N. OAK PARK AVENUE 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 3, 2019, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 5, 2019, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate:
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March March 23 25&&24, 26,2019 2017 • Appraisals SUN ONLY – 10 AM-3 PM ($5 per item) • Crystal & China Repair Both Days • Door Prizes • Concessions • Handicap Accessible • Plenty of Parking
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act., which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informedthat all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777. WEDNESDAY JOURNAL Forest Park Review, Landmark
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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Good news: Good Life Race is almost here
for its charitable partners: The till seeing your fitness Collaboration for Early Childgoals as fitness opporhood and the Oak Park-River tunities? I know … it’s Forest Food Pantry. been a struggle. It’s now The Good Life Race event, in mid-March, the “season addition to being a competitive of brown and grey” as I often CARA Circuit Race, also offers think of it, and we can’t seem an opportunity to bring togethto say bye-bye to winter. I’m not er co-workers (and their family ready to take the blame for our members) with the Community especially icky winter weather Team Challenge — recruit as of late, but writing a column in many teammates as you like; January, encouraging people the top four scores are counted to get out and kick it seemed toward the challenge awards. to coincide with our old friend You only need four team mem“Polar Vortex” rolling back into Running Columnist bers to participate. town. And more fun: the mother/ But I know many of you have daughter and father/son combeen out there braving it, not petitions provide a chance to race (awards quitting. And at last March is here, and based on averaging the two scores) as a we’ve already been greeted with more subfamily unit. More details: www.goodlifzero wind chills — and this past weekend erace.com with rains and high winds. (Oy, where’s the Beyond the running, Good Life Race, love, Mother Nature?) How are we to keep as a community/club-run, all-volunteer up with, or stay on good terms with, our fitevent, needs lots of helpers, both before ness goals, in these meh circumstances? and on race day. Certainly the greatest OK, I know my credibility here is a bit need is for course marshals (keeping the low, but truly, spring is coming. We set our streets cleared and the runners cheered). clocks ahead last weekend (Yay for you But if, say, you are planning to run in one evening runners, sigh for us morning folk) of the races and you still wish to help and we should expect, based on historical averages, highs around 47 and lows at 29 de- out, there are other fun and appreciated roles to fill. Please reach out by email to: grees through March. There … feel better? volunteer@goodliferace.com or visit this Now as a reminder, just something to link: https://www.signupgenius.com/ ponder as the grass begins to green up (and go/4090444adaf28a2ff2-good2. it will, really!). We have the 38th annual I hope to see you out there, BEING THE Good Life Race to look forward to — April BOSS of Oak Park’s streets, on April 7. 7 is just four weeks away, people. Good Life And, I promise, NO VORTEX. features separate 5K races for men and women, a 5K fitness walk, a youth mile event and the popular junior dash for the under-5 athletes. There’s something for everyone here. Across all events, the Good Life Race, a nonprofit event, drew nearly 1,600 registered participants last year, and the race has raised over $125,000 in just the last six years
ANN RYAN
Friday, April 5, 2019 6:00p.m. Nineteenth Century Club
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178 Forest Ave.
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Oak Park, IL 60301
Please join us for small plates and cocktails in a club-like setting as we celebrate recovery through music, comedy and inspiration.
Tickets are $80/person. Tickets can be purchased at
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S P O R T S
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
33
WJ All-Stars align on court Huskies’ Spencer and Roberts each chosen as Player of the Year By MELVIN TATE Contributing Reporter
Oak Park and River Forest seniors Ahsha Spencer and Anthony Roberts did it all for the Huskies on the hardwood this season. Both are akin to five-tool baseball players except their proven abilities are scoring, passing, rebounding, defending, and most importantly, leading a team. Based on those criteria, Player of the Year picks Spencer and Roberts headline the Wednesday Journal All-Star teams. Spencer, a UIC recruit, averaged 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists plus a teamhigh 42 blocks this season in her do-it-all role with OPRF. “In addition to her leadership, Ahsha knows when to slow down and when to explode and take over,” OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin said during the regular season. “She’s growing as a person and a player. I’m pretty lucky to have her because she’s one of the better point guards in the state.” Roberts, who will play basketball at St. Cloud State, emerged as a key contributor for the Huskies last year. The 6-foot-4 forward raised his level even more this season, averaging 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists while leading OPRF to its third straight West Suburban Conference Silver Division championship and 18 wins overall. OPRF teammate Darse Sanchez (15.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 93 steals) joins Spencer on the firstteam girls squad, along with Fenwick stars Maggie Van Ermen and Elise Heneghan. Super sophomore Makiyah Williams from Trinity caps off an impressive starting five. “Williams is a fantastic player,” Coughlin said. “She can do everything. And she’s only a sophomore which is scary.” Promising underclassmen Lauren Hall and Audrey Hinrichs, along with savvy senior guard Gianna Ortiz, infuse the second team with a decidedly Fenwick flavor. Guards Faith Smith and Zee Stafford, from
Boys Basketball Player of the Year: Anthony Roberts, OPRF forward First team: Charlie Hoehne, OPRF forward Bryce Hopkins, Fenwick forward Solomon Oraegbu, Fenwick guard Chase Robinson, OPRF guard Second Team: Kaden Cobb, Fenwick guard Dashon Enoch, OPRF guard Lucas Kolovitz, Fenwick forward Trey Pettigrew, Fenwick guard Josh Smith, OPRF sophomore
Photo by Carol Dunning
OPRF senior guard Ahsha Spencer is an incredibly versatile player. She averaged a double-double (18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds) this season. OPRF and Trinity respectively, also earned second-team recognition. Fellow OPRF seniors Chase Robinson (14.5 ppg, 5 rpg) and Charlie Hoehne (9 ppg, 6.5 rpg) join Roberts as first-teamers, while Fenwick sophomore forward Bryce Hopkins (22 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and senior guard Solomon Oraegbu (17 rpg) also made the cut. The 6-5 Hopkins, a Division I prospect, earned AllChicago Catholic League honors and FirstTeam recognition at the Proviso West Holi-
day Tournament. The second team features an infusion of underclassmen. Fenwick freshmen Trey Pettigrew and Kaden Cobb and OPRF sophomore Josh Smith (7 ppg) all made an impact this year. “We are a young team, but I believe in our guys,” Hopkins said. “I know what we can do and we are not backing down from any challenge.” OPRF senior guard Dashon Enoch (7 ppg,
Girls Basketball Player of the Year: Ahsha Spencer, OPRF guard First Team: Maggie Van Ermen, Fenwick guard Elise Heneghan, Fenwick forward Darse Sanchez, OPRF guard Makiyah Williams, Trinity forward Second Team: Lauren Hall, Fenwick forward Audrey Hinrichs, Fenwick forward Gianna Ortiz, Fenwick guard Faith Smith, OPRF guard Zee Stafford, Trinity guard 1.5 spg) and Fenwick senior forward Lucas Kolovitz (7 ppg, 6.2 rpg) stabilized their teams with their experience and grit. “Lucas will be a big loss for this team next year,” Fenwick coach Staunton Peck said. “He is one of the toughest kids I have ever coached.” OPRF coach Matt Maloney will miss his core four of All-Star picks. “It’s a very tight-knit group. I’m going to miss those guys,” Maloney said. “Dashon is a four-year varsity guy, Charlie three years, and Anthony two and a half. Chase grew up in our basketball camps, going back to fifth grade. So when he joined us (after transferring from Marist prior to his junior year), it was like he’d been with us all the time. Those four have been tremendous in practices and games.” Marty Farmer contributed to this story.
Fenwick players (left to right) Bryce Hopkins (#23), Solomon Oraegbu (#1) and Lucas Kolovitz (#10) are Wednesday Journal All-Stars.
Photo by @scotchindian
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
S P O R T S
OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM “So now their goal is to carry on the tradition because [the seniors] have helped bring Fenwick back to where we’re in the hunt for a state trophy every year.” Sophomore Lauren Hall had seven points and Junior Lily Reardon six for Fenwick against Nazareth. “I think we did really well this season,” Hall said. “We played as a team with everyone contributing. We had great chemistry. This is one of the best teams I’ve ever played on.”
Three-peat sweet for OPRF
ALEXA ROGALS/Staff Photographer
Fenwick swimmer Liam Hutchinson, left, and OPRF junior Will Raidt are rivals and friends. Both standout swimmers excelled at the state finals hosted by New Trier.
REVIEW
Winter season from page 36 daled at the State Farm Center in Champaign. After a runner-up finish last season (16-1 tech fall loss against Montini’s 3-time state champ Real Woods), the Indiana-bound Bolivar took the final step with a 7-5 decision victory against Libertyville’s Danny Pucino. Along with Eddie Bolivar’s title, Ashford Hollis (285-pound class) earned third, while Josh Ogunsanya (126) and Joe Chapman (152) each placed fourth in their respective classes. Nico Bolivar, Eddie’s younger brother, took fifth at 120 and Daemyen Middlebrooks earned sixth at 182. “I think as a team we performed great,” said Hollis, a football star as well, who will attend Air Force Academy in the fall. “Placing six out of eight wrestlers we brought [to state] was awesome.” OPRF, which finished 23-3 through the regular season, won titles at the Rex Whitlach Invite at Hinsdale Central and its own Huskies Invitational. The varsity also placed second out of 52 teams at the Powerade tourney in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and won the West Suburban Conference Silver Division championship with a 6-0 record. Since 2009, the Huskies have won four team state championships.
Fenwick hockey targets state title After advancing to the semifinals of the Blackhawk Cup last season, the Fenwick girls hockey team wants to win the BC title this year. The Friars (19-1-5) will get their chance against defending champion New Trier on Friday, March 22 at 4:30 p.m. at the United Center. Forwards Ellie Kaiser, Erin Proctor, Cecilia Jenkins, defensemen Sarah Steadman, Emily Franciszkowicz and goalie Lena Flores power the star-studded Friars. “From a hockey standpoint, the team always wants to improve,” Kaiser said. “I think everyone from a character standpoint is in a good place. We have all found a way to connect and come together as a team. Besides becoming better hockey players, the team wants to win a state championship.”
Over the past three years, the OPRF boys basketball team has dominated the West Suburban Conference Silver Division, winning three straight championships and 36 of 39 games against conference opponents. Unfortunately, the Huskies lost against host York 74-56 in a Class 4A regional championship game. OPRF (18-10), which had beaten the conference runner-up Dukes twice during the regular season, couldn’t overcome Yok in the game that mattered most. Aside from winning the West Suburban Silver, the Huskies enjoyed several other memorable moments during the season. Highlights include a pair of wins over York and a victory over West Aurora at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. OPRF played particularly well after Christmas, winning 10 of 13 games. Anthony Roberts, Charlie Hoehne and Chase Robinson earned all-conference recognition, while four-year varsity player Dashon Enoch also contributed for the Huskies. “The season was a lot of ups and downs for us,” Roberts said. “We lost games that we shouldn’t have lost. We know we can play with any team and we are proud that we won conference for a third straight season.” Josh Smith, Isaiah Barnes and Justin Cross are the top returners for next season. “Josh and Isaiah got a lot of quality minutes and have huge upside,” OPRF coach Matt Maloney said. “Justin also has a bright future.”
Rivals excel at state swimming
Submitted photo
Fenwick senior goalie Lena Flores, center, and forward Ellie Kaiser, right, are two of the top hockey players in the state.
Friars restore girls hoops tradition After a 1-2 start, the Fenwick girls basketball team reeled off 11 wins in a row. By mid-December, the Friars proved they were for real. Although the team played around .500 the rest of the way, the split results reflected the challenge of playing an extremely difficult schedule more than a dip in performance. In fact, the Friars (23-13) featured one of the better lineups in the area with players contributing from all four-class levels. For the second straight year, Nazareth Academy defeated the Friars in the state playoffs. The Roadrunners’ star guard/forward Annie Stritzel scored 36 points to put away Fenwick 46-37 in the Fenwick Sectional final on Feb. 22. Freshman forwards Elise Heneghan and Audrey Hinrichs led the Friars in scoring with eight points apiece. Heneghan added 10 rebounds. “For them being young, to get to this level is a great experience. I think it’s going to carry them well in the future,” Fenwick coach Dave Power said. “The interesting thing is that they were bawling their eyes out because they wanted to win so badly for the seniors. They were just so happy with how they were embraced by them.
In addition to being primary rivals, the Fenwick and OPRF boys swimming teams have performed very well at the state finals. Led by rivals/friends Liam Hutchinson (Fenwick senior) and Will Raidt (OPRF junior), both teams did some damage at the state finals hosted by New Trier. The Notre Dame-bound Hutchinson won a state championship in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4 minutes, 24.47 seconds. “To become a state champion is a great feeling,” Hutchinson said. “Coming into my senior year, I knew it would be my last chance, so I feel I put in the proper preparation to win this year.” Hutchinson’s 500 free time broke the school record (4:26.12) set by the Friars’ Robert Ramoska who won a pair of state titles in 1978. Hutchinson just missed winning another state title in the 200-yard freestyle, placing second with a time of 1:38.16. In the 200 free, Hutchinson edged OPRF junior Will Raidt for second. Raidt recorded a time of 1:38.97. “It’s always fun racing Liam in the 200 free,” Raidt said. “It’s awesome that two of the three fastest 200 freestylers in the state are from Oak Park and River Forest schools.” Loyola Academy’s Luke Maurer won the 200 free state title with a time of 1:37.33. Hutchinson also swam a leg of the Friars’ 400-yard freestyle relay team, which took fourth at 3:06.66. Dan Bajda, Connor McCarthy and Mike Flynn were his teammates in the final race of the day. Raidt also placed eighth in the 100-yard butterfly (50.03 seconds) at state. In the 200-yard medley relay, the quartet of sophomore Diego Pareja, senior Alex Pedraza, sophomore Frank Tirone and Raidt took 10th in the state with a time of 1:34.72. In the team standings, Fenwick scored 55 points to earn 11th place and OPRF finished with 23 points for 13th.
Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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Wednesday Journal, March 13, 2019
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SPORTS
WJ All-Stars align on court 33
Good News: Good Life Race is almost here 32
Team sports kept us warm this winter Huskies and Friars win titles, set records and play with flair By MARTY FARMER
D
Sports Editor
espite snow, sleet, ice, wind, and, of course, the polar vortex, winter in Oak Park was a bit more tolerable if you braved the unforgiving conditions to soak in the local high school sports scene. And if you understandably decided to stay home, here’s a recap of the most compelling teams during the winter season.
OPRF wrestling remains elite The Huskies produced another excellent season, particularly at the IHSA individual and team state finals. Montini defeated OPRF in the team state finals 41-18 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington, but the Huskies held an 18-14 lead through eight matches. However, the Broncos won the last six matches and scored 27 unanswered points to secure their 15th state championship since 2000. At the individual state tournament, 132-pound state champ Eddie Bolivar led a contingent of six OPRF grapplers who meSee REVIEW on page 34
Photo by Jamil Smart
OPRF senior Eddie Bolivar won the 132-pound weight class state title this year. In the team state finals, the Huskies finished second behind rival Montini.
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