WednesdayJournal_031517

ALI ELSAFFA R ASSESSES THE D97 REF EREN DA, page 26

JOURNAL W E D N E S D A Y

March 15, 2017 Vol. 35, No. 30 ONE DOLLAR

of Oak Park and River Forest

Baseball preview

@O @OakPark

Sports, page 56

Trump budget could axe grant funding for Oak Park Village received $1.6M in community development money in 2016

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Social service agencies, nonprofits and the village itself could lose millions in federal grant funding under a preliminary budget from the Trump administration that has surfaced in recent days.

The Washington Post reported on March 8 that an early draft of the proposed budget it obtained for the Department of Housing and Urban Development would eliminate the $3 billion Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

Oak Park spent $1.6 million in CDBG funds in 2016 on numerous projects connected to public services, infrastructure improvements and economic development.

The village distributes much of the funding to local nonprofit organizations, such as Oak Park Regional Housing Center (promotSee CDBG CUTS on page 13

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

CROSS CURRENTS: Students in Oak Park and River Forest High School’s theater program during rehearsals for ‘Crossing Austin Boulevard,’ a play that dramatizes the history of the racial dynamics on both sides of that historic street.

OPRF play explores Austin Blvd. divide ‘Crossing Austin Boulevard’ delves deep into charged racial histories

By TERRY DEAN AustinTalks

Austin Boulevard’s dividing line between Oak Park and Chicago’s West Side is the subject of a new play debuting this month at Oak Park and River Forest High School.

Students in the high school’s theater department will debut “Crossing Austin Boulevard” March 17-20. The students and their teacher, Avi Lessing, have been in rehearsals for the last month.

The play features both acted-out scenes and monologues, with a focus on Oak Park’s housing integration efforts begin-

ning in the early 1970s. The play will also look at how street boundaries like Austin Boulevard keep communities separate rather than bring people together.

“The students have become really interested in telling that story,” Lessing said See CROSSING AUSTIN on page 14

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I N S I D E

R E P O R T

It’s raining laptops …

Macbooks to be exact

Salesforce, the San Francisco-based cloud computing company, posted over $6.5 billion in revenue last year and boasted 19,000 employees two years ago.

Times must be good, which is also good news for a few hundred District 97 students who are going to be showered with 100 to 200 slightly used Macbook Air or Pro computers.

The D97 school board unanimously approved the donation at a meeting last month. Each device is valued at between $500 and $1,000. Salesforce regularly donates computers, tablets and other technology to school districts, D97 of-

ficials said.

This particular instance of the company’s largesse came about after “a parent reached out through a connection in [Salesforce] to see if we were interested in being added to the list of school districts to receive donations now and in future years,” according to a memo drafted last month by Michael Arensdorff, D97’s senior director of technology.

So, here’s to networking — both in the cloud and in the flesh.

Anan forum features Chicago Ald. Taliaferro

Kids to march on Scoville for referendum

Oak Park Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb is holding his town hall meeting on Wednesday, March 15, in the Veteran’s Room of the Oak Park Public Library, 834 Madison St., from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

He will be joined by 29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro, who represents portions of neighboring Austin and Galewood.

“My hope is to think outside the box about issues that affect all of us,” AbuTaleb said in a press release. “We and our Galewood and Austin neighbors share not only borders, but our diverse and inclusive culture. The more we interact to share ideas and solve our mutual problems, the better.”

Residents from all three communities are invited to attend.

—Timothy Inklebarger

— Michael Romain

A march organized by a group of Oak Park residents led

by Deborah Levine is planned for Saturday, March 18, 11 a.m., at Scoville Park, 800 Lake St. in Oak Park.

The demonstration is a “way to bring awareness both to the programs that would be compromised if the referenda don’t pass (art, music) and most importantly to feature the citizens that would be most impacted by the referenda failing: Oak Park’s Kids!” according to a statement released by the march’s planners.

For more info, contact Joanna MacKenzie at (773) 517-6228.

TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER/Staff

Immigrants welcome St. Edmund Parish, 188 S. Oak Park Ave., is giving immigrants a warm welcome with a new sign that appeared in the last few weeks.

MOBILIZING: Students create posters ahead of a Yes! Yes! Kids’ March planned for March 18 in Scoville Park.

The march is designed as a show of support for District 97’s referendum.

Submitted photos

— Michael Romain

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March 15-22

BIG WEEK Stories and Songs of Old Ireland

Saturday, March 18 at 8:15 p.m., Lewis Hall, Dominican University: Illinois Storytelling presents Irish troubadour and storyteller Gerry Dignan, sharing stories told to him by his Great Aunt Ellen Quinn in her kitchen in West Ireland, passing along the old Irish folklore, beliefs, superstitions and ways of life. Open mic from 7 to 8 p.m., then Dignan at 8:15. No cover charge, donations appreciated. Lewis Lounge, 7900 W. Division, River Forest. For more, call Margaret Burk, 708-465-6305 or visit www. storytelling.org. For more on Gerry Dignan, visit dignansong@aol.com.

Church of Tangos Windy Symphony Friday, March 17 at 8 p.m., Concordia University: The Wind Symphony of Concordia Chicago will perform a homecoming concert following their Midwest tour of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and New York.

The free concert takes place in the University’s Chapel of Our Lord. Featured work of the evening will be the CUC-commissioned “African Harmony” by Johan de Meij, a nod to the Wind Symphony’s upcoming tour of South Africa in May and “The Irish Washerwoman” by Leroy Anderson. 7400 Augusta St., River Forest. Free off-street parking in the University’s parking structure, south of Division Street on Bonnie Brae Place. For more information, visit CUChicago.edu/music or call 708-209-3060.

Tabet Poetry Reading Wednesday, March 22 at 7 p.m., Lund Auditorium, Dominican University: The Fourth Annual Caesar and Patricia Tabet Poetry Reading features Luis Alberto Urrea, a Pulitzer Prize winner for nonfiction and member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame.

Sponsored by the Dominican Department of English. For more re information, visit dom.edu/events/tabet-poetry-reading.

CALENDAR EVENTS ■ As you’ve likely noticed, our

Calendar has changed to Big Week. Fewer items, higher profile.

If you would like your event to be featured here, please send a photo and details by noon of the Wednesday before it needs to be published.

We can’t publish everything, but we’ll do our best to feature the week’s highlights.

Email calendar@wjinc.com.

MiniCon Saturday, March 18 from 1 to 4 pm, Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room: Celebrate comics and fandom of all types, and take home free comics. There will be workshops, contests, tabletop games, and more. Main Library, 834 Lake St.

Sunday, March 19 at 10:30 a.m., Open Door Theater: Church of Beethoven-Oak Park presents the Hanauta Duo (violin and flute) performing Piazzolla tangos, plus music from Japan and Russia. Record store owner Val Camilletti is mistress of ceremonies in a refreshing Sunday morning event with free coffee and cookies. Seating is limited, reservations recommended. Cost: $10 for adults/$5 for children. Tickets: http://www. churchofbeethoven-oakpark.com/buy-tickets.html. 902 S. Ridgeland in Oak Park.

Gender Revolution

Stomp and Shout

Science of the Soul

Saturday, March 18 at 10:30 a.m., Open Monday, March 20 at 1:15 p.m., Door Theater: 19th Century Club: Stomp and Shout’s Jam Band returns to Open Door Rev. Stanley L. Davis Jr., with the Council of Relifor an interactive, imaginative concert featuring gious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago, presents original tunes and rock-and-roll favorites. Tickets: ““Science of the Soul,” an overview of religious $10 - General Admission $5 - Children 5 and ddiversity in the Chicago area. $10 suggested under. 708-386-5510. 902 S. Ridgeland don donation. Nineteenth Century Charitable AssociaAve. www.opendoortheater.net. tion, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park. 708-386-2729, www. ninetee nineteenthcentury.org.

Delta Authors on Tour Saturday, March 18 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Martin Recital Hall, Dominican University: The Glen Ellyn Area Alumnae Chapter (GEAAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. is hosting the Midwest stop for the annual Delta Authors on Tour. This event is free to the public, but please RSVP at http://bit.do/delta-authors-on-tour-geaac. The authors’ genres run from women’s fiction to self help.

Scandinavian Scenes Sunday, March 19 at 4 p.m., Lund Auditorium, Dominican University: Maurice Boyer will conduct Symphonie Espagnole and Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite with soprano Nathalie Colas and Eric Wallbruch as narrator.

Performing Arts Center, 7900 W. Division, River Forest. Tickets $28, students through college free.

Monday, March 20 from 6:30 to 9 p.m., Oak Park Public Library Veterans Room: Viewing of National Geographic’s Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric. The film follows Couric as she travels across the U.S. talking with scientists, psychologists, activists, authors, and families about the complex issue of gender.

Discussion will follow the screening. Main Library, 834 Lake St.

Tuba recital for world peace Saturday, March 18 at 7 p.m., Good Shepherd Lutheran Church: Tubist Raphael Valadez will perform a Recital for World Peace, with all proceeds going to the Kadampa Meditation Center in Oak Park. A free-will donation is requested but no one will be turned away. 611 Randolph St., Oak Park.

Live trustee candidate debate Sunday, March 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., WPNA Radio 1490AM: The Doris Davenport Show (with Doug Wyman, “All Local All the Time”) will feature the Oak Park trustee candidates in a live debate. The show airs every Sunday evening from high atop the Oak Park Arms. Streaming: www.radiowpna.com. Video Archive: www.greatlocalshops. com. Contact: 312-296-9709.

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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ART BEAT

My March culture binge

W

hat do Mary Poppins, Jazz and Ben Vereen have in common?

Well, they made for a couple of entertaining weekends in the first half of March as winter refused to relinquish its grip, driving me indoors and giving all of us an extra reason to partake of local culture offerings.

The stage version of Mary Poppins is different enough from the film to freshen it. And in the ambitious hands of the OPRF Theater Department, it also proved a technical tour de force. The audience for these annual late winter/early spring musical extravaganzas still seem to comprise mostly family and friends, which is a missed opportunity orrtunity for theater, and specifically musical, i ical, buffs.

The voices were ree strong, the showstopper dance numbers (“Supercalifragilisticexpi( alidocious” and “Step in Time”) were spec“ tacular, and thee special effects breathtaking (especially especially for the parents of the h actors, parhe ticularly Bert the th he chimney sweep, who at one on ne point walks up one wall then loped upside down across the stage before ree spinning head over heels e seveels eral times safely y down to the stage boards). rd ds). ) This was one time I was glad to be able to see the wires. I’ll bet his parents were, too.

Bert (Jonas Talandis) and Mary Poppins (Lizzie Maguire) were toppnotch. Even the bird woman, Lucy Economos (“Feed the Birds”) had a strong voice.

Year after year, the talent keeps coming, and it’s remarkable that they can get more than 100 student actors involved in these productions, with plenty of boys and plenty of diversity represented.

It was certainly worth the price of admission, and it’s also a good way to stick your head inside the high school that you’re paying taxes for, not to mention seeing the good use to which those tax dollars are put.

The third year Jazz Thaw, an innovative promotion that brings plenty of potential customers into Downtown Oak Park restaurants by offering live jazz, looked to be quite successful. Customers are encouraged to move from restaurant to restaurant, sampling both the jazz and the food and drink.

Some establishments seem better able to handle the influx. La Notte, a small space and in its first year of business, seemed a bit overwhelmed. Lake Street Kitchen +

Bar was more capacious and accommodating, no doubt because they’ve been through the drill twice before. WDCB-FM’s Barry Winograd was on hand playing baritone sax accompanied by Jim Ryan on keyboard.

WDCB is a co-sponsor of the event and, judging by the response to Winograd, Oak Parkers are loyal listeners.

Sushi House was a revelation.

They’ve got a cozy, old-fashioned bar and jazz venue tucked away in their lower level, featuring the Darwin Noguera Latin Jazz Trio. Felt like something right out of New York or La La Land.

Mancini’s featured vocalist Petra Van Nuis, accompanied by her husband, accom Andy Pratt Prat on guitar. The place was packed, but restaurant staff pacck and patrons amicably took it all pa atr in stride. striid We eventually got a table and an nd had dinner during Van Nuis’ second set. sec We turned it into iint a progressive dinner, not a bad way to see se a Saturday afternoon into the evening.

The following Saturday afternoon into Sa evening found us at Lund Auditofo rium riiiu on the campus of Dominican m University for the 37th Annual Trustee Benefit and Gala Concert. Dominican draws big-name performers for Ben this event and Ben Vert Vereen een answered the call this time around. Vereen, now iin his early 70s, used to be considered a “triple threat,” co i.e. ssinging, dancing and actUnlike Fred Astaire, who ing. Un famously (according to an early agent) couldn’t sing or act but sure could dance a little, Vereen no longer has the voice he once had and didn’t dance (he looked somewhat frail, in fact), but he sure can act, and he still moves, bringing his considerable charisma to bear in every line of his songs, even managing to inject new life into that tired old cliché, “My Way,” which takes enormous chutzpah even to attempt. But he pulled it off.

It’s pretty much impossible not to like Ben Vereen and this evening was no exception.

The concert had a valedictory feel, as if it might be his last tour, and indeed he made it clear he was doing it as a thank-you to his fans. He also made it an unabashed promotion of the arts and arts education, getting the entire crowd on its feet to sing “Stand for the arts” to the tune of “Stand By Me.” He connected with his audience, sold every song, and his performance was a testament to old pros.

Here’s to the ones whose dreams came true.

ENJOY THE GOOD LIFE

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SCANDINAVIAN SCENES JAY FRIEDMAN, Music Director and Conductor

Sunday March 19th, 2017 - 4pm

Dominican University Performing Arts Center 7900 W. Division River Forest 60305

Students through college are free.

Single tickets are available at the door for $28.

For tickets call DUPAC at 708-488-5000 or visit www.symphonyOPRF.com.

Call 708-218-2648 for more information about the orchestra.

Sophia Kreider

Pre-concert conversation with David Leehey begins at 3pm.

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Your Hosts: George & John 145 S. Oak Park Ave. Oak Park, IL 60302

B

een listening to a lot of candidates and otherwise elected and appointed local officials this past week. Mainly it is because the Journal is hip deep in our endorsement interview process. But I also moderated the League of Women Voters’ annual lunch on Saturday and about every fourth person in attendance is on the April ballot. And then it turned out that several other elected folks just wanted a chat.

The good news is that there are a ton of candidates running for office in Oak Park and River Forest. My goodness, there are 10 people running for three spots on the Oak Park library board. Most years filling out an uncontested slate was seen as a victory for democracy at the library. Not having to beg Galen Gockel to fill out a term on the village board for a third time was having a well-stocked bench.

More good news: some of these candidates are spectacular, most are darned good, only a small handful leave me doubting the future of the enterprise that is Oak Park and River Forest.

That said, it was both amusing and frustrating on Friday morning at the Business and Civic Council’s Oak Park trustee forum when only one of five candidates coughed up an actual answer to a direct question about whether they’d vote for the two tax hike referenda being put up by District 97 elementary schools.

The four other candidates used some version of “it would be presumptive of me to tell voters how to vote.” Suddenly shy, I guess.

It was Deno Andrews who offered a “definitive Yes and Yes” to the question.

However, he qualified it as an “angry Yes” calling the need for a referendum a “big travesty” caused by the “money taken out of the schools by the TIFs. The village has defunded the schools with TIFs,” he said.

Well, not exactly. School districts have signed on, sometimes reluctantly, to every TIF ever invented in these burgs. You can’t have a TIF without buy-in by all the taxing bodies. That’s state law.

Now that buy-in concept also, oddly, got a good play among even the shy trustee candidates on Friday morning. Always good to have potential electeds recognize that cooperation and collaboration among Oak Park’s multiple taxing bodies is not only feelgood government but perhaps essential to ever slowing down the tax train in town.

So on one end of the “can’t we all work together” pendulum is incumbent trustee Glenn Brewer who takes a share of credit for reinvigorating the I-Gov committee that brings reps from each government together for a good conversation. Reinvigoration is a relative concept as in the not so distant past it took I-Gov six months to write a One View to Wednesday Journal. But baby steps.

Then there is Dan Moroney, a trustee candidate who wouldn’t tell voters his view on the D97 referenda but said that from this day forward any taxing body proposing a referendum should need to get “input” from all the other taxing bodies and that it should be a collective decision if that referendum is essential and the right amount.

Andrews went further, saying there needs to be some sort of legal requirement to make the taxing bodies work together.

We’re looking at world government here.

If I were king of the world, or even lived in Oak Park anymore, I’d have forced OPRF to come to the table a decade ago, when the park district wanted to work together on rebuilding Ridgeland Common, to discuss some sort of shared pool.

And more recently, I’d have required that the park district and District 97 build a shared headquarters on Madison Street.

And while I was on a roll, I’d have merged the fire departments of Oak Park, Forest Park and River Forest into a single fire district. One chief. Fewer pensions.

As in most things, though, persuasion is more powerful than edicts. And we’re not electing village trustees to approve teacher contracts.

DAN HALEY

Maurice Boyer, Conductor BERWALD Estrella de Soria Overture LALO Symphonie espagnole, movement 1 Sophia Kreider-violin, Concerto Competition Winner Maurice Boyer SIBELIUS Luonnotar Nathalie Colas-soprano GRIEG Peer Gynt Suite (concert version arr. by Maurice Boyer for orchestra & choir) Nathalie Colas-soprano, Eric Wallbruch-narrator

Secret votes, big demands

Ph: 708.848.4949 Cell: 847.708.1727

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Oak Park tries to tighten up parking signs

Village discusses on-street-parking signs at special meeting

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Trustee Colette Lueck said she was not sure the proposed signs were clear and understandable. She said the village must “be vigilant” in observing people trying to park where the test signs are placed to determine whether they are working.

“I like the idea of getting rid of one more sign if this works,” she said.

Trustee Glenn Brewer encouraged Velan to promote the new sign designs on social media to give residents a chance to provide input.

Trustee Bob Tucker suggested displaying large cardboard versions of the signs at Village Hall to solicit visitors to take a survey about the signs’ effectiveness. He said a lot of residents would be visiting Village Hall for early voting over the next few weeks, and it would be a good opportunity to solicit more opinions.

The Oak Park Board of Trustees continued its comprehensive review of parking issues at a Monday night meeting, this time discussing a plan to consolidate the jumble of signs directing residents when and where to park on residential streets throughout the village.

The consolidated sign proposed by Parking and Mobility Services Director Jill Velan aims to simplify and consolidate the sign design.

Velan said as many as 10 municipalities – Columbus, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Sydney, Australia; and Montreal, Canada; among others – have adopted various versions of the sign presented to trustees.

She said the parking deMON-FRI SAT & SUN partment plans to place the signs in a couple of places around the village to see if they work.

“We still need to look at reducing our restrictions,” she said.

Future parking meetTrustee Jim Taglia, newings will address: ly appointed to the board, ■ Parking on and near asked how the village would Austin Boulevard and determine if the pilot proHarlem Avenue (April) gram was successful.

■ Parking on and near Village Manager Cara North Avenue and RoosPavlicek said the village evelt Road (May) already has posted the sign ■ Parking near CTA online and is receiving comBlue Line, CTA Green ments from residents. But Line and Metra stations she said if tickets increase (June) in the area where the pilotNo Parking after 2 inches of snow ■ Parking on and near program signs are posted, Even Dates 8am-6pm - TOW ZONE Madison Street and Washthen the village will know ington Boulevard (July) they aren’t working.

■ Parking on or near If residents appeal parking tickets and say, “I saw the sign and the Chicago Avenue and Division Street (Ausign said I could park there,” Pavlicek said, gust) ■ Comprehensive ordinance amendments “then we know the sign is not communicat(September) ing properly.”

Please send Letters to the Editor to ■ ktrainor@wjinc.com or ■ Wednesday Journal, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 Include name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

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River Forest trustee wants ‘big box’ on North Ave.

Cargie seeks notable sales tax producer in proposed TIF

By DEBORAH KADIN Contributing Reporter

Tom Cargie, an incumbent River Forest village trustee up for reelection next month, has come up with an audacious idea to develop space on North Avenue after a tax increment finance district is established: bring in a big-box store.

“I’d love a big box store. Not a Walmart, but I would want a similar retail tax producer…a $2 million sales tax producer. Retail taxes are … better because they’re not coming from residents,” Cargie said during a March 9 candidate endorsement interview with Wednesday Journal.

To do what he is even imagining, Cargie noted a developer would have to go three houses deep into the neighborhood. Money from a yet-to-be-created tax increment financing (TIF) district would have to be used to acquire the homes. He said he was “comfortable saying that on North Avenue, there would be a provision as there was on Madison Street that they [the village] could not use eminent domain.”

Is it widely assumed that a big box is the right answer? Cargie said that it was his opinion. He had not talked with anyone, including real estate people.

“I do not know if that’s what [Village President] Cathy [Adduci] wants,” Cargie said.

Said Adduci, “I don’t see it ever happening. Even if we had the space, I don’t know if a big box chain would be appropriate for our community.”

Big box retailers aren’t building “big” much anymore, she added.

The comprehensive plan and the 2010 corridor study will dictate what would go on North Avenue after the TIF corridor is created this summer. There’d be no call for land assembly like that, she added.

Running for his second term, Cargie was responding to a reporter’s question about what he would like to see on North Avenue 10 years from now. Patty Henek and Respicio Vazquez, also candidates for village trustee, were in the endorsement interview as well. The only trustee candidate who did not show up to answer questions was incumbent Tom Dwyer.

Henek said people would freak out. To calm fears, Henek said she’d love to see a town hall meeting on issues related to development on North Avenue before the public meetings that are called for in the TIF process.

“In those hearings, people can ask questions, but residents are

“I’d love a big box store. Not a Walmart, but I would want a similar retail tax producer…a $2 million sales tax producer.

Retail taxes are … better because they’re not coming from residents.”

TOM CARGIE

RF village trustee

left hanging out there. That’s how misinformation spreads.”

Even still, she’d be surprised if the idea would be embraced, Henek said.

“The challenge would be buyin. It’d take some creativity,” Henek said. “Maybe it would take a little more effort to attract developers. There’s a natural limitation to those lots.”

Vazquez would like to see the results of a marketing analysis and what recommendations experts would have as to what could be put on North Avenue.

He, too, would like a town hall, explaining to people the possibilities. He’d like to avoid the emotional concept of bulldozing homes.

“We ought to be very cautious about doing that,” Vazquez said.

“I’m not sure if a big box would work. I’m not wedded to any particular business. Business has to be sustainable in the community and along North Avenue.”

According to the 2010 corridor study, restaurant and retail use should be priorities, no new stand-alone development is recommended. Small token commercial space should not be proposed to justify larger real estate developments. The shallow lot

depth will be a limiting factor in terms of potential redevelopment, especially along the blocks to William Street according to that study.

Residents living closest to North Avenue, in responding to the survey that was part of the corridor study, favored restaurants, retail and service uses.

Hampering development along North Avenue are truck traffic, noise and air pollution. Traffic also has a negative impact on surrounding residential neighborhoods.

A TIF was created along Madison Street after months of study and debate. After residents’ outcry, the village added language to required documents that would bar the use of eminent domain as part of the 23-year life of the TIF. The district was established late last year.

No decisions have been made about what kind of projects would be done during either the Madison Street or North Avenue TIFs. The village will do another market analysis to identify what type of development would be appropriate for Madison Street and North Avenue. Projects also would be based on market demands. The Economic Development Commission recommended recently that residents could be surveyed to gauge what kind of businesses they would like both on North Avenue and Madison Street, Adduci said.

The creation of the North Avenue TIF could happen before the end of the year, Adduci added.

Developer getting closer on Lake and Lathrop site

Second property acquired but final seller wants assurances over liability

By DEBORAH KADIN Contributing Reporter

The long-standing redevelopment at Lake and Lathrop took a major step forward last week as Keystone Ventures finally hammered out an agreement to buy the property at 7602-13 Lake St., owned by the estate of Edward Ditchfield.

Trustee Tom Cargie confirmed the news in an email to Wednesday Journal last week.

The sale also was confirmed by Village President Catherine Adduci.

The lone property that Keystone’s owner Tim Hague will need to buy is 7617-21 Lake St., owned by Ali ElSaffar, Oak Park Township’s assessor, and his family.

Three properties are needed to make Hague’s project work. The third, and the least important parcel, 423 Ashland Ave., was purchased in September from Forest

Park National Bank.

With the Ditchfield property sold, Hague and his partner, Marty Paris, will talk with his four tenants about the next steps, Adduci said.

Nothing else will happen until they complete the assembly of all the properties, she added.

“I believe there is a fair proposal from the developers with ElSaffar; there’s still one issue remaining they need to resolve,” said Adduci, who could not comment further, but hopes that a reasonable solution can be negotiated.

Hague had until mid-March to buy all of the parcels. But now, with purchase of one property still looming, Adduci said Hague can finish up negotiations.

“At this time, we won’t give another extension,” she said. “He’s showed good faith to close on Ditchfield. I hope we’re close on ElSaffar.”

But in a statement emailed to Wednesday Journal on March 13, the ElSaffar family indicated it wants assurances that they won’t be held liable for any claims that might arise in the future over contaminated soil.

Over the years, a big issue during discussions with Ditchfield was cleanup of the site. As far back as 2001, the Illinois Envi-

ronmental Protection Agency found that the property, which had housed a dry cleaner since 1922, was contaminated.

Ditchfield operated River Forest Cleaners on the site. Ditchfield’s property contaminated ElSaffar’s property and the parcel at 411 Ashland Ave. “We do not believe we should incur any liability caused by our neighbor, and stated this in our response to the developer’s first offer last July,” said Ali, Dena and Amir ElSaffar in its statement to the Landmark. “By late October, we believed we had reached an agreement in principle with the developer on price, liability and all other issues, and expected to close by the end of December.”

But when Keystone Ventures sent a full contract just before Thanksgiving last year, the provision regarding liability was missing, according to the ElSaffar family.

“Since Thanksgiving, we have sought to find alternative ways to resolve the issue of potential environmental liability,” the ElSaffars said. “This issue is not yet resolved, but we are still seeking a solution.”

Redevelopment of the site has been fraught with problems almost from the time Hague,

in 2010, was tapped by the board at the time to build a project there. The village president was John Rigas. Adduci, Susan Conti and Mike Gibbs were trustees at the time.

Under that redevelopment agreement, the village board granted Hague $1.9 million from the 2010 Lake Street Tax Increment Finance district for property acquisition and environmental cleanup of the site.

Hague has until mid-March to buy Ditchfield’s and ElSaffar’s property. He received a default letter on Feb. 1 – his third -- for failing to come up with an initial development agreement. The initial agreement on the contract was signed on March 23, 2016.

A redevelopment application was filed late last year, but it had to be scrapped because a partnership between Hague and Inland Real Estate Group, which had been involved in the residential component of the project, fell apart, Hague told the board in January.

Hague and Inland parted company and he found another partner, Sedgwick Partners, to work on the project with him. Sedgwick is owned by Marty Paris, a River Forest resident and son of former River Forest Village President Frank Paris.

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

At 100, Gwendolyn Brooks still inspires Peter Kahn’s anthology arrives just in time for poet’s centenary

By MICHAEL ROMAIN

A Gwendolyn Brooks celebration

Staff Reporter

The poet Gwendolyn Brooks, who died in 2000 at the age of 83, would have been 100 years old this year. In Illinois, particularly in the Chicago area, Brooks has become something of an institution. There are no fewer than five schools across the state named after the late poet, including Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in Oak Park.

Last month, the Art Institute of Chicago’s Rubloff Auditorium hosted all five living African-American winners of the Pulitzer Prize for poetry, the Chicago Tribune reported. The night climaxed with the tony crowd chanting Brook’s famous 1959 poem, “We Real Cool.” And that was just the start of a spate of Brooks centenary celebrations happening all over the state this year.

Beyond Illinois, however, the legacy of Brooks — the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize and the first black woman to be appointed a Poet Laureate, a position she held in Illinois from 1969 until her death — can still sometimes seem unjustly underappreciated, says Peter Kahn, Oak Park and River Forest High School English teacher and Spoken Word Club sponsor.

That’s partly why Kahn set out to compile hundreds of poems, written by poets both famous and up-and-coming (including around 20 OPRF alums), based on lines from several Brooks poems, including “We Real Cool.”

The result is The Golden Shovel Anthology: New Poems Honoring Gwendolyn Brooks, which was published this year by the University of Arkansas Press.

“Golden Shovel” was inspired by a poem written less than a decade ago by National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes called “The Golden Shovel.” The last words of each line in Hayes’ work are words from at least one line pulled from Brooks’ “We Real Cool.”

According to a description that appears on the jacket of the anthology, “The poems are, in a way, secretly encoded to enable both a horizontal reading of the new poem and vertical reading down the right-hand margin of Brooks’ original.”

Hayes writes the forward for the book and his “Golden Shovel” is the first poem in a collection of at least 200 other Golden Shovel poems by some of the greatest living poets in the country, including Brooks admirers like Nikki Giovanni and Rita Dove — herself a Pulitzer Prize winner and the first African American U.S. Poet Laureate.

Kahn said it took approximately three years of frequent emails and follow-ups to compile the book, which he co-edited along with poets Ravi Shankar and Patricia Smith.

“In some instances, people would send me a poem on the day I requested it,” Kahn said last week. “In other instances, I emailed three or four times over the course of 2-3 years. I think mentioning that students were involved was helpful.”

■ On

March 16 at 6:30 p.m., at Magic Tree Bookstore, 141 N. Oak Park Ave., the Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School community will host a reading of another newly released Brooks-inspired anthology, Revise the Psalm: Work Celebrating the Writing of Gwendolyn Brooks. The editors will be at the event, which is for adults only, for a discussion and book signing. For more information, call 708-848-0770.

■ On April 12, Peter Kahn and some of his former students will appear with Patricia Smith and Terrance Hayes to celebrate their Golden Shovel anthology. This free event will take place at the Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior St. in Chicago.

File photo

Peter Kahn The Golden Shovel poems by Kahn — whose poem, “Gray,” is based on a line from Brooks’ “Kitchenette Building” — and two dozen of his former students are also featured in the book.

For Chicago poet Asia Calcagno, who said Kahn introduced her to poetry while she was a student at OPRF roughly a decade ago, the anthology was as much an ode to Brooks’ life work as it is to her poetry.

“I think Peter cared a lot about getting different generations involved in the book, similar to how Gwendolyn cared about youth and the arts,” said Calcagno. “Peter didn’t just want popular poets but also young poets who are starting to come into their own voice.”

Calcagno’s poem, “Gravestones,” is based on a line from Brooks’ poem, “Riot,” about a linen and wool-clad, Jaguar-owning white man named John Cabot, “out of Wilma, once a Wycliffe,” who stumbles upon a group of “black and loud” blacks during a domestic disturbance.

One of the poem’s last lines, “You are a desperate man, and the desperate die expensively today,” runs down the left margins of Calcagno’s poem about a deep, philosophical conversation she once had with a friend during a smoke break.

“I don’t think I realized how profound [Brooks] was until I was starting college,” Calcagno, a former school teacher, said.

“Her being a woman of color from Chicago who had a deep appreciation for youth and education and the arts — everything in my life has revolved around those things.”

Adam Levin, another of Kahn’s former students and his current Spoken Word teaching assistant at OPRF, said the opportunity to be published beside poets like Billy Collins, the former U.S. Poet Laureate, was “incredibly humbling.”

“I think it’s a testament to Peter, that he’d be willing to do that for his former students,” Levin said. He asked me to do it and stayed on me, having me re-write drafts until I had something worth being in the book.”

Kahn said he was simply taking his cues from Brooks, whom he met three times when the poet was still alive. Each time, he said, the poet exhibited the kind of humility and openness that endeared her to so many poets and non-poets alike.

“I was always blown away at her combination of being so humble, yet so fierce and so accessible and so genius,” said Kahn.

“Those are words you wouldn’t normally associate with one another. She was extremely generous with her time and her own money.

I think that’s partly why we were able to get so many people like Nikki Giovanni, who looked up to Brooks, I imagine, not just as a writer but also a mentor.”

Those qualities in the late poet may be what makes Levin’s Golden Shovel poem, “We were gonna go through with it, and then we lost it,” so profound. He borrows part of the last line from Brooks’ “The Mother.”

“Believe me, I loved you all,” wrote Brooks. “Believe me, I knew you, though faintly, and I loved, I loved you all.”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Young filmmakers take top prizes at One Earth festival

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

The 2017 One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest was dominated by students from Oak Park and River Forest.

The contest is part of the larger One Earth Film Festival, hosted each year by Oak Park-based Green Community Connections, which is described on the website as a “deep-roots organization working to build a sustainable future in the Oak Park/River Forest area.”

During the festival, which ran March 3-12, 30 films, ranging from climate change to waste-recycling, were screened throughout the Chicago area in churches, museums and mainstream movie theaters.

The Young Filmmakers Contest was open to U.S. residents, third grade through college, who were required to submit a 3- to 8-minute film in one of six topics: water, waste, food, transportation, open

space and ecosystems, and energy.

Prizes were given out in four grade-level categories. Elementary school, middle school, high school and college winners received cash prizes of $75, $100, $250 and $500, respectively.

Two brothers from Roosevelt Middle School in River Forest, Jaxon and Miles Toppen, won the top elementary school prize for their 8-minute video, “Shells in Need of Saving,” which documents how two sea turtles were rescued from the polluted waters near the Florida Keys and rehabilitated.

“Turtles did not struggle until humans started creating many threats,” the brothers wrote about the film. “If we continue our ways, not only will we lose turtles, we may lose all life on earth as we know it.

We hope our film will make people change the types of behavior that cause pollution, not just of the ocean but of the entire planet.”

Rui Shastri Saldanha, who attends Julian Middle School in

Oak Park, won the top middle school prize for her 6-minute video, “Deforestation,” in which she documents the effect of deforestation on wildlife habitats.

Fourteen students in the Eco Eagles, a group of students at Brooks Middle School in Oak Park who engage in environmentallysound educational activities, received an honorable mention for their 6-minute video, “Yard Hunters,” a spoof on the HGTV show “House Hunters.”

“In their film, a family of pollinators looks for the best yard to call home, namely one with native plants and milkweed for their caterpillar children,” according to a description by Lisa Biehle, who helped organize the contest.

“First, the realtor squirrel shows them a lawn treated with pesticides, then a yard with beautiful non-native flowers, and finally the perfect yard with native plants.”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

D97 to approve position for outgoing Lincoln principal

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Staff Reporter

Cathy Hamilton, the longtime principal of Lincoln Elementary School in Oak Park, will likely be appointed by the District 97 school board as a district administrator overseeing substitutes and teaching assistants.

District 97 board President James Gates announced at a Feb. 28 meeting that the board would likely approve a one-year contract for the 2017-18 school year at its March 14 meeting.

Hamilton’s salary would be $83,000.

The move comes after months of crowded board meetings and emotional pleas from Hamilton’s supporters, who wanted the board to allow the principal to stay on for another three years as interim principal.

The decision finesses a decision made by the school board several years ago to hold Hamilton to her request for early

retirement at the end of this school year.

After the state legislature made a decision that Hamilton’s supporters said would have cut into the pension she had anticipated when she made her original request, the longtime principal asked the board to let her stay on for another three years.

The board, however, decided to uphold its original decision to let Hamilton retire early and has since started the search process for Hamilton’s successor. District officials, however, agreed to allow Hamilton to continue working in the district in another capacity.

“I want to thank [D97 Superintendent] Dr. Kelley and board members for working with me over the past few months to find a resolution to this retirement situation,” Hamilton said at the Feb. 28 meeting. “My goal was always to retire from Oak Park.

I love it here. So thank you.”

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

Road Trip on the Horizon?

Let us know we’ll hold your paper!

Email: circulation@OakPark.com

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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T

The Blue Cab blues

he end came last fall in the back seat of a beat-ass Scion XB, trapped in Houby Day parade traffic near Cermak Road.

After boasting that he never uses GPS or Waze because he knows all the shortcuts, my Blue Cab driver plunged us deep into Berwyn sidestreet gridlock on a trip to Midway Airport. The ride took more than an hour.

Until that moment I had been a stubborn holdout against the rising tide of rideshare transit.

I liked that Oak Park had its own homegrown cab culture and was suspicious of a rules-flouting model so openly championed by the unctuous Rahm Emanuel. I disliked the exploitative business model, wondered whether any of these private rides were really covered by insurance, and just gagged real hard on the whole tech-bro, pirate-ship funk that wafts ceaselessly off Uber.

But escaping my Blue Cab ride-from-hell, I was ready for a change and since last fall have been a regular user of both Uber and Lyft (we’re a one-car family) and a much less regular Blue Cab rider.

I’m not alone.

Blue Cab’s ridership is down and the company lost 20 percent of its fleet between 2016 and 2017, according to Vice President Jim Bennett. They’re now operating 120 cabs versus 150 a year ago.

“It’s very hard to compete,” Bennett said, ticking off a list of issues faced by cab operators but, for him and others in the taxi business, frustratingly avoided by rideshare firms like Uber. “It’s a really unfair playing field.

“The biggest issue is the licensing,” he said. “We have to pay fees, the drivers have to pay fees, the vehicles and business have to pay fees to all of the towns we operate in and it’s thousands of dollars.”

Blue Cab pays $70 per year per cab for an operating license in Oak Park, Bennett said. In Forest Park, where the cab company is based, the cost is $50 per cab per year. And Blue Cab operates in dozens of west suburban communities, all of whom take a cut.

Lyft and Uber pay no such fees, according to Bennett, who is a third-generation operator of his family’s cab company. Blue Cab also pays for state-mandated inspections, which the rideshares similarly avoid, he noted. Insurance costs are different, too.

Bennett’s laments are familiar to anyone who reads the business page: Silicon Valley “disruptors,” like Uber and Lyft, run circles around heavily regulated cab companies in the U.S. and overseas. The taxi industry in the States strikes back where it can — highlighting the claimed perils of rideshare patronage at www.whosdrivingyou.org, for instance — but there are some heavy body blows being landed by the upstarts.

File photo

These are evident locally to anyone choosing between a ride with Blue Cab or one with Lyft or Uber. (I’ve never patronized Red Cab and cannot speak to their service.)

Hailing a cab is almost always slower than hailing a rideshare. I’ve sought a Blue Cab and been told the wait would be 30 minutes, while a Lyft, summoned for the same ride, arrived in five minutes. Similarly, the cost of rideshares is almost always less than the cab, sometimes absurdly so.

And for this particular passenger, the shared-ride vehicles are always — and I mean every single time — cleaner and in significantly better condition than any Blue Cab that’s ever arrived at my doorstep.

The issues of cost and ride availability are perhaps a little unfair. Blue Cab’s costs are inherently higher than the rideshare companies, and their fleet is nowhere near the combined size of Uber and Lyft.

But the issue of cleanliness and what I’d call passenger-worthiness is legit, and it’s a huge problem for Blue Cab. I lived for a time in Indonesia and traveled across Southeast Asia and can say that much of the jalopy Blue Cab fleet would be an embarrassment to the pro taxi drivers of Jakarta and Ho Chi Minh City. Those vehicles ought to be an embarrassment for the allegedly pro drivers of Blue Cab, and for the company’s owners.

Bennett acknowledged the problem, which he said relates to the makeup of Blue Cab’s fleet.

“It’s an issue for us and we need to up our game in order to compete with the sharerides,” he said.

About half of the company’s cabs are rentals, according to Bennett, meaning drivers lease the cars from owners who con-

BRETT MCNEIL

“It’s an issue for us and we need to up our game in order to compete with the share-rides.”

JIM BENNETT

Blue Cab vice president

trol multiple taxi cabs. These vehicles are often shared among drivers, and they can be up to eight years old. If you’ve been in one of these cabs, you know they feel — and too often smell — older than that.

Yes, there are complex and hard financial realities at play here — financing newer cars in the face of falling demand prompted by cut-rate competition is an admittedly tough nut; the pricing model for rideshares seems clearly to disadvantage the drivers — and none of Blue Cab’s cabbies are getting rich driving a taxi.

But asking customers to pay higher fares to ride in the back of a dirty beater is a real losing strategy. Hence the 20 percent die-off in Blue Cabs last year.

Bennett said he recognizes the problem — owner-driven cars tend to be cleaner and better maintained, he said — and thinks he might have a solution.

“We’re looking at changing our model,” he said. “If we can’t compete, we are thinking of becoming a shared-ride model. This is something we are looking seriously at, possibly by 2018.”

That seems like a big change and one that’s not exactly guaranteed, what with the long head start by Lyft and Uber. But if it saves Blue Cab as a local business and improves its service, I’d certainly give it a shot.

Just not to Midway.

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Fire and police chairman runs for Oak Park village clerk Masaru Takiguchi touts experience with local officials, organizations

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Masaru “Mas” Takiguchi is no stranger to Oak Park politics, and he says his experience will inform his ability to expand the role of the village clerk.

Takiguchi, who runs his own law practice in Oak Brook, Takiguchi & Associates, has a resume with Oak Park commissions and nonprofit organizations stretching back to the late 1990s. He says the legal practice will continue but will be operated by other attorneys.

He has served since 2012 on the Oak Park Board of Fire and Police Commissioners – a three-member panel that, among other duties, holds disciplinary hearings for the two departments. He is currently chairman of the board.

Takiguchi served at the Oak Park Housing Authority from 1999 to 2005 and the Oak Park Residence Corporation from 2001 to 2005 – both are nonprofit affordable housing agencies in the village. Takiguchi was chairman of the board at the housing authority and president of the board of direc-

tors at the residence corporation.

He served on the Oak Park Liquor Control Review Board from 1998 to 1999 and 2010 to 2013. The board serves in an advisory role to the Oak Park village board on issuance of liquor licenses and other matters.

Takiguchi also has served on the boards of the Elizabeth H. and Cyrus Giddings Corporation, Wonder Works (formerly Children’s Museum of Oak Park), Barrie Park Advisory Committee and the Center for Speech and Language Disorders.

Takiguchi noted his extensive relationships with nonprofit organizations, trustees, police and fire departments, Village Manager Cara Pavlicek and village staff.

His work crafting budgets for the residence corporation and the housing authority has given Takiguchi “a great deal of contact” with various staff and elected officials throughout the village, he said.

“I understand the mechanics of government,” he said in a recent interview.

Takiguchi acknowledged that the village clerk’s role has been reduced over the last decade, but said the change is due in part to leaves of absence taken by the existing village clerk over the last few years.

The shifting of duties to other departments has been seen at village hall as an attack on the clerk’s role, Takiguchi said.

“That really wasn’t so much an attack as a

necessity brought about by circumstances, but if that’s the case, it’s engendered some kind of defensive response that (the village manager) is going to dismantle the office,” he said. “To some extent that’s necessary and appropriate, but to the extent that it could easily go overboard, I would be able to bring to the discussion and resist that because I know what the duties are.”

Takiguchi said that as village clerk he would have a greater presence in the community than his predecessor and would work to find efficiencies in the clerk’s office and work to attract voters to the polls, noting that roughly 10 percent of Oak Parkers voted in the last municipal election.

He said election outreach should begin at the middle school level, encouraging future voters with mock elections and field trips to village hall to learn about local government.

“We know what happens if you don’t, but we don’t know what happens if you try an initiative like this where you do outreach and draw people in,” he said. “The alternative is to just do nothing.”

Takiguchi said he would work to upgrade the clerk’s office by finding effective ways to use technology to reduce repetition and waste. Digitizing some documents would “save time and reduce errors,” he said.

He also vowed to work closely with Village Manager Pavlicek. “One of the goals is

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

Mas Takiguchi to cooperate and have a better working relationship between the village clerk and the village manager,” he said. “My perception is it’s antagonistic and it doesn’t have to be that way.”

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Sponsored Content

Twenty Years of Community

C

Community Bank of Oak Park and River Forest Celebrates Strength in Community

ommunity Bank is celebrating its twentieth year serving the communities of Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park, and since the very beginning, its founders knew they were able to offer something that just couldn’t be found in big, corporate-owned banks. With a focus on community values and local ties and a strong commitment to supporting local not-for-profits, Community Bank continues to make a difference in Oak Park and River Forest.

In the mid-nineties, the banking community in Oak Park was in upheaval. Walter Healy, President and CEO of Community Bank, recalls that he was hired by one bank and eventually had three different employers as the bank changed hands rapidly. Claude L’Heureux, Senior Vice President, Residential Lending and CRA Officer, also worked locally for big corporate banks that failed and changed ownership. Along with Marty Noll, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Ruth McLaren, Senior Vice President, Operations, who also worked in various banks during their early careers in Oak Park, they all saw

the need for a different approach to banking.

“At that point there were no locally owned banks in Oak Park and River Forest. There was clearly a strong desire to have a community bank,” recalls Healy.

Community Bank opened its doors on Lake Street on November 4, 1996 with $5 million in capital and a completely local board. Twenty years later, Healy sees their role in the community as more important than ever.

“It still rings true today. This community needs a community bank.

I think everyone here believes that we make a difference every day with the decisions we make and the people we meet.”

L’Heureux notes that one of the keys to success is Community Bank’s ability to see customers one person at a time.

“If you have a problem or a need, you can call us and talk to a person. We’re helping solve those problems in a way that is very meaningful to people.”

Alongside an ability to serve each customer on a personal level,

Community Bank also makes a point of giving back to the community.

“When we opened the doors, we looked around and said, what can we do in the community? How can we help? Today, we have nearly 1,000 not-for-profits who bank with us. We volunteer for those organizations. We serve on their boards. We (from left to right) Walter Healy, President and CEO of Community Bank, help promote their events, Ruth McLaren, Senior Vice President, Operations,Claude L’Heureux, Senior Vice President, Residential Lending and CRA Officer, and Marty Noll, and we put on our own Chairman of the Board of Directors. community events. We are a part of the fabric of the community,” McLaren states.

University in River Forest and supports the Oak Park Area Arts Council Best in Community Bank lends its Class Awards. sponsorship to countless community events every year. Through three For Healy, giving back is all a part annual events, the bank gives back of doing business in the community. to the Oak Park and River Forest “We’re obviously very grounded in this communities on a large scale. The community and care deeply about the Community Bank-sponsored annual community. We are also very excited to July 4th firework show in Oak Park introduce a new ‘state of the art’ branch is a favorite summer celebration for in River Forest opening in less than a everyone in the Village. In addition, month.”

Community Bank is the underwriter of the Makin’ Tracks 5k at Concordia

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CDBG CUTS

Trump budget looms from page 1 ing housing integration), Housing Forward (homeless support), Sarah’s Inn (domestic violence), West Cook YMCA, Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry and Hephzibah (atrisk services) among many others.

The village also uses CDBG funds for infrastructure improvements such as making sidewalks ADA accessible, improving deteriorating alleys and promoting housing rehab programs.

Village officials and heads of nonprofit organizations were not surprised by the news that CDBG grant funds could be eliminated.

“You want to be pro-active on these It’s not the first time this has happened, things,” Breymaier said. said Rob Breymaier, executive director of CDBG cuts also would hit the bottom line the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. of Housing Forward, a social service orgaWhen CDBG funding faced cuts under past nization that operates an emergency shelter administrations, elected officials at the fed- and works to transition homeless people eral and state level rallied in a into permanent housing. bipartisan effort to secure the Lynda Schueler, Housing Forfunding, he said. ward executive director, said This time it’s different, Breyshe has not seen anything in the maier said, because “we just press about cuts to HUD’s Emerdon’t know what to expect from gency Solutions Grant (ESG) this administration.” program, but she and others are The Housing Center received concerned that it could be cut as $171,000 in CDBG funds distribwell under Trump’s budget. uted through the village in fiscal Schueler said Housing Foryear 2016 — the grant program’s ward receives about $300,000 anfiscal year runs from Oct. 1 to nually in CDBG and ESG fundROB BREYMAIER Sept. 30 — to assist in its mission ing between Oak Park, Cook Executive director of Oak Park of encouraging racial integration County and the city of Berwyn.

Regional Housing Center in housing. Breymaier said that ESG grants constitute about makes up roughly 15 percent of two-thirds of that funding. the organization’s $1.2 million annual budget.

“There are numerous program activities Those funds help pay the salaries of one funded by that,” she said. seasonal and three full-time employees at Street outreach to homeless people, emthe center, Breymaier said. “Without that ployment training, shelter service, homemoney, we would lose at least two full-time less prevention and the organization’s housstaff,” he said. ing program are all partly funded through Breymaier said Housing Center staff CDBG and ESG funds, she said. helps find housing for those in Oak Park and “Upwards of 1,000 people would be imencourages people of different races to live pacted by those programmatic cuts,” she in the same areas of town to prevent segre- said. “The other important thing here is gation. The staff also works to provide edu- we have 20 communities within our service cational material on fair housing law and area, so it’s not just Oak Park. Those cuts other resources to help identify and address would be devastating.” housing discrimination.

Left without funding, Housing Forward offi-

SOCIAL SERVICE CUTS: Potential cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program would be a hard hit to local nonprofit organizations like Housing Forward (left).

File photo

cials would have to “make strategic decisions on which programs to cut,” Schueler said.

“One of the things we pride ourselves on is the comprehensive nature of our programming.”

Grant funding cuts would force Housing Forward to decide “which population are we best going to serve?”

Schueler said Housing Forward staff also is grappling with potential cuts to Medicaid in a revamped health care policy under the Trump Administration as well as the administration’s proposal to cut the Corporation for National and Community Service, which funds the AmeriCorps program.

A dozen local AmeriCorps members are made available to Housing Forward, two of which are contracted through Housing Forward to the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and another two to BEDS Plus Care, a homeless shelter and housing services organization in La Grange.

“We have eight of the 12 [AmeriCorps workers] and that is another significant impact,” she said.

Nonprofit organizations are not the only ones that would be hit by elimination of CDBG funds. The village of Oak Park would also be directly impacted.

The village used $638,759 in CDBG funds in fiscal year 2016 on various infrastructure improvements. Those improvements included $375,000 for alley repairs, $150,000 to make sidewalks accessible to those with mobility impairments, and $113,759 to add ADA-compliant curb ramps to streets

13

CDBG funds used in Oak Park A number of social service organizations rely on funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant program. In fiscal year 2016, about $1.6 million was allotted to the village for various programs. Here are just a few: ■ Oak Park Regional Housing Center ($171,000) ■ Village of Oak Park Health Department for the Oak Park Farmers Market ($10,000) ■ The Children’s Clinic ($21,500) ■ Hephzibah ($14,000) ■ Housing Forward ($31,000) ■ National Alliance on Mental Illness ($8,000) ■ Oak Park-River Forest Food Pantry ($17,500) ■ Sarah’s Inn ($10,000) ■ West Cook YMCA ($20,174) ■ New Moms ($17,000) ■ Village of Oak Park Housing Program ($255,000) ■ Village of Oak Park Public Works Program ($638,759)

around town.

Tammie Grossman, Oak Park’s Development Customer Services director, said CDBG funding has eroded over more than a decade. Drew Williams-Clark, Oak Park Neighborhood Services Manager, said 12 years ago HUD allotted $2.5 million in CDBG funding to the village.

Grossman said that while she, too, is concerned about community development fund cuts, “There’s always been strong bipartisan support for CDBG funds.”

Once the president’s proposed budget is released, it still must go through numerous congressional budget hearings.

“We’re taking a wait-and-see attitude on the final budget,” she said, noting that municipalities and nonprofits across the country are working with organizations to show budget committee members how vital the grant program is to keeping social services afloat.

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

Last of the candidate forums planned for rest of March

OPRF students, Buzz Café and League of Women Voters will host events

By MICHAEL ROMAIN

before the April 4 election.

Here’s a list of some of the remaining forums planned by the League of Women Voters, Buzz Café and Oak Park and River Forest High School students.

The last League of Women Voters forum will be held on:

Staff Reporter

March 20 – A District 97 referenda forum will be held at Beye Elementary School, 230 N. Cuyler Ave., Oak Park, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

■

Oak Park voters still have time to learn more about school board candidates, in addition to the District 97 referendum,

■ The last candidate forum at Buzz Café, 905 S. Lombard Ave., Oak Park, will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on: ■ March 16 – Oak Park District 97 forum ■ March 23 – OPRF High School District 200 forum

The Trapeze, OPRF’s student newspaper, and the Youth Action and Civics Club will host a forum for candidates running for the D200 school board. Both students and adults are welcome:

■ March 16 – District 200 forum, 2nd floor staff cafeteria, 201 N. Scoville Ave., Oak Park, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

For those who can’t make it out to see the candidates in person, you can always read information on the candidates in Wednesday Journal’s online election guide: oakpark.com/News/Articles/3-10-2017/ We d n e s d ay - Jo u r n a l ’s - 2 0 1 7 - E l e c t i o n Headquarters.

CONTACT: michael@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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CROSSING AUSTIN Dramatic division from page 1

Paid for by Moroney for Trustee

DENO ANDREWS for Village Trustee

My Commitment to you: - Fiduciary Responsibility - Diversity & Inclusion - Transparency - Sustainability - Affordability - Logical Growth

during an afternoon rehearsal last week at OPRF. About two-dozen students are involved as actors, writers, set designers and marketing the production.

Incorporated in 1902, Oak Park began a concerted effort to promote integration through fair housing programs in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

“As a teacher, I didn’t know about Oak Park’s intent at integration and the Oak Park Housing Center,” said Lessing, who’s taught English at the high school since 2003 and been its theater director since 2005.

“When we talk about borders – those invisible barbed wires – what’s the difference between integration and diversity, and what do we mean by integration?” he said.

“And when we talk about race, are we just talking about white and black people? What about boarders and communities with a majority Latino population?”

Austin Boulevard, the boundary between Chicago and Oak Park, has been the focus of other recent artistic works.

Logan Square resident and Chicago public schoolteacher Jeff Ferdinand’s book, Austin Boulevard: The Invisible Line between Two Worlds, hit bookshelves in October 2016.

It looks at racial and economic disparities between Chicago’s black and white residents, and also explores Oak Park’s history.

Lessing said he’s reached out to Ferdinand about the book.

For the last several weeks, Lessing’s students have researched Oak Park’s history, looking through school archives and talking with longtime residents involved in the initial housing movement.

The students have developed their scenes from that research. Lessing said some form of audience interaction might also be included in the performance.

Sydney Jackson, an OPRF senior, has been promoting the show on social media. A dancer and community volunteer, Jackson, 18, said the play can help get people talking about these important issues.

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

LIFE’S A STAGE: Students in OPRF’s theater department revel in a scene during a rehearsal for ‘Crossing Austin Boulevard.’ The play hit some real-life chords. Some of the cast members were former West Side residents who had literally crossed Austin Boulevard and moved into Oak Park. The play explores their experiences, among other aspects of Austin Boulevard’s historic divide.

“I think what we’re doing is really important,” said Jackson, who hopes to perform in the play. “There are many community members in Oak Park who want to address, I call it the electric fence, that separates the east and west sides of Austin. But people don’t know how to attack it themselves.”

Crossing Austin’s border into Oak Park is something OPRF senior Jalen Reese experienced recently. The 17-year-old enrolled late in the semester this past October. Two of his teachers encouraged him the join the production because of his story.

The Chicago native said he had a hard time adjusting to middle-class Oak Park and the high school’s diverse campus.

“I felt like I really didn’t have a place here,” said Reese, whose grandmother lives in Oak Park.

Still learning to adjust to his new school, Reese has had some highlights, including earning Student of the Quarter in English.

Reese said he’s comfortable sharing his personal story in the play.

“I take the Austin bus to get home (to see family), and you can really see the differ-

“I take the Austin bus to get home (to see family), and you can really see the differences, and I see that every day. I’m not afraid to cross Austin because I do it all the time. So living here and going over there, it really plays into the part.”

JALEN REESE OPRF student

ences, and I see that every day,” Reese said.

“I’m not afraid to cross Austin because I do it all the time. So living here and going over there, it really plays into the part.”

And after some initial nervousness, Reese has settled into rehearsals for the play, interacting more with his classmates.

“The cast is really accepting,” he said. “I want to act, but at the same time I want to play a part in the story.”

CONTACT: austintalks.org@gmail.com

Growing Community.

DenoAndrews.com Paid for by Friends of Deno J. Andrews

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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15

Religion Guide Check First.

JAZZ PRAYER Wonderful Women of Jazz Friday, March 17 7:30-8:30pm All are welcome

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 (708) 697-5000 Sunday Service 7AM, 9AM & 11:15AM

LIVE Webcast - 11:15AM Service 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

Roman Catholic

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

188 South Oak Park Ave. Saturday Masses: 8:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m.

Sunday Masses: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.

Weekday Mass: 8:30 a.m.

Holy Day Masses: As Announced Reconciliation: Saturday 4:15 p.m.

Parish Office: 708-848-4417 School Phone: 708-386-5131

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church

First Congregational Church of Maywood

400 N. Fifth Avenue (1 block north of Lake St.) Come join us for Sunday Morning Worship at 11 am Pastor Elliot Wimbush will be preaching the message.

Refreshments and fellowship follow the service.

708-344-6150 firstchurchofmaywood.org When you're looking for a place to worship the Lord, Check First.

Lutheran-Missouri Synod

Lutheran—ELCA

United Lutheran Church N. Ridgeland & Greenfield, Oak Park Holy Communion with nursery care and Children’s Chapel each Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Thomas Mass Third Sunday at 5:00 p.m. www.unitedlutheranchurch.org 708/386-1576 Lutheran-Independent

Grace Lutheran Church

7300 W. Division, River Forest David R. Lyle, Senior Pastor 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

Christ Lutheran Church

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

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. Jenny Weber, Pastor Professionally Staffed Nursery Fellowship Time after Worship Presbyterian

Fair Oaks

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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

St. Edmund Catholic Church

Roman Catholic

St. Bernardine Catholic Church Harrison & Elgin, Forest Park

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

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

Roman Catholic

Ascension Catholic Church

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

Rev. James Hurlbert, Pastor

But the Altenheim is so much more… it is surrounded with beautiful grounds and wildlife, seniors who look out for one another and apartment selections and activities to suit your lifestyle.

You’ll be as happy as a lark here; come visit us to find out why.

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

Traditional Catholic

Child care available 9-11am

fairoakspres.org

And at the Altenheim, you’ll be able to protect it with rent that is reasonable.

The Traditional Catholic Latin Mass

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

Third Unitarian Church 11am Service: “Celebration of Life” thirdunitarianchurch.org (773) 626-9385 301 N. Mayfield near Austin and Lake

Unity

UNITY CHURCH OF OAK PARK 405 North Euclid Ave.

The presence of God watches over you.

How to Keep in Touch with Us in 3 Steps

1

Sign up for Twitter!

Follow us on Twitter

Sunday Services 9 am & 11 am Youth Education 11 am

2

twitter.com/OakPark

708-848-0960 — unityoakpark.org

Upcoming Religious Holidays

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

Mar 17 St. Patrick’s Day Christian 19 St. Joseph’s Day Christian 20 Equinox Ostara Wicca/Pagan northern hemisphere Mabon Wicca/Pagan southern hemisphere 21 Norooz (New Year) Persian/ Zoroastrian Naw-Rúz (New Year) Baha’i 25 Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Christian 27 Great Lent begins Clean Monday Orthodox Christian 28 Hindu New Year Hindu

3

Get your daily dose of your local news straight from home!

16

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Community Mental Health Board

The Oak Park Developmental Disabilities Consortium,

under the auspices of the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, and with support from the River Forest Township Mental Health Committee, is dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities in reaching their dreams and aspirations.

CHECK THE WEDNESDAY JOURNAL FOR INSPIRING STORIES FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE CONSORTIUM.

of Oak Park Township

The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township (CMHB) is a branch of Oak Park Township. The CMHB is comprised of nine residents appointed by the Township Supervisor with the approval of the Township Trustees. One CMHB member is a Township Trustee.

The purpose of the Community Mental Health Board is to assist in planning, developing, coordinating, evaluating, and funding mental health services in Oak Park. This includes services for persons with mental illness, alcohol or other drug dependence or developmental disabilities. The Township’s Community Mental Health Fund provides over $1 million in financial support for programs and services to 12-20 agencies per year in Oak Park.

Jeff’s always eager to tell you about his many interests. Ask what he likes best and he’ll tell you dancing and spending time with “the guys.”

Jeff, who has developmental disabilities, takes advantage of all life has to offer. With the help of Aspire’s Life on My Own (LoMO) program, Jeff’s confidence and skillset continues to grow as he’s learning the skills necessary to live on his own for the first time.

After living with his parents for most of his life, the question, “What happens next,” came up after his father passed away and his mother moved into a nursing home. His siblings wanted to be sure Jeff was safe and happy, so they called Aspire.

Life on My Own is a groundbreaking independent living program that helps adults with disabilities ages 18+ lead completely independent lives in their own house or apartment in a community of their choice. LoMO also helps young adults preparing to attend college.

LoMO uses new, creative ways to teach the unique challenges that face each individual, from budgeting to safety to social skills. “Aspire helps you learn what you need to know so you can do it by yourself,” said Jeff.

In addition to the LoMO program, Aspire has 17 community homes across Chicagoland offering group living opportunities for adults with disabilities.

Aspire provides bold and pioneering services to kids and adults with disabilities and their families. Aspire envisions a community where people of all abilities live, learn and grow together. In May, Aspire will celebrate the Grand Opening of its Career Academy, a brand new job training facility that will help adults with disabilities get meaningful jobs in the community.

Contact us.

Aspire 1815 S. Wolf Road Hillside, IL 60162 708.236.0979 • info@aspirechicago.com aspirechicago.com • facebook.com/AspireChicago

Anna and her Respite worker, Carole, often take trips to Lindberg Park in Oak Park—their favorite Saturday afternoon destination. Anna lives with her mom Deb, her brother Nicholas, and her grandparents Roylene and Don. Anna’s family was nervous they would not find someone they would be comfortable with caring for their daughter, due to her fragile condition.

But, as soon as they met Carole, they knew she was the one.

Anna was diagnosed with a rare, genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome, a condition affecting motor skills, speech development, and cognitive functions. While Anna uses a wheelchair, she loves to get out of the house and go on adventures.

When at the park, Carole and Anna enjoy watching people play ball and she lights up when visitors stop to say hello— especially if they have a dog friend with them. One of their favorite activities is to read while enjoying the sunshine and nature. Carole brings books with them and they read Anna’s favorites, the ones about family. Community Support Services’ (CSS) Respite Program offers parents and caregivers planned breaks. During the hours she knows Anna is safely in Carole’s hands, Anna’s mom spends time with Nicholas, or runs personal errands. Respite gives Anna’s mom, brother, and grandparents a chance to take care of themselves while Carole takes care of Anna.

CSS supports individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families, within their communities, to strengthen their independence, self-esteem, and ability to participate in and contribute to community life. To learn more about the Respite Program contact CSS today.

Contact us.

Community Support Services 9021 Ogden Ave. Brookfield, IL 60513 708.354.4547 • info@CSSservices.org • cssservices.org Facebook.com/CSSBrookfield

The River Forest Township Mental Health Committee (RFMHC) works to enhance the mental health and developmental potential of residents by supporting a continuum of community based services that are costeffective, systematically evaluated and responsive to evolving needs.

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

DD CONSORTIUM AGENCY LIST Aspire aspirechicago.com

Community Support Services cssservices.org

Oak-Leyden Developmental Services oak-leyden.org

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

Opportunity Knocks opportunityknocksnow.org

PACTT Learning Center pactt.org

Riveredge Hospital riveredgehospital.com

Seguin RCA seguinrca.org

Suburban Access, Inc. subacc.org

The Answer, Inc. theanswerinc.org

UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago ucpseguin.org

West Suburban Special Recreation wssra.net

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

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

17

Wild Onion Tied House could be open by late May

Brew pub awarded liquor license by Oak Park board

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Wild Onion Tied House, the new brew pub headed for Oak Park’s Pleasant District, could be open for business by the beginning of summer.

Wild Onion co-owner Mike Kainz ap-

peared before the Oak Park village board earlier this month and was granted a liquor license for the restaurant/pub that he said is expected to open by mid to late May. Kainz said the business will ferment just enough beer at the site to qualify for a state brew pub license, which allows them to sell growlers on the premises.

Kainz said last year that the brew

pub will accommodate seating for 132 patrons inside and an outdoor patio on South Boulevard for 60.

He told trustees that he and his brother, co-owner John Kainz, look forward to joining the Oak Park community with their popular Lake Barrington-based brew pub concept.

Kainz noted the historic

building Wild Onion is renovating was built in 1910 as a 700-seat vaudeville theater known as The Playhouse. The building more recently has been used as office space.

Kainz said last year that the retractable roof, which once served as the theater’s heating and cooling system, is being restored with a skylight.

Wild Onion Tied House will have 18-plus beers on tap, Kainz said, and serve an eclectic pub fare, including smoked meats and vegetarian dishes.

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

A new look for Cucina Paradiso

Hemingway District Italian restaurant gets a makeover

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

They’re calling it a “space-lift” at Cucina Paradiso.

The longtime Oak Park Italian restaurant at 814 North Blvd. — Cucina has been operating in the village for 22 years — has given their dining room and bar a new look, adding a semi-private dining area that seats 30 for private events and special occasions.

The new Cucina also used reclaimed wood for their new booths and bench seating with two-top tables.

The centerpiece of the revamped restaurant, however, is the bar that accommodates roughly 20 guests. Cucina Paradiso co-owner Anthony Gambino said the new bar gives patrons a better view of all the TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER/Staff options available — especially the wine selection.

PARADISO REGAINED: Anthony Gambino in the newly remodeled Cucina Paradiso.

“We wanted to display everything we could so the consumer could see, before zas, salads and other entrees. they make the selection, what the bottle larly featuring new items and specials.

“Between a threeand four-month timeGambino said the bacon-wrapped dates is, the vintage, where it comes from — and this back bar allows us to do all of that,” frame, there could be 50 to 60 percent new stuffed with Romano cheese and drizzled with balsamic reduction is still a favorhe said. “The other thing we were able to items,” he said.

Oak Park-based Aria Group ite, “which people can never seem to get do now with this larger bar is Architects designed the re- enough of.” bring in a lot more different model as it has for all of Gamtypes of liquors, to offer differSome of the newer menu items include: bino’s operations. Anthony ent types of craft drinks as well, ■ Grilled octopus, served over fingerling and his brother, Nick, are also potato hash, with Brussels sprouts, hazelwhich have been really popular ■ To watch our video co-owners of Elmwood Parkfor the last few years.” nuts and pancetta, drizzled with horseradVISIT OAKPARK.COM based Burger Moovment (forGambino said it’s not Cucina’s ish aioli and balsamic reduction. merly Burger Boss) and Oak first “space-lift.” The restaurant ■ Black truffle sacchetti filled with parPark-based Twomaytoz Event upgraded about 10 years ago, he said, notmesan, ricotta and truffles, and topped Catering. ing, that restaurants “go through a lot of The renovation took a little less than a with gorgonzola cream sauce and shiitake wear and tear, and you have to maintain week and was completed in mid-February, mushrooms. them.

■ Lake Superior whitefish, pan seared “You have to constantly reinvest in your Gambino said. and served with an array of fresh vegeta“Regular guests and new guests just love business, and we find this to be a necessibles. ty,” Gambino said. “We are always upgrad- it and are really impressed by it,” he said.

■ The restaurant is holding an open Cucina Paradiso noted in a press release ing our kitchen as well.”

The commitment to change is not just de- that the restaurant is Italian fare with house with a complimentary antipasto bufcor, though, according to Gambino. He said Mediterranean influences and features fet, March 13-16 from 5 to 7 p.m.

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com the menu changes on a weekly basis, regu- “little plates” and a variety of pastas, piz-

WEB EXTRA

Rosati’s Pizza headed to Madison St. Owner aims to open carryout, delivery joint in June

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER Staff Reporter

Rosati’s Pizza is coming to 1013 Madison St. in Oak Park later this summer, according to franchise owner Brian O’Kelly.

It will fill a long vacant space which most recently housed Prairie State Animal Hospital. That business relocated after purchasing and renovating a building at 909 S. Oak Park Ave. O’Kelly said it’s his first foray into the world of entrepreneurship, and he chose Rosati’s because he loves the product and grew up eating it.

O’Kelly, a Carpentersville resident, said he chose Oak Park after becoming familiar with the village working as an IT consultant. “Most importantly there’s not a Rosati’s in the village,” he said.

The new location aims to have a few seats up front but not a full dining room. Most of the business will be delivery and carry-out, O’Kelly said.

Dan Perillo, Rosati’s president of franchising, said the Warrenville-based pizza chain has 110 locations in Illinois and is planning to open three more this year.

Geraldine M. Healy, of David King & Associates, represented the landlord in the lease transaction.

CONTACT: tim@oakpark.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Dominican U. student chefs cook up a sweet experience Trio headed to Puerto Rico for international competition

By DEBORAH KADIN Contributing Reporter

Great cooking is all about chemistry. It also can be all about teamwork as three Dominican University students will show during an international competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico this week.

Dylan Donovan, Morganne Schmidt and Joseph Oh comprise one of four teams to cook up an indigenous-themed dessert in the International Student Culinology competition. They will be making their gold-standard dessert – a dessert that can be served in a high-end restaurant – on March 16.

The contest is sponsored by the Research Chefs Association, a professional community for food research and development. Its members are the pioneers of the discipline of culinology, the blending of culinary arts and the science of food. Dominican is one of 16 institutions with the program.

In 1.45 hours, including 15 minutes for set up, the trio will prepare six servings of Brazo Gitano, a spiced sponge cake filled with guava paste, coquito cream cheese (a Puerto Rican version of eggnog) and garnished with confectioner’s sugar.

The dessert is drizzled with passion fruit gel and garnished with a guava half, topped with pieces of fried plantains and coconut meringue. In addition to flour, sugar, beaten egg whites to make it rise and egg yolks, the cake contains cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

They also have to talk about how to prepare a commercial version of the dish for 500,000.

The team had to tailor the gold standard ingredients to manufacturing capabilities and explain how they came up with ways to replicate the coconut rum, egg yolks and egg whites.

The commercial version will not be pre-

pared in San Juan, but was made in advance.

Six samples will be shipped frozen to San Juan.

They will be judged on how alike the two versions are. The chefs also had to create and design the packaging for the commercial version.

The competition is a labor of love and has been since the three decided last fall to join the competition. They are not getting class credit for this, but because they wanted to participate, Donovan said.

Coming up with a product took a lot of research; then it took a lot of refinement. They looked around the Humboldt Park neighborhood, visited Puerto Rican grocery stores and restaurants, looked through cookbooks, talked with Puerto Rican faculty and had them weigh in on ideas.

“We got inspired by doing this,” Donovan said.

After deciding on their approach, they started meeting 10 hours a week every week for four to five months. They refined the product to get it just right, making sure it had the right amount of spices, the egg whites were beaten just right and everything melded perfectly. Donovan said.

“We would think about the last version and used the scientific method to keep track of what we changed and changed a variable [ingredient] and just kept refining it until it was just right,” said Donovan.

The chefs tweaked the dish about 20 times to try to create the best product, balance sugar and flavors and make sure they all worked together, Oh said. Along the way, they had to prepare a 21-page proposal, create and design the packaging for the commercial version.

They heard in mid-January they would compete. Before the competition, they had to pack up all the pots and pans and mixers they’d need, and six of the commercial samples, Oh said.

“Shipping it there is almost equally as

Courtesy of Dominican video

CULINOLOGY: Dylan Donovan, Joseph Oh and Maryanne Schmidt prepare for their international competition on March 16.

challenging as the onsite competition,” Donovan said. “We have to make sure there’s enough ice. It’s pretty hot and humid down there and we don’t want it to go bad.”

The competition will be high-pressure.

When they’re there, each chef will have a different task. Donovan prepares a lot of items on the stove top, poaching the guava fruit and making the coquito cream cheese.

Schmidt will prepare the cake. “To make sure it comes out perfectly,” she said, “you don’t want them to be overbeaten.”

She’ll also make the coconut frozen yogurt for the poached guava.

“The time to make that is out of the bounds of the competition, so we’re bringing our already frozen version,” Schmidt said.

Oh will prepare the coconut meringue and the fried plantain chips.

“I’ve dabbled in sushi so I will be rolling the cake making sure it’s nice and circled,” Oh said.

Just being able to take part has been a great experience, Donovan said, who earned a degree in culinary and hospitality at a technical school in Muskegon before coming to Dominican.

“It helped me balance all the culinary skills that I would not have if I hadn’t been part of the competition,” said Donovan, whose family was in the catering business outside Detroit and worked at a hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “I learned a lot about cooking and baking that I didn’t know before.”

Schmidt, whose background is in chemistry, learned a lot on “all levels.”

“I also learned a lot about Puerto Rican cuisine, that’s so cool. This has been awesome,” said Schmidt, whose mother, a baker, taught her a lot. Schmidt hails from the Chicago area.

For Oh, the competition has been great hands-on experience.

“This is what I’ll be doing out in the field,” said Oh, who got a culinary arts degree at Kendall College and had some experience at Chicago’s Peninsula Hotel. “I learned to do a lot of different things and put a Puerto Rican spin on things.”

The competition will be live-stream at 11 a.m. on March 16 on culinology.org. A streaming party also may take place on campus.

D97 explores resolution welcoming immigrants

Last month Deb Pade, District 97 school board members discussed a welcoming resolution that makes each school in the district a “safe and welcoming place for all children and families, regardless of immigration status.”

The draft resolution Kelley presented at the Feb. 28 board meeting was based on one written for Evanston Township High School District 202 and used as a template for officials with Evanston/Skokie School District 65.

Most of the resolution reinforces policies and procedures already practiced in D97, and in school districts throughout the state.

It states that no one formally employed, contracted by, or associated with the district can

inquire about a student’s or parent’s immigration status or require them to produce documentation regarding their immigrant status.

“Being a welcoming community, we protect all of our students — period,” said Kelley during the Feb. 28 meeting. “Our goal is for each student to feel a sense of belonging and to feel safe in all of our schools.”

D97’s introduction of a welcoming resolution came five days after officials with District 200 discussed a similar proposal at a Feb. 28 board meeting and less than a month after the village of Oak Park Board of Trustees unanimously passed a welcoming ordinance.

Since his election last November, President Donald Trump has called for more aggres-

sive immigration enforcement efforts and has signed a series of executive orders empowering the federal government and local law enforcement bodies to be more aggressive in carrying out his orders. Trump has also called for federal funding to be cut from local governments that defy federal immigration orders.

“What this says is if [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] rings the doorbell and doesn’t have a warrant, they can’t just roam our halls and identify our kids,” said D97 board member and attorney Holly Spurlock. “A random person can’t come in and do some kind of random searches in our schools. They have to have a warrant.

If they do have a warrant, it has to say, ‘I’m

here for this child.’”

But the process by which district officials formally greet ICE agents is just hypothetical, Spurlock said. Like D200, D97 doesn’t have any protocols currently on record that deal with such an unprecedented situation.

Many D97 board members recommended that the district consider entering into a joint resolution with D200 and perhaps even District 90 in the interest of uniformity.

D200 is expected to vote on a welcoming resolution of its own at a regular meeting on March 21. D97 officials said they could either vote on the same resolution as D200 or modify it to fit the elementary district’s needs.

Michael Romain

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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St. Patrick’s Day NCAA Tourney • Home of the Hugh Burger • Craft Beers • Great Salads • Daily Drink & Sandwich Specials

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

C R I M E

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MONTH OF MARCH! M A R CE C IHA L S

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Getting the latest news updates dates Purchasing photos Searching past issues Searching Classified ads

Scratch on Lake burglarized

A video surveillance camera shows a man used an unlocked rear basement door to gain entry to Scratch on Lake restaurant, 733 Lake St., at 4:26 a.m. on March 7. Once inside, the burglar stole an iPad 2 Air and an attached charger. The estimated loss was $500.

Theft ■ An

iPad was stolen by unknown means from an underage girl on the first floor of Oak Park Public Library, 834 Lake St., sometime between 4 and 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 21. The estimated loss was $300.

■ A UPS package was stolen from the lobby of a building in the 100 block of North Humphrey Avenue sometime between 5:19 and 7 p.m. on March 6. The package contained a black iPhone 6S valued at $675.

■ Two men, both about 25 years old, were seen stealing an orange and gray STIHL circular saw from the front yard of a residence in the 400 block of Berkshire Street at 10:50 a.m. on March 10. The two fled the eastbound on Division Street in a burgundy Oldsmobile. The estimated loss was $1,200.

Robbery arrest Markeyana Avery, 20, of the 500 block of North Leclaire in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, was arrested with a 13-year-old boy at 3:10 p.m. on March 8 in the 500 block of North Lavergne in Chicago, for a robbery, aggravated battery and aggravated identity theft that occurred on March 7 in the 1100 block of Schneider Avenue. The original police report noted that the woman was struck and robbed of her black purse, which contained an iPhone and credit cards, which the robbers attempted to use at several locations in Oak Park and Chicago. Two of those transactions went through in the amount of $110. The juvenile was taken to juvenile detention and Avery was held for bond hearings.

Criminal damage to vehicle ■ The front passenger window of a 2004 Chevrolet Venture was broken out by unknown means in the 300 block of Wisconsin Avenue sometime between 7 p.m. on March 4 and 11:20 a.m. on March 9. The estimated loss due to damage was $100.

■ A black 2013 Infiniti G37X was vandalized in the 400 block of North Ridgeland Avenue sometime between 5 p.m. on March 7 and 6:35 a.m. on March 8. The offender slashed all four tires, made scratch marks on the front hood and driver/passenger side doors. The estimated damage was $1,000.

Theft of motor vehicle www.OakPark.com

■ A black 2014 Hyundai Sonata that was left unlocked and running was stolen from the 600 block of Madison Street at about 5:25 p.m. on March 9. The estimated loss was $20,000.

■ A green 2010 Mitsubishi Diamante that

was left unlocked and running at the Shell gas station at 6129 W. North Ave. was stolen at 9:53 p.m. on March 11. The vehicle contained an iPhone 7, Michael Kors watch, two jackets, an Illinois driver’s license and a wallet containing various credit cards. The estimated loss was $4,500.

Criminal trespass to building arrest A 27-year-old of the first block of North Lockwood Avenue in the Austin neighborhood of Chicago, was arrested for criminal trespass to a building in the 700 block of Lake Street at 10:43 a.m. on March 10 after he was warned previously not to return. He was transported to the station and released on an I-Bond.

Residential burglary A residence in the 1200 block of North Taylor Avenue was burglarized sometime between 1 p.m. on March 3 and 5 p.m. on March 6. The burglar gained entry by unknown means and stole a microwave, bed spread, knife set, TV stand, bathroom rug, shower curtain and bath towels. The estimated loss was $200.

Retail theft A woman was seen by the store manager at Trader Joe’s, 483 N. Harlem Ave., stealing a bag of frozen mandarin chicken and three containers of lettuce at 2:30 p.m. on March 6. She put the items into the bag and left the store without paying. She was last seen running northbound on Harlem Avenue.

The estimated loss was $25.

Retail theft arrest A 36-year-old man from Ravenna, Ohio was seen leaving the Jewel Foods, 7525 W. Lake St., and concealing stolen merchandise at 2:45 p.m. on March 2. He was approached by a River Forest Police Department plainclothes tactical officer. When the officer stopped the man, several boxes of Prilosec OTC fell to the ground. He later admitted to stealing several items from the store worth a total value of $105. He was arrested and charged with misdemeanor retail theft.

These items, obtained from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments, came from reports, March 2-11, and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Timothy Inklebarger

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

NEED TO REACH US?

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

21

Homes

Wright Trust is looking for a few good volunteers Spring interpreter training lasts three weeks

By LACEY SIKORA

T

Contributing Reporter

his spring, the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust is holding training sessions for its two main tourist attractions: the Frederick C. Robie House in Hyde Park and the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio in Oak Park. Training for the Robie House-based interpreters is ongoing, but there is still time to sign up for the Home & Studio training sessions, which will take place from April 18 through May 4.

Linda Bonifas-Guzman, volunteer resource manager for the Trust, said she organizes two cycles each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Each comprehensive training program is set up to prepare volunteers to lead tours with training that covers everything from public speaking to learning about the history of Wright’s architectural practice and buildings.

Three-week session The first week of training is made up of Tuesday and Thursday evening sessions and a full day on Saturday. Bonifas-Guzman said the evening sessions are almost identical during the first week.

“Each evening consists of model tours given by the current staff. Tours are based on the same factual information, but everyone writes their own tour, so it’s in their own voice. We like to introduce volunteers to a variety of tours.”

Provided

SPEAKING FRANKLY: Interpreter Irene Balks (center) has fun with students using a cutout of Frank Lloyd Wright outside the Home & Studio.

The first Saturday consists of a workshop on public speaking as well as a third model tour. This session covers the logistics of everything that can happen during a tour — from getting 16 people, point A to point B, to preparing for questions from tourists. During the afternoon, volunteer interpreters begin working on creating their own tour scripts.

The second week of training consists of Tuesday and Thursday evenings and a half day on Saturday. During these sessions, Bonifas-Guzman conducts group and individual

exercises. She also brings in trained interpreters who act as mentors, with a ratio of one mentor per three trainees.

“We have such a variety of people who come in for training, from moms to retirees to architecture buffs. Everyone comes to it with a different understanding of Frank Lloyd Wright as well as different backgrounds in public speaking.”

For the final week, trainees choose either a Tuesday or Thursday evening time slot to give a dress rehearsal tour to their group and mentor.

Bonifas-Guzman noted that the overall time in class is 30 hours, which includes lectures by Trust curators. On top of this, trainees follow an online reading schedule.

Because of the timing of the busy tourist season in Chicago, spring trainees are put right to work.

“Our busy tour season runs April through October, so those people who go through training during the spring hit the ground running,” she said.

See VOLUNTEERS on page 23

WHO DO YOU TRUST? Insuring Local Historic Homes for 60 Years 708.383.9000 • forestagency.com

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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23

Provided

CRAFTY: Volunteers Cheryl Phillips, Susan Olson, and Virginia Opitz learn to make an origami Kusudama flower. (Right) Bill Kundert discusses Wright’s blueprints with guest Sherri Shokler.

VOLUNTEERS

Perks and friendships from page 21

Time commitment The Trust flexible on hours, which allows volunteers from all walks of life to fit being an interpreter into the rest of their life.

Volunteering four hours a month (48 hours a year) earns a general Trust membership.

Bonifas-Guzman said the Trust just started awarding tiered memberships to volunteers, allowing those who devote more time to earn bigger perks.

“Some volunteers give 400 to 500 hours a year, and we wanted a way to acknowledge their time.”

Because of the high number of volunteers with the Trust, they’re able to help interpreters tailor their commitment to their individual schedules.

“We’re very customer-friendly with the scheduling,” she said. “On the weekends, we have shifts, and on the weekdays, we have specific tour times.”

Volunteers can choose to work the same time on the same day every week or they can volunteer more sporadically. Some volunteers prefer to work with customized tours, from fourth graders to high school architecture students to groups interested in art glass.

Provided

Interpreter Jacob Hagan welcomes guests in front of FLW’s 1889 home.

How to get involved To learn more about training or to sign up for this spring’s training, visit http://flwright.org/joingive/volunteer. The first session will take place on Tuesday, April 18, and the program will conclude on either May 2 or 4.

The annual Wright Plus walk requires 500 to 600 volunteers, and some volunteers come in specifically for that weekend every year.

Benefits Bonifas-Guzman, who started out as volunteer interpreter herself, said one of the perks of volunteering with the Trust is the sense of community that comes with the job.

“We are one of those volunteer situations where, if it’s a match for you, you really find your home here,” she said. “Long-term friendships, and even a few romances, have begun here.”

With about 400 volunteers across all five Trust sites, the network of volunteers is large and dedicated. Bonifas-Guzman pointed out that four volunteers — Jack Lesniak, Peg Zak, Ann Marohn and Steve Sommersand — were involved in the restoration of the Home & Studio and have continued their volunteer efforts for nearly 45 years.

“That kind of longevity is unusual for many organizations, but not for us,” she said. “It’s not unusual for people to be with us for 10-15 years.”

Bonifas-Guzman works to create a volunteer home for Trust interpreters. She began a volunteer share program and organizes field trips for volunteers to other sites and lectures that tie into the architectural inter-

Provided

Taliesin apprentice Natasha Vemulkonda explains Wright’s octagonal library to trainees. ests of the group.

“We have a lot of events that are social,” she noted, “but they generally have a learning component. Our volunteers love to socialize, but they love to learn even more.”

While all volunteers can earn a membership for working their forty eight hours, Bonifas-Guzman said the top 10 volunteers, in terms of hours, are treated every year to an excursion with a guest.

“This year, we did a tour of Wrigley Field and a meal afterwards. It’s just a way of saying thank you.”

A volunteer appreciation party every year celebrates the time and talent given by all volunteers and also recognizes three with special awards: hospitality, above-and-beyond, and rookie-of-the-year.

24

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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Ed Bellock – ID# 09348303

CLOSED

OPEN HOUSE • SUN. 12:30-2 240 S MAPLE UNIT 1E

Chicago

$198,000

Comfortable 4 bed, 1.1 bath home with several updates and throughout the years.

James Salazar – ID# 09223568

Call us today to use the Local knowledge and skill of our agents paired with the broad reach and power of Baird & Warner.

1037 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park IL | 708.697.5900 | BAIRDWARNER.COM

Oak Park

$139,000

High 1st floor 1 bedroom unit with large living room, formal dining room and newly updated kitchen.

Bobbi Schaper Eastman - ID# 09522525

Grand Opening!

Grand Opening!

Grand Opening!

Grand Opening!

Grand Grand Opening!

Opening!

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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You are INVITED!!

JOIN US as we celebrate the Official Grand Opening of

L!VE Café & CFA! March 17-19, 2017

L!VE Café | Creative Space | CFA

163 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 • 773-417-6030 www.livexclamation.com • info@livexclamation.com Check livexclamation.com/events for an up-to-date schedule

Apply to be a member of the

BEAUT Y THROUGH EACH SEASON. All Phases of Lawn, Garden & Property Maintenance.

District 200 Imagine OPRF Work Group!

Interested? To apply, you must...

1. Attend ONE pre-application

meeting at OPRF High School (201 N. Scoville Ave., Oak Park):

WWW.M A R I A N I L A N D S C A P E . COM

630-771-0074

• Mon., March 20, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

• Thurs., April 6, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

• Sat., April 8, 1:00-2:30 p.m.

2. Submit an application, found at

bit.ly/ImagineOPRF_Application,

by Fri., April 14.

Purpose Recommend a facilities plan, which will support equity and excellence for all students, current and future academic needs, and fiscal responsibility.

Tasks Review previous work, explore new options, and gather community input.

Membership Will be representative of the D200 community, selected through an application process.

Questions? Contact Director of Communications Karin Sullivan ksullivan@oprfhs.org or 708-434-3691

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

ASK THE ASSESSOR

O

The impact of D97’s proposed referendums

n April 4, Oak Park voters will go to the polls to decide whether to approve two tax-related referendums put forth by District 97, Oak Park’s elementary school district. In this article, I will refer to these ballot measures as the “Operations Referendum” and the “Facilities Referendum.” The purpose of this article is not to support or oppose either referendum but rather to help residents understand the impact each referendum would have on Oak Park property taxes.

D97, as measured by its tax levy, is the largest taxing district in Oak Park. Last year, the tax levies on Oak Park properties from all local taxing districts totaled $180 million, and D97 received $61 million, or 34% of the total. The district’s $61 million levy is divided into two main components: educational operations and debt repayment.

Operations Referendum: The operations portion of D97’s tax levy, currently $53 million, pays for the salaries of teachers and other employees, as well as the cost of operating and maintaining the district’s buildings. This portion of the levy is subject to the state’s “tax cap” law, which is designed to limit property tax increases to the rate of inflation. Under the law, if inflation is 2%, tax increases are generally limited to 2%.

But the tax cap law allows a school district to increase its operations levy by more than the rate of inflation, with the approval of voters. When a tax referendum is approved, the tax cap is reset; in subsequent years, tax levy increases are again limited to the rate of inflation, but the starting point for these future increases is the new, higher tax levy approved by voters.

D97’s Operations Referendum seeks to increase its operations levy by about $13 million, from $53 million to $66 million.

Statistics from D97 indicate that student enrollment has grown by 10% since its last successful referendum in 2011, and this higher enrollment, coupled with uncertainty over the future of state education funding, are the primary reasons the district has cited in seeking the additional money.

If the Operations Referendum is approved, the impact would first be seen this year. With a successful Operations Referendum, I estimate that Oak Park property tax levies from all local taxing districts would rise from $180 million to about $196 million, and that most property owners would see tax increases of roughly 9% over last year. If the referendum is rejected, tax levies would be about $183 million, and the estimated tax increase would be about 2%.

Thus a house that paid $10,000 in taxes last year would pay about $10,900 this year if the Operations Referendum passes. Without the referendum, the tax bill would be about $10,200.

Facilities Referendum: D97 levied $8.2 million to repay debts last year. Of this total, $4.7 million is for repayment of loans that were primarily used to build Brooks and Julian middle schools. Oak Park voted to borrow this money in 1999, and the last loan payment will occur in 2018.

Under the Facilities Referendum, D97 would be able to borrow up to $57.5 million for a variety of upgrades to its aging buildings, including expansion of three existing schools, making all school buildings accessible and equipping all buildings with air conditioning. The school district plans to start repaying these loans in 2019.

Under the district’s plan, there would be very little impact on total tax levies if the Facilities Referendum is approved. The annual $4.7 million being paid for the old debt would end in 2018, and payment on the new debt

ALI

ELSAFFAR Oak Park Township Assessor

would start in 2019. The annual payment on the new debt has not yet been determined, but payments currently under consideration are very similar to the $4.7 million now paid for middle school debt.

If the Facilities Referendum is rejected, however, tax levies would fall by $4.7 million in 2019, as the old middle school debt would be completely paid off and there would be no new debt to take its place. I cannot yet provide the exact percentage by which Oak Park taxes would fall in 2019 if the Facilities Referendum is rejected. I can say, however, that if there had been a $4.7 million reduction in tax levies last year, every Oak Park property owner would have paid 2.6% less in property taxes.

Reassessment: At the beginning of March, the Cook County Assessor sent out reassessment notices to all Oak Park taxpayers, and the median increase for residential properties was 24%. Many people assume that taxes will increase by 24% as a result, but this is not the case.

A reassessment neither increases nor decreases tax levies in the community, but

Growing community.

instead determines how much of the community tax levies each property will pay. Some property owners will pay a higher share of the community’s tax levies after a reassessment, and others will pay a smaller share.

But when the impact of the reassessment hits tax bills in the summer of 2018, the success or failure of the Operations Referendum will be an important factor in determining how much everyone will pay.

If the Operations Referendum passes, the reassessment would determine each property’s share of a total community tax levy that would exceed $196 million. If the referendum fails, however, the reassessment would determine each property’s share of a tax levy closer to $183 million.

Conclusion: This election season, Oak Park voters will be considering two tax referendums while contending with a triennial reassessment. The tax situation is complicated and confusing, but I hope this article helps to clarify matters so that voters can make informed decisions when they go to the polls.

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

find your rainbow.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Generations of Excellence since 1958

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

MANAGING BROKER/OWNERS River Forest,

Pat Cesario

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BEAUTIFUL QUEEN ANN BUNGALOW! Beautifully maintained and updated. Amazing location within two block radius to District 90 public schools, RF Tennis Clubs and Parochial Schools. Within walking distance to shopping and public transportation. Amazing neighbors and block!” ...........................................................$649,000

STATELY BRICK COLONIAL on beautiful corner lot. Meticulous move-in condition, made for entertaining and modern living. Four BR, three full, 2 half BA, with a gourmet kitchen, spacious LL rec room, lovely backyard w/patio, perennial garden, 2 car garage plus a carport. ............................................................................... $948,000

ALL BRICK COLONIAL with 3 bedrooms + den, 2-1/2 bathrooms.

Hardwood floors & charming original characteristics throughout!

Updated kitchen, 1st floor den & cozy 3-seasons sun porch. Full finished basement family room and storage throughout. Lots of updating recently done! ........................................................$575,000

GEORGOUS COLONIAL CLASSIC with all the bells and whistles!

Flawlessly renovated home with high end finishes and quality updates throughout. Gourmet eat-in kitchen opens to family room, massive finished basement, Bluestone patio. Perfect for entertaining. ........................................................................................ $825,000

1451 KEYSTONE • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

New Construction Luxury Condominiums In the Village of River Forest

The Avalon

1443 FRANKLIN • RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 1-3

15 Luxury Units* All Three Bedroom Units

RIVER FOREST HOMES

• Top of the Line Finishes

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• 2 Car Garage Parking

• 9 1/2 Foot Ceilings

• Ranging from 1900-2550 S.F.

• Oversized Terraces

• Outstanding location

Located at the corner of Bonnie Brae and Thomas

STUNNING BRICK ENGLISH TUDOR with 5 bedrooms, 4-1/2 baths on one of River Forest’s most private streets. This house has everything you need. Fabulous family room, large eat-in gourmet kitchen, a truly amazing basement with a full spectacular wet bar.

This is a must see. ............................................................... $1,195,000 BURMA BUILT BUHRKE HOUSE combines Tudor revival & chateau style architecture. Gorgeous décor and attention to detail and care found in house and grounds, extends to fabulous pool and patios. Perfect for entertaining. ......$2,449,000 SPECTACULARLY UPDATED American Federalist Home. Restored and improved by the designer/owner. 5 BRs, 4 full + 2 half baths, Gourmet Kitchen, Library/Office/private fam rm with large windows overlooking backyard. .$1,895,000 CLASSIC BRICK COLONIAL with high-end finishes. First flr features hdwd flrs, family rm off kitchen. Finished basement has media rm, 2 addl BRs, full bath, plenty of storage. Back deck, large patio, pool. 3 car garage, heated driveway............$1,595,000 RESTORE THIS HOUSE with fabulous curb appeal or Build your dream home on this 100’ x 184’ lot. ..................................................................................................$1,400,000 HANDSOME AND BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED traditional brick home for those who appreciate tradition and elegance. Home offers 5BRs, 2 full/2 half baths.

Landscaped fenced yard with pool and spa. Ample storage in basement. ..$1,259,000 GEORGOUS FRENCH NORMANDY with 5 BRs, 5 full & 5 half baths sits on a 75 foot corner lot. Gleaming hdwd flrs and fireplace in LR, eat-in kitchen with adjoining fam. rm. Lower level rec rm with gas fireplace. Landscaped grounds...........$1,099,900 BEAUTIFUL STYLISH UPDATED HOME with 4 BRs, 3.2 BAs on four floors of living space. Includes LR w/ frpl, new high end kitchen, Breakfast Rm, 1st FL office.

LL has Fam Rm, Rec Room, Laundry, Wine Cellar and Full Bath. 2 car garage with extra storage and rooftop deck. ......................................................................................$1,049,000

• Innovative Custom Design

For Information please contact Andy Gagliardo • 708-771-8040 *All information in this ad is estimated and therefore subject to change.

CLASSIC GEORGIAN with attached garage. This house has everything you need in a 4 BR, 2 1/2 bath house. Combination of hdwd and carpeted floors. Open kitchen attached to fam. rm. Screened porch off separate DR. Private backyard. ........$849,900 LIVES VERY LARGE! Each room has been thought out in this six bedroom, two and a half bath home. Kitchen boasts Rift Cut Oak and was completely redone in 2009.

MBR has radiant heated floors. Patios and sitting areas off the Master. Everything has been done for you. .....................................................................................................$799,000 CHARMING, SPACIOUS QUEEN ANNE BUNGALOW in pristine condition. Art glass windows, French doors, wood trim, hardwood floors. Granite kitchen, breakfast nook. Family room and 1st floor bedroom. 3 bedrooms on 2nd floor. Finished basement, enclosed porch, 2 car garage. ...............................................................$639,900 CLASSIC TUDOR offers the charm and elegance you’ve come to expect in River Forest. A beautiful brick and stone exterior and timeless interior with natural woodwork in this vintage home. Kitchen overlooks large backyard. Two fireplaces, dry basement. Two car garage. .......................................................................................$625,000 MID CENTURY RANCH with plenty of options to work with in this open floor plan. Extra large kitchen with eating area. Family Room with gas fireplace. Three Bedrooms with master suite. Two and a half baths. Huge rec room in basement.

Attached 2 car garage. Private yard.........................................................................$549,000

OAK PARK HOMES UNPRECEDENTED ESTATE in the Wright Historical district of OP! Meticulously renovated 5 BR, 5 full / 2 half bath property offers exquisite details, refined finishes, boast timeless materials and custom millwork. Showcase home!................$2,525,000

TRULY CLASSIC OP RED BRICK COLONIAL with four or five bedrooms, depending on your needs, and four full and two half baths. Third floor features rec room, or bedroom, and full bath. There is a heated 2 car, with addl 2 tandem space, garage with fabulous coach house above...........................................................$1,885,000 GORGEOUS HOME WITH OPEN FLOOR PLAN. This 4 bedroom, 3-1/2 bath brick colonial sits on a majestic corner lot in Historic Oak Park! Spacious living room, sun room or home office, expansive dining room, family room and a true chef’s kitchen with large eat-in area. ................................................................................................$760,000 STUNNING VICTORIAN! Updated 3 bedroom, 3 bath home. Original details have been preserved, and well considered updates added to create an ideal blend of historical character and contemporary design. House sits on an extra large lot with professional landscaping. ..........................................................................................$639,900 PRICE REDUCED. VINTAGE VICTORIAN on a corner lot with a formal entry, wood floor in LR/DR. Four bedrooms, two and a half baths. Open front porch on 1st floor and enclosed front porch on 2nd floor. Large yard with a 3 car garage. Central air.

Ample space for entertainment inside and out.....................................................$599,000 BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED VICTORIAN style three bedroom, two bath home in central Oak Park. Large front porch. Open high end kitchen with granite, perfect for entertaining! All new furnace/ac, windows, siding, roof, etc. make this a nearly maintenance free home. ...........................................................................................$519,000 MUCH LOVED HOME for over 50 years is ready for a new family to create new memories! Four BR home circa 1899 features natural wood details, 1st fl family room with wood burning fireplace, LR, DR, kitchen, breakfast room. Extra deep lot offers expansion opportunities............................................................................................$489,900

CLASSIC RED BRICK COLONIAL with 3 bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths.

Traditional floor plan includes first floor family room with fireplace, hardwood floors, separate living room, separate dining, along with kitchen and separate breakfast room. Side driveway with two car garage. ....................................................................................$699,000 BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED 5 bed/ 2 full bath home with a newly remodeled kitchen with a large attached breakfast area or family room. BAs updated this year. Four BRs on 2nd fl , 5th BR on 1st flr, perfect for company, or your private office.$473,0000

FOREST PARK HOMES TOTALLY REMODELED!! All new: kitchen, hardwood floors, windows, siding, roof, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, doors and hardware, and fenced-in yard. Master bedroom has walk-in closet, master bath, and walk out deck. 2 car garage with additional exterior parking space..............................................................................$549,900 NOTHING TO DO BUT MOVE IN! Beautiful 3 bedroom, 3-1/2 bath Colonial features ideal floor plan, hardwood floors, completely finished basement with full bath, luxury kitchen. Charming front porch and back deck. Well maintained with many upgrades and space to spare! ....................................................................................$449,000

CONDOS/TOWNHOMES/2 FLATS RIVER FOREST 1BR, 1BA. Entertainment area.................................................$89,000 OAK PARK 2 Flat ....................................................................................................$525,000 OAK PARK 3BR, 1BR. Fenced in backyard.........................................................$299,000 OAK PARK 2BR, 2BA, Unique Condo..................................................................$274,500 OAK PARK 2BR, 1BA. Loads of natural light ......................................................$174,000 OAK PARK 1BR, 1BA.Fantastic vintage bulding ...............................................$136,000 FOREST PARK 2BR, 2BA. Spacious corner unit. .............................................$289,000

For more listings & photos go to GagliardoRealty.com

Special Advertising Section

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

March 15, 2017

Special Advertising Section

Spring 2017

Education &Enrichment

guide

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EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

March 15, 2017

Special Advertising Section

Back by Popular Demand: Coding Sports Camps Kick Off June 13th

A

year ago, Wil Greenwald and Dan Kane were confident that there was a pent-up demand for something entirely new on the summer camp scene: a full-day program that engages children both physically and mentally.

W. Chicago Ave. two years ago. He teaches Integration of Technology into Curriculum as an adjunct professor at Roosevelt University and since 2001 has been a high school computer programming teacher at Maine Township District 207.

Their pulse on the market was validated when Coding Sports Camps, a marriage of Greenwald’s Code Play Learn and Kane’s Legacy Sports Camp, was a major success.

Its eight weeks of programming included some sessions that sold out as early as March.

An Oak Park native, Kane is the athletic director of Ascension Catholic School and co-founded Legacy Sports in 2008. Athletic activities at Code Sports Camps include hand hockey, countdown dodgeball, treasure island, battleship, capture the flag and soccer.

Serving boys and girls currently in kindergarten through the 8th grade, Coding Sports Camps returns for a second year on Monday, June 13th. Its eight-week run, interrupted briefly in the middle, goes until Friday, August 19th. It remains a one-of-akind offering, at least in the Chicago area.

Beyond the athletic component, Legacy Sports instructors emphasize the development of character-building traits like positive communication skills, teamwork and good sportsmanship.

“Mind and body—it doesn’t get any simpler than that,” said Greenwald. “We were pleasantly surprised that nobody had thought of it before, and we are excited to continue blazing this trail with parents and their children.”

Greenwald, a father of three boys between 5 and 12 years old and a volunteer youth sports coach, founded his business at 30

Through Code Play Learn, campers will spend the other half of the day creating, coding and building their own computer games, apps or robotics. Specifically, they will use Scratch Game Development, MIT’s App Creation Tool, LEGO Robotics, VEX and Stop Motion Animation Software.

Full Day

CODING SPORTS CAMPS Summer Registration Is Now Open Robotics VEX & LEGO

Computer Game Creation

App Creation Lego Robotics

Minecraft Modding

Scratch Game Development

Stop Motion Animation

Scratch Game Development

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

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Special Advertising Section

Why Choose St. Luke Parish School?

F

rom our early childhood program through 8th grade, St. Luke Parish School, a National Blue Ribbon School, prides itself on the opportunity to educate the whole child, promoting spiritual, academic and emotional growth. As we prepare our students to ascend to top-flight high schools, it is imperative that they move to the next step not only with core skills, but an experience of science that is relevant and fuels learning.

We recognize that every child is unique and that each learns at his or her own pace. With this in mind, we provide an academically challenging curriculum that meets the needs of all our students. Our faculty strives to differentiate instruction in an effort to meet student strengths. We know that each student has untapped gifts that are best nurtured by a variety of creative approaches to learning.

Our STEM program works in conjunction with the high academic standards of our science and math curricula and puts our students at the center of the learning experience.

Our commitment to technology offers students a fully integrated academic experience. Students in 3rd grade participate in the one-to-one iPad program and students in grades 4 through 8 have a personal Google Chromebook for their classroom use. We combine technological adeptness alongside the essential building blocks of learning because we understand that technology is an essential link between the classroom and the larger world.

The Chicago Authors Program features visiting authors and encourages the advancement of all of our students to have voice. Authors from our area are invited into our school for book readings and opportunities to share out on their experience as writers.

Our comprehensive counseling program focuses on creating a curriculum for health and wellness and providing social-emotional support for our students. The counselor meets with students in the classroom twice each trimester for group guidance issues and on an individual basis as the need arises.

Learning goes beyond the classroom as our students participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. From Speech Club to Choir and more, extra-curricular activities extend learning opportunities into social activities outside the classroom. Additionally, St. Luke offers students in grades 4 through 8 organized no-cut team sports, including basketball, soccer, volleyball, track, and cross country.

In order to ensure that we are the best we can be, St. Luke is currently undergoing a 6-month strategic planning process that includes all school constituencies. This plan will be launched in September 2017.

We invite you to come and see for yourself what makes St. Luke School unique. Please come to our open house on March 30 or call us at 708-366- 8587 to schedule your visit.

March 15, 2017

St. Luke Parish School

Academic Excellence Surrounded by Catholic Faith

Open House Thursday, March 30, 2017 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm Preschool through 8th grade

St. Luke Parish School

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

Keep up with District 91! www.ForestParkSchools.org www.ForestParkReview.com/District91 www.FB.com/FPSD91

@ForestParkSD91

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March 15, 2017

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Special Advertising Section

Learning From and With Each Other

F

ounded in 1961, Alcuin Montessori School offers a cross-curricular learning environment balancing academic and emotional intelligence. We partner with parents and provide students the tools to become highly-skilled independent thinkers with a passion for knowledge. Our programs are designed to help each child become confident, curious, self-disciplined and motivated.

• Junior and Senior Elementary, 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

At Alcuin, classrooms operate on the principle of freedom within limits. Children, under the guidance of a teacher, work at their own pace with materials of their choosing. Each student may work alone or with others; different levels of ability are expected and welcomed within each classroom. Education occurs in multi-aged classrooms where children of various stages of development learn from and with each other.

Families currently attending Alcuin Marccome Blesoff from Oak Park, as well as Berwyn, Broadview, Brookfield, Chicago, Cicero, Elmhurst, Forest Park, River Forest, Riverside, River Grove and more.

Our programs for ages 0-14 include: • Parent/Infant - Fridays, 8:45 to 10:30 a.m.

• Three to Five Day Toddler/Parent, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• Primary, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

• Full-Day Kindergarten, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• Middle School, 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

• Before/After School Care • Art • Musical Theater • Spanish

We welcome all prospective parents to join us for our monthly informational Coffees.

We will start with some good coffee, a short video on Montessori education and then take an in-depth look into all of our classrooms. At the end of the tour we hold a question and answer session, and explain our admissions process. Tours are held throughout the school year on Thursdays (9:00-11:00 a.m.) at the main Alcuin campus. Visit Alcuin.org for tour dates. To enroll in a tours please e-mail our Director of Advancement at avalera@ alcuin.org or call 708.366.1882.

A Caring Community The opportunity F to learn in an

ounded in 1912, Ascension School has been providing excellent, Catholic education for families in our community for over a century.

With thousands of alumni, many of whom have chosen Ascension for their children’s education, we continue to be a vibrant school, proud of our history, and ready to serve each new child who joins us.

Ascension School offers a faith-based education for children from three years old through the eighth grade. Our rigorous curriculum prepares students for the next level of education. We continue to provide a strong fine arts curriculum taught by highly qualified full-time teachers.

Ascension students consistently score above national norms on standardized tests at all grade levels. In 2007, Ascension received the U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Award.

Ascension School offers a faith-based education Ascension School offers a faith-based

for children agesfor three through eighth education children ages three grade. throughTo learn about our grade. excellent and eighth To preschool learn about ourelementary excellent school, orpreschool for registration materials, please our and elementary school,visit or for registration materials, please visit our website at: website at: www.ascensionoakpark.com/school www.ascensionoakpark.com/school

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

Join us for our Open House: Enrollment

isSunday open for January 29th the 2017-18 10 am— school 12:30pm year!

In addition to an excellent elementary school education, Ascension provides: • An excellent Preschool for 3 and 4 year-olds, with certified teachers and a student-teacher ratio less than 10 to 1 • An outstanding, affordable Extended Day Program open from 7AM to 6PM on school days.

• Two full-day Kindergarten classrooms • A variety of Extracurricular Programs including band, orchestra, and drama club • Competitive athletic leagues for grades 5-8 in soccer, cross country, basketball and volleyball

environment that promotes the principles of Love, Kindness and Respect.

• Tablets available in classrooms to supplement traditional educational materials • Anti-bullying initiative and a “buddy” mentoring program to connect upper and lower grade students • A service-oriented student council We know that parents have many wonderful options when choosing the right school for their children. When you choose Ascension School, be confident that you are providing your children with more than an academic experience, you are giving them the gift of a caring community and the opportunity to learn in an environment that promotes the principles of Love, Kindness and Respect.

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Special Advertising Section

More than Academics, Summer School is also about Enrichment and Fun

D

istrict 90’s Summer School isn’t only about academics – it’s also about encouraging students to explore their personal interests as they learn new skills.

Is your first or second grader a Star Wars enthusiast? There’s a Summer School class that enables your young Jedi Knight to build, write, draw, read, and talk about Star Wars! Do you have a budding filmmaker in the family? Consider registering your student for a class that involves making green screen movies, coding, animating, and composing music on the iPad. For the budding third or fourth grade thespian, there’s an acting class enabling young actors to show off their talents by performing several scripts and making props. Students with an eye for design can sign up for a class in beginning interior decorating. For those with an interest in gardening, the Hands On Gardening class will involve tending the Willard Pollinator Garden. There are many classes for our middle schools students, too.

Roosevelt students can also select classes for learning American Sign Language, digital photography, basketball (for girls and boys), a History by Hollywood class for movie fans,

March 15, 2017

Learning Doesn’t Have to Stop in the Summer

and many others as well.

Many Summer School classes are also designed to enhance social and emotional skills such as developing decision-making and self-management skills, and enhancing social-awareness and interpersonal skills.

Fourth grade students who’ll be moving into fifth grade can take a Roosevelt Readiness class. Students will meet classmates, learn their way around a larger building, master locker locks, and learn about school procedures and routines. Information about organizational skills, strategies for success, clubs, schedules, and teachers are also part of the class.

This year, all Summer School classes will be held at Willard Elementary and Roosevelt Middle Schools. Interested in learning more? After March 24, visit District 90’s website, www.district90.org, for registration and course information. Registration starts April 6 through May 17. Summer School starts June 15 and ends July 14, with no school on July 4.

Consider Fun & Engaging Classes in District 90’s Summer School!

Photos from Summer School 2016.

Classes held at Willard Elementary and Roosevelt Middle Schools Starting June 15 — July 14 (no school July 4) Summer School Registration starts April 6—May 17 Visit District90.com for registration and course information after March 24.

Classes include: • Star Wars • Hands On Gardening • Beginning Sign Language • Polymers & Potions • Digital Creation • You Be The Judge • Coding Connections

• I’m an Actor!

• Sticks, Mallets & More

• Beginning Interior Design

• Reader’s Theater

• Digital Photography • Incredible Insects

• Boys’ Bulldog Basketball • Fantastic Fibers

• STEAM

• History by Hollywood

• Unexplained Phenomena

• Girls’ Bulldog Basketball

• And Lots More!!!

River Forest Public Schools District 90

Special Note:

Registration for 2017 Kindergarten is underway.

7776 West Lake Street Visit District90.org for River Forest, IL 60305 • www.district90.org more information.

and

Music School

In Central Oak Park Since 1994 Trial Classes Available! $28

SPANISH and MUSIC

Trevon, 7, 1st place Trophy at IMA Piano Contest, Fluent is Spanish, takes Math, Science and Language Arts, Homeschooled at LMS Amber, 6, a student since she was a baby, takes piano, violin, Spanish, French, and Chinese

SUMMER CAMP (to accommodate your vacation planning)

•Ages 2-5 and 6-9 • 1 week to 8 weeks • 7:30am to 5:00pm • Once a week to 5 times a week (3 OR MORE DAYS A WEEK STRONGLY RECOMMENDED FOR LANGUAGE RETENTION AND COMFORTABILITY IN THE PROGRAM)

CALL FOR A PLACEMENT VISIT TODAY!

Aeryn, 9 months, Spanish Parent/Tot

Program fills up quickly.

150 N. Oak Park Ave . , Oak Park LMSCHOOL.com • 708-524-5252 #1 Choice for Language Programs that Work! • 50+ Trophies in Illinois Music Assoc. Competition!

• Violin • Viola • Cello • Mandolin • Voice • Flute • Clarinet • axophone and more

Spanish • French • Italian • Japanese • Mandarin • German • Russian • Arabic • Sign

• Parent-Tot and Preschool • Private Lessons in Piano • All Styles of Guitar

The Language

B5

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

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

B6

March 15, 2017

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

Special Advertising Section

Academic Excellence in a Nurturing Catholic Community

S

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

The St. Giles Early Childhood Center was completely renovated in 2015 to meet the needs of our youngest students, including the addition of a gross-motor playroom.

Preschool classes for both 3- and 4-yearolds provide building blocks to help children develop a natural love of learning.

Half-day classes can be supplemented through extended day, before-and-after school programs.

Our beautiful campus is spread across three buildings and includes a library, computer lab, gym, art and music classrooms, and two playgrounds. Recent enhancements include the renovation of our science lab in 2015 and a start on a new outdoor education space in 2016 to broaden and further our STEAM curriculum, which focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math.

In addition to academic excellence and rigor, St. Giles emphasizes a wide range of enrichment and athletic opportunities.

do new parents & students know how to find your school?

We offer competitive interscholastic sports for grades 5-8, featuring co-ed soccer, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and volleyball.

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

St. Giles School is committed to providing a quality education that prepares students to be people of faith, strong leaders, and to serve the community. Our graduates develop a sense of personal responsibility toward themselves, their school, their parish and their community. Many go on to selective enrollment high schools. We are a welcoming, proud and vibrant community that celebrates every student for his or her classroom achievements, awards, athletic milestones, and service to others.

New student applications can be submitted now. Applications are available on our website below or by calling the office.

St. Giles School

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

Whether you have your own Web site or not, getting a Business Page on OakPark.com and RiverForest.com is a great and inexpensive way to enhance your visibility and stay connected with your new and future families. When you sign up for your own page you’ll be able to access your information, add to it and change it as often as you like, whenever you want!

Call 524-8300 to get started today!

Your Community. Your Web site.

Special Advertising Section

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

March 15, 2017

B7

Summer Gifted at Dominican Provides Opportunities for Bright Children

T

hirty years ago, talent development in the education of gifted children was introduced across the nation, reflecting a growth of research and development around notions of intelligence.

Ironically, when it comes to leaving no child behind today, we discover that gifted students can easily fall through the cracks as testing drives us to teach to a standardized response while bringing proficiency of all students to grade level. The phrase, “genius denied,” refers to those who will suffer a profound gap between their fullest potential and what little is asked of them, particularly when one size just doesn’t fit all.

There is a common misnomer that gifted students can get by on their own, and therefore do not require specialized services.

All too often, this misguided notion is also coupled with another myth that intelligence is merely inherited, does not change, and therefore again, does not require specialized services.

Perhaps this is part of the reason why schooling for the gifted is too often a lonely and isolating experience. Not to mention, BORING!

Ask any gifted child what it’s like to learn with same aged peers who are learning at a less advanced level (a.k.a., “regular school”), and the most common reply will relate to waiting. Waiting for the other students to catch on; waiting for the teacher to challenge more; waiting for answers to higher-level questions; waiting for something to inspire a desire to achieve; waiting…for someone to notice.

Summer enrichment programs for like-minded students provide inspiring opportunities for both academic and social growth, and quite possibly, a life defining experience for the gifted and talented student.

The Summer Gifted and Talented Program is offered on the beautiful campus of Dominican University, where our classrooms are buzzing with busyness because we know that academic talent must be developed, nurtured, and fed.

For us, summer is the highlight of the year. It’s a time when we can feel free to be our quirky curious selves, motivated by the energy that comes with the joy of learning.

That’s Dominican.

Making an Impact in Education.

Summer Gifted and Talented Program 2017 Dominican University’s Summer Gifted and Talented Program challenges and inspires highly motivated academically gifted and talented students entering grades 2-12 in the Fall with academic enrichment in Math, Science, Writing/Humanities, and Fine/Performing Arts.

For program information, Summer 2017 course descriptions, and application form, please visit: educate.dom.edu/gifted-talented Questions?

Contact: Janie Wu, Program Director, jwu@dom.edu

Serving the gifted and talented community since 1983.

Visit educate.dom.edu/gifted-talented for more details about the Summer Gifted and Talented Program at Dominican University, where inspired minds cultivate amazing possibilities.

educate.dom.edu 708.524.6525

Mathnasium Makes Math Fun!

M

athnasium is now enrolling for summer!

Stop by for a FREE trial session!

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

More than any other subject, math has a stigma of being boring and anxiety provoking.

At Mathnasium, all the stress is taken out of the process as compassionate instructors work one on one with learners. As owner, Jana Frank explains, “We Make Math Make Sense. Kids don’t hate math, they hate being frustrated and intimidated by it. Our job is to help our students develop number sense so they aren’t just able to do it, but actually understand what they are doing and why. Since we individually assess each student and create a customized learning curriculum for them, we are able to set students up on a path to success.”

The staff at Mathnasium works to ensure students are not just learning, but enjoying what they are learning. “Even more important than

Email us! gifted@dom.edu Call us! 708.524.6525 Visit us! 7900 West Division Street, River Forest, IL 60305

PRE-K – 12TH GRADE

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

the math is the attitude and confidence,” says Frank. “We want to make sure every student feels welcome and encouraged to try their best. We will always adjust our teaching methods to find the one that works for each child.” This personalized instruction incorporates best practices through a combination of learning styles including written, mental, verbal, visual, and tactile.

We Make Math Make Sense

Whether students are struggling to keep up or excelling in their classes, the proven Mathnasium Method™ can address and advance their knowledge and abilities. Mathnasium OPRF also offers private instruction, test prep, and homework help.

Parents and students alike sing the praises of Mathnasium. A Hatch Elementary student says, “At Mathnasium, I’ve learned that I actually LIKE math!” A Julian Middle Schooler says, “I’ve learned how to understand why the solution to a WE ARE EXPERIENCED problem works instead of just memorizing how to solve it.” FromMATH a parent’sSPECIALISTS perspective, “It is a great pleasure for my children to be part of WE TEACH ALL Mathnasium OPRF. The attention paidLEVELS to their OF MATH ABILITY needs is amazing. It has changed the way that they feel about school and greatly increased their confidence levels”PROVEN RESULTS

SAT, ACT & ISEE TEST PREP HOMEWORK HELP SUMMER PROGR

Now nrollinMath g WeEMake for SumSense Make mer

NOW OPEN IN LA GRANGE!

Grades Pre-K-12 EARLY REGISTRATION SPECIAL: Remediation • Enrichment 20% OFF* ALL Summer WE ARE EXPERIENCED Summer Slide Prevention MATH SPECIALISTS FREE CONSULTATION FREE the CONSULTATION Programs during ACT Prep An in-depth look at how the An in-depth look at how the Algebra & works Geometry WE TEACH ALL month LEVELS of March Mathnasium Method Mathnasium Method works *excluding boot camps Review/Preview and how we can meet your and how we can meet your OF MATH ABILITY family’s needs.

family’s needs.

Mathnasium Oak Park/River Forest Mathnasium La Grange PROVEN RESULTS 212 S. Marion St., 1½ S. Waiola Ave., Mathnasium OPRF is located at 212 S. Marion Oak Park, IL 60302 La Grange, IL 60525 St, Oak Park. LearnYour more at www.mathnasium. mathnasium.com/your web address Your Location mathnasium.com/your web add oakparkriverforest@mathnasium.com lagrange@mathnasium.com Location com/oakparkriverforest or call 708.613.4007 to 123 Any Street Rd. 123 Any Street Rd. mathnasium.com/oakparkriverforest mathnasium.com/lagrange 800-123-4567 800-123-4567 schedule a FREE TRIAL SESSION. Any Town, ST 90000

mathnasium.com/your web address

Any Town, ST 90000

708.582.6593 708.613.4007mathnasium.com/your web address

B8

EDUCATION & ENRICHMENT GUIDE

March 15, 2017

Special Advertising Section

Run with the Wolfpack this Spring & Summer!

CUB INTRO CAMP @ St. Luke Starts: April 11th Ends: May 18th Kindergarten-4th Grade Boys & Girls Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:00-5:00 (12 sessions) • $150 • Fun, individual and team contests that introduce each participant to the fundamentals of basketball.

• Prior basketball experience is not required

KING OF THE DEN CAMP @ St. Luke 6th-8th Grade Boys Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30-8:00 Starts: April 11th Ends: May 18th (12 sessions) • $195

QUEEN OF THE DEN JR. KING OF THE DEN CAMP@ CAMP@ St. Luke St. Luke 6th-8th Grade Girls 4th-6th Grade Boys Tuesdays and Thursdays 5-6:30 Starts: April 11th Ends: May 18th (12 sessions) • $195

Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00-9:30 Starts: April 11th Ends: May 18th (12 sessions) • $195

“DEN CAMP” FORMAT: Part 1: Each session will start with a 17 minute shooting competition called “King of the Den” in which each player will be competing at their own pace against the clock for a chance to win a new pair of customized Wolfpack Shoes, to be determined.

Part 2: Teams will be drawn at random and players will compete in one of 5 unique Wolfpack games including the “Top Dog Tournament,” “33 Jumpstreet,” “Triple Threat” and others. Scores will be recorded and averages will be taken for another opportunity to win custom Wolfpack prizes.

Join Us in the Den this Summer for a 3-day Overnight Basketball Camp!

Wolfpack’s NEW Howl at the Moon overnight camp combines two of WSB’s best features: our blast skill development system and our signature King of the Den camp format in a fun, basketball-centric learning environment. Participants will also compete in a variety of contests for the opportunity to win custom Wolfpack prizes, including a pair of Nike shoes!

Camp is open to boys only, ages 8-14 (Players will be separated based on age, size and ability).

SCHOOL OF BASKETBALL

Dates: June 18th-20th, 2017 Location: Lewis University, Romeoville, IL Fee: $425 (Due by June 2nd: Includes camp, room and board, and meals) For more information, email us at info@wolfpackschoolofbasketball. com or call 708-669-9762

Spring & Summer Basketball Programs Grades K-8: April 11th - May 18th at St. Luke • Howl at he Moon Camp: June 18th-20th

for more info, visit www.wolfpackschoolof basketball.com or email info@wolfpackschoolofbasketball.com

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

29

PREVIEW HOUSE Produced by the Advertising Department

S

Simply Spectacular!

tep into the gracious elegance of this finely restored and updated American Federalist home located at 1401 Jackson in River Forest.

Renovated and improved by its designer/ owner in 2007, this beautiful home is perfect for a growing family. Four large bedrooms and three full baths compliment the second floor. The spacious third floor offers an en suite fifth bedroom. In the full finished basement, you’ll find a media room, rec room, exercise room and extensive storage.

An incredible gourmet kitchen is among the many highlights of this home. With its custom cabinetry, two islands, separate Sub Z refrigerator/freezer towers, additional refrigerator drawers, Wolf range, heated tile floors, table area and large walk-in pantry, this is a kitchen second to none!

Rounding out the first floor is a Library/ Office and private family room with largescale windows overlooking backyard. There is lots of room to roam in a truly amazing home!

1401 Jackson is currently listed for $1,895,000.

For more information, contact the listing agent, Andy Gagliardo at Gagliardo Associates Realty, 708-771-8040.

PRICE REDUCTION

PRICE REDUCTION

1435 PARK AVE, RIVER FOREST $713,900 :: 4 bed :: 4.5 bath

1142 FRANKLIN AVE, RIVER FOREST $1,600,000 :: 4 bed :: 4.5 bath

Spacious, meticulously maintained Georgian family home. Walk to elementary school.

Custom modern 6000 sq. ft. home.

Dramatic design and unique detailing throughout.

check us out on facebook!

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL of Oak Park and River Forest

Wednesday Journal is part of everyone’s favorite social networking community!

To find us, simply go to our web site at www.OakPark.com and find the “Find us on Facebook” link.

Be sure to click “Become a Fan” to receive updates about exclusive online content and important news.

NEW PRICE REDUCTION

UNDER CONTRACT

JUST LISTED

847 CLINTON PL, RIVER FOREST $1,095,000 :: 4 beds :: 3.5 baths

101 N EUCLID AVE #24, OAK PARK $565,000 :: 3 bed :: 3.5 bath

417 N MARION ST, OAK PARK $369,900

Beautifully designed center entrance brick colonial with a gourmet kitchen.

Walk to train.

Town house with attached two car garage. End unit, walk to everything!

Stand alone office building with 4 parking spots. 1,800 sq. ft. Multi-use.

Walk to train, shop & restaurants.

KATHY & TONY IWERSEN 708.772.8040 708.772.8041 tonyiwersen@atproperties.com

30

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

To many, living at home means freedom and independence.

But it can also be isolating. Belmont Village residents enjoy a lifestyle that keeps them physically active and mentally engaged, delighting in the company of friends old and new. At Belmont Village, you don’t have to live alone to be independent.

It’s not just your home. It’s your community.

Distinctive Residential Settings | Chef-Prepared Dining and Bistro Premier Health and Wellness Programs | Award-Winning Memory Care Professionally Supervised Therapy and Rehabilitation Services

The Community Built for Life.® belmontvillage.com BUFFALO GROVE 847-537-5000 | GLENVIEW 847-657-7100 OAK PARK 708-848-7200 | GENEVA ROAD 630-510-1515 Winner of the Argentum 2016 Best of the Best and George Mason University Healthcare Awards for the Circle of Friends© memory program for Mild Cognitive Impairment.

© 2017 Belmont Village, L.P. | SC License 52068, 52084, 52076, AL License 5104242

Growing community.

explore your community @ OakPark.com

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

31

SPONSORED CONTENT

Getting Down To Business

with the Oak Park - River Forest Chamber of Commerce March 13th, 2017

Local Professionals Want Flexible Options

O

By CATHY YEN, Executive Director

ur local talent pool is one of our community’s best assets. If only we could tap into it better.

A few weeks ago, the Chamber posted a vaguely-worded job description for a few part-time slots.

The response was overwhelming. I received over seventy resumes, mostly from women, many of them mothers, all living in Oak Park, River Forest and Forest Park.

The breadth of experience and talent was humbling. I was astounded at the number of high-powered people willing to take a part-time, low-paying position in order to contribute professionally and still actively participate in community and family.

Looking back, I did the same thing over a

decade ago when I decided that the path through Corporate America, while open to me, took me to a place I did not want to go. I walked away and reinvented myself locally. Yet, despite my own journey, I was surprised to learn how many women (and a few men) are at that same place today.

These talented people still need the same two things I did: flexibility and professionalism. They seek positions that can bend and flow around the timing and uncertainties of caring for families. Community volunteering, elder care, school drop-offs, soccer practice, sick days and summer. As an employer, if you can work around these, you can access an amazing group of people.

Secondly, we are educated and experienced. We may not want to put on a suit every day, but we do want to participate in a world that values us professionally. We want to contribute to our chosen field, using our training and hard-won skills. Volunteering is fine, but it cannot always replace

a job.

For those seeking employment: social media matters. LinkedIn, Facebook and blogs help build your brand. You will learn about openings and people will learn about you.

The Chamber will announce our new team shortly. I am thrilled but there are so many available, incredible professionals for whom I had no budget. To those businesses needing a little help and willing to be flexible: ask, seek. An army of impressive people is right here, looking for an opportunity to contribute.

Email or Phone

New Facebook Group!

The OPRF Chamber of Commerce has created a new Facebook Group for Chamber Members.

A terrific way to have discussions and exchange ideas!

If you haven't been invited yet...

Go to facebook.com Search "OPRF Chamber Members" and Join!

Connect and be part of the discussion!

Password

32

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

OAK PARK

RIVER FOREST OPEN SUNDAY 12-2PM

OPEN SUNDAY 12-2PM

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3D

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NEW LISTING!

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923 Hayes Ave 4BR, 2BA $419,000

7770 Washington Blvd 4BR, 3.1BA $725,000

847 N. East Ave 3BR + 1BSMT, 3.1BA $727,000

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

1017 S. Highland Ave 2BR, 2BA $299,000

OPEN SUNDAY 1-3PM

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818 Augusta St 4BR, 3.1BA $669,000

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835 Lyman Ave 4BR, 2.2BA $524,900

1040 Wisconsin Ave 4BR, 2BA $459,000

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612 Beloit Ave 3BR, 1.1BA $295,000

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

OAK PARK

3D

1229 Woodbine Ave 3BR, 2BA $479,000

3D

NEW LISTING!

NEW LISTING!

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

1216 N. Kenilworth Ave 4BR+1BSMT, 3.1BA $732,500

546 N. Oak Park Ave 5BR, 2.1BA $1,049,000

3D

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3D

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1157 S. Harvey Ave 3BR+1BSMT, 2BA $415,000

1223 Woodbine Ave 3BR, 2.1BA $564,900

607 Home Ave 3BR, 2BA $480,000

3D

712 Lathrop Ave 4BR, 2.1BA $625,000

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

F O R E S T PA R K 3D

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3D

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121 Des Plaines Ave Duplex + PKG $225,000

446 Thomas Ave 2 Flat + PKG $319,500

Townhomes & Condos 3D

7704 Wilcox St 3BR, 2BA $299,000

609 Clinton Pl 3BR, 1.2BA $599,000

1151 Lyman Ave 3BR, 2.1BA $449,000

F O R E S T PA R K

NEW LISTING!

610 N. Humphrey Ave 3BR, 2BA $399,900

3D

7200 Oak Ave – 1BR, 1BA $69,900 222 N. Grove Ave – 2BR, 2BA $199,00 433 N Lombard Ave – 1BR, 1BA $107,000 1135 Schneider Ave – 2BR, 2BA $259,900 240 S. Oak Park Ave – 2BR, 1BA $209,900

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

151 N.3DKenilworth Ave – 2BR, 2BA $169,900 3D 816 S. Maple Ave – 2BR, 1BA $166,500 7911 North Ave – 2BR, 1.1BA $179,000 222 N. Grove Ave – 2BR, 2BA $234,500 329 S. Oak Park Ave – 2BR, 1BA $239,900

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Miss a week…

...miss a lot.

Answer Book 2016

W E D N E S D A Y

JOURNAL

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If you don’t have a subscription to Wednesday Journal, you’re missing a lot.

Each week Wednesday Journal covers local news, local people, local sports and the local ads you want to see. Village hall, police, OPRF, the elementary schools, business, religion, we have Oak Park and River Forest covered.

Forest

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atio All Wright walk marPks milestone ye Celebrating the 40th anniver ar sary of the

orty years I/Staff DAVID PIERIN is rapher fairly young house, particoldPhotog ularly in for a many of Oak Park our home s hit 100-pl where ever, in terms of us.

Wright the Frank HowLloyd cant. That’ Home (& Studi o), 40 s the It’s a miles age of the Wrigh is signifit Trust. tone, says CEO/presi Celeste dent. Seven cant numb teen is also Adams, er. a signifiHousewalk May 17 is the 40th ; June 17 Wright Plus zation’s Founders is the nonprofit organiDay; and the day in July 17 marks opened for 1974 when the Home & its Studio And there first tour.

— the 1889 is one other happy coincidenc Ave. celeb Home & Studio at 951 Chica e rates 125 cant years architectu go . rally signif “Our 40th ianniv ersary is the next the begin generation ning of to celebrate of the Trust all and those a way we are today who have made it ,” what And what Adams said. four decad they have made it over the es past three is … bigger. In last fact, just years , in she said, grown to the the Trust oversee five touring/ed has ucation/re Frank Lloyd Wrigh Chicago storation t area. sites in the “The Home Lloyd Wrigh & Studio is the Isabel Robe oldest Frank rts House (Fran t site in a muse um,” Adam the world, and k Lloyd Wrig is now Society this repre s noted ht, 1908) bus tour . “For sents 40 excursion me, group of years of friends passionate and talen attended welcoming all buffs, and t to the by a architects, ing with new Trust and deter each passi local buildng the wond “Elsie Jacob mined community history erful volun year on the talen sen got to activists. to take there. We ts of teers who talking about back [the have just are alrea trying Home & site, flwrig launched dy because at the ht.org, and a time it was Studio] building with techn are doing new web- John Thor pe, for sale,” recal ology, so more thing local prese Wright, led I s and founding rvatio we’re able hope, like Frank Lloyd of the Home member and formen architect to captu of a young re the atten er audie r & spire all nce and tion Wright Trust Studio Foundatio president people with conti ). n (now the nal sites.

Back these wond nue to in” erful, origi- husba then, Mrs. Clyde nd had owne Nooker, whos d the struc 1940s, was Mrs. Nooker ture since e looking and the corsa Wright’s for a buyer the The migh client . They were ge ty grass of the office s, circa 1956, sparked for a remo this positi roots movement , library, deling kitchen ve chang fortunes that had opened part e in began in of the build and bath and 1972, durin Oak Park’s since 1966 for ing to the publi tours. g a Histo rical c See ALL WRIGHT on pa page B B33

the Oak Park

144 s. oak

Three easy ways to subscribe: 1) call (708) 524-8300 2) visit OakPark.com/subscribe 3) mail in the form below.

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cago, of Chi Troubles with zero license from the citythat the tick action red him

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Wright Trust

Courtesy of Frank

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Lloyd Wright

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W E D N E S D A Y

OAKK PPARK ARK 4BR,

2 BA . . . . . . ..

See page B5 . $367,000

OAKK PARK4 PPARK4BR, BR,

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See page B5 . $609,000

June 1, 2016 Vol. 34, No. 42 ONE DOLLAR

JOURNAL LINE

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OAKK PARK PARK 8BR,

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of Oak Park and River Forest

@O @OakPark

Special pullout section

Oak Park police to carry anti-overdose drug

A day of remembrance

WILLIAM CAMARGO/Staff Photographer

Participants wave at the crowd during the annual Memorial Day Parade in River Forest on May 30. For more photos, page 10.

An American Ramadan

River Forest couple says don’t make assumptions about Muslims

By TOM HOLMES Contributing Reporter

to sunset, every day for four weeks.

Nausheen sounds very much like a Jew on Yom Kippur or a Christian during Lent when she describes what Muslims are striving for during Ramadan.

“What people may not know,” she said, “is that the purpose of Ramadan is to bring you closer spiritually to your Cre-

ator, to develop patience, gratitude and to perfect one’s character. When fasting, a Muslim is supposed to be on their best behavior, avoid anger, bad language, lies, etc. Many people give up bad habits, for example smoking. It is a time of introspection and self-reflection on how to bet-

Enclosed is my payment of ¨$32 for 12 months Name _______________________________________________________

Oak Park Fire Department already administers Narcan roughly once a week

Address ______________________________________________________

By TIMOTHY INKLEBARGER

City _____________________ Zip ________ Phone __________________

Staff Reporter

Syed Mohuddin (a.k.a. Mohi) Ahmed and his wife Nausheen Akhter will begin keeping the month of Ramadan on June 5. The River Forest residents will fast, going without food or drink, from sunrise

today!

RIVER FORES T 4BR, 3BA . . ....

See page B6 . .$615,000

Oak Park police officers will soon be equipped with an anti-opioid overdose drug known as Narcan, confirmed Oak Park Deputy Police Chief Tony Ambrose.

A state law that went into effect in January mandates that all Illinois police departments begin carrying the drug in an effort to prevent overdoses from heroin and opioid-based prescription drugs.

Ambrose said in a telephone interview that the OPPD is working with the Oak Park Fire Department to receive training and grant funding for the Narcan program.

Oak Park Deputy Fire Chief Peter Pilafas said in a telephone interview that fire department paramedics have been trained to administer Narcan for some time and used it an average of four times a month in 2014 and 2015.

Pilafas applied on May 20 for the grant, which will cover 100 percent of the costs for the OPPD program, and it was approved three days later.

He said now police and fire department officials will attend a training seminar to instruct police officers on how to administer the drug.

Earlier this year, Oak Park Township Supervi-

See RAMADAN on page 12

Father ’ s Day | Sunday

See NARCAN on page 13

6/19

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*Email _______________________________________________________ Visa/MC/Discover # ____________________________ Exp Date__________ Signature ____________________________________________________ Mail to: Circulation Dept., 141 S. Oak Park, IL 60302 Offer valid for new subscribers in Cook County only.

33

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Sunday, March 19, 2017 ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

3647 Wesley Ave, Berwyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $220,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 612 Beloit Ave, Forest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $295,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 1017 S. Highland Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $299,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 1031 Beloit Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re/Max In The Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $339,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1:30

SINGLE FAMILY HOMES

921 S. Humphrey, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $399,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 923 Hayes Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$419,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 134 Lathrop, Forest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $439,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12:30-2 1040 Wisconsin Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $459,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:30-1:30 431 Greenfield, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $479,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 835 Lyman Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $524,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 711 Ashland Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $649,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 818 Augusta St, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $669,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 938 S. Euclid Ave, Oak Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $699,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30-3:30 1443 Franklin Ave, River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $699,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 7770 Washington Blvd, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $725,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 847 N. East Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$727,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 320 S. Grove Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re/Max In The Village . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $739,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 729 Grove Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beyond Properties Realty Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $749,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 173 N. Harvey Ave, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $789,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:30-4 1035 Berkshire, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $820,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30-3:30

CONDOS

1451 Keystone Ave, River Forest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gagliardo Realty Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,195,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

TIME

240 S. Maple St. Unit 1E, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $139,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12:30-2 819 Washington Blvd. Unit 1A, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $239,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:30-4 Showroom Open At 139 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Il . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $669,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2 Showroom Open At 139 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Il . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $684,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

TOWNHOMES

34

ADDRESS

REALTY CO.

LISTING PRICE

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TIME

7226 Washington St. Unit A, Forest Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beyond Properties Realty Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $264,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 622 Grove Ln, Forest Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gloor Realty Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $339,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 613 Grove Ln, Forest Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Weichert Realtors Nickel Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $349,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3 328 Pennsylvania Way, Oak Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Baird & Warner Oak Park/River Forest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $560,900 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

VIEWPOINTS

D97 referenda increase property taxes by 9%

District 97 has placed two referenda on the April 4 ballot. The operating referendum is the most expensive referendum in many years.

Expect the cost to show up in the fall 2017 tax bills and many years thereafter. While many residents are still tightening their belts after the “great recession,” it appears that the D97 board believes the property tax pit remains bottomless. Everyone cares about our kids in D97.

We also care about our senior citizens, our diversity, and maintaining a stable, thriving community. Property tax increases of this magnitude threaten our viability.

The chart shows the magnitude of their request by comparing the base property tax levy since 2006 to what will happen in 2017, should we approve this referendum. We can expect everyone’s 2016 tax bill (paid in 2017) to increase by about 9%. The magnitude of this referendum virtually assures that every landlord will have to raise their rents in order to remain solvent. If you’re a renter, expect your rents to increase 9-12%.

During the first week in March, most property tax owners received a notice of the triennial reassessment from our County assessor. This proposed reassessment level basically defines your “piece of the action” for paying your fair share of the property tax burden for the next three years. However, it’s virtually impossible to interpret the impact of this reassessment on your property taxes because the Cook County assessor doesn’t tell you how your property value has changed relative to other similar properties.

What we know is that our total tax levy will go up by 9%. What we don’t know is how many of us will pay the 9% and how many will end up paying 10% to 15% because their properties increased in value more than the average. The reverse is also true. Some group of property owners will be paying in the 4% to 9% range because their property values increased less than the community at large. It’s all very confusing until this reassessment shows up on our tax bills in 2018. The bottom line is that this referendum will increase virtually everyone’s property taxes.

What’s hard to tell is the exact magnitude on any one property owner.

Nile Wendorf

Oak Park Editor’s note: See Oak Park Township Assessor Ali ElSaffar’s analysis of the D97 referenda in today’s Homes section, page 26

W

37

Ali ElSaffar assesses the D97 referenda impact Homes p. 26

The facts about our project at Lake and Forest

e share Wednesday Journal’s call for a “worthy debate” about the project our company, Albion Residential, has proposed at Lake and Forest. To correct misinformation and false fears about it, we offer facts to help that discussion.

Over the last several months, we have met with neighbors, businesses, community organizations, nonprofits, the Park District of Oak Park and others in meetings that had two objectives: 1) provide facts; and 2) gather and understand concerns, questions and ideas.

We heard about several important issues, with Austin Gardens, height and density getting the most attention.

Austin Gardens: The fear our building would “destroy” the park is incorrect. We took great care to design and position an L-shaped building to minimize additional shadows on Austin Gardens.

It’s a fact that tall buildings and green spaces co-exist across the country. See Mills Tower next to Mills Park for proof in Oak Park.

In addition to conducting shadow studies, we A preliminary rendering of recently commisbuilding proposal. sioned an arborist who has worked previously with the park district to analyze the impact on trees, vegetation and wildlife in Austin Gardens. When that report is available and no matter what it concludes, we will release it and add it to the Planned Development application.

We want to protect Austin Gardens, which is why we asked the park district to suggest ways we can work together to enhance it and make it more accessible for neighbors and newcomers.

Austin Gardens is an asset for everyone, including potential new residents in our building. To suggest we want to “destroy” it makes no

sense.

Height: We are frequently asked why we proposed a building taller than the 80-foot limit in the ordinance. Today’s marketplace and development economics are the reasons we requested a height variance.

An 80-foot rental apartment building is not financially viable when land costs, building management and structured parking for residents and the adjacent 1010 Lake Street building are taken into account.

Here’s another fact: our shadow studies show an 80-foot, blockshaped building would create just as much and, at certain times of the year, more shadow impact on Austin Gardens.

Density: Downtown Oak Park is booming because of its commitment to transit-oriented development. Restaurants and retailers want to come to Oak Park because of its increasing density and activity.

That’s why Target and Two Brothers are coming to Oak Park, Jayne and other shops have fully leased Marion Street, and restaurants are calling us to ask about our Oak Park project. They recognize a good thing when they see it.

Finally, we have Provided by Albion Residential not asked the village the 18-story Albion to “accelerate” the review process so as to avoid public debate. I lived in Oak Park; members of our team were born, raised and live here; and our property management company has operated Oak Park City Apartments at Lake and Euclid for years.

We understand and respect the community’s commitment to an open, transparent process that encourages public participation.

We are very excited to be part of a vibrant community like Oak Park and the role our project can have in its growth. As part of that process, we welcome a fact-based “worthy debate.”

Jason Koehn is president of Albion Residential.

JASON KOEHN

One View

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V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

O U R

V I E W S

Battle Trump on CDBG grants

T

here’s a lot of bluster in Trump world, and among movement conservatives generally, about the failings of the federal government. Inefficient, corrupt, disconnected, etc. That’s the basis for the persistent calls to shift federal monies and programs from D.C. out to the states, those great laboratories of innovation.

So explain then how the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) is reportedly on the budget bubble as Trump looks to disembowel all domestic programs to feed the beast of greater military spending. CDBG, which dates all the way back to Gerald Ford and has always garnered bi-partisan support, actually spreads funding beyond state capitals all the way out to individual communities.

Like Oak Park.

As President Trump prepares to unleash his budget this week, the Washington Post and other outlets report that the Department of Housing and Urban Development faces up to $6 billion in budget cuts. Of that, half could come from ending the CBDG grant program.

What does that mean to a town like Oak Park if CBDG and its likeminded Emergency Solutions Grant program fall victim to Trump whisperer Steve Bannon’s expressed plan for the “deconstruction of the administrative state”?

It means direct and immediate pain for a host of local social service agencies which serve low and moderate income households — the target of all CDBG grants. The roughly $1.65 million designated for Oak Park in the current year would be lost if these programs are axed.

That would drain four buckets of local funding. The village government itself retains a notable portion of CDBG funds for administration of its housing programs which support diversity and also to fund street level capital projects such as alley repairs. A portion of the overall grant is doled out by a hard-working volunteer commission to a raft of nonprofits such as the YMCA’s single room occupancy program, the dental program at The Children’s Clinic and the drop-in center run by NAMI. Hit enormously hard would be Housing Forward, the remarkable entity focused on keeping the homeless, and those on the cusp of homelessness, in some form of housing. The agency receives CDBG monies totaling some $300,000 from three sources — Oak Park, Berwyn and Cook County. Lynda Schueler, executive director, said those funds provide care for nearly 1,000 at-risk clients.

Also walloped would be the Oak Park Regional Housing Center, the village’s fair housing champion, which would lose $190,000 or 15 percent of its annual budget.

So much for Trump’s promise of shifting resources to the local level, for his promise of support for the “forgotten American.”

Remember that these programs remain enormously popular with most members of Congress who benefit from seeing federal dollars flow back to their states and districts. That makes this the moment to amp up the pressure not to step back in resignation.

A ‘big box’ on North Avenue Good for River Forest Trustee Tom Cargie. Asked a clear question during Wednesday Journal’s endorsement session last week, he gave a clear and fascinating answer.

Once River Forest approves a new TIF district on North Avenue, we asked, what do you expect that street will look like in 10 years? We expected the usual “awaiting the consultant’s report,” “the marketing study,” “the traffic study,” “the environmental impact study.” Instead Cargie said he wanted to see a big box store on the street, one that would generate property taxes but especially a haul of sales taxes, preferably from a lot of people who don’t live in River Forest.

Sounds a lot like the giant bet that River Forest made a generation back when bold leadership used TIFs to create the first and then the second iteration of the Town Center at Lake and Harlem.

Big box or medium box, Cargie’s right that River Forest needs new commercial development not just more high-end townhomes. And good for him for saying so.

@ @OakParkSports

My antidote to the madness

H

ow are you coping with “The Madness”? It’s everywhere in our media-soaked culture (with more ways to access it than ever). We can’t ignore it, but we can wrestle it into perspective. The sight of a full moon makes me forget about it for a moment, though the moon eventually brings to mind Himself ’s lunacy. The sight of Venus or Jupiter shining Bethlehem-like in the night sky reminds me of the awe-inducing fact that planets, which would take us several years to reach traveling at several times the speed of a bullet, are visible to our unaided eye — located just down the planetary pathway in our galactic neighborhood.

We live in a universe of marvels on a planet of great beauty, but soon enough I’m thinking of the cosmic forces that alternate between hellacious chaos and heavenly order, whereas we Earthlings seem only to alternate between chaos and more chaos in the new world disorder, and that the natural world’s beauty is greatly imperiled by our human-made neglect and disrespect. I’m reminded of the latter every time I pass the Metra embankment murals at Oak Park Avenue, which, just a few short years ago, showed a pristine image of Earth against a sea of black beneath the large “350,” indicating the parts per million of carbon in the atmosphere that we could not afford to exceed in our determined march toward planetary oblivion. Now that we’ve blown past 400, the faded image of Earth has acquired a hazy sheen that looks eerily prophetic.

It’s a challenge to take my mind off “The Madness,” but my main antidote is a weekly mid-week play date with a couple of adorable 3-year-olds, who have a marvelous way of focusing an old man’s mind on what’s most important. And what’s important, as all grandparents know, is Play-Doh and Brio train sets and Legos and finger paints and pancakes at George’s and the trains passing on the Metra embankment over the cloudy images of Earth and reading Curious George books and mid-afternoon treats of blueberries and goldfish cinnamon cookies and making sure they go to the bathroom and intervening when they morph into monkeys jumping on the bed and putting in the Play-Doh “cake” birthday candles, which they blow out halfway through the song, sung to whoever’s birthday was most recent or soonest to come.

Not a lot of room for “The Madman” with all that going on, but if he somehow manages to elbow his way momentarily into my consciousness, I take solace in the fact that when these two reach the age of 30, The Madman will be dead and gone — unless he lives to be 100, God forbid — though we’ll still be cleaning up his God-forsaken mess.

But that thought doesn’t last long because hanging out with 3-year-old twins brings its own form of “madness” — the good kind — and it’s good to be reminded that there’s a good

kind. Well, the comic kind anyway because 3-year-old boys are natural comedians (I assume girls are too, though my family clearly favors the XY chromosome combo).

Adults who don’t know better, or have forgotten, have a tendency to view children as “blank slates” and though they are learning at a prodigious rate, they are more “themselves” than most adults and instantly know how they feel about things, and strongly too, and have no hesitation about making their opinions and wishes known. Their verbalization is as voluminous as their enunciation is inexact. One wishes for subtitles beneath the running commentary — to avert moments such as Bryce suddenly writhing on the floor in heartbroken agony because (we later divined), I had committed the unforgivable sin of cutting his pickle spear into pieces.

Minding twins is inherently chaotic, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. The required multitasking is mind-boggling and if I make the mistake of asking their preference on something, they will give radically different answers every time, but I love the differentiation, the fact that one will be serene while the other goes off half-cocked. It’s strangely reassuring.

Of course, when they both go off at the same time, it’s hard to remain the Rock of Gibraltar they have come to count on, but it’s still an infinitely better madness than “The Madness” of emotionally-arrested children in D.C. Soon enough the storm passes and they morph into kittens curling up on my lap for cuddles or piggies riding my back or shoulders.

I do have help. Daddy and Grandma are often on hand, which leads to a different kind of chaos, such as the time Grandma pulled a kaleidoscope out of her magic handbag of delights, and I was showing Bryce how to use it when I noticed the ink on my hands — from the inkpad that had come open in the magic handbag of delights. It was all over Bryce’s hands, too, and all over the kaleidoscope (but did not leave ink circles around our eyes, I’m happy to report). Daddy whisked Bryce into my very tiny bathroom to wash the ink off his hands, which, as always, were roaming. I wiped off the kaleidoscope, then joined them in the (very tiny) bathroom to report on the cause of the ink outbreak, and just then Tyler rushed in announcing he had to “go peepee” with the kind of urgency that causes caretakers to spring into action. So I picked him up (with ink-stained hands) and plopped him on the “big-boy” (ink-stained) toilet seat, making sure he didn’t fall in. That’s when Grandma joined us (did I mention how tiny my bathroom is?) brandishing a bottle of dishwashing liquid, assuring us it would “cut through the ink.” She was right.

I looked around and thought, “Ah, there’s nothing like family togetherness!”

And I didn’t think about The Madman or The Madness even once.

KEN

TRAINOR

V I E W P O I N T S

N

Future Oak Parkers will thank you for voting No

ile Wendorf did a public service in a recent Viewpoint, pointing out that between 2006 and 2016, property taxes in Oak Park increased by 32 percent [The only option is saying no, Viewpoints, Feb. 22]. That’s compared to an 11 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index. Which means that Oak Park property taxes increased more than three times inflation during the Great Recession.

What is the impact? Low wage earners move out of Oak Park. Senior citizens leave town. Dan Haley moves to Berwyn.

We push out the people we care about.

While talking diversity, we created a tax policy directly contrary.

With each new tax increase, the argument is the same: it’s only some hundreds per household.

Don’t look at the total property tax over time.

I thought about this when I received a mailing from District 97 on its two referenda.

According to Wendorf, D97’s tax haul over the last 10 years increased from $45 to $62 million, or 36 percent.

Where does it end? It doesn’t. If the referenda pass, Oak Park will become a more affluent and less economically diverse town. It’s that simple.

Two D97 items are up for a vote. One is spending $60 million on facilities. Do you know what we are buying for $60 million?

Neither do I. The D97 website is vague, listing something about maintenance and repairs ($60 million worth?), accessibility upgrades (a good thing too but $60 million?), more modern classrooms (not that expensive) and undefined “complete expansions at Holmes, Lincoln and Longfellow.”

What seems to be happening? The $60 million is a plug number set to keep the tax assessment even as the 1999 middle school construction bonds expire. Is that good tax policy?

The other part of the referenda relates to operating expenses, purportedly caused by a baby boomlet. But I suspect the need for the increase is driven more by annual increases in the teachers union contract which so often exceed inflation.

If we value living in a diverse community, there is one response to this conundrum: reject the referenda.

And if anyone feels guilty voting “against the kids,” vote for the operating cost referendum, but against the $60 million capital referendum.

Future Oak Parkers will thank you.

JACK CROWE

Addressing election and appointment concerns

T

his has certainly been one of the more interesting elections in recent memory with petition challenges, a trustee resignation and a flood of new candidates interested in serving the public.

Since Trustee Adam Salzman announced his resignation last month, there has been discussion of how the remaining two years of his term will be filled. There are two methods to fill such a vacancy, depending on when it occurs.

If it occurs more than 28 months before the “midterm” election for the position and within the first 20 months of a term, an additional two-year vacancy can be added to the ballot and included with the regular four-year vacancies for that cycle. This is what happened when Trustee John Hedges ran and was elected to a two year term to fill a vacancy on the board about 10 years ago.

He went on to run for election to the board. If the current vacancy had occurred last fall during the petition circulation period, this two-year position could have been included in the election process for April 2017.

However, if a vacancy occurs less than 28 months before the end of a term, it is too late to add the name to the election process. State law provides for appointment by the village president in such cases.

In 2008, a vacancy occurred late in a term and Trustee Colette Lueck was named by David Pope as an appointed trustee for the one year remaining in this term, and she went on to run for re-election after that. And when Trustee Ray Johnson resigned

from the board to move out of state in 2014, President Anan Abu-Taleb appointed Trustee Andrea Ott to serve the remainder of his term. She also chose to run for re-election at the end of this term.

The timing of this particular vacancy is unusual because it falls in the middle of election season. Knowing this, many people assumed the position could be filled through the election process along with the three 4-year positions on the board. The effective date of Trustee Salzman’s resignation was Feb. 22, long after the deadline to include the position on the ballot. At that point the only alternative was for the village president to name a trustee, subject to board approval. It did not have to be a current candidate, and he could have named this appointee anytime during the subsequent 60-day period.

In this case, James Taglia was nominated and agreed to forgo the possibility of election to serve a four-year term in order to be considered for the remaining two-year term of Trustee Salzman. He withdrew his name from candidacy by filing with the Cook County Board of Elections and his name will not appear on the printed ballot (although it does appear on the sample ballot due to the lateness of the filing).

Voters still have the opportunity to elect three trustees from the remaining five candidates to serve four-year terms as they did before Trustee Salzman announced that he was leaving office. The two-year appointment does not alter the races on the ballot.

Teresa Powell is the Oak Park village clerk.

TERESA POWELL One View

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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 Viewpoints/ Real Estate Editor Ken Trainor Sports/Staff reporter Marty Farmer Columnists Jack Crowe, Doug Deuchler, John Hubbuch, May Kay O’Grady, Kwame Salter, John Stanger, Stan West Staff Photographer William Camargo Editorial Design Manager Claire Innes Editorial Designers Jacquinete Baldwin, Javier Govea Business Manager Joyce Minich IT Manager/Web Developer Mike Risher Director Social Media Strategy & Communications Jackie McGoey Advertising Production Manager Philip Soell Advertising Design Manager Andrew Mead Advertising Designers Debbie Becker, Mark Moroney Advertising Director Dawn Ferencak Advertising Sales Marc Stopeck, Joe Chomiczewski Media Coordinator Kristen Benford Inside Sales Representative Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner Distribution Coordinator Caleb Thusat Comptroller Edward Panschar Credit Manager Laurie Myers Front Desk Carolyn Henning, Maria Murzyn Chairman Emeritus Robert K. Downs

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

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

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

If you have questions, call Viewpoints editor Ken Trainor at 708-613-3310 or email him at ktrainor@wjinc.com.

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

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

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

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V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

C A N D I D A T E

Building on a strong foundation at OPRF

I

have been honored to serve on the board of OPRF High School District 200 for the last four years. During this time, an entirely new Board was elected. As president, I have helped the board balance the benefits of fresh ideas and energy with the absence of experienced board members, culminating in the hiring of Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams as our new superintendent. Together, we are now a strong, collaborative leadership team, and I am running for a second term to build on that foundation.

The board’s first accomplishment during my term was to adopt an ambitious strategic plan. I am committed to fully implementing the plan, which strives for equity and excellence with high aspirations for all students, all educators, and all of us who support them.

Guided by that plan, we reduced caseloads for counselors, hired permanent social workers, invigorated the motivational mentoring program, piloted peer mentoring and socialemotional coach efforts, and eliminated fees for low-income families.

We are also identifying and providing supports to move more qualifying African American and Latino students into honors and AP classes, and we are enhancing our restorative justice work.

In addition, we took on a 15-year stalemate around our outdated, crumbling pools and though not yet resolved, we narrowed the options considerably and set the stage for reaching a broad community consensus.

We also confronted the longstanding controversy about the size of the district’s reserves, cut taxes by over $30 million, limited future tax increases by an additional $42 million, and became debt-free.

I chaired the Finance Advisory Committee that achieved those financial results. I also led the efforts to address the pool and facilities issues, as well as the national superintendent search.

While we have made great progress, we still have much to do. Priorities include: 1) take on persistent racial disparities as reflected in course placement, discipline, grades, test scores, and our students’ sense of belonging and engagement; 2) improve facilities to accommodate growing enrollment and expanded performing arts, provide flexible, technologyrich learning environments, and replace the pools; and 3) address issues of sexual harassment and misconduct to ensure that all students and adults feel safe and respected.

While pursuing these priorities, it is imperative that we manage costs prudently and continue to seek a balance between the level of services that make our community a great place to live and our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

In addition, all the jurisdictions need to seek this balance, and I will continue to use my extensive relationships with other boards to advance inter-governmental cooperation.

My passion is to ensure that every student is engaged, supported, challenged, and inspired, work that I also pursue through a national initiative supporting new approaches to learner-centered education. I am eager to continue combining what I am learning with my commitment to our students and community during a second term on the OPRF-D200 board.

Please visit www.WeissglassforD200.org to learn more, and consider voting for me during early voting or on April 4.

JEFF

WEISSGLASS One View

P

O N E

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

V I E W S

Continuity on the D200 board will move the district forward

eople often move to Oak Park and River Forest because of their schools, and they leave because of the taxes. We must keep our high school strong, supporting the needs of all students, while being fiscally responsible to our taxpayers.

For the past four years, I have served on the District 200 Board of Education. During that time, I have worked tirelessly, balancing the needs of all students with being fiscally accountable to our taxpayers. Early in my term I was on the Financial Advisory Committee, charged with developing a long-term plan to right-size the district’s fund balance.

We recommended and implemented over $30 million in tax cuts, while also reserving $20 million for anticipated facilities improvements.

As Finance Committee chair, I led the revision of our fund balance policy to better control fund balance management. I have been an advocate for establishment of a compensation policy and structure for our administration that will ultimately link performance to compensation.

I supported our students in many initiatives, including: 1) the expansion of counseling resources; 2) the implementation of our 1:1 technology plan, assuring every student has access to technology; 3) the start of our Leadership/Launch program to develop leaders and mentor relationships; and 4) the initiation of Equal Opportunity Schools (EOS), challenging students to increase class rigor and take AP classes for the first time.

Most importantly, our board hired a new superintendent to lead the strategic plan of our district. We

searched for, and found, a courageous leader experienced in the challenges that we face at OPRF High School.

There remain plenty of challenges ahead.

We must fully execute the Strategic Plan, taking the direction originally outlined and developing clear, measurable goals for those in a leadership role in the district to relentlessly pursue.

We must continue to strive for greater equity so that all students achieve their full potential. This will require an unwavering commitment to take bold action in removing barriers that result in inequity.

With 75 percent of district costs going toward staff compensation, collective bargaining agreements play an enormous role in the district’s financial future. Our faculty contract will soon be renewed, and I have over 10 years of experience in contract negotiations, both at OPRF and in my business. We must be able to continue to attract and retain the staff needed to support our students while carefully watching long-term costs.

Lastly, a widely supported long-term facilities plan must be quickly reached by reviewing the extensive work done thus far, considering differing views, and finding agreement on the critical needs of our students.

Being on the school board has been both humbling and a tremendous learning experience. I am passionate about the success of our students, and I am committed to protecting the precious resources of our taxpayers.

Continuity on the school board and supporting our new superintendent will allow us to continue to drive this district forward.

I ask for your vote.

TOM

COFSKY One View

Why I’m running for the D200 school board

I

n November, I was the first to announce plans to run for the Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 board.

Since then, I have been asked countless questions, but among the most common is this straightforward one: “Why are you running?”

My campaign brochure and website (www. mattbaron.com) offer a range of my positions, priorities, and guiding principles, but here let me share a few additional points.

Like four years ago, when I was elected to the Oak Park Public Library Board, gratitude is fueling my run. Just as I am grateful for libraries’ impact on my life, I owe so much of my success to the public school teachers who taught me in my native Marshfield, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston.

A further motivation: At heart, I am an educator. For six years, I assisted my wife in home-schooling our twin children before they enrolled as seventh-graders two years ago at Brooks Middle School. In my former career as a journalist, I did my best to educate readers

on a broad spectrum of topics. In scores of classrooms over the last 25 years as a guest speaker, I have loved seeing the light bulb go on for youngsters as I teach on topics ranging from journalism and mathematics to leadership and team-building.

The continual refining of the educational process is compelling to me, and I respect the strong reputation that OPRF High School has built over its many years. This great institution has helped raise up generations of productive citizens who have gone on to a gamut of fruitful endeavors.

Another factor prompting my run: I want to help effect lasting, sustainable change in the community’s longstanding equity gap.

Many diligent, caring people have tackled this issue for decades. This gap exists inside the walls of OPRF, as well as throughout all of Oak Park and River Forest — and beyond. I look forward to taking a more active role in reaching those who have been difficult to

MATT BARON One View

See BARON on next page

V I E W P O I N T S

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C A N D I D A T E BARON continued from page 40 reach — or whom we have not succeeded in effectively figuring out how to reach.

At the same time, we must continue to challenge the top students as we prepare them for an increasingly global economy, as well as ensure that those who are in the middle — neither exceptionally strong nor struggling academically — are not lost in the shuffle. That last concern has become a refrain among parents over the years, and it’s one that I take seriously.

I am passionate about helping foster an environment where excellence prevails and everyone’s value is recognized and drawn out.

Positive, productive, respectful relationships are the gateway to so much good — and one of my strengths is developing meaningful relationships, regardless of others’ “status.”

More than ever, amid our country’s tumultuous political environment, that kind of inclusivity, embracing of differences, and desire to build bridges is essential. I respectfully ask for your vote to one of the four open seats on the D200 Board of Education on April 4.

My campaign website is www.MattBaron.com. I can also be reached at 708-8601380.

T

O N E

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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V I E W S

Lessening the tax burden and improving communication

hank you to Wednesday Journal for this opportunity to reintroduce myself to the residents of River Forest. My name is Tom Cargie and I am running for re-election as a River Forest village trustee. It has been my honor to serve as a trustee for the past four

years.

In that time, we accomplished a lot, including the Northside Stormwater Management Project, on time and under budget. However, there are still some things I want to accomplish, and so I am running for another four years.

First and foremost, all of the taxing bodies in River Forest are much too dependent on residential real estate taxes, and we need to add commercial realty into the mix to lessen the tax burden on our residents. Over the past couple of years, I have seen a number of friends whose kids are grown or in college sell their homes and move to Forest Park or Elmwood Park simply because they can no longer justify living here and paying the taxes. We must change that so no one is chased out of their homes by taxes.

Two other areas important to me are improving the village’s communications with our residents and better incorporating the input of our village committees and commissions into our decision-making process.

With regard to communication, the village has been working throughout the last four years to improve our communication with our residents, but the experience with the Madison Street TIF last

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summer confirmed to me that we have more work to do. In addition, I serve as the village’s representative to the Collaborative Committee. This is a group of representatives from all of the taxing bodies that serve River Forest. Our most recent goal has been to devise a website that will provide all River Forest residents with the essential information they need regarding each agency in a single website.

This is an exciting initiative that I would really like to see come into being.

I would also like to improve the way in which the village board incorporates input from its various committees and commissions into the decision-making process. To do their best, village board members should be generalists, knowing a little about a lot of the village’s activities. However, certain decisions that we are called upon to make require subject matter expertise.

River Forest is fortunate in that we have a lot of very smart people who are willing to volunteer their time and experience to the village. One obvious example is the recently created Sustainability Committee. The current members of that committee are some of the hardest-working volunteers I have ever seen and I genuinely look forward to working with them in the next four years to make River Forest one of the most ecologically-conscious communities in Illinois.

Thank you for your consideration. I hope you will consider voting for me on April 4.

TOM

CARGIE One View

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V I E W P O I N T S

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

Iseli listens and leads I strongly endorse my friend and neighbor, Craig Iseli, for the District 200 high school board. Craig is an insightful thinker who is able to cut through the noise and quickly get to the core of an issue. I was fortunate to benefit from his leadership during my service on the Finance Oversight and Review Committee for District 97 (the “FORC”), when he was the chair.

Craig leads through service. While presiding over FORC, he was careful to listen to differing viewpoints. He thoughtfully balanced sometimes conflicting concerns over taxes and school programs. Together, we instituted a benchmarking methodology to help evaluate the efficiency and efficacy of the district’s spending.

Baron is a bridge-builder

He cares deeply about our community, and shares our values: equity, excellence, and inclusion among others. He has dedicated a great deal of time and effort in pursuit of creative and practical solutions to the challenges we face in our schools. He is more than a single-issue candidate; he will represent all of us.

Craig gets things done. He has been an effective board member, having served both on corporate and nonprofit boards.

He knows how to write effective and relevant policies, how to institute useful process, and how to motivate colleagues to action. He is a successful entrepreneur and corporate executive. His broad experience will be an asset to the board.

Aaron Lebovitz Oak Park

Vote yes for art in D97

Friday is my favorite day, not because it’s the day before the weekend but because I have art and music on Friday. Art is very important to me although I only have it once a week. Some people think art isn’t as important as social studies or science, but I think it is. For example, the artist Leonardo da Vinci was a scientist and an artist, which proves that art is important as well.

Art lets you release your feelings onto a canvas. Art helps people with disabilities or people who are shy. It lets them speak without words.

Music is important to me because I like to sing, I love to dance, and I love to act in musicals and plays. Music is amazing. If we don’t learn it now, then we will never be

able to sing or play an instrument professionally.

Have you ever heard of BRAVO? Well if you haven’t, I will tell you it is a theater program at Brooks Middle School. I have been looking forward to it my entire life. If they got rid of it, I would be so sad.

If this referendum doesn’t pass, I thought of a solution that is better than losing art and music completely. We could have a year of music and then a year of art. But I hope it doesn’t come to that.

Since we kids can’t vote, we can only speak out.

I ask you to please vote Yes for the District 97 referendums.

Ada Klein

4th grade student at Lincoln Elementary

Support Weissglass’ proven leadership Jeff Weissglass’ service on the District 200 high school board, as a member and as president, coincides with my 2013-17 term as Oak Park Township Supervisor.

As such, we have had several occasions to share information and discuss our mutual interest in youth welfare.

My most recent meeting with Jeff and the superintendent was focused on how to best serve within the high school the students who may also be receiving township services. Our common interest was based on the challenges some students face both within the school day and outside in the community — where township work includes youth in both villages, often including family contact and other assistance.

My experience with Jeff in these con-

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

versations has always been of the highest quality, as seen in his ability to listen, probe, discuss, and thoughtfully come to a mutually agreeable position that we can both support, based on sound public policy.

The recent addition of social workers at the high school is an example where the work of the township with students needing special intervention and guidance is now augmented by professionals in the school dedicated to the same goals: doing all we can to promote the success of all youth.

Vote for Jeff Weissglass and support his proven leadership on our high school board.

David Boulanger Oak Park

When it comes to public service, especially in local units of government, there is no substitute for direct engagement with one’s constituents. That is especially true when it comes to our local school boards, as the decisions made by those bodies impact the education, health and welfare of our community’s most precious resource — our children. Given the import of those decisions, members of our school boards must be accessible and responsive.

But as important as it is to engage directly with one’s constituents as a school board member, it is also important to be cognizant of the quality, tone, and genuineness of that engagement. Put differently, engagement must be authentic. The quantity of engagements — the number of meetings one holds, the number of listening tours, town halls, one-on-one meetings, info sessions — is no substitute for the quality of those engagements.

It seems to me that in the race for District 200’s school board, there is one candidate who understands this more than any other — and that candidate is Matt Baron.

Perhaps it is because of Matt’s exceptionally successful tenure as president of our public library board, which is culminating in his successful outreach to, and recruitment of, candidates of color to run for that board during this election cycle. Or perhaps it is because of Matt’s background in journalism and communica-

tions, which involves plenty of talking, but also plenty of listening.

Whatever the reason — and it is likely a combination of all of the above — Matt understands that authentic engagement is what the board of Oak Park and River Forest High School currently requires.

He is also experienced enough in local government to recognize that the challenges facing OPRF — the fund balance, the need for a comprehensive facilities plan, and, most importantly, the achievement gap, are complicated. Any solution advanced at the board level will have its proponents, but there will also be opponents.

Complete agreement or even broad consensus is probably not realistic.

But Matt is pragmatic enough to locate the opportunities for quick incremental progress on all of the above. He is also collegial enough and cooperative enough to forge partnerships with colleagues who might not agree with him on every issue. On a board that can easily fall prey to “paralysis by analysis,” given the magnitude of the decisions it must make over the next couple of years, Matt Baron has the skills and the openmindedness to be a leader and a bridge-builder at the board table.

When you cast your vote for District 200 school board on April 4, Matt Baron deserves your vote.

Adam Salzman Oak Park

Taglia appointment smacks of personal politics This was sent to the village board before last week’s vote: I am a local architect, lifelong resident of Oak Park, and taxpayer. I am writing you today to urge you to vote No on James Taglia’s appointment to the village board.

I do not know Mr. Taglia personally. However, I am aware that he is a good friend of the mayor’s. It is public knowledge that the mayor’s family canvassed for signatures for Mr. Taglia’s petition to run and that Mr. Taglia also made contributions to the mayor’s campaign. This appointment very much seems like one driven by personal interest and not one based on the common good.

I’m aware that the mayor is within his legal rights to fill Adam Salzman’s vacancy. That said, I think the timing could not be worse, or more telling. It is especially concerning that Mr. Taglia is appointed at this critical moment when so much hotly contested development is being proposed and will be voted on during the next term cycle.

Based on recent and persistent public outcry, it seems especially important that board members are elected by the people, and not be appointed political allies of an existing mayor with a development agenda. Based on recent debates, it is clear Mr. Taglia is firmly in the prodevelopment camp. Property/individual taxes

make up 80% of the village’s revenue, it seems reasonable that our officials reflect the desires of the entire community.

Two weeks ago, the mayor stated in the local newspaper that he was going to wait until after the election to make his appointment. After the recent debate and strong performances by many of the other candidates, the mayor moved his appointment of Mr. Taglia up to the very next day and then rushed for board approval before the election. This is significant because it is not clear that this appointment would be viewed so favorably by newly-elected members of the board.

State statute says the mayor can appoint a replacement for Mr. Salzman’s seat, but he also has 60 days to do so after the resignation, which was officially Feb. 22. The mayor appointed someone new in just 12 days after stating publicly that he was planning on waiting. This smacks of personal politics, not looking out for the community good.

At a time when transparency in our public discourse is so essential, this seems like a move directly against that. I would respectfully urge you to consider letting the people choose through the democratic process. If the people want Mr. Taglia to sit on the board, let them choose.

Brian Hammersley Oak Park

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

Build a park, not a tower

T

he Oak Park Comprehensive Plan recommends finding more open space. The Park District of Oak Park Master Plan states that opportunities should be sought to increase park space. The Oak Park-River Forest Sustainability Plan includes the goal of increasing green space and green infrastructure in the villages.

Yet Oak Park is in danger of destroying one of our most precious openspace, historic treasures: Austin Gardens. The 21-story Vantage Oak Park already casts long morning shadows where there were none before. Now a developer interested in the property at 1000 Lake wants a zoning variance to build another tall building. This might be good for Albion. However, for Oak Park residents, the long-term results would be diminished quality of life and a ruined park. Trees, some over 100 years old, would be in danger of dying. The village as a whole would lose.

There’s a better idea. The village, possibly in partnership with the park district and other entities, should purchase the land and build a park.

This would have several advantages beyond the admirable ones of beauty and delight. A park would enhance the Lake Street streetscape, provide a gateway to Austin Gardens and the Frank Lloyd Wright district beyond, add to the district’s livability, improve quality of life, and provide a welcoming atmosphere for locals and the many visitors arriving each year.

What might this urban oasis be like? Benches, tables and chairs would attract people to meet, eat lunch, and relax. Sustainability and green infrastructure features could include a sun shelter — roofed with solar panels — over part of the area, a rain garden featuring flowering native plants, and well-placed native trees. The park would provide welcome habitat for hu-

mans, birds and pollinators alike, feeding clean power into the grid and helping manage storm water.

In summer, there could be a tourist information booth; a food truck might provide al fresco meals, and pre-performance talks might be held by Oak Park Festival Theatre. A mini-farmers market on Wednesday evenings, mini-art fairs on certain Saturdays, and weekly lunchtime concerts would increase foot traffic. In winter, a small christkindlmarket where people could buy presents or a cup of hot chocolate would add to holiday fun.

Besides these practical benefits, taking such a bold step would demonstrate our village’s commitment to a shared vision of a human-scaled community that puts the well being of its residents first and prioritizes caring for the great historic assets we have.

Perhaps Oak Park could use another large building. But while dense housing can add to a vibrant downtown community, overbuilding risks creating a generic, over-congested urban space from which the special character that people expect in Oak Park would disappear.

We don’t need another skyscraper, especially not there. Oak Park definitely needs another park, and more public meeting space; the corner of Lake and Forest is the perfect place. Let’s seize this opportunity to make Oak Park an even better place to live while saving and even enhancing historic Austin Gardens. Let’s continue our leadership in urban place-making and sustainability. By doing so, we’ll make our village an even more attractive, vibrant and sustainable community.

Longtime resident Adrian Fisher is a member of the core team of PlanItGreen, the Sustainability Plan for Oak Park and River Forest, and the drafting of Oak Park’s Comprehensive Plan as part of the sustainability group.

ADRIAN FISHER One View

Too much tax jam on our bread

Many of Oak Park homeowners had to catch their breath last week after receiving notice of assessment raises from 20 to 25% or more. Ever-increasing taxes are driving seniors and lower-income people out of Oak Park. So diversity is slowly bleeding out, leaving only the high-income families here.

Ali ElSaffar, Oak Park Township assessor, appeared before Oak Park-River Forest Rotary some years ago and spoke to the issue of Oak Park’s high taxes. He said Oak Parkers almost always approved referendums. Doing that places a new floor over the other previous referendums and gives the various taxing bodies a whole new basis to figure taxes from.

It has been the practice of the schools, especially, to go the max on what they could levy, saying that is the only way they can stay ahead of rising costs. We hear very little from either High School District 200, which saw no problem in running up a $100 million surplus, or Elementary District 97 on how they might try to lower their levies or hold the line on what we are paying each tax time.

No, we only hear about “improvements,” more administrative positions, and higher overall salaries for teachers and aides. If it had not been put to a referendum, we would have $44.5 million to pay for the high school pool project, but that narrowly failed, partially reflecting the fact that this community is being “taxed out.” Are we really certain that more children are coming? Better review the estimates because the families that have the most children can’t afford to live here.

Now before I vote on the two D97 referendum items, raising taxes $74 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, is anyone figuring in the fact that most properties are being reassessed at 25% upwards? Or is the increased assessment simply more jam on top of an already too buttered piece of tax bread.

Charles Chauncey Wells Oak Park

Henek is kind, inclusive and thoughtful Please consider voting for Patty Henek for River Forest trustee. Patty has been a neighbor on Bonnie Brae for almost 20 years, and I can attest to her utmost qualifications for this position.

After Sept. 11, 2001, Patty and other neighbors gathered to commemorate this tragedy in a positive way. The 9/11 Bonnie Brae LemonAid Stand resulted. She was an integral part of its beginning and has continued leading this grassroots event. Since our first event, we have raised close to $220,000 for local charities.

Let me tell you what I’ve learned about Patty’s qualifications through LemonAid: 1.

She is fiscally responsible — and realistic. She understands and respects the value of projects and services. How will they benefit our community and are the costs in resources appropriate?

2.

She works with partners so everyone wins. She got Whole Foods to provide lemonade for 3,500 people each year. From tents, popcorn machines and cotton candy to great media coverage, Patty connects

with those who want to help.

3.

She listens and is open to new ideas. She makes decisions based on what’s best for the community — not what’s best for her.

Patty is one of the kindest, most inclusive and thoughtful people I know. And that counts for a lot in the world today.

Please vote for Patty Henek on April 4 for River Forest trustee.

Chris Hauri

River Forest

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

Don’t blame D97 for state fiasco

We are disappointed that so many of the political cartoons recently featured in your paper have been against the District 97 referenda. This is an important issue that deserves balanced coverage by Wednesday Journal.

Our community is in a difficult position with the lack of financial support from the state and an overreliance on single-family home property taxes. But those problems won’t be fixed by voting against the referenda. We must vote yes on both referenda now and then turn our attention to these other problems in Springfield.

We didn’t get here by any wrongdoing on the part of D97, but rather the mismanagement of funds by our state government — and the influx of families fleeing CPS for Oak Park’s amazing schools.

It is important to underscore that parents from all backgrounds are equally interested in strong schools and will continue to do what is necessary to live in a town with strong schools. Weak schools are not a way to draw a diverse population to our community!

We strongly urge all in Oak Park to vote Yes on both referenda. And invite folks to come to Scoville Park this Saturday, March 18 at 11 a.m. for a Kids’ March.

Kids and families are rallying and marching to show Oak Park how important it is to vote Yes! Yes! on the two D97 referenda.

Deborah S. Levine Joanna MacKenzie Oak Park

Mayor Abu-Taleb just pulled a fast one

Oak Park Trustee Adam Salzman resigned, effective Feb. 22. Mayor Abu-Taleb had 60 days to appoint a successor. The election is April 4, well within that 60-day time frame. He stated to the public that he was leaning toward waiting until after the election to make his appointment.

This made me think that he was going to do his duty as a representative of the people and choose someone favored by the voters. To choose the candidate getting the next highest number of votes below the winners would have been the appropriate thing to do in a democracy. There was no reason to rush an appointment.

However, after attending a League of Women Voters candidate forum on March 1, he realized that his favored candidate did not look likely to win a seat. He would have looked bad if he appointed a candidate who got the fewest number of votes, as if he did not care about the will of the people.

So he fast-tracked his appointment of James Taglia, a candidate more likely to support Abu-Taleb’s personal agenda for the village. Interestingly, he made the appointment and scheduled it for approval by the board before the next issue of the Wednesday Journal could report this. The board approved the appointment on Monday, March 6.

This mayor pulled a fast one.

Diane Zimmer Fascione Oak Park

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

The public has already spoken on 1000 Lake St. In her Wednesday Journal One View on public service [Viewpoints, March 8], Trustee Colette Lueck calls for openmindedness from the trustee candidates and the voters. Since the Albion proposal for an 18-story development at 1000 Lake Street is becoming a galvanizing issue for some, she mentions it by name and asks us to reserve judgment until the review process formally starts.

This implies that the board will have refrained from skewing the process in any way by communicating with the developer about the likelihood of zoning variances. In which case the expectations of developer Albion are based solely on the multiple zoning variances the village board granted to the 21-story Vantage building, similarly zoned for an 80-foot-high building. As are the expectations of current and past property owners of 1000 Lake St., who set the land value so high that a developer can claim economic hardship unless he is allowed

to build an 18-story building.

Which leads us to the power of precedent. When the variances granted are so extremely large, there should be a great amount of public discussion because the publicly-owned spaces — the parks, the sidewalks, the streets, the places we collectively dwell — are being altered dramatically. Each variance granted influences every future development.

If we believe the public should truly have a voice in this, look at the Greater Downtown Master Plan prepared by the people of Oak Park with the professional planning firm Crandall Arambula.

It is objectively the clearest vision we have of what Oak Parkers want for their physical community. It describes itself as “a tool which will help Oak Park’s leaders pro-actively plan for the future rather than reactively respond to development pressures.”

The other tool created by us to serve our best interests is our Zoning Ordi-

nance, which receives careful and expert thought in its creation and maintenance. In the particular case of 1000 Lake St., the Zoning Ordinance has been fashioned very specifically for that location. The underlying B-4 District is modified by the Downtown Lake Street Height and Massing Overlay District, as well as the Transit-Related Retail Overlay District.

This is not regulatory gobbledygook, or meant as a casual suggestion. This is deliberate, thoughtful planning. Of the properties contained in this zoning district, 1000 Lake St. is arguably the most sensitive for height and bulk due to its adjacency to Austin Gardens. If Oak Park wishes to preserve any of the remaining character, scale, and history of Lake Street, it is absolutely essential for us to vigilantly uphold our existing Zoning Ordinance.

Debra McQueen Oak Park

Appointment shows need for checks and balances In a galling display of partisan politics, replacement Village Trustee Jim Taglia was elected unanimously by the village board last week.

To be clear, I have nothing against Taglia. He’s simply the beneficiary of the appointment though I find it distressing that he decided to remove his name from the ballot and resign from the Oak Park Township Board in advance of the village board’s decision. And in a display of stunningly bad optics, his nameplate sat at the board table directly to the right of Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb until about two minutes before the public meeting began.

The timing of this appointment is both abrupt and heavy-handed, coming as it does two weeks after Abu-Taleb said he was inclined to wait until after the election and four weeks before the election itself. Taken in isolation, this could be construed as exercising his authority to name a replacement for former trustee Adam Salzman. But when viewed in context with previous actions over the past four years, this illustrates

a troubling pattern: 1. Requesting a change in title from village president to mayor. On the surface, this seems like a small change but belies a desire to significantly raise the profile of a single board member above the others.

2. Requesting a salary increase to a six-figure income, 10 times more than the previous amount.

3. Amending the bylaws of the Oak Park Economic Development Corporation to allow Abu-Taleb, currentlyappointed Trustee Peter Barber, and the village manager to become voting members of the corporation board, giving them significant voting power on a nine-member body. It’s important to clarify that this is the village-appointed body tasked with referring new development projects to the board and that voting authority was not originally granted to any village representatives when the organization was reconstituted several years ago.

4. And now the speedy appointment of a political ally and publicly-support-

ed candidate before the voters have a chance to evaluate that candidate at the polls.

Abu-Taleb is not solely to blame. In fact, he’s been clear and consistent both on the campaign trail and in office in his stated desire to streamline the process of government, and I suppose he views this latest appointment as a means to that end. The rest of the board has also been largely complicit in this outcome.

Indeed, Taglia’s appointment could not have gone forward without their vote.

Process matters. Checks and balances matter. Transparency matters. And the vote to confirm Mr. Taglia matters.

And now more than ever, independent thinkers on the village board matter. So if you’re as concerned as I am by this unchecked consolidation of power, I strongly encourage you to vote for independent candidates Dan Moroney, Deno Andrews and Simone Boutet for village trustee on April 4.

Greg Marsey

Oak Park resident and former village trustee

Trump voters are about to lose their health care Progressives are distraught at the prospect of the GOP health care bill. Millions of low-income Americans will lose health insurance altogether, costs will rise, and the only people who will benefit are insurance companies who will be allowed to reinstate their abusive prac-

tices. My suggestion to progressives is to step back and consider that most of the people who will lose their health insurance or Medicaid coverage are Trump voters. They brought this on themselves.

Rather than try to fix the GOP plan, let’s just let them do their worst. Millions of

Americans will become sick, lose their life savings, and some will die. Let it happen! Next election, there will be fewer stupid Americans, and Trump will be booted into oblivion!

Tom DeCoursey Oak Park

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Trust & the 2017 election

Community Carbon Fast: Water is precious Part 3 of 6:

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your family to see who takes the shortest shower); ■ shut off the water while brushing teeth; ■ wash dishes in batches so the water doesn’t run; ■ install a rain barrel; ■ plant a native garden, a rain garden and replace most of your lawn.

You can also eliminate plastic water bottles as you drink filtered water from home in a safe bottle, fix leaky faucets, use clothes and towels tow more than once to save water and en energy, eat less meat, and choose more mor local plant foods.

When you yo drink a clean glass of water, do so with an attitude of gratitude. gratitud The Ascension Parish community is doing a Lenten Carbon Fast: http://tinyurl.com/gw8r8c8. http Scroll down to the Calendar.

Sc Dominican University staff, students and faculty are engaging in the Interfaith Power and Light Carbon Fast: http:// tinyurl.com/zgqkj75.

Who else is doing a carbon fast?

Join in and share the dream. * A carbon fast helps us put less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as we change our lifestyle, one step at a time.

GINA

oin in the Community Carbon Fast* to help cool global warming. For environmental issues it’s best to share the dream rather than the drama. We can be part of the solution with water conservation habit changes. Yet we live next to one of the biggest bodies of fresh water in the world! But to care for our common home and people less fortunate, we are still asked to o be mindful and reduce our water use.

With climate change progressing, ressing, we increasingly see two seasons: s: drought and flood. These are devastating ating and especially hurt the poor. Water ter and food scarcity destabilize regions gions and make them more vulnerable rable to unrest, abuse, fear, rage, trauma, wars and migration: world crises. Whoever controls the water and the food has the power. This becomes a major national security concern as well as a social justice issue.

We can help heal this with our mindfulness, lifestyle changes, proactive policies and donations to worthy causes.

Choose some new water conservation habits: ■ set a timer for shorter showers (have a contest in

ORLANDO One View

For many voters, the erosion of trust with our elected boards is the common thread that runs through the April 4 election. Here are just a few examples of questionable board actions: The village of Oak Park president and trustees have granted controversial zoning variances allowing developers to build high-rises that are more than double the zoned height, and the fate of Austin Gardens looms on the village board’s agenda. President Abu-Taleb erodes public trust by personally negotiating with developers in a non-public forum with no checks and balances or transparency.

In two deals alone, the village board indebted taxpayers to $15 million in new garage debt while the village fails to maintain its existing garages.

The District 97 referenda are likely flying under the radar for many of Oak Park’s 37,753 registered voters in this off-year election. Even though the operating referendum is a tsunami, $740 per a $10,000 property tax bill, the D97 school board did not send out an informational mailer to all households on its two ballot questions. Homeowners must be aware of and understand the referenda so they can cast an informed vote. Renters will be impacted too if landlords pass on the increased cost.

D97’s only mailed mention of cost is in the current village newsletter. Pic-

tures of children grace two-thirds of the front of the insert, while the cost is placed on the back and minimized, listed as an increase of $74 per every $1,000 tax bill. The ballot questions themselves are worded such that voters may have little or no idea what they are voting on or their tax implications.

Since 2013, the District 200 school board has wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in its quest to build an oversized pool, a “want” of a special interest group, not a “need” of the school. In 2015, when the board tried to bypass voters and issue nonreferendum bonds for a $37.5 million, Olympic-size pool, the board’s news release defended its action by falsely stating that a standard competition pool could not be built within the building and touting its nominal $30 million return to taxpayers of the more than $100 million of overtaxed dollars. D200’s deceptive marketing of its 2016 pool referendum, falsely headlining it as academic, further eroded trust.

Restore trust and accountability with our elected boards by voting for Matt Baron, Jack Davidson and Doug Springer for D200, Heather ClaxtonDouglas for D97, and Deno Andrews, Simone Boutet and Dan Moroney for the village board.

Monica Sheehan

Oak Park

Moroney is focused on winning outcomes I am writing to share with you a personal endorsement for Dan Moroney, candidate for Oak Park village trustee.

I personally engaged with Dan when we decided to buy his property at 178 N. Taylor Ave. back in 2013. It was obvious during our interactions that he cared much about the history and the people of the village.

As you may be aware, he is born and raised in Oak Park and we were proud to buy a home from a builder with so much passion for his hometown. Dan’s rehab work at 178 N. Taylor was of excellent craftsmanship (evidenced by the property’s Historic Preservation Award in 2013). We loved living and having friends over at the house.

During the course of homeownership, Dan was readily available to answer any questions regarding home improvements. He was akin to getting a lifetime personal home advisor.

When we made the very difficult de-

cision to relocate from Oak Park last August, we asked Dan to help sell the house. He agreed to do so without hesitation and insisted on a realtor/seller agreement that was financially advantageous for my family. All throughout the sales process, Dan was the thoughtful mediator assuring both seller and buyer reached a mutually win-win situation.

Though recently relocated, we will always consider Oak Park home. We loved its history and its thoughtful, volunteer-minded residents.

And Dan’s platform of responsible growth and commitment to Oak Park values embodies this spirit very much.

As such I believe Dan will be a great village trustee for Oak Park. He is knowledgeable about the village, committed to service and focused on winning outcomes.

Oliver Sabitsana

Stamford, Connecticut

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Best use D97’s referenda reflect the real cost of educating of tax dollars, best outcomes for students

We are writing to support the candidacies of Matt Baron, Jack Davidson, and Douglas Springer for OPRF High School District 200 school board and Heather Claxton-Douglas for the Elementary District 97 school board. During the course of the past year, as we became involved in local school issues, we interacted with many people we had never met before or met only superficially, discovering that, though we had different reasons to be concerned about school-related issues and decisions, our desire to find better answers to these issues brought us together.

Those concerns, coupled with a desire to seek community-oriented solutions, and the knowledge and insight gained working on the issues, inspired Matt, Jack, Douglas and Heather to continue working for meaningful improvements for our children’s education by running for election to the D200 and D97 school boards.

The decision to run for office is not easy, but the decision for whom to vote is easy when you have candidates who have proven themselves to be hard workers who diligently study the issues from all sides: Through his service on the Oak Park Library Board, Matt has demonstrated innovative thinking and the interpersonal skills essential to meeting many challenges.

His background in managing complex projects while keeping costs in check are skills Jack will use in approaching issues at OPRF High School.

His years running a retail business in Oak Park gives Doug an in-depth knowledge of our community and the ability to understand what residents want.

Her training in scientific policy enables Heather to identify which learning programs and policies are the best tools to improve success for all students.

What may have started out with a concern about tearing down a parking garage, or overspending on a very big swimming pool, grew into a concern over broader issues in the community. Maintaining diversity and affordability, understanding that “wants” must be tempered by “needs” so tax dollars are spent responsibly, and recognizing the importance of community responsiveness and engagement are important goals that these four candidates share. Another goal they share is to be prudent stewards of our tax dollars and spend where our dollars will have the most meaningful impact on student outcomes.

To ensure the best possible education outcomes for all students, while ensuring your tax dollars are spent with care, vote for Heather Claxton-Douglas for D97 and Matt Baron, Jack Davidson and Douglas Springer for D200.

Maureen Kleinman, Gina Sennello, Monica Sheehan, Leslie Sutphen (and others) Pragmatic Solutions OP-RF

Imagine Oak Park with no art or general music classes, no band or orchestra, and no BRAVO or CAST in its schools. If the two District 97 referenda being set before voters on April 4 do not pass, all elementary and middle school art, music, and theater programs will be eliminated by the 2018-19 school year in order to close the budget gap.

Some taxpayers think D97 has not been a good steward of public funds since we passed a referendum in 2011. Consider, however, that we are educating 1,000 more students than we were in 2011 but with only a 1-2% increase in yearly expenditures, while also dealing with a lack of state funding due to the budget crisis.

This model cannot be sustained, however, as our student population continues to grow, health care costs soar, potential pension liabilities loom, and our aging and overcrowded elementary schools need capital improvements.

D97’s situation is not the result of poor financial oversight. It reflects the real costs of educating kids in the 21st century. Some of our peer districts, such as LaGrange,

Evanston, and Elmhurst, are asking the same of their voters this spring.

D97’s vision statement promises an education that is “equitable, inclusive, and focused on the whole child” — a vision that reflects the values of the Oak Park community. This is what we want for our kids and our community. To be “focused on the whole child” means to educate beyond the core to include the arts, since they are essential to developing well-balanced students and keeping students engaged and enthusiastic about school. In addition, numerous studies show that studying music contributes to the success of students in all subjects, especially math.

To be “equitable and inclusive” means providing opportunities for our most vulnerable students. Cutting enrichment programs will hurt our low-income students the most since they cannot afford these opportunities privately. Also, if the referenda fail, class sizes will increase significantly, limiting the ability to provide differentiated instruction that supports “equitable and inclusive” education. D97 has a diverse

Send a clear message with D97 vote It’s a scary time to be the parent of children in District 97. For many of us, we look at the $14 million in cuts to our schools and wonder what we’re going to do. If the April 4 referenda do not pass, our students face the loss of favorite teachers, overcrowded classrooms, and a lower quality education.

Our family is wondering if we’ll need to move away from Oak Park to give our kids an excellent school.

The taxpayers of our community are reaching the breaking point when it comes to taxes. Asking for $74 per $1000 of tax bill is just too much for some residents. There’s no denying that we need to work harder for Oak Park to become more affordable. But devastating the very programs and curricula that make D97 attractive is not the way to do it. The proposed cuts would un-

dermine our children, your home value, and the educational system in Oak Park.

We have a core value of wanting good public schools and I have faith that voters will make the correct decision by voting Yes on April 4. Even if that is an understandably difficult, expensive choice, our community steps up when the lives of young people are on the line. Send a clear message that we refuse to let our schools deteriorate.

Oak Park believes in students having the arts, music, foreign language, librarians, modern classrooms ready for science and technology, and accessibility to all learners.

Voters, thank you in advance for doing the right thing.

Kyle Eichenberger Oak Park

Matt Baron can effect change in D200 Matt Baron has our vote for the D200 board. We met Matt at a neighbor’s house where he generously spent 90 minutes talking with our group. We support his priorities of fiscal responsibility and accountability at the high school, including a prudent-use reduction of the current reserve; implementing an affordable, equitable, and practical pool replacement; and creating a long-range facilities plan.

His commitment to more opportunities for OPRF High School minorities to participate in honors classes and direction for the high school to utilize community mentors and volunteers are overdue. Matt

recognizes the vital role of cooperation among the taxing bodies, including both village and park district governments, in developing a cohesive, cost-effective use of taxpayer money.

Finally, his willingness to listen to the public rather than treating them as simply people to educate is a real breath of fresh air. Matt has shown effective leadership during his tenure on the library board. We think he has the experience, energy and ideas to effect positive change for D200.

Robert and Susan Parks Oak Park

population that cannot overcome such staff and programming cuts.

While the argument can be made that high taxes are driving out low- and middleincome families from our community, the alternative is that our property values sink because we can no longer provide the sort of high-quality education for which young parents of all socio-economic backgrounds move to Oak Park. Besides the direct effects on D97 schools, these cuts will also affect our high school, for if these cuts ensue, we will be sending a very different sort of student to OPRF. Oak Park is a unique and desirable community because of its diversity and its vision for equity. Inadequate funding of D97’s operational and capital needs is short-sighted and will hurt our community and our students now and well into the future.

We strongly urge Oak Park voters to say “Yes” to both the operating and the capital referenda.

PING! Board of Directors

Providing Instruments for the Next Generation

If you want my vote, don’t cross picket lines The Wednesday Journal printed a letter of mine in the March 8 Viewpoints. In it I wrote that I had asked a question at the forum put on by the League of Women Voters: Which candidates for village clerk had their material printed at a union print shop? Four of the five replied “I don’t know.”

Near the end of my letter, I wrote that, for the moment, Elia Gallegos had my support for clerk. Well, on Thursday, I got a call from a former village hall worker who told me that when their union had a picket line outside village hall, Ms. Gallegos crossed the picket line to work. I had walked that picket line to show support for the village hall workers.

When I was very young, my mom took me to shop at a store in Washington, D.C. As we approached, there were people walking outside the store with signs saying, “ON STRIKE!” I started to enter and my mom said, “We do not cross a picket line.”

I’m dropping my support for Ms. Gallegos because I will not knowingly support a scab for any elected office. Gotta figure who to support now.

Tom Broderick

Co-chair, Greater Oak Park Democratic Socialists of America

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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O B I T U A R I E S

How I got a second chance at life On Feb. 21, my friend Pat Johnson and I went to Dinico’s pizza for lunch. We got our orders and sat down to eat. We were two great friends, talking, laughing, catching up, when I took my first bite of the pizza.

Normally pizza with all the sauce would go down pretty easy in most throats — not this one. This bite of all cheese was stuck right in the middle of my throat, cutting off the air I needed to breathe! I got on my feet and my friend started to do the Heimlich maneuver without hesitancy. No dice.

The cheese in my throat was getting stuck deeper and would not budge. She tried again and still nothing came out. I tried coughing it out, looked for something to thrust myself on to dislodge this monstrous cheese. There was nothing. I tried drinking water only to have to spit it out.

It was not looking good.

Well, it wasn’t long before the restaurant manager/owner came over and started the Heimlich maneuver too. He also tried a few times and it was not working. It was becoming more difficult to see a happy ending. They say your life passes before your eyes in life or death situations like these. My thoughts: Who will care for my special needs son? How will my significant other feel not being able to reach me in time to help or say goodbye? Call 911. How will my kids divide up my insurance money? (LOL) I heard the owner call 911. My thought was,

MONICA MADAN One View

“They won’t make it in time.” But I wasn’t ready to give up — not to some stinking piece of cheese! If I was going out it would be on a more grand scale. I knew we had to try something that worked.

With his last thrust I bent forward from the waist down and let all that air just push that rotten

cheese out.

Once again I could breathe. Now I know this was not a light matter, and I’m sure both my friend and the owner were scared to some degree. But their heroic actions and quick responses saved my life. I have nothing but admiration, respect, and appreciation for them.

You not only saved my life but the drama that would go along with splitting my tiny inheritance. J So what did I learn from this experience?

Take baby bites. Chew it 100 times before swallowing (I promised this to my S.O.). Make sure it’s not all cheese. And make sure your inheritance is divided up in your will.

It may seem like I’m not very serious about this, but everyone in my life knows I don’t stress too much over many things and that I see things with a positive twist most of the time. I live by “It is what it is. Accept.”

But I am so very thankful to my two friends for a second chance at being a mom, lover, friend, daughter, acquaintance, and most of all, alive!

Monica Madan has been an “Oak Parkian” for 34 years.

Stop the high-rises, give us back the sky!

I have lived in Oak Park for nearly 40 years and I am so saddened to see the sky in Oak Park become more and more blocked with concrete and metal. I just read about potential plans to allow yet another high-rise to be built near Austin Gardens. To put it bluntly, I am disgusted.

I can’t stand the look of the recent high-rises

News

Events

that have taken over downtown Oak Park. Every time I see the Vantage building blocking the open sky, I get so angry. Oak Park has lost so much of its charm in just a few short years.

What is going on?! Please stop this madness.

Elizabeth Olympio Oak Park

Geraldine Murphy, 76

Longtime resident of the Oak Park Arms Geraldine “Geri” M. Murphy (nee Szykowny), 76, of Oak Park, died on March 6, 2017. Born on Aug. 13, 1940, she was the wife of the late Robert E. Murphy; the mother of Diane (Chris) Schmitt, the late Carole Ann, the late Rob, and Patricia; the step-mother of Judy; the grandmother of Ashlee (Matt) Hyde, and Kimberlee Conover; the sister of Robert M. (Jan) Szykowny; the aunt of Michael S. (Mary Lisa Sullivan) Roberts, and Scott (Arlene) Szykowny; and three great-nieces and nephews.

A memorial Mass was celebrated on March 11 at St. Edmund Church, followed by private interment.

GERALDINE MURPHY

Marian Menges, 93

Economic and social justice activist Marian E. Menges, 93, of Oak Park, died on March 3, 2017 with her children by her side. Born in South Bend, Indiana in 1923, she graduated as her high-school’s valedictorian at 17, was offered a full scholarship to the University of Chicago in 1940, moved to the Chicago area in 1941 and attended Northwestern University. In 1947, she married Richard (Dick) Menges, her husband of 59 years. They moved to Oak Park in 1961 where she resided for the rest of her life.

Ms. Menges worked as an elementary school teacher, legal secretary, and bookkeeper. Additionally, she worked with the Oak Park Housing Center during its infancy, and she and her husband were instrumental in its development.

After retirement, she returned to work at the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio to provide financial assistance for her grandchildren’s college education. A lifelong learner who never stopped taking advantage of opportunities to explore and experience life, she and her husband traveled all over the world. She avidly appreciated the

Robert P. Gamboney Funeral Director

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arts and culture in the Chicago area, loved to read, sing, paint, and dance, and was an ardent movie and opera buff.

She was an enthusiastic swimmer and saved the lives of four people from drowning over the course of her life.

She and her husband were very engaged in, and devoted to, social and economic justice and took part in a variety of movements and organizations such as the Oak Park Independent Democrats.

Marian Menges is survived by her sister, JoAnn; her children, Michael, Chris (Jean), Patricia, Rich, and Cathy (David); and her grandchildren, Suzanna, Andrea, Paul, and Tim. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick.

She had “a life well lived.” May she rest in peace and power.

Per her request, no memorial service is planned. The family appreciates donations to her favorite area charities: Thresholds (a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to the mentally ill) and the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Chicago (NAMI).

Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home

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All services handled with dignity and personalized care.

Family Owned & Operated

Cell: 708.420.5108 • Res: 708.848.5667

Charles Williams, Owner/Funeral Director

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

203 S. Marion St. Oak Park 60302 708/383-3191

48

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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

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/Classified/

BY PHONE: (708) 613-3333 | BY FAX: (708) 524-0447 | BY E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

CHILD CARE/RECREATIONAFTER SCHOOL DAY CARE Hephzibah Children’s Association offers after school day care at all Oak Park public elementary schools. The Program is accepting applications for warm, nurturing, energetic individuals to provide care and supervision of 5-11-year old children in the after-school program.

Monday through Friday, 2:30–6:00 PM, Wednesday–1:30–6:00 PM.

OFFICE ASST Forest Park sharpening company seeks Full Time Office Assistant to support Office Manager in variety of day to day tasks. Must have good communications skills, knowledge of computer and QuickBooks software. Bilingual a plus. Duties incl: Answer phones; Customer Svc; Daily Invoicing; A/P & A/R; Handle mail; Order Supplies. Send resume to berniessaw@aol.com

Responsibilities include planning and supervising arts and crafts activities, group games, helping with homework, and indoor and outdoor play. At least 6 semester hours in education, recreation or related coursework. Experience working with children. Contact MJ Joyce, Human Resources at: mjjoyce@hephzibahhome.org EOE

PEOPLE TO DELIVER FLYERS DOOR TO DOOR

LANDSCAPE/LABORER Independant landscaper looking for landscape laborers for Oak Park area. 30-40 hrs a week. Mon-Fri. 708-547-9121 Paid-on-Call Firefighter Position

* * * * *

The Village of Riverside Fire Department is seeking Individuals for the position of Paid-on-call Firefighter; This is not a full-time position.

Applicants must be: In good physical condition Reside within 1.5 miles of the boundaries of the Village of Riverside at time of appointment Be 18 years of age at the time of application Possess a high school diploma or GED. Possess a valid driver’s license with a good driving record

Applications for employment are available on-line at: http://riverside.il.us/Jobs Applications must be returned to: Village of Riverside Village Hall 27 Riverside Rd. Riverside IL 60546 Applications must be returned by April 28th 2017 at 4pm The Village of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Part-time morning hours. $35 per day. Cell phone required.

CALL 708-863-5698 between 8am and 8pm

PT GRANTS COORDINATOR The Village of Oak Park is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Grants Coordinator (Part-Time) within the Health Department. This position will develop, administer and coordinate a variety of public healthrelated grant programs in support of the Health Department including coordinating assigned activities with other departments and outside agencies. 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 21, 2017.

Second Line Software Support Analyst sought by Ion Trading Inc. in Chicago, IL to wk w/ rspctve team to prvde clnts w/ advc & spprt rgrdng ION’s prod. Req domestic trvl as nedd. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com, # 15254

SUBURBAN REAL ESTATE

SUBURBAN RENTALS

SUBURBAN RENTALS

CHURCHES FOR RENT

HISTORIC MAYWOOD MANOR

FOREST PARK 2BR apt $1100/mo. in a smaller, quiet building. Short walk to Green Line “L”. Updated with fresh paint.

Very clean. No smoking. No pets.

Credit check and 1 1/2 mos. security deposit required.

Call 708-404-2865.

FOREST PARK CAPACIOUS 3 BEDROOM w/ Ofc Avail Apr 1 Lg sun rm/living rm, w/ faux fireplace (alcohol flame), dining rm, full bath, updated kitchen with skylight, stove, dutch oven, fridge, microwave, carpeted storage rm attached, 6 rms new carpeting. Laundry room in building and outside patio. One blk from expwy, blue-Line, CTA, Pace.

Near Community center w/ town pking, Library, city hall, police and fire depts, park, pool, tennis, soccer and baseball fields. Safe, friendly & secure neighborhood. 1285/mo., gas incl. No pets, No smoking. 1 mo. rent + 1 mo. SECURITY at lease signing. Encl. garage on site avail. add’l $50/mo. Ltd to 5 tenants.

312-719-6936 or 630-202-8285

MAYWOOD COUNTRY CHURCH Lovely, old fashioned country church in Maywood, on corner of Fifth and Erie is looking for a roommate or tenant. We are willing to work out a flexible arrangement if you are an appropriate tenant. Various size spaces. Call 708 344-6150, leave a message.

902 S. 3RD AVENUE (2 blks W of 1st Ave & 1 blk N of Madison) Tired of renting? Why not consider buying an affordable 2BR condo w/ 1000+ sq ft of living space? Savings are built in from a unique 12 year tax freeze plus lower utility costs from energy saving systems and appliances. Onsite pkg, exterior lighting and enhanced security systems included. Plus you can customize and design your living space to better meet your needs! For details Call 708-383-9223.

SUBURBAN RENTALS 837 THOMAS AVE $1,900 Very spacious single home. Front porch. 3 Bedroom plus Tandem room. 2 full baths, large Living Room, Dining Room and Family Room. Eat in Kitchen with new appliances. Laundry facilities.

2 Parking spaces. Steps to Rec Center and Grocery. Short walk to CTA and School. Call 847 331-7165.

FOREST PARK SPACIOUS 3 BR 922 Marengo, Forest Park, IL Spacious three bedroom apartment in very quiet neighborhood, which includes newer kitchen with Corian tops; one and half remodeled bathrooms. Includes hardwood floors throughout except kitchen, which is tile. Large bedrooms with large closets. Utilities: heat and water included. Transportation close to blue line and downtown.

Call: 708-878-9291 FOREST PARK 3BR 607 S Ferdinand 3BR 1BA Forest Park apartment.

Parking incl. Laundry on-site. Tenant pays util. $1150/mo. 1 mo. rent plus 1 mo. security.

Call Terry at 773-486-1838.

OAK PARK FOREST PARK Studio, 1, and 2 BDRM. Heated.

Dining room. Parking available.

Walk to El. $625-$1250.

www.oakrent.com

M&M property management, inc.

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

GLA PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, INC. Lost & Found and To Be Given Away ads run free in Wednesday Classified.

To place your ad, call 708-613-3342

Entry Level Police Officer

Salary: $63,494 Sworn Officers: 28 Application Deadline: March 28, 2017

LaVerne Collins Managing broker

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

708-763-9927 www.glapropertymanagement.com

Properties may be broker owned.

Call us for a complete list of rentals available.

Apartment listings updated daily at:

The Village of River Forest will hold a Written Examination on Saturday, April 8, 2017, to establish an Eligibility Register for the position of Entry Level Police Officer. A mandatory Orientation Session will be held at Concordia University, 7400 W. Augusta Street, River Forest, Illinois on April 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. for all applicants.

Information Packets with Preliminary Applications and additional information concerning the Village and the Police Department are available to be downloaded at www.vrf.us/policeofficer or at the Village of River Forest Village Hall.

Village of River Forest, Illinois 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, Illinois 60305 Phone: 708-366-8500 • Fax: 708-366-3702 Website: www.vrf.us Population: 11,172

❄ ❅ ❄ ❄ ❅

Find your new apartment this Saturday from 10 am – 4pm at 35 Chicago Avenue.

Or call us toll free at 1-888-328-8457 for an appointment.

classifieds@OakPark.com

|

OAK PARK 2BR 2 Bedrooms, LR, DR, hardwood floors, tile bath, heat included. $1,250 + 1 mo security.

Call 708- 717-3975 RIVER FOREST 2BR CONDO River Forest condo for rent. 2 BR, 1 BA, Hardwood floors, built-in microwave and dishwasher. $1185 per month includes heat. 1 parking space $60 add’l per month. 1-1/2 month security deposit. $39.95 application fee. Call Vicki at 708714-0686 or vicki@beyondpropertiesrealty.com.

CITY RENTALS AUSTIN VILLAGE 5939 W. Midway Parkway Remodeled 1 BR. Half block from Oak Park, Green Line & shops. 3rd Floor. $800/month. Heat not included. 708-383-9223 or 773-676-6805.

ROOMS FOR RENT AUSTIN CLEAN ROOM With fridge, micro.

Nr Oak Park, Super Walmart, Food 4 Less, bus, & Metra. $116/wk and up.

773-637-5957 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

classifieds@RiverForest.com

OAK PARK CLASSIC CHURCH FOR RENT

Includes Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall, Kitchen, Midweek Service/ Bible Study, Office Options.

708-848-5460

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

OFFICE SPACE FOR RENT * RIVER FOREST * 7777 Lake St. - 3 & 5 room suites 7756 Madison St. - Store: 926 sq. ft.

- Office: 2800 sq. ft.

* OAK PARK *

6955 North Ave. - 3 room office suite 6957 North Ave. - 2 room office suite 6142-44 Roosevelt Rd. - 4 & 5 room office suites

Strand & Browne 708/488-0011

GARAGE/YARD SALES River Forest

MOVING SALE 7618 VINE SAT 3/18 9AM TO 2PM

Full basement and garage! Tons of tools and misc. construction supplies. Lots of baby/kids clothes, crib, etc. Lawn mower. Some collectibles.

Sprout some extra cash with a spring garage sale.

Call to advertise: 773/626-6332

❄ ❅ ❄ ❄ ❅

GARAGE/YARD SALES Oak Park

NEW LIFE RUMMAGE SALE

New Life Community Church Austin-Oak Park Outreach Yard Sale

SATURDAY MAR 18 SATURDAY APR 8 10 AM TO 3 PM

200 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, (Ontario and Oak Park Ave)

CASH ONLY!!

Please come out and support our 1st Outreach Yard Sale. Proceeds will be distributed to selected families who lost a love one due to gun violence in the Chicago Austin neighborhood. Cash donations are welcomed and appreciated.

See you there!

ITEMS FOR SALE FINE CHINA Lucien Piccard Fine China. Cream with platinum rim. 12 place settings. $150. Call 708-488-8755.

FUTON Black futon on heavy iron frame. $49. Call 708-488-8755.

MOTOR SCOOTER Child’s ZIP electric motor scooter. $69.00. Call 708-488-8755.

OAK CABINET & HUTCH Solid wood. Perfect condition. $150 both pieces together.

Call 708-488-8755.

Old Hausen Pool Table The best in billiards.

Upright Freezer Entertainment Center Armoire Martha Stewart Cherry wood.

Yamaha Upright Piano Black lacquer. Pitch perfect.

Thomasville Table Mahogany square cocktail table.

Ryan Grass Aerator Milwaukee Buffer Cars for Sale.

SOFA Quality Coil Springs $150 3.5 TON CAR JACK NEW!! $150 All good condition. Call for prices (708) 447-1762 OUTDOOR FURNITURE High Quality Outdoor furniture.

Heavy wrought iron. $150 obo.

Call 708-488-8755.

SEWING MACHINE Singer Sewing Machine. Like new. $99.00. Call 708-488-8755.

Stove/chair Kenmore gas stove-very good condition $75.00 Barclay manual recliner green fabric very good condition $100.00 708 334 7989

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CLASSIFIED

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 524-0447 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

ITEMS FORÂ SALE

TAX SERVICES

WROUGHT IRON DINING TABLE Together with glass top. $99.00 Call 708-488-8755.

INCOME TAXES BY CPA.

WANTED TO BUY CASH for Vinyl Records Best prices paid for your old soul, jazz, rap, blues, house, rock records. (33’s, 45’s, 78’s) Call 773-241-0929 WANTED MILITARY ITEMS: Helmets, medals, patches, uniforms, weapons, flags, photos, paperwork, Also toy soldiers-lead plastic-other misc. toys. Call Uncle Gary 708-522-3400

FURNITURE Dining Buffet & Hutch Qaulity Colonial dining buffet w/ hutch display top. $250. Call 708689-0498. Leave message and phone number.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS NEARLY NEW MUSIC Beethoven Trios & Mozart Trios Flute Music Cello Music 1/2 Price 708-488-8755 STEINWAY GRAND PIANO 7 ft reconditioned refurbished Steinway Grand Piano “L�. Very excellent condition. $13,000. Call 708-488-8755

NOVENAS PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN (NEVER KNOWN TO FAIL) Oh, most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me, herein you are my mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth. I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor in my necessity (make request).

There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, show me herein you are my mother. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times).

Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3 times). Say this prayer for three consecutive days and publish; your request will be granted. CAC

CEMENT

Inexpensive. Will travel. www.fiazeissa.com or 708-870-5006

CEMENT Finishing Touch Cement & Masonry Residential and Commercial Driveways | Garage Floors Sidewalks | Steps | Patios Specializing in Stamped Concrete Tuck Pointing and All Types Brickwork

Rocco Martino 708-878-8547 FinishingTouchCement2 @gmail.com

For All Your Concrete Needs!

CLEANING Pam’s A+ Cleaning Service

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

ELECTRICAL

FOUR SEASONS ELECTRIC

Full Service Electrical Work including

Rewiring Old Houses & Installing Ceiling Fans

Reasonable Pricing & Free Estimates No Job Too Big or Too Small Lic * Bonded * Ins * 24 hrs

708-445-0447

CEMENT

MAGANA

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

COMMERCIAL ˜ INDUSTRIAL ˜ RESIDENTIAL

708.442.7720 '5,9(:$<6 Â&#x2021; )281'$7,216 Â&#x2021; 3$7,26 67(36 Â&#x2021; &85% *877(56 Â&#x2021; 6,'(:$/.6 612: 3/2:,1* Â&#x2021; 67$03(' &2/25(' $**5(*$7( &21&5(7( FREE ESTIMATES LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED

49

ELECTRICAL

ELECTRICAL

HEATING/ AIR CONDITIONING

A&A ELECTRIC

Let an American Veteran do your work

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

708-409-0988 â&#x20AC;˘ 708-738-3848

Sr. Discounts â&#x20AC;˘ 30 Yrs. Exp | Servicing Oak Park and all surrounding suburbs

ELECTRICAL

Electricians serving the greater Oak Park area. Licensed, Bonded & Insuredâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;Reasonable Pricing & Free Estimates. Kineticâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s proud to say you have never experienced service like this! 15 years experience and dedication.

No job too big or small!

HANDYMAN Mikeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Repair Drywall H Painting H Tile Plumbing H Electric H Floors Windows H Doors H Siding Ask Us What We Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Do

(708) 639-5271

708-296-2060

FLOORS

HANDYMAN

KLIS FLOORING INC.

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

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

GARAGE/GARAGE DOOR

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

773-732-2263 Ask for John

HEATING AND APPLIANCE EXPERT Furnaces, Boilers and Space Heaters Refrigerators Ranges â&#x20AC;˘ Ovens Washer â&#x20AC;˘ Dryers Rodding Sewers Lic/Bonded 25 yrs experience

FREE SERVICE CALL WITH REPAIR AND SENIOR/VETERAN DISCOUNT.

708-785-2619 or 773-585-5000

LANDSCAPING BRUCE LAWN SERVICE

Spring Clean-Up Aerating, Slit Seeding Bush Trimming, Lawn Maintenance Senior Discount brucelawns.com

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

708-243-0571

Our 71st Year

MOVING

Garage Doors &

Electric Door Openers

Sales & Service Free Estimates

(708) 652-9415 www.forestdoor.com

HANDYMAN

We clean outâ&#x20AC;Ś r #BTFNFOUT r (BSBHFT r "UUJDT r )PVTFIPME %FCSJT r 4UPSBHF -PDLFST r "QBSUNFOUT r $PNNFSDJBM 0Ä&#x201C; DFT FREE ESTIMATES Fast Service, Great Prices Fully Insured metrojunkremoval.net

CURT'S HANDYMAN SERVICE

Buying? Selling? Renting? Hiring?

Wednesday Classified 708-613-3333

Call Taki (708)552-1565

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

FREE ESTIMATES Excellent References No Job Too Small

708-488-9411

%,%#42)#!, (!.$9-!. 3%26)#%3 !LL 4YPES OF (OME 2EPAIRS 2EPAIRS )NSTALLATIONS 0ROFESSIONAL 1UALITY 7ORK !T 2EASONABLE 0RICES 0ROMPT 3ERVICE 3MALL *OBS A 3PECIALTY

+$1'<0$1 &2175$&725

:H GR TXDOLW\ ZRUN DW DIIRUGDEOH SULFHV

:D\QH

email us! classifieds@OakPark.com | classifieds@RiverForest.com

PUBLIC NOTICES

3 Pâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AFFORDABLE PAINTING

Chertkow and Chertkow (22019) Attorneys for Petitioner 1525 East 53rd Street Chicago, Illinois 60615

Professional water damage repairs plus more. 30 years of experience.

Great references.

(708)557-9258 or (708)435-9258

ALEX

PAINTING & DECORATING

Exterior and Interior All Work Guaranteed 35 Years Experience Call 708-567-4680

CLASSIC PAINTING

Call 708-375-0700

Residential and Commercial Pest Management Services offered:

â&#x20AC;˘Ant/Spider Control â&#x20AC;˘ Bed Bug Control â&#x20AC;˘ Bug Spraying â&#x20AC;˘ Exterminator Services â&#x20AC;˘ Fumigationâ&#x20AC;˘ Insect Control â&#x20AC;˘ Rodent Control & Removal â&#x20AC;˘Termite Control â&#x20AC;˘ Other Pest Control

All Work Guaranteed Lowest Prices Guaranteed FREE Video Inspection with Sewer Rodding /P +PC 5PP -BSHF t /P +PC 5PP 4NBMM Family Owned & Operated

t Lic. #0967

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/1, 3/8, 3/15/2017

LEGAL NOTICE

(773) 590-0622

PLASTERINGâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; STUCCOING

STATE OF ILLINOIS, COUNTY OF COOK, ssCircuit Court of Cook County, County Department Domestic Relations Division

McNulty Plastering & Stucco Co.

In re the Marriage of Lilia Diaz, Petitioner, and Pedro Marquez, Respondent.

CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE:

Work Guaranteed

Licensed, Bonded, Insured, & EPA Certified Expert craftsmanship for over 50 years

WINDOWS BROKEN SASH CORDS?

A-All American

FREE ESTIMATES Service in 1 Hour in Most Cases

DOROTHY A. BROWN, Clerk.

LAW OFFICE OF LINDA EPSTEIN Attorney for Petitioner 722 W. Diversey Parkway Ste. 101B Chicago, IL 60614

PLUMBING

Plumbing & Sewer Service

The requisite affidavit for publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, the above named Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief; and that said suit is now pending.

PEST CONTROLâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; EXTERMINATOR

Licensed ILCC 175625 MC â&#x20AC;˘ Ins.

PLUMBING

STATE OF ILLINOIS) COUNTY OF COOK )ss Circuit Court of Cook County, County Department, Domestic Relations Division.

In re the marriage of Diane Mata, Petitioner and Charles Habich aka Charles Habick, Respondent, Case No. 2017D-001585.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent, file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your Zap 'em Trap 'em-z2BX B&S 06.08.16:Layout 1 6/3/16 11:27 AM appearance therein, in the Office 708.749.0011 of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, in the City of Chicago, Illinois, on or before April 4, 2017, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a judgment for Dissolution of Marriage entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

708/386-2951 t ANYTIME

ď &#x2019; Small Local Moves ď &#x2019; Storage Moves ď &#x2019; Labor-Only Moves

LEGAL NOTICE

Fast & Neat Painting/Taping/Plaster Repair Low Cost

Small & big work. Free estimates.

Complete Plaster, Stucco & Re-Coating Services

708-280-9987

CARPENTRY TILING PAINTING

PAINTING & DECORATING

CALL THE WINDOW MAN!

FAST RELIABLE SERVICE

(708) 452-8929

Licensed

The requisite affidavit for Publication having been filed, notice is hereby given to you, Luz Maria Diez, Respondent, that a Petition has been filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by the Petitioner, for Dissolution of Marriage and for other relief: and that said suit is now pending.

Now, therefore, unless you, the said Respondent file your response to said Petition or otherwise make your appearance therein, in the Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, Room 802, Richard J. Daley Center, in the City of Chicago, Illlinois, on or before April 12, 2017, default may be entered against you at any time after that day, and a Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage Entered in accordance with the prayer of said Petition.

DOROTHY BROWN, Clerk.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/15, 3/22, 3/29/2017.

Insured

Ralph Grande Elmwood Park 708-452-8929

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

Attention! Home improvement pros!

Advertise in Wednesday Classified. Call 708/613-3342.

No. 17 D 001856

Are you selling your home by owner?

Call to advertise: 708-613-3333

50

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

CLASSIFIED

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 524-0447 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

Let the sun shine in...

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

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice Of A Joint Public Hearing By the Zoning Board of Appeals Of And The Plan Commission Of The Village Of North Riverside

Notice Of A Public Hearing By the Zoning Board Of Appeals The Village of North Riverside

Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Plan Commission of the Village of North Riverside on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 6:30 P.M., in the Village Commons, 2401 S. Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois.

At such time and place, the Zoning Board of Appeals will consider an amendment to Title 17 Section 5.08 Accessory Buildings, Structures, and Uses and Title 17 Section 5.10 Trailers, Mobile Homes and Boats of the North Riverside Zoning Ordinance.

Applicant: Village of North Riverside 2401 S. Desplaines Avenue North Riverside, IL 60546 All persons desiring to appear and be heard for or against said petitions may attend the Public Hearing.

Village of North Riverside Pat Ferriter, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals Dave Tomalis, Chairman of the Plan Commission Published in RB Landmark 3/15/2017

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE

Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of North Riverside on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 6:30 P.M., in the Village Commons, 2401 S. Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois.

At such time and place, the Zoning Board of Appeals will consider a request for a variance to Section 11.02.B. to allow a lawful nonconforming structure to be added to or enlarged without conforming to the regulations of the district in which it is located and a variance to Section 15.24.040 (B) regarding the distance of the garage from the main building.

Applicant: Standard Properties Group LLC 8105 W. 30th Street North Riverside, Illinois 60546 All persons desiring to appear and be heard for or against said petitions may attend the Public Hearing.

Village of North Riverside Pat Ferriter, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals Published in RB Landmark 3/15/2017

LEGAL NOTICE STATE OF ILLINOIS COUNTY OF COOK VILLAGE OF NORTH RIVERSIDE

Notice of Public Hearing By the Zoning Board of Appeals The Village Of North Riverside

Notice Of A Joint Public Hearing By the Zoning Board Of Appeals And The Plan Commission Of The Village Of North Riverside

Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of North Riverside on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 6:30 P.M. in the Council Chambers in the Village Commons, 2401 S. Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois.

Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing will be held by the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Plan Commission of the Village of North Riverside on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at 6:30 P.M., in the Village Commons, 2401 S. Desplaines Avenue, North Riverside, Illinois.

At such time and place, the Zoning Board of Appeals will consider a request for a variance to Title 12 Section 12.24.030 (A3) to permit a changeable copy digital sign and a variance to Title 12 Section 12.24.050 (G3) to allow signage that exceeds the maximum square footage allowed.

At such time and place, the Zoning Board of Appeals and the Plan Commission will consider a request to approve a nursery school as a Conditional Permitted Use in an R-1 Single Family Zoning District under Title 17 Section 6.02 (B11) of the North Riverside Zoning Ordinance.

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: D17149848 on March 2, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of WANDERLUSTUDIO with the business located at: 482 PERRIE DR, ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: ANNA HALAMA 428 PERRIE DR ELK GROVE VILLAGE, IL 60007 Published in Wednesday Journal 3/15, 3/22, 3/29

PUBLIC NOTICE Annual Town Meeting Notice Is Hereby Given To the legal voters of The Town of Riverside in the County of Cook and the State of Illinois, that the Annual Town Meeting of said town will take place on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 Being the second Tuesday of the month At the hour of 6:01 P.M. at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL for the transaction of miscellaneous business of the said town; and after a Moderator having been elected, will proceed to hear and consider reports of the officers, and decide on such measures as may, in the pursuance of the law, come before the meeting; and especially to consider and decide on he following: Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Election of The Moderator, Approval Of the Minutes from the Last Annual Town Meeting, New Business having the approval of the majority of electors in attendance, Setting the date for the Next Annual Town Meeting, and Adjournment.

Dated: March 10, 2017 Published in RB Landmark 3/15/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE

Pat Ferriter, Chairman Zoning Board of Appeals

Pat Ferriter, Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals Dave Tomalis, Chairman of the Plan Commission

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: D17149751 on February 22, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of LYRIC & ARIA MEDIA with the business located at: 407 WISCONSIN AVE UNIT C, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: KEVIN CLARK MCCARTHY 407 WISCONSIN AVE UNIT C, OAK PARK, IL 60302.

Published in RB Landmark 3/15/2017

Published in RB Landmark 3/15/2017

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/1, 3/8, 3/15/2017

Applicant: Sixteenth Street Holdings, LLC 7921 W. Cermak Road North Riverside, Illinois 60546 All persons desiring to appear and be heard for or against said petitions may attend the Public Hearing.

Village of North Riverside

Applicant: Claudia Alvarez 2965-2975 Groveland Avenue North Riverside, Illinois 60546 All persons desiring to appear and be heard for or against said petitions may attend the Public Hearing.

Village of North Riverside

PUBLIC NOTICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NOTICE The Village of Riverside will be receiving Requests for Proposals for Ambulance Billing and Collection Services. These proposals will be accepted at the Riverside Village Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside IL until Wednesday April 12, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. Each company must submit their proposals related to performing Ambulance Billing and Collection Services, as outlined in the Request for Proposal document.

Companies who fail to provide qualifications and required documentation by this designated time will not be considered.

Specifications may be obtained at the Village Hall, weekdays, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or www.riverside.il.us Questions may be directed to the Fire Department at 708- 447-2123, Attention Chief Matthew Buckley.

The Village of Riverside reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive technicalities, and to accept any proposal which is deemed to be in the best interest of the Village of Riverside.

Published in Landmark 3/15/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE Riverside Township Budget and Appropriation Ordinance and Public Hearing Notice is hereby to the legal voters of Riverside Township that the Town Board has drafted a Tentative Budget and Appropriation Ordinance for the 2017–2018 fiscal year. Copies of said budget and ordinance are available for inspection during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Township Office at 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL 60546. A hearing on the Budget and Ordinance will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at 5:45 p.m. in the Riverside Town Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, IL. Liane J. Blauw Clerk, Riverside Township Published in RB Landmark 3/15/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County. Registration Number: D17149961 on March 9, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of NO LABELS THERAPY with the business located at: 1075 SHERWOOD DR., WHEELING, IL 60090. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/ partner(s) is: MARGARET ZANGRILLI 1075 SHERWOOD DR. WHEELING, IL 60090 Published in Wednesday Journal 3/15/2017

Starting a new business in 2017?

Call the experts before you place your legal ad!

Publish your Assumed Name legal notice here. Call 708/613-3342 to advertise.

PUBLIC NOTICES BID INVITATION The River Forest Park District will receive sealed bids for the construction of a new Platform Tennis Court at their existing park facility known as Keystone Park which is located at the southeast corner of Keystone Avenue and Lake Street in River Forest, Illinois. Bid packages will be available for a platform tennis contractor/installer, electrical contractor for proposed electrical equipment, and the plumbing/mechanical contractor for gas piping for the installation of the gas heaters for the platform tennis court.

Bids are due and will be opened and read aloud on April 20, 2017 at 10:00 AM, at the River Forest Park District Office, 401 Thatcher Avenue, River Forest, IL 60305.

Bid Documents including Plans and Specifications, may be obtained beginning on March 17, 2017, by emailing W-T Civil Engineering, LLC at todd.abrams@wtengineering. com. Electronic copies of the bid documents can be sent via email, or hard copies can be picked up at 2675 Pratum Avenue in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. However, if a hard copy is desired, please request a copy via email by emailing the following address todd.abrams@wtengineering.com prior to pick up.

A Certified Check, Cashier’s Check or Bid Bond payable to the River Forest Park District for not less than ten (10) percent of the total bid amount will be required for each bid.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish a satisfactory Performance Bond and Labor and Material Payment Bond for the total Contract Amount. The successful bidder will also be required to execute AIA Form A101 – 2007 as the contract between the parties.

In all work performed under this Contract, the Contractor and all of its subcontractors shall comply with the current provisions of the Prevailing Wage Act of the Illinois Revised Statutes, Chapter 48, Sections 39s-1 et seq.

No bids will be withdrawn without the written consent of the River Forest Park District. If a Bid is withdrawn, the Bidder will not be permitted to submit another Bid for the same project. Only bids in compliance with the provisions of the Bid Documents will be considered. Bids will be considered firm for a period of ninety (90) days. The River Forest Park District reserves the right to reject any or all bids or portions of bids/portions of work and to waive any technicalities in the bidding if it should be deemed in the public interest.

Published in Wednesday Journal 3/15/2017

PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County.

Registration Number: D17149743 on February 22, 2017. Under the Assumed Business Name of QUIZ MERCENARY with the business located at: 509 N. MARION ST. APT 2F, OAK PARK, IL 60302. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: TIM EVANS 509 N. MARION ST. APT 2F OAK PARK, IL 60302 Published in Wednesday Journal 3/8, 3/15, 3/22/2015

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT–CHANCERY DIVISION U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BANK OF AMERICA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR STRUCTURED ASSET INVESTMENT LOAN TRUST MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-3 Plaintiff, -v.MANUEL GATHRIGHT Defendants 15 CH 09055 1237 S. 19TH AVENUE Maywood, IL 60153 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 12, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 13, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1237 S. 19TH AVENUE, Maywood, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-15103-019-0000. The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $56,398.33. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted.

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

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee

shall pay the assessments required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, contact Plaintiff’s attorney: POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610, Chicago, IL 60606, (312) 263-0003 Please refer to file number C1515548. 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.

POTESTIVO & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 223 WEST JACKSON BLVD, STE 610 Chicago, IL 60606 (312) 2630003 E-Mail: ilpleadings@potestivolaw.com Attorney File No. C1515548 Attorney Code. 43932 Case Number: 15 CH 09055 TJSC#: 37578 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.

I715000 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT–CHANCERY DIVISION WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Plaintiff, -v.MICHAEL J. GEUSS, THE RESIDENCES AT THE GROVE MIDRISE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, THE RESIDENCES AT THE GROVE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Defendants 15 CH 008868 7757 VAN BUREN STREET UNIT #309 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 10, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 12, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 7757 VAN BUREN STREET UNIT #309, FOREST PARK, IL 60130 Property Index No. 15-13-109-0501097. 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 Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

OAKPARK.COM | RIVERFOREST.COM

CLASSIFIED

51

(708) 613-3333 • FAX: (708) 524-0447 • E-MAIL: CLASSIFIEDS@OAKPARK.COM | CLASSIFIEDS@RIVERFOREST.COM

Let the sun shine in...

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

or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court. Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information. If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g) (1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required

by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales. For information, examine the court file or contact Plaintiff’s attorney: CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C., 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL 60527, (630) 794-9876 Please refer to file number 14-15-08943. 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. 14-15-08943 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 15 CH 008868 TJSC#: 37-647 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.

I715224

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION BAYVIEW LOAN SERVICING, LLC Plaintiff, -v.KEVIN COLLINS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, PATRICE COLLINS, FILDALAS COLLINS A/K/A FILDELLAS COLLINS, GREGORY COLLINS, UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF FILDAS COLLINS, WILLIAM P. BUTCHER, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR FILDAS COLLINS (DECEASED) Defendants 16 CH 007574 630 S. 12TH AVENUE MAYWOOD, IL 60153 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on December 7, 2016, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 17, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 630 S. 12TH AVENUE, MAYWOOD, IL 60153 Property Index No. 15-10-424037-0000, Property Index No. 1510-424-038-0000. The real estate is improved with a single family 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 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 14-16-06357. 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. 14-16-06357 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 007574 TJSC#: 36-14369 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.

I714795

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 14-16-11137. 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. 14-16-11137 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 16 CH 012152 TJSC#: 37-898 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.

I714871

AM on April 25, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1339 N. LATHROP AVENUE, RIVER FOREST, IL 60305 Property Index No. 15-01-212-003.

The real estate is improved with a single family 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 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 14-10-14420.

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. 14-10-14420 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 10 CH 017620 TJSC#: 37-1152 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.

I716463

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT–CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Plaintiff, -v.TILAYA BRADFORD-HOLLINS, BENJAMIN C. HOLLINS, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 16 CH 012152 1006 CIRCLE 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, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on April 19, 2017, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive–24th Floor, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at public auction to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1006 CIRCLE AVENUE, FOREST PARK, IL 60130 Property Index No. 15-13-421-004-0000.

The real estate is improved with a duplex. Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted.

The balance, including the Judicial sale fee for Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT– CHANCERY DIVISION WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR MFRA TRUST 2015-1 Plaintiff, -v.LEONARD S. DE FRANCO A/K/A LEONARD S. DEFRANCO, BEATRICE DE FRANCO A/K/A BEATRICE DEFRANCO, RIGHT RESIDENTIAL II FUND 2–LLC, SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO COMMUNITY BANK WHEATON GLEN ELLYN, SMS FINANCIAL JDC, LP Defendants 10 CH 017620 1339 N. LATHROP AVENUE RIVER FOREST, IL 60305 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on January 23, 2017, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30

MORTGAGE DIRECTORY

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

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

AMOUNT

RATE/YR

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

4.375% / 30 yr. fixed 4.250% / 20 yr. fixed 3.625% / 15 yr. fixed 3.750% / 5 yr. ARM 3.750% / 7 yr. ARM 4.000% / 10 yr. ARM

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

A.P.R.

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

S P O R T S

Elite 8-bound Friars oust North Lawndale 3A sectional champs powered by Nixon, Keller and Steward

By MARTY FARMER

W

Sports Editor

hen the final buzzer sounded during the Fenwick boys basketball team’s 60-46 win over North Lawndale in the Fenwick Sectional final, Friars’ coach Rick Malnati simply sat in his chair on the bench.

While the players cut down the net, sharing the moment with a delirious congregation of Fenwick students and fans, the architect of the team’s success just soaked it all in.

Malnati’s facial expression suggested a triple-double emotional helping of happiness, pride and relief.

“In the four years I’ve been at Fenwick, we keep getting to sectional finals and we finally got over the hump,” Malnati said. “We played well in spurts and we played bad in spurts, but our kids kept their composure.

North Lawndale is hard to play against and we only had a day of preparation.”

The evening created several indelible memories.

During the aforementioned net-cutting moment, Fenwick senior Jamal Nixon was serenaded with “Happy Birthday.” He’s the winningest player in program history with 100 wins, the same total of victories for Malnati at Fenwick.

“The fact that tonight was Jamal’s birthday and his 100th win is really special,” Malnati said. “He’s a great player and teammate.”

The Friars produced several rim-rattling highlights, including a shot block well above the rim by Nixon and three dunks by senior point guard Jacob Keller. Against UIC Noble Prep in the King Regional final on March 3, the high-flying Keller also threw down a trio of slams.

“Dunks get everybody up,” Keller said.

“We need those kinds of plays to keep our energy high.”

The Friars had an auspicious start against the visiting Phoenix with an 11-2 run to open the first quarter. Junior guard AJ Nixon and freshman guard DJ Steward scored five and four points, respectively, to fuel Fenwick.

North Lawndale responded with an 11-2 run before a breakaway layup by Steward gave the Friars a 15-13 lead after one quarter.

The Phoenix took their first lead of the game, 18-17, midway through the second quarter on a layup by Leonard Caples off a pass from senior guard Martrell Barnes.

After the teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter, senior guard Carlos Hines made a pair of free throws after a controversial technical foul call against Fenwick to put the Phoenix up 27-26 at halftime.

Reprising their impressive play at the start of the game, the Friars scored 15 points in a row to open the third quarter. Five players scored for Fenwick, which suddenly held

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“I don’t want this to end because I’ll miss these kids.”

RICK MALNATI Fenwick coach

Photo by Marie Lillig

Fenwick senior point guard Jacob Keller scored 17 points including three dunks against North Lawndale. (Right) Senior teammate Jamal Nixon blocks a shot by a North Lawndale player. a 41-27 advantage with 4:24 left in the third quarter.

“In the second half, we just tried to force them to make tough shots and decisions,” Keller said. “We did a better job taking care of the basketball and rebounding. The key for us is our defense and then the offense will come.”

Employing a combination of man-to-man defense and a 1-3-1 zone in the half-court has served Fenwick well in the postseason. With his athleticism and anticipation, Steward excels at the top of the 1-3-1 with players like Keller and Jamal Nixon also capable of making steals.

Steward, a precocious freshman who has been a highlight reel all season, led the Friars in scoring with a game-high 21 points.

“It’s been a great experience as a freshman playing on this team,” Steward said. “Playing in a sectional is super fun. The guys are really supportive and I couldn’t have done as well this season without them.”

North Lawndale whittled the deficit to 4942 in the fourth quarter. That’s the closest the Phoenix would get, however, as Keller dunked three times and the rest of his teammates played well through the final six minutes of the game.

“In the second half, we thought they were going to stay in a zone defense but they went man,” Malnati said. “We made adjustments against the zone, but our kids are pretty experienced and adapted well. We got a little tight in the fourth quarter, but you have to stay with it and you can’t get tired on a night like this one.”

Keller finished with 17 points, while Jamal Nixon (8 points) and AJ Nixon (7 points) also played well offensively.

Barnes paced North Lawndale (23-8) with 15 points.

Fenwick (28-4) faced St. Viator in the Class 3A quarterfinals, March 14, at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, with a 6 p.m. tip-off.

St. Viator edged North Chicago 76-74 in overtime to win the Antioch Sectional championship.

“I don’t want this to end because I’ll miss these kids,” said Malnati about the Friars, who are on a 15game winning streak. “This sectional title also has the fingerprints of our past three teams on it. I hope all those guys feel like they are a part of this because they deserve it.”

Keller is highly motivated to keep the Friars’ state title hopes alive for another reason.

“I know the football guys on our team want to keep this going,” Keller said. “We didn’t like the way our football season ended (a controversial 18-17 loss to Plainfield North in the Class 7A state semifinals). Ever since Nov. 19, I’ve been waiting for this.”

S P O R T S

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

Friars positioned for a season to remember

Entire starting lineup returns from 2016 supersectional qualifier

By MARTY FARMER Sports Editor

One of the highlights for the Fenwick High School baseball team each spring is the annual trip to Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando, Florida. The Friars face teams from around the country at superb baseball facilities while building team chemistry.

After last year’s visit, the remainder of the 2016 season could best be described as a roller coaster ride.

After splitting six games at Disney, Fenwick returned home to a 10-game losing streak.

The skid was the worst during head coach Dave Hogan’s 36-year tenure at Fenwick.

“It’s like we lost the ability to play baseball because we didn’t want to make mistakes,” Hogan said. “And bad baseball can be contagious. There was no flow.”

Hogan knew the Friars needed a change.

So he called up five sophomores to the varsity and players became more accountable for themselves and each other.

After a 6-13 start, Fenwick won 14 of its final 21 games to finish 20-20. Reflective of their entire season, their record was deceptive, considering that the Friars advanced all the way to the Class 3A supersectionals (losing to St. Viator 12-4 in that Elite 8 matchup).

As topsy-turvy vy as the season was in 2016, the outlook is decidedly brighter this spring. ring.

The roster is stacked and Hoogan knows it.

“I really likee our team,” he said. id.

“We have essentially ially our starting lineup up back and quality depth th at every position. Our starting tarting pitching should be good. od.

“The last timee I called up a bunch of sophomores like last season was about 25 years ago. It’s ’s pretty rare, but it worked ked out Casey well the times I have O’Laughlin done it. I think we can really make ke some noise thiss season.”

Fenwick will be moving back up to Class 4A, but having a core of returning players should smooth the transition.

Senior center-fielder Casey O’Laughlin of the lineup with a anchors the middle mid potent bat. The Northwestern recruit is a natural athlete who patrols the natu middle midd of the outfield. He will be flanked by a pair of fellow sefla niors, left-fielder Sherman Martin le and right-fielder Harrison Hayes. righ The latter latte also excels as a designated d hitter. hit itter. Kyle Gruszka, Zack Pacer, Tommy Ho Hogan and Sam Kure provide depth in the th outfield.

The infield is arguably even better infi with the quartet of senior third baseman qu Mike Fiorito, Fiorit senior shortstop Anthony Cavalieri, junior second baseman Alex ju Pup and junior junio first baseman Jack Grace.

Junior Mike Cerceo is the next in a line of notable Fenwick catchers, backed up by Fenw capable senior E Ethan Gerstner.

Cavalieri (Lewis University), Pup (Air (Le Force Academy) Academ and senior pitcher Mike Stupinksi (Georgetown University) will (Ge play college baseball next season. Grace and base Cerceo are also drawing recruiting interest. d The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Stupinski leads 2

Friars softball has talent to reach higher level Led by Diaz, Tucek and Cairo, Fenwick raises expectations

By MARTY FARMER Sports Editor

With the exception of Bri Keys and Amanda Lopez (both graduated in 2016), the Fenwick High School softball team returns the bulk of its lineup this spring.

The returning mix of talent and experience raises hopes for the Friars to improve on their 17-16 showing (with a regional final appearance) last season.

Four-year varsity starter Giselle Diaz leads the Friars.

She’s a slick-fielding shortstop who hit .356 with three home runs and a team-best nine doubles Natalie Cairo, another four-year varsity player, has plenty of motivation to play well. The second baseman endured a season-ending knee injury during last year’s first

Fenwick Friars Head coach: Mike Marrese, 8th year at Fenwick (4th as head coach), 28th year coaching overall etic Record last year: 17-16, 5-6 in Girls Catholic Athletic Conference; lost to Kaneland 10-4 in Class 3A regional final Top Players: Giselle Diaz, senior, shortstop; Grace Tucek, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Michelle Cairo, senior, second baseman; Kayley Sherwood, junior, catcher; Rachel Martinez, sophomore, third baseman; Alyssa Stramaglia, sophomore, pitcher/outfielder Outlook: Based on their brutal schedule, Fenwick will absorb some losses during the regular season. With its talent level, however, the Friars could make a run in the playoffs similar to their 2013 campaign when they advanced to a supersectional.

game. Fully recovered, she has good power at the plate and is solid defensively.

Sophomore third baseman/outfielder Rachel Martinez had a breakout season in 2016. As a freshman, she led the Friars in hits (46), RBIs (34), HRs (8), runs scored and batting average (.393). Martinez has verbally committed to Eastern Michigan University.

Junior Kayley Sherwood will be the primary catcher.

She’s a three-year starter who finished last season with a .320 batting average, 32 hits and 27 RBIs. Defensively, she was a force behind the plate with a .980 fielding percentage and strong arm.

In terms of pitching, Fenwick is well-armed with a staff of three quality starters. The leader of the staff is senior Grace Tucek, who led the Friars with 11 wins, 120 innings pitched and 122 strikeouts. She also played outfield and hit .316, with 31 RBIs, 30 hits and a team-best on-base percentage of .435.

Along with Martinez, sophomore pitchers Alyssa Stramaglia and Cassandra Lee adjusted well as freshman last season to high school softball.

“Our freshmen, Rachel, Alyssa and Cassandra all made a huge impact on our team last season,” coach Mike Marrese said. “Alyssa is a hard thrower with good control.

“Cassandra came up to the varsity about midway through the 2016 season and was a big contributor on the mound. She was solid defensively in both the outfield and infield, has great speed on the bases, hits for power and has a great arm.”

While playing in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) is never easy, the Friars have reasons for optimism.

“There is no easy conference opponent in the GCAC,” Marrese said. “The favorites will be Montini, Bishop Mac-

53

Fenwick Friars Head coach: Dave Hogan (37th season at Fenwick) Record last year: 20-20, lost to St. Viator 12-4 in Class 3A supersectional Top Players: Casey O’Laughlin, senior, centerfielder; Anthony Cavalieri, senior, shortstop; Alex Pup, junior, second baseman; Mike Stupinski, senior, pitcher; Jack Grace, junior, first baseman: Justin Sosa, senior pitcher Outlook: As long as the Friars remain healthy and play up to their potential, a conference title and extended stay in the playoffs appear likely. the pitching staff along with hard-throwing righty Justin Sosa. Juniors Charlie Wood, Joe Runnells and Ken Slepicka round out a deep rotation. For late-game situations, the Friars welcome back 6-1, 235-pound senior reliever Marty Stein, who also excelled on the Fenwick state semifinal football squad.

Fenwick will visit Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex, March 19-24.

“Disney really does everything first class,” Hogan said. “It’s the Atlanta Braves’ complex and the facilities and fields are in such great shape.

“Our players get to play a lot of baseball, but the value of the trip also comes from the team bonding that takes place.”

Fenwick senior Grace Tucek led Fenwick in wins (11), innings pitched (120), and strikeouts (122).

File photo

Namara and Providence.”

In addition to a difficult conference schedule, the Friars will face several tough nonconference opponents, including Class 4A defending state champion OPRF, Glenbard South, Carmel, Benet, Riverside-Brookfield, and Nazareth.

“We have three quality pitchers and we are strong defensively,” Marrese said. “Offensively, the focus is on quality at-bats more so than batting average.

Regardless of the level of competition, Marrese’s goals never waver. Entering his 15th season as a high school coach and 28th overall, Marrese aspires to coach a state championship team.

The closest he came with Fenwick was an Elite 8 finish in 2013.

“I have the goals every season which is to win conference and win state,” he said. “We will come ready to play every game, we will be solid defensively, and we’ll have no easy outs in our batting lineup.”

54

S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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New look-Huskies keep high expectations Despite losing seven starters, OPRF new coach Parenti likes potential of players

OPRF sophomore catcher Luke Fitzgerald handled the pitching staff well in 2016. This season, he needs to provide more punch offensively for the Huskies.

Photo by Steven Talley

By MATT LE CREN

T

Contributing Reporter

he coach is new and so are many of the players, but the expectations remain the same for the Oak Park and River Forest High School baseball team.

The Huskies return only two starters and seven players overall from a team that went 288, won the West Suburban Conference Silver Division title and reached the sectional final.

They also have a new coach in Joe Parenti, who takes the reins from Chris Ledbetter, who is on a leave of absence.

This is the first head coaching position for Parenti, who has spent his entire coaching career as an assistant at OPRF. This is his 11th season at the school and ninth on the varsity.

“It’s great,” Parenti said. “Oak Park has a great tradition going back many years.

“I’m hoping to continue what the previous teams have accomplished and hope to continue the tradition.”

Parenti will have to do it without any of the stars who led the Huskies to 90 wins over the past three seasons, which included a state semifinal appearance in 2015. They graduated five all-conference players, including WSC Silver Player of the Year Connor Nelson and WSC Silver Pitcher of the Year Hank Christie.

“We’re not bringing a lot of guys back but they are ready to go and have a lot of confidence,” Parenti said. “We’re not expecting anything less than having a successful season.

“We’ll be a difficult team to beat. A lot of these guys are ready to prove themselves and they’re ready to get a lot accomplished.”

The only returning starters are sophomore catcher Luke Fitzgerald and junior outfielder Brian May, who might return to his natural position of shortstop.

Fitzgerald pulled off the rare feat of earn-

ing the starting catcher’s job as a freshman.

But he’s the second player to do that in recent years for the Huskies and is only the third starting catcher the team has had in the past nine seasons.

Fitzgerald didn’t make much of an impact

SOFTBALL

State champs from page 54 “She wasn’t too happy about that,” Kolbusz said. “She’s very intense. She wants to do everything.”

There is no reason to think Nelson won’t be able to do everything at full tilt this spring. Kolbusz said the shoulder is probably 90 to 95 percent healed.

The Huskies have two other Division I recruits in senior pitcher Chardonnay Harris and sophomore second baseman Fiona Girardot.

Harris, who was 15-2 with a 0.83 earnedrun average, 11 walks and 183 strikeouts in 109 2/3 innings, won both games at the state finals. The Auburn recruit hurled a one-hit shutout in the 5-0 semifinal win over DeKalb and then fired eight shutout innings in relief in the championship game.

Harris, who has battled injuries in the past, becomes the ace of the staff after Emily Richardson, who was 20-0 last season, graduated.

Girardot was a revelation as a freshman, batting .407 with 24 RBI and 30 runs scored. Her two-run double in the top of the 10th against Normal West proved to be the game-winning hit and she has since verbally committed to Wisconsin.

with the bat as a rookie but he handled a veteran pitching staff well.

“Last year our pitching staff was mostly seniors and they were very confident,” Parenti said. “It was tough for Luke being a freshman on varsity.

“Now we don’t look at Luke as a sophomore. He played in some tight games last year, including the sectional title game.

“In the playoffs he got comfortable and stepped up. He’s better prepared and ready for a leadership role.”

That will be important because the rotation is inexperienced. Senior Roy Iverson is the only pitcher with significant varsity experience. Senior Evan Nieslawski and junior Brendan Barrett figure to play large roles and will depend on Fitzgerald to help call games. “(Fitzgerald) is always smooth and cool,” Parenti said. “He never lets his emotions get the best of him. Pitchers like him for that.

“If he went 4-for-4 or 0-for-4 he was the same.”

Parenti expects Fitzgerald to produce more offensively this season. Where the runs come from is a question mark but not a big concern even as the lineup has yet to take shape.

“We’re not worried about the hitting as

OPRF Huskies Head coach: Mel Kolbusz (25th year, 711-213-2) Record last year: 37-2, 12-0 (first) in West Suburban Conference Silver Division; beat Normal West 4-2 for Class 4A state championship.

Top Players: Maeve Nelson, junior, shortstop; Chardonnay Harris, senior, pitcher; Fiona Girardot, sophomore, second baseman; Mariah Scott, senior, catcher; Sydney Babbington, senior, outfielder.

Outlook: The reigning state champions return four starters, including three Division I recruits in pitcher Chardonnay Harris, Maeve Nelson and Fiona Girardot. A repeat will be tough but not out of the question for a program that has won 97 games and two state trophies in the past three seasons.

Also back are senior catcher Mariah Scott and senior outfielder Sydney Babbington. Scott batted .347 with three homers and 19 RBI, while Babbington.

Both can play several positions, including catcher.

“They’re both very versatile,” Kolbusz said. “Sydney was a catcher and shortstop as a sophomore and was in the outfield last year. Mariah is a good infielder, so we’ll see how it plays out.

“The first 10 games are going to be experimenting. Last year I knew what I had

OPRF Huskies Head coach: Joe Parenti (1st year) Record last year: 28-8, 14-4 (first) in West Suburban Conference Silver Division; lost to New Trier 12-6 in Class 4A sectional final.

Top Players: Luke Fitzgerald, sophomore, catcher; Brian May, junior, outfielder; Jack Brennan, junior, outfielder; Evan Nieslawski, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Roy Iverson, senior, pitcher.

Outlook: The Huskies graduated a huge senior class and many of the remaining players are unknown. But Parenti has coached all of them as an assistant and says most of them are ready to prove themselves, so the drop-off might not be as big as many might expect. much as people think we might be,” Parenti said. “We’re very confident with our guys.”

Some of the hitters who provide some excitement include senior second baseman Ryan Molina, who belted two home runs during summer league action, junior left fielder Jack Brennan, and sophomore Griffin Holderfield. Nieslawski also will contribute when he’s not pitching.

“Holderfield is the biggest kid on the team,” Parenti said. “He has a lot of potential.

“Nieslawski is a tough out and does a lot of the little things.” at the beginning of the season, but this year is more of a feeling-out process.”

That’s especially true with the pitching staff, where senior Emily Cekander and sophomore Taylor Divello are battling for the No. 2 spot behind Harris.

Cekander was 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA in six games for the varsity last season, while Divello was outstanding for the freshman team.

The Huskies have two other position players with varsity experience. Senior Katie O’Shea will play third base and senior Allison Smart takes over at first base.

Junior Olivia Glass and sophomore Nellie Kamenitsa-Hale are the top newcomers. Glass was the JV catcher last year and Kamenitsa-Hale is a left-handed hitting outfielder.

“The varsity baseball coaches were joking that they wanted (Glass) to be their pinch-runner,” Kolbusz said. “She’s an outstanding athlete. She has the secondfastest 40-yard dash time on the team and has good hands and a really nice release.”

Kolbusz is pleased that all of his players have embraced the challenge of defending the state title.

“Everyone is happy with the success we had last year,” Kolbusz said. “Before this season I asked the girls, ‘What does this season mean for you?’ Most of them said they wanted to prove themselves and make an impact.”

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S P O R T S

Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

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Wednesday Journal, March 15, 2017

New-look Huskies keep high expectations 54

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SPORTS

Fenwick baseball/ softball previews 53

Huskies ready for run at another state title Nelson, Harris and Girardot will lead 4A state champs

By MATT LE CREN

I

Contributing Reporter

t will be difficult for the Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team to equal, much less top, the dramatic and exciting ending to the 2016 season.

The Huskies won their last 27 games, including a 4-2 victory over Normal West in 10 innings in the Class 4A state championship game, to capture their second state title.

Six of the players who started the championship game have graduated, but that doesn’t mean veteran coach Mel Kolbusz is any less confident when asked if the Huskies can repeat.

“Of course we can,” Kolbusz said. “We’re going to step up and try to accept the challenge and win as many games as we can.

“I don’t think we’re going to win 37 games again, but as I told the girls, the last seven (playoff) games are all that matters. It will be a challenge, but we can only play them one at a time.”

A lot of things have to go right to win a state title and they did last

year, particularly in the championship game against Normal West, which was one strike away from winning its first state title in any sport.

Three of the players who had leading roles in denying Normal West that glory are back.

The most prominent name is junior shortstop Maeve Nelson, whose two-out, two-strike triple in the top of the seventh tied the game.

Nelson, a Northwestern commit, is one of the best players in the state. She batted .492 with 10 home runs, 53 RBI and 49 runs scored last season.

Nelson suffered a torn labrum in her left (non-throwing) shoulder during the summer and underwent surgery in September.

She wanted to play MEL KOLBUSZ basketball OPRF coach this winter but OPRF basketball coach J.P. Coughlin, who also is Kolbusz’ assistant coach, had her sit out the season to heal.

“We’re going to step up and try to accept the challenge and win as many games as we can.”

FIle photo

DYNAMIC DUO: OPRF pitcher Chardonnay Harris, front, and shortstop Maeve Nelson are two of the best softball players in the state.

See SOFTBALL on page 54

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